Light Speed

by Paul Harrington

Distributed in Microsoft Reader eBook format by Elegant Solutions Software and Publishing Company.

ESSPC - Ken Mattern

9729 Walwood Drive SE

Huntsville, AL 35803

http://esspc-ebooks.com

Prolog

Corporate warfare

It was June 2040 in New Boston, one year after the Cartone deep space probe was launched by the E.S.A. Shortly after liftoff one of their thrusters malfunctioned, skewing their trajectory and heading them into the Sun. Due to the intense radiation, radio contact was lost. All radar contact was lost shortly after and the expedition was assumed destroyed. The year was marked by the tremendous human and technological loss that set manned space flight back indefinitely.

Yet on this June day, space flight was the last thing on certain people’s minds. Outside it was beautiful. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. One could almost taste the apple blossoms as the scent of them filtered in on a soft breeze that lightly caressed the skin.

However, inside, it was a different story altogether. Like opposing storm clouds two entrepreneurs, Kenneth Shepherd and Bernard Rush, stood toe-to-toe hashing out differences in their business styles.

“You can’t treat people that way, Bernard. You have to listen to them and work with them. You have to treat them with respect if you want their loyalty!”

“So you say, Kenneth, but where has it gotten us? I say, ‘What’s the use of being in control of a business, if you can’t BE in control?’ We own the business; we started the business. Who cares how the employees feel about their jobs or their pay?”

“We should!” Kenneth Shepherd locked eyes with his junior partner in the fledgling mining business, “I brought you into the business not only because you and I were friends but because I felt your drive could help make the business grow. But you push our people as well as our customers too hard. Relax, Bernard. You have to handle the business a little more gently. Drive is good, but too much and you can push people and the business the other way.”

Rush turned to look out the window towards the field beyond. “I disagree. There are times when you must be ruthless to get ahead in business and in life. If the employees don’t like it then they don’t have to work here. As for the customers, they like strong suppliers! It gives them a sense of confidence that you can get the job done.”

Coming out from behind the oak desk where he was sitting Kenneth Shepherd moved to the desk’s corner and leaned against it in frustration. “Bernard, would you like to be treated in a ruthless way?”

“That’s not the point!” shouted Rush, “I...”

Shepherd cut him off, “That is exactly the point! After all the discussions we’ve had together, why can’t you see it?”

Bernard Rush was becoming red in the face as he threw his hands up in the air, “Why can’t I see it? Why can’t you see it? Yes, we’ve had many discussions. We never see eye-to-eye and probably never will. Maybe we’re not suited to work together after all.”

“Just listen to reason, Bernard,” pleaded Shepherd.

Now it was Bernard’s turn to cut Kenneth off as he heatedly jumped in. “No, it won’t work! I want you to buy me out, Kenneth. You want to run the business your way. Fine. Leave me out!”

With a sigh of resignation Kenneth Shepherd knew it was futile to try and reason any longer. “I’ll have the secretary draw up the proper papers in the morning. Will that be soon enough?”

“Fine!” said Rush with an outward gesture of his hand as he turned and left the office in a huff.

Shepherd wished they could have worked it out, but sadly, it was not to be. Kenneth Shepherd, now the sole head of Shepherd Industries, knew he hadn’t seen the last of his former partner. If Bernard was going to start his own mining business, Shepherd knew he would have a battle on his hands. This would be no short war but a long and bitter one. He knew that he had to start building his defenses now if his business was to survive.

Fifty-five years later. . .

“It won’t work!” said Thomas Roundtree.

As Richard Long raised his head, he looked across the room and noticed that the rest of his department had gone home. “Don’t give up, Thomas; we’ll find the answer,” replied the head researcher.

“Why?” said Roundtree with his head in his hands.

“Because Shepherd Industries is in the mining business. Finding better and faster ways to get our product to market is the only way to stay ahead of the competition,” said Long.

Glancing over his shoulder Thomas Roundtree replied, “If you’re referring to the fact that we need to find faster ways to move our ore from the belt before our competition does, or we may not have a job, then I wouldn’t worry. Atoms Technical has never put us out of business.”

With a long shake of his head in agreement and with an inquiring smile, Long now asked Roundtree, “What do you know about Atoms Technical?”

“Oh, nothing...” Looking down and going back to work at his keyboard, Roundtree continued, “Just a good guess. They are one of the major mining companies we compete with; and besides, it’s no secret that they don’t like us.”

“Yes, but outside of that, why did you say ‘Atoms Technical?’ There are other companies we compete with, too, like Rapid Particle or Bascome Refinery. It still seems like you know something that I don’t.” Long started to press the younger man for an answer, just slightly.

Looking up again from his keyboard, Roundtree stared at the wall and chuckled, “Well, I work with ’atoms’ of antimatter all day trying to get more energy out of their reactions, so I guess Atoms was the first name to come to mind. Why so interested, Richard? It was just a comment.”

A worried look came over Long’s face as he looked at his watch. “Forget it. I’m late for dinner with my wife and the boss. I can’t believe how time has gotten away!” Long logged off his terminal, shut it down, threw some papers in the middle drawer of his desk, locked it, then grabbed his coat from off the back of his chair and ran for the door. Roundtree watched him go, looked at his own watch, then glanced over at Long’s still cluttered desk.

Richard Long exited the automated doors of the Research and Development wing of Shepherd Industries’ corporate headquarters in New Boston, Massachusetts and headed for his car.

“Why can’t you ever find your keys when you’re in a hurry?” he thought. Long fumbled around in his pocket. “Ah-ha...got them!” He reached the car and slid the door key into the lock, turned it, and opened the door. As Richard Long readied the car for airlift he noticed a security voiceprint chip lying on the floorboard of the passenger side. He felt his own chip on his name badge so he knew it wasn’t his. “So, whose was it?” he wondered.

“I don’t remember that being here earlier today,” he thought. Long began to read the I.D. number on the chip as he turned the ignition key. “I’m so late; Joann and Micah will kill me.” BOOM! The car burst into flames...

Chapter 1

Mining tactics

There was a lot of traffic around the asteroid field. Captains and their freighters were scurrying to only-their-computers-knew-where. John Burke felt a little closed in as he looked out the viewport. Ships might be kilometers apart, but in space, distances could be traveled in a matter of seconds. Burke played with the maneuvering thrusters keeping his distance from the other freighters.

Suddenly the C3 computer system took control and announced, “Mission delay due to pion wave interference.” To Burke it sounded so routine, but delays were not what he wanted today.

Burke looked at his NAV console with impatience and asked the Command-Control and Communication computer to confirm the reason for the delay.

“Pion wave interference confirmed. Vessel directly ahead. Slowing rate of acceleration to avoid turbulence.” The class one ore freighter fired its retros and slowed to a near stop.

“That’s the story of my life: Delay!” thought Captain John Burke. With a sigh he sat in the command chair of Miner Five and waited. His hand brushed the pocket of his flight suit and he felt the ring that was inside. Opening the flap of the pocket he retrieved the engagement ring and let it float in the air in front of him. He watched as the ring spun in the zero-g environment It sparkled in the cabin lights like ice glistening in the noon day’s sun.

Burke was a man in his mid-twenties with striking features that made him quite attractive. He had dark hair, green eyes, a muscular build and a good sense of humor, yet he could never quite get the girl. He pondered, “Why can’t she just say ‘yes?’ We’ve been dating for over a year now. I love her. Maybe she just doesn’t know that yet. I don’t know.” With impatience growing over the mission delay, Burke plucked the ring from the air and put it back in the pocket from where it came and inquired of the computer, “How is the wave interference now, C3?”

The computer replied, “Pion wave interference still above normal. It is unsafe to proceed.”

While Burke waited, he thought for a moment about his past. Pion wave interference is to spacecraft what air turbulence is to atmospheric craft. He knew about air turbulence all too well.

A few years ago he was a test pilot for Air Stream Limited. One of his later missions was to see how close a new style of aircraft with turbulence control could get in behind another while flying at high speed without stalling, sheering or losing control. He got very close on one run and almost lost all control. Going into a flat spin he barely pulled out of it as the ground was looming up at him like a nightmare. That was one experience he did not want to repeat.

“Would turbulence in space have a similar effect?” he wondered. “There is no way to eject if something goes wrong. But I can’t let another freighter beat me to the ore again—that would be the second time this week alone! How do these guys know where we’re going to mine, anyway? There’s something fishy about this.”

He spoke out loud. “What will it be, Burke, wait or go for it?” Sweat began to bead up on his forehead as he wrestled for an answer. Then finally he decided, “I won’t be beat again!”

“C3, this is a command Alpha override; switch to manual control,” said Burke with determination.

“Alpha override acknowledged. Manual control restored.” The computer gave Burke the control he wanted. His fingers danced over the controls as he felt the antimatter engines kick-in again and the deck plates hum with the sensation of power beneath him. The freighter began to shake and vibrate in the wave interference as the freighter surged forward. Burke maintained control, but memories came flooding back as he felt his chair begin to shake. His mouth went dry with anticipation while his heart pounded in his ears. Ahead, the other freighter continued to block his path allowing no quarter.

“C3, scan the ship directly ahead for life signs.”

“Life signs negative,” said the C3 with cold precision.

Burke’s face took on a grim determination as he asked his questions out loud. “A robot ore freighter? C3, what is the registry of that ship?”

“The ship is registered to Atoms Technical. It is a class two ore freighter with automated controls. It has a top speed of one percent light speed. Total cargo capacity is 200,000 metric tons.”

“Just as I thought. Only Atoms Technical would be so cheap as to use robot freighters.”

Burke moved up on the Atoms Technical ship even though it was larger and more imposing. He fought the controls as his freighter began to shake like he was in the middle of an earthquake.

“Pion wave turbulence now fifty percent over normal. Structural tolerance near maximum limit.” The C3’s words were like the dooming words of a prophet in Burke’s ears as his ship bucked wildly under him.

Burke was starting to worry a little. “How much more could this craft take?” he wondered. “How can I get around that ship without breaking up in the process? There’s not enough room to squeeze past him on either side. If I try, the gravity from the asteroids will pull me too close and I won’t be able to hold it. And if I stay on his tail pipe I’ll pull myself apart! There’s got to be a way!” Burke thought. Then an idea flashed through his mind like a laser shot.

“It might work!” he told himself. The Atoms freighter was flanked on either side by asteroids. There was a small one to the left and a medium-sized one to the right. Looking at the larger of the two Burke touched the port thruster and Miner Five healed right, out from behind the other ship.

“Pion wave interference now nominal,” the C3 announced, “Warning on course change, asteroid G2112 is ahead exerting point one zero-g of gravity and increasing.” Burke’s ship was now on a collision course with the larger asteroid.

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire, but that’s what I’m counting on,” thought Burke.

As the asteroid loomed larger in the main view screen, out of the side transsteel viewport Burke could see the other freighter making its run between the two rocky giants. It was time for Burke to make his move. He reached over and tapped the port thruster again and his ship banked right. Using his increased speed, the asteroid’s gravitational pull and the port thruster’s push, the ship was sling-shotted around G2112 to come out just in front of the Atoms Technical ship, which then had to slow down to almost a complete stop due to the exhaust from Miner Five’s antimatter engines. Burke let out a yell as he switched to rear view. “It worked!” The other ship came into focus behind. “This is one time that you won’t beat me to the payload,” said Burke.

With a grin, a sigh of relief, and sweaty palms Burke returned the ship to automatic control. Almost immediately the C3 informed him, “Near target site, beginning mining run on asteroid G2125.” The Shepherd Industries freighter fired its retros and the ship began to slow as it came in over its target. With a soft thud the ship touched down a mere two feet off the programmed landing spot.

“Landing complete. Mineral extraction has begun.” As the computer methodically went through its paces, John Burke unbuckled himself from the command chair and stood up. He stayed on the deck, despite zero-g, because of the standard magnetic flight boots he was wearing. Walking past the airlock to the cargo bay he looked through the transsteel window making sure that the valuable ore was coming in safely and properly. As usual, it was. “Time to full cargo capacity, C3?” asked Burke expectantly.

“At present rate of extraction and arrangement, one hour twelve minutes.”

Listening to the answer, Burke looked at the mission clock on the upper bulkhead. “That’s not too bad. I just might make it back to keep that date with Rebecca after all.” As he walked back to the command chair and began a check of all systems for the return trip, Burke couldn’t help wondering what her response would be to the question he wanted to ask her again.

Silverware chimed, water glasses clinked and plates clattered as Micah Shepherd, his wife Andrea along with Joann Long waited patiently for her husband’s arrival at the Shepherd’s Crook restaurant.

“I’m sure he’s fine, Joann, he’s probably just caught in traffic over the west side. I know from experience that traffic this time of night is terrible over New Boston,” said Micah Shepherd.

Micah Shepherd, CEO of Shepherd Industries Corporation, was only forty-five years old. He had inherited the company from his grandfather, Kenneth Shepherd. His parents, having died when he was young, left him with a keen sense of how important a family was. At eleven years of age, his grandfather took him in as if he were his own son. Shepherd grew up learning the mining business on every level. He did every job conceivable for his grandfather after school, on weekends, and on holidays. From Janitor to Miner to Executive Assistant, Micah learned the business of doing business. Then two years ago, at the age of eighty-five, his grandfather died after a long bout with cancer. Micah and Andrea took the death hard. However, one of the research scientists and his wife had become friends with the Shepherds over the years and provided much comfort. Richard and Joann Long were there every step of the way. They provided friendship and support when it was needed most. They became like family.

“It’s good of you to stick up for him, Micah, but he’s not caught in traffic and you know it! He’s probably lost in some quantum theory and forgotten the time,” said Joann Long.

“Oh, Joann, he’ll be here soon.” Picking up the bottle of wine on the table Andrea Shepherd continued, “Here, have some more wine on Shepherd Industries.” Andrea looked over at her husband of twenty-two years and smiled. He smiled back, laughed and nodded his head in approval. Joann accepted and changed the subject.

“Micah, how long have you owned this place? I’ve always liked it.”

“This was one of the last things Grandfather invested in before he died. ‘Rewarding work, good friends and good food are what life is all about,’ he used to say.” Micah looked at his plate. “Speaking of food, Richard will have to eat later; I’m starved! What about you?” Both women agreed, so Shepherd called for the head waiter who was talking to a nondescript man at the front door. The head waiter noticed Shepherd and responded immediately.

“Yes, Mr. Shepherd. How may I be of service, sir?”

“We would like to place our orders, Mr. Simons.”

“Very good, sir. What would you like?” Simons took their orders. Then Simons told Micah about the man at the front door and how he wished to speak with him.

“What does he want?” The head waiter did not know but offered to get rid of the man if Shepherd thought it too much of an inconvenience.

“No, I’ll see him. Thank you, Simons.” Micah looked at his wife and at Joann; both had puzzled looks on their faces. “This won’t take long; I’ll see what he wants.” With a reassuring smile Shepherd excused himself.

A man wearing an overcoat and hat waited for the CEO as he approached. Then, to be certain that the right man was approaching, he asked, “Are you Micah Shepherd of Shepherd Industries?”

“Yes, I am. Who are you, sir?”

“I’m Detective Fletcher, B.P.D.” He held his badge up so Shepherd could see.

“Well, Detective Fletcher, what’s important enough to interrupt our dinner?”

Flipping open the note pad he took out of his coat pocket, the detective asked, “Do you have a Richard Long in your employ?”

“Yes.” Shepherd’s face took on a frown.

“Was he working at your corporate headquarters on the west side tonight?”

The detective was persistent. This didn’t sound good, so Shepherd changed the tone. He held up his right hand and said with directness, “Detective, why are you here?” Shepherd braced himself, but the reply was not what he had expected.

“About one hour ago, at 5:30 p.m., there was an explosion outside your offices in the parking lot. It seems that Richard Long’s air car exploded when he started it. No one else was involved.”

Shock flooded over Micah. “Was Richard injured?” He almost knew the reply before it came and he winced.

“I’m afraid so, sir. Mr. Long was badly burned over most of his body. He was taken immediately to the central Burn Center at Massachusetts General in critical condition. We called your answering service and they told us where to find you. The Department thought you would like to know without a lot of press, so they sent me over in plain clothes to inform you.”

It was getting harder to speak without getting emotional. Shepherd asked, “How did it happen?” as a tear began to form in his eye.

“Well, as far as we can tell it was an accident. The car apparently had a fuel leak and exploded. However, we will know more once the car is examined at the impound lot.” The Detective offered his help. “I’d be happy to escort you and your guests to the hospital so you can get there as soon as possible if you would like.”

It took a moment for Shepherd to respond. Finally realizing what the detective had offered, he said, “Yes, of course, thank you. Just a moment please.” Turning his back on the detective, Shepherd began to make his way back to the table. He tried to compose himself. This was so totally unexpected that he didn’t know what to say. “How can I tell Joann? How can I explain gently that her husband is close to death?” There weren’t any good ways, he decided.

Her husband had been gone too long. Andrea was beginning to feel like something was wrong when Joann spoke. “Where is Micah all this time? I thought he was going to be right back?”

Taking a bite of bread stick and a sip of wine from her glass, Andrea tried not to appear concerned. “Over the years I’ve found that unexpected interruptions like this start out to be short but they rarely are.” Andrea smiled casually across the table at Joann and offered her a bread stick. Just then Micah came into view approaching the table with a deliberate gait. From experience Andrea knew that walk. That was his something-is-wrong-walk. It was the look of someone lost in thought but with a definite destination in mind. Andrea hoped it wasn’t serious and remained calm as her husband arrived at the table with the news.

“Anything wrong, dear?” she asked. Shepherd gave a sad look to his wife and turned to Joann.

“That man was Detective Johnson. I’m afraid there’s been an accident.” Joann Long knocked a water glass over as she gasped, spilling the liquid across the table. “Richard is at Massachusetts General,” Shepherd said while looking at Joann and ignoring the spilt water.

“What happened?” Joann’s face became wet as tears welled up in her eyes and fell, staining her cheeks. Andrea, shaken by her husband’s news, picked up a still dry napkin and offered it to Joann who accepted it.

“Detective Fletcher said it was an accident. He said Richard’s air car had a fuel leak that may have caused an explosion. It happened in the parking lot at the office and no one else was hurt. The police will know more after further examination. Richard is in critical care. Fletcher has offered a fast escort for us to the Medical Complex. I suggest we accept.”

By this time Joann was completely shaken. What happened to Richard was similar to an accident a few years ago when another chief researcher for Shepherd Industries was killed in a car explosion. He was on the verge of discovering the secret of a practical antimatter engine. How or why his car exploded was never proven and the police chalked it up to an accident. So for an ‘accident’ to happen now brought memories flowing back for everyone.

With Micah and Andrea on either side supporting her, Joann walked towards Detective Fletcher and the offered escort. Was Richard still alive? Would things turn out as they did years before? Joann didn’t know. All she could think of was that her husband needed her and she hurried to get there.

Chapter 2

A spy’s master

One Hundred Shoreline Drive stood like a monument to the god of power and prestige. At thirty stories high it was the tallest building in New Boston. Dark and imposing by the water, it dominated that part of the skyline. It has been said that most buildings tend to look like their owners and this one certainly did.

The door opened in on a spacious office. Artwork of all kinds lined the walls and corners of the room. The works of art were varied with paintings, famous photographs, laser art and sculpture. However, standing in the center of the room was an empty pedestal, as if waiting for something prominent to be placed there.

The spy walked into the office past all the art and the empty pedestal at the center of the room. He approached a large, modern desk in front of the bay window. Speaking to the back of the black leather chair that was facing the window, he said, “The job is done!”

Without turning from the thirty-story view of New Boston harbor, the person in the black leather chair replied, “And the research...?”

The spy responded, trying not to show any emotion, “It’s not complete yet, but all indications show that testing will begin soon.”

Turning from the view, the chair faced the spy. “Do you see all the works of art contained in this room, Marcus?” Unsure of what he wanted, Marcus said ‘yes.’ Then with a wide gesture of his hands the man in the leather chair stood up and walked around the room.

“All of these works are one of a kind, priceless! It has taken me most of my life to acquire them. I have allowed nothing to stop me from adding to this collection.”

“What is your point, sir?” Marcus asked as he took in the room. The CEO walked back to his desk and reached for an oblong, magnetically sealed tube positioned at the head of the desk. He picked it up and offered it to Marcus. Reluctantly, he accepted it and turned it over in his hands. He knew what it was.

“That sample of antimatter is the crowning achievement of my collection. Contained in that tube is the key to power, Marcus. It was, and is, a scientific work of art. All the great men in history loved the beauty in art. All the great men in history were powerful, too. That’s why I collect art. To have beauty and power is a strong combination.”

The man continued to boast about his collection and his reasons for having it. Marcus looked at the antimatter tube in his hands. It was warm to the touch. He had seen what antimatter could do—power, indeed. He also knew that this man held the patent on the antimatter conversion process. The use of antimatter energy for industry, travel, and defense was his to dole out to the highest bidder. Marcus began to understand. Technology was moving forward. Soon there would be a new power source discovered or a faster way of travel that could surpass antimatter. Marcus knew the man wanted it.

“Do you understand now, Marcus?” Marcus looked at the pedestal in the center of the room.

“I believe so. You want the next ‘crowning achievement’ of mankind for your pedestal.”

“Yes, and at any cost. Power is what’s at stake.” The idea hung in the air between the two men for a moment. The CEO’s eyes were electric with the thought as he continued, “Shepherd Industries is on the verge of a powerful discovery in space flight. Just as I snatched the power of antimatter from them years ago I intend to do the same now. I must have Shepherd’s next breakthrough. Never will I allow anyone to beat me, especially Shepherd!”

“But your researchers are good, too. I hear that they are working on new technology all the time.” replied Marcus.

“They might be, but I’ll take no chances. I haven’t beaten Shepherd Industries and all the others all these years by leaving things to chance. I need to cover myself. I need you to get those test results for me before Shepherd sees them so we can publish them first! The CEO was demanding and intimidating as he spoke.

“It will be difficult. With the attempted murder of their chief researcher, security will be tight,” objected Marcus.

“You’re the chief researcher’s assistant, aren’t you?” The CEO stared with fiery determination.

That question triggered memories of how Marcus had gotten himself into this ‘arrangement.’ Four years ago, before Richard Long had become the head of R&D for Shepherd Industries, Marcus had been a lab technician working in chemical production. Richard Long was his supervisor and had taken a liking to him. So when the former head of R&D was killed just as he discovered the secret of harnessing antimatter, Richard Long was appointed the new head of R&D and brought Marcus along as his research assistant. Soon Marcus was offered large sums of money, more money than he had ever dreamed of, to spy on what Shepherd Industries was doing. Lured by his greed Marcus became a spy. He got deeper and deeper into doing the man’s dirty work. When he protested that he had had enough, his own life was threatened, so he continued. Should he continue to betray his friend, Richard Long, and his boss, Micah Shepherd, both of whom had always been very good to him? Marcus took a deep breath. He found it hard to answer the man. He thought of what he had done to Richard Long and it left him numb. His greed had come to this, attempted murder. “I can’t keep doing this man’s bidding. It’s wrong! Look what I’ve done to Richard and everyone else that has trusted me!” Marcus reeled in his feelings of guilt and shame.

The CEO grew impatient. He turned on Marcus like a shark on its prey. “Well, aren’t you?” he bellowed with storm-like intensity.

The rage had its effect. Startled, Marcus looked at the man and said, “Yes, sir!”

“Then get to it, Marcus! Get back over there, and if Long is still alive then finish the job. With the research complete and testing about to begin we don’t need Long around to help reconstruct the experiment. Stay close to the project and get the results to me as soon as they are confirmed. Got it?”

Confused and guilt-ridden over what his greed and fear had caused him to become, Marcus acknowledged the order and headed for the door without another word. As he passed the empty pedestal at the center of the office he thought, “...all this for one man’s greed. What will I do, help fill his stupid pedestal for him? But what else can I do? He’ll kill me if I don’t.” Disgusted with his employer and with himself, Marcus reached the door, quietly opened it and pulled it shut behind him. All the while the leather chair began to turn back towards the window.

The powerful business man just stared out the window for a long time. Then, as if impelled by an unknown force, he got up and began to pace, talking to himself. “I told Kenneth Shepherd fifty-six years ago how to run a business!” Bernard Rush, now in his late-seventies, admired his works of art and continued to speak, “I was right! I am powerful, important, and respected. Where are you, Kenneth? Dead, that’s where! All you were interested in was taking care of family and friends. Can family and friends give you all this?”

Opening his arms to take in the whole room, Rush’s reveling began to take on a ruthless air. “You could have shared all this with me, but you got rid of me, instead! I vowed that day that I’d get even, and I have! I beat you again and again in business, but you kept trying. You kept your business growing. I even stole your biggest achievement, antimatter! I killed your head researcher to prove my point, but you wouldn’t admit defeat. Why couldn’t you admit my way was best?” Rush asked the question as if his old rival was right in front of him.

Talking to himself, he continued. “All the while you kept training your grandson to take your place, giving him the same weak values you had! Well, I’ve outlived you, old friend, and the fight continues. You Shepherds need to be taught a lesson. I will have that new technology you’re working on. I will get it, if for nothing else than to prove my point that my way of doing business is better. I will win! Your grandson will be made to understand who is the better man.”

Walking over to the bay window again, Bernard Rush stood with his hands clasped behind his back. As he watched the last embers of the western sunset reflect in the eastern sky, he let out a guttural laugh. It was the laugh of a man driven mad by pride and his quest for power.

Meanwhile, out in space John Burke looked at his main view screen and fidgeted in the command seat of the Shepherd Industries ore freighter. The mineral extraction had taken a little longer than he thought. The ore vein had been extra rich, so to get all he could, he had the C3 pack extra tight. It took a little more time, but it was his job to get all he could on these mining runs. Since he had beat the Atoms Technical freighter to the punch, he didn’t want to leave very much behind.

“Time to port, C3?” asked Burke.

“ETA, ten minutes fifty-one seconds,” said the computer.

Burke keyed the communication switch on the panel. “Miner Five to base, Miner Five to base.”

“This is Shepherd Spaceport. Go ahead, Miner Five.”

“ Is that you, Jones?” asked Burke with a smile on his face.

“Sure is, John.”

“When did you get transferred to Spaceport? Aren’t you assigned to Earth Station at the corporate office in New Boston?” Burke asked.

“Still am; they just needed a fill-in up here for a few days.”

“I see. Well, I’m showing ten minutes fifteen seconds now from docking,” relayed Burke.

“Confirmed, John. Hey, we saw that move you put on that other freighter. I loved it, but old Portmaster Sorenson didn’t. When he saw the telemetry you were sending back and the freighter’s stress levels, he was upset!”

“Thanks for the warning. See you in ten minutes. Burke out.”

Ten minutes later Miner Five was docking at Shepherd Spaceport. John Burke unstrapped himself from the command seat. He noticed that his seat restraints weren’t floating like they did on the asteroid. Happy to be in a gravity environment again, he got up and headed to the airlock.

Shepherd Spaceport made use of the latest Simgrav Technology with a space station shaped in a circle like a wheel, rotating just enough to simulate normal Earth-like gravity. In order for a spacecraft to dock, a docking clamp was used to secure the ship and bring it inside for unloading and repair.

The light inside the airlock door blinked green, then the door swished open. Burke waited a moment for the interior door to open as well, then he walked through into the Spaceport’s unloading facility where his ship had been taken. Moving through the passageways towards the Portmaster’s Office, John Burke walked with purpose in his step. He was well-liked by the Spaceport’s crew, but he hardly acknowledged their greetings as he passed. His mind was elsewhere as he carried his log down the passage. Jones McKenze almost had to run into him to get his attention. “John, there you are; I wanted to catch you before you saw Sorenson. Like I said, he didn’t like your ‘reckless approach’ to your work. He even filed a complaint against you!”

“Really? ”said Burke with a chuckle.

McKenze looked puzzled. “Why do you laugh? Aren’t you worried? I would be,” said Jones as he walked down the long hall with Burke.

“No, not really. Sorenson is just worried about the ship because he is responsible for maintaining it. But this log will show that the maximum tolerances of the ship were never exceeded. ”Then smiling and waving the log in the air, Burke continued, “Plus, this log shows I had one of the richest mining runs ever!”

“Even so, John, why don’t I turn the log in. Let Sorenson cool off before he sees you.”

“Thanks, Jones, I am a little late for a date. I owe you one.”

“And I’ll collect, too!” smiled McKenze. “Still dating Rebecca, huh? She’s quite a beauty, but hard to keep up with.”

“Don’t I know it! See ya, Jones, thanks again.” Burke took the next turn towards the locker rooms, and was out of sight. McKenze smiled at his friend and turned towards Sorenson’s office. Burke kept Rebecca Shepherd’s picture on the inside of his locker door. He reached his locker and swung the door open to reveal the picture. Looking at the photograph he paused for a moment and thought, “She looks like a model. That hair, those beautiful blue eyes and that inviting smile.” The picture was of Rebecca leaning against one of her father’s first antimatter-powered freighters, similar to Miner Five. She was everything Burke had ever dreamed of—pretty, good sense of humor, and smart. However, being the only child of the Shepherds, she was a little selfish. She liked Burke well enough but was still focused on herself so much that a deep relationship with anyone else was hard for her. “There’s just something about her,” thought Burke as he looked at her leaning against the freighter.

Then he spoke as if she was there, “I’ve known you for as long as I’ve worked for your father. You’re special, Rebecca. I just wish you’d make me more a part of your life,” said Burke as he touched the corner of the picture. “Maybe you will tonight!” he thought as he cleaned up, changed clothes, and dashed out of the locker room towards the main shuttle bay at the center of the spaceport.

Unlike the outer ring where gravity was similar to that of Earth because it was rotating, at the center hub it was zero-g. So to get from the working and living quarters to the center hub quickly, you had to take the gravity slide. It was really an automated tram that you strapped yourself into and rode to the hub center. From there you could go to the Anti-Grav Gym for a workout, to one of the Zero-g labs, or to the Heavy Material Cargo Bay where all the mined ore is stored for transport to Earth’s refineries or to several other storage areas. However, this evening John Burke wanted none of the above; he only desired a quick shuttle down to New Boston where Rebecca was to meet him at the Sky Harbor Restaurant.

The Shuttle ride down to Shepherd Field, which is almost directly under the geosynchronous orbit of the spaceport, was a fast and bumpy one. “With all this technology you would think they could invent better padding for the seats. I know mine could have used some,” Burke muttered as he walked off the landing field towards his air car parked nearby.

“I’ll be a little late, but she’ll understand.” Burke hoped she would anyway, as he took off and headed over the coast towards the harbor.

Chapter 3

Dangerous enemy

The critical care unit of Massachusetts General was one of the best in the world. However, that did nothing to calm Joann Long or Micah and Andrea Shepherd as they waited in the visitor’s hall.

The room where they waited was brightly colored and pleasant, for a hospital waiting area. There were plants, easy chairs and couches, and pictures portraying various peaceful scenes. Even entertainment consoles were provided to help ease the discomfort of visitors.

There were many people in the visitors’ hall tonight, but no matter how many people are around at a time like this a person always feel alone. This was just how Joann Long felt now. Waiting to hear was, indeed, a lonely experience.

One of the visitors in the room was watching an entertainment console. A news update could be seen on the screen and it caught Micah Shepherd’s attention. There was a picture of his corporate headquarters. The broadcast was from this evening, Wednesday, October 5, 2095. With a half moon overhead the broadcaster began his onsite report as Shepherd moved closer to see what the announcer had to say.

“Earlier this evening, at about 5:30 p.m., an air car exploded in this parking lot owned by one of New Boston’s leading Industrial firms, Shepherd Industries. The police don’t know why the car exploded, but they feel it was an accident. The name of the driver is unknown at this time. News 57 will stay on the story and update it as soon as possible.” The scene switched back to the studio. “Thank you for that report. At the Capital today...” the announcer trailed off in Shepherd’s mind as he wandered back to his seat beside his wife and their grieving friend.

“An accident, an accident they say!” Micah Shepherd was thinking about what he had heard when he saw Detective Fletcher sitting in the corner trying to be unnoticeable as he kept watch. Shepherd walked over to him.

“Detective, why does the police department feel it was an accident?” Fletcher looked up to face the CEO. He had seen the news update as well.

“Well, we still don’t really know what the cause was, Mr. Shepherd, so for now we call it an accident.”

“Well, didn’t you check the car over, inspect it or something?”

“After all the holos were taken the car was moved to the B.P.D.’s impound lot for better inspection. The boys should be examining it as we speak.”

Just then the announcement came over the speakers for Joann Long to come to the nurse’s station. Shepherd left Fletcher and moved to help Joann as did his wife who was sitting next to her. The attending nurse addressed Joann after she approached the nursing station.

“You may see your husband now, Mrs. Long. However, only one other person can go with you at a time.” The Nurse looked at Joann’s two companions as if she meant them.

“You go, Micah,” said Andrea, “I’ll wait here. It’s OK.” Joann nodded at Micah and the two went through the double-doors into the critical care area.

Passing by rows of instruments, monitors, and scurrying people they finally found Richard’s room. When Joann saw him her tears began again. He was badly burned over most of his body and obviously in pain but still was recognizable. The monitors above his head beeped, the saline at his side dripped, and the ventilator breathed for him keeping him alive. He was barely conscious as Joann gently touched the palm of his left hand, wetting it with her tears as she looked down. It was practically the only place on his body that wasn’t burned. Richard’s eyes fluttered open at the touch. “I’m here, darling, I’m here,” Joann reassured her husband.

“Joann...,” Richard responded weakly, “I’m sorry I missed dinner.” He tried to be positive.

Joann smiled tearfully. “We’ll have plenty of other dinners together and with Micah and Andrea.” Joann glanced at Shepherd as she said it and he agreed.

“Micah...? Is that you?”

“Yes, Richard, I’m here, too.” Shepherd also tried to be reassuring as Long coughed and motioned for him to come closer. Shepherd noticed the blood pressure monitor rise a couple of points. “Be calm, Richard. It’s OK.”

“No, Micah!” Long let out a ragged breath and clutched Shepherd’s arm. “Listen... my terminal... research papers... in drawer... important!” As Long tried to tell Shepherd his vital information he went into convolutions. Then abruptly the heart monitor screamed flatline with a high-pitched noise like a banshee wail in the dead of night.

“RICHARD!” Joann Long yelled at the top of her lungs. Shepherd sprinted from the room grabbing the first doctor he saw to come to Richard’s aid. Crash carts and personnel followed almost instantly leaving Micah Shepherd and Joann Long standing expectantly to one side. The crisis team surrounded Long’s bed and began their frantic labors.

Shepherd held Joann trying to shield her from the events unfolding around her, yet he knew nothing could. Minutes passed and still no heart beat. It was almost too much for Joann. The doctors tried one last time. Joann couldn’t watch. She turned to bury her head in Micah’s shoulder. It was a tense situation. The attending doctor applied the paddles once again, one on the right and one on the left of Long’s chest. The electric shock sizzled through the electrodes and into Long’s dead form. There was no response. The crisis team began to look at each other with solemn anxiety. Slowly the shock paddles were removed. That was it. They started to disconnect Richard Long from his monitors. He was dead. The head physician turned to speak to Joann Long. He wanted to give some comfort.

Joann was in disbelief. All she could do was pound her fists on Micah’s shoulders. “NO! NO!” is all she could say. However, as the doctor reached out to Joann a nurse called out, “He’s ALIVE! DOCTOR!” The physician spun on his heel to see Long’s monitor. Relief spread over the room as a normal sinus rhythm returned. Joann, exhausted and in shock, abruptly fainted in Shepherd’s arms and had to be taken to a bed in the room next to her husband’s. Richard Long quickly slipped into a coma and all anyone could do was wait.

Seeing that he could do nothing more to help his friends at the moment, Shepherd had Andrea come in and stay with Joann. He guided her to the room where Joann was resting and then began to leave.

“Where are you going, Micah? Aren’t you staying?”

“I’m going to call Rebecca and have her come in and help. Then I need to see Richard’s car. Something’s not right. Try to be calm, Rebecca will be here soon. I’ll be back later.”

Shepherd gave his wife a kiss and embraced her, smiled a comforting smile, and left. After calling his daughter, Shepherd approached Detective Fletcher who was standing guard in the visitor’s hall.

“Fletcher, I need to look at Mr. Long’s car. Can you arrange that?”

“I think so. Let me make a call for a replacement and we’ll be off.” Fletcher picked up his personal COM unit and made the arrangements. Shortly, his replacement arrived. Fletcher and Shepherd made their way to the elevator.

“Thank you, Detective. I’ve got a hunch that just might play out. If I’m right you may have an attempted murder on your hands.”

As the elevator doors closed, giving them a measure of privacy, Fletcher eyed Shepherd with skepticism. Thoughts were flying through Shepherd’s mind. Could Richard Long’s accident be just that, or was it more? Could the same persons responsible for his grandfather’s head researcher dying have caused Long’s accident? In both incidents a vehicle exploded. Both times, then and now, a major breakthrough was close. Back then it was antimatter propulsion. Could it be that Richard was on to something, too? He was working on a new project. Shepherd wondered to himself, “If the two are linked I’ve got little time, both to find Long’s would-be-killer and to save whatever breakthrough he was about to achieve, before it can be stolen.”

Rebecca Shepherd sat at a table for two. The Sky Harbor Restaurant’s rotating display of New Boston, and everything else in between, provided every guest the sight they wished to see while they dined. It was approaching twilight, and as the sunset gleamed across the city from the west, it was beautiful. The reflected colors from the eastern sky, as they danced across the water, were breathtaking. As she watched the outdoor scene change from ocean view to cityscape, and then slowly back again, she twirled her family ring. The ring was given to her by her great grandfather; it was one of the few things she had of his, and it was quite special to her. She let the ring’s warmth against her finger comfort her.

She enjoyed a glass of wine and watched the sailboats as they tacked in the wind towards their moorings at the pier. Off in the distance, near the horizon, she noticed an ocean-going freighter heading out to sea, just a shadow against the orange sky. Her thoughts turned towards John Burke.

“That ship is not much larger than Miner Five,” she mused. Looking at her watch she wondered what was keeping John. Taking another sip of wine she looked out over the ocean towards the sky and thought: “John is great. I’ve never known anyone quite like him. Respectful, kind, patient. Boy is he patient! How long have we been dating? No one has put up with me like he has. Why he stays around, I don’t know. I certainly haven’t given him a lot of reason. Helping my father at the office is demanding. Running here and there, having to break dates and simply ignoring John, even after he makes a special trip down just to see me. All in the name of work. I guess I’m selfish, only thinking of myself or of the company. I couldn’t ask for better than him. Then what’s holding me back? On top of it all, he is quite attractive. Just seeing him makes me weak.”

As she was considering John Burke’s proposal the waiter approached her table. “Miss Shepherd, a vid message for you. You may take it in the lobby if you would like.”

Rebecca followed the waiter to the vid phone. After he left she tapped her I.D. code into the COM panel and the stored message came on line. The image of a worried father appeared.

“Rebecca, I know you had a dinner date with John tonight and I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s been an accident.” Her heart sank. Was it her mother? Was John in an accident? Could that be why he has been delayed?

The message continued. “Richard Long was in an explosion. His air car blew up! He is in critical care at Massachusetts General in a coma. Can you excuse yourself and come over and stay with your mother and Joann? It’s important. Thanks, sweetheart. Oh, and I think, just between you and me, this was no accident. We’ll talk later...Dad.”

Rebecca’s mind raced. “What did he mean ‘not an accident?’” She checked her watch again and thought how John would feel when he arrived and found that she didn’t wait for him. But what could she do? Taking a pen from her purse she left a note with the head waiter. She paid for her wine and with one last look out over the ocean she turned and headed for the hospital. As she went, something told her that the peaceful beauty of that harborview would be the last peace she would see for a while.

Later, that same evening as Richard Long lay in a coma, Micah Shepherd was at Long’s research terminal trying to locate a reason for his friend’s accident.

As Richard’s friend and employer, he knew the unlock codes for the terminal and used them to access Richard’s most recent projects. What he found left him speechless.

“I can’t believe it. He’s found it!” Shepherd finally said, under his breath. The research summary that played out on the screen before him read like science fiction. Long’s words filled the viewer: “In summary, I believe that if the tachyon probe that I have already built is launched, then tachyon particles will be detected for the first time. The probe will be able to travel, due to its extremely light construction, at close to the speed of light thus enabling it to detect the particles. That being so, it may be possible to harness the tachyon. Because these particles only travel at light speeds, harnessing them may make faster-than-light travel a reality!”

Shepherd rubbed his temples for a moment, and then it hit him. “I can see why someone would want to get his hands on this research. The ability to travel at faster-than-light speeds would be fantastic! Materials could be mined and gotten to the refineries and out to the distribution channels days, if not weeks ahead of anyone else using regular antimatter engines. A person could travel out farther and find even richer sources of minerals than the asteroids and be back in no time! The power this would bring to the one who controlled it would be immense! There would be people literally begging for the technology. The government would want a piece, too, and they would be willing to pay for it. This discovery could be the biggest of the century!”

Shepherd realized he was wet with sweat and tried to calm down as he leaned back in the desk chair. His mind couldn’t stop thinking about the possibilities. Then he began to wonder, “Why would someone want to kill the head researcher on a project like this before the research was complete, unless someone knew that the research was sound and the outcome sure? Then they would want to get the research for themselves and keep Shepherd Industries from getting the technology before they could develop it, by killing the designer. Then, they could begin production first, claim the patent, and force everyone else to pay big for the new drive!”

Shepherd slammed his fist on the desk and thought of how the same thing was done to his grandfather when one of his researchers discovered a practical antimatter propulsion engine. Without his head researcher alive, personally to dispute the false claim, Atoms Technical got the patent first.

“Well, that’s not going to happen to this discovery! We’ve been hurting ever since that happened and this new drive could mean a whole new era for Shepherd Industries. I’ll find Richard’s attacker, and when I do, especially if I find that Atoms Technical was behind it, heads are going to roll! I don’t know how, yet, but I will find him!”

As Shepherd sat up, he felt an item in his pants pocket. He reached in and pulled out a singed and blackened, yet seemingly undamaged, ISO chip. He had retrieved it from Long’s personal effects when he visited the crime impound lot about an hour earlier. The chip caught his attention because it was not labeled. “The I.D. must have burned off in the fire,” thought Micah.

Shepherd examined it for a moment and decided to give the chip to the electronics and sound lab the next day. “This chip could be the key to discovering who planned this terrible evening. Only a person within my company could have known about this research. They would’ve had to have been in Richard’s department to see the data. That means I’ve got a spy!” The idea stung as he thought of it. How could someone do these things? Shepherd wished that he knew. All he could think of was that a good man, his friend, lay in a coma in critical condition and that a discovery that could change the course of mankind hung in the balance. Shepherd couldn’t allow either to die, so he printed out all of the research, grabbed all the note papers from the desk drawers and headed back to the hospital where his family and friends waited anxiously. He knew there was much to do and not much time to do it in.

Chapter 4

A traitor’s regret

Thomas Marcus Roundtree walked the halls of Shepherd Industries. He was heading to his office mulling over the events of the night before. He had stood outside of Massachusetts General, looking up towards the fifth floor critical care burn center hearing the words of his alternate employer, Atoms Technical CEO Bernard Rush. “Get back there and finish the job...” The words lingered in his mind and battered him at every turn.

“I won’t do it!” Frustration and anger welled up within him. “I won’t hurt my friend nor his family anymore. I’ll get his precious research for him, but I won’t kill Richard!” Coming back to the present Roundtree became aware of the people walking by him.

“Good morning, Thomas.” A lab tech passed him and smiled. The assistant researcher nodded and thought how much more he liked his first name rather than his seldom-used middle name, Marcus. Marcus was what Bernard Rush called him. How he despised it. Marcus was like an alter ego that was hiding so that no one could see. Roundtree didn’t like what he had become. He vowed that this would be the last time he would do Rush’s dirty work.

Roundtree entered his office, secured the door, and sat down behind his desk. Then slowly, methodically, even systematically, he started to plan.

In the same building, but on the executive floor, sat the CEO of Shepherd Industries. A vid-phone conference was in progress using a secured line. Shepherd’s most trusted people were online sorting out how to expose who the spy was and how to protect the project dubbed “Light Speed” at the same time.

Rebecca Shepherd, who had left the hospital just hours before, walked into her father’s office holding a report handed to her by the electronics and sound lab to give to her father right away. As his executive assistant, she naturally read the report as she walked. What she read gave rise to many questions. She entered her father’s office and handed him the report, sat down in a corner chair and waited for her opportunity to ask them.

Surprised at who delivered the report, Shepherd controlled himself and thumbed through the information. His department heads continued to give their suggestions on how to handle the spy when they uncovered who it was. Shepherd listened but was intent on finding what he was looking for. He interrupted the conversation after finding the information he needed.

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Looking over at Rebecca who was seated in a maroon leather chair in the office corner, Shepherd smiled, “I have gotten the report I was waiting for. The charred voiceprint chip found in Richard’s car has been analyzed.” Shepherd paused and cleared his throat, “Unfortunately, the chip was damaged beyond our ability to save it.” The disappointment was clear on all faces including Rebecca’s who just found out that there was a chip.

“Why don’t we just bring the police in on this and let them know our suspicions? I’m sure they could help,” injected Roger Turnbe from the personnel department.

Edward Wills, chief of company security responded, “I don’t think that would be wise, at this time. All we have is supposition and no hard facts.”

Shepherd jumped in, “Right. We don’t want to point a finger unless we have proof. Right now we have to gather facts and not espouse any theories we may have. We have to check everyone out, and that could take some time. If we have a spy we don’t want to scare him or her off. Edward, why don’t you quietly ask a few questions, check a few computer logs and so forth, and then get back to me as soon as possible with your findings.”

“I will give it my highest priority, Mr. Shepherd, and I will be discreet.”

Shepherd now looked to Roger Turnbe. “Roger, assign one of your most trusted people to Research and Development on Mr. Roundtree’s staff. Roundtree will be filling in for Mr. Long in his absence. He should need an extra hand with Richard gone and no one will think it strange for a new person to be around to help fill in. Make our ‘spy’ his assistant and instruct the person to watch everyone and report any unusual conduct to my representative.”

“Who would that be, sir?” asked Turnbe.

“I’ll inform you when the selection is made. Everyone keep your eyes and ears open, but don’t breathe a word of this to anyone else. That should do it. You all know your assignments; thank you, gentlemen.”

The split screen of the vid-phone dissolved and went dark. Silently, the screen disappeared back into Shepherd’s desk from where it came. Micah Shepherd took a deep, cleansing breath, releasing some tension as Rebecca spoke up from the corner. “What do you want me to do? After what you told me last night in your message, I want to do all I can.”

Shepherd leaned forward in his chair and put both elbows on the desk, folded his hands, and used his best fatherly voice. “The place where you can be the most help is at the hospital helping Joann and your mother.”

“But father, as your assistant I should be with you, helping to solve this situation, not stuck in some hospital waiting room!”

“But you will be helping by looking out for Joann and your mother at the hospital. They need support! I can’t be there and hope to stop Richard’s attacker and the possible theft of the project at the same time. The next few days will be critical. I must stay with it. Plus, if Richard regains consciousness I need to know immediately. He could confirm many of the things that we can only guess at now. Also, he could be in danger of another attack if he does wake up! I hope you can see why I need you there, Rebecca.”

All right, Dad. I’ll go and watch out for them. I guess our secretary, Mrs. Shaw, can handle the day-to-day affairs while I’m out of the office. But please be careful. Things seem to be happening just as they did to great-grandfather with his discovery. Don’t take chances, OK?”

Rebecca looked into her father’s eyes with concern yet with a certain knowledge that he would do what he had to do.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Give my love to your mother when you see her and keep me informed.”

His daughter nodded, grabbed her purse from off the floor by the chair and headed out the door. Shepherd watched her go and worried to himself. “It’s the safest place for her to be. I don’t know how all this will play out; it could be dangerous.” However, trying to keep Rebecca Shepherd out of trouble was next to impossible and he knew it. Yet he had to try.

Just then the appointment computer sounded and reminded him of his next meeting. He took the voiceprint report and the research, put them in his briefcase, picked up the case, and then left his office for Shepherd field and the spaceport shuttle that was scheduled. Shepherd ran down some ideas as he walked.

“Now that the ‘spy’ problem has been handled, at least for now, it’s time to get that tachyon probe flying. I think the Commerce shipyards, just off LH5 by the moon, would be a good testing ground. Plus, while I’m up there I can check on the special projects division, personally.”

Shepherd hurried to catch the company shuttle. He smiled when he thought of the secret design that the division was working on. It was a pet project of his and he hadn’t seen it in a long time. Keeping it secret from most everyone except the project team itself wasn’t easy, but he thought it was worth the effort. “Maybe this new drive could be incorporated into the project, if it works,” Shepherd mused to himself.

He reached the orbital transfer shuttle and climbed aboard. Sitting with the employees on their way to work at the Spaceport Shepherd visited quietly. All became silent as the shuttle began to liftoff. The ground fled away as Micah Shepherd watched. Then sitting back he reached into his briefcase, withdrew his mobile link, and placed a call.

Chapter 5

Healing and waiting

Breakfast had come and gone and lunch was being brought in. For Joann Long, Andrea Shepherd and Rebecca Shepherd the food was a welcomed diversion, although not the most palatable one.

In a room next to Richard’s, they waited, talking with each other, trying to be comforting. Nothing had changed since the doctors stabilized Richard the night before. Every thirty minutes they looked in on him. Joann even held his unburned hand, trying desperately to reach her husband. Every now and then Joann thought she felt a twitch in his palm, but she wasn’t sure. She had even called the doctor during the night because she thought one of his fingers moved. However, she must have been mistaken because the doctors found nothing changed, making her grief even more profound.

Now it was midday and the trio came into Richard’s room. “Still the same,” Rebecca thought as she squirmed at the sight of the man wrapped in regen bandages. The heart monitor beeped softly over his head and the bandages were still just as white, with an occasional splotch of red from light bleeding.

