Star Patrol I: Invasion of the Globes

Star Patrol I

Invasion of the Globes

James A. Connell

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© 2011 by James A. Connell. All rights reserved.

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First published by AuthorHouse 06/25/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1749-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1748-2 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Prologue

CHAPTER 1

Rift Encounter

CHAPTER 2

Into The Alien

CHAPTER 3

Samantha

CHAPTER 4

Lastchance

CHAPTER 5

Medical Officer

CHAPTER 6

Prosperity

CHAPTER 7

Rakasha

CHAPTER 8

Drastic Solutions

CHAPTER 9

Space Battle

CHAPTER 10

Genesis

CHAPTER 11

A Walk In The Park

CHAPTER 12

Volkoff

CHAPTER 13

Earth

CHAPTER 14

Habitat

CHAPTER 15

Pegasus

CHAPTER 16

Centaurus

CHAPTER 17

Mars

CHAPTER 18

History Lesson

CHAPTER 19

Reunion

CHAPTER 20

Crew

CHAPTER 21

Admiral Rat

CHAPTER 22

Night Of The Slimer

CHAPTER 23

Day Of The Globe

CHAPTER 24

Hades

CHAPTER 25

Megalomania

CHAPTER 26

Clear Skies

CHAPTER 27

Slime Underground

Prologue

Unlike the Generals in a war, soldiers on the front lines have only their own narrow view of the history altering battles in which they fight, but more often than not it is their actions alone that determine the difference between total victory and defeat.

Admiral Terrance Flynn, Star Patrol, EY 2315

During the middle part of the twenty-first century the Asian based Honjour Empire held sway over much of that part of the world. A dark tyrannical empire based on strict Sharia Law that hid many of it’s inner workings from the rest of the world. Their stand against most of the world’s religions including the majority of Islam as well made it hated, but mostly feared, as an Evil Empire. As the century entered it’s second half, in what many considered to be the last great war, a desperate alliance of free world countries overthrew the empire. Earth experienced its first lengthy stretch of peace in many decades.

During the Honjour reign daring free world explorers discovered a good planet orbiting Alpha Centauri, and the move to colonize space had begun. An attempt to Terraform Mars failed giving that process a severe setback, but man still persisted in staying on Mars in spite of all the bad breaks. The next couple of hundred years were those of peace, prosperity, and discovery.

Several scientific discoveries all within a few relatively short decades permanently shaped Man’s future. Spaceship Drives that allowed ships to cruise outer apace inside a spherical inertia dampening field that absorbed and channeled the energy around it, eliminating the cumbersome need for fuel. The field also affected the cosmic radiation so dangerous to humans traveling in space. That along with a breakthrough in metal processing that allowed aluminum to be collapsed into a super dense material for constructing spaceship hulls, made traveling in space safer than walking in the open on a lot of planets with thin to no ozone layers.

Next came Gravity plates that produced artificial gravity inside the field, and finally the Faster Than Light (FTL) Hyperspace Jump Drives. With these new technologies humans were finally able realize a centuries old dream, the colonization of space. Four new worlds were discovered and ordinary people could now actually begin new societies leaving the Earth and what they considered it’s moral decay behind.

At the dawn of the twenty-second century the Star Patrol, a loose collection of cargo ships and ships designed for exploration was formed. The Patrol held the responsibility for keeping the lines of commerce open between the new worlds. They were also there to provide protection for the colonies from any threat, real or perceived, which happened to pop up. However since Man had never encountered another intelligent race, and many considered major war to be a thing of the past, the Star Patrol’s charter fell to providing reliable supply lines, perfunctory exploration, and little else.

Somewhere in the Patrol’s first hundred years the financially strapped United States Government turned over some of it’s armed forces to the Star Patrol. Naval Air would go into space with the Patrol. The Marine Corps would do what they always did, only now they would do it under the Star Patrol’s banner. A move not totally appreciated, especially by the Marine Corps, but the Patrol vowed to continue these new additions in the time honored tradition they had always upheld. They kept their word and although it took awhile, those forces eventually became the proud instruments of Star Patrol authority.

As for the colonists, they worked very hard at being non aggressive. However the truth of it was that war is expensive, and the colonies were too small, too far apart, and too busy keeping their economies intact to do more against their neighbors than to pull the occasional slick deal.

The Twenty-fourth Century came with the promise of more peace and comfortable living than Mankind had ever known. The new century dawned full of bright promise and hope.

Looking back, people would call it the calm before the Storm.

CHAPTER 1

Rift Encounter

If you follow the path of Man’s expansion to the stars you reach the most distant Colony, called Lastchance, on the planet Omicron 4. Just past this little world, only fifty light years or so, is a starless gap as one reaches the edge of the Galactic arm that Man calls home. One last star system, a white dwarf with frozen rocks for planets glides silently by. From there the Void begins, and there are no stars for thousands of light years.

In the middle of the Earth year 2307 a lone Starship crossed the imaginary edge of the Galactic arm. Star Patrol Starship Orion stopped just barely into the starless void called The Rift. Her flashing red and blue running lights, outlining a one hundred meter disk. All but invisible in the faint starlight.

The Flight Control Deck, a windowed blister on her upper surface, defined the front of the ship where five of her eight man crew occupied their stations. More commonly known as just the Flight Deck, it was a quiet softly lit area where instrumentation lined the bulkheads and populated the consoles in front of each station with lights and video screens. Only occasionally did sounds from those instruments intrude above the soft sigh of air vents and the crew’s voices. The two seats directly in front of the two big forward windows were stations for the Captain and Executive Officer.

At the right hand station Executive Officer Bill Allen checked readouts on the video screens in front of him. We’re in position. He said looking to Captain Stewart at his left.

Very well, hold here. Stewart responded.

From the Navigator Station, the center of the three stations directly behind them, Ensign Peter Cole, gazed out the front windows, and in a low almost absent minded tone asked. What are we doing way out here?

