Colony (Terran Chronicles Book 3)

by James Jackson

  Cindy sits back in her chair and relaxes, “That’s one great piece of news, thank you.”

  Location:

  Array Operations Center (AOC)

  80 KM West of Socorro, New Mexico

  Barbara stares at the email before her in stunned silence, and she is not easily shocked. At fifty-two years of age, she is considered an experienced woman who carries herself as though twenty years younger. If it were not for the crows feet gathering at the corners of her eyes, she would also appear twenty years younger. In addition, her abundance of energy often surprises her younger counterparts. Even with all her years of experience, she can’t help but put a hand to her mouth as the ramifications of the email begin to sink in. Looking away from her computer, she feels a rush of adrenaline.

  Absent mindedly playing with her shoulder length hair, she slowly re-reads the short communiqué, paying special attention to key sections. ...new radio telescope... largest ever conceived.... totally green-field site... Tapping the print key, she adds the print-out to a stack of papers. She knows of her reputation, of personally wasting an entire forest with her penchant for printing everything, and she does not care what others think.

  Rocking back and forth in her chair, she runs through a mental checklist, Dave and Brett for starters, hmm do we take the components with us or manufacture them there? She begins drafting a list of everything required, then refers to her printed email and confirms the words, no budgetary constraints.

  She stops, momentarily awed, and stares out her window for a few minutes. Barbara lifts her gaze upward, and smiles. Her pale grey eyes sparkle as she wonders, what do the constellations look like from there? She feels a thrill building with the prospect of constructing a brand new radio telescope facility on another planet. Her smile fades, then turns into a confused frown. But the planet’s too far away for a radio telescope to be effective, unless... the thought turns into excitement as she realizes, I am going on a spaceship!

  Location:

  Starship Terran

  Planetary Orbit

  Earth

  Radclyf tours the ship, paying special attention to the freshly repaired forward section. He examines the newly installed weapons and Gamin power unit, then scrutinizes the repair work to the hull.

  Satisfied with what he sees, he is about to leave the area when an old memory surfaces. It was from when he first stepped onto a Gamin ship, in France. A chill runs through his body as he recalls his assessment of that ship’s defensive capabilities.

  He reaches for his radio, “Joe, come in.”

  Joe stares at the small radio at his feet, now why is Radclyf using that thing? He picks it up and answers curiously, “Joe here.”

  Radclyf says quietly, “Come to the repaired forward section, alone, and quickly.”

  Joe stares at the radio totally mystified, “Okay, on my way.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Joe is standing next to Radclyf, he looks around, quite perplexed, “Okay I give, what’s up?”

  Radclyf stares at Joe, “I almost missed it too, take a look at the hull.”

  Joe shrugs his shoulders, “Mate, I am looking. I just don’t see what you’re getting at.”

  Radclyf states, “Gamin armor plating should be able to withstand a nuclear blast, and yet the Chinese rockets peeled this baby open like a can of sardines.”

  Joe feels the blood drain away from his face, “They have found a way to neutralize the armor’s dense molecular structure.”

  “Yeah, and if the Chinese can figure that out, why haven’t the Gamin’s enemies?”

  Joe frowns deeply while he ponders the dilemma, “It can’t be that simple, can it?” He stares back at Radclyf, gulps, then answers his own question. “We saw signs of laser damage on the Regent’s fleet, maybe they just don’t use nukes anymore?”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Radclyf scoffs, “nukes are just too primitive.”

  Joe puts a hand to his head and begins to shake, “But if those Atlans figure it out, the Gamin are all but dead.” He pauses for a moment, thinks, then states with resolute determination, “We must warn Regent Voknor, secretly.”

  Radclyf glances around warily, “I don’t trust everyone on this ship. There are those that still foster ill will toward the Gamin, for what they did to Earth.”

  Joe begins to feel extremely pressured, “You’re right, a lot of people suffered due to the Regent’s attack. But since then, our two cultures have gotten to learn a little of each other, not to mention the fact that he saved our lives.”

