INTERVENTION

by Dennis Miller

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the doorcom, “Entry is requested.”

  “Who?” asked Rachmel.

  “Agent Andretta.”

  Think of the Devil, sprang to mind. What the hell did she want now? More threats?

  “Permission granted”

  As the door opened Andretta stepped into the room. “My apologies for the intrusion Commander, but I have concerns about Engineer Miles and pilot Hidson.”

  “What about them?”

  “They are both in the Engineers’ quarters and appear to be hatching a plot to subdue me before closedown or, failing that, once we are through the wormhole. I empathise with the fact that they are attempting to protect you, but if they go through with this attempt I shall have no other option than to terminate their lives, which action shall automatically abort this mission. We are approaching the most crucial stage of this venture and nothing must be allowed to interfere with it; this mission must be accomplished at all cost.”

  “How do you know they are plotting against you?”

  Andretta held out her left arm to reveal her personal interface. “As you are well aware, my remote interface conceals a life-form detector which tells me that there are two people in the Engineers’ quarters and none in the Pilots’ quarters. What MAC failed to recognise was the inbuilt audio device which has a range on this vessel of fifty metres; I strongly recommend that you take immediate charge of your crew Commander.”

  Rachmel stood and glared at the Agent who was standing there in the centre of her quarters, lecturing her on the importance of this, her mission; but she knew the woman was right, that this was the a critical time and nothing must be allowed to stand in the way; she couldn’t believe that Miles was planning something so stupid.

  Walking to the door, she said “Excuse me.” And left the Agent alone in the room.

  The moment she had left Andretta spoke, softly, “MAC.”

  “Agent Andretta request please.”

  “Code one nine four five.”

  “Internal Administrator Andretta voice recognition, Bureau facility override, verified. Request please.”

  “All personnel interactions and conversations on this mission - no log; all remote interfaces when in the Biohibernation section - no log.”

  “Complied.”

  “Bureau voice recognition facility code one nine four five, discontinue - no log.”

  “Complied.”

  The door to the Commanders’ quarters closed silently as Agent Andretta stepped out into the corridor.

  Rachmel entered Miles’s quarters and found the two men as Andretta had said, and obviously feeling some discomfort at being found together when everyone should have been resting prior to being called forward for hibernation process; it was important that all were relaxed when entering the units.

  “I know what you are doing and I am ordering you to stop. The success of this mission is more important than any individual on board; should anything happen to Agent Andretta I shall not hesitate to have you both charged.”

  Miles attempted to bluff it out, “Commander, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Andretta is in possession of location and audio devices; she reported to me where you both were and what you were saying. This is a Bureau Agent; the Bureau that acquires intelligence data from god knows what sources and you two are living with her in an enclosed environment and plotting her downfall: each of you should be giving serious consideration to your own intelligence, and to your own mortality. This ends now, is that understood?”

  The two men glanced at each other.

  “IS THAT UNDERSTOOD GENTLEMEN?”

  As one, they both answered “Yes Commander.”

  While in the corridor on return to her quarters Rachmels remote interface flashed.

  “Rachmel.” She responded.

  “Commander, we are approaching our rendezvous point; bio-hibernation must be initiated in not more than one hour.’

  “Very well, give the order.”

  “Complied.”

  Now all departments were hearing the order. “All personnel report to bio-hibernation section; process must be initiated in not more than fifty-nine minutes.”

  Once everyone was assembled Coles handed each a capsule, this to be taken upon entering the unit; one of the functions of the capsule was to ensure that the person would be sleeping well before the gases were released into the pod which would both create an internal pressure and reduce the occupant’s metabolism and temperature. The seal on the cover would keep the temperature and pressure at a constant until MAC resolved to restate the people inside.

  Rachmel’s earlier suspicion of Coles came back to her as she gazed down at the capsule in her hand. The unfamiliar sensation of indecision was beginning to cloud her judgement; would the abduction of Duarte prove to be the downfall of her crew? Or was Andretta still in charge of her own mission?

  Like it or not it was too late to do anything about it now; their safety rested in the capable hands of a Bureau Agent and her unconventional methods.

  First to enter the pods was Hidson; once inside he took his capsule and then touched the pad that operated the internal clamps and he felt the re-assuring pressure against his body: next, he drew up the fibro-metallic shield until it covered him completely and automatically locked into place. By this time he could already feel the effects of the capsule and he knew that in less than two minutes he would be sleeping.

  He called out from beneath the shield, “Internal completed.”

  Andretta responded “Thank you, sleep well.”

  With that, the Agent touched the pad on the side of the unit and the cover slid silently into position, completely sealing the structure.

  Moving down to the management system that was situated at the foot of the pod she entered the code that would hand over control to MAC; once this was done Andretta went across to Kamul’s unit. “Ready, Leading Officer?”

  Kamul glared at her with deep distrust. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

  “I am going to close you down for the duration of our journey through the wormhole. If I had intended to execute you, be advised that I could have done so at any time.”

  The rest of the crew watched in silence, aware that should Kamul refuse to comply then they would have to restrain him and force him into the pod.

