Solar Search

*

CHAPTER 1

In some ways it was a pyrrhic double promotion. She glanced down at the spiral almost snakelike wrist ban on her right arm and noticed the tiny flashing orange light on the upper section.

Second Officer… oops I mean Captain Tara Fye speaking, she said. At twenty-eight Tara was possibly the youngest person ever to captain a human spaceship. The reason was a mystery even to herself. Sure, she had done well academically at the academy and had also coped with the physical and stress factors well but out of dozens of older and more experienced officers it came as a complete surprise when she had been told of her appointment.

The face that appeared on the square centimetre wrist screen made her inwardly gasp in surprise. The woman looking at her was Admiral Tabriz Majorna, the supreme leader of the Federated States of Earth since the military took charge three years earlier. Of all the lands about half were in FSE territory, another third consisted of various smaller countries and the last third, in her opinion the fanatical OFR, Old Faith Republic a traditional nemesis of the FSE. Peace between the major countries on Earth had reigned for two generations now, being necessitated by the greater threat of the off-world enemies.

The woman looked directly at her and almost casually held up her opened right hand but it was the colour of her fingernails that was significant. They were painted blue, a code that meant that the message being sent was not to be believed or acted upon for the speaker was either captured or made to speak under duress or mind control. In fact information should really be the exact opposite to what was being spoken. It was a crude deception but one of the few that worked against the partly colour blind enemy who could not distinguish pale colours that all appeared as silver to them.

Are you are aboard your new command spaceship, Vanguard 6?Admiral Majorna asked.

Tara nodded and touched her thumb and middle fingernails on both hands. Instantly, her own fingernails changed from pink to light blue. In a similar discrete manner she made her hand visible on the second screen on her wrist, the one showing the outgoing signal. This meant she meant the opposite to what she would say.

No Ma'am, I'm on Vanguard's Cruiser 3 in low orbit around Earth's equator.

She was actually on Vanguard 6's flight deck in a high orbit above Earth. Vanguard 6 was one of the few remaining human spaceships that had been brought out of a mothballed fleet after the three-year interspecies war. Though old, it had been well-maintained and brought back into service to help evacuate humans from the few outposts in the solar system and take them to safety. Now in orbit around their home world it was due to be mothballed again. However, for unknown reasons the authorities had decided to keep it in service and an entire new crew had been assigned to it with Tara promoted directly out of the space academy to become captain.

The admiral's face never showed any emotion but a brief flicker of the eyelids showed that she had seen Tara's fingernail colour so would know that her words were false. Good, there has been a change of plan, you must not return to Vanguard 6 but are requested to take your cruiser to Space Port 16 to meet the other captains and myself there. It is secure and... She continued on with instructions that Tara knew were of no value. The truth of course, was the opposite. The port and possibly the entire planet were now in enemy hands but which ones, she didn't know. Were they hexapods, the six limbed intelligent species or their electronic allies, known only as entities who were ghostly floating balls of energy who had succeeded in taking over the planet's electronic web network only a few weeks previously.

Before Majorna signed off her fingernails changed to green for a second before returning to blue. Tara hid her emotions as she stated her arrival would be within the hour and the two screens went blank. A green signal meant that details in the Black Code sealed in a flight deck safe were to be invoked. These orders had never been placed on the web and the rumour was that, when written, ancient typewriters and museum printers were used so nothing had ever gone online. Now-a-days of course nothing, not even their separate network was secure from the enemy.

Are there problems, Captain Fye? 1st Officer Vic Hartly fixed his eyes on her fingernails that remained blue.

Tara liked Vic, a man fifteen years older than herself who had served on two earlier Vanguard class spaceships. His records showed that he had risen slowly through the ranks from the electronic and technology sectors to reach his present position as 1st Officer on this old craft. She had expected some resistance from him to her superior position straight out of the academy but had encountered none. In fact it was the other two flight deck officers, 2nd Officer Jade Lacy and 3rd Officer Finn Kilmorton both of a similar age to herself, who appeared more reluctant to accept her leadership.

Just one of those dreary briefings down on the surface, F.O. Harty. Please contact S.O. Lacy and tell her she will remain Officer on Deck of Vanguard 6 until we return in the cruiser.

Vic grinned and dropped his eyes to her fingernails. At once Captain. Need anything?

Tara sighed. Just a coffee before we drop out of orbit.

