“Yes sir,” Frank replied. Then, clearing his throat, he began.
“Well, I think the key to this may be Delta Pavonis. Let me explain.
The following is from a meeting I had with Director Tomkin, who had asked one of his scientific specialists, Savion, to show us their findings on Delta Pavonis.
The information provided evidence that their orbital relay had picked up a warp disturbance near Delta Pavonis.
At the time, they just happened to be looking at the area via the stealth drone we had left behind on picket duty. The stealth drone was there because we had decided to continue monitoring the defunct wormhole in case there was any activity.
But our drone had merely seen the disturbance as a warp signature, which, of course, radiates faster than light.”
“What do we know about Delta Pavonis?” Mertoff, the Russian head, interjected.
“Well, this is from Savion's report,” Frank replied as he turned on his player.
“It was fascinating,” Tompkin remarked, over the relay. With Frank nodding his agreement. Frank then pressed play and Savion’s voice was heard by everyone.
“Delta Pavonis is a primary sequence yellowish-orange star, spectral type G5-8, V IV and some 20 light years from our solar system.
It's slightly larger and brighter than our sun, and about twice as abundant in elements heavier than hydrogen, particularly iron.
Though we have detected three planets. Only one, the DPav4 planet, is in the habitable zone of about 1.07 A U. A little further out than Earth is from our Sun.
This means that DPav4 could have water and could possibly sustain life.”
Frank pressed to stop play then continued speaking.
“Savion then asked if we could send our drone to Pavonis.
We explained that we couldn’t because the drone hasn't that sort of power. And that it’s been programmed to self-destruct if it's commanded to go somewhere outside of its remit or to do something it’s not programmed for,” he paused again, then continued.
“Savion then told us they were all pretty sure that the warp-disturbance near Delta Pavonis was genuine and quite substantial.
More importantly, it wasn’t too far away for the remnants of Fleet Twelve to reach. In his opinion, that is.”
There was another slight pause, then he said.
“I firmly believe he's right. Delta Pavonis is the one place we must go, and I think it is imperative we go soon. Like now, ideally.”
“You know that's impossible captain,” Anderson said.
“There are at least another four days of work, then another week or so for before the ships will have completed their acceptance trials.”
“Yes, I understand. It’s just a personal fear that the Crillons are there, and they're getting stronger by the day.”
“We all sympathize with you, captain,” added the Chinese representative.
Jack Medcalf turned to Frank, “Well, we've all agreed on how the next phase should be tackled, barring the unforeseen, of course.”
“Yes, and it's the best that we can come up with,” Murillo added.
“Did we agree to discuss the Skippa sub-light drive?” O'Banion then asked.
“Well, I know you've spent billions on it,” Jack replied.
“We certainly have, and all of it was necessary.”
Frank grinned to himself, at this exchange. Then looking around at everyone, said.
“It certainly sounds impressive, Professor O'Banion. Being able to go half the speed of light in Normal-space.
Almost like opening a wormhole but not quite opening it entirely, as I understand it.
And, without all the effort needed to produce a full-blown wormhole and no loss of warp quota, to boot.”
Frank paused, to see if there was any reaction. Now he could feel everyone’s eyes on him, so continued for the fun of it.
“Plus, of course, no photon drive, so no beam of light flaring out behind us. It’s wonderful, we won’t even give our location away now. That’ll upset the enemy no end.”
Mertoff said, “You seem to know a lot about thing's captain?”
“Not as much as I would like to. Although the analogy of a stone skimming across the water comes to mind.
But, I guess we'll find out next week if your boffins are right. With the shakedown and acceptance trials.”
“They certainly will be a test,” O'Banion said.
“However, you did get one thing wrong, Frank. There is a negligible effect on warp quota.”
“Right gentlemen, let’s move on,” Jack said, looking a bit irritated. He waited a moment to make sure everyone was in sync. Then turned to Tommy Trump, the academic from the experimental warp department.
Jack nodded his head at Tommy and urged him to speak.
“Ah, yes. Hello, everyone. As you all know, up until now we’ve only been able to grow eight warp crystals a year. Just enough for four ships.”
He paused to read his notes. “As you all know, oh, sorry, I’m a bit nervous, don't you know,” paused again, to calm his nerves, then continued.
“The length of growing time is due to the need for absolute purity of the warp crystal and for it to correctly form its shape.
The cost of the equipment required to grow these crystals is astronomical.
Goodness knows how Henderson's original warp-crystal worked so well. It was certainly a ‘one off’ and must surely have been a fluke.
At the time, everyone thought that Henderson was deluded. He had a picture in his mind and gave credit to some fanciful idea that he had been helped,” he paused, then continued.
“One thing that puzzled us. Was why Henderson didn’t try the warp field on a spherically shaped ship?
