The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  Probe 02 dropped slowing through the innumerable structures which were on the hull. Settling down onto a square spot, about twenty meters across, Jerome pressed the buttons to set the package. It locked onto the hull. The probe the accelerated upward and away as it departed into the night.

  “So all we need now is to lock onto Gamma,” Jerome said. “This has been a good day.”

  Some crying came from the other room. “I will check on them.” Jerome got up and walked into the apartment where the babies were.

  Monika called after him. “Let me know if either or both need a feeding. That is one job only I can do.”

  A few minutes later, Jerome returned. “Brink was just dirty. I took care of that, and Kalur was still dry. He never even woke up.”

  “Gamma habitat is coming up,” Monika said. “Maybe with planting the packages, we will be five for five? I wish that probe in the sea would not have been lost.”

  “Jerome, Monika!” Sandie nearly yelled out. “I have an incoming message for you. Captain Eris insists you hear it as well. You will receive visual and audio. However, on the other end, he will only receive audio. Sorry about that.”

  A three-dimensional display showed up, projected from the main display. An older man appeared in the projection. He turned slightly, revealing his angular face. His hair was brushed back at the sides up toward the back of his head, and was thinning. It was a mix of gray at the temples, and black toward the back. Pale blues eyes were attentive to his surroundings, but he had a pensive, almost disbelieving countenance. A well-trimmed mustache was over his tightly drawn lips. He was wearing a shiny black wrap-around shirt which doubled over itself in the front.

  “I am Professor Dandelo. By jolly, send me to Coventry! I am surprised. Your artificial intelligence machine, Sandie by name, informed me that there are other humans on this forsaken bit of real-estate.”

  Captain Eris’ appeared on the main display screen. “Yes, I am Captain Eris of the Conestoga. Sandie tells me we have a limited time, and I have instructed Sandie to make all information available to you.”

  “Oh my dear, you sound like a mere girl,” Professor Dandelo then coughed as he composed himself. “Pardon me. Sounds can be deceiving. Here we have not had any contact with people outside of Epsilon since making planet-fall. Our habitat, which we assumed was the only one to survive landing, settled here when I was just an infant. Your Sandie informs me that there is a grave threat. Our barrier field has kept us safe for these last decades. We tried, numerous times according to my parents, to scan or send some message beyond the substrate in which our home rests. None were successful. Those attempts were stopped long ago. Yet now, here you come a knocking at our door. What a surprise, knock knock!”

  “Have you had any contact with the Crocks?” Jerome asked suddenly.

  “Oh, there is more than one of you? To whom am I addressing?” Professor Dandelo asked. It was obvious he could not see any images of them, but only hear their voices.

  “I am Jerome, and Monika is here as well. We are working for Captain Eris, looking for the lost habitats. Sandie will apparently be giving you all the information needed. The Crocks are the indigenous life…”

  “Jerome, our time really is limited. Sandie an transmit the data. Let me give it to him straight,” Eris interrupted. “Our research shows that none of the habitats can survive more than about a hundred days more. Sandie will relay that information for your consideration. We must leave now. We are looking to rescue survivors, both those living and those in suspended animation. How many in Epsilon?”

  “Our population is right at five thousand, as it has been for decades. The passengers in suspended animation are fit and well. Our sciences have advanced to where we lose less than one-tenth of one percent of the people in the repositories every year. However, I would like to know more about these, what did that man call them, the Crocks? We have detected no life forms of any kind above the microscopic in all the samples we have taken. It seems…” Professor Dandelo stopped as he looked down at a printed paper which someone handed him. “Oh my, the information you sent does paint a gloomy picture. My analysis computer just did a review of it, and… surprisingly it does check out. Our barrier field has kept us safe. But I see that will fail, and shortly. Oh bother. From all this information, it looks like we were only surveying a small part of this planet. Our assumptions about being alone were incomplete, inaccurate. I see you adopted the name Zalia for this planet. We call it Likimas. I will defer, for now, to your nomenclature.” He rubbed his eyes briefly. Holding up the paper, he read it again. “I do see how you perceive the threat, and we too have had incidents of what you call ‘gravity sink holes’ but that name is an odd one. Is it a gravity sink? Or is it a sinkhole? Or a hole made by gravity? No matter, and again, I will use your terminology. Those have occurred here in Epsilon, but we too have not found a reason for them. Did I let the frog out of my mouth? Well, these phenomena have only rarely, if ever, been observed in the biological habitat. Usually confined to the shell only. Pesky and dangerous they are. Your artificial intelligence machine says they will devour us, and there is no remedy for it? Oh dear.” Another paper was handed to him. He studied it intensely. “Good gracious! Teleportation? You have perfected teleportation. Bravo! We have been working on that tough nut for eons. Well, not literal eons, but for a long while. If you call decades a long while, perhaps that is not a long while to you. For some it might be a short while, like in the history of humanity, or of science. Yes, in scientific terms, decades are a short while. But you have achieved teleportation! Approbations!” Professor Dandelo read more. “And faster-than-light spacecraft? Impressive, if true. However, I do smell an owl in the moss. For now, I will have your instruments brought inside our habitat. Sitting on the hull will not be a healthy environment for them. I think we can sacrifice a vodnee to recover a link to the rest of humanity. Yes, that we can do. On vodnee gone, humanity connected. I will contact you after the Science Consistory meets to discuss this remarkable news.”

