by Lewis Dually
“Thanks Chief. How are the engines doing?”
“They’re perfect Sir. I have them tuned up real tight and I think you’ll get point nine six out of them now.”
“Good, good.” I exclaimed. “I’m heading to the bridge. Let me know when you’re ready to test a shell design.”
I left the Chief to do his thing, walked down the corridor, entered the cargo elevator and leaned on the wall as I punched the button for the Bridge. The elevator started up, the walls began to spin and the elevator lights went black. Next thing I know I’m on the floor and the elevator is slowing to stop at the bridge deck. What the crap? I thought. Then I stood up too quick and nearly took another dive. Sleep, I thought. It’s catching up with me. After a quick mental count I came up with sixty two hours give or take with no meaningful sleep although I had taken a three hour nap about a day ago.
“I’m getting too old for this.” I commented as the door opened and I walked on to the bridge where Lieutenant Barnes, Ensign Chaffey and Gale were on the watch. I asked for a status update and Barnes responded.
“Sir, all systems are online and operating perfectly and we have determined our location. We are at 71 mark 51 mark 2.914T, two point nine Trillion Miles from Earth Sir.”
I looked at Barnes in disbelief. “Say what?”
“Yes Sir. We think the EM pulse compounded the warp wave. We’re half a light year from home. At top speed it will take us six months to get back to earth. If we jump we should make it in five hours but Dr. Hirsch says Dr. Shaw can’t take the jump right now.”
Leaning on the wall I tried to think of a solution to our predicament but was too tired to think straight. Finally I said. “Turn us toward home, full speed ahead. Barnes, you have the bridge. I’m going to bed. Don’t wake me for anything short of a life and death situation. On second thought, don’t wake me then either. Just let me die in peace.”
Two minutes later I walked into my quarters and flopped on the bunk. Six months of sleep sounded good to me and I closed my eyes and waited for it to come. The sleep came fast but there wasn’t anything good about it. The dreams started with Blair’s body hanging on the battery room wall. Then Sprite’s acid spitting lizard Aliens were shooting ink pens at me followed by Sprite and Shaw kissing in the upper corridor. At some point I was looking into Granger Shelton’s casket. He was dressed in his Navy whites with a big smile on his face and bars of gold stuffed in his pockets.
I awoke suddenly and sat up. Then, laying back down I closed my eyes and hoped for more sleep but I knew it was a waste of time. My mind was racing with a thousand questions that would drive away any chance for more sleep. Why did the Wade fire on us? Could they have known what we were up to? So what if they did? Carrying new ship parts in their cargo bays wasn’t a crime. Ships carried new parts to the Belt all the time. It would be near impossible to prove they were for the Black. Even if we could, I don’t think transporting parts to or for an Alien is illegal. What was so important on that ship? What were they hiding? If they weren’t carrying parts what else could it be?
Finally I gave up and rolled over to look at the clock. I had only been asleep for six hours and should probably get another four but it wasn’t happening so I got up and looked in the mirror. My beard was starting to take shape so I reached for my razor and then put it back. If I’m going to be out here for six month then I ain’t going to shave anymore. I’ll just play the part of the marooned sailor and come back a skinny, unshaven hollow-eyed old man. Next I used the facilities and then stepped into the shower. The water felt great and I proceeded to wash off three days’ worth of sweat, grime and blood. About half way through my routine a thought came to me. What if they weren’t transporting Alien ship parts? What if they were transporting Alien’s?
CHAPTER 9: The Croiddan.
I finished showering, dressed and headed to sick bay to see Shaw but he wasn’t there.
“He commandeered a wheel chair and took off about an hour ago Sir.” The duty nurse informed me.
“Where did he go?”
“I think he went to the mess Sir.”
“Thanks.” I said and headed for the mess hall. Food sounded real good right about now anyway.
Walking into the mess, I found Shaw and Walters sitting at a table eating eggs and bacon. Someone, I don’t know who, shouted Officer on deck!
“As you were.” I called out before everyone sprang to their feet and covered the deck with whatever powdered food concoction the galley had whipped up.
“Where’s mine.” I asked Walters as I pulled out a chair and sat down across from her and Dr. Shaw who was sitting in the wheel chair hunched over a tablet.
Then the mess officer called out, “Be right with you Sir.” as he slopped a food tray with powdered eggs, freeze dried bacon and a frozen and nuked biscuit with butter. Yum!
I ignored the food tray and said to Shaw. “Good to see you out and about. How are your legs?”
“They’re better. I can feel my feet. Dr. Hirsch says that’s a good sign.” Then Shaw leaned across the table to me and said. “Listen, you can’t spend six months out here just because of me. You got to get back ASAP. I’ll go back to sick bay and have Hirsch get ready to put me on the ventilator. Then you can jump. Don’t worry about me.”
I looked Shaw dead in the eyes and said. “I’ve been thinking about that and I’ve come to the same conclusion. I’m glad you see it the same way. Now let me ask you a question. You said all the Black left Earth when we made the first warp jump. Are you sure about that? There were only eleven ships that left. I think there are still Black on earth and I think the Wade was transporting some of them to the Belt.”
