by Amanda Rose
Several of the insurgents approached Niko with Zavion, Dr. Takei, and Jona in tow, all of whom were handcuffed and disheveled. Blood dripped drown Zavion’s chin from an obvious kerfuffle between him and one of Niko’s men. “I found ‘em walking down the hall. They said they were headed to work on the distillation processor,” one of the men explained.
Niko nodded, “Thank you,” he said to his men.
Niko looked Dr. Takei and Zavion up and down, then smiled, “The Saisei’s lead scientist and head engineer, what a catch.” Then his attention turned to Jona, and he frowned, “Put this one with the others,” Niko said, disgust rang in is voice. Immediately one of Niko’s men jumped to action and hauled Jona away.
Turning back to Seto and Zavion, Niko spoke jovially, “Well… do I ever have a job for you two.” Zavion and Seto said nothing. “You’ll reprogram the system, so I can control the Saisei from here.” Niko explained, “Full control, we’ll need a complete navigation system so that…”
Zavion cut him off, “Go to hell!” he spat.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk!” Niko began again, “Bad manners are unbecoming,” his voice became flat. Then Niko waved over one of his men, and the man zapped Zavion with an electrified baton.
“Argh!” Zavion screamed, then fell to his knees, gasping for breath through the pain. Seto watched wide-eyed, horrified by the barbaric display of power.
“Now then,” Niko started again, “the navigation system…”
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Suki was beginning to panic. When the alarms had gone off, someone had engaged the emergency quarantine system, which had locked her and everyone else’s quarters. She was trapped and alone. Not long after her father had left, her mother had gone to pursue him, and she hadn’t returned.
After a long struggle with the door, Suki had given up on trying to open it. The locking system was mechanized, controlled by the main Saisei systems panel, and could only be opened from a main access panel. Suki paced in her living room, wracking her brain for a way to escape.
What the hell is going on? She wondered as she paced. She had seen fighter ships flying away from the asteroid, though she couldn’t tell why or where they were going; her window didn’t face the drill site. Where the fuck did dad go? I hope mom’s okay… she thought to herself, worried. A nagging sinking feeling gripped at her. As she continued to pace, suddenly, she remembered her data pad…
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Hiroshi had watched the entire thing from his quarters; the ships, the explosion, the chase, he was in shock and awe of it all. While he had no way of knowing for sure, he instinctively felt Niko had something to do with it. The way that Niko had spoken with such spiteful passion in the concourse about the political structure, it all made sense to him that Niko was behind this. He’d heard a commotion in the hallway not too long ago, and Councilor Uda’s voice was as clear as day.
Merrick Uda lived two doors down from Hiroshi and had always been a pleasant neighbor. Merrick was someone who always led from the heart and had gotten into politics to make sure the voices of the minority were also heard. Hiroshi had great respected for him, and hoped he was OK.
Standing by the window, Hiroshi watched as the debris from the asteroid continued to slowly drift away into space, lit up by the sun. It was as beautiful as it was tragic. The ships had quickly disappeared out of view behind the asteroid after the explosion, and he wondered what was happening amongst them now.
Suddenly Hiroshi heard a faint Bleep! which drew him away from the window. He sought out the sound and found his data pad was blinking while it beeped. He turned it on and found a message from Suki on the screen: Are you there? Hiroshi wondered how the message had arrived, the communication channels had been shut off since the lock down had gone into effect. He wrote back: Yes. How’d you get a message through? Where are you?
A few minutes passed, and then another message from Suki came in: I’m locked in my quarters alone. I set up a proxy signal, so it looks like regular ships systems talking to each other and I just piggybacked our signal into the military network. Do you know what’s happening? Hiroshi shook his head and smiled. Brilliant, he thought.
Hiroshi began writing back: I’m locked in too. I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s some sort of coup. I heard one of the councilors being dragged from their quarters, and I haven’t seen the fighter ships since they blew up the drill. Where are your parents?
A moment later Suki’s reply came: They blew up the drill?! Why would they do that?! We all need water! And a coup? This is crazy. My parents had a big fight before this all happened, I don’t know all of the details, but it was about politics. We need to get out and help. Do you know how to override the lock down?
Mulling over the question, Hiroshi tried to think through the problem. He wasn’t an engineer, or overly technically minded, but he knew the ships lockdown ran through electrical systems. The electronic computer interface is what allowed complete autonomy to run everything from the helm of the ship. But knowing the basic system set up didn’t help Hiroshi in thinking about how to override it. He was unsure if the systems could be hacked into. While he was certain getting into the wall to access the wiring could manually open the doors, even if he had the tools to get in he wasn’t sure he’d know what to do.
Resigned, he wrote back: The systems are electrical, and tied into the ships main computer, but I don’t know how to access any of that. For now, it’s safer to stay where you are. If anyone comes by your quarters, just hide. I’m sure help is on the way, we just have to wait it out. Hiroshi wrote, only half believing it.
