“The last test run? How many have they done?”
“This is the third.”
He thought a moment, then said. “Well, I reckon our time here is up. We need to leave in about six hours.”
“I agree with you, Frank. Ah! I see that Susanna has just gone to her quarters for a break, and Brian is finishing off the encryption code for our security,” Andromeda said.
“Maybe you should go and see how Susanna is,” she suggested.
“Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? She's stressed after a long work-day and needs encouragement after her brilliant programming. I'm only waiting for Brian to finish. Then we’re ready.”
“Maybe I will.”
“Of course, you will,” Andromeda replied, with humour sounding in her voice.
Frank walked along the corridor, past the engineering and weapon support sections until he came to the data and encryption department. Through the window, he could see Brian and another specialist in front of large computer screens full of symbols.
He opened the door, then leant in and said, “Hi gents, how far are we away from completion?”
Both men, startled, looked up at him with a slight look of annoyance. “About twenty minutes,” Brian grunted. Then said, “Sorry Frank, didn’t realize it was you. We were engrossed.”
“That's OK, I'll leave you to it.”
They both turned back to their screens as he pivoted on his heel and carried on down the corridor. The living quarters were next.
Beyond the living quarters, and well insulated was life support. Then another well-insulated area with computer controlled entry only.
This area housed the Hyperdrive, more commonly known as a jump-drive engine. It was massive, and along with the twin fusion-reactors, occupied nearly a third of the ship's volume.
He started looking for Susanna's door and found it. A sign on it proclaimed Susanna James. Keep Out, in bold red letters.
Frank felt nervous, then told himself; this is not a date you fool, get your act together.
Making sure he would be seen on the viewing screen, he tapped the annunciator panel and waited. Nothing happened and after a few moments, he tapped it again.
“Hold it there, Frank,” came Susanna's voice from the comms panel. The door slid open, and she stood there.
“What can I do for you Frank?” she asked. Pulling her thin dressing gown tighter around her body.
He flushed as he looked at her now silhouetted body.
“I..,” he stuttered.
She moved as if reading his thoughts, “You'd better come in. Wouldn’t want anyone wondering why the ship's Captain is visiting me, would we?”
“We certainly wouldn’t,” he replied as he stepped into her cabin and the door slid shut behind him.
Susanna's cabin was quite spacious, with the main room doubling as both a sitting and bedroom. He thought that Susanna had laid out her cabin well, as, even though all the crew’s cabins were the same size, they could be reconfigured to suit an individual’s needs.
Hers was stylishly furnished with a modern, but comfortable looking couch. A table and cupboards. Plus, a fitted wardrobe, and bed. The bed was larger than the standard ones and had carved bedposts.
There were two other doors, one leading to the bathroom, the other to the kitchen with its automated food and liquid dispensers.
Frank thought it felt strange to walk straight into the open plan area. Then thought, no, it makes sense after work relaxation is the name of the game.
“Take a seat Frank. I've just come out of the 'Iso' shower and need to get dressed,” she said smiling at him.
Won't be a moment,” she added as she disappeared into the bathroom, after a few minutes coming out, dressed in a turquoise dress, which had a very low cut and revealing front.
Frank stood up, mouth wide open in utter surprise. “Wow,” he said. “Where did you get that dress?”
She smiled at him. “It’s a design from the twenty-second century. Which the 3D computer replicated, because I like clothes and furniture from that period. Their evening dresses are eye-catching, aren’t they?” she said, adjusting the top of her dress.
Everyone knew and accepted that women’s fashion was constantly in a state of revision, and reinvention. So, it was no surprise that this type of dress had been in and out of fashion more times than anyone could remember.
“If you don’t like the color? I can change it at a touch. See?” She said. Then slid her finger along an almost invisible strip on the dress, until the color changed to the one she fancied. Which, at this moment was a bright orange.
“No, I prefer the original color, ” he said.
“Then, turquoise it will be,” she replied and slid her finger back along the sensor, causing the dress fibres to change color again.
“So, why are you actually here Frank?” she asked. Her eyes boring into his as he struggled to explain.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Then he felt something stir down below.
“Well, um…, Andromeda said that I should give you more encouragement, with your uh…work,” he said fumbling for the right words.
Then he saw her looking knowingly at him and began to perspire.
“No, that's not why,” he finally admitted. “You know why, and I think you feel the same.”
“Do I?” she asked, with a hint of a smile.
“You know you do,” he said, smiling back.
She moved closer to him and looked straight into his eyes. “I hardly know you, Frank. Why should I even consider giving in to you? Tell me.”
“Damn it. Because I think …, I want you.”
“But, we haven’t spent any time with each other. Well, no…, that's not true,” she said. “I remember Andromeda's little game in your room, the other day.” Anyway, you probably just want me as a trophy,” she added.
Then said, “You wouldn’t want me, afterwards,” nodding her head while still looking at him. Her look now seemed calculating. “Yes. You’d just see me as a conquest.”
“How can you even think that? You feel it the same, I know you do.”
