There’s a large structure ahead, which is orbiting an uninhabited planet called Uolcol, Kalrea said. The signal seems to be coming from there.
In his mind, James looked out ahead of the ship, which was rapidly approaching the small grey planet.
Wow, look at that! James thought, as he watched a colossal space station emerge from the planet’s shadow. The light from the nearby star glinted off its metallic surfaces. It’s enormous! Have you scanned it?
I’m not registering any life signs. It appears to be deserted, Kalrea replied. The Pulsora’s signal is emanating from 1425 metres within the structure, but there’s still nothing on the scanners.
Are you sure it’s in there, then?
The Pulsora’s internal emitters must have been configured to match the structure of the station. It’s definitely in there, Kalrea said.
Have you contacted Sarhao?
There’s been no response. I’ll keep trying.
James’ mouth was open, as he looked at the ghostly structure, which dwarfed the Aurora. The scanners showed that the space station was just under ten kilometres high and wide and at least twenty-two in length. Its silver hull had few windows, but there were many large rectangular doors at least four times the size of the Aurora both open and closed. Through some of these doors the vast desolate interior could be glimpsed.
James was lost for words. He looked out as the Aurora slowed and flew parallel to the space station, passing between many large docking towers which extended out from the jagged side.
That’s... well, I was going to say incredible, Kalrea, but it’s... it’s unimaginable. I never thought you could build something so large in space! James was overawed. What is this place, Kalrea?
It’s a planetary trading station. It was built by the Uolcolians, who were the former inhabitants of the planet it’s orbiting around.
Were they attacked by the Treitans?
No, they abandoned Uolcol when its atmosphere collapsed. They left this galaxy in search of a new home over 700 years ago.
The name, ‘planetary trading station’, sounds like it was used for the trading of goods, James commented.
Yes, it was a bit like a large shopping centre or market back on Earth and a place where any race could come to sell their planet’s produce. Over three hundred races used it at its peak, but it fell into decline after the Uolcolians left.
But it’s bigger than a city, James thought.
The captains advertised their cargo on large holographic displays above their ships. The whole station had categorised areas; if not, you’d have never found what you wanted.
That I can believe. It would have taken me years to look around it.
Kalrea continued, There were many sections, covering food, raw materials, specialised technologies, atmospheric transports, space ships—
Space ships! James repeated. You could buy space ships.
Oh, yes. You could buy anything from a small shuttle up to a two kilometre long Hopt liner.
The Aurora reached what James considered to be the front of the space station. Turning the corner of the station, he looked on in amazement. Just ahead was the large entrance to the internal docking bays. It could have taken a ship twenty times their size.
The Aurora gracefully turned ninety degrees and slowly advanced into the dark gaping mouth of the space station. Once it entered, the Aurora illuminated the interior of the station with a subtle orange glow produced from its front and rear plasma tubes. James noticed there were deep marks on the floor of the entrance to the space station left by a ship that had miscalculated its entry.
He looked out the port side of the ship into three large control rooms. Through the rectangular spaces where there would have been windows, James could see that all the equipment had been removed. There was only the bare shell left.
Moving further into the station, the Aurora entered the large docking area. The walls were dominated by mechanical docking clamps with large symbols alongside.
Kalrea brought James’ attention to the floor of the docking area.
Large tracks gouged in the floor led to the rear of the Pulsora, which was partially imbedded in the wall. It was more damaged than in the recording Kalrea had shown him.
As the Aurora approached, James could see that part of the Pulsora had been repaired. The colour of the hull around the port event horizon drives was silver instead of black. Alongside were strewn a number of micnorit nuronic construction drones, floating and eerily motionless.
James looked at the drones. What happened to them?
Their power cells have been exhausted, Kalrea replied, her voice showing signs of emotion.
Check the interior? James thought.
The port event horizon drives are damaged, but intact. The port engineering section has sustained severe damage—, Kalrea said.
You’re not kidding. There’s nothing left of it!
The front reactor is still operational, Kalrea continued. But there’s only 0.15 percent capacity remaining.
So the drones couldn’t replenish their power cells, James thought.
The bridge is intact, Kalrea said. The closed seatra is being powered by its internal emergency source. I’m unable to penetrate its casing.
Could there be anyone—
Kalrea interrupted: I’ve just located two bodies inside the starboard drive room, she said sadly. There’s evidence of a massive plasma discharge. The event horizon drives have imploded.
Oh, James thought despondently. Could there be anyone else?
I’m not reading any other life signs, Kalrea replied.
Can we land?
I’ll put Aurora down to the right of the Pulsora.
James watched the Aurora descend to the floor. It hovered, while three landing legs lowered from its belly to the metal surface; then the drives powered down and the landing was completed.
Have you contacted Sarhao, yet? James thought.
I’ve accessed some of the Pulsora’s systems, Kalrea said. Sarhao is still not responding. She paused a moment. James, I think there’s someone in the seatra.
But you’re not certain?
The interface with the Pulsora’s seatra is registering one life form in suspended animation, but it’s very faint.
Kalrea, I’m going over.
As he climbed from the seatra, a panel in the wall of the control room slid open. Inside were four yellow spacesuits.
