Pearce and Anais were preparing to test for what they hoped would be that superior system.
“Okay Dr. Rawlings the spin-two is ready.”
“Understood Dr. Eiffel.”
With others in the lab Pearce and Anais observed formality.
Pearce cast the bubble to the center of the large test area. From behind the reinforced Mach-metal that he and Anais had the military install in the openings where the transparent aluminum had been Pearce watched on the wallscreen as the bubble formed and started to spin. He then had Anais shower it with a predetermined amount of chron particles.
At first nothing seemed to happen. Then a diffuse light started to be emitted from the bubble. Shortly the already small bubble began to shrink. In no more than a minute it had shrunk to a size not observable but an intense light marked the spot.
Pearce now moved to introduce a larger bubble next to it while signaling Anais to shower it with chron+ particles. It would then become a container of fast-time as it spun up.
But then the screen blinked and went slightly out of focus.
“What is it?” asked Pearce. “A screen failure?”
“No, intense x-rays,” said Anais.
“Okay everyone behind the barrier.”
As a safety precaution Pearce had also had installed a barrier of Mach-metal in the back of the lab to serve as a second barrier to x-rays. Everyone scurried to get behind it. Pearce continued to watch the video feed, though still out of focus, from the test area on his Emmie. Anais was by his side watching also.
Though it wasn't easy to follow it seemed that the larger bubble became more and more flattened, it became an oblate spheroid. It also started dancing. At least that was the way it appeared on Pearce's Emmie.
“Pearce,” said Anais. “Is it dancing?”
Pearce continued to stare at the screen and then he got it.
“No, but it's circling the tiny spheroid in a jerky fashion.”
Then with a burst of light and x-rays and a whumpf like a sonic boom, it was over.
As they peered around the Mach-metal shield Pearce said, “I'm thankful for this Mach-metal, the x-ray dose must have been huge this close.”
“Yes, and I think we've got some more experimenting to do,” said Anais.
CHAPTER 29
When the results from the first experiment were reviewed it appeared to both Pearce and Anais that the small spheroid had collapsed under the gravitational attraction of the chron particle. But a surprise result explained the strange dance of the larger bubble. A few seconds before the small bubble finished its collapse and destroyed itself a reading was picked up by the dimensioning lasers which were supposed to accurately measure the bubbles' sizes.
The readings “danced” around. As if the distance to the targets was in constant flux. Pearce had never seen anything like it until he realized that it was related to the fuzziness he saw on his Emmie which he mistook as a focus problem. The cameras weren't out of focus, it was something else, something fundamental.
Pearce explained the results to Anais. She was quiet a moment.
“It's affecting the spacetime around it then. The spacetime is becoming “chunky”.
“Not a very scientific description but I think you may be right honey.”
“It may be a similar phenomenon as discovered with the wormhole drive when it was first developed. You remember the accidents?”
“Yeah I remember reading something about it. Too much energy in too small an area and spacetime broke down.”
“Yes into smaller and smaller pieces until it dissolved into a kind of confetti. And the effect expanded away from the point of origin at the speed of light destroying anything in its path until it finally dissipated.”
“But we didn't see anything like that.”
“Yes, probably because we were just under the threshold for the full effects to propagate.”
“Well I'd say we've found the maximum chron particles we can use on a bubble. But fortunately we don't need that amount because we don't want it to collapse so far.”
“Yes, it is fortunate for if we had recreated the original breakdown event nothing of the Earth would be left.”
Pearce was quiet.
“Okay we know what not to do,” he said. “Let's see if we can discover what to do.”
While they had found a limit to avoid, finding the right amount of chron particles to use proved challenging. Chastised by their first result they were almost too careful and most of the experiments that followed used too few chron particles and the bubble didn't shrink enough to reach the critical level.
At first this was no problem for the Northwest military. The use of the temporal defense system had turned the tide. The Northwest had not only been able to defend its territory in the first few weeks following introduction of the TDS but had actually been able to go on the offensive. They were driving the military of the Midwest Territory back towards the Chicago Tower Complex in the east and in the south almost to the Southeast Territory's border. The effect on the governments and populations of both Territories was immediate.
Edmund had been held now in solitary confinement for months although he had no way of telling time. His refusal to sign an admission of guilt, that he had been a coalitionist, was used to keep him imprisoned as a “terrorist.” But a friendly guard had brought him word that something was up. That things were changing. What was changing the guard had not said but only that Edmund should be prepared for a change. Edmund prepared for the worst thinking that he was about to be executed.
Instead, Edmund was hauled into the interrogation room. This time instead of being verbally bullied into admitting his guilt, his interrogator started the interview with friendly banter.
“Edmund,” he said. “We've been seeing each other for quite a long time. And I know much about you not only from our talks but also from your files. I know that you have a wife and children and a pizza shop. You might be interested to know how they are doing.”
