“Why not? Type in a question and see what happens,” Dieter said, now crouched down behind Meier in the van.
Reluctantly, Meier did as suggested. A few minutes passed and both men were about to give up the idea when the laptop screen came to life, listing several possibilities.
“This is amazing, Dieter! None of the technicians at Avantek saw this capability in the lab. I wonder if proximity to this site has brought out new capabilities in the Chad computer.”
Starting to appreciate the advanced computer more, Meier then asked it which of the choices had the best chance of success. Immediately one of the possibilities started to flash. Not having a better idea, Meier typed in the commands as directed and pressed “Enter.”
A minute passed. Then two. Then three. Then four. This is taking a long time in computer terms, Meier thought. Will it work? Both men were staring at each other and were at the point of acknowledging failure, when the computer screen went green, and the white words Security System Temporarily Disabled appeared. Both men just sat for a minute collecting their composure. The stress of all of this was getting to them both. Then they collected their thoughts and started again. Relatively speaking, it was easier to find the access points to the site now that security wasn’t blocking them and they were understanding the computer from Chad better.
“Hmm. It looks like two access points, Dieter. One in the cabin and one up the hill, next to a flat spot,” said Meier, scratching his chin. “My guess is that the original access point and the access bar are up the hill. I think that is the best place to start. Ready for a climb, Dieter? You will have to carry the computer, but I think you can do that.”
“I can place it in this backpack. It should be no problem,” said Dieter confidently.
Nearly forty-five minutes later and after several stops to let Meier rest, they reached what looked like an old foundation next to a high rock wall.
“That was a stressful climb,” Meier said, breathing hard and resting with his hands on his knees. “I cannot imagine many people coming up here.”
“That is a good thing. We can’t be seen from the road or from the territory surrounding us,” commented Dieter as fresh as he’d been at the start, much to Meier’s annoyance.
“True. So, let us look around. You search to the right and I will search to the left. We are looking for a shiny metal bar protruding from either the rock face or rubble nearby.” And off they went, Dieter with a confident bounce to his step and Meier struggling to maintain forward momentum.
Ten minutes later Dieter shouted out, “Here it is!” and Meier moved as fast as he could to see what he had found.
“Good work! This is it. Now to see if the fools failed to lock me out.” He grasped the metal handle with the same hand he’d used in Chad.
Immediately the ground trembled and the clearing was filled with the deep rumbling sound of the huge door opening.
“We are in!” shouted a gleeful Meier.
But when the two men stepped into the new opening, they both froze in place. This was not the lighted supply area Meier had expected. Unlike the Chad site, this one was dark and contained…. nothing.
CHAPTER 26
Back on the Aurora’s bridge, Van relieved Stan and suggested he take a break or get some rest.
“I think I’ll do that, Commander. Or would you prefer ‘Skipper’?”
“Get out of here!” said Van with a smile.
Someone had once made a comment about flying that Van was trying to remember. Something like “Flying is sheer boredom interspersed with blind panic.” And at that moment, he knew what that saying meant.
“Engines are off-line, Commander! No helm response!” shouted Paul Wright.
Then red lights on all control stations flashed on and a warning horn started bellowing.
“Somebody turn off the horn! Helm, report.”
“Just as I said, Commander. We no longer have main propulsion, and my helm station is not responding to either manual or computer direction. We are coasting at .01 light but can’t stop!”
Van tapped a button on his chair and spoke loudly, “Engineering, what’s happening?”
“Not sure yet, Commander. The mains just went off-line as well as steering control. We still have electrical power, but we aren’t sure yet what systems might be affected.”
“Roger that. Keep me informed. Harry, what can you tell me?”
“It appears, Commander, that one of the transfer cables between the ZPE and the engines has burned out.”
“So why would that cause a failure of the helm?” asked a puzzled Van.
“The helm control relay and the power transfer cable are located next to each other, Commander. It appears that when the cable burned out, it also damaged the helm relay.”
“OK, get down to engineering and help them get us back up. How long will it take?”
“I will remain uncertain, Commander, until I have actually seen the issue. If the cable and the relay have to be replaced, it could take six to ten hours under normal circumstances.”
“When you say ‘normal circumstances,’ you mean when the ship has a full complement of trained and experienced crew.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Go. Let me know the minute you can tell me when to expect to be up and ready again.”
With that, Harry left the bridge on his way to help in engineering.
Just then Stan hastily entered the bridge. “What happened?” he said, nearly out of breath.
“One of the cables from the ZPE to the main engines seems to have burned out. It also took out a nearby relay that controls signals to the helm. Harry is on his way down to engineering now. I think this is going to take a while. Why don’t you send the bridge crew to take a rest and leave one person on watch and arrange for a relief schedule. I’m headed to my stateroom. XO has the bridge,” Van said as he left his seat and the bridge. It might not have been a military ship, but Van’s old naval habits were hard to break.
Dieter was the first to act and broke out a flashlight from his pack. As he searched the darkness in front of him, he saw that Meier was now looking around as well. Together they searched the dark area until Dieter broke the silence.