‘Is one of these supposed to fit me?’ James said, looking at the baggy suits. ‘They’re going to swamp me.’
Kalrea replied over the ship’s address system,
‘Put one on. You’ll be surprised.’
James pulled one from the rack. He put it on placing his head through a metal ring and looked for a zip or something to seal the suit.
‘What do I do now?’ James asked, and then thought, these are useless.
‘Press the blue symbol on the right arm,’ Kalrea instructed.
James looked down at his arm. Okay, then. Where is it, he thought, trying to locate it. Just visible in between the folds of the rippled spacesuit he could see a blue symbol. He pressed it firmly.
Oh no, now what, he thought, feeling a sensation of insects crawling all over his skin as the suit moved. The spacesuit sealed itself and shrunk tightly to fit James’ body.
‘I’m impressed,’ James said, admiring it.
He noticed there were small thrusters on his arms and legs. Feeling one of the thrusters, he said,
‘How do I control these?’
‘They’re intelligent,’ Kalrea replied. ‘When you try and move in the direction you want to go, they’ll power you.’
It sounds easier than I bet it is, he thought.
James picked up a helmet and placed it over his head. The ring snapped onto the suit and air automatically started to enter it. He unexpectedly felt cold air enter his lungs, which made him want to take deep breaths. He started to breath quickly.
‘James, breathe easily. Like normal. There�
��s no need to take deep breaths. It will just make you feel faint,’ Kalrea said.
James felt light-headed, so he grabbed the edge of the seatra. Breathe normally. Slowly he composed himself.
‘I’m all right, Kalrea,’ he said, with the helmet muffling his voice.
He looked around the room to get accustomed to the helmet, before heading over to the pojin lift.
There’s no atmosphere onboard the Pulsora, Kalrea informed James upon entering the lift. I’ll guide you to the bridge. You should be able to pressurise the room from the main console.
James exited the lift and set foot onto the metal floor of the station. Even with the spacesuit on, he could feel the coldness of space through the material. He shivered. It feels like winter out here.
It would be a lot colder without the spacesuit! Kalrea replied.
James looked at the thrusters again.
Well here goes. Time to try and fly, he thought and then tried to glide towards the Pulsora. The thrusters moved him quicker than he would have liked. He hit the hull of the Pulsora with a jolt, winding himself.
‘Damn,’ he said aloud, between the first deep drawn out breath. Don’t you dare laugh, Kalrea! You should try these damn things.
James waited a minute to recover before clambering very clumsily over the hull of the Pulsora up towards a large slit in the hull, which had been made by a Treitan laser strike.
He looked down through the slit into darkness. He was about to ask how he would be able to see, when lights on each side of his helmet suddenly illuminated the interior below. He could just make out the outline of some objects. His heart pounded even though he knew there was nothing to fear. He slowly floated to the floor of the starboard engineering section and looked around. There was a large space in the centre of the room where the reactor would have been, and all around were severed ducts and cables that were once attached to equipment and machinery. A laser had hit a large cylindrical column, which was split in two. Debris lay strewn across the floor. The right hand blast wall of the engineering section was torn and distorted, where an explosion in the starboard drive room had intruded.
Can you see the blue override lever on the wall? Kalrea asked him.
Yes. What do you want me to do? James replied, moving over to it.
Pull it downwards. It will open the pojin lift door alongside it, Kalrea said.
James tried to pull the lever.
It won’t move, he thought, feeling the tension build in his arms. He stopped and then focused all his weight on the lever, which with a sharp pull downwards finally freed itself. There was a flash of light from the lever, but the door remained closed.
He tried the lever once more. Kalrea, it hasn’t worked.
You’re going to have to find another way in. Can you make it into the adjacent starboard drive room?
James remembered the layout of the Aurora. Yes, I think so.
He floated over to one of the many large gashes in the blast wall and looked nervously into the starboard drive room. The light from his helmet illuminated the blackened remains of the event horizon drives. His heart quickened, when he noticed movement below him. He looked quickly down. The floor was thickly covered in soot that swayed slowly, like the surface of a calm pond caressed by a soft breeze.
Detecting James was anxious, Kalrea asked, Are you all right?
Yes. The floor looks liquid; it seems to be moving.
It’s the atomised remains of the drives, which have settled over many years. The scanners are showing that the floor is badly damaged, so don’t drift too low.
Is the dust harmful?
Only if you breathe it in.
James travelled above it, but the thrusters from his suit whipped up the dry dust, obscuring his vision. He felt venerable.
I can’t see anything, Kalrea.
Turn thirty-two degrees to your left. No that’s too far.
Kalrea, I have enough problems trying to operate these thrusters. For all I know, I could have just rotated one hundred and eighty degrees!
Sorry. Turn to your right a bit.
James smiled. Kalrea’s comment made his feel more relaxed.
That’s it! Stop there! You’re now pointing roughly towards the lift.
James moved slowly through the soot. Approaching the lift door the atomised particles thinned, and he could now make out the distorted floor beneath him. He glanced at the scorched lift door ahead, but his attention was drawn to a large access panel, which was open to the right of the door. Inside it all the electronics were melted, and when he looked closer he could just recognise the bones of a hand welded to the circuitry. He looked down at the floor beneath it. In a sooty mass, the remains of two skulls were visible.
