“Captain John, punch it.”
At her command, he ceremoniously touches the main engines symbol. As before, the glow of the dampening shields increases in intensity. The stars go from white spots to the multicolored spectrum of light that she now finds soothing.
John glances at Joe, who gives him a slight nod. “Almost speed six and holding, we will be stopping just outside the Sol system to recharge everything for the final leg of our journey.
Joe turns and adds. “Thanks to George and Olaf, we have additional power reserves now.”
Cindy raises an eyebrow.
George knows what she is thinking and jumps in quickly.
“We did not do the same thing as before, this is much safer. We got the computer folks to write some software allowing GUS greater control over the reactors. They now continuously charge the ship’s power grid, even during our down time. Don’t be alarmed, the grid is designed to cope with over one terawatt of power, our reactors barely put out two percent of that. They would have to run for months before coming close to overcharging the grid.”
Cindy considers what she has heard for a moment, while she decides whether to berate him for not running the idea past her, or to congratulate him for his initiative.
“Great work,” she finds herself saying.
John adds his own thoughts to the discussion. “It means we can run at this speed until we’re about a day from home. That’s when we’ll stop and recharge the drained capacitors while we make our final course correction.”
Cindy frowns in confusion. “OK. So just how fast are we going?”
Joe beams as he answers. “Well we have figured out that speed five is approximately four thousand times the speed of light. But would you believe that we’re travelling around forty thousand times the speed of light right now? Sucks a ton of juice to get there, but maintaining it is not so bad.”
Cindy gazes at the kaleidoscope of colors bombarding them “The ship’s controls go to eight? That’s pretty impressive, any idea how fast that is?”
Joe shrugs his shoulders. “We don’t know if each block represents a new leap by some unknown factor, or if there is some sort of gradient effect.”
“Well, hopefully we will find out.” Replies Cindy.
The days roll by quickly enough as the entire crew gets wind of how soon they will be home. One more stop then Earth. Cindy is excited at the prospect of being back home, but a small part of her is really enjoying the freedom she feels at the helm of this ship.
The ship shudders at the transition to sub-light speeds. John reduces the Terran’s speed to a dead stop thus allowing the ship’s capacitors to recharge efficiently. Cindy looks ahead at one special star while Joe shakes his head at the demands on power GUS makes while gathering star chart data.
Andrew has been quietly reviewing his panel and laptop. He glances at John, then Joe, before giving them all some much wanted news.
“Well mates, we’re one light year from Earth. We only need to make a minor course correction.”
Cindy smiles at the improving efficiency of her crew.
“I will go down to the mess hall and let everyone know that we will be home tomorrow.”
Joe and Andrew pour over the data while she is gone. The two work as though planning a mischievous task. They eventually enlist John into their plans. He reviews the data and listens to their idea. He loves it. With the Gamin satellite grid providing the navigational systems precise coordinates, they will be able to drop in right on top of Earth.
Location:
Starship Terran
Sol Solar System
The crew all waits excitedly, in three hours they will be in Earth orbit and home. One man though, is not as excited as the rest. He stealthily approaches the relaxed guard. He has hid from sight these long weeks, stealing food, and other items as he waited for the right time to avenge his comrades. He stops, suddenly tensing up.
Jim stretches as he stands outside the computer room. His shift is nearly over, he is almost distracted, almost. He whirls around, lifting his weapon as he does.
The corridor is filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. A computer technician stops dead in his tracks, mortified at the sound. He fearfully turns toward the doorway to see Jim falling backward, blood spurting from numerous wounds.
The terrorist looks down at his white coverings. He is shocked to find a number of holes, each with expanding crimson dots. He can’t believe that even with total surprise the infidel managed to shoot him. He wheezes as sheer hatred drives him forward. Each step causes the crimson patches to expand until his whole garment is red. Stepping into the computer room, he looks like death itself. The terrified technician wets himself as tears fall down his cheeks, fear preventing him from moving.
The terrorist is almost spent, coughing up blood, he staggers farther into the room, lifting his weapon slowly as he goes. The man whose urine now forms a puddle at his feet, is still unable to move. He stares at the bloodied man with wide eyes, even as the weapon points right at him. The burst of gunfire knocks the bloodied man to the ground. The technician faints, bullets raking his clothing but nothing more.
The ruined man, his breathing forming bubbles of blood, pulls a grenade out from somewhere and pulls the pin. He dies happily as he envisions the casualties he has inflicted.
He is wrong, for no sooner than does he let go of the grenade, the four people in the room run for their very lives. They drag their listless colleague as they go, barely rounding the corner when the grenade goes off. A secondary explosion surprises them, as does the wash of blood that bursts from the room.
Had Jim hit the terrorist a little lower, he would have detonated the belt of explosives he was carrying. Sometimes it is the smallest of things that cause the greatest change.
The explosion is not felt on the bridge directly, but it’s effects are noticed immediately.