Commander Allen looked away from his viewing screen. Pay attention Peter, and you just might learn something new.

That’s what I’m here for Commander. He returned. "Seriously though, what are we doing out here, a million light years from nowhere?"

Lieutenant Laura Harper turned to face him from the Scanner station to his right. Fifty. She said.

Cole looked in her direction. Her features were difficult to see in the dim lighting, but he knew that she had long auburn hair, and beautiful hazel eyes. He was also too young for her. He knew that because she had told him often enough. Still he seemed to think that his blue eyed, blonde haired, boyish good looks would eventually win her over. Truth was, her heart belonged to someone else, and Peter never had a chance.

To his left, at the Communications Station, sat Mary Como. A pretty Italian woman in her late twenties with jet black hair, and dark brown eyes. She found herself to be an early target of the Ensign’s advances, but she had dealt with him in an entirely different way. She promised to break his arm if he ever tried to so much as touch her. Although a smaller woman than Laura, Peter had no doubt about her ability to carry out that promise.

Fifty what? Peter asked.

Light years. Laura answered. Fifty from nowhere, not a million.

Peter laughed. Okay, a slight exaggeration. He said. So?

We are out here to launch a probe into the Rift, or haven’t you noticed that Japanese gentleman and his two assistants tinkering around in the Probe Bay for the last three weeks.

He’s noticed. Allen said.

I think the only thing he’s noticed is Denise. Laura returned sarcastically.

Cole responded in a wistful tone. What can I say, I just have a weakness for blondes. Allen heard a disgusted sound from Laura, but he was wisely staying out of that one. No, what I was referring to is, why did we come way out here to launch a probe when we could have jumped the thing from Lastchance, or even Prosperity? He insisted.

You’ll have to ask the Professor-San about that. Allen answered. It’s his expedition.

Okay Nick-San. Captain Stewart said, apparently speaking into the air. We’re in position, you can launch your Probe whenever you’re ready.

Just reaching his mid forties, John Stewart’s dark brown hair had just begun to show a touch of gray around the temples. As normal with his always calm persona, he waited patiently for Professor Murakami’s voice to answer from the overhead speakers.

Launching now. Murakami said after many minutes of silence.

A muffled thump from the back of the ship signaled the Probe’s exit. Within a few seconds it appeared in the front windows moving from under the ship and straight for the Rift. An ungainly collection of boxes, tubular projections, and antenna dishes. It looked more like 20th Century junk sculpture than a super high tech machine.

A silver canister at the end of a long, latticed girder trailed behind, creating a sharp contrast between the junky looking body and the smooth featureless cylinder of the Space Drive. Still, for a deep space probe, there wasn’t anything new or special looking about it. The probe grew visibly smaller as it moved away. Then suddenly it picked up speed and disappeared from view in just a few seconds. Still looking into the Rift, Ensign Cole observed a distant flash of light.

Hey! He exclaimed. I think the probe just jumped.

Stewart looked up sharply from his view screen. Impossible, it wasn’t going anywhere near fast enough. Laura?

He’s right Captain. The Probe is no longer in range. Either it jumped or blew up. Laura said as she checked her Scanner readouts. I’m guessing from the lack of a debris field that it isn’t the latter.

Nick, did your probe just make a jump? Stewart asked.

Yes it did Captain. It is now one light year away.

How is that possible Professor? Commander Allen asked.

They all knew that a ship using a Coombs Hyperspace Shunt had to be pushed as close to light speed as possible for it to function. Murakami’s probe had just jumped one light year in a few minutes, and well below light speed using that very same type of drive.

I guess I can safely discuss it now. Murakami said. I’ll be right up.

The Comm System beeped as the Professor switched off.

Laura responded with her usual sarcasm. "Sounds like the Professor-San is just dying to tell someone."

This should be interesting. Stewart said.

It took days to accelerate up to light speed, and more days to decelerate. Although the jump itself took zero time. Getting to and from the Hyperspace jump point could take weeks. At speeds close to light, Einstein’s time dilation effect made the trip even longer. Not to those aboard the ship, but to those on the outside.

Cole sighed. I hope it’s not going to be a long lecture.

I say ten minutes. Allen offered.

Fifteen. Mary added.

Twenty. Laura said.

All right you guys. Captain Stewart said trying to sound stern. However the smile on his face indicated that he was enjoying the verbal byplay.

Some minutes later Professor Murakami entered the Flight Deck. A man of medium height and build, and in spite of his last name, looking only vaguely Japanese. Perhaps because his first name, Nicholas, indicated his Russian heritage. His home world of Centaurus being a good mixture of Earth’s Asian population. Two years earlier, at age 44, he had become head of the Star Patrol’s Scientific Division.

After stopping briefly at the Probe Monitor Station at the rear of the Flight Deck, he turned to face the others. My associate and I were working with a method of improving the instrumentation that measures the velocity of spaceships as they approach the speed of light. He began. We discovered quite early on that there is a sizable error in those instruments. Starships like this one only achieve about ninety percent of light speed. He paused looking at the faces around the room, then continued. I can see that this comes as a surprise to some of you. But believe me, this is true. We had suspected a certain error in the instrumentation, but even I was surprised by the actual amount. What this led to was the realization that ships don’t need to be at light speed to jump.

Then why have we been doing that? Laura asked.

Well, the faster you go, less energy is needed to make the jump. He replied. The early drive systems didn’t store enough energy to jump at low speeds, so they had to push them as close to light speed as possible.

What’s changed? Laura asked.

Later improvements to the superconductor accumulators allow them to store more energy. However the mistaken belief that a Coombs Hyperspace Shunt won’t function at low speeds has been built into the drive interface and jump program. He said.

One of the reasons for the circular shape of most big Starships was to accommodate the large donut shaped superconductor power accumulator that encircled the ship just inside the rim. The massive charge held in the accumulator powered the drive field generator and produced the field. The field then drew power from the energy fields that flow most anywhere in the Universe sending it to the accumulator. Once the field began drawing energy it would be self sustaining enough to allow the ship to function without fuel.