Nothing else was said but Vic knew exactly what she wanted. At each end of the flight deck were indiscrete thumbprint recorder pads. Both had to be pressed simultaneously for the safe to open. He walked to the left while she went right, nodded at him and pressed her right thumb on her pad. A small pilot light flashed green to show that the pair's prints were recognised and a central panel near the floor slid open. Tara bent down and pulled out and ancient black covered notebook.

Meanwhile Vic pressed several buttons on the control panel and a woman's voice of the computer echoed through the deck. Security Level 3 has been invoked. Vanguard 6 shields are intact. All airlocks are frozen and incoming or outgoing communications beyond the outer hull are offline. Do you require a complete assessment?

No, Tara replied. Maintain Security 3 Protocol.

Sounds bad, Vic muttered. Can we talk freely now?

Yes. Anyone trying to monitor us will just receive visuals and audio of us chatting on Cruiser 6 that was recorded on our routine flight down to the surface last week. If they switch to this flight deck they'll see Jade and Finn carrying out routine duties.

Vic grinned. Better than just static that will raise their suspicions?

Exactly. You noticed the admiral's fingernails?

Vic nodded. Sounds grim.

Even worse than it might seem.

The Doomsday Orders?

Tara grimaced and reached down to open the notebook.

*

For Captain Tara Fye's Eyes Only was stamped on the title page and when she turned the page it sort of flickered before forming into words. So it wasn't just an old notebook after all!

Sounds ominous doesn't it? Tara said and nodded at the heading in red letters.

The orders overleaf assume that Earth is now under hexagon or entity control. Ignore all other orders that may arrive.

Vic, who was watching as she began to read, turned to stare at her.

What do you mean? he replied. The page is blank.

What? She turned back and studied the clearly printed words before her. On closer scrutiny, though she noticed that the paper appeared to be slightly cream in colour and consisted of rows of tiny pastel coloured circles.

What do you see? she asked.

A blank creamy coloured page. He peered closer. There appears to be a watermark on the paper, sort of wavy lines. Nothing else?

No words or circles?

No.

Tara gasped. This is no old notebook but a sophisticated electronic device set for only my eyes.

You have been only captain for ten days and that book would have been in the safe ever since the Vanguard 6 was recommissioned. I was promoted and posted here at the very beginning under Captain Tidwell who came out of retirement as temporary captain before your appointment. So how could this book be so up to date?"

Tara grimaced. I don't know.

Careful Tara, Vic responded. How can you know this contains genuine orders and isn't something placed here by the entities?

Admiral Majorna's protocols were precise. As well as her blue nails she said several coded phrases to indicate that the worst had happened down there and her fingernails changed from blue to green for a second. We have to follow the orders in this black book. I doubt if even the entities could fake that.

So what are the orders? Vic grumbled.

Tara turned the page and found only a short statement.

Maintain sealed silence. Proceed to Little Moon at the co-ordinates below. Take spirovator to the surface where further orders await.

Tara read the co-ordinates and realised the area was behind Little Moon at the moment when viewed from Earth. Unlike the natural moon that once maintained a lunar base of several hundred humans before it was destroyed by the enemy six months earlier, Little Moon was really just a chunk of rock about five hundred kilometres in diameter that had been placed in orbit a generation earlier. It really did nothing except affect the tides on Earth.

The spirovator was a laser guided spinning vortex that transported crews or supplies between a spaceship and another solid object of up to two hundred kilometres away. It was faster than a landing cruiser and was not affected by a planet's gravity, as it created its own. The main disadvantage of using it was that it was visible like a tornado and if hit by a drone or missile, it could be destroyed. In recent times they were mainly used to receive emergency supplies.

But what's on the surface? Vic asked after Tara read the message out to him. I didn't think there was anything there.

Tara shrugged. Me either. I guess it is highly classified.

Using the spirovator is unusual, too. Wouldn't a cruiser be better? Vic asked

Tara shook her head. A cruiser has to go in orbit and we would be detected by the enemy before we could land.

Vic grinned. Of course. I guess I'm getting behind in all this latest technology.

Tara grinned. This was an understatement for Vic probably knew more about technology and electronics than anyone aboard. So we'd better head out. It's a three day journey on impulse as I don't wish to use the warp drive.

Vic nodded. They both knew that the matter, anti-matter warp engines that could travel at post light speeds left a trail that could be traced whereas the hydrogen driven impulse engines discharged no particles into space.

