“How much longer Tommy?” Traven nervously asked.
“Half an hour more should do it, Captain. I can’t believe how much energy we’ve expended already in trying to shift us to the correct direction.”
“But we’ve swung round nearly forty million kilometres already,” Paul remarked.
“And I’ve worked out a way to produce extra fuel to replace the excess we’ve already used, Captain,” Jeff interjected.
“Well, that’s good news.”
“Yea. Yippee for Jeff’s hydroponic brew,” Tommy joked.
“Bio-fuel to you, Tommy.”
The thirty minutes passed slowly.
“Tommy,” Traven prompted. “Are we there yet?”
“Thirty-two seconds, captain.”
Although the manoeuvring jets were tiny, their sound produced a continuous low-level roar that permeated the ship.
Suddenly, the roar ceased and silence returned, as the Acarea finally took up its new course, en-route to Delta Pavonis.
“Done, Captain,” Tommy almost shouted in relief.
“We are now, On Course,” Paul agreed after checking the Astro sensors.”
“We’re free to spin, Captain. The habitation drum locks are disengaged.”
“Ok Tommy, let’s get some gravity.”
Tommy swivelled the manoeuvring jets into Gravity mode. Then, the roar of the jets started again as the rotation sequence commenced.
“We should have 0.4 G in seven minutes, Captain.”
“About bloody time Tommy,” Joe grumbled.
The seven minutes seemed like an eternity to the crew.
“We have gravity,” Tommy finally informed them, his voice sounding cheerful.
“Yes, but don’t try to jump around. We’re only at 0.4 Gravity,” Nick reminded everyone. “You can still do damage to yourselves.”
“Tommy, you and Paul need to keep checking to ensure we maintain the correct course.”
“Naturally, Captain.”
“I know I don’t need to remind all of you. But I will anyway,” he said with a broad grin showing on his face. “Just remember that we only have gravity in the habitation and hydroponics sections. So, keep your mag boots with you at all times.”
The Acarea had four sections. The front section contained the equipment bay that held everything from construction plant and habitation prefabs, to hydroponic food production facilities and a vast seed bank. Along with the more mundane items. In fact, just about everything needed to start a new life on a new planet.
This section also had two observation domes. One dome held a guidance-tracking telescope coupled to a giant gyroscope. The other had a 2.54-metre diameter reflector telescope that was required for detailed observations. With the forward manoeuvring-jets, mounted on the outer hull of this section.
Through the centre of the Acarea, a four-metre diameter steel tube, or corridor, connected the front section to the rear section. These two fixed and non-rotating assemblies included the twin nuclear reactors Rear manoeuvring jets section. Shock absorbers. Nuclear charge and delivery systems, and the pusher plate.
When operating in zero gravity, there are, effectively, no floors or ceilings in rooms. Because, there is nowhere that you can actually term as being up, or down. Once in gravity mode, however, the outer wall of the ship would become the floor.
However the habitation section, which housed all the cabins, stasis chambers, control rooms and hydroponic section, was able to rotate around this central tube, so providing centrifugal force, i.e., gravity.
The solution to gaining access to and from the habitation area. Was by use of a variable speed coupler module. This enabled a person to step into the coupler module via a single access point.
The Coupler then increased its speed to match that of the rotating section, before synchronising to stop at the exit point.
This allowed users easy access, by enabling them to just step from the coupler module’s Exit sync point. Then, across and into one of the three corridors that served the cabins, or whichever area you wished to go.
When a crew member wanted to return, the reverse method to sync the connecting tube was used, simply by slowing it down.
“Meeting in the control room. In ten minutes’ time,” Captain Traven ordered over the comms system.
Ten minutes later, on the dot, the meeting began.
“As you know, Earth, still thinks we’re on our way to Procyon. And, our footprint is now too small for them to realise that we’ve changed course,” he told them.
“I believe, and I’m assured that both Paul and Tommy agree with me, that if we’d gone on to Procyon, we would almost certainly have wound-up, dead. Just for the lack of a suitable planet around that particular star system.”
But now we’re on route to a star system that’s much more likely to have a Planet fit for colonisation by us.”
“I’d sooner have a chance to live than one to die,” Paul said.
“That goes without saying,” Trisha agreed.
“So, why the full meeting Captain? Nick asked.
Captain Traven carefully assessed his crew. Then spoke
“As I see it. We’re on course for Delta Pavonis, and, I’m ninety-nine percent sure that we will survive… However, we’re not out of the woods yet.
I have one last message to send to Earth. Just a confirmation burst… Then, we will be on our own.
There’ll be no help, and no chance of turning back from here on.”
“You seem pretty sure that we’ll make it Captain?”
“Yes. I’m as confident as anybody can be, Steven,” he replied, then paused looking at them carefully.
“Remember. If we believe Michael, and we all seem to now. Then I think that we’ll succeed in reaching Pavonis. Otherwise, this Micky wouldn’t have been able to come back from the future with such a story.”
