"You get your warning?"
"I did. You?"
Harris nodded.
After several minutes had passed, the procedure was reversed. The solid contents turned back to a liquid. The IV port remained in place as the liquid drained. A warning flashed that no occupant had been found for the reversal of the port procedure. The port arm withdrew, and several seconds later the lock on the pod released and the transparent hatch opened.
Tawn sighed as the warning of a failed revival flashed on a display. After a two minute wait, the entire process was repeated.
Three hours passed, and both Biomarines had pulled over a chair.
Tawn said, "I feel like I'm being punished for something."
"Yeah. This isn't the funnest of duties. But I can see where Alex was right. Familiarity with the pod does make me a bit less apprehensive to get in it. Everything has gone exactly as it should have every time."
An image of Alex appeared on the near wall. "Congratulations. The first phase of testing appears to be a success. When this cycle completes we can begin phase two."
"We have to get in them this time?" Tawn asked.
"You do. But don't be alarmed. The first dozen times will only take you as far as the IV-port injection. If you turn around, you will find a bot waiting to place a temporary port in your shoulder. This will allow multiple insertions of the sedative needle without subjecting your blood vessels to any possibly permanent damage."
"Wait. You're actually pumping stuff into us?"
"That is the plan. But don't worry, it should be harmless. You'll feel a minor discomfort from the insertion of the port. After that there should be no pain."
Tawn raised an eyebrow. "You're knocking us out for this?"
"The sedative will be injected along with the antifreeze. It will only take seconds for you to pass out. A stimulant will be injected when the antifreeze is neutralized. You will be a bit groggy when the pod first opens, but don't worry, the bots will be there to assist."
Tawn glanced over at her partner. "You ready for this?"
After a port insertion by the assisting bot, Harris stepped up into the pod, first sitting down and then lying back. "Not any worse than our blackout training. You remember that?"
"Being sealed in a tube without light and then dumped in a pool of water until your air ran out? Hard to forget that one."
"Did teach you how to fight the urge for panic though, didn't it?"
"It did. But only because I gave into the reality of dying."
Harris chuckled. "Not how I remember it. Was a mental dogfight for me, but I won."
The hatches closed. The IV port arm swung out and attached to the newly installed ports. Seconds later, the two Biomarines were slipping away into a state of bliss. The pods filled with liquid and then drained several seconds later. A stimulant was injected and the test subjects revived. After the hatches unlocked and opened, the two bots helped the groggy Bios from their respective pods.
Harris blinked his eyes several times as he supported himself on the edge of his pod. "Wasn't so bad. Dreamland for a few seconds and then we were back. Doc, how'd it look from your end?"
"Both pods require a slight adjustment to the fill stage. Do you feel stable enough to give it another try?"
Tawn sighed. "Sure. Let's get it over with."
The process was repeated. When the liquid had again drained, Harris attempted to stand but fell back into his pod. Tawn smirked before doing the same.
Alexander Gaerten was standing in front of them. "Take your time."
Harris looked at the display wall and then back. "You got over here fast. Everything go OK?"
"Not exactly. There was a slight malfunction."
"And?"
"And let’s just say you were put into stasis."
"Fully?"
"Yes."
Tawn asked, "For how long?"
"Sixteen hours. When I adjusted the fill, it had the unintended consequence of enabling the freeze cycle. The good news is you appear to have come out alive."
"Is there bad news?"
"Only that you will now be required to wait five days before you can go back in."
Harris chuckled. "Well, I guess there's a bonus in it for us. Although, I will say it seems like we were only in there for a second, just like the first time."
— Chapter 11 —
* * *
With the initial success of the stasis pod testing, the bots were given the go-ahead to begin manufacturing the initial hundred units. Excess units would be flown to Domicile, where a group of terminally ill candidates would be given the opportunity to be frozen in time. Hope was beginning to grow that cures for many age-old Human maladies would come as normal Human intellect returned.
With the revelation that bogler beef was harmful to Human intelligence, steps were being taken to stop its use as a food product. While more costly and difficult to raise, the cattle originally brought from Earth would be placed into a breeding program until stocks were sufficient to replace the bogler.
Two weeks had passed since the fleet had departed. Harris walked into Alex's lab.
"Mr. Gruberg," Alex asked, "how are we feeling this morning?"
"Normal I guess. The fog from coming out of that chamber yesterday has lifted."
"Excellent. I've arranged for a series of physical workouts. A bot will be in momentarily to direct you through those tests."
Tawn came into the lab. "What'd I miss?"
"You're getting a personal trainer. Doc wants us to work out so we can be evaluated as to our condition." Harris turned. "Shouldn't we have done this to get a baseline before going in there?"
"I don't believe that to be necessary. The two of you are in excellent health. We're only looking for conditions that are obviously detrimental. Please follow the bots and report back when the tests are complete."
"Can we at least eat first?"
"I'd rather you didn't. The energy provided by a breakfast may limit the visibility of any issue you may be having. Please just follow the bots."
