by GARY DARBY
After several minutes, Federov announced to the SlipShip’s crew, “Going to hyperlight.” In an instant, the galactic stars on the vu-screen changed to show the ebony curtain of n-space.
Federov came back on the vu-screen. “Your status?” he asked.
“Other than feeling as if we’re in a sardine can,” Jadar replied, “we seem to be good. Time to the departure point?”
Federov glanced down at his sensor readings before raising his eyes. “Ten minutes. Suggest you run your last-minute checks.”
“Anything showing on the scope?” Teng asked.
“No,” Federov answered, “it’s clear.”
“Excellent, that’s how we want it. Snooping eyes could ruin this whole mission.”
Jadar took the several steps to reach Dason and Brant. “If you need to run any last-minute equipment checks with your teams, now’s the time.”
“My team’s set,” Brant replied. “We already ran equipment checks twice. Everyone’s cinched tight and zoned in.”
“Mine, too,” Dason answered. “We’re ready.”
“Good,” Jadar returned. “We’ll stay here until we reach the d-point and then go below.”
He gestured toward the acceleration chairs. “Find yourself a seat, but don’t interrupt unless it’s necessary. This is a bit dicey and the pucker factor is pretty high right now.”
Turning away, Jadar once again joined Teng Rhee and Commander Jeth. Dason couldn’t help but notice how intent the three were and the worry lines that stretched their mouths down.
With good reason, he thought.
Dason motioned for El’am to take a nearby acceleration chair and settled in next to the Sha’anay. After several minutes, Federov came back on the vu-screen. “SlipShip, we’re dropping out of hyper, going to sublight, stand by for hangar bay decompression.”
“Roger,” Commander Jeth replied.
Moments later came, “SlipShip, doors are fully extended, the scope is clear, you are free to disembark.”
“Acknowledged,” replied Jeth.
She reached over and made the vu-screen switch from the Intrepid’s viewpoint to their own. The large hangar bay came into view. “Exiting now, thrusters only,” Jeth remarked as the SlipShip moved forward and then out into open space.
“Coming about to three two two, mark seven one,” she stated and the vu-screen moved in a slow arc to the right.
She spoke into the communicator, “Intrepid, I show us as being clear at a distance of five kilometers.”
“Confirmed,” Federov replied. “You are free to maneuver. Intrepid wishes you smooth sailing.”
“Thank you, Intrepid, and the same to you,” Jeth replied.
She turned to Teng. “We’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”
“Then proceed to hyperlight, commander,” Teng ordered.
Once again, the dark curtain of n-space instantly replaced the fiery stars of the cosmos. For several minutes, the ship plowed through the darkness. Teng turned to Jeth and asked, “How’s she handling?”
“So far, green across the board,” Jeth replied calmly, though her eyes never left her control panel. “No hiccups . . . yet.”
“The matrix program?” Jadar questioned.
“In the groove,” Jeth replied. “If this works like it’s supposed to, we’re about ten minutes to hyperfold contact.”
Teng said to Jadar, “Time for your party to get below.”
He reached over with an outstretched hand. “Good luck to you all.”
“Thanks,” Jadar replied.
Jadar turned, gathered up the three with his eyes, and they hurried down to the small hangar bay where a trio of Zephyrs sat nose to tail in a neat line.
Dason and El’am entered the first, Brant strode to the second, while Jadar loped to the one farthest away.
After he and El’am cycled through the airlock, Dason found five anxious faces waiting for him. “We’re nearly to the hyperfold locus,” he noted, “shouldn’t be more than a few minutes and we’ll know if this is going to work or not.”
“Speaking of,” Sami asked, “you think this hyperfold thingy is really going to work or are we going to end up all twisted around with our heads where our feet are and our feet where our head is supposed to be?”
Dason cocked his head to one side in answering Sami. “Where do you get these ideas, Sami? No, we’re not going to turn into human pretzels.”
“Sami,” Alena commented, “look at it this way. We come out of this alive—your name will go down in history right next to the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, and Sheila Poncey. You’ll probably have a dorm at the plebe academy named after you.”
