Death Haunts the Stars

by Jeffrey M. Fortney

  Meaghan O'Reilly nodded and then answered, "Yes sir! That is a big part of it. Back home, we're used to having virtually limitless information and having access to it from multiple sources. Here, aboard a ship in deep space, we're cut off from those sources because of a lack of deep space communications. The Conestoga has some of the most modern computer systems in existence along with the latest updates to our data banks. But those data banks simply can't hold everything. We have topics ranging from astrogation to xenobiology, but we don't have comprehensive data on members of organizations such as the Earth Only Movement. I mean I could find entries on the EOM, its creation, founders, and such; but I couldn't pull up a detailed list of current EOM members."

  Charlotte leaned forward in her chair and placed her hands on the table in front of her. "Aboard the Connie, we're so used to having access to so much information, we don't think about the fact that information has been tailored for what we need to have in order to perform our mission. Damn!" She shook her head in frustration. From the looks on the faces of the others in the room, that frustration was shared by all.

  Rivers placed his elbows on the dining table and steepled his fingertips. "Folks, we're going to have to tackle this problem with the data we have in our computers. And whatever we can find out through our investigations about the Connie. It's becoming apparent that our saboteurs are willing to up their game and the level of danger to us all. How soon will they try to cripple or destroy the ship itself and thus kill us all in deep space?"

  The room fell silent as everyone contemplated that chilling thought. They finished their meal in silence.

  **********

  An hour later, Captain Rivers and his senior officers were back on duty. Rivers, O'Reilly, and Bradley continued their meeting in the captain's ready room when the Conestoga suddenly shuddered and the alarm klaxon began to blare. The alarm was quickly replaced by the voice of Commander Tim Harrigan who had the Conn. "All personnel, brace for sudden deceleration! Repeat... all personnel, brace for sudden deceleration!"

  The Conestoga shuddered again, more harshly this time, knocking people from their feet throughout the ship. The Conestoga's structural integrity field held the ship together instead of letting it ripping apart. The ship's inertial compensators and gravity plating tried to protect the passengers and crew from the sudden deceleration as the ship's FTL drive failed, dropping the ship back into normal space. Infinitesimal fluctuations in those systems occurred in a billionth of a second, resulting in dozens of people across the ship getting injured or killed.

  Back in normal space, the lights of TCV Conestoga flickered for a moment then blinked out. The giant vessel began to drift in space. From outside, the ship, and those inside her, appeared dead.

  **********

  Captain Rivers, Commander O'Reilly, and Commander Bradley were thrown about the ready room. Meaghan O'Reilly instinctively tucked into a ball and tumbled across the floor. At one point in her tumble, she thrust out her feet just in time to connect with the forward wall of the room. She used her legs like shock absorbers to check her forward momentum! Mac Bradley was able to protect himself pretty much the same way. James Rivers wasn't as fortunate. He slid across the floor stopping only when his lower back slammed into the flat side of a credenza. A massive jolt of pain shot through the captain's body! He remained conscious only through sheer force of will!

  O'Reilly and Bradley were on their feet in an instant! "Captain, don't move!" the XO shouted over the blaring of the alarms. Bradley knelt by his side and began to check his friend for any signs of bleeding.

  Rivers sucked in a deep breath of air and shook his head. That was a big mistake, as he suddenly felt violently ill! He took three more deep breaths, slowly this time, and began to feel somewhat better, except for his back, of course. "Help me up!" he ordered. "We need to be on the bridge!" When O'Reilly and Bradley began to object, Rivers began to try to get up by himself. The two senior officers looked at each other; then reluctantly helped their captain to his feet.

  With their assistance, Rivers made it to his feet and onto the bridge. The three senior officers looked about the bridge to find crewmembers lying on the deck or across their consoles. Several panels were damaged, giving off occasional flares of electrical arcing! Wisps of smoke floated about the bridge. O'Reilly and Bradley helped Rivers reach the command console and his chair.

  "Report!" Rivers shouted over the alarms as he settled painfully into the command chair. Bradley left the captain's side to check on Commander Tim Harrigan who was sprawled on the deck.

