Shadows of Golstar

by Terrence Scott

  Owens rubbed his eyes, “Okay, stop stalling, and give me the real bad news. How long will it take to repair it?

  “The damage is relatively minor. It’s repairable. We have plenty of spares, but we just can’t do it right away. There’s a critical control conduit that runs parallel to the affected coupler housings. We would have to disconnect each end of the conduit’s section connectors in order to get at the couplers. To do that, we would have to take the reaction drives off-line until we could finish the repairs. It wouldn’t take too long, but during the repair, we would be coasting. We would only have the maneuvering thrusters.”

  Owens sighed heavily, “Okay. That's obviously not an option, for now at least. You have any other ideas?”

  “Well not for fixing the servos, but there is a little good news. I found I can use the secondary power buss relays to divert the output from the subspace condensers and directly energize the shields through them. This cuts the time to recharge the shields by two thirds. As we were talking, I made the switch and the C-band is already back up to one hundred percent; A-band is at forty-five percent and rapidly climbing.”

  “Okay, anything else on our status?”

  “Our reaction drives are undamaged, remain on-line and in the green. As we speak, we’re still being fired upon, but so far our return to evasive maneuvering has prevented any more strikes. In addition,” Hec continued, “by throwing in some abrupt turns, but shorter than you had me try; I’ve managed to keep them from attaining their full normal-space acceleration. Believe it or not, we’re actually putting some distance between us. If we can keep this up, we might be able to move out of their weapons range.”

  “That is some decent news… great work, Hec. Would it do us any good to fire back?”

  “Other than making us feel a little better by thoroughly pissing them off, I don’t think so. Their shields are just too strong for our class of weapons.”

  “Too bad, a little payback would have been nice.” Owens turned to look at Sharné. “Now it’s your turn. Can you think of anything that might help us? Do you have any ideas on where we might now head? Is your seat of government close? If so, how long will it take to make it there?”

  “I have already given it some thought,” she began slowly. “As a government official, I know the coordinates for Berralton, our capital planet. It should take only about three-day cycles to reach it by reaction drive. However, it may not be the best destination for us, given our present circumstances.” She paused, weighing her next words.

  “I confess the attack was as much of a surprise to me as it was to you. It has been hard for me to accept an attempt of this magnitude could be mounted without our knowledge. However, now, in thinking about the resources amassed to execute such an attack, I do have to wonder if there may even be more attackers anticipating a possible attempt by any survivors to make it back to Berralton.” She said nothing about the mutiny, the target of the attack or its motivation.

  Owens noted Sharné’s lack of further comment. He really needed to have a discussion with her on that subject later, provided there was a later. As for her concern regarding other attackers lurking around Berralton, he thought it logical their unknown nemesis might very well have such a back-up plan in case the initial attack was not successful.

  “I guess contacting someone in your government continues to be out of the question. Hec, can you verify that the Golstar ship is still jamming communications?” Owens asked. Hec responded that the jamming signals were still blanketing a communications spectrum that must be used by Golstar. Sighing, Owens asked Sharné, “It looks like signaling for help is out too. Well, this is your backyard. I’m open to any suggestions.”

  Sharné had expected this and decided earlier she would have to reveal much more than she or her father had originally intended. All the plans that her father had made were rapidly falling apart in the face of the calamity that had just occurred.

  She said, “You are probably aware there are a number of planets comprising the Golstar solar system.”

  “That information was included in my navigation package and since we entered the system, we supplemented the data with long range scans. Hec, give us a picture.”

  Sharné watched as the tactical display winked out and was replaced by three-dimensional representation of the Golstar system. “We must cross the orbits of two of them before we reach Berralton. The next planet’s orbit that we will encounter is Waystop.” She pointed to the planet. “I propose that we pass it by. It is Golstar’s smallest planet and basically little more than a lifeless rock.” Her finger moved to the next planet nearer the sun. “We should continue on to Selane, and try to make planet-fall there. We are little less than a one-day cycle, about twenty-six hours out from Selane. It is the outermost habitable planet in our system. I cannot imagine that we would be expected to go there.”

  Owens asked, “Why not?”

  Sharné carefully kept uncertainty she felt out of her voice. “It is not currently inhabited so we could not expect immediate help.” She continued before Owens could ask any questions. “It possesses a mild, though somewhat cool climate. Although there is not anyone on the planet’s surface, there is a diverse ecology. Its terrain has significant variations and plentiful forestation that could aid us in remaining hidden. In any event, it would at least allow us additional time to perhaps devise a plan that will further enhance our chance for survival while awaiting a rescue.”

  She hoped what she said was true. She had never actually visited the planet. She had only read of its nature in history texts. She didn’t truly know what they might find on Selane.

  Owens’ curiosity was briefly piqued at the term ‘uninhabited’ but pushed it aside temporarily for the more pressing matter of their immediate circumstances. As long as they could maintain a sufficient lead over their pursuer, he thought they still had a reasonable chance.

  “Land on a planet? Just getting down through the atmosphere before being fired upon will be a major undertaking. What do you think Hec?”

