The Split Skies (The Possessor Wars, Book 4): The Possessor Wars, Book 4

by Chad Spencer

  “They’re partway around the other side of this system and quite far out,” Kent explained. “Even at the speed of light, it’ll take several hours for our message to reach them. I want to make sure it doesn’t get garbled by radiation from the explosion.”

  Puzzled, Jeff wondered out loud, “Several hours? So that means that the explosion we just saw … “

  “Happened hours ago,” Kent finished for him. Turning to Dirk, he ordered, “Let’s get underway. I’ve been plotting the course with my datacrown. I’m uploading it to your console now. Push this ship to its maximum speed.”

  “Maximum?” Dirk frowned. “For three days? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “We have no choice,” Kent stated flatly. “They can’t have taken much food or water with them. And if there are two bombs near them, we need to get them out of there as fast as possible. Those things could go off at any time.”

  Heaving a sigh, Kent instructed, “Jeff, you send a message back to planet Akio and tell them we’re going after the survivors of the Ellsworth. Don’t mention anything about bombs just yet. Then get back to bed. There’s nothing more you can do tonight.”

  After sending the message, Jeff returned to his room. He couldn’t sleep much. Up early the next morning, he went straight to the bridge. Kent was already there, sitting at the helm. “Jeff, we all have to limit ourselves to one small meal a day.”

  “One meal a day?”

  “Yes,” Kent affirmed. “They can’t have much in the way of supplies with them, so we need to save as much of our food for them as possible. We’re not likely to starve before we get home, but we may get skinnier.” He pinched his middle. “In my case, that’s not a bad thing. Life on the farm has been a bit too good to me anyway,” he joked.

  Jeff couldn’t understand how he could joke about anything at a time like this. “Any news from the shuttles?” he asked his father.

  “No. They’re maintaining radio silence. Don’t stress yourself out Jeff. You can’t spend your time worrying. It’s all about the laws of physics now.”

  “Huh?”

  “The physics of this ship’s engines dictate that we can’t get there any faster than three days. Physics controls whether or not those bombs will go off in that time. It’s all out of our hands. The best thing we can do is focus on the tasks at hand. I want you to go aft to Engineering. Use the Chief Engineer’s station to check that everything’s all right with the generators and gravity mirrors. Then go run a full diagnostic on the propulsion systems of the Amsterdam.”

  Nodding, Jeff left the bridge. The ship was equipped with carts that drove themselves. Jeff climbed into one and said, “Main Engineering.” The small vehicle was very fast. He reached the stern of the ship in just a few minutes.

  “I’ll bet he’s giving me these chores just to keep me busy,” Jeff said to himself as he entered Engineering. The diagnostic on the ship kept him working the entire day until it was his turn at the helm. He had to finish it the following day. It took another day to run a diagnostic on the Amsterdam.

  Finally they arrived at the rendezvous point. Dirk was at the helm while Kent manned the main scanners. Porsche was at the communications officer’s station. Jeff felt rather useless at the engineer’s station.

  “Keep her steady Dirk,” Kent commanded.

  “Holding her steady, Captain” Dirk repeated in what Jeff thought was a very professional-sounding voice.

  Kent commanded, “Slow to full stop.”

  Dirk intoned, “Slowing to full stop.”

  Jeff was beginning to think that Dirk was overdoing it a bit.

  “I’ve got all four ships on my screen,” announced Kent. “Putting them up on the main viewer. Scanning for the bombs. Ooo.”

  Jeff didn’t like the sound of that.

  “One of them is kind of close, the others are far. Look there.” Three flashing points of light appeared on the viewer to indicate where the bombs were.

  “Can we get the people out without triggering them?” Jeff asked.

  “We can’t take this ship in close to them. If we did, we could very well set those things off,” Kent explained. “Our gravity mirrors would cause all kinds of gravimetric distortions. I’ll have to go in the Amsterdam. It’s got old-style maneuvering thrusters in addition to its gravity mirrors. I can slip in using just the thrusters and dock with one of the cargo shuttles. Then I’ll haul it back here and they can dock with the Porsche’s Haven. I’ll do the same for each shuttle. Jeff you come with me.”

