Panther and Giraffe

by Gregory Anderson

  The prevailing opinion from those in space was doing nothing was better than doing something, their job was to blast asteroids that might threaten earth. So far in EDF history no threatening asteroids had been encountered since the big one. But they did have plenty to practice on, besides, it would take a long time to rebuild their reactors anyway. General Murphy and Commander Scotts were happy to leave the nebula alone, both knew way more than any one else about it. Murphy would know before anyone else what was happening anyway. What Murphy did not realize was that if the communication buoys stayed in place he could receive messages from the core worlds some 120 light years away.

  On the Panther, Giraffe was giving orders, sort of, orders came out more like suggestions except when things were urgent, she was a natural born leader. “Zak you will be piloting as soon as we break atmosphere on Edahni, you have the most experience by far. We can anticipate fire from space and possible land, Zak how sure are you that the containers are still where they were set originally?” Zak replied,“No way of knowing for sure but they would have no reason to move them. At worst we would have to pick them up separately, it all depends on how much the explorer ship can distract Federated.” Giraffe asked, “Marx how comfortable are you with guns now?” Marx replied, “Did you know this thing has more firepower that three earth battle cruisers combined?” Giraffe smiled because Marx was still a little awestruck with the alien technology and said, “That I already know, I'm the captain, what I need to know is if you can handle them OK?” Marx came back, “Yes captain, I maxed out on the simulations Panther gave me so I should be good to go.” Giraffe said to all of them. “Let me make this clear, we do not fire unless absolutely necessary, if that means taking hits so be it, until shields are down to next to nothing we will not fire, and that means we do not expose the guns until the last possible second either, is that clear to all.” There were affirmative replies from all. Panther and Giraffe had programmed several sets of maneuvers and jumps and planed getting out of Federated territory as fast as possible. They were expecting the buoy back anytime now.

  13

  On the bridge off the Cyrillium explorer, “Captain, we have six on long range bearing from Edahni.” While the long range could not identify the ships it was a safe bet that they were Federated and also a safe bet they were not friendly. The crew was just getting ready to launch a buoy back across the nebula when the report came in and Jings called the crew members of the Panther to the bridge, “There is a change of plans and my orders are to avoid all conflict.” Junes, the Panthers second replied, “Are you are just going to leave? That is disappointing but understandable, the gateway needs to remain a secret for now at least, could we borrow a shuttle sir?”

  The plan was simple, leave a stealth buoy just at the edge of the nebula and then the Panther crew members would take a shuttle though to the other side while the explorer provided a distraction. Jings considered this carefully as it was risky. Federated could not find out about the gateway, Giraffe had made it clear that earth was not ready for outside contact. After careful deliberation he granted permission for Zak's crew to make the attempt. The ships had been confirmed as Federated when they got closer but they had not responded to any hails. “I want us ready to go a few minutes before they are in weapons range, the shuttle will depart at the same time as we accelerate towards the ships.” Captain Jings figured that heading straight at Federated would throw them off and provide the cover needed for the shuttle to jump through. When the time was right Jings gave the command, “Execute at full thrust!” The shuttle was away and Federated came into range firing a salvo of missiles just as the shuttle jumped. Jings was cool, “Hold steady, time to impact please.” A terse reply came back, “Five minutes sir.” Jings clarified, “Wait until impact is at thirty seconds and then jump on program zeta one, hold steady.” This looked like a suicide move but what in reality would happen is they would drop decoys a moment before jump so the missiles would detonate on the decoys. Then it would look like the ship was destroyed. That is if everything went right. Federated would have a new video of a ship being destroyed, another example of why this was Federated space. The sleek shuttle from the explorer ship was in the quantum singularity, everyone on board was disoriented. Everything seemed like slow motion but they all would remain rational and sleep most of the thirty hours and 120 light years on the way through to the other side. When Zak had gone through the nebula he had been unconscious so this was the first time ever that aware beings passed through and the recovery on the other side would prove interesting.

