Rise of the Altered Moon: Altered Moon Series: Book One (The Altered Moon Series 1)

by AZ Kelvin

  “We’re ready here, Boss,” he said into the comms. “Would you like to say anything?”

  “Yes, we’re here at the shuttle bay hatch,” he answered. “I…ah, just want to say how much I will miss Tamara and her endless knowledge of engineering. She was a kind and innocent spirit and I hold no grudge against her. She was taken before her time. Godspeed, Tamara Wilkinson.”

  CJ triggered the remote and sent the cargobot on its one-way journey to the astral anchor of the solar system. “Good-bye, Wilks. Rest in peace.”

  He and Cat collected the fuel plates and ration packs with anything else they could grab right away and loaded them into the cargo crate. Cat closed the outer doors as CJ loaded the crate on the lift and sent it to the engineering bay.

  “Shuttle bay doors are closed, Gina,” said CJ. “Proceed on course and monitor radiation levels. We may have to stop and purge the engine ports before we make Arzian space.

  “Aye, Captain. We’re on the way.”

  CJ and Cat came in from the shuttle bay and stowed their EV gear in the squad bay.

  “Captain?” Boss called over the comms as they finished.

  CJ kept on task until Cat told him the call was for him.

  “What, oh…wow, gotta get used to that…thanks,” CJ said to her and then hit the comms. “Yeah, I’m here, Boss.”

  “Would you meet me in Trigger’s quarters, sir?”

  “On my way,” he replied.

  Cat handed CJ the little box of grizzly goodies. “Here you are, Captain. You boys have fun with that.” She winked.

  “Thank you, Doctor,” CJ said dryly with a raised eyebrow.

  He collected the necessary items and met Boss in what used to be Trigger’s quarters. Boss had been through the room with a fine-tooth comb and gathered a small pile of purloined items: a few ration packs, some coffee disks, and other things that were expected when you serve on a starship. The lockbox Boss had set up on the table waited for the necessary keys CJ was bringing to open it.

  “Ah, Captain, you’re here,” Boss said, as CJ entered the room.

  “Boss, you can call me CJ. What did you find?”

  “Let’s find out,” He inserted the passkey into the slot. A small screen became visible on the top of the lockbox with the words “Identification Scan Required,” which glowed in the middle. A small access panel slid open to show red icons of an eye and a fingerprint next to corresponding input devices. Boss snapped on a med glove and held Trigger’s eyeball up to the scanner and the ‘eye-con’ turned green. He swiped the fingertip across the slot reader and the finger icon turned green. The passkey slot lit up with a rim of green and the lid of the box slid away in four directions when Boss swiped the card. In the lock box was a variety of small boxes, soft draw bags, several data card drives, a small datpad, and a folder of papers. Boss and CJ rummaged around the box to check out different items.

  “Hey, that shithead!” exclaimed Boss. “He said these were lost in the temple on Sabre.” He poured six small figurines of a smiling fat guy that changed expressions and colors when viewed from different angles into his hand. There were gems in the box and a small amount of platinum and gold pieces as well as a chart with a star system that was noted “Former Rellia site–forgotten stockpile.”

  “Trigger was going to look for weapons?” CJ asked, as they studied the chart.

  “Looks that way, but there could be fuel plates and food packs there as well,” Boss replied, “Smart thinking, actually.”

  “Look,” said CJ, “there’s a contact list on this data drive and a copy of the articles of organization for West Becreth Trading Company with him named as owner. He must have been planning to take over for some time. Gather all the belongings. Anything valuable will be placed in a common fund for the crew and we can decide what to do with it later. I need to get some rack time before my shift.”

  “Captain,” Boss said, “Gina and I have moved my personal gear to her quarters so you can have the captain’s quarters.”

  “Boss that’s not necessary…” CJ started to say, but Boss held up his hand.

  “Actually it is. That’s where the captain’s logbook is and some other things that are for the captain only. Besides, Gina has better quarters. And, just FYI, I always found it easier to write the log while things are fresh. If you put it off it gets to be a real mess. You know, now that I think of it, I’m not going to miss doing that one bit.”