The Bios were led out into a grassy area, where they were instructed as to what to do and for how many reps they should do it.
When the workouts were complete, Harris made his way back to the lab, panting for breath. "Can we eat now?"
"You may. And just to let you know, there were no signs of any issue. You'll be ready to go back in five days."
Tawn scowled. "Why do we have to go back in?"
Alex stopped his work and turned. "This will be our final test. You will remain in stasis for a full day. If everything checks out on the other side I will declare the pods operational and the first units can be shipped to Domicile."
Trish walked in. "What are you two all worked up about?"
"I'll explain later," said Tawn. "Is there something you need?"
"Just wanted to report the materials for the pods are on the way. We've identified the salvage needed for production. The bots are tearing it down and stuffing the transport once per day. We estimate it will take two weeks to move all the material here."
"You've done everything we could have asked for. Unfortunately, I don't know that we'll need all those pods."
Harris shook his head. "Not true. We could very easily need them. If the Frizoid back out of their deal, we'll be moving that fleet here. We'll need those pods."
Trish said, "We'll have the materials all here in about two weeks, so you two can decide if you want to build them or not."
Tawn leaned against a wall. "I can't believe we're just sitting here while the other Bios are about to fight. Wish there was a way we could have gone with them."
Alex crossed his arms. "That may still be possible. The hop-drive update I've been working on, I hope to have the simulations finished today. If the drives function as the simulations seemingly have, you may be able to make that current sixty-six day journey in less than four weeks. Leaving today would place you at the destination before their arrival."
"What do we nee
d to do to make this happen, Doc?"
"I need people to leave my lab so that I might continue my work."
Harris chuckled as he patted Tawn and Trish on the shoulders. "Ladies, if there was ever a hint telling us to get out, it would be termed just like that. Let's leave the good doctor to his studies."
The morning came and went.
A comm came in from an excited Alexander Gaerten as Harris and Tawn looked over the initial manufacturing lines for the stasis pods. "The simulations are complete. I believe we have an opportunity here that will change space travel for all Humanity. On average, I've seen nearly a tripling of the distance for each jump with the hop-drive. I'm genuinely eager to get this integrated into the Bangor's systems."
Harris nodded. "You sound excited, Doc. You must be confident this will work."
"Very confident. We may even see further improvement when this is functioning in the real world."
Tawn asked, "Any safety issues?"
"None that have come to light. And with the increased distance comes an increase in efficiency. The mast trailing behind your ship might only need to be a few meters long to draw enough energy from a collapsing wormhole to fully replenish your fuel. If this works as I believe, a run out to meet the fleet may take as few as three weeks."
Harris said, "We'll be right over. Try to calm yourself down. We wouldn't want you to spontaneously explode due to over excitement."
"I must apologize. It's just I view this as a tremendous breakthrough. I may be able to fold some of what I've learned here back into the gamma missile warhead. Any upgrades to that would have tremendous potential for their effectiveness."
Alex gave a quick presentation of results from the simulations he had been running. The parameters were passed to Idiot and a design for the necessary updates came back several seconds later. The estimate for a retrofit before real-world testing could begin was four days. A group of bots got to work organizing the materials as another team began to strip down the systems to be refitted.
Harris and Tawn watched for the first three days before going back into the stasis pods for the final test. A day later they emerged, groggy as usual, but in otherwise perfect health.
"Don't care for that wobbly feeling," Tawn said.
"You won't come out of that thing fighting, that's for sure."
A short walk had them standing beside the Bangor as a group of bots hustled around her. Farker sat watching.
"You think it's gonna fly, boy?"
The mechanical pet looked up, wiggling his tail in response. "I've studied the design. It appears to be a sound principle the doctor is basing this on. He seems extremely confident."
"Hope you're right. Especially if it applies to the gamma missiles. Those are our only real advantage right now. If he can somehow make those more effective, we could sure use them."
Tawn pointed. "That the new mast? What is that, five meters?"
"Five-point-four," Farker replied. "The expected increase in jump distance is a minimum of three-point-six times. The Bangor will now be traveling at a minimum of fifteen thousand times the speed of light when averaged over a long distance."
"How long to get us to the Burrell outpost?"
"The distance is approximately seven hundred thirty light years. That would be just under eighteen days."
"That's insane."
"And our progress may even be faster. That is the minimum expected benefit we should expect. It will all depend on the final focusing ability of the new field generator. The further the wormhole beam, for no better term, can be narrowed, the farther each jump can be."
"And this will all be ready to try out tomorrow?" Tawn asked.
"Yes."
"And how much testing will we be conducting?"
"A single jump."
"So we'll be ready to leave tomorrow?"
"If the tests go as expected. Yes."
Tawn looked at Harris. "Three weeks out and three coming back. We should pack six weeks of MREs."
"Let's round that up to eight weeks, just to give us a bit of emergency ration should something go wrong."
Tawn smirked. "We get halfway and something goes wrong, we aren't likely coming back."
"Farker," Harris asked, "can you get with Idiot and determine the best set of tools and supplies for us to take with us should an unexpected failure occur?"
