The Anvil of Dust and Stars (Dark Seas Series Book 1)

by Damon Alan

  “A gas giant?” Sarah asked.

  “It probably formed farther out in the system originally, but drifted in during the variable period young star systems experience. Dantora brought up several new displays. “These are spectral analysis, diameters, masses, and temperatures for the various planets. Planet three is a big gas world at just over eleven Jupiter masses, and it's at the outer edge of the habitation zone for the star.

  “Hard to walk on hydrogen, so I assume the moons are of interest? They'll be cold that far out from the star.” Sarah mentally slapped herself for speculating. She needed to let Dantora do her job.

  “Normally, Captain, yes. But if planet three was much bigger, Oasis would be a double star. The planet is a Class IV gas giant. It's putting out a lot more heat than it's bringing in. Surface temperature is between nine hundred and thirteen hundred Celsius, which is enough to raise the mean average temperatures of the moons in orbit.”

  “Any news on those moons?” Sarah asked.

  There are four large moons that orbit around the planet, all of which have substantial atmospheres. All of those moons, sir, are larger than Terra. The innermost moon has a high albedo, we're thinking it's entirely clouds, so probably a hot house world. The second large moon out from Oasis III is most interesting. It's really big, however, in fact it's almost twice the diameter of Earth.”

  “That can't be why it's interesting.”

  “No, sir. I'm fairly sure the second moon is the right temperature for habitation. The initial reports from spectral analysis are a nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere, as well as substantial liquid oceans. Average surface temperature is seventeen Celsius, so it's a bit balmy. I'm thinking it's habitable.

  “Life?” Sarah asked.

  “Potentially, free oxygen in an atmosphere usually indicates just that. Also, there is some methane in the atmosphere, which usually indicates life as well. Distribution observations are inconclusive at this range, so the methane could be geological, but that would be unusual in the quantities we're detecting.”

  Sarah clasped the woman's shoulder. “Excellent work, Ensign. We'll light the torch soon, so get information up to the bridge about where to send the hounds. They can work on station while we bleed off speed. If you need more than one drone on this moon of yours, let Lieutenant Corriea know.”

  “Aye sir, right away.” The ensign turned back to her duties.

  Sarah made her way back to the bridge and took command. The crew were finished with their post-jump analysis. She told the bridge crew about Dantora's findings, then transferred the data flowing from Science to the main view screen.

  Gilbert did his usual excellent job of distilling the issue down to a few words. “If it's habitable that's going to make our future smell a lot less like a metal box.”

  Sarah laughed. “Let's not jump the gun, Mr. Gilbert.” She took a moment and looked at the newest data streaming in. It looked good. “We might still find something that makes it uninhabitable to us.” The moon was nearly twenty one thousand kilometers in diameter. It orbited its primary at one point one million kilometers, and the gas giant orbited Oasis at just under seventy million kilometers. The surface gravity was estimated at one point one six standard.

  “Although,” she said as she smiled, “that does look pretty good. I have to admit it's hard not to get your hopes up.”

  Mr. Corriea brought up an additional graphic of the Oasis III moon system. A red line indicated his projected orbital injection path for the Stennis. “I recommend we do an equatorial orbit on planet three unless Science suggests otherwise. That will give us a good position to explore the inner terrestrials and the first three gas giants. Not to mention being right on top of what looks like the best colony option.”

  “That will make fueling more consistent as well, Captain, we can move along the wind bands of the gas giant and get a smoother ride,” Harmeen added.

  The excitement on the bridge was electric. Everyone felt like they'd been spared the executioner's axe.

  Sarah felt it as well.

  The situation had changed from certain death, to tenuous hope, and now to almost certain long term survival. It felt a bit like they'd pushed death's cold embrace out of reach.

  “Lock in that equatorial orbit around planet three, Mr. Corriea.”

  “Will do, Captain.” He entered the data. “Recalculating. We're roughly two hundred million kilometers from Oasis III. You don't want one point one six G so we can get used to it?”

  Sarah definitely didn't want that. Even with modern medicine and biochemistry, space travel was hard on human bodies. “Let's not kill everyone on board. We've been at zero G for a long time. Not all of us are your age.”

  Sarah noticed Gilbert flexing his legs and stretching at his station. “Restless, Mr. Gilbert?”

  “I'm trying to imagine stepping out on that moon at one point one six.”

  “It will give people something to grumble about. You worried about it?”

  “Not worried, but maybe we should step up the exercise regimens for the crew.”

  Sarah looked at Gilbert unhappily. She hated the zero G treadmill.

  “Just a thought, Captain.”

  She sighed and she surrendered. “Consult with Dr. Jannis then tell her to send out the order. Let everyone hate her.”

  “Captain's thinking,” he laughed.

  “Well, Mr. Gilbert, the next few days should be pleasantly routine, so let's jump into it. Go deal with Jannis, then you'll be my relief in...” she looked at the ship clock, “twelve hours. I suggest you get some rest. You too, Lieutenant Harmeen. You'll both have the next sixteen together.”