Hiroshi tossed his data pad down on his couch, and then walked back over to the window, and stared at the asteroid. What are we going to do? He asked himself, but there was no answer. His mind raced, as if trying to piece a 100 puzzle pieces together while only holding 5 pieces, it was infuriating.
Chapter 5: Discovery
Norita and Takeo waited with bated breath. The General had managed to round up soldiers from all over the ship, got them organized, and was sending them in force down to the hanger bays to retake control of the ship. Norita kept checking the radar, but the ships had gone out of range. The lack of intel caused her anxiety to creep up. She continued to tell herself to let it go, but she couldn’t seem to manage it; she was rattled.
They had closed the secondary door hatch with its manual lever lock that could only be opened and closed by hand from inside their room, and it had saved their lives. Not 30 minutes prior, a massive insurgent team had tried to storm the command center. With complete control over the computer systems they unlocked the outer door in under 30 seconds, much to Koi’s dismay. The hatch, however, proved impenetrable.
The inner hatch had been designed using the old methods in submarines and major sailing vessels; made of ultra-thick steel, reinforced with polycarbonate, and it had been designed to create an air tight seal. It was bullet proof and had no method of entry from the exterior. To Norita’s horror the insurgents attempted to blow the door up with some sort of pipe bomb, and despite a hefty explosion, the door held, though the shockwave had still been extensive and had sent Norita toppling to the floor. The men had given up trying to get in after that, at least for the time being, but the incident had left her feeling shaken.
After what had seemed an eternity, a voice came on over the radio, “This is Captain Yoshini, come in, over.” Immediately General Yamamoto perked up and hurried over to the radio, Norita in tow, to respond. Koi, who’d been bent over his work station tirelessly trying to override the controls, sat up and leaned over to listen in.
“This is General Yamamoto, report,” he said, eager to get information.
“I’ve made my way to the hanger bays. Most of the ship is quiet, everything is locked down. There are groups of the terrorists wandering the ship, how many, I’m not sure. Here in the bays I see about 100 of them, the majority in Bay A. They’ve taken hostages, they’re locked up in a caged-in section of the bay where the parts and tools for ship maintenanc
e are held, in Bay A. I gathered most of my team, 21 men, and have them getting in positions around Bay A,” Gin explained.
“Excellent work, Captain,” Takeo praised. The General felt immediately better now that he had a better idea of what was happening. “I’ve got more troops on headed your way. What’s your exact position? I’ll have them coordinate with you. Even with the backup you’ll still be out numbered, about 2 to 1, but with the element of surprise, I want you to subdue and dissolve this insurrection and free the hostages. You’re to take all of these terrorists under arrest, disarm them, and have them return control of the ships computer to the main helm. Understood?” Takeo directed.
“Understood, sir. My men and I in cover in the air duct by the left entrance to the bay,” Gin responded.
“I’ll relay that, expect reinforcements to arrive within 10 minutes. You have the authority to begin the operation as soon as they arrive,” Takeo replied.
“Yes sir,” Gin’s voice came back, enlivened.
Norita looked to Takeo and smiled, “Good work.”
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Time had seemed as if it had suspended as Koji floated in space, and he wondered how long it had been. His shoulder pained him greatly; Masato had never had a chance to fix the dislocation. Koji felt light headed and fought to concentrate. Did I hit my head? He asked himself, unsure. Everything since the drill landed had seemed like a blur.
The trajectory of the blast had sent him hurtling towards the Saisei at first, though as the ship rotated in orbit as the asteroid rotated, it was slowly moving out of alignment with him. Koji had no idea how fast he was moving. At times he felt as if he was still, and at others, he could see his distance from the drill site on the asteroid was becoming greater and greater. Am I going to die? No one knows I’m here… or do they? But the ships are gone… what the hell happened? His mind was rapid-firing questions to which he had no answers.
Koji tried to turn his mind off, but the questions persisted. Fear gripped at him with the thought of dying alone in space. I don’t want to suffocate… he thought, terrified by the idea. He wished his suit’s computer had been operational, so he could check the O2 readouts. How much is left? He tried to think, but there were too many factors to know for certain.
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Raiden watched as the enemy ships disappeared out of sight into the gas giant’s atmosphere. Raiden check his radar, but the ships weren’t visible on it. Must be a lot of radiation… he thought. Raiden eased up on the throttle, and his squad did the same.
Freya came in on his headset, “Hey, we goin’ in?” she asked.
Raiden hesitated before answering, “No. Could be a trap, we’d be going in blind.” Taking a moment, he tried to think of the best next move. “Alright, Omega Squad, we’re going to set up NET formation, so we have eyes on all possible angles. We’re not going to risk an ambush, but we’re not letting them get away either. We’ll get into position, and then wait them out,” Raiden instructed. “Freya, you and I will take the far side of the planet,” he said, then instructed the rest on their positioning. “Alright everyone, move out!” Raiden commanded at the end, and all the pilots began to head towards their designated position.
“Race ya to the other side!” Freya’s voice playfully said, and then Radian watched as her ship sped off.
“Hey!” he laughed as he watched her take her unfair lead, then sped after her.
