“Fire!” John replies with growing anticipation.
Joe taps the icon to fire as he looks up. Both of them observe the briefest of flashes, then at almost the same instant, the asteroid explodes. Debris shatters in all directions, including theirs. The Asteroid has all but been vaporized. Joe gulps as he taps the icon for shields, while at the same instant John’s amazing reflexes are put to the test. He works the joystick controller frantically as he dodges chucks of asteroid in an effort to get them away from the fragments.
With his adrenaline flowing, John turns to Joe and says, “Damn. Let’s test another one, but a little farther away this time.”
Joe grins widely and finds another target. They destroy eight more asteroids before heading toward open space to test the main drive.
Once there is nothing before them, John taps the main drive icon. The familiar kaleidoscope of colors rushes at them as the ship accelerates. John stares at his console, and in particular at a grey bar on its left. Of the bars segments, the lowest is lit. He glances to Joe and with disbelief asks, “What are the odds that this race uses the same measuring system for speed as the Gamin?”
Joe frowns then says, “Well, that depends on if they actually use the speed of light as a reference.” He shrugs his shoulders and states, “These consoles look like hybrids of ours, so perhaps.”
“Well, if that holds true, then we are at factor one, and holding,” John responds.
Joe glances at both consoles, nods, then with a frown, points at John’s panel and says, “Does that look like a tacho to you?”
“Yeah, it does,” John replies curiously.
“Well it says ‘Engine Core’” Joe says, stating the obvious.
The round dial has a needle which hovers at the first of six markers. The needle seems to flicker up and down, as if it were measuring a revving engine.
John continues to stare at his console, and says, “Why didn’t the sub-light control retract like the thruster panel when we switched to the main drive?”
Joe shrugs and replies, “I have no idea.”
On a hunch, John carefully grips the control and finds that it is more rigid than before. He gently squeezes the control, and is rewarded with an obvious burst of speed. The second segment lights up, while the tacho device creeps up to a ten o’clock position. He squeezes the control harder, and is rewarded with three more segments lighting up. This is immediately followed by the gauge slowing swinging to a previously unnoticed orange band at around the two o’clock position.
“Factor five and holding,” says John excitedly.
Joe grins, then glances at John’s console and says, “Look, an icon marked ‘automatics’. It was not there before.”
John feels his heart racing as he touches the icon. The instant it lights up, John’s controls go slack. His heart skips a beat, then he relaxes as the ship continues flying on. “Yes!” he shouts in excitement.
Joe’s excitement is tempered by his observations. “I am puzzled,” he says, then quickly adds, “according to your speed graph, this ship can do better than factor ten. But,” he adds pointing to the tacho, “If that represents the engine core, then we must be close to this ship’s engine limits.”
Both men stare at the tacho needle, which hovers between the four and fifth markers, out of the six on the dial.
Finally, John ventures a thought, “Perhaps this is a generic console?”
“Perhaps,” Joe replies in agreement.
John stares at the joystick then with a frown asks, “I wonder if this ship can turn at this speed?”
Joe gulps then replies nervously, “Ah, I don’t know how we could. The Gamin technical guide states that turning at these speeds is an impossibility, due to the stresses involved.”
John stares at the joystick and says confidently, “Whoever built this ship seems to have thought of everything. So, I am pretty sure if we’re not meant to, then that control won’t allow it.” Grasping the joystick, he ever so slightly pushes it to the left.
Joe’s jaw drops in disbelief as their craft begins to make a wide arc in space. The needle on the tacho swings all the way to the sixth and final marker, and stays there. John returns the joystick to its central position and smiles as the needle drops back down to the fifth marker.
Joe finally finds his voice, “Mate, we have gotta get back and report this!”
“For sure,” John replies.
“Hey,” Joe exclaims, “Let’s see if that device can locate the Terran.”
John lifts his eyebrows as he replies, “That’s a great idea.”