“What is that?”
“What? Where?” Meier answered, shifting his gaze to Dieter.
Dieter focused his beam on a small panel in the rear of the room or cave, or whatever it was. “That, on the rear wall. It looks metallic.”
Both men approached the object on the wall that, as they got closer, appeared to be some sort of control panel.
“Ah,” Meier said. “This is another access point. Get the computer from your backpack.”
Dieter said nothing but reached into the pack and pulled out the computer and its laptop controller. Then Meier queried the Chad computer for ways to enter. In less than a minute this time, the instructions appeared on the laptop screen. As instructed, Meier took two wire leads from the Chad computer and fastened them to the designated spots on the access panel, then pressed “Enter.” In just moments, the laptop flashed Ready and Meier placed his hand on the access panel face. It turned green and the inner doors began opening.
“This is amazing,” said Meier. “It is so much bigger than the Chad site, but there doesn’t appear to be much here but a medical unit. Look for a door or an elevator, Dieter.”
“There is an elevator here, sir,” said Dieter, pointing to a door to the left of the large room.
Both men moved to the elevator and looked over the buttons to what appeared to be at least five levels. “Assuming that this is the first floor, let us go to the second floor, or Level 2, as it says here,” said Meier as he pressed the button for Level 2.
When the elevator doors opened, Meier could see he was in the perfect place. This was an operations center, and here was where he could complete his access.
He found an access point, which was similar to the connection from the Chad site, and connected the Chad computer. Again, his laptop came
to life as data scrolled furiously down the screen. Then it stopped and the computer showed Limited Access Granted.
“Limited access? What does that mean?” said Meier out loud. Then, remembering that this was a smart computer, he typed in Why limited access? and waited.
Almost immediately the screen flashed again and he read, “Primary access is for Commander Van Childs only.” What Meier did not know was that when the Chad computer accessed the system, the system automatically isolated the majority of programming and memory related to another controller—in this case, Harry. Harry and his memories were still there, just locked out. But memory of Van Childs remained.
Angry, Meier typed in, What is included with limited access? and waited again. But nothing happened. Instead there was a bright flash in the room, and a holographic image of a man in his fifties with gray hair appeared.
“Who are you?” asked Meier in amazement.
“I am the Caretaker,” responded the image.
“Caretaker of what?”
“Caretaker of the Secrets of the Host,” replied the image.
Meier was puzzled. His experience in Chad had never been at this sort of level. “What are the Secrets of the Host?”
“I can only tell you that the Host trusted many of their secrets to me. However, I cannot disclose them to you without the permission of the commander.”
This is going nowhere, Meier thought. “Then what access am I granted?”
“You are free to explore the facility, and you will be provided with comfortable accommodations, food, and drink. You also have access to entertainment from the data banks. You do not, however, have unlimited outside communications or direct access to the processes and systems controlled by me.”
“I see. Thank you for that. If I have questions, do I just ask for the Caretaker?”
“Yes. If you ask, I will respond to the extent possible. Meanwhile, be comfortable until the commander returns.”
“Thank you again. I will call if I need you,” said Meier as the image of the Caretaker disappeared.
Speaking as much to himself as to Dieter, Meier said, “This will be more difficult than I hoped. But for now, let us go to Level 3.”
Just as Van had been, Meier was again amazed to see what was front and center in Level 3: two very large airplanes. At least they looked like airplanes.
After inspecting them closely, Meier said to Dieter, “I don’t think these are actually airplanes. They look like they are, but it appears that much of the design is cosmetic. Let us look inside.”
The ramp to the B1 was already down, so access was not a problem. The two men slowly worked their way forward and finally reached the cockpit.
“More and more I continue to believe this is not an ordinary craft, Dieter. If it was, there would be no reason to keep it sheltered here, in secret. No, I believe that what we are looking at is some sort of spacecraft. Perhaps what is called a ‘shuttle.’ I think we need to go back to the operations center and see what else we can pull from the Caretaker through our own computer.”
Having ridden the elevator back to Level 2, Meier and Dieter took seats in the Ops Center next to the Chad computer.
“Caretaker, I have a question,” said Meier, speaking out loud.
The image of the Caretaker appeared in the Ops Center and said, “How may I help you?”
“Do you know where Commander Childs is at this moment?”
“I cannot say with precision, but based on his tracking signal, he is on a heading for Mars.”
Mars? Meier asked himself. Is that possible? But not letting his amazement show, he said, “Interesting. How long do you expect him to be gone?”
“Again, I cannot say with certainty. Based on current speed and assuming no trouble, he could be back as soon as two days from now.”
“Two days to Mars and back?” asked Meier incredulously.
“Yes. The craft at his disposal can easily make it in that time.”
“Would those craft be like the ones on Level 3?”
“Two of the craft like those on Level 3 are gone from this location. Either of them could make the trip in the specified time if they had modified fuel storage.”
“I see. By the way, are the craft on Level 3 armed?”
