Danders said, 'It could also kill us.'
'Then bring it on,' said Akrins. 'I'd rather go down fighting than starving.'
They all stared at Davron, the only one who fully understood the technology.
'Ok. Toby has a point. Maybe it's our only chance. We should vote on it. If we all say yes, we'll do it.'
Akrins raised his hand. 'Yes.'
Matlock and Danders raised their hands in favour. Davron looked at Belle who raised her hand. Muffin wasn't about to be left out and waved both hairy arms in the air.
'That settles it,' said Davron. 'We go faster than light.'
Chapter 7
Rory Astrom persisted in torturing himself by worshipping Dr Wartina Lariat from afar. His early attempts to make her like him had failed with her finally telling him in no uncertain terms he should only apply to be her lover on the total elimination of all other men on Earth. Astrom also knew she had deep feelings for Burns. The aloof Burns meant all three were likely to be unhappy. Astrom put these thoughts aside for the meeting in Burns' office.
'That certainly is good news, isn't it, Sir?'
'Indeed, Rory. You've done well to put together this flight under our depleted circumstances, Dr Lariat. Is the new satellite an exact replacement?'
'No, Sir,' said Lariat. 'I've made several improvements to the original design while the ship was being prepared. It should be far more resilient to future attacks by Davron, other than a direct hit.'
Astrom said, 'Surely that mad man has given up? You said yourself he must have severely depleted the power of the Romulus.'
'Mr Astrom,' said Lariat. 'I for one would not take anything for granted when it comes to Patrick Davron. Once the satellite is functioning we can try to contact The Romulus.'
Burns said, 'That would be an interesting conversation indeed, Dr Lariat. I would certainly have a few choice words to impart to Mr Davron. That aside, I'll settle for reliable communications. '
'I estimate between eight and ten days,' said Lariat. 'The launch of the ship is scheduled for three days time, at noon our time.'
'Excellent,' said Burns. 'In many ways it will be symbolic of this new era of global cooperation.'
Astrom said, 'Our president is working on her speech to broadcast simultaneously to all nations of the Earth. Hopefully she will limit it to under three hours.'
Lariat said, 'I could always arrange for a temporary technical malfunction if she insists on boring the world to death.'
Burns chuckled and said, 'Tempting, but no. Let her have her moment in the sun. Thank you. That will be all.'
Chapter 8
'Unfortunately,' Davron told Belle, 'It isn't quite as simple as pressing the "go faster button" as Toby suggested. Working with Liz will take several days to sort things out and that's with our fancy computer.'
'But we know our destination. Don't we just recalculate the coordinates based on the new length of the time we travel through space?'
'Sort of. Allowing for the planet's position as it would be in the calculations is one thing,' said Davron. 'Pointing us in the right direction is just one part of the equation. Our problem is the speed. We can't know what that is with any accuracy. Faster Than Light is one thing. By how much is another thing all together.'
'You won't have any idea of our speed?'
'Only as a best guestimate. The variations of the gravitational pull of the split we'll make in the Dark Matter using Dark Energy will be too great to allow a precise calculation.'
Belle said, 'How did you find Spero?'
'More luck than judgement. I knew of Spero as a possible planet for a settlement, but it had been dropped in favour of the other planet simply because Spero had too little land to be viable, unlike our chosen planet. That's why I decided to try to find Spero. I was less likely to be followed by future settlers.'
'Understandable. So, you made the calculations, went for it and cut the F T L drive. How close were you?'
'Actually, surprisingly close for my first solo attempt, relatively speaking. A mere twenty million miles off.'
Belle said, 'Practically a bullseye.'
'I got lucky. Even more so when we all went together. I really thought I was pushing my luck too far that time.'
'And you think we've used up our luck?'
Davron shrugged and said, 'Only one way to test that theory. But like the last time when we had those aliens trying to kill us, we don't have much choice but to try. I need to work with Liz to set things up. I'd appreciate it if you keep everyone away from the flight-deck so we can concentrate.'
'I'll see that you're not disturbed.'
