Johnny’s mind races, and he quickly puts on a nonchalant act. “Bringing my dad some lunch.” As soon as he says this his heart races again. The lunch bag. It’s gone! Must have left it somewhere, but where?
“I don’t see no lunch. Git will ya? We be busy.” Responds the card player.
The men turn back to their game, and ignore Johnny. He does not have to be told a second time, and scoots off back the way he came. Rushing down the passageway, he can hear laughter from behind him. With no other options, he heads back toward the computer room, getting rather nervous as he gets closer. Before passing the doorway leading into the room, he pauses and listens. Not hearing anything, he darts across the opening, continuing on as quietly and quickly as he can.
A short distance later, Johnny comes upon another stairwell. He is about to head down when the sound of footsteps echo from below. Not wanting to be trapped, he steps back and continues along the passageway even farther. Putting as much distance as he can between himself and the opening, he glances back time and again. He hurries, hoping to come to a side passage, a room, anything to get him out of sight.
The corridor ends at a handrail-lined track that extends around the ship’s cavernous hold. There, in the middle of this massive area, is his father, encased in his alien bodysuit. Johnny gulps as he backs away from the edge. Turning to go back the way he came, he is stopped by the sound of running feet. Making a quick decision, Johnny scampers along the walkway, keeping as close to the wall as he can. Glancing every few seconds, he looks down toward the distant floor. His footfalls echo dimly as he comes to a stairway that connects the levels above and below. He nimbly bounds upward as fast as he can, and is quite out of breath when he gets to the level above. Pausing for a second, he glances left and right again, adrenaline bringing with it a fresh wave of sweat. Quickly catching his breath, he looks at the open stairway that connects the levels, and then he looks both ways along the walkway. No one seems to be on this level, but, just to be sure, he does not stop for long. Instead, he runs all the way to the far wall holding his tool belt close to keep it quiet. Coming to the end, he chooses the route that continues along the wall, following the side the enormous cavern. Puffing and panting, Johnny sits down to catch his breath. From his vantage point, he can see others standing at various railings on a number of different levels as they too, watch the proceedings below.
An odd mix of sounds from the ramp cause him to look. A single rail extends down the ramp and out of sight. A small, wheeled contraption sits on top of the rail that is inside the hangar. Squinting hard, Johnny can see that the rail looks more like a tank track, with its many connected links. The rail starts to retract up the ramp and spools into the rear area of the machine, making little clicks as the links roll up. Soon enough, the front of a space shuttle comes into view. The shuttle continues its slow entry into the ship until it is fully inside the hangar bay. Once the last of the track has collected into the rear of the machine, it disengages some stabilizing rods. The small utility vehicle then slowly moves, bringing the shuttle farther inside. Johnny watches in awe as the small vehicle maneuvers the shuttle Atlanta around, finally backing it into a space near the side wall, many levels beneath him. Craning to look, Johnny is surprised by just how small the shuttle appears when compared to the rest of the hangar. A group of people walk over to the shuttle and do something to its rear wheels.
The little vehicle stays put, while another just like it takes position at the top of the ramp. To Johnny’s surprise, a person steps out of the vehicle that parked the Atlanta. It did not look big enough from this distance. The man looks straight up at Johnny then gives him a thumbs-up. Johnny’s heart jumps into his throat. It is the same stinky man who brought him in here. With his heart wanting to burst from his chest, he looks across to see his father’s back. Glancing around, feeling as though all eyes were upon him, Johnny is relieved to see that no one else is paying him the slightest bit of attention. Everyone is fixated on the next shuttle being drawn up the ramp.
The main hangar deck is busy with those working below and the many spectators lining the walkways. Johnny suddenly realizes that today was not necessarily a good day to sneak on board. He did not think for a second that others would be interested in watching the loading. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he stays where he is, and waits for the crowd to dissipate. To his surprise, no one leaves.
Click… Click… Click...
Johnny had not expected another shuttle to be ready for loading this fast. He watches in awe once again as this time the shuttle Discovery is brought on board. With the two American space shuttles below him, Johnny feels a strange pride swelling in his chest. Along with it comes some renewed excitement; this ship is nearly ready for launch. Expecting the third and last shuttle, Enterprise, to be loading soon, he is disappointed to see the crowd disperse.
Down below, crews scramble left and right as they swarm the two shuttles. Gazing around, Johnny looks at the walkway that leads to the main engines. He had heard that they were sealed, and they are a great mystery to all. According to his father, they only think the engines are fully built and ready, but they really do not know. While he waits, another odd thought comes to mind. What did his dad do that was so special for the shuttle loading system? The little vehicle looked ordinary enough.
Continuing on, Johnny is surprised that the walkway turns instead of going straight. Then he recalls the shape of the ship from the outside. There seem to be only two passageways that extend toward the rear of the ship, and both are on the same level, far below. With all the activity being focused on the shuttles, Johnny makes his way, unhindered, to a stairwell near these passageways. This will put him in plain view of those working on the shuttles. With a gulp, he scurries downward as quietly as he can.