Andrea Shepherd moved closer to Long’s bedside and began to talk to him. “Richard, ...Richard, this is Andrea, can you hear me?”

She really didn’t expect a response, but she had to try. This man meant a lot to her family. He had been everything a family friend could be: confidant, advisor and companion. He was even an older brother to Micah who never had one. Andrea touched Long’s turned-up palm as Rebecca stood at the foot of the bed hoping for some response, any response. This time Rebecca Shepherd, whom Richard Long viewed as a daughter, spoke. “Richard, this is Rebecca.” A tear started to trail out of one eye as she continued. “We’re all still here. Don’t give up! Fight! Fight!”

Emotion-laden words came flooding out of her. This was the first time she had the courage to venture into Richard Long’s room and see the distorted and burned form clinging to life through mounds of equipment attached to his body. Even the night before when she had first come at her father’s request, she only went to the room where Joann rested. In fact, truth be told, that is why she left the next morning and went into the office. She was afraid that if she stayed much longer she would have to see Richard and it would be too hard to see him lying there hurt, helpless, and close to death. But her father urged her to return and help. Having the police guard stationed outside the door would help with the security issue, but to help with emotional support meant contact, direct contact that had to include seeing Richard personally if only to inspire Joann to keep going. “Richard Long, I know you want to live. No one here wants you to go anywhere!”

Rebecca was now grasping the foot rail so tightly that her knuckles were bone white. Slight shakes went through her arms and hands and into the bed as she continued. “Do you understand? We see you breathing, your hand is warm to our touch, you’re still alive, Richard, don’t let go of life! We all love you too much!”

With a final shake of the rail Rebecca went silent. Moving to her daughter’s side Andrea took her into her arms and hugged her. Then the two left the room to rest themselves. Richard Long looked helpless, but under the surface a raging battle for life was going on.

Long felt like he was swimming through a black fog, or that he was falling, twisting, moving through the pain and desperation he felt. Long struggled. Through the cornucopia of drugs that flooded his body he tried to think, but clear thinking would not come. Slowly he tried to think. Impossibly he tried to will himself back to consciousness. Memories of the past flew through his comatose mind. An odd voiceprint security chip with a number seventeen printed on it flashed in his dim mind. Whose chip? Whose number? The questions came, but the answers were elusive.

Pain, once again, threatened to carry him away. All he knew was that he had to live. Deep in his subconscious he knew something big was at stake. He had been working on an important piece of research. He knew that it had to be acted on. But in the state he was in these thoughts were only fleeting in nature.

Dimly aware of the things going on around him, Long floated in that state between the ability to communicate and unconsciousness. It was frustrating. When the pain did not take over his attentions he could sense other things. He could feel the touch of his wife on his hand, but like being behind a transparent barrier, he couldn’t respond. Long tried to respond by twitching his hand, but he couldn’t be sure if he succeeded. Everything was a painful effort.

Fighting hard not to slip away, he focused on a familiar voice. Trying to concentrate on who it was seemed to do the trick, at least for now. Then a shaking at the foot of his bed shifted his attention. Straining to come out of his prison was taking its toll. Unable to open his eyes, Long struggled in the dark against the fog of pain. The pain was rising again like the tide across a beach. Unrelenting, it came washing his defenses away, taking over his body and his mind, and making him oblivious to everything except the pain, once more.

At Shepherd Spaceport it was about mid-morning, if you could call it morning. The lighting was almost always the same. The only way you knew it was any time at all was by looking at your watch, except when it was approaching evening, then the lighting would slowly dim to try and provide some evening atmosphere for the workers. However, here in the CEO’s office the sulfur lighting tubes were bright like the sun. John Burke hoped he could be just as bright when the boss arrived.

The executive office of Micah Shepherd was a modern one with fixtures, chairs, even some modest plants for atmosphere. The only exception was the big oak desk that belonged to Shepherd’s grandfather, Kenneth. Micah Shepherd had it transported up soon after his mentor died. Once his daughter, Rebecca, asked her father why, and he said: “I want a piece of him with me in space. He always said we’d mine the universe some day, and now we are! I just thought he’d like to be there somehow.”

Alfred Sorenson sat in Micah Shepherd’s Spaceport office along side John Burke, with a smug smile on his face. He had been with Shepherd Industries for years, working with Kenneth Shepherd and now his grandson Micah. He had worked as portmaster for the Shepherd Industries founder at New Boston Harbor. Then with the opening of the new orbiting spaceport just over a year and a half ago, he was transferred at Micah Shepherd’s request. He was made the portmaster and Sorenson really liked the job. It was guys like Burke that he didn’t appreciate.

“I need our most experienced organizer up there.” Sorenson remembered Shepherd’s words. With the advancing years it felt good for someone to show him respect like that. He now glanced over at the young man sitting next to him and thought to himself, “I’ll show this young pup who is respected around here. Just wait till Mr. Shepherd arrives. I know he’s called us here because of my complaints.”

At that moment John Burke’s eyes met Sorenson’s and politely he nodded, turning his head away. Burke reflected to himself. “Poor old Sorenson. He does a good job with the station and the ships, but with people he has a harder time. I don’t know anyone who he likes, except for Mr. Shepherd, and no one likes him. It seems he thinks his way is the only way, especially if you’re younger than he is. I hope we’re not here because of his complaints. Mr. Shepherd has got to know how hard it’s been to get good ore runs lately.” Burke looked past Alfred Sorenson to the portrait of Kenneth Shepherd that hung near the large oak desk in front of the observation window. He couldn’t help but be concerned. After all, it was like being called down to the principal’s office without knowing what for.

Shepherd moved down the corridor at a quick pace. He knew he was late and did not like to keep his appointments waiting. He arrived at his office; seeing the light from under the door he knew they were inside waiting. Opening the door he found the two men he had called for this meeting. “Gentlemen, forgive me. Gravity slide number one was tied up and I had to take number three.”

The two men followed Shepherd with expectant eyes as he moved behind the desk. He sat down and addressed his workmen. “Well, you are both, no doubt, wondering why I asked you here on such short notice.”

Burke was about to answer when Sorenson piped up. “I think I know, sir!” Sorenson’s voice calmed a little but remained strong. “And thank you for listening to me.”

“Ah yes, Mr. Sorenson, you’re welcomed.” Shepherd didn’t expect this. However, he didn’t want to appear insensitive to Sorenson’s feelings, so he thought he’d play along. Shepherd cleared his throat and continued, “So, what is it that you would like to say?”

“Well, sir, as I stated in my reports, Mr. Burke has been deliberately abusing his ship and should be brought to task for it!” Sorenson’s eyes narrowed as he finished the statement and looked at Burke who was trying to understand what he was hearing.

“Yes, well... I see... Hmmm... Of course, I have read your reports and have seen the telemetry of Mr. Burke’s last few mining runs.”

Burke’s heart began to sink. “This was the reason for this meeting, and it sounds like Shepherd is taking his side!” he thought. So he decided to speak up before Sorenson buried him.

“Sir, if I may be allowed to explain...” The CEO cut him off with a raise of his hand as he winked slightly in his direction. Questions now flooded Burke’s mind. “What did he mean by that? What’s he doing?” he wondered.

Shepherd now spoke directly to Burke for the first time. “Frankly, I’m concerned, John. This is expensive equipment! Miner Five is not a toy for your amusement. This must not continue!”

At hearing Shepherd’s words to the younger man, Alfred Sorenson brightened. “Thank you, sir; I knew you would see my side.” Sorenson glanced again at Burke, this time in triumph.

“Indeed, Mr. Sorenson. I think Mr. Burke should be relieved of his captain’s privileges.” Sorenson sat up straight. This was going better than he could have hoped. The Portmaster felt an air of victory over the young buck next to him. Burke couldn’t believe his ears.

“Wait a cosmic minute! I can...” but before he could continue Shepherd interrupted.

“Yes, he should be assigned to a better position with a raise in pay! Congratulations, Mr. Burke!”

Both men’s jaws dropped open at once as they listened in disbelief. Sorenson sputtered, his smugness dropping away as his eyes lost focus. However, Burke slumped back in his chair flooded with relief but dazed at the turn of events.

Shepherd now began to tidy up the emotions that he had left twisting in the wind. “Mr. Sorenson, your reports were instrumental in leading up to this discussion; thank you. Now, since you will be losing one of your pilots, please begin looking for a replacement. As for Miner Five, it will be turned over to the next pilot; we have another ship for Mr. Burke.”

Thoroughly confused, Burke looked at Shepherd, trying to comprehend the bombshell that just landed on him, and so was Alfred Sorenson. Burke could not believe his ears. He felt like he was on an emotional roller coaster. His face was flushed and hot as he cleared his throat.

“Why me, sir?”

Micah Shepherd wasn’t ready to handle that question yet, so he stifled the thought with a wave of his hand as he gave his attention to the Portmaster.

Sorenson was now flushed like Burke, but for an entirely different reason. He blurted out his protest. “But sir, that’s not fair, he should be disciplined! Maybe even fired!”

“Alfred, relax, you perform a valuable service at this port. You are a good employee and friend. There are other reasons for my decision that I must keep to myself at this time. However, rest assured, I value your opinions.” Shepherd tried to be reassuring.

Still feeling a little upset, Sorenson sighed inwardly and averted his eyes towards the floor as he spoke. “If that is all then, Mr. Shepherd, I have duties to attend to.”

“Yes, Alfred, and thank you.”

The dejected Portmaster stood up pushing back his chair and turning towards the door without looking at either man. Then as he was about to open the door he paused like he wanted to say something, but he thought better of it and left. After the door closed the conversation continued.

“He was really upset with you, John.”

“Yes, sir. For a week now.”

“Why?”

“Well, sir...”

“Call me ‘Micah.’” Shepherd smiled at the younger man.

“It’s been hard to get good ore runs lately. The Atoms Technical freighters seem to keep beating us to the ore deposits. It’s like they ‘know’ where we’re planning to go next. So in order to beat them to the punch, I’ve had to do some fancy flying. Mr. Sorenson thinks I’m hot-rodding, but I was really just trying to do my job, sir.” Burke finished, hoping his boss would understand.

“Say no more, John. I understand and believe you. I’ve heard the same from other pilots. I can’t explain it myself. Mr. Sorenson’s complaints were not the reason for this meeting, but the telemetry that he sent with the report is.”

Burke sat up slowly. “This was it. The other shoe was about to drop, and right on his head,” he thought.

“I like that fancy flying of yours. You seem to know how to use your ship’s capabilities well. It’s just that sort of ability I need right now.”

Again, Burke was relieved, but he still didn’t know what this was all about. Getting up and pacing in front of Shepherd‘s oak desk, Burke needed to put some suspicions to rest.

“Mr. Shepherd...Micah, if my relationship with your executive assistant has anything to do with this promotion, please reconsider your choice, sir. I love your daughter, not for what I can get, but for who she is.”

Gesturing for Burke to sit down, Shepherd reassured him, “I’m glad that you love Rebecca. I couldn’t be happier! You wouldn’t have dated her this long if you didn’t. But that had nothing to do with my decision. I need YOU, John. Your record shows that you have experience as a test pilot for Airstream Limited. Is that right?”

Burke pondered the question. Although flying was a dream of his, being a test pilot was not. It was just a means to an end. It wasn’t that he liked what he was doing; it’s just that it was all that was open to him at the time. The airlines wanted pilots with experience, which he had none of, just being out of flight school. The charter companies had no openings, either, so he signed on with Airstream. “Maybe I’ll get used to it. Anything to fly,” thought Burke at the time. He was half right. He found that he loved the adventure. Flying into the unknown and making the untested a reality was a challenge that held a certain romance, one that fired his imagination and his soul.

He was the best test pilot Airstream ever had. He flew more aircraft and logged more hours in a few years than any commercial pilot ever could. On the other hand, he hated the uncertainty of not knowing what craft he would be flying or where he would fly it. He got so nervous before each new flight that he would either throw-up or need to relieve himself. Or both!

After a while he knew that he had to change jobs. Trying to start the day looking and acting clean and professional is rather hard when you begin the morning bending over the toilet. By that time he had enough experience for the commercial arena, but after all his adventures he knew that line of work would be too tame.

So when he heard that Shepherd Industries was looking for new pilots to fly mining runs from the Earth to the asteroids, and that each pilot would be assigned his own ship, he jumped at the chance. Here was the adventure he liked, coupled with the flying he loved, albeit, in a totally different atmosphere. But that was just an adjustment. All in all, there was a minimum of uncertainty. Once he got used to ‘his’ ship, it would be all right he thought, and he became very satisfied with his new job. He didn’t want to change. This idea of a promotion, a new assignment, and a new ship, sent visions of the bathroom swimming in his mind again. So in answer to Shepherd’s question he said, “Provisionally.”

Shepherd responded with a questioning look, so Burke explained himself. Shepherd responded with a cheerful lilt to his voice.

“John, after you hear what you could have a part in, and the DESTINY...” The word hung in the air as Micah paused. Maybe it was the way he said it, but the sound of it had a magical quality, mysterious and exciting. Shepherd continued, “...that could be yours. I think a little initial discomfort would be well worth it!”

“Micah, ...” Burke paused. He still wasn’t comfortable calling his boss by his first name, but Micah wanted him to, so he would. Besides, if Rebecca ever said ‘yes’ then Micah Shepherd would be his father-in-law, too.

Burke continued. “What is this new promotion, and just what kind of assignment do you think I’m qualified for?”

“It’s about time you asked. It’s exciting, John, also potentially dangerous. But this is not the place to discuss it; certain people could be listening.”

Burke’s eyes widened at the thought. He leaned closer to Shepherd and said in a whisper, “Who? You mean someone may have this office bugged?”

“Shh!” Shepherd got up, grabbed his briefcase, moved from around his desk and over to Burke. Then Shepherd spoke in a whisper, “Come, Mr. Burke, let’s take a ride.”

Chapter 6

Secrets everywhere

The company shuttle moved away from airlock seven at Apollo speed. Once clear of the Spaceport, Burke increased the little shuttle’s speed to full, changing course to Commerce Shipyard, sixty degrees off the left side of the Moon, as he received instructions from Shepherd.

Burke looked at his employer. “Now if you don’t mind me asking, what is all this about?”

“Now that we’re on our way, I’ll tell you.”

Shepherd explained all that had happened the previous day. He described how Richard Long’s car exploded, how Long’s possible discovery of faster-than-light travel could be in jeopardy, and how Richard Long still clung to life in the hospital. He even explained why his daughter had to break her date with Burke the previous evening.

“That’s a relief. I thought she was breaking another date just because she changed her mind or something.” Before Burke knew what he was doing he had spoken his thoughts out loud. Shepherd looked at him. Then Burke had to explain. “Ah...not that what happened to Mr. Long was good; it’s terrible. It’s just that, well...”

Shepherd could see the frustration in the younger man. Sensing his predicament the CEO waved him off with a laugh. “I know, John, Rebecca can be a handful. She’s strong-willed and knows what she wants. That’s what makes her a good executive assistant, but she has other qualities, too. Underneath all the business, she cares about people and how they feel, and that includes you. I know she has a hard time showing it, but believe me, she will, in time.” Burke appreciated hearing that. Often times he wondered how Rebecca felt about him because she never said. So he decided he would just bide his time and see.

As Burke looked out the viewport he saw the stars staring back at him brightly. In wonder, he came back to the subject at hand, “So you’re telling me that travel to those stars could be possible.” Burke pointed a finger at the viewport.

“Absolutely! Just think of it, John, if from the upcoming tests we can prove the existence of tachyon particles and then harness their faster-than-light properties, who knows how far, or how fast we could go?”

Burke noticed the look of wonder lust in Shepherd’s eyes. It was contagious. He had never seen his boss look so happy. Shepherd continued, “But there is some danger, and not just with testing this theory. If we are successful, and I have every reason to believe we will be, someone may try to steal the discovery or sabotage the tests to keep us from total success.” Shepherd was cold and serious as he finished.

It was always quiet in space with just the hum of the antimatter engines behind you and the shining stars in front. Yet the thought of the stakes involved with this project made both men draw even more quiet for a moment. Finally Burke spoke, “You still haven’t said how I fit in, or what you want me to do.”

Shepherd swiveled his chair to face Burke more completely. “John, you don’t have to accept the assignment that I’m about to offer. I want you to know that up front.”

Burke set the ship on auto-navigation and swiveled the command seat to face the CEO as he made his pitch. Shepherd continued, “If the probe discovers tachyons and the information about their makeup, there will be a need for a series of tests. Unmanned tests first, but then MANNED tests of a ship will be needed. I would not only like you to be that pilot but also act as security supervisor for the project. I’d like you to know all that is possible to know about the ‘Light Speed’ project, as I’m calling it. Look into everything. I need a man I can trust with the research team. If there is a security breach then it will have to be discovered soon.” Shepherd looked the younger man in the eye. “So will you accept the job? The pay, of course, will be very good.”

Memories of being a test pilot flooded over Burke again. The uncertainty, risk, and danger of it all made him nervous. He never thought he would have to go through it all again. Adventure and an occasional mild risk were one thing, but the high stakes involved with this adventure, from sabotage to explosions, even murder, were more than he had ever faced. Yet the opportunities for gain were just as great. This could be historical and lucrative, unlike any adventure he had ever experienced.

Burke looked into Shepherd’s expectant and hopeful eyes. His enthusiasm and drive were commanding. A good businessman and someone who wanted to be his friend, not to mention future father in law, stared back at him. How could he say ‘no?’ “Well, Micah, I’ll probably end up regretting this, but the advantages seem to outweigh the risks right now, so count me in!” Shepherd shook Burke’s hand with a mixture of relief and determination. “Just tell me where to start,” said Burke.

Turning back towards the front Shepherd knew the first thing the new security chief should do. “You can start by hitting the brakes! We’ve arrived.”

Burke turned to see Commerce shipyard looming before them and laughed at how fast the time had flown by. He put the shuttle into final approach with little effort and replied, ”Aye, aye, sir, putting on the brakes!”

The clouds had moved in during the night. Thomas Marcus Roundtree stood in his office watching those clouds. These were not ordinary clouds Roundtree knew. They were storm clouds, precursors of the snows that would come as fall progressed into winter. “It figures it would be cloudy the day after,” he thought.

As the late September clouds passed overhead and out to sea Roundtree tried to think. “Maybe this discovery will be enough for Rush, and he’ll never call me again.” Turning towards the window again he shook his head and muttered to himself, “Who am I kidding? He won’t let me go!”

Just then he heard a familiar sound at his waist and winced as he touched the confirm button. Roundtree moved over to his desk once again and sat down behind it. He unclipped the holo beeper from his belt and placed it on the desk before him with the crystalline projector chip facing up. Roundtree paused a moment to collect himself then touched the play pad. The air shimmered and waved for a moment above the beeper then solidified into an image of Bernard Rush.

“Hello, Marcus. Just a little reminder to keep me informed on the testing. You seemed somewhat disturbed yesterday evening when you reported. Remember, if you don’t fulfill your end I’ll have to invoke another plan. Of course, you know what that means. Have a good day, Marcus.” With a final wavy shimmer the holo message was gone.

“He’s even creepy in miniature,” thought Roundtree as he slumped back in his chair. He knew what Rush meant by another plan. He would be killed to tidy up loose ends, and Rush or someone else would carry on. Bernard Rush was ruthless. He’d never made any pretense about that. Even his employees that worked legitimately were not spared his wrath. Rush would get what he wanted no matter who he hurt, morals and police notwithstanding. Roundtree didn’t want to be one of those that got hurt. He had to find a way to get out from under the man’s thumb, but for now he couldn’t see how.

At that moment there came a knock on the office door. Startled, Roundtree composed himself as he sat up in his chair and granted admittance to the visitor. The door opened to reveal a strikingly beautiful woman. She had dark eyes and reddish-brown hair that framed her face like a picture. She was small and compact, well-built, and looked to be in excellent shape. Roundtree didn’t know her, but he wished he did.

After composing himself for a second time Roundtree found his voice. “How may I help you, Miss...?”

With a warm Scottish brogue she replied, “O’Neil, Shannon O’Neil. I’m from the personnel department. Mr. Turnbe sent me; he thought ye might be needin’ a wee bit of help with Mr. Long away.”

“Ah, yes, I thought Turnbe might send someone. However, I had no idea he’d send anyone as lovely as you!”

O’Neil smiled. “Thank ye, sir. I was told to let ye know that Mr. Shepherd wants to start right away on Mr. Long’s last research work, the project. Mr. Shepherd wants the research and testing to be done at the shipyards.”

If Roundtree was distracted when Shannon O’Neil walked in the room, he was no longer. He looked at his watch, then at the crono on the desk to confirm the time, 1:00 p.m. Roundtree knew Micah Shepherd. When he said that he wanted to start right away on a project, he meant it! The research team was probably already at the shipyards setting up. That meant he was late! He couldn’t afford any problems right now with him or his work. It might draw too much attention.

“Well then, Miss O’Neil, that being the case, we should get a move on.” Roundtree reached behind the desk for a project data folder and his briefcase then turned back towards O’Neil. With a slight bow he indicated the door. “After you, my new assistant.”

As Thomas Marcus Roundtree followed behind, he wasn’t sure what the day would bring, but one thing he did know as he watched O’Neil, the view ahead wasn’t bad at all.

It thundered outside after Bernard Rush sent his little reminder to Marcus. Rush stood contemplating the pedestal at the office center, a white marble pillar in the classic design with a smooth, clean top. It was cool to the touch as it waited for the proper display.

A tone came from the COM unit on Rush’s desk. “Yes, what is it?” he demanded.

“Sir, you have a call waiting for you on line one. It’s the research department.”

“I’ll take it.”

Rush walked from the pedestal to his desk and pressed a button. “What is it?” he said impatiently.

“Sir, this is Higgins in Research. I just wanted to give you a progress report on our efforts to discover a drive. Sir, Einstein’s special theory of relativity keeps getting in the way. No matter how close we get to light speed, more and more energy seems to be needed to maintain that speed. It seems impossible to go even near light speed, let alone surpass it!”

“What? Are you saying that you’re giving up?”

“Mr. Rush it’s just not possible.”

“It IS possible! I’ll have you know, Higgins, that our competition has...” Rush trailed off, not wanting to reveal to any extra personnel what he knew about Shepherd Industries.

“Never mind what you feel. Keep working on it! Rush out!”

The old businessman thumbed the button on his desk again and cut the communication. He paced around the office a little before stopping at the bay window behind his desk. The window overlooked New Boston Harbor. From the window you could see for miles across the harbor, out to sea, and into the sky beyond. To Rush, it made him feel like he was on top of the world and invincible. He never strayed from it when in his office. Even though it was a gray, rainy day with streaks of water staining the view, it still made him feel in control to be near it, as if he was above it all.

“Never achieve light speed? BAH! If Shepherd can do it, so can I! Mr. Roundtree was confident that the testing would be successful. Well, I’ll wait and see. A discovery this big would change man and the Earth forever. I must be in control of this new technology, not Shepherd. Like his grandfather, Micah Shepherd doesn’t see what it could become, but I do!” Rush clinched his fists and raised them into the air and suddenly slammed them against the glass he was staring through. Frustrated by his own research team’s ineptness, and worried about how much longer Roundtree would remain a viable source, Rush paced the office again.

“I think I need a little more insurance that this technology will be mine.” Rush looked at the various pieces of art while he thought, until he saw a certain painting. It was a painting of a little girl in a field of flowers—a classic by anyone’s standards. A smile creeped over his drawn features and crossed his thinning lips. “Yes, yes, that will do!” Rush voiced his approval out loud. It was perfect. It was a backup scheme that only Rush would use. “When the tests are over and proven successful, then I’ll do it! One way or another, I will have this new discovery. The Shepherd family will always be second to me.” As Rush mused to himself he looked up at the painting again and started planning the particulars.

Chapter 7

New friends

Six weeks passed with not much progress. Richard Long was still in a coma. At the shipyard the tachyon search had yielded little. The door to Micah Shepherd’s Spaceport office was partly open, so Jones McKenze poked his head in to find Shepherd mentally reviewing the past few weeks.

“Mr. Shepherd?” Turning in his chair Shepherd faced the door and his unexpected guest. “Yes, Jones, what, is it?”

“They are nearly ready for the next test, sir. I thought that you might want to observe from station control. We’ll be monitoring the Shipyard’s test from there.” McKenze was clearly intrigued by the idea. Shepherd smiled at his eagerness.

“Of course. Thank you, Mr. McKenze.” Shepherd stood and motioned for the energetic communications technician to lead the way.

Meanwhile, at the Shipyard John Burke and Shannon O’Neil walked down the hall towards Control Room-J, reviewing the last few test flights.

“I really thought that last week’s test would be successful. Who would’ve thought we’d lose engine thrust just as we were approaching fifty percent light speed?”

“That was strange, wasn’t it? The new A.M. engine design was working perfectly and then, POW, no thrust!” Burke caught O’Neil’s eyes as he finished. They were beautiful.

Looking back at him she replied, “Mr. Burke, since you’re working with Mr. Shepherd as his direct representative and as security chief for the project, there’s something you should know.”

“Indeed. What would you like to tell me?” Burke’s interest was now piqued.

“Well, I’ve been asked by personnel to keep my eyes open to anything strange going on.”

“You mean, you’re a spy?” Burke chuckled inwardly as he said it. Shepherd had informed him about her while they were in flight here six weeks ago.

“I guess you could put it that way, yes.”

“A regular Mataharrie, are you?”

“Mr. Burke, this is serious!”

“I know, I know. Mr. Shepherd already informed me of your activities. I wondered when you would make a report to me.”

Relieved that Burke knew of her situation, O’Neil made her report. “Well, sir, I’ve noticed that Mr. Roundtree seemed almost relieved that the tests did not succeed. As lead researcher in the department you’d think he’d be a wee bit upset.”

Burke stopped walking and leaned against a bulkhead. O’Neil followed suit. Looking off down the hall Burke stared into space, intrigued by the notion. “You’re right. I didn’t notice it before, but Roundtree has been acting a little strange. He hasn’t shown any disappointment with all five previous tests. If anything, he’s been cool. Too cool. Good observation, Shannon. I think I’ll have a talk with Mr. Roundtree after today’s test.”

Continuing their walk to CRJ, Burke was slightly ahead of O’Neil. Shannon couldn’t help but notice the ‘man’ in front of her. His gait was strong, confident, and shapely. Burke had an air about him, an air that said nothing would stand in his way. O’Neil admired that. Over the past few weeks she’d come to know this man. She even found herself drawn to him, and she liked it. “I know he’s interested in Rebecca Shepherd. The whole company does. But is she interested in him?” that was the question that Shannon O’Neil asked herself. The duo turned the last corner and arrived at their destination.

“Here we are.” Burke paused at the door to CRJ and glanced over his shoulder at O’Neil.

She had to ask him. If she waited till after today’s test he might say he’s too busy “If I’m to have any chance with him at all, I’ve got to say something,” she thought. As O’Neil caught his glance, she figured now would be as good a time as any.

“Mr. Burke?” O’Neil asked in her best Scottish brogue.

“Yes, Miss O’Neil?”

“I was thinking that after the testing today you might like to catch some dinner at the food center.” Sheepishly, she averted her eyes and inwardly cringed as she waited for his answer.

Burke thought a moment as he considered her offer. She was truly beautiful. About five-foot four, with reddish-brown hair, high cheek bones, and a figure any woman would be proud of. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t attracted to her. Burke viewed her as a friend. From the start she was easy to get along with and easy to work with. However, even as Burke wanted to accept, thoughts of how much he missed Rebecca flooded his mind.

“Miss O’Neil, thanks for the invitation, but my evening may be full. Some other time, perhaps?” O’Neil thought that might be his answer, so she answered him with a smile.

“Aye, I know you’re busy. I just thought you had to eat, too!” she replied.

Before Burke could reply, Thomas Roundtree came around the corner. “Burke. O’Neil. Hello! Time for another run. Shall we?” He motioned towards the door and without another word the three of them filed inside.

“Good morning, everyone. What’s our status today?” The control room being used for the tests was busy. The attending engineers informed Roundtree and Burke of the progress. The tachyon probe was thirty minutes from launch. It had been rebuilt and reinforced around the sensor and engine packs for greater resistance to near stresses. With the new antimatter engine design, getting close to where tachyons should be detected would be no problem; however, the pattern used for the detection grid was. All anyone could do was guess at what the subatomic particles looked like, moved like, or even if they existed at all. So just discovering them would be a breakthrough in Particle Physics, and everyone knew it. Therefore, each time a detection flight was due you could feel the electricity in the air.

“T-minus fifteen minutes and counting.” As time went by, the countdown resounded through the room filling the team with anticipation. Would this test be the one? Burke hoped so. This waiting and watching was starting to get on his nerves. He found himself wishing that something would happen just to have something to focus on. Then, as usual, Thomas Roundtree announced, “Final systems check. All stations report in.”

As the reports came in Roundtree went over to personally supervise the final sensor check on probe number six. Burke stood on the upper deck watching the flurry of movement. Looking at station after station everything seemed to be normal. After five such test flights the team seemed to have everything down pat.

Walking over to an empty terminal, Burke pulled up a chair and sat down. He called up on the computer screen the original probe design that Richard Long had proposed. Next he split the screen and called up the current design that would fly in less than fifteen minutes. With both designs side-by-side there was little difference, except for a few key reinforcements and grid adjustments. Otherwise, the two designs were identical. Burke needed more information. Something had to be wrong.

”Computer, please display the names of all logons made just before the previous probe launches.”

”Please specify time interval before launches,” replied the computer voice.

“One hour before launch,” added Burke.

The screen filled with the names of engineers and technicians who made the final checks. However, Burke saw nothing wrong. “Why did those other tests fail? Was it just coincidence?”

John Burke gave new parameters to the computer. “Computer, display forty-five minutes before launch.” Many of the same names turned up again, but nothing out of the ordinary could be seen. Burke reviewed the names at thirty and fifteen minutes before launch, but nothing seemed to click. “Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree here. Everything checks out. If something was going to fail why would it be different each time?” he thought.

Burke’s finger went down the list on the screen. “There was a stabilizer failure, an antimatter injection problem, a sensor relay burn out, fractures in the probe’s casing due to vibration, and finally, loss of thrust at a critical point in the test. It’s almost like the probe wants us to get frustrated and give up!” Burke wrestled with his internal monolog. It made him feel sick to think someone that he was working with might be a traitor, but it was his job to be suspicious. Micah Shepherd appointed him to oversee project security and to dig into everything. He knew that some of the engineers resented it. The thought that an outsider was watching them didn’t go over too well. Some even felt that he was only given the job because he was dating the boss’s daughter. He knew that wasn’t true, but be that as it may, he still had a job to do and he was going to do it!

“T-minus five minutes and counting,” the count resounded once more. Burke watched each station secure itself for launch. Structure, Sensors, Propulsion, Probe Telemetry, and so on. They all were ready. Shannon O’Neil came over to where Burke had stood up from the empty terminal to watch the work area below.

“Ready, Mr. Burke?” Shannon O’Neil seemed to speak with grace as she continued. “This could be the day mankind takes a giant step toward the STARS.” She let that last word roll off her tongue with a sense of wonder and awe, so much so that Burke was captivated. That was exactly how he had come to feel about the STARS during the last year, being captain of Miner Five. The adventure, wonder and awe that was the universe, Shannon O’Neil captured with just that one word, STARS. The thought was wonderful.

Burke stepped closer to her and replied, “It might be. It just might be.” Catching each other’s eyes, they both felt a shared understanding pass between them. Just then the COM speakers blared to life overhead like a shout and startled them.

“Commerce Shipyard, this is Shepherd Spaceport, we show you ready for launch in two minutes. Do you copy?” the communication station responded.

“Confirmed, Spaceport. Ready in two minutes, ...MARK!”

Jones McKenze responded from the spaceport and put Micah Shepherd online.

“We’re all wishing you success. I’m sure Richard Long would be proud. Have a good flight. Spaceport out.”

Just as the link went silent the computer came to life. “T-minus thirty seconds and counting. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight Twenty-seven...”

Roundtree grimaced as he thought of Shepherd’s mention of Richard Long. “If only he knew what I’ve done and what I’m doing now. If only he knew how Bernard Rush is listening to everything that comes in or out over the spaceport’s COM system due to the bugging transmitter I installed a couple of months ago.” A shiver of regret came over him.

“Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six...” The count was relentless. Long just wanted it to end. He knew how this test would turn out. “Three. Two. One. LAUNCH!”

Back at Massachusetts General, Joann Long was exhausted. For six weeks now her husband lay in a coma hovering between life and death, unmoving. She stayed with him all that time, barely leaving his side except to shower and eat. Andrea and Rebecca were there, too. They tried to provide comfort and support.

It was hard for Rebecca to be away from the business that she loved for so long, but she tried to keep up-to-date with daily calls and holo-messages. In fact, she had all but turned a corner of their waiting area into a mini-office, not so much for work, but more to help relieve some of the stress she felt. Pain, sickness, and needles were things she would rather not have to deal with, but regardless, she remained at her post. She helped Joann in every way that she could and tried to be watchful of the security arrangements.

Security had been made harder by the fact that the New Boston Police Department pulled their guard from Richard Long’s room. According to them, the case was now low priority because no other attempts on Long’s life had been made. Rebecca wondered if he had to get killed to make them investigate. So now Rebecca shuttled from Long’s room to the waiting area each day and each night trying to watch out for everyone.

She was sitting outside Richard’s room when her mother came walking towards her. “Hello, my daughter. How are you holding up?”

“Fine, Mom. How is Joann doing?”

“She’s fine. I ordered her to sleep and not to come out for eight hours. I said we’d wake her if there was any change.” Rebecca was happy not to have to worry about where Joann was for a while. Visibly relieved, she relaxed.

Andrea noticed the tension and motioned for her daughter to follow her into Richard’s room. After a moment’s protest about remaining at her post, which was really just reluctance about going into Long’s room again, she gave in and followed.

Sitting down on the guest couch Andrea Shepherd invited her daughter to do the same. “Rebecca, why don’t you come here. Lay down, put your head on my lap and rest. You’ve been under a lot of strain. I’ll keep the watch.”

“Mother, I’m twenty-three years old!”

“OK, then just sit and relax a moment.”

Rebecca sat down, and to tell the truth, the soft cushions did feel much better than her chair outside. They both sat there for a while just listening to the sound of Richard Long’s breathing equipment and heart monitors. His wounds were healing nicely now, but he still would not wake.

Being in the relative isolation of the hospital gives one time to think, time to sort out your life if you choose. Rebecca had been doing just that. Over the past few weeks she had been thinking about her family, her job, and, of course, John Burke. It was time to tell someone.

“Mother, I’ve been thinking about things these past few weeks and ...”

“Really? What things?” Andrea inquired of her daughter with a nurturing look. It was one of those ‘tell me about it’ looks that only a mother can give.

“Well, you remember John, right?”

“Yes,” said Andrea urging her daughter to continue.

“John and I have been seeing each other for some time now and...” Rebecca began to look down. Andrea, noticing the long pause, reached up to stroke her firstborn’s hair in a show of support. That was all it took. The tears fell from Rebecca’s eyes. “Oh, mother, what should I do?”

As she said the words, she stretched out and put her head on her mother’s lap crying into her skirt, soaking it through. “Honey, it’s OK. What is it?” As Andrea continued to stroke her daughter’s hair, she encouraged her to go on.

“What can I say, Mom? I love John, but I just can’t bring myself to say ‘yes!’”

“He proposed to you then?”

“Yes, a couple of times. Each time I’ve put him off. He said, ‘I’ll wait. Take your time. I know it’s a big decision.’ Mother, how can I break his heart?”

“Rebecca, John is a good man. I believe he loves you. He would be very good to you. You know your father and I like him. So why are you unsure about marrying him?”

Rebecca was in a quandary over her feelings. “It’s hard to say, Mom. It’s not that I don’t want to; I do. But I also like my job and working with Dad everyday. I don’t want to lose that.”

Rebecca turned her head and looked up into her mother’s eyes. She hoped for understanding and an answer; instead, she found her mother smiling at her. Puzzled, Rebecca wiped her eyes and asked, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re experiencing what every career woman does when she finds love. You don’t want to give up your freedom, but you want companionship, too.”

“How did you know?”

“Let’s call it experienced female intuition. The question is, which is more important to you, your work or John?”

Rebecca thought for a moment and said, “I’m just not ready for marriage right now.”

“Then tell him that and he’ll wait for you,” said Andrea.

“That’s the trouble, Mom, I don’t think I’ll ever marry John, or anyone, at least not for the next few years, anyway. And it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to wait for that long. By then I don’t know where I’ll be or how I’ll feel.” Rebecca sat up and leaned on her knees putting her head in her hands. Her mother leaned up doing the same.

Many minutes passed before Andrea Shepherd spoke. “You have to tell him, Rebecca; it’s only fair.”

Rebecca paused then said, “I know. I will.” She touched her mother’s hand. “Thanks Mom.”

They smiled that mother-daughter smile at each other and both sat back on the sofa. Rebecca turned to say something to her mother. As she opened her mouth to talk she saw something out of the corner of her eye that stopped her short.

“Mother!” Rebecca whispered for her attention.

“What, dear? Why are we whispering?”

“Look!” Rebecca pointed towards Long’s bed and continued her whisper, “His arm, it moved!”

Chapter 8

The big test

The probe sped away from Commerce at one percent light speed leaving a trail of disrupted space behind. All looked good as it approached open space.

“Increase speed to five percent.” Thomas Marcus Roundtree directed the operation from the command deck where he sat while Burke and O’Neil stood beside him. Since everything looked good, the probe’s speed continued to be increased.

“Increase speed to fifteen percent,” shouted Roundtree. The speed went up: twenty percent, then thirty percent and finally, fifty percent before Roundtree motioned for the probe to cruise while all systems were checked. Burke looked at O’Neil; this was where the probe lost engine thrust on the last test. Nothing happened. The probe was going strong. According to the monitors, even the stress levels were within tolerance this time. Nodding in relief, O’Neil nudged Burke and looked into his smiling face as he nodded in relief as well. In fact, spirits were rising all across the room except at one station.

Burke looked at Roundtree sitting behind the master situation monitor next to him. He looked like a stone, wet and unmoving in the morning due. Sweat showed on his face as he called for the next phase. “Increase speed to sixty percent and prepare for tachyon detection test.”

The probe bucked a little as it reached the next fantastic speed. Nothing had ever gone this fast. The engine that produced this speed for this size ship was an achievement in itself, but that was not the purpose. Much more was at stake.

“Why don’t they test for the particles now?” Burke asked Roundtree. After a moment, O’Neil responded for Roundtree who was glued to his monitor.

“Because the sensor pack is secured against vibration. It can only be extended between sixty-five and seventy-five percent light speed.” Burke looked puzzled.

“I still don’t see why. Isn’t seventy-five percent the probe’s top speed? It can’t maintain a stable speed at that level for very long.”

“True, but we think that you have to be between sixty-five and seventy-five percent to even glimpse tachyons. They’re just moving too fast to see them at any slower speed. Using the detection grid prior wouldn’t yield any results and could cause damage due to vibration exposure over an extended period of time.”

Surprised at Shannon O’Neil’s technical knowledge, Burke could only nod as he turned back towards the monitors. Burke knew the answers to the questions but wanted to see if he could get a reading on Roundtree’s thinking by asking them. He was just starting to get a feel for Roundtree’s state of mind when O’Neil eagerly piped up. Burke had to go along because he didn’t want Roundtree to get suspicious.

All of a sudden, the all too familiar problem alert klaxon that had sounded on every previous test went off again. One of the engineers called up from the semicircle control deck below.

“Sensor pack will not respond!”

“Roundtree called back hoarsely, “Re-signal and increase speed to sixty-five percent!”

“Still no response. However, she is answering sixty-five percent,” the same engineer replied.

Burke looked at Roundtree and he looked visibly relaxed! Burke couldn’t believe it! The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife and Roundtree had stopped sweating. Burke didn’t like it. Something was fishy. He nudged O’Neil.

“Get down there and check that engineer’s readings. HURRY!”

O’Neil looked at Roundtree for authorization, but he was engrossed in covering up his deception. She also noticed how odd it seemed for Roundtree to be so cool; she knew she couldn’t wait.

Wasting no time Shannon leaped the two steps down to the control deck. She was at the sensor station in a flash. Her fingers danced across the board as she remembered what she had learned about these systems over the past five weeks.

“Confirmed. Sensor pack will not respond. It looks like relay failure again, but I’ve got an idea.” O’Neil moved the engineer out of the way, pushed the chair aside and scrambled under the console until all that could be seen of her was her boots. At that moment another station called out to add to the bedlam.

“Communication breakdown! The onboard C3 will not respond to commands!”

Burke, still standing beside Roundtree, glanced at him for a response. Burke saw the faintest of smiles cross Roundtree’s lips, but then he was all business. Still, Burke knew what he had seen and he had had enough! Without waiting for permission, he vaulted to the deck at a run and headed for the mission computer station. A year of running Miner Five back and fourth to the asteroids with only a C3 for company had honed his computer skills and taught him some tricks, too.

“Increase speed to seventy percent and hold till further notice.” Roundtree sent the probe to almost top speed. He was confident that if sabotaging the detection grid and the C3 wasn’t enough, stressing the probe’s engines to their limits would be. If Shepherd Industries never discovered tachyons then there would never be light speed; and if there was no light speed then he wouldn’t have to deal with Bernard Rush and risk his wrath. The idea would just fade away.

It seemed like an elegant solution. Rush never had to know. All he would see and hear from the bugs planted in the spaceport’s COM system was that the tests failed and Roundtree would be off the hook. Although feelings of guilt about what he had done to Richard Long stilled plagued him, Roundtree was feeling pretty good about his plan till he suddenly noticed Burke and O’Neil were not beside him anymore. Instead, they were at the very stations he had sabotaged before the flight. In panic, Roundtree shouted above the flurry of activity, “O’Neil! Burke! What are you doing? Those are million-dollar pieces of hardware you’re messing with! You’re not qualified. Leave those stations at once!”

Burke called back brooking no interference from the project director. “We are trying to save this test run! You should be, too! If not, stay out of it!” Roundtree sputtered in shock.

The security chief called out to O’Neil. “Shannon, how about those sensors?” She replied from under the console.

“I think I’ve almost got it. Just one more bypass...got it!” O’Neil sprang out from under the work station and back to the control board as the sensor engineer watched from behind. “

Yes, the sensor pack is responding. Extension taking place now.”

At that moment the propulsion engineer shouted, “Engines at critical; we can’t maintain seventy percent much longer!” Burke flipped a toggle and finished rerouting a circuit pathway.

“All right, we’ve got the C3 back online. Telemetry coming in now. Routing data to main station. Mr. Roundtree, what have you got?”

There was a hush. Only the sound of the problem alert klaxon could be heard while everyone watched their monitors.

The propulsion engineer was the first to respond, “That’s it! Engines are throttling back. Speed dropping to sixty, fifty-five, fifty, forty percent. Holding at forty.”

Roundtree was silent. Burke continued his orders, “Miss O’Neil, check the master control station for the test results. Propulsion Station, turn the probe around and make best speed for home.”

O’Neil cautiously made her way towards the master situation monitor and the stunned director. Checking the monitor she reported, “Looks like we got a partial scan. We won’t know what we’ve got until the telemetry is examined more closely.”

“Download the data to a chip and secure it right away, Miss O’Neil. Then see to it that all other stations are secure, as well.” O’Neil acknowledged the security chief and went about her work. After giving direction to some other technicians, John Burke moved towards the upper deck where Roundtree still sputtered from his rebuke just minutes before.

Pushing his chair back and standing up, Roundtree faced Burke as he approached the main console. Nervous and defensive, Roundtree spoke first as he locked eyes with the security chief.

“What do you mean taking over like that, Burke? I’m the one who’s in charge, not you, you glorified flight jockey!”

Calmly Burke responded, “What you should have said, Mr. Roundtree, was that you WERE in charge.”

Roundtree exploded! “WHAT?!? You have no authority!” he yelled. Roundtree was boiling mad. He sensed that Burke knew something. He could feel his plan coming apart, and he couldn’t stop it. Walking past the fuming director, Burke tapped the control keys of the empty research station.

“Computer, display previous request and add all names who logged on and accessed the systems that failed during the previous five tests.” The computer displayed what was requested, its circuit pathways unmindful of the import, but there it was, just the same. If there had been any doubt in Burke’s mind about sabotage, there was no longer.

“Computer, download data displayed to chip and lock with security code Gamma-Nine-Five-Two.” Burke was glad he had taken the time to program his own security codes. Punching the COM button, Burke took his first security action. “Security, this is project security chief Burke. Send two men to CRJ, pronto! Burke out.”

Roundtree’s eyes were wide with rage fueled by panic. His voiced pitched as he spoke. “Burke, you’re nothing but a security chief in name only! You can’t arrest me!”

“Really? Besides, who said anything about arresting you? All I did was call security. Have you done something to be arrested for, Director?” Burke looked Roundtree in the eye. He didn’t want to lose control of the situation, but at the same time he wouldn’t back down from this fraud.

Burke looked down for a moment to check the probe’s return status, and then it happened. Roundtree snapped.

“Why, you...” he shouted.

O’Neil, observing from the lower deck where she was helping to secure some stations, called out and Burke looked up just in time to see Roundtree’s fist flying towards his jaw. It landed squarely, hitting its target hard and knocking Burke backwards, almost off his feet. Roundtree pursued his advantage. Grabbing Burke by the shirt with both hands, Roundtree prepared to throw his dazed opponent over the console. Instead, Burke came up with both fists and knocked Roundtree’s hands away. With Roundtree momentarily out of position, Burke landed his own barrage. Taking a step closer, he hit Roundtree with a left to the mid-section, knocking the wind out of him. Then Burke sent his own right across the winded man’s chin, sprawling him back hard against the rear wall.

Roundtree, wincing and breathing hard, touched the corner of his mouth and found it bleeding. Roundtree pushed himself up to retaliate, but then thought better of it and dashed for the exit. The door parted as he approached, but instead of finding the hallway and freedom, Roundtree hit something like a brick wall; two security guards barred his way as they grabbed both his arms and spun him around.

“That’s your man, gentlemen. Hold him!” shouted Burke. Then taking a few steps closer, Burke made his findings public. “Thomas Marcus Roundtree, I formally charge you with knowingly sabotaging this project with intent to keep it from completion and success. Furthermore, I charge you with intent to defraud and steal from Shepherd Industries,” Burke paused for a moment to catch his breath, “...and whatever else you’re guilty of! Security, take this man to a cell and hold him until Mr. Shepherd can get here.”

Roundtree protested in a final appeal for freedom. “Those charges are baseless! You have no proof! Show me your proof!” He looked at his captors as if to say ‘let me go.’

“You’ll see the proof soon enough, and believe me, I’ve got it! Take him away, men. I’ll look in on the prisoner later.”

“Yes, sir!” With the struggling man in their grasp the guards pulled him back through the open doors and down the hall. The doors closed behind them oblivious to the scene that just passed between them. You could hear a pin drop in the control room. The engineers and technicians of the project looked stunned. Was what they just saw true? They couldn’t believe it!

“I’m sorry I had to take the action you just witnessed. However, there is hard evidence for the charges I just made.” Burke held up the data storage chip that contained the evidence, “This chip contains all the facts. It will be given to Mr. Shepherd for him to review. He will decide how to proceed. I assure you that Mr. Roundtree will be treated fairly. In the meantime, we all have work to do. Each one of you knows your job. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. Finish bringing the probe in. When it arrives, go over it with a fine tooth comb. I want a level ten check on all control systems. When you have your results, give them to Miss O’Neil.”

Burke turned to leave, “As for me, I’ll be in the security office trying to sort all this out. Also, send a detailed report of the probe test to Spaceport along with a request for Mr. Shepherd to come to the shipyard as soon as possible. Tell him that I’ll explain when he arrives.”

Burke walked towards the doors and they parted before him. Behind him he could hear the research team start their work once more. It was kind of comforting in a way. They didn’t really need Thomas Roundtree to continue the project. Finally the doors closed, blocking out the noise.

It was now evening in the shipyard. The solar mirrors that brought light, heat and energy to the complex had tilted away to simulate an evening atmosphere. According to Burke’s watch it was now eight o’clock. No wonder he was hungry!

As he began his trek towards the security office, Burke knew he had a long walk ahead of him. Behind him, however, he heard running footsteps. “What is it now,” he thought, “another emergency?” Burke turned to see what the ruckus was, just as Shannon O’Neil rounded the corner nearly running into him.

“Whoa! Where’s the fire?”

O’Neil abruptly stopped. “Oh, sorry, Mr. Burke, I dina mean to almost run ya over.”

“That’s OK. What’s the trouble?”

“Oh, no trouble, sir. I just didn’t know what you wanted me to do right now. The results of all the tests you ordered won’t be ready for a couple of hours yet.” She panted out of breath from her run. Burke rubbed his right hand and looked at her for a moment. She was Roundtree’s assistant and with him gone she had no immediate job. Burke couldn’t help but smile at her panting appearance. Her hair was all wind-blown from the run and sweat was dripping down her face. She could have just waited for the test results, but she had to catch up to him. Why? “Did she really want to work that bad?” Burke wondered.

He was tired and hungry. With all the events of the evening, more assignments and questions were not what he wanted to think about. Shannon O’Neil stood waiting for a response. She was likable, and from what Burke knew, she was on his side. She wasn’t bad to look at, either, he decided. Burke could use a friend about now. Fatigue from the day was weighing on his mind. It would be at least a couple of hours before Micah Shepherd arrived and Burke realized he needed some rest before things started up again. Burke looked at O’Neil.

“Well, until those tests are complete, there isn’t much for you to do except join me for some dinner, that is, if your offer still holds?”

Taken aback by the sudden change of heart, Shannon O’Neil smiled at Burke. “Of course, Mr. Burke, but I thought you nea had the time?”

