Stars Fell on Alabama

by M. Alan Marr

  “Feel that?” Dev says and checks the readout. “Our speed just increased by a tenth.”

  “Incredible,” Chaz says. While the Third Leftenant is away from the table, Chaz speaks discreetly to Dev. “What’s with all the parallels to the British Navy?”

  “Who do you think taught the Brits how to sail?”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “Our instruction made them the dominant naval force on your world for more than a century.”

  “Wow,” Chaz marvels.

  “We tend to use to the old verbiage on the Quarterdeck. Also within the pilot ranks, but either pronunciation, and spelling, for that matter, is acceptable.”

  “Do you think the Brits are still aware of you guys?”

  Dev thinks about it. “I wonder. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were. It would explain their steadfastness to tradition and embrace of the old ways.”

  Chaz watches as the navigation display shifts to include the tiny white sphere farther downrange with a series of flashing red wedges around it. “What is that?”

  “That is a neutron star. We’ve accelerated on the lee side of the nebula, which put us in position to use the gravity of the star to pull us forward and then slingshot us on a speedy course to Lyra.” Dev watches as their course begins to intersect with the path toward the neutron star. Dev holds his hand up as he watches the navigation display. “Fore and aft sails, standby for starboard tack.”

  “Standing by, starboard tack, aye, sir,” the Third Leftenant replies.

  The ship’s course intersects with the predetermined path to the neutron star. Dev drops his hand. “Tack to starboard!”

  Adonis shudders slightly as the great sails are shifted. Adonis then makes a large turn by nearly thirty degrees. Dev, Chaz, and the officers all take hold of the rails and steady themselves. The ship accelerates greatly toward the neutron star and will continue to accelerate. Their course is now a full ninety degrees off from the original.

  Dev makes some calculations and plots the next turn on the holographic display. “The trick with neutron stars is not getting too close.”

  “What happens when you get too close?” Chaz says cautiously.

  “Can’t get away. Neutron stars are remnants of supernovas. They’re very small and not very bright, but they have intense gravity. That star is pulling us far faster now than anything else we’ve done. We’re going to continue to accelerate and then veer off toward Lyra.”

  “Don’t you have charts and stuff for this? I mean, I’m assuming that star has been there for a while.”

  Dev chuckles. “Yes, it has, but when’s the last time anyone has gone from Earth to Lyra?”

  “Um . . .”

  “We have standard plots for military and commercial navigation to most places in the Crown, but way out here, we’re on our own.”

  “Wind and sail,” Chaz says.

  “Solar wind and sail,” Dev jokes. “But even with charts, space is far more dynamic than anyone on Earth realizes, particularly here in the shallows. But we powerful engines on our side and, in this case, a great big gravity source.” Dev uses a stylus to draw several plot lines in the holographic display.

  “What are those little protractor thingies hanging near the stars?”

  “Parsec calculators,” Dev says, holding up the analog version.

  “That looks like a sextant.”

  “It is kind of, but this one works on a larger scale.”

  “The ocean of space.”

  “Exactly.” Dev triggers the computer to zero in on the neutron star and plot three compass rings around the star at varying distances. The two outer rings are blue. The innermost ring is red.

  Chaz looks at the new plot. “What are those?”

  “Perimeter markers.” Dev turns to the junior officer. “Leftenant, we’ll make a hard turn to port when we hit the outer marker.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “What’s the second ring?” Chaz says.

  “Second chance,” Dev replies.

  “And the red one?”

  “Point of no return,” Dev says simply. “If we cross that one, next stop is the center of a neutron star.”

  Chaz looks at the Third Leftenant. “Don’t miss the turn.”

  The Third Leftenant smiles. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

  “Shortly after we make the turn, we’ll enter a long trough of deep space. Then we’ll bring the cruise engines up to one hundred percent. That will bridge the gap very quickly.” The first perimeter ring flashes a few times as the ship approaches. Dev speaks in a clear, commanding voice: “Standby, hard turn to port. Third Leftenant, strike your sails, above and below and secure the masts.”

  The Third Leftenant quickly takes position at the masthead controls and carries out his orders. “Striking my sails above and below. Securing the masts.”

