The Silver Liner: Sails to the Edge!

by Daniel Sullivan

  The Silver Liner: Sails to the Edge

  Copyright © 2019 by Daniel Sullivan All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or transmitted by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, information storage and retrieval systems, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Created and printed in the United States of America.

  ISBN-13: 978-1096244752

  Edited by: Daniel Sullivan

  Format and typesetting by C.L. Foster

  Cover Art: CM Wright's Author Services

  Dedication

  This work is dedicated to my family. To my book-crazy parents, who fostered a love of reading in us when we were very young. To my brother, a good friend and fellow author. To Aunt Mary Dugan, who never showed up without bringing my brother and me books to read. And my two sons, Patrick and Connor, and my daughter in law, Heidi, who have shared my love of reading and literature. Also, to my friends, particularly the Rogues of our gaming group, all of whom encouraged me to publish my first novel, and to all who read that first novel.

  Also, and especially, to my love, Lynda Mayfield, who has been an inspiration, a cheerleader and a tireless beta reader on this work. Her support and encouragement cannot be overstated.

  This work is also dedicated to the many authors who have inspired me over the years, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Mercedes Lackey, Philip K. Dick and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, all of whose works were given to me by friends and family, and to Katherine Kurtz, whose Deryni novels were the first that I bought and collected on my own, and which remain my favorite series to this day.

  Also, to my author friends, Chris Heinike and Kate Reedwood, Raven Vincent Walker, Sharon Brubaker, Amber Anthony, Jolie Mason, and Lea Kirk, who have all been a source of unending encouragement, and whose works have brought me great joy!

  To George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, John Byrne, Joss Whedon, Rockne S. O'Bannon, Jim Henson, and Casey Hudson & the team that wrote and produced Mass Effect, all of whose works have inspired me at the cinema and at home, and to Jesus, who has been my greatest inspiration.

  I would also like to thank Sheryl Policar of Wolf Paw Publications and Author Services by Cu, who has edited and published all five of my novels, and C.M. Wright Author Services and Ashley Martinez, who provided the cover art all five of my novels, and C. L. Foster, who formatted my . Without them, these books would not be what they are.

  Finally, I offer my thanks to you, the reader, who has taken the time to read this book.

  Prologue

  On June 5th, 2115 the U.S.S. Selene arrived at Ceres and entered low planetary orbit. After overcoming an attempted hijacking by the Zduhać scientists, the silvery starship had at last arrived at her destination. The cold, globular rock scarred with the impacts of millennia of meteors seemed a perfect match to the somber mood of the crew. The dwarf planet offered no comfort or sanctuary, and the atmosphere did not support life. Ceres was little more than a large chunk of ice and rock floating in space. The only warmth came from the planet’s latest wound, a crater in which lay a large, spherical, organic mass.

  After coming out of stasis, everyone was hopeful and excited; then the attack happened, and the chief engineer and two nurses were murdered, all at the hands of the Zduhać scientists and Yeoman Lawson. Worse still, evidence pointed to the two nurses, Tygart and Gray, being complicit in the plot. They were only killed because their usefulness had come to an end.

  That was the worst part; the Zduhać were supposed to be the bad guys, but Lawson, Tygart and Gray were humans and American. They were supposed to be the good guys. Instead, the three of them were all traitors in league with the Zduhać.

  Just as troubling, the original first assistant engineer turned out to be a member of the America First terrorist organization. All of America First’s members were American citizens whose ethnic and religious backgrounds varied, some of them highly educated and respected in their fields. United States citizenship was the single commonality, making it impossible to pick them out based on anything else.

  Because of that wrinkle, the crewmen were more guarded, particularly around people they did not know well, which was most of them. After being forced back into stasis during the hijacking attempt, everyone came out of stasis the second time around in a subdued mood, wondering which of their fellows might be harboring traitorous intent.