After what feels like an eternity, he is left facing the closer of the two passageways. It is dimly lit, with the widely-spaced lights creating pools of light interspaced with hazy looking grey patches. The floor in this area is typical of the alien construction, and it feels rough underfoot. The walkway appears pristine; there are no patches where plates have been welded to cover gaps or holes, which have become commonplace throughout the rest of the ship. The passageway continues for a long time, then abruptly dead ends at a wall. Taking out his flashlight, Johnny shines its light over the end wall, then the walls on either side. Suddenly he sees them. There are three holes in the middle of the dead-end wall, arranged in a triangle. Could it be that simple? Johnny wonders as he shines the beam of light into the holes. He is unable to make anything out. He so badly wants to stick his fingers in to feel, but he is too worried about what might happen to him, and backs away instead. Stopping, he looks at his tool belt and debates sticking some tools in the holes. He shudders as he imagines what might happen if the holes were powered. Stopped by a stupid door. He regards the dead end with surprise at the unbidden thought. He blinks in shock as he realizes that during his entire trek he has only noticed two doors. With a defeated sigh, he turns and leaves.
Making his way back out, Johnny comes to the walkway overlooking the hangar deck just in time to see an American shuttle with the name Enterprise being parked. From this lower vantage point, he can see crews affixing some sort of device to each of the wheels. Watching, he finally understands what they are doing; the shuttles are being clamped to the floor of the hangar deck. He sits down and gazes at the three shuttles lined up in the massive hangar. They occupy a rather small area, leaving a lot of open space.
Finally, the crowd of onlookers thins out as people return to their tasks. Johnny is about to get up when a slight glinting catches his eye. Gazing around, he tries to find the source, and is eventually rewarded for his efforts. There, on the steps, rests a thin metallic object. It is about the size of his hand and blends in perfectly with the flooring. Picking it up, he finds the object to be very light, and, turning it over, discovers the same blank surface as the consoles on the ship’s bridge.
With wide eyes, he
makes his way down the stairwell. There is no point in hiding now, as the only person in sight is the ever-present guard, who stands at the top of the ramp. Johnny recognizes the guard as the same one that was there when he came on board in the Jeep.
Johnny is very nervous as he gets closer and closer. He is mere steps away from the ramp when the guard gives Johnny a slight wave. The soldier does not smile, but offers a slight wave with one hand. With a gulp, Johnny waves back, then scampers down the ramp and sprints away from the spaceship.
Returning home, Johnny is surprised to see his mom and dad sitting down relaxing. They are watching something on the large flat screen that came with the apartment.
George glances over his shoulder and asks, “You have a good day today son? Hope you were not bored?”
Johnny swallows hard as his dad’s eyes gaze at him in an all-knowing fashion. “I watched the shuttles getting loaded,” he answers truthfully.
Later that night, Johnny has trouble sleeping as the day’s amazing adventures replay themselves in his head. He wonders who has the brown paper bag with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches inside. He dreams about the device he found, and then his dreams turn into dark nightmares. Waking up really early, he is surprised to find his father in the kitchen. Sitting down next to him, Johnny tries to figure out what to say. He can sense that his father is waiting for him to speak.
Figuring it has to do with his trek aboard the starship the day before, Johnny resigns himself to confessing. “Hang on a sec. Dad. I have something to show you.”
Johnny scoots off and fetches the alien device. He hands it to his dad and shrugs his shoulders as he says, “I found this laying around yesterday.”
George takes the device and turns it over. Seeing the front panel, he touches it. When nothing happens, he frowns in disappointment. “Tell me, son, where did you find this? It may be important.” George’s tone is quite serious, but not angry.
Johnny lowers his gaze, and then quietly replies, “Up the ramp near the main engines. I was looking at the wall with the holes. Then I came out and sat down to watch the last shuttle getting loaded. It was right there on one of the steps.”
Johnny keep his gaze lowered, and waits. He is expecting to get in trouble, to be grounded, or worse.
George sighs, and then says, “Well, let’s not frighten your mother. If you don’t tell her, I won’t.”
Johnny looks up in amazement, his jaw drops in shock. “Wow! Thanks, Dad.” He gives his father a huge hug, and then goes back to bed, where he sleeps very well.
George, on the other hand, turns the small thin device, over and over as he wonders its purpose. From a distance, it could pass as an ultra-thin computer pad, but the metallic hue, and unusual black screen, give testimony to its alien manufacture. He stashes it away, hoping that once the ship is suitably powered, he will be able to figure the device out.
###
Section Three: DISCOVERY
Novel
Preface
Humanity has survived its First Contact with a technologically superior race who call themselves the Gamin. These aliens did not come to annihilate, eat, or enslave the human race. They have, however, left humanity marooned on Earth, thanks to a complex satellite grid of their own manufacture. What is to become of the Earthlings? Will the Gamin return? Their spacecraft were damaged and required repairs, what about their enemies?