  Harrigan tried to rise from the deck but found he couldn't; his right arm dangled limply at his side and a nasty gash dripped red across his forehead. "Sir, we're dead in space," Harrigan began to report. "No sign of exterior threat. Engineering reports FTL reactors are at full power but the FTL drive itself is down. We have minor structural damage in various Engineering and Cargo bays. Injury and damage reports are coming in from all sections." Harrigan had continued to ask the other bridge crew for status reports even while injured himself. Rivers grimaced as he adjusted his position in the command chair to try to ease the pressure on his lower spine.

  "Medics are on the way to the bridge, sir!" reported Communications Chief Bynes.

  "Good, good!" said Rivers, wincing again. "Tim, the medics will get you down to the Med Center and get that arm and cut looked at. Anyone else injured? Sound off!" He paused for a moment but no one responded. "No? Okay, XO, double check with each department...we need to find out what's happening across the ship." Rivers sucked in a deep, painful breath and said, "Find out what's still working?"

  O'Reilly had made her way around the bridge, double checking the readouts against the reports from her command implant. "Life support systems are stable, captain! As are gravity plating, navigation, maneuvering, ship-wide communications, and sub-light drive systems. Elevators, escalators, and people movers are operational throughout the ship, so we can get people to each section quickly. We have reports of minor pressure leaks on Decks 3 and 10 aft of Bulkhead 6."

  "So we do have some good news! Thank you, XO," said Rivers. He pressed the intercom switch on his console. "Engineering, this is the captain!"

  "Engineering here, Captain! Lieutenant Commander Ashley speaking," came the response.

  Rivers could hear the stress in Ashley's voice. "Steve, where's Pat?"

  Ashley response came quickly, "We're putting things back together, sir! We've got damage control crews dispatched to handle the pressure leaks and reinforce some structural components in Cargo and Engineering that buckled. Commander Deckard is in the FTL drive computer control center. He reports FTL reactors read at full power and secure. Initial inspection of the FTL coils show no damage. Something appears to have disrupted the power flow from the reactors to the FTL coils but we've found no obvious damage to the power flow systems. We'll let you know what we find out as soon as we know anything."

  "Thanks, Steve," Rivers replied and cut the intercom link.

  The elevator opened and two of Dr. Rivers' medics stepped onto the bridge. Captain Rivers waved them to check on Commander Harrigan and the other injured bridge crew first. As long as he sat, and sat reasonably still, he could wait. The medics worked quickly and soon had Harrigan's injured arm splinted and in a sling and a dressing and bandage covering his head injury. With Harrigan stabilized for the moment, one of the medics began to examine the captain's injury.

  "How are things in the Med Center?" Rivers asked the senior medic, Lieutenant Eugenia Evans.

  "Pretty hectic, sir," she replied. "We're treating those with minor injuries where we find them. The more seriously injured, we stabilize and send them to the Med Center for treatment."

  Evans pressed a med-injector against Rivers lower back. It hissed and the pain eased somewhat but was still there. "I think you've pulled some muscles in your lower back. That's the best I can do until we can run you through a body scanner in Med Center. I've given you a mild muscle relaxer and a mild pain
med, Captain. Someone will be up shortly with a temporary back brace. Whoever it is will help you put it on. Have someone bring you down to the Med Center as soon as possible so we can scan of your back, sir."

  Rivers smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Genia. Tell my lovely bride that I'll be down there once we get things stabilized." Lieutenant Evans nodded her acknowledgment, gathered up her equipment and fellow medic, and left the bridge with Commander Harrigan in tow.

  Commander O'Reilly stepped over and leaned dwon to speak with the captain in a low voice. "James, I can take the conn if you'd like."

  "Thank you, Meaghan, but no. I'll stay here a bit longer. If only to let the meds kick in and get that back brace on before I try to move again," Rivers said through tightly gritted teeth. Ten minutes later, another medic arrived with the back brace. With the executive officer's and medic's help, Rivers was able to slide forward slightly in his command chair to allow the medic to place the brace against his back.

  Once the brace was in place and fastened securely, the medic asked, "How does that feel, Captain? It's not too snug or too loose is it?"