“That’s right enough, Captain,” Henry agreed.
“On that basis, how do we know that another person won’t come from the future to try to stop us?”
“That’s a possibility, Tony… However, Michael didn’t voice that fear to me. So, it’s probably not going to happen.”
“In any case, surely it would be impossible to pinpoint where Acarea would be at any given moment in time?” Jeff said.
“I would have thought so, Jeff. After all, I’m sure the person or more probably, alien. Would have to have a link to the same future. And, even if there was, we’re a fast moving target.”
“But, we do have a link to the future, Captain,” Trisha pointed out.
“You mean Axon’s weapon, don’t you?” Henry asked, looking disapprovingly at Trisha.
“Don’t look at me like that. Michael told me to put it in the stasis chamber.”
“It’s not your fault,” Joe said trying to reassure her. “Michael must have believed that the stasis field would mask the weapon’s entropic field,” he added.
“We could just dump the damn thing out into space,” Nick suggested.
“That wouldn’t work. The weapon would still be going at the same rate as us, at least, until we rotate and slow down.”
“Tommy’s right,” Trisha agreed.
“Anyway, Michael was adamant that we should return it to Delta Pavonis.
My guess is that, when we open Susie’s stasis chamber, the weapon won’t be there.”
“So, do you mean that it will then be close enough to its point of origin for its entropic reading to move it forward in time?”
“I believe so. Michael must have thought the same.”
“Makes sense, Trisha,” Tony agreed.
By this time, Captain Traven had had enough and decided to move the meeting on so he could air his thoughts.
“Ok, we’ll come back to that later,” he ordered, took a deep breath. Then continued.
“Let’s look at the reality of our present situation. We all know that we have a ten-year work period to get through. Before the scheduled change-over, when we then take o
ur turn in stasis,” he said, and then paused, waiting for the crew members to quieten down.
“We also know that our work schedules won’t be particularly challenging, on the whole. Therefore, we have to spend these next ten years, in trying to occupy ourselves with practical activities. Like studying, or researching new things. Expanding your knowledge on existing subjects. Mapping the area of space, we’re travelling through, anything,” he said.
Then looked around at all of them. “After all, we have first class facilities and an extensive library of crystal data storage discs.
This may be your only opportunity to broaden your horizons, and prevent you from becoming utterly bored, or going out of your minds,” he said. Then smiled, trying to lighten the situation.
“It sounds good on the surface, Captain. But it’s a long wait.”
“It certainly is, Jeff. So first, I suggest we change how we operate and address each other.”
“By the usual hierarchy, no doubt.”
“No, Nick. In the main, I think we should go with using everyone’s first names. That means all of us.
Although, when it comes to making critical decisions. I will have the final say. Anyone with a problem with that?”
“Seems sensible to me, so far,” Tommy agreed.
All nodded acceptance.
“Good. We each have certain responsibilities in the running of the ship, and with how we treat each other.
In this situation, however, it is paramount that we all try to tolerate the views of each other, and treat everyone with courtesy. While taking account of each other’s needs.
For instance, when using the gymnasium, or when in the cinema, don’t expect your needs or preferences to come before others. If anyone does something, you don’t like, stay calm and think it through before reacting.”
“Absolutely right,” Tricia agreed, looking at Joe.
Trisha’s response then reminded Traven of something else he needed to put a lid on. Now’s the time, he thought.
Traven looked directly at Trisha and then said.
“Next. Tricia is off limits to everyone. Including me, and that’s an order.”
“Does that include me?” Joe asked, sounding as if he didn’t really care.
“What do you think, Tricia?” Traven asked. “We can’t cope with children on board. Certainly, not at this moment in time.”
Trisha's face was by now flushed with embarrassment. She looked pleadingly at her husband, Joe.
“Joe?”
He put his hands up as if to say nothing to do with me.
“Thanks, for nothing,” she dejectedly replied.
“I can see why you want us in separate cabins Captain. However, I am married to him. And, wouldn’t it be safer for me to be with Joe anyway?”
“Joe? Say something,” Traven encouraged.
Joe remained silent.
“Joe?” she snapped.
“I suppose so,” he reluctantly replied.
“Suppose so! Is that all you can say? Traven asked him.
“Well, Trisha’s right in a way. Maybe we should stay together. Ten years is a long time for all of us. We’re bound to get randy at times.”
“Geeze Joe,” Traven snapped back. He felt sorry for Trisha.
“You don’t sound… Well, have it your way, Joe. What happens if you fall out? Tricia’s allocated room will be gone.”
“Probably. But that’s a chance I’ll have to take,” Joe said, not seeming to care.
“But it’s not you that’ll be taking the chance, Joe” Trisha grumbled, starting to get annoyed with him.
“Anyway, I think you’ve just made it a hundred times worse. People can see you don’t care,” she added, her voice starting to tremble with exasperation.
“Now everyone will think they can screw me, and you’ll do nothing to protect me!”
There was a deathly silence. They were all flabbergasted at Trisha and Joe’s increasingly argumentative manner.
