by Derek Haines
‘We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,’ Snikkle said.
‘Well, let’s get moving then,’ Feb replied.
‘Ready Likk?’ Snikkle asked Likklet.
‘With you Snikk!’
Snikkle and Likklet strapped themselves into their pilots’ seats.
‘Do you want to stay up here sir?’ Snikkle asked Feb.
‘Yes. If that’s alright with you.’
‘Ok. Hey String. Can you and Snurd get to the cabin and get the ladies strapped up very tight and tell them to brace themselves for a bit of a rocky ride?’ Snikkle said.
‘Sure,’ String replied and he and Snurd left for the Luxury Class cabin.
‘Good luck,’ Snurd added as he left with String.
‘We’ll be fine,’ Feb replied trying to reassure everyone.
Feb waited until String and Snurd had time to get to his sisters.
‘Let’s go gentlemen,’ he ordered.
‘Yes sir, both Likklet and Snikkle answered in unison.
‘What bearing?’ Likklet asked Snikkle.
‘It doesn’t matter. We have no idea which way is up in here.’
‘So we try that way?’ Likklet said pointing straight ahead.
‘As good as any,’ Snikkle replied.
‘Very scientific gentlemen,’ Feb added.
‘Very happy if you want to advise differently sir,’ Snikkle said.
‘I’m with your decision. Let’s go.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Initiating start up,’ Likklet said calmly.
‘Commencing system check,’ Snikkle replied just as calmly.
Once all checks were completed, Snikkle prepared the SSGCC-Twelve to head for their mutually accepted bearing of sort of straight ahead. He held the cruiser back until close to full power was throttling the engines and then let their big cruiser ball loose on the void. Moving off as if had been shot from a catapult, it forced the three men firmly into the back of their seats. What was visible in front of them started to look like streams of light as the SSGCC-Twelve shot into, across, through or around the void at close to full speed. The force was so great, Feb had a lot of trouble getting his fingers to cross as the G forces were even working against his fingers. Somehow, against the odds, he managed to cross his fingers – on both hands.
The streams of light began to take some form, and rather large potentially dangerous objects appeared hazily in front of them.
‘Left, left, left,’ Likklet said surprisingly calmly as he noticed a dangerously large planet looming very fast dead ahead. Snikkle reacted quickly and managed to guide the rocketing SSGCC-Twelve just slightly to the left of the planet just as Likklet said, ‘Right, right, right,’ as another planet loomed dangerously close. A small crunching, crashing, thudding sound told them all that they had been hit by something. Or more likely, they hit something. There was no time to consider what it was as Likklet was shouting again. A large ugly asteroid this time. Then a rogue comet followed by another bigger and nastier looking asteroid.
‘Left, left, left,’ Likklet ordered again as yet another planet loomed. Feb recognised it as the same planet that had prompted Likklet’s original left, left, left order so it proved the random movement theory. It was randomly looming dangerously in front of them again. Another four left and right manoeuvres and the same planet appeared yet again as a dangerously looming planet, Snikkle skilfully missing it for the fourth time.
‘Fuel?’ Snikkle asked Likklet.
‘Low.’
‘How low?’
‘Very low.’
‘How very low?’ Feb asked interrupting.
‘Close down all systems except main thrusters,’ Snikkle ordered ignoring Feb.
‘Closing down,’ Likklet confirmed as all lighting in the SSGCC-Twelve went black and every screen in front of Snikkle and Likklet went black as well.
‘What now?’ Feb asked.
‘Cross your fingers,’ Snikkle said.
‘I already have,’ Feb replied.
‘Good,’ was all Snikkle said as he pushed forward on his throttle and the cruiser launched forward at an unhealthy speed, that it was clearly not designed for. The walls inside the flight deck started to bend and warp, and Feb started to feel as if someone was trying to peel his face from his skull. He could see Snikkle and Likklet looking as if they had been turned into stone as neither could move a solitary muscle due to the force. Both of their tongues caught mid-lick and now being forced towards their left ears. Streams of light ahead blurring into a maze of threatening objects. At this speed Feb knew full well that the smallest object could destroy their cruiser. An eternity passed in the few seconds that it took for the SSGCC-Twelve to be propelled towards the edge of the Unterlodd Void. A dull thumping sound followed by a noticeable slowing in speed had Feb’s attention.
