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

by AZ Kelvin

  “Thin layers, sir. Under ten thousand kilograms of atmosphere per moon. Trace elements of oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and methane.”

  “My bet is he’s going to be on one of the moons,” Boss said. “But, we should check all of them to be sure.”

  “I say we start at the closest planet and work our way across the sector,” said CJ. “Anything we need to be wary of this side of the Imperial fence?”

  “Nothing in particular, Captain,” Boss replied. “If we get hailed by Arzian Alliance patrols, give them the West Becreth ID code and say that we are here to trade artifacts at the Royal Bazaar on Arzia Prime. If they don’t buy that, then we’re going to have trouble any way you slice it.”

  “Just another day in the life of the West Becreth Trading Company, eh?” said Cat.

  “You can say that again,” said Gina.

  “Ship time is…eleven-fifty in fifteen seconds…and mark,” CJ said, and the others synchronized their chronoes at the mark. “First stop will be N’tjalu in the S’byen system. Ship prepped and dust-off in forty minutes. Let’s roll.”

  An hour later found the Altered Moon clear of ‘the back door’ and on her way out of the Thraden star system. All hands were present on the bridge, with CJ at the command station, Boss at the science console, G in the pilot’s seat, Cat manning the tactical station, and GABI responsible for quantum mechanics and the operation of the String Field Drive. All ship operations were nominal and the crew once again had an objective. Overall, things were looking up for the Moon and her reforged crew.

  “We’ll be clear of the system’s gravity field in three hours, Captain,” Boss informed CJ.

  “Thank you, S.O.,” CJ replied, using the short sign for science officer. “Time to N’tjalu from the perimeter of the S’byen system?”

  “Estimated travel time is just short of thirty hours after jump,” he replied.

  CJ spun his chair in GABI’s direction. “You know it’s just occurred to me that GABI doesn’t have a command designation. By ship’s regulations, only officers can be present at command meetings. I hereby make a motion to the command officers that are present that the entity, GABI, be promoted to operations officer and jump pilot forthwith.”

  “I’ll second that motion,” said Boss. “That means she gets to be the O.O.”

  “I think ‘Ops’ will work better. All in favor?” CJ called out for a vote. The vote came back unanimously, “Aye.”

  “Congratulations, Ms. GABI”—CJ stood, faced GABI, and snapped a salute—“You are hereby promoted to operations officer and jump pilot of the most outstanding star ship, the Altered Moon.”

  The difference between a computer system and GABI’s artificial intelligence was never more defined than it was at that moment. No inanimate machine could ever register the true surprise on GABI’s face. “I am unsure,” was all she could say.

  “We are sure, GABI,” said Gina. “You’re already part of the crew as far as we’re concerned. It’s about time you were recognized for your efforts.”

  “I am honored by your regard, Gina.” She turned to CJ. “Captain, I accept the position and will endeavor to fulfill the duties and responsibilities it entails.”

  “Oh, I expect that, at the very least, Ms. GABI,” CJ pretended to huff and puff importantly. “You will be expected to materialize on time for every assigned shift. Don’t be late.”

  “That would be impossible, Captain, as I am constantly on duty.”

  “Good. Now that that’s taken care of, let’s go ghost hunting,” said CJ.

  “Right. It’s Nelson Season,” added Boss pulling another ancient Earth expression out of his seemingly bottomless hat of quips.

  “Hey! I know an ancient Earth saying,” Gina playfully piped in. “Is your village missing its idiot?”

  Everyone on the bridge broke out in laughter including Boss, who was the butt of Gina’s joke. Even GABI smiled at the well-meant jibe.

  “Captain, with all the changes, I’d like to ask if there is a command structure that you prefer to operate under.” asked Cat.

  “Well, ah, we’re going to need shift commanders, which would be Boss and me, Boss being second in command,” CJ said. “I’ll need department heads for flight, jump, medical, tactical, and engineering just to run the ship.” He thought for a moment then said, “That would make the three of you commanders by standard regulations, if you want to be that formal about it. Right now we have a science officer, a star pilot, an operations officer, and a chief medical officer. Technically we’re short a tactical officer and an engineering officer to cover what’s necessary. But, I think we’ll put off recruiting any crew for a while.”

