by Roland Starr
RETURN FROM OMINA
Roland Starr
© Roland Starr.
Roland Starr has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
First published in 1976 by Robert Hale & Co.
This edition published in 2017 by Venture Press, an imprint of Endeavour Press Ltd.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER I
Max Vonner, captain of the starship Orion, paced the control room as he awaited countdown to blasting out of Omina orbit. He was a highly satisfied man, but in the back of his mind there was a small vacuum of doubt. He let his thoughts wander back over the past month, which had been spent in orbit around Omina, and now his Science Section, headed by Chief Scientist Quillon Reid, had all the information required for Earth colonisation of the planet. They were ready to make the return trip to Earth — a two-year run that could only be made tolerable by the mind processing to which the entire crew would be subjected, and that processing was what was causing the doubt in Vonner’s mind.
“Captain, there’s one hour to start of count-down!” Lieutenant Howie Farrell called from his communications console. “Commander Den Thol is approaching in a shuttle-craft and wants permission to come aboard. President Treb is with him. They have come to pay their respects and wish to give you seals and deeds to the planet.”
“Tell them to dock at Number Two station!” Vonner replied without hesitation. “Lieutenant Hanton, take over here, please, while I go to meet our visitors.”
Hanton nodded and took the seat at the horse-shoe shaped command console facing the main command screen.
Vonner looked around the control room and then departed. His mind was filled with memories of all that had occurred since their arrival in Omina orbit just over one month ago after the interminable troubles of the outward trip from Earth.
Omina was one of five planets in the Outer Galaxy, and had been selected by scientists back on Earth as being suitable for Earth Colonisation. Orion had been sent to check it out, and upon the ship’s arrival, Vonner had discovered that the Outer Galaxy had life forms. Prava was the main planet in the system, and the Pravans inhabiting it were friendly, humanoid people. But they had been at war with a reptilian race from a neighbouring solar system, the Zukons. Vonner had been dragged into the war, and his efforts on the side of the Pravans had resulted in the total destruction of the planet Zukon. As a reward for his successful intervention, Vonner had been given permission by the Pravans to return to Earth with the right for humans to colonise Omina.
As he went along the corridor, Vonner considered all that had happened since the destruction of Zukon. The Pravans, released from a war that had been sapping their resources for many years, had been overwhelming with their appreciation. The crew of Orion had been hard put to carry out their mapping and scientific investigation, but now the tasks were completed, and within a few hours Orion would be ready to start its long trek back to Earth.
“Captain!” A woman’s voice called softly as Vonner passed the entrance to the sick bay, and he paused and looked around at the tall, lithe, honey-blonde doctor, Adah Morley. “Can you spare a moment, please?”
“I’m in a hurry, Adah!” he retorted. “But we’re not going to get any time to ourselves before we leave orbit, and before then I shall have to be brain-washed! I won’t know you until we get back to Earth. It’s going to be a long trip!”
“Longer for me than for you, because I shall be aware that we are in love and planning to marry!” she retorted softly. “But so long as you and I can leave Space Force upon our return and settle down then I’ll be content in that knowledge.”
“I give you my word that I want nothing more than to settle down quietly!” he said, his brown eyes glinting. “I’ve had enough excitement and responsibility on this trip to last me several lifetimes. But I must hurry! Den Thol and President Treb are coming aboard to say goodbye. Are you making arrangements for the crew to be brainwashed?”
“Yes! The processing will commence as soon as we leave orbit. But I need to talk to you about Ed Bardo! We’ve been keeping him under observation ever since we got him back from the Zukons, but although he’s been a model of consistency I don’t think I dare take a chance of processing him along with the rest of the crew. His mental readings are still unstable after those massive process intakes he gave himself during the mutiny.”
Vonner sighed heavily as he shook his head. “I’ve been worried about Bardo ever since we arrived in Omina orbit,” he admitted. “I don’t know what to do about him, and that’s the truth, Adah! But I’m certain we dare not take the risk of leaving him normal during the homeward trip. But let’s leave this until after we’re out of orbit, shall we? Countdown to departure will start within the hour, and I shall be busy until the ship is clear of Omina.”
“All right. I know you have a great deal to occupy you at this time. But I’ll have to come back to you before long.”
“There’s a private matter I need to settle before I’m processed, Adah!” Vonner glanced around to ensure that he was not being overheard. “Can’t you leave me unprocessed on the return trip? I’m not likely to go space crazy, and think of the time we could spend together if I’m aware of you and of my love for you!”
“I’ve been thinking about it!” There was a touch of longing in her tones. “But I don’t think we can contravene orders, Max! While you’re under the process you’re a flesh and blood robot! You can handle this ship without the slightest human hesitation, and for the good of the ship and the crew I think you’ll have to obey orders like the rest of us!”
He nodded slowly, and turned away as he smiled wryly. He went on towards the airlock at Number Two station, and his mind was filled with a contradiction of hope and despair. Two years of non-stop flight was a barrier between him and what he now desired most of all. Apart from that, the mutiny inspired by his ex-second in command, Ed Bardo, had almost lost the ship completely, and some of the most important computer memory banks had been wiped clean by Bardo in an attempt to prevent the ship landing at Omina. That was another problem Vonner had to face, and had been trying to leave until the last moment, but Aaron Marr, the Astrogator, had been seeking audience for days now, in order to thrash out the problems of astrogation. Their computerised orders for return to Earth, containing co-ordinates and other vital information, had been erased.