  Chaz watches anxiously as Adonis closes in on the first perimeter. Outside, the great sails are furled in three sections above and below the ship. The masts stow into the hull. Adonis is now like a missile heading directly toward the neutron star.

  The Third Leftenant confirms the sails and masts are stowed. “Adonis is secure, Commander.”

  Dev is concentrating on the display. “Pilot, standby starboard thrusters.”

  “Starboard thrusters standing by, Commander,” the pilot replies.

  Adonis crosses the first ring. Dev snaps into action. “Pilot . . . hard turn to port. Fire starboard thrusters.”

  “Hard turn to port, aye. Firing starboard thrusters.”

  “Hang on, Chaz,” Dev says. “Port engines back one-third. Starboard engines up by half.”

  Adonis makes a steep banking turn left by nearly forty-five degrees. The change to the engine output increases the turning radius. Everyone on the Quarterdeck grabs onto a handrail or their stations. Dev continues to watch their course as the ship veers away from the star. As the course line diverges near the ninety-degree point, Dev issues new orders. “Port engines up one-third. Secure starboard thrusters.” Dev’s command is repeated by the players involved, and the ship gradually slows the turn radius. The bank angle decreases as the ship approaches its new course away from the neutron star.

  “Match your engines.”

  “Matching my engines, aye, sir.”

  The holographics display shows the neutron star falling back quickly. The maneuver is a success. The increase of speed gained by harnessing the gravity of the neutron star means they will be back in the trough that much quicker. Dev watches the holographic display intently. The outer reaches of gravitational plane from the neutron star are plotted by the computer. The boundary line flashes as the hugely accelerated Adonis passes swiftly beyond it.

  “Entering the trough now, Commander,” the Fourth Leftenant reports. The holographic imagery begins condensing down to a much smaller scale. New borders appear as the boundaries to deep space are plotted. Chaz watches the holographic display populate a larger view of the cosmos. Dev’s expert course line bears straight down the middle of the longest trough of deep space on their journey. This is true talent. A new plot to Lyra is generated. The Third and Fourth Leftenants are duly impressed at Dev’s maneuvers and skill.

  “Pilot,” Dev calls, “bring the cruise engines up to one hundred percent, slow and steady. We don’t want to jar anyone out of bed.”

  “Pilot, aye, sir. One hundred percent, slow and steady.”

  Everyone on the Quarterdeck hears the engines powering up and can feel a gentle acceleration. The velocity and power readouts steadily increase. A minute or so later, the engines stabilize and the acceleration forces subside. The Fourth Leftenant moves to another workstation and checks his readout.

  “Propulsion Deck reporting one hundred percent, Commander. Adonis is flying true and steady.”

  “Very well.” Satisfied with his maneuver, Dev instantly relaxes. “That’s about all I can do here.”

  Chaz shakes his head. He knows when Dev is being modest. He also sees the look
of supreme satisfaction in Dev’s countenance. “What will your changes do to our ETA?”

  “We went a couple of parsecs off course to harness the neutron star, but the increase in speed was worth the detour.” Dev looks at the holographic course lines and makes a rough mental calculation. “I’d say we saved, probably a day, day and a half, maybe.”

  Chaz whispers to Dev. “Uh, what’s a parsec?”

  “Parallax-arc-second. If you use a fixed point in space, like a star, and then project a trigonometric arc between two other points of a known distance, the distance covered in one second along the parallax is a parsec.”

  “And how far is that?”

  “In Earth terms, a little over three light years.”

  “Whoa.”

  “Yeah, the cosmos is a big place,” Dev says. “And you have to go pretty fast to operate in it.”

  “What about that whole light speed thing?”

  “It’s sort of like that flat-Earth thing Columbus had to deal with.”

  “But the speeds you’re talking about . . .” Chaz shakes his head. “We’re primitives.”

  Dev glances at the two Leftenants standing on the other side of the navigation table, who seem to smirk ever so slightly at Chaz’s comment. Dev puts a stop to that immediately. “Commander Chaz is impressed with our technology.”

  “Yes, sir,” both Leftenants reply, smirk removed.