“Well, I,” just then Burke’s stomach growled loudly, “reconsidered due to internal pressures.”

“Hmm, I see. Well, I couldn’t agree more,” said O’Neil as her stomach followed suit.

”Shall we then?” Burke motioned forward with an outstretched hand, as Shannon fell into step beside him.

“By the way, we have worked together for six weeks now. Call me ‘John.’” O’Neil nodded her agreement.

“Aye, you’ve got a deal.”

Then both their stomachs growled. Together they laughed and walked to the food center.

Chapter 9

Wakeup call

“Sir!” Jones McKenze called after Micah Shepherd as he was leaving the Spaceport’s command center. “I have your wife on a priority channel.” Turning from the exit, Shepherd grabbed the nearest headset.

“Yes, Andrea, what is it? Is every one all right?”

Trying to control the excitement in her voice Andrea answered her husband, “Micah, I think you’d better get down here right away. Richard is coming out of the coma! Rebecca saw him move his arm and shortly after that his eyes fluttered open and then closed.”

“Is the doctor there?” Shepherd asked.

“Yes, but he is too busy to talk. Hurry Micah!”

“On my way.” Shepherd broke the link and turned towards McKenze. “Jones, get me Mr. Burke at the shipyard.”

McKenze nodded and started the communications transfer, then he looked at Shepherd. “Sir, Commerce is not responding. I’m getting the automated response that their COM system is temporarily under repair and will be back up soon. Sorry, sir.”

“Is there any other way to get through?”

“If their COM system is down they can’t hear us no matter what we do.”

“What about Mr. Burke’s personal communicator?”

“If he had a bigger antenna, maybe, but as it is, his system isn’t powerful enough to receive from this distance without a boost. The engineers over there must be checking the system after their trouble during the probe’s flight. I’ll be glad to send a message for you as soon as the system is back online.”

“That will have to do. I can’t wait, so tell Mr. Burke I won’t be able to meet him at the shipyard. Instead, he is to come to Earth right away. Tell him Mr. Long is coming out of his coma. I’ll meet him at the hospital. Also, call Edward Wills at home and get him over to Massachusetts General, too.” Jones nodded.

Without waiting for a reply, Shepherd bolted from the command center. His mind raced as he ran towards the gravity slide and the Earthbound shuttle that waited at the central hub. “Richard is AWAKE! I know Joann is relieved, to say the least. He has great timing, coming out of the coma just when we need his help in finding his attacker and furthering the project. I wonder if the attacker is someone Richard knows? I hope he can tell us.

”Shepherd just made the last shuttle as it was ready to depart. He strapped himself into the shuttle’s blast couch. The shuttle released itself from its moorings and the Spaceport fled away as the shuttle hurtled towards Earth with a hopeful man aboard. He was more hopeful for his friend and his family than he had been in weeks.

John Burke and Shannon O’Neil sat down at a corner table in the food center dining hall. Sitting down was a luxury, lately. The pace everyone had been keeping was grueling. O’Neil rubbed her feet as Burke leaned back in his chair to stretch and yawn.

“Oh, what a day! My whole body aches.” Burke began to massage his bruised right fist. “Mr. Roundtree put up quite a fight.”

O’Neil took a good look at Burke and saw what he meant. “John, you’re bruised and your hand is bleeding. Shouldn’t you go see the doctor?”

“Oh, I’ll be fine; it’s not the first time I’ve gotten a little bruised. So what’s for dinner?”

Burke looked over at O’Neil’s plate trying to change the subject. O’Neil looked at her plate then held up her cup to examine it. Her nose wrinkled at the smell. “Looks like a chicken sandwich and some very strong coffee,” she replied.

“You don’t seem to like coffee.” Burke noticed the wrinkled nose.

“Nea, I don’t really. I’m more of a tea drinker, but if this is all they have I’ll drink it.”

“I know what you mean. I don’t care for coffee, either. I like a good cup of tea myself, but a good, cold glass of water is best when I’m thirsty.”

Burke took a drink of his coffee. It tasted bitter in his mouth, but it would have to do for now. Water is at a premium in space. Once it is used to prepare something, that’s all you get until the next re-supply shipment. Burke put his mug down and rolled it between his hands, enjoying the warmth as he spoke. “Tell me, Shannon, where are you from? I take it that it’s somewhere in Ireland.”

O’Neil replied with a smile, “Scotland, actually. It’s just a small farm in a small town.”

“I’m sure it’s a beautiful place,” Burke replied.

“Aye, it tis. The rolling hills. The dew in the morn. The green grass in the springtime. My parents still live there. I like to go back and visit whenever I can.”

“So what brought you to Shepherd Industries?” Burke asked.

”Well, after I completed University, majoring in Space Sciences...” Burke was surprised!

“Space Sciences? Doesn’t that include a lot of subjects?” he interrupted.

“Aye, and I wanted to find a place where I could use what I had learned. Shepherd Industries seemed like a good place to start.” O’Neil smiled and then took a bite of her now cold chicken sandwich.

“Well, for a new college grad at her first job, you handled yourself quite well today.”

“Thank you very much, sir.”

Both smiled as another look of understanding passed between them. Just then Burke’s COM unit beeped to life. Burke excused himself for a moment and touched the wrist communicator.

“Burke here. Go ahead.”

“John, this is Jones at the Spaceport. You are a hard man to reach. I’ve been trying for almost an hour!”

“Sorry. The engineers must have been checking the COM system for damage. What’s up?”

“Mr. Shepherd won’t be able to make it to the shipyard. Instead, he wants you to come back to Earth.”

“What? I’ve got a tense situation here, Jones. How can I leave?”

“I don’t know, John. All I know is that he wants you to get down to Massachusetts General, ASAP.”

“What’s wrong, Jones?”

“Actually, it’s good news. Richard Long is out of his coma. Shepherd wants you there for security reasons, I think.”

“I understand. Thanks, Jones.”

The link closed with a chirp. Burke turned to his dinner guest, “Sorry Shannon, but I have to go. Thanks for joining me.”

“That’s all right. It sounds important.”

“It is. Richard Long is the best man to help with this project. After all, it was his idea. We need him.” Burke paused for a moment and thought to himself, “Do I have some news for him.” Burke looked at O’Neil, “Shannon I need your help. With me gone I need someone to keep things moving and to watch Roundtree. Can you do that?”

“I’ll watch things like a Scottish barn owl, John!” She pointed to her eyes and gave him a reassuring smile.

“Great. You can reach me at the hospital if I’m needed. Just watch out for Roundtree. We don’t know what he is capable of.”

Without another word Burke pushed himself away from the table and headed for the door. Shannon called after him, “Looks like I’m YOUR assistant now.”

Burke called back over his shoulder as the doors closed, “Looks like it. Welcome to security!”

Some hours later, John Burke arrived at New Boston’s main Hospital. This was the first time he had set foot on Earth in over a month. He was glad to smell the unfiltered air of home, even though it smelled a little antiseptic as he rode the elevator to the critical care ward. He arrived at the visitor’s hall to find everyone but Micah Shepherd. Andrea was the first to see him.

“John! How are you? Micah said you’d be coming.” Andrea embraced him and ushered him into the family circle at the center of the hall. “John, you know Joann Long, I’m sure.”

Taking a few steps forward, Burke greeted her, “Yes, Mrs. Long. I was so sorry about the accident, but I’m glad to be here to greet your husband now.”

“Thank you, Mr. Burke. We appreciate the concern.” Joann smiled.

All the while, Rebecca was sitting in the corner waiting for the crowd to thin. However, before she could go to him, he came to her. “Rebecca, it’s good to see you.” Taking her hands in his, he lifted her up and caught her blue eyes with his gaze, “I’ve missed you,” he said.

Rebecca, knowing her own feelings, wanted to pull her hands back, but seeing him again face-to-face she couldn’t hurt him. Quickly she kissed him and then motioned for him to sit down next to her. Andrea Shepherd looked on and marveled at what she saw in view of what her daughter had confided in her some hours before.

Just then, a figure approached and touched her shoulder, “I see John made it!” Out of the corner of his eye, Burke saw Shepherd and sprang to his feet.

“Mr. Shepherd, hello!” Shepherd reached out to shake Burke’s hand.

“John, it’s Micah, remember?” Burke smiled and nodded as Shepherd continued. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but John and I have some business to attend to.”

Andrea gave her husband a resigned look and shrugged her shoulders. “I should have known you’d have business to discuss, even now.”

“Sorry, dear,” replied Shepherd. Burke gave an ‘I’ll be right back’ look to Rebecca, who was half disappointed and half relieved. The two men walked away from the group and through the entrance to the critical care area. Shepherd brought Burke up-to-speed.

Entering Long’s room was like entering the world of the sick. Monitors, tubes, sterile regen bandages and pain filled Burke’s senses. Rebecca had told him in a holo-message how much she disliked seeing Richard Long like this, and now he knew why. What he saw was a weak man just back from the dead. Yet, as Burke approached the bedside he noticed a certain quiet determination to live. It was that ‘never quit’ attitude that seemed to flow from Long’s unburned hand and solidly-set, gray eyes. His determination and will to live encouraged Burke to keep approaching as Long weakly spoke with a thick, hoarse voice.

“John Burke. Good to see you again.”

With Micah Shepherd on the left, John Burke to the right and Edward Wills at his feet, Long was encouraged to tell what he knew about what happened. Hardly able to grate the words out, Long related his experience as best as he could.

The three men listened with rapt attention as the head researcher spoke. Finally he got to the point they were all waiting for. “Then, just before I turned the key I noticed a voiceprint chip on the passenger floorboard.”

“Could you identify the number on the chip?” asked Edward Wills.

“I couldn’t at the time, but now that I think about it, I seem to remember the number seventeen. But that couldn’t be right because that’s Thomas’ number, and he hadn’t been in my car for weeks.”

“It could have been Mr. Roundtree’s I.D. chip. My sources tell me that Mr. Roundtree hadn’t logged on to any secured database until he was made acting head of research and assigned a new I.D. code and voice chip for security reasons,” said Wills from the foot of the bed.

“Wait a minute. How could Roundtree have worked without his old chip. Surely he would have needed it before working on the new project,” replied Burke.

Wills picked up the conversation. “With Mr. Long out of commission, Mr. Roundtree became the acting head of research. Therefore he had others helping him. It was their security codes that opened files. He simply had assistants open whatever he needed until he got his new chip. As for his old chip, it must have come lose from his badge when he planted the explosive device in Mr. Long’s car.” Wills finished with a serious look of contained fury at this possible evidence of assault.

“Wait a minute, Edward, we don’t know that Thomas Roundtree did this! The evidence is all circumstantial,” said Shepherd. “We need to get his story before we point fingers.”

“I’m afraid Wills could be right, Micah. I have some information that adds weight to the evidence of Roundtree’s guilt.” Burke went on to relate the events of the early evening to the disbelief of all in the room. He covered everything from Shannon O’Neil’s thoughts, to his own observations, to the probe’s flight and his scuffle with Roundtree. Burke had a whopper of a tale to tell.

“I can’t believe it!” Long choked out the words trying to defend the man he thought he knew.

“Neither can I, Richard. However, if what Edward and John say is true, Mr. Roundtree has some explaining to do, first to me, then to the B.P.D.,” replied Shepherd, rubbing the back of his neck trying to relieve the tension. Burke’s stomach wasn’t responding well, either. Shepherd looked at his watch.

“Well, it’s now 1:00 a.m. and my special waver for after-hours visiting is wearing quite thin. Let’s all get some sleep. There’s nothing more to be done tonight. We’ll all be clearer tomorrow.” Shepherd looked at his friend of many years. “Thomas is contained and you’re getting better. Get some sleep, Richard! Keep improving. I have a hunch that you will be able to join us soon. Meanwhile, Edward, John and I will sort all this out. See you later, old friend.”

A little distressed, but none the worse for the wear, Long agreed with Shepherd so the three men filed out of his room. The visitor’s hall was all but empty when Shepherd and company returned. Leaving Joann Long with her husband, everyone, including John Burke, left for some needed sleep. The most logical place to get it was at the Shepherds’ house. So with Micah’s permission, Burke tagged along for the night, much to the uneasiness of Rebecca.

Morning came all too quickly. Burke was the first up, or so he thought. As he made his way to the kitchen for some tea, he saw Rebecca staring out the dining room terrace doors.

“Good morning, Rebecca.” Burke walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

“Oh, hello, John. Good morning.” She turned back towards the view. Seeing only coffee ready, Burke poured himself a cup.

Holding the coffee to warm his hands Burke leaned against the counter and tried to get Rebecca’s attention. “What’s on your mind? Must be something pretty important to wake a person up so early after such a late night.”

Rebecca turned to face Burke. Noticing the coffee in his hand, she replied, “Since when do you drink coffee? I’ve never known you to drink it before.”

Burke looked down at his cup, “I guess all those weeks at the shipyard with nothing else to drink were habit-forming. Coffee’s all they have.”

Rebecca smiled and took the cup out of his hands and put it on the counter. She turned towards the sink, put some water in a tea pot and started it to boil on the stove.

“If I remember, tea is more your speed,” said Rebecca as a tear formed in her eye. She wiped it dry and ran out the terrace doors to the outside. Startled at her sudden response, Burke stepped back, then quickly followed her.

“Rebecca, wait! Where are you going?” Rebecca stopped at the deck rail. “It’s kind of cold this morning. Why are you going outside?”

A little shaky, Rebecca answered, “John, I have something to tell you, but I don’t know how.”

Stepping closer to her and rubbing her arms because of the cold, Burke encouraged her to come inside. Together they left the terrace and closing the doors behind they sat at the table. The silence seemed like forever before Burke broke in. He held her hand and asked, “What is it Rebecca? You can tell me.”

Rebecca, still with some tears in her eyes, replied, “John I’ve never been able to tell you this before, but I want you to know that I love you very much.”

Burke smiled at her, “Thank you for telling me. I love you, too. That’s why I want to marry you.” Rebecca flinched inwardly as he finished.

“Well, I wish you didn’t!” Her emotions came to the surface. Burke was confused. “Wait! Let me explain. This is what I wanted to talk to you about. You’ve been so understanding and I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t marry you now.”

Burke touched her arm in a comforting gesture as he wiped another tear from Rebecca’s cheek with his other hand. “I understand. There’s a lot of action going on right now and we’re both in the middle of it. There will be time for us later.”

Rebecca flinched again, this time more noticeably. She could see that he didn’t understand. Rebecca calmed herself and took his hands in hers, locked eyes with the man she knew she loved, and tried to make him understand. “John, I love my work and the freedom I have. I love you, too, but I don’t want to give up what I have achieved...”

As Rebecca and John talked, Andrea was on her way into the kitchen but stopped short in the hall when she heard the voices. Her husband was right behind her, dressed and ready for this day of confrontation with Thomas Roundtree, the police and who knows what else along the way. Micah Shepherd almost ran into his wife.

“Hey!”

“Shh!” Andrea held up her index finger to her lips. “Listen!”

Rebecca continued, “I want you to know that you’ve been wonderful and I’ll always love you. But I’m not ready to make that commitment at this time in my life.”

Burke sat back pulling his hands free of her grasp. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, like a year ag?!”

Suddenly the tea kettle sounded off breaking the awkward moment. Rebecca got up and poured Burke his tea while taking some coffee for herself. She handed Burke his cup and sat down again.

“I know I should have said something long ago, but I really didn’t know what I wanted till yesterday. I guess it took some time away from you to help me see my feelings more clearly. Then when I saw you at the hospital after all these weeks I couldn’t tell you. John, please don’t be upset or hurt!”

Burke folded his arms across his chest in a self-protective gesture as he spoke, “But why? I don’t understand how marriage to the man you admit that you love could hinder you.” Burke reached out to cup his tea in his hands. “If you had doubts about us, why has a year gone by before saying anything?”

Rebecca picked up her mug, eyed it for a moment then took a long drink as if for courage. She wished it was whiskey for this conversation, but coffee would have to do. She answered him. “I know, John, I’m at fault. I should’ve told you much sooner, but believe me, it‘s for the best. I would be no good for you. You need someone who can share your life, someone who can work with you and take an interest in you.”

Burke cut in, not wanting to give up. “But you do share my life! You do work with me!”

Rebecca wrapped her hands around his tea cup and his hands, “No, John, don’t. I love you. I truly do. You are good-looking, smart, kind and more loyal than I deserve, but I could never be the kind of wife you need. I’d always be somewhere else, even when we’d be together. My heart could never be totally devoted to you. You see, the love of Shepherd Industries has bitten me first. My first love would always come between us and you deserve better than that.” She smiled a sad but freeing smile, squeezing Burke’s hands. At last she had said it. It was like breaking some long, locked chain that had weighted her down. She was happy to have said it, yet sad.

Getting up and walking over to the counter, Burke braced himself on the cool, smooth surface. With his back turned he sighed and slumped a little. “I don’t know what to say.” Now it was his turn for a tear to roll down his face, “I love you, Rebecca, but I should have known something was wrong when you never replied to my proposals. I never thought it would come to this.”

Andrea and Micah Shepherd, standing outside in the hall, looked at each other wondering what they could do. Sadly they knew there was nothing they could do, although their hearts went out to the young people. Micah Shepherd was taken aback by what he had overheard. He whispered to Andrea, “I thought she and John would get married?”

Andrea whispered back, “I knew. Last night before Richard woke up she confided in me. That’s why I was surprised at the way she greeted John at the hospital. I almost thought she had a change of heart when she saw him.”

The scene continued in the kitchen. Rebecca got up and embraced Burke from behind trying to offer some comfort. It wasn’t easy for her to turn him away. Deep inside she knew she’d never find anyone like him again, but still, she couldn’t deny herself and imprison him in only half a marriage. Burke turned and hugged Rebecca tightly but then straightened, knowing that prolonging it would only hurt more. Composing himself, Burke tried to be kind and let her off the hook. “Thank you for talking with me. I’m sure your father is about ready to go.” He tried to change the subject, “What will you do today?”

Still standing close to Burke, Rebecca wiped his tears away as she sniffled herself. “I thought I would go into the office. I’ve been away quite a while. Miss Shaw has probably rearranged all the fixtures by now,” she said with a mock smile.

“I suppose your father has Mr. Wills handling Richard’s security by now,” replied Burke, taking a step back.

Taking that as his cue, Micah Shepherd called from the hall asking if Burke was ready to leave as if he wasn’t up yet. Burke looked at Rebecca again. “Well I’ve got to go. Thanks for the tea.”

Just then Andrea walked in. Burke smiled at her and hurried past. Andrea walked over to her daughter with a knowing look. “You heard?”

“I heard,” said her mother. Rebecca put her head on her mother’s shoulder and sighed.

Chapter 10

The great escape

It was a quiet ride to Commerce Shipyard. Neither man had much to say in view of what lay behind them and what lies before them. Both men were in silent contemplation, broken only by a speeding ship heading back towards Earth, passing off their starboard side.

“I guess he was in a hurry!”

Shepherd looked at the time and replied, “Probably late for a work assignment.”

“Micah, I’ve always wanted to know? Why did you make Rebecca your Executive Assistant?”

“It’s an interesting story; it starts with how Shepherd Industries got involved with space business. Remind me to tell you some time, John.”

Clearly distracted, Shepherd propped his head back in his chair and stared blindly out the viewport. Still stinging from Rebecca’s rejection, John wanted some kind of justification for her ardent zeal for Shepherd Industries, but he could see this wasn’t the time, so he sat quietly letting the emptiness of space go by.

The rest of the flight to the shipyard was uneventful. Although, upon clearing the airlock doors a blizzard of confusion and sound assaulted their senses. Security lights and alarms were blaring! People were running here and there as if searching for someone or something. Burke, with a gnawing in the pit of his stomach, knew something was very wrong. He grabbed his boss by the arm and both men ran down the corridor.

“Come on! It’s got to be Roundtree!” Burke shouted as the two men made tracks towards the security office where Roundtree was to be held.

Due to the security alert all transports were offline, and so were all gravity slides to the yard center. So the two men raced around the perimeter of the yard trying to avoid the scurrying array of personnel that clogged the passageways. Finally, Burke and Shepherd arrived at the security office, panting and out of breath. Burke was first through the doors. A lone security guard and three cups of coffee were all that could be seen.

“What’s going on? Where is Roundtree?” shouted Burke to the guard on duty.

“Mr. Burke, welcome back, sir. We’re having some problems, to say the least.” Burke looked at the guard’s name tag. His name was Leo Randsom.

“Mr. Randsom, where is the prisoner? And where are the guards that were supposed to guarding him?” Burke pointed towards the empty cell at the back of the office and took in the untouched cups of coffee on the corner of the desk.

“Jacobs is in the Med Center and Nash is missing along with the prisoner,” replied Randsom from behind the office desk.

“They’re both gone?” Micah Shepherd asked from behind Burke.

Randsom didn’t know what to say. “That’s all the information my updates show; I just came on duty ten minutes ago.” Randsom handed Burke the update sheet from off the desk for confirmation. He took the sheet, scanned it, then handed it back to the guard. Burke was frustrated and embarrassed that Roundtree had apparently gotten away, but it wasn’t Randsom’s fault. After all, he just came on duty.

“Thank you, Mr. Randsom. Stay here and mind the store. We’ll be at the Med Center if anything changes or you hear anything. Understand?”

“Yes, sir, I’ll stay right on it.”

Burke and Shepherd exited the security office and headed for the Med Center. Burke tried to look straight ahead as he and Shepherd made their way to the injured security guard. Burke felt so embarrassed that a man like Thomas Roundtree was allowed to escape. He couldn’t look at Micah Shepherd for the feelings that flooded over him. “It was my fault! I should have been here! Oh my stomach! Almost to the Med Center. Good, it’s the right place to be sick!” thought Burke as he fought the anxiety.

Shepherd walked along side Burke trying to sort out not only what the facts added up to, but his conflicting emotions as well. He was beginning to feel that maybe there was some weight to the evidence that Thomas Marcus Roundtree was, indeed, a saboteur and possibly an attempted murderer. He just wished the accused was here to give his side of the story.

The two men approached the Med Center. They crossed the threshold of the medical complex and quickly found the injured security guard. He had laser burns to his right shoulder and neck. Peter Jacobs was sitting on a treatment couch, alert, but in pain.

“Mr. Jacobs, how are you?” Micah Shepherd was the first to speak this time. It was his turn to ask the questions.

Wincing, the young man responded, “Fine, Mr. Shepherd, under the circumstances.”

“That’s exactly what we would like to know, if you are up to it. What happened?” asked Shepherd.

Jacobs took a painful breath and closed his eyes to steady himself, “Mr. Nash and I took Mr. Roundtree from Control Room J to the security offices for holding. We were to hold him there until you arrived to question him. All the way to the holding area Mr. Roundtree was telling us that he was innocent. He even tried to bribe us. We threw him in the cell and waited. All night he tried to convince us to let him go. Well, when morning came Mr. Nash asked me to get some coffee. He said he could handle the prisoner for awhile. I reminded him of how Mr. Burke wanted tight security on the prisoner, but Mr. Nash said he was the senior security guard on duty and urged me to go.” Jacobs sat back on the couch bracing himself and preparing for the painful part of the story.

“When I came back with the coffee, something didn’t feel right as the doors parted. I saw that the holding cell was empty, so I set the coffee down on the desk and started to call for Mr. Nash. Before I could do anything else, a laser shot hit me in the right shoulder. The last thing I remember before blacking out was Mr. Nash leaning over me and saying, ‘I got a better offer; sorry, kid.’” Jacobs winced in pain again as he finished.

“Say no more. Rest!” Shepherd called the doctor to give Jacobs something for his pain; however, Burke had one more question for the man.

“How long ago did it happen?”

“Less than an hour ago, sir.”

Just then the doctor arrived moving Shepherd and Burke out of the way to tend to her patient. Burke motioned for Shepherd to follow him. The two men entered a treatment room next door.

Burke went right over to the COM link and raised security. “Randsom, get Jones McKenze on a secure link at the Spaceport and ask him to track all incoming ships. If a shuttle arrives from the shipyard in the next hour have station security hold it and its passengers. Burke out.”

“What are you thinking, John?”

“I think that the shuttle we saw in such a hurry when we were on final approach could have been Roundtree and Nash!”

“Hmm, you could be right, it was moving in quite a hurry.” Shepherd sat on a treatment couch and held his head, “I can’t believe all the disloyalty I’m seeing. First Roundtree and now Nash! Where does it end?”

Burke walked over and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Micah. I should never have left Roundtree alone. I should’ve stayed here and waited for you.”

“Oh, it’s not your fault, John. I asked you to come. You needed to hear Richard Long’s side of the story.”

“But I should have. . .”

Shepherd held up a hand to stop Burke.

”How could you know that a formally loyal man like Nash could be bribed to help Roundtree escape? No, it sounds like you took the same steps I would have in order to make sure Mr. Roundtree was secure. I’m satisfied, John. It’s just an unfortunate turn of events, that’s all.” Shepherd tried to allay Burke’s fears but he still was concerned.

“Well, thank you, but...” Burke’s reply was cut short by a familiar Scottish brogue just outside the door. He turned, opening the door to a sight that made his blood run cold. There on a gurney was Shannon O’Neil.

Burke rushed to her side. She was in shock and disoriented. Burke heard her mumble a few more Scottish words then he looked up at the attending nurse. “What happened?”

“Security found her in docking bay four. She was laying just outside the airlock that led to the shuttle bay.” The nurse checked O’Neil’s vitals while waiting for the doctor.

“How seriously is she hurt?” Burke brushed a lock of reddish-brown hair from her face and called her name, but there was no response.

“She is in shock, sir. She has laser wounds to the left leg and stomach. The leg is superficial, but the other wound is quite serious.” Just then the doctor and two medical techs arrived to examine the patient. It was Doctor Yamari. Burke had only met her during his first days at the shipyard. After his standard checkout he had no reason to come back to the Med Center. The doctor seemed very good at her job. Although up in years, she was full of vitality and seemed to run the medical complex with the energy of a twenty-five year-old. She took one look at O’Neil’s wounds and made her decision.

“This woman needs immediate surgery. Take her in. I’m right behind you.” They moved O’Neil into the surgical bay as Burke watched in disbelief. He regretted even more that he had left. Shepherd stepped up and touched his arm in a show of support, “She must have tried to stop Roundtree and Nash from escaping.”

“And paid the price for it,” said Burke angrily, “I’ve had enough of this! Thomas Roundtree won’t hurt anyone else if I can help it.” Burke rubbed his fist as he contemplated the next move. “Lets go, Micah, we can’t do anything more here.”

In the hours that followed, the Spaceport reported that a shuttle coming from the shipyard did approach but never docked. It passed by and went out of sensor range to the other side of the Earth. The police were called and Micah Shepherd reported the assaults and the sabotage that Roundtree had committed. The evidence and testimony from John Burke were included in the data packet that was forwarded to the Boston Police Department. There was an APB posted and the search began. Little did they know where he would be found.

On a lighter note, the Tachyon test results were found to be intact and promising. A briefing was set up to discuss the findings. Everyone involved with the tests was there, including Richard Long via vid link with Massachusetts General. The meeting got under way.

Tim Stevenson, senior flight engineer, took the floor to explain what the brief said in more common terms, “Before each one of you are the results of the last test flight. As the brief shows, all systems were functioning properly. However, due to the unfortunate interference we had, only a partial scan was made. If you turn to page two you’ll see it looks like we’ve got something unusual at the subatomic level. The chart shows a slight change in telemetry towards the upper bands. That spike could be what we are looking for, but we can’t be sure until we run another test flight.”

Richard Long joined in from across space. “Mr. Stevenson, how long before you could ready the probe for another launch?”

“Well, since there was only superficial damage, I’d say a couple of hours.”

Looking at Micah Shepherd from over the link, Long replied to Stevenson’s estimate, “Micah, I’d like to suggest that you ask Connor Vencetti to check the probe out and help Mr. Stevenson get it ready for the next flight. No offense, Mr. Stevenson.”

“None taken, Mr. Long. I’m well aware of Mr. Vencetti’s experience,” replied Stevenson.

“Very well then, if there are no further suggestions I’ll contact Mr. Vencetti and assign him to work with Mr. Stevenson...” Shepherd waited for a moment then continued, “...that will be all, gentlemen. Meeting adjourned.”

John Burke was still looking over his brief after everyone but Micah Shepherd had left.

”Anything wrong, John?” asked Shepherd.

Looking up from the brief Burke replied, “No, Micah, I was just thinking. By the way, who is Connor Vencetti?”

“Connor Vencetti is the head of our special projects division.”

“Why haven’t I heard of him before?” Burke inquired as he stood up from the table.

“Because he’s been working in the special projects hangar on the far side of the moon for quite a while now, along with his team. I’ll have to introduce him to you. He is quite an engineer. I want to check his progress myself, so I’m going over to see him personally. Would you like to come?”

”Special projects division? What’s that?”

“It’s something you have to see to believe, and believe me, not everyone gets to see. Interested?” Shepherd dangled the trip like a carrot before Burke. He could sense John wanted a diversion.

Burke smiled as he replied, “I think I’d like that, but I need to check on Shannon before we go. I understand she just got out of surgery a little while ago.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you in say, thirty minutes at docking port five?” Burke agreed.

A few minutes later Burke found himself in Dr. Miller Yamari’s office. She was of Japanese descent with long, black hair and a pleasant face. However, her disposition was a different matter. From her bio file Burke knew she was good but a little over protective of her patients.

“What do you know about Shannon O’Neil’s injuries, Mr. Burke?” asked the doctor with an interrogating style.

“Only what I’ve been told by security. I was off-station when it happened.”

Yamari adjusted her glasses. “So I thought. Do you realize the danger you put that unsuspecting girl in by leaving a man like Roundtree in her care?” Yamari’s gray eyes bore into Burke.

“When I left, Doctor, the prisoner was secure. As far as I knew it was a simple matter of babysitting.”

Yamari removed her glasses and leaned forward in her chair to emphasize her next point. “Well, your babysitting nearly cost her life!”

Now it was Burke’s turn stare. “Look Doctor, I feel bad enough the way it is. I don’t need a lecture. All I came for was to see how she was doing.”

“My only concern is for her welfare, Mr. Burke. The laser shots she took damaged her appendix and digestive system. The appendix was leaking poison into her body. Her intestines were severed, not to mention the heavy bleeding. Fortunately, we were able to catch her injuries in time. She will be in regen for a couple of days, but she should recover, although she will be sore for some time.”

“So can I see her or not?” asked the security chief.

Reluctantly, Yamari relented, “I suppose so. She’s groggy and not quite alert yet. She is in recovery room two. You have two minutes, Mr. Burke.” Burke thanked the Doctor and quickly exited her office.

As he entered the Med bay he noticed Jacobs resting comfortably off to the left. “At least Jacobs is OK,” Burke told himself, taking some solace after Yamari’s rebukes. He continued to recovery room two where he stopped at the open door. There, laying on an operating litter, was Shannon. She was sleeping and Burke didn’t want to wake her. He checked her monitors and all looked well. She looked so peaceful. Burke looked around for Yamari and her stopwatch, but she wasn’t there so he approached and took Shannon’s hand very gently in his. Then in a whisper, so as not to wake her, he made his apology. “I’m sorry, Shannon. I never meant for you to go through anything like this.” He looked at her face, lips, and hair. Admiring her beauty he whispered again, “Thank you for your help all these weeks. It seems that you’re quite extraordinary in many ways. I’d like to get to know you, Shannon O’Neil.” Burke didn’t know what else to say or feel, so lightly he released her hand and quietly moved towards the door. Just then he heard a soft voice from behind him.

“Thank ye for comin’. And tis nea your fault.”

Burke turned, “Shannon, how long have you been awake?”

“Long enough ta know that I’d like ta know you better, too.”

“You heard all that?”

“Aye, and ya need not be embarrassed. I thought it was beautiful.” She smiled weakly and slowly held out her hand. Taking her hand once again Burke spoke reassuringly.

“You get well. I’ll be back soon to check up on you.”

Just then an over-protective Doctor appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Burke! Your two minutes are up!”

Chapter 11

The tables are turned

The small, two-passenger scout sped away from its moorings. The Shipyard, similar to the Spaceport, was based on a design envisioned by Gerald O’Neil in the twentieth century. Shepherd Industries had made a few improvements from what they had learned in building the Spaceport, but the design was essentially the same. Both the Spaceport and Commerce Shipyard were marvels of engineering. Micah Shepherd couldn’t help but marvel at what his company had accomplished in such a short time. He watched as the slow-spinning wheel of the shipyard grew smaller along with the ships it served. Finally, they all faded into the night.

“Magnificent, isn’t it? Commerce was completed only about a year ago, and the Spaceport, just two before that. I’d say the experiment has proven a success!” Shepherd looked at his pilot with a smile, but he received a look of shock in return.

“Experiment? You mean the places I’ve been working and living in have been experimental?”

“Of course. Have you seen any other space stations in orbit?”

“Well, no, but I at least thought they were tested!”

“They were tested. There were no real problems for six months. At that point the investors decided to go to phase two, limited operations, which soon went to full operation inside a year. That led to building the shipyard and the rest is, as they say, history!”

“Investors? Who are they? I thought Shepherd Industries owned the stations,” asked Burke.

“Well, let me try to make a long story short. Some years ago we had just started mining the asteroids using unmanned collection pods to carry the ore back to Earth.”

Burke cut in, “Similar to Atoms Technical’s Rush Automated Transfer Tanker or R.A.T.T.?”

“Yes. The system, while fairly cost effective, had its limitations, yet that was all anyone had because a permanent presence in space was too expensive. That’s why the Space Station Alpha never made it.” Shepherd took a deep breath to finish the story. “My grandfather heard through sources that NASA, ESA, and some private agencies wanted to fund a station project again but were afraid to do so because of what happened to the Cartone deep space probe years ago. Well, grandfather knew I loved space and that I saw a way to make a profit, too, so he convinced the various agencies to invest and asked me to head it up.”

“Why were you so interested in building a space station, Micah?”

“I have always been fascinated by the stars. To me it seemed a wondrous place. In college, along with business I studied cosmology. So when the opportunity came to build a space station and then maybe even travel among the stars, I couldn’t resist. The stations are the result of a desire for gleaning the riches of the universe and wanting to explore them as well. Space is elegant, clean, and pristine; there is so much to see and learn out here.”

Burke saw wonder lust wash over his friend’s face, just as he had seen it the first time Micah described the project and its prospects, should it succeed. “I can’t believe Atoms Technical let your grandfather get the contract to build the stations without a fight!” Burke said with a disbelieving tone.

“Oh, Rush tried to stop us, but this time we had the jump on him and he never caught up. I wish I could say that about business today. He always seems to get a jump on everything we do, lately.” Shepherd reflected on the past few months. Burke knew what he meant. “That’s why I have kept this Special Projects Division a company secret. However, I think it’s time someone like you knew. What I have to show you will change your life, John.”

Coming across the lighted side of the moon, the little scout passed through the terminator to the dark side. The skin temperature of the ship dropped rapidly and the viewports became hoar-coated. The ship’s environmental systems strained to compensate, sending a chill across Burke’s arms.

“Micah, this is the second time you have included me in some grand scheme. Now what is all the mystery?” Shepherd pointed out the main viewport at a small, dimly lit landing platform.

“Land there, John, and you will find your answers. The special projects division was willed to me personally by my grandfather. I established it on the far side of the moon soon after the shipyard began construction. I wanted secrecy for what was going to be built.”

“The Moon? Why not somewhere on Earth?” Burke asked.

“You’ll see, John. Be patient.”

“That’s not one of my strong suits,” said Burke. Shepherd smiled as the scout came in softly and touched down with hardly a thud. Next, the landing pad began to descend into the Moon, taking the scout and its passengers below the surface. The cavern sealed over them and oxygen flooded the hangar deck. Shepherd and Burke exited the scout and made their way down a connecting tunnel towards the main facility.

“My compliments, Mr. Shepherd. This place is amazing. How did you ever keep it a secret? NASA and ESA make regular orbits of the Moon every few months.”

“Well, as I said, we built this place while the shipyard was being built. We used it for materials storage. All anyone knew was that after the station construction was complete, this facility would be abandoned. After all, the remoteness of the site made a permanent base impractical, or so we let everyone believe. As you can see, we never left. Instead, we enlarged it with the help of some leftover construction drones. We kept hauling garbage from the shipyard like we were going to dump it here but didn’t. Instead, we transferred the final materials and personnel to complete the structure. Connor Vencetti oversaw it all and is the head of the division.”

As if on cue, Connor Vencetti appeared from around the bend. With hurried steps, he met them. “Micah, I didn’t know you were coming till a few minutes ago. Welcome!”

“That’s all right, Connor, I wanted to come unannounced.” Shepherd motioned towards Burke. “This is John Burke. He’s helping me with the project and much more, I hope.”

“So you’re the one that found out about Roundtree.” Vencetti shook Burke’s hand.

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“Oh, even down here we manage to keep in touch,” said Vencetti.

“Then I’m sure you know that we are going to run some more probe tests. In fact, that’s why I’ve come, to ask if you would take a look at the probe and check it out to see if it’s sound.”

“I’d be happy to, boss, but why not just call on the secured channel and save the trip?”

“Well, I was wondering about our baby. I also wanted to bring Mr. Burke in on the project to help with the final shakedowns. He’s quite a good test pilot.”

“Well, anyone Mr. Shepherd thinks enough of to show this place to is OK by me. I’m looking forward to working with you, Mr. Burke!” Vencetti shook Burke’s hand again and slapped him on the back.

Burke leaned up against the wall and folded his arms like he wasn’t going to budge. “Will someone tell me what’s going on!”

Vencetti looked at Shepherd, “You haven’t told him yet what this place is for?”

“No. I thought we’d better show him, instead,” both men smiled at each other then at Burke. Quickly they took him by the elbows and the three men started to walk.

“Hey! Wait a second. Where are you taking me?” Burke protested, but Shepherd and Vencetti were insistent. In unison they replied, “You’ll see!”

Meanwhile in earth orbit...

Trying to avoid detection, the fugitives Roundtree and Nash bided their time. “How long are we going to hold this orbit? We’ve been here almost seven hours!” Nash chided.

“Patience, Mr. Nash. We have to make sure we’ve made good our escape.” Thomas Roundtree tried to sound confident, but truth be told, he didn’t feel it.

“How much longer, Roundtree?”

“Well, I guess we have laid low about as long as our air supply will allow,” said Roundtree. He thumbed the COM switch and tuned to a special frequency.

“What are you doing?” demanded Nash.

“Arranging for our pickup and your payment! Is that OK with you?” Roundtree was starting to get irritated by the traitorous security guard.

“Now you’re talking!” said Nash, cheerfully.

It took a moment, but there was finally a response to the call. It was Bernard Rush. “Marcus! I assume this call is secured and that you have news for me?”

Roundtree replied, “Yes, we have a secured channel, as for the rest, well, it’s a little complicated.” Not wanting to reveal that he had been sabotaging the tests so Rush would deem them a failure, he chose his words carefully. “The last test run was partially successful, I think.” Roundtree cringed as he said it.

“What do you mean, you think?”

“Before I got a look at the telemetry I was found out. I was thrown into a holding area for questioning. Another test will likely be done soon to confirm the results.”

Rush’s voice crackled over the speakers, “I take it that you have escaped?”

“Yes, with the help of a security guard. I told him you could always use a man like him. I thought you might want to reward him for his efforts in freeing me.” There was a long pause.

“Of course. Of course. Where are you?” Rush asked.

“We are in low Earth orbit. Our air supply is quite low. We need pickup or a safe haven.”

“Don’t worry, Marcus. If you check your orbital scanner there is a R.A.T.T. in high orbit. There is extra oxygen and emergency rations in the command center. Go there and I will send a transport for you and my new employee Mr. ...?” Nash spoke up for the first time.

“Christopher Nash, sir.”

“Yes, Mr. Nash. Well, we’ll see you both soon. Oh, and Marcus, I hope you have a good explanation for the reason you were ‘found out’ as you said. Rush out.”

“He seems like a nice guy,” said Nash with relief.

“Oh yeah. Just as nice as you could ask for,” thought Roundtree to himself, “if you have a death wish. I don’t trust him, but what else have I got right now?” Then out loud he said to Nash, “Strap yourself in; we have to change to a higher orbit to meet the tanker.”

Roundtree fired the shuttle’s engines and thirty minutes later they were docking with the Rush Automated Transfer Tanker. Roundtree contacted Rush again for the entrance code.

After he entered the code, the airlock door slid aside. Just as the two fugitives were about to enter the R.A.T.T. there was a beeping on the shuttle’s communication console.

“Go on, Nash, I’ll answer it. You get the internal lighting and heat turned up. It’s probably Mr. Rush checking up on us.” Nash did as he was told while Roundtree went back to the pilot’s chair to take the call.

“Yes, Mr. Rush.”

Rush crackled, “Did you get the airlock open all right, Marcus?”

“Yes, sir. How long before the transport arrives?” Roundtree asked.

Rush answered only with a question, “Where is Mr. Nash?”

“In the R.A.T.T. waiting for me. Why?”

“Excellent!” Rush spoke with oily smoothness that made Roundtree shiver and wonder.

“Is there a problem, sir?” Before the last question was out of his mouth Roundtree heard the airlock door shut and seal. He pushed towards the door, but it was too late. He hit the airlock COM switch and got Nash’s attention. Through the transsteel port, Roundtree and Nash looked at each other. Nash had a puzzled look on his face. Roundtree shouted over the link, “Override all the automatic environmental controls. NOW!” Nash didn’t understand.

“Why? What’s going on, Roundtree? Why did you close the airlock?”

“I didn’t; Rush did. You’re in danger, Nash. The R.A.T.T. is automatic. All systems can be controlled from the ground. Don’t you understand? Override those controls!” Roundtree tried the airlock code once again but to no avail. “Find the manual override, fast!”

“I don’t see any!” Starting to panic, Nash yelled at Roundtree. “Open the door!”

Roundtree saw Nash try to loosen his collar as if it was choking him. Roundtree knew what was happening. Running over to the main COM unit he tried to raise Rush, once more.

“What are you doing? Open the airlock door! Nash is running out of air.”

“Calm yourself, Marcus. It will all be over soon,” crackled Rush over the COM channel.

Roundtree ran back to the airlock and thumbed the COM switch. “Nash, Nash, did you find the override? Nash, are you all right? Can you hear me?”

Roundtree couldn’t see the other man. Just then the airlock began to open. There was a momentary rush of air from behind Roundtree, flooding the airlock vacuum. As the pressures equalized the air rush stopped, and so did his heart when he saw Nash floating on the other side of the door. He seemed dead—frozen in a last gasp for air that wasn’t there. Then he heard Rush’s voice over the speakers.

“By now, Marcus, I’m sure you realize that could have been you instead of Nash. However, your job is not over yet.” Rage boiled over as Roundtree slammed his fist on to the arm of the seat he had slumped into.

“Rush! That’s it! I quit! I did not sign on for murder.”

“You’re involved up to your ears and you know it! For example, didn’t you try to kill your best friend a few weeks ago?” Roundtree was silent as grief for his actions filled his mind. “I thought so. I’ve told you many times that loose ends are not tolerated. Mr. Nash was a big loose end. That was your fault, not mine. I simply cut it for you! Now if you don’t want to end up like Nash, I suggest you listen. By my calculations your air should be quite low by now. Am I right?”

“I’m listening.” Roundtree replied.

“Wise choice, Marcus. Now, has Shepherd found the transmitting device you installed at the Spaceport?

“I don’t think so.”

“Good. Then here’s what you do. Get into the R.A.T.T. There is enough oxygen for three days. Monitor the COMs. When you hear that the next probe test is complete, take the shuttle back to the shipyard and get those results for me.”

“There isn’t enough oxygen in the ship for the trip!” replied Roundtree.

“There are external air tanks on the outside of the R.A.T.T. Tie on to them and simply recharge.” Confidently, Rush blurted out the solution as if it was routine. “Don’t bother me with the details, Marcus. Just do your job right this time and you’ll keep breathing!”

“But what if the probe doesn’t fly in less than three days?”

“For your sake, I hope it does. Am I clear?”

Roundtree was out of options, “Yeah, I got it. Roundtree out!” He slammed his palm down on the COM switch and terminated the connection in frustration.

Roundtree loosened his own collar and made his way to the airlock grabbing Nash’s laser that he had left behind earlier. He rubbed his forehead as he sealed the airlock behind him. “When will this nightmare end?” he thought. Letting the laser float free, Roundtree hauled Nash’s now limp body over to the disposal chute. Roundtree wondered why the body was now limp when before it was frozen in death. There still was no pulse, so he began to pass the body up to the chute. “I’m sorry, Nash; this wasn’t the payment I had in mind when we escaped.”

The body was almost into the chute when, to Roundtree’s surprise, he heard the body groan and a weak voice spoke, “Roundtree, what happened?”

Shocked and relieved that Nash was still alive, Roundtree pulled him back onto the deck. “Easy, don’t move just yet. You passed out due to lack of oxygen, I think. Rush must have vented the atmosphere to kill you. It looks like he got cocky and opened the airlock too soon in his rush to scare me into working for him again, fortunately for you. How do you feel?”

“A little disoriented. I’ve got some ringing in my ears, but I’ll live.” Nash grabbed Roundtree’s arm. “Did you say Rush tried to kill me?”

“Yes, and if I don’t find the manual overrides, he may try again.” Roundtree shook himself loose from Nash’s grasp and moved closer to the main control boards. He scanned the mass of readouts that lined the walls of the command center. He noticed an old newspaper floating off to one side. It was probably left by the last repair crew. He picked up the paper and read the date: October 1, 2085. “This place must have been one of the last R.A.T.T.'s to be used before Atoms Technical went to fully automatic freighters,” thought Roundtree.

He put the paper down on a utility bunk against one wall and continued to look for the overrides. Then he saw them, a group of yellow toggles labeled M.O. They were set on Auto Assist. He reached up and flipped them all to manual. Next he checked the oxygen supply. “If these readouts can be trusted, we have a three-day supply of air.” Roundtree slammed his fists against the wall, “I can’t believe this! How do I get myself into these situations?” Disgusted with himself for what had led him to this point, Roundtree sank to the floor against a bulkhead.

Suddenly there was an insistent beeping coming from the airlock. Nash called out for Roundtree’s attention. Roundtree moved back to where Nash was still sitting on the deck. Nash pointed. There on the airlock a clock counted down.

“Rush! He must have set a timer to clear the airlock before I switched to manual override.”

“Well, if we don’t do something soon we’ll be left here without a ship! cried Nash.

“In five minutes the R.A.T.T will blow our ship away from the hatch. Rush never intended for me to leave here!” said Roundtree.

“Killing me once wasn’t good enough for him,” said Nash sarcastically.

“He thinks you’re dead, remember?” Roundtree reminded Nash as he moved to the COM station. Quickly he tuned to Rush’s special frequency.

After a minute they heard the insincere reply, “Ah, Marcus, so good to hear from you.”

Fire flashed in Roundtree’s eyes. That was the last straw. It took a long time, but he finally realized what kind of snake he had crawled into bed with—a side winder!

“Rush! Stop that countdown! Stop it, now!”

“Calm yourself, Marcus. Your fate is sealed. You can’t escape it. You always were so easy to control. Did you think I was leading you to someplace of refuge? Since you were found out you have become a loose end just like Nash. Did you really think I would let you live?” Rush reasoned and asked questions like it was all correct and right.

“How can you be so callus! You have no respect for anyone else but yourself, do you? Well, I’m through playing ‘follow the leader.’ I should have never helped you against my friends!”

“You had no choice.”

“Yes, I did. I still do. You’re finished, Rush! I will see to it that you pay for everything, no matter what happens to me.”

“Yes, well it’s a little late for morals now, isn’t it, Marcus?” Rush was unruffled by Roundtree’s frustration.

“We’ll see who’s too late and who isn’t. Your pride will be your undoing. Mark my words, Rush!”

“Roundtree, the timer!” Nash yelled, as he tried furiously to pull the timer off the airlock door with no success. Roundtree stopped his banter with Rush and ran to the airlock. The timer read two minutes and counting. Roundtree tried to find an opening on the timer, but it was sealed tight. One minute thirty seconds and counting. The large red numbers flew by.

“It’s no use, Roundtree, I’ve tried. It won’t open,” said Nash, with resignation.

Roundtree looked around the control center frantically for an answer. He knew that if he didn’t stop that countdown, this place could be their grave. Besides, he couldn’t let Rush win another one. Then he saw Nash’s laser pistol wobbling in the air by the disposal chute.

“We’re not dead, yet,” said Roundtree. With every fiber of his being he grasped for the laser. The timer went to thirty seconds. With a dip and a roll the scientist came up with the laser in hand. “Take cover, Nash!” Nash pushed away from the airlock door as he saw Roundtree take aim. A second later a red bolt shot out from the stubby pistol. The shot went just wide of the mark sending a shower of sparks into the air and leaving a burn mark on the cold steel.

Roundtree took aim and fired again. This time he had the range. With ten seconds to go the laser found its mark. Square in the middle of the zero it struck. The timer stopped short of its goal in a burst of flame. Neither man was sure if that would stop the jettison of their shuttle. Using the laser on the timer was a gamble, but it was the only game to play, and they both knew it. Another thirty seconds went by, then a minute, but nothing happened. Both men let out a sigh of relief as there was a crackle from the speakers.

“Marcus, this is Rush. Come in, please.” Rush was trying to maintain control.

Roundtree tossed the laser to Nash and slid over to the COM unit. “Rush, we’re still here, and so is the shuttle! And for the record, My name is Thomas Roundtree. Marcus is dead! See you soon.”

Roundtree punched the link closed. Finally, after so long a time, he felt like a human again, a human with a purpose. He finally knew who he was, what mattered in life, and who his friends were. If only they would take him back. He didn’t know if they would, but he wanted to find out.