The inner airlock door at Number Two station was opening as Vonner reached it, and a grin came to his face as he held out his hand to the tall, slim, fair skinned Pravan who appeared before him. Den Thol, Commander of Omina Defence Force, shook hands, and there was mingled pleasure and regret in his handsome face.
“Captain, this is a sad moment for me!” The Pravan spoke perfect English, having learned it from an auto-tutor soon after Orion's arrival. “After all we experienced together, especially on Zukon before its end, I feel a bond between us. But duty calls! You have to return to your planet, and I must continue with my duties. I have come to say goodbye, and President Treb has accompanied me!” Vonner glanced past Den Thol and looked at the tall, oldish man who appeared through the inner airlock door. President Treb’s long hair was white, and he moved stiffly, but there was great pleasure on his face as he shook hands with Vonner.
“So the time for departure has arrived, Captain!” he said slowly. “I have come to wish you a sa
fe journey, and we shall be looking forward to the arrival of the first of your colonists. You have given us an estimate of the time of arrival for the first of your people, and we shall be doing a great deal of work on Omina before they arrive in order to have some tangible evidence of our welcome for them. We shall lay out cities and begin a whole series of development plans.”
“Meeting you has been the experience of my life!” Vonner replied. “It is incredible to think that we came across the Universe blindly hunting a suitable planet for colonisation, and found you.”
“And you did us a great service!” Treb’s thin tones were steady. “That war with the Zukons was dragging to an inevitable climax which would have been disastrous for us. You saved the whole Pravan race, Captain.”
“I had some help from your own people, President!” Vonner said, glancing at the watchful Den Thol. “Without Commander Thol’s assistance I’m afraid it would have gone the other way.”
“We depended upon each other for success,” Treb said, waving a thin hand. “That is how it should be amongst the peoples of the Universes. We are quite happy to welcome your race, Captain, and here are the deeds and seals of our Government to prove to your Earth Government that we are honest and sincere.”
Vonner took the small black case that Treb held out to him, thanking the President profusely.
“We have said our goodbyes several times in the past days, Captain!” Den Thol said. “But once again I say it, and wish you a safe voyage back to your home planet.” They shook hands, and then Den Thol and President Treb returned to their ship. Vonner went back to the control room, placing the black case President Treb gave him in his safe. He assumed control of the ship and called for a conference in the assembly room, asking Heads of Departments to attend. Hanton took over again as Vonner made his way to the assembly room, and Aaron Marr was the only officer present when he entered.
“Captain!” Marr got to his feet, his face showing a troubled expression. He was a stocky, thickset man with black hair, and brown eyes deeply set under a craggy brow. “We’ve got to try and sort out what I’m to do on the return trip. I’ve been through the memory banks, and Bardo wiped out all the most vital statistics. I can’t even begin to work out the co-ordinates we’ll need to find our way back to the solar system.”
“We’ll have to take it step by step, Aaron!” Vonner retorted. “You can get us started on the return. You have some bearings to work out a reverse course from. I leave it to you. I know you’re capable, and there are other more immediate problems and items to be dealt with. Have you worked out our departure from orbit?”
“Yes. That’s been fed into the command computer. But I’m turning my hair grey with worry about what will happen when we’re on our way back. Without specific co-
ordinates, finding Earth, or even the solar system, will be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.”
“I think we can feel our way back!” Vonner said. “I have my Star Log, don’t forget! With that and the astral charts we should be able to make our way home.”
“It will still be a hit or miss affair!” Marr retorted gloomily.
Dalus Wayland, the Chief Engineer, arrived at that moment. Wayland was tall and heavily built, with thinning dark hair and narrowed brown eyes.
“Aaron, you can skip this conference and start working out the first leg of our course back to Earth. I’ll come to you later. I must attend to the ship now.”
“Very well, Captain, but I warn you that it will be no easy matter to find our way back.” Marr departed, nodding at Wayland in passing.
Wayland came across the room to confront Vonner, who sighed and motioned to the seats around the table.
“Take the weight off your legs, Dalus,” Vonner said wearily. “You know what I want to talk to you about, don’t you?”
“I’ve got a pretty shrewd idea, Captain!” Wayland smiled thinly. “It’s not about the main drive, eh?”
“You’re right. I know the ship’s power is in first-class condition. It’s that brain-washer Doctor Morley uses on us once a month that worries me. You remember what happened when it developed a malfunction within seven days of our arrival here.”
“I don’t think any of us will ever forget it, Captain!” Wayland shook his head.
“I want you to check out that equipment every month before it is used,” Vonner went on. “I’m going to have a guard on the door to the Processing Room, and Colonel Curran will get strict orders about that! But apart from that issue, how are things with your department? Can Orion get us home safely?”
