Cindy frowns as she fails to see the connection. “Go on.”
“Well, those mounds we saw all shows signs of being made by some ant like insect. As the days went by, mounds started appearing around the rotting remains of the fallen buffalo. These underground insects break down everything the wolf-cats leave behind, bones and all.”
Cindy’s surprised voice chimes in. “There are mounds everywhere.”
“Yes, but not in the forest, nor are there large animal droppings in the forest.” Emma beams with pride at her discoveries.
“Well,” Cindy continues, “that leaves but one question for the two of you. Do we go back down?”
Emma cannot contain her excitement. “Of course we do.” She turns to Patrick for support.
“I am not so sure.” Patrick intones, his voice is deadpan. However, his hazel colored eyes sparkle energetically giving away his true feelings.
Emma thumps him playfully, causing Cindy to smile even more. We’re all becoming a team now.
Cindy touches her chair’s panel. “All hands, listen up. We will be resuming our studies of the planet below, which incidentally, has been named New Earth.”
She looks back at the pair and shakes her head. “I have to stop letting crew polls dictate these names.”
Chuckles and laughter fill the bridge.
The next two weeks are mostly uneventful as Emma’s team continues their research, aided by quite a few volunteers. Eventually though, it is time to leave. Even Emma and her team concede that once again, they have found a planet that could keep them busy for years.
Chapter Four - It’s a Long Way to Tipperyary
Having explored a number of star systems and finding not one, but two that are habitable, the crew of the Terran is elated.
Cindy sits in her command chair feeling very pleased with their discoveries. She leans forward and says. “John, get ready take us home. It’s time to report our findings.”
Cindy smiles, taps the ship wide communications symbol, and says. “Attention all crew. Our mission has been a resounding success. We are heading home.”
While Cindy is relaying the happy news to the crew, Andrew is busy calculating the trajectory for their trip.
Each time they use the main engines, the bridge crew learns more about their ship’s capabilities and limitations. Andrew feeds the plotted course into the navigational system. Once Andrew is done, John transfers this data to his console, and then using the ship’s thrusters, he aligns the Terran with the plotted course. They have performed this maneuver a few times now, and gain confidence with each successful attempt.
John checks his controls once more and, once satisfied with what he sees, gives Cindy a thumbs up.
Cindy smiles at her crew. They’re becoming more efficient each time we do this. Her usual catch-cry sounds out. “Captain John, punch it.”
At Cindy’s command, John ceremoniously touches the main engines symbol. As before, the glow of the dampening shields increases in intensity. The stars go from white spots to the multicolored spectrum of light that she now finds soothing.
John glances at Joe, who gives him a slight nod. John then reports, “Almost speed six and holding. We will be stopping just outside the Sol system to recharge everything for the final leg of our journey.
Joe turns to Cindy and adds. “Thanks to George and Olaf, we have additional power reserves now.”
Cindy raises an eyebrow.
George knows what she is thinking and quickly defends himself. “We did not do the same thing as before, this is much safer. We got the computer folks to write some software allowing GUS greater control over the reactors. They now continuously charge the ship’s power grid, even during our down time. Don’t be alarmed, the grid is designed to cope with over one terawatt of power, our reactors barely put out two percent of that. They would have to run for months before coming close to overcharging the grid.”
Cindy considers what she has heard for a moment, while she decides whether to berate him for not running the idea past her, or to congratulate him for his initiative.
“Great work,” Cindy finds herself saying.
John adds his own thoughts to the discussion. “It means we can run at this speed until we’re about a day from home. That’s when we’ll stop and recharge the drained capacitors while we make our final course correction.”
Cindy frowns in confusion. “Okay. So just how fast are we going?”
Joe beams as he answers. “Well we have figured out that speed five is approximately four thousand times the speed of light. But would you believe that we’re travelling around forty thousand times the speed of light right now? Sucks a ton of juice to get there, but maintaining that speed it is not so bad.”
Cindy gazes at the kaleidoscope of colors bombarding them “The ship’s controls go to eight? That’s pretty impressive, any idea how fast that is?”
Joe shrugs his shoulders. “We don’t know if each block represents a new leap by some unknown factor, or if there is some sort of gradient effect.”
“Well, hopefully we will find out.” Cindy replies.
The days roll by quickly for the crew, especially once word gets out about how soon they will be home. Cindy is excited by the prospect of getting back to Earth, but a small part of her is really enjoying the freedom she feels in the Terran’s command chair.
The ship shudders at the transition to sub-light speeds. John reduces the Terran’s speed to a dead stop, thus allowing the ship’s capacitors to recharge efficiently. Cindy looks ahead at one special star while Joe shakes his head over the demands on power GUS makes gathering star chart data.
Andrew has been quietly reviewing his panel and laptop. He glances at John, then Joe, before giving them all some much wanted news. “Well mates, we’re one light year from Earth. We only need to make a minor course correction.”
Cindy smiles at the improving efficiency of her crew and says. “I will go down to the mess hall and let everyone know that we will be home tomorrow.”
