by Knox, Barry
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0015—February 22, 2372
“Sir, Commander Steward on laser communications connection from Extract One,” Ensign Young said.
“Put him on speaker,” Mary said, “Glad to hear from you, Commander. What’s your status?”
“Extract and envoy teams returning with Doctor Kastriva.” Commander Steward hesitated for a second, then continued. “We have four casualties: one KIA, Captain Neubauer; one with major wounds and stable, Corporal Gault; and two with minor wounds, Gunny Xia and Lieutenant Klaxton.”
Upon hearing the transmission, Commander Pettway got up from her station in the Triple C and headed to the sick bay to prepare for the incoming wounded.
“Understood,” Mary said.
“Captain, Lieutenant Klaxton needs to speak with you,” Commander Steward said.
“Put him on, Commander,” Mary said.
“Captain, the CTU knows we’re headed to the ship and have by now made plans to prevent us from docking and will probably try to take the Stephen Hawking,” Gideon said.
“That’s what I assume too, Lieutenant. I’ve had Stephen prepare several escape maneuvers,” Mary answered. She paused, then said aloud with the communications channel to Gideon still open, “Stephen, do you have a maneuver to escape given our current circumstances?”
“Yes, Captain, escape plan Kilo,” Stephen answered calmly.
“Execute escape plan Kilo at you’re discretion,” Mary ordered.
“Yes, Captain, I require your secure command authorization code be entered to allow me to completely control the Stephen Hawking, Extract One VTOL, and Envoy One VTOL, to complete this escape maneuver,” Stephen said.
“Did you copy that, Extract One?” Mary asked.
“Yes, sir,” Gideon said. “I’ll let Sergeant Tidwell know Stephen will be taking control of Bernice.”
Mary brought up the ship’s operational console and entered her security command authorization code that only she knew.
“Code authenticated; executing escape plan Kilo,” Stephen said. Stephen sent an encrypted course vector to Bernice’s computer. The computer took control and began executing the course vector. Next, Stephen sent encrypted commands to the Envoy One VTOL. The Envoy One VTOL computer started its engines and began to lift off from the Canton Mie spaceport landing pad. The CTU soldiers who surrounded the pad were forced away by the tremendous amount of force the engines created as the computer began to perform a combat launch. Within seconds Stephen controlled both Bernice and Envoy One VTOL.
Crew members on the bridge and in the Triple C watched their controls being taken over by Stephen as the AI charged weapons, loaded a BHP course vector, and turned alarms on, indicating battle stations. All other crew members aboard the Stephen Hawking scrambled to their battle station and prepared themselves for BHP drive.
Science Division Building, Canton Mie Biosphere
0020—February 22, 2372
“Director, the Earthers’ VTOL has just taken off from the spaceport,” Assistant Leeward reported.
“How did the Earthers board the VTOL? Wasn’t it completely secure?” Buru yelled.
“The commander of the guard detail swears no one entered the ship,” Leeward said, “Should I have the VTOL destroyed?”
Buru tried his best to calm down before he answered. He knew from past experience not to make rash decisions; sometimes he could use adversities as an opportunity. “No! Connect me with the space command commander in charge of taking the Earth ship.”
Assistant Leeward used her console and connected Gliese Space Command Admiral Snoiger with Director Buru.
“Director, how can I assist you?” the admiral asked.
“Admiral, I have an update. There’s another Earth VTOL approaching the Earth starship. It’s not in stealth mode and I am convinced it’s a decoy. The Earthers want us to believe there’s a possibility that Doctor Kastriva may be aboard it instead of the stealth VTOL reported earlier. As a matter of fact, I don’t think anyone is aboard the visible VTOL, and it’s being piloted remotely.” Buru said.
“What are your orders?” Admiral Snoiger asked.
“When the visible VTOL arrives at their starship, they’ll open their hangar doors and try to slip the stealth VTOL into the hanger before the visible decoy VTOL enters and then quickly close the doors.” Buru said, “As soon as the hangar doors begin opening, have your troops begin their assault and take the ship!”