"I can. Would you like that list now?"
"How about you just convey it to a bot or two to arrange so we're set to go if this tests out. And have them grab the two months of food as well. Might as well have everything ready to at least load up when the time comes."
"It will be ready."
The following morning, the update to the hop-drive was complete. After a short ground test, the Bangor lifted up through the atmosphere. After reaching free space a destination was entered and a wormhole was opened. The Bangor sped in its direction. Seconds later, a second and then a third portal were activated. The reverse was then done, bringing the Bangor back for a drop to the surface of Midelon.
"Doc," Harris said. "Worked perfectly. Instead of thirteen jumps it took three. Looks like the time estimates you gave proved out too, if not slightly better. You have anything else you want us to try or is this it?"
"Give me a few minutes to look over the data if you would. If it checks out, you'll be ready to go."
Harris stuck his head out and signaled the bot standing with the supplies. A half dozen helpers were soon loading the materials into the cabin.
A short walk had Harris standing beside the Bangor, holding out his hand. "Whoa. What are these for?"
"Mr. Gaerten thought they might be useful. Should something happen to the hop-drive during your voyage, you could both be put in stasis for the sub-light-speed journey home."
Tawn chuckled. "Let them in. Not like we need the space for anything anyway."
Two stasis pods were set in place in the Bangor's cabin. The two bots that were carrying them stood at attention.
Harris asked, "Something else you need?"
"We were instructed to accompany you. Should you need any external repairs to the ship, we are better suited to that environment."
Harris returned a sarcastic response: "Anything else the doc wants us to take? A kitchen sink maybe?"
"All materials on the list have been loaded. Are you in need of a new sink?"
"No."
A comm was opened to Alex in the lab. No connection was accepted. Seconds later, Trish, Gandy, Garvis, and Alex were looking in the open hatchway.
Gandy said, "Didn't leave you much room."
Tawn replied, "We have enough. Not like the two of us ever used that space anyway. We're not anticipating having passengers."
"Why exactly are you going?"
"Just as observers. We hope to get the lay of the land, ship counts and whatnot, to take back to the colonel. If he knows what to expect before they arrive, he'll have everyone better prepared for whatever that might be."
Harris said, "We're counting on the two of you to keep production running here. If you have manufacturing issues, don't hesitate to go have a chat with Mr. Morgan. Alex, you’re the senior person here. Keep these kids in line."
"I'm certain I won't have to say a word. I'll likely be the one asking for their assistance."
Goodbyes were said and the hatch closed. Tawn performed a final inventory check as the Bangor sped out toward free space. Minutes later, the first jump was made to the edge of boson space. From there, the hop-drive worked its wonders.
Tawn glanced back at the stasis pods. "We could shorten our trip you know."
"You seriously want to go in there?"
"We'd wake up at our destination. Would only seem like minutes had passed."
"I'd rather not have a day of groggy, thank you. We need to be sharp when we arrive."
"So we have the pods bring us back a few days early. The bots can watch over things and wake us if necessary. It would be a good test of how well they really work."
&n
bsp; "And you want to test them while we're out here in the dead of space?"
"Just as good a place as any. You aren't scared, are you?"
"Really? You're playing the fear card?"
Tawn chuckled. "I can't see any other reason not to make use of them. We're otherwise wasting several weeks of our lives."
"Wasting? What evidence do we have those pods extend your lives?"
"We have a two thousand year old Alexander Gaerten and three Burrells of the same age. I'd say that's pretty good evidence."
Harris stared for several seconds, then let out a sigh. "Fine. Not like we each have three weeks of stimulating conversation in us anyway. Farker, we'll be leaving you in charge. Any issues and you bring us back from the pods, right?"
"I'll do my best, sir."
The transparent door of the pod opened. Harris stepped up and sat down inside, lying back as the door began to close. "Anything goes wrong with this, Freely, I'm blaming you."
"Wouldn't expect anything less."
Sixteen days later, Harris opened his eyes to a foggy consciousness. A bot helped him up and out of his pod. Tawn was standing next to hers, giving herself a much needed stretch.
Tawn asked, "Bots, how long until we reach Burrell space?"
"Twenty-six hours, as directed."
"Perfect. Fuel levels? Anything happen while we were under?"
Farker said, "We fought a fleet of Burrell ships and won."
"What?"
"It was an attempt at humor, ma'am."
Harris chuckled. "So now we have a smartass dog as a sidekick. I think this trip just got a little more interesting."
"All flight parameters are at expected reporting values except one."
Harris looked directly at his pooch. "What? Anything of concern?"
"The hop-drive, sir. With each new wormhole created, the focus tightened. Our last jump placed our would-be speed at just over twenty-four thousand times the speed of light."
"Is that a retained improvement?"
"We won't know until after this journey, sir. I believe Mr. Gaerten had an algorithm running that sought to improve focus after each jump. It apparently performed as expected, if not better."
ARMS For Eternity: (Book 8) Page 10
