Willy pounded on his chest and sucked in a deep, reassuring breath. “Woo! Are there any other signals out there?”
“Not that I can find,” Trae replied. “The mines are giving off some major interference.”
“Jamming signal maybe?” Fergus suggested. “Clear in three...two...one. We are out of the field.”
Willy slumped into his seat. Slinging his head back against the headrest he pressed the heel of his hands into his eyes. “Oh my God, that was intense. Park us a safe distance away from the field and let's figure out where we are.”
“Already on it,” Trae said. “It doesn’t look like we are anywhere near to a star system. I've got nothing on visuals and the sensors are not picking up any major gravity wells nearby. I am picking up a few nice sized rocks floating nearby along with, hu, looks like there’s wreckage scattered all over the area.”
“I'm coming up with something and nothing all at the same time,” Fergus said. He examined his tactical display with unsure curiosity. “Here we go. It looks like a massive minefield surrounding the flux point. Oh wow,” he gasped. “Scratch that. A massive minefield surrounding five flux points. Wow. Now like Trae said, there are wrecks and debris scattered all around. No power signatures or anything. They are all cold and dead.”
“There's no telling how long some of these wrecks may have been out here,” Trae said.
“What about location?” Willy asked.
Trae laughed. “No clue,” he said, then continued examining his display.
“Oh, well this is just great,” Denise huffed. “You spill my coffee, nearly blow us the hell up, and now you’re saying that we’re lost in deep space? Does that about sum up the situation?”
“We're lost?” Amanda began to whimper. The color-washed from her already pale complexion.
“It's just the way it works,” Trae said. “Until we can map out these fluxes, we won’t know where they go. And for me to get our location, we need to scan the sky, compare the stars that we see with the stars we have already Identified from Earth and from Gamma Draconis. Then from that information, I can approximately triangulate our position in the galaxy.”
“If we plan to use any of these points on a regular basis, we might want to send through some cleanup crews first,” Andy added. “I sure don’t want to do that every time I fly through one of these points.”
“Well shit,” Fergus said.
Big Willy turned in his seat to look at Fergus. “What?”
“Andy actually came up with a good idea for a change,” Fergus said.
Janey released her seat harness and quickly leapt to her feet. “If no one is injured then I'm heading to Medical to check for damage.”
“There isn't any damage showing on the damage control readouts,” Fergus said.
“Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that my Medical bay isn't a disaster from all the shaking,” Janey said and quickly left the bridge.
“Not a half-bad idea,” Willy added. “We did take a few good hits back there. Jenny, Denise, Amanda, start deck by deck and look for any damage. I'll head down to the engine room and check out the reactor and flux drive. I want to see how well the alignment is holding up, anyway.” Willy released his seat harness and rolled himself out of the captain's chair. “Trae you have the bridge.”
“There had better be some real aliens out here somewhere or someone is going to get my foot in their ass,” Jenny threatened. She stood and straightened her skirts. “I didn't sign up for this shit to get myself blown up!” The loud glump of her cowboy boots echoed as she stomped off of the bridge.
“Yeah yeah, just after I finish my coffee,” Denise said dismissively.
“Seriously,” Trae said in consternation. He glared at Denise with an astonished shake of his head. “We’re out here to figure out what the hell those aliens want in order to save our colony. We are on our own and have to work as a team or else we’ll be absolutely fucked in the ass while getting raked over the coals, and you want to finish your morning cup o' joe?”
Denise looked directly at him with a narrow-eyed glare. “Ya think, bubba?” She took another slow sip of her coffee and opened a game of solitaire on her console screen.
Gamma Draconis system
Anderson (Eltanin 2) / Witches Den
September 17th, 2176 / Evening (Dragon time)
W es belted out the lyrics to Jukebox hero as the song blared through his headphones, singing along horribly off-key. His wireless earbuds abruptly flew out from his ears.
“The things that those two witchy women did to each other in there,” an unfamiliar voice said over the sound of the headphones. “My God, man. I didn't know that the human body could stretch and bend like that. I'm not so sure that some of it was legal in some countries.”
