Carey wasn’t completely sure she liked that idea, but they just couldn’t keep on going as if they had never found this fantastic alien construction. They needed answers.
Also, Benny and Gina with Star Rain were going to leave their path and also head for the center of the sphere. With two of the Starburst ships and all the thousands of military and scout and science ships with each Starburst ship, the chairmen of all the Starburst ships figured there was a chance of discovering what this sphere was all about.
Plus, honestly, Carey felt much better having Star Rain and its major fleet of ships as backup to them. There was no telling what they might find with a civilization that could build with such massive reach.
Both Star Fall and Star Rain were going to travel at half speed, just as they had been doing, to allow scout ships to explore everything around them and ahead of them. At that speed, it would take them four or five years each to reach the center of the sphere.
Maybe by the time they got there, they would know what was happening and who had built the sphere of shielded galaxies.
Carey was working on breakfast on the morning of the eleventh day after The Bee returned when the command center paged her and Matt.
“Chairmen, you are needed in command.”
Carey grabbed her orange juice, made sure no heat was left on and went down the hall. Matt was in the shower.
“Call from command,” she said.
“Shit,” he said and the water turned off.
“Meet you there.”
With that, she jumped to a spot beside their command chairs.
“Chairman,” Gina said, smiling from the large screen in front of Carey. Benny stood beside her. Both looked very serious.
Matt will be here in a moment,” Carey said.
At that moment Matt appeared, his hair still wet and his shirt unbuttoned. But he had at least managed to get on his jeans and slippers. He was working to button the shirt.
“Sorry for the early morning interruption,” Benny said, “but we figure you two would want to know what our two ships have discovered.”
Carey nodded. “Star Fall, please explain.”
She wasn’t liking the sound of this at all.
Star Fall said, “We have managed to combine our resources to get an image of what is at the center of the sphere.”
“Please put it on the screen,” Matt said as he finished buttoning his shirt.
At first Carey couldn’t see exactly what the image was. It was dark. Far too dark to get details.
“What are we looking at?” Carey asked.
“That is an artificial structure,” Benny said.
“Can you lighten the image a little, Star Fall,” Matt asked.
Star Fall did and the image showed a bit more detail.
“What is the size?” Carey asked, “and how can it be seen from this distance?”
“We estimate the size at larger than a normal-sized galaxy,” Star Fall said. “We do not know how it could be built or any other details. But it is artificially built.”
Carey just shook her head. There was no way something that size could be built. Of course, she was standing on the command center of a ship that if parked on her home world would stretch from one coast to the other of the United States.
So size in space was only a matter of the time it took to build and gravity and other forces that might tear it apart.
“How can something that massive be powered?” Gina asked.
This time it was Star Rain who spoke.
“The shields around each galaxy function to catch energy from the billions of stars in the galaxy and transmit it to the center of the sphere.”
On the screen the image of the giant sphere of galaxies once again appeared. And from each one there was a line directly to the center and to the massive structure there.
“Those are power lines,” Star Fall said. “Not dangerous to any ship because of the low level of intensity and the width of the beam that is collected at the center structure.”
“So now we know why all these shields were placed around the galaxies,” Matt said. “Giant energy sources.”
“Star Fall,” Carey said, “How many shielded galaxies are in this sphere and supplying power to that center structure?”
“Three-point-one billion galaxies,” Star Fall said. “With an average of four-hundred-billion stars per galaxy.”
All Carey could do was shake her head.
“We sure we want to get close to this thing?” Matt asked after a few seconds of intense silence.
Benny and Gina appeared back on the screen. They both looked as shocked as Carey was feeling.
“I think we need to go in with more than just our two Starburst ships,” Benny said.
Carey nodded to that.
“Agreed,” Matt said. “Star Fall, what other Starburst ships are close enough to help us out in a five-year timeline of arriving at the massive alien structure?”
“Star Mist is the only other one,” Star Fall said.
“Well, that would help some,” Gina said. “But looking at that massive thing, I would be happier with all of the Starburst ships.”
Carey could only agree with that.
Matt laughed. “Looks like we’re getting the old gang back together again.”
Benny smiled. “You want to ask them or you want us to?”
“How about we all meet back on Ray and Tacita’s ship,” Carey said, “and talk about it there? We need to have Ray and Tacita involved with this anyway.”
“Thirty minutes?” Benny said.
“I think I can get my hair dry by then,” Matt said.
“Star Fall,” Carey said, “please inform Chairmen Angie and Gage and Ray and Tacita about the meeting. Make sure you say it is critical.”
“Done,” Star Fall said a moment later.
“This feel like three hundred years of familiar?” Benny asked, shaking his head.
All Carey could do was nod. But at least they would all be going in there together.
