Earth Ship Protectress: Book Two in the Freddy Anderson Chronicles

by John Ricks

  “Yes?”

  “Help on the science console. What does the indication marked ‘N2’ stand for?”

  “It indicates the level of nitrogen in the environmental pod.”

  “What would a high content of”—I looked at the indicator—“98 percent mean?”

  “That the environmental pods have a leak, and when they reach 94 percent, everyone on board will be dead very shortly if something is not done. At 98 percent, everyone should already be dead.”

  “What you experienced was a slowdown of controls, indicating that your reflexes were slowing down. At that point, some of the controls did not work because you were so groggy that you could not operate them correctly. You then died of asphyxiation. During an N2 leak, you would have no idea it was your fault that everything was going nuts.”

  I walked over to the person in the captain’s seat and said, “Your team member said ‘I think.’ Don’t think! You had better know, or we’re all dead. You’re the captain, so you’re fully responsible for the death of every member of this team.”

  She said, “We’ll practice harder.”

  I put my hand on her shoulder and said, “Please finish this scenario tonight. I know you can do it. There’s enough intelligence in this trainer right now that nothing should be impossible. Don’t limit yourself. Make bold, unbelievable decisions! Make mistakes! Make all the mistakes you can, but learn from them. Personally, I can’t believe you’ve figured out as much as you have, and because you have, I am nine weeks ahead of schedule on the Protectress.” That got a round of cheers. I could even hear them outside.

  “Tomorrow I will sit in on scenario fifty-one and, hopefully, fifty-two also, and then I have work to do until you get to fifty-nine. I’m going to bed now. I need to rest. I expect to be up at 5:00 a.m. See you right after breakfast at 6:00 a.m. Patricia, you get some sleep too. It may be the last you get for a few days.” I turned and walked out.

  They followed me with their eyes. One said, “I love that kid.”

  I smiled.

  Yellows said, “Math and Laws as God Set Them.”

  Little Yellows asked me mentally, “Who and where is this God, young one?”

  “He is everyone and everywhere.”

  Big Yellows continued. “We are back to the higher intelligence that is helping them. We need to know who, why, and where, and we need to know it now.”

  Little Yellows said, “This one does not know, and we doubt that any others do. He truly believes that this is his God and that it is everywhere.”

  Green said, “That means that finding this God is up to Gray.”

  Gray said, “We are on it.”

  Blue looked at Gray skeptically and said, “Continue, Green.”

  Chapter 27

  FTL

  The next day I ran through scenarios fifty-one and fifty-two with them while showing them some things they hadn’t considered. Then I said, “I need two crews, Captain—a three-person crew and a shuttle crew.”

  “What for, Freddy?”

  “I was thinking last night that I can move ahead faster if I test out the FTL drives before I go any further on the Protectress. Therefore, I want to take up one of the Sting Rays and follow it with a shuttle. We will be going faster than light this time. No human has ever done this before, so this is going to be a record, and the danger involved is very high.”

  The captain said, “It’s almost lunchtime. Will right after lunch be okay?”

  “Yes. Do you think you can get volunteers for this?”

  “Freddy, every person on this team and the NASA volunteers have come to me at one time or another this week, begging to be the first to fly at speeds faster than light. Well, everyone except you.”

  I looked at her with wide eyes and then smiled. I turned around, heading for the house and lunch, mumbling, “Nut cases. Suicidal maniacs. I’m being protected and assisted by crazies.”

  The mood was high as we ate. After lunch I went with Patricia into the workshop, and we flew out a Sting Ray. As we came out of the ship, I said to the captain, “This is the plan.”

  She stopped me, saying, “Scenario number eight.”

  “Exactly,” I said.

  “The teams are standing by.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  Both teams went to their ships. I noted with pride that all three on the Sting Ray team were my girls. The three astronauts were with the shuttle. I took a seat in the back and watched. Patricia was with me, and I started teaching her things about the shuttle design and the way I had built it.

  The captain said, “Freddy?”

  I looked up from a panel that I had removed. “Yes?”

  “We’re ready. You’re not messing with the ship, are you?”

  I put the panel back on and said, “Not while we’re underway, Captain.”

  We were eight hundred miles up and climbing fast. The Sting Ray that they named Manta was already at one thousand miles up and holding. The captain started giving orders. “Give me communications to Manta.”

  “This is Manta. Hear you loud and clear. Everything is normal and ready to go.”

  The captain said, “We’re coming up behind you now. Plot for Mars, and take off at one hundred miles per hour.”

  “Plotted. Engaging.”

  In the front screen, I saw them move away slowly.

  I said, “Captain, scans show they’re at a hundred miles per hour.”

  “How’s that feel, Manta?” asked the captain.

  “No feeling at all, Captain.”

  “Navigator, follow her at a hundred miles per hour, and continue to follow one step behind her speed. Engage. Manta, kick her up to one thousand miles per hour.”

  “Engaged.”

  I reported, “Scans show she’s at one thousand miles per hour.”

  The captain ordered, “Report, Manta.”