  “Just wondering who to call ‘sir’, sir,” Cat said.

  “I’m not going to expect things to be too formal around here, Zhu. Besides, I think you’ll know the right time for the proper respect.”

  “Yes, sir.” She nodded. “Thank you, Captain.”

  The time it took to get out of the gravitational field of the Thraden star system was well spent; it was filled with discussion of what they may find and how they would deal with different scenarios. A quick quantum jump plotted with the String Field Drive and executed by the Altered Moon’s new jump pilot dropped the ship and crew at the edge of the S’byen star system.

  “Full stop, G,” said CJ. “Long-range scan, please, Boss.”

  “Full stop, aye,” Gina answered.

  “Long-range scan shows fourteen planets, fifty-two moons, two asteroid belts, and eight hundred-twenty-two comets,” Boss reported. “Planet N’tjalu is the thirteenth planet bearing forty-two by one thirty-five, distance two point nine million kilometers.”

  “Set a course, G,” CJ said. “Space normal speed. We don’t want to attract any attention.”

  “Aye, Captain,” she answered. “Course plotted and engaged at space normal.”

  “ETA, Boss?” CJ asked.

  “Twenty-nine hours, Captain.”

  “Very well,” he answered.

  The idle time on space flights within star system boundaries passes in a variety ways; it can go fast, taken up by the constant tasks that need to be performed, or it can creep by if what you need to do is easily handled and you have a long time in which to do it. The command crew could always fill their time with monitoring systems and making log entries. The need to fill extra time was not a problem that the crew of the Altered Moon had to deal with at the moment; being short on personnel they all had extra duties.

  Five hours into the third shift rotation Boss spoke up. “Coming up on N’tjalu, Captain.”

  “Thank you, Boss. Standard orbit, Ms. Riley.”

  “Standard orbit, aye,” she answered.

  “Doctor Katzu, will you come to the bridge, please?” CJ called into the comms.

  “On my way, sir.”

  The bright greens, blues, and yellows characteristic of this world were clearly visible from their point in space. N’tjalu and Luminar were the only two planets on the search list that could support life. The reason they made the list at all was due to each planet’s planetary ring system. The size of the rubble that formed the rings was big enough to hide a facility for Nelson’s research. The rings around N’tjalu were made up mostly of water ice, which reflected the colors of the planet’s surface. It was a truly beautiful world.

  Cat stepped onto the bridge just as they achieved standard orbit.

  “Boss, take Gina and do a sweep of the interior rings with Moonshadow,” said CJ. “Cat, GABI and I will run a perimeter sweep of the outer rings. Scan for any unusual concentrations of dark matter.”

  “Aye, sir,” Boss answered. Gina locked in the autopilot and left with Boss to board the new shuttle.

  “GABI, take over the flight systems and begin a grid search pattern,” CJ instructed.

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Cat, take the science station and scan for dark matter particles as we run the search pattern.”

  “Aye, sir.” She moved
to the sensor console and began the scanning process.

  Scanning the ring system for any sign of dark matter research took several hours and yielded no results. Gina brought Moonshadow back to roost in the shuttle bay of the Altered Moon after she and Boss finished their circuit. The crew left the S’byen star system and the first day of their search behind them as they continued on their quest to find Nelson Moon.

  The trip to Luminar took them to the nearby Pristien star system, which held only four planets and two moons in its solar family. All of the planets in the system were of a rocky nature, with various atmospheres and landmasses. Luminar was a life-bearing planet in all rights, but a Human being wouldn’t be able to stand next to a Luminarian and live to tell about it.

  The planet was named for the luminosity of the surface features: glittering white landmasses of frozen water and ammonia mixed with the azure blue of liquid methane lakes, and the black seas of hydrocarbons flashed with gold highlights. The alien creatures that lived among the frigid shorelines and toxic fluids never showed any sentience, but they were alien life forms nonetheless.