'Thanks. Oh, Jazz. Do me a favour. Keep Toby from throwing Muffin out of the airlock.'
'If he does, he'll be keeping him company. Good luck.'
Chapter 9
It was time to get to work. Danders and Davron had the flight-deck to themselves.
'Liz. If I drone on about basic space physics and ship propulsion and stuff I'm sure you know as well as anyone, take no notice.'
'Just prod me if my eyes glaze over. But between the two of us, don't overestimate my knowledge. I'm a fighter pilot. If I'm engaging an enemy I just duck and dive and shoot them. Other than that I take off, land and let the computers do the boring bits.'
Davron smiled and said. 'I've watched you. You're selling yourself short. And I happen to know you have a degree in astrophysics. Right. Basic plasma drive propulsion is actually a fairly simple process. Helium three mined on the Moon and extracted from its surface dust goes a long way as the fuel. Plasma engines are useful in landing and take off being grunty and having to lug far less fuel along. A few blips once out in space and any vessel will just keep going at the same speed almost indefinitely with no friction to slow it down or stop it.'
'Nice and easy so far.'
'Ok. Using a basic plasma drive restricts us to good old sub-F T L speeds. Nothing wrong with that unless we need to get somewhere in a hurry. This is where it gets interesting. Out here we are surrounded by Dark Matter. We are still trying to figure it out beyond the theoretical. So. Imagine an ocean. One as big as the universe. All oceans have different depths, pressures at different depths, temperatures, currents. Many variables. Dark Matter is like that only more so. At least we have a grasp of the oceans.'
'Ocean. Got that.'
'And in this ocean we are sailing blindly through it all. Ordinarily, the Dark Matter and its variations have no or negligible effect on a ship flying through it. Of course, near the centre of galaxies would be another story. Things would be turbulent there to say the least. Fortunately we won't be going anywhere near that.'
'Reassuring.'
'So we work with what we have at hand. Out here in the relative calm of the shallow waters, we harness the Dark Energy about us, creating a sort of a bubble around the ship. The "ocean" grabs the bubble and we get tossed about until we hopefully find the right current that takes us out of calm waters and propels us into something moving at a much faster rate. If you try to push two opposite poles of magnets together they try harder to repel each other. Same thing with the ship and the Dark Matter once we are in the split. '
Danders was impressed. 'And you figured it all out?'
'Me and my father. He was the one who made it viable. Moving on. Imagine that bubble being tossed about in the current. Eventually, we see an island. In our case, our new planet. Our destination. If we stay in the current we'll just keep going past it. We need to use the ships power to pull away from the current and get to the island.'
'Could the current be too strong for us to break free?'
Davron nodded and said, 'A distinct possibility. So, we need to ride the current until we get close enough, fire up the plasma drives to take us out of it, then land and live happily ever after.'
'And if we overshoot in the current and miss the island?'
Davron turned to the screen with the computer's view of space. 'Then we're lost in a very big ocean.'
Chapt
er 10
'Trust me, General. The ship's a little beaten up, but it'll do the job.'
'I have every confidence, Dr Lariat.' Burns had joined Lariat on the observation gantry and had been looking at the patched up transporter on the launchpad. 'Crew ready?'
'Getting their final briefing from flight command. All experienced people. Three taking care of the ship and four setting up the satellite. They've trained until they could do it in their sleep.'
Burns said, 'Training is one thing. Any of them have spacewalk experience?'
'Lieutenant Sarah Valentine. Two previous missions on satellite maintenance. Captain Mark Summerfield. He'll keep an eye on them from the ship.'
'Sounds like a good crew.'
'Don't tell me, tell them. They're here now.'
The seven mission members walked into the observation room, fully suited apart from their helmets already on the ship. They all stopped to salute when they saw the general.
'At ease,' said Burns. 'I just came to wish you all a successful mission and a safe return.'
Captain Summerfield, a man in his forties and prematurely grey spoke for the others. 'Thank you, General. It makes a nice change to be flying without swapping shots.'