“Come on, Nash, we have work to do. Let’s tie on to those external air tanks, recharge the life support system on the shuttle and get out of here. I don’t trust Rush any farther than I can throw him.” The two men pulled the emergency spacesuits from the lockers on either side of the airlock. The job could only be done EVA, so they donned the bulky suits as quickly as they could.

“Ready,” crackled Roundtree over the helmet’s COM system.

“Ready,” stated Nash, although still a little shaky from almost being dead, twice.

Roundtree tapped the airlock opening code into the panel. Nothing happened. He tried it again. Still nothing. “Nash, give me a hand.” Both men leaned against the airlock door. It wouldn’t budge.

“Destroying the timer must have fried the access panel, too, jamming the mechanism.”

“Great! How do we get out of here?” Nash was beginning to show his worry.

“I don’t know, Nash. I don’t know,” said Roundtree as he let his helmet slide against the bulkhead in despair.

Chapter 12

Awesome Destiny

The sight was like nothing John Burke had seen before. All his life he been around mechanical things. From childhood to adulthood, flying machines intrigued him. That’s why he became a pilot. He thought he had seen all the types and styles of craft available, but he had to admit that this one was different.

The three men entered what seemed like a great assembly hangar. Burke’s mouth began to drop at the sight. “You’re the first to see her outside of the assembly crew and myself,” said Shepherd. “What do you think?”

Bathed in the whitewash of floodlights was a ship. It was all shadows and sparkle at the same time. From the tip of her arrowhead design to her sloping tailfins the ship implied speed. The hull was a bluish black and exhibited a sparkle wherever the floodlights hit it. Supported by a trio of landing pads, one under the nose and two at the rear, Burke walked under her belly taking it all in.

The hull was powerfully built. It looked like it could take a lot of stress. It was smooth but a little rough to the touch. Burke realized where the sparkle was coming from, too. The ship was overlaid from stem to stern with a covering of moon rock. It was the glass in the rock that made the sparkle.

Walking around to the front of the craft Burke moved to a vantage point where he could see most of the ship. There was a raised bridge on top and what looked like a scoop with instruments inside on the underside of the ship. On top there was what resembled a wing that connected the two sloping tailfins with viewing ports across the front. Burke wondered what that was. As if reading his thoughts Connor Vencetti walked up along side. He was a pleasant enough man with round features and a stocky build.

“That is the Engineering deck,” Vencetti said. “Not only does that wing give us added lift in an atmospheric environment, but it also gives the engineers direct access to both sets of engines.”

“Yes, I noticed the four engines, two on each side. They look well-balanced. Is there a backup engine array, in case the main engines fail?” asked Burke of the engineer.

“Yes. The Hydro-Ion engines are located on the main body at the rear of the ship.”

“What is that raised section on the top of the ship about mid-way down, behind the bridge?”

“That’s the shuttle deck. The ship has room for four shuttles—two scouts like the one you came in, and two research shuttles which we designed.” Vencetti was beaming like a new father showing off his child. Micah Shepherd joined the two men.

“Micah, how fast can she go?” Burke was excited.

“We don’t know. The anti-matter engines have never been tested. They’re a new design like the tachyon probe, but on a much larger scale, of course.”

Vencetti spoke up with a smile, “I think that little detail can be remedied shortly. I wanted a little fanfare, but I guess I can tell you now, Micah. All systems were finished and installed this morning, including the experimental Tachyon Field Generators that you asked for. We made it according to Mr. Long’s preliminary designs, but I don’t know if it will work.” Vencetti sighed, “All in all, I’d say she is ready for trial runs.”

“The ship is ready? Connor, that’s wonderful. It couldn’t have come at a better time.” Shepherd beamed from ear to ear. Burke couldn’t remember when he had seen him so happy.

“What’s her name, Micah. I don’t see any markings.” Burke wondered as Shepherd paused for a moment, as if savoring the moment. Then he turned to Burke.

“What name would you give her, John?”

“Oh, not me. I couldn’t do that. It’s not my ship,” replied Burke.

“Don’t be so sure, John.” Burke’s eyes went wide. “Connor, what would you say?” Vencetti balked, too. “Come, come, gentlemen. What would you say? Take a crack at it!” Burke smiled at what he thought was a joke about the ship being his and answered his boss.

“Well, let me see. Without seeing what’s inside, I’d say... Arrowhead?”

“Too obvious, John. Try again,” prodded Shepherd.

“How about Star Fire?” Burke was thinking of her massive engines.

“Good, but that’s not it. Connor, what about you.”

“Sorry, boss, but it’s your ship. You should name it. A ship’s name says a lot about its character and its future.”

Burke cut in thinking he had found the perfect name. “Well, since this is a business, and you are a businessman, I’d say...ENTERPRISE!”

Shepherd laughed and smiled. The name had a familiar ring to it. He patted his friend on the back. “This isn’t science-fiction, you know!” said Shepherd playfully.

“Then what is her name, Micah. Surely you already know and have been keeping it a secret, even from the assembly crew!” said Vencetti as he crossed his arms.

Shepherd walked away from his sleek new design to get a better view. When he found his vantage point he spoke. Burke and Vencetti joined him.

“I have always thought that man’s ultimate destiny involved space. For new resources and even other places to live I’ve felt that man must someday take to the stars. We’re just now beginning to understand this wonder that surrounds us. It is my hope that this ship, and others of her kind, will open up the universe. And, if the tachyon attraction grids work, then there’s no telling how far or how fast we can go. So the best name that this prototype could have is...DESTINY.

Gentlemen, I give you the Star Ship DESTINY!” Shepherd had his hands up in presentation. There was silence as the name sank in. There were sounds of approval from Vencetti and Burke.

“Micah, I’m impressed. I didn’t know you were such a poet,” said Burke as he poked Shepherd in the arm.

“I’m glad you both like it. This is going to be a great ship, but now that she is ready for trial runs, we have some work to do. Connor, please get over to Commerce and help with the probe tests. We will need all the data we can get to make the attraction field grids work. John, you’re with me.”

“I’m on my way, sir. I’ll keep you and Mr. Burke informed.” With that Vencetti made his way to the exit. With Vencetti gone Burke now turned towards Shepherd.

“Micah, I still don’t completely understand how I’m involved here. Do you want me to test fly the Destiny?”

“John, do you like what you see?” Shepherd gestured towards the ship.

“Of course. The ship is pretty amazing.”

“Then let’s take a tour, shall we?” Micah motioned John towards the rear of the new star ship.

As the two men approached one of the pod stairs that led up into the ship, Shepherd continued the conversation. “You see, John, not only did I use the funds my grandfather had reserved for the special projects division to build the Destiny, but also much of the company reserves, too. I believe so strongly in this ship that I’ve tied up the company’s future, as well as my own, right here. That’s why I need you. Not only do I want you to put this new design through her paces, but I need you to prove that she is worth every penny I have sunk into her. She is a shipload of new technology, John. Shake the bugs out! Just as you learned all about the Light Speed project, dive into this, too. She MUST fly, John!” Shepherd locked eyes with Burke for a moment, then took on a lighter note. “Come on, let me show you the Destiny. The bridge first.”

Burke didn’t know what to say, so he just went along for the ride. However, more was waiting for him than Shepherd let on. They ascended the stairs to a sign labeled ‘Deck Seven - Cargo and Manufacturing.’ Shepherd watched Burke’s expression as they made their way around the crates, equipment and technicians that clogged the main corridor. “The inside of the ship is shaping up to be just as intriguing as the outside,” thought Burke. “My compliments again, Mr. Shepherd. This is amazing,” he said.

“This is just the lower deck. You haven’t seen nothin’ yet!” laughed Shepherd, as they reached the central lift. They stepped inside and the doors closed.

“The lift is computer-controlled and voice-activated. All functions are available through the Human to Computer Interface. In case of emergency, as with everything on board, there is a manual override.” Shepherd pointed out the red button off to one side. “Just state what level you want, bridge through level seven. Go, ahead, John.”

Shepherd nodded at Burke. Burke looked at Shepherd, then at the panel labeled H.C.I. and said the word, “BRIDGE!” The lift was off with a WHOOSH! A minute later the lift doors opened on a flurry of activity.

Shepherd spoke up, “This is it! The nerve center of the Destiny.” Shepherd led the way and gave Burke the tour. “After the shell and the decks were built, the bridge was the first internal structure completed,” said his guide. The two men inspected the bridge. The navigation station, communication and defense, ship operations and sensors, science stations—starboard and port, the captain’s office and conference room. Finally they ended at the captain’s seat. Burke was amazed. Shepherd was right; he hadn’t seen anything yet. The size, complexity, and design of the bridge was years ahead of anything he had seen or read about. It was pure magic!

“Micah, I can’t believe it. This ship must have cost a fortune!”

“More money than I care to think about, John, but I think she will pay off extremely well. Her charter will be: ‘To know the unknown. To see the unseen. To follow the dream.’ In other words: Research and Exploration. In the process, I’m certain we’ll find things of immense value to everyone, including Shepherd Industries.”

Pointing to the captain’s seat Shepherd urged Burke to sit down. “Try her out, John.”

“I don’t know, Micah. You should be the one to do that,” replied Burke, reluctantly.

“John, why do you resist? I can feel that you want to. Do you still not understand?” Again a look of puzzlement crossed the younger man’s features.

“This is YOUR ship now. I’m turning the command of the Destiny over to you! This is why I got you involved from the start. This was my goal. Take her, John! Make her fly for both of us!”

“Micah, I can be her test pilot if you wish, but this is your ship. This is your dream. You are her rightful Captain.”

“True enough. She is my dream.” Shepherd walked towards the main view screen and took in the bridge and all the activity. “And she certainly is my ship, but not my destiny. She is your DESTINY and all the other people like you. The Destiny needs a Captain and an explorer. You fit the bill, John Burke. I’ve watched you for a long time. Sorenson’s reports about how you flew Miner Five just confirmed my choice.” Shepherd took Burke by the shoulders and stood him in front of the brown leather center seat. Then he spoke to everyone on the Bridge.

“Gather around, everyone. I have some thing to announce. Tie in all VID screens across the ship; this is important.” There was a long pause as everyone stopped their work and gathered around.

“My friends, employees, and future crew of the new Star Ship Destiny,” there was a stirring in the crowd as they heard the ship’s name for the first time, “the man you see before you is John Burke. I’ve known him for quite a while now. He has proven to be a loyal, courageous, and fair man in the time he has been in my employ. He has the experience and ability that this ship needs. Henceforth, he will be the new master of this vessel. I will still be available for advice, but Captain Burke is the best man to prove what we all know, that this ship is everything that she was built to be, and more. My friends, give Captain Burke the loyalty and respect you have accorded to me. From now on when he speaks, he has my complete support.” Turning to Burke he continued, “Captain, the ship is yours!”

There was silence as the change of command began to sink in. Everyone thought that Micah Shepherd or Connor Vencetti would take her out. This was a total surprise! A technician stepped forward from the group that surrounded them. “Captain Burke, I’m Grant Masters, Operations Manager of the ship. Welcome aboard.”

What could Burke say? How could he refuse Shepherd’s offer of command? He’d always wanted to do something like this. Now his dream was being handed to him. He had to say ‘yes!’ “Thank you, Mr. Masters.” Burke shook the operations manager’s hand.

That was all it took. Everyone on the bridge now stepped up to offer their support and congratulations. It was so overwhelming that Burke was pushed back into the chair that only a few moments ago he wouldn’t take. He had to admit, it did feel good.

“OK people, let our new captain breath a little. Back to work, everyone.” As the well-wishers gradually moved off, Shepherd gave Burke his first assignment as Captain.

“Well, Captain, your first job will be to choose a command crew,” he said with a smile.

“I think I would like to see the rest of the ship before I do that, if you wouldn’t mind,” said Burke.

“Of course. You’re the Captain. I’ll send all the assembly crew’s BIOs to your office. I’m sure some of them will make great crew members. Of course, the choice is yours. It’s your ship and your crew.”

Burke stood to face his benefactor. “Thank you, Micah. I WILL make her fly!”

“I know you will. That’s why you’re here.”

With those parting words, Micah Shepherd, CEO of Shepherd Industries, exited the bridge of the Star Ship Destiny leaving the younger man keenly aware of his own destiny.

After a moment the new Captain scanned the bridge and thought, “Where is the bathroom? I think I’m going to need it!”

Chapter 13

Prpeparations

For the next two days Burke toured the ship and familiarized himself with the people that worked on her. He was impressed with how Shepherd and Vencetti had taken a mix of highly skilled and unskilled people and forged a tight-knit group of workers.

The skilled trained the unskilled so that in the end, Shepherd Industries had twice as many highly skilled workers as before they started. According to the history files that were sent along with the BIOs, it took one year to build the star ship. However, most of the planning and component testing had been done long before.

The Destiny had everything! Four anti-matter engines, extreme cold super-conducting electric generators, and brand new graviton generators meant to provide artificial gravity for the whole ship. There were so many other types of equipment, like Quantum Phase Lasers, Anti-matter torpedoes, Static Torpedoes, Magna-Tractors and every form of scientific sensor and probe imaginable. Burke was glad for all the technicians and engineers who knew how to use those gadgets. He knew it would take some time before it all sank in.

There were about two hundred BIO files to go through. Every person worked hard on the ship and would probably love to be on her maiden voyage, but there simply wasn’t room. The Destiny only had capacity for one hundred and twenty-five people, plus equipment and cargo. Burke had to make some hard choices. Finally, after hours of deliberation, he narrowed it down and posted the crew assignments in the mess hall for all to see. Those that couldn’t go, he assigned to ground support so everyone could have a part in what was sure to be an historic flight. However, it didn’t take long to choose his command crew. There were one or two from Destiny’s assembly crew, but for the rest, he had other ideas. Yet for now, he would keep the names to himself and just settle into his new home.

This prototype star ship was like nothing that had come before. It was a little scary and the old queasy stomach began to plague Burke again. Yet little by little, the nerves were subsiding and for Burke, the adventure of his life was about to begin.

Meanwhile, at Commerce Shipyard, Shepherd, Vencetti, and Richard Long, via a COM link from Massachusetts General, were continuing the probe tests. It was mid-way through the current test when Vencetti began to notice a pattern forming on the tachyon scanner.

“Sixty seconds to engine throttle back!” stated an engineer from the control deck.

“What have you got, Connor?” Shepherd asked the question with anticipation in his voice.

“Testing, testing... YES! I’ve got a full scan. It looks like we have an unknown particle moving at light speeds through the spectrum. TACHYONS! Micah, they have to be TACHYONS!”

A roar erupted in unison from the room. Cheering and laughter could be heard everywhere. Shepherd moved closer to the COM that linked Long to the celebration, “Richard, you did it!”

”It was a team effort, Micah,” Long’s voice could hardly be heard for the din in the room, “Micah, have Connor start on the attraction grids, right away. Have him build a probe, size one first, and start on a shuttle-sized unit, in case we have quick success.”

“I’m way ahead of you, old friend. I had a probe-sized unit ready some months ago, built to your specs. Also, a much larger unit has been built and is waiting in the shadows, Moon shadows to be exact.”

“Moon shadows?”

“I’ll explain later. Get well, and get out here, Richard. We need you! In the meantime, we’ll give the tachyon pattern data to the field grid and start another test as soon as we can.”

In the midst of all the handshaking and backslapping, Shepherd’s private link could barely be heard. It was John Burke.

“Micah, I’ve made my selections for the bridge crew and finished assigning the rest of the personnel. I would like to go over the list with you.”

“Very well, John. Take a scout over and I’ll be waiting. Dock at port six. Shepherd out.” Turning to the celebrating engineers, Shepherd addressed them triumphantly, “Gentlemen, the discovery of tachyons is a great achievement, but it’s just a beginning. We now must harness them!” Cheers went up again as Shepherd drew them in and asked for quiet. “The first step towards this goal is to get the probe back safely and learn about what it discovered. Then we will launch a new probe, one like the first except that it will have a tachyon attraction field grid attached. Perhaps with your help this new probe will prove that is possible. Mr. Vencetti will be in charge until Mr. Long returns. Great work, men!”

Some hours later in a conference room aboard the Shipyard, a new Star Ship Captain was lost in thought. The last few days had just flown by leaving him little time to catch his breath. Shuffling his crew assignments around in front of him on the table, Burke’s mind began to wonder, “So many things have happened to me. A few weeks ago I had a calm job, a steady girl, and a bright future. Now my job has changed, twice; I’ve been dumped by my girl, and as for the future, who knows how bright a Star Ship Captain’s future is? It’s never been tried!”

Burke put his crew list down and rubbed his eyes. Then he turned and looked out the observation window at the stars. “How beautiful they are! The stars are calling; I can feel it. I just wish Rebecca were here to share it. How beautiful...”

Burke was talking out loud as Micah arrived. “What? The stars or Rebecca?” said Micah as he walked into the room.

“How long have you been there?” Burke asked of the eavesdropper.

“Long enough to know that you need to talk about more than the Destiny’s crew assignments.”

“Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you, Micah. Before we left Earth the last time, Rebecca told me that she couldn’t marry me.”

“You mean, she refused your proposal?” Shepherd tried to look like he didn’t already know.

“Yes. I tried to tell her that she could still work with you and have a family, but she wouldn’t hear of it. I can’t force her to marry me. I’m sorry, Micah. I hope this doesn’t change your mind about giving me the Destiny, but I thought you should know.”

Shepherd walked over to a chair and sat down. Leaning back in his chair he studied the younger man for a moment and then replied, “Is there anyone else with qualifications like yours?” Shepherd smiled and Burke was relieved. John was just now getting used to this new life. He didn’t want to lose it before it even got started.

“Thanks, Micah.”

“It’s all right. Now what about those crew assignments?” Burke proffered the assignment sheet to Shepherd who took it and started to study it over. Shepherd knew all the people Burke had to choose from. From what he could see, he had made all the right choices.

“What do you think?” asked the captain.

“Not bad, John. The choices look good. I see that you want Connor Vencetti as engineer. I’ll have to ask Mr. Vencetti’s assistant, Luke Reynolds, to fill in for him with the probe tests, but that shouldn’t be a problem. But why did you choose Jones McKenze for Communication and Defense and Shannon O’Neil at Navigation and Propulsion?

“Well, Jones McKenze is one of the best communication techs I’ve ever seen. He’s a loyal man who stays at his job until it’s done. Look at how he has filled in for you up at the Spaceport all this time. I think you will agree that he’s a pretty good choice. As for Miss O’Neil, she has just recently graduated with honors in Space Sciences, including Navigation. I think she is perfect for the job. From talking to her, I think she’d love to be able to put her new skills to work.”

Shepherd smiled at his Captain, “Not to mention that she’s beautiful!”

Burke leaned closer to the table with determination and replied, “Mr. Shepherd, she is qualified for the job. Besides, she deserves this opportunity after what she’s been through!”

“I believe you, John, I believe you.” Shepherd chuckled and calmed his ruffled friend, ”but is she ready for the job so soon after the attack?”

“I’ll know soon. I plan to offer the job to her when we’re finished here.”

“Hmmm... Well, your crew choices look good. The bridge assignments look OK. However, I noticed that you haven’t filled the Science Officer’s post nor the Doctor’s position. Although you probably don’t really need a science officer to start trial runs, I do want a doctor on board. I’ll ask Doctor Yamari to fill in until you pick a permanent replacement.”

Burke felt like rolling his eyes. His last meeting with the Doctor did not go well. The thought of being couped up on the same ship with her was not appealing. But he was the boss.

“OK, but she may not fit in.”

“Hey, John, she’s just there to add support. Besides, you’re the Captain. You can change the assignment after the trial runs. Speaking of that, when can they begin?”

“Just say the word, sir. The Destiny is already prepped for the shakedown cruise!” Burke couldn’t help but let his excitement out.

“The word is given! Notify the crew that you are cleared to get underway.” Shepherd shook Burke’s hand and wished him success.

Space is a very cold place. Its natural temperature is almost absolute zero, the point where all molecular motion stops. It can be very lethal. It is a place of extremes. Tremendously hot, over a thousand degrees Celsius, or down the other way to negative two hundred and seventy three degrees Celsius. Yet it is also a place of extreme beauty when the sunward side of a planet is rife with shadow and light, sharply playing tag with each other at every turn. Suddenly that same planet turns, and a darkness falls that makes it hard to see your hand in front of your face, yet it reveals a glittering display overhead that rivals any diamond exhibit on Earth.

These were the thoughts that Thomas Roundtree occupied himself with as he sat at the service controls of the R.A.T.T. looking out a viewport. The warmth of his breathing frosted the corners of his view. His mind went from one thing to another but always seemed to come back to one thing, the Atoms ore freighter that had appeared just outside their door! It hadn’t moved since its arrival. It made him all the more nervous when he saw that its navigational lasers were trained directly on them.

Christopher Nash broke in on Roundtree’s regard, “How long can we sit here and wait? It’s been two whole days.”

“Well, considering we only have twelve hours of life support left and about one hour in the space suit tanks, I’d say about thirteen more hours.” Roundtree folded his arms and turned away from the port to face the man. Nash looked perturbed. He made a face of mock humor.

“Very funny. Now why don’t we go EVA and tie on to those air tanks, re-supply the ship and get out of here?”

Roundtree squared his shoulders and prepared to explain to the security man, for what seemed like the millionth time, why they couldn’t leave their little cell in space.

“Well, it’s like this, Nash,” Roundtree pointed over his shoulder. “Ever since that freighter and its lasers arrived shortly after our imprisonment, it’s been impossible to go outside without getting burned, even if we went out the disposal chute!”

“Oh, they’re just NAV lasers!”

“Sure, just a few thousand watts. Nothing to worry about,” said Roundtree sarcastically.

“OK, but I just can’t sit here and do nothing!” replied Nash.

“We’ve got to give the emergency beacon more time. Someone is bound to orbit our way and hear it.”

“In this high, geosychronous orbit? I doubt it!”

Roundtree looked over at Nash like he just said the secret word. “Did you say ‘geosychronous’?”

“Yeah. So what?” replied Nash, with disdain.

Roundtree turned and set to work on the COM unit. “Why didn’t I think of it sooner? Being in geo-sync, probably above Rush tower, we can redirect our signal from a broad band to a tight band and bounce it right off Rush’s satellite to whomever we want.”

“Wait a minute. If you do that, won’t Rush get wise and just jam it? Up here he probably thinks we’re wasting our time with the beacon. However, if we start messing around...”

“I thought of that. So, what if we don’t go direct? What if we use our laser-happy friend out there to do it for us? We can bounce our signal off him when he sends his update reports.”

”I get it! By mixing the signal with the freighter’s they’ll think it’s just background noise and ignore it, but the computers in Rush Tower will see it and forward it for us!” Nash looked hopeful.

“Unfortunately, the freighter sends only short bursts, so we’ll have to prepare a distress signal to fit the transmission mode.”

“How long in between transmissions,” asked Nash?

“If I remember correctly, every fifteen minutes a status update should be sent. We’ll monitor the freighter and see.”

Roundtree kept working, trying to match the distress packet to the freighter’s transmission frequency. A little out of tune or a little too long of a message, red flags would go up all over. If Rush suspected, he might tell his watch dog to open fire and blow the little transfer station to kingdom come. Roundtree made one last adjustment. “That should do it. Now all we need to do is wait for the next update.”

Nash frowned, “I hope you’re right!”

Chapter 14

Broken hearts

“Miss Shepherd, there’s a call for you on VID line one,” the executive receptionist called out.

“Thank you, Miss Shaw, but I’m really tied up. Can you take a message?”

“Well, I could, but it’s Mr. Burke.”

“Ah, OK, I’ll take it in my office.” Rebecca Shepherd walked from the drafting room to her office and took a seat behind her desk. She didn’t want the world to know about their breakup, just yet. However, she didn’t really want to talk to him either. It hurt too much.

The VID screen wavered to life. Rebecca tried to seem cheerful. “Hello, John. How are the tests coming?” “Anything to avoid the subject,” thought Rebecca.

“Great! Your father probably already told you, but we’ve found tachyons! They really do exist! The engineers are working on harnessing them, right now. But that’s not really why I called.”

“Oh?” Rebecca pretended like she didn’t know what was on his mind. However, Burke’s face took on a kind, but firmer look.

“Rebecca, I wish you would reconsider. There is always room for love. I know that you love me. How can you throw your feelings and all our experiences away like this?”

There was a tear and choke in that last question. It tore at Rebecca’s emotions. She did love him. When she thought of him, it was all she could do to concentrate on her work. Comfort, security, enjoyment, they all came to mind. But she couldn’t shake that nagging feeling that she would lose something if she married.

Rebecca got up from the desk and passed out of view of the VID link. “Rebecca? Where? Wait!” called Burke.

“I’m still here, John!” replied a reluctant woman.

She paced the room. The academic and business awards of her life lined the walls and cluttered the shelves. John’s picture still sat on her desk. She paced. Memories, feelings, and who-knows-what-else, coursed through her. Then she saw the nameplate on the front of her desk: Rebecca Shepherd—Operations Manager and Executive Assistant. She moved back behind the desk once more and took a seat.

“There you are! For a moment I thought you left me hanging.” Burke looked relieved.

“John, it’s true that I love you. We’ve had some great times. But as I said at the house, I need more than marriage right now. I love my work and want to pursue it. John, you’re my best friend! My refusal of your proposal doesn’t change that. Please understand.”

Burke had composed himself while Rebecca had done her pacing. He half-expected her response. Still, it was hard to take being called a “friend” by the woman you wanted to be your lover.

“Rebecca, a friend is someone I can workout with, go to a ball game with, or just hang out with, not someone who distracts me with her beauty every other minute.”

Rebecca replied with a smile and a sultry look, “Only every other minute?” She was trying to lighten it up a bit.

“You know what I mean, Rebecca,” he paused, “but I love you too much to push you into a marriage that might make you unhappy. I want you to be happy. I hope you are. If you ever need me, just call and I’ll be there for you.” Burke tried to make it seem like he had accepted the situation. He hoped he had hidden the broken heart from his voice.

“Thanks for understanding, John. I love you.”

Burke wished she wouldn’t say that, “Take care Rebecca. You know I love you, too.”

The VID link went down and the screen went dark. Rebecca touched her best friend’s picture and smiled with affection. She paused in thought. Then on a whim swiveled in her chair to face the office window behind. To tell the truth, the stars always did appeal to her, and now, as their light shown through the window, she gazed up into the night with a half smile. “Maybe someday you can show me those stars, John. Maybe someday.”

On the other side of the VID link Burke sat in the office chair thinking. His life had definitely begun a new chapter, one without Rebecca. “Well, I had to try one more time. But I know when to quit. Besides, I’m burning moonlight. I’ve got to go!”

With one life behind him and another just ahead of him, Burke stood up and headed for the door. As he passed the office window he paused, looking at the beautiful blue ball that was the Earth. It hung there like a jewel in space all those miles away. He reached out and touched the transsteel port. It was cool to his touch. He just smiled as if it were somehow appropriate.

Chapter 15

Final recruitment

“You are captain of what?” asked Jones McKenze.

“You heard me, Jones, a STAR SHIP! Now do you want the job or what?”

“A star ship, eh? This I’ve got to see. It has to be better than where I am now. Sorenson is about to drive me batty! Where and when do I report, Captain Burke?”

“Report right away, Jones. Take the first shuttle available over to Commerce. Go to shuttle bay three. I’ll be there. Good to have you with us. Burke out.” Burke closed down the link. “I knew he’d jump at the chance. If there’s one thing Jones likes it’s adventure,” thought Burke.

Leaving the COM station in the Med Center, he rounded the corner and arrived at Shannon O’Neil’s room. He was careful to avoid his new ship’s doctor in the process. He knew he had to see her sometime, but not now.

“May I come in?” announced Burke.

“Hello, John. Good to see you,” replied O’Neil as she was putting clothes into a bag. He couldn’t believe the change. Last time he saw her she could barely lift her arm, let alone stand. She continued, “The doctor just released me. She did a great job, don’t you think?” O’Neil turned to model her formerly-wounded side.

“I guess regen therapy really works. You look like you could climb Mount Patrick Cough!” Boasted Burke to the ex-patient.

“And how do you know about Patrick Cough?”

“I read,” smiled Burke.

“I see,” she replied as she finished gathering her things while suppressing a smile. “Well, I dina think I could climb Patrick, just yet. But I’m workin’ on it. By the way, did you catch Roundtree and Nash?”

“No. They got away clean and disappeared. But they’ll show up sooner or later, and when they do, I have some unsettled business with them!”

Shannon held up her hands, “Easy, John Burke. I nea want to see ya hurt as I was. Nea, I’m sure the Police can handle them.”

Changing the subject, Burke took a step closer and clasped her hands, “How would you like to put those space studies to good use?”

“What do you have in mind?” O’Neil smiled, intrigued by the prospect and his hands in hers.

Burke let her hands go and cleared his throat, “Well, as it turns out, Mr. Shepherd has been working on a special project for many years and it is now ready for testing.”

“The special projects division?”

“Yes, not many people have been there. The current project has been under raps for quite a while. Mr. Shepherd has asked me to be the project Captain. I could use your help.”

“Captain of what, John?” She was really curious now. Burke continued in a low voice.

“A STAR SHIP!” he said in a whisper.

“You mean, a new style of freighter!” she replied incredulously.

“No, Shannon. I mean a star ship. I would like to have you as my navigator. What do you say?”

O’Neil stumbled back on to the bed in astonishment. “In school we theorized about the navigation and flight of a star ship, but nea did I really think it could be done. Why, the sheer cost alone would be enormous. How did Mr. Shepherd do it?”

“It’s taken years and the company’s reserves to do it. He’s banking that the ship will pay for itself and more once it is in service. So, will you join my crew?”

“I’d be a fool to turn it down,” she smiled at her new Captain, “I just hope I’m good enough, John.”

“I have a feeling you will be. Come to shuttle bay three as soon as you can. The new communications officer will be there, too.” Burke smiled, “From there, we make history!”

With a smile, and new respect, O’Neil called after the man as he headed out the door, “Aye, aye, Captain. Nothin’ could keep me away!”

The ride from the shipyard was smooth and uneventful. The two new bridge officers talked and got to know each other while Burke piloted the shuttle to the semisecret construction base.

”We are on final approach. Prepare for landing,” said Burke as the shuttle banked and turned into the lunar night.

“Where, Captain? I don’t see a thing,” wondered McKenze.

“You’ll see,” replied Burke. Just then a small landing pad lit up upon their approach. Burke guided the shuttle in.

“Captain, if you don’t mind me asking. What is our ship’s name?”

“Well, let’s go see, shall we? It should be about done by now.”

With the docking complete, Burke motioned for them to follow him as they exited their craft and headed for the central passage. The three entered the great hangar and Burke hung back to watch the reactions of his friends.

Their mouths dropped open. The size, scope, and power that was this new ship overwhelmed them just as it did Burke three days ago.

“You wanted to know her name...” Burke pointed the new officers to the bow and the a-frame of the star ship. There, etched into her moon rock-encrusted surface, was the name: E.S.S. Destiny. Registry SII-1001.

“What does the E.S.S. stand for?” asked the new navigator. Burke answered.

“Exploration Star Ship. Shepherd Industries hopes she is only the first in a new style of ship designed for exploration and commerce. She is the first of the Explorer Class vessels. Come on, you two, let’s go aboard.”

The lift doors opened. Burke stepped out on to the bridge of his ship. Funny how it was starting to feel more like home than he thought possible. McKenze and O’Neil followed. Just then, from the middle of all the activity, Grant Masters noticed the Captain. “Captain on the Bridge!” He called out and every one came to attention.

“At ease, everyone. I’d like you to meet the Destiny’s new Navigation and Propulsion Officer, Shannon O’Neil. Also, our new Communication and Defense Officer, Jones McKenze,” Gesturing towards Masters, Burke continued, “Mr. Masters is ship Operations Officer. He will be happy to show you around the bridge and also acquaint you with your new posts.” Burke whispered to the overwhelmed officers, “You’ll be fine. I’ll be in my office. I still have some crew assignments to review. With that the Captain departed leaving his friends to absorb their new surroundings.

Four hours later, after assignments and reassignments, crew notifications and crew acceptance letters, Burke leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. There was a chime at the door. He was tired, hungry, and stiff from pouring over the crew’s files. Company was the last thing he wanted at that moment. But he was the Captain. It went with the job.

“Come!” he said, and the door slid aside smoothly.

“Excuse me, Captain, the engineer has signaled that all ship’s systems checkout and are on standby.” It was Jones McKenze. Burke motioned for him to come in. McKenze took a seat.

“Jones. How do you like your new post?”

“It’s only the most complete communication system I’ve ever seen. Not only can you get audio and video, but a whole range of other signals, both natural and artificial. The system can even put out a jamming static field that other COM systems can’t get through. You can send signals in almost any form, speed, or wavelength. It’s all pretty amazing!” Burke smiled at Jones’ enthusiasm. It reminded him of his own when he first saw the Destiny.

“What do you think of the defensive systems?” A look of worry crossed Jones countenance.

“John, this ship is equipped with enough fire power to hold off all the enemies we know, and probably those we don’t. According to the readouts, all targeting and launching systems are ready for testing. The Mass Driver Cannons, Particle Weapons, Lasers, Antimatter and Static Torpedoes, and Magna-Tractors are all online. Captain, if I hadn’t seen all the labs and science stations on this ship, I’d think we were going to war!”

Burke tried to allay McKenze’s fears. “Relax, Jones. We’re not at war nor are we going to war with anybody. However, we are about to go into extra-solar space! Who knows what we will have to face out there? We’re the first to go beyond our own system. I, for one, want to return to tell about it. That’s why your station is called Communication and DEFENSE.” Burke emphasized the last word.

“I understand, Captain. Believe me, I want to come back, too. I’ll go over the systems again. Some of these gadgets I’ve never heard of, but I’ll learn them!”

“Good, Jones. I hope we won’t need them, but you never know.”

“Thank you, sir.” McKenze got up and started towards the door and Burke called after him.

“Oh, congratulate Engineering on a job well done. Also, have all stations button up and prepare for a life support test. Close all hatches and disconnect all support lines. For the next two hours let’s see if we have any leaks!”

Jones smiled and nodded in approval. “Aye, aye, sir. I’ve got to get used to calling you that.”

“Go on, Mr. C&D officer. Get going!” Burke laughed as he said it.

Two hours later all was according to spec. The ship was airtight and functioning on her own. Burke awakened from a stolen catnap in his quarters to a paging whistle and a summons. “Captain Burke to the bridge.” Burke hit the COM switch in his quarters and responded.

“Burke here. What is it?”

“Testing complete, sir. All stations report ready to get underway!” The C&D officer couldn’t hide his excitement at the thought. How could you blame him? The whole crew probably felt the same, no doubt chomping at the bit to see what their technological marvel could really do.

“Understood. I’m on my way.” Burke sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He got up and splashed some water on his face. Looking in the mirror he thought, “Are you ready for this? I hope so!” With that he left his cabin and headed for the bridge.

As he walked the corridors of the ship, his ship, the weight of it all came down around him. One hundred and twenty-five people to look after once she is fully manned, and an untested, untried ship to sort out. It could be overwhelming. But this was what he had always wanted. At least, that is what he kept telling himself. As Burke rounded the last corner before coming to the main lift, he noticed something. Everyone that he had seen since he left his quarters looked different. So did young crewman Banks who now stood beside him waiting for the lift. He eyed the young man. There, under the normal utility flight suit, he wore another suit. Only the neck and forearms were visible, but from what showed, it was form-fitting and made of a iridescent material that seemed to glisten in the ship’s light. The crewman glanced at the Captain, “Bridge, sir?”

“Yes.”

“Exciting, isn’t it, Captain?”

Burke couldn’t understand why he hadn’t noticed the suits before. He wanted to touch the material on Banks’ sleeve but didn’t want to seem like he didn’t know about it. Then he realized Banks had spoken to him.

“Yes, Mr. Banks. Indeed it is.” The lift arrived and the two men stepped inside. Shortly, they came to Banks’ stop. Banks stepped off as the doors parted.

“Oh, Captain. Don’t forget to put on your P.E.S.” Burke realized he must be referring to the new suit.

“Yes, Mr. Banks. Thank you.” The lift doors closed. “I’ve got to find out about these suits,” Burke said to himself.

On the bridge the flurry of activity that took place as preparations were being made had been replaced by calm determination. Everyone was at their posts when the lift doors opened. Burke came out and headed for his post only to find an iridescent suit draped over the back of his captain’s chair.

McKenze spotted Burke, “Captain, Mr. Shepherd is online and asking to speak with you.”

Burke picked up the suit, put it across one shoulder and sat down. “Stations, everyone. Look sharp. The boss is about to pay us a visit. Put him through, Jones.”

The main view screen flickered with its first image that wasn’t a test pattern. This was it, the big sendoff. “Greetings, Captain Burke. What is your status?” Burke checked the status board concealed in the right arm of his chair.

“All systems report green. Ready for launch, sir.”

“Excellent!” Shepherd noticed the P.E.S. over Burke’s shoulder. “I take it that everyone received my little going-away present.” Burke had almost forgotten about the new suits.

“Ah, yes, sir, all one hundred and twenty-five. I just got mine. What are they made of, Micah?”

“They’re the latest in nano-technology. A suit made of micro-machines, designed to resemble the look and feel of material. However, they do much more. The suit will maintain proper body temperature, counteract g-forces, resist extreme heat and remove any waste. They’re perfect for space. They are completely self-repairing and self-cleaning, too. What do you think?”

“They sound amazing,” replied Burke as his fingers toyed with the material on his shoulder.

“Then why aren’t you wearing yours, Captain?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll change right away. Thank you for the gift. I’m sure they’ll come in handy.”

A smile came to Shepherd’s affable features. The laugh lines showed around his eyes. “John, take care. Come back safe, and make her fly!”

“We will, sir. By the way, how are you going to keep the Destiny a secret once we launch? A ship this size will be spotted right away.”

“I’ve all ready addressed that subject. I contacted NASA and ESA and told them both about the ship. They were a little angry that they weren’t included, but now they are anxious to see just what the Destiny can do. I wish I could be there, but the project still needs attention. By the way, I’ve transmitted the latest information to your computer on the project to-date, including the most current configuration model for the Tachyon Attraction Grids. I’ll keep you updated. Good flight to all of you!”

“Thank you, Micah, we’ll do our best, Destiny out.” McKenze cut the link.

Burke now got the voyage underway. “Mr. McKenze, tell control to clear the hangar. Depressurize as soon as it’s clear. Then open the space doors. It’s time to go!”

Minutes later, both Burke and their environment had changed, the Captain into his Personal Environment Suit, and the Destiny into the harsh blackness of space.

“Engineering, this is the Captain. Are we clear for upward thrust?” A moment later a familiar Italian accent answered. It was Connor Vencetti giving the all clear. “Thank you, Connor, prepare for liftoff. Bridge out. Miss O’Neil, have you familiarized yourself with your board?”

Shannon O’Neil turned with a wide smile. That was all Burke needed to know. Looking at the rest of the bridge, Captain John Burke gave the order that would forever change every life on the ship. “Very well, then. Liftoff, Miss O’Neil. One quarter thrust till we clear the hangar, then take us into standard lunar orbit.”

The ship began to shudder. Gracefully, the Star Ship Destiny slowly started upward in the light, lunar gravity. Burke could feel the deck plates vibrate beneath his feet. “Wow! Has this ship got power! Just her lifting thrusters at one quarter feel as powerful as Miner Five did at full thrust!” Burke mused to himself as he and his crew flew starward.

As the new ship cleared the assembly hangar, Masters retracted her three-pedestal landing gear. With her gear up and locked the space-black, star-like sparkle of the hull was now unmarked. Smoothly and surely the Destiny entered into lunar orbit and waited for her marching orders.

“Hangar cleared and orbit achieved, sir.” announced O’Neil, with a note of personal triumph. McKenze looked at Burke who winked back his approval.

“Well done, Miss O’Neil. Maintain orbit. Mr. McKenze, notify Commerce of our status.”

Both stations acknowledged while Burke checked with engineering. “Bridge to engineering. Are we go for main engine test?” There was a long pause, too long. Burke started to get nervous. He knew all too well that on a test flight, anything might go wrong. “Mr. Vencetti, please respond.”

Finally he got a reply. “Sorry for the delay, sir. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the anti-matter injection lines on engine number two has come loose. We’ll need to reattach it before we fire the engines.”

“What caused it?” asked the Captain.

“Probably vibration during liftoff. We’ll need to check the lines on all four main engines to avoid any problems.”

“You mean, so we don’t go up like a supernova!” McKenze muttered to himself. Burke ignored the comment.

“Very well, Engineer. How long before it’s safe to proceed?” Burke asked.

“About three hours, sir, give or take,” responded Vencetti.

O’Neil piped up. “Then we’ll have to set down, Captain. With thrusters only, and our low orbit, we’ll only last about two cycles before the Moon’s gravity pulls us in.”

Burke eyed his N&P chief and then spoke to Vencetti, “OK, Connor. We’ll set down and wait for your word. Bridge out. Jones, apprise Commerce of the situation. Shannon, find us a nice place to put down.”

Suddenly a blip showed up on the Destiny’s new long-range sensors, then disappeared. Masters reported, “Captain, I was reading some movement just outside the asteroid field, then it disappeared. I couldn’t make it out. However, I believe it was a ship of some kind.”

“Probably just one of the companies’ miners. If she was in an asteroid dust cloud she could disappear quite quickly. Don’t worry about it, Grant. Let’s take care of our own problems right now.”

One orbit later the Destiny put down. O’Neil thought she had found the perfect place: Mare Ingenii, or Sea of Ingenuity. It was wide, smooth, and well-hidden on the far side.

“All right people, we’ve got two hours before I want a full systems check again. Let’s all get some rest while Mr. Vencetti and his crew get to work. It’s going to be busy again, soon. Mr. Masters, get a couple of relief personnel up here. Everyone else, try and get some sleep. We’ve all been up too long.” The Captain was the last to leave for his quarters. He made one last check. “Engineering, how is it going?”

“Fine, sir. No problems really. Just time-consuming,” replied Vencetti.

“Do a good job, Connor. This ship has some history to write!” A little disappointed over the delay but nonetheless deterred, Burke closed down the COM link and headed for the lift. Everyone seemed to be working together as a team, he thought. There was just something about it that made a new captain feel good.

Chapter 16

More tests

“The problem with going near light speed is that the faster you go the heavier your mass becomes, until you need an infinite amount of power to push you through the barrier. However, what if you didn’t need power to achieve light speeds? What if there was a way to move at the speed of light in an instant, and maintain that speed? Or go even faster? If that were possible, then faster-than-light travel between the stars could be a reality. Once a ship was going at light speed, then bringing her engines online would provide a little extra speed, as well as maneuverability. I also theorize that the tighter the tachyon field, the faster the ship could go. We won’t know how fast until we try. The only constraints would be building a ship that could stand the strains of this high-speed travel.”

The audience listened as Richard Long explained his theory from his hospital room. Long was feeling much stronger now. The regen therapy had truly begun to do its magic. Long continued his talk, “Here’s how we plan to achieve this feat. Please watch your monitors.”

Around the conference table the engineers watched. Micah Shepherd also watched, but with the Destiny crew repairing her engines and getting ready for trials, his mind was only half there. On the small personal screens a computer simulation ran. A small brick-sized probe raced at sixty percent light speed. The new style A.M. engine made that part a reality, at least. As the probe flew it began to take on a crystalline appearance. A golden glow surrounded it, and in a blur it was...gone! “That is what we will attempt in the next few hours, gentlemen. Using the tachyon ‘signature’ that you have uncovered in the previous test, we will attempt to attract as many tachyons as possible towards the rear of the probe. Thus when the tachyon mass is sufficient, we hope to be pushed into light speed,” Long finished and an engineer raised his hand.

“Sir, how do we know which way the probe will go if it achieves light speed? It could be off our monitors in a second!”

Long smiled, “We don’t! That’s what tests are for. Be sharp, people. Monitor all directions. This is a big day. Let’s do it! Dismissed.”

Everyone filed out of the conference room. You could smell the excitement in the air. Shepherd was about to leave as well when a VID message came in for him.

“Mr. Shepherd, I’m glad I caught you, sir.” It was Mrs. Shaw from his office in Boston.

“Yes, what can I do for you, Mrs. Shaw?”

“Your daughter wanted me to remind you about the World Energy Conference to be held in Washington D.C. The International Trade Center will be the place. The conference will start at 8:00 a.m. on November 15th. That’s three days, sir!”

Yes, I’m aware of the date. Thank you for the reminder. Tell Rebecca I’ll see her there. Good evening, Mrs. Shaw.”

“Good evening, sir.” Mrs. Shaw’s image paled from the screen.

“Three days! I had forgotten. Rebecca’s on the ball, as usual. Well, let’s see what we can do in three days!” Shepherd mussed to himself as he exited the room.

It was now quite late in the evening, but all was ready for the next flight. Despite the late hour, everyone wanted to go ahead. So Luke Reynolds, whom Connor Vencetti had convinced Micah Shepherd could handle the job, stepped up to the main control board. Micah Shepherd stood expectantly behind.

“Launch will commence in five minutes!” Reynolds announced. “All stations, check in!”

A flurry of communications from the various stations began. All systems checked out. No malfunctions or sabotage would mar this flight! The determination of all in the room would see to that. Shepherd, who had taken over security, couldn’t help but think what John Burke had gone through. “All those tests! All those tense moments, only because of a saboteur. Well, not this time!”

“One minute and counting! Turning over final countdown to computer control.” Reynolds pushed the button and the computer kicked in. The count progressed to zero with no interruptions. The probe was off!

“Helm, head for open space for this test. I don’t want to run into anything.”

“Aye, sir.” replied the tech.

“Increase speed to maximum, slowly, then hold for fifteen seconds before engaging attraction grid,” ordered Reynolds. Shepherd was impressed. For an assistant, Reynolds knew his stuff.

“Approaching sixty percent L.S., sir,” the tech called out.

“All systems, final check!” Reynolds watched as all systems again showed green. “Engage attraction grid at your discretion, Helm.”

The helm engineer responded, “Now at top speed. Checking heading and structural integrity. OK. Checking fuel and injection lines. OK. Checking grid and computer connections. OK. All systems check. Engaging grid, NOW!”

The attraction grid came on. The slightly longer-than-normal and highly magnetic tachyons started to stream in towards the probe. In CRJ everyone’s heart stopped as they watched the monitors. Even the security guards posted at the door strained to see. No one was immune from the excitement, so much so that the flashing blue light on the COM panel went unnoticed.

The orange orb sped into the night unaware of what was about to happen, and for a moment, nothing did. Then suddenly, just as predicted, the probe took on a glassy appearance. The sun shown off it in a brilliant flash of silver and gold, and in that instant, it vanished!

“Helm! Report!” called Reynolds.

“Polling all telemetry stations now. Got it! It’s not on the established course. I show it at zero-five point two-three and almost out of tracking range,” this was the breathless moment, “one hundred eighty-nine million miles per second and increasing! We did it!” said the helm engineer. Again, just like before, the room erupted in cheers. However, this was no time for celebration. The probe was moving out of range, fast!

“Switch to Hubble tracking!” Reynolds yelled above the din. The mood changed quickly as everyone settled down to business once again.

The computer logged on to the big telescope’s computers and the far-sighted eye locked on to the fleeing object. “Status of probe?” asked Reynolds. There was a pause as everyone waited for the information to come back.

“Yes, sir. All systems still online and functioning perfectly!” Smiles crossed the room at light speed. “We’re getting a lot of data; it’s fantastic!”

“Shut down the field before we lose the probe!” Reynolds instructed the helm tech.

“Sir, the field grid is not responding!”

“Ultimate override command, Mr. Washburn! We need that probe!”

“No response, Mr. Reynolds! We’re losing it!”

“SHUT DOWN THE PROBE’S COMPUTER LINK TO THE GRID!” Surprising everyone, Richard Long’s voice boomed through the open link that was established before the test began. A second later came the reply.

“That did it. Probe has dropped to sub-light speeds. It is answering to command again. Bringing it back on a return course at top speed. We’ll engage the grid just for one burst to get the probe back and then reel her in at sub-light.” The helm looked relieved and so was Richard Long as he sat back in his hospital bed.

Luke Reynolds licked his parched lips and turned to Shepherd, shaking slightly. Shepherd thanked the younger man. “Great job, Luke. Now get that probe back here. It’s pretty valuable right now, and watch that second jump to light speed so that you don’t overshoot.”

“Yes, sir, we will.” Reynolds congratulated Long on the success along with everyone else, then he concentrated on bringing the probe back intact.

Shepherd now went over to the COM station. “Shepherd to security. Send two scout shuttles out along the heading of zero-five point two-three and wait for the probe to come in range. Have it escorted back ASAP. Let no other ship near it, understand?”

“Understood. Security out.”

Shepherd was about to turn away when he noticed the blue emergency channel lit up. It blared danger in his mind. “How long has this been flashing?” he wondered. He listened to the dispatch. It was a coded transmission: “Help. Life support failing.” Then there was a short directional signal and that was all.

Shepherd started to check into it. “Shepherd to Spaceport.” A moment passed.

“Spaceport, Alfred Sorenson here.”

“This is Shepherd. Have you received a blue channel distress call?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Have you responded with a recon ship?”

“No, sir. All vessels are either on mining runs or at the shipyard for repair. We are a little shorthanded right now.”

“Very well. We’ll handle it from here. Shepherd out.” A worried CEO now tapped in the code for the shipyard’s dock control. “Dock control, this is Shepherd. Are there any ships available for travel?”

“No, sir. The last two ships were taken by security. I can call one back if you would like.”

“No, don’t stop them. They are needed elsewhere. Thank you. Shepherd out.”

Reynolds, noticing his boss at the COM station, walked over. “Anything wrong, sir?”

“We have a distress call on the Blue channel. With all the commotion we must have missed it till now.”

“Who is it from?”