“What in the hell?” Wes struggled to see beyond the restraint that held his head in place. “Chief? Go away you cockroach.”
“Slow, sensual kisses,” the Chief continued. “One started at the toes and worked her way up the other's body until the two of them merged into one.” He gasped in remembrance. “They took my breath away just watching...”
“Oh wow, really?” Wes nervously swallowed. “Did they... wait, you fucking perv!”
“Hehe, yup,” the chief said, quietly chuckling. “It is amazing what people do when they think they are alone.”
“Wait? What?” Wes's eyes bulged with surprise. “What do you mean? Have you been spying on everyone?”
“Shush. You've got company coming, boy.”
Wes could hear the quiet retreating shuffle of feet on the dusty floor.
“Hey butt face,” Rachel shouted. “I almost forgot something totally awesome that I think you can appreciate. I've gotta make it quick though. Don't want the witches to catch me and turn me into a newt.” Rachel wheeled herself next to the traction table and placed a small data recorder on the table next to Wes's restrained hand. A fast, evil metallic chomping rhythm blared out from the device as soon as she hit the play button. “A little something to help your recovery, brother.”
“That is so sweet...” His compliment was cut short as she grabbed his left nipple through his undershirt and twisted.
“God damn you, you evil bitch! I hate you, Cheezy!”
“Love you too, Geek. Enjoy the tunes!” Rachel spun the chair around and stopped abruptly in her tracks. “Oh hi, Kara. He was just crying out in loneliness for you,” she laughed.
“Awwww. My big fluffy hubby missed me?” Kara sauntered up to Wes, “I have traveled to the stars and back in aid to our comrades. How dost my handsome knight fair? Be he well or be he dead?” She leaned over and carefully kissed him on the cheek.
“What's up, bro,” Tiff said as she appeared behind Kara. “You gonna live, or what man? I call dibs on your classic game collection if you kick the bucket.”
“Where the fuck did you get that,” Rachel shouted at Tiff.
“What? Not my fault man,” Tiff blurted defensively. “I didn’t do anything man. I just got here.”
“Oh, my,” Kara crooned into Wes's ear. “I do fear that a dispute is about to erupt, my dear.”
Rachel rolled herself over and grasped the leather flight jacket that Tiff wore. She stared at the patch on the jacket's right breast pocket and right arm. What looked like a triangle, the letter T and the letter X, the Greek letters Delta, Tau and Chi, stood out in bold red over a dark starfield that was surrounded by dirty, ragged gold edging on the sleeve of the jacket. The large mission patch on the right breast displayed the nose on profile image of a ship that resembled the Betty. Wrapped along the circular edge of the patch, over the image was a motto in a faded silver thread that read, Hellbound/Heaven sent. Under the image in the same bold silver embroidery was the name and the serial number of the ship. EAGLE / UCSS 82-0033. Above the breast patch was sewn a small ribbon patch, embroidered with the word, Ferryman. The name tape on the left breast of the jacket read, Thomas, John D. An additional, smaller name tape was sewn just under the first,
and read Chief. Service pins for pilot, engineer, gunner and orbital para drop decorated the jacket. Rachel caressed the right breast patch of the jacket.
“Um...Hey Cheezy,” Tiff said. “I don't think Trae would be cool with it anyway, but I don't exactly swing that way, ya know. No offense, you’re cool and all. Just saying, ya know.”
Rachel spun Tiff around to look at the left arm. The shoulder of the jacket sported the flag of the United Commonwealth, but it was outdated by at least one hundred years. It looked like the original Commonwealth flag. Only sixteen stars decorated the blue background. Rachel compared the patch to the one on the jacket that she wore. She gasped with excitement and began to yank at the jacket. “Take it off Tiff. I need you to take it off right now, please. I have to see the insides.
“Okay okay, geez man, you don't have to strip me,” Tiff huffed.
Rachel immediately laid the jacket open across her lap to reveal a patchwork of mission and ship patches lining the inside of the jacket. Barely any of the original liner was visible any longer. Every usable inch of space had a patch sewn over it. Kara appeared next to the Rachel and leaned against the wheelchair, watching over Rachel's shoulder.
