Discovery (Terran Chronicles)

by Jackson, James

  George does not know how to take the unusual silence from his wife. They both know that going is the right thing to do.

  Feeling a swelling of pride she wipes her eyes dry. “Three things mister.” She declares seriously. “First, you promise to return home safe; you hear me?” She looks at him sternly, then her expression softens. “Secondly. No alien girlfriends out there, or you had better not come home at all.” Tensions relieved, they both burst into laughter. “Third, we’re taking up those government offers. Our son is getting the best schooling in the world.”

  Johnny scowls a little at this, he has very much enjoyed gallivanting around the base. He cheekily smiles at the memories of sneaking aboard the spaceship and peaking around.

  George holds his wife close and with heartfelt sincerity replies. “I am so lucky to have such an understanding woman.” He lets her go then smiles as an idea pops into his head. “You know, it’s going to take them a few days to sort out the ship’s crew. After I complete a few errands of my own, I should be free to stay here until we depart.”

  She closes her eyes and smiles. “That would be great.”

  “Well then, the sooner I am done, the sooner I shall be back.” He hugs her close one more time, then looks over to his son. “And you had better be a good boy for your mom.”

  Location:

  Cape Grim, Tasmania

  Australia

  Radclyf and George stand on the edge of the bluff, overlooking the ocean below. Both having lived in cities most of their lives, they look at each other with reservation, neither having experienced air quite like this.

  Radclyf looks at George with uncertainty. “This is the freshest air on the planet?”

  George shrugs his shoulders. “That’s what the medics say.”

  Stepping into his body suit, he uses it to draw in an air sample. After a few minutes he heads into the Gamin shuttle. “OK here goes.” He inserts the sample into the shuttle’s life support module. He steps back outside and obtains another sample.

  George smiles at Radclyf mischievously. “What do you want to breathe?”

  Radclyf looks back at George a little confused. “Don’t we all have to breathe the same air?”

  “Nope, this is your shuttle, right?”

  Radclyf sighs. “No, we’re leaving this one here, well at the launch site in Australia.”

  “Ahh, ok. Well, let’s go grab some more samples anyway.”

  While Radclyf and George continue their errands, Daitaro is also busy, ferrying people and supplies to and from the Terran. Having two shuttles is an absolute boon to the team. Vast amounts of additional supplies and equipment are loaded on board. Although many people choose to leave, Cindy is pleasantly surprised to find that many wish to stay, including a small group of welding contractors.

  Radclyf picks up the replacement shuttle crew who are most surprised at the speed of their journey. The three new shuttle pilots are awed as the Gamin shuttle lands inside the spaceship that they have all heard so much about. The ramp opens allowing the unpleasant air to waft in. The three men suddenly do not feel so fortunate. Stepping out they look back at Radclyf, no amount of words can prepare someone for the foul air, nor the heavier gravity. Everything around them screams alien, until they spot the three American Space Shuttles, an oddity in this unfamiliar realm.

  George steps from the cockpit area wearing his Gamin body suit. “Excuse me please.” The three stunned men move out of the way, briefs about the body suits did not do them justice at all. George walks casually past them, then heads to the ship’s central life support system. Their eyes follow the departing figure with bewilderment.

  John walks up to the three men and smiles. “Welcome aboard the Terran, gentlemen.”

  “How can you breath this horrid stuff, it’s making me sick to my stomach,” one of the men intones.

  “Well, you guys are lucky, it’s been like this since we launched. If George is successful we will have something a lot more to our liking very soon.”

  “Heavier gravity in space, feels damn weird.” Says another. he suddenly stops and looks around. “Geez this thing is huge. What the hell do they need all this room for?”

  “I see we have forgotten decorum already.” The last of the three men steps forward, his face a stern mask. “Captain John, I am Captain William Edwards. I do not find this casual approach of yours satisfactory, and will report your lack of protocol.”