After all, the generated warp field is naturally spherical, so logically that would have made sense.
But now we know why he didn’t. Our experimental warp labs tested this theory and found that the ship would have disintegrated.
However, if he had utilised four warp cores, operating as one. Then the wormhole would have been generated externally, and the ship would have survived.”
“Then how come it was Henderson who had the idea of putting a pulse directing crystal at the front of our ships?” Frank asked.
Tommy Trump seemed taken aback at Frank’s question.
“Young man, that’s top secret. Anyway, that’s why the actual warp core is located in the front, as well. And, why the wormhole forms in front of our ships.”
“Yes, I understand that sir. But, Henderson couldn’t have known that would be the right place to locate the crystal at the time, could he?” Frank queried.
“As I said, Henderson thought that he had been helped,” Tommy Trump reiterated, sounding a bit angry.
The others glanced nervously at Tommy.
“So, is that clear to you now?”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, I deviated,” Frank muttered.
Tommy then continued.
“Anyway, we have managed to downsize the crystal growing facility, and moved it into Earth orbit, close to Henderson’s old orbital space station.
This means, the gravimetric distortion we experienced when growing the crystals on Earth, is now vastly reduced.
And, we are confident we can now produce at least sixteen per year. Giving us enough for eight StarShips. Great news, yes?”
“Splendid news indeed professor,” Carter said, with enthusiasm.
They all nodded in unison.
“When do we start seeing the crystals?” Murillo asked.
“Very soon. Two sets are earmarked to be used on the new ships, which are virtually ready.”
“Good. So it seems that we are able to go at last,” Jack said.
“All right, take note of the following everyone,” he added.
“First. The new ships are the Turpin, which will be commanded by Captain Harry Blacksmith. Plus, the Javelin, which is to be commanded by Captain Barry Winston. But, don't ask me who named the ships,” he finished,
then paused.
“Second. Captain Frank Richardson will be confirmed as Fleet OIC. Although the Andromeda’s not the most powerful, weapon wise. Her AI is.
I’d like to add that we have made this decision based on three facts.
One, he has proved his worth in action. Two, he and his ship have had the most experience with these Crillons. Three, we are very impressed with the operation of their mind-link and the effortless way in which they have used it,” Jack said.
He stopped again, for a moment, as Frank forcefully interrupted.
“I recommend the mind-link for all of our ships. It helps to speed action and reaction, everything, in fact. It’s as if she, sorry, Andromeda’s brain is like a part of me.
The interactivity with Andromeda is fantastic. And, as we continue to work together, her ability to think outside-the-box, and her human intuition has been invaluable.”
“I'm afraid the other four ships are not entirely committed to the mind-link Frank,” Philips said, with disappointment sounding in his voice.
“That’s their loss, sir. But I am surprised Illustrious and Derringer aren’t for it.”
“I think they are,” Jack said. “But not to the depth that you and Andromeda share the link.”
“Maybe they'll come around to it,” O'Banion said.
“You never know,” Jack added.
“Oh, and, by the way. I understand that a few little mods have been carried out. So it should be a lot more comfortable going in and out of warp space now.”
“When will the ships be ready to leave?”
“Well, the trials start on Monday and run for a week. So, we should be safe to go the following Monday or Tuesday.”
“When do we leave for Mars, and what crews will we have? Frank asked.
“The same as before, for the Andromeda, Illustrious and Derringer. The other two ship’s crews are being screened at this moment.
Bear in mind that they will all need to be on their own ferries by Friday night, to ensure they arrive at the Mars docks on-time. That means you too, Frank.”
“Of course, that goes without saying.”
“Are you getting married before departure, Frank?” Tompkin asked.
“No, sir. We both agree that it wouldn’t be right, for the captain to be on the same ship as his wife.”
“Because of the privileges, I assume you mean?”
“Yes, that about sums it up, sir.”
Frank's mind unwittingly drifted away for a moment. He found himself thinking about the Andromeda.
How, she must surely be feeling just like any ordinary computer now. Without emotions, and with no other purpose than to serve.
Of course, that’s what she was. But, with the mind-link transceivers, she had become used to different sensations. He was sure she felt almost human.
‘No wonder she had screamed when I cut the connection,’ he thought.
“Right, gentlemen. Are we all done for the moment?” Jack asked. Interrupting Frank’s thoughts and abruptly bringing him back to the present.
Everyone in the room, and on the screens, nodded agreement.
The screen images then disappeared, and the rest started leaving the room, talking amongst themselves as they went out.
Tommy Trump stopped to shake Frank's hand on his way out and said. “Good luck young man.”
“Thank you, professor.”
That night. Jack, Susanna and Frank, went out for a meal at the Galaxy Restaurant.
