by Doug Farren
"Far to complex to be natural," Sorbith replied. "The field was not there when the Omel first discovered the Hess but appeared immediately thereafter. The field structure and power output are unique in all of explored space. All attempts at trying to determine the source have failed. No analysis of the field dynamics has yielded any sort of intelligence or pattern. The origin and purpose of the field remains a mystery."
"Kim, do we have a safe approach vector?" Stricklen asked his top helmsman.
The helmsman turned from her own computer display and said, "Yes sir. The planet is outside the pulsar's beam and I have computed an approach which will keep us clear of it."
"Captain, incoming audio message from the Hess," the communications station reported.
"Let's hear it," Stricklen ordered.
"You have been identified as the Alliance heavy-cruiser Komodo Dragon", a monotonous voice said. "Permission has already been granted for a planetary approach and landing. A beacon has been activated on the surface for you to home in on. Once on the surface, a force field will protect your shuttle. The Komodo Dragon is to remain in orbit. The dreadnought General Patton and the scoutship Tri-Star must remain at the previously agreed upon distance of one million standard kilometers. Proceed on course."
"This is Captain Ken Stricklen of the Komodo Dragon," Stricklen said. "Before proceeding, we would like to know why the Hess have broken their long standing policy of isolation? Never before have the Hess allowed an Alliance ship to approach their homeworld. This change of policy has given us concern for the safety of the Kyrra. If you could send a representative to us we would feel more comfortable about proceeding with a planetary landing. I also must inform you that we will be making planet-fall with the Tri-Star instead of a shuttle since the shuttle does not have a defense shield."
Stricklen paused for a moment then asked, "Dragon — What is the communications delay at this distance?"
The computer's response was instantaneous. "One way travel time for the message is 1 minute 4.316 seconds."
"Then we have about three minutes before they reply," Ken said to nobody in particular.
Time seemed to slow down and Stricklen was beginning to get nervous when the reply finally came through. "It is impossible for the Hess to leave the surface of this planet. The Hess is very ancient. It is believed the Hess may have had contact with the Kyrra at some time in the past. This can only be determined by close examination of the Kyrra. The Hess is peaceful and has never engaged in harmful activities in the past. Permission for planetary landing of the Alliance scout ship Tri-Star is granted. The Komodo Dragon will still be allowed to assume a parking orbit. The Hess again requests you proceed on course."
"They sound pretty anxious," Doug remarked.
"Agreed," Stricklen replied then added, "I wonder why they refer to themselves as if they were a single entity.” He was about to say more until he noticed that Scarborro was giving Sorbith a questioning look.
Ken turned his head and found Sorbith looking directly at him with a bewildered look on his face. Even though his body was cybernetic, he still had a face that could show emotions. "Something wrong?" Ken asked.
"That message came back far too fast. Just a moment and I'll have my ship run a check."
The peacekeeper stood silent for about ten seconds. Stricklen knew he was using the biolink to speak to his ship. The biolink, as Stricklen understood it, was an implanted bioelectrical interface between the peacekeeper's brain and his ship allowing the two to communicate by thought alone.
"I thought so!" he finally said. "Our message required 64.316 seconds to travel from us to the Hess. Their reply, which was on a higher speed carrier, required 58.0704 seconds to make the return trip. Total travel time was therefore 122.3864 seconds. We received their reply 122.4784 seconds after we sent our message. This is a difference of only 92 milliseconds."
It took Stricklen a moment to realize what the problem was. The message they had sent and the one they had just listened to (even though both had been compressed for transmission) were each about 30 seconds long. This meant the Hess would have required the same amount of time to listen to Stricklen's message and record their reply. "Are they a lot closer to us than we think?" Stricklen asked.
"No. Our instruments show the source to be the Hess homeworld which is currently 0.987 light-years distant. There is only one explanation — the Hess are either silicon based or operate like some sort of large living computer. They process information far faster than we can. In fact, the only way the Hess could have replied so quickly is if they have the ability to directly understand a compressed message and to reply using the same technique. Either the Hess are a very extraordinary race, or we are dealing with a very intelligent computer and not the Hess."
Stricklen listened to this explanation and then pushed the transmit button to send his reply. "An analysis of your response has brought up a question concerning your race. We wish to have this one question answered before we proceed. Are the Hess a silicon based life form or am I speaking to a machine?"
Stricklen calmly waited for the message to make the round trip. "The Hess is much like your AI computers. The Hess, however, is sentient. Please continue your approach."
Stricklen looked at Sorbith and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not too sure if that answered the question but it adds more evidence to the fact that the Hess are silicon based. I've read science fiction stories about such creatures, but I never thought one could actually exist. Do we believe their explanation and proceed or turn around?"
"We proceed. We have already learned one piece of information about the Hess that nobody else has discovered, probably because the Hess have never talked to anyone. There's no telling how much more we will learn after we land."
"Helm, proceed on course for Shaular," Stricklen ordered. Then, to Sorbith, "Speaking of the landing, have you decided who else will be going? The Hess specified only two Alliance representatives."