‘We’re slowing!’ he shouted above the dull thumping sound.
‘We’ve run out of fuel,’ Likklet shouted back just as a huge flash of light filled their view.
‘Nicely done Snikk!’ Likklet said with a smile. Now that his face could smile and his tongue had managed to return safely to his mouth.
‘Thanks Likk!’ Snikkle said cheekily, but clearly tinged with relief.
‘Where are we?’ Feb asked.
‘Out,’ was all Snikkle said.
Where Is Here?
‘Any idea where we are?’ Feb asked again.
‘Until we can convert some fuel, no idea sir. We’re floating powerless,’ Snikkle replied.
‘How long?’
‘At least a few hours before we’ll even have enough to power our Nav systems.’
‘Alright. I’ll check on the others.’
‘Certainly sir. We’ll stabilise the ship.’
Feb headed to the luxury cabin. Smoothly for a change. He arrived to find everyone still strapped firmly in their seats in the gloomy darkness.
‘What happened?’ May asked. ‘It was very rough and noisy. We were all a bit frightened.’
‘It’s alright. We’re out of the void. You can get out of your seats now,’ he said and was greeted by a lame group cheer.
‘So where are we?’ String asked as he and the others unbuckled.
‘No idea String. We’ll have to wait until we have some power.’
‘Hopefully no one will get the idea to start shooting at us while we’re floating around not knowing where we are,’ Snurd commented in his usual flat monotone voice to no one and everyone.
‘Oh I’m sure our wonderful pilots will get us away safely,’ April said trying to reassure everyone after Snurd’s insightful comment.
‘I’d love a cup of tea,’ June muttered seemingly to herself.
‘Sorry June. No tea until we have power to boil water,’ Feb replied.
‘I’ll see what I can prepare,’ May said trying to sound positive in the very dim light that was coming through the cabin windows.
‘I’ll help you,’ String said as he jumped to his feet enthusiastically.
‘Is there anything I can do to assist?’ Snurd offered to String. Flatly of course.
‘C’mon. I’ll teach you the recipe for lettuce salad,’ String replied with a smile, wondering to himself why Snurd seemed to be a good friend in the making. At the same time, Snurd was wondering when something logical, planned and regulated was going to happen. He really liked process.
Snikkle and Likklet joined everyone in the luxury cabin with Snikkle announcing that they would have to hang around for some time while the SSGCC-Twelve absorbed enough sub-spacial particles to convert into power. Likklet couldn’t answer Snurd’s immediate question regarding where they were precisely or even approximately for that matter, but told him he would let him know as soon as the Nav system kicked back into operation. When Snurd pressed him, Likklet tried to satisfy him by saying they were somewhere between Sun System One and Two.
‘But aren’t we sitting ducks?’ String asked. ‘You know. Just hanging around like this.’
‘It�
�s alright String really,’ Likklet assured. ‘Without power it’s nearly impossible to track us. If we stay dark so to say, we can really only be found by accident.’
‘What? Like just bumping into us?’
‘Yes. With no power we’re emitting no signal at all. So, relax.’
‘Let’s get something ready to eat,’ April seemed to order everyone, and String, Snurd, May and June followed her to the galley to see what they could prepare.
‘So, how long before we can get underway?’ Feb asked Snikkle and Likklet.
‘Sir, we could get moving in a few hours, but wouldn’t be operating on anywhere near full power. So if we ran into anything unusual we wouldn’t have much in reserve, and certainly not enough for our shields’ Likklet explained.
‘I’d suggest we wait until we get to at least fifty percent power reserve sir,’ Snikkle added.
‘And how long for that?’
‘Twenty-four hours.’
‘And full power?’
‘About sixty hours if we stay dark,’ Likklet explained.
‘And I suppose that’s what you recommend,’ Feb asked Snikkle.
