Immortal Guardian: Hoast Saga Book 2 (Host Saga)

by Michael Farlow

  After a sip of her drink, she continued, more seriously. “By the way, each of the crew has come to me about the potential nanite treatments you mentioned in the briefing, and they all want to start. They want to see how this works out, no matter how long it takes.”

  “Does that include you?” asked Van.

  “Of course. I can’t let Danny outlive me!” Again, with that smile.

  Meier had a fondness for deserted islands. He’d lost the Aegean island he’d once owned, but he had another he’d found years ago. La Tortuga Island off the coast of Venezuela offered him the perfect place to operate unobserved. Apart from a few fishermen and a wayward tourist or two, nobody went there. There, in the remnants of an old fort, Meier had established a command center and small logistics depot. It was also where he’d stashed the Chad computer before Van Childs destroyed Avantek. Meier had moved to La Tortuga shortly after his last meeting at Rancho Rendon. He wanted to make finding him as difficult as possible.

  Today, Meier had only Dieter as company. More and more, he was becoming self-conscious about his frailties—the shaking, the difficulty walking. He also found himself snapping at people more than usual, and he had a hard time focusing on his plans. Dieter was becoming his crutch in life.

  “As I was saying, Frederico—”

  “Just call me Peter…. nobody here to make a difference,” Meier said, slumping in a comfortable chair while his favorite music played in the background.

  “Yes, Peter, as I was saying, we have determined that the only place Van Childs lives now is in a cabin in the Arizona mountains.”

  “Yes, yes, I know about the cabin. I had people there once to search it. Nothing to it. Or at least there wasn’t. Is there more now?”

  “It appears so. Two of my men visited the cabin and its environs again. One posed as a forest ranger and the other as a climatologist. They both used the equipment you recently developed to detect terrain anomalies.”

  Meier’s head came up, his full attention on Dieter. “And…. ?”

  “And there is something buried beneath the property. Something big.”

  This is another site, he thought triumphantly. But how to get in? Unless, of course, all he had to do was find the metal handle and open everything up. He knew he was locked out of the Chad site, but perhaps not this one. Could they be so stupid? Suddenly the spacecraft, the money, and the power faded to the background. The new site was much more important, and he wasn’t sure why. Something, some instinct perhaps, was now driving him.

  “We need to go there now. Make the arrangements. And pack the Chad computer.”

  Dieter was surprised at Meier’s quick response and sense of urgency. But he was getting used to his boss’s quirks and said simply, “Yes, Peter.”

  Anikin walked aimlessly around his Command Center, stopping here and there to look at details he never had time to observe before. Hands behind his back, he went from one console to another, occasionally bending over to see things more closely.

  “Mikhael, have you ever taken a close look at all of this equipment?”

  “Ah, yes, General, I use much of it every day.”

  “Yes, of course you do. I just never had the time to really look around. This is quite an amazing place. Too bad my lovely wife, Marta, cannot see it all. She would be impressed.” The general took a moment to change course, then said, “So what is happening with the Chinese today?”

  “No flights today from China, sir. Same as yesterday. It appears from our cameras on the Moon that all their work is concentrated inside the lava tube.”

  “And all goes well at Tycho?”

  “Yes, General. Pitchka made one flight yesterday to deliver supplies and exchange people. All is going well.”

  “Too well, I feel, Major. The Chinese have not established that base just to sit there and do nothing. I would feel better if Pitchka spent more time there in case we need her quickly. That would include the new spaceship from India in a rotation with Pitchka when ready. What was the name of the new craft again?”

  “Oryol, General.”

  “Yes of course, the Russian name for ‘eagle.’ See to the details, Mikhael.”

  “Yes, General, right away.”

  After returning to the Moon two days ago, Van and Harry had been observing the Chinese and the Russians as well as preparing the Aurora for flight. Both the Enterprise and the Truman were on the Moon being used for training the new pilots, with the B1 and B2 back at Site R.

  “Training here has gone well, Harry, and the Chinese and the Russians seem to have settled down…. at least for a while. I’m thinking we are about ready to take the Aurora out while we can. What do you think?”

  “I agree, Commander. The pilots have had substantial flying time with the two combat shuttles as well as the Enterprise and the Truman. All the pilots have gone through the complete set of astrogation sessions in the chairs, and the engineers have taken apart and reassembled all the critical engineering control modules and access panels. I have to admit that I was concerned that they might damage the systems. But they did not. They are good engineers, Commander.”

  “Yes they are. The first time I saw them in the middle of a bunch of disassembled parts I almost had a heart attack. But they do seem to know what they’re doing. How about the weapons officers and the doctor?”

  “They are all ready, Commander. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Fletcher adapted to the ship’s weapons systems much faster than I expected. In addition, and along with the pilots, they have done quite well in the combat flight simulations. They are not a Host-level crew yet, but they are getting better.”

  “And the doctor?”

  “Dr. Ramos has exceeded all my expectations. Not only has she achieved high levels of Host medical competency, but she has also studied the ship in general and has a working knowledge of how most things work. Very impressive, Commander. We made an excellent choice.”