“There was no I.D. signal with it. Could be anybody, including one of our own! Every ship is in use. There’s got to be a way to help!” Shepherd ringed his hands as he thought. Then it came to him. He tapped in the code for access to the newly-minted “Fleet” channel. There was only one other that had the equipment to receive the new band. He just hoped they were listening.

Chapter 17

A distress call

Aboard the Star Ship Destiny the antimatter injection lines were now repaired. Vencetti and the rest of Engineering were tired but pleased with the job. The lines were stronger than before and would pose no more problems, no matter how much vibration they encountered.

Jones McKenze, awakened from a good sleep by Connor Vencetti, staggered back to his post on the bridge. Through the dimly-lit bridge, McKenze could see the lone security guard at the far side. He waved to the man who acknowledged his entrance. Jones slid into his C&D chair and punched up the intra-ship intercom, “Bridge to Captain Burke!” “The Captain should be the first wake up call,” thought Jones.

However, instead of finding Burke asleep, the call found him in the anti-grav gym working off the worry that plagued him. He floated breathless at the ceiling after some full, 360-degree flips. Burke still wore his P.E.S. and marveled at how cool he felt even though he thought he’d worked up a sweat. For a while the old queasy stomach had bothered him, but he shook it off with the first few exercises. This was going to be the experience of his life, and he wanted to be ready for it. Just then he heard the page. Expertly, Burke pushed off the ceiling at an angle and headed for the wall rungs near the COM panel. He glided through the cool gym air. It felt exhilarating. Reaching out he grabbed the nearest rung and held tight. His body whipped past his hold and then snapped tight as it came to full length, but Burke’s grip held firm. “Whew! What a rush!” Burke grabbed the towel that floated nearby and brought the gravity up to normal. His feet gradually touched down as he touched the COM switch next to the gravity controls.

“Burke here. What is it, Jones?”

The gym VID screen flickered to life with McKenze’s sleepy face. “Hello, John. You look wide awake.”

“And you look like someone got you out of bed. Glad to see you were getting some sleep.”

“Well, it wasn’t long enough! Anyway, Mr. Vencetti says we’re ready to go anytime.”

“OK, Jones. Contact the rest of the bridge crew. I’ll change and be right up. Burke out.”

It didn’t take long. Everyone seemed ready to go. No longer dim, the lights were up and the bridge hummed with system checks and simulations. The view screen showed the darkened lunar landscape of their haven. Burke, now surrounded by his command chair, sat up straight and checked his systems monitor. The panel of his armrest snapped up at his touch. All green once more. “OK people, let’s be sharp! Stay on your instruments and data recorders. Get as much information as possible on all systems during the flight.”

Then turning towards his friends, he first addressed Jones McKenze, “Jones, monitor all COM channels while we’re up. We don’t want to miss anything. Shannon, stand by for liftoff.”

Burke punched the shipwide intercom. “All hands, this is the Captain. Secure all stations. Prepare for liftoff in sixty seconds.” Burke closed the channel. O’Neil began the start sequence. “OK, Miss O’Neil you know the drill. Slow at first, then after the pods are up, give it full thrust into orbit.”

“Aye, sir.” O’Neil acknowledged confidently as she began the ascent for the second time. The ship responded just as before. Lunar dust shot out all around the base of the Destiny. It was as if an asteroid had hit sending a cloud of debris into the air. Then out of the cloud near the lunar surface the Destiny rose, with the grace and eagerness of a craft born for flight. The ship continued to rise, leaving the Sea of Ingenuity behind. Finally, O’Neil eased the ship into a standard orbit. “Orbit achieved, sir. Everything tis lookin’ good.”

Suddenly, a flurry of reports rang out. McKenze called out from his station, “Incoming transmission. It’s a distress call on the Blue channel!” Before Burke could say anything McKenze spoke up again, “We’re getting another call, sir. It’s Commerce Shipyard. It’s Mr. Shepherd, Captain.”

Then it was Master’s turn, “Captain, I’m getting the same long-range readings on that mystery vessel. It bothers me that our data banks can’t identify it. I’ll keep trying, sir.”

“Fine, Mr. Masters. Let me know if you find anything. If not, file your findings for later recall. Mr. McKenze, put Mr. Shepherd through, and record that distress call.”

On the view screen the vista of stars above the Moon’s surface was replaced by the face of a worried CEO. “John, I’m glad we could reach you. We heard of your engine trouble. How are the repairs coming?”

“Well, it just so happens that we just now achieved orbit, again. We were about to test the engines. However, we have just received a distress call on Blue channel. Do you know what’s going on?”

“That’s why I’m calling. I’m afraid we need you to investigate. All other ships in the area are unavailable.”

“Micah, we don’t even know if our engines are functional. How can we investigate?”

“Captain, the Destiny is it! There isn’t any other ship that we can send. It could be one of our own people. The message is short. No I.D. code, just that life support is failing and some coordinates.” The two men locked eyes, then Shepherd spoke, “Besides, ready or not, the Destiny is the best equipped ship for the job.”

“Well, yes, sir. But...“ Burke didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t imagine taking on a rescue mission right now. Who knows what they would find?

“Then it’s settled, Captain. Proceed with the assignment. Keep me informed. Look at it this way, now you have a real situation to test the ship’s systems with. Shepherd out.”

The screen went dark. Silence washed over the bridge as Burke felt the eyes of all beating down on him like the sun on an oppressively hot day. “Mr. McKenze, let’s hear the distress call,” commanded the Captain. The message played.

“It sounds recorded. How do we know they’re still alive?” Masters ventured a reply from behind Burke at Ops.

“We don’t unless we investigate.” Burke had made his decision. “Well, let’s make this our first job. Helm, set a course for the named coordinates. C&D, get me Engineering.”

Engineering was online and waiting in an instant. “Ready, sir.”

“Mr. Vencetti, what’s our status?”

“We’re ready for tests on Antimatter engines one and two.”

“It looks like we’ll need more than just testing, Connor. We’ve got a distress call. Mr. Shepherd asked us to investigate because we’re the only ship available. Can we get full thrust?”

“Aye, sir. We should be able to, but these are untested and untried engines. They’re likely to be unpredictable. I wouldn’t push too hard.”

“Well, you know what they say, ‘Trial by fire!’ Prepare for main engine firing. Bridge out.”

Down in engineering Vencetti turned towards the listening engineering staff and gave them the ‘Batten down the hatches, we’re in for a blow’ look.

Everyone on the bridge seemed ready. In the eyes of all could be seen the determination not to fail in their first mission. If the engines wouldn’t fire, they would push if they had to!

“Viewer ahead. Helm, warm up the engines. Steady on course towards the distress call. Take us out when ready.” The crew braced themselves.

O’Neil counted it down, “Five, four, three, two, one... engines firing, now!”

Nothing seemed to happen. Then the rumble began. Slowly at first, but after a second, the new engines came to life with a fury! The deck plates vibrated as the great engines burned with their molecular reactions. The new graviton field generators functioned perfectly, allowing barely the feeling of a tug as the they accelerated. The only hint of a problem was a slight imbalance in the antimatter flow that was easily adjusted on-the-fly. The Star Ship Destiny officially flew for the first time!

“Engines one and two, online and coming to full throttle. Both engines performing perfectly!” Smiles crossed the bridge as Burke congratulated engineering for a job well done. Then he addressed the bridge. “OK, everyone, it’s a great start. Now let’s shake the bugs out!” Burke addressed his new crew with new confidence.

A short time passed and O’Neil made an announcement, “Captain, these coordinates are in high Earth orbit. If I’m reading them right we’re closing in on an old Rush Automatic Transfer Tanker. It was abandoned years ago!”

“That type of facility had a tendency towards being unstable. Repair crews had to be dispatched often. If it’s been abandoned for some years, who knows what’s gone wrong?” said McKenze.

Burke rubbed his chin as he thought out loud, “Miss O’Neil, course and speed?”

“Heading towards high Earth orbit at one percent L.S., sir.”

Burke opened the channel to Engineering again, “Mr. Vencetti?”

After a moment Vencetti responded, “Isn’t it fantastic! The engines are performing BETTER than the curve!”

“You’ve done a great job, Connor. However, answer a question for me. Our engines are of a similar design to the probe’s, aren’t they?”

“Yes, but only on a much bigger scale. The power output of the new design is about twice as much as that of their predecessors.”

Burke seemed pleased. One percent or one thousand eight hundred and sixty miles per second was nothing to throw rocks at, yet Burke still had some questions. “So the old Antimatter power curve is obsolete, right?”

“Yes, sir! Our monitors show the engines to be at one percent on the new scale. Compared to the old curve, we’re already doing what used to be considered top speed just a few months ago.”

“Then can we go to FULL antimatter speed on engines one and two?”

“I don’t see why not. They’re working perfectly.”

“And three and four? Are they ready for testing?”

“I’d rather finish testing one and two before igniting three and four.”

“OK, Connor, We’ll take it slow. We’ll hold back on three and four, for now. Bridge out.” Burke closed the channel. “Miss O’Neil, you heard the engineer. Full power to one and two.”

O’Neil eased the throttle forward. On the view screen the Earth seemed to grow faster. Only the slightest tug could be felt as the ship surged forward, once more. Other than that, only a slight increase in the vibration of the deck plates proclaimed the new speed.

“View astern, Mr. Masters.” Everyone watched as the Moon fell away, fast. It was amazing. “View ahead.” The scene changed and the Earth came into focus, once again.

The ship was surging faster and faster now. “Speed now surpassing eight percent!” O’Neil called out in amazement. The continuing thrust was beginning to over take the graviton generators. Slowly the G-forces were building. Without the new Personal Environment Suits it would have been hard to move, but as it was, there was only a light pressure. Still, no one knew how much they could take. The deck seemed to writhe with power; you could feel it as the thrust continued to build. Grant Masters was standing at the operations station monitoring the ship’s systems. Burke looked over his shoulder at Masters.

“Status of all systems, Mr. Masters?”

Masters ran down the list. All systems showed green, except one. “Everything checks out except I’m getting a power loss in the life support system. I’m compensating for it. We should be fine until we reach top speed. Then I’ll send a repair crew out.”

“Keep an eye on it, Grant. That’s one system we can’t do without.”

“Speed now leveling out. Topping at twelve percent!” announced the excited helm officer.

“Burke to Engineering. What is your status?”

A moment later, “One and two engines show that we have reached a top speed of twelve percent. They are firing perfectly! However, running at full throttle generates a lot of stress. If we could back off a little it would help.” Vencetti seemed pleased at the way his ship was performing, especially the engines. “I suggest coming down to eight percent as a cruising speed.”

“Sounds reasonable, engineer. We will comply. What do you estimate our top speed will be when all four engines are online?” Burke couldn’t help himself; he had to know.

“Well, this is a pretty big mass to push around. Judging from the way one and two have performed, I’d guess about twenty-five percent light speed, with a cruising speed of about twenty percent. Amazing, huh?” Vencetti sounded like a proud father. If he had cigars to hand out, Burke expected one to come through the COM system any minute. No ship in history had traveled as fast as they were, right now.

“Unbelievable! We’ll maintain eight percent for now, to let the engines break in. Burke out.”

Before Burke could instruct O’Neil to reduce speed she was already on it. “Throttling back now. Engines responding nicely. Approaching ten, nine, eight percent, and holding.” She looked back and smiled. Burke smiled back. He liked the way she anticipated his moves.

“Sir, we are now within scanning range of the R.A.T.T.,” announced McKenze.

“Are there any life signs, Mr. Masters?” asked Burke.

Moving from ops to science station one, Masters tried to honor his captain’s request. Since a science officer was not available, Masters was doing double-duty. “Scanning now, sir. Yes, I’m showing what I think are two life signs, although I’m not completely trained on the science equipment, sir.”

“That’s all right, Grant. Stay with it; we’ll fill that post soon,” Burke tried to encourage him. Turning to O’Neil he asked, “ETA to the R.A.T.T.?”

“At present speed, thirty seconds.” Burke was amazed at how fast this ship could move.

“Mr. Masters, are the life signs strong or weak?”

“I can’t tell, sir. I can’t get a clear reading.”

“Raise them, Mr. McKenze.”

McKenze tuned in the frequency. “Rush Automated Transfer Tanker, do you read? Come in, please.” McKenze tried to answer the distress call as O’Neil eased the Destiny to a stop, a safe distance away.

Aboard the R.A.T.T. tempers were getting short as the life support slipped away with each passing second. The little station groaned as Nash blurted out a comment in the ever cooling air, “That annoying red transmission light has blinked, I don’t know how many times! When will we get a response?” Roundtree watched as the red transmission flickered on once again indicating that the ore freighter was sending another update.

“Take it easy, Nash. These things take time. All we can do is wait.”

“We’re trapped like rats on a R.A.T.T., and it’s your fault!” Nash, frustrated and afraid, lashed out at Roundtree. He stood up in his environment suit and moved towards Roundtree like a vindictive Frankenstein.

“Nash, what are you doing? Stop it, Nash! Sit down you’re using up oxygen!”

“Oxygen! Oh, I’ll have plenty of it after I kill you!”

Nash lunged for Roundtree. Although slowed by the bulky suit, as a trained security guard, he was more than a match for Roundtree. Roundtree tried to dodge but moved too late. Nash expected his move and was there to greet him with a half-nelson. “How do you want to die?” asked the crazed guard as he wrapped his arm around the man’s arm and neck. The researcher tried to reason with him.

“Nash, wait! There’s still a chance. Let me go!”

Nash changed his grip and now held Roundtree in a choke hold, pressing his forearm into his opponent’s throat. “Not for you, Roundtree!” said Nash, with a voice like grating rock. Just then they heard it! The answer to their distress call. Roundtree tried to choke out a word against the hold.

“See... Nash... let me go!” Nash released his hold. Roundtree massaged his windpipe for a moment and then answered the hail with a hoarse voice. Still not wanting to let Nash out of his sight, Roundtree tracked him from the corner of his eye. “This is the R.A.T.T. Who is this?” Roundtree was guarded. He didn’t want to worsen their predicament by divulging any names, just yet.

Burke answered from the Destiny. Roundtree couldn’t believe it. “Burke, is that really you? I can’t believe it! I knew you were a Jet Jockey at heart.”

On the Destiny the surprise was just as great. Everyone exchanged glances as the voice of Thomas Roundtree came over the speakers. O’Neil’s face changed as she recognized the voice. John Burke stood from his command chair and placed a hand on O’Neil’s shoulder as if to say “I’ll handle him,” before he replied.

“Well, well, so this is where you’ve been hiding. Love your choice of hideouts! Has a guilty conscience gotten the better of you?” Burke didn’t like this man. He had caused untold trouble. He wondered if this was a trap or the truth?

“True, we have many things to talk about, but right now I’m in a bit of a fix.”

“Really, and what could that be?” Burke knew but didn’t want to end the conversation. He had to determine how to handle him and he needed information in order to do it.

“Our life support is failing, but not mechanically. We are just plain running out of air!”

“Our? We? Is there someone else with you?” Burke was still probing.

“Yes, Christopher Nash is here with me. But you probably knew that. Will you help us?”

“We detect a Commerce shuttle docked at your location. Why don’t you just leave?” asked Burke.

Jones McKenze spoke up. “Captain, I am detecting another ship just outside the R.A.T.T. It is an auto freighter. It’s just hanging out there.”

“It is a long story, but if you come in you will find an auto freighter with its NAV lasers trained on us. One move, and, well, you know. Besides, the inner airlock door is jammed. Our only escape is out the disposal chute.”

“How do I know that this isn’t all an elaborate trick designed to do more damage to Shepherd Industries property?”

“You have a right to feel that way. But I assure you, it’s not a trick! This is all too real.”

Aboard the R.A.T.T. Nash became nervous. “You can’t just turn us over like this. We’ll go to jail!” Roundtree turned on his once willing accomplice.

“You were trying to kill me a minute ago because of this place. Now you want to stay? Well, I’d rather take my chances with them than wait thirty more minutes and start to suffocate!”

“Mr. Burke, are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here, Roundtree.”

“Will you help us? For my part, I’m willing to give myself up.”

“Well, it sounds like you’re experiencing a taste of your own medicine. We should just let you die! But that’s for the courts to decide. Standby, we’ll be with you in a few minutes. Burke out.”

Burke turned to his officers. “Shannon, what’s our position?”

“We’re stopped, two hundred kilometers away, sir. But you canna be serious about helpin’ ’em. They dina deserve it!” Pain from her wounds filled her senses.

“True. But we can’t let ourselves sink to their level. Let’s retrieve both of them and personally make sure they are turned in! Mr. McKenze, can you put a tactical grid on the view screen?”

Two seconds later the Earth was replaced by a grid map with the R.A.T.T. and the freighter represented as glowing dots. Another blinking dot showed the Destiny. “The freighter is about twenty-five kilometers off the R.A.T.T.’s starboard side. That’s pretty close, sir, and its lasers are definitely hot.”

“Match their orbit, Miss O’Neil,” ordered Burke, “we’re going in.” At his command the Destiny began to move, thrusters only.

“Captain, your last ship was an ore freighter, wasn’t it?” asked Masters from the Ops station.

“Yes, Miner Five. Why?”

“It was powered by Tomaic fuel cells, right?”

“Yes. It has the same system that we use for backup here.” Then Burke saw where the Ops officer was going. “Yes, Grant, I see your point. If we can disable the freighter’s electrical system for a few moments, the C3 computer will shutdown and have to reset. That will give Roundtree and Nash time to get out without being shot at. Great idea! Now, how can we disable the electrical system of that freighter?” Burke looked at the bridge crew for suggestions. He wanted to see if they could come up with the answer that he already knew.

McKenze piped up first, “The Static Torpedoes, John! According to the specs, they are only meant to disable a craft by interrupting its electrical system.” Burke smiled at Jones’ response.

”Think all those weapons are still a bad idea?” asked Burke wryly.

“They may be useful at that, sir!” McKenze exchanged a look with O’Neil who didn’t have a clue about what had just passed between the two men, but she smiled anyway

“Agreed. Set the torpedo for a fifty percent charge. We don’t want to completely burn out its systems and alert its owner to any problems. All we need are a few reset minutes.”

“Burke to Torpedo storage.”

The startled tech answered quickly, “Yes, sir!”

“Prepare two Static Torpedoes for firing.” Burke could hear the scuffling foot steps of the man as he jumped to his feet. His excitement was plain in his reply.

“YES, SIR!”

Burke closed the channel and returned his attention to the main view screen. “Mr. McKenze, target the freighter and wait for my order. Now, let’s see what we’ve got. Normal view on the screen, please.”

A new image appeared on the screen. There, a visibly old space craft hung in high Earth orbit. Its solar panels were half-gone and its red and gray hull was pitted from micro meteors. Next to it was the auto freighter. Its nose pointed towards the decaying hulk. One shot from those navigational lasers and the R.A.T.T. would be history. “Status, Helm?”

“Holding position, one hundred kilometers off the R.A.T.T.’s port side.”

“McKenze, get me Roundtree.”

Out the viewports of the R.A.T.T. Roundtree and Nash noticed a ship now in a matching orbit off in the distance. Never had such a ship been seen before. “What is that!” cried Nash.

“It looks like they’re looking us over,” replied Roundtree.

Nash was peering out a port now. “Great! What else is about to go wrong?” Just then the COM station beeped, signaling a communication was requested. “Is that Burke out there?”

“Looks like we’re about to find out.” Roundtree opened a channel. “This is Thomas Roundtree. To whom am I speaking?”

“This is Burke. We are now in range to assist you.”

“Mr. Burke, is that you? What kind of ship is that? It looks amazing!”

“Never mind that now; just listen. We are going to shut down the freighter’s electrical system. You’ll only have about seven minutes before the C3 comes back online and starts targeting again. You’ve got to get out of the disposal chute and into our rescue shuttle before that happens.”

Roundtree was skeptical. “You’re going to shut down its electrical system? Impossible. Short of destroying the ship, it can’t be disengaged except by a special encrypt code.”

“Listen, I said we would do it and we will. It’s your only chance of escape. Or do you want to be permanent additions to that little station?”

“You have a point. How soon?” Roundtree glanced at the O2 gauge: Fifteen minutes left.

“Standby!” McKenze muted the channel and looked back at Burke.

Burke looked at Masters, “Mr. Masters can you pilot a shuttle?” He nodded. “Good. Take a security guard and go out and pickup our guests. Take the Odyssey. It should be prepped and ready. Takeoff on my signal.” Masters acknowledged and bolted from his station.

Burke nodded at McKenze and he reopened the channel. “Roundtree, we are ready to go. Get into your suits and standby.”

“Better make it fast. We only have twelve minutes of O2 left now.” McKenze cut the channel.

“Status of Torpedoes?”

“Still charging, sir. Only at fifteen percent.”

“They should be at full charge by now. What’s wrong?” Burke opened a channel to Engineering. “Mr. Vencetti, it seems we have a problem with the static torpedoes, possibly a problem with the electrifiers. We have need to fire one, quite soon. Send a team to check it out.”

“On my way!” came the Italian voice.

“Captain, the Odyssey is signaling that she is ready.”

“Tell them to launch but stay out of range of those lasers until I give the signal.”

“Aye, sir.”

Then the bridge went silent as they waited for the status of the torpedoes.

Vencetti and his team of three, Jensen, McComb, and Kern, arrived at the storage area. They immediately went to work.

“Jensen, McComb, you check the torpedo tube for any damage. Kern, you and the crewman on duty inspect those other torpedoes for any problems. I’ll take the electrifiers.”

The electrifier was a brand new technology; anything could be wrong and they could be quite dangerous. Any amount of power could be generated through the electrifiers, up to 1.23 gigawatts. Vencetti pulled on the insulated gloves he brought along. Without hesitation, he disengaged the locks and slid the white outer access panel away. Everything looked fine. He next moved to the interior panel. He slipped off a glove and touched the panel. It was hot to the touch. He knew he had found the problem. Slipping the glove on once more he carefully removed the interior panel. Then it hit him, a jolt of electricity so strong that it rammed through his gloves and knocked Vencetti to the deck with a crack!

“Mr. Vencetti!” Kern came running to the engineer’s aid. Vencetti looked up, slightly dazed.

“I think we’ve found the problem,” said Vencetti as he got up and brushed himself off, “Kern, tell the bridge to shut down the charger circuit!”

Vencetti ran back to the panel. He knew if he couldn’t shut it down the ship could be in serious danger. He didn’t know how much power was coursing through the lines, but he knew it was considerable. Slowly he approached the opening lock of the panel. He knew the lock was electrified, so he doubled up his glove on his right hand. Lightly he touched it. Testing the surface. Slowly he applied more pressure to the latch. No shock yet.

Finally, the lock popped in a shower of sparks. Vencetti shielded his eyes as a shower of hot metal flew into the air. The panel was blackened from the power surge, but it was not burnt through. With the panel standing open he saw it. Sparking and seething with current, the partially severed electrifier lines shown with the blinding blue light of a welder’s rod. Shielding his eyes, Vencetti reached in with his doubled glove, grabbed the line behind the sparking ends and pulled! Sparks flew everywhere. The room was heating up from the high voltage pouring in. “Kern! Get that charging circuit cut, NOW!” Vencetti called out.

“The bridge says they have cut the circuit up there! It must be here where it is still connected! I’m opening the main trunk. Cutting the electrifier circuit NOW!” Kern cut the circuit. You didn’t have to see him to know it. You could feel it. The tingling sensation that filled the room quickly dissipated and the charred, burnt cable fell silently in place. If the panel and the surrounding bulkhead hadn’t been so well insulated, well, Vencetti hated to think about it. The head engineer now contacted the bridge.

Burke answered, “Yes, Connor. What have you got?”

“Sir, it looks like another vibration problem. The lines vibrated away from their contact point but did not separate. So we had only an intermittent charge going to the S.T. and the rest was sparking out into the bulkhead. We’ve got it under control now.”

“Another vibration problem, Mr. Vencetti?”

Vencetti replied sheepishly, “Sorry, Captain, but it’s a big ship. We checked all critical systems before, but not the secondary systems. I just didn’t think we would be needing the electrifiers so soon. We’ll fix this unit, then I’ll assign teams to finish checking out the rest of the ship. Sorry, sir.”

“Please do, Mr. Vencetti. Put weapon systems on the top of your list. As fast as you can, engineer. We may need them sooner than you think!”

“Understood. Vencetti out.”

It seemed like forever. Only a few minutes had passed, but Burke was starting to get worried. Rushing out on a mission before the ship even had a shake down cruise, it wasn’t good. What if at a critical moment there is another breakdown? He tried to calm himself. “Take one event at a time,” Burke said, under his breath. Two worried calls from Roundtree, one from Masters in the Odyssey, and seven minutes later they were ready to try again.

“OK, Jones. Target that freighter and fire when ready!” commanded Burke.

“Aye, sir. Target locked. Torpedo away!”

From the nose of the Destiny came a rounded and sculpted shape. Dark, about the size of a fifty-five gallon container, but bristling with power, it sped away from the ship quickly, honing in on its target. As it approached the freighter, it slowed, narrowly avoiding the lasers that fired upon it. Flipping sideways, it impacted against the target’s hull. Blue streaks seemed to leap from both ends as it discharged its load. The freighter’s running lights flared with the extra power but then suddenly went dark. The freighter began to drift.

“That’s it, Captain! It’s shut down! No signal from it now,” yelled Jones in triumph.

“Tell the Odyssey to go! Tell Roundtree and Nash to go! They only have six minutes thirty seconds!”

The Odyssey shot out of the Destiny’s shadow, probably faster than she should’ve, but this was a rescue. Sailing around the rear of the Destiny, Masters deftly maneuvered towards the R.A.T.T. Coming between the decaying station and the freighter, Masters parked his shuttle as close as he could to the disposal chute. Any moment, the game of catch and fire, catching his charges and getting out before the freighter fired, would begin.

Suddenly, there they were. Nash shot out of the chute followed by Roundtree. Roundtree stabilized his roll with his suit thrusters, but Nash continued to tumble. Masters’ COM system came to life, “Help, my suit thrusters are not working!” cried the tumbling guard.

“Hold on, Nash, I’m coming!” replied Roundtree. All Masters could do was watch.

“Odyssey to Destiny. Nash’s suit thrusters are malfunctioning.”

“We see it, Grant. Can you assist?”

“Roundtree to attending shuttle. I can’t reach Nash in time. He will tumble right into the freighter’s lasers! Can you help?”

Aboard the Odyssey Masters checked the mission clock. Two minutes left till the giant awakes and begins taking pot shots at anything that moves. Nash would be that target if he didn’t act. He was about to hit the thrusters and go after Nash when the Destiny checked in.

“Odyssey, we’ve got an idea. Go for Nash; we’ll give you cover!” Without thinking, Masters hit the engines and was off. Meanwhile, the captain of the Destiny checked with engineering.

“Connor, how thick is this lunar covering on our hull?”

“About a quarter of a meter. Why?”

“Will it withstand a blast from a NAV laser?”

“Well, a laser is just concentrated light. The glass in the moon rock should reflect most of the exposure. But there would still be some damage. What’s going on, Captain? Vencetti wondered out loud, a little concerned for his ship.

“Thank you, Connor. I’ll explain later, no time! Prepare damage control parties. Bridge out!”

“Wait! Captain!” Now Vencetti was really concerned.”

”Shannon, take us in. Put us between the Odyssey and that other ship. Face the shuttle deck towards our shuttle. That way it can slip in when it returns,” ordered Burke.

“It’s awfully tight, sir. Maybe just ten kilometers on either side,” stated O’Neil, as she checked her display.

“That will put us at point blank range for those lasers, sir!” added McKenze forcefully.

“I know. We have no choice. Nash will die and the shuttle could be severely damaged if we don’t act now. Do it, Miss O’Neil! We’ve got about thirty seconds!” There was no more talk.

The Destiny shot forward with a burst from her antimatter engines. Angling in, almost a sideways maneuver, the new star ship moved into position. It wasn’t a few seconds after that when the first shots jolted the ship. Then a third just missed across the bow.

“All stop, helm! Station keeping thrusters, NOW! The freighter’s C3 is no doubt looking for a moving target. We’ll shield our people from here. Damage?” Burke anxiously waited, wringing his hands like a dish rag and holding his breath.

In Master’s absence a technician filled in at Ops. He responded, “We took a couple hits on our underside, starboard quarter. Looks like only minor damage, sir.” An audible sigh of relief washed over the new star ship captain.

“Now, how do we pull away after the shuttle is back aboard without drawing more fire?” he thought to himself as he sat on the edge of his command chair.

While the Destiny planned her next move, Masters, in the Odyssey, completed his. Swinging laterally along Nash’s tumbling path, the little shuttle came between him and certain death under the freighter’s lasers. Lightly, Nash thudded against the shuttle’s hull. Shortly, Roundtree arrived and the two fugitives found their way into the rescue shuttle’s open outer airlock. The outer airlock door now closed, sealing the two men inside. Master’s got up from the pilot’s seat and walked over to the viewport to observe his two passengers. “Hey! Let us in!” yelled Nash. Masters smiled and shook his head.

“Make yourselves comfortable, gentlemen. You’ll be just fine in the airlock until we make it back to the Destiny. I’ve flooded the lock with O2, so you can take your helmets off if you would like. I’ll be your host for this evening and this will be your waiter.” Masters motioned to the large, burly, and hungry-looking security guard who approached and stationed himself near the inner lock door. “I wouldn’t try anything. Mr. Beliese hasn’t eaten much today. His favorite snack is traitors!”

Masters smiled again as he moved back to the pilot’s seat. Dropping into the seat he announced, “Hang on; here we go!” Masters took his bearing, fired up his thrusters, and making sure he stayed in the Destiny’s shadow for protection, he headed back for the open shuttle bay.

“Odyssey has them and is on her way in,” stated McKenze.

“Very good. Signal Mr. Masters that we’ll meet him on the hangar deck with a security party. Miss O’Neil, maintain position. Mr. McKenze, you have the bridge.”

“Me?” McKenze whirled back to face his friend and captain.

“What if that freighter starts firing again?”

“Relax, Jones! Just hold position and it won’t fire. It’s looking for motion. Don’t give it any! I’ll be right back.” Burke put a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder. Smiling, he said, “Get used to it,” then he turned and disappeared into the lift.

The shuttle came gliding into the hangar deck. It hovered in place for a moment, then slowly rotated one hundred and eighty degrees back to face the closed space doors. Lightly it descended till its rear skids touched and finally its front, in a perfect, three-point landing.

From the transsteel observation port, Captain Burke watched with a team of security guards. Burke marveled. Masters’ BIO file never said how good a pilot he was. The landing was perfect.

The hangar bay sealed and began to repressurize. When the green light announced that it was safe to enter, Burke activated the controls and the shuttle bay opened before him.

Burke had the guards fan out to cover the shuttle. For his part, he moved closer to the Odyssey’s airlock and saw the two fugitives just inside. “So Grant kept them locked in the airlock. Smart man!” thought Burke as he waited at the foot of the unloading ramp. The airlock door began to slide away with Masters and a security guard prodding Nash and Roundtree ahead of them, down the ramp.

“I hope you enjoyed your trip on the Odyssey. Next stop, jail!” jibed Masters as he motioned the two men out of the airlock with a wave of his laser. Roundtree was the first out. He caught sight of John Burke directly in front of him.

“Mr. Burke, we meet again. This is a tremendous ship!” Roundtree raised both arms to take in all he saw. His quick motion made the security team a little nervous, so he slowly lowered them.

“Cut the compliments, Roundtree; you’re in a lot of trouble!” responded Burke.

Just then there was a commotion from behind Roundtree. Still inside the lock, Nash was being escorted out when he reached down to retrieve his suit helmet. Suddenly, he flung the helmet hard at the attending guard who, completely surprised, went down cold, falling on Masters in the process. Both men went down in a heap. Afraid that this was another trick, Burke flung himself up the ramp and tackled Roundtree around the mid-section. They both flew off the ramp and rolled into some storage containers near by.

On the Odyssey, Nash quickly grabbed the laser from the stunned Masters and waved the pistol. “Get up!” Grant paused, considering his next move. “Well, get up, Masters. MOVE!” Nash pulled his prisoner up. Forcibly, he pushed Masters out of the airlock and on to the ramp where he landed on his knees. Nash yelled out, “I don’t catch that easy! Roundtree may want to come back and be jailed, but not me! It’s not my idea of fun!” Nash next stepped back into the airlock and initiated outer door closing. Realizing what Nash was doing, one of the security team stepped up and dropped Nash with a precision shot just before the airlock door closed. Nash went down hard, inside the lock. Burke stood up and took Roundtree in tow.

“Open it up and put Nash under guard. Take Mr. Roundtree, too.” Handing his captive over, Burke went to his Operations officer as the airlock slid open again.

“Grant, are you OK?” Burke asked in concern. Yet aside from a split lip and some bruised knees, he was fine. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Captain. Nash surprised me. He hit Mr. Beliese pretty hard with his helmet.” They watched as the security team took their prisoners and Mr. Beliese out of the shuttle bay and to their final destinations. “When Beliese went down, he fell into me. I broke his fall but lost my weapon in the process. You probably saw the rest.”

“It’s all right, Grant. You did a great job! Now get to sickbay so Dr. Yamari can have a look at you.” Masters protested for a moment but relented and headed for sickbay.

A short while later the lift doors parted on the bridge and a tired Captain emerged. McKenze turned to see Burke as he approached and vacated his command chair, relieved that his tenure was over. “Status, Mr. McKenze?” inquired Burke. Jones returned to his station.

“No change, sir. Still holding position. No other disturbances in our area. I had an extended scan done, as well. All we picked up was some extra solar activity.” McKenze turned and faced his board in relief that everything went fine on his watch. He gave O’Neil a sidelong glance and a relieved smile.

“Good work, Mr. McKenze, you too, Miss O’Neil. Jones, get me Mr. Shepherd on the fleet frequency.” A moment later the connection was made and the story of the rescue began.

Burke continued the conversation, “So as you can see, Micah, we need to put back to Commerce and have a complete check out done on all systems, plus repair a little external damage.”

“I understand. I look forward to seeing your guests. We’ll clear a spot for your repairs. See you soon, Shepherd out.”

The forward screen went dark then returned to the beautiful view of Earth spinning eternally below them. The view was marred only by the aging R.A.T.T. on one side and the robot freighter on the other.

“Now that we’ve rescued Roundtree, who’s going to rescue us! We canna move without taking damage from those lasers,” stated O’Neil from her station. “Could we use another static torpedo?” she wondered out loud.

“No. We’re too close. The charge could feedback on our systems at this range,” corrected McKenze. “Why not destroy it? No one is aboard her. It’s just a machine,” he continued.

“No I don’t want to let Bernard Rush know he’s lost this little battle. Letting him think he has won this round could prove useful later. Besides, it wouldn’t be the best display for everyone watching to see us destroy another ship on our first run! It might give the wrong impression. Let’s leave the ship intact.”

There followed a silence as everyone watched the Earth spin, or more correctly, watched as they themselves spun around the Earth. Then it came to him. Burke stood and moved over to McKenze’s station. “Jones, your station has control of the mass driver cannons. If you fired a few rounds to port, right across that ship’s bow, do you think we could draw its fire enough to allow us to escape?”

“Could be, John. But it wouldn’t be by much. Those lasers don’t take long to recharge, you know.” McKenze looked up at Burke. Concern could be seen on his amiable features.

“What do you think, Miss O’Neil? Could you time our departure to coincide with the driver shots?” asked Burke.

“I think so, sir. But we may not be able to move fast enough to evade all laser fire.” she replied.

“Work it out. I think it’s our best shot. At least we’ll get a headstart”. Burke approached O’Neil’s station. “Then we’ll get to see just how good a pilot you are, Shannon O’Neil,” said Burke, putting a hand on her shoulder while giving her a wide smile. It was obvious to her that he cared. It was becoming obvious to everyone else, too. However, to what extent the captain allowed his feelings to go, only he knew. Shannon hoped she would know, too, in due time.

“Thanks, Captain, but what a way to learn a new ship. Trial by fire!”

Burke smiled again, “You could say that; besides, you wanted to put your training to use. Well, now’s the time!”

Burke returned to the center seat and after a moment’s consideration hit the intra-ship channel. His voice boomed throughout the ship, “This is the Captain. We are about to get under way again, rather abruptly, I should think. Secure all stations and prepare for main thrust. Captain out.”

“I think we’re ready, Captain. Mass Drivers and engines are in sync. We’ll send five shots out. After the first we’ll engage engines and fire the other four away from our vector.” McKenze finished his explanation as O’Neil confirmed her counterpart’s analysis.

“Very well. No time like the present. Brace yourselves, everyone. Let’s do it!”

On the heals of Burke’s order came the first shot. Straight and true, the mass driver shells shot out across the freighter’s bow. An instant later the Destiny shot forward as the other four shots angled back in front of the hostile ship. The two activated antimatter engines roared as almost one hundred percent of their reaction pushed them forward. On the main view screen a string of small explosions could be seen as, one by one, the freighter’s navigational lasers picked off the decoys. With increasing speed the Destiny shot forward, corkscrewing up and away from the deadly sentinel. The last shell exploded as the Destiny made her final escape move that would take her out danger. Sensing the final movements of another target, the targeting computer of the freighter followed its programming. Suddenly, the newly recharged lasers lanced out at its final moving objective, the DESTINY!

Seeing the final shell explode on her scanner, O’Neil knew they weren’t out of the woods yet. The freighter took out the shells quicker than anticipated, and the Destiny wasn’t clear, not by a long shot! Without thinking she took manual control from the computer. Her fingers flew over the controls. Sensing a laser shot could come any second, she sent the ship into a roll. Feigning to port, the massive ship healed over on its side. Suddenly a bright flash could be seen bouncing off the underside of the ship, once again. However, this time it was only a partial blow and at much greater range. The Destiny shot forward to safety, now out of range.

With no movement within its firing field, the robot went back to its silent vigil, letting the Destiny go, never knowing it had lost its intended prey in the process. Victory cries flooded the bridge as McKenze informed all decks that the danger was over. The Destiny easily righted herself as she took on a much different orbit from the one that contained the deadly duo they had just left. All smiles, Burke shook his fist in the air in triumph. “Fantastic flying, Shannon! Simply fantastic!”

Connor Vencetti now rang the bridge from engineering. “What’s going on up there? I thought we were going to be moving again, not tearing up the ship! It’s a mess down here from that roll!”

Burke answered the fiery Italian, “Calm down, Connor. Everything’s fine now. My apologies for the unexpected maneuver, but it couldn’t be helped. It’s all over now.”

“I certainly hope so! Vencetti out.” Vencetti cut the channel and got back to his ransacked engine room.

Burke now turned to his highly skilled navigator. “OK, Shannon, lay in a course for the shipyard. Let’s take it easy on our return trip.”

“Aye, sir. Throttling to eight percent. On course for Commerce,” she replied.

Feeling a little giddy after her stunt flying exhibition a few minutes before, O’Neil chuckled to herself. After a few moments Burke had to ask, “Shannon, where did you learn to fly like that? I didn’t think a ship this big could move that way!”

Smiling at the thought, O’Neil turned around in her seat to face Burke, “Sure you want to know, Captain?”

“Absolutely,” replied Burke, “I know you were tops in your class, but what you just did was like flying done in a computer game!”

O’Neil smiled as she continued, a little sheepishly, “Well, I was also Wing Commander Fifteen champion after class!”

McKenze let out a loud noise of approval as Burke rolled his eyes and shook his head. Everyone laughed.

Chapter 18

Danger looms

It was after-hours. Although it was never after-hours for a man who had sacrificed everything for the sake of his business empire. Family, friends, and even his health, to a certain extent, are expendable. But still, the CEO couldn’t help but wonder what the other pleasures of life were like.

On the wall before him hung a classic reproduction of the little girl amidst the field of flowers. The appeal to the senses was strangely compelling. The field seemed to be alive with sights and smells. The sun shown down softly on the girl’s shoulders, framing her hair in a translucent, amber fog. She looked so pleasant, so loving. She held a bouquet of flowers as if offering them to the viewer. Vibrant reds, violets, yellows and pinks leapt out at him.

He had contemplated the original when in his office some time before, but here in his study, it seemed to have a different meaning. At the office it seemed to represent an idea, a course of action. But now it was different. Softer, kinder, gentler.

“I must be losing my mind!” thought Bernard Rush. The old man shifted in his chair. Lifting a beverage to his lips, he sipped the drink and eyed the painting once more. There was definitely something there. Thoughts of Kenneth Shepherd and his family flooded his mind. He scoffed.

“What do they have to do with anything? What do they have that I don’t?” He started to reply to his own musings, as usual, but somehow in the presence of that painting, his normal self-exalting answers didn’t come. He downed the rest of his drink and stared up at the girl.

Loneliness began to grip him harder than he had ever experienced. “Three drinks must be my limit!” he growled to himself. Still the feelings came. He had always wanted a daughter. Envy of Micah Shepherd and his daughter Rebecca came over him. “I’ve always wanted a family, someone who would care for me and my business after I’m gone. Is that why I’m doing this? To try and get a daughter? Or a granddaughter?” Rush wrestled with his feelings for a few moments then came to himself, suddenly. His blind ambition came to the fore once more, “NO! It’s business! Only BUSINESS!” he called out. Then, standing to face the picture, he struck, knocking it to the floor. “Soon, my dear. Very soon!” he said to the fallen frame.

The next day found Rebecca Shepherd still at her office. She woke up to the sound of Miss Shaw on the intercom. “Miss Shepherd, the arrangements for the energy conference are complete. The trade center in Washington is asking if you would like to review the arrangements this afternoon.”

Morning had come fast. Rebecca hadn’t slept much during the night. The couch in her office didn’t make a very comfortable bed. Yet with her mother still looking after the Longs and with her father at the Shipyard, there wasn’t any reason to go home.

Rebecca brushed the deep brown hair from her sleepy eyes and sat up. She acknowledged the message. “Yes, of course. Tell them I’ll fly out right away.” Miss Shaw let the intercom go silent. “Just a day before the conference. We could get some big clients if we play our cards right. Everything has got to be just so,” Rebecca thought.

Quickly, she composed herself, taking a few moments to freshen up. Picking up a few items she thought she’d need, she grabbed her briefcase and put them inside. Absently she also picked up the picture of John Burke, as well. Quickly though, she caught herself and put it back. However, she couldn’t quite bring herself to put it back face down, so she left it upright in its place. Case now in hand, Rebecca headed for the door.

She came out of the main doors of Shepherd Industries and headed for her car at a run. She looked at her watch. “Eight thirty. If I hurry I can catch the last morning express for D.C.” Out of her rearview mirror Rebecca caught a subdued flash. Wondering what it was she paused for a moment to look behind her, but not seeing anything, she took off again.

Catching the last express, she made it to Washington just before noontime. She grabbed some lunch and then made her way to the conference center. As she ascended the steps she thought she heard someone behind her. She turned. Nothing. “Weird,” she said as she continued into the building.

“Miss Shepherd, thank you for coming,” stated the conference coordinator with a wide smile.

“Thank you for letting me in on the details,” Rebecca replied.

“Not at all. Shall we proceed?” The coordinator and his assistant ran Rebecca through a plethora of details from seating to hotel rooms. Rebecca was grateful for the information. Any edge she could get at the conference could be invaluable. Everything looked well-arranged save for a few minor adjustments she thought might benefit her company. Since Shepherd Industries would be one of the major companies in attendance, the coordinator was only too happy to make the changes.

Satisfied, the Executive Assistant bid the coordinator and his aid a good day and headed once more for the express. She would be just in time for the afternoon express for New Boston and home, or so she believed.

“Maybe I can catch Mother and the Longs for dinner,” she thought as she walked through the transport station to her departure gate. The station was next to empty because it was after the noon rush, and just before the evening stampede. She was grateful for the reprieve from all the commotion. Quietly, she waited for the express to arrive. Wistfully, she thought about how calm life was becoming after the upheaval of the last two months. “A person could finally catch her breath,” she mused. Silently, Rebecca watched as a transportation worker went about his business across the way. Relatively no noise could be heard, nothing to mar her internal thoughts. The only thing in the cavernous room was quietness.

“Miss Shepherd?” A voice came up from behind her. Startled, Rebecca’s heart leapt into her throat as she gasped.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, that’s OK. I just didn’t hear you walk up. I’m not used to all this quiet. I’m Rebecca Shepherd. What is it?”

“A message for you at the public VID screen.” The messenger pointed to a group of screens and partitions on the far wall.

“Who is it?”

“They said it was the conference center.” Rebecca looked at her watch and noted the time.

“All right. Lead the way.”

She was led to the partitioned screens. On one of the screens a red button flashed with a waiting message. She touched the receive button and waited. She continued to wait, but the screen still was dark although the button was no longer flashing its red color.

“Must have been a misconnection; I’ll call them from Boston. It couldn’t be much. I just covered everything with them.” Turning, she exited the VID booth wondering how long before the express would arrive. Suddenly she sensed that she wasn’t alone. Without warning she felt a sharp sting in her right shoulder and then two hands firmly grasped her arms from behind. Struggling, she turned in her assailant’s grasp, but quickly her legs and arms were starting to turn to clay. Fighting, she tried to break free, but her strength had fled. She looked up at her attacker’s hooded-face, trying to identify who was doing this but to no avail. Like a leaden weight sinking fast in a dark pool, she fell. Down she went as her whole world went black.

On the bridge of the Destiny the laughter was interrupted by a beep from engineering. Laughing, Burke touched his direct line to engineering. “Yes. Bridge here.”

“Well, I’m glad someone is enjoying themselves. Some of us have work to do.” Caustically, the Chief Engineer fought for attention.

“Excuse me, Connor, what do you need us to do?”

“Well, we could use some down time to check the engines and the secondary systems after that roller coaster ride we just had.”

“Stand by, Connor.” Turning to O’Neil, Burke asked, “What is our present speed?”

“We are running at eight percent, heading towards Commerce.”

“Reduce velocity to Apollo speed and cut engines. Let our inertia carry us for a while.”

“Aye, sir. Speed reducing. Coming down to Apollo speed and holding. Powering down engines.” replied O’Neil, confidently.

“Burke to Vencetti. OK, Connor the engines are all yours. Keep up the good work!”

“Thank you, Captain, Engineering out.”

“Well, people, it looks like we have about a day’s cruise ahead of us, so let’s make the most of it and review how well all systems performed during our first mission. But first, take a break. You’ve all earned it.” Smiles of pride were exchanged across the bridge. “Jones, get Mr. Masters up here from sick bay and assign some techs to man the bridge stations for awhile.”

“Yes, sir! I agree with that!” came the ready response from the C&D officer. After a few moments the relief crew arrived, along with Grant Masters looking no worse for the wear.

“Miss O’Neil, would you like to join me for some coffee?” asked Burke.

“Aye, I would love some. But make mine tea,” she responded.

“Tea it is then. Jones, would you like to join us?”

Knowing that three is a crowd Jones replied, “No thank you, Captain. I really haven’t seen all the ship yet. I think I’d like to explore some.”

“Suit yourself. We’ll be in the mess hall if you change your mind. Mr. Masters, you have the bridge.”

The hall was long and dimly lit. Engineering was wasting no time in carrying out their repairs. It was a little more cramped than the passageways of Commerce, but then again, this was a different creation altogether. Aside from the various yellow information signs and silver doors, the halls were all basically featureless aboard the Destiny. But, of course, this was a prototype ship. Who knew what its final look might be?

The bridge officer and her captain made their way towards the mess hall. In short order, they came to the marker that proclaimed they had arrived. Gracefully, the doors slid open on hidden tracks. The hall was nearly empty. They had no trouble finding a seat.

“Self-serve is all we get I’m afraid until a full crew is assigned. Right now, all that is aboard is Engineering, Security, and the Bridge crew.”

“Nea don’t forget Dr. Yamari!”

Burke grimaced at the thought. “Oh yes. Let’s not forget the good Doctor.”

“Auk, the lass tisn’t that bad.”

“No, I suppose not.”

The two approached the beverage dispenser. “Just like home,” commented O’Neil, as she poured herself some tea. They found an empty table and sat down.

“I made sure we had tea and coffee for this trip. How is it?” inquired Burke, knowingly.

She took a sip. “Quite good. In fact, I think it’s, nea I know, tis Edenborough Kea!” Shannon smiled and took another sip of home. “How did ya know? Tis my favorite!”

“Well, I had a choice of what flavors and your BIO file had a list of your personal likes, and well, the rest is history, so to speak,” replied Burke with a nonchalant tilt of his head, his green eyes sparkling at pleasing his friend.

“My BIO file, eh? She smiled. “What else do ye know about me from that file?”

O’Neil leaned in and put her elbows on the table coming dangerously close as Burke leaned in to sip his own tea. She sipped her Edenborough Kea with a playful glint in her eye. Burke pulled back, not ready to let anything more than friendship develop. “Oh, you’d be surprised.” Burke held a similar look and cleared his throat.

“Well, tis quite good, thank you.” She retreated from her advance, respecting his feelings. She wished he felt more, but she didn’t want to push it.

“You’re welcome,” said Burke.

Quietly, they sat. Silence was something that neither one had much of lately. Drinking tea and getting to know one another, a strong friendship was beginning to form.

“Oh, look at the time. I’ve got inspections and you’ve got logs to go over. I enjoyed it, Shannon.” Getting up, Burke excused himself, “I’ll see you on the bridge shortly.”

“See you there, Captain, and thank you. I enjoyed it as well,” she held up her cup.

Burke departed the mess hall and headed towards Engineering. Along the way he passed not a few empty rooms and cargo bays. Unfinished and unheated, he could feel the draft as he passed. Burke shook his head. “We’ve got a lot of work to do when we get back!”

As he passed some crew quarters and rounded a corner, the intra-ship COM system came to life.

”Bridge to Captain.”

“What could it be now?” Burke wondered as he stopped at a COM unit. “Burke here. What is it?” Grant Masters sounded urgent as he continued.

“Sir, we have an urgent call for you from Commerce Shipyard. It’s Mr. Shepherd again.”