“There is no fucking way. This cannot be possible. Do you know what this is?” She looked between Kara and Tiff with pleading eyes.
“What the hell is it,” Wes begged. “I can't see shit from over here.”
Rachel tucked the jacket up onto her lap and wheeled herself over to the traction table. She held the jacket up, displaying the patches to Wes.
“What is it,” Tiff asked.
“Holy shit,” Wes's eyes bulged. “Those missions were over a century ago. At least one of those ships is hanging in the Smithsonian now. Where the hell did you get this from?”
“Jesus Christ, Wesley! What,” Kara demanded. “What is it already?”
“John Thomas,” Tiff pondered. “Why does that sound familiar?”
“Holy fucking shit Batman!” Wes sucked in a nervous breath.
“Because he’s a legend.” Rachel rolled her eyes and gave Tiff one of those, really, are you that brain dead looks. “He was one of the original boomers that explored and established outposts throughout the solar system. If it weren’t for him and the rest of the Ferrymen, we might have gone extinct as a species because the Earth was still poisoned back in those days. They established habitats to save humanity while the cleanup from the war was being taken care of.”
“That doesn't make any sense,” Tiff pondered.
“No, not really,” Kara replied. “It's gotta be a replica or something.” She dug at the collar, “I bet it has one of those made in China tags or something.”
“Or it could have been stolen,” Wes said loudly, rolling his eyes in the previous direction of the Chief's voice.
Rachel bundled the jacket back onto her lap. “I'm taking this to the Captain.”
“No, wait. You can't. The chief let me have it.” Tiff pulled on the jacket’s sleeve.
“Tough titty big bitty. I'm gonna find the Captain.” Rachel yanked the jacket free from Tiff's hand and wheeled away as fast as her arms would carry her.
“Wait! Come back Cheezy,” Tiff pleaded as she chased behind.
Kara quickly stepped to Wes, leaned over gave him a long, deep kiss. “Get well my love. I regret that I must leave you for now. There is a mystery afoot,” she said excitedly as she sprinted away in pursuit of the others.
Wes let out a frustrated huff.
“That one has my jacket,” the Chief said as he approached. “I’ll tell ya what bud, I’ll make a deal with ya. I’ll give you all of the tasty details of what’s going on over there in the witches lair if you’ll just pass on the message that I want my jacket back. I’ve had it way too long to just give it up to big tits there. I only loaned it to her since her shirt got torn off. You understand, don’t ya, son?”
“What? Why should I help you? You’ve been a constant pain in our ass since day one.”
“You really think so, hu? You bunch of young pup hotshot flyboys think you are the most shit hot crew of any in the commonwealth? If you only knew, boy. If you only knew,” the Chief laughed as he walked away.
“Wait, come back… hey! Old fart! Chief?”
“Think about it bud,” the Chief’s voice drifted off into the distance.
cHAPTER 51
Unknown Location
September 17th, 2176 / Late Evening (Dragon time)
W e are through the flux,” Andy announced.
“What's this one look like? Picking up any signals or anything?” Big Willy asked, leaning against the console.
“It looks like we're on the outskirts of a system. Like, out in the Oort cloud of the system.”
Casraownan peered around the large man, gawking at the display.
“Will you stop trying to sneak a peek and just come over here already,” Trae said, pointing at the floor next to him at the auxiliary station.
“Namaig tend bailgakhyg khüsee yuu?” Casraownan’s ears perked up, his eyes wide and hopeful.
“Yeah, come on,” Trae said. “Come up here if you want to see what’s going on.”
Casraownan’s face stretched in an odd feline smile as he took his place next to Trae.
Trae squinted back at the display. “Hu!”
“Crap. Why doesn't that sound good?” Big Willy sat back in the command chair.
“Oh no, it's not anything bad. Just weird,” Trae said. “I mean, this is the first time we've seen a star system like this before. The system is made up of five stars and a number of planets. Spectrometers are classifying the main sequence stars of the system as a pair of A-class, blue subgiants. They are similar to Sol, just a little larger and almost out of hydrogen to burn.”