  “That’s good to hear, Harry. I had the feeling she was more than just a good doctor. I’ve been thinking of asking Stan to fulfill a role as my executive officer. What do you think?”

  “An excellent choice, Commander. Like Dr. Ramos, he has also been studying the Aurora systems but at a greater level of detail.”

  “All good news!” said Van with exuberance. “So, I take it we can fly the Aurora out soon?”

  “I believe this crew is ready now, Commander. Just name the time and date.”

  “Let’s plan on a launch tomorrow. Assuming, of course, that the Chinese and Russians are behaving. Are they?”

  “Both are focused on developing their bases at present. Flights continue to the Earth and back, but they are all supply runs apparently. No confrontations.”

  “So it’s a good time to get out and test the systems and crew while we can. I want them ready for anything if or when the Chinese and Russians start up again. It’s one thing to scare the world into unity, but it’s another thing to not be prepared to control it. We go tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER 25

  For the first time in two hundred years, the Aurora was ready for launch. All systems were operating and the new crew sat expectantly at their stations.

  “All systems are up and running, and we have green lights for launch, Captain,” said Stan from his seat next to the command chair.

  Sitting in the command seat, Van was a little startled when Stan called him “Captain.” “Very well, Stan, but nobody promoted me to captain. How about sticking with ‘Commander.’ We don’t want to confuse Harry, either.”

  “Very well, Commander. Ready on your order,” said the new executive officer.

  “Harry, open the outer doors.”

  “Opening, Commander.”

  “Helm, lift off as planned and ease her out,” he said to Danny, now the first helmsman and pilot.

  “Gravity systems engaged and weight coming off the landing gear now. Clear of the deck and retracting the gear and activating maneuvering thrusters, Commander.”

  “Very well.”

>   The big ship slowly maneuvered out of the maintenance facility and outside the Moon-base enclosure.

  “Clear of the facility, Commander.”

  “Very well. Harry, close the facility doors. Helm, when you’re clear, turn her 180 degrees and 20 up.”

  “Turning 180 now and going 20 up,” repeated Danny.

  “Very well. Astrogation, set the course for Mars orbit.”

  “Course laid in and ready, Commander,” said Jan St. Clair, the new pilot and trained astrogator.

  “Very well. Helm, engage stealth mode, and when your turning maneuver is complete, proceed on the planned course using fusion engines at one-quarter power to clear the Moon.”

  “Roger, stealth mode engaged, fusion engines at one-quarter power to clear the Moon,” repeated Danny.

  Van wanted the use of the backup fusion engines to both test them and to clear the Moon before shifting to ZPE power.

  Five minutes later Danny reported, “Clear of the Moon surface and gravity pull. On planned course.”

  “Very well. Shift to ZPE and take us ahead at .01 light. Let’s take this slow and make no mistakes,” cautioned Van.

  “Shifting to ZPE power. Engineering confirms shift. Proceeding on planned course and accelerating to .01 light. Now this is what I call space flight!” shouted Danny with a huge grin, which was contagious around the bridge.

  Van agreed and was inclined to let Danny and the crew have their moment of excitement. Perhaps a more professional Navy or Air Force crew would be more restrained. But they were neither. They were learning as they went.

  Unknown by Van, Meier and Hellman arrived in Arizona as the Aurora departed Moon base.

  As instructed by Peter Meier, Dieter drove up to Van’s cabin in a UPS truck and uniform. He exited the truck with a package, strode to the cabin door, and knocked. After several attempts with no response, he placed the package on the porch and left.

  Several miles away, Meier sat in the back of another van with UPS colors, monitoring a bank of computers and screens. Center stage in this collection of equipment was an odd-looking oval-shaped device, which stood on three ball-shaped feet.

  Dieter arrived at Peter’s location and entered the van full of electronics.

  “What do we have, Peter?” he asked.

  “A substantial security system surrounding the whole area. I believe, however, that with the help of our special computer here, we can shut it down for as long as we need until we find the access handle I know exists.

  “First, I turn off the security like this,” said Meier, pressing the “Enter” button on his keyboard, “and then we search for access points like this,” he continued, pressing the button again.

  But nothing happened.

  Meier’s smile disappeared in an instant. This was supposed to be easy, he thought. Maybe I made a mistake entering the commands. And he tried again.

  Nothing happened.

  “What’s wrong?” Dieter asked, staring at the computer and then at Meier. But Meier appeared not to have heard him. “Peter?”

  “Stop pestering me!” Meier roared back. “Can’t you see I’m trying to think?” In truth, however, Meier wasn’t sure what was wrong.

  So far the Aurora appeared to be performing flawlessly. Appeared to be, because none of the crew had any experience to compare to. All they had were the readouts from control stations and the assurance of Harry that everything was OK.

  “Why don’t we go faster, Commander?” asked Stan. “We have the speed even without FTL.”

  “I know, but I think we all need to log some space time to become more familiar with the ship and our routine. At this speed, and with Mars about two hundred million miles away at this point, we should make the trip in about twenty-nine hours. Longer if we slow down, which we might do. Chalk it all up to experience. You have the bridge. I’m going to engineering. Come on, Harry.”