For the sake of three days compared with just a few moments, they would stand a greater chance of avoiding enemy satellites, spaceships and needles, the entity spacecraft.

Sound the blue alert, Vic Any crew on shore leave will be left behind, I'm afraid.

Vic studied a monitor. There are only six off station, he reported. All junior crew.

So we have thirty-one crew aboard?

Vic glanced up. Plus one, Captain. Remember that scientist we evacuated from that asteroid?

Tara frowned. Is Nolan still aboard. I thought he'd have left by now?

Vic laughed. Took too long gathering up his equipment and missed the cruiser going to the surface, yesterday.

Typical. Tara muttered. Doctor Nolan Garzel was pleasant enough to talk to but really lived in a theoretical world of his own. He'll have to come with us. I'm not going to risk sending him down on a cruiser or using the spirovator.

He probably won't even notice any difference, Vic muttered as he reached for an alert pad and a siren wailed throughout the spaceship.

*

Tara grimaced as she stared at the control deck monitors. There were disadvantages in having sealed onboard electronics that used only visual sittings of space around them to control navigation and the whereabouts of other craft, satellites or rogue asteroids in the immediate area.

Take us out of orbit and set a course to Little Moon using only the hydrogen drive she ordered.

A three day journey, mumbled the 3rd Officer. Why don’t we just go at warp speed? Nobody would catch us.

Tara swung around and glowered at the man. Did you say something 3rd Officer Kilmorton? she snapped.

In my opinion… he began but hesitated. But you’re the boss.

Tara was about to make an angry retort but stopped, swallowed and stared at the man. His expression was not that of being defiant but one used to being ignored. So what would you do, Finn? she asked using his first name to help calm the situation.

Finn Kilmorton caught her eyes and frowned. Do you really want to know Ma’am?

She nodded.

I’d head out towards Big Moon at just over warp speed, circle behind it and send out an anti-matter plasma burst before heading back across to Little Moon. Anybody following our trail will assume we’ve headed out of the solar system at maximum speed. Meanwhile our warp trail will be dissipated by the burst unless they make an extensive search. Knowing how arrogant the enemy are, they’ll not consider that worthwhile.

So how long will the trip take?

Quarter an hour if we program in the plasma burst to fire automatically, longer if we drop out of warp and send it manually.

And the risk of being monitored if we go the automatic way?

Negligible if we use our internal optic fibre connections.

Tara glanced at Vic who just gave a slight shrug as if he wasn't prepared to commit himself. She turned back to the 3rd officer. Do it! she commanded.

Finn grinned. Seconds later a new siren sounded throughout the ship, one used to signify that warp drive was about to be engaged. With modern technology this had few personal discomforts but the tradition was continued more out of courtesy than necessity.

All she experienced herself was a slight buzz in the inner ears and flash of white before her eyes. She concentrated on the distance and time indicators where, eight minutes later, a monitor showed the words Anti-matter plasma burst launched and seven minutes afterwards they dropped out of warp, hydrogen drive was engaged and they were in orbit above Little Moon.

We'll be over the coordinates in another five minutes, Finn said.

Excellent, Tara replied. And thank you.

You're not like Captain Tidwell are you Ma'am? he whispered.

Tara grinned. She had had her own encounters with the pomposity of the military hierarchy back at the graduation school where the so-called old school officers still had trouble adapting to modern times. The now retired Captain Tidwell was one of them.

We are here together 3rd Officer Kilmorton, she said. Your expertise and those of other crewmembers will be necessary if we are to survive. One small matter though.

Finn flushed. And that is, Ma'am?

That horrible word 'Ma'am'. Call me Tara or Captain Fye if you feel more comfortable. If I can call you Finn I see no reason why you can't use my first name.

Finn broke into a grin. Certainly … err Tara, he replied.

*

It was daylight at the coordinates above Little Moon so a visual view could be made without needing to transmit any outside signals. They maintained a speed to stay above the spot and had three hours before their position would become visible from Earth. The enhanced view showed nothing except a small creator below them. There was no atmosphere on the moon and negligible gravity so spacesuits would have to be worn on the surface.

Tara glanced around the flight deck. Vic and I will take the spirovator down, Jade you'll be senior deck officer and will follow us on the visual monitors and maintain communication. Finn, I'd like you to keep a constant eye on anything further out, especially if any enemy spaceships change direction.

The three all acknowledged her orders without comment.

