by Doug Farren
“Standby for jump.”
“Where are we going?”
“Our destination has not changed. Jump in 20 seconds.”
Chapter 18
AJ had a hard time believing he was walking down the passageway of a starship. It was as wide as a two-lane road and well over four meters in height. The doors they passed looked more like cargo hatches than doorways. The walls were a light shade of gray and the floor was made of some type of light green material that gave slightly when he put his foot down.
“Everything is so big!” he remarked.
“The Ba’Rutu are much larger than you,” Merlin replied. “Or, should I say us. I’ve been living among them for so long, I often forget I’m not one of them.”
AJ craned his head back and looked at the tall ceiling. “They have wings but I’m sure they can’t possibly fly.”
“They most certainly can,” Merlin replied.
“But that’s not possible,” Heather said. “Their wings can’t possibly generate enough lift unless they come from a planet with a lot lower gravity and a denser atmosphere.”
“The Ba’Rutu homeworld is similar to Earth in many respects,” Merlin said. “Believe though, they can fly quite well, even on Earth.”
“But wings don’t provide an evolutionary advantage for the growth of intelligence,” Heather argued. “So how did they develop wings?” Heather asked.
Merlin stopped in front of a closed door and pressed a button. “The original Ba’Rutu did not have wings,” he said as the doors opened. The group stepped into a spacious elevator. Selecting a destination, he continued, “Centuries ago, the Ba’Rutu began experimenting with their genetic makeup in an attempt to extend their lives. They succeeded, but the changes they made also introduced a problem. Birth rates fell dramatically. Ordinarily, this would be a desirable side-effect to living much longer. The war with the Akuta, however, changed that and the Ba’Rutu population began to fall.”
The door opened and Merlin led them into another wide passageway. AJ noted that he had felt no sense of movement at all while they were in the elevator.
“You will be staying in one of the rooms reserved for visiting Terran dignitaries. You wouldn’t be comfortable staying in a standard Ba’Rutu stateroom,” Merlin explained.
“So what did the Ba’Rutu do?” Heather asked. “Did they tinker with their genetics again?”
“Not exactly,” Merlin said. “A technological breakthrough solved the problem. The result is the Ba’Rutu you see today. Their lives, as well as my own, are now extended through the use of advanced nanotechnology and their extensive medical knowledge.”
Merlin stopped in front of a door and touched the button next to it. The door slid into the wall revealing a luxurious apartment. Even though it was furnished with human furniture, the room was scaled for dragons with a very tall ceiling, extra wide and tall doors, and large open areas around the room.
AJ whistled. “I hope we don’t have to pay for this. Where is everyone? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this ship was deserted.”
“This used to be a small passenger ship. It has been heavily modified to serve as an ambassadorial platform. This deck is reserved for humans. Aryth and I have a room one deck down which is also where her staff of five reside. There is a crew of 23 that live on the deck above.”
Heather walked into the room and dropped the bag she was carrying on the carpet. “You still didn’t explain how the Ba’Rutu acquired wings. Nanotechnology wouldn’t have done that. What happened?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that question,” Merlin replied.
“What? Why not?” Heather asked, obviously hurt.
“Let’s just say there are some things about the Ba’Rutu that will remain shrouded in mystery. Please, look around. I know we left on short notice, so if there’s anything you might need over the next couple of days don’t hesitate to ask myself or one of the crew. There are communication consoles in each of the rooms.”
AJ turned and looked at Merlin. “A couple of days? Are you saying this ship can make it to Earth in two days?”
“We could probably get there faster,” Merlin replied, “but it would put an unnecessary strain on the drive system.”
“Even if we pushed our drive as hard as possible, our fastest ship couldn’t make the trip in less than 10 days,” AJ said.
“The Ba’Rutu have had star flight for hundreds of years longer than you. As such, their ships are capable of much longer jumps and shorter post-jump recovery times.”
Merlin turned and walked toward the door. “I will leave you to explore the room and get yourself settled. Are you hungry?”
Heather looked at AJ, saw him shake his head, and said, “Not right now. We had lunch just before the meeting. Maybe in a few hours?”
“That works out quite well as it corresponds to my dinner time as well. I would be honored if you could join me.”
“Will Aryth be joining us as well?” AJ asked.
“She has graciously declined,” Merlin replied. “If it is okay with you, I will have our meal delivered to this room and I will join you. The cooks on this ship are quite good at preparing traditional Terran meals.”
“We would like that very much,” Heather replied.
“In that case, I will inform the kitchen. If you get hungry before I return, there are a variety of items stocked in your dining area. If you find yourself in need of anything, please use the communication console.”
* * * *
“Captain, the defense council is being called to order. The captain of the Pargnit is waiting to make his report,” the communications watch announced.
“Transfer to my console,” Captain Hanept ordered.
Aryth had been slowly pacing the bridge for the past three hours anxiously waiting for the expected report that the Akuta ship had been destroyed. She quickly made her way over to the captain’s chair and peered over his shoulder.
Captain Hanept touched an icon on his screen and said, “Captain Hanept and Ambassador Aryth are present.”
There was a delay as the other members of the Ba’Rutu defense council announced their presence.