Edmund was interested but he didn't trust the man. He was afraid it was some kind of a trap.
“Well would you like to know how they are doing?”
Edmund tried not to look interested but he couldn't help it. News about his family was too good to resist. He simply said, yes.
“I thought so. Well I can tell you that your wife and children are fine and healthy. Your wife took over the management of your pizza shop and has been able to keep it going.”
Tears came to Edmund's eyes.
“I should also say that the government has done nothing to interfere with your family in all the time that you have been here. You realize we could have made things, shall we say difficult for them, and used that against you?”
Edmund was too relieved to respond. The man continued.
“But we have not used such obvious leverage. Your misguided actions are between you and the government only. But now the government believes that you have learned a lesson. And we think that you will be more careful in the future to avoid schemes against the government. Isn't that correct Edmund?”
Edmund could not quite follow the man. He was slow to respond, the man continued.
“I will take that as a yes Mr. Aping. Now, I have been empowered by the government to tell you that you will be released from here tomorrow. You will be given free transportation to your home.”
The man was now silent and Edmund thought he almost seemed uncomfortable.
“Well what do you say Edmund?”
“Nothing to sign?” asked Edmund.
“Tomorrow your personal effects will be returned to you and you will be asked to sign for them but that is all.”
Edmund could only stare at the man as the guard started to escort him from the room. Before he was out of sight Edmund saw the man put his head in his hands.
“It's just too darn hard to get the right mix Anais.”
Pearce and Anais were talking about their experiment which had still, after a month, not found the right
amount of chron particles to make the negative energy bubble do what they wanted, create correctly charged chron particles to neutralize the target bubble. The small bubble would either collapse too far and threaten a dangerous implosion or not collapse enough and do nothing. They had worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week and the stress was showing.
“Well I can't help it,” said Anais. “They're your calculations perhaps you made a mistake. I should have checked you.”
“I didn't make a mistake Anais. The calculations are something an intelligent senior in college could do.”
“Still doesn't mean you didn't make a mistake. We all make mistakes sometimes.”
“Fine, then why don't you check me I'm going to take a break.”
Pearce left his office and headed out the door that would take him to the electric and to the surface. The military guards asked him if he needed a lift to the surface but he said no. Instead of taking the electric he continued walking up the steep incline. It wasn't until the grade started to ease up that he realized he wasn't breathing enough for the exertion. He stopped to take some deep breaths.
Once he had recovered he continued on what was now a manageable grade to the top. Passing another guard who again asked him if he needed assistance Pearce responded no and continued to the entrance to the cavern.
“But sir if you go out there you'll freeze. It's below freezing.”
Pearce shrugged and emerged from the entrance to the cave into the open air. It was daylight and he at first was elated to see the sun and blue sky. But it wasn't more than a minute and his teeth started to chatter. He started to turn around when someone slipped a thick coat around his shoulders. It was Anais and she had also brought his hat with ear flaps.
Pearce put on the coat and hat.
“You made good time, the electric couldn't catch you.”
“I needed the exercise. I'm beginning to feel like a rat in a hole. Or maybe in a trap. Thanks for the hat and coat.”
“Of course honey. I can assure you that my equanimity is being upset also. We've been too much working and no play. I think we should take at least one day a week off from now on.”
“I think you're right honey,” said Pearce.
He was quiet a moment.
“What a long, strange year it's been,” he said. “Remember when I told you that we had worked together and you had no memory of it? And we now think it to be an impostor? I still don't know what she was after.”
“Well whatever it was she must have got it and gotten away because we haven't seen her again,” said Anais.
“And remember being kidnapped, and Edgar, and Dave, and Crawley, and Cleveland, and Captain Dodge? And Opheim, and the attack on the road, and Billings, and now here? I can't believe what we went through.”
“That reminds me honey, you mentioned Edgar. Don't you think it a strange coincidence that he disappeared just before the attack on Opheim?”
“I don't know but I did think it strange that he had missed the wedding. But as far as the attack I figured he had been killed.”
“Maybe but before he disappeared I always felt that the other side knew too much about our movements. After all he was an agent for the government.”
“I don't know honey, I guess it could have been Edgar that kept the government informed, maybe they really didn't try to kill him, he just said that.”
“Well as you said, it's been long and strange so anything's possible.”
They were quiet as the snow began to fall again. After a few minutes they went back inside away from the cold.
As the Northwest Territorial forces pushed the Midwest Territorial forces back the Northeast Territory got involved. More and more of the forces that the Northwest faced were actually out of the Northeast. Such forces had slowed the advance of the Northwest Territory.