“Put it through to Engineering. I’ll take it in Mr. Vencetti’s office.” Burke thumbed the COM switch to off and continued the short way remaining to Engineering. He wondered what could be so urgent this time.

As Burke exited the main Engineering lift, he felt the power of his ship once again. Here, more than anywhere else, you could feel the thrum of the engines, even at idle. Here and there, at various consoles, engineers and techs monitored the great engines that had just recently throbbed with life. Vigilant as palace guards, they watched their readouts, ready to assist, if needed. The four Anti-matter engines, the heart of the Destiny, sat positioned two at either side of a tremendous power conduit that ran the length of the Engineering wing to the rear of the deck. When active, the power that flooded the four giant engines made the space inside the conduit come alive with vibration, light, and magnetism. It was here that the residual effects of the 179 magnetic fields used to channel the matter and antimatter to their combustion chambers coalesce. The resulting mix of Hydrogen and Anti-Hydrogen produced unimaginable releases of energy that would push the Destiny to fantastic speeds. At least, that’s what Micah Shepherd had told Burke three days before on the nickel tour.

Inside the conduit, Connor Vencetti and his team could be seen checking the circuits, relays and everything else connected to the engines.

“Hey!” Burke cupped his hands and called out over the steady hum. “Sure it’s safe in there?”

Speaking from halfway inside a transmission coil Vencetti called back as he climbed out, “Mama mía, what do you think, eh?” Once out, he turned to face his would be annoyance and said, “Would I be stickin’ my head inside if it...” Then he saw who he was talking to. “Oh! Mr. Burke! Sorry, sir. I didn’t realize.”

“Don’t worry about it, Connor. I just wanted to see how things were progressing and to use your office to take a call. Do you mind?”

“Certainly not, Captain. However, don’t touch any controls on your way in. I’m running some flow projections on engines three and four,” said Vencetti, with an almost parental tone to his voice.

Burke smiled at the thought, “Oh, I wouldn’t think of it! Thank you,” he replied. Burke entered the office and sat down behind the desk to receive the call already waiting on the desk VID screen.

“Hello, Micah. What’s up?”

“I wish this was a social call, but I’m afraid something IS up. About thirty minutes ago Earth-based telescopes and our own telemetry picked up a large mass moving towards Earth at tremendous speed, six hundred and twenty miles per second! That’s twice as fast as any solar wind. We think it’s a Critical Mass Ejection from the sun.”

“Why call us? What can we do?” Burke gave Shepherd a puzzled look.

“John, the Destiny is equipped with every piece of technology I could buy or invent! There is bound to be something you can do. If this C.M.E. is allowed to hit Earth’s atmosphere the worst geomagnetic storm of all time will result!” Shepherd’s face darkened as he finished.

“So the Northern Lights will get a little brighter. What’s the big deal?” Burke protested.

“No, John, you don’t understand. Due to the size of the electromagnetic field the ejection is carrying, there will be massive power outages and static electricity flooding the atmosphere. The slightest spark, and fires could sweep over the globe, not to mention that the orbit of the Spaceport will take it directly into the C.M.E.’s path as it hits! The station would be incinerated almost immediately. There’s got to be something you can do.”

The good feelings Burke had about how well his ship was performing drained away as he pictured the things Shepherd had just described to him. What could he do? What help could he and this newly-minted cache of hardware do? “Micah, I don’t know what to say,” offered Burke lamely. He wouldn’t know where to start; he wasn’t a scientist.

“Just turn the ship around, John. Scan it with everything you’ve got. Get your science chief on it right away!” ordered Shepherd.

“We don’t have a science chief, remember? This is a skeleton crew for a shake down cruise. We just wanted to check the hardware out. All we’ve got are engineers, techs, one doctor, a few crewman, and ME! No science...” Burke cut himself off in mid-sentence. He suddenly remembered a certain passenger they were carrying. “Well, maybe we do have some science personnel, after all. It’s a long shot, but we’ll do our best. We’ll be in touch. Don’t worry, Micah. Destiny out.” As Burke closed the channel he watched the engineers busy at work through the windows of Vencetti’s office, yet only one person was on his mind, and a prisoner to boot!

Chapter 19

Special needs

After informing Vencetti and the Bridge crew of the situation, Burke made his way through halls that were awash in blue light towards the makeshift brig that had been hastily fabricated. Near sickbay, in one of the empty cargo bays, security had erected temporary quarters for their guests.

The new security digs were laid out similar to the ones at Commerce Shipyard but slightly different. One difference was that there were only two cells, instead of four. No amenities hung on the walls, and there was only one desk and three chairs for the guards. “Sparse, but functional,” thought Burke as he entered and found Peter Jacobs manning the desk. In one of the cells Roundtree was sitting quietly while Nash was still out cold on a cot in the next cell.

“Hello, Peter. I hope our guests are comfortable.”

“Hello, sir. Yes, I suppose they are. Roundtree hasn’t spoken since he arrived, and Nash has been out cold ever since the Doc treated his laser burns.”

“My compliments on the temporary quarters. They seem pretty secure. I’d like to speak to Roundtree for a moment. Could you open up?”

“Certainly, sir. I’ll escort you?”

“No. I think Mr. Roundtree and I understand each other,” replied the Captain. Without further discussion, Burke was admitted. He leaned against the bulkhead just inside the magna field that had been reactivated. Roundtree looked up as Burke addressed him, “Mr. Roundtree I’ve got a job for you.”

Roundtree spoke up hastily, “Hello, Captain Burke. I like that designation. It seems to fit you. You know, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to apologize for what I’ve done. I deserve whatever I get. Ah, did you say you had a job for me? Isn’t it a little unusual, to give a ‘guest’ like me a job?”

“Possibly, Thomas, but circumstances require some unusual actions right now. Will you agree to follow my orders to the letter if I let you out of here?”

“Certainly, John. I mean, Captain. I want to do whatever I can to try and make up for what I’ve done.” Burke doubted that was so, judging by his past history, but he had no choice.

Burke motioned for Jacobs to release the field. Burke and Roundtree exited the cell. ”Mr. Jacobs, since you don’t have many monitors in here you may not be aware of the Blue Alert.”

“No, sir. What’s happened?”

“Suffice it to say, we have a little problem. Nothing dealing with the ship. Just something we need a little scientific expertise to handle. I’ll make an announcement later to the crew. Just keep your eye on Nash. When he wakes up, I don’t want him using this alert to escape. Understand?”

“Perfectly, sir.”

“Fine. I’m taking custody of Mr. Roundtree here. We’ll be on the bridge. Can you spare a guard to follow us?”

Without so much as a word Jacobs motioned for one of the two other guards nearby to fall in. Burke thanked him and exited the security area with Roundtree and the guard in tow.

As they walked, Roundtree got his first real idea of the size of the ship. “The Destiny, is it? Well, it sure is good-sized. Well laid out, too. Most of the technology I recognize; however, some I don’t. I definitely have never seen it all used in a vessel like this. I can’t wait to see the Bridge!” Despite his predicament Roundtree couldn’t react any other way. It was amazing.

“You’ll see it, soon enough. Just do your job and don’t cause any trouble,” replied Burke.

As the main lift doors parted, all attention turned towards the expected change in personnel standing to the Captain’s right. As for Roundtree, his mouth dropped as he saw the bridge for the first time. He was starting to understand that this ship was not just a big freighter or an oversized passenger ship. It had to be much more!

“Roundtree, stop gaping. Mr. Masters, take charge and escort our guest over to science station one and explain how to operate it. He will be our Science Officer for the duration of this new crisis.”

This was the first time Roundtree had heard what his job was to be. Everyone else already knew by virtue of the information their Captain had already shared with them. Roundtree hoped he could handle this new role, with all the things he had put many of these people through, he certainly didn’t want to cause more hurt. Shannon O’Neil watched Roundtree as he moved over to the science station. Despite the guard next to him, she still was uncomfortable, and it showed.

O’Neil wasn’t the only one who wondered why the Captain would bring this man up here. Grant Masters wondered, too, but still took him in hand. He wasn’t going to allow him to hurt this ship or anyone on it. Not on his watch.

Burke surveyed the bridge. He could tell that bringing Roundtree up had caused a lot of tension, especially for Shannon O’Neil. Burke tried to communicate with his eyes that it was necessary. She seemed to accept it, reluctantly, and settled back into her post.

Burke sat down himself and addressed his officers from the center seat. “Miss O’Neil, turn us around, point us towards the sun and come to a full stop, please. Mr. McKenze, how’s our electromagnetic shielding holding up?”

“At our present distance from the sun, we only have to use about twenty five percent of maximum to maintain our internal protection. It has taken no damage, sir. As for our shell, we are about ninety-five percent whole. Those laser shots nicked us only a little.”

“Gradually bring the shielding up to one hundred percent, Jones. We’re going to need it soon, I’m afraid.” He paused, considering his next words. He addressed the whole bridge crew, “This C.M.E. I told you all about is not like any other flare-up. It’s many times larger. Mr. Roundtree, are you set?”

“Yes, Captain. I think I understand how to use the sensors and other equipment. Most of it is familiar. I’ve just never seen it all integrated like this before.”

“Good. Then please scan the space ahead and put the findings on the main screen.”

The new science officer did as he was told and quickly the screen dimmed as the stellar filters kicked in from the sun’s light. The screen seemed to go all white, but as the extra brilliance was filtered out, a rolling, churning, almost breathing mass came into focus.

“Magnify!” Burke ordered.

There it was, a burning, seething mass of solar plasma, many times hotter than any terrestrial magma could ever have been. The bridge went silent as the magnitude of their foe sank in. “This C.M.E. is bigger than any other in recorded history, so I’m told. It’s on a collision course with Earth and our Spaceport. If it hits, the Spaceport will be incinerated then geomagnetic storms of destructive proportions will begin on Earth.” Burke felt like he was scaring everyone to death. No one wanted to speak. Then Roundtree spoke up in awe.

“Unbelievable! I’ve seen some pictures of these before but never this clear, nor this large! According to the sensors, it’s about ten million kilometers across. It weighs tens of billions of tons and is packing about ten trillion-trillion joules of power! That’s enough to boil away the Mediterranean sea to salt, if it hit at those levels!”

McKenze let out a whistle as Burke replied, “Any sign of dissipation?”

Roundtree shook his head. “With its size and amount of electromagnetic field carried away from the Sun, dissipation will be negligible, at best.”

“In other words, NO! Then what can we do to stop it?” asked O’Neil.

“There must be a way! That is our mission everyone. Failure is not an option. We can’t allow it to get to Earth at its present strength.” Burke was staring at the screen. The bridge was bathed in the C.M.E.’s cruel glow. Its light cast a grim pall over all that it touched.

Waiting expectantly for word from the Destiny, Micah Shepherd, Luke Reynolds, and Richard Long, newly released from the hospital, sat quietly together.

“Well, I wish I could’ve welcomed you back under better circumstances, Richard.”

“That’s OK, Micah. You didn’t create that C.M.E. But I do have a few questions I’d like to ask.”

Shepherd and Reynolds exchanged glances. They knew what he was interested in. News of the new ship design spread like wildfire as soon as it was launched. Although no one but the design team, and Micah Shepherd himself, knew the full details. Since launch, Shepherd Industries Corporate offices and their subsidiaries had been flooded with calls.

“So, tell me old friend, where did this new ship come from? If we built it then why didn’t I know about it? What is the ship’s purpose? Where did you get the money to build it? How did you keep it a secret? Where...” the questions flew across the room at light speed. Shepherd held up a hand.

“Whoa, Richard!” One question at a time. I was going to inform you in good time.”

“When? When I saw it on the cover of the newspaper Space Today?” chided Long.

“I had to keep it a secret for security reasons. It was too big a project to jeopardize. Until the ship was ready for trials and launched, someone could have sabotaged it. And with the way things have been going with our projects lately, I couldn’t chance it. Richard, this ship is a prototype that could open up the galaxy to exploration and to Commerce!”

“Open up the galaxy? Come now, Micah.” Long was skeptical.

“Yes, the galaxy! You have to see her, Richard. I’ve used my personal fortune and the company’s reserves to build her.”

Reynolds interjected, “I wondered why I haven’t gotten a raise lately!”

“Luke, that will come later.”

“Just kidding!” said Reynolds as he picked up the story from there. “We kept it a secret by using the old shipyard staging facility on the Moon’s far side. Everyone thought it was just a garbage plant, but it was much more. Wait till you see the Destiny! You won’t believe it!”

“The Destiny? Hmmm... Is that what you call the ship? Well, I hope it turns a profit for the company quickly or we’re all going to have to look for new jobs.” Long smiled as he gingerly reclined in his chair, still tender from his wounds.

“It will, Richard. I’m sure of it!” Shepherd had that determined look to his face as he smiled. Just then a knock came on the office door. “Enter,” replied Shepherd.

The messenger entered. “Sorry to interrupt, sir, but there is a call for you.” The group brightened at the thought.

“On fleet frequency?”

“No, sir. Standard band.”

“All right, pipe it through.”

Richard Long must have been out of the loop longer than he thought. As far as he knew, he had heard of all types of communications channels but not this one. “Fleet Frequency?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s a new COM band that travels farther and faster than any we have ever known. We discovered it while building the Destiny. You need special equipment to receive and send. So far, only the Destiny and the shipyard have it. Excuse me.”

Shepherd picked up his private COM unit. Quickly he realized that he didn’t like what he was hearing.

“Mr. Shepherd, how are you?” There was only one voice that could be that oily.

“Well, Mr. Rush, I wondered when I might hear from you.” Shepherd’s two companions could only hear one side, but they knew it was trouble when Rush’s name was spoken.

“Yes, I wanted to offer my congratulations on your new venture before the coming geomagnetic storm arrives and scrambles all communications. From what I hear, the ship is a totally new design. I must confess, it took me quite by surprise.”

“Why, Mr. Rush, are your fabled sources of information not speaking to you anymore?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Rush was thinking of his recent mole into Shepherd’s R&D department. While it lasted, he had the best informant. Still, he couldn’t understand why Roundtree had failed to inform him of Shepherd’s new ship design. “Another mistake that Roundtree made,” he thought. “It’s good he’s out of the way, once and for all,” Rush mused.

“I’m sure there was another reason for this call, Mr. Rush,” prodded Shepherd. He was anxious to get rid of his company’s nemesis.

“Oh, yes. Forgive me. There is someone here who would like to speak with you,” said Rush with the smoothness of mountain black ice, the kind of ice that is treacherous if you don’t see it in your path.

Suddenly, to Shepherd’s surprise, the familiar face of his only child filled the screen. Haggard and worn-out, Rebecca tried to smile but couldn’t. “Hello, Father. So far I’m well, but...“

She was cut off in mid-sentence then pulled out of sight to be replaced by the obvious kidnapper. “I hope that was a good visit.”

“RUSH!” The sudden shout startled the two men looking on. “What’s going on here? Why is Rebecca with YOU? If you harm her in any way...”

“Yes, yes, my dear Shepherd. Calm yourself. Your daughter is my guest for now, and she will remain so while you and I do a little business. Do I have your attention?”

Anger was boiling within Shepherd as he replied, “Where are you hiding her, Rush?”

“Now, now. First our business, sir. I knew I could never get your attention any other way.”

“Well, you’ve got it. Tell me what you want.”

“You will meet me in two hours at LaGrange Point L4. You may bring a pilot but no one else. Our business is for you and me, alone. Do you understand?”

“Of course I do! What’s this all about?” demanded Shepherd of his grandfather’s old rival.

“All in good time, sir. Remember, we wouldn’t want Rebecca to wear out her welcome.” Then his voice went colder than usual. “Two hours!” As quickly as it had come online the image went dark.

Shepherd slowly put down the link and gazed off into space. “Micah, what’s happened? Richard Long came back to a sitting position and leaned on the desk in front of him. He wanted to help the friend who had stood by him all those weeks in the hospital. Shepherd came back to himself and the dilemma before him.

”Evidently, Bernard Rush has kidnapped Rebecca and won’t release her unless I agree to... something?” There was question in his voice. He didn’t quite know what he wanted, but he was going to find out. “He said to meet him at LaGrange point four in two hours or something could happen to Rebecca.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Reynolds.

“Just what he asks, for now; I have no choice. By meeting with him I’ll get more information. In fact, now that I think about it, I think I know what he’s after. He must have seen the ship and thought that we were further along on the project than he knew. He probably thinks we have, or are about to have a working prototype.”

“Sir, you can’t give him the project!” Reynolds was nervous.

“Luke, if it were the only way to get my daughter back, it would be worth it! However, I don’t think it will come to that. Maybe we can use this ploy of his and make it backfire on him.”

“How, Micah?” asked Long, “Let me help you.”

“I would like to help, too, sir.” said Reynolds, trying to redeem himself.

“No, Mr. Reynolds. Your place is here with the project. The next probe run to test the attraction grid is in two hours. Richard, I could use your help, however. Would you be the pilot Rush said I could bring along?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Micah,” said Long.

“Well then, let’s get to work. Luke, stay with the project and keep all of this under your hat. Richard, come on. I’ve got a plan. We’ve got a shuttle to modify!”

Meanwhile, aboard the Star Ship Destiny the issue of how to stop the fast-approaching C.M.E. continued. “How fast is it moving now?” Burke got up and approached science station one and the security guard that stood by. Somehow it seemed like the answer would come sooner if he met it halfway.

“Well, if I’m reading your equipment correctly, it’s still moving about twice as fast as a gusting solar wind.” Roundtree eyed the guard next to him as he turned to face the Captain. It made him mindful of his current state of affairs.

Burke didn’t like cryptic answers. In a crisis he needed information clear, understandable, and quick! “Would you mind translating that!”

“Oh, that means it’s moving at about four million miles an hour, sir.” corrected Roundtree.

“ETA to Earth?”

“The Earth is ninety-three million miles or one hundred and forty-four million kilometers from the sun. So at the C.M.E.’s current speed, it will reach the Earth in twenty-three point five hours. Of course, it could have been moving faster when it was first ejected, making it arrive sooner. It’s hard to be exact, Captain.”

Burke didn’t want a dissertation on the subject, just a time-frame to work with. “That must be how the science types answer questions—so be it,” Burke mused as he seated himself back in his command chair and opened the direct link to Engineering. “Mr. Vencetti, what is our status?”

“Vencetti here. We’ve got all systems buttoned up and back in working order. Everything checked out reasonably well. This ship can take a pounding!” The engineer was proud of his ship. He couldn’t help himself.

“Any problems to report?”

“Well that shorted-out cable in the electrifiers did more damage to the static torpedo launcher than we first thought. I’ll need at least a day to make the repairs.”

A worried Captain asked the next question. “Can we use the torpedo system at all?”

“You probably have one, maybe two shots, before total failure,” said Vencetti resolutely.

“What about the antimatter torpedoes?” This wasn’t looking good. Without torpedoes, half the ship’s defensive ability was shot. The bridge crew hung on the engineer’s next words.

“They are undamaged, as far as we can tell.”

“Whew!” The bridge let out a collective sigh of relief, especially McKenze from his weapons console.

“How soon can we have the engines?” Burke continued to ask his questions; he needed the answers. The C.M.E. was not going to stop while he decided what to do.

“You can have one and two, immediately. Three and four came out fine on the flow projections but are, as yet untried, as you know.”

“So can we fire them up? I get the feeling we’re going to need all available power.”

“Slowly at first, Captain, and only if we need them.” Vencetti was being protective again. Burke was getting a little perturbed. How could you see if something worked if you didn’t try it.

“Prepare all engines, engineer. We’re going to need them! Bridge out.”

“What have you got in mind, Captain?” O’Neil inquired from her station with a turn of her head. As her hair fell across her shoulder and that warm Scottish accent floated in the air, it was more than a little distracting. However, that was a matter that could be dealt with later, Burke decided. He forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand.

“Mr. Vencetti said our top speed with just two engines was twelve percent, and with all four online, twenty five percent.”

Roundtree piped up from his science station in disbelief, “Twelve percent! Twenty five percent! No way! It’s never been done. It can’t be done. There isn’t an engine made with that capability.”

O’Neil spun around in her chair, completely this time, and faced the uncertain scientist. “Ya haven’t seen half-o-what dis ship can do! For your information, we’ve already gone twelve percent!” O’Neil was wearing a look that could kill. She wasn’t about to take anything from the man who almost got her killed. Burke jumped in.

“All right, I know having Mr. Roundtree up here is painful. But he is the only scientist on board right now. We need him to complete this mission. Besides, he’s told me that he wants to redeem himself, to try and make amends in some way for the hurt he’s caused. Let’s give him a chance, shall we?”

Burke tried to keep the situation cool. He knew that in the next few hours they would all need to work together, not against each other. So finally, if reluctantly, everyone agreed, for the good of the ship and the mission, to put their feelings on hold. They could deal with them later, but now was not the time. Burke continued, “That C.M.E. will be here in less than twenty-three hours. We have to intercept while it’s still out there and away from Earth!”

Masters, who had been silent, now spoke up, “But how can we destroy it? I’ve tried everything. Nothing seems to work.”

“I don’t know, but we are going to try. One thing’s for sure—we won’t stop it by sitting here. At full speed, we should be able to meet it in time to try something. If we don’t, a lot of people are going to die!” Burke continued with confidence in his ship and crew. “Mr. Roundtree, feed the present position of our target to Miss O’Neil. Shannon, plot an intercept course and fire engines one and two and bring them up to ten percent. We’ll fire three and four in route.”

Moving to the edge of his chair calmly, although shaking like a leaf inside, Burke tried to confront the unseen foe. He had little idea how to stop a process that had been happening for millions of years. But he would find a way. He hoped. “Let’s do it! Ready or not,” said Burke as the Destiny fired up her engines once more and headed into the fray.

Chapter 20

Difficult encounter

“This better not be a trick or a double-cross, Rush! Rebecca’s life means too much for you to play God with it.” Micah Shepherd stepped into the small docking ring that linked his shuttle to that of his adversary, as he addressed his foe. Ever since his grandfather died this man had transferred his feud to him and his family. Shepherd couldn’t understand why. He just knew how dangerous Bernard Rush could be.

The unmarked shuttle, almost identical to Shepherd’s, was dark as he peered inside. “Mr. Rush, open up!” Shepherd pounded his fist on the dark shuttle’s hatch. A father’s protective instinct was a hard thing to control and something not to be toyed with.

“Easy, Micah, calm down. Let’s keep our wits here,” reminded Richard Long from the pilot’s seat, as his fingers toyed with the buttons of the newly installed COM modifications.

“You’re right, Richard.” Shepherd spoke again into the COM link between the two ships. “Bernard Rush, I am here as requested. Why all this cloak and dagger?” He tried to be calmer, but it wasn’t easy.

Finally, Rush responded, “Thank you for coming, and so punctual, too. You know your grandfather and I were good friends. As I remember, he was always on time, as well.”

Shepherd took the reply as an insult. “Mr. Rush, the operative word here is you ‘were’ good friends. When you left Shepherd Industries you fought my grandfather tooth and nail, in business and in life! If you used to be his friend, you made yourself one no longer, from that point on. All the way up till his death and continuing to right now, you haven’t changed. You continue to carry out a feud that should never have been. Whatever disagreements you had with my grandfather died with him. Let’s stop this nonsense right now! Other than being a business rival, I have nothing against you personally. Why continue a feud that can only end up in hurt for all? Come out and let’s talk.”

Rush replied from the dark shuttle, “I’m a cautious man, Micah Shepherd. I’ll speak with you from here, thank you. As for this feud, you are mistaken. I vowed when I left your grandfather’s weak company that I would destroy everything he stood for. After all, Shepherd Industries, and anyone who would support it, stood in my way. They still do. No, as long as his creation continues, so does the war.”

“But why? What you are saying makes no sense, sir. Business is business, or so it should be. Why drag persons into it, like my daughter?”

Rush sounded more determined now, “Because you see, my dear Shepherd, you and your daughter ARE Shepherd Industries. As I said to your grandfather years ago, I say to you now, sometimes you have to be ruthless in business and in life to get ahead. He disagreed with me then as I’m sure you do now. No matter. I will continue to prove that my way is right and yours is weak and wrong!” Rush’s voice was trembling with tempered emotion, the hatred from years of festering anger, barely controlled.

Rush got to the subject at hand. “I know that Shepherd Industries is in rough waters because of poor mining runs of late. In fact, I’m responsible. It took me years of planning to do it. However, with the help of some recent technology, it’s been accomplished. I also know that you have almost perfected a faster-than-light drive. Incredible! I compliment you. However, I cannot allow you to keep it. You see, the sale and production of just such a drive would not only restore your mining business, but it would put you back on firm footing as a company. This would destroy all my plans. So my terms for Rebecca’s release are this: Turn over all materials and the working prototype of the FTL drive to me and she can go free. You see, until Shepherd Industries is out of business, the feud will continue. Then and only then will my way be proven true!”

When Rush spoke of Rebecca, it was like she was nothing more than a bargaining chip to him. This made Shepherd even more upset, “Why involve Rebecca in this? Why not just steal the drive like you stole the antimatter engine from my grandfather?” asked Shepherd, with a probing voice.

“I would have loved to do that. Taking the antimatter technology from Kenneth was quite dramatic, but unfortunately, there had to be a change in plans. I had to use a more direct approach.” Rush answered with coolness, borne of practice.

Shepherd could see that this was a man that had an ego to match the size of his company, so he tried to play to it. “Mr. Rush, with the size of Atoms Technical why would you need anyone’s acknowledgment of your success? Surely a man of your stature is recognized for who you are, all on your own. Please, tell me where Rebecca is or release her, and we’ll talk. I’m sure you know that I’m a man of my word.” Micah tried a little smoothness of his own, and it caught Rush off-guard.

Never had a Shepherd paid him a compliment before. “Well, a little respect! That’s some progress. Maybe I’m rubbing off, after all. However, even though you’re a man of your word, I’m afraid it’s a matter of reputation. Let your daughter go now? No. Your daughter will be released when I receive, not only the research pertaining to the faster-than-light drive, but also all prototypes for my own research teams to examine.”

”But Mr. Rush, we have no prototypes; only experiments and research!” said Shepherd in a vain attempt to end the stand-off.

“Come now, let’s not be coy. With that new ship design you can’t tell me that you aren’t planning to incorporate it. Certainly, in order to do so you have a working prototype. No, you will turn it ALL over! However, with this unfortunate storm approaching, we’ll need to wait till it passes before completing our transaction. You have until then to prepare for delivery. Until then, Mr. Shepherd.” The dark shuttle began to power up its engines and its running lights began to come on.

“Rush! Wait! That could be seven to ten days; no one knows how long the storm will last.” A voice came from the darkness, “Indeed, and she will remain my guest throughout. Don’t worry, she’ll be treated well until then. But make no mistake, if you fail to comply with my demands or if you bring anyone else into this... well, I think you know the rest! Ta, ta. I’ll be in touch.”

“Rush, RUSH!” Shepherd pounded on the airlock door. He so wanted to free Rebecca. The only response from the other shuttle was a computer warning, cold and unfeeling like its owner, “Warning. Docking collar will decompress in thirty seconds. Please secure all airlock doors.”

“Micah, get out of there!” Long called from the front of the ship. “The meeting is over. Get in here!” The airlock door began to close. Shepherd slipped between the closing door and bulkhead hitting the deck in a humph.

“Rush! I’ll show you. You can’t do this! I’ll put you where you belong. Behind bars! Richard, did you get it?”

“Every incriminating word!” Long gave a wide smile over his weathered features. “So relax. He’ll keep her safe. We’ve got what he wants, and now we have him where we want him!”

Still worried, but somewhat calmer, Shepherd dropped into the passenger seat next to his friend. “Yeah, it sounds like I’ve got him just where he want’s me!” Shepherd glanced at Long. Long fired up his own engines and the two friends flew for home. The next few days would be tough, and they both knew it. However, this was a chance to be rid of Rush, once and for all, and they couldn’t let it pass.

Chapter 21

As cold as space

The hatch door opened slowly on another R.A.T.T. The old transfer tanker’s insulation against the cold of space was not what it used to be. Over the years it had broken down; it was now quite thin. Bernard Rush stepped through the opening to find Rebecca Shepherd huddled in the corner against the cold.

“Miss Shepherd, how are we doing? I see you are awake.” Rebecca could see Rush’s breath as it condensed in the cold air.

“What... is... this... place? Where AM I?” asked Rebecca, barely able to move her mouth.

Rush put on a mock show of feeling, but only enough to keep his scheme going. “Here now, Miss Shepherd, come and warm yourself.” Rush motioned towards the hatchway and the beckoning light and heat that emanated from it. Then out of that light came two men. They walked over, reached down, and scooped her up, bringing her out of the freezer and into the shuttle. Once Rebecca was safely inside, Rush secured the hatch and came to sit only a couple of seats away from her. He tried to show almost fatherly concern.

“There now, warmer?” Rebecca’s lips were only slightly blue now. She only stared at Rush and tugged the space blanket closer around her. “I regret having to keep you there like that, Rebecca, but I couldn’t take the chance that a resourceful woman like you might try to escape. This was the safest and closest place to where I was going to be.”

Rebecca found her voice. “Why? Why would you do this? Where am I?”

Rush answered smoothly, “You are now aboard my personal shuttle, a converted passenger shuttle that had to be retired from service due to age. I had it refurbished. Nice, isn’t it?” She looked around the cabin, unimpressed, as Rush continued. “As for why? Well, your father and I had some business to transact.”

Warmth came back to Rebecca’s eyes in the form of fire. “I find that hard to believe, Mr. Rush! In any case, why involve me?”

“Oh but it’s true, my dear! While I talked with your father I thought it would be nice if you visited with me for a while, like visiting an old uncle on your grandfather’s side of the family.”

“You are no relative, sir. And don’t you mean kidnapped?” she added sarcastically.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it in those terms, but... well, let’s not talk shop anymore.”

“TALK? We have nothing to discuss. You drug me, kidnap me, drug me again and bring me to this forsaken place. Must be one of your old R.A.T.T.'s that junk up the orbital paths around the Earth. You do all this and then you expect me to talk?” Rebecca’s head was starting to thaw out now and she was not going to be the model prisoner.

“Rebecca, I regret the circumstances of your visit, but now that you are here let’s make the best of it. You know, had your great-grandfather and I continued to work together, I could have been like a godfather to you.”

Rebecca mussed quietly, “Godfather, huh? That’s exactly what you’ve become. Force, blackmail, intimidation—those are your stock and trade, just like the godfathers of old Chicago.”

Rush continued, “Besides, I never had a granddaughter, so it’s good to have you here. But here now, space is an awfully cold place for warm conversation. Let’s return to Earth, shall we?” With a gesture to his pilot, all systems were readied for the return trip. Everyone strapped in, and although Rebecca despised the man and his fake civilities, she knew she would fare better if she were back on Earth. So after strapping in, blanket and all, she decided to bottle her feelings and use the descent time to plan how to get out of her predicament. She knew Rush was up to no good. Her capture was proof of that. She had to find out what.

The refurbished shuttle pulled away from its older mate. Transferring to another orbit, the luxury shuttle made for a fast-track back to Earth. Rush’s scheme seemed to be unfolding without a hitch. Rush was visibly in good humor. That, by itself, said he was up to something. Meanwhile, a storm of dangerous proportions continued its approach towards Earth.

Chapter 22

Plan and prepare

The Destiny sped through near solar space approaching top speed on engines one and two. Its port and starboard running lights blurred as engines three and four came online, sending the star ship to a new level of speed never before achieved. Three and four burned with their matter/antimatter reactions without the problems experienced by the first two engines, much to the joy of the engineering staff.

On the bridge the senior officers met in the Captain’s office to discuss the current problem. “All I have to say is ‘Mare Crisium!’ There sure seems to be one after the other, all of a sudden.” O’Neil spoke from the office corner.

“A Sea of Crises, Miss O’Neil? I have to agree with you. Let’s hope the Destiny and her crew can keep it from becoming a ‘Lacus Martis’ or Lake of Death for the Earth! Now what are our options? Suggestions?” Burke encouraged his officers to speak up. Included in the conference was Thomas Roundtree. Being the only one with science expertise onboard, it was he who spoke first.

“Well, whatever we are going to do we better decide quickly.” Roundtree checked the time. “In about four and a half hours the showdown will begin!”

“How does the ejection threaten Earth, exactly? I know it’s carrying a lot of plasma, but won’t the Earth’s magnetic field be able to handle it? asked McKenze from the other side of the room.

Burke gestured to Roundtree. “Mr. Roundtree, would you like to answer that question.”

“I’ll try, sir. You see, under normal circumstances the C.M.E. would dissipate to such an extent that it would pass right over the Earth with little or no notice. However, this one started out with so much mass that it carried away a large portion of the Sun’s own magnetic field. You see, what causes the problem is not its mass so much as the magnetic field that surrounds it. If the field lines of the mass are opposite that of the Earth’s, and they are, then an interaction will take place resulting in a gigantic geomagnetic storm! In this case, the results could be major power outages across the globe, wild fires due to overwhelming static electricity in the atmosphere, and who knows what else. Who knows what it will do to humans and animals? There’s never been a C.M.E. this large before!”

“Mr. Roundtree, did ya say that the C.M.E. tis carryin’ electricity?” asked O’Neil.

“Yes.”

“Ah, then tis a simple thing! All we have to do tis short it out. Could we nea use the Static Torpedoes?”

“Sure, if the electrifiers weren’t burned out,” said McKenze.

“No, Jones, they’re not burnt out. Mr. Vencetti said we might have one or two shots. However, this target is many times bigger than a ship, so the charge would have to be many times bigger, too,” replied Masters.

“Jones, how much power could we put into a torpedo?” Burke looked like he finally had an answer.

“The console readouts say one point twenty-one gigawatts; however, the schematics say it might hold a little more. But John, that’s not going to destroy it, or even slow it down!”

“We don’t have to destroy it to stop it. You heard Shannon, we just have to weaken it to the point that Earth’s magnetic field can handle it. Are we all agreed on this?”

Everyone nodded in approval. “Good! Jones, go to engineering with the idea and work with them on how much power we can pour into those two torpedoes.”

McKenze nodded and headed for the door. “I’m on it, Captain,” he said. Then he was gone.

Burke looked at his helm officer, “Shannon, we’ll need you to stay at your post from here on out. I know the duty shift will be a little long, but if we run into any leading edges of this storm, things could get a little rough. We need our best at the helm.”

“I understand, sir.” O’Neil stood up and headed for the door. Burke stopped her.

“Shannon, this isn’t a video game.”

“Aye, Captain. That I know.” She threw a wide but knowing smile his way. It seemed to say, ‘Don’t worry, John, you have my best,’ which seemed to put Burke at ease.

Burke paused for a moment to take in the room, then he addressed one of the two men left in the office. “Mr. Masters, you’ve been very quiet during our discussion.” Burke looked at the Operations Officer with a friendly, quiet, questioning stare. Masters got the hint and cleared his voice for an explanation.

“I was listening, sir.”

“Listening?” reflected Burke.

“Yes. I was listening for anything suggested that might be harmful to the ship and her crew.”

“And did you find anything?” asked Roundtree, a little defensively.

With a slight look of disdain in the scientist’s direction, Masters answered, “Besides Mr. Roundtree’s presence, I see nothing that poses undue threat, although an overcharged static torpedo, if handled improperly, could do great damage. Still, in the current situation it seems like the proper choice to make.” Masters’ sideways glance at Roundtree did not go unnoticed.

“Is there something about Mr. Roundtree that I should know, Mr. Masters?”

“Well, sir, it’s just that he is an unknown. He says he wants to help and try to make amends. But until he is proven, he remains a possible problem. I can’t help but be suspicious of him.”

Roundtree shifted in his seat, uncomfortable at the connotations Masters assigned him. Ringing his hands in decision, he spoke up. “Wait a minute, please. I have done some terrible things. I’m not proud of them, at all! I want to change! I know that once back at the shipyard I’ll face charges, but while I am able, I want to make a difference, pitch in wherever I can. I’m grateful for the chance.”

Just then the ship rocked. The three men were thrown from their seats. Burke nearly had the wind knocked out of him as he slammed into his desk. Masters was thrown out of his chair and hit his head on the floor. Then came O’Neil’s voice over the COM system. “Captain to the bridge! All hands to stations! This is not a drill!”

Burke scrambled to his feet followed closely by Masters and Roundtree, as they exited the office for the bridge. “Report!” shouted the Captain as the ship rocked and shook once more.

“Electromagnetic turbulence, Captain. You were right. We are hitting the leading edges of the storm.”

The lift doors parted and Jones McKenze was thrown out on to the deck as the ship bucked wildly. He struggled to his feet and took his post. Everyone was now accounted for.

“Mr. Masters, ship’s status?”

“All departments show clear, sir. Hull integrity is firm. Our shielding is firm and holding.”

Checking the scanners and sensors that Masters had shown him, Roundtree spoke up. “Captain, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that with our shielding up to near ninety percent now, the ship will be fine. All we experienced was the wind before the storm. The bad news is that if our shielding weakens, we may experience radiation problems and electrical failures. Plus, the C.M.E. has increased speed somehow. It will intersect with us in less than a hour!”

Burke didn’t like the bad news. “Mr. McKenze, what did engineering say?”

“Mr. Vencetti said the torpedoes could hold about one point forty-nine gigawatts, but the extra charge would dissipate quickly after firing. He said that in order to use the extra charge we would have to be within one hundred kilometers before firing!”

“But that means we would be right on top of the bloody thing!” Shannon O’Neil exchanged glances with McKenze who shrugged his shoulders. The thought of a sea of burning plasma bearing down on them, giving them no where to go, was not a pleasant one.

“Mr. Masters, in your opinion, what would happen if we fired the torpedo at that range?” No answer came. Burke looked at the officer. “Mr. Masters?” he asked again.

Masters’ eyes were fixed forward in a stare. Wondering what was so transfixing, Burke turned forward. There, across the high resolution, wide view screen, was a shimmering, dancing display. Dazzling, yet terrifying as it crackled and sizzled against the Destiny’s magnetic field, the scene was unlike anything they had ever seen.

“Mr. Roundtree, analysis. What is that?” Roundtree checked his instruments to be sure.

“We are running into more and more leading edges of the C.M.E. as we approach. What we are seeing is the reaction of our shielding to the opposite field lines pressing against it.”

“Is there any danger to the ship?”

“Not at these levels. However, should the reaction increase or our shielding lose power, I would not recommend staying in its path. We could be incinerated like so much debris.”

Masters woke up from his stare. “If we fire at one hundred kilometers the C.M.E. could overtake us before we could get out of the way.”

“Grant, status of our shields.” Burke watched the crackling dance on the view screen.

“Shielding running at ninety percent of maximum.”

“Do we have the power for one hundred percent?”

“The interaction is draining the system. I’m afraid ninety is the best we can do. If the reaction increases, we will lose more power to the fight.”

“Check with engineering about available power. Shut down all nonessential systems and divert the power to the shielding. We’ve got to hold our own, Grant.”

“Aye, sir.”

You could hear a pin drop as the Operations Officer started his check on the power curves. Burke moved from the center seat to science station one. As he approached, Roundtree was continuing his analysis of the approaching danger. He stood up as he realized the Captain was standing behind him.

“What have you got, Roundtree? Anything we can use? ...Thomas!”

Roundtree thought to himself, “I like that name much better than Marcus. I’ll never go by my middle name again.”

Burke’s face was grim and determined. He needed more answers. Roundtree matched his stare and didn’t want to disappoint him, but he didn’t have an answer yet. “I’m afraid that I don’t have much more to tell you just yet, sir.”

“Thomas, you said you wanted to prove yourself. Well, now would be a good time. According to your estimate,” Burke checked the bridge clock above the view screen, “we have about forty clicks before we’ve got real trouble. I need an option in thirty!”

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

“No, Thomas, you’ve got to find a way for us to survive firing the torpedo at such close range. If we don’t succeed we’ll all die, everyone on the spaceport will die, and many on Earth, too! Do you understand? Anything, any idea at all, no matter how farout, could help. We need something!”

“I understand, Captain. I’ll find something.” Burke turned from the science station and faced the bridge.

“Listen, everyone! Time is extremely short. We have less than forty clicks to come up with a way to survive. Stay sharp. Be as efficient as you can. Let me know of any ideas, right away. I’ll be in Engineering.”

Finishing his pep talk, Burke headed for the lift. Just then the ship rocked again. This time a little harder. He staggered but stayed on his feet.

Back at the shipyard, Luke Reynolds paced anxiously as he waited for the their return. He checked his watch as he had checked it repeatedly over the last half-hour. Reynolds knew this was big! It might be the biggest discovery ever! Where were they?

Reynolds looked through the observation window again for the tenth time, but this time he saw a ship. Just then the docking computer announced the shuttle’s approach. “Attention. Shuttle Rebecca on final approach. Please clear lock opening.”

“It figures they’d choose the Rebecca for this trip. I hope everything is OK. But just wait till they hear!” said Reynolds to himself.

Soon he heard the thud of docking and the pressurizing of the airlock. The status light above the lock went from red to green and the door quickly slid aside on hidden grooves.

The two men exited the airlock, one behind the other. Long was in the lead. As he emerged he saw Luke Reynolds there to greet them. He was slightly surprised that anyone would be there, in view of all that was going on at the control room.

“Luke? I thought you would be in the control room?”

“I was. The test finished a short while ago. I just had to come and meet you. It’s so exciting! It’s amazing! You won’t believe it!”

Intrigued by Reynolds’ description, Long wanted him to continue, but then they both noticed the worried father who paused to stare back at Earth longingly through the viewport. Realizing what he was doing, Shepherd turned his attention to the present. “I’m sorry, gentlemen. It’s just that there’s so much to do. What were you saying, Luke? It sounded interesting. Why don’t the three of us take our conversation to the conference room adjacent to the control room? There you can tell us your story and we can tell you ours.”

Chapter 23

The cost of success

Aboard the Destiny tension was running high. The doors to engineering slid aside as Burke entered. On the other side of the room Vencetti and his staff were checking and rechecking all systems. The only system not being checked was the new tachyon field generators.

As Burke approached his chief engineer he noticed that the vibration of the engines some how felt different. “Connor, how are the engines taking the extra field stress?”

Vencetti looked up from his monitor. “Take a look!” he said.

Burke peered into the reflective monitor that was running an engine performance test. However, instead of viewing a normal wave signature, it was all over the scale. “What’s the problem, Connor?”

“As near as I can figure it, each time one of those waves washes over us it throws the antimatter injection and its containment field into disarray. We’ve been able to keep it stable, but just barely! However, if we lose containment...!”

Burke didn’t need a picture. Two words would suffice: SUPER NOVA! “I understand. Do you have any suggestions?” he asked.

“We’ve got to get out of these heavy electromagnetic waves. If they get any stronger I don’t know if we can hold it!”

“I’ll see if we can come at this thing from a different angle. Hold it together a little longer, Connor. It’s almost time to launch the torpedoes. I’ll see what we can do to get us out of this. Ah, one thing, Mr. Vencetti, why isn’t anyone checking out the new tachyon field grids?”

“Well, we’ve been so busy with the A.M. engines that I didn’t consider it a priority.”

“Is it hooked into the ship’s systems?”

“Yes.”

“Then it is a priority! Have one of your engineers check it out, too. I’ll be on the Bridge.”

“Aye, sir.” Vencetti sighed and motioned for an engineer to check out the new equipment.

“Captains! Mama mía!” he said shaking his head as he watched Burke leave.

On the bridge O’Neil was rechecking her course and noticed something strange. “Mr. Roundtree, how large are ya showin’ the C.M.E. to be?”

Roundtree checked his figures again. Surprise registered on his face. “It’s grown! Don’t ask me why or how.”

“That means we are now headin’ straight into its heart, instead of stayin’ close to an edge.”

“We can’t do that, Miss O’Neil. Change course to come in just over the top of the C.M.E,” said Grant Masters from the Operations Station. McKenze double-checked the course change and the Destiny slid into a higher approach, ready to peel away if needed to save the ship.

Suddenly, the ship rocked again. The deadly dance on the screen intensified and science station two erupted into a shower of sparks. A crewman rushed over to put out the fire.

In all the excitement O’Neil failed to notice a new light on her console. “When did that come on?” Then she noticed the label. “Grant, Jones, I think we’ve got trouble!” She tried to control her voice. Masters was at O’Neil’s board in a second.

“T.A.G.? Tachyon Attraction Grids? I knew they were installed for future use, but they aren’t hooked up, are they?” Masters dropped into the center seat to raise Engineering. “Masters to Engineering. Are the TAGs operational?

“Bridge, we’ve got a problem. The engineer who was checking out the system didn’t disconnect it first. When that last wave hit, somehow it activated the Tachyon Attraction Grids.” Vencetti sounded worried. The system had never been fully tested.

“Mr. Masters, the bar graph for speed measurement just came online and shot off the scale! I think this thing tis going start!” yelled O’Neil, no longer controlling her voice.

“Mr. Vencetti, what have you...” Masters was cut off by what he saw on the view screen.

“Grant, the screen, it’s starting to take on a golden glow around the edges. Something is happening!” added McKenze.

“Mr. Vencetti, shut it down; we don’t know what it’s doing!”

“We can’t, Mr. Masters! It’s being fed an enormous amount of power from somewhere!” said Vencetti.

Just then, everything changed. The artificial gravity began to fail, then it came back on full force as Masters called out over the open link, “Hold on! Hold on!” Then he was smashed into the captain’s chair with unbelievable force. On the main screen everything went glassy, like looking through crystal. Then, in a wash of golden light, the stars vanished!

At unbelievable speed, the Star Ship Destiny hurtled towards open space, moving a fantastic distance in an instant of time. Then the stars reappeared and the great ship stopped just as quickly as it had started, except now a slightly different-looking star field was displayed across the monitor. The graviton generators reactivated and gravity came back to Earth-normal, releasing all in its grasp. Quickly, Masters straightened up in the command chair as O’Neil, McKenze, and Roundtree pulled themselves up to their stations.

“What was that?” asked McKenze.

“I don’t know, Jones. Look!” O’Neil pointed towards the screen.

“Where’s the C.M.E.?”

“C.M.E., nothin’; where’s our stars!” added O’Neil. The view screen showed a vista of stellar bodies as yet unseen by human eyes at close range.

“Mr. Roundtree, scan for the C.M.E,” commanded Masters.

“Scanning. You’re not going to believe this! According to the sensors we are some NINETEEN LIGHT YEARS from our last position!”

“Recheck. That can’t be right.”

“Scanning. Confirmed, Mr. Masters, just over nineteen light years towards the galactic arm.”

Astonishment spread across the faces of the bridge crew at the confirmation. How did this happen was the question on everyone’s mind. Travel this fast and this far was supposed to be impossible. Then the COM system beeped.

“Bridge here,” McKenze answered.

“Bridge, this is Jacobs in Security. When the power and gravity were interrupted, Nash escaped! Just before it happened he was muttering something about the Captain.”

“Jacobs, this is Masters. Take a team and find him. More importantly, find the Captain!”

“Captain Burke to the bridge! Captain Burke to the bridge! Captain...“ The words seemed to echo in his mind.

Through a blue-tinged fog, Burke struggled to remember as he looked down the corridor. Getting to his feet he was painfully aware of a large welt at the back of his head. It throbbed and ached. It was black-and-blue, no doubt, as well. He gingerly held the back of his head as he tested his balance a little at a time. Leaning up against the nearest bulkhead he tried to remember what happened. “Let’s see. I was talking to Engineering about the engines. Then I left for the bridge. I took the Engineering lift to deck two. As I got out I noticed that the ship was at Blue alert. I wondered why, and then the gravity went berserk and landed me on the deck. Well, that explains my head. What happened? Why are we at Blue alert? I’ve got to get to the bridge!”

After running a mental and physical check, Burke decided he could stop holding up the wall and make himself useful again. He continued towards the main lift; he was still a little shaky, but he would make it. His ship might be in danger! He had to be OK. As he rounded the corner that took him past the shuttle deck he almost ran into Peter Jacobs.

“Whoa, Mr. Jacobs! What’s going on around here?”

“Captain! I’m glad to find you. You’re needed on the bridge, sir.”

“I gathered that, Peter, but what’s going on?”

“We had a power outage and then a gravity failure. It allowed the security fields to go down and Nash escaped. He was mumbling something about you, sir, and Mr. Roundtree. We thought you might be in danger.”

“Well, thank you for the concern. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be on the bridge with the rest. Just find Nash before he causes any more trouble.”

“Aye, sir!” Then Jacobs headed down the passageway at a run and Burke continued on.

John Burke entered a bridge made up of frantic sights and sounds. His people were running systems checks and consulting star charts. He wondered why until he saw the great ‘new’ nebula that glowed green and gold on the view screen. Quickly everyone noticed his arrival and brought him up to speed on what had happened.

Burke now sat in the command chair. “So you’re telling me we ‘jumped’ more than nineteen light years in the blink of an eye, and then just stopped?” Burke couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, sir. As far as we can tell the last electromagnetic wave we encountered broke through our shielding and jump-started the new TAGs. The graviton generators overcompensated for the new speed and we were all pinned to the deck.” Burke rubbed the back of his head in memory.

“As soon as we were out of the intensive electromagnetic fields the TAGs shut down and we came to a stop here.” Masters and Roundtree finished their report.

“Has engineering got an answer for how the new system got involved?”

“They’re doing their checks now, sir,” replied Masters.

“Status of the rest of the ship?”

“No damage, as far as we can tell. There are only a few minor medical problems for the crew; Dr. Yamari is handling them.”

“Mr. Roundtree, can you get a fix on the C.M.E. from here?”

“Too far out, I’m afraid, Captain.”

“Miss O’Neil, plot us a course back to our last known position, best possible speed.”

“Captain, we’ll nea make it back in time to stop it!”

Burke thought for a moment... “We will if we play a little TAG! Burke to Engineering. Mr. Vencetti, what is our status?”

“All systems check out. The graviton generators just weren’t ready for the change in speed. We’ve recalibrated them so that it won’t happen again. As for the Tachyon Field Grids, they came online because the engineer checking them out didn’t disconnect them from the input computers. We couldn’t stop the process because of the power surge we experienced. It charged the circuits on their own. As soon as we left the cause of the surge, the power stopped and everything went back to normal.”