  Rivers, who had both hands on the arms of his chair to help support his weight, relaxed slightly. There was some minor pinching down low but it was manageable. "It's fine, lieutenant," he said. "Let Dr. Rivers know that I'll be down to Med Center soon to have this checked out."

  "Yes sir," the medic replied before leaving the bridge.

  Rivers and O'Reilly spent several more minutes going over updates from around the ship. Damage control teams were tackling damage to the ship's most critical systems first then moving on to less critical items. Bit by bit, the crew of the TCV Conestoga brought the immediate situation under control.

  Finally, Rivers asked the two security specialists on the bridge if they would help him to Med Center. While the captain finished a report on his console, O'Reilly spoke quickly to the two specialists. "Be extremely careful with him. Move slowly. His back is far worse than he's letting on. And, don't talk about this with anyone else!" The security specialists nodded. One of them used his comm unit to contact Security to have a personnel transport standing by on the Med Center deck by the elevator doors.

  "XO, the bridge is yours," said Rivers as he moved slowly to the elevator. His face was pale and sweat was beading on his forehead, but he walked under his own power.

  "Yes sir! I have the conn," O'Reilly replied. Dear Lord, please embrace James Rivers with Your healing touch! His crew and passengers need him and his strength of will to get us safely to Camadin.

  When the elevator doors opened on the Med Center deck, a Security transport and driver were waiting for Rivers and his escorts. The security specialists helped Rivers climb into the passenger seat then climbed aboard themselves. The driver drove the transport three sections aft to the Med Center. The specialists helped Rivers step from the transport and to his feet then helped him into the reception area. Seeing the large number of patients sitting or laying there waiting to be seen, Rivers began to turn to leave the room. As he turned, a massive spasm ripped through his lower back. The pain overrode the pain medications Rivers had been given and his legs gave out from under him!

  The security personnel caught Rivers before he hit the deck. "Medic!" yelled one specialist as they moved the captain quickly into the treatment area. The other security specialist leaned over to the captain and said, "We've got you, sir, we've got you!"

  A medic ran over and helped the guards lift Rivers onto one of the treatment beds. Rivers gripped the medic's sleeve and shook his head. "No! Take care of them first!" He looked at the other wounded personnel who were still waiting for treatment.

  Dr. Charlotte Rivers, now dressed in medical scrubs, stepped over to the bed. "James, you are in worse condition than they are. They can wait; you can't!" When she saw him start to argue, Charlotte reached over to the cabinet above the head of the treatment bed and pulled out an injector. It hissed against his neck and the medication raced through his system, rendering him unconscious in seconds. Charlotte checked his vitals then dismissed the security specialists, thanking them for helping her husband reach the Med Center safely. She drew her personal comm unit from her tunic pocket. "Med Center to Bridge."

  Commander O'Reilly's voice responded, "Bridge, go ahead!"

  "I've just had to knock the captain out! He's on the injured list for the time being. You are in command, Meaghan!" said the doctor.

  "Very well, Charlotte! I'll take good care of our ship, you take good care of our Skipper," O'Reilly said, cutting the link.

  Chapter 11

  Ship's Log

  Terran Colonial Vessel Conestoga

  Earthdate: November 27, 2219

  Commander Meaghan O'Reilly, Commanding Temporarily

  Day: 65

  Executive Officer's Report: The Conestoga is adrift. We have many casualties and injured, one of whom is Captain Rivers! Commander Deckard and his Engineering personnel are working around the clock to make necessary repairs. Deckard is also investigating the cause of our sudden drop from FTL propulsion into normal space.

  We were lucky...damned lucky! The Connie could have shredded herself, dropping out of FTL as abruptly as she did. All of us humans aboard her could have been squished into jelly against her forward bulkheads if the inertial dampening fields and gravity plates hadn't held up as well as they did. As it was, the shudders and shakes of re-entering normal space threw people about the ship like so much flotsam in a maelstrom.

  I'm working with the bridge crew to get the damaged bridge systems back online.

  More to follow as time allows!