  John looks back at the man and tries not to laugh. “You will report me! How do you intend to do this Bill? You’re on MY ship now.” John is quite perplexed at the man’s brashness.

  Bill’s face turns bright red with rage. “My name is William Edwards and I do not defer to you. I will speak with your commanding officer, NOW!”

  John bites back a smile, oh you are in for one hell of a shock, coming here with that attitude. “Well then, follow me,” he says instead of what he is actually thinking.

  Radclyf is also perplexed, none of the three had exhibited anything like this on the way up, indeed they had been quite cordial.

  The last of the shuttle captains observes from a distance. Aaron glances at his own flight crew then shakes his head while pointing his thumb at the commotion.

  “Why did they bring THAT hot head up here?”

  No one around him speaks up, but merely nods in agreement. Aaron is well respected for keeping his cool when under pressure. He is usually so quiet and reserved that his comment surprises those around him. His copilot is shocked to see Aaron’s jaw twitch while his green eyes blaze away at their new arrival. This behavior is totally out of character.

  Meanwhile, George quickly makes his way to the life support area. He waves at Paul, one of Radclyf’s heavily armed men, then proceeds inside the guarded room. It takes him a couple of minutes to insert the new air sample. Like many others he can’t believe that it’s this simple. A few moments later fans kick in with a whir. Shortly thereafter George is rewarded with the scent of fresh air. People literally breathe a sigh of relief as the foul alien air is replaced by a duplication of the fresh sample from the Tasmanian coastline.

  George replaces the samples in the other Gamin shuttle and the Gamin ground vehicle as requested. Next, he replaces the samples in his and Olaf’s suits, then leaves his suit to charge up. Finding, then persuading Radclyf to ferry him to his family is another easy task. They take the extra two body suits with them, a bonus for the ground crews.

  John arrives at the bridge with Edwards, his two crewmen in tow. “Admiral Cindy, I present to you Captain Edwards.” Cindy’s eyebrows raise up at John’s unusually formal tone.

  Cindy sits back more comfortably in her chair. “Edwards, welcome aboard.”

  “That’s Captain Edwards.” He replies with disdain.

  “Oh is it now?” She says with feigned surprise. “You do know that this is not a military operation, don’t you?”

  Edwards replies almost immediately. “I was that man’s instructor.” He points angrily at John, his finger an accusing dagger. “He is border line incompetent, fails to follow procedure, and if it were not for that foolish stunt involving the ISS, he would not be here now. I would be.” He almost snarls at John, his distaste for the man clearly evident.

  “Oh.” Cindy smiles. “Well then ‘Captain’ Edwards, please take a seat, and while you’re at it, why don’t you land us on the moon.”

  Edwards walks to an empty chair, then seeing the alien symbols on the console looks back at Cindy. “What is this?”

  “A lesson Captain, a lesson." Cindy replies with more than a little scorn.

  Still unperturbed he goes on. “Where are the interface units that I read about? Where is the decipher?”

  Joe looks over at Cindy, then receiving a supportive nod quickly jumps in. “They tend to overheat.” He picks up one of the burnt out laptops. “Besides they’re too slow, John pilots the ship directly, using that.” He points to the alien console.

  Cindy crosses her legs then stares at Edwards
with venom. “This is a restricted area, and you sir are neither qualified, nor wanted. Now get off MY bridge.”

  “Oh! Your bridge.” Sarcasm thick in his voice, looking down his nose at John he continues. “He led me to believe that this was HIS ship.”

  Cindy leans forward in her chair, and smiles. “I am in charge of the mission, but the ship, well, as far as your concerned, it’s Captain John’s.” She gives John a supportive nod along with a warm smile.

  Edwards gulps, he is used to his forceful methods getting him what he wants. Mentally back peddling he stands up, and for once in his life considers that perhaps he was wrong.

  Cindy adds one more jab at his battered ego. “If you ever want to pilot any Gamin craft, I suggest you zip your attitude. John will be your instructor, and that is only if and when he deems you fit for the task. You’re dismissed.”

