Chapter 20
The human tendency to panic has always confounded me. Not only does it seem to command the authority to override all other instincts, it does so with no plan whatsoever. It comes available in both the individual or group forms. In its natural state, it lightly discards the human thought process and takes immediate and complete control of all bodily functions, some of which are completely inappropriate for the moment. It is an impulse almost certainly reminiscent of some Neanderthal programming which has remained resident in the brainstem of the human unconsciousness.
Whenever the mind reasons mortal danger is imminent and no logical alternatives are apparent, panic steps in on override and instantly switches on every appendage still functioning. The process usually results in a badly choreographed dance of groping, lunging, twisting, kicking, and grappling intended to quickly dispose of, or displace the threat, even if it cannot be seen. If you happen to be near a person who has elected to participate in this ancient ritual, you automatically become eligible for an unimaginable assortment of personal injuries.
The only time I can ever remember having truly experienced it was during pilot training. You are required to make several parachute jumps. The reasoning is that after investing so much time and effort training you, the people in charge would like to know you would have the foresight to pull the emergency chute in the event there is an ejection malfunction.
So, on that very first jump, panic is eagerly waiting backstage. And, no matter how many times you mentally rehearse it, you step out into the freefall and your legs take off running for dear life, continuing all the way down until the pop of the chute jerks them to a stop.
Group panic astonishes me even more. It is a kind of emotional spontaneous combustion. It can begin as a small candle flame of paranoia and build quickly within a crowd until it flashes over into mass hysteria. Throughout the crisis, each participant is continually reassured by the others that panicking is indeed the appropriate response to the problem. Many people in positions of authority entertain the false belief they are above such shortcomings. They underestimate the infectiousness of the disease. They have been so protected from danger for so long they forget what a persuasive stranger it is.
I had invited all the perfect ingredients for panic to my hastily arranged staff meeting in Life Sciences. They made up the most educated, sophisticated mob I have ever seen. Even more disturbing, only two-thirds of them showed up. There was no time to wonder about the others. Many of them were still dressed in duty uniforms as though they had expected to be called to the Bridge at any moment. Others were in casual dress, not having had time to change. They listened in silent despair, hoping there would be a big finish that rectified all. They sat with so rigid a posture it almost seemed they were holding their breath.
I did my best to explain our unenviable situation and how it had come about. The volatile silence lasted for as long as they could bear, and before I could begin laying out our best course of action the eruption of absurd debate began.
So many began talking at once it was impossible to tell who was saying what. Preposterous suggestions quickly splintered off into heated sidebar arguments. Someone wanted the negligent parties responsible for the situation disciplined immediately. Someone else insisted another ship be dispatched to rescue us. A shrill female voice inquired whether or not the life pods were available should someone choose to use them. A coarse male voice demanded to know why the main engines weren't operating yet. From the opposite side of the room, someone demanded to know where the missing people were. Behind me, I heard someone say the meeting should be adjourned until the captain was located.
The individual conversations became lost in the irritated drone of nervous chorus. I suddenly realized how appropriate it was they had not been told of the Emissary. Had that been the case, the elite group of trained professionals around me would likely have turned into a lynching mob. Somehow, in the midst of the confusion, R.J. managed to get their attention.
"Ladies! Gentleman! Perhaps it would be constructive at this point to listen to what Commander Tarn has in mind."
Every head in the room turned to glare at him. In the tentative silence, Brandon looked at me and spoke with indignation. "Why is he here? He's only a grade-five inspector. This should be a closed staff meeting!"
It made me smile. "Well, Maureen, since he was the only one of us bright enough to figure out what was going on, it would seem to me he has more right to be here than anyone. We all owe him, possibly our lives!"
She huffed. "Mr. Tarn, you are not going to presume command of this ship under these circumstances, are you? You were not even a Bridge officer on this mission. Surely Captain Grey never intended you to be acting Captain."
All eyes shifted to appraise me. I wondered who in their right mind would actually want command of Electra in our situation.
"Let me put it this way, Maureen. I don't intend to hand over the security codes entrusted to me by Captain Grey to anyone."
Brandon fumed. For once, she was at a loss for words. I looked out over the room. They were waiting for a quick solution to their common problem. They had argued themselves into depression. I slowly straightened up and made my case.
"We have only one sensible option at this point. We must protect the crew. The intruders are taking people a few at a time. It doesn't matter why. We can't worry about regaining control of the ship until everyone is safe. What I propose is to move everyone into the tail section and have them hold up in the service boom. There's no gravity back there, but there's only one way in and one way out. There’s plenty of distance back there for a buffer zone. Security has already been sent and has probably finished sectioning off an alarm barrier at the entrance by now. They’ll have fan-type beam detectors at the entrance, and will defend against anything that breaks the beam. We’ll monitor the atmosphere and isolate the tail if anything is detected. It will force the bad guys to come to us instead of taking our people as they please. We can cut our losses there, and we can go on the offensive. We’ll set up a series of traps in the access ways they'll be forced to use. There is food and extra air already available in the life pods back there. And, in a worse case scenario, we'll have access to the escape system."
Kusama stood at the back of the room. He raised one finger to get my attention. "Commander, the Bridge and Engineering would be unmanned. They could take control of the ship."
"They could do that anyway, Paul. If they get anywhere near you, you won't even remember it. They could have moved on the Bridge a long time ago. The ship is right where they want it, next to theirs. It's not the ship they want. It's the crew."
"Why, why do they want us?”
I could not see who had spoken. "We don't know, yet. I don't pretend to be able to answer all your questions, and we don't have time to debate this. You must all spread the word to your troops to head for the tail access corridor. I have Security teams already setting up along the way. Don't use the intercom or the internet. We've got to keep this from the intruders as long as possible. Go to the tail section and wait. Security will be there. Don't gather personal possessions; don't take care of unfinished business, just hurry. We'll have other operations going on at the same time, but I will not discuss those right now. There is no time for questions. Let's go."
They sat for a moment, as though it wasn't enough. Someone seated behind me finally made a dash for the door and the chaotic procession began. R.J and I remained seated as they pressed heartily past. Except for a few murmurs of unintelligible misgivings, they remained morbidly quiet.
When we were alone, R.J. locked his hands behind his head and leaned back. "It went quite well, all things considered."
"Refresh my memory. Exactly what did we just do?"
"What do you mean we? You just gave the order to abandon ship and hide in the tail section."
"Me? What happened to you? I suppose when the firing squad shows up, you'r
e going to point at me and say, I'm not with him!"
"Hey, I'm just here in an advisory capacity. Besides, it would take a miracle for us to get as far as a firing squad."
"And so now you're expecting me to perform a miracle, I suppose?"
"I have to. It's the best chance I’ve got!"