'I'm ready.'
'On three we go over to Peter. One, two and three.'
They ended up between Warrington and Formosa.
Valentine said, 'Hang on to this and we'll get the second section.'
Valentine and Spooner used their jets to return to the hold of the ship. They freed the second part and pulled that along to the others.
Valentine said, 'Make a start assembling and we'll get the rest over.'
As the team leader and Spooner fetched the other parts, Warrington and Formosa used the tools from their belts to assemble the parts they had. The satellite was designed to be assembled with just two tools. A series of small fasteners were secured individually and to their credit, only lost one tiny screw. They had plenty of spares so it wasn't a big deal. Five long hours later they had the four parts secured together, the four solar panels being the last of the units to be taken to the assembly.
'We're making good progress,' Valentine told her team. 'Don't rush it. We aren't going for any new records today.'
'Just a couple more turns and I'm done,' said Warrington. 'There. All done.'
'Time to call it a day,' said Valentine. 'All tools and fasteners away and back to the ship. Christine first.'
Spooner didn't use her jet-pack but instead she pulled herself back into the hold using just the safety line. Formosa followed Spooner then Warrington took his turn. Valentine made sure her team were all safely on the ship before giving a gentle blip with her jet-pack to join them.
'That looks good, people,' said Valentine staring out at the satellite as the airlock closed up. It took a few minutes for the air to stabilise so they cold remove their helmets. 'Good job, everybody. A good feed and a rest and all we need to do is to go back and fire up the beast. Chill out until then.'
The flight-crew had been watching and monitoring the proceedings very carefully. They gave the team a round of applause when they entered the flight-deck.
'An excellent job, Lieutenant,' said a relieved looking Summerfield.
'Thanks. Not too shabby if I say so myself. A few more hours to set the alignment and we can go home.'
Chapter 15
'Of course, once Patrick explained the principles, I realised what a simple process it really is,' said Akrins as he ate the meal with the others.
Danders said, 'Care to swap and help him with the calculations?'
'No thanks. I'll look after the really important part. The hardware.'
'I love it when you talk dirty,' said Belle. 'When can we go into F T L?'
Patrick said, 'Just over twenty-seven hours from now. Liz and I have based our calculations being complete and all systems programmed to go for a specific time. We will have to go to F T L in that exact second to make the coordinates work. A couple of seconds either way means we would miss our target and would probably be lost.'
Danders added, 'If we can't be ready at that exact time we will have to abort and start all over again. We do not want to be doing that.'
Matlock said, 'I'm feeling pretty useless. Anything I can do to help?'
'Looking after the domestic stuff and leaving us to get on uninterrupted is more help than you realise, Dale,' said Davron. 'As long as you don't mind taking care of Muffin for me.'
Matlock rubbed Muffin's head and said, 'He's a pal of mine. Mind you. Cleaning out his toilet area isn't my favourite job. No chance of us training him to use the toilet I suppose.'
'Don't even think about,' said Akrins with a glare at Muffin. 'And would it hurt to give him a bath?'
Muffin picked up a chunk of bread and hit Akrins on the head with it.
'He's not impressed with the idea,' said Belle. 'You take no notice, Muffin. You'll soon have a new planet with a forest or jungle to play in.'
'Oooohheeooo!' said Muffin. With that he flapped his wings and flew out of the kitchen, performed areal acrobatics and perched himself on the gantry rail where he groomed himself.
Danders said, 'According to the computer, the new planet will be similar to Earth as it was ten thousand years ago. Evidence of primitive life, but nothing with any significant intelligence. Akrins should be right at home.'
'Hmm. Hilarious,' growled Akrins. 'We keep calling it the new planet. Shouldn't we give it a name?'
Davron said, 'At the moment it's Beta Ex Five Forty-Nine slash Twelve C.'
'Sounds delightful,' said Akrins.
Belle said, 'I don't think we should name it until we actually land safely on it. I don't want to jinx it by naming it before then.'
'Fair enough,' said Davron. 'For now we'll just call it Planet. Ok. Come on, Liz. Back to the grindstone.'
