by William Wood
THE RUINS OF ARLANDIA
THE COMPLETE SERIES
WILLIAM F. F. WOOD
Copyright © 2015 William F. F. Wood All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1511823879
ISBN-13: 978-1511823876
Library of Congress Control Number:
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform North Charleston, SC
DEDICATION To the Alpha and Omega
CHAPTER ONE
GOING-AWAY PARTY
Calvin Range stood on the deck of his family home, looking out over the river. The sun was setting, turning blankets of clouds the color of fire. It was late fall, and the temperature at night dropped rapidly. The surrounding tree-covered hills displayed their red, orange, and dark purple leaves. He took a deep breath. He loved the cold air mixed with the smell of wood fires. Calvin took it all in, savoring every aspect of his home.
It was a very special evening. The family was celebrating Calvin’s graduation from the Space Academy.
Tables and chairs lined the balcony. Silver trays with hors d’oeuvres sat on tables in the back with a server behind each one. A punch fountain stood next to the centerpiece, a large ice sculpture in the shape of a spaceship. A jazz band occupied the opposite side of the deck, and it played lively music.
One hundred and nine guests, dressed in tuxedos, military uniforms, and evening gowns mingled, ate, and drank out of tall crystal glasses. Many stayed warm by sitting around a large fire pit in the middle of the deck. As darkness grew, several torches were lit.
Calvin wore his service dress uniform—black and red with silver insignias. Normally he didn’t stress about his appearance. His dark brown hair was too short to have to worry about, and his three years at the academy had made uniform perfection a thing of second nature. But tonight was different; there were senators and senior officers at the party.
“Well, you did it,” a voice said. Calvin turned and saw his best friend, Jax, approaching. “For ten years you’ve been saying you were going to join the Space Command, and you finally did it. The big question is, will you ever go into space?”
“Of course I will, Jax,” Calvin said, trying to sound confident. “I know someone who has connections. He says we’ll go into space again, someday.”
“Calvin, the fact that your father is a senator and a senior member of the space committee isn’t going to make a difference,” Jax said. “There hasn’t been a manned space mission in ten years. Your father doesn’t have enough clout to get us back into space. I’m sorry, but I think you’ve chosen a dead-end career.”
“I think you’re wrong,” Calvin said.
“Definitely the most unpopular.”
“Then why did you join up?” Calvin asked.
“It's your fault,” Jax said. “I'm still trying to figure out how you talked me into it. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Yes,” Calvin said, looking up at the stars. “We’re going to get back out there. That’s where the future is.”
“The only people who believe that are at this party. Everyone else thinks we’re crazy.”
“Your dad still won’t talk to you?”
“No. He’s still mad that I won’t be a farmer, like him.”
“Sorry, Jax,” Calvin said. “I wish more people felt like we do. But when we report to Space Command next week…”
“When we report next week,” Jax interrupted. “We’ll serve proudly on the only spaceship allowed to operate, the mighty simulator ship, Defender.”
Calvin didn’t answer; he just stared at the stars.
The sound of a spoon tapping on a glass rang out. The music and hum of conversation stopped.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a gray-haired man in a dark blue suit called loudly and stepped on a raised platform near the house. Calvin’s father, Foster Range, had a smile on his face and looked at his guests with genuine appreciation. “Thank you so much for coming this evening. This is a big day for our family. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, Lieutenant Calvin Range.” He was answered with a loud roar of applause. “Come up here, Calvin!” Calvin crossed the deck and stepped up beside his dad.
“Speech!” someone shouted.
“Thank you, everyone,” Calvin said.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant,” Jax said, jumping up next to Calvin and his father. “I think they mean me. You’ll get your turn in a second.” Calvin smiled and stepped back.
“Senator Range,” Jax said. “I have something to say. I’ve been friends with Calvin my whole life. His dream of joining Space Command was so strong, he gave it to me. Anyway, Calvin, I just want to say that I’m proud of you. I’m lucky that I can call you my friend. I’d wish you the best of luck in your career, but you won’t need it. You’re going to be a captain someday, and after that you’ll probably be in charge of Space Command. Please everyone, a toast. To Calvin! May there be no limit to your successes. Good luck in your new adventure.”
“To Calvin!” the crowd shouted. Everyone clicked their glasses together and took a drink.
“Thanks, Jax!” Calvin said as Jax took a seat. Calvin’s father stepped forward again.
“Tonight, we have more than one reason to celebrate. I have the privilege of announcing that for the first time in ten years, the council has approved a manned space mission.” There were several gasps, and then a pause. Then everyone clapped and cheered.
“The Sorenia has been cleared to fly a training mission around our solar system, and my son will be on it.” A wave of exuberance overtook the crowd. There were shouts and cheers with raised glasses. Foster nodded to the band, and it began playing again. Everyone went back to talking, eating, and drinking.
“Thanks, Dad,” Calvin said. “This party means a lot to me.” “I’m very proud of you, Son,” Foster said. “I’m also jealous. Ten years. Who knows if the council will ever let us go into space again? I doubt it.”