  Dev narrows his eyes slightly. “Third Leftenant, what speed did the Earth residents achieve in their first powered atmospheric craft?”

  The Third Leftenant registers surprise at the question. “I’m afraid I don’t know, sir.”

  Dev nods and turns to the other officer, “I see. Fourth Leftenant, what is escape velocity for the planet Earth?”

  The Forth Leftenant is a little uneasy by being put on the spot. “Sir . . . I don’t know, sir.”

  “Twenty-five thousand-ten miles per hour.” Dev says. “Leftenants, the first powered flight by Earth residents attained a speed of thirty knots and flew for a total of one hundred twenty feet. Sixty-six years later, Earth residents of the United States successfully flew to their moon, planted their country’s flag on its surface, and returned safely to Earth.” Dev turns to Chaz. “Your countrymen went from thirty knots to thirty-three times the speed of sound in sixty-six years. Primitives? I don’t think so. I know you’re impressed with all you see here, but remember, we’ve been doing this for centuries.”

  Chaz concedes, “When you put it like that, I don’t feel so bad.”

  Dev winks at him, then turns to the Leftenants. “Sixty-six years, Third Leftenant. What do you think of that?”

  The humbled Third Leftenant answers honestly and sincerely. “Very impressive, sir, by any measure.” The computer signals a tone on the Third Leftenant’s panel that a new arrival time has been generated. “Revised arrival, Commander.”

  “What news, Leftenant?”

  “Current speed, we’ll arrive in Lyra one point six-six days ahead of original projection, sir.”

  Dev checks his chronometer. “That will put us in Lyra in about four hours.”

  “Yes, sir. Well done, sir.”

  “Fourth Leftenant, make note of our new arrival time and wake all division heads to prepare for early arrival.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Dev pats Chaz’s arm and leads him to the forward lounge area, where they both sit down.

  Chaz looks at Dev and shakes his head. “Just when I’m convinced I live in the Dark Ages, you pull out one of our greatest technological achievements.”

  “Earth is a study in incongruity,” Dev says. “It took people in the New World two hundred forty-five years to abolish slavery, but it only took sixty-six years to get to the moon. Imagine what the next thirty years may achieve? That’s why we go there, Chaz. And that’s why there’s hope for Earth.”

  “They say hope springs eternal,” Chaz says.

  “Even on Trieste.” Dev smiles.

  Chaz pulls out his iPhone. “Does this need to be in airplane mode?”

  Dev laughs at that. “No.”

  Chaz holds out his iPhone and takes a selfie of the two of them on the couch.

  Dev looks at Chaz and smiles. “By the way, you look fantastic in that uniform.”

  “Thanks,” Chaz replies. “I feel like I’m impersonating an officer, though.”

  “Well . . .” Dev says, “you are a duly commissioned Lieutenant Commander.”

  “Yeah, once upon a time.”

  Dev tries to ease Chaz’s misgivings. “You’ll draw less attention to yourself than you would in civilian clothes.”

  “I guess you’re right about that. So what’s going to happen next?”

  Dev tries to be cavalier, but Chaz sees through it. “We’ll enter the Lyra system, do a fast approach to the tech world, and launch fighters to investigate and survey the area. The fighting will most likely be over by the time we arrive, but I’ll probably be asked to go down there.”

  This causes Chaz concern. “Why?”

  “Because I’m a senior combat officer and fighter pilot.” Dev smiles and attempts to ease Chaz’s mind. “Speaking of which, don’t be surprised if they put you to work here. Everyone on the ship has a job to do.”

  “I understand,” Chaz says. “If not, what should I do?”

  “I’ll ask Vijay if you can shadow him here on the Quarterdeck.”

  “I’d rather go with you.”

  “I know, but until you’re more familiar with our weapons and technology, I’d rather not take the risk.”

  Chaz smiles. “Sounds like you plan on keeping me around.”

  “What did the doctor say? Eighty more years? I suppose I could keep you around for that long, you know, if you’re free.”

  “Oh, I’m free,” Chaz says with a smile. “I’ll hold you to it, though.”

  The Fourth Leftenant approaches the seating area. “Beg pardon, sirs.”

  Dev turns to him. “Fourth Leftenant?”