  “All righty then, thanks for that,” CJ said with a laugh. “I guess I’ll go check out my new digs. See you in about four hours.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  CJ took a short time to look around his new cabin and saw what Boss meant. It may have been the captain’s quarters, but that didn’t mean there was a lot of it. He sat down at the desk and read a note that Boss had left for him there. He found the logbook datpad and followed Boss’ instructions on how to key in his own DNA. CJ made several entries that were necessary to shift command access. He logged the events from when they left Keenaw to the recovery of the shuttle. He closed his eyes for a second because they felt dry.

  He was startled awake, the left side of his face flattened by the desktop and a small puddle of drool on the desk.

  The comms buzzed again, and Gina called from the bridge, “Captain?”

  “Yes…hmmmph…yes I’m here,” he answered, after he cleared the sleep from his throat.

  “It’s twenty-hundred hours, sir.”

  “Ah, shit. Sorry, G, I’m on the way.” Great. First day as captain and I’m two hours late.

  “I’m sorry for being late.” He relieved Gina and settled into his position at the command station.

  “No trouble, Captain. We’ve all been through a lot. All systems show normal and we are on course for Thraden. Radiation buildup is at fifty-two percent and rising slowly.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Riley. I have the conn.”

  “Good night, sir.”

  The remainder of CJ’s shift passed quietly as the Altered Moon cruised steadily through the Tengshi radiation field. He spent the time studying reports on the meteoric rise of Merilee Travel & Transport as the undeniable leader of galactic logistics. The sheer number of MT&T starship ‘accidents’ over the recent years gave CJ cause to wonder why there was no public outrage over the massive loss of Human life. He had no trouble imagining the payoffs that a company the size of MT&T could afford to dole out. Over two million people in ten years had ended up listed as missing or dead from MT&T vessels.

  What have we stumbled into? CJ asked himself. The early warning alert beeped annoyingly to announce that the buildup of radioactive particles had reached cautionary levels. “GABI?” he called as he cancelled the alert.

  “Online, Captain.” She shimmered into view.

  “Take the Moon off autopilot, please, and set course for the nearest star system.”

  “Aye, Captain,” she replied.

  The star field in the view screen slid to the right and slightly down as GABI altered their course. A nearby star glowed bright and hot directly in their path. The hatch opened and Boss glided in with Gina and Cat behind him. They talked lightly as they came on to the bridge.

  “Hello, Captain,” they said nodding in CJ’s direction.

  “Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” he answered.

  “I love radiation purges,” said Gina. “It’s like driving your own atmocoaster. GABI, do you mind if I drive?” she asked her incorporeal compatriot.

  “Not at all, G. You may render yourself unconscious.”

  “That’s ‘knock yourself out,’ GABI, my dear,” corrected Boss.

  “Ah, thank you, Boss,” GABI logged the correction for later reference.

  “Captain, with your permission?” Gina indicated the star pilot seat with a hand gesture.

  “Have at it, Star Pilot,” CJ answered. “It’s been years since I’ve been on an atmocoaster.”

  “Then dust off your ‘oh shit’ handles and get ready for a ride,” she called out. “We’l
l have to cruise at five million kilometers from the star for thirty seconds at full burn to clear the engine ports. It’s going to get a little bumpy. ETA to full burn is five minutes.”

  “Roger that,” said CJ. “Everybody take your stations.”

  The huge yellow orange ball of burning gases filled the view screen as the Altered Moon neared the five million kilometer mark. The ship began to buck and shake as the gravitational pull of the star fought to drag the ship into its solar furnace. The heat and energy from the star broke down the radiation particles that had built up in the ISE systems.

  “Ten seconds to go,” Gina called out a warning. “Five…four…three…two…one…going to full burn now.”