Shaw sat back in his wheel chair and said. “We agree. We think they were on the Wade and we think they were communicating with the Ramses and the Javelin through subspace when they attacked us. Tell him what we found Sara.”
I turned and looked at Walters with wide eyed amazement. Partly because Shaw agreed with me and partly because he called Walter’s by her first name.
“Sara?” I asked.
She ignored my curiosity and said. “When we were in the warp bubble Lieutenant Barnes did a memory core dump into the protective archives just before the EM pulse hit.”
“Standard procedure in an emergency.” I said. “I’m glad he remembered, I didn’t.”
“Well I’ve been going through all the data with Dr. Shaw and we found two things. First was a low band transmission signal in the data record.”
Shaw interrupted. “It was a subspace radio signal!”
“You’re telling me the Wade was transmitting a subspace signal?”
“Transmitting and receiving.” Shaw said with a grin.
“Can you tell where the signal was going?”
“Yes.” Shaw answered. “There were two signals. One going to earth and one to sector six!”
Leaning forward in my seat I said. “So the Wade and likely the Ramses and Javelin all have subspace radios. We’ve been looking for the wrong ships! What is the second thing?
“We also found another ship!” Walters replied quickly and I could tell she was excited by the thrill of the chase. She continued. “After you picked us up and chased down the Wade. The sensor logs show a second ship. I had Lieutenant Barnes go over the data with me to be sure. He says it’s a small shuttle maybe twenty four man capacity. It wasn’t on any of the ship’s sensors before the attack took out the forward array. The Wade was making a sweep to Starboard when we picked her back up on sensors but the shuttle was making a sweep to port. Barnes says it had to come from the Wade. It wasn’t there before. He also thinks it had enough time to clear the blast. They were going in opposite directions, one traveling at point four and the other traveling at point five. That would put their escape speed relative to the Wade at point nine and they had two minutes to clear the blast zone. Plenty of time and speed Sir.”
I sat back on my chair again.” It may have cleared the blast but it wouldn’t clear an EM pulse
moving at light speed. A shuttle doesn’t typically have great EM shielding so if the EM pulse hit it, it’s probably still there. If the Ramses told the Wade about the inspection and then we leave the station in high speed pursuit of the Wade, and the Wade was transporting the Black?”
Dr. Shaw leaned towards me and whispered. “You think the Wade was trying to get the Black off-ship before we boarded?”
“That’s exactly what I think. And I think that shuttle is still out there drifting with no power and no life support.”
I looked at my watch. “It’s been out there for thirty-one hours. We’ve got to go now. If they’re still alive they won’t be for much longer.”
Shaw reached across the table to shake my hand. “If it goes bad for me I want you to know it’s been a pleasure working with you Sir. Admiral Albright was right. You’re perfect for the Constellation.”
I took his hand in mine but didn’t shake it. “What do you mean, perfect for the Constellation?”
Shaw ducked like he was about to get head slapped and said. “Albright is grooming you for command of the Constellation but you didn’t hear that from me. It’s classified.”
That little slip of the tongue took me by surprise and I had no idea how to respond to it. Finally I ignored it and said. “Hirsch is a top notch Doctor. You’re in good hands. I’ll see you on the other side of the system.” and hoped I was right. I was actually starting to like him.
Shaw wheeled himself off toward the sick bay while Walters and I hurried toward the bridge.
“Sir.” Walters said as we entered the cargo elevators. “I like your beard but I don’t think its regulation.”
“I’ve made a new rule.” I said. “When you set a new record for space travel you can do that.”
“A new record Sir?”
“Sure. Didn’t you know? We have traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history.”
“I hadn’t thought about it Sir. What’s the new rule?”
“The new rule is when you set a new record you don’t have to shave for one year.”
Walters rolled her eyes at me and asked. “What if a women sets a new record?”
“Then she doesn’t have to shave either.” I said as the elevator stopped on the bridge deck and we continued down the corridor.
She gave me a sideways glance and said. “I don’t think it’s the same Sir. She should get her choice of duty assignments for a year.”
“Good idea. You set a new record and you got it. One question. Did you know about the Constellation?”
“I’m not at liberty to say Sir.”
“Horse shit!” I snapped. “Are you my aide or Albright’s spy? Why isn’t Captain Scott taking the Constellation out? Wayne Scott is one of the original jump pilots. He’s more qualified than I could ever be.”
Walters stopped walking so I stopped and faced her.
“Part of my assignment is to determine if you can command a ship with a crew of six thousand. You’re not exactly by the book but you have that one thing that makes a great commander.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Respect! Your crew has more respect for you than any other officer I’ve ever seen. I’m still trying to figure out why. Maybe it’s because you have a swagger that’s larger than life. The beard is adding to that persona. You may be a Navy officer but you have an outlaw style that your crew is proud of. It makes them feel special because they see you as special.”
I looked at her for a long moment before I said “Maybe it’s because we have been through Hell together. We’ve lost people together. That forges bonds that are hard to break. What about Captain Scott? Why would they take the Constellation away from him?”
Walters hesitated but finally gave in.