“Yes, Director,” the admiral said.
Buru terminated the connection to the admiral.
“Assistant, let me know when the Earthers’ VTOL rendezvous with the Earth starship,” Buru said and terminated the connection before Leeward could respond.
These Earthers think they’re cunning, Buru thought and smiled. Kastriva is aboard the stealth VTOL along with the Earthers’ envoy team. The GFF must have used some resistance soldiers as decoys to make me think the Earthers were trying to get to the VTOL at the spaceport. The Earthers believe they’ve deceived me, but before sunrise, the kidnapping of Kastriva, the escape of the Earthers, and the GFF attack will all be blamed on the lady commissar. I’ll, of course, make it look as if I prevented a disaster, caused by the old hag, by taking the Earth starship, and will take my rightful place as commissar!
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0038—February 22, 2372
“Captain, Envoy One VTOL approaching,” Lieutenant Commander Vanderver reported from the bridge while sitting behind his engineering console.
“Very well,” Mary replied and then ordered, “Display external hull holographic view and adjust view to include approaching VTOL.”
A moment later an external holographic view of the Stephen Hawking was displayed in the center of the Triple C. Around the ship, six CTU fighters were on station along with the CTU Space Command Troop Assault vessel. The envoy VTOL could be seen approaching the port side of the Stephen Hawking.
The envoy VTOL slowed as it approached in preparation for entering the yet-unopened hangar doors. Suddenly, the envoy VTOL increased speed and veered toward three CTU fighters. A second later the envoy VTOL and three CTU fighters were destroyed in one gigantic explosion. At the very instant of impact, the Stephen Hawking fired a bank of laser weapons, and destroyed the remaining CTU fighters.
Stephen then activated the BHP system. The black hole, projected by the BHP system, instantly pulled the CTU Space Command Troop Assault into its black center and destroyed it. A moment later the Stephen Hawking was traveling at light speed in the time-space dimension away from Gliese.
Stephen Hawking Bridge, Edge of the Gliese System
1357—February 22, 2372
The Stephen Hawking lay still in stealth mode in open space. The light from the Gliese sun, now far away, took five hours and twenty-two minutes to reach the ship.
“Extract One VTOL approaching, escape plan Kilo terminated, and the ship’s control is now returned to crew,” Stephen said over the bridge intercom.
“Very well. Prepare to receive Bernice,” Mary said. Her crew acknowledged her orders and went to work. Mary then selected a com link to the sick bay. “Doctor, let me know the status of the wounded as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir,” Commander Pettway said.
Bernice entered the open hangar doors and settled on the hangar floor. As soon as the doors were closed, several crewmen rushed in the hangar and went to the rear of Bernice’s now-open cargo bay and assisted the wounded to the sick bay.
“Ensign Young, open a communications channel to Director Buru using secure encryption key Oscar Delta,” Mary ordered. She had one more task to take care of before she left the Gliese system.
“Captain, the message won’t be a secure connection to the director. Oscar Delta encryption was compromised ten months ago. I’m sure the CTU Space Command will decipher it,” Ensign Young said.
“I’m counting on it, Ensign,” Mary said with a smile.
/> Ensign Young used his communication console and set up the communications link as ordered. “Ready, Captain,” he said.
“Director Buru, I wanted to personally thank you for your assistance. Without your help we couldn’t have acquired Doctor Kastriva and have him be part of our mission. The doctor is safe aboard our ship, and he sends his regards and thanks. As previously arranged, ten pounds of titanium, ten pounds of gold, and thirty pounds of silver has been deposited in your personal precious metals account on planet Serrano. Again, thanks for your assistance. Captain Mary Bowser, United States Navy, out,” Mary terminated the transmission and said to her crew, “Director Buru should be rewarded for his actions by daybreak.”
Her crew nodded with smiles and continued working.
“Lieutenant LaPalm, set course to Planet Corot,” Mary ordered.