Grinning widely Joe taps the icon marker ‘Scan Mode’ and waits. Within seconds a blip appears on their screens. Joe adjusts his navigation view, then touches the blip. His jaw drops as detailed information on the Terran begins to scroll on his screen. He gulps as exact telemetry figures are transferred to John’s console along with the phrase, ‘select yes for new course.’
John stares at the simple statement for a few seconds, then taps the ‘yes’ option. The craft immediately turns and adjusts its heading. John gulps and says, “No wonder the Effen Raiders were able to track us last time.” The hair on the back of his neck raises as the ramifications of this technology begin to sink in. He turns to Joe and says with building concern, “Did you say this device can detect ship’s engines up to fifty light years?”
Joe’s face twitches as he replies with building apprehension, “Yes. Fifty light years.”
John glances at Joe then says, “Well, let’s keep this thing on and monitored, when we get back.”
Joe glances at John and replies, “I think it only picks up Gamin engine signatures.”
“But we can’t be sure? Can we?” States John. He adds. “It is possible it could pick up any ship.”
Joe shakes his head and replies, “It is possible, but from what I can see it scans some sort of energy signature that is specific to our engines.” He turns to John and says, “But I do agree that someone should monitor this scanner twenty-four-seven.”
John gazes ahead, “Crap.” He grabs the controls and slows them down.
Looking ahead Joe is surprised to see the Terran’s hull before them. They are so close that the interlocking hull sections on the ship’s side are visible. Joe taps the communications icon and says, “Terran, this is Joe. We have finished our tests and will attempt to dock inside the hangar.
John slowly moves them alongside the massive ship, then swings down beneath it. The Terran’s ramp is open, and though it is large, their ship seems larger. John checks his flight path two more times before he commits to it.
Radclyf and Hayato stand in the hangar deck, and watch in amazement as the ship slowly enters. Both men nod in appreciation at John’s skills as he brings the ship inside. By the time the craft is fully inside, the hangar deck has hundreds of spectators.
The alien spacecraft lands on the deck, its side opens up, then Joe comes rushing out. With a mixture of excitement and concern, he relays the results of their test flight.
Cindy arrives at the hangar deck, then listens as Joe retells his story. Once he mentions how effective the scanner is at pinpointing the Terran she lifts her hand and interrupts his ramblings. “I agree with you Joe. We should watch the scanner and be on the lookout for other ships.” With the briefest of glances at Hayato and Radclyf, she indicates that their teams will be monitoring the device.
As more of the bridge crew arrives on the scene, Cindy surprises them when she says, “Okay, we need to name this cute little ship we found.”
“Cute!” states John with a hint of indignation.
Cindy grins and says, “But, she is yours,” she nods to John.
Peter smiles at Cindy’s use of the word found, because in reality, they stole it at gun point. As word spreads that the ship is to be named, people begin calling out various suggestions. “Vengeance, Intrepid, Wanderer, Victory, Defiant, Liberty Two...”
Cindy interrupts the flow of offerings when she calls out loudly,
“Who said Victory?” She gazes at the growing crowd and waits for a reply.
After a few moments, one of the kitchen hands steps forward. The young man seems almost embarrassed and stammers, “Uh, I did miss, I mean Admiral.”
Cindy shakes her head at his discomfort and motions for him to walk over to her. She calls out, “Does anyone have a bottle of wine to christen the ship?”
Within minutes a bottle is procured. The young man holds the bottle nervously, then with a gulp, breaks it on the nose of the ship.
Cindy calls out, “We name this ship ‘Victory’, and may she serve us well.”
The hangar deck becomes a bedlam of noise as people roar and cheer. Cindy walks over to John and has to shout to be heard, “Will you go and get Emma please? She insisted on doing some last-minute work at the research settlement.”
“No Problem,” John replies. He has to wait for the crowd to thin before he can safely launch their smaller survey shuttle.
