by S. H. Jucha
“That’s an idea, but we’ll have to find it first,” Yoyo replied.
“Doesn’t the controller indicate its position?” Smitty asked.
Yoyo climbed atop a seat, donned the helmet, and studied the data in the controller’s memory. She was at the job long enough that Orly and Smitty sat on the console and propped their feet up on the other seat to get out of the cold water. Ian was left to stand forlornly in the water and wait.
When Yoyo finally finished, she slipped off the helmet and pinged the men, who were startled awake.
“We’ve got schematics, which tag what items can be operated by the controller,” Yoyo announced. “That power flow switch isn’t one of those things. What we don’t have are engineering diagrams.”
“Mickey and his teams probably thought there was no need for us to have them,” Orly concluded.
“What’s the surest way to locate this switch?” Smitty asked.
Yoyo considered the question, her young face screwing up in concentration. She was an RT tech, who was accustomed to working with Ian on drone assembly. To her credit, she’d always been curious about ship power operations. In this case, the men were asking a great deal of her. But then again, it was a desperate time.
“We’d have to uncover the grav crystals and trace the power line to the shell,” Yoyo replied. “Somewhere along the path, we’ll locate the power flow switch … but I see two problems.”
“Which are?” Orly prompted.
“I’m wondering if I’ll be able to identify the switch,” Yoyo replied.
“And the second?” Smitty asked.
Yoyo stared at Smitty intently and said, “Ser, the power system is meant to be sealed for a reason. If we breach any portion of it, shatter a crystal, or open a line that drops in the water, we’ll either be exploded out of the creature or we’ll be electrocuted.”
After a moment’s thought, Yoyo added, “Then again, we might just short out the power systems. Then our air won’t circulate and be purified. Eventually, we’d suffocate.”
“We get it,” Orly interrupted. “The idea is dangerous, but is it more dangerous than sitting here and doing nothing?”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it,” Yoyo replied, her chin jutting out in determination. “But if I kill everyone, I don’t want you blaming me,” she added, a mischievous grin splitting her delicate Méridien face.
Smitty presented his grand plan to the team, and Yoyo laid out the investigative process necessary to achieve it. Then Orly detailed the dangers.
Orly’s message was punctuated by the shuttle’s sudden shift, dumping everyone into the water. It had happened before, as the creature moved, and undoubtedly, it would happen again.
Soon after the creature had taken up a fixed position, Orly had analyzed their rate of energy consumption. He chose to shut down certain systems, one of which was the grav plating that consumed an exorbitant amount of energy. His thinking was that the creature exhibited only gentle undulations, which negated the demand for the grav plating. More important, the ship needed energy for heating. The water that had inundated the ship was bone chilling, and Orly was intent on warming it.
The team’s scientists laid out the protocols on how to proceed, and Orly, Smitty, Yoyo, and Ian were happy to let them take charge. At the center of the protocols were safety measures, and the work proceeded with an air of hope and anticipation.
The process became Yoyo requesting a step, and the scientists instructing the techs on the operation. Orly and Smitty required Yoyo and Ian to step back and stay out of the water. She was the team’s information source, and Ian was the only qualified help. Precautions were being taken to protect them.
The team uncovered the power crystals, which lined a section of the hull. Their bright light made it difficult to see, and a scientist utilized strips of semitransparent material to cover the crew’s eyes and cut the glare.
Yoyo and Ian descended from their perches and examined the power lines attached to the crystals. There were many, and Yoyo traced them as far as she could. Unable to pin down the one they needed, Ian and she were forced to return to their raised platforms, and let the work continue.
The techs were required to detach equipment racks from the hull and lay them in the water. Then they resumed removing hull panels to trace the power lines, which ended at devices or joined a control panel.
The next to last line to be traced entered a small sealed coupling. On the other side, a spiderweb of fine fibers splayed over the shell. The team gathered around to view the unusual fabrication.
“So that’s how they did it,” Orly said, marveling at the engineers’ inventiveness.
“Do you think that’s it … the switch, I mean?” Smitty asked Yoyo.
“It’s the only interruption in the power line from the power crystals to the shell,” Yoyo replied. “It has to be.”
Fortune was with the team for the final step. The switch and the spiderweb were far above the water line. Techs set about peeling the insulation from the crystal side of the coupling’s power line. Meanwhile, Yoyo and others fashioned a new spiderweb connection of their own. They attached the web to the shell with nanites paste, and Ian held the other end aloft, while final preparations were made.
“Orly, my idea won’t work if we leak energy into the shell,” Smitty stated.
“I’ve got it covered,” Orly replied, winking. “Take your seats, everyone,” he ordered.