  As though sensing this, Andretta spoke up again, almost as an order, “Please enter the pod and take your capsule.”

  Sullenly, but still obviously distrusting, Kamul stepped across to the pod and climbed in. Andretta completed the close-down and then turned to Coles’s unit. “Ready, Doctor?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, considering the circumstances.”

  For a moment Rachmel thought she saw a flash of humour in Andretta’s eyes.

  “Tell me Agent Andretta, do you believe we shall all return home and live to a ripe old age?” Asked Coles.

  “Who knows, Doctor; we could enjoy a thrilling adventure out here, experiencing life and death situations; escape by the skin of our teeth and return home heroes as in all the best storyline traditions, only to be knocked down by some foolish youth on a hover bike. Who knows, Doctor?”

  Coles regarded the woman for a moment and then said “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a barrel of laughs, Agent Andretta?”

  The Agents’ face remained impassive, “Many times Doctor, many times. Shall we proceed?”

  Once the Medical Officers’ unit had been processed Andretta turned to Rachmel who had been closely observing the tete-a-tete between Andretta and Coles.

  “Commander, I am going to offer you a proposition that is not included in Bureau regulations. I recommend you think clearly and responsibly before replying; I shall make this offer once only, and you, Leading Engineer Miles shall never reveal to anyone the content of what I am about to say, regardless of the outcome.”

  Miles guessed that Andretta was about to throw the Commander a life line. “Agreed” he re
sponded.

  Speaking into her remote interface, Andretta requested “MAC, time remaining.”

  The reply was instant. “Thirty two minutes remaining.”

  To Rachmel she said, “Duartes’ situation is and always has been in my control; I was aware of what was happening to her in the Medical centre when she was drugged by the good Doctor and then conveyed here by the three of you while the Engineer was keeping me occupied after awaiting my exit from the good Doctors’ domain.

  “I allowed this action to continue because the alternative would have been death to you all; make no mistake, I possess the authority and the means to fulfil such sentences. But the mission is one of such importance that I must do whatever is necessary to keep everything on schedule.

  “Leading Officer Duarte is unaware of my true purpose for being here, and because she is an integral part of my mission I need her to believe that she is on a level playing field with the rest of us.

  “In exchange for no procedures against you upon our return I am asking you to re-code her unit and to hand that control back to the MAC system. If it makes you feel easier you may code in a time delay of ten minutes on her re-statement; as things stand she is unaware of her abduction, I would prefer it to stay that way.

  “I give you my word that I shall forfeit my life before I allow her or anyone else to harm this mission or anyone on it. Please reply soon, for we have less than thirty minutes remaining.” Walking across to Rachmels’ unit she left the two Officers to discuss the situation.

  “I don’t like it” said the Commander, “She has more or less admitted that Duarte is the target, and still she wants me to release her; this is our lives on the line here.”

  After a moment, Miles said “I think you should comply, Commander. What good will it do to die over this? If for no other reason think of the effect it will have on the girl, to know that her favourite aunt has been put to death by the state, when in fact she should go down in history as a bloody hero.”

  Rachmel looked at her friend, the tears beginning to form in her eyes; the image of her daughter in her mind and in a low voice she said “You bastard, Miles.”

  “I’m sorry Commander, but painful as it is we have more than ourselves to think about here. I’m the last person to fly the flag for Andretta, you know that, but she’s said she’ll put her life on the line to protect us, and you have said yourself that the Agents don’t lie.

  “I believe her when she says she has Duarte under control; when you think about it she’s had us all under control in one way or another since we boarded this vessel, but I suppose that’s the nature of the bureau; the price we pay for the pleasure of the company of an Agent. And to be honest, whatever we may think about them Agents are more reliable to their word than anyone else we are likely to meet in our lifetimes.

  I believe it would be for the best to leave this situation in her hands.”

  Rachmel almost grinned at the irony; only a short time ago Miles had been plotting a suicide mission to dispose of Andretta, and now here he was singing her praises; but she had to admit to herself he was probably right.

  After a short pause she turned to Andretta. “Very well, it shall be as you say, but be advised that should anything happen to any member of my crew or this vessel as a result of this decision I shall hound you for the rest of your life with litigation after litigation until someone decides enough is enough, and then it will be your life that is on the line; think of your daughter.”

  Andretta was silent for a long moment, whatever was running through her mind was not apparent in her body language nor did it reveal itself on her face and eventually she responded “Very well Commander, if you would be so kind.”

  Moving across to Duartes’ unit, Rachmel keyed in the automatic control and when she had finished, Andretta said “Thank you, and now if you please.” Indicating Rachmels’ unit by her side.

  “No,” Said the Commander, “I’ll take yours - if you have no objections, that is.”

  Andretta smiled, “None whatsoever Commander, but being the last to closedown I shall need to transfer the remote controller from my unit to your unit.”

  When this had been done, Rachmel stepped into the pod and went through the procedure; pausing before drawing up the inner shield she looked directly at Miles and said “See you on the other side.”

  Miles winked as he replied “No question.”