  Then, there was Fiona. The doctor’s secret was initially known only to Doctors Biggs and Pallone, the MPs, the bridge crew and some of the marines, but word soon spread to the rest of the crew, prompting many to eye Fiona with a mixture of fear, awe, and suspicion. The science team, of course, wanted to study her, regarding the doctor more with fear and awe than with suspicion. This set up tension between them and Fiona, who in no way wanted to be studied by anyone but her husband, though Doctor Hutch Davis and Vanya Reddy were insistent.

  Finally, Selene as an entity was gone, replaced by Fiona, while the Zduhać AI, Ursula, lay undisturbed within Zack Lawson’s disconnected portable server, Fiona and Kendrick still unsure of what to do with it.

  Even with all this, Captain Giffords, Commander Jax and Kendrick were less concerned about what was happening aboard the ship than with what they would find in the crater on Ceres.

  1

  Kendrick began the Selene’s descent to the landing zone atop Ahuna Mons, Ceres’s sole mountain. Unlike Earth, there was little gravity or atmosphere for which to compensate. Less than half the size of Earth’s moon, Ceres’ gravity was comparatively nonexistent, and were it not for the new G.E.M. gravity generators, any outpost here would have an almost weightless environment. The sun was visible far away through a field of asteroids, and for the first time, Kendrick felt like he was in a science fiction movie.

  After the attempted mutiny by the Zduhać and Yeoman Lawson, and the loss of Selene’s AI, Kendrick had not been certain that this moment would ever happen. Yet, here they were, right where and when they were supposed to be. Success, but not without great cost; the AI, the chief engineer and the two nurses who had aided in the mutiny were dead, and Fiona was nearly taken as well. Some kind of monument to the loss of Shonda and the AI would be placed—Kendrick would make sure of that.

  “We’re so … small,” Darcy gasped as she took in the magnificent view.

  Kendrick brought the ship down atop Ahuna Mons for a drama-free landing, letting out the landing gear and gently setting the ship down, allowing it to settle on the uneven surface. Finally, the Selene rested fully on its landing struts, and he wound down the engines.

  “Touchdown,” he declared.

  “Nice work, Mister Royce,” Carol praised. “Softest landing I’ve ever experienced.”

  “Opening main cargo bay,” Royce announced. “Extending ramp.” Moments later, the ramp touched the surface of Ceres. “We’re ready to disembark, ma’am.”

  Giffords nodded. “Mister Mun, get your MPs up to speed. As of now, you’re our security chief. Miss Reddy, prepare the science team to disembark. Mister Jax, get the engineers started on assembling the outpost, and then take a squad to the crash site in one of the shuttles and explore the object.”

  “Captain,” Vanya interjected. “I am the science officer. I should be going with them—or at the very least a member of the science team.”

  “Alright
, Miss Reddy; join the commander with your team in one hour. Mister Jax, signal me when you’ve secured the area. Alright, people; let’s move out!”

  Carol let them get to their tasks, then tapped Kendrick on the shoulder. “Mister Royce, how would you like to join me in placing the first human footprints on Ceres?”

  He looked surprised, but pleasantly. “Love to!”

  Kendrick and Carol walked down the ramp, stopping at the bottom and looking out at the dwarf planet’s landscape, the sound of their breath prominent inside the helmets of their space suits. Behind them on the ramp was Starfleet’s finest, including Commander Jax, Fiona, Miss Reddy and the science team. Following them was a small contingent of marines. They stood atop Ahuna Mons, the highest point on Ceres, though they were technically still in the ship. Kendrick held a collapsible flagpole in his right hand, while Carol held a folded American flag under her right arm.

  “None of this would have been possible without you, Ken,” Carol admitted. “You’ve been put through more than you ever should have—you deserve to join me on this ceremonial matter.”

  Kendrick agreed. “Fiona, record this moment for posterity.”

  “It’s recording now, my captain.” The doctor’s response was delivered with the same cadence as the AI, but in Fiona’s voice.

