by Murison, J W
‘You’re up to something Steven Gordon I know that look in your eyes.’
He smiled, ‘I am but will have to explain later, right now I’m rather busy.’
‘Typical.’
He laughed, ‘sorry Mum I’ve got to go.’
She grabbed his hand, ‘ok but be careful Steven.’
‘I will, I promise.’
They came into a high orbit around Earth and final preparations were begun. Many of the crew took time to speak to their family on their cell phones. The ship was able to collect their signals and bounce them off a satellite. It was a good test for what they had in mind.
Colonel Howe came off his cell phone and approached Steven.
‘I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news, they’ve got your father.’
Steven groaned, ‘what the hell happened?’
‘My man went to deliver that parcel and when he returned they were already at the house. He saw them bundle him into a van and take him away.’
‘Any idea where, can we get him out?’
‘My man followed them. We know where he is but it’s heavily defended. Our best bet would be a night assault.’
Steven shook his head, ‘we really don’t have the man power for an assault against a heavily armed force.’
‘It’s what we do sir and we’re good at it.’
‘We have also three men recovering from their wounds from our last little battle. I think my father will be safe for now. Can your man keep an eye on things; make sure he isn’t moved to a different location?’
‘He’s doing that now, but I doubt if he will be moved. He’s in one of the countries maximum security military prisons.’
‘And you want to try and bust in there?’
Howe grinned, ‘the great thing about prisons is they’re great at stopping people from getting out.’
‘On this occasion Colonel I would place a bet on them waiting just for that. I smell a trap a big fat one, and my fathers the bait.’
Howe frowned, ‘I have to agree with you sir?’
‘It’s a giant set up. Babe bring us to a position directly over where they’re holding my father.’
The ship began to change orbit. Howe was confused, ‘how does she know where he is?’
‘Your communications come through her systems Colonel, if she is aware of them then so am I.’
Howe nodded realising the sense of his words, but he would remember that in the future. Buzz was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Steven noticed, ‘what are you grinning at?’
‘You just called her Babe.’
Steven opened his mouth to answer but changed his mind with a shake of his head.
‘We are over the spot my heart.’
‘Can you zoom in on the whole complex?’
‘Of course, at this range I can focus on a single point of dust.’
Steven found himself smiling, ‘that won’t be necessary, just the complex itself.’ It appeared on screen. ‘Do you have any way of pinpointing the people inside?’
‘Of course.’
She took them through a series of different views, clearly showing the people inside the prison. They played around with the images for ten minutes.
Howe came to the first conclusion, ‘everything looks normal. Prisoners are where they should be, guards as well.’
Steven shook his head, ‘I’m still not happy. Babe have you conducted a chemical analysis on the weapons the Colonel and his men carry.’
‘Yes, I have carried out an analysis on every Earth weapon I have seen to date.’
‘Excellent, can you pinpoint any weapons within the complex?’
‘Yes.’
The results came up on the screen and there was a spontaneous groan of disappointment. There were weapons in almost every cell.
Howe cursed, ‘damn it, it is a bloody trap, those aren’t prisoners in the cells.’
Steven shook his head, ‘don’t worry about it Colonel, at least you were prepared to try. Babe can you isolate a single form that is on its own with no weapons?’
‘Yes my heart.’
There were half a dozen, but most seemed to be in administrative buildings. There was one form however deep within the cell complex stretched out on a bed. Steven felt his heart strings pull and knew instinctively that it was his father.
‘I want you to keep an eye on that spot Babe record that person’s life signature. If they move him I want to know about it.’
‘Yes my heart.’
He turned to the Colonel, ‘maybe we’ll get luck and they’ll move him.’
Howe shook his head sadly, ‘I doubt it. They have him exactly where they want him.’
‘You're right, but maybe we can force their hand at a later date.’
Howe nodded, ‘it would be worth considering. Maybe if we snatched someone close to the President he would be willing to make an exchange.’
Steven regarded the Colonel for a moment, ‘you know Colonel, you can be a nasty piece of work at times.’
He grinned in reply, ‘what can I say sir, my country taught me well.’
Steven laughed, ‘ok let’s get back to it. Are we ready to launch the website?’
Howe’s ex signaller looked round, ‘another ten minutes sir.’ He and the scientist, who had been preparing it, were still hard at it.
‘Ok, don’t rush it though I want everything to work first time.’
The scientist Barns looked up, ‘it will Captain, we’re just making sure we aren’t going to overload anything.’
Steven smiled and nodded. He was amazed by how fast the humans were taking to this strange alien craft, but then he told himself, adaptation had always been one of mans stronger points. He was surprised even more by the way the fighting men had taken on other rolls, filling gaps the scientists seemed hesitant to take on.
The scientists seemed more afraid of failure, while the soldiers dived in headfirst regardless. He smiled to himself, maybe a little of it would rub off on the scientists.