Director Buru’s Office, Canton Mie Biosphere
0735—February 22, 2372
Rays of light from the Gliese rising sun penetrated Director Buru’s window. Buru sat behind his desk, exhausted because the actions of last night’s events had prevented him from sleeping. He had failed to capture the Earthers, had loss Dr. Kastriva, and had spent the last few hours planning how to blame all the failures on his subordinates. Though he’d definitely receive some type of minor punishment and delay his plan to become commissar, he’d survive to fight another day.
His first order of business was to get rid of his assistant. She would contradict the lies he planned to use. He’d call her to his office and kill her himself for not following his orders last night. No one would question his motive of ridding himself of someone who was clearly incompetent.
He used his desk’s communication console to connect to Assistant Leeward. No answer. He continued several more times without success and was just about to walk to her station and drag her back to his office when his door chimed. He slowly got up and opened the door. In front of him stood Assistant Leeward accompanied by several CTU soldiers.
“Get this traitor out of my office!” Leeward yelled. The soldiers grabbed Buru, and before he could speak, a solider put a restraining gag around his head and mouth. “Take him to the steps of the building and execute him as a traitor of the Communal Tribal Union. Leave his body there for two days so the citizens can see what happens to traitors!”
“Yes, Madam Director,” a solider replied as he assisted the other soldiers take Buru away.
Buru struggled as the soldiers began dragging him out if his office. He tried to speak but couldn’t. How could this be happening? He could explain-if they would only let him speak. A few seconds later he stopped struggling, and his body went limp. He knew his fate was cast. It was Communal Tribal Union justice.
Madam Director Leeward watched as the soldiers exited the room with Buru. When the way was clear, she entered her new office with a smile.
Captain’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking
1018—February 23, 2372
Mary sat at her desk after reading Lieutenant Klaxton’s written mission report. She struggled to focus on the report since she couldn’t help but think about other things. She had always had this problem after losing a crew member, and wished she and her crew had dress uniforms to wear at Captain Neubauer’s burial schedule at 1200. Usually, a sailor or marine killed on ship duty would be placed in the ship’s morgue and returned home for burial, but when Mary reviewed Captain Neubauer’s personal file, she noted that he’d requested to be buried in space upon his death. They’d drop out of the time- speed dimension for the ceremony and then continue on to Corot. Her door chimed, and a hard knock on the door brought her mind back into focus.
“Enter,” she said and then straightened herself up in her chair.
Gideon walked in and stood at attention.
“At ease, Lieutenant,” Mary said.
“I have Captain Neubauer’s personal effects, sir,” Gideon said as he placed a small box on Mary’s desk.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. I’ll put it in the ship’s safe,” she said as she reached over and took the box.
“How’s the arm?” Mary asked.
“Just fine, sir,” Gideon answered as he subconsciously flexed his left hand and the muscles in his forearm. “Doc Pettway…sorry, sir…Commander Pettway did a great job. My arm will be completely healed by this time tomorrow.”
“How are Gunny Xia and Gault?”
“Gunny Xia is back on duty; his leg will be completely healed tomorrow.” Gideon paused and continued. “And, as you know, Captain, the laser wound that severed Corporal Gault’s spine has healed, but he won’t be able to walk until we can get him back to a medical facility with the equipment that can reconnect his spinal cord. I’ll find something to keep him busy until we get back.”
“Good, keep his mind off his wound and keep telling him he won’t be this way forever,” Mary said. She paused and asked, “Anything else?”
“Yes, sir. I’d like to recommend Petty Officer Sipes be awarded a commendation. He followed orders to the letter during the mission and probably saved Corporal Gault’s life.”
“I already have, Lieutenant,” Mary said, paused, and continued with a slight smile. “I’ve requested Petty Officer Sipes, Lieutenant Klaxton, and Captain Neubauer, posthumously, all receive the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. I’ve also recommended Purple Hearts for everyone who was wounded.”
“Thank you, Captain, but I don’t think I should be recommended; I was just doing my job,” Gideon said.