George backs from his console as John suddenly finds his Gamin console unresponsive. Every laptop connected to GUS shorts out as the overload from GUS impacts every system it is connected to. Alarms blare in reactor control as reactor after reactor increases output to one hundred-ten percent, then one hundred-twenty percent.
Everyone is suddenly shoved back into their seats as the ship accelerates. Non Gamin deck plates creak and groan throughout the ship as she steaks through space.
John looks in alarm at his console.
“We’re at maximum speed, and I can’t do anything about it.”
Joe puts a hand to his head in an almost panicky motion.
“Reactors are at one hundred-forty percent and climbing.”
Andrew looks in bewilderment at his Gamin console as stars move at impossible speeds.
“We will be passing Earth in thirty seconds at this rate.” He says totally surprised at their velocity.
Cindy barely keeps herself in control as an odd vibration starts to come through the deck plates.
“Transmit everything we have to Earth as we pass.” Her voice is steady and firm, though inside she is terrified.
George reconnects to the Gamin system then one minute later disconnects.
“Transmission complete. GUS is down.” He states, his voice becoming unsteady he adds. “The RMC just went down.” He looks nervously at Cindy, who stares back at him blankly.
The ship, though designed for these speeds, does so at a cost. Armor plating not of Gamin design, begins to peel away from the main hull, both inside and out as the ship begins to shake itself to bits.
“Reactors won’t respond to shut down commands.” The dread filled voice comes across the speakers. “GUS overloaded our controls, yet failed to trip our safeties. The main beaker is fused open.”
The Terran streaks past Earth so fast and so close that it causes a massive storm front to form. The lunar surface has little dust devils for a few seconds as their trajectory takes them dangerously close. The Terran travels at an impossible speed toward the galactic core. Unable to turn or stop, the bridge cr
ew frantically hopes nothing is in their way.
As for GUS, that which the explosion did not destroy was most certainly fried during the subsequent overload.
For hours, the starship Terran travels out of control deeper into the galactic core. Deck plates shake and shudder increasing the level of fear onboard. The colors that come through the forward view are the most vibrant ever. Cindy stares at the them as she ponders their predicament.
Location:
Array Operations Center (AOC)
80 KM West of Socorro, New Mexico
Barbara stares out at her new facility, her pale grey eyes taking it all in. Once again she is in charge of one of Earth’s most powerful radio telescope facilities. The budget had been exorbitant, the technology installed, the latest. She stands there both proud and perplexed, for they just received a garbled transmission, from space.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
She turns to her desk and is most surprised to see which phone is ringing. Grabbing the phone quickly she hears a familiar voice, and cringes.
“Demetri here, my old friend.” The Russian plays with the word ‘friend’, for friends they are not. Neither party likes the other, but they are developing a growing respect for each other.
“What!” She states in annoyance, tapping on her desk with a pen.
“We just received a rather odd transmission.” Demetri continues on, unperturbed. “I was wondering if your facility picked it up as well.” The Russians facility was rebuilt with no expense being spared. It also boasts the world’s best technology.
She frowns at this. “No, we have not ‘picked up’ anything unusual.” She repeats some of his words in a mildly mocking tone.
“No need to be like that. I am calling to share with you what we have received. If you’re interested, that is.” Demetri’s initial excitement is fading fast.
Barbara realizing that she has been unfair replies, her voice softer.
“Demetri, we did get ‘something’ but are still piecing it together.”
“Oh,” he replies understanding her position. “Well, your honor is intact. The transmission originated in close orbit, between the moon and Earth, in fact. We were facing that way, and you were not. The problem we’re having is in the data stream itself. You see, it’s distorted somehow.”
As the talks between them become technical they get more cordial with each other, as usually happens between the scientists. The session drags on fruitlessly until Barbara suddenly has an idea.
“Why don’t we run this transmission by the Aussies?” Her energy picks up as she almost blurts out her thoughts.
Demetri is disappointed in himself for not thinking of this sooner, her idea is so obvious, and correct.
“Of course, they have a Gamin shuttle. If the transmission was from one of their ships, perhaps the shuttle can decipher it.” He gulps. “I hope this doesn’t mean the aliens are coming back.”
Both remain silent, neither of them relish the idea of the Gamin returning.
Location:
Ground Control
Outback
Western Australia
General Hayes puts the phone down, then taking a few moments to gather his thoughts, he then puts together a list of orders.
It does not take long for the Gamin shuttle to be connected to the ground control computer systems. George had left a bunch of his fabled buffer circuits along with instructions on how to use them.
The data stream comes in from Russia straight through to the shuttle. The output is directed to a freshly installed supercomputer which rivals GUS. As technicians review the data, they are both surprised and dismayed at what they have been sent.
General Hayes reads the preliminary report quickly, then rereads it again in disbelief. Picking up the phone shakily, he makes a number of calls. It takes the supercomputer hours to compile the rest of the data stream. During this time, everyone connected to the little project now wishes they were not. The General lets everyone know that if any information leaks concerning this day, the offenders will be either shot or imprisoned for life. Though capital punishment is far from the norm, the staff feels pretty sure the General means it.
