Robert stares at the command chair, his eyes getting wider, “Is that carved from a single opal?”
Cindy grins, he is a natural reporter that’s for sure. All he has done is seek information from the second he stepped onto the bridge. She waves for him to come closer, then steps out of her chair, as she proudly states, “Even has kangaroo hide as the covering for the cushion and armrests.”
Robert turns to Cindy once more, “I didn’t expect you to be so cordial, especially with me being forced on you.”
Cindy raises her eyebrows in mock surprise, “Oh, you weren’t forced on us. Everyone that gets on board, only does so with our approval.”
Robert stares back at her, slightly transfixed. His mind races over the events of the last few days. He suddenly feels a chill work its way up his spine, “So, the nationwide power outage,” he nods to himself, then adds, slowly, “It was connected to this ship.” He gulps as he comprehends the ramifications of his statement, then stares at Cindy with unease.
Cindy smiles at him, “You connect the dots very quickly Robert. I am impressed.”
Robert frowns, “But surely you did not want General Walker here, and he rode in the shuttle with me.”
Cindy grins widely, “You want to report something? Well, report this. We requested, actually we demanded, that General Walker be assigned to this ship. Furthermore, he is to be the military commander of the New Earth colony when we establish it.” She tilts her head and raises an eyebrow, “He just doesn’t know about that last bit, yet.”
Robert is still reeling from the fact that the America-wide power outage was related to this ship, typical, I was sent here without being told any background information.
Cindy notices his stunned expression, then says, “I am about to go and tell him. Do you want to tag along?”
Robert stares in awe at Cindy, “Hell yes!”
Cindy makes her way to the main hangar deck, where General Walker is waiting patiently. At her approach, he stands, salutes, then says “Reporting for duty as ordered.”
Cindy salutes back, then says, “Okay General, that’s the last time you salute me.”
Walker stares directly ahead as he replies, “Yes Admiral.”
“Oh, come now, technically you out rank me anyway.”
Walker replies, “What are your orders?”
Cindy stares at Walker for a few moments, then says “Are we always going to start off on the wrong foot?”
The General stares back at Cindy, “I don’t know why I am here, other than you requested me.”
Cindy almost whispers, “Actually it was George who requested you, but if you would rather go back, than be in charge of New Earth’s military arrangements…” she shrugs her shoulders.
Walker replays her last words in his mind then says slowly, “Are you serious? You want me to be in charge of the colony’s defenses?”
Cindy replies, “We’re convinced that you’re the best person for the job.”
Walker scratches his head, suddenly aware of how sparse his short grey hair is getting. He raises the first of many concerns, “What’s my budget? It all hangs on how much is going to be spent, really.”
Cindy places her hands on her hips, “You will have to get used to something here General, there is no budget.”
Walker frowns in confusion, “There has to be,” he states bluntly.
“General, once we leave Earth, we need to make sure we have everything we need to defend ourselves against threats, known, and unknown. So if you think we need it, we will get it.”
Walker stares at Cindy incredulously, “Anything?”
“Two of anything if you want!” Cindy replies with a wide grin.
Robert, who has been recording everything, glances at Cindy and Walker. “You’re okay with me reporting this?”
Cindy turns to Robert, then addresses both men, “You both had better get used to the fact that you’re free to do your jobs anyway you see fit, just never interfere with the ship’s operations.”
Walker scratches his chin, “If I am to be in charge of the colony’s military, what about this ship?”
Cindy replies quickly, “I’m glad you asked that. Radclyf, and Hayato have combat teams which are independent to any forces you bring. Also, they are in complete charge of all military assets on this ship. Once the colony is founded, you will have complete control over its military, with Emma being in charge of the colony as a whole.”
Walker stares at Cindy as he grasps the meaning behind her words, “So while I am on this ship, I am simply a passenger?”
“I am glad we see things the same way General,” Cindy replies. After a brief pause, she adds, “So do you want the job, or shall I have John transport you back to Earth?”
General Walker lifts his arm to salute, then frowns. Instead he holds his hand out, “Count me in.”
Cindy shakes his outstretched hand heartily, and says, “Welcome to the Terran.”
Location:
Gamin Lunar Base
Earth’s Moon
Joe just about runs toward the main control room while John walks slowly behind. The atmosphere is thick and has a foul smell and taste to it. John scrunches up his nose, Damn, George didn’t fix the air here.
Joe is oblivious to the foul air as he checks console after console. Finally, he stops, and stares at a pair that rests against one of the control room’s walls. They are not installed into the wall but appear to be last minute additions.
John catches up to Joe, and glances around, “Did you find what you were looking for?”
Joe points to the two consoles, “I need to check, but I am pretty sure we can take one of those.”
Two hours later, with George’s help, the console is loaded aboard the Terran. Joe spends the next few hours making sure the Lunar systems are still working normally. Finally, when he is one hundred percent certain that all is well, he contacts Cindy, “Your radio telescope idea looks like a go.”
Cindy sits back in her chair and relaxes, “That’s one great piece of news, thank you.”
