by C. M. Kane
‘They are off now, Captain.’
‘Now, let’s get down to business. Please don’t panic if I keep some of the controls to myself when we finally come online. This will not be a reflection on your individual competence; I simply don’t yet know how much control I will need in the coming battle. I may find it easier and quicker to use my thoughts to fight rather than relay orders, but I will want to broadcast to all other ships out there. When we start moving I will want them to know everything I say unless I do this,’ she made a slicing motion across her throat with her hand. ‘Have you got that, Dolath?
Dolath nodded. ‘Yes, Captain.’
‘Okay then, let’s get this show on the road.’ She turned to Adam.
‘We’ll need more people in pulse cannon control and communications; everything should be open bar the reactors now.’
Adam nodded. ‘I already have communications filled as that has always been open. I have a small crew in weapons as we speak, familiarizing themselves with the controls. The ship is being very helpful, instructions have come up on some of the companels, so we have started with those.’
‘Great.’ Tae was surprised at how helpful the Ouranos was being; obviously escaping the chair had frightened her into cooperating. Well, for now anyway. Tae knew there were bound to be a few more hiccups along the way, after all, when was the last time something actually worked out easy for her. She looked at Adam and smiled gratefully.
‘Thank you, Adam, I can’t tell you how much your help is appreciated,’
Adam smiled and nodded, taking his position at the main panel nearest her, it sifted through all the pertinent information the other operators sent him.
‘Just be careful, Captain.’ He looked at the chair that glittered behind Tae.
‘I know this isn’t going to be easy for any of us.’
‘It seems I remember someone telling me that nothing worthwhile ever is,’ Tae said. Adam smiled back at her as she turned back to the star chair and, closing her eyes, sat down. Her world became calm again as Ouranos waited eagerly to see what she’d do.
What first, Ouranos? … Ouranos, she thought in sudden puzzlement. Was Ouranos even the ships name anymore?
She suddenly realized that this wasn’t the same ship that Cronus had arrived in; it was something very, very, different. Tae paused for a moment. She had never even asked the ship if she had a name. Did she call herself by something other than Ouranos when she thought of herself? Ouranos certainly had feelings about different things; she’d shared them with her. Tae decided it might be time to ask.
Each of us has a name, something we call ourselves by, she started. My name is Tae. She pictured herself and her name above the image in her mind. Before you were born the name they called you was Ouranos. You’re different from that now; that ship was destroyed in a fierce battle long ago, but from that defeat came you. You’re alive, and I want to know if you have a name. Something that you like to call yourself? Or, if you haven’t got one, what you might like us to call you?
She felt confusion from the ship. There’s no rush, Tae soothed. Take your time. When you’ve thought of something you feel suits you, or something that you like, just tell me and that’s what you’ll be known as from now on. The tension that had been building in the ship went immediately.
Now, what shall we try first? Tae thought. Well, if she were going to go into battle, she wanted to know everything there was to know about the ship’s maneuverability and force field, as well the weapons controls. She chose the force field controls first. After she finished going over their strength and resistance to missile barrages and differing energy weapon hits in detail she decided on taking a break; she knew she lost all sense of time when she was in the chair. Once again she tried to rise but, like before, her body felt leaden.
I want to get up now, Ouranos. A picture of a moon formed in her mind. What’s this? Tae asked, surprised. Their conversation about names was replayed in her head, followed by the image of the moon.
You want to be called moon? The picture brightened until it was glowing at her like the one from her dreams. Brightmoon, she said, finally grasping what the ship was telling her. You want to be called Brightmoon? She felt the ship’s satisfaction and knew she’d guessed correctly. That’s really pretty. Brightmoon, she sounded it out in her mind. I like it, she thought.
Feeling returned slowly as Tae opened her eyes. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered and patted the seat, another sense of satisfaction rolled over her in response. She sat up to see the crew looking at her with open curiosity.
‘How long this time?’ she asked.
Claysal, a tall thin tuvarnan with sharp, almost hawk like features, was the nearest to her at weapons control.
‘Twentyseven hours or so, Captain.’
‘Dolath,’ Tae turned to the communications tech, ‘please open a ship wide channel; I have an important announcement to make’
‘Yes, Captain.’ He moved his hands across his console. ‘Ready, Captain.’
‘Attention please, everyone,’ Tae began. ‘I have a very important announcement for you all. As you know I have been communicating with the ship. Today, out of curiosity, I asked her if she had a name. I pointed out that she is a different entity from what she once was. I thought she might wish to be known by something other than Ouranos. I was right. Since she’s now a living, sentient being in her own right, she has chosen her new name.’ Tae noticed the bridge crew was looking at her with genuine interest and she smiled in satisfaction.
‘From now on she wishes to be known as Brightmoon. A much more fitting name for such an amazing home, don’t you think? Well that’s all, welcome to Brightmoon, everyone.’ She smiled again and made the cutting motion across her throat. Dolath nodded and cut communications.
‘Wow, I’m absolutely starved again,’ Tae said, getting up and yawning. ‘I’ll be in the mess hall if I’m needed, then I’ll have a quick shower and grab some sleep, before I do though, how is everything going? Can I help anyone with anything?’The crew all shook their heads.