'I recall presenting you with the space engagement medal. That was hell of a battle you guys won.'
'In the end I didn't see it as winning or losing. Just staying alive.'
Burns said, 'And I want you to keep your perfect record, Captain. Do your job and come back in one piece. That's an order.'
Summerfield laughed and said, 'We'll be happy to obey, Sir.'
Burns and Lariat shook hands with all the crew then watched them leave and walk along the gantry and enter the ship's airlock which sealed up behind them. The blast-shield rose up to safely direct the exhaust away from the control command centre and the ship was counted down. With a roar the ship lifted and hovered, the take-off thrusters suspending the huge ship above the pad. The main drive took over from the thrusters and the ship streaked away into the midday sky, twin blue exhausts leaving telltale points of light as the ship left atmosphere.
'Nothing more to do but wait,' said Lariat.
'And pray for their safe return.'
Burns walked away, leaving Lariat with the command centre.
Chapter 11
Belle gave Davron a warning look as she dished up the meal.
'I know I said I'd make sure you two wouldn't be disturbed, but I'll not have you neglecting yourselves. The pair of you look exhausted. Now sit, eat and you do not return to the flight-deck until you've slept at least eight hours.'
'No argument from me,' said Danders.
'I suppose we do need a break,' said Davron. 'I think we made good progress.'
Matlock said, 'How much longer?'
'Three or four days,' said Davron, tucking into his meal.
Danders said, 'My head's still spinning from all those calculations. And Toby. If you ever say we just press the go faster button, I'll not be responsible.'
'Two buttons?' dared Akrins. 'Just kidding. Can I help?'
'Thanks, but no,' said Davron. 'Too many chefs and all that. You'll be useful when we actually go into F T L. This time I want you in the engine room when we go. There are override commands in there separate to those in the flight-deck. We need somebody who knows what they are about so if things get sticky, and my guess is that they will, to help sort things out. That's you by the way, Toby.'
'I'm your man. But you'll need to explain how the F T L drive works so I'll know what to do.'
'Of course. Come on.'
Belle almost exploded. 'Don't you dare go down there, Patrick. Not without a good rest. I mean it.'
Akrins said, 'Later will do. As long as we do it before we go into F T L.'
Davron stood and stretched. 'It's a date. I'm off to sleep. Anyone seen Muffin?'
'Taking a nap,' said Belle.
'That is one useless passenger,' grunted Akrins.
Matlock laughed. 'Just because he doesn't like you.'
'Yeah? Well it's mutual.'
'I just think Muffin has good taste,' said Danders.
Akrins stood and grunted, 'Maybe I'd get some respect around here if I spent all day scratching my arse and eating bananas. I'll see you in the engine room in the morning, Patrick.'
Chapter 12
Lieutenant Sarah Valentine was no stranger to flight outside atmosphere. She pushed herself across the cramped ship and floated over to Captain Mark Summerfield.
'On schedule, Captain?'
'To the second, Lieutenant. Ready for a little exercise outside?'
Valentine said, 'It'll make a blessed relief to have a few days off Earth. Out here it's beautiful. Perfect. Down there...not so much.'
'You should know. You inflicted enough damage in the wars. As did the rest of us.'
'We are good officers. But now we can rebuild it all again.'
Summerfield took his time to admire her before replying. He felt that same tingling sensation he always did whenever he looked at her.
'Have you forgotten what you promised me? Once the fighting was over we'd finally get together and start a family.'
Valentine smiled and said, 'This is not exactly the time or place.'
'I'm not getting any younger, Sarah. You know how I feel about you.'
'We'll talk about it when we get home. I promise.'
'I'll hold you to that.'
Valentine kissed his cheek. 'You can hold me all you like. Once this job is over.'
She floated away to let him pilot the ship.
Chapter 13
Davron and Akrins explored the F T L drive units together.
Akrins said, 'I recognise this. It's a nut and bolt.'
