by Max Dane
“Doctor, what is it?”
“I don’t know yet, so far it looks as if the matter making up the metal has been stripped of its key elements.”
“What could do that?”
“I don’t know; I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
Alex was transfixed by the image on the screen; he adjusted the magnification and the picture changed, revealing loosely attached molecules where hard lattice structures should be. He panned the camera around until he found a lattice that was still intact. Numbers scrolled down the left side representing the numbers of molecules and their arrangements within the viewing area. Suddenly the numbers changed and the structure he was analyzing simply fell apart.
“Bowman, did you see that? Whatever process degraded this fragment is still going on.”
He adjusted the magnification again and moved deeper into the atoms of the piece. When the image cleared and came into focus, he jumped back and gasped.
“Doctor, what is that?” Bowman cried out.
The image was a fury of activity; tiny dots in the picture seemed to be plucking the atoms apart.
“Oh my,” said Alex regaining his composure. He leaned forward and watched as the sample in the image was picked clean.
“They’re taking the base atoms.”
“Oh no,” abruptly he jumped up and ran into the lab, to the microscope. Grabbing the sample bags, he threw them into sealed jars and placed them back under the scope. Sitting down again, he looked at Bowman and back to the screen. “I think I have some idea of what happened to the colony at Madras.”
“Doctor, you think these… things, took apart the whole colony?”
“Yes, yes I do. At the atomic level. They seem to want the base elements present and are tearing apart the matter in the sample, at an incredible rate, to get them.”
Bowman’s eyes grew wide, “We picked them up when we landed there. Oh my god, Doctor, do you think they’re all through the ship?”
Alex’s mind was already racing ahead. He stood up and walked into the lab. Looking around, he walked to a workbench and grabbed the edge. He pushed down and the bench broke under his grip. He held up his hand for Bowman to see, and crushed the piece in his palm. Instantly it transformed into a powdery sandy substance.
“Yes, I think so.”
Sarah’s voice called over the ship’s comm, “Bowman, we have twenty-two minutes until we jump. I repeat twenty-two minutes.”
“Thanks, Sarah, please alert me again at fifteen, ten and five.” He looked past Alex at the screen again, just in time to see the last of the atoms plucked away.
“Doctor, do you think it’s safe to jump in our current state?”
“No, probably not. But there’s a larger issue here, Bowman.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Regardless of what happens to us, we must get a message to the port authority.”
“What?”
“Think, Bowman, think; we picked up these… creatures on Madras, in the Cetus Beta system. Remember their colony? It was utterly destroyed. And my queries to the port authorities indicated it was alive and well just a month earlier.”
“We’ve already been over this, Alex, and we don’t have much time. What are you getting at?”
“We made stops and traded with New Dublin, New Rome, the Bunda Colony, and now the Lester Colony here at Deneb. I’m saying that we may have inadvertently brought these things to each of them. Every colony we stopped at; all contaminated. Dying. Right now.” Alex went numb, “Because of us.”
Bowman wiped the sweat from his hands; he was shocked. “What can I do to help, Doctor?”
“I’ll prepare a message, but I’ll need help to get it sent. We can transmit it to the port authority at the Lester Colony while we’re still in this system, but we should also prepare a communications probe and send it ahead of us through the jump. If we don’t make it, at least the message will get through to the Bunda colony. Bowman, they have to be told.”
Bowman stepped backwards, bumping into the wall behind, “I-I understand Doctor. I’ll go to the bridge and have Sarah prepare to transmit to the Lester Colony immediately. I’ll also try to get a communications probe ready; I don’t think we have one, but maybe Lukas can put something together.”
Suddenly Sarah’s voice came through the ship’s communications again.
“Bowman, we now have fifteen minutes until we jump.”
Alex nodded, “You better get going, Bowman.”
Bowman took off running down the hallway, as the doctor walked to the comm panel and called the bridge.
“Captain, this is Alex, I request more time. We discovered something and we need- ”
“No, Alex, we will make the jump as planned. Please prepare for arrival in the Bunda system.”
“But Captain… Miles, listen to me, we need more time. We’ve brought something terrible back from Madras. We have to alert the port authority, now, before- ”
“No, Doctor, we will jump first, and then you can send your message to the port authority at the Bunda system. Right now I will take my ship to the repair yards in the Rigel system, Captain out.”
‘Damn fool,’ he thought, and he went to his workstation to prepare the message.
Hurriedly, he collected the data from the samples, and the record of the Madras colony. Then he began to record, “This is the science officer, Dr. Alex Stiles, of the merchant vessel, Juliet, under the command of Captain Miles Cervenko. Four weeks ago we landed on Madras… ”
Bowman ran to the cargo bay and called for Lukas. “I’m here, sir, I’m here. We’re about to jump, what do you need?”
“Lukas, this is an emergency, we need some sort of communications probe to send into the jump ahead of us. Our goal is to get a message to the Bunda colony, if at all possible.”
Lukas quickly looked around the room, taking stock of the parts available.
“Damn, Bowman, this is awfully short notice.”
“I know, Lukas. The doc thinks we may have done something terrible. We might have carried the things that killed the Madras colony to Bunda. We have to tell them.”