  “Aye, Captain. I'm going to sleep like a baby,” the first officer said as he untethered and headed for the hatch. “Goodnight everyone.”

  Harmeen was right behind him.

  “Good night, both of you. Pleasant dreams for a change,” Sarah said.

  Lieutenant Harmeen paused with just his head above the floor hatch.

  “What is it, Lieutenant?”

  “I wanted to thank you ma'am. I can't help but feel there is a purpose for us being here. Your leadership has brought us far.”

  “Is that your religion speaking, Mr. Harmeen?”

  “Call it what you will. Providence. Fate. Destiny. In my faith nothing happens randomly.”

  Sarah thought about his words the rest of her shift.

  She wasn't sure she appreciated the discomfort they brought her.

  Chapter 50 - Salvation

  19 JUNI 15327

  As word of the richness of the Oasis system spread, the Seventh Fleet rang with celebration. Stores of alcohol brought on board illegally flowed, and more so with the revelations of new rules promised by the Fleet Commander. New rules intended for the colonists they were about to become, not for the military weapon they'd been.

  The ships ran with skeleton crews while the celebration went on.

  “This is Fleet Captain Sarah Dayson,” Sarah said over the fleet intercom. “Our trials have been long. Our struggles many, and our lost friends almost countless. Yet, through a twist of fate I wouldn't have foreseen in a million years, we are delivered from our enemy. Not through victory, but by obscurity. Out here, in a location so remote, humanity may be overlooked. Even the Hive have to consider economics in their planning, I'm sure. There are systems a lot less resource intensive than this one for the Hive to conquer. Happily our children will be safe while sadly the rest of the human race struggles. We alone will finally know peace.”

  Sarah looked over at Gilbert, who managed to look appropriately somber and happy at the same time.

  “You have all earned this. Don't let your guard down, but it seems our struggles are over. Let's make this system ours. Dayson out.”

  Gilbert turned on the microphones across the fleet, playing them into the bridge speakers.

  The sounds of celebrations filled Sarah's ears. The sounds of hope, of pain left behind, of a new beginning.

  Sarah looked at Fran
klin Gilbert again, and she was overtaken by whim.

  “Join me for a drink when your shift is over Commander? To celebrate our salvation?”

  His boyish grin warmed her soul. She flushed unexpectedly as he answered. “I'd love to, Captain.”

  Chapter 51 - The Edge

  Bn74x00 followed the trail across the Abzurrin Abyss, failing to find the end. The trail continued into nebulae and dense star fields on the far side of the emptiness.

  The scout stopped jumping at the edge of a nebula. The gasses of the cloud fluoresced before it, illuminated by the protostars forming within. It sat for a long time studying the information it possessed so far. The Stennis jumped a distance the Collective had never observed an Alliance vessel jump before, a distance as of yet to be determined. A distance the Collective didn't think was possible and could not come close to matching.

  This was a threat beyond any Bn74x00 had seen before. With jumps of this range the humans could colonize distant systems difficult to reach and undetectable by the Collective. They could perform strikes on Collective space well behind the previous practical limit of two hundred light-years.

  This ship must be fitted with a prototype drive, or more would be seen. The Collective must possess this technology and keep the humans from developing it further.

  The same conclusion reached the top of the probability list no matter how many times Bn74x00 processed it. The Stennis must be destroyed or captured in an effort to set back human efforts.

  Bn74x00 pulled it sensor net in, and prepared to jump. There was only another eight hundred light years of stars between it and the edge of the galaxy. Not far to search, and not much room for a base to hide in.

  Bn74x00 would find it and report back.

  * * *

  Bn74x00 jumped two hundred light years, the trail persisted. It jumped another two hundred. The trail continued. It jumped another two hundred and the chemical traces were present. The search range was narrowing conveniently. Bn74x00 spun up its singularity and jumped to the edge of the galaxy.

  The trail persisted.

  The scout was confounded. The thought of building a research base within the confines of the Abzurrin Abyss made sense, materials for construction and supplies would not be difficult to jump in. But building a base outside the galactic plane, that confused Bn74x00. It was irrational.

  It was unable to calculate how far the trail might proceed. Bn74x00 trained its optical sensors down the path the Stennis flew into intergalactic space. Nothing. No stars existed along the path within the limits of the scout's optics.

  The alarm subroutine in Bn74x00's local colony went into overdrive.

  The Collective must be warned.

  Bn74x00 dropped a buoy, then turned around and jumped toward a new destination.

  The central core of the Collective.

  <<< To be continued >>>

  Important Concepts:

  Calendar:

  I assume that if galactic civilization arises, a simple calendar with which to plan things across solar systems will arise. Most worlds won’t have a 365 day year. Or even a 24 hour day. So I came up with a calendar for my galactic civilization. Year 1 of the galactic calendar is based on the first year man colonized an extra-solar planet.

  10 months, 40 days each. Each month is 4 weeks, weeks are 10 days.