  Mindy 'Giraffe' McCord, an earth born human who happened upon the first alien in history was now captain of that alien and his ship. Zak Johns was human, a really tall one by earth standards but human nonetheless. Instead of getting the buoy back they got Zak's crew. Now the whole 'alien' thing would come into focus with the arrival of Zak's crew members which included a hegmon and two grax. “Ah, Junes here, ah, calling Panther, wow, ah, come in please.” The call came in a full minute after Panther identified the shuttle that popped out of the nebula, it sounded as if Junes was drunk or high. Giraffe responded, “This is captain McCord are you capable of maneuvering?” “Junes here ah, maybe, no maybe, ah not.” Giraffe ordered Panther to take control of the shuttle and move it into the forward docking bay. “Junes, just sit back and we will bring you in, don't touch anything okay” Professor Hicks commented, “Well that proves the theory of space euphoria, they should be out of it in about an hour, hopefully, if my theory hold true.” Giraffe came back, “Yes well let's hope you are right, Zak get your crew members situated, fed and rested we meet in the galley, one hour, to brief on the mission.”

  Uhr and Dihr were first to recover from space euphoria perhaps because of the different metabolism of grax. They headed to the galley looking for some food after the long jump. Marx was puttering in the galley kitchen trying to get some crispness into the mana vegetables he created when Uhr and Dihr came in, he said over his shoulder, “Hi I'm Marx who are you?” What he got was a simple, “kakiye?” He switched to Russian, his second language and repeated himself realizing that since all the controls on the Panther were labeled in Cyrillium, a close cousin to earth Russian, Zak's crew probably spoke Cyrillium as well. When the pair responded in Cyrillium introducing themselves Marx turned around and encountered wide eyes just like his own. Uhr and Dihr were used to first encounters with humans and expected the same look of horror and quick turn away but they did not get this from Marx, instead, they got a big smile and, “You must be hungry I've got just what you need.” He went to the cooler and pulled out noodles and meatballs. “This is an earth dish called spaghetti and meatballs but you don't have to eat the noodles if you do not want to, please, sit down and I will serve you.” For Uhr and Dihr this first contact with a earth human had been a pleasant surprise and for Marx it was a matter of making a good first impression on his new bosses. Marx set plates of food down in front of Uhr and Dihr said, “enjoy.” Then sat down with his plate and they talked engineering while they ate. They did not care for the noodles but raved about the meatballs in sauce being very much like a dish they had on their home world. When professor Hicks came in his reaction was a little more stilted and he did stare a bit too long. But, did manage to stammer out a greeting sincerely which was not easy for him as Cyrillium/Russian was a new language for him. Dihr replied to him in commons, “A very fine try professor Hicks we will have you talking like a Cyrillium in no time.”

  Switching back to Cyrillium she added, “Don't be shy, come sit down and eat.” Marx interjected, “Wow, Dihr you remind me a lot of my mom, such a good host!” Little did he know just how high a compliment that was in grax culture and the smiles on Dihr and Uhr were priceless. Hicks of course had studied the cultures also but was in the kitchen when the grax smiled with those rows of big, sharp teeth. Both Marx and Hicks were earth born and had never given much thought to alien species beyond the what stories and video's portrayed. This experience was so much differen
t especially when Hart came in.

  He was chittering happily while Hicks just looked bewildered. Marx said, “Pleased to meet you Hart, sit down, I will get you something to eat.” He had been looking directly at Hart when he was talking to make sure he picked up what he was saying. Then he stood and gave Hicks a shove while reaching in his pocket for a translator and smiling, “Genius here forgot his translator just give him a minute while he catches up.” They all laughed. Zak had been right from the beginning. Although Marx was young and lacking experience his open personality went a long way in it's stead. Pulling a bowl of vegetarian stew from the heater he set it in front of Hart and said, “Making mana taste like vegetables has been a engineering nightmare but I think it's close, let me know what you think.” He sat down and watched as Hart picked up the bowl and sniffed, then sniffed a little more wrinkling his nose, then he slowly took a bite, then another and in between making small noises like ooh and ah. Then looked directly at Marx and chittered,

