The Ship: The New Frontiers Series, Book One

by Jack L Knapp

  “We’ll try a speed turn now, then an emergency braking maneuver. Make sure your belts are secure.”

  Punching the buttons, Morty switched the port impellers to aft. The starboard impellers were still set to forward. Pushing the joystick forward, he increased power. The barge skated on the surface, spinning counterclockwise within its own length.

  “Brace for emergency stop.”

  Morty switched the port impellers to forward, watching the readouts change. The barge resumed moving slowly forward. Punching buttons on the panel, Morty switched all the impellers to ten degrees up, direction aft. Increasing power, Morty carefully watched the screen.

  The barge slowed, shuddering as the following wave slapped against the stern, but because of the up-angle on the impellers there was no tendency for the hull to bog down. Reducing power, Morty eased the setting to zero as the barge stopped dead in the water.

  “Still think we’ll need that towboat to get back to the berth, Frenchy?”

  “I’m convinced, Morty. You want to try anything else?”

  “You decide, Frenchy. Why don’t you swap places with me and give it a try? Then we’ll let the others have a turn. It’s actually fun if you don’t get carried away. As long as you keep some up-angle on the swivels, you won’t sink her.”

  “What would happen if you went full power with the impellers pointed straight up, Morty?”

  “I don’t want to try that, at least not yet. She might start flying, but then again, she might not. The programming might not be able to keep her balanced. We’d use a lot of fuel in a hurry, too. It’s just a self-propelled barge as long as we’re floating, and nobody would believe the things we just did with it anyway. A flying barge, that’s different. We’ll eventually have that other hull ready, the one we don’t talk about. You can try maneuvering that one any way you want.”

  “Maybe I will, Morty. Maybe I will.”

  #

  Will took the controls after Frenchy. He brought the barge slowly into the slip. Backing at the last moment, he powered down the impellers.

  “I think we’re done, Morty. Are you finished with engines?”

  “We will be, as soon as Sven secures the lines to the dock. He could probably use a hand with that. I’m ready to return control to engineering, so Jim can run any final checks he needs to make, but as soon as we’re snubbed up to the bumpers I’m done. The crane crew and the mechanics won’t be here until tomorrow morning, so I’m going to bag out on that foam pad and sleeping bag. If the rest of you decide to sleep, make sure someone’s on watch.”

  “I’ll stay up, Morty, it won’t be the first all-nighter I’ve pulled. Well done! You’ve given us everything you promised, and more. What are the mechanics going to do when they get here?”

  “They’ll disconnect the batteries and unclamp the impellers first, then pull the computers. The only thing remaining aboard after the impellers and computers are gone is the battery pack and the generator, and there’s nothing secret about them. The impellers are going back for teardown. We put this set under a lot of stress and we’ll need to see if there’s any signs of wear.

  “Good night, Frenchy. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Morty, wake up. Don’t make any noise, we’ve got company.”

  “Company, Mitch? What are you talking about?”

  “Security just called. There are four men heading for the dock. They’re armed, according the guy in charge of security. He’s notified the police and called his office for backup, but they don’t have an armed response team available. He advises there’s nothing the two of them can do at the moment except to observe and record.”

  “We don’t have weapons aboard. I never expected...all right. Wake up everyone and notify Frenchy, Sven, and Jim about what’s happening. Have Sven cast off the lines, then report to Jim. We’ll get underway using only the batteries, so don’t fire up the generator, not until we’re well out into the harbor. Maybe those men won’t realize we’re gone. I’ll want all impellers on line, control transferred to the helm. Don’t use the intercom, I’ll see the lights when Jim switches over to bridge control.

  “Mitch, you and Frenchy use those push poles I saw when I inspected the barge yesterday. They’re racked along the sides on the upper deck, under each of the rails. When you’re ready, push as hard as you can. It won’t be easy, but the farther away from the dock, the better. Even using only batteries, the impellers whine. The intruders will hear the noise if they’re close enough.”

  “Got it, Morty. You’ll be at the helm? Where are we going?”

  “I’ll head south. We did our testing north of here, so this time we’ll go south. Gary, Indiana, is down that way, and there may be other harbors between here and there. But if we can’t get away from the dock, nobody resists. Chances are those four are not here to kill anyone, they’re after the propulsion system. Still, it’s not fair to ask our people to face armed attackers. As soon as we’re away from the dock, anyone who wants to can slip over the side and make for the beach. I’ll stay at the helm.”

  “What are you going to do, Morty?”

  “Get us out of reach if I can. There’s another option too; the impellers are in sealed containers and they’re mounted on the swivels with clamps, easy to release. I put the clamp system on to make changing out a defective impeller simple, but it gives me an option.”

  “You can disable them from the helm, Morty?”

  “Maybe. You could call it that. Tell me as soon as everyone’s ready to go, then get as far away from the barge as you can. If we’re away from the dock, maybe we can use the boats.”

  “I’ll be staying, Morty. What are you going to do? You know they’ll want you too, don’t you?”

