by Jay Allan
“That’s correct, Mister Johnson,” Keela replied with a mysterious smile. “He has been in cryosleep for much of that time. This will only be the fourth time we have awakened him.”
“Cryosleep?” repeated Doctor Oleson, looking confused. “Is that some type of suspended animation?”
Keela laughed and nodded her head. “In a way. We have learned how to lower the body temperature to greatly slow the aging process.”
“The Fleet Admiral is very important to us,” Colonel Runess added. “If not for him, none of us would be here.”
“Can we get a message out to Ariel to let her know we’re okay?” Jason asked. “Our people back on the Moon will be worried about us.”
“That is being arranged,” Colonel Runess replied with a slight nod of his head. “Clarissa will send a message to Ariel reporting that you’re all okay as soon as the Fleet Admiral approves it. She will use an encrypted Federation code that your military will not be able to break if it’s intercepted. There will also be some very explicit instructions for Ariel. We don’t want word of this base to get out. I believe your Colonel Greene will understand.”
“You seem to know a lot about our people,” Lisa commented, looking at Colonel Runess and feeling perplexed. “How’s that possible?”
“We have some spy satellites in orbit around both the Earth and the Moon,” Colonel Runess answered, shifting his gaze to Lisa. “We also have a direct line to Ariel that she’s unaware of. Everything she’s done and found out about all of you since the Avenger was first discovered has been transmitted on a secure line to our base.”
Jason nodded. He had suspected something like this for a while now. It was the only explanation for some of the things these people seemed to know. It was a surprise to realize that these people had been watching the Earth and the Moon both. Jason wondered how long this clandestine surveillance had been going on.
“These satellites must be made of some type of stealth material or we would have detected them by now,” Lieutenant Addison commented. He knew a little about stealth technology from his training in the air force.
“That’s correct, Lieutenant,” replied Runess, nodding his head. “We thought it best that your world not know of our existence. Now that may have to change.”
“I will call my nurses in. They can draw the blood samples as well as inoculate you against our diseases,” Keela spoke. “Then, in a few days, we can let you out of here and answer some more of your questions. For the time being, I would suggest that you take it easy and rest. You may feel some slight nausea from the inoculations, but it shouldn’t be anything serious.”
“One more thing,” added Colonel Runess, looking thoughtfully at Jason. “Ariel has named you commander of the Avenger. That’s a very positive development as far as we’re concerned. She would not have named you her commander if you weren’t qualified. I will mention that to the Fleet Admiral when he awakens.”
Colonel Runess and Keela left, and two nurses entered the room. They were carrying the instruments needed to draw blood as well as to give the inoculations.
“Damn,” Greg muttered. He didn’t like needles.
One of the nurses smiled and indicated for Greg to roll up his sleeve. She was holding what looked like some type of automated syringe. Why do I always have to be first, Greg wondered?
-
The next day on board the Avenger, Ariel was surprised when a message from the direction of Ceres was received by one of her repaired communication devices. She was elated when she realized that the message was from Clarissa. For a moment, Ariel felt immense relief at not being so alone. Clarissa had survived! After receiving the message and the orders it contained, she sent for Colonel Greene.
Colonel Greene arrived in the Command Center and was surprised to see that no one was inside. He had strict standing orders that at least two people were to be in the Command Center at all times. Looking at the main viewscreen, he saw Ariel staring at him with a mysterious smile. What’s going on, he wondered?
“Why is no one on duty in the Command Center, Ariel?”
“I sent them away, Colonel Greene.”
“On whose authority,” he asked, confused. This was unlike Ariel. She had been extremely cooperative recently. She also enjoyed having people in the Command Center.
“I have received new orders from Ceres, which I must obey.”
“Ceres!” exclaimed Colonel Greene his eyes widening. They had lost contact with Commander Strong the day before. Had they managed to reestablish communication?
“Was it Commander Strong?”
“No, sir, my orders come from a higher authority.”
Colonel Greene felt a chill run through him. “Who?”
“The orders originated from the Federation base inside Ceres and were sent by Clarissa, the AI of the light cruiser Vindication. The orders must be obeyed unless countered by the commander of First Fleet.”
“First Fleet?” Colonel Greene asked confused. What was happening on that asteroid? “I don’t understand.”
“First Fleet is comprised of the warships that escorted the civilian ships to this solar system. They are all that remains of the Federation space forces. The fleet is under the command of Fleet Admiral Hedon Streth.”
“This admiral is still alive?” asked Colonel Greene, feeling uneasy. He suddenly realized that the humans on the Avenger were no longer in charge. What did all of this mean?
“Yes, he is. He has been awakened to handle the situation with our shuttle and Commander Strong. Commander Strong’s people are inside the base and are all safe. There can be no word of this conversation to anyone, Colonel Greene. All you are allowed to say is that contact has been reestablished with Commander Strong and the mission is continuing. We will be contacted later with additional updates and orders.”