  “We will assist you however we can,” Eris said. “May I know the numbers of the people in suspended animation in Epsilon?”

  “My dear girl.” He rolled his eyes. “I am feeding the donkey sponge cake. This is all so new. To think, there are other survivors after making planet-fall. Remarkable.” He waved the papers and stared at the ceiling. “Oh the stories. When Epsilon landed it took almost forty days for it to sink into the morass where we are now. Before it was submerged, we launched shuttles, but to no avail. Nothing else from the colony ship was ever located. Those poor souls in the shuttles exhausted themselves seeking other survivors. Oh, and we never encountered any life forms beyond the microscopic level. I believe I already mentioned that, did I not? Perhaps not, I am just aflutter with excitement. Yes, this is all remarkable, noteworthy. We assumed all of the planet was like our location, a naïve assumption, certainly, but that was our experience. I do thank you for the information provided by your artificial intelligence machine, Sandie.”

  “If Sandie links into your lattice of compeers, then we can understand your status, condition, and run our own conjectures on how best to assist,” Eris suggested.

  “Lattice of compeers?” His lips twisted a bit and he squinted his eyes. Someone handed Professor Dandelo another printed page. He read it over. “Oh, I thought that phrase was familiar, but archaic. You are referring to the old system which was destroyed in the insurrection, prior to our being jettisoned. We have nothing like that lattice of compeers now. We put off the old and dangerous ways. Our Science Consistory governs our lives. We have many computers, all tailored and suited for their individual tasks. Just no overarching network which is entangled. Entanglement is a danger, as all quality scientists know. From quantum entanglements to relational entanglements, and everything in-between. Machine entanglement, that was the Conestoga’s downfall. Humans are to be in fellowship and interaction, not machines. As the scientist knows the well-proven idiom, ‘One machine to one t
ask’. Yes, that is the proper way for every machine. Yes, that is the right and proper way for all machines. I really must end this delightful conversation now. I hope it was delightful for you as well, and if not delightful at least elucidating. I will see the man about sending a vodnee to gather your communication gear. Remarkable, simply remarkable.” Professor Dandelo reached forward and the image winked off.

  “Computers?” Jerome said with a small chuckle. “That is an antique term from a couple hundred years ago. Maybe they use that as a metaphor? Like giving if an artificial intelligence choses the name Abacus?”

  “I doubt it.” Eris sighed out, but stayed on the link. “I asked Sandie to fully investigate Epsilon. We know there are people there, like Professor Dandelo, but there is no nonphysicality. None. Power systems are in place, but no nonphysicality at all. Sandie cannot assess anything beyond the established intercom system. That was how we got the visual signals, using their own cameras and lenses. From what Sandie uncovered, Epsilon has no functioning AIs, no SBs, and no nonphysicality. Nothing. So that obsolete term, computer, probably does apply to the machines they use.”

  “But contact was made. So there is hope. Hope is the pillar that holds up the future. Hope is the dream of a person while awake,” Jerome responded. “Now, all we have to do is plant the package on Gamma and we will have had a completely successful operation with the probes.”

  “Except for losing one probe, but the packages have now been all delivered. It is done,” Monika stated with a large toothy smile. “While you were talking to that professor, I landed Probe 05 on Gamma without incident. The package is attached and the probe is returning. Good thing Captain Eris taught me to be a pilot.”

  “Outstanding!” Jerome cried out. “It is a good day.”

  “Yes, well done to you both,” Eris affirmed. “We should probably try to get some rest; it has been a long day…”

  Sandie interrupted them. “I have made connection with a leader in Zeta. He insists on speaking to ‘Whoever is in command’. May I patch him in?”

  Jerome almost answered, but just nodded to Eris.

  “More success,” Eris stated. “Yes, link the transmission in to all three of us.”

  “It is audio and visual,” Sandie answered. “Establishing link now.”

  A man’s image appeared in the three-dimensional display. He was staring directly at the camera. He barked out a command, “Give me a three way split in the screen so I can see all three of their leaders.”

  “Hello. I am Captain Eris. We have…”

  “You are in command?” the man said, as his lips scowled. His short hair was in a crewcut and was the color of steel. His eyes were intense and a deep brown. His age was indeterminate, neither old nor young. He had a medium complexion which contrasted with the olive drab color of the background walls. Numerous monitors, screens, displays, and other devices were all around behind him. Three other people sat at a workstation and had their backs to him. He was dressed in a neat and precise uniform of khaki color. The others were similarly dressed.

  “Yes, I am Captain Eris.”

  “I am Colonel Harrison of Zeta. The fortunes of war have smiled on us today. It is heartening to finally find an ally against the Pinheads.”

  “Pinheads?” Eris asked.

  Colonel Harrison turned and barked a command, “Sergeant, put up a photo of a Pinhead.”

  “Yes sir!” Snapped one of the women at the workstation. “On screen now sir!”