  Month Days

  Jand 1-40

  Febbed 41-80

  Mapri 81-120

  Mai 121-160

  Huni 161-200

  Juni 201-240

  Gusta 241-280

  Seppet 281-320

  Ors 321-360

  Noder 361-400

  Glossary:

  ECM/ECCM: Electronic Counter Measures are EM (electromagnetic) signals designed to frustrate sensory equipment from detecting the location of a target. ECCM are EM signals designed to overcome attempts at ECM.

  ELINT: Electronic Intelligence.

  EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse. By-product of a nuclear detonation, EMPs tend to overwhelm and destroy electronic circuitry. They are unpredictable and vary greatly in strength.

  FTL: Faster than light

  FTL drive, singularity, drive core, jump drive: All slang for the drive system that contains the singularity that makes FTL travel possible.

  FTL Nuke: A nuclear weapon delivered by a missile equipped with a FTL drive.

  G: One standard Earth gravity, or 9.80665 m/s2.

  G-K: Grappler Killer. See next entry.

  Grappler: A small vessel designed to carry a minimal crew and weapons to a target. They never carry FTL drives. Serving on a grappler means travel inside a spacesuit for potentially weeks.

  Grappler Engine: A tracked device capable of gripping the very fabric of space in order to accelerate or decelerate a small spacecraft. Only useful on small spacecraft, as large inertia overcomes the gripping ability of the engine. The track grips the quantum foam that is present in all space, vacuum or not.

  Grav Couch: A device designed to manipulate the human body so that it can most efficiently absorb G forces. The couch rotates on at least two planes, and in some specialized ships three. Grav couches are also called acceleration couches. They are usually outfitted with the means to deliver nutrients, hydration, and medicine to the occupant if necessary.

  Hive: A collection of nanite neural nets inhabiting both human bodies and mechanical constructs. Originally created by humans, the nanites that are the Hive turned on humanity almost immediately. Today they occupy a few thousand star systems of what was once human space. They infect humans, replacing the human nervous system with a mechanical/organic replacement.

  Inclusion Sphere: a bubble (slang for inclusion sphere) several kilometers in diameter created by a rapidly rotation singularity and lensed gravity waves. Due to depression of space at the leading edge of the bubble and raising of space at the trailing edge, the entire bubble and all contents move forward in three dimensional space faster than light. Everything in the bubble is stationary relative to the space fabric they are embedded in.

  Nanobot/Nanites: Microscopic (or at least very small) machines that are designed to accomplish tasks.

  Probes, Hounds: Sensor and long range comm probes that can travel to their assigned station with a smaller FTL drive system. This small system damages neural networks within their inclusion sphere, therefore cannot be used on small vessels that contain Human or Hive neural networks.

  Quantum Entangler: A radio designed to deliver instantaneous FTL communications by utilizing entangled atoms to deliver digital signals.

  Quantum Foam: Particles that are created and destroyed virtually instantaneously in all three dimensional space.

  Torch: v. To ignite the fusion engines for acceleration or breaking. n. A fusion engine.

  Authors notes:

  I really enjoyed writing this. In 2010 I decided that my second career was going to be author. I imagined it in my head. The limos. The accolades. The champagne laced parties with hot Hollywood starlets. Probably by 2011, for sure, because I was a great storyteller. Writing a story couldn't be any harder than vocalizing a story, right?

  I don't have a limo picking me up. I have a 2006 Land Rover LR3. My dog thinks it's a limo. My kids seem to think so. With driver and all. No accolades as of yet either. I do have a nice hole in my pocket from paying for toner, paper, that new bit of software I needed… there are oh so many sweet toys out there for writers. My wife straight out nixed the hot Hollywood starlets.

  Why? Because, as it turns out, writing a book isn't nearly as close to telling a story as you'd think it would be. There is an art to writing, one that I'm still learning. Also, it turns out, I'm a raging ignoramus when it comes to anything resembling advanced grammar. Oh, I've learned, lump by hard lump. But I still don't really know what a dangling participle is. To be honest, I'm not such a huge fan of anything dangling, per se. But here's what I did. I joined a writer's group. In fact, two, because my adopted town, Colorado Springs, is rife with writers.

  First I fo
und Writer's Write, a local meetup group run by Anita Romero. Anita is a great friend, an awesome critique partner, and an author. She beta read (meaning she read for mistakes and to give advice) my book when it was very much a turd. Yet we are still friends. That's just how nice she is. Several writers from that group are my present critique group. They are simply some of the best talent I've had the honor to know.

  Then I found Pike's Peak Writers, an amazing group that holds the Pike's Peak Writer's Conference every year here in Colorado Springs. PPW holds classes, monthly critiques, and provides remarkable support for the local writing community. I'm astounded by it, really, I had no idea Colorado Springs contained such excellence when my wife and I chose to move here back around the start of 2010.

  So I thought I'd be a great writer from day 1. Turns out, as I now know, I'll probably never be a great writer. But I certainly want to be a good writer. The educational process for going from casual writer to author isn't easy. There are a lot of things to remember and I have the memory of a sieve. But slowly, oh so slowly, I am getting better. I think I'm JUST good enough now to put this book on Amazon. The public will let me know, I long for your kind comments and reviews, if there is something you don't like I'd certainly be happy to hear from you and absorb your concerns to improve my writings.