“That goes without saying. Ok, we’re setting it up, now.”
“Got it,” Tomic confirmed as Hector broke contact.
Hector stood on the Argonaut’s bridge watching as his extremely able scientific team examined the continuous data flow they were receiving from the two drones close to the object.
Although Hector could easily see exactly how things were progressing on his own displays, he still preferred to be involved with his science team.
The Argonaut had a complement of more than forty scientists who, between them, covered a broad range of subjects from Quantum physics down to Linguistics.
However, unlike the Andromeda, there was hardly any communication between the various scientists here on the Argonaut. So, Professor Sims primary function, at the moment, was to coordinate all of the experimental works that were being carried out by the scientists, to maximize their efficiency. And, to ensure that the individual projects didn’t overlap while ensuring that Hector could quickly monitor their progress.
Professor Sims was Hector’s second in command and had been on the Argonaut when it first went to Crilla, the Crillon’s homeworld. So he was well versed in diplomacy.
One of the things that Hector particularly admired about Sims was that not only was he a very gifted scientist, but he was also a professional, and generally addressed crew members formally, by their rank.
“Professor, are we sure we can’t calculate this temporal difference?”
“If we’d been here at the time, we might have stood a chance of being able to establish exactly what the temporal differences were. But now, it’s too late, Captain.”
“That’s a shame. I see the drone’s initial findings show that the rectangular panel is part of a ship's outer hull?”
“Yes. But the metal panel’s purple colored coating has unusual properties, to say the least.”
“Well, we should be able to make more sense out of it when the object’s onboard.”
“Absolutely, Hector.”
“How much longer do you think it will take, Sims?”
“About another twenty minutes before we complete our assessment. Then give us a few more minutes to decide whether or not it’s safe to bring aboard.”
“Very well, Professor. Call me as soon as you’ve made your decision.”
Twenty-three minutes later, and it was finally deemed safe to bring the rectangular panel on board the Argonaut.
The two drones, having failed to attach the magnetic clamps, managed to secure an old fashioned cable to the section. Within minutes they had towed it to the ship, and maneuvered it into Argonaut’s, now airless, holding bay.
Once in, the outer door closed. The holding bay re-pressurized, and the scientists set to work.
An hour later, Professor Sims joined Hector in the Argonaut’s control room.
“Well, Professor. What are your conclusions?”
“We’ve updated both the Central Computer and your Pad with the findings, Captain,” Sims replied, sounding surprised that the Captain was asking this.
“That may be so. But brief me now, please.”
“Right, Sir. The rectangular panel is definitely from a, well, a starship… It was part of the ship’s outer hull for sure.
But, what we find strange is that the purple colored coating appears to have no electrical resistance at all,” Sims finished.
“So what purpose do you think the hull’s coating serves? It must be there for some reason.”
“Yes, we’re all agreed on that. We think the coating is organic, but now it’s dead.”
“Organic?”
“Yes, Captain. Definitely organic in nature. Don’t ask me what it was used for. Or, even how it existed in space.”
“Okay… And the rest?”
“The majority of the metallic components used in the section don’t appear in Earth’s atomic table. But we’re carrying out spectrographic, and carbon dating tests at the moment.”
“And the Temporal Entropy?”
“We were unable to get any readings using the Solveron’s test unit. The TE had already dissipated. But Captain Sherman’s reference to one end of the rift appearing to be misty, suggests an almost complete folding of the Rift onto its self.”
“So, like a time shift, but two-way?”
“Yes. It’s also possible that this panel came from the future. Or even from the past,” Sims replied, then paused for a moment.
“Captain Sherman wondered if this panel could actually be part of the same object that the Acarea’s crew had said, was destroyed by a rift, back in 2169. Or, may have been linked to it. What do you think?” Sims asked.
“Anything is possible as far as Rifts are concerned,” Hector replied
“Yes. We can only guess, Captain.”
“I know, not enough facts… Anything else of interest?” He asked but noticed that Professor Sims seemed reluctant to answer.
“Alright, Professor… Off the record, what do you and your boys think the purple coating is for?”
Sims remained quiet, as he thought about it.
“Come on. Speculate, damn it.”
Sims thought for a moment, then reluctantly said, “If I must, Captain… Well, if it was alive and in its usual state. Then the ship’s total surface must have been purple colored, and would probably have changed its tint, dependent on what action it was taking at the time.
Unfortunately, we can’t know for sure without actually being able to see a complete ship.”
“Obviously, and?”
“Maybe the coating’s function is to do with protection or even communications. But, we don’t have any real reasons for any of our assumptions, Captain,” Sims cautioned.
“Is that all, Professor?”
“So far.”
“Fair enough. Keep at it while we head for Dpav4.”
“Yes, Captain,” Sims replied, then turned and headed back to his work colleagues.
Hector then made contact with the Neutron.
“Chris. Keep your recording of the data and visual content and give a copy of it to the Federation’s science division when you get back to Earth.”