  “Well, I can’t accurately estimate the interval that we’ll have between the Holmes and the Golstar ship when we finally reach the planet’s stratosphere. But I can say there won’t be much time for the Holmes’ escape pod to make it down to the surface before the Golstar ship arrives. Plus there’s the matter of the pod itself. Once down, it can’t move under its own power. If the Golstar ship were to scan it on the planet’s surface, it would make a great starting place to begin a search.”

  “Oh yeah,” Owens frowned. “It has no propulsion other than basic steering jets. It would take a while to coast through the atmosphere and since it can’t move on the surface, its presence would pinpoint where we landed.”

  “It’s not all bad news, Boss. Remember, the Holmes is a military class, long range scout. Even though it has had some significant modifications, it still retains the full the capabilities of an LRS.”

  Owens asked, “Meaning?”

  “Meaning the Holmes can perform an unassisted, powered atmospheric entry,” Hec said. “Based on what I scanned of its exterior, that battlewagon can’t.”

  “Well,” Owens looked at Sharné. “I suppose that if we can keep from getting blown up, if our reaction drive engines hold together, and if we can stretch our lead a little more, then we may have enough time to land and hide before they can make planet-fall in their shuttles.”

  He shook his head. “I know that’s a lot of ifs. But if we can stay ahead of them, we might be able to delay our untimely deaths for a little longer and just maybe gain a little more time to figure a way out of this.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I sure can’t think of anything better; we might as well try it.”

  Sharné nodded and provided Hec with general coordinates for the planet Selane.

  “There’s one more small problem that I failed to mention,” Hec began. “What are we supposed to do when, or might I say, if we reach the sensor grid?

  “What do you mean?” Owens asked.
>
  “Well,” Hec responded, “according to the historical records provided by our government, Golstar has a quite effective satellite defense grid. We are presently just past the three orbits of the outermost planets in this system, and according to my data, we should have long since reached this grid. I have rechecked the original Probes’ telemetry a number of times, but I can’t find any obvious errors.”

  Hec had Sharné’s full attention. She had wondered when this anomaly might be questioned. When Hec paused, she immediately spoke up, “That is very easily answered.”

  Hec asked, “It is?”

  “Yes, although I cannot reveal the details, which are classified by the military, I will tell you that the outer perimeter of the sensor net has been pulled back in preparation for deployment of a new class of our satellite wardens. I am sorry, but that is all that I am allowed to say.” She felt the simple story was plausible but was acutely aware it was not getting any easier for her to lie.

  Owens looked at her with a pained expression. More damn government secrets he thought, remembering the non-disclosure documents he had been coerced into signing. He asked with a slight note of sarcasm, “Are you at least allowed to tell us how far the perimeter has been pulled back, or is that a secret, too?”

  She was not pleased by Owens’ tone. “I do not know. I can only tell you we should encounter the grid prior to reaching Selane.”

  Owens knew he was being petty, but he pressed anyway, “Couldn’t you be a bit more specific?”

  She did not hide the exasperation in her voice, “No Owens. I cannot because I was not given that specific information. At the time, a need for such information was not anticipated.”

  Hec quickly interjected, “The historical records also indicate we don’t have a chance in hell should these ‘satellite wardens’ decide they don’t particularly like our looks and choose to sic one of those big fortresses on us.”

  Sharné smiled indulgently, raising Owens’ already elevated blood pressure. “You need not worry, Hec. It would be foolish of me to guide us in our escape from the mutineers only to have us meet our end by Golstar’s automated weapons defense system.”

  Owens resisted the urge to comment further.

  She finished, “Rest assured, I am not so unwise. I should be able to provide us with safe passage when the proper time comes.”

  “Sorry,” the AI sounded sheepish, “I’m not very good at being diplomatic. I’m sure a true AI would have already drawn that conclusion without having to ask. My ‘Hec’ personality overlay sublimates many of the normal AI logic functions to achieve a human facsimile. Some of the AI base programming was sacrificed so I could be more… human.”

  “It is quite alright Hec,” her smile warmed. “I appreciate your ‘humanity’ and I take no personal offense. I am in agreement; it was something that had to be voiced. At least, you do make the effort to be civil.” She pointedly looked over at Owens.

  “Ouch,” Owens grimaced in mock pain. “About Hec,” he began, “with everything that’s happened, I haven’t had a chance to explain… ah, his nature.”

  “Please, there is no need.” She waved her hand in casual dismissal. “Hec and I had an interesting and quite informative conversation while you were recuperating in the medical unit. I confess I find his story most intriguing.”

  “Yeah, well I’d use a number of words to describe Hec, but intriguing isn’t one of them,” Owens said dryly.

  “And what might they be?” In spite of her irritation, Sharné found she was curious.

  “Well,” Owens hesitated. His small attempt at humor had passed over her head. “The word that comes to my mind when describing Hec is simply ‘friend,’ a very good friend,” he answered her truthfully

  For once, Hec remained silent.

  CHAPTER 25

  The pain in his heart was almost overwhelming, but the Grand Patriarch remained expressionless as he listened to the Guardian of the Way. Talin attempted to maintain an outwardly calm demeanor but his gray-tinged complexion and a slight tremor in his hands betrayed him. He battled for composure as he related the events of which he had just been informed.