  “Gourmet on any world, thank you.” Then proceeded to devoured the rest. Zak and Junes, his second came in and young Marx became tongue tied looking at Junes. While not as striking as Giraffe she was a tall, blond, Nordic beauty and he stammered a bit as he said, “Welcome Junes would you like spaghetti and meatballs or stew, ah Zak?” Zak answered as Junes smiled at the awestruck engineer. “I think stew for both of us please.” Zak gestured to sit down as Hicks said, “Please to meet you as well Junes.” As they ate the conversation drifted to their trip through the nebula gateway since Zak was not awake at all when he went through. “Did the euphoria start right away and did your sleep feel different?” asked Hicks. “Junes seemed effected the most.” replied Uhr, “And Dihr and I seemed less, why would species make a difference in effect do you think professor?”

  Hicks thought about it for a minute and then said, “The effect acts like simple hypoxia and if it is, then species would indeed make a difference. And, if so there may be a way to combat the sickness from short jumps also.” Zak added, “When we go back through is there any way you can prove that out?” Hicks replied, “Quite possible, I will have to talk with Panther about it first.” Zak's crew looked at the professor strangely, “The ship??” And then Giraffe stepped in.

  The Cyrillium explorer ship was heading directly for the home world, Captain Jings was to meet directly with the high council. The fifteen Cyrillium worlds were ruled by an oligarchy of sorts, it could not be a true oligarchy because the leaders did have an interest in the well being of the people. Each planet had a elected congress of people who ruled. The high council had power to overrule if they felt it necessary from time to time but functioned more like kings, queens and ambassadors to the to all the other known worlds. Jings was faced with delivering news that would bring many more questions than answers. Not only was the gateway a new discovery but also human world called earth.

  But more than anything else it was the earth born Giraffe. She had clearly stated a case for non-intervention that was not earth based but instead, more like a seasoned galactic scholar. No one knew for sure how the high council chose it's members, it was not family bloodlines or financial strength but it had persisted for over five centuries and now he would shake it to it's very foundations.

  Junes, Hart, Dihr and Uhr bolt upright knocking chairs over and came to attention as Giraffe stepped in. She said, “Yes the ship is sentient, now sit down this is not a military ship.” But the four were frozen, wide eyed. Giraffe said, “What? You look like you see a ghost, I said sit down!” Still they did not move until Zak spoke up, “It's alright sit down please, I must apologize for my crew, they have never seen someone with red hair and emerald eyes.” Giraffe looked puzzled for a moment then moved on, “Yes,well, Junes I need a report, how and why are you all here?” Junes was still standing but somewhat relaxed, the others had sat down, “Captain Jings gave us the option, we were attacked by six federated ships and he provided a distraction.

  We jumped in the shuttle...” Junes then went on to reiterate the rest of the story. “Did captain Jings indicate where he was going when he jumped out?” Giraffe asked. Junes said no then Zak added, “I am quite sure he would head for the home world with all the information, the confirmation of a quantum singularity and communication with you would be top priority.” Giraffe asked again, “You are sure of the non-intervention directive, could they still be in the area” Junes replied, “Jings would not deviate from orders so no, it's doubtful he would stick around.” Giraffe paused for a moment and looked at the faces of her crew alien and earth human alike and said, “We have a mission and it will be dangerous so anyone who wants to opt out speak now and you can go to earth station three.”

  No one said a word and the mission briefing started with the risk factors of coming out of the jump unable to function. Giraffe had already decided that if everyone was incapacitated then Panther would take control based on a set of preplanned maneuvers until either Giraffe or Zak could assume command. They would then wait until all were alert and ready and then Zak would pilot the pick up from Edahni. Everyone had specific duties and back up duties in case anyone became incapacitated. The big if was, of course, Federated and they hoped they could get away clean but anticipated the possibility of as many as a dozen ships. The plan was to jump out of Federated territory as quickly possible and then drop the surviving Edahni colonist on the first neutral world. Many things would have to go right for all this to happen. Junes was on the way to the bridge and asked Zak, “I just do not understand how she woke up the AI, I thought it was scrambled?” Zak replied, “I do not know either yet here it is, learning and interacting like a regular member of the crew, what scares me is it's intuitiveness with Giraffe, like there are one in the same.” Junes nodded, “Well she is our captain, and I trust her to the ends of the worlds, although I don't know why?” Zak just shook his head shrugged his shoulders, “Now you know how I felt when I opened my eyes and saw her the first time”

