Shen Ark: Departure

by John Hindmarsh

  ***

  Chapter 35

  Freddie traversed the gangway and stepped on board Shen Ark. Nothing marked the occasion; there was no fanfare, no blast of trumpets, no banners. Sabre and Felis accompanied him, their heads occasionally bumping his knees. He was one of the last humans to board—Institute staff and Dr. Krowe had been on board for over a month, settling into their new routines. As Freddie transited the hatchway he was greeted by an Under Capin and two pursers.

  “Engineer,” said the Under Capin, “I am Red 623. The Capins on behalf of Sam 32nd asked me to welcome you on board. Likewise, Sabre and Felis, welcome. Engineer, as you can imagine, the Capins and His Highness have many demands on their time and apologize for not being here to greet you in person. There’ll be a small welcoming party for you tomorrow evening and they request the pleasure of your attendance.”

  “Thank you, Under Capin. Yes, I’ll attend, please thank the Capins.”

  “Yes, sir. Details are in your diary and the NavPad will be your guide. Now if I may, I’ll hand you over to your pursers, they will guide and assist you.”

  Red 623 motioned to the taller of the two pursers who stepped forward and proffered a sheaf of welcome notes and a small device.

  “Engineer, I am Emerald 103 and this is Sal 45. These are briefing notes, which we ask you to read. Yes, I know you could probably write these yourself.” She smiled as she handed the material to Freddie. “We issue everyone—Rats, Mice, humans, Shen, and anyone else—with a printed copy, to emphasize the importance of our notes; they cover safety, emergency procedures and so forth.” She then handed Freddie a small electronic device. “This is your new NavPad with our updated AI. It contains a set of ship maps and navigation software. It will guide you to wherever you want to go on Shen Ark. Also it has communications, voice, and data functions, and it supplements your security pass. Of course, the AI can access the main computers for you. I think you are authorized to access just about anything on Shen Ark.”

  “Sir Engineer,” said the other purser, Sal 45. “We would like to welcome you on board. Please come with us and we’ll show you to your cabin. It’s in the human section, not too far.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Now if you show me how to use this device, I’ll be able to follow its directions as we go.”

  The two pursers huddled over the NavPad with Freddie and showed him how to key in his destination and read off the directions. While he had general knowledge of the ship’s layout, he had not followed all the details of changes and he realized he would soon be lost without ship-focused GPS functions with text and visual “here to there” directions. As they walked to his cabin, he monitored their progress against the displayed map and instructions; the electronic guide was accurately reflecting their path and location, and after changing levels and headings a number of times, they eventually reached his quarters.

  The door lock was keyed to his palm and opened at his touch. At the pursers’ direction, Freddie stepped inside and stopped, astounded. While he had selected the floor plan in advance, the Capins’ Committee certainly had provided comfortable accommodation; his cabin was a large, luxurious apartment, and was very comfortably furnished. The foyer provided access to a living area; he stepped forward to where he could see a kitchen and dining room and other doors which he assumed provided access to his bedroom and a study. He felt as though he had stepped into a larger and more comfortable version of the apartment the Institute had provided. He checked the bedroom, and to his surprise, discovered his belongings had reached the starship before him. His clothes had been unpacked and carefully hung or folded and stowed in drawers. The other door opened into a study and all his books, computers, and files had been unpacked and carefully stowed away.

  “I see you have been busy,” he said. “Thank you for arranging all this.”

  “Sir, it is our job and pleasure. Just tell us if you need anything. Our office is down the corridor from your cabin,” said Sal 45.

  “Thank you. You have been very helpful.”

  Sal 45 bowed her head. “Thank you, sir. We’ve arranged for a welcome pack to be delivered by the Commissariat. It should be here any minute. If there’s anything missing or needed, just send a note and we’ll arrange delivery. You can call us anytime. Key in *Purser, or Sal45, or Em103, or just ask the NavPad to contact us. We’re on duty, twenty-four hours. Also we’ve arranged for one of the chefs to report to you tomorrow. For today, we can arrange meal delivery or cook something for you in the meantime.”