  “If I can’t get the barge away in time, I’ll wreck the impellers and try to wipe the computers. I’ll take the control unit with me too, so all they’ll get is a blank computer with a socket, not much information in other words. I’ll see you back on shore. Your job is to get us away from the dock, I’ll take over as soon as we clear. You can still change your mind about staying, Mitch. Gather everyone that decides to leave and get them as far as you can from the barge.”

  Mitch shook his head. “I doubt anyone will leave. We’ve got too much time and sweat invested in this. Maybe we can help if we stay on board.”

  Morty headed for the captain’s chair and brought the computers on line. He looked toward the shore, but saw no movement; if the men were heading this way, as the security team had reported, maybe they were being cautious. Thumbing the toggle, he started the radar. Unfortunately, bringing it online would take a few seconds and the intruders might spot the antenna when it began rotating. If they abandoned their cautious approach, he might not have time to get the barge out of gunshot range.

  Faint scraping sounds from the port side, followed by a pair of splashes, indicated that the mooring lines had been released. Sven was a bright fellow; instead of bringing in the lines, he’d simply dropped them over the side. Moments later, the lights on the console came on. Jim had brought the impellers on line and transferred control to the bridge.

  “Yes!” Morty muttered. He flipped switches on the panel, and this was followed by whining from the portside swivel motors. Morty added power and the barge began moving, curving away from the dock to starboard. The space between the gunwale and the dock widened. Morty switched on the port impellers and the barge’s course straightened, taking it out into the harbor. The gunmen now had no chance of boarding the barge, and probably little chance of hitting anyone on board should they open fire.

  The first sweep lit the scope as the radar came to life.

  “Damn!” Two blips showed, positioned between the ground returns from the jetties at the harbor’s entrance.

  “Jim, on intercom.”

  Moments later the engineer replied. “You’ve got steerage way, right?”

  “It won’t do us much good, I’m afraid. There are two boats waiting at the
harbor entrance. They’re just sitting there, so I suspect they’re working with the intruders. I can see flashing lights back on shore, so the police are on the way, but they won’t get here in time. I don’t think we can afford to take a chance.

  “Here’s what I want you to do. I’m powering down the impellers, so as soon as they’re at idle, unclamp the swivel locks. Just unclamp the locks, leave the impellers in place. As soon as you’ve done that, come topside. We’ll need the two service boats, so get them in the water but don’t leave without me. Got it?”

  “Can do. What about the people on deck?”

  “Load them in the boats. I’ll join you after I do what I can to sabotage the barge.”

  “OK, I’ll take the portside boat, Sven will take the starboard. I’ll send most of the people with him if anyone’s left, you join me in the portside boat, okay?”

  “I understand.”

  “What are you going to do, Morty? You know that as soon as I release those clamps, the impellers aren’t locked down?”

  “I’m counting on it, Jim. Unscrew the cable locking collars too, but leave the connectors plugged into their sockets. Every little bit helps, and I want the impellers as free as possible.”

  “You’re going to destroy the impellers?”

  “I’m going to try. We can always make more; the important thing is to keep the secret of how they work.”

  Morty watched the radar display. The two boats at the harbor entrance had realized something was wrong, and both were now heading into the harbor.

  Splashes from near the bows indicated that both service boats had been launched. Morty watched the display for a moment, then slowly thumbed the gimbal controls. Gentle whines from below told him all he needed to know.

  “We’re ready, Morty.”

  “I’m coming. Make sure you’re not in line with the bow, all right?”

  “We’re off to the sides. Sven is maybe twenty yards away, I’m holding on to a line amidships, but nothing is tied on.”

  “Good. Give me a minute.”

  Morty looked at the display. All the impellers showed dead ahead, no elevation. Shame, really, but now the quick-disconnect mechanism would pay off in a different way. How strong was the bow of the barge? It was reinforced heavy steel, it would have to be to withstand the pressure from a tugboat’s push. But was it strong enough to destroy the impellers? There was only one way to find out.

  Selecting all the impellers, in effect ganging them together, Morty grasped the joystick control and thumbed the power control to maximum. He slammed the stick forward against its stop, applying full power to the impellers. There was nothing more he could do; without waiting to see what happened, he stood up and walked to where the service boat waited.

  Below decks, the unclamped impellers shot forward, flying free of the swivels. Control and power cables popped loose and the impellers smashed into the barge’s steel bow. Loud crashes from below were followed moments later by heavy splashes ahead of the barge. At least some of the impellers had smashed through the bow, their crumpled wreckage sinking into the harbor ahead. The barge shuddered, then began to sink as water poured in through the gaping holes.

  Marty stepped into the service boat and found a seat. “Maybe that worked. With luck, all the impellers went through the bow. Even if they didn’t, they’re wrecked, and the control modules were inside the housings. The barge is sinking and that will make recovery even more difficult, especially now that the police will be watching. We should be able to find the wreckage, but it would be dangerous for anyone else to attempt.

  “Jim, take us to shore. Frenchy, telephone the harbor police and tell them that we’ve been the victim of attempted piracy.”

  #

  Morty and Frenchy met the others in a waterfront restaurant after the harbor police had finished questioning them.

  “I’m hungry, Morty. It’s been a long night.”