  Giraffe sat in her quarters with Panther finalizing some pre-programmed mission maneuvers when a message came in from general Murphy on station three adding another layer to the things to consider. It seemed that a group on earth was gaining traction with 'destroy the Devils Gateway'. They had purchased an old launch facility near a coastal area in mid Americas and along with the facility came two Saturn class seven rockets. This was the start of what would be a platform to launch nuclear warheads into the gray nebula. Murphy indicated that the earth governments did not seem to care if they shot a nuke into the nebula and the First Admirals position was to block any attempt. The Admiral was not concerned about any aliens or the nebula. More concerned because they could end up blowing up something else. This left Giraffe with no answer just another threat. “Panther, get with Hicks and figure out what would happen if a nuclear warhead hits the gray nebula .” And also, “What would happen if a nuke would pass though to the other side?” With that she headed to the bridge, it was time to jump. The whole crew were wearing health monitors in order to aid Hicks with figuring out the 'space euphoria'. He hoped that his theory could be proved and the effects could be thwarted. The plan was for every one to sleep as much as possible during the one hundred twenty light year jump. Zak's crew had been though it already and knew what to expect and would be helping the others deal with the effects. After the command to jump through the gray nebula the weird distorted feeling came on them rapidly but it was not disabling, just awkward.

  Professor Hicks was not a medical doctor but just just as smart, he continued to work on the nuke problem while monitoring the health of all crew members and of course Panther was not deterred at all. At about twenty hours in the humans started to get a little funny with the hegmons joining them about four hours later while the grax just became lethargic. Hicks was having a hard time analyzing the data and focusing but did manage to come up with a partial solution which he relayed to Panther before he passed out. At one hour before jump completion Panther slowly changed the air mix decreasing the nitrogen
and increasing oxygen and alerted the crew who were all sleeping or something close to it. Hicks immediately started to watch the health monitors and the crew for signs of distress. Within fifteen minutes Uhr called from engineering that he and Dihr were feeling fine but Marx was still being silly. Panther slowly reversed the air mix to normal in the aft section. The one thing that was noted was Giraffe did not seem to be suffering much in he way of effects and Hicks also seemed less affected.

  14

  They came out of the gray nebula to nothing, all scans showed clear and Giraffe let out a sigh of relief. They were ready for conflict but did not wish it at all. “Crew, all report.” She ordered and one by one they replied, she wanted to hear that they had no lingering effects from the long jump. Giraffe looked at Zak and Junes, “Well, were here, Panther send the signal for slow burn in.” They would orient towards Edahni and do a max thrust for a minute and a half then 'coast' their way in quiet. This would take a couple of days but they would be virtually invisible on the way. This would also give them a chance to eat and relax after the thirty hours of jump space. Over dinner of Marx's excellent recipes they went over the plan and to change the subject Giraffe asked, “Hicks, what will happen if a nuke hits the nebula?” All the others looked at her wide eyed when Hicks replied. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, Panther and I agreed that the gasses would just suck up the missile and essentially melt it even if it tried to detonate but.” “But what!” Marx interjected, Hicks glared at him for a second because he interrupted. “But if, and this is uncertain although more likely than not, if a nuke were to detonate right on the edge of the density change or anomaly, it could collapse.” Uhr and Dihr both concurred with this and said, “It would be sad if your earth humans did such a thing, to close off their humanity and future.” Giraffe quietly asked, “Panther?” and before she could finish Panther came back, “Yes it would be sad and must be avoided, shall I send the message back through?” “Yes please, we will hope for the best.” she replied. Some of the crew were still astounded at the relationship between the captain and the ship, it was beyond what anyone had encountered before. Giraffe made it seem like the most natural thing in the world.