The restaurant had survived in varying forms over the centuries, formerly being known as the Ritz. Its food and atmosphere were the best in London, and the restaurant was famous for its entertainment, particularly the Holographic groups that entertained the diners.
Tonight, much to Frank & Susanna’s delight a favourite of theirs, the B.B. King rhythm and blues band was playing.
This group also dated back to the late 20th to early 21stth centuries when such groups were hugely popular.
Holographic shows and music events were now all the rage ever since old digital audio and video archives had been discovered. With any material that was sufficiently readable in digital format, then being converted to holographic presentations.
“You will look after my niece, won't you Frank?”
“You don’t have to ask that,” he replied,” smiling at Susanna. “After all I only have two beautiful women in my life.”
Susanna kicked his shin, hard, under the table.
“Ouch!”
“Serves you right.”
“Come on, kids. Play nicely,” Jack said, chuckling.
It was nearly midnight before they left the restaurant, With Jack going back to his apartment while Frank and Susanna headed for their hotel, which was about five minutes away, via a walkway. The same type as in America; there were more and more of these multitrack moving walkways in the centres of cities now.
Reaching their room, they sank back on the sofa, reviewing the evening. Then realizing just how tired they were, they went to bed and fell asleep, cuddled up close together.
The last few days were hectic for everyone involved in the next mission and time passed very quickly. Almost before they knew it, Frank and Susanna were saying their farewells to friends and family.
Then heading for the spaceport to take the shuttle to Mars. The first leg of their journey.
London Space Port was situated northeast of the city. Close to the site of the first Stansted Hub Airport, which had been replaced over the centuries by ever newer and larger facilities, dependent on the type of transport in vogue at the time.
Now, it was a massive and very busy spaceport specialising in transports between, Earth, the Moon, and Mars.
The transportation shuttles were like jet planes in appearance. Able to carry up to one hundred passengers, sitting in rows of two, each side of a central aisle. There were also specially dimming windows.
The shuttles had short stubby wings that could be extended to give maximum lift during take-off and landing in earth’s atmosphere.
At the rear, the business end of the shuttle. There were two huge engines powered by fusion reactors.
Between them, sat a single photon drive; Use of this drive was prohibited in earth's atmosphere, with the drive not being brought into operation until the shuttle was space-born.
The distance to Mars varied throughout the year, anywhere from a mere 55.7million kilometres to 401million at the farthest point
At the moment, it was some 240million kilometres away. So, the total flight time would be about five hours.
Frank and Susanna were the last to board their shuttle with only minutes to spare.
They acknowledged their crew and security marines with a nod. The crew all smiled and looked pleased to see them. The four closest Marines just gave them a hard look.
Susanna noticing this thought, ‘Oops, are they going to be trouble?’
Then looking around, asked. “Where’s Alice, I can’t see her?”
“No, she’s been seconded to Derringer for this trip,” Frank replied.
“That’s a shame, I’ll miss her.”
“But you can still keep in touch with Alice, over the ship-to-ship link.”
“I suppose so,” she replied, looking disappointed.
As the shuttle door closed, the cabin pressurized. Armrests automatically swung in and locked them securely in their seats and the rows of windows dimmed.
The shuttle immediately shot forward, then upwards, with the pressure forcing the passengers hard back against their seats.
Susanna held Frank's hand tightly until they were in space, and as the earth began to curve away beneath them, the windows became almost clear again, with only the sun's harmful rays being blocked.
A voice was then heard over the sound system.
“Good evening, I'm Captain Tunstal. I'm afraid our shuttle will not be gravity-rotating, so please stay in your seats.
Food and drink are accessible via your seat dispensers. If you need the toi
let, a steward will direct you to a cubicle. But, please, do not call a steward unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Flight time will be five hours, twelve minutes, and the windows will remain clear for the rest of the trip.
Thank you, have a comfortable journey.”
“Who's kidding who?” came a voice from near the back.
Susanna was looking out of her window, then tapped Frank’s shoulder.
“Look,” she said, pointing.
“The other shuttles.”
“I see them, but I'm tired. I’m going to have a kip Sues.”
The five hours passed slowly with a constant murmur, filling the air as people talked with each other.
The last twelve minutes were the most interesting of all as the shuttle swung in towards the orbiting section of the Mars StarShip construction docks.
Far below them on the surface of Mars, the sprawling habitation domes together with the manufacturing and construction compounds could clearly be seen now.
Then the orbital spacedocks came into sight. Swelling ever larger as the shuttle drew nearer. With everyone, unable to leave their seats, struggling to see them through their closest window.
Then, sinking back in disappointment, as they gradually realised the five dock cradles were empty.
They were going straight to their appointed StarShips, not to the surface of Mars.
Chapter 7
Remember Who We Are.
Brendereen and Acarea reached their cabin without incident. He took the four bags inside and placed them on the floor.
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 23