  Carol grinned. “On my count; one … two … three!”

  With that, they both jumped from the ramp, and landed about four meters away, the low gravity enabling them to jump much further than normal. Their feet dug into the surface with a crunchy sound, making theirs the first human footprints on the dwarf planet.

  Carol smiled, giggling. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  Kendrick laughed. “I know what you mean. Later tonight, I’ll play the first concert on Ceres.”

  “That will be a treat, Mister Royce. I think we could use a little diversion … maybe even some dancing.”

  “I’ll crack open the beer and whiskey, and set up the amps.”

  Carol giggled again. “Admiral Bruce would go ape-shit if he knew about this, you know.”

  Kendrick grinned. “That makes it even better.”

  “Yes, so let’s plant the flag and make it official, shall we, Mister Royce?”

  Kendrick responded by placing the pole’s base on the ground. Once it made contact, he pressed a button on the side of the pole, and a drilling tap began to bore into the planet surface. In moments, the base was planted, and the flagpole telescoped from it, extending to its full height of four meters. Then, they rigged it for the flag.

  Carol reverently unfolded the red, white and blue cloth, and attached it to the hooks, then hoisted it to the top of the four-meter pole. The two of them stood back and looked at the American flag unfurled, Ahuna Mons and the grandeur of space in the background.

  “It takes my breath away,” she gasped, tearing up at the sight.

  “Aww, you’re not goin’ all emotional, now are you, Cap?”

  She laughed. “I can’t help it, Mister Royce. It’s my country’s flag, unfurled on the most distant beach in our nation’s history. This is … this is the proudest moment of my life.”

  Kendrick nodded. He had never been particularly patriotic, but he could certainly understand the emotional power of the moment. As he stood with Carol admiring the magnificent view, the rest of the bridge crew and Fiona, along with Lieutenant Fleischer, Sergeant Gardner, and the whole platoon of marines slowly exited the ship, making a circle around the flag.

  “This is it,” Carol declared proudly, sniffling as she spoke. “This is being recorded for posterity. This is Captain Carol Giffords of the U.S.S. Selene. We have just landed on Ceres, the first human beings ever to land on the dwarf planet. Here, we will establish an outpost that will be the gateway to the colonization of the outer planets.

  “In 1969, on the first manned moon landing, Neil Armstrong said that it was one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind. He was right. That giant leap, which began in July of 1969, continues today, as we stretch our legs, and leap across the inner solar system, touching upon the distant beaches of the dwarf planet, Ceres!

  “From here, we will take another giant leap to Jupiter, landing on the distant shores of Ganymede. From here, Ceres, we will take our first steps into the outer solar system! From here, humanity makes the entire solar system home! Today, humanity burst forth, breaking all boundaries, and increasing our cosmic footprint exponentially! It was the United States who led the way in 1969, and it is the United States who leads the way today! And we invite the world to follow, to stand with us, and together, we will take our place among the stars!”

  Everyone cheered and noiselessly clapped as they stood around the flagpole with Captain Giffords.

  She turned to Jax and said, “We’ll have to add, “To the mountaintops of Ceres” to the Marine Corps song, won’t we?”

  “We will indeed, Captain,” Jax said softly.

  “I’ll get to work on that right away, ma’am,” Kendrick said somewhat facetiously. “But I think there is one thing left for us to do; a matter of ceremony that this moment demands.”

  Carol looked at him with puzzlement, as did the others.

  Kendrick responded by standing straight and saluting the flag. He knew their communications were all connected, so the moment would not be lost on the others. The rock and roll icon took a deep breath, and then let his golden voice speak for itself, and began to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  The civilian scientists placed their right hands over their hearts while the rest of the crew and the marines saluted as he sang. For the first time in many a year, and for only a moment, Kendrick Royce actually felt patriotic and proud to be an American. The singer marveled at the effect it had on him and understood for the very first time just how powerful an influence music could truly have.