Sami sat up straight. “Hey, I like the sound of that. Alvaro Hall, only the best and brightest pass through these doors.”
Smiling, he turned to Dason. “TL, tell those folks on the bridge to crank her tail and let’er rip, we’re ready.”
A perplexed expression crossed his face. “Wait, what’s the name of this ship anyway?”
“In all honesty,” Dason answered, “I don’t think anyone got around to naming it.”
“Then we’ll call it the Slip n’ Slide,” Sami declared. “Cause that’s what we’re about to do, slip in, do our thing and slide right out again.”
“That’s a silly name,” TJ replied. “It should be something more dignified, more regal; after all, it’s the first ship of its kind.”
“So, you want to call it, what, the Royal Slip?” Sami questioned.
Alena laughed at Sami’s remark. “Sounds like what some duchess wears under her dress. How about the SlipStick, because we’re going to slip in and stick it to some Faction creeps.”
As the four argued about what the SlipShip’s name should be, Dason motioned for El’am to take a seat. He turned away to make his way to the pilot’s pod.
“That’ll keep them both occupied,” he grunted to Shanon, “and their minds off what’s ahead. Ship’s status?”
“She’s all warmed up and in standby mode. I just hope jumping through these spatial folds doesn’t blow any circuits. It would make getting down to the surface a bit tricky.”
“Shouldn’t,” Dason answered. “From what I’ve seen, the SlipShip hardware uses essentially the same nanotechnology that we do.”
“If this works,” she asked, “how close to Earth are we going to come out?”
“They’re shooting for about ten astronomical units, just outside Saturn’s orbit.”
“Whew,” Shanon let out in one long exhale. “If I understand the theory behind this, that’s cutting things a little close to the sun isn’t it?”
“Very,” Dason answered quietly. “But it was a choice between that, or emerging so far out that we would have to chance outrunning the picket ships, most of which have stations beyond thirty AU, or about Neptune’s orbit.
“And since the SlipShip has the sub- and hyperlight capacity of a clunky interstellar freighter, it was pretty doubtful we were going to outrun the Navy’s Predators or Prowlers.”
“But won’t there be ships close to Earth?”
“A few,” he answered truthfully. “But that’s one reason we visited Admiral Stannick. She gave us the planetary guard’s patrol routes; unless they’ve changed those assignments within the last twenty-four hours, we know the approximate trajectory of every Imperium Guard ship in near-Earth space.”
“I have to admit, it’s nice to have an admiral on our side,” Shanon remarked.
“Yes, it was fun while it lasted,” Dason replied sadly.
“Was?” Shanon asked and peered at Dason with a puzzled expression. “You want to explain that?”
“My uncle told me that there’s a good chance that she’ll be relieved of command and have to stand before a High Council tribunal. It’s just a matter of time.”
“A High Council tribunal?” Shanon asked. “What is that?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but from what I understand, the council issued some sort of emergency declaration.
The edict gives it the ability to act as high judge and jury in some cases; trying and sentencing people without the benefit of ordinary legal proceedings.”
Shanon was silent for a few seconds before murmuring, “So that’s why we blasted out of there so fast, we hardly had time to catch our breath.”
Dason nodded at her. “Exactly. They were afraid that we might get trapped in the net and lose this one chance of getting to Earth. That’s why we had to pretend that we were scouts answering the recall and were headed inbound.”
“And hitching a ride with the Intrepid,” Shanon smiled.
“Uh, huh,” Dason smiled back. “Appears to have worked, too. We didn’t have any security people asking questions or Ship’s Patrol locking us in the brig, either.”
He was about to continue when over the ship’s communicator came, “This is the flight deck, matrix program engaged, thirty seconds to hyperfold transition.”
“Here we go,” Dason said.
He pressed the control for the viewer and straightaway the blackness of null space showed on the screen. He glanced over at Shanon. “Scared?” he asked.
