Panther and Giraffe

by Gregory Anderson

  On Edahni, Berdle was notified of a strange signal received in the clandestine radio room in one of the containers, after review he nodded and said, “Pass the word, it is time.” This is the signal they were told to expect when rescue was at hand. It would be night soon on Edahni and it would not arouse much suspicion if they quit work early. They used an obscure holiday as an excuse if there 'advisers' questioned them. There were only a couple dozen Federated on site but they were heavily armed, in order to 'protect' the workers.

  Once all were in the two containers they would be sealed for space and then put on the space suits which were old but serviceable. The containers were space worthy but not designed for space living so none of the compartment doors inside were airtight. Because of this a breach anywhere would decompress the whole thing. It was decided to split the people between two instead of cramming everyone in one unit. That way at least half would have a chance to survive. As soon as they were picked up they would all put on helmets until given the all clear by the captain. Berdle was asking a lot of his people to trust a captain that no knew but they suspected it would be Zak Johns. In this they were close to right. None of the colonist knew about Giraffe or the discoveries of earth and the quantum singularity.

  Giraffe wanted to talk to Marx face to face so she took the long walk through all the bulkhead doors to the aft section, when she got there Uhr perked right up.“I am honored to have you in engineering captain.” he exclaimed. Apparently captains never went aft in these ships when communication by com was usually all that was needed. Giraffe, being earth born understood how important that face to face communication could be. She was there to discuss the rail gun that ran the length of the ship. Marx had been studying on the electromagnetic slug thrower that others determined to be useless. Uhr had confirmed that it worked and the spine was full of slugs but that you could not hit anything with it. Because of the length of the rails on the Panther a slug would be traveling at hyper-sonic speeds and penetrate just about anything.

  The problem was aiming the thing because to do so required aiming the whole ship and the ship could just not respond fast enough or accurately enough to hit anything . However, Panther the ship could with Panther the AI targeting.. Marx proposed that with Panther auto targeting and a person pulling the 'trigger' they could achieve hits without an AI doing the actual killing. Panther could not directly kill or destroy anything, this was against core programming and could not be altered. Uhr still argued that a few hits would never make any difference but Marx argued back, “If only one slug hits a ship, and it is made of the right material it should bounce all around inside a ship wreaking havoc on systems and people.” He reasoned, “A fist sized steel ball bouncing all over inside a ship would have to be terrifying and surely destroy the effectiveness of the crew.” Dihr considered the thought of a steel ball bouncing around in their engine room and said. “Yes I will have to agree with Marx just one shot could stop a ship, at least temporarily while minimizing loss of life, I am beginning to like the way this young human thinks.”

  Hicks was busy looking over the data left from the long jump to see how the effects of space euphoria could be better treated and making fine adjustments. Hart was helping him with this. The professor was starting to get the hang of Harts chittering and actually getting a basic understanding of simple words. What Hicks found surprising was that Hart had an education in medicine before becoming a navigator. Hart explained it this way, “Medicine is common, but the stars are ever changing.” Zak and Junes were on the bridge discussing the strategies and contingencies laid out by Giraffe for the mission. There was some awkwardness between them that had never been there before. “Zak, are you falling for Giraffe?' Junes asked. Zak and Junes had worked together for a long time so Zak could not lie to her, “I don't know what I feel for her, it's not the same as, as, I just don't know.” Junes replied, “Fair enough, just don't let your heart overrule your common sense.” Just then Panther announced ship-wide, “We will be in orbit position in five, places everyone, it's showtime!” Giraffe was just stepping on the bridge and replied, “Quit watching those old earth vids, they'll rot your brain.” Panther replied, “Yes captain.” Not sounding contrite at all.

  “Attention, secure to stations, mission rescue now, Zak you have the helm, take us in!” Giraffe commanded and the Panther responded at full thrust. They sliced through Edahni's thin atmosphere and within a minute Zak flipped the ship and fired the thrusters to slow down almost on top of the two containers that were their target. They had pushed five gees past the dampers and everyone could feel it. There was laser fire coming up from below but nothing the shields couldn't handle as Zak finessed the huge ship into position, the containers were just close enough together for a single grab. Uhr and Dihr worked the grapples on the containers while Zak maintained minimum thrust to keep Panther hovering just off the ground. The laser fire was now closer and concentrating on the bridge section, this was the most vulnerable time as the containers were being secured and if it took to long the laser fire could break through the shields. Marx was already in the spine with Junes getting ready to connect the umbilical which would give the ship control over the containers systems. The containers had just came into position with Marx and Junes each working a umbilical while the giant pylons started closing on the containers. Panther stated in a calm voice.