Colonel Greene sat down in the commander’s chair behind the center console. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The Federation base on Ceres was intact and obviously operational. He let out a long breath and gazed at Ariel. The young woman on the screen was silent and looked serene, almost happy. She’s back in her Federation again, Colonel Greene realized. He wondered what all of this would mean. For nearly an hour, Colonel Greene sat thinking about the ramifications of what Ariel had told him. His world was about to change again. The Hocklyns were in the future, and there was no doubt that this base on Ceres and this Fleet Admiral would play a huge role in what was to come.
-
The seventy-two hours passed rapidly, and Colonel Runess and Keela returned to the detention area. They called the detainees together to let them know the results of their medical tests.
“According to our tests it is safe for all of you to leave this room,” Keela informed them with a smile, knowing how hard it must have been for all eight of these people to be left in detention with so many unanswered questions.
“The first thing we want to do is give all of you a tour of the base,” Colonel Runess explained. “Once you have realized what we have accomplished here, you will meet with Fleet Admiral Streth for a debriefing.”
“We’ll divide you into two groups,” Keela continued. “Professor Stern, Doctor Oleson, Professor Tennyson, and Mister Simmins will come with me. The rest of you will be going with Colonel Runess.”
“What are we going to see?” Greg asked, thrilled at the prospect of finally getting out of this room. He had spent nearly four weeks in several small rooms on the Avenger, and this had reminded him of that.
Colonel Runess smiled slightly, looking at Greg. “I have been told to take you to the light cruiser Vindication. I would think you would like to see what an intact Federation warship looks like.”
Greg’s eyes widened. This was like a dream come true. “Let’s go!”
-
They made their way through numerous corridors, and as they went deeper into the base, they started to see more people. Many were dressed in military uniforms, but quite a few were obviously civilians. Some doors
were open, and they could see people working. They were operating equipment and doing other jobs, which mystified the group. Most of the equipment they were operating was unlike anything on Earth. In some of the more sensitive areas, marine guards were posted and they were not allowed entrance.
“Once you have spoken to Fleet Admiral Streth, you may be allowed into some of those departments,” Colonel Runess commented when asked about what was being guarded. “Even here on Ceres we have secrets that need to be protected.”
“What happened after your fleet became infected with the flu?” Jason asked, curiously. “We know it had spread to some of the civilian ships.”
Colonel Runess was silent for a moment. He hadn’t been alive at the time, but his parents had told him about the horrors and hardships many families had faced.
“It was a bad time for everyone,” he said with a sad and forlorn look upon his face. “The civilians thought they had found a new home, one that was safe from the Hocklyns where they could start over and raise their families. Earth was so much like our home planets.”
“But some of your people became infected with the Spanish Flu while they were down on Earth and brought it back up to the civilian fleet,” spoke Jason, recalling what Ariel had told them.
“Yes, we had no immunity to this flu virus,” Colonel Runess answered with a far away look in his eyes. “We had diseases on our home planets, but nothing like your flu. Hundreds became sick and then started to die. The disease spread rapidly. The Fleet Admiral ordered all the sick to be quarantined on four civilian vessels in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease. In the end it took six ships, and we lost thousands.”
Everyone had stopped walking and were listening raptly to the colonel. “Thousands,” Lisa repeated in a poignant voice.
She could imagine the horror. Families being split apart in an effort to stop the disease. Husbands, wives, and children becoming infected and having to be taken away from those they loved. It would have been a nightmare.
“In the end, we lost 18,000 of the 40,000 civilians that were part of the fleet,” Colonel Runess said in a somber voice. “When we reached Ceres, there were nearly three hundred suicides from family members who had lost nearly everyone. It was a very bad time for the fleet.”
“But you managed to survive,” Jason commented. He didn’t know what he would have done if faced with the same situation the Federation survivors had found themselves in. “You overcame the disease and managed to build this base.”
“Yes, but it was a very difficult and trying time for everyone. The docking bays are just down this corridor,” continued Colonel Runess, trying to sound more lighthearted. The Spanish Flu and the deaths were ancient history, a history he wished he could forget. However, it was a crucial part of what had helped to create the Ceres base.
They continued on down the corridor and passed through a large double airlock. Stepping through, they found themselves in a brightly lit, cavernous bay. There were two ships in the bay; both of the light cruiser class.
“My God, they're huge!” Greg cried in admiration, gazing at the warships. He had expected them to be large, but the reality of what he was seeing still astonished him.
There were two light cruisers in the bay. Each one was 600 meters in length and completely undamaged. Numerous people, as well as work robots, were visible going about their jobs. The work robots did indeed look like giant spiders.
“Are they space worthy?” Greg asked with his eyes focused on the ships. “I mean, could you fly them to another star today if you wanted to?”
“Yes,” Colonel Runess replied with a nod. “We keep all of our warships at a state of readiness. We don’t expect to see the Hocklyns for 268 years, but there is always the possibility that one of their long-range scouts could find us.”
“How likely?” Jason asked with narrowed eyes. If the Hocklyns were to find Earth now, it would be a disaster. It would be years before Earth would be capable of putting up any kind of defense against the advanced weapons of the Hocklyns.
“Not very,” replied Colonel Runess, noticing Jason’s concern. “But we prefer not to take any chances. We have taken some steps to make sure Earth isn’t found. The Fleet Admiral will explain those to you later.”