“Can’t be asleep at the helm, man!” Freya jived.
Raiden, focused on the race, didn’t respond. He pulled in closer to the planet to use the force of the orbit to pull his ship around faster. It only took a moment before he was catapulted past Freya’s ship, and with a good lead on her.
Checking his rearview, Raiden saw Freya following suit and catching up fast, so he pushed the engines harder. They red-lined before, they can handle it, he told himself. The engine light went off, but he ignored it, and pressed forward. Freya was doing the same, keeping pace not far behind, though Raiden was certain she wouldn’t be able to get ahead now.
Navigation read that they were nearing the back end of the planet. Raiden, gazed at his radar and saw his lead on Freya. He opened his mouth to tease Freya about not being able to beat him, but his jaw just dropped instead, and that’s when he saw it. Staring forward in awe, Raiden marveled at the sight before him.
About 20,000 kilometers ahead of Raiden’s ship he saw long curved silver-metallic arcing beams, massive in scale, entwined into what looked like a giant eye. The massive structure, 10 times the size of the Saisei, floated in space like a celestial being. In the center of it all light emitted from white particulates dancing in circles. The light from this solar system’s sun lit up the entire structure, bathing in in golden light.
“Pull up!” Freya’s voice screaming at him snapped Raiden back to reality. They were approaching the structure alarmingly fast. Freya pulled her ship up hard and immediately reduced speed. Raiden veered left, diving towards the planet’s atmosphere, hoping the gravitational pull would help pull him far enough away to avoid a collision.
The engine light was blinking and this time it had gone too far. The alarm began to go off, and the engine stopped responding; the overheating finally taking its toll. “Fuck!” Raiden yelled, as his control panel went dark. Raiden’s trajectory wasn’t far enough over, and he could tell he was going to collide with the outermost ring of the structure. There wasn’t enough time to let the engine rest for a restart either. His adrenaline was pumping, and his mind racing. With no other choice, he started preparing to eject, checking his space suit to make sure all of his seals were done up properly, and securing his helmet.
Fear overcame Raiden, he’d never had to eject before, and only had minimal training during basic space walks during his first year as a cadet. They were so far from the Saisei, he wondered if his homing beacon would work. What if it malfunctions? His mind ran through all of the worst-case scenarios. All the while the structure was getting bigger and bigger as the ship hurtled towards it.
WHAM! Without warning Freya ran her ship into Raiden’s to push it out of the way. The unexpected hit gave Raiden whiplash. His unprepared body flung back head against his seat, and the weight of his helmet threw his head back hard, badly straining his neck. “Ouph!” Raiden belted involuntarily from the impact. The hit had been just enough to push his ship out of harm’s way, and they sped past the side of the structure unscathed.
Both ships were fine, despite how intense the collision felt to the pilots, less for some scratched paint. Freya had impeccable control over her ship. She caught her breath as the exhilaration started to wear off. “You OK?” she asked.
It took a minute before Raiden replied, “I’ll live…” his voice indicative of the pain he was in.
“Sorry for the surprise man, I saw your ship go dark, and the opportunity, and I went for it. If I hadn’t…” she went to explain.
Raiden cut her off. “You saved me and the ship, no explanation necessary… though next time yell or something,” he said. Freya laughed, glad her best friend was alive and safe.
Turning her attention to the mega-structure, Freya was enthralled. What the hell is this thing? She wondered. It was so massive in scale. Moreover, it was clearly developed by someone, or something. After all their years alone in space, they finally had proof of other forms of intelligent life. Freya wondered if that was good or bad. How could anything bad make something so beautiful… she thought. It was ethereal.
Raiden’s engines started back up, and his ship lit up, grabbing Freya’s attention. “Good, you’re alive,” she said.
“Ha, yeah not dead in the water. Not yet anyway,” Raiden’s jovial voice replied.
Freya’s smile faded as she turned her attention to the structure, “This thing… what do you think it is? Hell, my proximity sensors didn’t go off, did yours?” she asked.
“I have no idea what it is, and no mine didn’t go off either,” Raiden replied.
“Shit, must be made of something weird,�
� Freya said, staring at the arcing metal.
“Turn on your scanners, let’s see what we can find out, but don’t get too close. We don’t know what it does,” Raiden warned.
Freya and Raiden started flying around the massive structure, scanning everything they could. Their imaginations ran away with them as they wondered what the monolithic structure was for, and who could have built such a thing. Freya imagined it might be a weapon, the energy at the center of the structure deadly. She shuttered at the thought of the devastation something so big could cause; if it was a weapon it could obliterate an entire planet.
Hours later they were only done scanning roughly a third of the structure. Freya shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her left butt cheek had gone numb. I’d give anything for some coffee, she thought, he energy waning. Thirst and hunger were beginning to take their toll. She looked over at her emergency rations kit and considered opening it, despite how tasteless and unpalatable she remembered that the dense protein was, her rumbling stomach convinced her it would be delicious. Her parched mouth and dry lips demanded satisfaction.