“I’ve also read Commander Steward’s report. The commander wrote how you not only got the envoy team out but also how you didn’t hesitate to take command when Captain Neubauer was killed. I will not withdraw your recommendation,” Mary said.
Hangar Bay, SRS Stephen Hawking
1200—February 23, 2372
Captain Neubauer’s body, wrapped and sewn in traditional white sailcloth, lay on top of a four-foot-by-eight-foot plastanium board fitted with a handle at each corner. Four marines, dressed in green-tinted marine pressure combat suits, carried the board. Those marines were Lieutenant Klaxton, Gunnery Sergeant Xia, Sergeant Manelly, and Sergeant Kindle. The United Sates flag covered the captain’s body, and a holographic display of a flag pole and a United States flag waving in the wind was projected in the center of the hangar bay.
The other marines—Staff Sergeant Mucha, Sergeant Tidwell, and several sailors—formed the firing party. A single sailor with a bugle stood beside the firing party, and Corporal Gault sat in a wheelchair beside the rest of the crew, who stood at parade rest.
Mary and Commander Steward stepped forward from the formation, and Mary commanded, “Attention! All hands bury the dead.”
Everyone stood at attention as the holographic flag was lowered to half-mast.
“Present arms!” Mary commanded. The firing party placed their weapons in firing positions on their shoulders and aimed over the body as the rest of the crew saluted. The firing party fired a three-volley salute of conductive, gel, magnetic projectiles that disintegrated when fired from their weapons. After the last volley, the bugler played taps. Mary and Commander Steward then marched over to the body, removed the flag covering the body, and folded it. When they had finished folding, Mary tucked the flag under her right arm, and she and Commander Steward marched back to the formation.
“Right face,” Mary commanded.
The formation turned. “Forward march.” The formation, firing party, and bugler marched out of the hangar bay, and the inner air lock doors closed behind them. Mary marched the formation to the hangar bay observation deck, and the crew watched as the outer hangar bay doors opened.
As the doors opened, a nearby nebula could be seen. The nebula backdrop spread across the open hangar bay doors and contained every color in the visual spectrum as stars shown through it in the background. Stephen had selected a spectacular cosmic panorama for the ceremony when he dropped the ship out of the time-speed dimension.
The crew watched as the four marines began s
lowly carrying the body to the open hangar doors. When they reached the edge of the hangar bay floor, the four marines stopped in unison, pushed the plastanium board and Captain Neubauer’s body toward the nebula. As the body slowly began its voyage into infinity, the four marines stood at attention once more and saluted.
Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0900—February 24, 2372
The doctors—Harper, Jones, and Kastriva—sat at a small conference table and talked while waiting for Captain Bowser and Lieutenant Klaxton.
“Doctor Kastriva, do you have everything you need?” Dr. Harper asked.
“Yes, Doctor Harper. The facilities aboard the ship are better than what I had in my lab in Canton Mie. I’m also very impressed with Stephen. The AI technology surpasses anything I’ve ever encountered,” Dr. Kastriva answered with excitement.
“How about the mission itself? Is there anything you have questions about or any suggestions?” Dr. Jones asked.
“I understand the theory, and I’ve asked Stephen to train me on the capabilities of the long-range sensors we’ll use and on how the sensors will be controlled. The amount of information that has to be processed and the distance from Earth that the sensors will probe are quite astounding,” Kastriva said again with excitement, paused to catch his breath, and then continued. “I’m pleased I was asked to be a part of this mission. It’ll be the most important scientific discovery in history!”
The door to the mission control center opened. Mary and Gideon entered and took a seat at the conference table.
“Before we begin, Captain, I want to thank you and Lieutenant Klaxton for helping me escape the tyranny of the CTU and also tell you I’m sorry for the death of Captain Neubauer. I’m committed to the mission and I’ll do everything I can to ensure its success in memory of the captain,” Kastriva said.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Mary said. “Your expertise and your willingness to assist us are enough.”
“Yes, captain,” Kastriva nodded.