  “Fleet Commander’s compliments, sir, he en route to the Quarterdeck. All division officers have been notified. And, sir, signaling reports still no contact with the garrison on Lyra or any fleet station, sir.”

  “Thank you, Fourth Leftenant.”

  Chaz waits for the officer to leave. “You’ve lost comms?”

  “It’s not on our end,” Dev says. “We don’t know what’s causing it. We can’t raise the Crown, either.”

  Chaz shows visible concern. “We’re flying in blind?”

  Dev doesn’t confirm nor deny this, but Chaz knows Dev’s body language, and it says Chaz is correct. “Long-range detection confirmed Warship Calibos drove a Yeti mothership out of the system. No indication of high order detonations, but at this point, we don’t really know what Lyra’s status is yet.”

  “What about the other warship?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Is that cause for concern?”

  “Yes. It is.” Dev gets up and returns to the Quarterdeck. Chaz follows.

  Chapter 19

  Stars of Lyra

  The pace on the Quarterdeck has quickened. All personnel have been called to stations, and near as Chaz can tell, the ship is at general quarters. The gun crews stand ready. Fleet Commander Vijay ordered the engines to fire at one hundred ten percent to close the distance as rapidly as possible. Instead of hours, they will now enter orbit of Lyra in less than thirty minutes.

  “Well done, Dev,” Vijay says. “Your navigational expertise got us here more than forty hours early.”

  “Glad to help, sir.”

  Vijay speaks quietly to Dev. “Would you mind manning a fighter? One of my Flight Officers is presently down a hand. I’ll keep an eye on your mate here.”

  “I was hoping you would ask.” Dev looks at Chaz. “Come on, Chaz, you can see me off.”

  “Fourth Leftenant?” Vijay calls. “Escort the Commanders. Bring Lieutenant Commander Chaz back here when he’s ready.”

  “Aye, sir.”
<
br />   Chaz whispers to Dev, “I don’t need a babysitter.”

  Dev whispers back, “It’s an order.”

  The Fourth Leftenant accompanies Dev and Chaz, first to their quarters so Dev can change into his flight suit. The Leftenant waits outside.

  “How long will you be gone?” Chaz says.

  “A couple of hours. Should be just a standard sweep.”

  Their conversation is interrupted by a ship-wide alert. “Flight Officers, report to the Weather Deck for immediate launch.”

  “Time to fly.”

  “You haven’t flown a combat mission in six months,” Chaz says. “Are you ready?”

  Dev laughs with excitement as he clicks his weapon in place. “Can’t wait.”

  At a rapid pace, Dev and Chaz follow the Fourth Leftenant to the Weather Deck at the bow of Adonis. The warship’s complement of six Crown fighters sit along a semicircular deck along the forward curvature. Each fighter sits in a round well accessible by a catwalk and individual sets of ladder-stairs. The six fighters all sit on round launch pads, all facing inward with engines toward the bow. All are being readied for launch. Chaz discreetly speaks to Dev. “Why is this called a Weather Deck?”

  “It opens to the outside.” Dev stops at a weapons locker and draws his side arm. He removes the two energy rods from the grip of the gun and reloads with two fully charged rods. Since he fired his weapon back at the lake, and it’s been six months, he wants to make certain he has a fully charged weapon. Reloaded, Dev holsters his weapon, then follows the Fourth Leftenant along the center catwalk. Chaz takes in all he can. The four-engine fighters look deadly cool and like something Chaz would very much like to get to know better.

  Five of the fighters are nearly flight ready. One by one their canopies close as the first of the engines begin starting up. As with the Recon ship, the initial engine start sounds oddly old-fashioned. Second stage starting sounds powerful, futuristic, and exciting. Three of the six docking pads begin rotating into launch position. As the fighter bays rotate, their round airlock bulkheads encircles the well, sealing the pad off from the internal Weather Deck. More engines are being started all around them. The excitement and noise of the deck is exhilarating, harkening Chaz back to his Navy days, when a flight operation was preparing for deployment. Three of the fighters can be heard launching from behind their airlocks with muffled engine surges and the slightest of jolts against the ship. Two more pads begin rotating into position.