Who are they?
I think they’re Horus and Maris, Kalrea replied. They piloted the Pulsora away from Qintaino. I have their DNA on file. One moment.
The telementor flashed a blue light over the remains, so Kalrea could analyse them.
Hurry up, Kalrea.
The DNA scan confirms they’re Horus and Maris, Kalrea replied.
They didn’t even have time to get to the lift. James felt dizzy and wanted to be sick. Can’t; not in the helmet. He took deep breaths before turning to the lift and quickly operating the manual override lever. A few seconds later, which seemed like an eternity to him, the door slid open.
I’m now in the lift shaft, James thought, relieved to get out of the drive room.
He looked along the pojin lift shaft but could not see where it finished.
Which way?
Take the right shaft, Kalrea instructed.
James travelled along the smooth shaft, following the instructions of Kalrea at each intersection until he reached the open door to the bridge.
When he entered the room an alarm started to sound.
‘INTRUDER ALERT!’ echoed in Qinant from the ships address system.
James noticed an electronic eye light up in the centre of the ceiling. Kalrea, he thought worried.
‘INTRUDER ALERT!’
The eye brightness intensified.
Remembering the Aurora defence systems, James realised the eye was about to atomise him and moved rapidly towards the door.
Kalrea, he thought urgently.
It’s all right, Kalrea said reassuringly. Sarhao knows I’m here. He won’t harm you.
James turned around. The eye was no longer illuminated.
‘Wel… Welcommm… Welcome onboard,’ the voice of a middle-aged man said in Qinant, over the address system.
‘Sarhao?’ James said with surprise.
His voice was somewhat dampened by the helmet.
‘Ye… Yess,’ Sarhao replied.
The door of the bridge slammed shut, making James jump. Air rushed into the room and lights slowly brightened.
‘You can…nn rem…mmove your…rr hell…met… now,’ Sarhao said shakily.
James removed his helmet and placed it on the only upright seat.
‘At…t las…st,’ Sarhao said. He paused for a moment. ‘At… At last. I… always hoped that you escaped… the attack on Qintaino, Kalrea. But why… did it take you so long to find me?’
‘I’m afraid I’ve been missing and out of action all this time too,’ Kalrea replied over the same address system. ‘We’ve just come from Normia. I have a Plyane hull, Sarhao. We made it.’
‘Have you been back to Qintaino, yet,’ Sarhao said.
‘No and from the data we have there may be nothing left of Qintaino,’ Kalrea replied.
‘At least you are in one piece,’ Sarhao said with great anguish. ‘I failed. Horus and Maris are dead. I should have detected the plasma leak.’
Kalrea, James thought, sensing Sarhao needed to be reassured.
‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Kalrea said with sorrow in her voice. ‘At least you escaped.’
‘Yes, but the ship sustained too much damage. I tried to land the ship at the entrance to the space station, because I needed the light energy
to replenish the reactor, but I failed. I ended up down here.’
Sarhao paused. His voice sounded like he was about to cry, had he been able to.
‘We tried to repair the drives, but an explosion finished off any hope we had. The power is almost exhausted.’
‘You’ve saved one of the crew though,’ Kalrea said, trying to be more positive. ‘There’s someone alive in the seatra.’
There was a click and the lid of the seatra started to rise.
James could not see inside, so he moved towards it. Just as he was about to look over the rim, something leaped out. James almost jumped from his skin. It scampered around the back of the seatra.
‘What the hell was that?’ James shouted in Earth English.
He moved backwards towards the corner of the room, fearing he could be attacked.
‘A kiol,’ Kalrea said, surprised. ‘It’s a kiol.’
‘A kiol,’ James repeated, speaking once more in Qinant. ‘What’s a kiol? Is it dangerous?’
‘No, it’s not dangerous, James,’ Kalrea said. ‘Its closest counterpart on Earth would have been a dog,’ Kalrea said.
‘But dogs can bite!’ he said, moving slowly around the seatra to see where it was.
‘She was the ship’s mascot,’ Sarhao said. ‘She’s been in there since Horus and Maris died.’
The kiol looked out from behind the corner of the seatra. Its black and white head with two small grey horns moved from side to side, causing its long ears to swing.
‘It’s trying to make out who you are,’ Sarhao said, his voice brightening up.
‘What’s its name, Sarhao?’ James enquired. ‘It looks so funny.’
‘Kira,’ Sarhao said.
James crouched down and called its name a number of times.
Kira looked at him and hesitated, before slowly approaching. She was the size of a hound, with long fur and no tail.
James held out his hand.
‘I hope you’re right, Kalrea. If she bites me, I’ll never trust you again.’
Kira sniffed the hand, then without hesitation rubbed up against James.
‘She likes you,’ Sarhao said.
James stroked her gently. It’s more like a cat, he thought.
‘Can we help Sarhao, Kalrea?’ he asked.
‘I could leave some construction drones, but they won’t last very long. The Pulsora needs power.’ Kalrea replied.
The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) Page 10