A sharp sound vibrated through the ship making them all jump, ‘what the hell is that?’ Steven asked looking around the bridge.
Only the ship had an answer, ‘some form of missile has been launched from the planet below. I believe it has the capability to reach us.’
‘Put it on screen, do you know what kind of missile it is?’
‘I have not found a direct match in my memory.’
A missile appeared on screen, growing larger by the second.
Colonel Howe recognised it, ‘I know what it is sir. It’s a new development. It’s supposed to be used against incoming asteroids or meteors. They kept it secret in case it started a panic amongst other nations.’
‘Have you any idea of its range or yield?’
‘I think it’s supposed to engage targets up to three thousand miles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, and it has a thousand times the yield of the Hiroshima bomb.’
‘Babe, can you withstand that sort of blast?’
‘I think so but it would not be wise.’
‘Pull us back two thousand miles. Colonel as soon as it reaches a distance of a thousand miles outside the atmosphere, I want you to take it out.’
‘Yes sir.’
‘I want the blast monitored. If we can destroy these things after they leave the Earth’s atmosphere then all the better.’
The missile arced up out of Earth’s atmosphere and made for their position like an arrow from a bow. Tension mounted as Beaver counted down the distance.
‘Thirteen Hundred … twelve … eleven, one thousand miles Captain.’
‘Fire.’
A single beam of green light shot out and enveloped the approaching missile. There was a blinding flash of light and it was gone.
‘Analysis.’
It was the blond Haley that answered, ‘details still coming in sir,’ she was shaking her head, ‘it looks like we would have caused a disaster if we had detonated it within Earth’s atmosphere sir. The whole area is now full of radiati
on. I think it would have contaminated an area thousands of Miles square. ’
Howe growled, ‘he’s trying to keep us away from the Earth, forcing us back out into space.’
Steven smiled slowly, ‘don’t worry about it Colonel, Babe could you go to stealth mode please.’
‘Yes my heart.’
‘Take us back into orbit and prepare to download our website.’
Mary Gordon appeared, with one of Howe’s men helping her, ‘What's happening Steven, what was that noise?’
Steven stood, ‘should you be up Mum.’
‘Oh I’m fine, just a little weak. I don’t know what was used on be but I’ve only got a bruise now.’
Steven guided her down into the chair next to him, ‘it's all Nano technology Mum, it repairs from the inside out.’
‘It's fantastic, what all can it cure?’
‘I have no idea we really need to get our hands on a medical doctor.’
‘So what's happening?’
‘The American President just tried to hit us with an asteroid buster. We destroyed it a thousand miles outside the atmosphere.’
‘That wasn’t very nice of him.’
Steven grinned, ‘no it wasn’t, but were going back in stealth mode. They won’t be able to see us or detect us on radar.’
Haley guided them round the new radiation zone and they were back in Earth’s orbit in a few seconds. ‘Oh! That was quick,’ Mary exclaimed.
Steven grinned, ‘you get used to it.’
‘It’s a beautiful view.’
‘You want to see our spot on the Moon; I’m going to have a small base built there.’
‘You can do that?’
He nodded, ‘bigger nanobots. The ship will build and program them. Then we just leave them. They will build themselves a small factory first. Once they have completed that task they will carry out the task they have been ordered to. Their only limitation is the materials they have to work with.’
‘Fascinating.’ Then she had a flash of intuition, ‘can they build ships too?’
Steven nodded grinning, ‘that’s how these ships were built. You can build a small two man craft just for you and Dad. Then you can take a second honeymoon around Pluto’s moons.’
A small tear escaped her eye, ‘you’re serious aren’t you?’
‘I learnt a long time ago not to lie to you Mum.’
‘That’s what you’re planning to do isn’t it, to build ships for Earth?’
He nodded, ‘it will take a little setting up and for a start they won’t have anywhere near the sophistication of these ships, because some of the materials used in their construction aren’t available on Earth, but as they expand out into space then those materials will become available.’
‘How different will they be?’
He shrugged, ‘for a start they will only be capable of interplanetary travel, but that’s fast enough to start with.’
‘How fast is that?’
‘Well it takes less than thirty minutes to get from here to Saturn.’
‘Yes that’s fast enough.’
He grinned, ‘are we ready to upload our new website, Mr. Barns?’
‘Whenever you are sir.’
‘Proceed then please.’
Chapter 29
The new website took the World by storm. Within twenty minutes, the news had hit the world media. Within the hour servers all over the World were struggling with the demand for access.
Everything they had done so far had been detailed, except for the mining of precious minerals in the asteroid belt. As people logged on they gave details of the missile attack on the ship.
The presidency denied everything, but as the news stations were filling the airwaves with reports from the ship another news story broke. What the President never realised was, Colonel Howe had taken a digital recording of his interview in the White House. It had been easy to get the miniaturised equipment past security.
The President had flown into a rage of denial; there were already calls for his impeachment. He claimed that all the evidence was false and with all the technology available on the ship it would have be an easy exercise.