“That’s not fair Trisha,” Joe quietly replied.
Tricia was red-faced now, and looking worried. Joe has changed, she thought to herself. He’ll throw me out with no thought of what happens to me.
Trisha’s face became redder the more she thought about Joe’s actions, or rather, lack of action.
Then a sudden feeling of anger overcame her. She suddenly unclipped her work suit and slipped it off her shoulders then down over her hips. Exposing her half-naked body as she did so.
Then pushed it halfway down her, rather curvy legs, and hurriedly stepped out of it.
“Bloody hell,” Henry croaked, seeing more than he expected.
Everyone looked at her, as she, dramatically laid back against the console, with her legs apart.
They couldn’t take their eyes off her, wondering what she was going to do next.
“Come on, who’s going to fill me first,” she almost screamed at them in anger.
“Come on, let’s get it over with. You can all screw me right now… Come on, you won’t get another chance.”
“Stop. That’s enough Trisha,” Traven ordered, realising this was getting out of hand. Moreover, that some of the crew looked as if they were actually considering taking her up on her offer.
She slid forward off the console, and ended up kneeling on the floor, then burst into tears.
Everyone stood still, speechless and not knowing what to do.
Then Jeff stepped forward and helped her up, handing her suit to her as he did so.
“Please, put it back on Trisha,” he gently ordered her.
Trisha suddenly stopped crying. Horrified to think that she had lost it, and exposed her body to the men.
“Don’t worry, you can always come and stay with me,” he added.
Tricia stared at him as she started to put her suit back on again. He was 19, and good looking. Yes, perhaps she did fancy him in a strange way.
Then, she finally realised that Joe now meant nothing to her anymore.
“I might take you up on that,” she said thoughtfully.
He said no more.
She turned to Traven. “Sorry, Captain. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”
“I hope not,” he gently replied with real concern showing on his face.
She looked into his eyes for a moment.
“So, seeing as I’m the only female on watch…” she said. Then paused, deliberately looked at each of the other men in turn then continued. “Did Acarea’s bureaucrats put me here as fodder?”
“No, of course not. Don’t be silly Trisha,” Traven replied, “No one will touch you that you don’t want to. You have my word for it. And, the rest of my crew will also promise not to take advantage of you. That is that correct, men. Isn’t it?”
Everyone was now coming to terms with what had happened and were keen not to be thought of as lechers, so quickly agreed. All of them, except Joe.
Trisha noticed this then decided that even though he apparently expected his marital rights, she would make sure that he never got close to her again. After this, she was definitely finished with him.
“It does make you wonder, though,” Jeff added. “Nine men stuck together for ten years, with only one woman?”
“A recipe for disaster,” Nick added. “What with the sabotage attempt, and now this… But, why would anyone want Acarea to fail?”
“Who knows Nick?” Traven responded.
“Trisha. I advise you to take the spare cabin until you and Joe have sorted out what you intend to do.”
“Advice taken,” she said, feeling calmer now that she had decided what to do about Joe.
Then it suddenly came home to her, how close she had been to having nine men ‘inside’ her. She tried to imagine it but shuddered at the thought.
What has gone wrong with Joe and me? She wondered. I wanted our marriage to survive. Even so, he hasn’t even tried to make love to me once since we were married back on Earth.
Traven interrupted her thoughts.
&nb
sp; “Right, let’s move on. Jeff. Give me your status please, on Hydroponic food and water production. Oh, and the waste recovery system?”
“Waste recovery? That’s a new name for it. Seriously, though, everything has stabilised now we have gravity, and we should soon start getting better quality food, and more of it. The waste system is operating as expected.”
“Good. Ok, get back to your duties now, please. We’ll have another discussion when everyone has mulled things over.”
“We’re done then, I guess,” Joe muttered as the meeting broke up and they started to leave.
Henry, please stay a moment,” Traven ordered. Then took the original data crystal from his pocket and handed it to him.
“I need to send this, so reactivate the send transponder and plug this in, as before. Then send when I give you the order.”
Henry plugged it in, enabled the send transponder. Then waited for the command from Traven.
The transponder’s active symbol lit up on Henry’s screen. The colour of the symbol then changed to amber.
“Wait a moment, Henry.”
“OK. Send it now.” Traven ordered.
Henry pressed the send tab. The symbol blinked twice and then vanished.
“Right. Disable the Send transponder. We’re done.”
Chapter 15
To Joliet
Wednesday19th December 2108
By 1:30 pm, they had left Michael’s safe house in Hinson road and were heading for a place just outside Baltimore’s Washington International Airport, where SEID’s own helo pad was located.
Trent was driving Michael’s armoured car, with Arnos sitting beside him. While Judith and Michael were behind them.
As Trent accelerated rapidly onto the Freeway, Michael noticed Arnos gripping his seat tightly.
Acarea. A Triumph or Disaster? (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 5): A Novel by Gerry A. Saunders (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy) Page 11