  “We’re at one thousand miles per hour, and we’ve had no adverse feelings. The ship is running true, and everything is normal. Man, I wish I had a car that could instantaneously accelerate like this.”

  “Kick her up to half impulse, Manta.”

  “Engaged.”

  I reported, “Captain, she’s moving away at fifty million miles per hour.”

  “America’s Dream, we’re reporting that the ship is still running true, with all controls and indicators at normal.”

  “Good. Kick her up to full impulse, Manta.”

  “Engaged.”

  I was impressed that there were no extreme emotions, particularly fear, from the crew.

  “Captain, this is Manta. We are at full impulse, and the scanners show that we’re traveling at just over 160 million miles per hour.”

  “Our scanners confirm, Captain.”

  “Catch up then, Navigator.”

  “Going to full impulse, Captain.”

  I could just barely feel that we were moving faster.

  I reported, “Scanners show that our full impulse is 210 million miles per hour, Captain. I am logging it in.”

  “This is Manta. My scanners confirm 210 million. I have slowed down so that you can catch me more quickly. I will speed up to full impulse when you are within two clicks.”

  Navigations said, “Captain, we are coming up on Manta and expect to synchronize in four, three, two, one … we are now synchronized at 150 million miles per hour.”

  “Manta, report,” said the captain.

  “This is Manta. All is go; I repeat, all is go. Indicators show normal with no vibrations. Environmental is normal, and navigation shields are on high. Have plot for high orbit around Mars. Plot is confirmed.”

  “Good luck, team. Engage at warp one.”

  They disappeared from the normal screens, but the science officer quickly changed to scanners, and they showed up fine.

  “This
is Manta. Everything is normal, but we felt a little movement at first, just a tiny bit, and our screens went blank while turning over to scanners.”

  I said, “I can adjust that out, and I will do that for the screens, but I thought you would want some feeling when you change directions or speed. I remember several times that you guys said that you like driving the jeeps instead of the limousines because you can feel the road with the jeeps.”

  “That’s good, Freddy. Just get the screens right. It made things a little freaky for a second or two.”

  “Sorry.”

  The captain said, “Manta, increase to warp two.”

  “Engaged.”

  “Navigator, engage.” The shuttle hit light speed instantly. It was kind of anticlimactic.

  “Twenty miles above high orbit at Mars in ten minutes, Captain.”

  “Manta is at warp two.”

  “Navigator, increase to warp two.”

  We felt just the tiniest movement, but it was very irritating and made my head hurt. I jumped down, and Patricia followed me.

  The captain said, “That didn’t feel good, Freddy.”

  “I know, Captain. We’re on it. The adjustment is all wrong.” I was mumbling to myself and then said, “Captain, please have Manta not make orbit. Continue straight for a few minutes until we catch up to her.”

  “Did you get that Manta?”

  “We got it. Holding steady at warp two.”

  I said, “Captain, go to warp one, please.” I opened a panel. “Patricia, these are the dampeners.” She whistled low with appreciation. “If you look at these monitors, you will note that I have the adjustments set at just short of zero. There are forty adjustments, covering all directions. I have several set too high. Let’s adjust them down to about .02 percent of G1.”

  “Okay, Freddy.”

  I stepped back. “Go ahead, Patricia, but be very careful because adjusting it wrong could be very bad.”

  She looked at me with a smile and reached in. She adjusted each to exactly .02, and it only took a couple of seconds each. I couldn’t have adjusted them that quickly. She was very good.

  “Captain, please increase to warp two.”

  “Navigator, engage.”

  I felt just a tiny bit of movement but not enough to cause any pain this time.

  “How’s that, Captain?” asked Patricia.

  “A little lower please. Navigator, drop to warp one.”

  I felt a slight slowing movement.

  Patricia adjusted everything down to .015. “Try that, Captain.”

  “Navigator, warp two, please.”

  It was just barely noticeable, but I could feel that there was a change in speed.

  “That’s good, Patricia,” said the captain.

  I showed Patricia how to lock things down, and we closed the panel and returned to our seats.

  The captain turned around and looked at me. “Freddy, can we increase to warp five safely?”

  “Sure, Captain. If warp two worked, then all the others should be fine.”

  “Manta?”

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “Let’s play tag. Power up weapons, and set them at warning, with shields on high. All speeds authorized. Go.” The reports then went just to America’s Dream. Manta went silent.

  “Manta has increased her speed to warp seven.”

  “Catch her, Navigator. Weapons Officer, stand by to give her a warning shot as soon as she comes into range. Shields at max.”

  “Increasing speed to warp 8.5.”

  “Shields up, Captain.”

  “Weapons on line, set for a warning shot, Captain.”

  “She’s heading for some asteroids.”

  “Bold move. How long before we’re in range, Weapons Officer?”

  “Three minutes, Captain.”

  “How long before she reaches the asteroid field?”

  “One minute and eight seconds.”

  “Captain, I have something else on screen coming in fast.”

