by H. G Ahedi
“I’m losing it too!” said Dr. Kent, tapping the keys on the console.
They both looked at the screen. They couldn’t see it anymore.
“It’s gone! It’s gone!” Emmeline cried out.
“Perhaps it has entered into the planet’s atmosphere,” Adrian suggested.
“Checking,” Emmeline replied. There was a long pause. Then Emmeline banged the console. “My scans of the gas giant are inconclusive. I need more time, and we’re just too far away. I recommend sending a ship after it.”
“Hold on. Did you scan for debris? Maybe it was destroyed,” asked Anastasia.
“If it was, it would have shown on my initial scans. But I’ll check,” Emmeline said.
Again, they all waited.
“Nothing,” she reported when the checks were complete.
“So, it appears, emits some kind of beam, and then vanishes?” Anastasia asked.
Emmeline didn’t know what to say. “It seems so. But why did it appear to begin with? Where did it come from?”
“Could it be a sort of communication?” suggested Anastasia.
“If it was why did it vanish?” said Dr. Kent.
* * *
None of them knew it but a couple of days later, three similar ships would show up near the perimeter and change their lives forever.
DNA Never Lies
Present Day
Titan, Deck 2, Jacob’s quarters
Admiral Jacob Donavan sat on a chair in his quarters and looked out at the stationary stars. After traveling for four long years, he was used to seeing the stars moving. The stillness gave him some comfort, though he wished the timing was better. The silence was welcoming and so was the environment. Titan’s quarters were much better than Freedom’s. Although he was the admiral, Freedom’s quarters weren’t built for comfort. The only other place he felt comfort was in his home. A sadness dawned upon him, it had too many memories and he didn’t feel like going back there. Not just yet. He looked around. Maybe he could make Titan his home.
The possibility of an interstellar war with the Orias appeared to be inevitable, although some part of him hoped otherwise. Their first battle had gone well. Jacob knew Titan’s citizens needed him. Titan was powerful, but under a weak commander it might perish. Yes, yes it will perish, he thought.
Freedom was a fine ship, but he felt he had to stay behind to fix things that had gone wrong, including his marriage. He shook his head in disbelief. After forty years, she wanted to leave him. He couldn’t believe it. What hadn’t he done for her? For some people, nothing was ever enough. You just had to tell them they couldn’t have it, and he wouldn’t let her have this. Enough was enough. He would not go through with the divorce. He believed in the vows of marriage, and she was bound to them, bound to him. That was it. Rules were rules; they were in it for life. Rules must not be broken, He thought.
Jacob had thought he could finish this last mission, return to Earth, work with the tribunal, and fix his marriage. It would have been simple if it weren’t for the Orias. Now he was stuck on Titan, guarding the perimeter against this unknown enemy. He had to stay. They had no leader, no experience.
What had life come to? He could feel that the people on Titan were eager to fight. Argon and his squadron needed to be disciplined. That is why he had nominated Argon as the squadron leader. Responsibility will teach him discipline. The scientist including Dr. Kent need to follow rules and regulation better. He felt that Commander Waters was lenient and focused more on action than thoughtful strategies. She wanted Titan to join the fleet. Silly woman.
He knew their first attempt had failed, but still there were chances of a diplomatic solution. He rolled his eyes. The Imperial Command knew very little of what he had to deal with. He was the mediator, the linchpin, managing both sides. Thank God the members of the Imperial Command believed in him. Otherwise, the situation would have been worse. It was his duty to protect these people, not only from the Orias but from themselves. They didn’t know better, so he had to show them. He thought about Anastasia’s plan and the steps she was taking. But she wasn’t him; he was better.
Titan, Deck 5, Engineering
When he entered engineering, Lieutenant Commander Adrian Olson was unsure if he was in the right place. Usually, it was a humdrum area, but today, it was loud and somewhat overwhelming. He thought about the meeting and the idea to put shields around the perimeter. It sounded very good at first, but as he planned the upgrade, he felt the burden of the enormous task.