That means that low speed jumps would require more energy to go the same distance. Cole said.

Exactly. Murakami responded. As with everything, you don’t get something for nothing.

So how does it all work? Cole asked.

Well, according to the popular theory of hyperspace, it is a real place where all movement is above the speed of light. Murakami answered.

Is that your theory Nick? Stewart asked.

Not really. You see although it fits some of the facts of hyperspace travel, it doesn’t fit completely. Nick replied. Personally I suspect that something else may be going on. I suspect that space is being folded somehow. However as a Scientist I require solid proof. The problem is that in either case we might never be able to get that proof.

Why is that? Laura asked.

Because it would be beyond the ability of our senses, and our instrumentation, to perceive. Where do you begin to measure something that’s in another plane of existence? He said. Folding space is just as difficult a proposition. The entry point and exit point would be the same point. So how do you measure between the two?

Sort of like the business with two dimensional beings. Laura said. They have no conception of height.

A good analogy. Nick said. Say you were to move one of those two dimensional beings to another point through the third dimension. Because he has no understanding of height, how would he interpret the experience? Hyperspace is as much of an enigma to us as height is to him.

How can we use hyperspace when we don’t really know what’s going on? Mary asked.

People have always been able to use natural forces without understanding why they work. He answered. We observe what happens when we do a certain thing, and then later we try to understand what the actual mechanics are that cause it to happen. Like fire for instance. People knew how to create it for thousands of years without ever understanding how or why it works.

I guess that makes sense. Laura said. Like fire, it was probably discovered by accident anyway.

Actually a great many things, interstellar travel included, are due to accidental discoveries. Nick said. Alfred Lawler wasn’t looking for an energy manipulating field to power space ships. He was trying to develop a communications device. Joseph Coombs was trying to develop a new energy weapon.

Interesting though, you were able to improve that drive even though you don’t fully understand the mechanics. Mary said.

That’s another sort of mechanics. He said. Someone always comes along and sees a way to make something work better or easier. Say a man puts round logs under a heavy load to move it. Even though it’s still hard work taking the last log and moving it to the front every couple of meters, it’s easier than dragging the load along the ground. Then another man who’s tired of constantly moving the logs, fixes the rolling mechanism to the load so he doesn’t have to work as hard, and vola, almost accidentally you’ve created a wheel.

The old, there must be an easier way, syndrome. Allen said.

Exactly. Murakami said. You might call it, progress due to laziness.

Are you one of those guys that comes along and makes things easier? Cole asked.

Most scientists are. Nick said. There are very few truly original discoveries. Ninety-nine percent are based on earlier work. In fact, quite often someone working in one field accidentally provides an answer for someone working in another. And a lot of the time it’s much simpler than what went before.

The kind of thing that makes you wonder why they didn’t do it that way in the first place. Laura said.

Yes. This low speed jumping for instance. Nick said. The answer was so simple we found ourselves wondering just that. A relatively minor modification and this ship could jump without going anywhere near light speed.

I’m afraid I’m not ready to make alterations to the drive. Stewart said figuring Murakami wanted to do just that.

Oh it’s not a drive modification. Nick returned. Just a simple change to the Lawler-Coombs Interface.

Stewart had been thinking about the trip back. How long to get back to Lastchance?

Murakami smiled. Twenty to thirty hours.

As opposed to three weeks. Stewart said. Why don’t you go over your requirements with Yuri, then I’ll hear what he has to say about it. If he can assure me that the modification isn’t going obstruct the normal function of the Shunt, we can talk some more.

He could trust Chief Engineer Yuri Vaslov not to let anyone damage the drive, since he considered it to be his drive.

I have no objections to that Captain. Murakami said standing up. But I must ask you not to speak of this over the Hyperwave. We have managed to get this far without any information leaks, but the Hyperwave is too open. That’s why we came way out here to launch the probe. For now the fewer people involved, the better.

I quite understand. Stewart answered also standing.

He could well imagine what some people might do to acquire such a secret.

Does that mean that the probe isn’t really out there to search for dark matter?

No, actually the Probe’s mission is authentic. Albert Forsythe and I saw this as an opportunity work out the drive theory. Murakami said.

I was under the impression that dark matter was a dead issue. Stewart said.

Murakami looked thoughtful. Well, there are conflicting theories, as usual. What was your impression?

That the missing matter in the Universe had been accounted for.

Ah yes, the Black Hole Accumulation Theory. Nick replied with a smile. There are those that figure the discovery of Super Massive Black Holes at the center of all large Galaxies explains where all of the missing matter has to be. In those black holes.

And you don’t buy that. Stewart surmised.

Uh, actually I do. Nick said smiling again. Then he laughed, clapping Stewart on the shoulder. "I don’t question everything you know."

At around 1.8 meters, Stewart was a centimeter or so shorter than Murakami which made him about average for the space traveling business. Most tall people did not find life aboard spaceships comfortable, what with all the cramped spaces and low overhead clearances.

Thank you for filling us in Nick. He said. It’s been most interesting.

As Murakami left the Flight Deck Laura looked at her watch.

How long? Cole asked her.

A frown from Commander Allen stifled her response. Captain Stewart quickly turned facing the front windows, but that smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

During the next several days the Boredom Cycle set in. That being the normal routine aboard ships in space. In the early days space travel could actually be exciting. Everyone who went into space dreamed of being in some sort of adventure, battling Space Pirates, or meeting aliens, but the reality of space is quite a different story. After the early excursions in dangerous rocket powered ships, space travel became more routine. Ships were more reliable, and with the new Interstellar Drives, very fast. It took cooperation on both sides to work out the complex trajectories to rendezvous two ships in space. No place for Space Pirates. As for Aliens with advanced civilizations, it hadn’t happened yet. Some thought it never would.