'Slave driver.'
Chapter 16
The flight crew led by Captain Summerfield, were constantly monitoring the ships operating systems, sending update reports to the command centre on Earth, and closely watching the proceedings outside the ship.
'They're making it look easy,' said Sean Potts, ships engineering technician.
'They're totally focussed,' said Dave Wicker, propulsion and navigation specialist.
Potts said, 'The amount of scrap floating about out here is staggering.'
Summerfield said, 'A century and a half of space exploration has left its legacy. See that there? The twenty thirty-four freighter the Lugger, as it was affectionately called. Carrying tanks of helium three and mining stuff back and forth from the Moon until it blew up.'
Potts said, 'Three crew dead. It took nearly a year to retrieve the bodies.'
'That Japanese station looks almost brand new,' said Wicker. 'Last used nearly thirty years ago.'
'It's still fully functional,' said Summerfield. 'I heard they're considering reopening it and upgrading it now the war is over.'
'I bet they do, too,' said Wicker. 'What the hell is that over there?'
'No idea,' said Summerfield. 'Too small for a space station. It isn't a satellite. Just a dull looking ball. Sean. See if you can find it on the junk file.'
The junk file was a common space term which covered everything outside the Earth's atmosphere. Ninety three percent of all debris had been logged as well as all functioning hardware.
'Nothing on the junk file,' said Potts. 'It could have slipped the net. I'll record it and log the coordinates.'
'I'll give command a call,' said Summerfield. 'See if they have it listed anywhere. This is Captain Summerfield calling command.'
'Captain. Everything ok?'
'Perfect. Victoria. We found an interesting object out here, apparently unlisted. I'm sending you the coordinates now. Can you check it out for me?'
'It's coming through now. Give me one moment. No. Nothing listed anywhere. Confirm the coordinates please. Thanks. Still nothing. What does it look like?'
'A big soccer ball. Ugly dull metal. No markings that I can see from here. I'm guessing between four and five metres in diameter.'
'Damaged?'
'Nothing obvious. Just dead.'
'Interesting. I'll put the word about. See if anyone can shed light on it. We have it logged now, that's the main thing. Just another hazard out there to be aware of.'
Summerfield said, 'Just a crazy idea, Victoria. We can bring it home with us. With the satellite out of the airlock we have plenty of room to put it.'
'I don't see why not. There could be some useful spare parts on it. Leave it with me and I'll run it by the brass and get back to you when they decide what to do with it. Over.'
'Thanks, Victoria. Over.'
Chapter 17
'That's just about it,' said Davron. 'F T L time established.'
'If I see another mathematical calculation I'll scream,' said Danders. 'Twenty complete double-checks are nineteen too many as far as I'm concerned.'
'We had to be sure. We now have seventeen hours, eleven minutes and five seconds to wait.'
'I intend to spend a lot of those hours in bed with Dale. I suggest you do the same.'
'But Dale isn't my type.'
'You doofus. You kno
w perfectly well I mean you and Jazz. Seriously, if we don't come out of this alive, we need to get our priorities right. I want to die with a huge smile on my face.'
Davron grinned and said, 'Sounds like a plan. I know Jazz will be pleased to have me all to herself. For the record, It has been a real pleasure working with you these last few days. I couldn't have done it without you.'
'Flattery will get you everywhere. I'm off to drag Dale into the bedroom.'
'Tell him resistance is futile.'
Davron sat alone at the flight-deck, staring at the screen. 'That's about all we can do. It's all down to you now, Romulus. If you'll excuse me, I have non-computer stuff to do.'
Leaving the computer running the ship on auto he found Belle alone in the utilities room.
Wrapping his arms about her he said, 'I have strict orders from Liz to make mad passionate love with you.'
'Hmm. Is that so? Perhaps I have other plans.'
'Then I suggest you reschedule.'
Belle sighed and looked to the heavens. 'I might. Do you still remember how to show a girl a good time?'
'We have seventeen hours to find out.'
Belle knew what that meant. 'All set to go?'