  “Thank you, again. Can we see the apartment for Sabre and Felis? They’re hoping it’s next door.”

  “Yes, Engineer,” replied Emerald 103. Sabre and Felis listened intently. “We prepared their apartment exactly as specified by the Institute. Come and see. However, we don’t have NavPads that the sabre tigers can use. We’ve arranged security passes we will clip to their collars, which will permit them to go anywhere on Shen Ark.”

  “I think it’ll be all right. What do you think, Sabre?”

  “Yesss. We can alwaysss asssk you to help.”

  Sal 45 stepped along the corridor and used her master pass to open a door. “Sabre, Felis, this is your apartment, door access is keyed to you. Please tell us if there is anything missing, or anything else you’d like to have. We arranged a welcome pack for you both, too. Come in and have a look.”

  Freddie followed the group into the apartment and looked around. While it was smaller than his, there was more than enough space for the two sabre tigers. The main room was decorated to simulate a tropical jungle, with trees and undergrowth filling almost all the space. Sabre and Felis stood in the small lobby, entranced.

  “It isss excellent,” affirmed Felis. Sabre nodded his agreement—it was the first time Freddie had seen the sabre tiger speechless.

  The two pursers smiled their relief. “We will check the plants each week and arrange replacements from the gardeners when necessary,” promised Sal 45. “Please enjoy your quarters. We need to leave you now. As I said to Engineer, we can be contacted anytime.”

  After the pursers departed, Freddie also left for his apartment. “Settle in,” he instructed Sabre and Felis as he departed. “And let me know, too, if there’s anything you need.”

  ~~~

  Freddie was the centre of a group of excited team leaders and project managers, all trying to report everything at once. The overall programme manager of the shipboard construction teams was Sam 593, a distant relative of the Sam who had founded the Rat Air Force, and also a close relative of Sam 32nd. Sam quietened the melee amongst his team members.

  “Attention, please. Engineer arrived just yesterday, and you’re all trying to describe in detail everything you’ve done over the last four months? I know, I know. It’s good to have Engineer on board. But let’s take things one at a time. Let me see—I think drilling team first?” Freddie nodded his head. “Good. Jen 33, a brief summary please.”

  “Engineer, we’ve almost completed drilling, although we did have some difficulties, as expected, and along the lines you indicated. The external stratum of Shen Ark is extremely tough. As Ser Nish explained to us, it is composed of a mixture of metals mined from an asteroid belt. These were applied in layers to the entire surface of the asteroid using an electrostatic process, after which the Shen engineers flew the coated asteroid through or close to a star’s corona—and then let it cool. They are marvellous engineers. While the stratum is only two hundred feet thick, it’s far harder to penetrate than the next layer, the original exterior of the asteroid, a nickel-iron mix with an average thickness of one hundred feet. However, despite breaking numerous drills, we have completed the forward foundation excavations, so we’re on target.”

  “Excellent. Well done. Ser Nish briefed me on the toughness of the outer layer when we were checking the technical inventories. Shen added a form of carbon-50 to the finished layer, to provide a really tough shell. They designed it to withstand meteor strikes, projectiles, any kind of direc
ted energy weapon, and of course nuclear or explosive weapons. Did the external survey crew detect any surface scarring from meteor strikes?”

  Jen 33 shook his head.

  “No? None at all? Now what about the generator foundation beds? How is progress?” asked Freddie. The generators were to provide power for both the huge magnetic trap and for anti-hydrogen particle separation processes.

  Harry Burgess, a burly human, spoke up, “I can cover that. We have the foundation beds in place and have commenced installation of the generators. We’re on target at this stage.”

  “Very good—and the particle separation team?”

  An elderly grey haired rat said. “Engineer, welcome.”

  “Thank you Sam—392?”

  “Yes, sir. We’ve mastered the Shen multi-dimensional replicator programming language and our component output’s on target. However, we do have some questions concerning the magnetic trap element design and we need your assistance. Overall, we expect to make our targets, though.”

  “Team, this is excellent news. Capins will advise us when they are ready for standard flight initiation. I believe the probable target date is three weeks from tomorrow. They plan to accelerate Shen Ark to 0.2c, which will take at least twelve months. The crew need the time to work through their planned shakedown program. We’ll carry on with our build programme and if necessary, the Capins will divert crew or military to assist; they’ll provide as many Rats as we need. Sam, keep the issues list up to date and we’ll work with the warp drive design and engineering teams to resolve them as quickly as possible. Ser Nish is eager to help if we encounter any Shen Ark issues. Thank you, all.”

