“Perhaps it’s meant to be mounted on a vehicle and not carried.”
“That could be true. Okay, let’s return to the ship.”
Helen had a small team but managed to provide information to all the islands using the original flying craft. She also spent some time on the large ship and finally found a locker in the communication room that contained small devices. She wasn’t sure what they were but held one and spoke into it. Nothing. She held two of them and realized there was a small switch on them. She moved the switch and when she spoke in one, it came out the other!
She ran to the bridge and found Solon and Kare. “Look! I mean listen!” She repeated the action to them. “We can talk with each other with these devices!”
“I wonder how far they can transmit?”
“I am sending one of my staff down on the next ship. We will soon see.”
Randolph and his team worked to understand the propulsion, guidance, environmental and other systems.
Finally, Solon called them together. “What have we learned?”
Helen began. “We have learned how to communicate from great distances. We also discovered how to activate and use the communication systems in all the ships. We can now effectively communicate around this planet.”
Edric was next. “We have learned about some very powerful weapons, both for individual use and ship systems. I would say this big ship we are on is a transport vessel and not a warship, but it still has some powerful weapons and a lot of them. We can arm a thousand of our warriors, if needed.”
Randolph then followed. “Yes, and we have learned about the stardrive and other systems on this ship. We can now understand how to manage the environmental systems. We can bring up food and remain free from a need to be restocked for months at a time.”
Kare was silent. Solon said, “Kare? What have you learned?”
“I am not sure. After working with the instruments and control systems, I believe I know how to fly this ship. However, we cannot do that as long as we are needed to be here for the smaller ships to use for docking. When you give the word to move this ship, I am confident I can do that.”
“Where would you go?”
“First, I would like to travel around this planet and see if our sensors detect any other starships parked in orbit. Second, I would like to figure out how we can travel at great speeds to cover the distance between stars.”
“I think we can do the first one. Helen, instruct Starship Bravo to remain docked in the hangar, and for Alpha and Charlie to remain on the surface pending further orders.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Randolph, please use the sensors to detect any other ships.”
Turning to Kare, he said, “Okay sister, it’s all yours.”
Kare looked excited, and said, “Okay everyone, hold on, I think this is how it works.”
Using the switches, buttons, handles and levers she had, she began to accelerate the ship. She didn’t move too quickly, wanting to only move around, not depart the planet.
After a couple of hours, Randolph said, “Wait, look. There is a ship about two thousand miles bearing two eighty-seven point four three.”
“Roger, coming about.” Kare manipulated the controls and was soon heading towards the ship. As they approached, she reduced speed and matched position.
“It looks like another transport.”
Solon told Helen, “Have Bravo depart and attempt entry to that new ship.”
“Roger.”
Bravo attempted it, but the doors would not open.
“Now what?”
Edric said, “I have an idea. Remember those small craft we saw on the hangar deck when we were exploring?”
“Yes.”
“Well, maybe they are used for going between these ships. Maybe our starship is already assigned to this ship so the other one won’t recognize it. But maybe it will recognize a smaller shuttle?”
“It’s worth a try. Take a team and go see if that works.”
Thirty minutes later Edric informed them they were entering the new starship, and a few minutes later, informed them they were on the bridge. “Also, there are already three ships parked in the hangar. Maybe it wouldn’t open because it was full.”
“Now what? We have two large ships and six small ones.”
“Sire, we need to hold a meeting of the leadership and develop a plan. This is too chaotic for success.”
“I agree with Kare.”
“Very well. We will all meet in the great hall of Castle Immoria in five days. Helen, get word out to the nobles. Kare, organize transport. We still have a lot of work to do.”
56.163.18
Edric and Kare had their first chance to be alone without working on some kind of project in a long time. They decided to go to the hot springs of the Baykol Springs, where they had built a cabin, to escape from the fast pace and madness of trying to understand the changes in their world and pressure of adapting to their new life.
“I remember the first time I saw you. I was over there, in those very reeds, when you were standing over there by a fire. You looked in my direction and my heart melted with your beauty. You are still just as beautiful, even after the wars and changes we have been through.”
“I wish I would have seen you then. But when I first saw you, you had survived that attack by the witch outside Azulon. You were so strong for your men, and so very handsome to me. I fell for you that very minute.”
They kissed and continued to sit in the warm spring and watch the sunset, while sipping wine. The sun was setting, reflecting the last golden rays of light off the mountains to their east. The sound of the waterfall provided the only sound, as they relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company.
As the last rays left the tops of the mountains, they walked arm in arm into their cabin. A fire burned in the fireplace, illuminating the room with a flickering warm light. As she let her robe fall to the floor, she held him in her arms and they gently kissed, while his hands explored the smooth silkiness and wonder of her body. His touch generated such passion in her, she could feel her skin, her breasts hardening and her heat rising. As they laid on the bed, she pulled him too her, wanting nothing more than to feel him with her as they created yet another symphony of passion, well into the night.