‘To be safe. Yes sir. At full power we could make up time, so in fact we wouldn’t lose much.’
‘That of course depends on where we are of course,’ Feb observed.
‘Eh, yes sir,’ Snikkle admitted.
‘When can we fix our position?’
‘In about two hours sir. When the Nav system has minimum power.’
‘But that would mean risking being spotted by Glothic High Command, wouldn’t it?’ Feb asked.
‘Yes sir. But only a small chance.’
‘I’d prefer we didn’t give them any chance,’ Feb said sternly.
‘But we really need to fix our position sir. It’s very difficult to calculate if we’re in any danger of floating back into the Unterlodd Void or wandering into a large planet’s gravity,’ Likklet warned.
‘I understand that. But using the Nav system while we’re basically disabled could be inviting bigger problems. I’m not that keen on being sent a squadron of Hoogs to say hello,’ Feb said.
‘I might be able to help,’ Snurd interrupted as he carried knives and forks to the table.
‘Yes Snurd?’ Feb asked politely but not expecting anything remotely useful.
‘I studied astronomy for some time. We could try a little old fashioned navigation.’
‘How long did you study astronomy?’ Feb asked.
‘Oh about three years sir.’
‘So how did you end up in administration?’
‘I failed astronomy sir,’ Snurd said without any hint of humour.
‘I see,’ was all Feb could say.
‘Well, it’s worth a try,’ Likklet suggested.
‘Me too,’ Snikkle agreed.
‘I’m sure I can fabricate a basic alidade. Should be sufficient,’ Snurd said blandly.
‘A what?’ Likklet asked.
‘An alidade. It’s an ancient tool that allows you to sight a distant object and use the line of sight to perform a measurement. Quite simple really. Then one can calculate the angle between two objects and ….’
‘Snurd,’ Feb interrupted. ‘Get to work. Alright gentlemen?’ he asked his pilots. They nodded in agreement.
As Snurd and the two pilots scurried off to get to work on ancient navigation techniques, April told them dinner would be ready in about an hour. String looked totally superfluous to Feb’s sisters needs.
‘String,’ Feb called out towards the galley door where String was leaning uselessly.
‘Yes Feb.’
‘Where did you put the backgammon board?’
Over a few frames of backgammon with String and then dinner, and then a few more frames, Feb’s mind was trying to piece together the events of what had only been a few short days since Snurd had knocked on his front door with the bad news about his father and brothers. He kept thinking about what Lefroy Overload had told him.
‘The Dodecahedron has twelve identical pentagonal faces, with each face representing the twelve facets of the Gregorian family traits.’
He also read the letter between September and November in his mind. Over and over.
‘The Cavern of Clavius will remain our protector.’
Trying to decide who was threatening Gregorian rule now took a lower priority for Feb. It could be true that Hadlian Kortek and Alsiatious Umblicat were behind an attempted coup, or that Dagnion, Glutz and Overload were part of it. But from a wandering, powerless Cosmic Cruiser somewhere between two sun systems, it was impossible to discover any answers to those questions. The only answer in Feb’s mind lay in a place called the Cavern of Clavius. His return to Gloth as February the Fifth, the undisputed Supreme Potentate of the Twelve Sun Systems of Gloth, started there. Whatever lay there waiting for him. A feeling of pride in being Gregorian washed over him, and so did a sense that he was being tested. As the third and youngest son of August the Eightieth, it was never considered a possibility that he would ascend to the seat of his father’s power. So he was never prepared. Now though, his education would start. When they finally reached an as yet very far off cave.
‘Your move Feb,’ String said as he couldn’t help but notice that Feb was not concentrating on their game at all.
‘Oh, sorry String.’
‘It’s alright Feb. You look like you are off in the stars.’
‘Yes, you’re right. I might try and get some sleep.’
‘Probably a good idea Feb. You need some rest before we move on I think.’
‘Good advice.’