Of course Man had only colonized six planets, with three others that would have to be Terraformed. Aside from being a very expensive process, terraforming had totally failed the one and only time it had been tried, on Mars. Four of the colonized worlds were scattered far and wide in a loose zigzag path out towards the Rift. The other two were way over on the other side of the Sol System, over a thousand light years from Earth. Making Man’s coverage of the Universe thin indeed. So meeting up with an Alien civilization was still on the books as a realistic possibility, in some minds anyway.

Even with that thin coverage people became aware of the need for an organization to provide continuous and reliable supply lines to the Colonies, along with possible protection, so the Star Patrol came into being. The Patrol’s main duty, to control the lines of commerce, meant that the large Passenger-Cargo ships comprised most of the Fleet. One hundred fifty-three Explorer Class ships and nineteen full sized Starships made up the rest. All of them scattered over the hundreds of light years between Earth and it’s Colonies, with some actually out exploring the unknown.

The Elite part of the Patrol were the big Starships. Heavily armed, equipped with the latest instrumentation, and the most up to date Drives made. They were the fastest vehicles ever made by Man. They were also the easiest to operate, because of their computer systems.

There were no super artificial intelligences that controlled the ships. Some said it was because of an obscure fear called the Colossus Effect, or the Hal Syndrome, which theorized that a big computer could become aware and thereby become smarter than it’s creators. Instead they networked many small computers, apparently to insure that Man remained in control. The reality was probably simpler and less sinister than that. Giant computers were expensive and consumed equally giant amounts of power. Networked computers were also more reliable in the long run because repairs and upgrades were far easier since the new unit could simply be plugged into the Net.

Another aspect of Computer technology didn’t work so well in spaceships. That being audible input of said computer systems. When an errant string of words or even casual conversation could cause an important computer system to seemingly act on it’s own, the builders decided to make improvements to the old fashioned keyboard input instead. They were now touch pads and although crew members had to once again learn to type, the commands given to the ship’s computers would only be those that said crew wanted the ship’s systems to receive and act upon.

The Patrol always pointed to the Starships to illustrate the glamor of space travel. A concept virtually nonexistent. Not to mention that the prized Starship crew positions had long waiting lists. Then again, thanks to the low pay offered by the Patrol, they weren’t exactly lined up at the recruiting offices. In truth the high sounding Star Patrol represented a thin force with few ships, less manpower, and fewer funds.

Standing one of those quiet, lonely, early morning watches, Ensign Cole sat in one of the more comfortable chairs in the lounge watching one of the old videos. A recent wave of nostalgia entertainment currently swept through the Colonies. The outer Colonies were just receiving video signals that left Earth around the turn of the 21st century. The signals were far too weak to reach the surface of a planet intact, but some enterprising individuals had positioned satellites in deep space to record the faint echoes from Earth’s Golden Age of Entertainment. Naturally they made millions.

Cole had been nearly asleep when some inner signal made him shake himself awake. He could be anywhere in the ship as long as he carried his Comm Unit with him, but he couldn’t sleep. He got up from the chair and stood for a moment stretching his arms out towards the ceiling. Then he moved around the lounge to get the circulation going. He stopped in front of the coffee dispenser, trying to decide whether or not to drink another cup. Just about the time he determined that he’d had enough coffee for awhile, his Comm Unit began beeping.

He pulled the unit off of his belt and looked at the small repeater screen. What he saw made him move to the Flight Deck. Once there he went to the Probe Monitor Station occupying the left rear portion of the Flight Deck, and began entering commands on the keyboard. He read the response twice to make certain that there wasn’t a mistake, then he took a deep breath and touched the Captain’s pad on the Communication board. After about a minute Stewart’s sleepy response broke the silence.

Yes Mister Cole, what is it?

Well Sir, about forty minutes ago the probe detected a cluster of objects, moving in a center to rim direction across it’s path.

He paused to let the first part sink in.

And?

And, about two minutes ago the whole group changed course.

What’s the new course? Stewart asked sounding fully awake.

They’re headed straight for the Probe. Cole responded.

I’ll be right there, get Murakami up, Stewart out.

Less than ten minutes later the Flight Deck buzzed with activity. Stewart and Murakami arrived at about the same time and went directly to the Probe Station. Laura and Mary were just a few seconds behind them. The cluster was several million kilometers from the Probe, but definitely on an intercept course.

They’ll be at the Probe in about two hours. Murakami announced.

They’re moving awfully fast aren’t they Nick? Stewart asked.

Very. Nick said. But I’m wondering why the probe didn’t detect them sooner?

Good question. Stewart said nodding. Even at that speed they should have been detected about ten hours ago.

At a guess a cluster of meteors, however fast moving, would not have been notable. Murakami said. But that change in course certainly was.

Well. Stewart began. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re guided.

I agree. Nick said. It’s not likely that happened naturally.

Laura what do we have on them so far?

Not much Captain. She responded. They’re spherical, not very big, something around five to fifteen meters across. Unknown composition, but then there isn’t much reflected light to work with, and the count is forty thousand, but that’s just an early estimate.

Stewart let out a low whistle. Forty thousand, that’s a lot of ships.

Ships? Nick asked. What makes you think they’re ships?

They made a turn, and they aren’t meteors or comets. Stewart said. If they’re not spaceships then what are they?

Nick didn’t answer. He just peered thoughtfully at the readouts coming from the Probe. Within a few minutes of the ships reaching the probe, it quit transmitting.

That convinces me. Stewart said, looking at the monitor panel. All readouts were blank. I’m sending for backup. The last track we had on them had them headed right towards us.

Even Orion’s long range sensors weren’t going to detect anything that far away.

Nick, how long would it take you to outfit another Probe?

Nick reviewed the last minutes of the Probe’s transmission.

We have a backup. It’s not equipped the way the other one was, but if tracking is all you’re after it will be enough. He said thoughtfully.

All we need are long range sensors and a Hyperwave transmitter. Stewart said. If that, is a fleet of spaceships. I want to keep track of it.