56.165.11
All the aristocracy of Pelapatia gathered for the meeting. They brought in the nobles and leaders of Reivers, Trinity, Holdren, Shirfalla, Immoria and Azulon. When everyone was gathered, King Solon entered the room. Everyone stood and waited until he took his throne, then they all sat.
“Greetings to you all. As you know, we have made some very radical discoveries in the past several months. We have discovered that we are not only separate hardy people living on several islands with limited technology, but that we are all descendants of a space faring people who traveled here hundreds of years ago.”
“Today we are caught in a new wave. Even our language is changing as we learn more about this new technology and the possibility it provides. I would never have used words like starship, phaser, transport, flying; in short, everything is changing.”
“What we need to make sure does not change is our allegiance to and reliance on each other. We need to build this new world together, not allow ourselves to fragment like our ancestors did in the past. You have selected me as your King. But before we go any further, I need to know if this is truly what you want.”
The first to stand was Randolph. “Sire, the Reivers have come to love you and the leadership you provide. We find you to be fair, honest, and earnestly trying to improve the lives of all. We support you as King.”
“As Chief of the Holdren, I do not know much about this technology you mention. But I do know you have the heart to care for us and help us be safe. We support you as our King and leader.”
The last to speak was Prince Johansen, formerly King o
f Trinity. He rose, and everyone waited, to hear his words. “Sire, I must admit that when we attacked your island of Shirfalla and sank many ships, my only thought was on expanding my rule and power. I will always be sorry for that.”
“But you showed me something new. You showed me that leaders are compassionate, visionary, strong, yet gentle and forgiving. You have demonstrated more qualities of a true King than anyone I have seen or heard about. I can say, honestly, that you are the best King any of us could ever hope to have. We, the people of Trinity, fully support you as our King and pledge our allegiance for all time.”
Edric then rose, and said, “Long live the King!” Then everyone rose and joined him in saying, “Long live the King!” “Long live the King!” “Long live the King!”
“Thank you all. Very well. We need to organize better to move this forward. To that end I am going to name several people to some critical positions, so we can establish order and prepare for whatever is coming.”
“Marchioness Tabitha, currently Commander of the Navy, is the Fleet Commander of our new starship fleet. You need to organize, coordinate, and understand how we can best utilize our fleet for any contingency.”
“Randolph, currently the leader of the Reivers, is hereby named Marquis Randolph of Reivers, and appointed as commander of research and development. You are tasked with understanding all the systems and technology at our disposal and help us better utilize these systems.”
“Prince Johansen, you are appointed as Lord of Pelapatia. All islands of Pelapatia are your responsibility. The people of Pelapatia are your responsibility. While we travel, learn and explore this possible future we cannot lose sight of the reason for our cause, the people we are working hard to protect.”
“Bishop Samantha, you are appointed as Archbishop of Pelapatia. You are responsible for spiritual development of our people. I also charge you to assign Guides to each starship, with several on each large transport. We cannot forget our spiritual heritage.”
“Princess Kare, Prince Edric and Princess Helen will accompany me to the Starship Unity, the first transport ship we found. We will take this ship and begin looking for other ships around Pelapatia. Tabitha, you will command the Starship Destiny, the second transport we found.”
“We have a tremendous amount of training and education to accomplish with our people. We also need to keep our soldiers strong, so keep training in physical skills. We need our sailors to understand how to navigate and follow the currents, so keep having them sail ships across the sea. We need to train pilots, weapons officers, engineering technicians, communication specialists and a host of other skills.”
“If we have found a way to awaken from our long sleep, it may mean it won’t be long until someone arrives to explore our system. We can’t even travel to the other stars yet, because we haven’t learned how. We have a lot to learn in a short time. I need everyone to work harder than you ever have so we can be ready.”
56.192.14
In time, they discovered three more transports in orbit around Pelapatia. They worked hard at learning all they could. One day, Randolph requested an immediate meeting with Solon.
“Sire, I believe we have done it.”
“Done what?”
“We have figured out how to travel to the other planets and stars.”
Kare said, “How so?”
The two of them began a conversation and ignored Solon.
“It has to do with this control panel over here. We have only used the one you discovered as a means to travel around this planet, at reduced speed, and the way to fly the smaller ships. But here, look at this.”
Randolph and Kare stood talking for quite a while looking at the control features, which they did not know originally were control features, of this console.
“So, you believe if we select our destination using star coordinates here, then determine the speed we want to travel, here, and then energize the drive here, we will initiate the stardrive?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Do you have coordinates for the other stars in our system?”