  Radclyf shakes his head, “No, you’re wrong. We have gotten to know the Gamin, but the folks back here have only seen the forceful, demanding side.”

  Joe’s expression wanes, “And us getting this ship the way we did only adds to the fear."

  “Exactly, so what do we do?” asks Radclyf.

  Joe suddenly grins, “George!”

  Radclyf tilts his head, “George?” he says in surprise.

  “Yes,” Joe says excitedly, “he has a small translator that doubles as a transmitter. He can talk to Sharz.”

  Radclyf takes the news in his stride, then nods in agreement, “Let’s talk to George, privately.”

  Joe looks down at the deck for a few moments, then glances up quickly, his eyes full of energy. He lifts up his radio then speaks into it, “George, can you meet me in engine room one please.”

  George replies quickly, “Sure, what’s up?”

  Joe gives Radclyf a sly look, “Nothing really. I just want to recalibrate the engines, now that we have more power, and I want you there in case I run into problems.”

  “Good idea,” George replies, “I can be there in ten minutes.”

  “See you in ten,” Joe replies.

  George is wearing his bodysuit when he steps into the engine room. He stops in surprise at seeing Radclyf with Joe. He warily shuts the doorway behind him, then states, “Okay, what’s really going on?”

  By the time Joe finishes his explanation, George is ghostly pale. He stares at the two men in disbelief, “I can’t believe that the Chinese figured something out that the Atlans have not. It doesn’t make sense at all.”

  The three men stand quietly as they each ponder both the possibilities, and the ramifications, if true. Finally George breaks the silence, “Well we have to do something, and I for one do not like the idea of the Atlans wiping out the Gamin, no matter what they have done.”

  Radclyf and Joe nod in unison, yet both remain quiet.

  George sighs, then speaks into his suit’s built in microphone, “Contact Sharz.”

  Joe stares at George in surprise, no wonder George is able to figure out the Gamin systems, he has Sharz on speed dial!

  George listens for a few seconds, then says, “Sharz, we need a secure channel.”

  Radclyf and Joe watch as George relays the disturbing news, then continue to remain quiet while George listens.

  Finally George says his farewells, then addresses Joe and Radclyf, “They will investigate our findings.” He stares at the two men for a few seconds, a little perplexed, “but the way Sharz spoke to me, it was as if he wasn’t too concerned.”

  Joe and Radclyf exchange glances, then Joe asks, “Do you think it’s something they’re aware of?”

  George takes a deep breath, “Sharz did tell me that this ship was incomplete when they left.”

  Radclyf frowns, “Well, we all know that!”

  Joe paces back and forth, thinking deeply, he stops then says, “Perhaps Sharz was trying to give you a clue, something we missed when we finished the ship?” He continues to pace, then adds, “You know, if this ship had main shields, I doubt those nukes would have even touched the hull.”

  Radclyf glances from Joe to George, then asks, “So, we need main shields?”

  George nods his head, “Amongst other things my friend, but they will have to wait for another day. We must escort the Liberty to New Earth, and get that colony going first.”

  The three men leave the en
gine room, never actually running the engine calibration.

  Liberty

  Location:

  Outback

  Western Australia

  General Walker stands before an impressive audience. Leaders from over a dozen countries sit nearby. Camera crews from all over the world cover the momentous occasion. Robert McKnight is quite possibly the only reporter in the world who is merely observing the events of the day. He sits behind the row of world leaders, with the command crew of the Terran. The audience is made up of construction workers, soldiers, and thousands of future colonists.

  General Walker begins his speech with confidence, his words resound loudly through the many speakers. “In the spirit of Apollo 11, I offer these words. Today we’re mere observers of the universe, tomorrow we shall plant our flag in it. To Captain Adams of Earth’s Starship Liberty, I wish to honor you in the finest traditions of naval history.” He pauses for effect, then with a raised hand says, “I bid you fair winds and following seas.”