I agree. Nick said as the recording reached it’s end.

The count before Probe went out numbered well over the estimated forty thousand. They launched the second probe four hours later. Like the first probe it would be able to jump without going to light speed. Which it did soon after launch.

Where are they? Cole asked from the Probe’s monitor station.

You tell me. Stewart said, moving to look over Cole’s shoulder.

They should be out in front of the probe.

Scan is negative. Cole said after many minutes had passed. Could we have jumped it out too far?

No. Nick said. Even if we did, we should still be able to see them.

Keep scanning. Three sixty sweep, maximum azimuth window. Stewart said as he moved back to his chair in front of the windows.

The blast shutters were up over the front windows. The normal mode for deep space. Although the thick plastic windows allowed only minimal heat loss, leaving them open most of the time wasn’t a good idea. Not that it affected the forward view very much. When the shutters closed the two rectangular front windows could become view screens showing the same view that one would see if they were down. It took a practiced eye to tell the difference.

Once back at his seat Stewart turned to Mary. Contact Patrol Central, Admiral Keats.

Mary activated the Hyperwave and made immediate contact. While Stewart waited for the Admiral to come on line he activated the control to lower the blast shutters, and for the next few minutes stared out into the Rift. Being a bit old fashioned, he preferred to look at the real thing. The others in the Flight Deck were silent, waiting for Cole to say something other than Negative scan. Which he did after each complete cycle.

The Hyperwave beeped and Stewart faced the screen. The image of an older woman in a Patrol dress uniform looked back at him.

Good afternoon John. She said. It’s good to see you.

Afternoon Barbara. Stewart replied. Glad to see you’re feeling better.

Admiral Barbara Keats was an impressive looking woman in spite of being nearly 80 Years old. Her eyes were those penetrating pale blue type that made the irises look especially black. There were those that claimed she could see right into your head.

Just a minor infection. She answered with a wry smile. You know you can’t keep me down for long. So what have you people got out there?

Stewart spent the next few minutes recounting the events of that morning. After he finished Admiral Keats looked very serious. Stewart could tell that she had been weighing all of the facts, considering the Patrol’s next move.

I’m sending some support out to you John. She said. Tiberius and Dragon are on Prosperity, and Columbine may still be on Genesis. They can all be at your position in three to four weeks.

The fact that Dragon would be there made Stewart feel better. He had served as First Officer of the Starship Imperial Dragon for almost five years, and still had many friends aboard her. Not to mention Louis Chen. Possibly the most influential man in Stewart’s career. Admiral Chen Commanded the fleet, and he preferred to do so from Dragon’s Flight Deck.

That should give us plenty of time. Stewart said. Nick says that the Aliens won’t be here any time soon.

Good. Admiral Keats answered. By the way, how is that old Samurai? I haven’t seen him in quite a few years.

He’s well. Stewart replied. He sends his regards. Right now he’s going over the reports we obtained from the first probe.

Tell him to come and see me when he returns to Centaurus. Barbara said.

Stewart could see her fatigue. In spite of her claim that she had just had a minor illness, he knew that she had been deathly ill during the week that they had left Lastchance. He also knew that she would be up doing her job even if she wasn’t at one hundred percent.

I will Admiral. Stewart replied. Orion out.

Stewart closed the blast shutters then swiveled his chair to face the others in the Flight Deck.

Anything Ensign? He asked.

Still negative. Cole replied.

Well it looks as though we’ve lost our first contact. Stewart said to the room at large. Let’s hope we can spot them before the others arrive.

Laura Harper sat alone on the middle watch while most of the Crew were eating or relaxing in the lounge. She watched the visual scan from the probe on the Virtual Reality headset. The VR put her out there with the probe surrounded by the cold vacuum of space. She wasn’t actually cold but the vision around her seemed so real she could almost feel the cold biting into her skin.

Thousands of light years away the far wall of the Rift moved slowly from left to right as the probe made it’s 360 degree sweep. Larger stars shown like hot sparks against a thick veil of stars in the background. As the scan swung towards Galactic Center she could see giant stars and nebulas through a gap in the gigantic clouds of dust and gas as they moved slowly around towards the center of her view. Next came the Home Arm. Much closer, stars completely filled the view. Then to the Rim. She saw the sky full of bright sparks become thinner and thinner until a mere handful of distant stars remained. Then around to the far wall once more.

She floated in space slowly turning around and around. Once more towards Galactic Center. The glittering ball of stars, nebulas, and clouds of dust and gas frozen in time. Once more around towards home. The wall of close proximity stars marched slowly past. A silver globe suddenly blocked the view. Laura jerked upright in the seat with a gasp. A brilliant flare of light blotted out everything, then blackness.

With shaking hands she pulled the Virtual Reality Headset off. The image of the alien ship popping into view still sharp in her mind. She reached a still shaky right hand towards the console in front of her.

Get it together girl. She mumbled half aloud realizing that the control she reached for wasn’t on that panel. Then she touched the Captain’s pad on the Communications panel.

Cole sat at the probe station with the VR headset on. He had wanted to know what was going on. Laura ran the VR recording for him, without explanation. Suddenly he lurched upright in the seat, gasping the same way she had done. He reached up and yanked the headset off looking over at Laura, who wasn’t laughing. Her own experience still fresh in her mind. She had still jumped watching it on the regular monitor screen.

Wow! Cole exclaimed. What a rush.

Stewart and Allen had both seen the footage, from the VR point of view. Both of them had been warned what to expect and were still visibly startled by the sudden appearance of the alien ship.

Well they’re still out there. Allen said. At least one of them anyway.

I’d say the same thing happened to the first probe. Laura mused.

Agreed. Stewart said. And I think it proves that they’re unfriendly at the very least.

What was that bright flash? Allen asked.

Maybe some sort of energy weapon? Stewart returned. I want you to get with Nick and see if there’s enough information on that recording to analyze it.