Lukas stiffened, “I have friends on Bunda. I will put something together, but you need to send me the message. And Bowman, try to get the captain to stop will you?”
“I will. Thank you, Lukas.”
“Go on, get out of here; I have a lot to do.”
Sarah’s voice interrupted them, “Bowman, we now have ten minutes until we jump.”
Bowman nodded and took off running. Lukas ran to his worktable and began rapidly stripping an old satellite casing.
In his laboratory, Alex finished the record of Madras and transmitted it to Sarah on the bridge, and Lukas in the cargo bay workshop. Only a few minutes remained until the jump. Looking around the lab, his mind racing, he made a desperate decision. He glanced at the chronometer, ‘If only there’s time.’ Moving as fast as he could, he began collecting components.
On the bridge, Bowman entered, walked quickly past Cervenko and went directly to Sarah. “Sarah, this is an emergency; prepare to send a message to the port authority back at the Lester Colony.”
“Okay, what’s the message?”
“Dr. Stiles is preparing it now. He should be transmitting it to you shortly.”
Cervenko sat up and leaned forward. “Sarah, how long until we jump?”
“Barely five minutes now,” she said, checking her console.
Cervenko leaned back and said flatly, “Do not transmit anything until after we jump.”
“Captain, are you sure?” she said looking from the captain to Bowman.
Bowman, exhausted and out of breath, walked up to Cervenko and grabbed the arms of his chair. Leaning close he said, “Listen to me, Captain, the Juliet is contaminated. We have brought something back with us from Madras. The doctor is preparing a message to send to the colony here, and in the next system. We must warn them!”
Cervenko stood up suddenly, towering over Bowm
an and pushing him back with both hands. Bowman stumbled backwards and fell against the pilot’s station.
“You will take your station, Mr. Bowman!” He pointed and yelled, “This is my ship, and I will decide what actions we take. You say the Juliet is contaminated, then we have even more reason to set course for the shipyards of Rigel. Now sit down and prepare to jump.”
“But Captain, you don’t understand. The same thing that happened at Madras is happening on the Juliet. And maybe on the colonies we stopped at on our way here- ”
Cervenko moved in and grabbed Bowman by the collar, “Not another word, Mr. Bowman. I am the captain, and I say we will go to Rigel and repair the ship there.” He dropped Bowman to the ground and returned to his seat, attaching the travel harness across his chest as he did.
Sarah reached over and tried to grab Bowman, “Get in your seat, we’re here. We jump in three – two – one.” Then the automatic navigation system carefully sent the Juliet neatly into the jump point.
Bowman tried to pull himself into his seat, but was slammed against the floor as the ship entered the gravity fissure. His arm hurt; it felt like it was broken. The Juliet shuddered and listed hard to port, throwing him against Sarah. With a loud rending sound, the stabilizing thrusters tore loose from the ship, exploding as they came apart and leaving great holes around the aft sections of the Juliet. Instantly a fatal and explosive decompression tore up and down, and through the ship’s hull, ripping it to pieces. The opposing gravity fields of the jump spread the fragments for light years in every direction. On the far side of the jump, in the Bunda system, a bright flash of energy erupted as photons were released. Wreckage and bits of debris poured out from the darkness. Floating in space, very much alone, a figure lay prone, limp and unmoving. Quickly the jump closed and peace was restored.
Chapter 3
Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to another, far in advance of Europeans themselves, and killed an estimated 95% of the New World's Indian population.
- Jared Diamond
Cetus Beta, The Madras Colony
Following a brilliant flash of light, the Ajax emerged from the jump point, arriving in the Cetus system. Then in a blur, ignoring the screaming gravitational stabilizers, and convulsing main drive, the navigator forced the Ajax down and backwards into position behind the gravitational distortion. The ship shuddered and came to rest with all batteries ready and searching for a target. Finn shook off the jump disorientation and studied the space ahead through the main screen. He didn’t see anything waiting for them.
“Mr. Keating, please scan the surrounding space and report.”
Finn watched Keating shaking his head, obviously trying to clear his vision. Seconds passed. Rapidly he initiated a short-range scan.
“The space is clear, Captain, no vessels found within striking distance.”
“Very good, Mr. Keating, bring us up and around, and initiate a long range scan.”
The Ajax moved swiftly to a position over the jump point. Moments passed, the crew tense, holding fast at battle-ready.
Breaking the silence, Keating turned to Finn, “Sir, I show no ships anywhere in the Cetus Beta system. The way is clear; at your order we can proceed to the Madras colony.”
Finn turned to his first officer, “Commander, please take us down from battle-ready to stand-by and launch the communications probe.”
“Yes, Sir,” she said and issued commands to the bridge crew.
Moments passed and then the science ship arrived, moving to close the distance between them. Settling in at their side, Dr. Layton hailed the Ajax.
“Captain, Dr. Layton would like to speak with you,” said Lieutenant Banton.
“Put him on the big screen.”
Seconds later, the science advisor’s image filled the screen.
“We’re here, Captain Holt, and eager to get started.”
“Yes, Dr. Layton, our long range scans show no signs of any vessels, friendly or otherwise in this system.”