Orly and Smitty hurried to the pilot’s cabin, while the team members pulled the retractable harnesses from their hiding places and strapped themselves into the seats. Everyone was crotch deep in water, but without the grav plating switched on, safety was paramount.
Yoyo accepted the jumper cable end and the nanites tube from Ian, who leapt into a nearby seat.
Orly sent a countdown. Smitty and he could see that the power crystals were slowly draining. The dissociated ions in the exterior salt water were acting as a capacitive tank that wanted filling.
Orly’s idea was to shut off the power to the grav engines, a request the controller could accommodate, as it was part of the maintenance procedures to replace power crystals. When Orly was ready, he signaled the ship to lift. The power crystals’ energy rushed into the ship’s systems, except the grav engines. The energy flow found a path of least resistance — the unimpeded line to the shell.
The traveler lurched once, twice, and jerked in reverse before it struck something hard. Water sloshed across the deck, and the team members held their collective breath, expecting to be electrocuted.
When the team realized they’d escaped death, they accessed the external sensors. The ubiquitous semitransparent tissue was gone.
Yoyo uncoupled her harness, jumped up, and sloshed through the water. She used some insulated shears to sever the jumper on the power line side, dabbed some nanites on the shell, and stuck the free end there.
“Where are we?” Smitty asked. “I can’t see much.”
“I think we’re in a cave,” Orly replied.
“Okay. Which way is out?” Smitty retorted.
Orly activated the shell’s luminescent field, which substituted for a shuttle’s landing lights. The field wasn’t all that bright, but the hull sensors magnified the effect.
Everywhere they looked was a cavernous hold populated by marine life that crawled o
ver the rock faces. Multiple tunnels led away from the cavern.
“Yes, Yoyo?” Smitty asked the young tech, noticing she was trying to get his attention.
“Sers, we must keep the ship level until the team is given time to repair our deconstruction,” Yoyo warned.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Orly replied. “Thank you for being careful,” he added, and Yoyo left the cabin.
Both Orly and Smitty looked at the senior scientist, Gerald Thorne, who had accompanied Yoyo to the small cabin.
“I’ve observed the numerous choices you have, which are highlighted by the ship’s illumination field,” Gerald said. “I’ve an idea on how to find the way out.”
“I’m all ears and implant,” Orly replied.
“I want you to generate an external signal,” Gerald requested.
“What type?” Orly returned.
“I’m thinking of echolocation and letting the controller map the cavern and the tunnels,” Gerald replied. “Perhaps a pathway with the minimal signal impedance can be ascertained.”
“Our comm system,” Smitty volunteered. “Use a simple, repetitive, burst pattern, and let’s see what happens.”
“The signal reflection won’t do us any good without analysis,” Orly commented.
“One moment,” Gerald interjected. In answer to the scientist’s summons, Gil, a comrade, waded into the pilot’s cabin, and the two scientists discussed the challenge.
At Gil’s request, Orly gave up his helmet, and Smitty and he vacated the pilot seats. They joined the team in repairing the deconstruction.
Yoyo had replaced the power lines’ stripped insulation, and the techs were restoring the numerous hull panels and sealing them with nanites paste. The final panels to attach were those covering the power crystals. Afterwards, everyone was relieved to be able to remove their makeshift visors.
“What about the science racks?” Ian asked, looking between Orly and Smitty.
“I don’t want them moving around. Stand them up and hook them in place,” Orly ordered. “Don’t bother with power or data connections. They’re probably ruined by being immersed in the water.”
When the main cabin repair was completed, they still had many anxious hours to wait, while the scientists built the analysis program.
Orly retrieved his helmet and activated the scientists’ new analysis app. He set up a repeating comm burst and sent it. Then he waited and watched, as did every other individual.
Cheers echoed throughout the traveler, as the app began building a visual map of the subterranean waterway. At first, it was a crude outline, but the longer the comm burst lasted, the more detailed the image became.
Orly spun the traveler slowly and oriented the bow toward the tunnel Gil had indicated. He eased the ship out of the cavern and through the tunnel. It wound through the rocks, but the sensors indicated an ever-so-slowly growing light level. To his delight, the tunnel grew larger the farther along it the ship traveled.
Eventually, the hull sensors revealed there was no rock above them, and the team members grinned and applauded. Smitty clapped a hand on Orly’s shoulder in celebration.
Orly didn’t participate. He was busy resetting the parameters on the shuttle’s sensors. He was determined not to be captured again and even contemplated initiating a low power beam strike against a jelly creature, despite the danger.
The shuttle responded to lift signals since the grav engines were driving a slightly buoyant ship. As the traveler rose toward the surface, the team members watched huge, four-finned, shelled denizens investigate the ship and swim on.
Smitty received the unbridled humor in Orly’s thought. He could understand it. He too was giddy at being free from the creature’s grip.