‘We are fine, Captain,’ said Claysal, who was obviously the most outspoken of her bridge crew. ‘We will be ready when you are.’
‘Good,’ Tae said. ‘I have another few systems to go over then I think we might try the reactors.’
‘Excuse me, Captain,’ Dolath interupted. ‘Adam wished you to know he is training the crew in the weapons facility, but he thinks there are some weapons systems that are still blocked to them.’
Tae frowned. ‘Thanks, Dolath, I’ll look into it when I get back. If anyone needs me you know where I’ll be.’ She turned and walked over to the turbo lift.
Chapter 27
Tae yawned as the doors to the turbo lift closed behind her. ‘Mess Hall,’ she said tiredly. The lift took off, stopping shortly after. Tae exited, walked down a passageway then took another horizontal lift. Once she exited that lift, she walked down another two corridors, and jumped into another vertical lift.
Well, this is great. She thought in surprise, she had just followed this route without having to think of her path. It now seems I automatically know the quickest way to get to places without asking, yay nanites! After things settled down she was going to go over the design schematics for the ship and see what else Brightmoon had built within herself.
There were several people already seated and eating when Tae walked in. She went over to the serving area and ordered herself a plate of fresh fruit and rafa juice from the dispensing machine. As soon as it slid out of the small hatch she grabbed it and plonked herself down at the nearest table and began eating. She could feel eyes upon her again and looked up to see a young man staring over at her shyly; it took her a moment to realize it was Dishon – he of the unfortunate feathered crest.
She smiled and beckoned him over. ‘Join me, please,’ she said as he arrived at her table.
‘I did not wish to disturb you, Captain.’
‘You’re not, Dishon. Besides, you can tell me how every
one took my announcements earlier.’
‘We all like the new name very much and have already started to use it,’ he informed her happily. ‘It sounds more like a home now. We all believe you did the right thing in allowing Brightmoon to rename herself, we have now added wisdom to your wellknown courage.’
Tae, who had been in the middle of taking a large swallow of her rafa juice snorted, then broke into a fit of coughing as some of the drink made its way out her nose then back into her lungs when she tried to breath. With watering eyes she held up her hands as Dishon leant over to her with concern.
‘It just went down the wrong way,’ she said, coughing roughly. ‘I really appreciate your concern and kind words; I can honestly say that I’ve never been call wise before. What about my earlier announcement?’
Dishon puffed out his chest as his feathers made a strange ruffling movement. ‘We were a little surprised and we have talked much, but we all agreed. As captain you are now the leading authority on Brightmoon. We all agree that Hera must not be allowed to get away with genocide. Live or die, it does not matter; we stand behind you one hundred per cent, Captain. Not a single person has left Brightmoon,’ he said proudly.
‘You are our voice and will, Captain. Brightmoon is our sword and shield.’
Tae stared at him. After all that these people had been through, they accepted her so willingly. None had left, where she had been figuring at least half to three quarters would. She felt a deep sense of shame at how badly she had misjudged them.
‘Thank you, Dishon,’ she whispered. ‘You have no idea what it means to me, to know that you are all behind me and Brightmoon. Your people are both brave and honorable.’ She stood. ‘Now before I start to get all blubbery on you I’ve got to get some sleep before I fall down. I hope to see you again soon.’ Smiling at her Dishon rose and walked back to the table he had been sitting at.
After Tae returned to her room and had a quick chem shower she collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes. A few more sessions, she thought. Weapons, flight, sensors and shields were now her main concerns. She needed to know enough to at least put up a decent fight, and it had to be soon. Despite the time distortion, the knowledge that the Titans were coming rested heavily in the back of her mind. She knew she was going to need every last second she could scrape together to try to find this Felice and use it to defeat them, but first things first – Hera.
One problem at a time Tae, just like when you were on the Island. She drifted off to sleep quickly, only to start dreaming of battles and flaming ships, and something mysterious floating just out of her reach.
The next several sessions were like the first. She woke, ate, then went for a quick jog around hangar one to retain a little fitness. She’d quickly realized just how much fitness she had lost in her sojourn on the chair, and was now trying to regain some of her former condition. Much to her relief, she found that the weight she had lost returned quickly when combined with good food and exercise. After her work out she’d shower then go to the bridge, where various members of the crew were always going through the routines and drills Adam had designed for them. She only saw Adam twice; he had seemed tired but hopeful when they discussed her progress with the ship.
Tae had also appointed Dishon as her official crew representative. She met him every time she went to the mess hall to eat where she gave him an edited rundown of what was occurring. In turn he told her of the crew’s progress and their feelings. Tae wanted to keep her fingers on the mood of the crew, and to keep them all feeling involved in what was occurring on the bridge. So far everything was working out well, but that would soon be tested.