ELEVEN
MATT KNEW THAT Angie and Gage from Star Mist would agree. They were shocked, but agreed at once.
And Ray and Tacita were shocked as well, but then promised to keep every scientist working full speed on discovering more about the shields and the entire civilization as the three Starburst ships sent back information.
And before Star Fall and Star Rain started out, since they were the closest and already on the sphere’s edge, they were going to spend a month studying all the galaxies that were inside the shields in their areas.
And study the shields themselves more, to see how the energy was transmitted to the central structure. Doing that would give Star Mist time to get to the sphere and start inward at the same time as the other two ships.
It would still take them almost five years to reach the center of the sphere from the edge, all exploring as they went. Matt just hoped they knew exactly what they were going into by the time those five years were finished.
But he had a hunch they wouldn’t. Studying a civilization that far advanced would be like studying magic from a distance.
So finally, Carey and Matt started to settle back into a routine. A new routine, with different worries, but still a routine.
It was over breakfast that Carey said, “You know it’s only three days until the start of the Tip-to-Tip. Should we cancel it?”
Matt felt stunned that he had forgotten that.
He munched on a piece of toast for a moment, thinking, then shook his head. “No, we don’t cancel it. But we allow this year for teams to substitute if a team member is out on assignment.”
“No substitution for injury?” Carey asked.
“No, only assignment,” Matt said, smiling. “That way if we are off for a meeting or something, we can have someone run for us.”
“So if a main team member gets injured,” Carey said, “that team has to run nine, but can substitute in those nine for assignments.”
“Exactly,” M
att said. “Only official assignments, though.”
She laughed. “I had a hunch you would say that. I’ll get the teams to turn in their ten main runners and ten substitutes by twenty-four hours ahead of the race.”
She moved into the other room to contact the crew members responsible for the course and the rules of the race and Matt immediately got in contact with Jacob Stein, the captain of his team and told Jacob the changes in the rules.
Jacob assured him that he could find ten more runners in the two days without an issue. And said he liked the idea a lot.
Matt liked the idea as well. And it would make the ship feel like things were back to normal, even though they were now exploring an alien construction larger than anything he could imagine.
Carey came out of the back smiling. “All set. Glad we aren’t cancelling the race.”
“Yeah, me too,” he said, going back to finishing his breakfast. “Don’t know if I can take another year of you gloating.”
“Going to have to when we beat you again,” Carey said, laughing.
All Matt could do was shake his head at that.
Twenty minutes later they were back in the command center when the reports from other scout ships going through shields and then returning started to pour in.
Matt hated what he was seeing with every report.
The scout ships had been ordered to go through the galaxy shield and remain shielded from anything inside. They were to do a four-hour scan of the galaxy and then report back.
Twenty scout ships had gone into twenty shielded galaxies and came back out without incident. Every one reported that an ancient civilization, very advanced, had lived and filled the galaxy, and then died off.
“What killed this race?” Matt asked as he and Carey sat in their command chair and scoured the reports.
“Maybe nothing did,” Carey said. “Maybe they all just moved on to somewhere.”
Matt just shook his head at that. Galaxies full of beings just didn’t get up and move. Or did they?
“We need a lot more data,” Carey said. “How about we send in fifty or sixty scout ships into one galaxy and have them spread out for four or five days and dig up as much information as they can find.”
“Agreed,” Matt said. “We need to know what killed this race. Or made them leave. Or if the race is completely dead, or just these outer galaxies are dead.”
“Or if these were even the same race that built the center structure,” Carey said.
“Real good point there,” Matt said, nodding.
More and more scout ships returned from different galaxies after their four-hour mission. All were the same, and that worried Matt more and more with each discovery of another dead galaxy.
It wasn’t until both he and Carey were about to jump to get some lunch that one scout ship reported in with a very interesting find. They had found an intact space station still in a neutral orbit between two star systems. The station was huge by any standards, ten times the size of Star Fall.
Matt stared at the images of the station. It looked alien, yet familiar. It had a massive round center area, with pointed top and bottom that made it look a lot like an old Christmas ornament from his childhood. It seemed to spin slowly on its axis.
“There are still alien ships docked at this station,” Carey said.
“Star Fall, is the station dead?” Matt asked.
“From all scans of the scout ship,” Star Fall said, “yes, it is dead.”
“There is where we get our answers,” Matt said.
“Agreed,” Carey said.
“Star Fall,” Matt said, “have thirty of the survey ships and a dozen science ships, all with military escorts, descend on that station.”
“Have one of their ships duck out of the galaxy shield and report in all progress every hour,” Carey said.
“Assigned,” Star Fall said a few moments later. “The ships are headed there now and the first to arrive will be entering that galaxy in the next fifteen minutes.”
“Then we better get some lunch before the show begins,” Carey said, standing and stretching.