  He told the Grand Patriarch that communications with all three ships had been mysteriously lost. As ships could not enter subspace from within the planetary system, it would take over three day-cycles using reaction drives to reach the rendezvous point from Berralton. In the meantime, they had no way of determining Sharné’s fate or that of Janus Owens.

  “Our long-range monitoring is spotty, but there appears to have been weapons fire exchanged in the vicinity of the rendezvous,” Talin’s voice cracked slightly with barely suppressed emotion. He tried to swallow but found his mouth was dry.

  The Grand Patriarch voice was hollow, “How, how could this have happened?”

  “At this time, I cannot venture to say. You know we carefully chose the area to preclude any surprise attacks by the opposition. We have no indication our ships were aware of an impending assault. At this point, we can assume a strike did occur. The only way it could have succeeded, would have been by surprise, along with an equal or greater force.”

  “Is that possible?”

  “I do not understand it either. We are operating on pure conjecture at this point. What actually happened, so far remains a complete mystery. I have dispatched Admiral Lender and ships of the White Fleet to the rendezvous location. Our patrol ships along the quarantine zone would take far too long to reach the site.”

  Talin’s eyes were becoming glassy with as yet unshed tears. His voice lowered as it descended into the depths of obvious worry. “If anything has happened to…” He broke off, and then said with open anguish, “Forgive me, I failed to foresee this. I greatly underestimated the opposition. And now Sharné is a victim of my failure.” Tears finally broke through his defenses and his gaunt cheeks glistened in wet misery. “I failed in my responsibility and it is my fault this has happened.”

  No, the Grand Patriarch thought, you were not to blame, old friend, I am. Talin tried to make him see the folly of using his daughter, the senseless risk he asked her to take. He could have used any number of other young women, but in his misplaced pride he had refused to listen, and now Sharné was missing, or worse. I should have heeded your advice, Talin. But I did not, and now she may be lost to me forever.

  As these thoughts echoed through his mind, outwardly the Grand Patriarch remained sitting rigidly before his advisor, no hint of the mental anguish building from within. His face was stone, all hard angles and planes. Like a statue, he said nothing and was as still as carved granite. But inside that stony façade his emotions were churning a volatile mix of grief, regret, frustration and anger.

  Talin suffered his own anguish and frustration. He confessed to the Grand Patriarch he had been caught totally by surprise. The Grand Patriarch interrupted his advisor and demanded answers not excuses. Who would take such an action? An attack against a Golstar ship had not occurred for over three hundred years. The Grand Patriarch asked if the attackers could have known Sharné was aboard one of the vessels.

  Talin could not supply the answers his leader demanded. His shock at hearing of the attack matched the Grand Patriarch’s. It provided him no comfort that he had protested Sharné’s involvement in the mad scheme. Though it was highly likely that she was dead, his failure to convince the Grand Patriarch to use someone other than Sharné weighed heavily on him.

  The Grand Patriarch said in a quiet voice, with lips barely moving, “Bring Minister Joselé to me.”

  The Guardian of the Way spoke hesitantly. “Do you believe that Minister Joselé could be responsible? I remember that the Minister was present at Sharné’s initiation into the rights of adulthood. She had been one of your daughter’s sponsors. She was always quite fond of Sharné. Surely she would not go this far and jeopardize her life.”

  The Grand Patriarch looked away and said, “Before our disagreement on the way to solve Golstar’s crisis, I admit the Minister and I had be
en close allies. But that all changed when I shared with her the facts surrounding the crisis facing our people and the path I would take to achieve the solution.”

  “She had been incredulous at first. Then, as our discussions grew more heated, Joselé became outright hostile and vowed to fight me on any action I might propose to the Council. She, like many others within the Council put their faith in the scientists to come up with the answer. I had argued that the scientists had had centuries to find it, but still had not. I argued we no longer had the time to wait on scientists. We had to act or all would be lost.”

  “Despite all my efforts at reasoning with her, she stubbornly refused to see the problem in its totality and broke off all future discussions on the issue. From that day on, Minister Joselé has opposed me on almost all of my proposals to the Council. She is the prime reason for the plan. I was forced to act unilaterally and completely circumvent the Council because of her.”

  The Grand Patriarch stood up abruptly, almost knocking the heavy chair over in his agitation. “You know she has considerable influence with key members within the Council. Her power has grown of late and if it continues unchecked, it could threaten my ability to govern. More importantly, she may prevent our plan from succeeding.”

  Listening to his leader, Talin was further saddened. Even with the real possibility his daughter had been killed, the Grand Patriarch still returned to the damnable plan.

  The Grand Patriarch sat back down. “Since she has openly become my arch foe, the possibility of her involvement in this incident is not insignificant. She could have somehow been made aware of my plan and is directly responsible for the previous attacks on the chosen, including the latest one on my daughter.

  With an expression that finally reflected his anger, he said again in a frightening voice, “Bring Minister Joselé to me… now.”