“How many warships do you have in the base?” asked Greg, his eyes still focused on the cruisers.
He wondered how many bays like this were inside Ceres. On one of the ships, several of the hatches were open and the railgun turrets were visible. From this position, the weapons looked deadly and ready to take on an enemy.
“Fleet Admiral Streth will have to give you that information,” Colonel Runess replied civilly “Some of that information is classified.”
Jason nodded. “These ships are impressive, Colonel. I just hope Earth can build something like them one of these days.”
“Let’s go inside the Vindication. I believe that Clarissa wants to speak with your group.”
They made their way down several ramps and finally came to a boarding ramp that led inside the cruiser. They passed several work robots on the way, as well as other people going about their jobs. They acted as if visitors from Earth were a common occurrence.
They entered the cruiser, and after awhile they started to feel more at home as the corridors became more familiar as they neared the Command Center. They found the hatch to the Command Center to be open, but two heavily armed marines were standing outside in the corridor.
Stepping inside, Jason was surprised to see that it was fully manned. “Do you always keep full crews on your ships while they’re docked inside Ceres?” asked Jason, turning to look inquiringly at Colonel Runess.
“We only have partial crews on the ships,” Colonel Runess responded. “At any one time only about ten percent of a ship’s crew is on board. If there is an emergency, the ship can be ready to launch by the time the rest of the crew is recalled. That’s one reason why the Command Center is always manned.”
“Hello,” a young feminine voice spoke from the front of the Command Center.
Turning to face the voice, Jason saw Clarissa on the main viewscreen. Clarissa was a pretty blonde with deep blue eyes and a friendly face. “Hello Clarissa,” Jason responded his eyes drawn to the AI.
“All these AIs are gorgeous,” muttered Greg, shaking his head and looking at Clarissa. The Federation obviously had a good taste in women.
“Thank you, Mister Johnson,” Clarissa replied with a wide smile.
Greg felt his face flush. He had forgotten how well the AIs could hear in the Command Center.
“I believe you have some questions for me, Commander Strong,” Clarissa stated her eyes focusing on Jason.
For the next hour, they all talked. Jason asked several questions, and Clarissa in return asked numerous questions about Ariel. One of the things that Jason and Lisa discovered was that the Federation survivors hadn’t known at first that Ariel had survived. It was only after Jason and Greg had flown their lander over the Avenger, causing the emergency beacon to activate, that Ariel had used enough power for Clarissa to detect the AI’s presence on the wrecked ship. It had been decided not to contact Ariel in the beginning, but to wait and see what happened with the visitors from Earth. They had used a connection that Clarissa had with Ariel to observe everything that was happening on the Avenger. Not even Ariel had been aware that they were being watched.
Jason was surprised how much alike the two AIs were, but they were also very different. Lisa had dozens of technical questions she was plying Clarissa with. Some Clarissa answered, and others she put off.
“You will need to consult the Fleet Admiral,” she would say politely.
Jason was curious about this Fleet Admiral Streth. These people obviously had a lot of respect for him, almost reverence. He knew he would be meeting him soon and perhaps then more of his questions would be answered.
“Would you like to see Engineering?” Colonel Runess asked. He knew that the Engineering section on the Avenger had be
en destroyed.
“That would be great,” answered Jason. He wanted to see what the rest of the Avenger would have looked like if it were still intact. “On the Avenger, everything behind the flight bay is destroyed, missing, or scattered in the crater.”
“That’s what I’ve been told,” Colonel Runess replied with a sad look in his eyes. “It’s surprising that Ariel survived as badly damaged as the Avenger is.”
-
Sometime later, they were in Engineering, looking in awe at the technology that had allowed the Human Federation of Worlds to spread across the stars. The chief engineer had patiently explained to the group, in simple terms, how the FTL core worked as well as the ship’s powerful sublight drive.
“This is all amazing,” Lieutenant Addison spoke his eyes trying to take everything in.
He had asked the chief engineer some questions but had realized rather quickly that he didn’t have the necessary technological knowledge to understand what the man was trying to explain. In the background, he could hear a faint hum from the Vindication’s two high-energy fusion reactors.
Jason gazed at all the consoles and controls, in front of which a few of the ship’s Engineering crew were busy monitoring the ship’s functions. He began to realize just what would be involved in order to build a warship such as this. With a sinking feeling, he knew that it would be decades before Earth was ready for this advanced technology. If introduced too quickly, it would disrupt the planet’s economy and who knows what else. Something else would have to be done. Jason had a vague idea forming in the back of his mind, but he would have to discuss it with Colonel Greene when they returned to the Moon.
Colonel Runess led them from the Vindication and around more of the base. The base was immense. Jason continued to marvel at all the work that had been done. There were more people about as they went deeper into the base, as well as more of the eight legged work robots.
“What all can these work robots do?” asked Lieutenant Addison, stopping to examine one a little closer.
The robot had eight tentacles attached to an oval shaped body. A small metal globe rested on top. This was obliviously the computer that controlled the robot.