  Kent exited the bridge with Jeff close behind. As they climbed into a car, Kent instructed, “As soon as the passengers come aboard, I want you to direct them to the passenger module. Tell them go select their own quarters, there’s plenty of cabins.”

  “That’s all? I thought I was coming with you.”

  “No Jeff. You’re staying someplace safe this time.”

  Moping, Jeff fell silent. When they reached the port where the Amsterdam was docked, Jeff waited while his father boarded the smaller freighter and cast off. Finding a comm panel, he monitored his father’s progress using the external cameras on the Porsche’s Haven.

  The Amsterdam moved swiftly away from the Porsche’s Haven as Kent departed with all thrusters at maximum. It took about half an hour to get to the first cargo shuttle. Jeff watched the display as Kent decelerated with the freighter’s thrusters. Expertly, Kent slipped the Amsterdam up next to the shuttle and docked. Jeff zoomed the image and saw the Amsterdam’s docking clamps close. The shuttle was connected firmly in place. Expertly, Kent pushed the shuttle to the Porsche’s Haven, released it, and headed out for the next shuttle.

  When the shuttle docked with the Porsche’s Haven and passengers disembarked, Jeff stepped up to them in as authoritative a manner as possible. “Everyone move that way,” he instructed as he pointed in the correct direction. “There are passenger modules toward the aft of the ship. The doors are open. Please go and pick out your own cabins. There are plenty to choose from. This ship has four passenger modules and can hold 4000 people, so help yourself to whatever cabins you want.”

  Looking ragged and worn, the passengers shuffled aft.

  Jeff quickly returned to the comm panel. He saw that Kent had the thrusters going full blast. The Amsterdam was moving toward the other shuttles as fast as it could go.

  Time crawled by. Eventually, the Amsterdam docked with another shuttle. Jeff grew more tense and afraid as they started the return trip. At last, very slowly, they drew nearer. When Kent decided it was safe, he activated the Amsterdam’s engines. The pair of ships rapidly came toward the Porsche’s Haven. The Amsterdam released its docking clamps and the cargo shuttle floated free. It rotated around and docked with the Porsche’s Haven. The Amsterdam moved away, heading toward the next shuttle.

  As the airlock opened and the passengers emerged, Jeff had an idea. He grabbed a guy about his own age and said, “Come here.”

  Making the newcomer stand next to him, Jeff called out to the growing group of passengers and repeated the instructions that he’d given to the previous arrivals.

  “You,” Jeff commanded the youth standing next to him. “As everyone else boards, you tell them just what I said. Understand?” His recruit nodded.

  Turning, Jeff called a hovercart and rode it back to the bridge. Both Porsche and Dirk looked up from their stations as he entered, but neither said a word. Jeff manned the main scanner.

  Retrieving the third shuttle was as easy as getting the others. It just took a little longer because it was farther away. Jeff was getting pretty wound up. He found himself sweating; the final shuttle was near one of the bombs.

  Maneuvering adroitly, Kent guided the Amsterdam up to the last shuttle. He docked rapidly and fired his thrusters. Jeff’s heart stopped. His scanner showed that the bomb was sputtering to life. It couldn’t seem to decide whether it really wanted to activate or not. It glowed briefly, then dimmed. Then it emitted a sputtering glow and fell dark again.

 
; “Jeff, what’s happening?” Porsche demanded.

  “The nearest bomb might be activating.”

  “Might be?”

  “It keeps turning on and off.”

  “I’ll signal your father.”

  “NO DON’T!”

  Angry, Porsche demanded, “Why?”

  “The radio waves could set off the bomb.”

  She recoiled.

  There was nothing to do but watch and wait. The bomb continued sputter. The Amsterdam, with the docked shuttle, drew slowly closer.

  Jeff was horrified to see the bomb blare suddenly bright. Continuing to sputter on and off, the bomb grew brighter each time it activated. Its periods of darkness became shorter.

  “The bomb’s activating!” Jeff yelled the others.

  In a hushed voice, Dirk asked, “Is it going to blow?”

  “I don’t know,” Jeff breathed. The bomb sputtered more rapidly. “But I think so.”

  Without warning, the two ships leaped into high speed. “Dad must be scanning the bomb,” Jeff reported. “He’s turned on the engines and he’s coming in as fast as he can.”