“Will do, Hector… Do you need us any longer?”
“No, I don’t think it’s dangerous here,” Hector replied. Then paused, feeling his heart beat quicken.
He suddenly had the feeling he was wrong. He sensed it. There was a danger. He could feel it, now.
Nevertheless, knowing the Neutron would be safer going on with its own work, said, “You’d better continue with your ship’s trials.”
“Okay… We’ll be off then… Good luck.”
“Same to you Chris,” Hector replied and broke contact. Then he felt uneasy. Something had made the hairs on the back of his hand stand up.
He immediately called Professor Sims. But, before he could speak, Sims said.
“You felt it too, Captain?”
“Yes. Was that the subspace detector kicking in?”
“Yes… There’s been a massive disturbance, somewhere.”
Chapter 12
Star-Destroyers away
Three periods later, and the Follow On signal had already been received from the Pathfinder ship, but Commander Viceroy Verice was becoming even more impatient and irritable as he watched his ships through the bridge’s windows.
His crews seemed to be working very slowly as they undertook the final checks in preparation for their first Jump. A jump that would take them, over a hundred light years away.
He was also frustrated in knowing that while his Star-Destroyers were able to Jump one hundred and fifty light-years at a time. It was the Pathfinder ship’s jump limitation that dictated just how far his ships were actually allowed to jump.
Each of his Star-Destroyers was spaced seven kilometers apart, and, in a box formation. This was to ensure that no vessel was too close to another, on exit. He had already received the departure codes from the Grand Garoden Command. And now, he just needed the confirmation from each shi
p that they were ready for the jump.
Finally, his Companion brain confirmed that all ships had signaled they were prepared to leave and that the ships were locked into a ten-second interval jump sequence.
He glanced at science officer Griken and nodded, then sent the ‘Execute’ code to his Star-Destroyers.
Now, just five minutes remained before the first ship would jump.
“Cratic. Are you locked?”
“Yes, Excellency,” his navigation officer confirmed out loud.
“And the transit time for the first leg, is?”
“Still the same, Excellency. Four days.”
Just then, Verice felt his Companion’s warning that his second in command, Captain Plank of the Star-Destroyer Z185 was about to arrive, and sure enough, Plank suddenly appeared, standing next to him. This annoyed Viceroy Verice.
“Give me more warning next time, Plank,” he ordered.
“Certainly, Excellency. I’m sorry. However, I need to know if you are going to be the last to leave?”
“Yes, of course. Why are you asking? Why didn’t you use your Companion to ascertain this?”
“For reasons of privacy, Excellency.”
“Well, now you know. Back to your ship,” he ordered, and Plank was gone.
Viceroy Verice was still angry. He couldn’t see why Plank had decided to come in person.
Verice didn’t consider himself a coward. It was just that he wanted to be last to leave the Garoden system. At least, that’s what he told himself.
However, he was well aware that once en route, there would be no turning back. Therefore, he didn’t want to be the first out at each exit point. Just in case, they met something unforeseen.
Even though he knew that the Pathfinder’s Hyper-relay system would immediately warn all ships if there were a problem at the other end. Deep down, he realized that it was in reality, either a cowardly act or pure selfishness on his part. And would not be approved of by his Companion brain.
Even so, when it came to the final jump, it would be different. He would be first to exit and lead his fleet into battle.
The countdown to Jump reached zero, and a whitish colored swirling ring, with a jet-black center, appeared just in front of the Star-Destroyer Z184. Signaling that a massive wormhole had formed. The wormhole’s ring was three times the diameter of the vessel’s bulging rear end.
The Star-Destroyer gradually moved forward, then suddenly elongated as it disappeared into its wormhole.
The next Star-Destroyer, Z185 formed its own wormhole, then followed in exactly the same way. This was followed by the other five vessels, as one by one, they generated their own wormholes.
After a pause of twenty seconds, Viceroy Verice’s flagship, Star-Destroyer Z183, created its wormhole and followed the others.
Once they had all exited safely from their wormholes one hundred light years away. The waiting Pathfinder ship would remain long enough to make sure that everything was as it should be. Then Viceroy Verice would give the command to the Pathfinder vessel and its two crew members, to execute the next jump, taking them another one hundred light-years away.
This process would continue until the thirteenth Jump had been completed. At which point, the target area would be thoroughly surveyed by the Pathfinder ship before the fleet made their fourteenth, and final Jump.
Chapter 13
Suspicions
Seven hundred light years from DPav4
Viceroy Verice was feeling very pleased with himself. As, after completing the first eight jumps, they were now just seven hundred light years away from the location of the survival pod’s beacon.
Griken I’m going to my pod, call me when we’re ready to jump again,” he ordered.
Indeed, Excellency, Griken replied feeling pretty pleased with the situation as well.
-Ω-
77 hours out from Earth.
Frank felt the hairs on his arms stand up as Andromeda’s warp field detector registered a significant occurrence, and went into overdrive.
“Andromeda. I felt the subspace detector kicking in, what’s going on?”