Tara and Vic had just finished dressing in their spacesuits when she heard a cough and turned to see Doctor Nolan Garzel standing there.

I would like to accompany you to the surface, Captain, he said. I believe I could be useful down there.

How?

I've been on the Little Moon's surface before and know a little about the terrain and how to move in the five percent gravity. It actually fluctuates and can cause problems at times.

There was room for six humans in each bubble that travelled inside the spirovator and bubbles could also be linked like beads to carry supplies and equipment. She had planned to take one linked bubble in case there was equipment to be brought back. Space, therefore, was not a concern.

I assume you are qualified to wear the spacesuit and know the regulations about spirovator emergency procedures?

Nolan nodded.

You have ten minutes to be in a spacesuit, make all the safety checks and be aboard. We will wait no longer.

Was that wise? Vic queried when the scientist left to get into his spacesuit. Regulations frown on having civilians on military operations.

I doubt if regulations will have any meaning now. We both know that humans are all but extinct. We are possibly the last of our species who have not been captured.

She grimaced for captured was not the word to use. Unless considered useful for the enemy, any human caught by either of the enemy species was slaughtered with no more compassion than when humans killed animals for food.

Nolan is also a geologist and could be helpful down there, she added.

As long as he doesn't get in our way, Vic mumbled.

*

Tara had travelled in spirovators hundreds of times but was still fascinated by the device. Their bubble was a transparent container five metres wide by six high with seating and safety belts around the curved walls. A sliding door provided entry and bulkheads and spaces beneath the seats had room for luggage. There was a small dashboard and monitor beside the door but most controls were automatic. In contrast, the bubble linked beneath them was just an empty hulk with straps to hold equipment. At the moment it was empty.

Outside of these bubbles was the spirovator itself, a spinning force field guided by a laser beam to its destination, either a receiving station or, as their present situation, any solid matter. Once the link was established it could be maintained indefinitely and included safety features that kept everything working. Even if the transmitter base was severed or destroyed the spirovator would remain intact for a week or more before it lost power and dissipated. Over the previous generation, the only fatalities were when a spirovator was destroyed by enemies or terrorists blowing it up electronically or by using explosive. It was, therefore, safer to use than the alternative landing cruiser.

Tara sat beside the control panel and across from the two men as the door slid down. She nodded and pressed a pad. The sensation of dropping was almost immediately replaced by the feeling of moving horizontally and a few moments later to that of moving upwards before her sensations were repeated. Outside all she could see was spinning whiteness as if they were inside a tornado. In fact, one of the earlier names for the device was tornado tube.

The journey took only a few moments before they stopped and artificial gravity was replaced by that of the moon so they were almost floating. She turned on her boot gravity pads that compensated for the lack of gravity to a certain extent but her movements were now more of a bounce than a walk.

Okay? she said through the low-powered audio link that had a range of ten metres before becoming untraceable static, heard the men both reply that they were and opened the door. She turned and deactivated the Spirovator. It quivered and popped like a balloon with only the canister remaining on the surface. This would be used to reactivate it when they wished to return to Vanguard 6 or used as a reception pod if the spirovator was activated from the Vanguard end.

In front and a mere ten metres away was a not a crater wall but a black marble rectangle the size of a double garage door.

It's artificial, Nolan said as he walked forward and stopped a metre away from it. Could be protected by a ray. Were you advised about how it is operated, Captain?

I was told nothing beyond where to come, Tara and explained about the black notebook.

Nolan nodded. It may have been designed personally for you with built in security protocols. I think you should approach it first. I suggest you reach forward and place an opened glove on the surface.

I agree, Vic added.

When Tara touched the black marble she felt a tingle like a mild electric shock pass through her body before the surface quivered like jelly and disappeared. Ahead of her was a long corridor that looked like the interior of a space module. The walls were curved and radiated white light. The floor consisted of a rubbery substance that must have been magnetic for when she stepped forward her boots were attracted to it.

Come on in, she said after walking forward a few bouncy steps. Everything appears to be safe and secure.

*

CHAPTER 2

Followed by the two men, Tara walked into an artificial cave cut deep into the crater side. It curved slightly until the entrance was out of sight before it came to an abrupt end where the lights stopped and a rock face blocked the way.

She stopped and turned to the others. What do you think?

We've come too far, Vic said. We should look for some side tunnel off this one.

"No, I believe we can continue. This face is