Two months ago, he was thinking of leaving, doing something else. Now all he could think about was the Orias. Those ships, black, long, cylindrical and dangerous. The mysterious cloud. He couldn’t believe how the situation had turned, and now Titan was on full alert. He sensed fear, but also excitement. No one liked war, but in a way, it was forcing them to be innovative.
The usual sound in engineering was the loud humming of engines, but today, the air was a mix of screeches, whirls, and beeps. Adrian looked up at the bridges and saw the engineering crew moving fast. A loud screech made him turn toward the overhead crane, which was carrying a large white cylindrical container. The machine stopped in the middle of the deck and groaned, and the container slowly moved downward. As he walked ahead, the container was placed on an Automated Hovering Carrier. A crewman tapped on a pad and walked along with the equipment as the carrier approached the exit.
Adrian strolled toward the four ten-foot-high green-colored cylinders, which were filled with fuel. They looked like four hefty pillars, forming the corners of a square. Around each fuel tank were two crew members, tapping on consoles and probably running diagnostics. Adrian felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to look at Titan’s engineer. Delta stood on her side.
“Okay, I’m super busy. What is it you want?”
“The generator.”
They came to stand in front of a heavy white cylindrical object. Its top was pointed, and its bottom was flat. It sat above the ground on the hovering platform.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” asked Adrian.
Delta and Cyr looked at him.
“Well, in case of massive power failure, generators could be hooked up to the perimeter’s built-in installation panels. Theoretically, it should work. Practically? Well, that remains to be seen,” said Cyr.
“Okay, we’d better suit up,” said Adrian uncertainly.
Perimeter
The circular door above opened, and Adrian slowly climbed the ladder. He passed through the door; the lights turned on. He waited, and the door below him closed.
“Opening outer hatch,” said the computer. “Caution. Opening outer hatch.”
He checked his suit. It was working perfectly. Although he was trained for spacewalks, he hardly ever got the chance to do them. His heart beat fast as the door opened into the heavens. He held onto the ladder as the narrow cabin decompressed. Once the decompression was complete, the gravity boots were activated, and he slowly climbed up the ladder. He took a deep breath as he stood on the roof of Astra.
“All good?” asked Delta on the intercom.
“All good. All systems working perfectly. I’m moving toward the edge of the ship.”
He felt the complete silence around him; it was refreshing. He imagined he was standing at the edge of a mountain, surrounded by the miracle of the cosmos. He always found taking the first step hard. Cautiously, he put his left foot forward, then his right, and he soon felt like he was walking on Titan. Except that the suit was heavier than his uniform.
“Commander Waters to Lieutenant Olson,” came Anastasia’s voice.
“Yes, Commander,” Adrian replied as he slowly made his way toward the edge of Astra.
“Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
The intercom became silent, and Adrian stood at the edge of the cargo ship to look at the huge white jungle of crisscrossing poles. The massiveness of the pillars was unimaginable from a distance. He turned and squinted, but Titan was bare
ly visible. The twinkling lights on its outer edges indicated its presence. Despite the suit, he felt cold and shivered a bit.
“Are you ready?” asked Delta.
“Wait a minute,” he replied and looked up at the installation mechanism. He fired the boosters and propelled upwards.
“Easy now,” said Evan on the intercom.
Adrian ignored him and kept his eyes on the installation mechanism. He glanced down and saw the edge of Astra disappearing from his view. Adjusting his trajectory, he flew upward along the vast wall and slowed his pace when he reached the structure. He turned off the booster and grabbed hold of one of the pillars. He observed the hexagonal installation mechanism with a cone-shaped interior. Gradually, he moved down the pillar and came face to face with the structure. Grabbing its edges, he floated around and stood on the edge of a slanted pillar just behind it. Now he was behind the structure.