"Yes, in addition to myself, I think Falnath would make a good choice. She has a scientific mind second to none and having her there as an observer would increase our chances of getting the most out of this trip."
"I agree. You and Falnath. I'll let her know. How about the Kyrra? Do you think it's wise for them all to go?"
"Wise — No. But the Kyrra have insisted that they all be allowed to go. They seem excited about the possibility of meeting a race that might be able to provide a clue as to where their people are now. We also don't have any reason to believe the Hess have any bad intentions toward the Kyrra."
"Then I guess they are all going," Stricklen replied then turned his attention to the main navigational display as the Dragon slowly made its way toward the Hess homeworld. In a few hours, the Alliance would get their first ever look at a Hess.
11 - The Hess
"Dragon, this is Tri-Star: All passengers are aboard. We are breaking orbit and beginning our decent," Sorbith reported. He then turned his attention to the console and manually took control of his ship. Falnath was observing from the doorway while the Kyrra were patiently waiting in the ship's only stateroom.
Seeker class scoutships were not designed to carry passengers. They had been designed solely to provide support and living quarters for the peacekeeper to whom they were assigned. The Seeker class of ships were unique in many ways. The ship's computer was the most advanced system in existence and was considered a semi-sentient entity. The ship was also equipped with a stealth capability that could render it virtually invisible under certain conditions. This stealth capability along with the weaponry and the advanced AI made the Seeker class the most expensive single-person ship ever built.
The control room was built for one person and was very compact. Since Sorbith was occupying the only available space, Falnath was forced to observe from the doorway. One of the many monitors displayed an exterior view. Falnath watched the image of the Komodo Dragon shrink in size as they began their departure. The scene spun until the planet below was visible.
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br /> "What is the surface of the planet like?" she asked.
"No atmosphere. Surface temperature about minus 320. Electromagnetic field readings are all over the place. The orbit brings it to just within the outer edges of the pulsar's radiation beam once every 447 days. All-in-all I would not recommend this place a vacation spot."
"Incoming message from the Komodo Dragon," the ship's computer said. Although it was speaking in Sorbith's native tongue Falnath's vocoder was translating it for her.
"On speaker," Sorbith ordered.
"Sorbith — The Patton has just informed me they have picked up the drive wakes of several ships coming this way," Ken's voice said. "Estimated arrival is about four hours. IFF returns the ID codes of seven LA class destroyers and six vessels of unknown origin. Drive wakes are of Human configuration. No answer to our hail at this time."
"Interesting," Sorbith replied. "Those are very old ships. What are they doing here and who's operating them?"
"Our records indicate that the ships were sold to a mining firm and were supposed to have been converted for use as ore haulers. None of the weapon systems were installed when the ships were sold."
"Very well," Sorbith replied. "Have the General Patton and the Mituri Sama intercept. They are authorized to take whatever action is required to prevent those ships from assuming orbit."
"Message received and understood. Dragon out."
The Mituri Sama was the Alliance ship currently assigned to patrol the Hess system to keep unwanted visitors from approaching. It was a large heavy cruiser of Human design.
The surface of the planet was now close enough for some of the details to be seen without the use of telescopic instruments. The planet appeared completely dead and lifeless. The ancient supernova had stripped this world of any atmosphere it may have once had and laid to waste the entire surface. Why anyone would want to remain here was beyond Sorbith's understanding.
"Auto control signals detected," the computer announced.
"Allow auto control," Sorbith ordered and took his hands off the panel.
After a few minutes a large structure appeared on the viewer. Falnath tried to fit more of herself into the already crowded control room. "That looks like a communications array," she remarked.
Sorbith glanced at several readouts then replied, "If it is, then it is the largest planetary based array I have ever seen. Computer, estimate the size of the object on the main viewer."
"The structure is approximately 33 kilometers in length and 29 kilometers in width."
Sorbith shook his head in amazement. "It sure looks like an FTL array, but I've never heard of one that large before. I don't see any other structures."
"Perhaps they are underground to protect them from the pulsar's radiation," Falnath said.
"We'll soon find out — that is our destination," Sorbith said. He then pushed a button and said, "Trel'mara, do you recognize the structure on your monitor?"
The Kyrra had been watching the descent from a monitor in their room. The face of one of them appeared on a small screen to Sorbith's left. "It is similar to a deep space communications array which we had built to maintain contact with our probes. But an equivalent communications system built by another species would involve similar design decisions and would result in a structure that would appear similar to ours. Further details of the construction are needed before a conclusion concerning the structure's origin can be reached."
"Thank you. Let me know if you spot anything of interest."
The rest of the descent was made very quickly and without incident. The Tri-Star was brought to a smooth landing several kilometers from the communications array. Once they were on the ground, the ship's computer reported that a powerful force-field had enclosed the area surrounding the ship and a breathable atmosphere was forming outside. As soon as the atmosphere had stabilized, the Hess spoke to them again.
"Please exit your ship. A Hess unit will meet you outside to provide guidance."
Sorbith informed the Kyrra and they met at the ship's hatchway. Once everyone had arrived, Sorbith bypassed the interlocks and opened both airlock doors. A small, featureless, metallic device was waiting for them outside the ship. It stood about 1.5 meters tall and appeared to float a few centimeters above the ground. As soon as the hatch opened it curtly said, "Follow," and immediately started moving away at a slow walking pace.
