Invisible Hijackers

by D Gemcats Purcell

  So when there was a report of a sudden intense flash of energy from the vicinity of the blob, we took notice. We could not detect any obvious change in that blob and the drone was not pointed directly at it then. The drone detected what looked like a missile burn coming from the general direction of the blob headed toward our projected course. Excitement ran through Captain Ronald and his crew on the bridge. Nothing, not a thing was showing up on the sensors. We brainstormed among ourselves and Six decided that the hijackers had likely dropped their shielding for a fraction of a second to propel a missile out with a very low signature propulsion like ion drive, then once a good distance away from themselves maneuvered the missile so that it would, even if detected during its brief firing, would not point directly back to its source in space. Therefore their location would not come under heavy scrutiny. So we decided that the heat signature which flared briefly and was picked up by our drone showed up on its sensors because fortuitously the drone was pointed at that area of space and the missile tail was directly facing it and it’s sensor. The heat signature could not be as easily seen here on the Celeste because the hot exhaust was facing away from us and the nose of the missile was pointed at us! We were lucky for that other set of eyes to reveal the danger.

  So the missile by now was of course shut down with no readable energy simply coasting through space and likely not until close to its intercept point in space when very close to target will it wake up and be detectable. Then, even if our sensors detected it, we would be blasted into smithereens before we could realize the danger and maybe react. Good call, hats off to our hijackers we acknowledged. There had to be some good military type tacticians in their group undoubtedly. Now that we luckily were warned, we had an array of weaponry to bring to bear on it. We also had to be aware that there could be more than one missile coming towards us, even though we only detected one. Could they be cloaking their missiles too was the next question.

  So our AI plotted the likely intercept points to our course and we had a range of 45 minutes to one hour from now. We sequestered ourselves back to the lookout room, leaving the bridge with all hands on deck. Captain Ronald told us to update him on the Com link in our room or vidcom to vidcom link. He was on the bridge when we all walked out. Once back in the observatory room where we first sensed the blob, we would try to see if we could sense the missile. We didn’t give ourselves good odds on that since it likely would have all sensors and communication shut down and in coasting mode though at high speed making its way toward its target, us.

  We had a good idea where to look in space though and after taking comfortable seats we quickly Marshaled our mind power and gave an update to Jongi so that someone somewhere would know exactly what we were up against if we got blown up. We didn’t want to send radio info to Baclet or anywhere else knowing that they were highly likely to be intercepted by the top level criminals. We were going to keep them in the dark with only information that would help us nab them. Then we focused our mental power outside the Celeste, not knowing for sure what we might pick up if anything. We had one of Captain Ronald’s top pilots and fire control officers Kelvik with us. He had instructions to sit quietly and not be distracting from his boss. We would let him know if there was anything going on.

  Thus it was that we felt three vague but brief energy surges. Straining our senses further we could hear the occasional tickle of energy associated with electronics send and receiving from three different locations relatively close to each other arranged like the point of an arrow. One up ahead closer to us and two lagging behind. All were on our right now two thirds of the way to us from the blob. They were within twenty minutes of intercepting our present course. We had Dillion break from the group to tell Lieutenant Kelvik to plot the path and liaison with Captain Ronald. We were a very large spaceplane with two fusion power plants that in a crisis could separate into two autonomous spaceplanes each capable of reaching 0.7 of a light year speed and each with separate protective mechanisms. So sending many small missiles, though each were likely very powerful were meant to assure complete destruction. This is what we ourselves would have done.

  Once Dillion rejoined the group, we devoted our energies to rescanning a wider area in all directions around the spaceplane so that we had a chance to detect any other threats. It’s likely that the missiles were scanning and processing their track to their target- us and we were picking up on their internal electrical processes from their sensors, stabilizing thrusters and computers. It may be that there was some brief short distance radio transmissions among the group of missiles coordinating their herd behavior as is standard nowadays. Communication with external controllers could also be happening as they send out updates via radio frequencies. The latter was a bit less likely as they were moving fast, with little time to allow commands to go back and forth across those incredible distances. Also the Celeste has not picked up any long range radio bursts. So we accepted that we had gotten lucky and we had plans for our unfriendly missiles.

  Once again, we opened our minds to Jongi I who said, “I am so glad that you checked in. I have news for you too.”

  We said, “There are three small missiles about fifteen minutes away from us going just a little above our present speed. We suspect the source would be from our mysterious blob, the coordinates of which we already gave you. Also the blob itself is slowly moving we can determine likely from residual momentum not necessarily from active ongoing propulsion since that’s not possible if they are to stay cloaked. They must have dropped their shields momentarily but we missed observing them directly in that case. Or they already had these small armaments parked just out side their cloaked area that they sent out to hunt us. Obviously they would have seen us coming to Tsatvik and known that they would want to target us. We were able as a group to detect the small internal energy fluctuations inside the three missiles as they are headed towards us on an intercept course and we have devised a comprehensive plan with Captain Ronald to hopefully disarm them and capture them to forensically analyze their origin if all goes well.”

