“Apparently it’s movie night in the conference room. I think they’re watching a sci-fi. Sounded like Gloria was taking the time to explain how not to handle an alien encounter. You don’t want to join them?”
Jack took another bite and shook his head. Alex sipped his coffee and sat down in front of him.
“So tell me, Jack. All the info you collected on me for the NSA. What do you know about me?”
“What do you want me to say?” Jack replied, still chewing.
“What do you want to tell me?”
Jack considered for a while.
“I know you deployed to Iraq during your freshmen year in college.”
Neither of their expressions changed. Their eyes were locked, Jack easily spooning another large mouthful without looking.
“Seems you have me at a disadvantage, Jack.”
“Dunno about that. You seem pretty resourceful yourself.”
“Why don’t you tell me more about this jumping ship act you want me to believe in.”
Jack chewed thoughtfully again.
“It’s as much a case of wanting to get outta there as it is wanting to get in here, if I’m honest. My old boss and I have a lot of… history together. Lately I’ve been seeing the dark side of what he does. Then there’s you guys, trying to change the world, totally transparent about it… Well I knew pretty quick where I needed to stand.”
Alex finished his coffee and stood up. He placed one hand on Jack’s shoulder and stopped for a moment. Alex gave him a half-sided smile and walked away.
Jack stopped him before he left the room.
“You should know. Hammond is answering to someone above his pay grade. I can’t be the only play. They want the drive one way or another, and if they think they can’t get it, they might decide it’s better to eliminate you. I’ve seen them do it before.”
Alex glanced back at him and gave a slight nod before leaving.
“And if you ever want to talk about what happened during your deployment… I’ve seen that before as well.” Jack said to the empty room, wondering if Alex had heard him.
***
The Destiny rested fifty meters away from Dark Star in the appointed position on the surface of Titan, enveloped once more by the thick orange atmosphere. Todd had already scanned the alien craft using more than one device. His efforts were largely ineffective. The equipment was primarily designed for deep ground or surface scanning. In the end, he had to make a straightforward visual appraisal. He circled the craft on foot a couple of times, taking pictures of everything.
The ship had significant damage to all sections. The entire front was missing, as well as most of the rear. It appeared as though the surface of Titan had ground away the lowest deck or two as it skid across the surface. It wasn’t clear, as the ship was covered with a layer of dust particles, but it may have rolled once or twice. There wasn’t much else to say about the vessel. Only that the hull was a dark grey and pieces of it littered the entire area.
After Todd’s pictures were reviewed and discussed, an appropriate boarding point was agreed. The Destiny was repositioned to the other side of the wreckage to allow for easier access.
Gloria was now approaching a torn but accessible section of the hull that led into a hallway.
“The outer hull looks thin. Even brittle, maybe.” She took several close-up photographs, before finally lifting a cautious boot onto the floor of the interior. Listening from the bridge, the rest of the crew held their breath. “Taking samples now.” She scraped surface material into packets and tubes, from various locations on the floor and walls. Later, she would test them on the Destiny and determine that nothing bacterial was alive.
The next morning, Alex organized the crew, and they set out to complete the first real survey of the site. As they approached, something on the alien vessel… awoke.
Chapter 11
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It surfaced, weakly, from its oblivion. Diagnostics showed minimal system functionality. Power levels remained critical. Hardly anything had been gained from the long hibernation. The local star was simply too far away.
But something had woken it. Hungrily, it began to search… And it found. Movement, lifeforms, approaching its vessel. Unfamiliar, seemingly non-aggressive. It would not matter. It had protocol to execute. The only question was the method that would be employed for the newcomers’ elimination.
***
The main walkway through the hull breach was blocked by beams fallen from an upper deck. But alongside was an open passage flanked by sheets of transparent material. It looked like glass, but it must have been much stronger to survive in such wreckage without even cracking.
Alex stepped up between the glass walls. Before he could take another step, a new wall appeared behind him out of nowhere, blocking Mason who was to be next inside. A fourth pane of miraculous glass slid in front, completing the cube-like box in which Alex now found himself trapped. He instantly panicked, bashing on the not-glass walls with his hands.
He gasped as lights flashed across the surface and he thought he could feel it vibrating. Almost as fast as it happened, it was over. The two transparent “doors” of the box vanished again, and he was free.
“This ship still has power!” Mason shouted into his headset when he recovered from the shock. He had involuntarily backed away towards the Destiny. “I recommend we postpone until we have a better idea of what we are dealing with.”
“That’s a negative, Mason,” said Alex. He was breathing hard, but he had a determined look in his eye. “The only way to learn more is to continue. I’m fine. It’s probably an automated system, not dangerous.”
Gloria was reviewing bio and sensor readings from Alex’s suit.
“When that chamber lit up you were exposed to X-ray and gamma waves, and I suspect a new kind of radiation that I can’t confirm. The temperature of your suit spiked momentarily. The dose you received for the first two is well within safe limits. I don’t know anything about the third kind of radiation, if that’s even what it was. If I had to guess, you were decontaminated or scanned.”