He flicked readouts onto the main viewscreen from his console and cycled through a number of display readouts.
Casraownan let out an astonished breath as he watched Trae’s every movement.
“The primary companion star is a G class yellow dwarf, nearly the same size as Sol and is the center of a trinary star cluster that orbits the two blue subgiants. Both of those stars around the G class are white dwarfs.” He continued cycling through the readouts. “Damn that was fast,” he exclaimed.
“What?” Willy asked with an impatiently anxious tone.
“I’ve got our location,” Trae said.
“That's a first,” Fergus complained. “So, where the hell are we?”
“The Sarin star system. We're in the constellation of Hercules. It's one of the few stars that you can make out from Earth with the naked eye. Roughly ninety-four light-years from Earth and,” he paused as he double-checked the numbers, “around seventy-six light-years from Gamma Draconis and the Lair.”
“Great,” Denise said. “Now that we know the address, someone order a freaking pizza. I'm starving.”
“Oh, hey now, that's new,” Trae blurted. “I have a signal. Looks like we have a live one out there.”
“Woot! Finally, we get some action,” Fergus exclaimed. “It only took us a dozen jumps in the last week to find something.”
“Wait? Did you just say there’s something out there?” Jenny excitedly fumbled with her headphones. “I'm picking up all sorts of comm traffic in the system.” She giggled. “Oh my.” Her foot nervously bounced as she listened. “There are at least a dozen distinct languages in the transmissions that I'm picking up. Oh my, this is so amazing!” She let out an excited squeal. “Wait! Oh God, no, no, no.” She quickly stood up and tapped at the upper controls of the station. “I have to record everything. I can't let this opportunity slip through my fingers.”
“All stop,” Big Willy ordered. “Let's hang here and see what we can learn before we go tromping through the middle of the system. Passive sensors only. Charge up the turret capacitors, just in case.”
“Copy that,” Trae and Fergus replied as one.
Willy keyed the comms. “We've found alien activity this time. Everyone be ready for a
nything.” He switched off the intercom.
“Holy shit,” Fergus exclaimed. “I just picked up a gamma-ray burst, fourteen thousand klicks off our downspin port aft.”
“Can you get a visual on them?” Willy sat up excitedly.
“Already working on it,” Trae said just as an image of a long, reddish colored ship appeared on the main viewscreen.
“Holy shit, it's a Red! Laying in an intercept course,” Andy said.
“No, stop,” Big Willy ordered. “Don't move this ship one meter.” He stood and examined the data over Andy's shoulder. “Let's see what they do and where they go. Just keep a close eye on them for now.”
“Ene bol minii ard tümnii sansryn ovgiig ustgasan ulaan chötgörüüd yum,” Casraownan said with a growl.
“Calm it down fuzzball,” Fergus said. “Don’t make me go get a leash.”
“Chill Ferg,” Trae said then turned to Casraownan. “Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it all.”
Doctor Filmore rushed through the main entrance and onto the bridge. “I don't want to hear the first complaint from any of you.” She pressed an odd device to Denise's left arm.
“Hey now, goddammit,” Denise shouted, swatting the device away. “I didn't say that you could go and low jack me.”
“Fine,” Janey said with a huff, moving to Jenny's station she tapped the linguist on the shoulder. “It's a, just in case cocktail that I've been working on. It’ll give all of us a boost of vitamins, minerals, and a few extra touches to enhance our immune systems.”
“Wait? A cocktail that you've been working on?” Denise growled. “So what? We're the mad scientist's guinea pigs now?”
“We have no idea what sort of pathogens any of these other races may carry or how they might react with our physiology,” Janey said matter-of-factly. “I don't think that we can be too careful.”
“Better safe than sorry,” Big Willy added. “Alright, hit her then do me next.” He held his breath as he looked away and grimaced.
“Don't worry big guy. You'll only feel a little prick.”
Flux Runners Page 36