Joe and Andrew pour over the data while she is gone. The two work as though planning a mischievous task. They eventually enlist John into their plans. He reviews the data and listens to their idea. He loves it. With the Gamin satellite grid providing the navigational systems precise coordinates, they will be able to drop in right on top of Earth.
Location:
Starship Terran
Sol Solar System
The crew all waits excitedly, in three hours they will be in Earth’s orbit and home. One man though, is not as excited as the rest. He stealthily approaches the relaxed guard. He has hid from sight these long weeks, stealing food, and other items, as he waited for the right time to avenge his comrades. He stops, suddenly tensing up.
Jim stretches as he stands outside the computer room. His shift is nearly over and he is tired. He is almost distracted, but only almost. He whirls around, lifting his weapon as he does.
The corridor is filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. A computer technician stops dead in his tracks, mortified at the sound. He fearfully turns toward the doorway to see Jim falling backwards, blood spurting from numerous wounds.
The terrorist looks down at his white coverings. He is shocked to find a number of holes, each with expanding crimson dots. He can’t believe that even with total surprise the infidel managed to shoot him. He wheezes as sheer hatred drives him forward. Each step causes the crimson patches to expand until his whole garment is bright red. Stepping into the computer room, he looks like death itself. The terrified technician wets himself as tears fall down his cheeks, fear prevents him from moving.
The terrorist is almost spent. Coughing up blood, he staggers farther into the room, lifting his weapon slowly as he goes. The man whose urine now forms a puddle at his feet, is still unable to move. He stares at the bloodied man with wide eyes, even as the weapon points right at him. The burst of gunfire knocks the bloodied man to the ground. The technician faints, bullets rake his clothing, but nothing more.
The ruined man, his breathing forming bubbles of blood, pulls a grenade out from somewhere and pulls the pin. He dies happily as he envisions the casualties he has inflicted.
The terrorist is wrong, the second he let go of the grenade, the four people in the room run for their very lives. They drag their listless colleague as they go, barely rounding the corner when the grenade detonates. A secondary explosion surprises them, as does the wash of blood that bursts from the room.
Had Jim hit the terrorist a little lower, he would have detonated the belt of explosives he was carrying. Sometimes it is the smallest of things that cause the greatest change in circumstances.
The explosion is not felt on the bridge directly, but its effects are noticed immediately.
George backs from his console at the same time that John suddenly finds his unresponsive. Every laptop connected to GUS shorts out as the overload from GUS impacts every system connected to it. Alarms blare in reactor control as reactor after reactor increases output to one hundred-ten percent, then one hundred-twenty percent.
Everyone is suddenly shoved back into their seats as the ship accelerates. Non-Gamin deck plates creak and groan throughout the ship as it streaks through space.
John looks in alarm at his console and says with fear. “We’re at maximum speed, and I can’t do anything about it.”
Joe puts a hand to his head in an almost panicky motion. “Reactors are at one hundred-forty percent and climbing.”
Andrew looks in bewilderment at his Gamin console as the stars streak toward them at impossible speeds. “We will be passing Earth in thirty seconds at this rate.” Andrew states, totally surprised by their velocity.
Cindy barely keeps herself in control as an odd vibration starts to come through the deck plates. “Transmit everything we have to Earth as we pass.” Her voice is steady and firm, though inside she is terrified.
George reconnects to the Gamin system, and finds that it is running a diagnostic routine. One minute later he reports, “Transmission complete.”
George reviews the ship’s systems and feels a chill run up and down his body. He turns to Joe and says with trepidation. “GUS is offline, and the RMC just went down.”
George glances apprehensively at Cindy, who is staring at him blankly. She does not fully comprehend what impact these failed systems will have.
Joe stares at his Gamin console in deep thought. The relativistic mass compensator works in conjunction with the gravity systems, so why did we feel the acceleration? His mind goes blank, he is unable to concentrate.
The ship, though designed for these speeds, does so at a cost. Armor plating which is not of Gamin design peels away from the outer hull. Inside, things are faring no better as the ship begins to shake itself to bits.
“The reactors won’t respond to shut down commands.” The dread-filled voice comes across the speakers. “GUS overloaded our controls and yet failed to trip our safeties. The main breaker is fused open.”
The Terran streaks past Earth so fast, and so close, that it causes a massive storm front to form. The lunar surface has little dust devils for a few seconds as the ship’s trajectory takes them dangerously close. The Terran travels at an unimaginable speed toward the galactic core. Unable to turn or stop, the bridge crew frantically hopes nothing is in their way. As for GUS, that which the explosion did not destroy, fried during the subsequent overload.
For hours the starship Terran travels out of control, heading deeper into the galactic core. Deck plates shake and shudder increasing the level of fear onboard. The colors that come through the forward view are the most vibrant ever. Cindy stares at them as she ponders their predicament. All they do is wait.