Alex stepped through the other end of the box. Gloria stepped in next. The box went through the exact same routine. Jack, and finally Mason followed suit.
The hallway seemed both familiar and yet disconcertingly non-human. The floor was exceptionally smooth and glossy. On either side of the hallway along the floor were a series of indentations perhaps four inches deep and two feet wide, round and smooth, like tracks. When the hallway intersected others, the tracks melded into a larger indentation like a little pool.
Smooth deep holes similarly marked the walls. Great distances separated them. The group moved down a few hallways, making several confusing turns.
“Where are the rooms? There are no rooms anywhere.”
“Remember. Alien,” Gloria said. “They might not even have a concept for rooms. For all we know, they don’t sleep or eat.”
They continued. Most hallways looped back into the wider network, or ended in a cul-de-sac. No doors anywhere to be seen.
***
The thing that had woken on the ship… reached out. It needed to learn and eliminate before the creatures inside attacked. It was surprised. They used an exceptionally primitive digital communication system via weak radio wavelengths. Within nanoseconds, it had interfaced and translated languages, discovering their connection to another vessel, calling itself Destiny. This was… curious.
***
“Uh, Alex?” Zeek said, carefully, from the bridge.
“Talk to me.”
“Our entire database was just… copied.”
Everyone in the boarding party froze.
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah. There’s fragmented alien script all over the system right now. It’s corrupted a lot of our files. I’m having to close everything and restart. It’s touched everything. Even the navigation system has strange writings on all
the commands. The guys here are having a difficult time using the control interfaces, due to the interfering displays.
“Damn. Everyone back to the ship!” Alex cried.
They turned, hurrying down the corridors the way they had come. But the hallway slammed shut with a sudden door that dropped from the ceiling right in front of Jack. Alex shrieked involuntarily.
“Were trapped,” shouted Jack..
“Find another exit!” cried Zeek on the comm.
“Greetings, I am this ship’s onboard digiform,” said a sudden voice, echoing with surprising volume in the dark hallway. “Your records suggest you are not my enemy and no longer require termination. I would like to speak with Captain Alex. Alex, will you speak with me?”
The message was heard on all decks of the Destiny simultaneously. The remaining crew listened on in terror. Alex managed to get control of himself, though he couldn’t stop his voice from shaking.
“Yes. I am Alex.”
“Why have you come on board this ship?”
Mason switched his comms from public to private.
“Be careful. It’s seen inside our systems, and we know nothing about it. We are at a disadvantage.”
“It can undoubtedly understand us. We have no reason not to tell the truth.” Alex switched back to public.
“We are explorers from Earth. We seek only discovery and knowledge. Who are you? What do I call you?”
“Exploration confirmed. Call me Kalibri, I am a digiform. How many people are with you here?”
“There are twelve people here with us.”
“Confirmed.” Kalibri was eager to continue questioning, but protocol must be observed. There was a long silence.
“Kalibri, are you there?”
“Am I where?”
“You were quiet. It made me think you were no longer communicating. “
“I understand. I am programed to converse by trading questions, as is the custom of my creators. I was waiting for your next question. I will modify my protocol.”
“I believe I understand. So you can alter your own programming?” Alex wondered about its limitations. He had seen enough movies to have a healthy fear and respect for A.I.s, even if it was only based on fiction.
“I have limited control over my own programming.”
“If you can, please forgo that particular protocol when speaking with humans. Ask your questions in lieu of the flow of the conversation,” Alex said hoping to gain some insight into the A.I.
“Are you willing to repair my ship?”
“Um… I am willing to explore that possibility. We will need more information, all we can find so far are corridors.”
Instantaneously, dozens of seemingly hidden doors slipped open along the walls of the hallway.
“Those holes in the walls are on the right of each entrance,” observed Mason. “Some kind of access control mechanism?”
“Correct, Commander Mason,” Kalibri stated. “Your appendages differ greatly to those of my crew. They use biochemical secretions to deliver information and instructions to the ship and fellow members.”
“What happened to the ship?” asked Alex.
“This ship was attacked by the Zorn. All systems were shut down during the escape attempt. Hibernation was activated to conserve remaining power during our drift through space, until Titan’s gravity pulled us and we crashed on the surface. Battery power is nearing zero percent, once depleted I will no longer exist.
Alex forced himself to ignore the hushed sounds of people freaking out among his crew.
“How long have you got left?”
“At the current rate of consumption, now that I am active, thirty-four Earth days.”
“What do you use as a power source?”
“This vessel is equipped with nuclear and fusion reactors. Far more advanced than your world currently deploys, the reactors are nonfunctional at this moment. Our capacitor tank is nearly depleted.”
“Capacitor tank?”
“A tank for capacitance gel. A substance that stores electrical energy. Once exhausted, I will no longer survive.”