  Abashed, he leaves all the while rallying his thoughts.

  Once Edwards leaves Cindy leans toward John. “You say the word and he’s gone, there are plenty of others that want to be here.”

  John considers the offer for a moment. “Nah. Actually, he is the best, he just wouldn’t volunteer for what was supposed to be a suicide mission.” John shrugs his shoulders.

  Cindy frowns at this. “So you’re telling me he is a space shuttle pilot that plays it safe?”

  “Yeah, weird hey.” John replies with a little too much honesty.

  This news bothers her, if they had played it safe, they would probably all be dead now. She sits back to consider her options.

  Later that night, when Joe retires to his quarters, he is surprise to find a note with instructions on it. Finding Andrew they head to the hangar area, then to the Gamin ground vehicle. Once inside Joe follows the notes instructions carefully. The subtle yet distinct smell of eucalyptus leaves quickly fills the compartment. Joe and Andrew grin from ear to ear.

  The next few days see the flurry of activity diminish, until all that is left to do is drop off the second shuttle and collect George. Captain Edwards seems to avoid John, and fills his days by practicing launch and recovery procedures with each of the three American Space Shuttles. John smiles when he hears of the flights. Edwards is brave, he just does not know it. The skins on the shuttles are quite thin and no one knew if the shuttles would be able to move through the Terran’s navigational shields, or of they would break up. When Edwards makes a fuss about fuel reserves, even the other two shuttle captains get annoyed with his negativity. The Terran stores enough fuel and spare parts that all three shuttles could operate non-stop for much longer than the expected life span of the engines themselves. The support crews can only shake their heads at the man’s lack of ‘people skills’.

  George has a great time with his family, and though he is excited about the upcoming mission he is also at odds about leaving them. Lisa is so happy her man is alive, that thoughts of his departing for a short mission pale in comparison to her earlier fears. He spends as much time with his family as he can, even as his days are filled testing candidate after candidate in the two alien suits. Dozens and dozens of people try and fail, many being violently sick as they fall from the suits. Each failure showing George to be even more special in the eyes of those observing. Eventually two people are found that can tolerate and even operate the suits to a minor degree. George shows the pair how to make a variety of basic items used in the ship’s construction, then once satisfied heads back to his family.

  He then surprises Johnny with an amazing gift. His command jacket, though much too big, it is worn with great pride by his son. Johnny looks at the rank insignia in awe.

  “You’re a Commander, WOW! But if I have this how will everyone know?” He says innocently.

  George smiles back.

  “It’s ok son, everyone knows.”

  George has trouble sleeping on this last night and chats with Lisa about his responsibilities to the ship and crew. They both know that he has to go, the almost disastrous launch showed them that. She is a little shocked at how easily he is swayed to go now, as opposed to just a few short days ago.

  Location:

  Washington DC

  USA

  The President looks at the letter in astonishment, a wax seal. Has my Russian counterpart gone crazy? He dismisses the hesitant courier, then breaking the seal, opens the letter. He skims through it quickly. ‘Improve Australian facilities, Russian support.’ OK no surprises here, so why the courier? As he ponders this as he turns the letter over in his hands. The ever present secret service agents stand quietly nearby. He peels off the wax expecting some clandestine message, but finds none. He tries to recall their talks when they last met in Australia, and frowns. The Russian President was not wearing a ring such as this, this is something new, is it special, or symbolic in some way?

  Looking at the agents he wonders what they would do. Something clicks in his mind as it registers. NEW! He looks at the letter again and smiles. There, the end of the letter, the full stop, it’s slightly larger than the others. He considers what could be so important, that such measures were needed.

  Tossing the letter down as though it were of no further interest he turns to the agents and politely states.

  “I would like to be alone for a while please.”

  Once he is truly alone he opens his desk drawer and grabs a microdot reader, one which the CIA only recently invented. He gulps. This is, no, was a state secret. How can it be that the Russians not only know of this device, but they can send me something for it to decipher? He runs the reader over the letter and sure enough, the last full stop has a message embedded into it.