Some believed him but it had the impact Steven wanted. Many of the words governments posted letters of encouragement and support. Colonel Howe however was declared trice a traitor to his country. Steven was worried about this and asked him how he felt about it.
The Colonel had just shrugged. He had decided that there must be thousands of uninhabited planets out there, and one day he might just found his own Country or Planet for that matter.
There had been another reason for the website. On it people were able to apply for positions on the ships. Applications flooded in from all over the globe. As Steven sat in his quarters enjoying a meal he called up the website and checked the number of applications and was appalled at the steadily growing number.
At that exact moment in time the secretary for defence was trying to council an angry President.
‘Mr. President, we are going to have to change tack on this matter. There is no way we can launch another missile at them. We will bring down the wrath of every other nation on Earth down on our heads.’
The President’s face was engorged with blood, ‘don’t tell me what I can or can’t do, Mr. Whitaker. I’m the leader of the free World and those ships present a clear and present danger to not only our country but also our planet. I have reports that they shot that missile down from over a thousand miles away.
They could destroy cities from orbit. He’s also filling that ship with people from all over the World. What if just one of those scientists transmits details of that weapon to one of their governments. The United States of America could be held to ransom. Do you think that’s a good idea?’
‘Sir he has already stated that he would rather his main base of operations be in America. We can offer them the most. Any new technology would come to us first. This policy is only driving them away into the arms of our enemies.’
The President shot to his feet, ‘don’t you dare take that tone with me Mr. Whitaker. Those ships came to us and that little shit of a security guard stole them. Now I don’t care how you do it, but I want you to establish direct communications with that ship, and you can tell that little shit that he has forty-eight hours to surrender those ships or I’m going to have his father killed, do you understand?’
The secretary for defence sat back acknowledging defeat, ‘yes sir perfectly.’
‘Good, now get out of here.’
He returned to his own office where the vice President was waiting for him. ‘How did it go Vince?’
He shook his head and slumped into his seat, ‘with any luck the idiot will have a heart attack or a stroke, but I’m not counting on it.’
‘That bad huh?’
‘Worse, now he wants to kill the father if he doesn’t surrender those ships.’
The vice President shook his head in dismay, ‘do you think it’s true what they’ve said about being bound to those ships.’
The minister for defence; raised his hands in supplication, ‘I have no idea, and we have no way of proving differently. The thing is why should we disbelieve them. I only know one man on board that ship and that’s Colonel Howe, and he’s quite a man.’
‘How do you know him?’
‘He’s one of our top military men. If there's any trouble anywhere in the world that seems impossible to deal with, we call in the Colonel and his men. He’s privy to some of our top projects.’
‘Why?’
‘Because when you’re dealing with the most sensitive of material, you need the best to protect it.’
‘Not just a man to desert on a whim then?’
‘No.’
‘And you trust him?’
‘I already have, with my life.’ He looked up, ‘and I’m still here.’
‘We really need to get in touch with your Colonel and get a fresh perspective on this whole thing. Do you think he would talk to you?’
‘I don’t see why not, if we can get communications.’
‘Why do you think he deserted?’
‘He didn’t desert sir, the President declared him a deserter.’
‘Explain your reasoning.’
‘It's simple, the Colonel was told that those ships were this country’s biggest assets and he was to guard them at all costs, regardless.’
The Vice President frowned, ‘and you think he’s still carrying out those orders?’
‘Yes I do. That’s what makes me think this Steven Gordon’s telling the truth. I’ll lay a wager the Colonel thinks this is the best way of protecting those assets.’
‘So you don’t think he will try and wrestle control of the ship from him?’
‘He would have done it by now. As far as the Colonel will be concerned he’s still doing the job he’s been ordered to. It’s now up to us to make the best of those assets.’
‘Yeah and we’re making a right arse of it.’
The secretary of defence gave a wry smile, ‘I’m sure he will be used to that too.’
‘No doubt,’ admitted the vice President. ‘From what I can gather most of the country’s behind them. Christ half the population seems to want to be up there with them. What we have to do now is talk to all the major politicians and industrialist to see how many of them support this Gordon. If we can get a majority of them behind us then we can start some private negotiations.’
‘Is that wise considering the Presidents current state of mind?’
‘We have no choice. They want to make a permanent space base here in the United States, because we are the most technically advanced civilisation here on Earth. If we don’t act soon, we could lose all of it.’
The secretary had a wry smile on his face, the Vice President was curious, ‘what is it?’
The secretary of defence shook his head in amusement, ‘it was just the way you said, here on Earth. We’re not alone any more sir. Earth is just one planet now amongst God knows how many others.’
The Vice President returned his smile, ‘you know Vince I don’t know if it frightens the shit out of me or if I should hold the biggest party this World’s ever seen.’
The secretary of defence grinned, ‘well I’ll go for the party.’