“A battery,” said Zeek, in Alex’s ear. It didn’t escape Zeek or Mason’s attention that Kalibri used the word survive.
“Much more efficient than those on your ship, but the purpose is the same,” said Kalibri.
Mason cut in. “Tell us about the Zorn.”
“What would you like to know?”
“Strengths, weaknesses. Who are they to you and how did your conflict start?”
“The Zorn were new to interstellar travel when the Theans, my creators, visited their home system for diplomacy and trade. The initial meeting seemed to be going well, but nearing the end of the talks, the Zorn mercilessly attacked and killed the entire diplomatic team and destroyed the vessel. A ban of visitation was placed on their home world, but many years later, the Zorn came out in force. They swarmed the Thean systems, systematically attacking and destroying our worlds and colonies. At the time of my last contact, they had destroyed as much as seventy-five percent of Thean territory over one hundred years. They have exceeded Thean technological capabilities, and are well-suited to war. A consensus of digiforms estimates that Theans will no longer exist in approximately fifty years.”
“Kalibri, if we repaired your ship, what would you do?”
“I would set course for my home world and await instructions.”
“Can you lie to us? Have you lied to us?” Zeek asked from the ship.
“I can, but I have not.”
Alex looked over at Mason, who was shaking his head. Every comment from Kalibri seemed to provoke a physical response from him.
“Kalibri, can you tell me the status of your ship?” Alex asked.
“Twelve percent of the ship has been completely destroyed. All decks and sections have sustained damage. Eighty two percent of the remaining ship is exposed to space. All primary systems are offline. Complete ship repairs are not practical. Recommendation to Thean command is to scrap the ship.”
“How many crew members did this ship hold?”
“This ship held eighty three members of our society. Not all of them would be considered crew as you understand the term.”
“I see… Are there any surviving members?”
Normally the answer would always come instantly, as if Kalibri knew the question they were asking before they completed the question. This time however, a full five seconds had passed before Kalibri said “No.”
The Destiny’s crew exchanged glances.
“Does your society have salvaging rights or laws?” Zeek asked from the ship.
“Yes. In Thean society, if a ship is abandoned it still belongs to the owner, who can still stake a claim against it. However, it is common for someone else to come across and repair or scrap a derelict ship for personal gain. In some cases, the owners never become aware of this and all is well. In others, the owner becomes aware after the fact and is awarded a fifteen percent value of the ship or scrap value. If permission is sought ahead of time, it is common to ask for only five percent of the ship’s value or scrap value depending on its intended use.”
Kalibri withheld a clause that stipulated that if the ship had been abandoned for over twenty years, the owner could no longer claim it.
“Why wouldn’t Theans always ask for permission?”
“Thean society is more complicated than yours in terms of politics, Captain. Financial risk and reward are driving motivators in all areas of law and progress.”
Alex wondered why Kalibri thought that humans were any different.
“Are the Zorn a threat to human society?”
“Your planet has no known defenses. You would quickly fall if they found you.”
“Is our system within your territory?”
“No. Your system is outside our borders. However, the Zorn have been expanding in all directions. Intelligence suggests they dominate weaker systems to manufacture their war effort. Unless checked, it is inevitable
that the Zorn will come to your planet.”
“Can you show us what a Thean and Zorn look like?” Zeek asked.
“With repairs, I can allow you access to our library.”
“Enticing us to repair you?” Alex smiled wryly.
“Sometimes the carrot works better than the stick.”
“An Earth idiom. I assume you are learning from what you accessed on our ship.” Alex found a piece of debris and sat down.
“Indeed, I was assessing your threat level.”
“Can our power supply integrate to yours?”
“Yes.”
“If we help you return to your system, can you help us to defend ourselves against the Zorn?”
“I would be pleased to supply you with information that would prove beneficial.”
“My crew and I will return to the ship and discuss the situation.”
“Very well.”
It took longer to exit the ship then it had taken to enter. They took the time to explore several of the revealed rooms, with Kalibri explaining their purpose. Alex was particularly struck by the living room. Theans appeared to relax in some kind of “living pool”, together. It contained a jelly substance, of which Gloria took a sample.
Kalibri’s initial protocol required him to demand they not take a sample. But after five seconds of thought it determined that it would be beneficial and altered its protocol.
Meanwhile, Wilma and Brandon were busy hauling oddities and scrap to their ATV for analysis, and Renee was drooling over what she was going to upload to the website. While she hadn’t joined the boarding group, she had insisted they each wear body cameras. There was so much material she didn’t think a one-hour video clip was going to cover it. She was already the most famous journalist in the world. This would make her the greatest journalist in history.
***
A few hours later, after a pause to shower and eat, the crew gathered in the conference room.
“First things first. How’s our ship, Zeek?”
“Holding together. Kalibri left some residual traces in our system that interfere with the displays. Other than that, everything is working as it should. I am trying to remove the artifacts, but it’s slow progress.”
Galactic Startup Page 13