“Yes. They each have two 30mm cannons and a broad area stun weapon,” said the Caretaker.
“Very interesting. Thank you very much, Caretaker,” said Meier as the image vanished.
“Imagine, Dieter. The capability to go to Mars and back in a few days. Who would believe it?”
“It sounds impressive, but I have nothing to compare it to,” said Dieter with a furrowed brow.
“Well, if I remember correctly, the fastest unmanned space vehicle man has produced so far could make that trip in about forty days one way. So, I would say two days is a tremendous leap, wouldn’t you?”
“When you use those numbers, Peter, it’s very impressive.”
“Yes, it is. But we do not want to go to Mars. At least not yet,” said Meier, and he suddenly stared into space for a few seconds, not moving or speaking. Then, as if no time had passed, he resumed. “We have business on the Moon, and I think we have found the way to get there—and with 30mm cannons!”
“Why do we want to go to the Moon?”
“Why? Why not? Things have been too quiet there. Fuel sales are slowing. Our customers may need more incentive to buy more.”
And maybe, Meier thought, if I stir the pot, as the Americans say, I can create more sales to other countries. I may even start selling to the Americans.
“We have to figure out how to fly these machines. I am counting on our special computer here to help with that. But now I need some rest.” Meier patted the Chad computer while he smiled and went to Van’s quarters. Only then did Dieter notice the twitching eyes and the strange, crooked smile on Peter’s face.
Ten hours had passed aboard the Aurora and still the engineering problems were not fixed.
“Commander, if we don’t slow down soon, we’ll run the risk of overshooting Mars orbit. Plus, at this speed without helm control, we also run the risk of hitting space debris, which could do significant damage,” said Jan, who had relieved Paul on this watch.
“Without maneuvering and helm control, how do you suggest we slow down?” asked Van.
“Well, the ship has nose thrusters, which can help, but not by themselves. However, we might consider sealing off several compartments around the torpedo tubes and venting atmosphere forward. I don’t think it will stop us, but it should slow us considerably.”
“Good idea, Jan. Make the preparations while I alert the crew,” said Van as he switched on what he called the 1MC. “Attention in the Aurora. We need to slow our approach to Mars so we don’t overshoot or hit something that would ruin our day. We’ll slow using thrusters and by venting atmosphere from the forward-facing torpedo tubes. We won’t stop, but we can slow down. I’ll announce the action one minute prior to execution. Stay clear of the spaces surrounding the torpedo weapons area. I advise everyone to find a safe place to secure yourselves and strap in just in case. Commander out.”
He turned to the pilot. “OK, Jan, let me know when you’re ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Twenty minutes later Jan spoke up. “I’m ready, Commander. Just give the word.”
“Very well. After I make this announcement, wait one minute and execute.” Van switched to the 1MC again. “Attention in the Aurora, this is your one-minute alert. Strap in.”
Sixty seconds later Jan threw several switches. The nose thrusters kicked in at full power, and as planned, atmosphere was vented forward.
“We’re slowing, Commander, but I have to shut off the thrusters to conserve them for later. Venting is complete.”
“Very well, cut the thrusters and report.”
“We cut our speed in half, Commander, but that’s the best we can do,” said a disappointed St. Clair.
“Then that will have to do. It was a good idea an
d it helped. Alert the crew that the maneuver is complete. You have the bridge while I go to engineering.” Van left his seat and headed out the bridge hatch.
Entering the engineering spaces was like going to Walmart on Black Friday. There were people, robots, and parts all over the place in a sea of movement. As Van walked in, Harry saw him and approached.
“What’s the good news, Harry?”
“Good news, Commander? Oh yes, one of your sayings. We have managed to remove the burned-out section of the power cable as well as the relay box. We’ll have a new relay box to put in place in less than ten minutes. The cable is more problematic, however. We do not have a spare nor do we have the capability to manufacture one with the existing fabricator.”
“So we just keep on going at .005 light forever? And why can’t we use the fusion engines?”
“To answer your second question first, Commander, power from the fusion generators travels through the same section of cable as that from the ZPEs. In retrospect, that was probably a design problem we can fix later. With regard to continuing on forever, that will not happen. While we were in dock on the Moon, engineers Cooper and Parker saw a similar cable in one of the plasma torpedo bays. Robots have removed the existing cable here and have succeeded in disconnecting the cable in the torpedo bay. They are en route with that cable now. When it is installed here, we should regain full engine control.”
“You said ‘should’ regain control. You aren’t certain?” asked Van, concerned.
“Nothing is certain, Commander, but I am confident this approach will work.”
“How much more time?”
“Another five hours, Commander.”
“OK, keep me up to date.” And Van left the busy people and robots to do their work.
As he was passing sick bay, Dr. Ramos stopped him. “How are the repairs going?” she asked with obvious interest and a careful look at Van.
“We should be ready to go in another five hours. An old cable went, and a less than desirable design also caused the helm to cease working. The latter should be fixed by now.”
Immortal Guardian: Hoast Saga Book 2 (Host Saga) Page 19