Fateful Decisions
Location:
Starship Terran
Planetary Orbit
Oglan
Cindy stares at Emma, then with a sigh replies, “No. I am not staying here any longer. You can either come with us to the derelict, or stay here with your team. The choice is yours.” She puts her hands on her hips, her exasperation clearly showing.
Emma shakes her head and pleads, “We have only been here for three weeks, and have barely begun to understand this planets ecology.”
Cindy’s composure softens. She smiles as she replies, “Emma, we have had this discussion before, and I am sure we will have it again. But my decision stands. Our primary mission is to salvage the derelict. This has always been a secondary objective.”
Emma lowers her head, and speaking softly, admits, “I know. Actually, you have stayed here longer than I thought you would.”
Cindy laughs softly, “Well, I can’t take credit for that, the engineers finished the repairs to the Terran only yesterday.”
“That took a while. I thought George was helping them?” Emma states.
“George spent a lot of time examining that new ship with Joe and John,” Cindy responds with a twinge of annoyance.
Cindy deliberates over the last few weeks, then smiles once more as she considers their progress. Each team of engineers has worked around the clock to repair the ship’s damage. In the process, they designed and created, specialized lift equipment to assist them. The most time-consuming task however, was finding the sections which had been expelled into space. Creating new hull pieces would have taken considerable effort, and virtually all of George’s time. But thanks to John’s ingenuity, they found the pieces, and repaired the damage.
Emma can tell that Cindy is thinking and waits for a few moments before making her final request. “Can I at least have one more day, so I can hand over my duties to the team leaders?”
“One more day?” Cindy questions, then tilts her head. To Emma’s surprise, she agrees, “Just one more day it is.” She turns to George, who has been busy working at his terminal, and adds, “You may as well go back down to the planet and assist Patrick.”
George replies quickly and happily, “No Problem. He is still at the old Gamin dock, converting it into base metals. He had planned to catch the last shuttle back, and I am sure he will also be happy to have an extra day.”
Cindy nods and says, “He does like those people, doesn’t he?”
George smiles and replies, “The Oglans, what’s not to like? They’re a friendly and sociable people.”
The time passes quickly, too quickly for some. Emma understands that this extra day is a major concession by Cindy, and takes full advantage of it. She diligently hands over all of her research notes, then goes over each team’s objectives before leaving.
The next morning the command crew begins steadily making their way back to their usual workstations. Cindy acknowledges each of them as they take their stations. Patrick is the last to arrive, and seems downhearted. He says nothing as he connects his suit to his workstation. Cindy considers asking him what’s on his mind, then thinks better of it.
Cindy nods to her crew with approval, then says, “John, plot a course for the derelict, and get us there as fast as you can, will you?”
“Yes ma’am,” he replies cordially, a thin smile plays on his lips.
Patrick stares at the planet as they move away, then unexpectedly says, “I wish we could help them.”
“We did all we could,” Cindy replies.
Patrick steps from his suit, then bluntly questions, “Did we? Do you know that Jux is protecting an ancient computer? One that will never work again.”
Everyone turns to look at Patrick, including George who says, “The only computer we saw, was the one in the Gamin crematorium.”
“I forgot about that place,” Patrick says, then, while frowning, adds. “From what I remember, it scared the heck out of you guys.”
Joe shudders, then says, “Yeah, thinking about that place still gives me the creeps.”
Patrick glances from George to Cindy, then says, “That Gamin computer and power source may be all the Oglans need in order to rebuild their civilization.”
“We must help them,” Emma pleads.
Cindy’s eyes rove from Patrick to Emma, she almost preferred it when Emma and Patrick did not like each other. But that was long ago, or so it seems. She scowls then turns her annoyance on Patrick, “And you chose to wait until now to tell me this?” She sighs deeply, then adds, “Of course we will help them.” Turning to John, she says, “Head back to Oglan; it seems we’re staying a little longer after all.”