However, Smitty’s security training was kicking in. The team still had to empty the shuttle of enough water to lift, and then there was the question of who waited in orbit.
-7-
Distress Call
“Captain, we’ve been pinged, and our telemetry data is transferring out,” the comms officer called to Adrianna.
“From whom?” Adrianna demanded.
Before the comms officer could reply, the bridge personnel heard, “Greetings, Captain Plummer, this is Hector of the city-ship, Our People. We’re responding to your distress call.”
“Captain Hector, if you’re intending to enter this system, don’t!” Adrianna replied firmly. “There’s an alien fleet consisting of seven enormous battleships. While two have been damaged, all seven are fully operational with regard to armament. They’re stationed over this system’s water world.”
“Captain Plummer, we’ve diverted from our course in response to your urgent request,” Hector said. “We intend to help you.”
“Captain Hector, you’re an Omnian, and as such, I’ve no authority over you, but this is an armed conflict. It’s hardly the place for an unarmed city-ship,” Adrianna replied.
“I would agree with you, Captain Plummer, if your suppositions were correct,” Hector said genially. “However, Alex Racine promoted me to field commodore, and I found it necessary to adopt the temporary rank of fleet admiral to accommodate my present circumstances. In addition, the Our People and the Freedom are now the most powerful beam-capable warships in the human worlds.”
The Guardian’s bridge crew stared at Adrianna in confusion. Her mind raced, piecing together small details of reports that she’d read over the recent years.
“Admiral Hector, where were you headed before you diverted here?” Adrianna asked.
“I’m leading squadrons of Tridents to bolster Alex Racine’s fleet. I expect to find him somewhere on the far side of the wall,” Hector replied. He’d reviewed the Guardian’s telemetry data, while they’d spoken. “I see your problem, Captain. Have you had any further contact with your traveler since it submerged?” he asked.
“None, Admiral, we don’t know its condition,” Adrianna replied, “and with the alien fleet sitting above the planet, we haven’t been able to execute a rescue plan.”
“We’re presently stationed a short transit from you, Captain,” Hector said. “I command enough resources to challenge the alien fleet. However, I have a significant concern. If I engage in a head-on fight, I believe it will result in the destruction of ships that are critical to resupply Alex.”
“I can tell you, Admiral, that a battle is almost certainly what you’ll get,” Adrianna advised. “I’ve continually harassed this fleet, as you can tell from my telemetry, and the fleet commander has steadfastly maintained orbit over this water world.”
“I must assume that this is a federacy fleet, which has crossed the wall,” Hector said.
“I’ve also come to that conclusion,” Adrianna replied.
“Why is it, Captain, that the Sojourn has chosen to sail so close to the wall in its investigations?” Hector asked.
“Captain Azasdau and Willem selected three planets to explore,” Adrianna explained. “Each was farther from Haraken. For the sake of saving many months of travel time, they chose to visit the planets in one voyage rather than return to Haraken after investigating each one.”
“I presume your president, Terese Lechaux, is aware of the federacy’s dangers,
” Hector pursued.
“She is. In answer to your question, Admiral, the expedition leaders didn’t expect intrusions across the wall into our space,” Adrianna said. “In hindsight, that, of course, appears to have been a ludicrous assumption.”
Hector chose not to pursue the subject of Asu’s and Willem’s decision to search out planets in this critically unstable area of space. It seemed indelicate to question Adrianna further. So, he elected to change the subject.
“Concerning the battleships, Captain, I see they’ve an assortment of missiles and close-in defensive weapons,” Hector noted. “Do you have any indications of other armament?”
“I think if they had them, Admiral, they’d have used them against me,” Adrianna replied. “I have to believe I’ve truly annoyed the alien fleet commander.”
“After reviewing your data, I believe that’s an understatement,” Hector said. “My congratulations on your efforts, Captain.”
Hector was impressed with the tenacity and the inventiveness of the captain’s tactics against the heavily armed fleet and thought she’d make a fine senior captain, commanding a squadron for Alex.
“Captain, I’d welcome your thoughts on how we might resolve this situation,” Hector requested.
“May I ask first, Admiral, what are your priorities?” Adrianna asked.
“Certainly, Captain. I wish to help you recover your lost team, if that’s possible. In addition, I’m requesting the Guardian and the Sojourn sail with my fleet, when we leave this system. Afterwards, we can ensure that you have a safe escort home.”
Adrianna was surprised by the bridge crew’s expressions. On hearing the admiral’s announcement, she would have expected to see discomfort, confusion, and other negative emotions at the thought of not immediately returning to Haraken. Instead, she saw hope, curiosity, and some smiles.
“Your assistance in recovering our traveler will be greatly appreciated, Admiral,” Adrianna replied. “What are your intentions regarding the alien fleet?”