  “Break off pursuit, and go on the offensive. Science Officer, I want to know what’s out there.”

  “Working on it.”

  “Captain, this is the Manta. Are you in trouble?”

  “Manta, we’re not alone.”

  “I see her, Captain. What do you want to do?”

  “You’re wingman, Manta. Take up position.”

  “On my way, Captain.”

  “Captain, the ship is one of the types that have been seen dropping off supplies to the mother ship at home. Shall I put her on screen?”

  “Do it.” The screen showed a craft, bulky and slow, coming in from the third quadrant.

  “Science, is she chasing us?”

  “Checking. She has a trajectory that suggests a high orbit around Earth. I don’t think she’s seen us, Captain.”

  “We can’t just sit out here until she unloads and goes away. Freddy does not have the time, and neither do we. Manta, take up position on her right and back far enough to let her know you’re following but not hostile. We’re going home with Freddy.”

  “Will do, Captain.” Manta quickly changed course and within minutes slid right behind the other ship and slightly off to her right.

  “Navigator, I want to run right by her at warp seven. Bring us home, but let her know that Manta is not the only ship out here that can catch her.”

  On the screen I could see us shoot past the other ship, and she changed course just a little but went right back on track.

  “I hope I made her nervous enough that she’ll think twice about firing on Manta. Warn the base we’re coming in and have three more Manta-class ships prepped and ready to go. I don’t want my girls up here alone.”

  Before we reached home, Science reported that three more Stingers were headed our way and would take up positions around the cargo vessel within two minutes.

  “Freddy, you really did a nice job building these ships.”

  “Thanks, Captain, but I’m still afraid that one will be set wrong and possibly harm people.”

  “Good. Keep worrying. That’s what made these ships work the first time. Do you realize how many records we broke today?”

  “Nope. Several, I suspect.”

  She shook her head and whispered to the navigator, “He really doesn’t care that his ships just made history.”

  Gray asked, “Who is this other species they are talking about? Could it be their God?”

  I laughed.

  Little Yellows said, “It’s not their God. That we can assure you.”

  Gray asked, “Are you getting information from the creature?”

  Big Yellows asked, “Where have you been for the last two hours, Gray? Our pen mate is constantly watching the creature.”

  Little Yellows said, “He thinks you’re funny, Gray.”

  Gray started fuming. Blue said, “Yellows, if Gray becomes upset, kill him. We will obtain another.”

  Gray quickly calmed down. “I am not upset. This creature seems to have a strange sense of humor.”

  Yellows said, “Actually, we find you funny sometimes also. Green, continue.”

  Green said, “This is the first time they ever flew faster than light. We have statues of our Red and worship his remembrance. It is remarkable that they developed ships that exceed our own so quickly.”

  Blue said, “Perhaps they simply went down a different direction in their thinking and hit on something better, or it may be this God creature. Whichever it is, we will not find out unless you continue.”

  Chapter 28

  A Visit from Friends

  Patricia and I discussed the equipment and what had to be done to keep the ships up and running. We opened several panels, and I pointed out many items. Before we knew it, the captain was telling us that we had landed a
nd could disembark.

  I said, “Already? Oh well, time to go to work.”

  The captain stopped me to ask, “Freddy, can we have one of the bigger ships to start a patrol?”

  “Susan, you can have anything you want. Just be careful out there.” I started to turn away but stopped and said. “One more thing … I want to be the first to set foot on another planet. Mars will do fine, but I want to be the one.”

  She smiled and said, “I think you have earned that right. I’ll make it clear to everyone. You have guests, Freddy. It’s not work time yet.”

  “Guests? Who?”

  “Captain Crain and his family. They came in on his boat. He needed some repairs and hoped you could help install a new engine using your lifts. Otherwise, he’d have needed to wait for the floating crane, and that would have taken at least a month.”

  “Are we helping him?”

  “We’re almost finished. He should be ready to leave in just a few hours. They’re going to have dinner with us in about half an hour.”

  “Cool! I’ll have time to play with Annabelle and Johnny. Let’s go.”

  “Becky’s here too,” Susan pointed out.

  “And so, I assume, are Mrs. Crain and Carroll. What’s your point, Captain?”

  “Ouch! I can feel the tension, Freddy. If you want, I can say you’re too locked up in an experiment to see them now.”

  “No, Captain. But thank you. My mommy taught me once that running away from things only puts them off until they catch you, and she said, ‘They always catch you.’ I would prefer catching them first, here on my own turf, in my own way. I won’t pretend that I don’t have feelings for Becky because I do, but I won’t allow my feelings to get in the way of good friendships. You taught me that once, remember?”

  “Yes, I do. Very well. Are you ready to see them?”

  “As ready as I can possibly be.”

  “Then here we go.”

  We left the ship, and Patricia held my hand. Outside, she lifted our joined hands to cheers and applause. The whole team was there, minus the ones on watch and in the ships. They were cheering me about my success on being the first to build a ship that traveled faster than light. I received many pats on the back and a ride on the lieutenant’s shoulder all the way to the house.