The system he was looking for was located at the farthest point on the longest arm in the spiral galaxy. The Touulug system was nearly halfway across the galaxy situated centrally, making Ackturra a hub for other races traveling by that would likely find them. However, the Delta Scorpii system was so remote that no one ever ventured there and if they did, they found nothing of significant value, making Delta Scorpii Twelve an ideal location to hide. Because of its elliptical orbit of this planet, living conditions were impossible several times a year. So much so that Jhahnahkan wondered if his grandmother was right about these coordinates.
“Jhahnahkan,” the computer began, “I have established an equatorial orbit around Delta Scorpii Twelve as per your instructions.”
“Very good…” Jhahnahkan answered.
“Searching for life signs…” the computer added not paying any attention to his response. “I have positioned the ship over the ruins of a small ancient city on the surface, but my scans are not detecting any life forms.”
“It looks hot down there,” he said as if holding a conversation with the computer, “How hot is it where the ruins are?”
“It is hot.” The computer replied.
“Can you elaborate?”
“It is very hot.”
“Thanks for the detailed weather forecast.” He said shaking his head, “Six years of trying to get this computer programming correct…” he began to mutter to himself, “What am I doing? Now I’m talking to myself.”
“You have not asked the right question to gain the appropriate response you may be looking for… shall I continue to search my data banks for an alternate response?”
“You can start by providing me a detailed weather report at the location of the ruins.” He said as a matter of fact.
“One moment Jhahnahkan…” the computer replied and then paused for a few moments.
“You don’t need that much time computer…”
“I am attempting to please the human need for time spatial separation between facts…”
“Disregard that programming for now computer…” he answered.
“Very well captain… your report for Delta Scorpii Twelve at the ruins… Current temperature is one hundred and twenty five degrees Fahrenheit…Dew Point is Zero… Wind, calm… pressure is measured on this planet differently than original programming… Pressure measurement and altimeter settings will follow after thorough analysis of atmospheric conditions… zero participation… visibility, unlimited…”
“Thank you computer…” he said shaking his head again. “It’s about time…”
“Sarcasm is an unnecessary communication and is not required of these systems.” The computer commented.
“What about any technology that they might have had?”
“My scanners indicate they had technology, but seem to not have been using any… either by choice or by force.”
“Being that there is no other presence in this solar system, I would say they choose not to use tech.”
“That is a safe assumption Jhahnahkan.”
“Why thank you…”
“You are most welcome…” the computer replied once again.
“I do need to make some more adjustments…” he said to himself.
“What adjustments do you require of me Jhahnahkan?”
“None at this time computer… disregard.” He said as he continued to shake his head. “What you can do computer, is to plot a landing course to the nearby ruins while I go down and prepare the shuttle for departure… can you do that for me?” he finished knowing his last response would be met with another unwanted response, but was met with an unusual quiet.
“Computer?”
“Yes Jhahnahkan… what can I do for you?”
“What are you doing?”
“I am calculating your flight plan and uploading it to your shuttle… Do you require anything else?”
“No, continue with your current programing.”
“Very well…”
Jhahnahkan checked all his settings on the bridge and confirmed his position before he made his way to the shuttle bay.
He sat in the cockpit of the shuttle and powered up all of its systems. The computer popped up on the screen almost as fast as he had depressed the power button. “At your service Captain,” the computer said.
“Ok, don’t know what I’ll find here, but if Helen says there is something here, then there is something here.”
“Are you talking to yourself again,” the computer asked, “or did you mean that to be an instruction?”
“Very funny computer…”
“… Because if it was an instruction, I would need more data to …”
Jhahnahkan snapped at the computer to halt, “I was talking to myself computer… disregard.”
“Very well Jhahnahkan… there is no need for you to become distressed…by the way, you are ready for takeoff… course has been uploaded to this interface.”
“Take us out and commence landing instructions.”
The computer fired the thrusters and raised the landing skids at the same time making the craft hover within the shuttle bay. The docking doors opened, and as soon as there was enough clearance, the computer piloted the ship into the atmosphere.
* * *
Ackturra
Year: 2983.9
The Telenian and the Bane sped away from Ackturra leaving it and its two moons behind as they entered slipstream velocity. Their course was plotted as they made their way on a reconnaissance mission to Zelinite. Their orders were clear. Sagrit, captain of the Bane and Panru had exchanged places as ordered to protect each other’s ships and to discover what was happening on Zelinite. They were to report back before the Diplomats arrived with their new ambassador.
The crew of the Telenian was less than thrilled at the change of captains, but went along as ordered knowing that this was only going to be temporary. However, Panru faced a bit of a challenge with his new crew as everyone peered at him as he walked the decks. Each captain inspected the other’s ship before battle but hoped that their arrival would be undetected; get in, collect the information, get back out, and return to Ackturra without conflict.