“Perhaps I do fancy you. After all, you are the Captain. But is it enough?” she finished, then couldn’t help grinning cheekily at him.
“Yes, OK then,” she said.”
“Really?” he asked, unable to believe his luck.
“Yes, come on then, we haven’t much time,” she added turned around and strolled over to the bed.
Susanna slowly undressed, then lay on the bed looking at him through her half open eyes. Her body was alluring, her breasts moving gently as she breathed.
She smiled and watched him undress. He deliberately rippled his muscles to impress her. She turned her body towards him, tantalisingly opening her legs a little as she did so.
That was intentional, Frank thought, feeling movement grow even more below.
Now he really wanted her. He lowered himself slowly down onto her body, and they joined. She gasped, and her hands came up around his shoulders, and they were lost in the moment.
The room announcer chimed, waking them both. Frank got up off the bed and went to look at the video panel beside the door. “Oh, morning Alan,” he said as he opened the door without thinking.
Alan stood in the doorway, his eyes straying to the reflection in the mirror of Susanna's naked body on the bed. He blushed, “It'll wait, after all,” he muttered. Then turned and left.
“How did you…,” Frank started to say, but Alan was already gone.
Resisting temptation, he quickly dressed, then turned to look down at her beautiful face. A moment of heaven, he thought, then kissed her brow and whispered, “I'll see you later.”
Then, a sore looking area on her right arm caught his attention. Reminding him of an incidence that had occurred as they were about to leave Mars.
He’d had a nightmare, and had woken up with a sore looking patch on his arm. Had Susanna had the same experience, he wondered. He could see that
the area certainly looked the same as his. The other strange thing was that his hadn’t changed very much in the intervening period.
At the time, Andromeda had checked him over. But had provided no real answer as to how he’d got the sore feeling patch in the first place. That had made him nervous, and he’d been led to surmise that it had been foul play.
No, he thought, it must be coincidence, he decided as he left her cabin heading for the control room.
Chapter 13.
A Meeting of Minds.
Once in the control room, Frank asked each department for their latest updates, then asked Andromeda. “Are we ready to make the next jump?”
“Yes, Frank. Did you enjoy your evening?”
“You know I did. Did you tell Alan where I was?”
“I might have let the information slip by mistake.”
“You never do that. You enjoy embarrassing me.”
“Never,” she replied, with a hint of mockery in her voice.
“You've got a very naughty streak in you.”
“Maybe,” she replied, seeming to giggle.
“Anyway, did I tell you that I’ve decided to carry out a study of human history?”
“Best of luck with that,” he replied.
At the same time thinking ‘Goodness, I wonder what on earth she’ll think of next. It’s scary how human she’s becoming.’
Then said out loud, “OK, that’s enough chit-chat, Andromeda. Broadcast the 'prepare to jump' warning, now!” he ordered.
Alan came rushing into the control room. “Sorry, I got delayed,” he said.
Frank nodded ok, then both sat in their support chairs, waiting.
They could feel Andromeda realigning itself with Procyon A as the jump co-ordinates, and operational data flashed across the tactical screens.
Frank, then entered one of the results of his search for action scenarios into Andromeda's jump co-ordinate 'options' display, using his tactical pad.
“Frank, are you sure?” he heard Andromeda's bewildered voice asking.
“Yes. Engage when ready.”
Andromeda exited jump-space, point-one light-years from Procyon A. Procyon was a double star with the scientific designation of Alpha Canis Minoris, and Procyon A was the larger of the two.
“I don't understand,” Alan said. “We seem to be between the two stars?”
“Exactly,” Andromeda, answered on Frank's behalf.
“We are fulfilling our remit. The first reason for coming was to find the Hawk, which we did.
The second was to find out what happened to the Starship Acarea. Let me tell you about this. Then I’ll tell you about our third remit in a moment,” she added.
“To explain Alan. Two hundred years ago, before the faster-than-light barrier was overtaken by the invention of the warp drive. The starship Acarea was built in Earth's orbit. It held more than a hundred men and women, mainly scientists and engineers and was self-sustaining, with adequate manufacturing facilities and equipment to start a new life,” she paused briefly.
“Then,” Andromeda continued. “When the Acarea was completed, it was sent on a mission to look for habitable planets around Procyon,” she said, then paused again.
“So, while searching for the Acarea, this also fulfils our third remit, which was to look for life-supporting planets, around this star. Unfortunately, we now know that there are unlikely to be any life-supporting planets, as the habitable zone here is only about 1.2 to 2.5 AU wide.”
“I'm sure we'll find some life-supporting planets if they are here,” replied Frank.
“Perhaps. So, in answer to your query Alan,” Andromeda continued, “We are between the two stars just to make it easier for us to carry out our search for the Acarea.”
“Andromeda. Start your search now,” Frank ordered. “Coordinate with Tim in astrophysics. Then set up a holographic conference with Tim, Ned Parker, Brian, Mark, and Susanna as soon as possible.”
“It's being done now, Captain. As soon as we're ready, I'll notify you.”
“OK, oh, and upload my ‘LDS 33’ scenario to their pads now.”