  Five hours later, Rivers' eyes fluttered open. It took him a couple of minutes to bring them into focus and to realize where he was. Charlotte's lovely face seemed to float into his line of sight.

  "Relax, James. You've been under sedation for a few hours. The muscle relaxers and pain meds weren't enough. When you turned, you pinched your back muscles. The pain you experienced overrode the medications you had received and you started to go into deep shock," she said gently. She could see that he was beginning to realize that he couldn't feel or move his legs. "Relax. I've given you a spinal block and strapped you down to help you remain still while we work on you, okay?"

  Rivers' still heavily medicated mind processed what his wife had said and he nodded his understanding. Charlotte Rivers smiled downed at her husband. "Good! We scanned your back and found that you tore several muscles. I've injected you with nanites to repair the damage. The process can be painful, which is another reason for the spinal block and other medications. If all goes well, I'll be able to release you for light duty in three days!"

  "Three days?!? Damn it, Charlotte!" said Rivers exploded! "I need to get back to the bridge...now! Not in three days!"

  "Don't you pull that on me, James Rivers!" Doctor Charlotte Hanson Rivers responded. "I am the Chief Medical Officer of this vessel and you, sir, are on the injured list! And you will remain there until I clear you for duty. Do you understand me?" She leaned over and gazed intently into his eyes. Rivers felt his frustration bleed away. He never could resist Charlotte's beautiful eyes.

  "Okay, Doc! I'm your prisoner," he replied; surrendering to the inevitable. Charlotte smiled at him, leaned forward, and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "How's our ship?"

  "Meaghan has the crew working on the repairs. I'm working on the injured. We're making headway on both! Uh oh! Mac is here to give you some bad news." With that, Dr. Rivers stepped back while Commander Bradley moved into his field of vision on the other side of the bed.

  "Hey, James...how ya doing?" Bradley asked. He placed a hand on Rivers' shoulder.

  "Been better, Mac," replied Rivers weakly. "What's the bad news? How bad off are we?"

  Bradley leaned up against the wall while remaining within Rivers' line of sight. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We have 121 people with minor injuries. We have 32 people with serious, even critical injuries. We've lost 5 crewmembers and 8 colonist
s. Pat Deckard says the power flow system computers and cables are intact, but the PFS computer programs have been erased."

  Shocked, Rivers tried to sit up then remembered that he couldn't. "Erased? How?"

  Bradley crossed his arms over his chest. "As best we can tell...it wasn't accidental. We've been sabotaged! Again!"

  "What?" Rivers began. "When? Before we left Earth or after?"

  "I'm working with the computer techs right now to figure that out. In the meantime, I've got Security reviewing all of the security camera files for the FTL system areas."

  Rivers asked, "Well, how would they get into those areas in the first place?" Then realization came to Rivers and Bradley simultaneously.

  "Those kids had a digital lock scanner!" Bradley exclaimed. "There could be others onboard that we don't know about!"

  Bradley closed his eyes momentarily and Rivers recognized that Bradley was accessing the secure communications function of his command implant. When Bradley opened his eyes, he looked back down at Rivers. "I've got personnel checking with Engineering to account for all of their DLS units. But there may be others onboard, if you know what I mean. James, I gotta run. Charlotte made me promise not to stay too long. I'll get a report to you soonest. Get feeling better!"

  Charlotte stepped back over. "James, we're going to tilt your bed up here in just a few minutes. I'm going to keep the spinal block in place while the nanites work their wonders on your back muscles. We'll get you something to eat then I want you to rest...as well as you can. Okay?"

  "Yes ma'am, Doctor Wife, ma'am," he said with a smile as he slid his hand over to touch hers. "I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier, Honey."

  Charlotte took his hand with hers and smiled back. "It's okay, James! You're worried about the crew and the passengers and the ship. We'll get you back on your feet then get our ship fixed and back into FTL. Then we can pick up where we left off!" She gave him a wink before stepping away to call for a nurse. When the nurse arrived, Charlotte leaned over once more. "James, we're going to set you up slowly now. We've got you on the monitors but I want you to tell me if you feel any pain or discomfort. Okay? Good. Then here we go."