  Kendrick was not at all patriotic, but in this historic moment, the very act of singing the National Anthem made him feel patriotic. All through the ceremonies before leaving Earth, including receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Robinson, Kendrick remained a jaded man who was only doing this job because he had been made to through threats to his ship and his crew.

  Now, singing this song, the only remaining reminder of war whose historical significance was lost to all but history professors and war historians, he felt the pangs of patriotism. It made sense now how people with a steady diet of this kind of thing would develop feelings of deep nationalism. Bemused by his observation, he continued, surprised at how warm his still cold voice sounded, and went on to sing all four stanzas.

  When Kendrick finished, Captain Giffords was openly weeping, and the others were clapping their hands noiselessly. He could hear cheers from the marines in his earpiece. Several of the marines shouted, “Hoorah!” Even Miss Reddy flashed him an approving smile as she silently clapped.

  Jax placed his hand on Kendrick’s shoulder. “That was amazing—and I’ve heard you sing before.”

  “It was recorded,” Giffords said. “Darcy, would you send it home?”

  “Sending it now, ma’am,” the coms officer assured.

  “Thank you.” Carol turned to Kendrick. “I’ve never been brought to tears in front of my own soldiers, but I don’t care. That was magnificent.”

  He just smiled his crooked smile and said, “Thank you very much.”

  2

  Doctor Hutch Davis finished his inspection of the science and tech labs. Now, he sat in his cabin pondering the turn the mission had taken. The team had barely had time to set up the labs on the ship before the Zduhać scientists and Yeoman Lawson attempted to hijack the Selene. The team was out of stasis for the second time in a week, but this time, everything was different. Ceres might be a new frontier, but here aboard the ship, there was plenty to explore, enough for five years or more!

  Two Zduhać lay in stasis, and Doctor Kinsale-Royce had taken blood samples and performed extensive medical scans on them. They actually had the opportunity to
study these artificially created humanoids in depth, an opportunity that had proved surprisingly elusive. It was clear in observing the two “scientists” that the Zduhać had continued to research and improve themselves as a species, distancing them even further from humanity.

  Then, there was Yeoman Lawson’s AI. This was a warped copy of the Selene’s AI, but nonetheless, it was still the most advanced artificial intelligence program in existence, and most of its secrets had gone to the grave with Lieutenant Royce’s first wife, Doctor Selene Royce. This system was in use in some form or another in starships, androids, and computers, but in truth, nobody fully understood it. Doctor Davis believed he had the authority to requisition the AI over any objections on the part of Fiona or her husband, and he was certain that Miss Reddy would back him up on this matter.

  Of greater importance than either of these, and possibly even the mission itself, was Doctor Kinsale-Royce. This woman had turned out to be a human-AI hybrid, the very first of her kind. This woman’s existence needed, nay, demanded to be studied. Fiona would undoubtedly object, as would her husband, but Hutch fully intended to insist upon Captain Giffords’ intervention in this matter. Fiona Kinsale-Royce needed to be studied while she was away from Earth. If she proved a danger, appropriate steps could be taken without any danger to the larger population.

  The science team was uniquely qualified to study these things, as well as unlock the secrets of Ceres and the organic mass in the dwarf planet’s latest crater. They had a geologist, a nanotechnology specialist, an AI programmer, and Davis himself; a pioneer in xenobiology. As well, they had a NessCorp supplied doctor, Xenia Xayasith. Doctor Xayasith held two PhDs, one in Cybernetic and AI Architecture and one in xenobiology.

  In addition to the doctors, the research team was top notch; the brightest up and coming minds the U.S. Starfleet could muster. In spite of this being a United States mission, the science team was quite diverse, and Davis knew the team well enough to know that at least half of them were immigrants, two of them hastily pushed through the citizenship process in order to place them on this mission as Americans so that the U.S. Starfleet could claim that this was an “American mission.”