Location:
Array Operations Center (AOC)
80 KM West of Socorro, New Mexico
Barbara stares at the email before her in stunned silence, and she is not easily shocked. At fifty-two years of age, she is considered an experienced woman who carries herself as though twenty years younger. If it were not for the crow’s feet gathering at the corners of her eyes, she would also appear twenty years younger. In addition, her abundance of energy often surprises her younger counterparts. Even with all her years of experience, she can’t help but put a hand to her mouth as the ramifications of the email begin to sink in. Looking away from her computer, she feels a rush of adrenaline.
Absent mindedly playing with her shoulder length hair, she slowly re-reads the short communiqué, paying special attention to key sections. ...new radio telescope... largest ever conceived.... totally green-field site... Tapping the print key, she adds the print-out to a stack of papers. She knows of her reputation, of personally wasting an entire forest with her penchant for printing everything, and she does not care what others think.
Rocking back and forth in her chair, she runs through a mental checklist, Dave and Brett for starters, hmm do we take the components with us or manufacture them there? She begins drafting a list of everything required, then refers to her printed email and confirms the words, no budgetary constraints.
She stops, momentarily awed, and stares out her window for a few minutes. Barbara lifts her gaze upward, and smiles. Her pale grey eyes sparkle as she wonders, what do the constellations look like from there? She feels a thrill building with the prospect of constructing a brand-new radio telescope facility on another planet. Her smile fades, then turns into a confused frown. But the planet’s too far away for a radio telescope to be effective, unless... the thought turns into excitement as she realizes, I am going on a spaceship!
Location:
Starship Terran
Planetary Orb
it
Earth
Radclyf tours the ship, paying special attention to the freshly repaired forward section. He examines the newly installed weapons and Gamin power unit, then scrutinizes the repair work to the hull.
Satisfied with what he sees, he is about to leave the area when an old memory surfaces. It was from when he first stepped onto a Gamin ship, in France. A chill runs through his body as he recalls his assessment of that ship’s defensive capabilities.
He reaches for his radio, “Joe, come in.”
Joe stares at the small radio at his feet, now why is Radclyf using that thing? He picks it up and answers curiously, “Joe here.”
Radclyf says quietly, “Come to the repaired forward section, alone, and quickly.”
Joe stares at the radio totally mystified, “Okay, on my way.”
Fifteen minutes later, Joe is standing next to Radclyf, he looks around, quite perplexed, “Okay I give, what’s up?”
Radclyf stares at Joe, “I almost missed it too, take a look at the hull.”
Joe shrugs his shoulders, “Mate, I am looking. I just don’t see what you’re getting at.”
Radclyf states, “Gamin armor plating should be able to withstand a nuclear blast, and yet the Chinese rockets peeled this baby open like a can of sardines.”
Joe feels the blood drain away from his face, “They have found a way to neutralize the armor’s dense molecular structure.”
“Yeah, and if the Chinese can figure that out, why haven’t the Gamin’s enemies?”
Joe frowns deeply while he ponders the dilemma, “It can’t be that simple, can it?” He stares back at Radclyf, gulps, then answers his own question. “We saw signs of laser damage on the Regent’s fleet, maybe they just don’t use nukes anymore?”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Radclyf scoffs, “nukes are just too primitive.”
Joe puts a hand to his head and begins to shake, “But if those Atlans figure it out, the Gamin are all but dead.” He pauses for a moment, thinks, then states with resolute determination, “We must warn Regent Voknor, secretly.”
Radclyf glances around warily, “I don’t trust everyone on this ship. There are those that still foster ill will toward the Gamin, for what they did to Earth.”
Joe begins to feel extremely pressured, “You’re right, a lot of people suffered due to the Regent’s attack. But since then, our two cultures have gotten to learn a little of each other, not to mention the fact that he saved our lives.”
Radclyf shakes his head, “No, you’re wrong. We have gotten to know the Gamin, but the folks back here have only seen the forceful, demanding side.”
Joe’s expression wanes, “And us getting this ship the way we did only adds to the fear."
“Exactly, so what do we do?” asks Radclyf.
Joe suddenly grins, “George!”
Radclyf tilts his head, “George?” he says in surprise.
“Yes,” Joe says excitedly, “he has a small translator that doubles as a transmitter. He can talk to Sharz.”
Radclyf takes the news in his stride, then nods in agreement, “Let’s talk to George, privately.”
Joe looks down at the deck for a few moments, then glances up quickly, his eyes full of energy. He lifts up his radio then speaks into it, “George, can you meet me in engine room one please.”
George replies quickly, “Sure, what’s up?”
Joe gives Radclyf a sly look, “Nothing really. I just want to recalibrate the engines, now that we have more power, and I want you there in case I run into problems.”
“Good idea,” George replies, “I can be there in ten minutes.”
“See you in ten,” Joe replies.
George is wearing his bodysuit when he steps into the engine room. He stops in surprise at seeing Radclyf with Joe. He warily shuts the doorway behind him, then states, “Okay, what’s really going on?”