  The g-force from the thirteen engines fought against the star’s massive gravity like an elephant that sat on your entire body. The Altered Moon skipped across the star’s corona like a stone across a pond. The gravity of the star pulled them constantly down toward the surface, while the solar winds tried to blow them back into space. The speed of the ship was the catalyst to keep their distance from the gaseous ball of fire. If one flight system shorted out at this particular moment, the ship would fall into the star and vaporize.

  The internal inertial stabilizers that surrounded the pilot station allowed Gina the freedom to fly the ship or she would be pressed into her seat unable to move. The Altered Moon was thrown around like the toy of a cosmic child in the middle of a tantrum. The shaking worsened to the point where CJ wondered if it was going to knock out a tooth and just where the tooth would go if it did come loose.

  “Radiation…build…up…ten…percent…and…dropping,” CJ said with what little air he could draw in.

  “Copy that, Captain,” said Gina. “Breakaway in thirty seconds.” She settled into her seat and reset her grip on the control stick. “Fifteen seconds…ten…five…breaking away.”

  Gina pulled the Altered Moon up into a steep climb and maintained full burn until they were clear enough of the star’s gravity to safely go about their business. The diminishing effect of the high g’s left them all feeling like they were going to float right out of their seats.

  “That was fun,” said CJ. “Well done, G.”

  “Thank you, Captain.”

  “Let’s get back on our way, shall we?” said CJ. “Replot our course to Thraden and engage.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Gina said, as she laid in the new heading and set the autopilot.

  “GABI,” said CJ, turning to look at her. “Some time ago I asked you to project possible outcomes to our situation. Have you had time to do so?”

  “Yes, Captain. Would you like me to present it here?”

  “Yes, I believe everyone here should know what our options are.”

  “Very well, Captain,” she began. “Option one: contacting clandestine resources. This option carries the least risk to the ship and crew, but also has the greatest likelihood of inaccurate information. Our current position is several days travel from the nearest known contact.

  “Option two: contacting Merilee Travel & Transport. This option carries a high risk of danger to ship and crew as it has already been tried and was met with hostile reaction. Projections indicate that Merilee Travel & Transport is involved in or, at least aware of, the destruction of the Istraulis and has taken actions to suppress the knowledge.

  “Option three: contacting Marlacuer Imperial Guard. This option contains many variables that make an accurate projection difficult. Past actions of the Marlacuer Empire show a cavalier response to threats against the sovereignty. I believe that it is called a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ methodology.”

  “It certainly is,” said Boss wryly.

  “We’ll take the low risk of danger and hope any information we get will pay off somehow,” said CJ. “Boss, what did you have in mind for when we arrive in Thraden?”

  “I suggest we pose as scrap collectors,” he said. “We can scrap Lunar Mare and trade other items to buy a short-range shuttle to replace her. We can use the wreckage to gain access to people who don’t care about a bill of sale. We ask around about any local areas that are open to a little under-the-radar kind of salvage and see what turns up. Maybe some obscure piece of knowledge will give us the clue we’re looking for.”

  “Where were you planning to look first?” CJ asked.

  “A spice smuggler told me of a space station in stationary orbit around the outside planet,” Boss explained. “It’s a planetoid, really, locked in place with one side always facing the sun. The station is on the dark side. Just the kind of place for folks who don’t want any light shed on their shady dealings. I suggest we start there. Its designation is QT Station, but it’s better known as ‘the backdoor.’”

  “All right, people,” said CJ, taking his place at the command station. “Next stop, the backdoor.”

  *~*~*

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The last leg of their journey to Arzian space went without a hitch. The quantum jump put them just outside the system and a few hours later they were pulled up to QT Station. The reputation of the place brewed up an image of a dark and smoky hole-in-the-wall, filled with intimidating characters who glared at you with scarred faces. QT Station was anything but dark, smoky, and intimidating.

  The brightly lit, well-identified station looked more like an Imperial guard outpost than a den of organized crime. The first evidence of anything different with ‘the back door’ was a warning five hundred kilometers from the station. The message stated in no uncertain terms that any vessel crossing the perimeter would be destroyed. The message itself was not threatening. But the twelve missile lock warnings that blipped onto the sensor screens gave it power.