Sagrit was sure that they would meet heavy resistance from the Zelinite home world and prepared for the worst. While Panru thought they could move in close enough, complete their scans, and move back out before the Zelinites had a chance to detect them. Milanaka gave them some pointers on how to approach Zelinite that would give them the best chance of success.
They both knew that Milanaka had not been to Zelinite for a thousand years because of the vortex he had been pulled through. All they knew for sure was that their new ambassador’s tactics were outdated and even could be leading them into a trap.
Sagrit also thought to himself that perhaps one ship would have a better chance of success and decided that since he was in command of the better ship, he could sacrifice the Bane and his crew for the betterment of Ackturra.
Panru entered the bridge of the Bane and sat confidently in his captain’s chair, his crew not giving him much attention as he arrived. He looked around at each bridge station monitoring them. They went about their business, following the orders of the first officer. But when Panru asked for a status report, he was ignored. He decided to set some expectations with his new crew.
“Attention on deck!” Panru ordered as he stood to face his crew.
The crew hesitantly turned to their pro-tem captain after he commanded them to come to attention a second time.
“Listen up!” he said sharply, “I do not like this situation anymore that you… but we need to work together if we are to survive this mission.”
“What do you mean by that?” the Bane’s first officer Gunark said.
“What I am saying, Gunark,” addressing the first officer directly, “…is that each and every one of you must follow my command and trust my judgment implicitly… like right this very moment,” Panru paused and looked at his monitor that was
attached to his command chair. He turned it toward him and studied it for a brief moment before continuing with a voice of urgency, “Helm! Change course, fifteen degrees starboard, and zenith minus five degrees… engage.”
The helm instinctively carried out the orders of the captain causing the Bane to change course just barely missing the firing weapons from the Telenian.
“Shields at full power, take us out of slipstream… plot a rendezvous course back to the Telenian and prepare battle stations.” Panru expertly ordered.
“Aye, sir.” The crew acknowledged.
“… and that is why you always obey your captain’s orders…” Panru said crossing his arms with satisfaction.
“How did you know?” Gunark asked.
“It is a captain’s instinct,” Panru replied, “though I am not sure how Sagrit got my crew to execute an attack on his own ship… that is puzzling.”
“Sir, the Telenian has come out of slipstream and is on an intercept course,” the Bane’s technical officer reported, “Weapons hot… they are preparing ram shields.”
“How soon before we are in range?” Panru asked.
“Twenty seconds…”
“Prepare slipstream, new course… twenty three degrees port, plus zenith forty five degrees.”
“Sir,” the helm asked turning to their captain, “that course leads us directly to sector 5-2-3; last report was there was one device that had not detonated.”
“Precisely why I am taking the Bane there.” Panru said with assurance, “I know what its coordinates are… my plan is to bring them right to it. I can send the detonation codes when they are in proximity, taking them out.”
“You would sacrifice your own ship and crew?” Gunark asked in amazement.
“Sagrit did not have any trouble with targeting this ship and crew, now he is making another run and he intends to take us out.” Panru said with resolve.
“Sir,” his tactical reported, “I am picking up another ship…”
“Status!” Panru ordered. “… and do not wait for an invitation…”
“It appears the Telenian has turned its weapons and is now targeting the ship from behind.”
“The hunter becomes the hunted.” Panru said, “Question is, who are they?”
“Unknown sir… their ship is a class I have not seen. The ship’s computer is analyzing but has not found any known match.”
“New plan!” Panru instructed, “Helm, come to a full stop… ready weapons, target that rear ship, let us see if we can gain the trust of Sagrit by saving their hides.”
The Bane reversed engines and came to a halt as instructed. The Telenian passed them and then veered off on a new course trying to lose their pursuers. The unknown ship continued their pursuit of the Telenian and then the Bane opened fire with its entire weapon arrays but there was no damage reported by the strike. The unknown ship returned fire targeting their ship’s engines systems and not their weapons, which was a strange tactic none of them were familiar with.
The returning barrage of weapons fire traveled inbound toward the Bane which looked like a large ball of charged electricity.
“Shields to maximum!” Panru shouted, “Brace for impact!”
The weapon discharged on the Bane causing electrical sparks across the entire hull. The ships lighting went out and all power systems shut down. The crew began to float as the anti-gravity units failed. The emergency lighting began to illuminate and then too went dark leaving the crew in utter blackness.
“Stay calm everyone” Panru insisted.
“What was that weapon!?” his first officer exclaimed.
“Unknown!” Panru shouted, “but our first concern is, are they coming for another run or not?”
“Sensors are down sir… but I think it is safe to say they moved on.” His tactical reported.
“Sir, we have ship wide electrical failures being reported on every deck… but not every system. It seems they were targeting certain ship sub-systems which would render us incapacitated.”