“How does it look?” asked Evan.
“Looks good. I have to make sure it works,” Adrian said. He looked at the panel. The installation mechanisms had never been used, and he couldn’t recall if they had even been tested. His heart pounded in his chest as he reached for the smaller square panel and opened it. As he’d expected, there was a small switch. He flicked it, and the main panel opened outward. He gulped, looking at the bulky, round red handle. He grabbed it, pulled it outward, and turned it ninety degrees. He pushed it back in and felt a thud just below his feet.
“Lieutenant Weeds?”
“Hold it.”
The structure vibrated. “What’s happening?” Adrian asked.
“It’s online.”
“Great!” Adrian said, feeling relieved. He quickly closed the panel. Still holding onto the pillar, he floated around and came to the front of the perimeter. He grabbed the edge of the installation mechanism and saw two blinking blue lights at the end of the cone.
“Astra, are you ready?” he asked, wondering if he was too loud as his voice echoed in the helmet.
“Yep, ready. You need to move away from the mechanism.”
Adrian fired up the boosters. The gas from the boosters left a small trail behind him. He looked like a tiny, slow-moving speck on a massive wall. When he thought he was far enough away, he turned the boosters off and got hold of one of the pillars. Resting his foot on the edge of the pillar, he made sure he had a clear view of Astra. “Okay. I’m at a safe distance.”
Astra’s engines fired up, emitting a bright light. The small cargo ship’s bow began to dip.
“Delta, be careful,” said Evan on the commlink.
“Don’t worry. I can handle this.”
Adrian watched as the ship moved downward until it was almost parallel with the perimeter. The engines became silent, and the ship stood still for a moment. Then the bottom thrusters came online, and it moved toward the perimeter.
“Good. Just a bit more,” said Evan. “Stop.”
The thrusters turned off.
Adrian let go of the pillar and turned on the boosters. He slowly moved toward Astra as the doors on the roof of the cargo ship opened outward.
“Ready to launch perimeter generator 001,” announced Delta.
Adrian reduced his pace as the generator emerged from the ship.
“Aligning the generator,” said Delta.
“Take it easy,” muttered Adrian.
The generator was held by four broad mechanical arms. Adrian watched as it fully emerged and moved slightly up and down as Delta tried to align it.
“Easy. Just a bit higher,” Evan said, guiding her.
“I’m trying,” replied Delta in a strained voice.
Adrian flew closer and placed his hand on the generator. He pushed himself, floated toward the hexagonal structure, and saw the generator’s top enter the structure. “You’re doing great,” he said. “We’re almost done.”
Soon, the generator’s pointy head disappeared into the hexagonal structure. Adrian felt a thud.
“Done. The generator is secure. Release clamps,” announced Evan.
The clamps released, and the mechanical hands slowly moved away from the generator. Adrian waited as Astra closed the doors. He turned on the boosters and floated away from the perimeter. When he thought he was far enough, he again fired up the boosters and brought himself to a complete halt. “Okay, punch it.”
“I am bringing it online, now.”
Silence. Then two green lights blinked at the round end of the generator.
“It’s online! Full power,” said Evan.
Adrian smiled. “Woo-hoo! Excellent work, guys!”
“Yeah. One done, just eighty-nine more to go,” grumbled Evan.
Titan, Deck 4, Anastasia’s Quarters
Anastasia studied the notes in front of her. She didn’t know how much it could help, but history was a good place to start. She had learned a lot while in command of Marion, but she knew very little about war. Human history was full of it. Sitting on a comfortable chair, she admired the cosmos. The commander’s quarters were no different than other colonist, but she had made it special and personal. The carpet was purple, with light cream walls on which hung carefully picked pictures. They were mostly of family, her children and her childhood on Titan. Just beside the window sat a piano. It was old and had lost its glow, but still she wouldn’t part with it. There was a small kitchen which she hardly used, and a good-sized bedroom which was messy because she didn’t have time to clean up.