  By the time he finishes reading he is as pale as a ghost, and finally understands why the letter was hand delivered, indeed it was the only way. But how do we proceed? He gulps, carefully and with caution. Pressing a small button on the reader he neutralizes the microdot on the letter, forever erasing the contents of the message.

  He chews over the information then chastises himself. It will take the consortium months to get additional facilities in place, while the Chinese have already been hard at work. Their only saving grace is the Gamin construction facility, with its heavy rail and road systems having been constructed for the launch. So it’s a good old fashioned space-race they want. Knowing what the Chinese have, though disquieting, also brings him solace. Now we know why they’re interested in Korea, it’s simply a diversion, or is there more?

  At the next cabinet meeting the President plans to push for more resources, and more co-operation with other nations. Having two body suits plus an alien shuttle that can fly to the moon and back is a massive strategic advantage. With this in mind he makes a few more phone calls.

  Chapter Two - Spin Around the Block

  Location:

  Starship Terran

  Earth Orbit

  Cindy smiles as George steps confidently onto the bridge. He is clad in his original body suit, the small dent in the helmet a testimony to its robustness. There is something on the chest plate. The emblem has been etched into the suit somehow. She can almost feel the positive aura that comes with him. She imagines powerful drum beats accompanying his every step. She looks over at Joe, and smiles while she shakes her head. There at his feet are three laptops, and she knows he has a lot more in storage too. Well, she did tell him to get anything he needed. Andrew on the other hand only has one laptop, he plans to work directly with the Gamin console before him. The number of hand written notes plastered all over the alien console show the extent of his efforts. John has had the now obsolete rocket control terminal removed, and in its place resides a pair of his own computers affixed to a custom made table. Cables still snake their way to and from the bridge connecting GUS to these laptops and the alien consoles. Peter occupies the last of the centrally located stations, casually observing. Radclyf and Hayato also find themselves on the bridge for this momentous occasion. They are fully armed and take up positions from which they can both see everyone and cover the doorway.

  T
aking a deep breath Cindy shifts her gaze forward. “John, prepare to take us out of orbit.” Without even looking down, she touches the internal communications symbol on her chair’s control panel. “Attention all hands, secure stations for departure.” The original crew was to be one hundred twenty-six, but with additional volunteers their numbers are now one hundred forty-seven. Putting Radclyf’s report of possible stowaways out of mind, she focuses on the task at hand. George steps to his favored wall console and in short order interfaces with the Gamin systems. With everyone in place Cindy finds her excitement building.

  “Captain John, thrusters only, break orbit, set course for Mars.”

  This time it is Joe’s turn to monitor the twenty reactors, while Andrew brings up the solar system on his panel. Tapping the planet signifying Mars, he is pleased to see telemetry information, and nods to John.

  “Thrusters only, aye.” John confirms as he activates a number of them. He really enjoys the way the controls work. Banking the Terran he gives them all a fantastic view of Earth, then he rolls the ship and turns her away, building speed as he goes. Without any reference other than the retreating planet behind them, he has no idea how fast they are actually going.

  “Thrusters at maximum.” Intones John as he keeps the star filled view as steady as he can.

  Cindy gazes out through the forward view screen, deep in thought. “Prepare to engage sub-light engines.”

  John reviews his notes one more time, even though George had quite clearly pointed out the symbol that would engaged them. “Ready at your command, Ma’am.”

  “Fire them up.” Everyone tenses up a little, no one knows what to expect.

  John wonders if Edwards knows what he is missing. With the briefest trepidation he touches the symbol while staring out the forward view. Nothing seems to happen, startled, thinking he hit the wrong symbol, he looks down at the alien console. It has changed a little. A few new symbols have appeared, as has a thin band that occupies the left side of his alien console. The lowest area of this band is lit. He notices that the symbol for the thrusters has gone out, and indeed they are offline, yet seemingly still available.