Cole was shaking his head. What I want to know is how that guy managed to sneak in that close without being detected. I mean one sweep, nothing for a million kilometers. The next, he’s right there in your face.

Laura stared at him silently for a few seconds. Then with her usual sarcasm. When they get here you can ask them. She said.

The Alien Fleet remained undetected for the next several days, during which Orion’s crew waited semi patiently for the other Starships to arrive. Their position gave them a good scan of the white dwarf system’s Ort Cloud. In fact they were probably still in it by a few billion kilometers.

Commander Allen looked up from the Scanner Console as Ensign Cole entered the Flight Deck.

See any Comets? Cole asked

Actually I think I have one. Allen said pointing to a bright spot on the screen. A big one too.

Cole looked over Allen’s shoulder. I’ll say. He’s nearly a hundred kilometers across. That’s a lot of ice.

Allen nodded. Not to mention a couple of Mt. Everest sized rocks.

The Ultrawave Communicator took that moment to begin beeping. Allen reached over to that Console and touched the pad to activate it.

Starship Orion this is Starship Tiberius, do you copy?

Copy, Tiberius. Allen answered. You guys got here fast.

I think we must’ve broken some kind of record hitting light speed. The voice belonged to Commander Tom Hutton, Tiberius’ First Officer. Allen was tempted to tell Hutton about the Probe’s jump capabilities, then he remembered Nick’s request for secrecy. Have you heard from the others? Hutton asked.

No, you’re the first to get here. Allen answered as he directed the Scan outward.

Tiberius showed at the limits of the Scanner’s range. Within a few hours another blip appeared at the scanner’s limits.

Starship Orion this is Starship Columbine. Said a male voice that Allen didn’t recognize.

Go ahead Columbine. He said.

Orion this is Ambassador Klein. Am I speaking to Captain Stewart?

No Sir, this is Commander Allen.

I wish to speak to Captain Stewart.

The Ambassador was not only very abrupt, he sounded used to getting his wishes.

I’ll get him Sir. Allen said noting that the Ambassador did not respond.

Some minutes later Stewart turned away from the Comm Screen with an unhappy expression. Well, we’ve been outranked. He said grimly.

The Ambassador had told him in no uncertain terms that he would be taking over, and that they were to follow his orders, no matter what. Stewart knew the Captains of both Tiberius and Columbine well. He could imagine how they were taking this.

Too bad there aren’t any Aliens in sight. Stewart said with a bemused smile.

Laura turned quickly away choking down an involuntary laugh. Allen and Cole laughed out loud.

Less than a day later Tiberius slid up alongside of Orion. Starship Tiberius was virtually identical to Orion. A smooth featured silver disk one hundred meters across and twelve meters thick. The forward part defined by the Flight Deck blister. Straight back on the top about amidships sat the antenna array, all retractable for atmospheric entry. Just back from the array a smooth cornered rectangular bump extended clear to the rim. A long opening at the rear of the bump contained the Coombs Hyperspace Shunt Impeller that ran the length of the darkened slot.

Stewart established contact with Tiberius’ Captain Thomas.

Seems quiet enough John. Thomas said. Do you have any idea where the main body of the Aliens might be?

Somewhere between here and the position of the last probe. Stewart said suddenly aware of how inane that remark sounded.

He had transmitted all of the information to Thomas as soon as they detected Tiberius.

Yeah. Thomas said, somewhat accusingly. Thanks for the warning on that last bit. Stewart had not told him what to expect. Hutton watched it on the VR. Just about scared the pee out of him.

Sorry Jay. Stewart lied.

Don’t worry John. Thomas laughed. That’s the best Vid we’ve seen in years.

He stopped laughing and flashed a serious look at Stewart. How about lunch?

Before Stewart could answer either way he saw the top of Tiberius’ rear bump begin to raise. Within seconds it had lifted about five meters. Obviously Captain Thomas wanted a conference before Columbine arrived, and not over the communications channels. A shining silver wedge began backing out from under the raised section. The rack could raise another five meters to clear a second shuttle, but now it settled back down. So the conference would be aboard Orion. Stewart stood as the blast shutters slid up over the front windows. Looking over at Allen, he motioned towards the lounge.

A stocky man of about average height with dark hair and eyes, Captain Thomas and his First Officer were complete opposites. Slim with blonde hair and blue eyes, Hutton looked almost too young to be an XO, but even though Bill Allen looked a bit older, he knew him as an Academy classmate. Bill stood 1.8 meters tall with light brown hair and dark brown eyes. While at the Academy he had sported the close cropped military look popular among the Cadets. He had actually been picked for some Patrol recruitment posters during his second year. An honor that he soon came to regret. Now, every so often, when meeting someone for the first time, he got that Don’t I know you? response.

I’m convinced that your Aliens are hostile John. The problem is that Diplomat coming along for the ride. He’s going to make things a bit difficult. Thomas said.

Diplomats do seem to be able to throw a kink in most straight forward military operations. Stewart answered. Unfortunately he has the rank.

Oh I’ll follow his orders. Thomas said. However, when the time comes we are going in locked and loaded.

Standing orders regarding an unknown contact require a state of readiness at all times. Stewart said.

Loosely translated, don’t drop your guard. Thomas finished. What about Chen? We may not have time to meet with him before we find the Aliens.

If we find them. Stewart said. But don’t worry about The Admiral. He won’t be caught off guard.

We’ll find them John. Thomas said with assurance. I have a feeling we’re about to encounter our destinies out here.

Stewart could see the deadly seriousness in his eyes. Later as they were leaving, he had a strange flash of foreboding. As though he might never see these men again. Before he could pin it down it had gone. As he watched the Shuttle detach itself from Orion’s docking tube, his Comm-link began beeping. As he pulled it off of his belt, Laura’s voice sounded from the tiny speaker.

Captain, I have long range sensor contact.

What kind of contact?

Multiple objects. Towards the Rift. She replied.