Then it happened. Battling on the perimeter of the Chicago Tower Complex the Northwest forces suddenly found the fast-time bubbles they had launched against the enemy being neutralized. Worse was to come.
As the Northwest forces were trying to adapt to the new battlefield conditions they found their craft mysteriously exploding and plummeting from the sky. Before a retreat could be organized more than a squadron of fliers was lost. The battle was the worst defeat the Northwest had ever experienced and a turning point in the war.
CHAPTER 30
“To sit among all those unknown things before a puzzle like that is hopeless. That way lies monomania. Face this world. Learn its ways, watch it, be careful of too hasty guesses at its meaning. In the end you will find clues to it all.”
It was their day off they had agreed to. Pearce was reading. Anais was listening to music. A knock at their door interrupted them. Anais opened the door.
“Excuse me ma'am the Colonel wants to see you and your husband as soon as possible.”
Anais alerted Pearce and they hurried to the Colonel's office.
The Colonel explained what had happened.
“I won't try to sugarcoat this Dr. Rawlings, Dr. Eiffel,” said the Colonel. “This changes everything. We lost more forces than we can replace. My guess is we only have a few weeks, maybe less, until we are overrun. With the Northeast Territory supporting the Midwest and the Core forces in orbit we are overwhelmingly outnumbered. If you scientists can do anything for us it will have to be soon.”
“I understand Colonel Vincent. My wife and I will see if we can come up with anything that would help and as soon as possible.”
Back in their room Pearce said, “I'm afraid it's over dear if you and I can't come up with something that will give the Northwest's forces a fighting chance.”
“Oh Pearce it's terrible. What can we do on such short notice?”
“I don't know. The other side has a new weapon though. As I understand it quite a few of the losses were catastrophic. Craft exploding for seemingly no reason.”
“They're outnumbered and now facing a devastating new weapon? It's unbelievable.”
“If only we could do something.”
It was a couple of days later as Pearce and Anais were brainstorming that Anais thought of something.
“Honey you know how it is almost impossible to load down a small bubble with chron particles without it collapsing and exploding?”
“Of course, it's been the problem we've been trying to solve for weeks.”
“What if it weren't a problem but a feature? What if it's what we need right now to help the Northwest forces?”
“You mean we overload a small bubble deliberately and then deliver it on target with the spin-two drive and a link?”
“Could we?”
“I think so although the burden of calculation to deliver it on a moving target might be too great for the Emmies that a flying craft has aboard. It would have to be a stationary installation with huge computational capability to keep the link to a moving target updated.”
“Right, the link calculation would have to follow the craft long enough to introduce the chron particle-rich bubble. But it has been done before on fusion ships that have greater computing resources.”
“Yes it has Anais. I think you've got something and it wouldn't require anything new just a tactical change. Let's call the Colonel.”
Before Pearce could place the call they heard an explosion close by.
“What was that honey?” asked Anais.
“It's too late Anais. They've found us.”
Another and another and another explosion was heard. The last one shook Pearce's office.
“We've got to get out of here. Get your coat and anything else you need, quick.”
Anais hurried to her office where her cold-weather gear was kept and put on her coat and other protection as quick as she could. She was at the door of Pearce's office ready to go before he even had his coat on.
An explosion shook them both.
“Hurry honey,” said Anais.
Pearce headed for Anais. “Let's go,” he said.
Down the hall and through t
he huge door Anais was about to get on the electric when Pearce told her they should walk. The guards and most of the others were boarding the electric. Pearce and Anais had a head start.
Just then a close explosion and the roof of the cavern collapsed behind them. Both were thrown forward almost off their feet. Somehow they kept their balance. Pearce turned around to see a wall of dirt and rock and no sign of the electric.
“Come on,” he said.
More explosions and the smoke and dust in the cavern became thick. They both put a cloth over their mouths as they continued. Eventually, they saw the opening of the cave. Pearce noticed the guards were gone as they came into the open air. It was late and almost dark. The explosions kept coming from behind them deep underground.
“Somehow they've found our lab and are making sure it's destroyed,” thought Pearce.
“I don't see any military craft in the air,” said Anais. “They must be attacking from orbit.”
“I think your right honey.”
“Where are the guards,” said Anais. “What do we do now?”
“We have to make our way to the base honey and find Colonel Vincent.”
“Do you know the way?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Pearce didn't tell her he was completely unsure of himself. And not only was he unsure of the way but it would be even harder in the dark.
They started.
“What if it gets completely dark honey?”
“Well if it gets real dark we should be able to see the lights of the base, they'll guide us.”
Pearce wasn't at all sure the base lights would be turned on. He wasn't even sure the base would be there even if he could find it.
They had traveled for several minutes when Anais pointed to the horizon.
“Look honey, lights.”
Time's End: A Future Chron Novel (Future Chron Universe Book 34) Page 19