'Baring unforeseen developments. Yes. Just don't let me oversleep, whatever you do.'
'I won't.' She stroked his face. 'This could be our last few hours together.'
'Then we had better make the most of them.'
Chapter 18
'Bring it round a little more anticlockwise,' said Sean Potts. 'Not too much. And hold it there. Ok. Give it some space. That'll do it. Anything lighting up?'
'Not yet,' said Valentine. 'Shall I reboot?'
'Not just yet. Anything now?'
'No. Wait. Yes. It's lighting up like a Christmas tree.'
Potts said, 'Excellent. Earth Command. This is Sean Potts transmitting via the new satellite. Are you receiving us?'
'Nice and clear, Sean. No fine adjustments required. The signal is as good as we'll ever get. Job done.'
'Not quite, Victoria,' said Summerfield. 'Any news from the brass about that space junk?'
'This is Dr Lariat, Captain Summerfield. An excellent mission so far. I've spoken with General Burns regarding the junk. We are both of the opinion that if it can be safely brought here we go ahead. Have Lieutenant Valentine and her team investigate it first to make sure it's harmless and not emitting harmful radiation. I leave it to the Lieutenant to make the final call to bring it home. You'll need to make the necessary calculations and adjustments to allow for the additional weight once you enter atmosphere. If you need help this end, make sure to use the new satellite to hook up with our computer's. It will be a good test of the new hardware.'
'Understood. We'll bring the team inside and go over in the ship to the junk. I'll send you our final decision when we've made it. Over.'
'Understood. Over.'
'Lieutenant. Bring your team inside. You may as well stay in the hold while we go to the junk. It should only be a ten minute trip. Secure the airlock as per regulations.'
'Understood. On our way back. Over.'
Valentine and her team blipped their jets to return to the airlock, then the Lieutenant secured the airlock door.
'Take her away, Captain.'
Nine minutes later the ship was in position by the strange dull metal sphere. Valentine opened the airlock, ready to lead her team on the last space walk of their mission to the junk.
'I'm going over to take the radiation reading,' said Valentine.
It required just a a leap from the airlock to reach the sphere. The safety-line trailed behind her as she crossed space and she used both hands to stop herself on the sphere. From her belt pouch she took the radiation reader and turned it on, holding the tip close to the surface.
'Harmless background radiation. I'll go over all of it.'
She worked her way around the sphere, taking readings all over it with the same result.
'Clean enough. Peter. Over here. Angie. Christine. Stay in the airlock to receive the sphere when Peter and I bring it over.'
Peter Warrington leapt from the airlock to join Valentine. 'Not a lot to grab hold of.'
'We'll push it from behind and use our jets. Ok. Ready?'
'Ready.'
Valentine and Warrington gave the slightest blips with their thrusters and that was enough to have the sphere moving slowly to the waiting arms of Spooner and Formosa. Carefully avoiding the airlock door edge seals, they eased the sphere inside. Valentine hit the airlock door button and sealed themselves in. They used line to secure the sphere to various anchor points inside the airlock.
'That's not going anywhere but home with us,' said Valentine. 'Everyone out of here.'
They entered the flight-deck and sealed off the airlock compartment. Once they strapped themselves in their seats, Summerfield and his crew made the calculations to get the ship with the payload safely back to Earth. They didn't really need assistance from the command centre computers but ran all the data to there anyway to see how well the satellite performed.
'I'm pleased with that,' said Summerfield. 'And command agrees with our numbers. Everyone buckle up. We're heading home in one minute.'
The ship behaved perfectly and they landed as planned. Lariat was waiting in the command centre to greet them.
'Excellent job. General Burns asked me to express his thanks and congratulations for a a job well done. So congratulations.'
'Thanks,' said Summerfield. 'We'll do our debriefing now. I see the ground crew are already taking that sphere out.'
'We're all scratching our heads over it,' said Lariat. 'We have no idea what it is or where it came from. I'll be supervising the examination of it personally. Carry on.'
Chapter 19
Five humans and an ape sat and ate what could conceivably be their last meal. Akrins resisted the temptation to make comments on the "love-birds" he shared a ship with.