  ~~~

  Freddie was impressed. The full complement of Capins, ten in all, were in attendance for this celebratory dinner, as was Sam 32nd. They waited until he was seated at one end and His Highness at the other end of the oval dining table, and then ten white and gold-uniformed New Rats sat down as one, five on either side. Twelve stewards immediately stepped forward and unfolded table napkins and shook them out before placing them on the lap of each diner. Other stewards carried in trays of delicacies; it promised to be an interesting evening.

  “Capin Red,” Freddie addressed the Capin on his right. According to her gold epaulettes she was the third highest ranking Capin at the table, one of the Desert Rats from Australia. “Are you giving the Under Capins an opportunity to run the ship tonight?”

  “Yes, Engineer, it’s not often we Capins can all socialize at the same time, and your welcome dinner provided an ideal opportunity. Your work has been invaluable and we really have no way to repay you.”

  “Capin Red, it’s been my pleasure. Although I plan to relax a little, once we have proven our implementation of the bubble warp drives.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that.” She touched his elbow. “Now eat, the chefs have worked very hard to make this meal a success.”

  Freddie obeyed her command. A general buzz of conversation filled the room. When the diners finished their first course, stewards stepped forward and removed their plates. Other stewards filled glasses; the Rats must have laid down quite a cellar when they provisioned Shen Ark for their journey through space. He voiced the thought to Capin Red.

  “Yes, we did,” answered the Capin to his other side. It was Capin Tec; he was responsible for the agriculture and farm decks on Shen Ark. “We brought lots of cuttings with us, which we’ve planted on the garden decks. You should visit, we’ve an impressive variety of gardens and farms. Of course, the vines are not yet productive, we realize it’ll take a few years before we have the right quality grapes.”

  “I haven’t had time to explore, yet,” observed Freddie. “When I have more free time, I’ll take you up on your invitation, and come and visit.”

  “Good, good. You’ll be very welcome. Let me know and I’ll arrange a guide for you, someone who knows all the details of the gardens. Allow a couple of days, there are three main decks to explore. And I’ll make sure they have an electric cart. Red,” he spoke across Freddie, “perhaps it’s something we should develop, tours of the farm and decks, as part of our social development activities.”

  “Yes, you should submit that idea to the Committee. I agree, and your suggestion will have my vote.”

  The stewards interrupted their conversation with their delivery of the main course: covered plates were placed in front of each diner, and at a signal, as though rehearsed, the stewards lifted the covers with a flourish. Freddie’s steak was medium rare, the greens fresh from the gardens, complemented by sweet potatoes and gravy, perfectly presented. One of my favourites, thought Freddie, I am being spoiled tonight. He applied himself to the meal, half listening to the bursts of conversation around him. More wine was served.

  After the stewards removed the empty plates, the senior Capin tapped a crystal bell. The chimes stilled the conversations and as the room quietened, Sam 32nd stood.

  “Capins, I would like to welcome Engineer to our table. We have had very few opportunities recently to gather together, and tonight is one of those rare occasions. Engineer.” He raised his glass and the ten Capins followed his example, drinking their toast.