Anastasia focused on her work. She had made a list of techniques and maneuvers used to win and survive a war. She bit her nails and wondered if they would help. Then she picked up the next pad and studied her notes about their meeting with the Imperial Command. They had to convince the members to take the Orias seriously. She hoped to hear from the admiral about it.
Soon, she felt restless and knew what she had to do. She got up, walked to the piano and began playing. The music brought her a sense of relief, calmness, and her mind slowly centered. She hoped her playing didn’t disturb other colonist.
The doorbell rang.
“Come in,” she said.
She paused when she saw Mykel smiling at her.
“You still have it?”
“Some things are difficult to part with.”
He stepped forward and admired the instrument, “I didn’t see it last time I visited.”
“I had to put it in storage when I left the system. When my family left for Earth, I brought it out of storage.”
He sat beside her.
“Let’s see,” he said and played a tune she remembered very well. She joined in, and both of them played for a while. The music echoed in the room, and she felt like singing again after a long time. The music stopped and their eyes met.
“There is a crack over here,” Mykel said, pointing out the wood.
“Well, you gave it to me twenty years ago… its bound to have a few cracks.”
“It can be fixed.”
“I know. But I like it the way it is.” Anastasia replied, “What are you doing here?”
“We have a meeting in an hour. I thought I’d drop by for a cup of coffee.”
She eyed him, wondering if she should do this. But given everything that was happening around them, she said, “Sure.”
Soon, she felt she had made a good decision, though she felt that people were watching them as they walked down the corridor. Being the only commander was a lonely job, but when Mykel was around, she never felt that way. She still hadn’t told him about Martin, and maybe with their current situation, she didn’t need to. It didn’t matter. They had bigger things to worry about.
Titan, Deck 2, Main meeting room
Everyone was in the meeting room, including Emmeline. She wasn’t surprised when she was invited to join the meeting. She’d been working around the clock with Cyr and her team. A week had passed since the attack, but she felt they’d barely scratched the surface.
Argon and Byron sat opposite to her while Clio and Micah were nowhere to be seen. Admiral
Donavan sat at the far end with captains from other ships. Dr. Finch entered the meeting room and took a seat beside Dr. Kent. The exobiologist was a stalky man in his late forties with a graying hairline that was disappearing rapidly toward a patch of sparse hair at the back of his head. He had been studying the remains of the Orias. Beside him sat Aceline, studying her notes.
Emmeline saw Mykel and smiled. Argon couldn’t stop talking about him, and she knew why. Argon was a big fan of the captain and his ship, Prometheus. Despite the war, Argon and his friends had been to the marvelous ship and spent hours looking around. After its long voyage, the crew and ship welcomed tourist.
But Emmeline noticed something more. Anastasia and the captain sat close together, talking in whispers. She wondered what they were talking about. Whatever it was, she felt an unprecedented warmth from both of them. She was one of the newest member of Titan, but as soon as people heard that the Prometheus was returning, there were whispers about both the commanders. It appeared they had a history, a long and passionate one.
Emmeline wasn’t interested in other people’s personal lives, but her feelings towards Commander Waters were different. Unlike her, the Commander was born on Titan, and lived most of her life on the space station. Emmeline remembered the day she had arrived on the station. She had never been so far away from home and felt almost like an alien. Anastasia helped her make it her home. She was like her second mother. Listening, nodding, understanding, yet she kept a firm hand. Despite the war, the gloominess around them Emmeline felt a warmth looking at the woman she admired, and then she turned towards the man she adored. Argon looked confused for a moment, but then just smiled.
A bell rang.
“Good. Everyone’s here,” said Anastasia as the meeting began. “Let’s begin. What about the perimeter shields?”
“Our first installation was successful. The generator is online. We’ve assembled a team of officers and ten cargo ships to help us. Once all the generators are installed, we should have the shields in no time,” reported Adrian.