'I must admit it all looks a bit radical,' said Davron with a chuckle. 'I know I designed it with my father, but I barely recognised much of it to begin with. This harnesses the Dark Energy. You noticed the nodules on the outside of the ship?'
'Couldn't exactly miss them. Hundreds of them. What are they?'
'Transducers.'
Akrins said, 'Not like any I saw before. I intended to ask you before now but I guess we've been kinda busy.'
'They are unique. They are also arranged in quite a specific way. They collect and convert the Dark Energy all around us which is stored in this capacitor here.'
So,' said Akrins. 'We harness vast amounts of free electrical energy to be released when we wish.'
'Correct. A capacitor this size can store...a lot. A hell of a lot. From the flight-deck we can bridge the insulated conductors in the capacitor to release that power.'
Akrins said, 'And that's when the magic happens?'
'Indeed it does, Toby. We reverse the power back through those same transducers into the Dark Matter. This creates the "bubble" of energy around the entire ship which becomes negatively charged to the positive charge of the surrounding matter. This magnetic repulsion forces the bubble with the ship in it through the natural variations of the matter, and the speed keeps increasing with no limits or restrictions in the vacuum of space.'
'Until we exceed the speed of light?'
Davron nodded and said, 'Quite rapidly.'
'And control of our direction?'
'Tricky. We start off on the correct course with the plasma engines. Unfortunately for us, the variations of the Dark Matter mean we have no way as yet of ensuring we keep on that same course. For the duration of the F T L flight, we are effectively flying blind.'
'Oh, joy,' moaned Akrins. 'And we stop how, exactly?'
'The word exactly doesn't really come into it. Basically, we burst the bubble. By breaking the circuitry of the capacitor, we cut the power to the transducers. We can then use the plasma drives to correct our course and get us to the planet.'
Akrins sighed. 'Well, if you put it like that, it's a piece of cake. It's madness to even think about it.'
'I haven't come to the hard part yet.'
Akrins shook
his head and said, 'Go on. But if we miss our target, then there's no reason why we can't go other places, right?'
Davron grinned. 'No reason whatsoever.' He slapped Akrins on the shoulder. 'You keep telling yourself that.'
Chapter 14
Lieutenant Valentine checked the suits and helmet fittings carefully. There were two women and a man in her team.
'All nice and secure. Anyone has an itchy nose, don't go taking off your helmet to scratch it. You all have jet-packs to manoeuvre but keep your safety line on at all times. We have enough air for eight hours at a time. I want us back inside the ship in five hours. What doesn't get finished we'll do on the next shift. Questions?'
There were none.
'Great. Look out for yourselves and each other at all times. We all know exactly what to do. Lets do this, people.'
They passed through the flight-deck with Captain Summerfield and the other two crew. They were at their posts, controlling their particular part of the ship. They were all highly trained specialists. Summerfield grabbed Valentine's hand as she made her way past him.
'Safety first, ok? Get yourself back in here as soon as you can.'
'You just drive the bus.'
She joined her team in the airlock. The satellite was in four main parts requiring assembly in space. The four parts were too large for them to move easily on the sealed ship, but once the airlock was open it took little effort. The hatch between the hold and the flight-deck was sealed to preserve air inside the ship. They secured themselves with a safety line each.
'Ready?'
They all said that they were.
'Captain. I'm about to open the airlock.'
'Copy that, Lieutenant.'
'Airlock open. At least it isn't raining. Peter. You first. Kick out away from the ship until you run out of line.'
Peter Warrington was on his first out of vehicle walk. He paused hanging onto the lip of the airlock then kicked out a little too hard and was pulled up sharply at the end of the one hundred metre line.
'I'm ok.'
'Pleased to hear that. Angie. You next. Show the rookies how it's done, girlfriend.'
Angie Formosa made a graceful dive out of the airlock, pulling up perfectly next to Warrington.
'Girl power,' said Valentine. 'Love it. Christine. You and I take the first part over using the jet-packs.' She attached a short length of line to the first part of the satellite which was the main body to which the other three parts would be fitted. Christine Spooner also secured herself to the unit.