Even before all the data has been deciphered, the General boards a large military plane. Once again, he spends long hours in the air followed by tense meetings, then more flights until he finally reaches his ultimate destination.
Location:
Washington DC
USA
The President gazes around the room at his many advisors, his eyes pausing at the small group of visitors. The Australian General he has met before, along with Barbara the headstrong scientist. But the Russian is someone he does not know. He squints at the name tag but can’t read it even though he sits fairly close.
Everyone has briefs in front of them. The President sits back in his chair, then after gathering his thoughts, speaks up.
“Anyone else get this transmission?”
People seated around the room start to look at each other in silence until finally Demetri stands up.
“I would have to say, yes.” He then sits back down.
The President looks at the many others in the room.
“Just yes, no more? Who then?”
Demetri shrugs his shoulders in an exaggerated fashion.
“Anyone with a powerful enough radio telescope facility backed with a computer system capable of storing the data.” He volunteers.
“China?’ The President stands up. “Did China get this?” He stabs at the brief angrily with his index finger.
As Demetri looks around the room and finds all eyes turning to him he answers.
“They have the capability.”
The President sits back down.
“OK. Now what do we do?” He says, seeking input from his advisors.
Barbara can’t stand the indecision in the room any longer.
“We know the starship Terran made a close pass to Earth. The message from the ship was distorted for reasons unknown. They report finding two planets that are habitable. We must claim them.”
An elderly man stands and shakes his hand at Barbara as he speaks up condescendingly.
“Reasons unknown. Pfft to you. The ship was travelling at..”
The President interrupts the man with a wave of his hand.
“Yes, quite, quite. I don’t care why the message was distorted, that is not important. What matters now. is how can we get to the planets they found?”
Barbara and Demetri find themselves on common ground as they watch the meeting fall into disarray. Once the meeting has dissolved the unlikely pair seek each other out. Barbara nods her head and smiles as she quietly talks with Demetri. “We must find out what’s going on with the Terran.”
His eyes rove the few stragglers as he replies. “Yes, something has gone wrong. We need to know what happened. We will talk more later.” He adds staring at her intently.
“Of course, would you like to take a tour of my facility?” She continues catching his drift.
He smiles at the offer. “It would be a privilege.”
Location:
Kangbashi District
China
Commander Jie could not be any happier. Not only is almost every department reporting success in their endeavors, he now sits upon a discovery that may elevate his status even further. He smiles as he thinks of the near two million civilians and three hundred thousand soldiers that all follow his orders. The city has grown these last few months under his leadership.
The facility’s supercomputer has also been steadily receiving upgrades, even when his advisors told him they were not necessary. Jie just reinforced his desire that ‘KANG’ be more powerful, and faster, besides cost was not a consideration. When he demanded the city build its own radio telescope facility, he again met resistance. Four months later ‘people power’ again showed its effectiveness as the city now boasts a most impressive array.
The array almost cost him his post, as his superiors fai
led to see its benefits. But now he knows it has solidified him as a forward thinking person, a true leader. Jie has no doubt that he will soon be honored and respected even more.
The transmission from the starship Terran was difficult to decipher, it being badly distorted. Having the array aimed at the lunar base, yet another fortuitous decision. Commander Jie rereads the dossier, and takes special note of the creatures encountered on the two habitable worlds mentioned.
Also on his desk is a rather disturbing report. This one of yet another failure by the French medical team in their efforts to enhance a soldier with the knowledge given to them by the aliens. No matter, there are plenty more volunteers, besides, there is no need to report the occasional accident. He continues his musings.
Walking to the massive windows he gazes off into the distance, where there rests a duplicate of the facility in the Australian Outback. Huge cranes surround this construction dock, idly waiting for the day they will be put to work. Yes, Commander Jie has abused his authority and spent vast sums of money, but today he holds vindication.
Location:
Starship Terran
Somewhere Out There
Radclyf stares at his friend Jim, laying on the floor of the makeshift morgue. Though he is supposed to be unattached to his team, he finds himself spending some time recounting all of their missions together. Finally Henry comes over and places a supportive hand on his shoulder.
“He died performing his duty. We will all miss him.”
Radclyf silently nods his head in agreement. He then looks at Henry with an expression that would make normal men cringe. Death walks with Radclyf this day.
For hours the crew battles the ship’s system’s refusal to accept commands. Every laptop that was connected to GUS is now useless. The supercomputer itself a ruined mess which looks to be beyond all hope of repair. The twenty nuclear reactors are operating far above critical levels and all attempts at regaining control are failing. The Terran is running at speed eight on the Gamin console and in doing so is shaking badly. Non Gamin deck plates are breaking from their welds throughout the ship, adding to the hazards. External plating is also shaking badly as the ship travels at an unimaginable speed.
Discovery (Terran Chronicles) Page 16