Within minutes Tiberius and Columbine also reported detecting objects coming in from the Rift, objects numbering in the thousands. Within the hour Ambassador Klein requested a conference of all ship’s Captains and their First Officers. Shortly afterwards Laura spotted Dragon coming into range.

The Admiral’s here. She said. Just in time for the meeting.

Although Stewart expected it, he still couldn’t help smiling at Laura’s sarcasm.

The console between the two forward stations held six video screens. Four of them now showed the faces and upper bodies of three Starship Commanders and one Diplomat.

Gentleman. Klein began.

A tall heavy set man in his late thirties dressed in a simple, but expensive looking early 21st century business suit. All the rage in the current wave of nostalgia, but a bit out of place aboard a spaceship.

I must remind you that this is to be a peaceful attempt at contact. I will not tolerate any display of force or aggressive actions. You are to stand down your weapons, and deflector screens.

That’s against Patrol Policy. Captain Thomas interrupted. Besides we’re not armed.

Technically the Patrol wasn’t an armed force, but all their ships were equipped with COC, or Close Object Countermeasures, to some degree. Mostly in the form of heavy energy projectors called disrupters. Klein listened to the protest, then abruptly countered.

"Patrol policy for today is for you to follow my orders, and there will be no need to shoot at meteors. This is the first contact with an alien civilization. I will not have that jeopardized by adherence to a policy of 21st Century paranoia."

He paused, apparently for it to sink in, but Stewart saw that look of dark determination still in Thomas’ eyes. Captain Bainbridge of the Columbine looked frustrated. Admiral Chen, unreadable, as usual.

I repeat. Klein continued. No disrupters, no deflector screens. Is that clear?

Reluctant nods from everyone.

Captain Chen. When you join us please take the right flank. Time will be short and we won’t have time to position everyone.

Chen just nodded.

Okay gentlemen. Klein said trying to sound friendly, but it fell a little short. Good luck, I know that you will make the Patrol proud today.

With that the conference ended. Stewart managed a few words with Chen before they signed off.

So, you may have distinguished yourself John. Chen said with a broad smile.

Admiral Louis Chen had been in the Star Patrol since he had been a young man. Now in his early fifties his position as Fleet Commander gave him the power and influence he desired, but still allowed him to Captain a Starship.

Not yet Admiral. Stewart answered. Maybe soon.

A slight frown crossed Chen’s round, distinctively Chinese face.

You’ve been listening to Jay Thomas, haven’t you? Chen said, the smile returning, but with an undertone of warning. The Ambassador may not be right about paranoia. Still, I advise everyone to follow Patrol first contact policy and stay alert. We all need to keep clear heads.

I will Admiral. He said.

He meant it. Following Chen’s advice had always been a good idea.

Aboard Columbine Ambassador Klein sat back from the Comm Screen and tried to collect his thoughts. In spite of the long trip out here, he felt terribly rushed. There seemed to be no time to make the proper diplomatic strategies. They had told him that the Aliens would not be contacted for months. The thought flashed across the back of his mind that the Military resented his being in charge and they wanted to make him look like a fool. It is not paranoia if someone is really out to get you, he thought, but then he dismissed it. No point in making an uncomfortable trip worse by imagining that the military was out to sabotage him.

He had been on vacation with his wife of fifteen years, and they were not having a good time. The trip to Genesis had been a miserable affair. They argued nearly every day, and when they weren’t fighting they weren’t talking at all. On top of that his just over two meter frame had been a distinct disadvantage. There were still two lumps on his head from banging it into things. At one point he actually thought that those damn Chinese shipbuilders did it that way deliberately, but he soon recognized that attitude as anger at everyone and everything, and all because of that woman.

Then came the orders from the Legation on Genesis sending him on yet another space trip, but then he learned about the mission. Perhaps a career might be salvaged from this yet. If only he could keep the Military in check.

Almost one standard day later Columbine established visual contact with the aliens. Dragon had arrived less than an hour before, sliding up on the right flank of the small group. Together, at the Ambassador’s queue, they began moving out towards the oncoming aliens. No one had commented on the fact that the aliens had obviously made a Hyperspace jump to get there as early as they did, but there were other things to think about. Most everyone had seen the data on the aliens. Including the last probe’s brief encounter with one of their ships.

Moving out in loose formation, the four ships looked very small against the Alien Fleet, as it continued to rush on unchecked.

Like looking at the wrong end of a shotgun blast. Cole observed.

Indeed it did, thought Stewart. The Alien Fleet looked like a globular cluster. So dense at the center that you couldn’t count them. Off to starboard Columbine moved into a lead position. Further to starboard, Dragon maneuvered out of the way of the onrushing aliens. In spite of her being white and considerably larger than the other ships, only her running lights could be seen flashing in the blackness. Ambassador Klein could be heard over every communications channel, including the Hyperwave.

Greetings from The United Earth Colonies. His message began. We are on a mission of peace.

The message went on to say that they represented the seven peaceful worlds of the Earth Colonies. They were called Mankind, and stressing several times that they were on a mission of peace. So far no response from the aliens.

There’s an energy field around each of them. Laura reported. Like Lawler fields, or something similar.

The message began repeating in all conceivable languages. Commander Allen couldn’t help thinking that true aliens wouldn’t understand a word of it. About that time the Hyperwave quit. Klein’s message could still be heard on the regular frequencies, but the Hyperwave had gone silent. At that moment all hell broke loose.

Out in front, Columbine could be seen with the aliens almost on top of her. Suddenly a bright beam lanced out from the closest alien completely engulfing the Starship in a bright flare. When the flare faded, Columbine had been replaced by an expanding yellow fireball, the messages of peace silenced. Before anyone aboard Orion could react, Tiberius, running just in front, opened fire on the alien. A bright flash erupted from the alien ship as the beam touched it, prompting the ship just behind it to fire at Tiberius.

Target that Ship and fire! Stewart shouted.