  A detailed image of a Crock was shown on the screen behind Colonel Harrison.

  “That is a Crock!” Jerome exclaimed. “Yes, we have encountered them. That is why we made contact with you. You see…”

  Eris interrupted. “Jerome, I will explain, thank you.”

  Colonel Harrison shook his head ever so slightly, but placed a plastic grin on his face. He then said, “Excitement in the ranks. The Pinheads are the species which inhabits this world, for now. You call them the Crocks, apparently. What is your location?”

  Jerome watched Eris on the display. She tipped her head sideways for a moment. Jerome instantly thought of Cammarry and how she had looked when she was afflicted by the Shadow. It was a brief and passing moment, but it was vividly marked in his mind.

  “Colonel Harrison, I am on the needle ship in orbit,” Eris replied. “We have been looking for the grounded habitats. An artificial intelligence system, Sandie, has information about a danger to all parts of the Conestoga. That has been transmitted to your systems.”

  “I am cognizant of that. We have fully analyzed it. You are referring to the aberrations of gravity caused by the Pinheads, which you call gravity sink holes. We are well aware of the threat and are taking steps to alleviate it,” Colonel Harrison responded. “I am pleased you are in orbit. That will make our ground offensive that much easier. Our strategists tell me we have ninety-one days to achieve our goals.”

  “So you are going after the Crocks?” Jerome stated in a voice overly loud. “Finally, someone who takes the threat seriously.”

  “We have been engaging the Pinheads for decades. Ever since they breached our hanger bay and entered with those blasted tanks of theirs. We never had the aberrations, what you call gravity sink holes, before that happened,” Colonel Harrison stated. “Took us a long campaign to drive them out, but we did it. Our habitat is secure, but the damage they left behind remains. We are making plans to permanently settle this situation. However, I am not comfortable with discussing this over these channels. May I suggest that you come to Zeta so we can talk face-to-face and plan our strategy?”

  Eris tapped her com-link briefly, and then stated, “Colonel Harrison, I appreciate the offer. I look forward to seeing how we can work together more. I have a lot of information to review, and will get back to you shortly. Sandie, terminate the link.”

  The image of Colonel Harrison disappeared.

  “Captain Eris?” Sandie voiced. “I was only able to delve into Zeta’s exterior shell, and only to a limited manner. Just as I did with the other habitats, I transmitted all our information immediately upon establishing the interface. That was in case of lost contact. They all received the warning. However, in Zeta, they have large security canopies in place to prevent causal observation. So while they received the information I transmitted, I did not get an opportunity to review their database in return. They also have locks set on their nonphysicality. I can easily break those and penetrate them, and take the information, but there is a risk of detection.”

  “Hold on that action for now,” Eris commanded.

  “Eris? What did you do?” Jerome asked. His voice was barely controlled, but the anger around his words was obvious. “That man, Colonel Harrison, he and his people are fighting our enemies. They know about the gravity sink holes.”

  “Jerome, they are fighting, yes they are. Sandie will investigate that further, and without revealing her presence, then make a report. When I receive that I will need you to review it.” Eris pondered for a moment. “I also think I need to tell you something.”

  Monika’s attention was raised by both Jerome’s increased hostility, and the worrisome tones in Eris’ voice. Monika stated an opinion, more than a question. “This is not the great success we thought it is, is it?”

  “Losing only the one probe, and getting all the packages onto the habitats is a great success. Be proud of yourselves. You both did superbly. Sandie has a detailed report on all the surviving habitats. We are looking at some challenges, that is for sure.” Eris responded. “I will let her inform you about those conditions. But before that, Jerome, I must tell you about Cammarry.”

  “Do not tell Jerome about Cammarry!” Shadow insisted to Eris, but only she heard it. “He will not be controllable.”

  “Cammarry?” Jerome gulped.

  Eris prayed for the right words. “She is alive and in Alpha Habitat, but there is a gravity sink hole near her location. Here is what I know….”

  5 Gamma’s Gambit

  De
spite the blockades in Zeta, which Sandie did not bypass, there were success in the other habitats. Sandie used the newly linked connection to Gamma to send out tendrils to explore the nonphysicality of the habitat. There was remarkably little security for Sandie to evade, and even less was wrong with the mechanical apparatus in the shell or in the biome. Completely absent were human beings, even though everything was there to support people. Kitchens, apartments, recreation facilities, and schools all sat empty and lonely. There were no humans at all anywhere in Gamma. Every suspended animation repository was vacant. All the cocoons had been opened, and then resealed as the prior occupants had been re-animated. The prior reports to Eris were confirmed.

  Sandie searched onward. After only a short while, Sandie discovered, through logs and records of the biome’s automacubes, where the humans’ last positions were. Their decomposing corpses were found at a few sites. Sandie covertly hijacked a brown and a white automacube to maneuver over to one of those sites. The six-wheeled horticultural machine rolled along and then dug up a human body. Sandie had the medical automacube do a forensic autopsy on the remains. That information was stored away in Sandie’s ALP. Then, those two automacubes were instructed to take the body and return it to its prior position.