He smiled and pulled out a book. “Yes, we found this in the last transport we found. It has all the coordinates for all the stars in our system and more besides. This probably includes stars we once visited years ago outside our system. We used our computer and when we entered the coordinates, it showed us where the location of the star is on the map.”
“Have you tried this yet?”
“No, we thought it best to discuss it before we implemented it. Also, once we found the book and knew what we were looking for, we checked, and each console has these coordinates in the system. See? Look here, this is how you find coordinates for your destination, so you don’t need this book.”
Kare turned to Solon, and said, “I think we need to try this.”
“I agree.”
“Edric and I will take a smaller ship and try it. If it works, we will be gone for a little while. If not, we will not go anywhere.”
“I don’t want you to do this.”
“Brother, it must be done, and I am the best pilot you have. If not me, then who?”
He knew this to be true, but still, he didn’t like it. “Okay, do it. But you better take every precaution and be damn safe.”
“Yes, Sire.”
Kare hugged him and then she and Edric ran to the elevator to get to the hangar deck and into a ship. They had no more settled into their seats before she lifted them off their cradle and outside the ship. They traveled around so the bridge could see them and then traveled out a short way from the ship. Kare selected a destination star inside the system and selected a speed of three, whatever that meant.
“Okay, here we go in five, four, three, two, one, engage.”
Both of them were instantly sick. The world turned upside down.
“Oh my God! That was a rush!”
“You’re telling me. I thought I was going to throw up. Thankfully it only lasted a moment.”
“Well, we are traveling somewhere at a fast pace.”
“How long until we get there?”
“It says twenty-seven days.”
“Really? I thought we would get there instantly.”
“No, let me look at these formulas again. Okay, I think the speed is relative to the speed of light. One is actually one and a half the speed of light, two is two and a half times the speed of one, and three is three and a half times the speed of two. The rest of them seem to be based on the same formula.”
“So, if you increase the speed the time will come down?”
“I would think so.”
“Let’s try it.”
Kare increased the speed to five, and the time to destination reduced considerably. “That’s better, only a little over a day.”
“Perfect, I wonder what we can do to fill the time?”
Kare laughed and kissed her husband.
The clock ran down and as it should, the ship exited the stardrive at the appointed time. They were close to but still a parsec away from the star. Kare engaged the booster engines and they traveled quite quickly to the mapped planets. They arrived over Drengle, the third planet of this star and marked as habitable. Before they did anything else, Edric thought they should test the communications link to see if they could contact home.
“This is Edric, Starship Horizon, calling Starship Unity.” He called three times, then suddenly, a response, “Starship Horizon, this is the Starship Unity. You are loud and clear, over?”
“Hello! You are loud and clear! The drive worked! We are over the planet Drengle and it too is a water planet. Looks like our ancestors were right, this system holds a lot of water. We will go down and see if there is anyone here.”
“Very well. The Starship Unity will initiate the drive and join you.”
“Okay, travel at speed five to get here in
a day.”
“Roger, out.”
56.194.20
Solon arrived with the transport and they began the task of exploring a new planet. It took them quite a while, but over time they traveled to all the stars in the Outer Sea System and discovered dozens of transports in orbit around various planets. They also discovered five fighting ships, one of which was quite large. Solon transferred to that ship and named it his flagship. He and Tabitha ran the fleet from this ship.
“This is incredible, Sire.”
Solon was on the bridge of his flagship, speaking with Edric over the communication system. “Yes, it really is. I would never have imagined we would have so many planets of water. It is wondrous to behold.”
“Yes, and to think, we only live on five of them. I wonder what a planet with more land would be like?”
“Filled with many people, I would think.”
They found countless people on these planets and began the hard task of integrating them into the present, with the education, training, and support necessary. He was welcomed as their King, so was named King of Outer Sea. It took a lot of time, but eventually they had repaired ships, so they could initiate travel between the stars, and organized the fleet so they could function as one.
During the journey back to Quadlibet, Solon stayed in the Captain’s cabin. With nothing to do, he began reading the journal of the previous commander. He was shocked to learn about the attitude and actions of the Empire. He read with a growing fear about an Empire that controlled and ran roughshod over people’s lives. He also read about their ability to fight and destroy any who resisted. He then realized that this Empire was probably still there. He also realized something else and called an urgent meeting.
“Everyone, listen, I have learned there is an Empire out there. The commander’s journal talks about the evils of Empire, their power, their controlling, taking, and doing as they please attitude. It is why they hid Outer Sea, to keep it from the Empire. We have been transmitting a lot of information over our transmitters. There is no way we can know these transmissions are not being received. We must adopt a radio silence process and never, ever, talk about our planets of water.”
Andromeda Page 6