Panru floated over to the command consoles trying to get any systems to come back online as did the first officer, now seeing the integrity of their new captain.
“I am sorry sir,” Gunark began, “for not trusting you earlier… my crew and myself will follow your command from here on out, sir.”
“Captain,” the tactical reported, “I have a secondary scanner up… there are no signs of any ships in our sector… the Telenian is gone as well as their pursuers.”
“Well that is just great… and we are dead in the water.” Panru said with disgust. “But at least you did trust me enough when I gave you your orders, or we wouldn’t be here right now.”
“We are getting more systems back online…” the engineer reported, “but the reactor is stone cold. For reasons I am not aware as to why the reactor is shut down cold… and I am not able to get the injectors primed for restart.”
“Very well” Panru answered, “I am on my way down to have a look.”
* * *
Delta Scorpii Twelve Ruins
Year: 3989
Jhahnahkan set down in the center of the ruins and powered down the ship. He remained linked to his ship in orbit. His head gear was designed to display terrain for the user to view similarly to the heads up display in a life suit. Temperatures on the surface were beginning to reach one hundred and twenty, but it didn’t warrant a life suit. He was glad that he arrived when he did as the planet was only days from reaching one hundred fifty degrees or hotter. This hottest part of the planet cycle only would last a week but would have made this trip unbearable. He didn’t want to be restricted by the cumbersome fit of the suit so he could get as much time as possible on the surface before he would be forced to leave.
He was confident that he would find what he came looking for. Helen made it clear that he would, but told him to use his intuition. He did trust his grandmother, but knew she had held back from telling him everything, and he wondered what it was that she did not want to tell. Even with that one piece of this puzzle missing, he was determined to find his grandfather. The people that lived here were all gone. They must have perished he thought, succumbing to the harsh conditions on this planet. There was no evidence that life ever existed here, it was like everyone just vanished one day, leaving behind these unexplored ruins. It had appeared that this city had been abandoned hundreds of years ago, maybe even a thousand; he couldn’t be sure until he started taking some up close readings.
He thought if these people I was sent here to meet were all gone, then how will I be able to find my grandfather?
Jhahnahkan had not expected to find deserted ruins of a past culture. He was sure he had programmed the correct coordinates; they were verified by Helen and Ackturrian’s finest star charting expert. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the place.
“Computer,” he began, “continue to scan for life signs and engage phosphorescent shielding… alert me if you detect any approaching ship within this solar system.”
“Acknowledged Jhahnahkan.”
He unbuckled his restraints and slid his seat back which gave the pilot access to the rear of the craft. Jhahnahkan climbed out of his pilot seat and stepped on the walkway, which lead to the ship’s rear compartment. He pressed a few buttons on the console and released the airlock to expose the ship to the outside air, but the hatch remained locked.
“Computer,” he asked, “why haven’t you released the seal on the airlock?”
“I have not completed my analysis of the environment beyond the exit door.”
“Why not?”
“You have not asked me to.” The computer replied in a satirical tone.
“Computer, you are not capable of sarcasm… and since when do you need my permission to conduct environmental tests when you knew I was going to the surface to explore?”
“Adjusting programming to perform necessary tasks without human input…” the computer responded, “Please specify parameters of what constitutes as
signing a task as necessary…”
“Disregard input for new programming at this time…” Jhahnahkan said shaking his head. “Just open the hatch…”
“Jhahnahkan, I see you are displaying a human response to my programming, which would seem to indicate your dissatisfaction with my ability to function within your specified parameters… am I correct?”
“Yes computer, you are correct… I don’t have time for this,” he muttered to himself. “We will discuss this later… Now, will you please override safety protocol and unlock this shuttle door.”
The shuttle door clicked and made a swooshing noise as both interior and exterior doors opened simultaneously. “That’s better… thank you.”
“You are quite welcome.”
Jhahnahkan stepped down the rear ramp of his craft and looked all around. The computer was right, it was very hot outside. He wouldn’t want to stay out in this direct sunlight for too long. He made his way taking readings and communicating with the computer as he began to take a log entry of his first expedition.
“Computer, begin voice recording.”
“VOX enabled.” The computer replied.
“The people here had a hard life…” he began narrating, “Looking at the primitive buildings and structures, they lead a very simple life as well. These structures are comprised mostly of stone. Even cutting on walls as well as perpendicular straight lines does indicate these people did have technology and used that in the construction on these dwellings…”
Jhahnahkan made his way to the opening of one of the structures. There was a purple colored and very tattered cloth covering the door. He leaned down, parted the curtain and entered the inside of one of the dwellings. His head gear switched on a blue colored light that scanned the entire room. It only took a few moments for the entire layout of the room to be displayed digitally before Jhahnahkan’s eyes.
Secret of the Crystal - Omnibus Edition Books 1-3 (Time Travel Adventure) Page 53