Emma’s eyes open wide, but before she can say anything, Cindy shakes her head and states firmly, “No. I am not having you go down and start some task you need ‘one more day’ to complete.”
Emma turns to Peter and pouts. Peter blinks in surprise at her expression and says defensively, “Hey, don’t think for one second I am going to pick sides.” Emma’s jaw drops open, then snaps shut. “I don’t expect you to pick sides Peter Ivanov. You’re supposed to support me!” She states indignantly.
No one on the bridge says a word. This is the first time some of them have even heard Peter’s last name, and Emma practically spat it out.
Emma gazes around, then huffs, “Fine!”
George steps from his suit and with a deep sadness speaks, “I never told you folks this, but the Gamin computer system is functioning, and has an active database which includes the Oglan’s lost technologies.”
Cindy frowns in confusion and asks, “What didn’t you tell us?”
George lowers his gaze as the unpleasant memories resurface. “Well...” he says slowly as he decides how to present what he knows. “The Gamin clan that subjugated this planet used the Oglans as guinea pigs for these bodysuits, as well as slave labor. Thousands died horrible deaths, and were then cremated inside that power unit they left behind.”
Cindy purses her lips and encourages George, “Go on.”
George sighs, then solemnly continues, “When the Regent of that clan was unable to get a prototype working, he ordered his fleet to bombard the planet’s major cities.”
Cindy’s jaw drops, “Did the Oglans do anything to entice this action?”
“Nothing,” George replies sadly, “they were as peaceful a people then, as they are now.”
Cindy sighs, then says, “John, George, Patrick, and Joe, go and see what you can do.” She taps the side of her chair then reluctantly adds, “Emma, if going back down will benefit your team, then go.”
“Yeah!” Emma cheers, then quickly gets up, adding, “Thank you.” She glances at Peter, huffs, then rushes out of the bridge to prepare.
Cindy turns to Robert and says, “You may as well go too, if you want.”
“I would love to,” Robert replies enthusiastically.
Joe puts a hand to his mouth and says, “That place even scared Radclyf.” He gulps, and then glances around nervously, but rema
ins quiet.
Patrick suddenly has an idea, and gushes it out. “All those computers that Suzanne set up for Emma’s teams, they use a network. Right?”
Cindy grins, “Perfect.” She turns to George and says, “See if you can get the data to feed to the mainframe we left behind using one of your interface devices.” She turns to Patrick and says, “And I want you to show Jux how to use a tablet computer.”
Joe’s jaw drops, “Ah, it’s not that simple. We would need to create a program that Jux could use, and that would take...” He shrugs his shoulders and adds, “Who knows how long.”
Cindy grins as she declares, “Then it is up to you and Emma to convince Suzanne to write one, and fast!”
The selected group departs the Terran as soon as they are back in orbit. John lands the shuttle near the abandoned Gamin facility. After a short walk, they arrive outside the old Gamin door, which they left open during their last visit. The passageway no longer smells the same as they recall, but it is still musty.
George, who is wearing his bodysuit, leads them to the end of the passageway, then down the old stairwell. They all carry bright flashlights to illuminate the way, creating wandering pools of light as they walk along. At the base of the long stairwell they are greeted with another corridor. Fifteen minutes later, they arrive at the massive room, which George recalls quite vividly. The dome shaped cavern is huge. A Gamin Power Unit rests in the middle, appearing to be nothing more than an oversized dark brick.
George and Joe have no trouble interfacing with the console. Setting up a remote link, however, is a daunting task. They debate laying cable, versus a wireless setup, and then finally decide to go with both. The equipment Suzanne supplied is geared for either interface anyway.
Suzanne’s team works quickly and efficiently to create an application which can access the Gamin database. She follows George’s instructions to the letter and omits all access to anything not related to Oglan technology. The task of translating the data is relatively easy, and reveals that the Oglans were indeed quite an advanced race at one time. They had space stations which orbited their world, and a sophisticated space program in place.
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 121