“All members are present,” Admiral Thyth said. “Captain Tarin, you may begin your report.”
“The warship the Terrans found has been verified to be of Akuta origin,” the Captain began. “It refused to engage and jumped away shortly after we arrived. We will follow as soon as our jump drive has recovered.”
“How long before you can jump?” Admiral Thyth asked.
The Captain glanced off to his right then said, “Four minutes, nine seconds.”
“What is the status of the Terran vessel?” one of the councilmen asked.
“They were still in the area when we arrived. Their captain has informed us that a member of their crew is aboard the warship.”
“Dead or alive?” someone asked.
“Alive and in communication with the warship’s AI,” Captain Tarin replied, sounding surprised.
“This does not change the order to destroy that ship,” the Admiral said. “Keep this line open so we may observe the outcome after you jump.”
“Acknowledged. I am transmitting all data from our scans to fleet command for analysis.”
“Very well captain,” Admiral Thyth replied.
The Captain moved off-screen to attend to preparing the ship for the jump. Aryth and Hanept waited in silence along with the rest of the defense council as the minutes wound down. Eventually, Captain Tarin stepped back in front of the camera and said, “Jump in 10 seconds.”
The video feed suddenly went blank as the ship performed the jump. “- - -scan!” the Captain was saying the moment the video returned 12 seconds later.
“No contacts identified,” a voice said.
“That’s not possible!” the Captain said.
“We are at maximum power on all active scanners,” the same voice replied. “The warship is not here.”
“Admiral,” Ca
ptain Tarin said, looking into the camera. “The warship is gone.”
“Very well Captain,” Admiral Thyth replied. “Send one of your ships back to the Terran vessel. Tell them to return to Earth. Escort them if need be. The other two ships are to remain in the area until further notice.”
“Yes Sir. Pargnit out.”
“A double-jump?” Aryth asked as soon as the image of the Captain was gone.
“It appears so,” Admiral Thyth said.
“Are we all in agreement then that the Terrans have found the Akuta warship our intelligence said existed but nobody could find?” Minister Curach, head of the defense council asked.
Everyone on the call indicated their agreement.
“Very well,” Minister Curach said. “Based on this new information, I am declaring an emergency and ordering the activation of all available warships. An order will be issued to engage and destroy the Akuta warship without reservation if encountered. This meeting is adjourned.”
Chapter 19
Heather was sitting on the couch reading a book on her tablet while AJ was gently snoring in an overstuffed leather chair. Hearing a soft chime, she set her book down and walked over to the door. The image of Merlin patiently standing in the hallway was displayed on the panel that had emitted the chime. He was carrying some sort of staff in his right hand. Since all of the room’s controls were labeled in English, finding the icon that opened the door was easy.
“Hello Merlin!” Heather said a bit louder than necessary.
Merlin tipped his head slightly. “I hope you have found your accommodations to be adequate.”
Heather took a step back. “Please come in,” she replied, emphasizing the invitation with a flourishing gesture of her hand. “The room is much more than adequate. It’s luxurious.”
Merlin stepped inside as AJ, still in the chair, was stretching. “Maybe too luxurious for some,” Heather added.
“How long was I out?” AJ asked, throwing a leg over one of the chair’s arms so he could look at Merlin without twisting his head.
“I don’t know,” Heather replied. “You started snoring about an hour ago.”
“The kitchen will be delivering our meal in a few minutes,” Merlin said. “I will help set the table.”
“I don’t suppose you have any beer, do you?” AJ asked, standing up.
“Sadly, no,” Merlin replied. “I’ve not had a good ale since I left Earth. I did try to brew it once but the results were less than palatable.”
“What’s that?” Heather asked, pointing to the staff.
“I’ve noted that many of the drawings depicting me before I left Earth show me carrying my staff.” Merlin leaned the staff towards Heather. “I thought you might like to see what it really looks like.”
AJ walked over and took the staff. The shaft was made of metal with tiny circular grooves running around it to provide a better grip. It was topped by a large crystal mounted in an ornate frame.
“I kept it wrapped in leather to keep people from asking too many questions,” Merlin explained.
AJ peered into the crystal. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crystal quite like this before. It looks like glass but there’s some kind of pattern inside that makes it look smoky from a distance. What is it?”
“It was made long before I was born,” Merlin replied, taking back the staff. “My grandfather showed it to me when he first told me about Aryth. It had been a gift to his father from Aryth.”
“It’s beautiful,” Heather remarked.
“I’ll be right back,” AJ said, using his thumb to point in the direction of the bathroom.
“I take it the Ba’Rutu don’t drink alcohol?” Heather asked.
Merlin leaned his staff against the wall then walked over to the small dining table and began the process of expanding it to a larger size. “No. There are several close equivalents but the most popular these days is a very spicy drink called Kref.”
Merlin reached under the table and flipped a locking device. Grasping a lever underneath the beautiful wooden top, he pulled it out. As he did so, the table expanded. The lever swung out then back underneath causing two hidden leaves to rise up into place as the table expanded to accommodate them. A final push caused the table to collapse back together locking the leaves into place and creating a surface that was over a meter wider than before.