Tae had also discovered the hidden weapons cache Brightmoon had been keeping from Adam and the others. They were tiny missiles under half a meter long, she had nicknamed them buzz bombs. They were exceedingly clever in their own way, and Tae could see how they could be quite useful. They worked by matching the subatomic vibrations in a minuscule part of a ship’s force field, just enough to allow itself uninterrupted entry. While the buzz bombs themselves were not very powerful, she thought they could do a bit of damage if enough of them were programmed to target a ship’s pulse cannons.
This had given Tae an excellent idea and she had been working intermittently on it for the last two sessions. By far her most exciting time had come when she studied the sensors; she had seen the nebula for the first time through the ship’s eyes. She had become entranced as she watched the universe itself through Brightmoon. She could study anything from tiny particles of dust to a passing asteroid if she wished. Only now did she fully comprehend what Cassandra had meant when she had spoken of becoming one with the universe itself. For that one brief moment it had felt like she was Brightmoon, like she was the one sitting in the nebula watching everything. She knew she would be spending a lot of time in the chair just gazing in awe at everything. To make things perfect, Tae could feel Brightmoons pleasure and satisfaction that she was finally able to share this wonder with someone.
Much to her surprise she found hangars two and three were not empty like hangar one. Although she had not yet checked them personally, she now knew Brightmoon had jumpers of its own design, something she was going to check out herself very soon.
While she was gazing about with the sensors she had asked Brightmoon what her skin looked like from the outside, Tae had only ever seen the “asteroid” surrounding her. The ship had remote launched a jumper which sent back a picture of Brightmoon after she had jettisoned a few rocks. Tae had gasped in wonder; from the little she could now see, Brightmoons hull seemed to be the similar to the star chair. It was a deep black, almost like space itself, but every now and then swirling pinpricks of red light seemed to race across her “skin”. Tae found it aweinspiring.
You are going to be so beautiful. Tae had been unaware she had broadcast her thoughts to Brightmoon until she had felt a flood of self pride from the ship.
She was pleased that the thought had slipped through; she had become so used to not caring what people other than her family and teacher thought of her that she had forgotten how good praise sometimes felt from others, and how it could go a long way to helping her and Brightmoon bond. Weeks passed in the same pattern, until finally she felt ready.
*****
Tae finished eating her breakfast and glanced around, she wondered if anyone could feel the nervous excitement building rapidly within her. Today would be her last session with Brightmoon, she hoped. She had given up on her – self deluded - opinion that she’d need only two or three sessions to know what she needed to fight effectively long ago. It would take as long as it took. At the end of the last session she had warned everyone that her time of study was coming to end; she was going to try to start the reactors today.
An air of nervous tension permeated the ship at the thought of the reactors starting and of the coming fight. People now watched her everywhere she went, but not once did she see a hint of fear. Dishon was right, these people believed in her. The mere thought of such belief humbled her deeply; it also frightened the life out of her. She had no idea what the hell she was doing, all she had was a hopeful plan based on what Cassandra had told her. Talk about the blind leading the blind.
After her initial seven month session all her further joining with the ship had taken just over nine weeks. She knew she still had an immense amount to learn, but thought she knew the basics well enough to move. Well, she hoped she did. The truth was she wasn’t, and was never going to be an engineer; she did not have that kind of brain power. Her strength was that she could get people to push the buttons that worked the things the engineers made, and she could use those things effectively – hopefully – to fight. This is what Captains and their battle tacticians usually did, and why they held their positions. Tae knew the real brains behind any battleship were the people who actually knew how and why they worked. She also knew that compared to them, she was just a monkey cracking nuts on a rock.
So far she and Brightmoon had not got int
o any more major squabbles. As soon as Tae felt the ship start to get to eager or bullying she simply got up from her chair and left for at least twelve hours. This was excellent for several reasons, it allowed her to go and eat, as well as clean up and sleep. She also got to go out and walk amongst the crew; she wanted all of them to know she was alright and that things were progressing well.
The real bonus was that Brightmoon was always willing and eager to please when she returned. She had never tried to trap her again, thank the gods. The ship didn’t like being left alone for too long, and Brightmoon knew she had hurt Tae and made her angry. For her part, and as a reward for Brightmoons good behavior, Tae now spent time with her just playing, as she thought of it.
She thought that they would bond more closely if they could become friends, as well as have the captain–ship relationship. So, after every serious session, Tae relaxed and said, ‘Okay it’s fun time.’
She asked Brightmoon to show her some of her favorite things, as well as favorite music. To her surprise she found out that the ship was partial to an old musical called The Rocky Horror Picture Show, along with an extreme fascination for science fiction television shows, which Tae found extremely odd considering she was actually in space.
She now talked to the ship as she would a friend; she told Brightmoon some of her favorite stories and jokes, and slowly the ship responded to her on a more personal level. She could almost understand her thinking now, she had a feeling that words might come very soon, perhaps when they crossed the final barrier, the reactors.
Tae finished off her meal, stood, and straightened her jumpsuit. It was time. She squared her shoulders and, taking a deep breath, headed for the bridge. She could feel the tension in the air as soon as the doors to the turbo lift opened. She smiled at the crew and walked to the chair, trying to give everyone the appearance of supreme selfconfidence. She noticed that several of them seemed to relax slightly.