  Luminar’s ring system, which surrounded the super-bright planet, was a sharp contrast to the planet itself. The large, chunky masses of dark rock looked like storm clouds stretched across a bright sun.

  “All right people, you know the drill,” CJ called out. “Let’s get started.”

  “Aye, Captain,” came their answers. Boss and Gina headed out in Moonshadow while CJ and the others ran the perimeter in the Altered Moon. The results of their efforts were as much a disappointment as their last stop was. Another day of the search gone by and they still had no more to show for it than they had when they’d started.

  “Moonshadow, how do read?” CJ called ship to ship.

  “Loud and clear, Captain,” answered Gina.

  “Bring her home, G, let’s wrap it up.”

  “Roger that, Captain, coming home.”

  “As soon as they’re aboard, GABI, set a course out of the system,” ordered CJ.

  “Understood, Captain.”

  Another destination down and several days to another destination yet ahead, the tediousness of the system-by-system search, with all hands on duty, piled fatigue on the already-stretched crew. A sense of uncertainty and doubt loomed.

  With all crewmembers on board, GABI sent the ship on her way out of the Pristien star system. The next jump point was Arzia, the central system of Alliance territory. It had the potential to be the most troublesome stop yet. They were bound to run into Alliance patrols at the very least, with a good chance of battle cruisers throughout the system.

  CJ, being more wired than tired, took the next command shift as well so he could study the navigation charts on several specific areas of space. He plotted out where starship accidents had taken place, while GABI monitored autopilot and their progress to the edge of the system. He put together pieces of information from news streamcasts, navigation reports, and even bits and pieces from their ‘surveillance footage.’ The points on the nav chart started to build up in one particular area of space.

  Belts of high-level gamma radiation filled the sector of space between the Glimmerocks asteroid field and the Shining Sisters binary star system. The majority of accidents happened at that point along MT&T’s travel routes, almost exactly where the Istraulis was attacked and destroyed. CJ felt a surge of anger as he came to realize that MT&T was far more likely the culprit instead of the victim.

  “Whoever you are, I will hunt you down,” CJ said angrily to the huddled group of dots on the nav chart.

  “Captain?” GABI’s disembodied voice came over the comms unit. “Are you in need of assistance?”

  “No, GABI, I’m fine, thank you. What’s our ETA on jump to Arzia?”

  “Thirty-two minutes and seven seconds.”

  “Very well, initiate jump upon exit of the system,” he said. “Then bring us to full stop at the far end.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  CJ plotted all the MT&T offices and headquarters throughout the Marlacuer Empire and categorized them by size and importance. He outlined the position, size, and complement of the various MT&T locations on his datpad; then he ran estimates on the chance that classified information was secured there. By the time GABI completed the quantum jump, CJ had gathered a few pieces of the puzzle pertaining to their current situation. Now he just had to figure out how they fit together, if they fit together at all.

  “Captain, long-range sensors have picked up two Arzian Alliance patrol ships on an intercept course,” GABI informed him.

  “That didn’t take long,” he said. “Maintain our position and standard operations. Squawk West Becreth ID code on all frequencies. CJ hit the comms panel icon for Gina’s quarters. “Boss, we’ve got company.”

  “Understood, on the way.”

  CJ hit the 1MC icon on the comms panel. “All hands, action stations! All hands to action stations and stand by.”

  Cat came through the hatch a couple of minutes later and manned the tactical station. Boss and Gina followed a few minutes after her and took their positions at flight and science stations.

  “Two Alliance patrol ships,” CJ said. “We weren’t here five minutes before they popped up on long range. We’re at full stop and I’ve squawked the commercial ID.”

  “I’m surprised they haven’t hailed us yet,” said Cat.

  Almost on cue a hail came from the two approaching military patrol ships. “Attention commercial vessel, this is the Arzian Alliance Star Guard. Identify yourself; state your purpose and destination.”