  Jeff watched, fear gripping his heart. He knew his father would have to start slowing the two ships down at any moment. And docking would take precious minutes. ‘Do we have that long before that bomb detonates–long enough for them to dock?’ he wondered. Observing that they were coming from straight behind the Porsche’s Haven, he had an idea.

  “Dirk! Rotate the ship so that cargo bay 35 is pointed directly toward them,” Jeff commanded loudly.

  Startled, Dirk started to ask, “What … why should I … ?”

  “JUST DO IT!”

  Moving to the bridge’s engineering station, Jeff hurriedly instructed the computer to open the huge doors on cargo bay 35. He dashed back to the main scanner.

  The bomb was emitting a continuous glow now. They had only seconds left. Scrambling to the comm station, Jeff activated it to transmit to the Amsterdam. He shouted, “Go into the cargo bay, Dad! Don’t slow down. Go full speed!”

  The Amsterdam grew larger in the viewscreen. Seemingly in slow motion, it slid ponderously toward the Porsche’s Haven with its engines running at full blast as it towed the cargo shuttle.

  It was plain that Kent had understood Jeff’s message. The Amsterdam arrowed straight toward cargo bay 35. As they drew near, the two ships seemed to accelerate suddenly. But Jeff knew that was just an optical illusion, a trick of the eye caused by perspective.

  Jeff watched as the pair of ships vectored inside the cargo bay. He could see the Amsterdam’s rockets firing, and his scanners told him that both the Amsterdam’s engines and the shuttles engines were decelerating the pair of ships at full power. He pounded his hand on the control that shut the doors on cargo bay 35. The doors eased slowly closed. It had hardly moved before Jeff raised the ship’s shield.

  “Rotate them away from the bomb!” Jeff shouted at Dirk. Anticipating the command, Dirk’s hands were already flying over the controls. The Porsche’s Haven rolled laboriously on its axis.

  There was a bright flash on the main viewer and the ship pitched violently. Panels all over the bridge turned red as everyone was thrown helplessly back and forth. The shock wave passed quickly.

  Clinging to the panel of the engineering station, Jeff realized he was panting. He examined the ship’s status.

  “We’re still in one piece,” he told the others. Then, appalled he hissed, “The shield is down. So are the engines.” Dashing madly to the scanner station, Jeff performed a rapid scan. “Another bomb’s activating!” he shouted. “It’s turning on and off like the other one did. We’ve got some time, but not much.”

  “Jeff,” Dirk spat, “You’ve got to get the shield back up. If that goes off while it’s down … “

  Instantly, Jeff sprang into action. “I’ll be in Engineering,” he shouted as he sprinted from the bridge. In the ship’s long main corridor, Jeff ran toward a hovercart. As he approached he thought, ‘It’ll never get me there in time. I’ve got to go faster.’

  Without thinking, Jeff jumped into the air. He rocketed forward, flying faster than he ever had before.

  ‘No wings!’ Jeff thought in wonderment. ‘I’m flying with no wings!’

  Something inside of Jeff told him he didn’t need the wings anymore. Focusing all of his attention on gaining speed, Jeff shot down the corridor like a bullet down a gun’s barrel. As he passed the passenger modules, he briefly hoped no one would see him. Luckily, the corridor was empty. He streaked onward.

  In minutes, Jeff arrived at Engineering. Casting his eyes desperately around, he quickly located the shield projector. Like the generator on the Ellsworth, it had a large round lens on the back. Leaping to it, he latched onto the sphere as tightly as he could.

  Jeff created his shield and focused it on the projector’s lens. It was different this time. Everything was clearer. He felt the shield flow through him as his shoulders and hands tingled and throbbed. His entire upper body was glowing bright yellow. Energy tore through him and into the crystal-like sphere of the projector’s lens. Struggling because of the much larger size of the Porsche’s Haven, Jeff slowly, almost painfully, spread his shield over the entire ship. It took every ounce of will that he could muster, and even then it was hard to hold the shield in place. He worried that he might not be able to sustain it through the coming blast.