  “I could eat, Frenchy. Who are those people? And how did they know we were working here?”

  “No way to tell, Morty. Maybe they’ve been tracking you since you flew the original Bedstead outside Panit’s window. It wasn’t just Panit either, other people saw you. But whoever they are, they had people on shore and boats out at the harbor entrance. That shows they’ve got a lot of resources and a high level of organization. Think they’re the same ones who were spying on the warehouse?”

  “Maybe. They could also be watching you, Frenchy. Considering all that’s happened, I wonder if the government is involved. They’d have the people to mount something like this, and they might not be shy about giving them guns. It might not even be our government.

  “But look at everything that’s happened. We’re reasonably sure someone was spying on us while we were working in the warehouse, you and Will have experienced financial pressure and people hampering your search for a factory site, then that attack on Lina and the warning from that crook. Whoever the opposition is, they’ve got a assets and probably a lot of money that they’re not afraid to spend.”

  “It could be a criminal gang, Morty. Crooks don’t mind giving their people weapons either.”

  “Yeah, but would crooks be interested in what we’re doing? We don’t really have anything yet, nothing they could use I mean. Governments or large corporations, now, they’d find a lot of use for what was on that barge. Sol’s company backed off instead of helping, but considering the potential profit, most other large companies would jump at the chance. Especially if they got the secret without paying for it. As for governments, the impellers are revolutionary. That’s enough to grant a strategic advantage to the first nation to develop a workable electric-drive spaceship. Our government, any number of others, we can’t rule any of them out. I don’t know how they found out we were working on something special, but it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that we have well-financed enemies that will stop at nothing. ”

  “You’re right. A lot of people would want a working impeller, so this puts a lot more pressure on us. We’re almost ready to launch our first marine system, we’re ahead there, but we’ve got to shift into high gear with the other models. We need the aviation versions.”

  “I guess you’re right. You know, it could even be more than one enemy. Think about it for a minute. The spy and the financial stuff all happened in the background, before we got the factory built. There was no overt attack. But then came the incident with the warning,” Morty avoided mentioning the rape; Frenchy didn’t need a reminder. “That was an overt criminal act. It’s different enough to make me think there might be more than one group trying to stop us. The criminal part, the use of force, was close enough to last night’s attempt that they might be related. It means we need to keep security tight, be suspicious of everyone, and start cranking out more impellers. I’ll also set something up at the factory to keep the completed units secure. The parts aren’t much of a problem, only the completed impellers have to be locked away. I already intended to have a secure area to work on the spaceship, so adding a storeroom for impellers won’t be much of a problem. By the way, the aviation version will work on airplanes, the spacecraft, and the heavy-duty lifter too. They’ll be installed on the King first so we can run initial testing before we mount it on an airplane. I’m going to need another engineer, maybe two, as soon as I’m ready to start on the ship. I need someone who’s experienced at designing spacecraft. He or she won’t come cheap. And you need to get cracking on the spacesuits too.”

  “I’ll do that. Spend what you have to, Morty. Our entire investment will be worth a lot less if someone starts producing impeller-powered craft before we do.”

  #

  The boats blocking the harbor entrance had vanished as mysteriously as they’d appeared. The noise caused by the impellers crashing through the barge’s bow and the sinking of the craft, or possibly the arrival of police on shore, had interrupted whatever plan was underway.

  “I’ll have salvage boats out as early as possible, Morty. I don’t think whoever wa
s out there expected you to do what you did.”

  “I don’t see how they could, Frenchy. I just thought of it at the last minute. I couldn’t allow the impellers to be taken, not complete and functional anyway. The control programs and computers either; it would be too easy for someone to reverse-engineer them. You should also put one of our people on board the vessel to keep the salvage crews from getting too curious. Maybe cut up that barge for scrap when it’s picked up.”

  “Maybe I will, if it’s completely wrecked. But if it’s salvageable, I’ll have the bow replaced and the generator and impeller mounts taken out, strip it down to the bare hull, then return it to the people I leased it from. That’s better than having the insurance company ask questions we don’t want to answer. I can’t afford to waste money, Morty. Bad enough that I’ve got to have the barge repaired, but I understand why you did what you did.”

  “If I hadn’t, Frenchy, we’d have lost everything. Even if we’d recovered the barge later, the secret would be gone, maybe the impellers would be gone too, stolen. Someone knows more than I like. They probably don’t have exact knowledge, but they know we’re doing something and they’re interested. By now, they probably know about your factory. We can’t assume they don’t. I know you’re not flush with money, but it’s time to upgrade security. You’re going to need more guards.”

  Frenchy nodded, tight lipped. “That’s an added cost I’d hoped to avoid, at least until later. But I understand. I’ll see to it. Maybe you or Chuck can go out with the salvage boats tomorrow?”

  “No, we’re both swamped with work back at the lab. Send Jim. Getting both models of the impellers redesigned for ease of manufacturing is taking longer than I expected. Quality control, too, it has to be built into the manufacturing system from the beginning. But no half steps. The impellers have to work the first time they’re installed, and the system has to work all the time.”