“Yes, Frank.”
The meeting started within five minutes. All the holographic images seemed strange, appearing to be like ghostly images on Frank's main viewing screen.
“Tim, I know the astrophysics’ staff are involved in Andromeda's search, but your department’s input would also be welcome to me.”
“That's okay with me.”
“Ned, I need quantum engineering to see if we can get more out of the jump engine. Maybe increasing the warp power-up. Anything would be great.”
“Will do. Anything else, like getting us home in one jump?”
“No, that would be a miracle. It’s OK, we’ll make four jumps,” Frank replied, smiling.
“What about me?” Susanna asked.”
“I'll come back to you, Susanna. I take it you've all looked at my LDS 33 scenario?” They all nodded.
A voice behind Frank asked. “What's LDS stand for, last ditch scenario?” They all smiled, as Alan's face came into view.
“Of course, not,” Frank replied, keeping up the humour. “But,” he added. “We need to think about the best route home after we complete our search for the Acarea.
Unfortunately, we can only spend a little more time searching for it. Which, by the way, is beginning to look like a lost cause,” he paused to let this sink in.
“So, when we go, we need to make four jumps to get back to Earth,” he paused again.
Then continued. “I propose we go from here to Sirius, carry out a survey, and then continue to Epsilon Eridani.”
“Still in the galactic plane then?” Tim asked.
“Yes, but then we drop down and under the galactic plain, to Tau Ceti.”
“Why so far out of our way?” Alan asked.
“Well, if the aliens find us, it's got to be well away from Earth, and Tau Ceti is about 11.9 light-years from Earth,” he paused and looked at Tim.
“Have you got more info on Tau Ceti?”
Tim coughed nervously. “Well, let me see, it also has five known planets. Planets four and five are quite impressive, and, number four is probably in the habitable zone,” he said, then paused briefly and looked up.
“So, given this latest information, it's a pity that the Acarea was sent to Procyon when going to Tau Ceti would have given them a better chance of finding habitable planets.”
“Agreed. With hindsight, this latest information would have been a real help to them in their planning,” Frank replied.
“But, it was still a stupid decision anyway,” Tim muttered.
“Yes, Tim… So, Susanna, I need both the data and encryption departments to work together on collating the data we’ve acquired so far. The information will then be warped back to Earth by Andromeda, in quantum engineering’s torpedo-buoy. Do this as soon as possible.”
“Sir, I take it that all the data we now have on the alien will be fully encrypted. Is, that right?” Brian asked.
“Yes, that’s correct. But the torpedo must be programed to self-destruct if the aliens stop it.”
“Understood Frank,” Susanna confirmed.
“Good. Mark, is it possible to program the activation of your new force field emitters, to power up just before we exit jump?”
“Well, yes, I guess so. We're talking about point one of a second. It doesn't sound a long time, but the emitters should be able to 'pull' sufficient power in that timescale, without upsetting the jump cycle.”
“Good. Look into it, as a matter of urgency. We'd be pretty vulnerable if we exited next to an alien ship without our screens up.”
“OK Frank, we'll get onto it immediately.”
“Fine. That's all I ask,” he said.
Then, seeing the four faces with all eyes locked onto his, thought. 'I must change this system, it's nerve-racking.’
“All right, if you have any further questions you can ask either me or Andromeda.”
&
nbsp; No one spoke.
“Tim, one last thought. Please double-check our planned route to Tau Ceti. Andromeda and I think it's OK, but you might pick up something we've missed.”
“Glad to Frank.”
“OK. Meeting over,” he said. Then all their images disappeared, like ghosts in the night.
“That went well,” Alan remarked.
“It did, didn't it?” Frank said, as he sat back and relaxed.
Chapter 14.
The Eyes of devastation.
Four days had passed since their arrival in the Procyon system, and the search for the Acarea had now been abandoned.
A second buoy, this time, a torpedo buoy, had been warped to Earth. The buoy was carrying the fully encrypted data on the aliens that had been collected so far.
Surveys had shown an enormous asteroid belt orbiting in the habitable zone, about 1.2 to 2.5 AU wide, around Procyon A, the AF5 type star.
Asteroids that had most probably been planets, originally, and maybe with 'classic eco-spheres.' But, bad news for the planets, as collisions must have occurred at some time, with the remains of the planets forming the asteroid belt.
Procyon B, orbiting about 160 light-minutes from the primary star, was a dwarf. This star only had two planets. One was enormous and rocky, but with many moons. The second, was an Ice planet, was also rocky with underlying ravines and a small core at its centre. The Ice-planet had probably been stripped of any living matter when the AF5 star expanded into a red giant some one-hundred million years earlier. This, pushing the Ice planet out of the habitable zone, and it, in turn, becoming a white dwarf.
Frank sat in his cabin thinking about the credibility of the next stage of the trip, their planned route to Sirius. His tactical pad humming ever so softly as he worked.
No. It's got to be Sirius A, he thought. There are no other options.
Tim had agreed that it was the safest route by far, even though Sirius A was like Procyon, in that it too had a binary system.
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 8