She shook her head, causing her short brunette hair to swish against her collar. “You remember when the croc-lizards knocked Sami and me off the ledge, and we started falling into what seemed to be a bottomless pit?”
“How could I forget?”
“Now, that was scary.” She waved a hand at the vu-screen. “This? This is a piece of pie.”
Dason shook his head at her. “You’re starting to sound like Sami. You mean it’s a piece of cake.”
“Nope,” Shanon replied. “I prefer pie to cake any day.”
Dason grinned at her. “I’ll have to remember that. I—”
Just then, a tiny, bright spear of light appeared on the screen. In an instant, it exploded into a bright, shimmering, wavy, multicolored curtain that seemed to stretch in all directions.
For just a second, it filled the screen until in a flash it sprang forward and disappeared. The Zephyr shuddered and rocked for a few seconds and then stabilized. Neither Dason nor Shanon spoke though both gripped their armrests a little tighter.
There was silence and then Commander Jeth’s voice came over the comms, “Transition complete and successful.”
She let out an audible breath. “Ladies and gents, it appears that we made it. Everyone, including me, can breathe now.”
On the screen, a yellow sphere, little bigger than pea-sized gravel glowed against the darkness of space. “Good ol’ Sol,” Shanon breathed out.
The viewer zoomed in to display a dark globe where strings and bubbles of light split the darkness, as if someone had imprinted a whole galaxy of stars across its surface. “Terra,” Dason murmured reverently.
“And it looks as if our timing is perfect,” Shanon observed. “It’s nighttime down there.”
“Going to hyperlight,” Commander Jeth announced, “all Zephyr crews, stand by for egress.”
“That’s us,” Dason said and brought his vessel up to full ready mode.
“Sure hope she remembers to stop before hitting Luna,” Shanon remarked in a tight voice. “It has big enough craters already.”
“She will,” Dason answered confidently, “she’s an excellent pilot.”
A short time later, Jeth declared, “Coming to full stop in three—two—one—full stop!”
Overhead the bay doors all but snapped open, and like angry hornets shooting out from a hive, the Zephyrs swarmed out of the SlipShip’s inner bowels.
“Wow,” Dason’ voice was full of admiration as he stared straight ahead. “Let me rephrase that—she’s a fantastic pilot.”
Dead ahead, and no more than one hundred kilometers above its darkened exterior, lay the cratered backside of Earth’s moon. To place them so close to the surface going at hyperlight speed was piloting of the first order.
However, of more importance, by doing so, she had given the Zephyrs the best chance of going unobserved by Earthside electronic eyes and ears.
“Form up,” came Jadar’s crisp order over the comms.
With rapid strokes to his control board, Dason piloted his Zephyr until it was under Jadar’s ship. Above them, Brant’s Zephyr took position directly over Jadar’s vessel.
“Remember,” Jadar directed, “stay tight in the formation, we want to appear as one ship to their snoop scopes. If challenged, and I can’t bluff our way through, I’ll give the order for you to break off.
“It’s up to each TL to decide, at your discretion, to attempt a solo mission, or return to the rondy point.
“Last note. On the way down, keep your communicator on an open channel. I want everyone to hear what’s going on. Go to the ‘scouts only’ mode on my signal.”
He paused and then asked, “Everyone clear on that?”
“Roger,” Brant replied.
“Clear,” Dason answered.
“Then here we go,” Jadar responded with a slight catch in his throat. “Scouts Out.”
The three Zephyrs moved forward as one. Dason kept his eyes glued to the underside of Jadar’s Zephyr, matching its every movement.
Building up speed, they flashed across Luna’s terminator that marked daylight from darkness and accelerated toward Earth. Dason’s palms were sweaty, and his fingers felt cold and unresponsive as he caressed the pilot’s controls.
Shanon must have sensed his anxiety because she leaned close and whispered, “You can do this, TL, I know you can.”
Her soft words of encouragement seemed to lift him up, and he felt the tightness go out of his shoulders. His fingers began to fly over the board, as if he could anticipate his uncle’s next flight move.