By the time Joe finishes his explanation, George is ghostly pale. He stares at the two men in disbelief, “I can’t believe that the Chinese figured something out that the Atlans have not. It doesn’t make sense at all.”
The three men stand quietly as they each ponder both the possibilities, and the ramifications, if true. Finally, George breaks the silence, “Well we have to do something, and I for one do not like the idea of the Atlans wiping out the Gamin, no matter what they have done.”
Radclyf and Joe nod in unison, yet both remain quiet.
George sighs, then speaks into his suit’s microphone, “Contact Sharz.”
Joe stares at George in surprise, no wonder George is able to figure out the Gamin systems, he has Sharz on speed dial!
George listens for a few seconds, then says, “Sharz, we need a secure channel.”
Radclyf and Joe watch as George relays the disturbing news, then continue to remain quiet while George listens.
Finally, George says his farewells, then addresses Joe and Radclyf, “They will investigate our findings.” He stares at the two men for a few seconds, a little perplexed, “but the way Sharz spoke to me, it was as if he wasn’t too concerned.”
Joe and Radclyf exchange glances, then Joe asks, “Do you think it’s something they’re aware of?”
George takes a deep breath, “Sharz did tell me that this ship was incomplete when they left.”
Radclyf frowns, “Well, we all know that!”
Joe paces back and forth, thinking deeply, he stops then says, “Perhaps Sharz was trying to give you a clue, something we missed when we finished the ship?” He continues to pace, then adds, “You know, if this ship had main shields, I doubt those nukes would have even touched the hull.”
Radclyf glances from Joe to George, then asks, “So, we need main shields?”
George nods his head, “Amongst other things my friend, but they will have to wait for another day. We must escort the Liberty to New Earth, and get that colony going first.”
The three men leave the engine room, never actually running the engine calibration.
Liberty
Location:
Outback
Western Australia
General Walker stands before an impressive audience. Leaders from over a dozen countries sit nearby. Camera crews from all over the world cover the momentous occasion. Robert McKnight is quite possibly the only reporter in the world who is merely observing the events of the day. He sits behind the row of world leaders, with the command crew of the Terran. The audience is made up of construction workers, soldiers, and thousands of future colonists.
General Walker begins his speech with confidence, his words resound loudly through the many speakers. “In the spirit of Apollo 11, I offer these words. Today we’re mere observers of the universe, tomorrow we shall plant our flag in it. To Captain Adams of Earth’s Starship Liberty, I wish to honor you in the finest traditions of naval history.” He pauses for effect, then with a raised hand says, “I bid you fair winds and following seas.”
Captain Adams glances up at the phrase; as an ex-naval commander, he is touched by the sentiments of the quote. He tilts his head in acknowledgment of the reference.
Walker continues his speech, “It is in that spirit, that once again humanity sets sail across the vast unknown, guided by the stars.”
While the crowd cheers the simple speech, the world leaders sit impassively, clapping their hands as is expected of them. A few have well practiced smiles plastered up on their faces.
Captain Adams stands, then addresses the crowd with a surprise announcement, “Today we launch!”
The crowd cheers even louder. No one expected Adams to announce the launch, nor that it would be this very day.
After answering a myriad of questions, the crews of both the Liberty and the Terran retire to their respective ships. While Adams and his crew make their way by jeep, John pilots the shuttle that carries the Terran’s crew into space.
The initial launch of the Liberty is conducted with a skeleton crew. Adams plans to test the ship’s launching and
landing capabilities before he allows the twenty-seven thousand colonists on board.
Captain Adams leans forward in his chair, then issues the first of many historic orders. “Activate the gravity drive, take us up slow and steady.
Lieutenant Kennedy replies with an air of confidence, he has run hundreds of simulations. “Gravity drive online sir, activating thrusters to compensate for pitch and yaw.”
Adams turns to his other bridge operator, “Frank, monitor internal systems.”
The Liberty gently lifts up and out of the construction dock’s arms. Kennedy’s skills in the simulators are translating well to real life events. The launch is so smooth that most of the crew has no idea the ship is actually moving.
Fifteen minutes later, Kennedy swings around in his chair, “Captain Adams, we have achieved orbit and are holding a stationary position relative to Space Station Unity.”
Adams stands up, “Well done, Kennedy.”
The three men breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Adams walks around the small bridge area, then turns to Frank, “Contact the Terran. Inform them that we shall be testing our thrusters and sub-light engines, then landing this ship for final loading.”
Kennedy glances at Adams and questions, “We’re not testing the main drive?”
Adams runs a hand over his chin, “No, just in case Joe from the Terran is right.”
Kennedy frowns in concern, “Wouldn’t it be best to test it, before the colonists’ load?”
Adams shakes his head, “No. Joe insists our drive will work, even though it’s not as efficient as theirs. The issue is the speed changes, he expects us to have some deck plate buckling, just like they did. With this in mind, I am planning on using the drive only once.”
Frank raises both eyebrows, “One straight run, for over fifteen hundred light years. Is that even possible with a single engine?”
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 83