  CJ and the crew waited until a response to their hail cleared them to approach the station. CJ had Gina wait until the missile warnings disappeared before they continued on their way. She brought the Moon up slow and steady to line up the ventral docking port with QT Station’s universal collar. The docking collar sealed against the bottom of the Altered Moon as the mooring struts locked onto the magnetic anchor plates.

  “We’re docked and locked, Captain,” she said, as she powered down the flight systems.

  “Thank you, G. Cat and GABI, stay with the ship. Cat, grab a sidearm and keep your eyes on the scanners. GABI, keep all systems on standby while we’re gone.”

  Cat and GABI indicated their agreement and moved to follow CJ’s orders.

  “Boss you take the lead. G and I will cover you,” said CJ. “Any idea what to expect?”

  “None whatsoever,” answered Boss.

  “Well then…let the game begin.” CJ used the game euphemism to honor Boss’ chosen theme for their heists. Although information was the only target for this score, the need for secrecy at this point was greater than ever.

  The trio moved through the inner hatch of the airlock and sealed the door behind them. The pressure automatically equalized between station and ship. A green indicator light came on when the process was complete. CJ released the pressure safety locks and the outer door hissed and slid away. A short corridor led them to an airlock door that opened as they approached. A small greeting chamber on the other side of the door was so spartan that it made the stoic character who waited to greet them absolutely lively by comparison.

  “I am Warden,” he said with no expression. “Please state your purpose here.” The man was slim and stood about a meter and a half tall. He had meticulously groomed short black hair and a small surveillance unit attached to the side of his head just behind his right temple. The grey and black one-piece suit was immaculately pressed and spotless with a slim black belt at the waist that seemed to be attached right to the fabric without any buckle. His eyes were disquieting; they were an opaque grey, with a depth that made you feel as though you were staring into infinity mirrors.

  “We have salvaged goods to sell and need to purchase supplies and a planetary shuttle,” Boss replied.

  “One moment please,” Warden said. The endless e
yes showed no sign of activity as the eerie guy apparently communicated with someone or something inside the station. A door slid open in the far wall of the chamber. Warden raised his right arm at the elbow and indicated the open door. “The transtube at the end of this corridor will take you to the cargo processing division.”

  “Thank you, Warden,” Boss said.

  The three crewmates crossed the room, went down the corridor, and entered the waiting transtube. The strange man said nothing in return as he watched them walk by. He continued to observe them from the end of the corridor as the transtube door slid shut.

  “He was friggin’ creepy,” said Gina.

  “No doubt,” agreed CJ. “What was up with that guy?”

  “If he was a guy,” said Boss.

  The transtube came to a stop and the passengers were flooded with the noise, lights, and activity of the cargo processing division as the door slid open. It took several minutes for their eyes and ears to grow accustomed to the intensity of the area. Small robot-operated cargo crates ran their routes in between giant robotic cranes that moved everything from a few parcels to entire ships. The zip-rattle of impact tools mixed with spark-crackle of cutting lasers, while the deck vibrated from the heavy machinery that moved about.

  A scraggly man in a work coverall walked up to them as he wiped greasy hands on an already-soiled red rag. “Whadda you wanna git rid ah?” he bellowed to be heard over the din.

  “Salvage…I have an SRT-30 long-range shuttle,” Boss bellowed back. “Forward fuselage and cockpit are trashed. Engines and avionics are intact.”

  “Whadda you wanna git back?” he bellowed again.

  “Fully stocked long-range shuttle and ten thousand Shongrian rubies,” Boss yelled out.

  “HAH! You git crap shuttle and still owe,” he stabbed a grime-encrusted finger in Boss’ direction.

  “NO! A long-range shuttle and six fuel plates,” Boss narrowed his eyes and leaned forward in his suspensor chair.

  “Mid-range shuttle, no fuel,” the man countered, and crossed his arms to show that he thought the deal was settled.