“They need to stop letting the past scare them so much,” Calvin said. “It’s been eighty years. We don’t even know what’s out there anymore.”
“That’s true,” Foster said. “That’s why we need to go find out.” “Right,” Calvin said. “The Dark Terror might not even be out there anymore.”
Foster was about to reply, but he stopped when a tall thin man in dress uniform approached them. He had gray hair too, and unlike Calvin and Jax’s uniforms, his had many ribbons and medals hanging from it. “Senator,” the man said. “Thank you for inviting me to your home.” “Thank you for coming, Captain Delik.” The two shook hands. Then the captain offered his hand to Calvin. “Lieutenant Range, it’ll be a privilege to have you on my crew. I hear you’re a natural at navigation.” “Thank you, Captain,” Calvin said, shaking his hand. “At least in the simulator.”
Captain Delik laughed, and he turned to Foster. “I’m surprised you got this mission cleared. I thought our days in space were over.” “It wasn’t easy,” Foster said. “But the backup to the Planetary Disruption Shield needs a new power generator.”
“They didn’t tell you to use drones?”
“They did, but this time the work is more delicate. We can’t trust robots to do it. One wrong move and our planet will be visible for any passing spaceship to see.”
“Oh, I see, so that’s how you sold it.”
“Yes, and it didn’t hurt that two senators owed me a favor.” “You make it sound easy.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t. I had to call in a few favors. Then the security committee threatened me. They said if the Sorenia wanders anywhere near the edge of the solar system, I’ll find myself in a prison cell. I’m passing that threat on to you.”
“Thank you, Senator.” The captain’s smil
e faded.
“I just don’t want to be alone in that prison cell. Don’t worry. Just stay close to home and you’ll be all right.”
“Can I ask you a question? I heard that the budget for the space program was going to be cut in half next year.”
Several people stopped talking and looked in their direction. Foster’s expression changed to a sympathetic smile. “We can talk about that later, Captain. You should enjoy your mission. There’s no telling when we will have another opportunity like this one.” The party didn’t end until late in the evening. When Calvin finally went to bed, he couldn’t sleep. When he got tired of trying, he sat on the balcony and stared up at the stars. What was out there? Was the Dark Terror real or just a story told to scare the population? He had heard the stories his whole life. His father told him they were lies. The problem was that the stories worked. Nobody wanted to go into space. A massive amount of money was spent on the Planetary Disruption Network, a system designed to hide the planet from passing ships. Everyone was scared of space. Maybe Calvin was crazy, but he couldn’t wait to get out there.
CHAPTER TWO:
TAKE OFF
Calvin sat in the backseat of the hover car. He stared out the window, lost in thought. It was a beautiful sunny day. There were no clouds in the sky. New Arlandia City was nicknamed the “City of the Sun,” because of the sheer amount of glass that reflected the sunlight. The buildings, domes, moving sidewalks, and hover-car lines were all covered in glass.
The hover car made its way downtown on the central line. Calvin was comfortable in his light-gray utility uniform, but his uniform was bare—only a name tag and rank insignia. His career was just starting. He would have plenty of time to add ribbons and decorations. His father and mother sat in the middle seats talking, but Calvin was completely unaware of what they were saying. He was full of conflicting emotions, excited and terrified at the same time. He was excited that after two months of briefings and simulations the Sorenia was going to launch. He was terrified that he would make a mistake and let everyone down. Calvin closed his eyes. He was so tired he could feel sleep tugging at him. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept well. He opened his eyes, afraid he would fall asleep.
As they got closer, Calvin saw the fields that surrounded the Space Command dome were covered with tents.
“Look at that,” Foster said. “Some of them have been camped out here all week.”
“It’s not every day you get to see a space launch.”
There were little tent cities all over, in every open spot. Thousands of people gathered near small fires, sitting on foldout chairs and blankets on the ground. Many were setting up large cameras. Closer to the dome was another group of people. This group held signs and marched along a sidewalk as close to the dome entrance as it could get. Security guards watched them warily. The signs read, “Stop the launch,” “You’ll kill us all,” and “Don’t bring the Dark Terror.”
The protesters screamed as the hover car passed by. They sounded like an angry, jumbled mess. Calvin couldn’t understand what they were shouting. Security quickly waved the car through the gate, and it stopped in front of the entrance to the dome.
Two men in dark blue security uniforms opened the hover car doors. A small reception waited for them outside. One of them saluted Calvin’s father.
“Senator Range,” The man said. “It’s good to see you, Sir.”
“Captain Vinder,” Foster said, returning the salute. “It’s good to see you too. I have to say, though, I didn’t expect a reception.”
“We don’t get distinguished visitors every day,” Captain Vinder said. “Or get to witness what could possibly be the last manned space launch.”
“So you’ve heard the rumors,” Foster said.
“Just rumors,” Calvin said.
“Yes,” Captain Vinder said, smiling. “Just rumors. Lieutenant Range, it’s a pleasure.” Calvin tensed and straightened his back even more than it already was. The captain offered his hand before Calvin had a chance to salute. Calvin shook his hand reluctantly, but with a firm grip. It felt strange to be treated so well by a captain, since Calvin was only a lieutenant. But when your father is a senator, that’s what you get.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Vinder said. “It’s going to be a spectacular launch.”