“Are the grids damaged?”

“No. Believe it or not, it looks like they functioned perfectly! I didn’t think they would work. How fast did we travel?”

“According to the charts, more than nineteen light years in the blink of an eye!”

“Mama mía! Now that’s what I call speed!”

“The question is, can we duplicate the event?” asked Burke. Vencetti was clearly excited. With this addition, the ship he built would be the most legendary ship of all time! The first to go faster than light!

“Captain, do you realize we are the first, even if by accident, to go FTL!”

“Yes, Connor. It’s a fantastic leap in engine technology, but right now we have to get back and stop that C.M.E.! Can we duplicate it?”

Vencetti, now calmer, put his mind to the question, “With enough study of the events that led up to the leap, I don’t see why not.”

“Mr. Vencetti, we have a catastrophe about to happen to Earth. We don’t have time for studies!”

“Yes, sir, I know. I’ll have an answer for you in fifteen minutes. Vencetti out.”

Silence reigned as everyone waited anxiously for the answer from Engineering. Now there was nothing to do but be patient. The course for home had been laid in and engaged. All systems had been checked and rechecked. In the interminable wait Burke began to feel the pain from his accident. He lightly touched the spot where the pain was coming from. Blood played across his fingers as he drew them back. Grant Masters was looking on from the Operations station.

“Captain, you’re bleeding!”

Burke turned towards Masters. “Oh, I’ll be all right. I had a little tumble when the gravity came on and off line. Feels like someone is tap dancing on my head, though.”

“Sir, let me call Dr. Yamari. She did wonders for me earlier.”

“No thank you, Grant. I’ll be fine.” Shannon O’Neil was listening. She turned towards the men.

“Come now, Captain. We need you right here on the bridge. What if you had to go to sickbay at a critical moment? Please let Dr. Yamari come to the bridge.”

Burke knew they were right. He just didn’t care for the good doctor’s bedside manner. In the end, he gave in and some minutes later Dr. Miller Yamari was on the bridge, med kit in hand.

“So this is the bridge! Impressive! However, it looks like you’ve been up to your old tricks,” said the doctor as she examined the wound. Burke wasn’t in the mood.

“Please, Doctor. Another time, perhaps. Is it serious?”

“Looks like a minor concussion. A couple of cuts and contusions, but you’ll live. However, I would like to see you in sickbay, just to be sure.” Burke exchanged glances with the doctor as he raised Engineering for a progress report.

“Burke to Engineering. What have you got, Connor?”

“Just trying to iron out the last few details. We could use a little more time, sir.

“Standby.” Burke engaged the mute switch.

“Mr. Roundtree, how long by your last estimate before the C.M.E. contacts Earth’s atmosphere?”

“Only a few hours now, sir.”

Burke toggled Engineering again, “Connor, you’ve got twenty minutes. No more. I’ll expect an answer then. Burke out.” Burke looked at the Doctor once more, reluctantly. “Can we do this in fifteen?”

Yamari smiled. “Maybe less!”

“OK. Mr. Masters you have the bridge. Call me if anything happens!”

“Aye, sir.” Masters stepped forward as Burke and Yamari made their way to the lift. The lift doors closed.

“Sickbay,” commanded Yamari as Burke stood dutifully by. “Weren’t you a tad hard on Mr. Vencetti? I’m sure he is doing his best at whatever task you’ve assigned him.”

Burke wasn’t feeling good and now he had to deal with a person who thinks he is a reckless jet jockey. “Doctor, we have just ‘jumped’ some nineteen light years away from our last position. The C.M.E. is still bearing down on Earth. I’ve got a criminal loose on my ship and my head hurts! I need answers, not more questions.”

“Sorry, Captain, at least I mean well. What can I do to help?”

“Another question, Doctor?” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Just help me get rid of this headache.”

Yamari smiled, “That I can do!”

The lift doors opened and the two stepped out, less icy towards each other than before. Then Yamari screamed! From around the corner Christopher Nash grabbed the Doctor and pulled her arm behind her back.

“Hold it, Burke! Back up. Back into the lift.” Nash looked from side to side like he was running from pursuers.

“Jacobs must be hot on his trail,” Burke thought. The lift doors closed.

“Shuttle deck!” Nash said to the H.C.I.

“Wait a minute, Nash, there is something you don’t know.”

Nash wringed Yamari’s arm a little more. She grimaced in pain.

“No, you wait, Mr. Captain! I’m not going to go back. Roundtree can do what he wants, but it won’t include me!”

Burke tried to reason with him, “Well, you didn’t have much choice; either you suffocated or fried. Roundtree saved your life by bringing you here.”

“Well, I’m not staying!” Just then the lift doors opened near the shuttle hangar. Nash backed away with his captive.

“Wait! Where are you taking me?” cried Yamari.

“You and I, Doc, are taking a little trip!”

“Nash, you can’t leave! We’re nineteen light years from Earth!” cried Burke.

“Yeah, sure! That is impossible! Trying to trick me won’t work.” Just then Jacobs and two guards came around the bend and joined Burke in the face-off. Nash was backing towards the shuttle deck entrance. Yamari was twisting, trying to wriggle free, but Nash was too strong for her. Struggling with his captive, he tried to make it through the door. Burke realized he couldn’t let him take the Doctor any farther.

Without warning he lunged for Nash. Taking his cue from Burke, Jacobs made his move at he same time. Nash, realizing that he couldn’t handle three opponents, released Yamari by shoving her back at them as he slipped through the door and sealed it from inside. The Doctor landed on top of Burke and Jacobs in a heap on the deck. Quickly, Burke got up, helping the doctor to her feet. “Are you all right, Doctor?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But I’m afraid he’s desperate!”

“Yes, I know. Mr. Jacobs, can you force the door?”

Burke and Yamari stepped back as he worked. “Trying, sir.”

Burke found a COM unit nearby that linked to the shuttle bay. “Nash! Look out a viewport! Check the stars. They’re different! If you leave here you’ll never get back!”

Suddenly the sealed door slid open on unseen bearings like nothing was wrong. There stood Nash, dumbfounded and with an air of resignation.

“You win, Burke. You were telling the truth. How did it happen?” The Shuttle Bay door slid open.

“We are working on that now. Mr. Jacobs?” At Burke’s cue the three security men surrounded Nash and hauled him off. Burke let out a sigh and said, “At least that’s one problem solved.”

Yamari walked over to where he stood against the wall. “One problem at a time, John Burke. You’ll solve them one problem at a time. You know, maybe I’ve judged you too harshly. You do care.”

Burke threw her a pained smile, “I could’ve misjudged you, too. Now come on, Doc, let’s get this over with.”

A few minutes later, and all was well. Burke had returned to the bridge being pronounced fit and ready. “OK, Mr. Vencetti, time’s up!” Now he wasted no time, for he had no time to waste.

Vencetti picked up the link, “We’re ready for you, Captain. We’ve found that the TAGs were supplied power by the magnetic field generators. At the time we installed them we thought it was all right because the field had a constant power supply. That’s really why the TAGs went runaway. The extra reaction on the magnetic shielding ran straight into the grids. But now we have aligned the TAGs’ power conduits with the super-conducting power circuit. It also is a constant power source and not as susceptible to outside influence.”

Burke was growing impatient; could the FTL jump be duplicated? Vencetti continued, “During the runaway certain power circuits weren’t able to handle the current, so in order to make the TAGs functional again, we had to rob the electrifier conduits. The result is that the TAGs will work again but the static torpedoes will not. Also, we have to duplicate the conditions of the first jump for it all to work.”

First relief, then horror washed over Burke. “Mr. Vencetti, are you saying we can only get back by cannibalizing the static torpedo system, and in so doing, we lose the static torpedo as a weapon against the C.M.E.?” Burke hoped against hope that it wasn’t true; however, when the chief engineer gave his apologies he knew it was.

“What do you mean that we have to duplicate the conditions?”

“Unfortunately, Captain, we would have to start the same runaway reaction that made us jump here! And that only happened when we made contact with the C.M.E. It’s going to be next to impossible.”

“Thank you, Connor. Stand by.”

“So that’s it, sir? We might be able to jump back, but if we do, we won’t have anything to use against the C.M.E.?” Grant Masters didn’t like what he just heard.

“I’m afraid so, Mr. Masters.” Then Burke had some ideas. “Miss O’Neil, do those controls on your board for the TAGs show that we can control the speed and direction of the flight?”

“That tis the way it looks,” she replied uncertainly. “We should be able to program course and speed into the computer.”

“Good! Mr. McKenze, how close would we have to be to the C.M.E. to detonate a full spread of four antimatter torpedoes?”

“Too close for safety. We would have to be right on top of it to place them properly. With all the interference, the onboard guidance systems won’t be reliable.”

“All right then, here’s what we do. Shannon, you and Jones work out a bombing run on the C.M.E. Mr. Masters, you work out how much speed we can expect from these tachyon grids and produce an easy-to-read scale for Miss O’Neil’s NAV board and your operations console. Mr. Roundtree, in the short time left to us in this part of space, conduct as deep a scan of it as possible. Any questions?”

Everyone understood what they were going to attempt—a faster-than-light bombing run on a moving target with a never-before-used weapon: Antimatter Torpedoes. It could boggle the mind if you let it, so they didn’t. Instead, everyone just got to work. In addition to his scans Thomas Roundtree continued to record a personal log that he thought might be useful later.

It took another thirty minutes, but everything was ready. There was no time for simulations or rechecks. The danger to Earth and their friends and families was too great.

“OK people, here we go. Mr. Vencetti assured me that we shouldn’t have any more trouble with the gravity, but hold on anyway! Miss O’Neil, how fast does your modified scale say our new engines will make?”

O’Neil read the new labels on her board. One read: Sub Light Drive .5 - 25 percent, twenty-five percent being top antimatter speed. Then right next to it, instead of T.A.G. it read: Tachyon Drive! Power available: T1 through T5. “It says we could go as fast as Five times light speed!”

“We will have to prove that one day! Let’s go for it!” Burke said with a smile of adventure. Then he continued, “But today all we need is level one. It may take a few more minutes than our first leap, but we will make it back in time if this works.” Burke toggled Engineering, “Mr. Vencetti, you said we have to duplicate the original conditions of our first jump, right?”

“Aye, sir,” responded the engineer.

“To do that we have to reproduce the same magnetic reactions and channel them into the attraction grids to provide the power for another runaway. Is that right?”

“Yes, but sir, we don’t know what that will do!”

“But we do, Connor, we know what will be affected and we have already taken precautions with the gravity generators, the TAGs themselves, and we have shielded critical systems. Connor, I want you to allow the grids to be exposed to the energy from the magnetic shielding...”

“SIR!”

“Hear me out. This will be no runaway reaction as before. If you can rig an energy buffer between the shielding and the TAGs you can control how much power comes through the circuit. What do you think?”

“Aye, sir, that may work, but Mama Mía! And where can we get that kind of power?”

A smile spread across Burke’s face. “Great! Check with Mr. Masters on how much power the sensors recorded on the first exposure and set your circuit accordingly. As for the power source, leave that to us. Burke out!”

Roundtree interrupted from the science station, “Captain, I know this will sound crazy, but I’m picking up a strong radiation signature heading off into that nebula on the view screen. It’s not a natural occurrence. There is nothing out here to make it. Captain, it looks like the exhaust of an old-style, nuclear propulsion system. Mr. Masters, can you confirm my readings?”

Masters checked his board and tied it into the science station. “He’s right, Captain. It’s not a naturally occurring event. Someone or something has made it!”

Burke took in the two men’s observations and weighed them against the threat to Earth. This could be a fantastic discovery; however, Burke knew they could come back later if this jump worked. “It looks like you gentlemen have something worth exploring, but unfortunately we can’t. We’ve got to get back. That C.M.E. won’t wait. Catalog it, and hopefully we can return later to pursue it.” The two men filed the discovery, disappointed that they could not follow it up, but they knew the Earth had to come first right now.

Burke toggled the intra-ship COM system. “All hands, this is the Captain. In order to stop the C.M.E. from causing untold damage to Earth, we have to engage the Tachyon Field Grids again. We have dubbed the system ‘Tachyon Drive.’ Using this new drive that we inadvertently proved to work, we hope to return and destroy the threat to Earth and our friends. Strap yourselves in. The ride could be bumpy. Captain out.

“John, how are we goin’ to get the same power to the TAGs as we did before? I nea see a C.M.E. out there,” asked O’Neil.

“No, but we are close to that star,” Burke answered. Next he turned towards Masters. “Grant, how big is that star?”

Masters scanned the nearby point of light. “We have a G-type star slightly smaller than our sun but nearly the same, otherwise.”

“That will have to do. Miss O’Neil, plot a course tangent to that sun. Take us as close as you can without toasting our skins. If I don’t miss my guess, as we approach that sun’s outer influence our shields should begin to react and produce power to super-charge the grids for our return trip. The trick will be to get enough power all at once and then release it into the grids for the jump.”

Burke contacted Vencetti, “Connor, how is your circuit coming?”

“Give us a couple of minutes and we’ll have the grids reconnected to the shielding power.”

“Make sure that your buffer collects the right amount of power and then release it all at once into the TAGs.” Burke smiled, “Just think, in a few moments you’ll be back in Earth orbit and can brag about your exploits!”

Vencetti snickered as he responded, “Aye, sir, just a couple of minutes and if this works, I’ll do more than brag...I’ll do an Italian dance at your wedding!”

Burke smiled as he spoke, “Shannon, plot your course so that we are heading towards Earth as we pass the star. We don’t want to fly off in the wrong direction. We may only get one pass.”

“Aye, sir. Course laid in.”

All right, Miss O’Neil, Mr. McKenze, the mission is yours. Jones, you may only get one shot. Make it count!”

O’Neil and McKenze looked at each other to sync their actions, and the Destiny headed towards a foreign Sun! After five clicks the Destiny was approaching the outer edges of the star’s influence.

“Take us in a little closer, Miss O’Neil.”

The bridge began to get warm then steamy then dense with the kind of heat that steals your breath away on a hot summer’s day. The light dampers strained to control the intense light that assaulted the senses. As the star ship skimmed across the solar wind of the giant nuclear furnace, the magnetic shielding crackled and sizzled against the opposing field lines.

“Engineering! Do you have the power you need?” cried Burke through a closing throat.

“Holding, holding... NOW! Bridge.”

“Jumping now!” Yelled O’Neil.

It worked...

A few moments later the Destiny roared in over the top of the seething mass of plasma that was the C.M.E. It was as if she had never left. The view screen crackled and sizzled with electromagnetic reactions, but the star ship was ready. Following her programming, the Destiny sent a spread of four A.M. torpedoes that shot out into the heart of the intruder. A fraction of a second later they detonated as the Destiny peeled away like a surfer shooting the curl.

A blinding new Sun appeared in the skies of Earth. In space, the explosion released shock waves of tremendous proportions that would rock, but not destroy, the closest obstacles that lay in its path, such as Shepherd Spaceport.

However, aboard the Destiny which was the closest to the blast, it was a different story. “Fire, Jones, FIRE!” yelled Burke.

“Torpedoes AWAY!” cried McKenze.

“Denotations!” shouted Masters.

Shock waves hit the ship almost right away. The Destiny heaved and spilled sideways against the gale, skidding across the turbulence. On the bridge, Masters, who had been standing at his station, flew over the rail and slammed against the forward deck plates in front of the main view screen. O’Neil and McKenze, both trying to make minor adjustments at their stations, were thrown sideways with the ship, crumpling in agony as one lay on the deck and the other across the forward displays. Sparks erupted from power conduits across the bridge, one catching a crewman full in the face, killing him instantly.

Captain John Burke lay next to his command chair. Battered and bruised, he climbed up to the helm and pulled O’Neil back into her seat. He checked course and speed. They had come to a stop a short distance away. He tried the COM to engineering, “Engineering! Report!”

Static filled the speakers for a moment, then came the familiar voice Burke had come to expect with that department, “We’re all right, Bridge. Other than a little smoke up here, everything is intact. Full power is still available.” said Vencetti.

“Keep me informed. Burke out.”

Next he surveyed the bridge. All the sensitive equipment had taken a pounding. This was to be an exploration ship, not a military one. Burke searched for his crew. One by one he found them through the thick smoke. Everyone would make it except for two, a crewman who was burnt to death by the erupting power conduit, and the science officer who had not been spared.

After calling for the Doctor, Burke held Thomas Roundtree in his arms. He had been thrown backwards over his chair after being hit by a fractured light panel. Blood gushed from the wounds to his head and chest. He had a broken arm and hand where he tried to cushion his fall. Burke tried to comfort his former enemy.

“Easy, Thomas, Doctor Yamari is on her way. Don’t talk. Save your strength.”

“I got some good scans before we jumped again.” He shook with shock and pain. Burke took off his flight jacket and put it over him for warmth. “Listen, Captain!”

“No, Roundtree. Shh! Talk later.”

“No, listen, I may not be around to tell you.” Roundtree pulled up in agony, almost passing out but continuing, “I left a log on the science station. It’s a confession and testimony against Bernard Rush! I’m sorry for what I’ve done. Please let everyone know I...” His head went back and his face wrinkled. His mouth convulsed trying to get out some last word but didn’t make it.

“Thomas! NO! Thomas hang on!” A tear began to form in Burke’s eye. It gathered on his cheek, finally falling loose to wet Thomas Roundtree’s face. All life ebbed from Roundtree’s limbs. His lungs didn’t even take a last breath. He was gone.

The Doctor arrived too late to save two good men. Still, she ministered to the others and helped to ease their pain.

An hour later, after the smoke had cleared, everything seemed to be getting back to normal. After some repairs to the power circuits on the bridge, everything was functional again. Masters, despite his superman act, was just bruised and O’Neil and McKenze were treated for broken ribs, but otherwise, all were back at their posts. Burke was just glad he had only a skeleton crew onboard. Even the sparse security department sustained no injuries. This time there was no escape by Nash either. Burke decided it was time to go home.

“Mr. McKenze, raise Commerce Shipyard for me, please.”

“Aye, Captain.”

The view screen flickered then made the connection. “John Burke! I’m glad to hear from you! From all of you! How did you do it? One minute you were on the sensors, then you were gone. We thought you were destroyed or something. Then four hours later you appeared followed by a huge explosion! The C.M.E. was gone and so were you! AGAIN! Is everything all right!”

“Yes, Micah. We’re OK, except we lost one crewman in the explosion and Thomas Roundtree, as well. It will all be in my report. We would like to put in for some rest and repairs; can you clear a spot for us?” Burke was visibly subdued and tired.

“Of course. Glad you’re back. Thank you for what you did. Oh, and wait till you see the progress we have made with the project!”

Burke smiled a cryptic smile at his boss, “Wait till you see the progress we’ve made on the Tachyon Drive!” he replied.

“Tachyon Drive? What do you mean, John?”

“See you soon, Micah. I’ll explain then. Destiny Out.”

Smiles spread across the bridge, despite their losses. Much had been accomplished, but much had been lost, not only for the moment, but for many years to come. Everyone knew it, too. This was an historic ship and crew now. Once the world knew about it, everything would be different. Their lives, Shepherd Industries, space travel, resources, anything you could name would change.

Captain John Burke contemplated it. Somewhere he knew that someone would try to use their new technology for the wrong ends. If he had anything to say about it, that would not happen!

Chapter 24

Captive heart

“So my dear, what do you think of your surroundings?”

“I think you worry too much about things, instead of people!”

“Ah, but I do think of people. That’s why I have these guest quarters.”

“Not exactly! You think of what people want, not what people need or FEEL.” She emphasized the word with a tilt of her head and a determined stare. Rush wasn’t moved.

“Well, Rebecca, it’s all a matter of perspective. Now let’s visit, shall we? I understand that you do a lot for your father.”

“Is that what your informant tells you?”

“Let’s just say it comes on good authority. So, what projects are you working on? Oh, where’re my manners? May I offer you something to drink?”

Obviously, Rush was probing for something—something his spy couldn’t get for him. Rebecca wanted to know what he was looking for. “Oh, I work on whatever my father wants me to. Mostly, just assistant stuff, you know. And no thank you on the drink.” She didn’t want to be drugged again.

“Oh you must do more than that, Rebecca. For example, I understand Shepherd Industries is having some trouble getting good mining runs and returning with them quickly enough. Have you figured out how to improve your situation?”

Rebecca picked out ‘quickly enough’ and ‘improve’. “Maybe he wants to know if we have developed a better engine, or if we have improved something. Well, I’ll play along,” she thought. “As a mater of fact, we have made some improvements!”

“Really? I’m intrigued. What type of improvements? A faster way to get the ore to the refineries?”

That did it. He asked about a specific improvement over all others. He was wondering about faster ships. “While we have developed a new A.M. engine,” Rebecca mussed silently, “still, it sounded like he meant another technology, maybe even FTL technology! That had to be it; the Light Speed project! Well, he won’t get any information from me!” Rebecca responded, “Oh, you know, a few improvements here and there. But what I do know is that it will never work!” Rebecca eyed the older man.

“What won’t work?”

“Come on, Rush, I know you are after the project. Our security is too tight and I won’t give you anything! So you can just forget it!”

“Why, Rebecca, you cut me to the quick! I’m merely interested in the granddaughter I never had. Would I have brought you to such a beautiful place, offer you food and drink, and take the time to visit with you if all I wanted was information?”

“Rush, you are not dealing with a little girl. If all you wanted was a social call then why drug me, tie me up, and keep me under guard? This is no social call! Kidnapping, drugging and bringing your ‘guest’ here by force is not the way to win friends and influence people!”

Rebecca’s words were strong. She wanted them to wake the man up, but he was probably too far gone for that, and his next response told her all she needed to know.

“Rebecca my dear, I truly want to have your friendship. Couldn’t we just forget the way you have come to me? I would like to give you a present to show my good faith.” Reaching into the vest pocket of his old-time three-piece suit, Rush produced the brightest- and purest-looking diamond and emerald bracelet you could imagine. Holding it up to the light he let the jewelry dangle and dazzle for effect. It was breathtaking. “This is yours. I hope you like it.” He handed it to her. Bernard Rush knew how to play all the angles. From fatherly concern to friendship, and now to bribery, he wanted to persuade her to be friendly, to give him information, and now he thought an expensive gift would work.

“You don’t give up, do you? Is this the way you get all your spies? Is this the way you recruited Thomas Roundtree?”

“Roundtree? I don’t believe I recognize the name.”

“Mr. Rush, I know how you work! I also know about your attempt to steal the project, too. It’s over! Take your gift. I’ll have no part of whatever scheme you are hatching, and neither will my father!” Resolute, Rebecca stood her ground. Rush was taken aback. No one had ever spoken to him that way, especially in his own building, and refusing his gifts, too!

“I have to hand it to you, Miss Shepherd. You are a perceptive woman. However, perceptive woman or not, my ‘scheme’ as you put it, will work. I told your father that nothing would harm you until the deadline. Well, the deadline is fast-approaching! Now, since you won’t play ball with me, then you are a loose end. Loose ends are untidy. You will live, Rebecca, until the deadline, but not much longer!”

With a loud voice Rush called in his assistants. Two men came through the door, right on cue. They took Rebecca by both arms and lifted her up on her feet.

“Give her the final treatment and see her off. Have a nice trip, my dear; it will be your last!”

“A trip? My last? Wait a minute!” Rebecca struggled against her captors’ hold. Rush motioned to one of the men who produced another injection gun.

“Rush! You can’t do this!”

“Oh, but I can.”

The man pressed the needle to her neck. There was a hiss and then, as before, her arms and legs began to turn to clay, only this time, she felt a nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach that wasn’t there before. The last thing she saw was the distorted face of Bernard Rush and his sickly mock smile. Then her world went black, once more.

“Take her, gentlemen, but be careful. She still has usefulness. See that she boards safely.”

The two men, without a word, carried her out. Rush’s plan was on track. He didn’t really need her cooperation, but it would have made some things easier. Regardless, his plan now went to phase three.

Chapter 25

Good and bad news

The Destiny slid into her berth at the central hub of the Shipyard like it was made just for her. “All decks show clear and ready for docking,” announced McKenze.

“Very well. Docking procedure, Miss O’Neil, thrusters only. Mr. Masters, after we dock arrange for the rest of the Destiny’s crew to come aboard. It’s time she had a full crew and a good going over. Have them run a high-level diagnostic of ALL ship’s systems. Get yard security to take Mr. Nash off our hands, too. We certainly don’t need him around anymore!”

“Aye, sir. What do you want done with the bodies?” Masters didn’t really want to bring the subject up, but he had to.

Feeling a wash of sadness, Burke replied, “Keep them in stasis. Move them to the medical wing of the shipyard. I’ll inform their families.”

The Destiny was docked. Re-supply of the ships’ batteries and other systems would be automatic, but the repairs would take a while. In the meantime, Burke finished the difficult task that all ship captains fear the most, and he notified the families of the crew members’ death. Burke was glad when it was over and he disembarked his ship.

Shepherd, Long and Reynolds were there to greet the victorious Captain as he walked into Control Room J’s conference room. Shepherd stepped up first.

“John! Congratulations! It’s so good to see you in person and not on a VID link. What you have done has set the whole world on its ear! Not only have you saved the Earth from disaster, as well as our Spaceport, but you proved that the Destiny is fit and ready to fly! The first of her kind! Since you destroyed the C.M.E., the World Government, World Police force and several companies have approached us about building them ships just like her. Shepherd Industries is almost back in the black! You made it possible!”

The other two men offered their congratulations to Burke as well. Finally, all four of them sat down at the large, elliptical conference table. Burke spoke.

“Thank you for all the applause, but the crew and the ship did all the work. Your design was very sound, Micah. Connor Vencetti kept it all together through some pretty dramatic moments. It’s all here in my report.”

Burke flipped an ISO chip across the table to his boss and then continued, “However, we did experience some losses. Crewman Perry Ross and Thomas Roundtree both died. There were some power conduits that blew after we detonated the C.M.E. and the men caught them full on. They both were doing their jobs and helping to save the ship. Roundtree was the only scientist we had, so I pressed him into service. We couldn’t have done what we did without him.”

Long felt a tear for the man who used to be his friend drop from his eye to the table. “He was trying to make amends for all the trouble he caused. As far as I’m concerned, he meant what he said. It’s all in the report,” Burke finished. It was hard telling everyone, but now it was done.

Burke’s words left the once festive room in a somber tone. “All the better,” thought Shepherd, “to tell his news.”

“John, we have some news, too. In your absence, Rebecca has been kidnapped by Bernard Rush.”

Burke couldn’t believe his ears! He sat straight in his chair, suddenly more alert than he had felt before. His mind raced at the thought.

“Rebecca? Why?” he demanded. His heart began to tighten with ache. No matter what he told himself, he still loved her, yet he was beginning to wonder about his feelings for Shannon. However, now that he knew Rebecca was in danger he had no doubt. Shannon was a good friend, but Rebecca would always be closer.

“Well, it seems Rush HAS been spying on us, no doubt through Mr. Roundtree. He wants the project.” Burke looked at his report laying next to Shepherd’s arm on the table.

“That’s in my report, as well. Thomas recorded everything in a log just before the explosion, including how he bugged the Spaceport so that Rush’s robot miners could tap into where we were going to mine next, and beat us to it!”

“I wondered why Thomas was always so secretive about his off time. All the while he was planting bugs at the spaceport. Just before the explosion of my air car, maybe a month, he was gone a lot, after-hours. No one knew where till now.”

“Yes. That’s when I started noticing the poorer mining runs, too,” added Burke.

Long shook his head at the thought. He couldn’t believe what Thomas Roundtree had done. “Hopefully, he came to his senses as Captain Burke said,” thought Long.

Shepherd reached for his security link, “Shepherd to security. Contact Edward Wills at the Corporate Office and have him do a bug sweep on the Spaceport, right away! Tell him to concentrate on the COM systems. Contact him directly. Do not go through the Spaceport! I repeat, do NOT go through the Spaceport. Its systems are suspect. Shepherd out!” Shepherd paused for a moment.

“Well, gentlemen, it looks like we have, thanks to Mr. Roundtree’s confession, all the evidence we need to put Bernard Rush behind bars for good. But first we have to get Rebecca back.

“But Micah, you can’t give him the project! It’s ours! I mean, Shepherd Industries’! It works, the TAGs work!”

Shepherd looked at the two engineers across the table then back at Burke. They hadn’t told him about how the probe had gone faster than light. So how did he know?

“What do you mean, the TAGs?” asked Shepherd.

“That’s the name we gave to the Tachyon Attraction Grids that you had installed from Mr. Long’s designs. Connor didn’t think they would work, but they did!”

Now Long was interested, “They worked? What does that mean, exactly?”

“When we were trying to defuse the C.M.E. the field’s electromagnetic charge became too much for our shielding. A surge got through and some how activated the TAGs. All of a sudden the Destiny leaped some nineteen light years in the blink of an eye! Once out of the increased energy flow the system shut down and we stopped. That’s why we jumped off your sensors. Then we used the TAGs to leap back and stop the C.M.E.”

“Just in time, too!” added Reynolds, who was listening attentively.

“Are you telling us that the Destiny went FTL?”

“That is what I’m telling you, Micah!” In spite of the news about Rebecca, the three men could not contain themselves. They were dumbfounded. Through an accident, a giant “leap” had been taken, a leap that may have taken months, or even years, to accomplish. This made the Destiny and her crew even more valuable. Shepherd stood and moved to Burke’s side of the table. “John Burke, I can’t thank you enough. There are not words for a moment like this. All I know is that you will never want for anything! You will always have a place at Shepherd Industries, and in my heart. What you have done will change mankind, forever!”

Burke stood and shook Shepherd’s hand, “Micah, I was just along for the ride. Mr. Long’s ideas and designs were at the core of it. We call it TACHYON DRIVE, and it works! Mr. Vencetti thinks we may be able to go five times the speed of light! I think faster, as the system is refined. Connor had to make some adjustments to the graviton generators and the power circuits to the TAGs, but you’ll see it when you come aboard.”

“Five times the speed of light! Unbelievable! I like it, TACHYON DRIVE! Sounds historical to me. What do you think, Richard?”

Richard Long couldn’t speak. He never really dreamed it would work. It was all just theoretical a few months ago. Now it was real! Finally he replied with a smile, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go see this STAR SHIP!”

“We are still in the middle of repairs right now, but I’m ready if you are. I kind of thought everyone would want to go aboard once you knew, but one thing, before we go. Now with the proof that FTL travel is possible, you can’t give Rush the technology! So how are we going to get Rebecca?”

Shepherd smiled a devious smile. “We make him think he is getting what he wants. I’ll explain once we’re onboard. Let’s go!”

Some hours later the leather-like, weathered face of Bernard Rush appeared on the main view screen of the Destiny. However, Burke limited the video portion of the message to the face of Micah Shepherd only. He didn’t want Rush to see any of the interior of the ship at all.

“Yes, Mr. Rush, I am here. I have been waiting for your call.”

“Do you have the data and the prototype we discussed, Mr. Shepherd?”

“I do. Do you have Rebecca?”

“Patience. She is cooling her heels just fine. Business first! Now meet me at Shepherd Field in six hours with the project and I’ll give you her location. Remember, no tricks or your daughter will get very cold, very quickly!”

The link was broken and the Shepherd’s old rival faded from the screen. “Well, that’s it! We have six hours to find Rebecca if our plan is going to work. Even if he thinks he is getting what he wants, he will still have to kill Rebecca because she is a witness, a loose end. He’ll never let her go.”

“I think you’re right, Micah, but where do we start looking for her?” asked Burke.

“Well, with a little deductive reasoning and with the help of Destiny’s sensors, we have a pretty good chance. So let’s start with Rush’s last words. He said she was cooling her heels and that she could get very cold, very fast.”

“Yes, but how does that help us?” asked Richard Long from the science station.

“Well, what if that was a slip about where she is. You know how Rush is,” said Shepherd.

“Let’s see. Cool and cold, that could mean someplace with a low temperature,” said Burke tentatively.

“Could be. Now where is a cold place that would be connected with Rush or his company?”

“Outer Space!” McKenze injected.

“Good! But where?” asked Burke, “Space is an awful big place! She could be anywhere out here!” Burke wasn’t discouraged, he just didn’t know where to start.

“Well, it would have to be someplace he could control, someplace where he could keep her secure. How about his robot freighters?” said Shepherd out loud.

“Micah, there’s no time to board all his freighters. Besides, we don’t have the access codes to do it!”

“John, we don’t have to board the freighters. All we have to do is scan them for life signs. Plus, Rebecca always wears a special ring. It’s made from a very rare metal that we found on the first mining run we made several years ago. Her great-grandfather gave it to her. Frigilis should be easy to pick up once we are in the right area.”

“So that’s what that ring is! I always wondered. That type of ore is slightly warm to the touch, isn’t it? She never told me where she got it.” Burke wondered what else she hadn’t told him.

Burke looked at Shepherd and then at the rest of the bridge crew. They all looked so familiar. They all had been through so much together in such a short time. He felt like he knew these people, and they knew him. If he was ready, he knew they were ready. “Miss O’Neil, release docking clamps and let’s get under way. Mr. McKenze, advise Commerce of our operational status and thank them for their service.”

O’Neil and McKenze did their jobs. The Destiny slid away from her moorings so smoothly that the ship’s movement was almost imperceptible. Once they were clear, Burke gave the sailing orders. “All right, best speed to the mining lanes. Take the main freighter route, first. We don’t want to miss anything.”

Chapter 26

Another rescue

Rebecca Shepherd woke up from her forced sleep to find herself cold again. Keeping her eyes closed she took in her surroundings with all her other senses. About the only warmth she felt was the Frigilis ring on her index finger.

She reached out and searched the area. She could feel some slight air movement. The air had a cool and artificial feel to it. The place where she lay was uncomfortable and hard. It felt like a metal cot covered by a thin sheet of material. All around her she heard the faint sound of computers, the sound of beeping that told any user that his commands were being accepted. The only thing was that there were no sounds of any human operators. Then she felt it, the slight vibration of a ship underway. Rebecca opened her eyes and sat up. She was alone.

She rubbed her eyes and then her goose-pimpled arms, trying to warm them in the cool air. She stood and peered out a portal. “Space! I’m in space again? Can’t Rush make up his mind! Where am I?” she spoke out loud even though there was no one to hear. At least she thought there was no one.

Suddenly an automated voice made itself known, “You are aboard the Atoms Technical automated freighter Grinshaw, serial number eight-seven dash two-three-four-eight-two.”

Surprised, Rebecca walked towards the main control center and asked another question, “Why am I here?” Rebecca thought she’d try for some answers.

“I am not programmed with that information,” came the cold response.

“Then where am I?”

The auto C3 misunderstood her meaning and told her again that she was aboard the freighter Grinshaw. Rebecca rolled her eyes and repeated her question for her literal-minded jailer. “No, I mean what is our position?”

The C3 rattled off some coordinates. Rebecca asked for a chart of the solar system on one of the computer’s monitors. She was a little rusty on her stellar cartography, but it sounded like they were halfway between the Moon and Mars. “What is your destination?” she asked.

“Unable to comply. Secured information.”

“How is the information secured?”

“Voice print and access code authorization required.”

“Marred!” Rebecca thought. She tried another tact. “Where was your launch point?”

“Atoms Technical transfer point three.”

“How long ago?”

“Four hours, thirty minutes, fifteen seconds, MARK!” the C3 gave the time with cool precision.

“It’s no wonder Rush uses automated ships; they’re just as cold and calculating as he is. However, maybe I can use its logic against it,” thought Rebecca. “Estimated time till your programming is complete?”

The computer rattled off the estimated date and time of its mission’s completion. Rebecca thought about when it began its flight and when it was to end. She called up the system map again. “If I’m figuring it right, I should be right here! If the trip is to end at the time I was just told, then that would put me about,” she never finished the sentence.

The true nature of what was going on began to dawn on her. She instantly forgot how cold it was and ran a check on the antimatter fuel cells; only half a charge. Next, she ran to what should have been the ore storage bays. She looked through the portal into the bay. Now, not only the air, but also her blood ran cold. “There is no anchor pilings for landing on asteroids, so it can’t be going to the belt. The only reason for half a charge of fuel and no anchor pilings is that this is a one-way trip! I am heading straight for MARS! ONE WAY!” she blurted out. Trying to compose herself, she asked, “Computer, have there been any course changes since departure?”

“Negative.”

“Are we still moving directly for the asteroid belt?”

“Affirmative.” The fact that they were still heading towards the asteroids said that they hadn’t changed course for Mars, yet. So far they were still in the shipping lanes. “The freighter lanes are the straightest course to Mars this time of year. Soon we’ll be veering off, though. If I don’t miss my guess, this ship is on a collision course with Mars, an easy way to explain away a navigation malfunction of a freighter on its way to the belt. No one would question it. It happens sometimes. But not with ME aboard!”

Rebecca paced the small cabin. “Burr! At least Rush could have warmed it up a bit. It’s like an ice box in here,” she said out loud. Rebecca walked around as she talked to herself, almost tripping on the metal litter she was brought in on. She had paced to the center of the cabin when she began to feel warmer.

“Environmental controls now operable. Temperature now increased by five degrees.” The computer announced the temperature change then fell silent again.

Rebecca wondered, “Computer, did you raise the temperature in response to my saying it was cold in here?”

“Affirmative!” The C3 replied with no emotion, no feeling, just logic.

“Did Rush program you for my comfort on this trip?”

“Affirmative.”

“Well, I’ve got to say, he is the most thoughtful killer I’ve ever heard of.” The last words weren’t out of her mouth before an idea began to form. “If this computer is to see to my comfort on this death cruise, then maybe I can get it to leave a trail behind for someone to follow. Let’s see just how far this computer was told to please me,” thought Rebecca as she walked over to the main control console. With quiet precision, she began to spin a web she hoped would leave a few strands trailing behind.

Meanwhile the Destiny continued to travel the main freighter route scanning each freighter they came in contact with for life signs and Frigilis.

“And that’s it, Detective Fletcher. That’s our plan!” Shepherd sat in the Captain’s office filling the New Boston Police department in on the past several hours. Detective Fletcher was not pleased, to say the least.

“Mr. Shepherd, I can appreciate your position, but let the B.P.D. handle it. Your plan is too risky! If you and...” Shepherd cut Fletcher short.

“That’s right, Detective, it’s OUR plan and MY daughter! My grandfather and I have dealt with this man for years. He means business! He is used to getting what he wants, and if he does not, he makes those responsible very sorry! He lives up to his threats. No, Mr. Fletcher, I am simply informing you of my plans, not asking for your permission. I have no intention of allowing anyone to get hurt. We have thought it out; the plan will work! Just have a world police cruiser in orbit in five and a half hours. Be ready to pick up Rush at my signal. Shepherd out!” The Detective started to protest again but Shepherd cut the link. “It WILL work, but we have to find Rebecca FIRST!” Micah reminded himself.

The ship was moving at little more than Apollo speed as the space ahead was scanned. Not wanting to miss a ship, Richard Long and Grant Masters scanned using short- and long-range sensors. Carefully, they picked the surrounding space apart looking for any sign of Rebecca’s presence. Burke got up from the center seat and approached science station two where Masters was working. Trying to ease the tension Burke asked Masters about his health. “How are you feeling, Grant?” Burke was mindful of the tumble Masters took when they had detonated the C.M.E.

“Oh, I’m fine, sir. Thank you for asking. Dr. Yamari can do wonders.”

“Fine, fine. So you’re on the mend then?”

“Feel as good as new, Captain,” he changed the subject, “Ah, sir, I continue to get a vague image of an unusual ship. It is at extreme range just inside the Belt. It seems to match the scans I took before. I don’t like it, sir.”

“Keep an eye on it, Grant. If it makes any threatening moves at all, let me know.”

“Aye, sir.”

Just then Shepherd emerged from the office. At the same time Long motioned for Shepherd and Burke to come to science station one.

“I’m getting some strange readings,” said Long. Flanked by Shepherd and Burke, he continued, “Here is a pion trail left by a passing freighter.” He pointed to his monitor, “It is different from all the others; instead of a smooth distribution, it is patchy and disjointed. It doesn’t look like something normal, at all.”

Just as Burke was about to tell Long to watch it a while longer, the readings changed and Long spoke up. “The trail has changed course out of the main lanes and towards Mars!”

“MARS?” asked Shepherd.

“Yes. It’s on a straight-line course now. The only thing on that line is Mars.”

“What do you think, Micah?” Burke exchanged looks with his boss, “We are running out of time!”

“Is there a malfunction that could be causing the course change, Richard?” asked Shepherd.

“Scanning. It’s hard to say. At this distance the readings are indeterminate.”

Burke looked over at Masters, “Mr. Masters, can you confirm Mr. Long’s findings?”

“Yes, sir. The patchy pion trail is continuing and changing course towards the Red Planet.”

“Richard, scan the ship for life signs!” Shepherd sensed a ray of hope.

“We’re too far out. We need to get closer, Micah!”

Burke looked at Shepherd; his look said it all. “Miss O’Neil, change course to intercept that freighter. Increase speed to twenty percent!” Burke felt the same as Shepherd.

In a flash the Destiny was coming up on the much slower ship. Easing off on the pursuit, Burke had the Destiny stay just inside scanning range.

“Readings, Mr. Masters!”

“No engine malfunction, Captain. The course is deliberate. Scanning for life signs.” A tense moment passed before Masters spoke again, “Positive, sir! I am picking up one female life reading, and Captain, I detect the presence of Frigilis! A very small amount is near the life sign.”

Shepherd smiled, “That’s her! That’s her, John!”

“Captain, I’m getting no I.D. signal from the freighter. Either there is a malfunction we can’t detect, or this ship is on silent running.”

“Thank you, Mr. Masters. Get us a deep scan of that ship. I want to know what we are dealing with.”

Aye, Captain. Scanning now.” A few minutes passed. “It would seem to be an auto freighter, standard propulsion. Its hold is empty, too. Its weight is also lighter than normal; possibly no landing pilings on board. Other than that, I..., wait! Its antimatter cells are only a quarter full now. This ship is on a one way trip!”

“Tis got to be her, Captain. Tis not logical for an auto freighter to carry a passenger, not to mention carry one to MARS!” O’Neil lent her approval to the thought that it had to be Rebecca. Although at the same time she couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. After all, it was her rival they were trying to rescue. O’Neil battled with her emotional tug-of-war.

“My thoughts exactly, Miss O’Neil. Mr. McKenze, hail that ship.”

“I have been, Captain. All I get is static! However, a ship like that should reply with course, I.D. code and registry,” replied McKenze.

Burke came down off the operations deck and dropped into the command chair. He turned to Masters for more information when suddenly the ship buffeted like it hit a cosmic pothole. Burke turned to check with the helm when McKenze shouted, “Laser hit!”

“Go to tactical scan, Mr. Masters, that ship shouldn’t be shooting at us!”

“Scanning, Captain. Confirmed. It has aft lasers and explosives!”

Before Burke could answer Masters’ report, another green lance shot out of the freighter’s aft section. The Destiny rocked this time. Those weren’t just NAV lasers. They were special. More powerful! Everyone could feel it!

“Miss O’Neil, back off! Get out of laser range!”

“Aye, sir.”

“Bridge! This is sickbay. What’s going on up there?”

“Dr. Yamari, good of you to check in, but you picked a bad time.”

“Captain Burke, does Mr. Shepherd know how you’re treating his ship?”

“Later, Doctor! Bridge out!” Burke glanced at Shepherd who gave his best ‘don’t look at me!’ expression.

Once again the freighter lashed out at the larger ship. The Destiny’s lunar covering deflected most of the hit, but still took damage. The ship bucked again just as it moved to a safe distance.

Now it was Engineering’s turn to check in. “What’s going on up there? It feels like we are being fired on again.”

“You’re right, Connor. We’re working on the problem. Better send some repair crews to the affected areas. Check with Mr. Masters for the details. Burke out!” As the link closed you could hear Vencetti’s best Italian curses loud and clear.

“Mr. Masters, did you say that ship has explosives?” asked the Captain.

“Yes, sir. It is ringed in explosives! If we fire on it they could explode!”

“Great! First stronger lasers, and now this. Suggestions, anyone?” asked Burke as he stared at the visage on the view screen. To think he was so close yet so far away from her. From his last conversation with Rebecca he didn’t think she really cared for him anymore, but he still couldn’t let any harm come to her if he could stop it. She was his friend, if nothing else, and he wanted to save her. He had to!

Shepherd spoke up, “Well, we can’t disable its electrical system for fear of setting off the explosives, and we can’t get close enough to dock with those lasers pointed at us. So where do we go from here?” The worry of a father was starting to show.

“Why not take control of the C3, order it to stop and disarm its weapons!” stated McKenze.

“We don’t have any I.D. codes to work with, that’s why,” reminded O’Neil.

“If only we could slow its progress. If the freighter goes too far we may not be able to retrieve Rebecca before Mars’ gravity starts to pull her in. When that happens and the explosives start to heat up, it will be too late,” Shepherd paced as he thought out loud.

“If the engines could be disabled without the C3 thinking it was being attacked, then we would have a chance,” said Long from science station one.

“This ship has got weapons of all kinds and even Magna Tractors and we can’t use any of them!” McKenze caressed his board like he was sorry he couldn’t launch anything. Burke piped up.

“That’s it, Jones! The Magna-Tractors! If we put just enough pull on the freighter’s engine the slow, steady pull could force the engines to strain and shut down.”

“Yes, of course! Then no mater how much the C3 calls for thrust it will fall on deaf ears. And the best part is that the computer won’t know that there is a problem because all its circuits will still be intact. The C3 will feel the slow down, but because there will be nothing wrong with its circuits, it will go into a diagnostic cycle and lock up, trying to solve the problem. Brilliant, Captain!” Richard Long was impressed by the tactic. Shepherd, standing on the upper deck, was just glad they now had a plan, and none too soon!

The freighter Grinshaw changed course towards her fateful destination. Since her ship was on a collision course, Rebecca was strongly motivated. Finally, after repeated logic loops she succeeded in convincing the attending C3 that the engine pulse was something she needed for her comfort. It was the truth, after all, because to leave a trail of bread crumbs behind was comforting to her. Now all there was to do was wait.

“I don’t suppose letting me radio for help would be allowed? It would make me more comfortable!”

“That area of service is secured,” replied the computer.

“That’s what I thought,” said Rebecca bleakly as she slumped down against a bulkhead with her arms crossed around her knees. She brought her legs up tight to her chest and let out a sigh. She waited. A short time later Rebecca was awakened from a half-sleep by a rocking sensation. Then it happened again. Puzzled, she got to her feet and peered out a portal. “What now?”

Not more than one hundred kilometers away, a ship like she had never seen before loomed large off the port beam. Arrowhead in design but with a raised wing towards the rear, it was space black but with a strange sparkle where the sun’s light reflected off it. There was a name and some numbers, too, but she could not make them out. “What is that ship?” she said out loud.

Quickly, taking that as a request, the C3 answered, “Enemy ship, registry SII 1001, Shepherd Industries, ESS Destiny.”

“SHEPHERD INDUSTRIES! That’s no enemy!” Rebecca shouted, “the trail worked!” However, as she looked on she felt the freighter launch another volley of laser fire at the ship. The Destiny’s underside sizzled and burned for a moment as the green laser’s heat vaporized the ship’s protective layers. Yet, strangely enough, a lot of the charge bounced harmlessly off into space. Then she noticed that the sparkle was now gone from the spot where the laser hit. She could see some damage. “Stop it! Cease Fire!” Rebecca yelled. Then the Destiny backed off to a safe distance. “Are they leaving me or just getting out of range of those lasers?” Rebecca wondered. As if in answer to her question, the Destiny halted its retreat and kept pace with the freighter just off to starboard.

As she watched the sleek-looking ship, Rebecca wondered why she had never seen it before. She thought she knew every ship Shepherd Industries had, but not this ship. This ship was something special. It was like no other.

“Special! Special projects division. Father’s private work! If that’s what he has been working on I can see why he kept her a secret!” she mused to herself.

Suddenly a wash of homesickness came over her as she imagined her father just a short distance away, just out of reach. Could John Burke be with him? Maybe he is piloting that ship.” Thoughts raced through her mind as she breathed heavily against the port, hazing the view. She quickly moved away, surprised by her involuntary reaction. She cleared her throat but couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to be back with her family, friends, and John Burke. She paced the cabin. “What can I do to help?” Then it came to her.

“Computer, that rocking that occurred when the enemy ship was fired upon bothered me! It interrupted my sleep. Do not fire on the ship again so I can sleep!” Rebecca had learned to take advantage of the comfort programming.

The computer responded, “Confirmed. Firing will cease.” It answered like it was obeying a normal function. Rebecca hoped that it meant that she had disabled the lasers.

Just then she felt herself stager as the deck plates tilted slightly to the rear of the ship. Looking out the portal again, she noticed the Destiny was no longer beside her, but a bluish glow began to flood the freighter’s viewports. She didn’t know what was going on, but she had a pretty good idea who was responsible—Micah Shepherd and John Burke!

“Magna-Tractors are responding, Captain,” McKenze called out over the whine.

“Status of the freighter, Mr. Long?”

The acting science officer checked the readouts, “Strain beginning to show. It won’t be long now!”

The Destiny, still maintaining its distance, held a lock on the rear of the offending ship. The blue light of the tractor washed over the freighter from stern to stem, slowing its advance a little at a time. Hope ran high as their plan began to work.

“Strain increasing. Pion emissions are thinning and the vessel is slowing. It is almost to a stop now, GOT EM!” Long shouted victory in the air. Shepherd stepped closer and put an approving hand on Burke’s shoulder.

“All right, Mr. McKenze, reel her in, nice and easy. Mr. Masters, prepare shuttle bay two to receive a new tenant. Also, have Mr. Jacobs meet us with a couple of men at the shuttle bay. I have a job for him.”