He sneaked a quick peek at the display and was surprised to see that they were less than ten minutes away from entering Earth’s atmosphere.
So engrossed was he in keeping his ship tucked under Jadar’s craft that he had lost track of time. What had taken the first ancient astronauts days to cross had taken them mere minutes.
Over the ship’s communicator came a sharp voice, “Inbound craft, this is Station X-Ray, Planetary Guard. You have breached the security zone. Identify yourself and come to a dead stop, or we will open fire.”
With no hesitation, Jadar responded, “Station X-Ray, this is the Lydorian vessel Alta, personal craft of Ambassador Selick on a diplomatic mission for a private consultation with the Imperium High Council.
“You should be receiving our secure transponder code. Repeating, this is the Lydorian vessel Alta, with Ambassador Selick aboard and—”
“I heard you the first time!” the voice snapped. “Stand by, we are not showing your transponder squawking on our scope, nor do we find any preauthorization for your landing on Earth.”
“I’m showing my transponder fully operational,” Jadar answered. “It was transmitting just fine when we passed through the outer security interdiction ring.
“How do you think we got this far? I suggest you run a diagnostic on your end and let us get on with our business.”
“Whew,” Shanon whispered. “Your uncle is not bad at spinning a tale.”
Dason nodded and replied with just a hint of admiration in his voice, “I didn’t know he had it him.”
“My system is green,” the voice returned sharply. “Now, heave to and prepare for a boarding party or we will open fire on your craft. Do you understand?”
“They’re not buying it,” Dason remarked tensely to Shanon. “I think they’ve got our number.”
“Don’t give up just yet,” Shanon answered.
She hit the comm's button. “This is Ambassador Selick,” she began in an angry and haughty tone. “I am the Lydorian Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Imperium High Council. I have urgent business to conduct with the council.
“Young man, I suggest we dispense with this nonsense and let me land or I promise you that after I report your incompetence to the council, your next job will be shoveling Chubwalla dung at the New Sydney Zoo Oram Three.�
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“I—I—” the man stammered. He stopped and then in a rush said, “Madam Ambassador, please let me confer with my supervisor.”
“Certainly,” Shanon answered, her voice taking on a curt tone. “But do so hastily, my patience wears thin.”
Dason sat with a stunned expression as Shanon cut the transmission. She sat back in her chair and exhaled with a loud rush of air. “Whew, that was harder than getting chased by the Sha’anay back on the AP planet. I knew what I was doing then.”
Gesturing at the console, she laughed. “That was actually kind of fun, though I admit I never knew my grade-school acting days would come in so handy!”
Dason grinned and nodded in approval. “I thought my uncle was good, but you were great!”
“Thanks,” Shanon replied. “I just hope that buys us a few more minutes.” Biting at her lip, she motioned toward the navigation display. “We’re almost to the ‘do or die’ point.”
A new, gruff voice came across the speaker, “This is Major Kirch, Imperium Planetary Guard. You will land your craft at Guard Base Mahlstrom.
“Do not leave your vessel. A guard contingent will board and verify your authorization. If your credentials are legitimate, then you may go about your business.
“Warning. Any deviation from the standard flight profile to the base will result in an immediate response from planetary forces. Is that clear?”
“Perfectly,” Jadar responded, “coordinates to the base, please.”
“Sending now,” Kirch replied.
“I have them,” Jadar replied. “You realize this means an extra delay for the ambassador.”
“Once cleared, it’s a short hop to Mandela Field,” Kirch answered. “Welcome to Earth. Kirch out.”
A moment later, a small blinking light on the comm's panel caused Dason to switch the speaker over to the private command line. “Zephyr Three here,” he answered. “Two here,” Brant responded.
“You heard?” Jadar asked.
“Yes sir,” both replied.
“Scout Hsu,” Jadar said, “that was a slick piece of work. Thanks for covering my six and stepping in there, I was running out of things to say. And uh, congratulations on your promotion, ‘ambassador’.”