  As he and Harry headed aft, Van asked, “How is everything going from your perspective, Harry?”

  “Quite well, Commander. And I agree that we should take some time to test the ship. After not running for two hundred years, something could go wrong even though all my current indications are ‘in the green,’ as you say.”

  “Good to hear. I’ll be interested to hear what Bob and Elaine think.”

  Now that Van was more familiar with the Aurora, it took less time to get to engineering than the last time he’d gone, with fewer missed turns.

  When he opened the hatch to main engineering, he was relieved to see no parts scattered around the deck as he had seen on his last visit. Instead he was greeted by two smiling engineers sitting at control consoles with apparently nothing to do.

  “How goes it, Bob?” Van asked the senior of the two.

  “Smooth as glass, Commander. She purrs like a kitten.”

  “Any problems, even small ones?”

  “Well there are a few fluctuations in the ZPE generators, but they are within the specifications provided by the Host. We’ve been watching it closely, and nothing appears out of spec, as I said.”

  “Hmm, not sure I like that. What about you, Harry?” Van asked with concern.

  “I agree with Mr. Cooper, Commander. The fluctuations are within limits.”

  “OK. Keep us posted on the bridge if you see something you don’t like. No matter how small,” said Van.

  “Will do,” responded Bob and Elaine together.

  After leaving engineering Van suggested Harry go back to the bridge while Van stopped by sick bay.

  “Knock knock!” he said as he entered the medical facility.

  “Who’s there?” said a female voice from somewhere inside.

  “It’s me, Van. Where are you?”

  “I’m under the rejuvenator,” said Rose.

  “OK, I give. What’s a rejuvenator and where is it?” he asked, puzzled.

  “Look to your right and down.”

  Van did as he was told and saw a pair of shapely legs protruding out from under one of the nanite machines.

  “Ah, there you are. What are you doing?”

  “I’m tracing the power and data lines that lead to power and the medical computer. Just a minute and I’ll get up.”

  Out came the shapely legs and then the shapely body of Dr. Ramos, still with her seemingly perpetual smile.

  “Good to see you, Commander. What can I do for you?”

  “First, how come everybody I meet calls me Commander?”

  “Well, you are, aren’t you? The commander of this ship?”

  “Yes, but I don’t remember asking to be called that.”

  “According to the executive officer, you declined being called Captain and preferred Commander. He then let us all know. Don’t you like it? I think it fits.”

  “Just wait till I get hold of Stan!” Van said in feigned frustration.

  “Don’t,” said Rose. “A ship needs a commander, and you’re the logical and, in fact, the best choice. Everyone seems to agree. Don’t stir the pot if you don’t have to.”

  “OK. Guess you’re right. How are you doing?” he asked.

  “Just fine. The sick bay is ready in all respects, and I’m just learning more about the equipment.”

  “I meant how are you doing…. personally?”

  “Me…. personally? Couldn’t be happier. Now, as the ship’s doctor let me turn the tables. How are you doing…. personally?”

  “Couldn’t be happier,” Van said in mock response.

  “I don’t believe you. You’re taking out a ship that hasn’t flown in two hundred years with a skeleton crew that is just barely trained. All while the world simmers on the brink of…. something…. because of space flight capabilities you helped provide to China and Russia. My guess is that everything is not peachy. Are you sleeping OK?” she asked, concerned.

  “Truthfully? Not really. I get a few hours at night, but I keep waking up thinking I’ve missed something.”

  “We have drugs for that. I don’t usually prescribe them f
or casual loss of sleep. But they may be of help in your case.”

  “No, not now. Not while we’re on this test run.”

  “Suit yourself. How are you taking the breakup with your girlfriend?” she asked with an impish grin.

  Van was caught off guard. “Who said we broke up? For that matter, who said she was my girlfriend?” he asked, flustered.

  “Oh, word gets around. And you did tell me that recruiting her didn’t go well.”

  “I said I failed to recruit an intelligence officer and that it didn’t go well.”

  “You also said you two had a past and that it might be rekindling, or some such words.” Rose was now fully enjoying seeing him squirm.

  Van was once again stumped for what to say. He was fidgeting. He liked this woman but was still feeling protective after his split with Barbara. Now is the time to leave, he thought. “I have to learn to keep my mouth shut. If you’re doing OK here, I’ll head back to the bridge where they don’t ask so many questions,” he said as he turned and left.

  Rose watched him go, holding her hand over her mouth lest the suppressed giggle get out and Van hear it.

  Back at the Arizona cabin, Meier had tried several additional and different methods to shut down the surrounding security system and each time had failed. Dieter could see that his boss was beginning to get angry enough to start losing his perspective and, therefore, his reasoning on this task.

  “Peter, is there a way to allow the computer to assess the security system on its own and perhaps point out weak points rather than you driving the problem?”

  “You think I’m not smart enough for this?”

  “Not at all, Peter. But you do have a significantly advanced computer that may have some small AI qualities that you can take advantage of.”

  “You mean I should ask it what to do?” sputtered Meier in surprise and disbelief.