Location:
Array Operations Center (AOC)
80 KM West of Socorro, New Mexico
Barbara stares out at her new facility, her pale grey eyes taking it all in. Once again, she is in charge of one of Earth’s most powerful radio telescope facilities. The budget had been exorbitant, the technology installed, the latest. She stands there both proud and perplexed, for they just received a garbled transmission, from space.
Ring… Ring… Ring…
Barbara turns to her desk and is most surprised to see which phone is ringing. Quickly grabbing the phone, she hears a familiar voice, and cringes.
“Demetri here, my old friend.” The Russian plays with the word ‘friend’, for friends they are not. Neither party likes the other, but they are developing a growing respect.
“What!” Barbara states in annoyance as she taps on her desk with her pen.
“We just received a rather odd transmission.” Demetri continues on, unperturbed. “I was wondering if your facility picked it up as well.” The Russian facility was also rebuilt with no expense being spared. It too, boasts the world’s best technology.
Barbara frowns at his comment and replies, “No, we have not ‘picked up’ anything unusual.” She repeats some of his words in a mildly mocking tone.
“No need to be like that; I am calling to share with you what we have received. If you’re interested, that is.” Demetri’s initial excitement is fading fast.
Barbara, realizing that she has been unfair replies, her voice softer. “Demetri, we did get ‘something’ but are still piecing it together.”
“Oh,” Demetri replies, understanding her position. “Well, your honor is intact. The transmission originated in close orbit, between the moon and Earth, in fact. We were facing that way, and you were not. The problem we’re having is in the data stream itself. You see, it’s distorted somehow.”
As the talks between them turn technical they become more cordial with each other, as usually happens between the scientists. The session drags on fruitlessly until Barbara suddenly has an idea. “Why don’t we run this transmission by the Aussies?” Her energy picks up as she almost blurts out her thoughts.
Demetri is disappointed in himself for not thinking of this sooner, her idea is so obvious, and correct. “Of course, they have a Gamin shuttle. If the transmission was from one of their ships, perhaps the shuttle can decipher it.” He gulps. “I hope this doesn’t mean the aliens are coming back.”
Both remain silent, neither of them relish the idea of the Gamin returning.
Location:
Ground Control
Outback
Western Australia
General Hayes puts the phone down and takes a few moments to gather his thoughts. He then puts together a list of orders, and relays them.
It does not take long for the Gamin shuttle to be connected to the ground control computer systems. George had left a bunch of his fabled buffer circuits along with instructions on how to use them.
The data stream comes in from Russia straight through to the shuttle. The output is directed to a freshly installed supercomputer which rivals GUS. As technicians review the data, they are both surprised and dismayed by what they have been sent.
General Hayes reads the preliminary report quickly, then rereads it again in disbelief. Picking up the phone shakily, he makes a number of calls. It takes the supercomputer hours to compile the rest of the data stream. During this time, everyone connected to the little project now wishes they were not. The General lets everyone know that if any information leaks concerning this day, the offenders will be either shot or imprisoned for life. Though capital punishment does not exist in Australia, the staff feels pretty sure the General means it.
Even before all the data has been deciphered, the General boards a large military plane. Once again, he spends long hours in the air, followed by tense meetings, then more flights until he finally reaches his ultimate destination.
Location:
Washington DC
USA
The President gazes around the room at his many advisors, his eyes pausing at the small group of visitors. The Australian General he has met before, along with Barbara the headstrong scientist. But the Russian is someone he does not know. He squints at the name tag but cannot
read it, even though he sits fairly close.
Everyone has briefs in front of them. The President sits back in his chair, then after gathering his thoughts, speaks up. “Anyone else get this transmission?”
People seated around the room start to look at each other in silence until finally, Demetri stands up. “I would have to say, yes.” He then sits back down.
The President looks at the many others in the room. “Just yes, no more? Who else then?”
Demetri shrugs his shoulders in an exaggerated fashion. “Anyone with a powerful enough radio telescope facility backed with a computer system capable of storing the data.” He volunteers.
“China?’ The President asks as he stands up. “Did China get this?” He stabs at the brief angrily with his index finger.
As Demetri looks around the room and finds all eyes turning to him, he answers, “They have the capability.”
The President sits back down. “Okay. Now what do we do?” He asks, seeking input from his advisors.
Barbara cannot stand the indecision in the room any longer. “We know the starship Terran made a close pass to Earth. The message from the ship was distorted for reasons unknown. They report finding two planets that are habitable. We must claim them.”
An elderly man stands and shakes his fist at Barbara as he speaks up condescendingly. “Reasons unknown to you perhaps. The ship was travelling at…”
The President interrupts the man with a wave of his hand. “Yes, yes. I don’t care why the message was distorted, that is not important. What matters now, is how can we get to the planets they found?”
Barbara and Demetri find themselves on common ground as they watch the meeting fall into disarray. Once the meeting has dissolved the unlikely pair seek each other out. Barbara nods her head and smiles as she quietly talks with Demetri. “We must find out what’s going on with the Terran.”
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 44