“Something, somewhere, has just gone into warp, causing a massive disturbance.”
"Can we estimate where?”
“No, the event could have been generated many light years away. But we felt it more because we’re already in warp space.”
“I see, so how long to Dpav4?”
“Seven hours twenty-five minutes.”
“Right. Any development, no matter how small, I need to know about it, pronto.”
“Naturally,” she replied, then Frank sensed Andromeda break her connection to give him privacy.
‘Sues, did you feel the warp detector kick in?’ He mentally asked her, trying not to use his Implant.
‘Yes,’ she sent back. ‘I felt it, and heard what Andromeda said to you.’
‘I sense that you’re in the Gym?’
‘Sure am. Muscles and stamina mean everything if I'm to stay alive, as Jenny used to say,’ she jokingly sent back.
‘But you’re not Jenny,’ he replied.
‘True. But I’ve got two girls who are mad about you to contend with,’ she almost snapped, having sensed his nervousness at her mention of Jenny.
‘I can’t comment on that,’ Frank nervously shot back at her then decided to change the subject.
‘We should be at DPav4 in just over seven hours. Did I tell you we’re picking up Bren and Acarea?’
‘No, you didn’t say. It’ll be great to see them again.’
‘Yes. They’re going with us to Crilla, then onto Solvera. So, are you ready to play host to another lot of dignitaries?’
‘I have to be, don’t I?’
‘Yes, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Remember how good you are at charming, people.’
With that, Frank closed his mind and relaxed, while trying again to make sense of his feelings. He sat quietly, wondering why he felt this dark cloud hanging over him.
Maybe it's just intuition or something to do with the warp field they’d detected. It must have been massive, to have affected the hairs on his arms, like that. Still, even so, he wasn't quite sure what it was that was actually worrying him.
Was it the two girls, he wondered. Then remembered that he still hadn’t had that talk with them as yet, He must get on and do it soon.
The two girls seemed to have a telepathic ability that enabled them to communicate with each other, without needing to use their implants. In fact, in a way that seemed very similar to how he and Susanna did. Or, am I imagining it, he wondered.
All the same, he felt sure they were going to be vital if there were some sort of conflict. What? Why did the word conflict spring to my mind? He asked himself as he shook his head, in disbelief.
Then, thinking about the warp field they’d detected decided to make contact with the Argonaut and sent a mental request for Andromeda to do so.
The Argonaut was in the Pavonis system, so he hoped that she had felt the same warp signal as they had, even if it was different in magnitude.
‘Frank, I can’t contact the Argonaut while we’re in our wormhole,’ Andromeda immediately replied.
‘Oh, okay, just thought you might have been able to find a way,’ he sent back. Then felt total privacy once more, as she mentally disconnected.
Right, I need to get this talk over with the two girls. It’s now or never, he decided and sent them a mental request.
‘Charlotte? Cindy? We need to talk. Now please.’
‘Come to us Frank,’ Charlotte sent back.
Earlier, he would have been apprehensive about going back to their cabin on his own. But now, after the Jenny re-enactment of yesterday, he felt that he could trust them not to make any sexual advances towards him.
Nevertheless, it had been exciting, he found himself thinking. Then, on realizing what he’d just thought, he waited, expecting Sues or Andromeda to make a comment. But luckily, for him, they hadn’t sensed his thought.
He left the control room, heading towards cabin eight. Well, it wasn’t really the control room as such, more of a physical meeting place. The real control room was with Frank at all times, in the form of Andromeda’s link.
Cabin eight was situated close to the holding bay, and, as he got closer, he could already feel their anticipation of meeting him again.
The door slid open as he approached the cabin and both of them greeted him. “Come on in,” Cindy beckoned, and as he stepped inside, the door slid shut behind him.
He noticed that both girls were smartly dressed. This time in matching garments in a subtle shade of orange. Frank was slightly taken aback. They both looked much more grown up and mature than they had yesterday.
He sat down facing the two girls, who were now sitting on the sofa. Then both of them focused their gaze on him.
“Ask away, Frank,” Cindy prompted, speaking out loud.
“Very well,” he said and nervously cleared his throat.
“I believe that both of you, like myself and Susanna, have what I would call a telepathic communication ability, which is beyond the capabilities of our implants. Correct?”
“It seems so,” both agreed.
“Why do you think that is?”
“Elaborate, Frank?”
“OK, but first, I need to know how you both gained your ability?” He countered.
Charlotte and Cindy didn’t answer straight away but seemed to be conversing with each other. Then Charlotte spoke.
“That’s an interesting question, Frank. Let’s just say that, there have always been people who claim to be able to read minds. But, most of them have been fakes. However, there have been the odd one or two that weren’t able to be exposed as frauds.”
“Everyone knows that, Charlotte.”
The Garoden War. (SpaceFed StarShips Series) Book 6. An action-packed follow-on story that sees the Earth's Space Navy in action.: ‘Into the Fire.’ Page 7