“I need to get one of these tables,” Heather said, running her hand over the smooth surface. “The workmanship is superb.”
“Thank you,” Merlin replied, smiling. “It’s a hobby of mine.”
“You made this?”
“I did.”
“I love it!”
Heather helped Merlin set the table. Holding up a plate and a coffee mug, she said, “These don’t look like what I would image the Ba’Rutu use to eat.”
Merlin placed a napkin on the table and smiled. “No. Everything in this room was specifically created to duplicate what Terrans are accustomed to.”
“So how do they eat?”
Milus looked at Heather, crossed his arms over his chest, and asked, “How do you think they eat?”
“Well, she does look like a dragon, so my instincts tell me she prefers her meals to be … shall I say … fresh. But they’re an advanced race so perhaps they’re more inclined to cook their food like we do.”
A chime announced that their food had arrived. “My father once told me that you should always go with your instincts.” He walked over to the door and let the automated serving cart into the room. AJ reappeared as the cart was parking itself near the table. “That smells good!” he said.
Merlin touched a button and the top of the cart rolled aside revealing a small buffet of roasted meat and vegetables. Sliding a tray out from underneath revealed a loaf of freshly baked bread and four carafes.
“We have water, kref, a sweet drink made from the juice of several types of fruits, and coffee,” Merlin said, pointing to each carafe as he named the contents.
“What’s kref?” AJ asked.
“A very strong, spicy but nonalcoholic drink,” Merlin replied. “It’s meant to be slowly sipped.”
“I’ll try some of that,” AJ said, picking up a plate.
Heather chose to steer clear of the kref and decided to try the fruit drink. A few minutes later, they were all sitting down at the table.
“This is good,” AJ said. “It doesn’t taste like any kind of meat I’ve ever had before. What is it?”
“The animal is called a tarch,” Merlin replied. “It’s about the size of a goat.”
AJ picked up his glass. “Careful,” Merlin warned. “The first time I tried kref I thought my throat was going to close in on itself. It’s very potent. Please, just sip it.”
AJ looked at Merlin over the rim of the glass then gave the kref a sniff. “Wow! That sure clears the sinuses,” he said. Following Merlin’s advice, he took a small sip. His eyes went wide as his tongue made a circle around the inside of his mouth. “That’s got quite a kick. Are you sure there’s no alcohol in it?”
“Not a drop.”
“Doesn’t really matter I guess. I like it.”
“I’m pleased.”
AJ stabbed something that looked like a pale carrot with his fork and held it up. “There’s a question I’ve been wanting to ask ever since I heard about the Akuta warship.”
“And that is?” Merlin asked.
“Didn’t the war with the Akuta end over a thousand years ago?”
“It did.”
“Then how is it possible for us to find a fully operational Akuta warship? I thought the material used to make the hull slowly evaporated.”
“I had the same question,” Heather said, setting her fork down. “I’m not a scientist, but I spent a lot of time talking to the researchers who came to Ashnib to study the remains of the crashed Akuta ship. They said most of the hull was probably intact even after the crash. A lot of it is now gone.”
Merlin looked at AJ and said, “Near the e
nd of the war, the Ba’Rutu began receiving reports that the Akuta had made some sort of fantastic scientific breakthrough that would allow them to quickly win the war. They noted a shift in Akuta tactics and it appeared as if they were concentrating their forces making it harder for us to launch attacks against them. Rumors began surfacing that the Akuta were building a super ship incorporating this newly discovered technology. Our military leaders decided the Akuta had made a tactical error and we marshaled all our ships in a massive attack against an Akuta stronghold.”
Heather noted the shift in how Merlin talked about the Ba’Rutu using words such as ‘we’ and ‘our’ but didn’t want to interrupt.
“The gamble paid off and we managed to win a decisive battle. Many Akuta were captured and all were questioned including a high-ranking military commander. After several days of intense interrogation, he finally broke down and began answering our questions.”
Heather’s imagination briefly conjured up an image of what it would be like to be inerrogated by a dragon. The thought was horrifying.
“He claimed to have seen the ship that would win the war for the Akuta,” Merlin went on. “Based on his nearly incoherent replies, we learned that it was capable of performing a double jump; something our scientists have always said was an impossibility.”
“I agree,” AJ said. “Transdimensional physics prevents it.”
“Our best researchers have been trying to verify the validity of that claim for centuries,” Merlin said. “They finally came to the conclusion that the Akuta were lying. Today, they were proven wrong.”
“How?” Heather asked, leaning forward.
“We sent a fleet to destroy the Akuta warship your cargo ship discovered,” Merlin replied. “Before we could engage, the warship jumped. Our ships followed as soon as their hyperdrives would allow it. The warship was gone.”
“How did you know where it went?” AJ asked.
“We are able to analyze a ship’s jump field in the moment of activation and can determine the destination and, since our jump drives are far more accurate than yours, we can target the same location with great accuracy.”
“I can see where a double jump can be a tactical advantage,” Heather said. “You jump into a system, launch an attack and then jump away. But no jump drive can get close enough to a planet’s gravity well for any type of weapon to be effective. What makes this ship so dangerous?”