  His Highness continued, “Engineer, we’ve discussed amongst ourselves how we can reward you. One recommendation, with which we all wholeheartedly agreed and which was suggested by me and unanimously approved by the Capins, is to elect you to the Capins Committee. Capins, please take your glasses again and salute our new member. Capin Engineer, welcome.”

  The chorus of congratulations was loud and expressed with warmth, as Capins stood and toasted him. Freddie was speechless. He realized the Rats had paid him an honour few humans would ever experience. Then, Sam 32nd signalled a steward who brought out a tailored white jacket. It was identical to the jackets worn by the Capins, white with gold trim. The steward handed it to Freddie and he tried it on—the fit was excellent. The Capins applauded again.

  “Your Highness, thank you for this honour. I doubt I can contribute as much as you need; however, I’ll do my best. My teams are doing a marvellous job, and I owe them a similar vote of thanks.”

  The meal and loud conversations continued. As the evening progressed, Sam 32nd and then each of the Capins made their way to Freddie and expressed their personal congratulations. Eventually Capins started to leave as their duties became more demanding and Freddie decided it was time for him, too, to conclude his celebrations.

  ***

  Chapter 36

  It had taken all of a year to complete the construction and installation of Shen Ark’s bubble warp drives. At regular intervals throughout the twelve months, the drive structures were carefully tested and every component was checked to ensure proper functioning. The drive team were building three complete sets of all systems; this redundancy was to ensure the starship would survive major system failures. Almost to the day, a year after Engineer boarded Shen Ark, the teams completed their tasks and reported their completion to Sam 593, the programme manager, who in turn reported to Freddie.

  “Sir, we are ready,” said Sam 593. “All warp drive components have been installed, all unit tests have been completed satisfactorily, and our review meeting this morning agreed the bubble warp drives are ready to be fired whenever you decide.”

  “Dr. Marshall, do you agree?” Freddie checked with the one person who could match his knowledge of the drives.

  “Yes, Engineer, everything is installed, the drive units are in compliance with our designs, we have conducted all the basic tests. The teams have done a marvellous job. As Sam said, we now can fire the bubble warp drives whenever you wish.”

  “Very well. I’ll need to meet with Sam 32nd and the Capins. I’ll do so this afternoon, and let you know their decision.” He turned to the senior Rat engineer. “Sam, well done. Please thank all the teams for me.”

  Rumours spread rapidly throughout Shen Ark; everyone knew the warp drives were ready, even the Capins, before Freddie attended the meeting of the Capins’ Commit
tee. Sam 32nd also had been informed, probably by Zen 33, his spy master, thought Freddie.

  There was only one topic of conversation for the meeting—when to fire the bubble warp drives. A consensus was quickly reached. Shen Ark had reached the target speed, and the starship was as ready as it could be. The decision was made to fire the warp drives in three days. That, the Capins decided, would permit navigation team, under the direction of Ser Glen, to check and recheck their navigation programs.

  Analysis of the recordings made when Star Flight’s warp drive was fired were not entirely helpful for predicting drive performance for Shen Ark. Instruments on board the shuttle had recorded mild vibrations, although nothing significant, and no cause had been identified. Star Flight had not suffered any visible damage. Detailed tests had been conducted to determine whether any of the shuttle’s spars, superstructure or substructure had been stressed; all the reports were negative: the shuttle had not been stressed by its entries into and exits from the warp transits.

  Shen Ark was a different ship altogether. Its sheer size established a far different environment for warp drives, and Freddie and his design team could not extrapolate from the results of the shuttle test to the intended firing of the starship’s drives. There was a risk, everyone realized, although the designers and engineers had done everything possible to eliminate that risk.

  Key project team members toured regions of the starship, tasked to identify possible weaknesses which would cause problems when the warp drives were fired. Farms and gardens were at risk, and their gravity units were checked and re-checked. Equipment, tractors, vehicles, even shuttles could be, and were, locked down. Inventory was stowed away in bins and boxes. Cabins were checked to ensure loose items were not likely to cause damage or injury if the warp drives caused significant failure of the starship’s gravity controls.