  The bomb detonated, sending violent waves washing over the ship. Jeff could feel the bomb’s radiation as it hit his shield and seared through his mind. Screaming and panting, Jeff clung desperately to the projector lens as the ship quaked thunderously. The entire ship bucked and his feet flailed wildly. Reacting without thinking, he wrapped his legs around the base of the lens. With one more huge toss, the ship made a final lunge.

  And then it was quiet.

  13

  Jeff was soaked with sweat. He was gasping heavily. His hands, arms, and face felt numb. His head felt as if it was on fire. He trembled and shivered. Weak and nauseated, he fell to the floor. From far away, Jeff heard a voice. After a moment, he realized it was Dirk’s.

  “Jeff?” Dirk called over the ship’s comm system. “Are you there? You did it! You got the shield up. Jeff?”

  Summoning all his strength, Jeff pulled himself into the chair of the nearest engineering station. Fumbling, he activated the intercom.

  “I’m here,” he panted. “The shield’s down again.”

  “Are you ok?” Dirk queried.

  “I … I’m ok. What about everyone else?”

  “Your dad just called from the Amsterdam. He and the shuttle passengers are all right. The Ellsworth’s bridge crew is on its way here. The engineering crew is headed your way.”

  “Good, they can fix this stuff.”

  Just then, the display showed the arrival of the Ellsworth’s command crew at the bridge. They instantly fanned out and took their duty stations. The formerly quiet command deck came rapidly to life.

  Spotting Dirk at the helm, Captain Vorless instructed, “Sirsen Maslov, please relieve this young man.”

  “Excuse me, Mamsen Vorless,” Dirk retorted stiffly. “This is our ship and Kent Bowman is the Captain. I’m working my duty shift right now. If Sirsen Maslov would like to relieve me at dinnertime, his help will be appreciated. Oh, here’s the Captain now.” Kent strode onto the bridge.

  Everyone but Kent froze, staring at Dirk, who focused his gaze intently at the displays as he worked.

  Then, turning to Kent, Captain Vorless said stiffly, “Ah … well, Captain Bowman, what would you like us to do?”

  Caught off guard, Kent stammered, “Uh … yes. I think … I think I would like your people to take their normal duty stations while I man the captain’s station. Captain Vorless, please take the first officer’s position. Dirk, see if you can get any of the maneuvering gravity mirrors working so you can put some distance between us and those bombs.”

  “Yes, Sirsen!” Dirk replied smartly, as if he had been
doing this for years. Jeff smiled to himself as he watched the scene on the display.

  “Jeff,” Kent called out, startling him. “Get me a damage report immediately if not sooner.”

  “Yes, Captain!” Jeff shot back, imitating Dirk.

  Moments later, the Ellsworth’s engineering crew entered Engineering and took their duty stations. Seeing Chief Connors approach, Jeff smiled.

  Chief Connors said, “Chief Bowman, Darius Connors and crew reporting for duty.”

  “Uh, hi Chief.”

  Shaking his head, he disagreed, “No, that’s your title now. You can call me Sirsen Connors. What are your orders Chief?”

  Unsure of himself, Jeff instructed, “Well, the nanobots are already fixing things, but let’s speed things up. We’ll start with the engines and the shields. Then we can do all the other systems.”

  Jeff did his best to imitate the way Chief Connors ran things. Seeing José, he commanded, “Sirsen Martinez. Please take a work detail and start on getting the forward engines back online.”

  “Yes Sirsen!” José responded.

  Jeff had a mischievous thought, “And Sirsen Martinez …”

  “Yes Sirsen?”

  “No stashes of junk food in here please.”

  José blushed and sheepishly replied, “Yes Sirsen.” Glancing warily at Chief Connors, he quickly gathered some engineers. Together, they left Engineering to head for the ship’s massive gravity mirrors.

  As the day proceeded, the ship’s nanobots fixed many of the ship’s systems, so Jeff had the engineering crew focus on the parts of the ship that sustained the worst damage. By fixing things themselves, the crew sped up the repairs that the nanobots were already making. With the combination of the engineering crew and the nanobots, the most important repairs took only one day. When they were finished, they set course for planet Akio.

  Jeff was almost frantically busy nearly every moment of the trip to planet Akio. He hardly had time to sleep. With occasional prompting from Sirsen Connors, Jeff did his best to organize the engineering crew and make things run smoothly. It was a bigger job than he’d ever imagined.