  Captain Adams glances up at the phrase; as an ex naval commander he is touched by the sentiments of the quote. He tilts his head in acknowledgment of the reference.

  Walker continues his speech, “It is in that spirit, that once again humanity sets sail across the vast unknown, guided by the stars.”

  While the crowd cheers the simple speech, the world leaders sit impassively, clapping their hands as is expected of them. A few have well practiced smiles plastered up on their faces.

  Captain Adams stands, then addresses the crowd with a surprise announcement, “Today we launch!”

  The crowd cheers even louder. No one expected Adams to announce the launch, nor that it would be this very day.

  After answering a myriad of questions, the crews of both the Liberty and the Terran retire to their respective ships. While Adams and his crew make their way by jeep, John pilots the shuttle that carries the Terran’s crew into space.

  The initial launch of the Liberty is conducted with a skeleton crew. Adams plans to test the ship’s launching and landing capabilities before he allows the twenty-seven thousand colonists on board.

  Captain Adams leans forward in his chair, then issues the first of many historic orders. “Activate the gravity drive, take us up slow and steady.

  Lieutenant Kennedy replies with an air of confidence, he has run hundreds of simulations. “Gravity drive online sir, activating thrusters to compensate for pitch and yaw.”

  Adams turns to his other bridge operator, “Frank, monitor internal systems.”

  The Liberty gently lifts up and out of the construction dock’s arms. Kennedy’s skills in the simulators are translating well to real life events. The launch is so smooth that most of the crew has no idea the ship is actually moving.

  Fifteen minutes later, Kennedy swings around in his chair, “Captain Adams, we have achieved orbit and are holding a stationary position relative to Space Station Unity.”

  Adams stands up, “Well done, Kennedy.”

  The three men breathe a collective sigh of relief.

  Adams walks around the small bridge area, then turns to Frank, “Contact the Terran. Inform them that we shall be testing our thrusters and sub-light engines, then landing this ship for final loading.”

  Kennedy glances at Adams and questions, “We’re not testing the main drive?”

  Adams runs a hand over his chin, “No, just in case Joe from the Terran is right.”

  Kennedy frowns in concern, “Wouldn’t it be best to test it, before the colonists load?”

  Adams shakes his head, “No. Joe insists our drive will work, even though it’s not as efficient as theirs. The issue is the speed changes, he expects us to have some deck plate buckling, just like they did. With this in mind, I am planning on using the drive only once.”

  Frank raises both eyebrows, “One straight run, for over fifteen hundred light years. Is that even possible with a single engine?”

  Adams nods, “That’s not the half of it. Joe insists we can’t go beyond factor five on this ship, which means the trip is going to take us more than four months.”

  Kennedy groans, “Four months in this tin can with so many people? It’s going to be nuts.”

  The three men quit their discussion and focus on the task at hand. The Liberty passes all of her tests with flying colors, then Kennedy performs a precision landing on the alien construction platform.

  The next few days are hectic beyond belief, as last minute tasks are finished. Even with all the resources at their disposal, the Liberty’s hydroponics area has not been fully established. In addition, entire sections remain incomplete, but due to political pressure, the ship is launching anyway.

  Thousands, upon thousands of tons of supplies and equipment are loaded aboard the Liberty. The twenty-seven thousand colonists that will eventually call New Earth their home are crammed into small rooms. Captain Adams takes Joe’s advice, and in a surprise move, insists that every outer hull compartment be left empty, and the adjoining corridors sealed shut. When he is finally pressed into using these closed-off areas, he orders that they only be utilized for the storage of non-essential equipment. As if there were such a thing on this voyage.

  Adams lays in his bunk on the eve of the ship’s launch, wondering if Joe is right. He lays there, staring at his ceiling pondering, I know he doesn’t think I took his advice seriously, but knowing that he spent months out there, I would be a fool not to take advantage of his experience. Joe is completely unaware of the high esteem that Adams holds for him.