  ”Front shield failure in one minute, multiple ships have appeared on radar, port container connection confirmed, thirty seconds to shield failure, do something.” And Zak did swing the ship 180 degrees sideways just after the port container shields came online. The Federated who were blasting away with the two laser cannons had made a mistake trying to burn through the front shields while the containers were minimally protected until connection was made to Panther. Had they known they could of done serious damage to the containers. A few more seconds and the port container would be connected and he could lift off. Panther reported, “Port and starboard pylons engaged, comms connected, full shields on line, inertial dampers on line, lets get out of here kids!” Zak had them moving in no time as he fired the front thrusters lifting the front into the air, then pivoting as he fired the four big mains scorching the ground facility with the back blast as they went vertical. Giraffe said, “Good work Zak, Panther put the ships on screen.”

  There were twenty five Federated ships surrounding the planet and all were converging on them. They broke atmosphere at four gees over and still going faster as Hart said, “I am not seeing any way around those ships and they are totally cutting off our escape route, someone had to know our plans.” And it was true unfortunately, someone on one of the containers must have passed on information. Panther would have to run a gauntlet to get out. The nearest ships had launched missiles with volleys of smart torpedoes coming from others with hundreds incoming.'” “All hands, hang on tight this is going to get real rough, all hands hang on, Panther execute queen four on my mark.” She calmly looked over the bridge crew and gripped the arms of her chair, “Mark!” She ordered.

  Panther took control and the ship started spinning in a corkscrew action that made all of them green as Marx had the rail gun pulsing with a steady action pumping fist size bolts of tungsten steel at hyper-sonic speed. In the middle of it all Panther announced. “Missile time to impact twenty minutes and forty minutes for first torpedoes.” Panther started a spin action which disoriented them further as the inertial dampers could not keep up all the while Marx held down the trigger. Some colonist and even the professor had passed out. Hart spoke up with a grim face, “I recommend going for the nebula, we won't be able to sustain any longer course.” He knew the tricky problems with jumping in the other direction so the nebula would be a better chance. Panther reported,

  “Nineteen ships have stopped moving under power with three venting.” Giraffe took the helm as the rail guns fell silent due to overheating. “Panther discontinue queen four, I have the helm.” She set course for the nebula and pushed over the dampers by three gees hopi
ng the colonist could handle it. Calmly she asked, “Time to missile impacts and time to jump please.” The entire bridge crew was grim faced.

  Giraffe was calm as Panther reported, “Time to first missile impacts seven minutes time to jump seven minutes twenty five seconds.” The wait was gruesome knowing they would be exposed to missile fire for twenty seconds. On the surface this does not sound like much time but, over a hundred rounds could hit in that short time. Marx had been right about the rail gun, it had done an amazing job and Uhr and Dihr looked at the young earth born with new respect. Marx was not so calm and cool though. It was a relief that the rail gun worked, there was still incoming and if he was wrong it could be all over. Marx had decided that the ship need help with what he called point defense and now it would be put to the test.

  Giraffe commanded, “All hands, All hands tether in helmets on, prepare for impacts Panther, execute bishop two on my mark.” There was no way to know how frightened the colonist were as there had been no time to find out but they all hoped they were OK. After another two minutes Giraffe commanded, “Mark!” Torpedoes started dropping and fanning out, they did not launch just dropped, they were creating a defensive net. Marx had outfitted them with proximity sensors so they would explode with the missiles and create a cascade effect behind the ship.

  It was working, missiles were exploding behind but some were getting through and were exploding on the shields. A great worry was the containers as they did not have the physical armor plating that the ship did, so far, shields held coming down to the last seconds. At five seconds to jump two things happened. A torpedo with a anti-mater charge was launched and the port container experienced a missile breach. One second after they jumped a brilliant flash made it seem like the ship had exploded. “Report from port container, can anybody respond, report please.” Giraffe asked as the effects of the long jump hit. “Starboard container report.” Berdle responded, “We are alright, some injuries but nothing life threatening, take care of the other container we will manage.” Marx and Uhr were on the way to the port container airlock as soon as the breach showed up, they were dragging a kit behind them, “This is Uhr we are at the port air lock and going in, status report shortly.”

  As they moved into the container the first thing they found was the gravity was off and the found people floating, most strapped to something or each other many were unconscious. The temperature was dropping rapidly. The old suits the colonist were wearing had poor heaters if they worked at all, they moved on to where the breach was and connected to safety lines before getting closer. The kit contained patching materials and sealants, they hoped to close it in quickly. It was not a small hole, Uhr reported while Marx got to work.,

  “We have a big hole here captain and it will be awhile to close, there are injured that need to be moved out and the gravity and heat are out also.” Giraffe replied, “Thanks, help is on the way for the colonist just keep up the good work.” Dihr was on her way to the container with a kit also. She hoped to repair the electrical systems and then restore heat and gravity. Uhr was beside himself trying to figure out how to go about closing the big hole as the materials they brought would not do the job and Marx had wandered off. Before long a slab of steel came floating around the corner with Marx behind it. A torch was hanging from his belt. It was a section of inner wall big enough to close the hole but not thick enough. Uhr said, “Not thick enough but good try.” Marx replied, “Not thick enough but, a good first layer!” They set to work welding in the first layer then went for another slab, filling in between with sealant. Things began to slow down due to the space euphoria setting in but they kept at it. Giraffe decided she had better tell the colonist what was going on before they became totally incapacitated. Hart had said they were not taking the jump so well.