Matt stood as well. Lunch sounded really good at the moment. But part of him wished he could be exploring that alien station along with the military and scientists. The idea excited him, but that was not his job.
“You know,” Carey said, “if we eat quickly we might have time for a short run before the first reports start coming in.”
Matt laughed and shook his head. “I think I’ll taper down for the big race. Don’t want to overdue it.”
She laughed and shook her head and damned if he could figure out why.
TWELVE
CAREY FELT EXCITED about the find of the massive alien space station. Anything still in place in that kind of dead area of space still had a chance of being fairly intact, even after such a long time. It would depend on how long the station’s shields had held out against the constant space dust.
And what material the aliens had constructed the station with.
But what she really hoped for was an answer, or even a hint, at what had killed all these galaxies full of advanced-culture aliens.
Or even what the aliens had looked like.
She had decided as well to not go on a run after lunch. So after ham sandwiches with chicken soup and tea, they were both back in the command center and in their command chair waiting for the first report and images of the station.
While they were waiting, she suddenly had a thought. “We need to get Chairman Ray to contact the Gray. See if they know about this culture.”
Matt nodded. “Really good thinking. Star Fall, could you put us in touch with Chairman Ray? Tell him it is not an emergency.”
A moment later Star Fall said, “He can talk with you now.”
“Please put him through here,” Carey said.
Chairman Ray’s image appeared in front of them, his long gray hair streaming down his back. From the background, he seemed to be standing in the command center of his ship.
“Chairmen,” Ray said, nodding.
“Thanks for talking with us,” Matt said. “We have a suggestion.”
Ray nodded.
“We think it might be a good idea to inform the Gray what we have found and see if they have any knowledge about an ancient race in this area of space.”
Ray stared at them for a moment, then nodded. “That is a very good idea. I will do so at once.”
“Thank you,” Carey said.
Ray nodded and with that Ray cut the connection.
“First report in now,” Star Fall said.
Carey felt too excited to sit in their chair for this, so she stood and Matt followed her as the first report from the first ships approaching the alien station came in.
Up close images were part of the first report.
“Amazing condition,” Matt said softly.
She had to agree, for being there in space for maybe a million years, the alien space station was in fantastic condition.
The first report consisted mostly of a number of scout ships circling the station and detailing it out with scans and images. From what Carey could tell, the scans were able to penetrate into the station some, so they now had some floor plans of the interior just under the shell.
Also, there were five large ships in dock at the station.
“I’m not liking the looks of this at all,” Matt said softly to her.
He indicated they should sit back down in their command chair where none of the other crew could hear them.
She did, wondering what he had seen that she hadn’t seen.
“Take a look at those alien ships,” Matt said. “What do they look like?”
Matt brought up an image of the ships in dock at the station.
It took her a moment, then she realized what she was seeing. They looked like Seeder ships, with the traditional bird-like shape.
“The shape of the station itself is very human-like, not alien,” Matt said. “And look at the scan
s of the interior we are getting in. Human-sized rooms and hallways and so on.”
“Star Fall,” Carey said, “analyzing the data of the station from the first scans, what is the percentage chance the aliens were human or humanoid?”
“Taking account of all factors,” Star Fall said, “ninety-five percent probability the station was human or Seeder built.”
Carey just sat there in their command chair, her mouth open as more images of the station flashed past.
“Star Fall, any idea how long this station has been abandoned?” Matt said. “A range of high probability would be fine at this point.”
“One million to one-point-two million years,” Star Fall said.
Carey just looked at Matt, then she shook her head. “Star Fall, any idea how long ago this station was built?”
“Three-to-five million years ago,” Star Fall, said. “An approximation. As more data are delivered, I will be able to place that date more exactly.”
“Star Fall,” Matt said, “would you please send all these first scans and information to Chairmen Ray and Tacita and Star Rain and Star Mist. Their chairmen need to see this as well.”
A moment later Star Fall reported it had all been sent.
Carey looked at Matt. “What the hell is going on here?”
“Seems to me we might have just found the old home of our ancestors,” Matt said. “I wonder if they are still alive and will mind a visit from the family.”
“But that station was built more than three million years, long after Ray and Tacita took out the first Seeder mother ship,” Carey said.
“Think there is something Ray and Tacita are hiding from us?” Matt asked.
Carey just shook her head. She hadn’t been afraid of finding a civilization of aliens. But finding a massive dead civilization of humans or Seeders just scared her to death.
She just hoped they were wrong in their assumption, and that Star Fall was wrong as well.
But she knew that wasn’t going to be the case.
So now they were faced with digging into the graveyard of what might have been their own ancestors.
She hated that idea more than anything.
Star Fall: A Seeders Universe Novel Page 4