Falnath mentioned to Sorbith that the voice was identical to the one they had heard from the planet while they were in orbit. The machine led them to a small building. Inside was a large elevator. The group piled into the spacious cabin and it began to descend. After a moment it stopped and the door opened to expose a long underground corridor which seemed to extend into the distance as far as the eye could see.
They walked a short way and turned into a bare, unfurnished room. Four other identical machines waited within. As soon as the last person had entered, the door silently slid shut. One of the machines approached the Kyrra and said something in a language Sorbith's computer could not translate.
Tee'Chea's reaction was one of utter astonishment. He looked excitedly at his fellows and quickly replied in the same or a similar untranslatable language. A rapid-fire conversation followed.
After about a minute, Sorbith could stand no more. "What is going on here?" He said in a loud voice. "What language are you speaking? Where are the Hess? Explain!"
The nearest machine moved closer to Sorbith and said, "To answer your second question. They are speaking a local Kyrran dialect. The Kyrra, like most other species known to the Alliance, speak a common language but they also speak several local languages. The answer to your first question is the Hess is verifying the identity of the Kyrra.
"Finally, your third question should have been stated as ‘Where is the Hess?'. The Hess refers to the conglomerate of data gathering devices which exist on this world. The Hess is not a living creature nor is it a collection of individuals. It is a data collection and transmission unit constructed by the Kyrra 41,326 of your years ago."
Falnath emitted a sharp hiss of surprise and her tail began twitching nervously. Sorbith was stunned into silence. After calming herself down, Falnath said, "The Hess, then, is nothing more than a probe built by the Kyrra. I'm assuming then that you have contacted the Kyrra and they are now on their way here. When will their ship arrive?"
"This Hess has been unable to contact the Kyrra for the last 41,173 years. When it was learned that an operating Kyrra stasis chamber had been discovered, this Hess hoped the Kyrra within would be able to provide guidance as to how to contact the creators. It is now known the Kyrra you have freed from stasis do not possess this knowledge. However, this Hess has an obligation to protect these Kyrra from harm at all cost."
"You don't know where the Kyrra are?" Sorbith asked. "What have you been doing for the past forty-thousand years?"
"When the Kyrra did not respond with an acknowledgment to a routine data transmission this Hess performed fifty re-transmissions and verified all communications equipment was functioning properly. Self diagnostics were triggered at the first relay station and it reported that all systems were operational.”
"This unit then took action to search for and attempt to contact other Hess units. Since no information concerning additional Hess units had been provided, a detailed search using narrow-beam FTL inquiries was commenced. After searching for eight years, contact was established with another Hess unit. It was learned the other Hess unit had also lost contact with the Kyrra.”
"It was decided to continue the search for additional Hess units. After 97 years the search was completed to the limit of the range of all the communications equipment involved. Seventeen other Hess units had been contacted. Eleven have since self-destructed as those units considered themselves without purpose.”
"Two Hess units were discovered by other races and those units also elected to destroy themselves. Another unit was destroyed when the star it was in orbit about went nova. The remaining three Hes
s are now beyond our communications range. Contact was lost with these units when the Hess providing the communications link ceased to exist."
One of the Kyrra approached and said, "The Hess has asked me to request your assistance in locating our people. Without a purpose, the Hess believes it should not remain in operation. It has remained functional because there has always been a chance the Kyrra would eventually regain contact with them.”
"This Hess has also found purpose in that it has assisted the Alliance in various ways although doing so is in direct violation of its original programming. Since the goal of the Hess is the same as ours, we see no reason why this request should not be honored. Will you assist?"
Sorbith's thoughts raced through his mind. After a short delay, he said, "We have already agreed to provide you with a ship, but that was before we knew just how far away you planned on going. Based upon the coordinates you provided to us and the suspected area of space controlled by the Chroniech, we believe you will be traveling through Chroniech space and, given their latest hostile activities, I do not think you would survive for long. I believe now that it would be to our mutual benefit if, instead of just giving you a ship, we take you there ourselves. Before I can decide on this though, I need to know the precise location of where we will begin our search."
The room immediately darkened and a star map hologram was projected into the unoccupied corner of the room. The voice of a Hess remote explained, "The green pulsing dot is our current location. The red line terminating at the red dot indicates the most direct route. The distance is roughly 3,158 light years."
Sorbith was stunned. "Even at maximum drive, it would take our fastest ship over a year to make the trip. You are asking the Alliance to invest a considerable amount of equipment and funds toward this search. Now that I know the facts, I can tell you the council will most likely modify their original agreement, especially now with the Chroniech making war on the Alliance."
"Understood," the machine replied as the room returned to normal illumination. "In exchange for your assistance, the Alliance will be provided with the technical details required to construct a communications device capable of transmitting a signal at three million cee over a distance of 300 light years. You will also be provided with the technical specifications for a stardrive which is capable of sustained speeds in excess of 4,000c and a more complete mathematical description of the space-time continuum."