As the Fire Control System locked on, Allen reached for and hit the activation control. The beam lanced straight for the alien ship. Suddenly a bright flare just in front of Tiberius blotted out Allen’s view of the beam. As if in slow motion he could see the dark outline of Tiberius. A fat black line with ends tapering to points, silhouetted against the growing ball of light. The black line suddenly bulged in the middle.

The bulge rapidly expanded top and bottom until the silhouette became completely round. Then just as rapidly it shrunk back into the straight line of the starship seen edge on. As it began to bulge again against the fading flare, Allen realized that Tiberius must be tumbling nose over tail, and getting larger, very fast.

Stewart came to the same realization. Shields!

Allen’s right hand darted out and hit the shield activation hard. As he did so, Tiberius’ now round outline completely filled the front windows. As he felt the button depress, the front view cleared from the bottom up. The shields took a full second to respond, but before they could a deafening crash sounded from overhead. Allen felt the automatic seat restraint snap over his shoulders and then tighten hard against his chest forcing the air out of his lungs in one quick puff. As he struggled to get the air back he was pushed hard into the seat, forcing the remaining air out. Still fighting for breath, darkness closed down over him, leaving him swimming in a void, suffocating. Several alarms were sounding off as the blackness deepened.

Somewhere, far away, a single insistent alarm beeped, growing louder and louder. Allen opened his eyes in an effort to locate the offending noise. Red fog with bright white sparks swept upward across his vision, and he felt the sensation of falling. He closed his eyes fighting down waves of nausea. He shook his head trying to clear it, big mistake. Pain throbbed in his temples, but he opened his eyes again. The red fog had cleared a little. The bright sparks still swept past, but it no longer made him sick, much. As his head began to clear he remembered to reach under the left arm of the seat and grab the oxygen mask.

Placing the mask over his nose and mouth he sucked at the cool gas. His head began to clear, and orientation slowly returned. He still felt weightless, but he identified the red as the emergency lighting. The only lights on in the Flight Deck. The bright sparks were the stars sweeping past the windows. He realized that they must be tumbling. Suddenly a dark, gray, cratered landscape swept past the windows, and then cleared again just as suddenly. Tumbling, and too close to some object. Probably that Comet he had seen on the scanner. How long ago?

All of the control panels in the Flight Deck were dark and the alarm still filled the air with it’s insistent beeping. Allen considered shutting it off but it had helped to bring him around, maybe it would do the same for the others. As he looked around the room he could see Laura slumped over against her seat restraint, but stirring a little. Stewart rubbed his forehead with one hand while the other held the oxygen mask over his face. Mary also began to move, she picked up her mask, placed it over her face and leaned her head back against the headrest. Cole pulled at the release on his seat restraint, the oxygen mask in his lap.

Take it easy Pete. Allen said. The gravity’s off.

Laura was conscious. "Would someone please kill that alarm?" She said.

Allen reached over and switched it off.

No, I meant, KILL IT!

Everyone all right? Cole asked.

So far. Allen answered turning around to look through the open doorway to the lounge.

He could see Murakami in one of the chairs with the safety restraint still secured. He held an oxygen mask over his face with one hand.

Are you all right Professor?

Murakami looked up and waved with his free hand. Stewart pushed at the buttons trying to get a response from the Comm Panel, but he wasn’t having much luck. Then the lights on the panel lit up and Chief Engineer Vaslov’s voice crackled from the speakers. At the same time Allen could feel weight returning.

Engineering to Flight Control.

Stewart here.

Is everyone okay Captain? Vaslov asked.

We’re a little fuzzy, but okay. Stewart answered looking around the room.

The overhead power cables must’ve shorted. Blew every breaker on the board, and we had a pressure leak. The automatics sealed it. I think I can have you back up momentarily.

Some of the panels began to light up.

Uh Captain? Vaslov sounded worried. We’re tumbling. Can I correct it from here?

Please do Yuri. Stewart said. The stars began to slow their mad rush past the windows. We’re very close to a moon or a small body.

I got it Captain. Vaslov answered. "Whoa! Real close, correcting."

More of the panels were beginning to light up, and in a few minutes most of them were active. All except the Communications panels around Mary’s station.

You should have everything except the Communications stuff, and the Long Range Sensor. The dish was retracted so it might be okay. I wouldn’t try to extend it until we can get an outside look. Vaslov said.

Okay. Stewart said. How long to get the Stooges working?

Well, Vaslov answered. Everything seems to be up and running. I’d say about ten minutes. Meanwhile we should probably move. I’ve stabilized the orbit but only for a couple of turns. It’s still a spiral.

Okay Yuri. Stewart said. Bill, get us into a better orbit. Mary, your main job is down for now, see if anyone back there needs some first aid.

Aye Captain. She said getting up and moving towards the lounge.

Stewart always thought of her as an excellent Officer. He could see her through the rear door checking on Murakami. Looking around at the rest of his crew, he felt proud of them at this particular moment. No panic, no whining, everyone doing their jobs. Professional all the way. Well, most of the way.

Why did we all black out? Cole asked.

The pressure dropped to almost eight PSI. Laura responded.

How long were we out?

A few hours as near as I can tell. She answered. Why, do you have to be somewhere?

Only at your beckon call, Lieutenant Ma’am.

Captain. Bill said. If we could roll the ship about eighty degrees to port, we could get an outward scan.

Good idea. Stewart said suddenly remembering the alien fleet.

The stars twisted a little, bringing a stark, gray landscape into view at the left side of the front windows.

That’s good. Laura said. I now have a scan on that comet, and an outward scan.

Anything from Tiberius?

Stewart still had a vivid image of the Starship tumbling towards them, and that very solid crash.

Outward scan is clear. Laura answered. No Tiberius, no Alien Fleet.

That doesn’t mean no aliens. Cole said sarcastically.

Everyone looked towards the forward windows.

I have a contact. Laura said making everyone jump a little. "About two hundred kilometers, can’t tell