“No problems, Captain! In the month that we’ve been in orbit I’ve had my staff strip down every piece of main equipment. Circuits have been replaced and systems overhauled. Orion is as good now as the day we left Earth orbit over two years ago.”
“Good! Keep your men on their toes, Dalus! You’d better stand by main drive now. The countdown to orbit departure will commence within the hour.”
“Leave it to me!” Wayland retorted. He got up to depart, and Vonner watched the big Chief Engineer. There was not a better Engineer in the whole of Space Force, Vonner knew, and he sat in contemplation of the crew until the door was opened and Quillon Reid, the Chief Scientist, entered the large room.
“Captain, I’m happy to report that my department is entirely ready for departure!” There was a satisfied smile upon Reid’s face as he crossed the assembly room to confront Vonner. Reid was around forty years old, tall and slim and dark, with quick brown eyes and a steady manner.
“It will be your reports on Omina that will convince the government back on Earth, Quill, so what have you come up with concerning the planet?”
The door opened once more and Colonel Philo Curran appeared. A tall, heavy, powerful man in his mid-thirties, Curran was in command of Security and had proved more than useful on a number of occasions before the mission had been wound up, and Vonner looked upon his security chief with a great deal of friendship.
“Come in, Philo!” he invited. “I’ll be with you in a moment. I want to get some facts from Quillon about Omina before we depart from orbit. Come and listen!”
“I wouldn’t mind staying behind with some of the Security Department and help with preparing for the first colonists,” Curran said lightly. “I doubt if you’re going to need me on the return trip, Captain!”
“I shall need you, Philo, and make no mistake about this! We may find as much trouble returning as we had coming out here!” There was a sharp note of warning in Vonner’s tight voice.
“I don’t follow!” Curran shook his large head. His dark gaze seemed to bore right through Vonner. “What’s on your mind, sir?”
“I want the mental processing room in the sickbay under constant guard until the end of trip,” Vonner said. “And use men you can really trust, Philo!”
“No one is going to try and monkey around with the brain-washer, Captain!” Curran protested instantly. “It was different before we reached Omina! No one knew what to expect. But now we’re going home! Everyone will be happy to get back!”
“You just said you wouldn’t mind staying on Omina while the ship went back,” Vonner said. “I don’t know what your personal attraction is, Philo, but some of the crew members have been fraternising with Pravan girls, and would also like to remain behind. I want that brain-washer strictly guarded.”
“Certainly!” Curran nodded slowly. “It’s been under guard ever since we had that trouble with Bardo. I’ve still got him under observation in the sick bay, sir! I assume that you want me to maintain the guard upon him!”
“I do!” Vonner nodded. “We lost a good man when Ed went crazy! But I wouldn’t dream of trusting him again while we’re in Space! I know he’s been acting normally this past month, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“If you’ve got no further orders for me, Captain, I’ll get back on duty and prepare for orbit departure!” Curran
raised his thick black eyebrows, and Vonner nodded.
/> “That’s all I wanted to say to you for now, Philo. But I’ll be in touch before we depart. Make a search of the ship to ensure there are no stowaways!”
Curran grinned. “I’ve had three Pravan girls taken ashore in the past week,” he reported. “Some of the men are intent upon smuggling them back to Earth.”
“I don’t want disciplinary measures applied to the crew, but just ensure that there are only seventy-seven of us aboard when we break out of orbit,” Vonner said, smiling faintly.
Curran departed, and Vonner returned his attention to the waiting scientist.
“Sorry about that, Quill, but Philo’s duties are more important at the moment than yours!”
“That’s all right, Captain. Most of our work has been completed, and I’m happy to report that Omina is almost an exact replica of Earth, so we need have no fears of colonising the planet. It’s really amazing that we arrived to check out Omina, although scientific studies made back on Earth suggested it. You may not be aware of the exact figures, but it has been estimated that there may be life in the planetary systems of one out of a million stars. The best scientific information tells us that there are more than 100,000 million stars in our own galaxy, and that there are about 100 million galaxies in the universe. This means perhaps ten trillion stars in the universe.”
“I’ve heard the theory, Quill!” Vonner said, smiling. “If only one out of a million of those stars is a sun like that in our own solar system then there are some ten billion possibly similar suns in the universe. Using the million to one ratio to find how many of these suns could possibly have a planet like Earth — a planet ninety-three million miles distant, with oxygen in the air for breathing and conditions under which man could live as he does on Earth, there should be about ten million other planets in the universe that could physically resemble Earth.”
“That’s right!” Reid nodded happily. “And Omina is one such planet. The Pravans are humanoid in every way, and check out against us very well. Using the same ratio of a million to one, there’s a chance that there are about ten other ‘earths’ with human life somewhere in this vast universe, and we have found one of them. Getting back to Omina, it’s incredible how many similarities between it and our Earth I’ve discovered. It’s mean distance from the sun is ninety-three million miles — a few thousand miles further, actually, and its sidereal period is 366.2 days. Axial rotation period is 24 hours twelve minutes; axial inclination 23.7, and mean orbital velocity registers at 18.2 miles per second. The equatorial diameter of the planet is 8,246 miles, and its mass, using our Earth as it equals 1.2. Maximum surface temperature — !”