“Captain Scott has second stage Kidney disease. He will be promoted to Rear Admiral and stationed in Houston where he can receive treatment.”
“So I get the Constellation by default.” I said.
“Not exactly. You were slated to command the George Washington. They just bumped you up to replace Scott.”
“The George Washington?”
“It’s the sister ship to the Constellation. They laid the keel three months ago and it’s scheduled for space trials in three years.”
“I’m sorry I snapped at you and I’m grateful to have you as my aide but what makes you qualified to determine if I can command a crew of six thousand?”
“I really don’t know. Albright just told me to get up here and see if you could handle the pressure of a larger command. He wanted me to give daily reports and let him know if you showed signs of cracking under the strain. I haven’t had anything to report except for your new look. You really should shave Sir. It might go over with the crew but Albright isn’t going to like it.”
With that remark she turned and started walking again. I caught up with her and said, “For some odd reason I don’t really care what Albright thinks right now.”
Before she had a chance to reply, the bridge door opened and we nearly collided with Engineer Owens.
“I was just looking for you Sir.” Owens said. I got the new shells figured out and I’m ready to do a test fire as soon as you get me something to shoot at.”
“Excellent Chief. As soon as we get a target I’ll let you know. When we make contact with the Shasta transmit all your specs to them. They’ll need them if they get in a fight with the Black and you need to get on down to engineering, we’re about to jump.”
“Yes Sir.” He replied as the bridge door closed between us.
“Helm, set jump coordinates, take us back to the Wade.” I ordered.
Gale started on the jump calibrations as I sat down in the command chair and pulled out my snuff can. I held it for a second and realized I hadn’t had a dip in a whole day and night. If I was destined to be Captain of the fleet flag ship, maybe this was a good time to quit. I slipped the can back in my pocket as Walters stepped up beside me.
“Sir, I’ve been working on a theory. Everything that we know about the Black doesn’t add up. Command says they’re a highly advanced, aggressive and powerful race. I think it would be more accurate to say they are a race of recluses. Hiding amongst us, keeping their heads down and building ships out of scrap and mail order parts. I also think they’re preparing to leave. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a good theory. It would explain a lot. If you’re right the question is what are they running from? I’ve been thinking about it too. Why would they leave Earth so soon after we made our first successful warp jump? Command wants us to capture one of them and a ship but I’m thinking a more diplomatic approach might be in order.”
Gale turned in her chair and interrupted our conversation. “I have the jump punched in Sir. Ready to go.”
“Ok” I said and opened the coms channel to sick bay. “Dr. Hirsch, do you have Shaw ready?”
“We’re ready. How long will we be in the bubble?”
I looked at Gale and she shrugged. “I won’t know until we’re in it. It should have taken five hours to get here but the EM pulse changed our warp field modulation and put us here in five seconds. I’m attempting to recreate that modulation and shorten our bubble but I just don’t know.”
Dr. Hirsch heard her and grunted something profane, then said. “Let me know when you know.”
“Ok.” I said. “Jump in thirty seconds.”
Gale turned back to the helm console and started the countdown. Walters headed for a seat at the environmental station and I opened the ship wide broadcast channel.
“All hands. Prepare for warp jump in thirty seconds.”
The jump computer completed its countdown as the field generators spooled up and the warp bubble opened directly in front of us.
“Take us in.” I ordered Gale.
Gale pushed us into the bubble and the stars slid down and formed a bowl under us. Above was an endless starless black. I waited as Gale watched the sensors. It had been thirty-one hours since the Wade blew up.
Another five hours in the warp bubble would spell certain doom for anyone left on the shuttle. We would find a shuttle full of frozen Black. Finally Gale had a sensor reading.
“Sir, the bubble is just shy of one billion miles long. At full speed we’re looking at ninety two minutes.”
“Full speed Gale.” I replied. “We’re running against the clock here.”
Opening a channel to the sick bay I announced. “Dr. Hirsch, we’ll be in the bubble for ninety two minutes. How’s Shaw doing?” I waited for a response from Hirsch but there was none. “Sick bay, does anyone copy?” I called again.
Finally Nurse Rose answered. “Dr. Hirsch is busy with a medical emergency Sir. Dr. Shaw is having a seizure.”
As soon as she heard it Walters jumped to her feet and sprinted to the door. “Excuse me Sir.” She said and was gone.
I called back to Nurse Rose. “Ensign Walters is on her way down. Tell Hirsch we will be in the bubble for ninety minutes. Keep me informed.”
I signed off as I considered Walter’s hurried exit and the first name familiarity Shaw had used with her earlier. It seemed to me like those two were getting close and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Moving over to the computer access console I started reviewing the data records. Barnes was right. The shuttle must have come from the Wade and unless another ship picked them up they should be within sensor range when we exit the bubble. An hour and a half and we would know if anyone was still alive on that shuttle. Or anything!
Twenty minutes later the bridge door opened and Sprite walked in. “I just left sick bay.” He said. “Shaw is back on the ventilator. Hirsch had to induce a comma to get his seizure to quit and Walters is with him. She’s holding his hand and crying. Is there something going on between those two?”