  Rising from his bunk, Adams takes his time getting ready. He arrives on the bridge wearing his full dress uniform. Kennedy and Frank glance at each other’s more casual wear, then in unison, stand and salute.

  Adams nods to the two men, and says, “What’s our status, gentlemen?”

  Frank replies immediately, “We have section leaders confirming all inventory.” He glances at his computer screen, then adds, “And it seems that the last of the colonists are boarding as we speak, Sir.”

  “Very well,” Adams says, “Inform the Terran that we shall be launching as soon as everything is secure.”

  Later that same afternoon, the Liberty lifts off with little fanfare. Kennedy grins proudly as the ship enters orbit, then swings alongside the Terran. Frank is most impressed with Kennedy’s piloting, and gives him an appreciative nod.

  Location:

  Starship Terran

  Planetary Orbit

  Earth

  Cindy stares at the lengthy manifest before her. She slowly flips through page after page of supplies and equipment, then stops, and whistles in surprise. She turns to Joe and asks, “Explain to me again, why do we have almost ten thousand people aboard? I thought the Liberty was going to carry the colonists?”

  Joe cringes as he considers sharing his real thoughts on the matter. Instead, he replies, “As we will be arriving well ahead of the Liberty, Adams felt it best for us to take an advance group.”

  Cindy frowns, “But nine thousand colonists?”

  Joe sighs, then says quietly, “Okay... okay... Well, the real truth is,” he pauses while looking directly at Cindy, then blurts out, “Adams is not sure his ship will make the trip, especially considering it’s not finished.”

  “Not finished!” Cindy shouts the words, “Then why are they launching?”

  Joe lowers his gaze, “My best guess is because the coalition can’t stand it that the Chinese have the only spaceship out there. Even if it is a renegade ship,” he shrugs his shoulders.

  Cindy does not reply, she simply casts her gaze outside and looks at the stars. May God have mercy on their souls. The thought comes unbidden, and sends a shiver down her spine.

  Peter points at the forward view screen, “I hate to interrupt you guys, but isn’t that the Liberty right there?”

  Joe touches his panel, the Liberty seems to rush at them as the view zooms in, “Sure is,” he says.

  Cindy leans back in her command chair then says, “Joe, open
a channel please.”

  Joe taps his panel again, instantly the screen changes to display the cramped bridge of the Liberty.

  Cindy stands and says, “Captain Adams, I understand you’re going to attempt to make it to New Earth in a single hop?”

  Adams also stands, then replies, “Yes, that is correct. Joe, your engineer, has expressed concerns regarding this ship’s ability to withstand the stresses involved with space travel.”

  Joe raises his eyebrows, one stint, he gasps. Now that’s impressive.

  Cindy smiles, “We will follow you until you activate your main drive.”

  Adams nods, “I appreciate the escort.”

  Cindy replies sincerely, “Safe travels Captain. By the time you arrive,” she motions toward Emma, “we should have a main settlement site selected for your people.”

  Adams salutes, then says, “Excellent! See you in around four months. Liberty out.”

  Cindy walks over to John, “Follow them, but let’s keep our distance, just in case things don’t go well.”

  The Liberty’s sub-light engines engage, then glow brightly as more power is fed to them. Commander John lets the Liberty accelerate away before he activates the Terran’s engines.

  Thirty minutes later, both ships pass Jupiter’s orbit. Cindy’s eyes are glued to the image of the Liberty when its single main drive engine engages. In a flash of light, the Liberty streaks away.

  Joe monitors his console for a few seconds, then reports, “Well, there’s no debris field, and no unusual energy readings. Seems like they’re running just fine, and to top it off, initial telemetry figures look great.”

  Cindy gazes at her bridge crew, then glances back to where George should be. That’s right, he’s with his family. Turning back to John she says simply, “Punch it.”

  A very mild shudder runs through the Terran’s deck plates, but nothing excessive, as the ship’s main engines propel them many times the speed of light.

  The Terran passes the Liberty, not that they can actually tell, as they accelerate faster and faster. John grins with pride, “Factor six and holding.”