After their departure, a partially built spaceship is found in the Australian Outback. Instead of answering the many questions, the find merely raises more. What secrets can be gleaned from it? Instead of gazing at the heavens, perhaps Earth’s People will get to travel through them? Or will that be denied to them as well?
“The future is as always an uncertainty, as new challenges present themselves." - James Jackson
“Nothing is so dangerous to the progress of the human mind than to assume that our views of science are ultimate, that there are no mysteries in nature, that our triumphs are complete and that there are no new worlds to conquer.” - Humphrey Davy
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan
"The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he receive either." Benjamin Franklin
Welcome to Discovery, book two of the Terran Chronicles Universe.
Introduction
An epic shower of asteroids and meteors completely destroyed every satellite orbiting Earth. Many of these struck the ground, fortunately only two cities were hit as most of the targets were either military in nature, or radio telescope facilities. A fleet of alien spacecraft, many showing signs of damage, followed behind this bombardment. They make Earth their home for a few months while they repair their damaged vessels and restock on food and water. Their leader, Regent Voknor, made overtures of peace by building housing facilities for the survivors of the Manhattan and St Petersburg impacts.
The Gamin, as they are called, are very strange looking. They are taller than humans with mottled green leathery skin and short crocodilian snouts filled with teeth. Their yellow eyes, with a vertical iris, give rise to a reptilian ancestry, as do their three clawed hands.
These aliens offered medical knowledge and technical specifications on a new type of power plant. Surprisingly, China is given one of these fully functioning power plants. These visitors, having destroyed all of Earth’s orbiting satellites, establish their own satellite grid, allowing worldwide communications again.
Some people work with the Gamin, under encouragement from various governments around the world. One such person is George Stanton, who was made homeless, and lost many friends and family members when Manhattan was destroyed. He found himself seeking answers. Was the destruction of his home an accident as they claimed? He worked with the Gamin hoping to learn to truth. His compatibility with the Gamin bodysuits made him an asset.
Suddenly, as quickly as they came, the Gamin depart. Soon afterward, an abandoned spacecraft is found resting inside a huge construction dock in the Australian Outback. This technological marvel is massive. Its main storage area occupies one quarter of the ship, and would be able to hold ten Nimitz class aircraft carriers, parked side by side. From the outside the spacecraft looks complete, but once inside it becomes clear why the Gamin left it behind. Without internal power, and, with many decks completely missing, this craft is far from space worthy. A closer inspection further reveals that many external hull plates are missing as well.
A team of specialists from around the world work to complete this discovery as best they can. The Russians have acquired a Gamin bodysuit. As George is the most skilled operator they have, he is tasked with helping. The assembled team is an interesting mix of civilians and military personnel. Soon enough, they will test their efforts. Everyone wants to know how the alien’s satellites will react. Can the spacecraft even take off and fly? Will it be destroyed? Should it get into space, then what? These questions are but a few that occupy the minds of those involved.
Prologue
Anyone who looks back at the five months that have passed since the Gamin left, would be amazed. The first days after finding the partially built spacecraft were a whirlwind of discovery, excitement, and then disappointment. As teams investigated more of the abandoned spacecraft, it became quite clear that a lot of effort would be required to make any of it work, let alone capable of going anywhere. When the Chinese and French contingents left, it almost halted the progress of the research teams. Those who remained were quickly and efficiently reassigned by Cindy, and then left to their own devices to figure the out the alien technology.
Lisa and Johnny arrived with one of the first groups of engineers. They had to live in tents until the permanent buildings were constructed. Some of these were for residents, some for recreation, and others for the task of making the vessel functional.
A few weeks later, a long convoy of trucks arrived. The cargo included a massive contingent of engineers,
along with an abundance of equipment. Within days of their arrival, a temporary airstrip was constructed. An additional two weeks saw that transformed into a permanent, heavy duty concrete runway. Soon after this, the facility’s larger warehouses were erected.
About a month after the arrival of these amazing engineers, they began constructing a rail network. It ran for many miles, straight through the desert, and eventually linked to the nation’s rail network. Soon it became clear why the rail line was built. Once it was completed, trainloads of heavy equipment began to arrive, taking the burden off the airfield, and ending the truck convoys.
Within days, the first of many nuclear power plants arrived by rail, accompanied by teams of Russians. They wasted no time in installing the reactors in the forequarters of the spacecraft. Almost one quarter of the ship served no function as far as anyone could discern. This huge area is sectioned off by thick armor, and numerous bulkheads, making it an ideal location to install the reactors. Each one is isolated, and yet close enough that a central control room is installed with relative ease.
Another huge surprise came along the rail line, also with its own support teams. Three American space shuttles had been taken out of mothballs, and now find themselves loaded into the cargo area of the spacecraft. George was tasked with creating the unique system that would allow them to board a shuttle, and then launch from the spacecraft. These shuttles are to be used for space jaunts, or as emergency landing craft.
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 28