“Then we request permission to begin our study of the Madras colony.”
“Very good, we will take up position with you until I’m convinced you’re safe, Dr. Layton. At that time, I will take the Ajax and return to the jump point. While you finish your investigation, we will ensure that no other vessels enter the Cetus star system.”
“Understood, Captain. We’re ready when you are.”
Finn nodded at the lieutenant, and she severed the communication.
“Mr. Keating, please take us to Madras. Let’s take a look at what brought us here.”
The Ajax left the jump point, moving swiftly through the system towards the third planet. As they came into view, they could see that much of the planet was red and brown, but the occasional spots of blue gave clue to water on the surface.
“Captain, we will make planetary orbit above the Madras Colony in two minutes.”
“Very good, Mr. Keating, hold position above the colony, but be sure to give Dr. Layton’s crew some room to work.”
As they drew near, the planet began to fill the screen.
“Lieutenant, please open a hailing frequency.”
“Channel open, Sir.”
Finn took a breath and said, “To any colonist of the Madras Colony, or citizen of the Sovereign League of Worlds, this is Captain Finn Holt of the Earth Fleet destroyer, Ajax. We are here to help. I repeat we are here to help. Is there anyone able to respond?”
Seconds turned into minutes, but still no response came.
Finn turned to Commander Alwin, “Micha, scan that planet. I want to know if there is anything electronic running down there.” She nodded and began issuing commands.
Moments later, a diagram of the colony with maps showing the streets and buildings was highlighted and overlaid against the actual land mass. Magnifying the live image from below, the edges of the colony grew, filling the screen. It looked as if a great desert had engulfed the colony, leaving only dunes where buildings and homes once stood.
“Captain,” said Eton at the navigation station, “I can see the lines of the roads running north and west through the city, everything else is gone… everything.”
Finn studied the image looking for signs of explosions or gunfire. The usual blackened and melted residue of battle was noticeably absent. There was nothing he could see to indicate any military action on the surface.
“Commander, what about that scan for electrical activity? Is anything running down there?”
Micha stood up from her workstation and walked to the screen.
“We’ve scanned the entire planet; the only electrical activity registering on our meters is from a storm on the far side.” She rotated the image until a large storm came into view in the southern hemisphere. “Other than this, we have mild electric impulses from the planetary poles and a few sparks in the upper atmosphere. There is nothing man-made running down there.” She walked back to her chair and sat down.
Finn frowned; it was true after all. The Madras colony, including its nearly twenty thousand inhabitants was gone, utterly destroyed.
“Get me Dr. Layton on the comm.”
The science advisor’s face appeared on the screen.
“Dr. Layton, I show no ships in the system and no hardware operating on the planet below. At this time, I can see no threat to your ship or crew. I will return to the jump and wait while you begin your investigation. Please keep me posted on your progress. And good luck, Doctor, I hope you find some answers.”
“Thank you, Captain Holt, we will begin our analysis and send you updates as soon as we learn something. Janos Layton, out.” Below the Ajax, Dr. Layton moved his ship closer to the planet.
Finn studied the report of the Madras layout again. Along with the rest of the colony, the spaceport and port authority were gone, lost beneath the sandy dunes covering everything. It seemed impossible. The reinforced, nano-plated composite-steel structures of the port’s landi
ng platforms were designed to support even the largest space-faring vessels. Even a full-scale fusion bombardment would have left fragments intact. Yet nothing remained here, nothing. Thinking back, he was sure he’d never heard of such a thing before. He looked back at the image on the main screen, and felt a chill. Whatever happened down there was thorough; too thorough to be some natural occurrence of the planet. Someone did this.
“Mr. Keating, please return the screen to our forward view and take us back to the jump point. Position the Ajax above it and to the right. I want a clear flanking shot if a dissident ship comes through.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The Ajax departed leaving the silent and still, colony-remains behind. A secret was buried here, great and terrible. Finn tried to imagine the faces of the missing families of the colony and felt the regret of all that they had accomplished on this dead world.
‘I sincerely hope you find some clue as to what happened here, Doctor. I surely do.’
Dr. Janos Layton entered log information from his Science Director’s chair, fixed at the center of a large dome. Workstations filled with scientists and engineers were arranged in concentric circles reaching to the edges of the ship’s observatory. As the ship settled into a geosynchronous orbit above the colony, huge metal shutters over the dome folded back, revealing a panoramic view of the space around them, and featuring the planet directly ahead.
Janos finished documenting their arrival and donned his headset. Folding down the thick, glass eyepiece he could see the computer readout of the planet, an oxygen atmosphere with water supplies capable of sustaining human life. The gravity was close enough to earth’s to require no special supports for walking, or moving around. And the surface of this region was mostly covered by an indigenous plant, identified locally as ‘Jump Weed’. Apparently the plant came in several varieties, ranging in size from a flat polyp on the ground to a stalk that could rise to over twenty feet high. The colonists described the plant as pernicious in its relentless growth. They said it was a constant struggle to keep the jump weed out of the city as it could throw seedlings over fences, effectively ‘jumping’ into cleared areas.