'Four hours to go,' said Matlock. 'We should mark the occasion with champagne. Or at least beer.'
'I'm afraid we have none, Dale,' said Davron. 'I'll celebrate when we are through safely.' He pushed his plate aside. 'I want to ask each of us one last time. Are we sure we are going to do this?'
Akrins said, 'The more I think about it, the more I know there's no other option. I say yes.'
'Same here,' said Matlock.
'We go,' said Belle.
'After all that effort, we damn well go,' said Danders.
'Then it's unanimous,' said Davron. 'I've no idea what will happen. I suggest no food from this point on. Just water. Are you listening, Muffin?'
'Oooohheeeoohaoo.'
'Good. Make sure you have a toilet trip half hour before time. Be buckled up ready to go after that. Toby you'll be in the engine rooms keeping an eye on the drive units and in communication with me.'
'I'll be ready.'
'Belle. Can you look after Muffin? He might get jittery.'
'He might get jittery. He'll not be on his own in that.'
Davron forced what he hoped was a confident smile. 'We'll be fine.'
They kept themselves busy as the seconds ticked away. The last half hour came and they hugged and then got into position, Muffin settling into Belle's arms, the intelligent chimp instinctively aware something was happening.
Chapter 20
'There's no doubt about it,' said Dr Lariat. 'This thing was not made on Earth.'
Burns stared at the sphere in the hanger watching Lariat's technicians working on it.
'Davron?'
'Face it, Tarmin. This is alien. An enemy drone. This is what was attacking Earth.'
'You wouldn't say that if you weren't one hundred percent certain. But what about those energy bursts from the Romulus?'
'That's what killed that drone. Davron wasn't attacking Earth. He was trying to help us. He had a way of detecting these drones that we didn't. Once they were shut down by his energy blasts they became visible.'
'It seems I was wrong about Patrick Davron.'
Lariat said, 'So tell him. Use the satellite to tell him we know he's a hero and thank him.'
'Not only that, he might know what happened to the Venom and her crew. You carry on here, I'll get over to the communications centre.'
It was just a two hundred metres to walk to the communications centre from the hanger and Burns' head was filled with a hundred thoughts going around. He approached the technicians at the satellite controls.
'I need to make an urgent call.'
* * *
'The last two minutes, people,' said Davron. 'Akrins?'
'Ready.'
'Liz?'
'Ready to flick the switch.'
Davron turned in his seat to see Belle with Muffin. She gave a little wave of her hand and held tightly onto Muffin, as much for her own comfort as his.
'One minute and counting,' said Danders.
It was the longest minute any of them had ever experienced.
'Ten seconds. And five, four, three, two...'
'This is General Burns of the World Space Authority. Can anyone hear me?'
'Liz. Abort,' yelled Davron.
'Sorry. Too late.'
* * *
'Do you think anyone heard me?' Burns finally asked after five minutes non-stop talking into the microphone.
The technician glanced at his colleagues then back to his general.
'Impossible to say, Sir. One thing about radio signals in space is that they just keep going. Eventually, anyone with a radio could hear it.'
Burns knew that and realised the technician was only trying to tell his general what he hoped he wanted to hear.
'Should we ever get a reply, let me know.'
'Of course, Sir.'
With his shoulders slumped, Burns walked away.
Chapter 21
When Danders hit the sensor, that tripped a relay in the engine room. Akrins jumped a little as the conductors in the giant capacitor were bridged, unleashing the phenomenal power harnessed from the Dark Energy surrounding them in space. The capacitor seemed to shudder as the current raced through to the hull of the ship to the transducers. Those in the ship couldn't see the web of electricity surrounding the hull. As Akrins watched the capacitor crackle ominously, the web of energy expanded away from the hull, creating the invisible "bubble" which found the nearest variation in the Dark Matter. The plasma drives still pushed the ship along but soon the natural split through the Dark Matter made a vortex, a pathway to pass through. As it tried to attract the vessel into itself, the opposite polarities propelled the ship along at ever increasing speeds.