  “Arzian Alliance, this is Captain CJ Evermore of the Altered Moon, under contract with the West Becreth Trading Company. Our destination is the Royal Bazaar on Arzia Prime by way of Arzia Octonus in search of Carellian artifacts.”

  The crew held their collective breaths as the minutes passed. Was the reach of MT&T long enough to reach them even in Arzian space?

  “You are cleared to enter the Arzian star system. Any artifacts for trade must be registered with customs officials at the central star port on Arzia Prime.” The two Arzian Star Guard ships pivoted slightly and flew off on a course that barely cleared the Altered Moon’s wings.

  “Man, they really cut it close there,” said CJ, as he watched the armored ventral hull plating fill the view screen.

  “They just want us to know whose sandbox we’re playing in,” said Boss. “Nice adlib about the Carellian artifact, Captain. It probably sold the story.”

  “Thanks, Boss. I found a reference to Carell, the original home world of the Union of Allied Worlds, in a historical article on the rise of the Arzian Alliance. There’s quite a market for Carellian artifacts, if we actually had any.”

  “You never know what you may find in the deep dark of space,” GABI said in a cryptic tone with a raised eyebrow and sly smile. Everyone on the bridge slowly slid their eyes sideways to look over at GABI.

  “How right you are, GABI,” CJ agreed, as he spun the captain’s chair back around to face the view screen. “So let’s go take a look. Boss, get us a bearing on Arzia Octonus. Gina, power up the flight systems and prepare to get under way.”

  “Arzia Octonus bearing three zero five by thirty-two, one point two three million kilometers out,” reported the S.O.

  “Lay in a course, G, space normal speed,” said CJ.

  “Space normal speed to Arzia Octonus, aye, sir.”

  “Let’s see what the next stop holds in store for us,” CJ leaned back in the captain’s chair.

  The Inner System Engines roared to life as the Altered Moon ferried her crew across the star-strewn black sea of space.

  *~*~*

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gina was at the flight station when the Altered Moon came up on Arzia Octonus. She pulled one her favorite flight maneuvers when it came time to drop speed and enter orbit around the planet. The ship spun about and inverted in one quick move as Gina used precise thruster blasts to face the ship back the way
they came. She fired the twelve secondary ISE’s to counter the ship’s momentum and bring her down to maneuvering speed. She returned the ship back to its original heading and attitude just as quick and just as smooth.

  “Braking maneuver complete, Captain,” she reported. “Coming up on Arzia Octonus.”

  “Yes, I think we noticed that, Ms. Riley,” CJ said, referring to the speed at which the star field had streaked across the view screen…twice. “Standard orbit, if you please.”

  “Standard orbit, aye,” she replied with a hint of satisfaction.

  “Captain, I’m picking up a marker beacon on the far side of the planet,” Boss said, as they entered the planet’s orbit.

  “A warning beacon?” CJ asked him.

  “No, sir, undesignated.”

  “Let’s go check it out,” CJ said, “but, let’s go in careful. Energize defense fields, Cat.”

  She manipulated a control panel, “Defense fields are energized and secure.”

  Gina maneuvered the ship across the planet toward the source of the unidentified beacon.

  Arzia Octonus had a rocky surface covered with pockets of sand and stony rubble. The atmosphere was toxic but the pressure and gravity were within Human tolerance ranges. The planet was once the seat of power for the Union of Allied Worlds before the rise of the Marlacuer Empire. The toxicity levels of the atmosphere came from over industrialization. Decades of pollution poisoned the air and killed off the plant and animal life. Humans built domed cities in an ill-fated attempt to stay on their home world. Eventually the government moved to a different world and Arzia Octonus was abandoned.

  After the fall of the Union to the Marlacuer invasion, the planet was forgotten. A century later archeologists began to return and excavate the buildings that the elements had turned to ruin slowly over time. The artifacts struck a chord with the newly formed Arzian Alliance. The people of the Alliance fought off the Imperial armada to retain a territory of six star systems. Relics of the time before the war had special meaning for the Arzian culture and the market was lucrative, but excavation was costly due to the poisonous nature of the atmosphere.