  Andretta closed the Commander down under the watchful eye of Miles who kept close by throughout.

  Turning to face him, Andretta said “Your turn next Leading Engineer.”

  Miles stepped into the unit and carried out the necessary functions; when ready he said “Internal completed.”

  “Thank you Leading Engineer…for everything. Sleep well.” Replied Andretta.

  Miles felt the slight change in pressure as the outer cover slid silently into place; cocooned in the womb-like pod he felt his body rapidly relaxing in preparation for the hibernation process; he felt safe in the knowledge that M.A.C would be in complete control of their situation from here on.

  What the hell did she mean by ‘thanks for everything? he wondered.

  Probably trying to get around me for later; some bloody chance, bloody ghost.

  Just as sleep was beginning to make its presence felt, the thought that had been troubling him suddenly tumbled into his mind.

  She had said that the aliens had used the wormhole to reach Earth; and that the stories of their presence had been handed down through the ages; but the people on Earth would have had no knowledge of the wormhole so long ago, so how could she have known, unless…unless...Oh Jesus! the realisation of what had been whispering to his reason suddenly crashed into his brain; the echo of her words now screamed back to him…“and she has a female child.”

  All this time he had been preoccupied with the family details of the other women, even the Commander; Oh sweet Jesus no, noooooo.…

  But now the pre–hibernation medication had performed its task and his whole body felt leaden; the fingers of oblivion were already reaching into and caressing his mind.

  Miles slid silently into the arms of Morpheus and slept like a dead man.

  Andretta spoke into her remote interface, “MAC, all events in this section no log; proceed as per mission orders.”

  “Complied.”

  The agent then proceeded to closedown herself in the Commanders’ unit.

  When completed, she said to herself “For the greater good.” And then she too slept.

  Eleven minutes later MAC made a slight adjustment to the course; this for the final run into the wormhole which, in exactly four hours time, they would be entering and then they would be travelling at seventy five per cent the speed of light for the equivalent of sixty Earth years.

  This presented no problem to the humans on board as MAC could keep them all in suspension indefinitely; but MAC was not aware of the virus that had been placed on the seals of the units, and which would become effective seven days after closedown.

  Duartes’ unit was the first to be affected, as the virus began to attack and then break down the atoms of the seal. The minute perforations that were created by the virus was causing the life preserving gasses and pressures to escape; this was just a tiny loss at first and was controllable, but as the virus expanded the leakage became life threatening.

  The fault had been sensed immediately by MAC who attempted to compensate for the tiny loss of pressure and the slight rise in temperature inside the unit, but as the virus spread the deterioration became more rapid and MAC was beginning to lose the struggle. Without the aid of the pod’s seal Duarte could not be re-stated, which left MAC with no alternative other than to carry on fighting an unwinnable battle. Twenty four hours later the rest of the units yielded to their shares of the virus.

  Two days later MAC was recording no life signs on board, and had automatically re-programmed to abort mission and to return to base. Any attempt to turn the ship inside the wormhole, however, would have
been catastrophic for the vessel as the pressures would have been too great and so, they would have to wait to exit the other end and then return; a combined time lapse of one hundred and twenty Earth years inside the craft, but outside a mere two months.

  Delta Sierra One’s external data recording continued to run as normal, but all internal recording had ceased to function.

  Commander of missions appeared on the screen. “What do you have, Controller?”

  The Leading Control Officer answered calmly, his voice not registering the turmoil going on inside his mind, “We have just initiated capture mode on an incoming space vessel approaching at point two five S.O.L, Commander.”

  “Who?”

  “Delta Sierra One sir.” And in a more subdued tone, “No life signs.”

  After a short silence the Controller spoke again, “I shall be docking her into bay three sir, inspection team is standing by.”

  “Thank you, Controller, no one is to enter the vessel until my arrival; there will be no communication with the MAC system without my order.”

  “Yes sir.”

  The Controller viewed his screens as the vessel was brought in at a steady 30,000 miles per hour; at 500 miles distance the speed of the vessel was progressively reduced to that of pre-docking rate.

  As the vessel was brought almost to a halt, the man thought If anyone in there wasn’t clamped down they would be bouncing around now like a ball in a tin can.

  The inspection team watched the monitors of the inner docking area as Delta Sierra One was clamped and drawn inexorably into the outer docking bay, and once the clamps were locked the monitoring system announced “Craft Delta Sierra One is secured; boarding procedure may now be activated.”

  The three women and four men of the inspection team turned and faced the doorway to the sealed chamber that would lead them directly onto the vessel; no one moved, for the Commander hadn’t yet arrived.

  In his quarters the Commander was trying to come to terms with the inevitable. No life signs;

  He had sent these people to their deaths: He should have launched more probes into the wormhole and kept on sending them until they had gathered enough information to guarantee one hundred per cent safety for a manned mission. But he hadn’t; instead he had allowed his superior back on Earth to browbeat him into sending a manned mission as soon as possible and now these good Officers were dead. The responsibility, therefore, was his and his alone; this would put the project back at least another twenty years.