  “Attention all colonist this is captain McCord and I want to assure you that the effects you are feeling are temporary and will go away once we complete the jump, that will be in thirty hours. This is not where we planned to go but unfortunately Federated made us change our plans. More information will be coming at the end of the jump, it is best if you try to sleep as much as possible now, McCord out.” There was one colonist who was likely a traitor and they needed to find out before the jump ended. Giraffe asked, “Panther, can you dig into those containers and see if you can find any communication devices or anything that does not belong?” “Of course dear,” Panther replied. Between Hicks and Hart they were able to take care of the bumps, bruises, and broken bones that the colonist suffered getting off Edahni. They had managed to get them out of the port container until repairs were done but they could not help them with the space euphoria. Eleven had been sucked out into space.. Junes had seen both Zak and then Giraffe get some sleep while she took watch. Giraffe found Junes sound asleep in the co-pilots chair when she awoke twelve hours later. She did not have the heart to scold her for this as Hart had taken over watch. Hart had made discrete inquiries when treating the injured and had formed an opinion of whom the traitor colonist was. Berdle's brother was the consensus, it just depended on what Panther found out. Captain Mindy 'Giraffe' McCord had a bigger problem, what to do about the colonist. They were essentially prisoners on her ship. She could not take them to earth nor could she take them back through safely but, she would have to offer those choices to them. Giraffe sent off two messages one to general Murphy and one back to the other side, deciding the fate of one hundred thirty two men, women and children was not something she took in stride.

  Federated was not a majority rule type of organization. It had a man at the top whose word was law and when people did not follow his rules, they got spaced. When it was reported to him that a single ship defeated his fleet of twenty five and left most of them wrecks, he was not happy, even when that single ship was finally destroyed. He had to wonder why Cyrillium ships had come into his territory. Federated claimed Edahni and beyond. After a few negligent captains took a final 'space walk' he would have to send someone to the Cyrillium home world to explain things to them. Meanwhile he had to recruit some beings to replace the miners on Edahni and keep the territory safe once again.

  The Cyrillium explorer ship finally docked at the Cyrillium home world station. Captain Jings and two scientists took a shuttle down directly to the high council chambers building. The scientist would argue strongly for more exploration on the other side of the quantum singularity while Jings would argue for guarding it and leaving the Panther time to provide more information on the earths human evolution.

  On the Panther Zak and Junes were discussing basically the same thing only phrased as 'are the earth humans a threat or should they be left alone'. Clearly Giraffe had a superior mind but was that was an exception? Both Marx and Hicks seemed to take newfound technology and use it more effectively than anyone on the core worlds. In the case of Federated, they had used that superior knowledge with devastating results. Zak and Junes clearly knew that the Edahni rescue would have failed if it had not been for the capabilities of the earth human “Panther have you completed analysis of the radio communications from the container?” Giraffe asked. “There were radio transmissions on a Federated frequency initiated by Anton Berdle, brother of leader Jimmy Berdle.” Panther answered then added, “These transmissions coincided with events leading to Federated ship movements.” Panther had dug past all the encryption on the colonist container and this, along with the Harts inquiries left no doubt who the traitor was. This would be hard on all of the colonist but especially the leader since it was his brother. The bridge crew were looking to Giraffe wondering what she would do with the information. ”Will you space him?” asked Junes. Giraffe replied, “It may be my right as captain but I believe there is an alternative.” On the comms she asked, “Attention all aboard, leader Berdle, this is captain McCord, please make sure all your people are in front of a view screen I wish to address them all..” A few minutes later Berdle came back, “We are ready captain McCord.” For them it was very unusual to have a female ship captain
as they were extremely rare in the core worlds. They were all keen on seeing this captain. When she came on screen there were gasps and wonderment, they had never seen a red haired emerald eyed woman, ever. Giraffe started, “We are approximately one hundred twenty light years from the core, in a system called sol, we are here because it was the only way to escape a Federated force of twenty five ships who had been alerted to our presence by a traitor among you.” She paused for a moment so the information could soak in. “We have analyzed the radio transmission logs of your container and found that one person initiated these calls and further found corroborating information from among your group. That person has been identified as Anton Berdle brother of your leader. At this time you must decide on how you want to proceed with this information please let me know and then we will discuss options going forward, captain out.”