“Yes, Sir,” Calvin said. One of the security agents retrieved Calvin’s suitcase from the trunk and handed it to him.
Calvin and his parents were escorted into the space center’s main building. Calvin half expected to find another group of people waiting to greet them on the inside. He was accustomed to a painful ceremony everywhere his dad went. He was relieved when there was no one there. They stopped in the entryway—a wide-open space in the large glass dome.
Foster looked at his son, and he smiled. “This is it, Son,” he said. “We’ll say goodbye here.”
“OK, Dad,” Calvin said.
“We’re going to watch in the control room.” He looked into his dad’s face and saw worry there.
“What’s wrong? I’ll only be gone for five days. We’re not even allowed to leave our solar system.” Calvin wasn’t able to hide his disappointment.
“I’ve been trying to change that,” Foster said.
“I know, Dad,” Calvin said. “It would be easier to change the planet’s orbit.”
“You’re right,” Foster chuckled, remembering that he had said that many times himself.
Foster appeared to struggle with what to say. Finally he said, “I envy you. Even if it is only around our system, it’s going to be an adventure. Oh, I almost forgot, I want to give you something.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gold medallion, hanging on a long gold chain. He held it out to Calvin.
“My father gave this to me, the day I went into space for the first time. I want you to have it.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Calvin said, taking it from him. He put it around his neck and hid it under his shirt. His mother smiled sadly. Calvin knew that smile; he’d seen it before. She was trying hard not to cry.
“Be careful up there,” Foster said. “The Sorenia is old. You’ll get a lot of experience repairing equipment. I’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Calvin said.
His mom reached out and took his hand.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “You’re finally going into space.” Her eyes started to tear up, so she forced herself to change the subject to something cheerier.
“Don’t forget, we’re having dinner at our house on Friday. Everyone will be there.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Calvin said. “I’ll be there.”
“You can tell us all about your mission,” Foster said. “Keep a journal. It will help you remember everything.”
“Yes, Sir,” Calvin said.
Calvin hugged his mom and shook his dad’s hand. Before leaving, his mom reached into her purse and took out a tissue. Then they left, holding hands. It was a sad moment, but it was very hard for Calvin to be sad.
“Hey, did you see all the crazy people out there?" Jax said, approaching Calvin from across the highly polished rotunda. “Ooooo, the Dark Terror is coming. I’m scared.” He laughed loudly.
“Yeah, right, let’s go find them. Are you ready to go?”
“I’m ready,” Jax said. “Just waiting for you.” They walked down a glasscovered hallway. “Did you talk to the captain?”
“Yes,” Calvin said. “He said it would be no problem. We can share a room.”
“Excellent!” Jax said.
“Corridor two, room eighteen,” Calvin said, smiling.
The biggest adventure of a lifetime waited for them, at the end of the glass corridor, sitting on the landing platform—the Sorenia, a fiftyyearold ship with a dangerously underfunded budget. He’d seen the ship before, both in pictures and even once on a guided tour when he was in third grade, but for some reason, despite its age and reputation as a maintenance nightmare, seeing it sitting out on the tarm
ac made his heart beat faster and a surge of nearly uncontrollable excitement surge through his veins.
The sun was shining and there were no clouds in the sky. A gentle breeze washed over Calvin and Jax as they crossed the tarmac. It was a perfect moment. The Sorenia gleamed in the morning sun. She looked like an airplane, with sleek delta wings, a short stubby tail and a pointed nose. The bridge was all the way forward, on the top.
The ship was a torrent of activity. Vehicles dropped off pallets of food and other supplies near an airlock on the aft end of the ship. Dozens of workers were busy hauling the boxes in by hand.
A fuel truck was connected to the ship with a long hose. A dozen more trucks were lined up behind it, waiting their turn to upload fuel into the ship. There were people everywhere. Maintenance crews crawled across the hull above and below making last minute checks.
Calvin and Jax had to wind their way to the Sorenia through the carefully organized chaos. Once there, they climbed a staircase and entered through the main airlock. Calvin had memorized the ship’s schematics and found their quarters relatively easy. But the two Lieutenants were too excited to unpack. They dropped off their personal gear and walked back out into the corridor.
“Hey navigator,” Jax said on his way to the engine room. “Try not to get us lost, OK?”
“Yeah, well, I’ll be impressed if you can get this ancient beast into space.”
They both laughed. Calvin headed to the bridge, and could still hear Jax laughing down the corridor. Calvin walked briskly, certain he had never been this excited before.
The ship smelled old, and the metal deck-plates were well worn.
As he walked to the bridge, he passed dozens of young, enlisted crewmen, and all of them looked exactly like he felt, with faces that conveyed nervousness and exhilaration.
At the end of the corridor were two stairwells; one that led up to the bridge, and the other led down to the Galaxy Deck, the special area of the ship reserved for the senior officers (the officers that had stars in their rank insignias.)