Feb didn’t know how long he had slept, but woke fresh and ready for whatever lay ahead. He didn’t even mind the cold shower, as it meant the ship was still re-powering and safe. After getting dressed he found the Luxury Class cabin empty, which meant everyone was still asleep. Finding enough in the galley for a light breakfast, he sat quietly and ate by himself. A hot cup of coffee would have improved his breakfast greatly, but he satisfied himself with a second glass of tepid orange juice instead. As he sat back down at the table with his glass, Snurd came through the hatch from the flight deck.
‘Good morning,’ Feb greeted him. ‘You couldn’t sleep?’
‘Oh I’ve been working sir.’
‘With success?’
‘Yes sir. I can say that I have established our position with a degree of accuracy of four to five degrees and plan to brief our pilots as soon as they rise,’ he said without any hint of accomplishment.
‘That’s great work Snurd.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘No, I mean you’ve really done well. I’m so glad you’re on my side.’
‘All I did was locate six identifiable bodies and calculate their relative position by triangulating at sixty degrees against three more fixed suns and applying the basic formulae necessary for establishing their relative positions to each other and …….’
‘Good morning. Well, it feels like morning,’ Snikkle said as he greeted Feb and Snurd and Feb breathed a small sigh of relief that he didn’t now have to have Snurd’s complete astronomical report.
‘Good morning Snikkle. Snurd was just telling me he’s established our position. Maybe he can fill you in on the details while I walk off my breakfast.’
‘Great news. I’ll just get something to drink Snurd and you can tell me how you did it.’
‘Good,’ Feb said and rose knowing that Snikkle was about to receive a very long, detailed and monotone report. A walk around the cruiser seemed much more appealing. ‘I’ll see you in a little while.’
Before Feb had reached the hatch he could hear Snurd starting his detailed report. Even though he was happy to get away, he was even happier with the work Snurd had done, and how valuable it could prove.
An hour later, Feb returned to find everyone at the large table in the Luxury Class cabin. Chatting and finishing breakfast as Snurd continued his report, now to Likklet. Feb smiled at Snikkle from behind Snurd and Snikkle ret
urned it with a knowing glance.
‘Everyone have a good sleep?’ Feb asked and was met with general affirmations of a good sleep had by all. Except Snurd who was obviously anxious to continue his report to Likklet. Feb saved Likklet this time.
‘Snurd has done a wonderful job as we slept and I believe has established our position.’
‘Yes. A brilliant calculation if I might say,’ Snikkle added.
‘Good,’ Feb said as he sat down at the table. ‘So? Where are we gentlemen?’ Feb asked Snurd, Snikkle and Likklet.
‘Orbiting Liplipitus. The fourth moon of Xyexon,’ Snurd proudly stated.
‘It’s the third innermost planet of Sun System Two,’ Likklet added.
‘So safe from Noorlacs then,’ Feb asked.
‘Yes sir. And even the closest Hoog base I know of is just a little too far to threaten us here,’ Snikkle added.
‘So we’re safe?’ May asked.
‘Yes,’ Snikkle answered but was interrupted in saying anything further by a loud bang that shook the ship. Both he and Likklet leapt to their feet and ran off to the flight deck. Feb behind them. Everyone else waited.
They returned very quickly.
‘Except for old satellites May,’ Snikkle said as he sat back down. ‘No damage done, but our force shields can’t be used just yet. Hopefully there aren’t too many bits of junk floating around here.’
‘Or asteroids,’ Snurd said blandly.
‘Hopefully not,’ Snikkle said with a smile that really didn’t assure Snurd.
‘Alright,’ Feb started, indicating he was ready to take control. ‘How’s our power situation?’
‘Thirty-seven percent,’ Likklet answered.
‘And our route to Terranova Two?’
‘We have to head towards Sun Two and use its gravity to send us towards Sun System One. But as a regular gravity sling would set our heading directly towards Alternus, which is a bit too close to Gloth and Hoogs, I suggest we do a triple orbit of Sun Two so we can do a controlled sling that would have us heading more directly to Terranova Two,’ Likklet explained in more detail than was necessary and understood by no one except for Snikkle and perhaps Snurd.