  Jongi said, “Well great that you detected those tiny missiles early enough to have a plan in place. Eight years ago two small freighters reportedly collided on their way to Trat from Baclet when one of them developed engine issues and the second one went to assist the crew but they presumably collided accidentally. There were supposedly no survivors and there were a few pieces of wreckage found that was claimed to be identifying. But because of the angle and speed of collision, the main wreckage was presumed to have spun out of control away from the moons in that area and out toward deep interstellar space. Insurance paid up and the crew were declared dead but there have always been some vague worry among investigators over the unusual event. Our AI here on Toigan between Buenafe’s Defnet and Breecher’s Securinet people have crunched the numbers and based on the size reported from the hijackings a few years ago plus Mischa’s reports of size and speeds, we are beginning to think that it may have been an elaborate ruse to grab those vessels and repurpose them. At the time, they were crewed by skeleton crews less than four men each compared to the normal crew of fifteen each for that type of mission. They both were owned by the Mobal group which owns a total of ten vessels and are controlled by Yashid a rich eccentric and his three sons known to be very greedy and ruthless despite being already so wealthy. They have been suspected of having two deputy prime ministers, a couple of well placed Trat mining executives among others, on their payroll. They are definitely corrupt, just nobody has charged them yet with a crime. That’s of course not surprising in view of their connections. They are huge in the ore mining transport business getting lucrative contracts with Trat Mining conglomerate. That may give you some focus when you get to Baclet. Let me allow you to go to battle with the missiles. We have a few insiders in Trat mining and the security establishment who have never bought into the story about those vessels and we have been able to activate them. They will help you so keep that theory under wraps. Good luck.” They
signed off and ran to the bridge to join the combat team. It was going to be fun to see the Celeste in war fighting form.

  In a crisis, Captain Ronald could boost us up to 0.7 of a light year speed that even those missiles could not outrun. Another option is to send out maneuverable kill vehicles to smash them out of existence which would leave a dangerous level of debris along a well travelled path which would endanger other traffic in the area for years to come. The third option is to defang them when they get close enough by the use of directed energy beams including lasers before the missiles made themselves active again as we expected they would. We knew that once their sensors read us as being close enough, their engines would roar into life and they would close the gap very quickly indeed, so that even if we became aware of being under attack, we would only have a few paltry seconds to react. We however, had the luxury of being aware of their game.

  So we would blast their sensors to make them blind and unable to target effectively which would typically cause them to wobble and give us the ability with the Celeste’s fine tuned capability to burn their mid-sections just aft of the nose where their computers would be housed. At that point, their engines just wouldn’t even be able to be controlled. No restart of the engines for that last burst of speed to slam into the Celeste, then no possibility of killing us. If we failed with this surgical disablement, we would go to slam dunk and just blow up the missiles which would leave a debris field unfortunately. We wished ourselves luck. Captain Ronald already had told us that we were to be on the bridge with him and his most trusted targeting staff. We also had two ways to protect the Celeste from inadvertently being damaged by high speed fragmented debris, jump to 0.7 light years speed for a few seconds and or use an energy blast between us and the exploding debris so that any debris hitting into it would be annihilated like fireworks.

  With very precise timing, the Celeste released seven ultra steerable torpedoes into our wake with two minutes to interception as now the three small missiles were within range and expected to go live in their targeting. The Celeste had brought up to low power five lasers and had completely focused in on the nose area of each missile. A short blast by three of those lasers and the feed from onboard as well as on our torpedoes displayed on adjacent large screens showed them with sparks flying. A second blast to make sure. Then our torpedoes were flying abreast of the missiles which were careening back and forth unstably. The torpedoes gave brief blasts just behind the sensors from a few hundred feet away and more sparks and fragments flew in every direction. None of them detonated, though by now they were where the Celeste would have been moments before. The men and auto sensors remained on alert for any missed missiles that may have been headed our way. None were seen.

  The spaceplane continued along as if nothing had happened while each of the three torpedoes linked up to the wreck of the missiles opened small clamps to grasp each of them and continued toward Baclet Command Center to arrive shortly after us but to remain parked safely away from us. We figured that it may have been a great disappointment to the hijackers to see no changes in speed or course by the Celeste as we now were within an hour of arrival. The extra two torpedoes, never armed nor used cruised up to their loading bays and were ensured safe before being stored. We would send a robot or two to completely dissemble the attack missiles, photographing and cataloging each component. We would be then able to tell each which company and even which worker participated in making every part. We expected that we would have some very embarrassed military officials on our hands soon. The Baclet officials would be thoroughly involved. All videos of the interception of the missiles and their approximate location when first seen were being saved.

  10. BACLET MAIN ORBIT STATION

  We watched as Captain Ronald made the first call to Baclet Main Orit Station (BMOS). He was speaking to Commander Ross who was in charge. Commander Ross looked the part, lantern jawed, stern with an authoritative mien. He grew alarmed as our Captain Ronald outlined to him the mission and rescue plus the attack by missiles that were discovered just in the nick of time to disarm them. He seemed genuinely concerned that we had all been in such extreme danger when our mission was to simply help marooned space folk. Obviously he had been aware of the rescue mission and our deployment, being the first and fastest spaceplane ever known. He was obviously very impressed with us being able to effect the rescue with only one fatality among the survivors and then to detect and neutralize the sophisticated attacking missiles. He was alarmed to learn that the disabled missiles were paralleling us and would be parked a few miles away moored to our special torpedoes. He assured us that there had been a crack medical team mobilized from among the resident physician team based at BMOS plus additional team members and equipment brought up from the surface to assist the paralyzed engineer. The Medical Technician on board the Celeste then got involved with updating that team on the treatment given so far. Nothing was mentioned about Six nor the blob discovery, even though the long range sensors on the Celeste plus the short range ones on the drones kept a close surveillance over that area.

  It was expected that it would take at least three more hours to just come into dock very carefully and start unloading the sick and injured. There was a need here to use two docking ports to lock in this super large spaceplane so as not to introduce destabilizing torque forces on the BMOS structure. The BMOS was no where near as large as its companion on Toigan. Then testing on the remaining crew who planned to disembark into the station or go to the surface would have to take place. All the rules of Custom and Border control plus Infection control plus Quarantine, applied as this was a foreign vessel with non-Baclet people.

  Six needed to rest thoroughly. Jonah mind spoke with the group and since he felt energized, suggested that they retire to the three rooms with double beds assigned to them. Jessi would have to hang out alone since Jonah would remain up. Timers were set by Dillion who would relieve Jonah in six hours. By that time docking should be complete and the robot should have almost finished parting out the three missiles and the making explosive charges inert. Jonah would be riding herd, making sure he kept overlook protection on the spaceplane and the rest of the group. When Six were together, there was always security to be monitored.

  As Jessi was about to walk away, Jonah locked eyes with her and he said, “I know you’re tired Darling but would you take a few seconds to patch in with your Mom Susan to let her know that we are ok and to let all of our parents know that we are tired but having fun up here. Also give Jongi a quick update. Thanks. Love you. Sorry you’ll be alone, rest well.” Jessi walked back over to him, “I love you too Jonah. I already did both a few minutes ago while Captain Ronald was giving his report. See I know what you’d want before you even know it yourself.” She quickly caressed him with a quick pass around his neck. He smiled and nodded, going back to his alert state, scanning the whole environment for any anomalies.

  The first retractable articulated dock slowly extended as the Celeste inched to a standstill after a barrage of truster firings to hold place. A port in the Celeste’s rear side opened and extended toward the BMOS with bright lights and cameras focused by AI. With both the Baclet Main Orbit Station (BMOS) and the Celeste coordinating plus close monitoring from the bridge under Captain Ronald’s watchful gaze the process of mating the two structures proceeded. Lasers and large magnets on both protruding parts searched each other out and led to a smooth mating. “Locked” flashed on the screen and by then the other two companion docks now at the front side of the Celeste were inches apart and second announcement “Locked” again flashed. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “Air lock tight” next flashed. With the cameras now mostly switched to inside the airlock viewing, a train of silvery labeled containers were being launched from the Celeste through the passageways toward the MBOS. These carried required air samples from the Celeste and biological samples from our onboard medic from himself and all of his treated hijack survivors to be analyzed by the automated machines on the BMOS to rule out c
ontagion. Baclet did not want us to share dangerous biological or other contaminants with them!

  So we were safely docked and in some ways that made us more vulnerable and so all sensors were full on looking for approaching spacecraft or other bodies that could be lethal to the Celeste or even the whole of Baclet Main Orbital Station. We knew that the hijackers wouldn’t be above creating an Interplanetary incident and blaming it on the Celeste from Toigan, to cover their tracks. They knew that their gamble so far had not paid off. We were able to rescue the folks from Tsatvik and now may have intelligence on them, plus they had not succeeded in terminating the whole spaceplane with their missiles. So Jonah took his guarding over the Celeste very seriously. He secretly was thankful for the energy borrowed from the animals on the surface of Tsatvik which he felt was responsible for keeping him alert and strong despite thirty four hours of activity with no real sleep.

  The Physician task force which included nursing staff all dressed up in Hazmat type suits had come to the docking station in the rear of the spaceplane and solemnly taken delivery of the paralyzed engineer on a stretcher equipped with magnetic wheels to keep it from floating and thus causing him nausea. Then as we watched on camera, he had been hustled away into the long sterile looking corridors of the BMOS which stretched out into space like a giant latticework of tubular and knobby round cylinders interspersed with only occasional rectangular box like large structures. There were cranes with long spidery arms occasionally very slowly moving small objects from one part of the structure to another. Some of those cranes seem to move along the edge of the latticework riding on attached rails. It surely was surreal, like a myriad of wispy insects going about their business.