Masters replied with a smile. When Burke first came aboard, he didn’t know how this new captain would work out, but after everything they had been through, he knew he could trust Captain John Burke. Masters had come to put faith in his ideas.

Burke turned to O’Neil, “Shannon, when the freighter is secure then turn us around for Earth. Mr. Shepherd will have the orbit data for you. Now, Mr. Long, as soon as the freighter is in close, scan those explosives. We will need a detailed description of how they are built.”

Long looked at Shepherd and they both couldn’t help but be impressed. Burke seemed like a general. The crew respected him and he knew how to organize and get things done.

“Aye, aye, sir,” said Long with a smile, as he went to work on the sensors.

“Freighter coming along side, Captain.” announced McKenze.

“Hold the tractor there, Jones. What have you got, Mr. Long?”

“It looks like the charges are in a series. If we disable the lead charge the rest should be left harmless.”

“No explosive is ‘harmless,’ Mr. Long. Is it safe to bring her inside?”

“Yes, the lead charge seems to be detonated only by radio signal. We can jam its receptors for now, and then once inside, put it into a shielded encasement.”

“Good. Let’s bring her in, Mr. McKenze. Mr. Masters, now that we have a full crew, have manufacturing build whatever Mr. Long needs.”

Burke finished and stood up, taking his boss in with a glance. Shepherd understood and quickly gave O’Neil the coordinates for his appointment with Rush. Since McKenze was busy with the tractor, Burke turned the bridge over to Masters. Quickly he and the relieved father headed for the shuttle deck. “The nightmare is almost over!” Shepherd mused to himself as he entered the lift.

It was only a short trip down to the shuttle deck and an even shorter walk to the main hangar entrance. However, for Burke and Shepherd, who each had their reasons, it seemed an eternity. So when the lift doors opened both men sprinted down the hall towards the deck doors. When they arrived they found Peter Jacobs and two assistants waiting for them.

“Mr. Jacobs, I remember reading that you have had some explosives training in the past.” said Burke in greeting.

“Yes, sir, some.”

“Well, I need you to remember all you can right now. The freighter that is arriving in bay two right now is ringed with explosives. The lead charge is the one to worry about. The others can’t go active if that one is taken out of the picture. Right now we are jamming its receptors, but via a radio signal; it could go off at any moment. Your job is to find the lead charge and disable it, then remove it from the rest so it can’t cause any trouble. Clear?”

“Yes, sir!”

“All right, let’s go!”

The five men burst through the doors into the control room for the shuttle deck just in time to see the freighter glide in. Looking closely at the freighter’s airlock, Burke noticed a familiar face staring back in confusion. It was Rebecca. He involuntarily touched the transsteel port. He was surprised at how strong his feelings were. All he wanted to do at that moment was take her in his arms and protect her from harm.

The big freighter touched down gently in the middle of the bay. Due to its size it took up more than half of the bay’s space. The bay doors closed and the deck began to pressurize. Quickly, the heaters blew the cold of space away and replaced it with livable temperatures. “OK, Jacobs, GO!” yelled Burke.

Jacobs led the way as he and his men surrounded the ship. All around the freighter there could be seen a ring a small explosives, none large enough to destroy the ship by itself, but put together they could crack it like an eggshell. The team of technologists circled, looking for the lead charge. They paused, puzzled, as Jacobs called to the Captain. “It’s not here, sir. It must be inside the ship. We have to get inside!”

“Confirmed. We’ll try to open the airlock on the freighter from here. Standby.”

Burke worked the controls to interface with the freighter’s computer system. Shepherd was glued to the viewport as he watched his daughter’s confused face in the airlock window. A kidnapping, attempted murder, and now a totally strange ship like the Destiny. “It’s no wonder she doesn’t know what is going on,” he thought. How he wished he could rush in there and explain everything to her, protect her, and keep her out of harm’s way. He felt terrible. His family had been threatened and he couldn’t prevent it. At least when news of Rebecca’s abduction came to him he had put Andrea in safe-keeping. Shepherd knew that Edward Wills saw to that. Now he had to see to his daughter’s safety. To see her bottled up in that death trap made him feel sick! He trembled with rage the more he watched, “What kind of monster could do this?” he thought.

“I can’t get through! All pathways to the computer are blocked!” shouted Burke in frustration.

“Then we try another route. Let me in!” Shepherd took the controls, determined not to let Rush win anymore. He moved with a confidence that Burke had never seen him display with computers. He seemed to have a plan.

“Rush may have stolen antimatter engine power from us, but Shepherd Industries developed C3 technology long before anybody,” Shepherd continued to input new codes as he talked. “My grandfather built a backdoor into the core of the system, into the processor itself. The only problem is that the machine language code sets up a feedback the longer it is used to override a C3’s programming. The trick is to finish what you need to do before burning out the system.”

Suddenly, the monitor screen changed from ‘access denied’ to green. Shepherd worked even faster now. Burke was impressed. “You’re in, Micah. Go!”

“Accessing main airlock doors. Starting emergency open sequence.”

Burke looked up and saw the doors opening slowly. Both the inner and the outer doors were opening together. The C3 was fighting Shepherd’s brute force commands but losing, inch-by-inch.

Rebecca jumped back at the sound of the airlock doors opening. She didn’t know what to think yet. There were no standard warnings or lights from the computer, just the doors opening, very slowly. “Computer, status! What’s happening?” Rebecca yelled.

“Status... docked...” The computer labored in response like it was starved for resources. Then the auxiliary control panels lit up in a burst of sparks and flame! Rebecca started to worry. The doors were only open part way. The gap was growing but not very quickly. If it didn’t open soon, she hated to think of the consequences, especially since none of the fire control circuits seemed to be working. Rebecca tore the thin fabric from off her cot and tried to put the fire out.

Shepherd continued his fight to cut through. The doors were moving, but much too slowly. Looking up from his work to check the progress, Shepherd saw fire light from inside the ship. The two men shouted almost at once, “REBECCA!”

“Micah, hurry up! Those doors are not open enough! We have to stop that fire. The whole ship could blow!” Smoke began to bellow out through the embattled airlock doors. Beads of sweat began to appear on Shepherd’s forehead and then roll down his back as he frantically moved from one pathway to another. One by one they burned out. “This system just won’t say die!” he thought.

Inside the freighter, Rebecca battled in a losing cause, finally ending in her blanket catching on fire, too. In quick succession more panels began to go up in flames. The smoke was thick and choking. She dropped to the deck trying to get as low as she could. However, in the cramped space of the cabin it did little or no good. She was coughing relentlessly now, holding her throat. Rebecca tried to force the airlock door to open faster. It was stuck, one-third of the way open, and she couldn’t budge it. She stumbled back, collapsing just a foot or two from the opening. She called out, “Help! Anyone... Help...” Weakly her voice trailed off as she went unconscious from lack of oxygen.

The fire didn’t care. Growing, it fed on the hot panels and molten metal, creeping closer. The walls were now blackened all around, and the deck plates were starting to heat up. Soon the fire would be licking at Rebecca’s feet.

“That’s it, John, the C3 won’t respond to commands anymore!”

“Shut it down, Micah, I’ll try for Rebecca!” shouted Burke as he bolted out of the room and into the bay. Burke called out to the explosives team, “Jacobs, get the fire gear. Douse those exterior charges. Don’t let them overheat! I’m going in!”

The Captain reached the parted airlock doors and peered in with smoky eyes. He called out, “Rebecca! Rebecca! Hang on, I’m coming!” The metal of the doors was starting to heat up. He pushed with all his might. Slowly the outer door moved; it was just enough to let him through. If there was any hope of using the manual controls to open the inner door, they were gone now as both doors expanded in their tracks. The intense heat was fusing them from underneath.

Burke could feel the searing deck plates, like hot coals beneath his feet. “REBECCA!” Burke tried to squeeze through the inner door, but it hadn’t opened as far as the outer door. Burke burned his hand as he tried, in vain, to force the door open. He looked into the smoky, haze-filled cabin. He saw Rebecca’s outstretched arm, it was stretched towards the airlock in a vain attempt for freedom. He reached for her hand, a finger, an arm, anything he could get. Stretching and straining in the choking atmosphere, he tried to get a grip, but the door held him fast. Unable to stretch any farther, tears began to streak the soot on his face as he pictured the end. Then he began to feel the hot metal of the door; it was finally burning through his P.E.S. It was becoming so hot that he was starting to have trouble breathing. “There has to be a way! Think, Burke! Think!” he told himself.

The smoke was rife with the smell of burnt circuitry and conduit. His eyes burned and stung as he struggled to see. If he didn’t get to Rebecca soon, both of them would be lost. “I have got to get thinner! How? A diet would be good, but it would take too long.” Burke ran his options over in his mind, then it came to him. Stepping back from the inner door he crouched as close to the deck as he could. He breathed deeply, trying to take in as much clean air as he could. Then, with as much force as he could muster in the small airlock, he wedged himself in between the inner door and the bulkhead. Quickly, he exhaled almost completely, contracting his lungs and chest so that he could slide just a little farther into the inferno. Straining, he reached again, “Almost! Almost!”

Still, Rebecca’s out stretched hand lay palm up on the searing deck plates, just out of reach. Getting mad, Burke cried out, “NOOO!” as he pushed himself harder, wedging himself even more, so that he could not even take a breath. It worked!

Just barely able to grasp her fingers, Burke pulled. Grabbing whatever he could, he struggled. With agonizing slowness, she came forward, then stopped! Burke looked up to see her pants caught on a shard of deck metal. He pulled again. Nothing. He was running out of air. He couldn’t breathe where he was. Suddenly, the fire leapt in a high arc of triumph, but instead of burning them as he thought, Rebecca came free! The fire had burned through her torn pants and released her.

Finally she came close enough so he could grab both of her hands, then her arms, and then her body. Close to unconsciousness from lack of air, Burke held Rebecca tight and pushed back; with a thud, they both landed in the relatively cooler place between the doors. Burke gasped for what little air remained in the superheated structure.

Slowly, with what little strength remained to him, Burke picked up the woman he longed to hold. The smell of burnt cloth and hair now filled his senses. Feeling that Rebecca’s clothing could be smoldering, he felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. It cleared his head and he was able to move. He scrambled through the outer door holding Rebecca with renewed urgency.

“Take Her! Take Her!” Burke cried as he exited the burning ship. Micah Shepherd was there to take his daughter into his arms. Without delay, he rushed her out of the shuttle bay and to the safety of sickbay.

Barely on his feet and hardly able to see, Burke still had work to do. As the water from the hoses rained over him and drenched his beaten form, Burke called out, “Jacobs, get this ship out of here; it’s too far gone to save! It’s going to blow any second!”

“Captain, there is no time! We’ve got to get out of here!” yelled Jacobs over the gushing water.

“NO! Get McKenze to do a remote launch! NOW! NOW! If this ship blows in here, we all go up!” The strain now took its toll. Burke began to wobble.

“Captain!” Jacobs stepped in just as he lost all control. Burke’s eyes blurred and his legs buckled as he collapsed in Jacob’s arms. His smoke-inhaled and burned body was crumpled; there was nothing more Burke could do.

Chapter 27

Poisoned

Bernard Rush paced the floor of his One Hundred Shoreline Drive office. He looked down the thirty-story height upon the bustling city below; the work day was coming to an end for the little people of New Boston.

As he paced, he surveyed the many rare and beautiful works of art that he had surrounded himself with over the years. Then his eyes fell upon the only unfinished work in the room. Rush walked over to the pedestal at the center of the room. It sat empty and cold, as if beckoning for a masterpiece to arrive. He brushed his withered hands over the marble top—cool, smooth, and faultless. Just to behold the pedestal itself was a beautiful sight. However, Rush knew it would look even better with a display on its height. “The Light Speed project! This would be its new home, after tonight,” thought Rush.

Rush looked at his timepiece. It was almost time to go. Walking back towards his desk he stopped as a certain painting caught his eye, once more. He gazed upon the workmanship. “Beautiful! The play of the colors in the flowers, the constant wave of the field in the wind, and the little girl at the center of it all. A shame Miss Shepherd would not work with me.” Callused and cool, he touched the frame. “A pity to have to dispose of her; we might have been like grandfather and granddaughter, in time. But business is business!”

Rush used the desk COM system to alert his driver to ready his vehicular transport. While he waited, he took one more precaution to stack the deck in his favor. He made another call.

“Ship control, this is Rush! Have the General go to program Omega One. Have all other ships made answerable to its commands. Rush out!” He smiled as he thought of his most secret tool.

With that final call made, he picked up a dual transmitter and a data chip from the desk. He put them in his overcoat pocket. Taking his walking cane from the room’s corner he turned and headed for the exit. It was time to go. This was one appointment he would not be late for!

Suddenly, a loud explosion startled him from his sleep. Captain John Burke sat up with a start! Quickly he felt a firm hand ease him back down on the bed.

“Easy, John! Welcome back.” Shepherd smiled, “It’s all right now.”

Burke’s eyes darted from side to side. “But the ship! Rebecca!” His eyes asked for answers.

“One thing at a time. Mr. McKenze talked Jacobs through the automated launch procedure. It was just in time, too, because that freighter went up like a roman candle. It would have taken us with it if you hadn’t had the presence of mind to order it ejected. As for Rebecca,” Shepherd had a worried look to his face as his eyes darted to the bed next to them.

Laying in the next BIO bed was Rebecca, bandaged from head-to-toe. She was breathing with the aid of a ventilator. “How is she, Micah?” Burke tried to turn and look at her.

“Dr. Yamari treated her for smoke inhalation, right away, and then dressed her burns in regen bandages. In a few days she will recover from the second-degree burns, but there is something else.” Shepherd’s eyes took on a glassy look as a tear welled up, “Yamari says she has been drugged at least three times, in quick succession. Laced in with the sedative was a slow-acting poison. If she doesn’t get the antidote within seventy-two hours she’ll die, John!”

“What is this poison?” asked Burke, who now was fully awake.

“It is a rare toxin. She thinks that it was developed at some space lab in orbit. But the kicker is that the poison hasn’t been seen for fifty-six years!”

“Fifty-six years? How does she know about it then?” Burke protested.

“Because I knew the man who developed it!” Miller Yamari came through the doorway. “I’m sorry about Rebecca, but I’m afraid there is no known antidote.”

“That’s it, Doctor? There’s nothing you can do?” Burke said in disbelief. Something had to be done! He didn’t risk his life and get these severe burns just to see her die in days.

“I already told Micah the story, but you missed it, so I’ll repeat it. The toxin was developed as a cure for cancer. However, before the research could be finished the funding for the space lab was cut. The research sat on a shelf until Charles Cartone announced he was sending up his deep space probe. Well, Doctor Criton jumped at the chance and arranged for an auto lab with the toxin to go along. The toxin was never transformed into a cure because of what happened to the probe.”

Burke understood now. He flopped back into his bunk. “Yeah. It crashed into the sun! That Bernard Rush! Micah, you said he wouldn’t ever give Rebecca back. Well, I guess he hedged his bet! Now he wins, no matter what!” Burke really felt his injuries now. Weakness rolled through him like never before and sadness was hard to ward off. “How did Rush get the toxin, anyway? You said it was sent up in the Cartone probe,” Burke asked Yamari.

Shepherd answered, “How does Rush get anything? He’s a collector. If this toxin is so lethal I’m sure he would want it for his sick collection. He probably bribed someone for a sample before the probe was launched.

“He probably used it on Rebecca because he knew no one could stop it!” added Yamari.

“Well, Rush won’t get away with it! Take care of them, Doctor.” Shepherd stood up and walked past Rebecca’s bed; he paused, wiped a tear away, then with determination in his step, he exited the sickbay. He had an appointment, one he was not going to be late for!

Chapter 28

Double-deception

The evening was cold. A westerly wind blew, as a January snowstorm began. With the temperature just below freezing, two men stood on Shepherd field.

“Where is he?” Long paced and looked at his watch.

“He’ll show, Richard. That money-grubbing ego-maniac wouldn’t miss the chance! Do you have the shuttle rigged properly?”

“For the fourth time, yes! Once he activates the Tachyon Drive everything will shut down except for life support. Oh, and of course, Fleet frequency so we can talk to our little jail bird!” Long grinned as the thought of payback time crossed his mind.

“You’re sure that the shuttle’s C3 will only respond to his commands?”

“Yes, Micah! It’s programmed to accept his voice pattern. Once I touch the black switch under the main control board no one else can operate the ‘prototype’ except Rush. He’ll have to be the one to test it! Brilliant idea to have the ship respond only to Rush.”

“Yes, well, we’ll see if it works,” replied Shepherd.

“I can’t wait to see the old goat’s face when he realizes that he is trapped!” Long’s smile turned into a shiver as he patted his arms to keep warm.

“You won’t have to wait long; here he comes! Quick, go throw the switch and get back out here. I’ll warm up the other shuttle we stashed in the hangar via remote. Hurry!”

Both men finished their assignments just in time. As Shepherd and Long watched, a ground vehicle approached. With headlights blazing through the falling snow, it came within a hundred feet and stopped. It was twilight and a person could barely make out the color of the car, a deep money green. “What else would Rush arrive in?” thought Shepherd.

The front door of the limousine opened and Rush’s driver emerged, walking towards them.

“Do you have the technology?” the driver asked.

“Yes, however, I was under the impression that Mr. Rush would be here to receive it, personally.”

“Mr. Shepherd, I have been authorized to accept it on his behalf.”

“No deal. This technology could change the world! I’ll only turn it over to Mr. Rush himself.” Shepherd was getting nervous. He tried not to show it. He had to bring Rush down! He couldn’t allow him to continue to hurt people anymore!

Suddenly the rear door of the limo opened. The bottom of a cane and overcoat appeared. The wind howled and the weather seemed to get colder as the new man approached. The driver pulled back as his boss took center-stage in the glare of the headlights.

“Mr. Rush, you decided to come out after all.”

“I am here, Mr. Shepherd.”

“Good of you to come into the light, Mr. Rush!” Long chided from Shepherd’s side.

“Yes, an offering of this magnitude is worth the risk, don’t you think?” Rush stared at the two men looking for treachery in their eyes.

“All I want is my daughter back. Where is she?” Shepherd knew he had to play the part though it wasn’t too hard to act like he hated the man.

“Always to the point, my dear man; must run in your family. Your grandfather always was, as well. Pity he never saw the true point of view, MINE! And what of you, Micah Shepherd? Are you open to a better way?”

Shepherd wanted to show him a better way, all right! However, now was not the time. Acting was more important right now, for Rebecca’s sake. Rush continued his lecture, “I’ve shown that my business can, and does, do better than yours, that I’m better off, and stronger than you. Do you admit that I’m stronger than you?” the old C.E.O.’s voice crackled a little more than usual as the wind brought on a icy chill.

Shepherd took a bold step forward. “First the truth,” he thought. “I have to admit, sir,” said Shepherd, “that your business is superior to mine, at this time, and that you certainly have a flare for the dramatic.” Shepherd thought, “And now the lure,” as he resumed his acting. “And a man of your stature should be the first to try the prototype. We call it ‘Tachyon Drive.’ That’s why I wouldn’t give it to your man there. However, I need to know where my daughter is, and that she is safe. You don’t have the burden of family to slow your drive, but I do. So please tell me where she is, then take this ship with my blessing. I’ve thought this over and what’s inside that shuttle was made especially for a man like you, Mr. Rush.”

Rush was overwhelmed; never had a Shepherd spoken like this, nor afforded him such high regard. “My little ploy with his daughter really must have won his respect. This is what I’ve wanted all along.” Rush thought as he contemplated the offer, “However, his daughter is a loose end that must be tied up before it can unravel. Yes, with this new technology I will break Shepherd Industries almost right away! So if Shepherd went to the police they would no doubt take it as sour grapes and dismiss the charges—a business venture gone wrong. That’s the way the B.P.D. would view it. I’m safe from Shepherd. I’ll prove my leadership once and for all!”

Finally, Rush replied, “Of course, let me get the coordinates out of my pocket. She was a lovely guest, Micah. Quite charming, you know.” Reaching into the pocket of his overcoat, Rush grasped the data chip with Rebecca’s course laid out in it, but not before he touched the remote transmitter in the bottom of the pocket. “Good bye, Miss Shepherd. By the time they get to you it will all be over, an unfortunate freighter accident,” thought Rush as he produced the data chip. He proffered it towards Shepherd, “Here you are, Micah, a pleasure doing business with you.” Shepherd reached out for the chip, but Rush decided to hold it back, “First, the access codes for MY ship.”

Long spoke up and played to Rush’s ego, “But sir, YOU are the access code. The ship is programmed to respond only to YOU. As we said, this ship should be yours.”

“Well, Mr. Long if that is so, then how did you fly it here?” Rush was now curious. The two men gulped. Did he smell a trap?

Shepherd spoke up, “Of course, we flew it here, but now it is only programmed for you. We thought it only fitting.” Shepherd played to Rush’s ego, one more time. He hoped it wasn’t one time too many.

“Hmmm... Very thoughtful, Shepherd. Quite good. Yes, I should be the first! Here is Rebecca’s location. Now, I hate to meet and run, but history awaits!” He handed Shepherd the chip and pushed through the two men into the shuttle. Once inside, he sealed the door. Rush surveyed the interior. He ran his withered hand along the inner hull as if it were gold. “Oh, how I have waited for this moment!”

Slowly, as if savoring each step, Rush approached the pilot’s seat. He eased his seventy-five-year-old body into position. He eyed the modified controls. “So these are the new FTL engine controls. I can’t wait to try them out!” he said with self-centered laughter. “Computer, fire engines!” shouted Rush. Obediently the modified C3 responded, “Welcome aboard, Mr. Rush. Firing engines now. Liftoff for standard orbit in: Five, Four, Three, Two, One!”

In short order, the shuttle rocketed skyward. Just as planned, Rush got what he wanted, or so he thought. What he was about to get was more than he bargained for.

Shannon O’Neil stood in the dimly lit entranceway of sickbay. It was now approaching ship’s night so the lighting was set to twilight. She stood there, gazing silently at the two people inside. There to the right she saw Rebecca Shepherd wrapped in regen bandages. Part of her went out to Rebecca. As one human to another, she knew Rebecca’s pain. She could identify with her, for not long ago she also lay critically ill. O’Neil clutched her stomach at the memory. Yet, another part of her wished Rebecca Shepherd was not here at all. Even though Rebecca had broken up with Burke, according to the gossip, she still might have feelings for him.

O’Neil thought to herself, “I wish I had more time to spend with John. I know he would love me, in time, but with what happened to Rebecca, my chances are fading.” Crossing her arms and leaning against the wall she looked to her left at the less-bandaged, sleeping form. “He’s so..., so..., so..., oh, it’s no use. I’ve fallen for him! I only hope I’ve made an impression. I just hope...”

As O’Neil was thinking and feeling these things, Dr. Yamari noticed her, “Shannon! Hello, my dear. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, hello, Dr. Yamari,” replied the forlorn officer.

“And why do I find you here? Are you feeling all right?”

“Oh, I’m fine.” O’Neil sighed as she answered. She continued to look right through the doctor. Yamari turned to follow her gaze. She noted that Shannon was looking at Burke.

“Hmmm... Stuck on him, huh?”

O’Neil put a hand up to her face. “Does it show?”

“Only to the trained eye. You know, I think our dear Captain has feelings for you, too. I saw his face when he came to visit you in the sickbay at the Shipyard.”

“Do you really think so?” O’Neil’s face brightened, lighting up the entrance way. Yamari pointed towards Rebecca and said, “But I’m afraid, to quote a hundred and ten year-old song, ‘HER’ fire has been burning longer than any spark you might have started in his eyes.’ When he was brought in he was calling Rebecca’s name. I think HE is still hooked.”

“He probably is,” she let out a humph and blew a lock of auburn-red hair from her forehead. “I can’t hold that against him. I just hope Rebecca knows what she’s got! Thanks, Doctor. It’s time for me to get back.”

“Anytime I can be of assistance, just call.” Then Yamari looked on her patients. One would be fine with rest, the other, only a miracle could save.

O’Neil’s break was over. Heading back to the main lift she ran smack into Shepherd and Long as they exited the shuttle deck. “Oh, excuse me, sirs!” she exclaimed.

“Well, I hope you pilot a starship better than you navigate a passageway!” said Shepherd with a smile.

“Yes, sir!”

“Going to the Bridge, Miss O’Neil?” asked Long.

“Yes, sir.”

Long motioned with his hand for her to lead the way and the three made their way to the lift.

“Bridge,” Shepherd stated to the computer.

“How did it go, Mr. Shepherd?”

“It may have been very good! I hope it was, for Rebecca’s sake. At any rate, we will know shortly!”

Following those words the lift doors opened on to the bridge. With the Captain in sickbay, Shepherd took the center seat. Masters made his status report to Shepherd immediately.

”Mr. Shepherd, that antimatter signature that you had me plant in the engines of the shuttle is working perfectly. Not long after you signaled you were coming in, we picked up Rush’s trail. He was heading out to open space toward LH-4. Should I inform Captain Burke, sir?”

“Not now, Mr. Masters. He needs some rest. This should only be a mopping up exercise.”

“Yes, sir.” Masters returned to the Ops station.

“Mr. McKenze, contact the W.P.C. and tell them to wait for our signal before going into pursuit,” said Shepherd.

“This should be fun!” added Long.

Chapter 29

Last Dance

All hands were at their stations. From the Bridge to the cargo decks, all was secure. Everyone was expectant; could it be that what the New Boston Police Department had been unable to do for years was about to happen? Was it finally the demise of Bernard Rush? Any moment the answers would be clear.

“Richard, check the sensors for any heavy tachyon build-ups along Rush’s flight path.”

“Checking now, Micah.” All was quiet as he made his scans, “Nothing yet; he is still heading out to open space.”

Shepherd felt puzzled, “Miss O’Neil, take us out of orbit and put us on a parallel course with the prototype. Rush is probably far enough ahead not to notice, but hang back, just in case. Make sure we have room to maneuver.”

“Aye, sir, leaving orbit.” The Blue marble of Earth fled away fast as the Destiny headed for open space, once more.

“Micah, I think I’ve got something. The trail is thinning, and the sensors say the prototype has come to a complete stop now. It looks like this may be it.” Long was expectant, like everyone else.

“OK, people, stay alert. Who knows what will happen next?” Shepherd scanned the crew and everyone looked ready. He just wished he felt ready; he wanted this to work so badly.

There was a lull in the action as the shuttle just sat there. Everyone hovered over their boards like panthers ready to pounce on their prey, or on the CEO. of Atoms Technical, in this case.

On the shuttle named ‘Last Dance’ Bernard Rush sat in approbation. “I like the way the ship handles, no changes to the regular layout except for this extra panel,” said Rush. He studied the panel. It looked impressive but with a simplicity that belied elegance. At the top was the heading: Tachyon Drive. Under that, two displays: Rate of Speed Level One through Four and Tachyon Field strength. Under the displays were two slide bars labeled: Field Initiators. They were currently in the off position and the indicator lamp burned green. It was time.

Rush hit the maneuvering thrusters and the shuttle slowed to station keeping. “Well, it seems the moment has come!” he thought, “What I do now will change everything!” Rush now spoke loud and clear as if a group of well-wishers were there to cheer him on. His bony fingers hovered over the Initiator slides, “Time to make history!” he shouted into the air.

He pushed the slides forward till the lamp burned red. The little shuttle seemed to vibrate and the stars outside the viewports began to look very sharp like you were looking through crystal. Rush sat expectantly, but then, nothing! The shuttle just sat there!

Quickly now, other things began to happen. All the exterior lights shut down along with the engines and there was an audible sound like an airlock being sealed. Rush whirled in his seat. His cane flew across the cramped cabin as he threw it in rage! “WHAT? THIS CAN’T BE! NO!”

“That’s it, Micah. The sensors have just picked up a brief surge of tachyons then it faded away. The shuttle’s power curve went through the floor about the same time. He is dead in the water! Would I love to see his face! I bet the old sour puss is really sour now!” Long laughed as he spoke. Rush deserved it all, and Long was glad to help him get it!

“All right, Miss O’Neil, move in, that’s our cue! Mr. McKenze, raise the W.P.C. and have them move in, too. Also, transmit a copy of all the evidence against Rush to the W.P.C.’s computers so the B.P.D. will have all the evidence it needs. Save a copy for our records.”

Shepherd contemplated Rebecca’s plight as the Destiny sped closer to Rush. “Mr. McKenze, raise the Last Dance and let’s have a little talk with the prisoner.” Shepherd had a machiavellian glint in his eye.

The Destiny’s view screen changed from the vista of space to find Bernard Rush frantically trying to activate the Tachyon Drive or any controls at all. Shepherd addressed him, “Good evening, sir!”

Startled, Rush stared at his tiny view screen, “SHEPHERD! You did this! You’ll pay, I’ll break your business and your family for this!”

“Calm yourself, my old friend,” Shepherd imitated Rush’s oily smoothness. “No need for threats.”

“This new technology should be mine! You gave it to me. I am the stronger. You dare to defy ME, Shepherd?” shouted the frustrated CEO.

“Oh yes, Bernard, no need to shout,” Shepherd played with him a little more, “I take it that you are enjoying your ride in the Last Dance?”

“What are you trying to pull, Shepherd? Don’t you know you have sealed your daughter’s fate with this little stunt!”

“Bernard, I’m surprised at you. You’re too nice to do anything like that!” Shepherd put on his best grin and tried to give Rush a taste of his own medicine.

“Oh, I will, Micah Shepherd, if you don’t deliver what you promised!” Rush was starting to regain some of his composure, thinking he might just win, even still.

Shepherd was tired of toying with Rush. He despised him, and everything he stood for. Now it was time to be deadly serious, “Mr. Rush, you have gotten just what you deserve. I said a man of your stature deserves what was inside that shuttle, and you got it! You have hurt the last Shepherd you will ever hurt. You will drift there, dead in space, until a W.P. cruiser comes to pick you up. Oh, and don’t think your high-priced lawyers can get you out of this one! We have eye witnesses, testimonials, and loads of other evidence against you. Face it. Your way of life has finally come down around your ears! Enjoy your Last Dance.”

“Shepherd, you will never see your daughter again!” Rush reached into this coat pocket again and pulled out the transmitter for effect. “See this button? When I press it Rebecca will be nothing more than atoms! Say ‘good-bye’ to her NOW!” Rush pressed the button with all the vehemence he could muster. But he did not get the desired effect on his foe.

Shepherd just stared at him, arms folded across his chest. “Don’t bother, Rush, we rescued her hours ago! You see, you’re not as smart as you think. Have a nice day. Oh, and don’t get cold in prison!” Shepherd motioned for McKenze to cut the link, and the screen went dark.

Rush began to fume. His face went red and his hands clinched. “SHEPHERD!” Rush couldn’t stand to lose, especially to a Shepherd. He began to shake with rage, “I won’t be beaten!”

Rush yelled into the lonely cabin, “I’ll show him! He wants to try and destroy me, well let’s see him stop me from destroying him!” Reaching into his pocket again, he pulled out the dual transmitter. He pressed another button and spoke, “General, this is Rush. Full security mode. Instructions are as follows: Seek out and destroy any and all Shepherd Industries ships or facilities broadcasting official I.D. codes. Use any and all Atoms Technical ships needed. Then, home in on this signal and pick up this ship.” He released the transmit button.

Rush began to laugh. “I’ll get the last laugh!” he said to himself. He laughed louder and harder as he thought of Shepherd Industries in ruins. Rush was laughing so hard he began to cough, and cough some more. Suddenly he felt a pain on the left side of his chest and in his left arm. The pain grew. Now Rush cried out, not in laughter, but in fear! These were the classic symptoms of a heart attack. The pain continued to increase like a relentless burning and cramping in his chest. Rush dropped the transmitter and it clattered on the deck plates. He clutched at his chest with his right arm and then his body went limp. The last thing to cross Bernard Rush’s mind as he lay helpless in his chair was: “It could’ve been different...”

Bernard Rush died that day, and there was no one to mourn his passing.

Chapter 30

Enemy defeated

“Well, my friends, it looks like we’ve done it. Bernard Rush shouldn’t bother anyone ever again!” However, even as he said it, Micah Shepherd thought of his daughter as she lay dying a few decks below. Rush would still claim one more victim.

“Mr. Shepherd, I don’t like this. I’m picking up wholesale changes in the Atoms Technical freighters. They’re changing course and heading back towards Earth. ALL of them!” said Masters.

Shepherd, despite his growing grief, had to pay attention. “Any reason why?”

“I can’t say, sir. All I know is that it is happening, and that I have just lost contact with two of our freighters in the Belt,” said Masters in alarm.

“Mr. McKenze, can you raise any of our ships in the Belt?” asked Shepherd. He wanted to believe this was all a big mistake.

“Aye, sir. One moment. I have Miner Eight online, sir, a Captain Bentley.”

“Put him on screen.” After a moment the picture resolved to reveal a weathered man. “Captain Bentley, this is Micah Shepherd. Is there anything out of the ordinary going on where you are?”

“Mr. Shepherd, this is an honor. However, in answer to your question, no. The only thing I have had trouble with is an intermittent I.D. signal. Right now it won’t come on at all. Other than that, it’s been pretty smooth. I even got a fair amount of ore on today’s run. Wait a minute. Come to think of it, the auto freighters were acting kind of funny. Just before I lifted off my mining site I saw some of them; they were just hovering out there. Then I saw them all turn around and head back towards Earth. I thought it was a glitch or something!”

“Is there anything else you can tell me, Bentley?”

“No, sorry, sir. But I’ll keep a weather eye for you if you would like.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll report right away. I... WHOA!” Static filled the bridge speakers.

“Captain Bentley! Captain Bentley! Mr. McKenze, what happened?”

“I don’t know, sir. Suddenly all we got was static like the signal was being jammed.”

“Jammed? By what?”

“Unknown, sir.”

“Status, Miss O’Neil?”

“We are still on our way to the Last Dance. The W.P.C. is on her way, also.”

“Richard, can you scan the area of Miner Eight’s last transmission?”

“Negative, Micah. There’s interference of some kind.”

“What is going on?” Shepherd didn’t understand. “Miss O’Neil, the W.P.C. can handle Rush. Change course for Miner Eight’s last known position. Mr. Masters, now would be a good time to wake Captain Burke. If he is able, we could use him on the bridge.”

Before Masters could place the call there came a voice from the back of the bridge. There, standing in the lift, leaning against a rail, was Burke. Weak, and still with bandaged hands, the Captain entered the bridge and descended to the operations deck.

“That call won’t be necessary, Mr. Masters,” said Burke as he passed. He tried to smile, but it hurt too much.

Shepherd and the rest of the bridge were caught by surprise. A surge of relief, and of mixed emotions, flooded Shannon O’Neil. Her feelings were not completely sorted out.

“Well, if it isn’t Captain Burke. How are you, John?” asked Shepherd.

Burke stepped down to the center seat. “I’ve been better,” he said.

“How long had you been standing there?” asked Shepherd as he faced Burke from the captain’s chair.

“Long enough to know that something fishy is going on, Micah.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you up again, and you’re right, something is going on.”

The Destiny surged ahead into the main freighter lanes. If there were cosmic litter police, the travelers on this highway would get fines all the time. The Destiny shook as it encountered extra pion exhaust from the many ships that had traveled before them.

“John, do you think you can take command at this point? I need to see Rebecca.”

“Sure, Micah, give her my best when she wakes up.” Burke tried to be positive, but they both knew the truth.

“Thank you, John. I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t worry, Micah, we’ll sort this out,” said Burke encouragingly. Shepherd left the bridge.

“Captain, we have Miner Eight dead ahead,” announced O’Neil.

Burke took the now vacant center seat and eased his burned body within. The pain was considerable. Even though his P.E.S. protected him from a lot, still much of the intense heat had gotten through.

“Raise that ship, Mr. McKenze.”

“Aye. Here is Captain Bentley, sir.”

“Captain Bentley, are you all right? This is Captain John Burke of the E.S.S. Destiny.”

“Captain Burke, I was talking to Mr. Shepherd when a blast of static cut us off. Well now, is that a Shepherd Industries ship?” said Bentley as he made visual contact.

“Yes. It’s a new design.”

“Whew! I was hoping so, because I was afraid of going through it all over again.”

“Going through what again?” The man wasn’t clear; he seemed distracted.

“Well, just after that blast of static I saw a strange ship come out of the Belt. About the same time I saw Miner Two coming into the Belt. Well, this new ship took off after Miner Two, fired on her, and before you could say anything, destroyed her! I mean, it was blown into atoms. I tried to warn her Captain Railhouse, but the COMs were jammed. I can’t believe it! One minute I was reading Miner Two’s I.D. code, the next, nothing!”

“Why did it fire on Miner Two?” asked the shocked captain of the Destiny.

“It was totally unprovoked. What harm could an old freighter be?”

“I take your point, Captain. All right, head in and relay a message for us. Tell all ships to come in. I think there is trouble brewing. We are going out to investigate. Our COMs may be jammed, too, so we need you to relay the orders for us.”

“Will do, Captain Burke. Give my regards to Mr. Shepherd and his daughter Rebecca. Bentley out.”

Burke’s heart and stomach tightened with the mention of her name. He had to solve this current problem soon so he could try to help Rebecca. He didn’t know what he could do, but there had to be something.

“Could that be what happened to the other two freighters? I’ve checked every other ship. The only ones not accounted for are Twelve and Thirteen.” Grant Masters ran down his list to check again.

“You mean there are more ships missing?” asked Burke with alarm.

“Yes, sir. While you were in sickbay we discovered it,” added Masters.

“When did this all start?”

Long spoke up from science one, “It started right after we lowered the boom on Rush. Boy did we get him!”

“Well, I’m glad of that, Richard, but what if this is his last ditch attempt at revenge?”

“How? He couldn’t use the ship’s COM system to call out, John. It was disabled.”

“OK, but what if he set up a fallback scheme in case something went wrong, Richard?”

“Oh boy, he could have done it! Nea any of us thought of that!” added O’Neil.

“I had hoped we had seen the last of Mr. Rush!” lamented Long.

“Maybe we won’t see him anymore, but his ore pickin’ machines are still here! Mr. Long, are all long-range scans being jammed?” Burke painfully turned to look at Long face-to-face.

“It seems so,” he answered.

That seemed to make up Burke’s mind. This was going to be a fight of some kind and he was not going to lose. “All right then. Blue alert, all decks! Mr. McKenze, warm up the lasers and load the static torpedoes, fifty percent charge. Miss O’Neil, take us into the Belt along Captain Bentley’s course. Mr. Long, keep scanning ahead for Mr. Masters’ unknown ship with short-range sensors, maximum power. I have a feeling we will find our answers there. I want to know where that ship is as soon as we can.”

A flurry of ‘Aye, Captains’ rang out through the blue-tinged world of the Destiny’s bridge. Burke asked for a standard light and the bridge took on its normal appearance once more.

Sitting with bandaged hands and arms gingerly folded against his chest, Burke watched the view screen, trying to will the pain away. Even though the Destiny was flying in at almost top speed, the stars ahead seemed motionless. Only the occasional passing of a rogue asteroid and some dust clouds revealed the motion on the screen. The vast distances between the stars made it seem insurmountable, and yet just being here among the stars made it seem like you could reach out and touch them. Finally, Long announced a finding that brought Burke back to the task at hand.

“I think I’ve got something. A ship of unknown configuration is heading into the belt.”

“Can you put it on screen, Mr. Long?”

Suddenly the screen changed to reveal the tail-section of a medium-sized ship. The rear of the ship was round like a horseshoe. There were two glowing amber marks at either side of the rear curve showing that it had dual engines.

“Can you get a life sign reading?” prodded Burke. Again he needed answers.

“Not clearly, sir. Maybe if we get closer,” said Long.

“Captain. I’m picking up one of our freighters on short-range scan. It must not have gotten the recall notice!” cried Masters, clearly afraid this ship would meet the same fate as Miner Two.

“Warn him off, Jones! Warn him off!”

“I’m sorry, Captain. We are still jammed!” Frustrated, McKenze pounded the console.

“Grant, is that freighter broadcasting its I.D. code?”

“Yes, sir, and the hostile has changed course to intercept.”

“The I.D. codes. Captain Bentley’s ship was having trouble with its I.D. transmitter, but Miner Two was not, and it was destroyed! It’s zeroing in on Shepherd Industries I.D. codes! Miss O’Neil, move to intercept that hostile ship. Get between it and our freighter. Mr. McKenze, can you reconfigure a Magna-tractor into a repulser?”

“I believe so. The polarity just needs to be reversed.”

“Do it! You have sixty seconds if my calculations are right.”

“Masters, boost our own I.D. signal; I want to attract its attention.”

Masters complied, and quickly the unknown ship changed course in response. Sixty seconds later Burke asked, “Jones, are you ready!” The reply was in the affirmative. “Then bounce that ship a little!”

A moment later a blue streak lanced out from the front of the Destiny. As the starship continued its advance the beam got stronger. Finally, the unknown ship veered off its attack vector, being pushed up and away, as the Destiny passed on one side and the freighter on the other. There were cheers across the bridge until sensors showed the hostile ship stop and turn to face them.

“Sir, it’s turnin’ ta face us!”

“I’m aware of that, Miss O’Neil. It looks like we have its attention. Mr. Long, scan that ship.”

“Scanning, Captain. No life signs detected; automated ship. I’m getting only one I.D.: General. That’s all, just General,” finished Long.

As Long scanned the General it stalked forward, coming closer and closer as if feeling out its adversary. Its horseshoe shape was now fully apparent. As it approached, so were the twin ion cannons mounted on either side of the shoe.

“Captain! That ship is preparing to fire at us!” yelled Masters from Ops.

“Well then, let’s spoil its aim, Mr. McKenze!”

Just as before the blue streak of the repulser beam struck the General amidships, but instead of moving it out of the way, the hostile ship held its ground and continued to advance.

“No effect!” said McKenze in an astonished voice.

“Well, the General can learn. Looks like we have a challenge. Helm, hard over and come to twenty-three percent speed,” commanded Burke just in time.

As the Destiny came hard over, two bolts of angry red, disrupted matter flashed over its bridge section. The Destiny shot past the General. Undeterred, the enemy turned to follow its new prey.

“WHEW! I could feel that one part my hair! Good flying, Shannon.” McKenze was impressed; he liked her coolness under fire.

“Hang in there, Jones. Tis a rough ride before tis over, I think,” replied O’Neil.

“Long, Masters, any information we can use here?” Burke didn’t like his ship fired on!

“Sorry, sir. Insufficient data so far,” said Long.

Burke turned his attention back to the view screen. He saw the hostile ship continuing to close. It seemed slightly faster than the Destiny. He found that hard to believe, but perhaps he could use that to their advantage.

“All Stop!”

“All Stop, sir? But the beastie is closin’, Captain!”

“I see that, Miss O’Neil. All stop, NOW!” Burke had no time to explain. He would let his actions explain for him.

“Aye, sir. Answering all stop,” said the Helm, hesitantly.

The ship shuddered with the sudden change in speed. The artificial gravity strained under the stress but held firm. Unable to anticipate the Destiny’s sudden actions, the General shot past and quickly began to come to a halt. However, before the General could fully respond, Burke let his assault fly.

“All right, take us nose-to-nose. Full Speed! Jones, fire an S.T. NOW!”

The starship plowed forward again, catching the automated ship offguard. McKenze fired, and a smooth dark shape shot away from the Destiny and found its target at point blank range, releasing its static charge. The renegade ship was awash in brilliant blue and yellow arches. The Destiny pulled away and left her prey dead in space.

“That should disable her for a few minutes. Mr. Long, deep scan while it’s down. Quick! Learn all you can. I suspect we won’t have a chance like this again.”

“Sir, the jamming has stopped. I’m receiving a distress call from the Spaceport. They’re under attack by Atoms Technical freighters! Some are trying to ram them and others are firing their NAV lasers. It’s a Code Blue alert!”

“Grant, get Micah up here. He has some codes I think could help. Jones, try and raise the Spaceport. Long, keep scanning,” countered Burke.

“I have the Spaceport online, Captain.”

On the view screen the image of the General was replaced by a smoky haze.

“Spaceport, this is Captain John Burke of the E.S.S. Destiny. Respond, please.”

The haze cleared a little to reveal a rumpled, rattled, but otherwise intact man by the name of Edward Wills. “Mr. Wills, what is going on?” asked Burke.

“We are under attack!” The screen seemed to shake as a loud boom could be heard in the distance. Wills staggered for his balance. “Totally unprovoked, Atoms auto freighters are attacking us. We have called for the W.P.C. to come and help, but they are engaged in retrieving a ship some distance from here. We won’t last long enough for them to get here.”

“Mr. Wills, listen. We think the attack is caused by your I.D. transmissions. Shut them all down! If you do that, those ships will probably have to get further instructions from somewhere. It will buy you time.”

Just then Shepherd bolted from the lift to see the smoky visage of Edward Wills. The first thing on his mind when he saw him was his wife, Andrea. “Edward, where’s Andrea!”

“Mr. Shepherd, glad to see you are safe, sir. She’s fine, but as you may know, we are not.”

Burke looked at Shepherd, “Micah, give them your C3 override command. At least that will slow down or halt the advance of those ships till we can get there.”

“Of course, John. You’re right.” Turning to McKenze, Shepherd gave the backdoor commands to him for transmission. Looking up he said to Wills, “Edward, these codes you now have, broadcast them on all bands. It will confuse those ships. Hang on! We’re on our way!”

The screen rocked again as static flickered across it. Suddenly the link was terminated; no explanation. Shepherd took in the Captain with a glance. Burke knew what he wanted to do.

“Micah, we are under attack ourselves. If we don’t stop this rogue, ship it will go on causing destruction. See for yourself.”

The screen returned to the former scene. The strange horseshoe-shaped ship called the General just hung there in space, its twin ion cannons looking menacing, even at rest.

“Of course, John, deal with this ship as quickly as you can. Then use the Tachyon Drive to return at top speed. We must get back to defend the Spaceport. If those freighters get new instructions and we are not there to stop them, the results will be horrific!”

“You don’t have to tell me, Micah! We’ll take care of it. How is Rebecca?” Burke had to ask.

“She is slightly conscience but still in a lot of pain. She has asked for you, John.”

Burke’s heart leaped. “She asked for me! Maybe I’ve still got a chance. But I can’t leave the bridge. MY ship is under siege,” he thought.

“Tell her I’ll come as soon as I can. Go back to her, Micah. Be there for both of us.”

“You know I will.”

Burke returned his attention to the task at hand, although his heart went with Shepherd in the lift. The view screen showed his enemy. His task was clear. He wouldn’t waste time. “Mr. Long, the results of your scan please.”

“Well, it’s definitely an Atoms Technical ship.” Burke’s blood began to boil at the thought of Rush, still reaching out after them. “The manufacturing techniques are clear. Everything else suggests that the ship was altered to show no owners. It’s like it was meant for undercover work. Its C3 is advanced. It has even more artificial intelligence than our computers do. It looks to be the next generation in computers. Its shielding is heavy, too. Our fifty percent S.T. barely deactivated it. The system reset cycle is unknown. It could restart at any time. It’s very dangerous, Captain.”

“Can its weapons be disabled?” asked Burke of the stand-in science officer.

“Not through a computer link; there is too much shielding in the way. However, while the ship is deactivated you could do it from outside.”

Burke took the hint, “Mr. McKenze, target the weapons pods of that ship and destroy them!”

“Aye, Captain. Targeting ion cannons; firing lasers, now.”

The targeting system worked flawlessly. A dual beam of yellow, highly-focused photons lashed out at the weapons systems of the other ship. Like a laser light show with a deadly aim, the lasers of the Destiny hit the twin ion cannons at the same time. A moment later, two soundless flashes signaled the success of the mission.

“Good shooting, Jones! Now, rebroadcast the order to disable all Shepherd I.D. codes while our friend is still asleep. That will help protect any of our other ships that were out of range or jammed and didn’t hear the first warnings.” Burke turned towards the Helm, “Miss O’Neil, set course for the Spaceport. Put us a short distance away so we can observe what’s happening before being engaged. Tachyon level one should do.”

“Aye, sir. Running pre-check of the system. Ready in sixty seconds.”

“Mr. Masters, have the ship’s crew prepare for Tachyon Drive; just a short jump. Inform Mr. Vencetti of the situation, as well.”

Burke waited for the OK from his Helm officer. As expected, he got it. Richard Long was speechless. Only a short time ago his ideas of FTL travel were just that, ideas. Now he was about to GO FTL! Burke looked back at the acting science officer. He had stumbled back into his chair.

“Are you all right, Richard?”

“Yes. Perfectly. I just never dreamed this could work! I, well,... you know what I mean.”

Burke smiled. He knew indeed! The Destiny was a dream of his come true, too, just some days ago. Now he didn’t think he could live without it. He fancied that after this leap, Long would feel the same.

“Hang on, Richard Long, you are about to go FTL!” Burke now faced front. “Mr. Masters, have damage control parties stand by. Hold on, everyone. Shannon, let’s do it!”

O’Neil took her cue and the Destiny surged forward to full antimatter speed. Then she started the FTL jump and this time it was all planned. The view screen took on the crystal shine it had before along with the golden tinges around the edge. Quickly, the ship leapt forward along her pre-planned course like it was made for speed.

Ahead, the seemingly motionless star field with a very small Earth began to change. Earth started to get larger and larger, yet there was none of the gravity problems encountered before. Connor Vencetti had done what he said about adjusting the graviton generators. Everyone held tight, especially Richard Long who wasn’t entirely sure they would not blow up at any second. Inside, the hum of the antimatter engines could be felt, but that was as rocky as it got. The Starship careened through the open space between the Belt and Earth. The Earth continued to loom larger, but just as soon as light speed began, the Tachyon Drive reversed and the Destiny was at her programmed location, slowing to a stop.

Burke still couldn’t believe this was his ship! FTL speeds! He would have to test just how fast she could go someday, but not now. “Miss O’Neil, time of flight?”

“According to the crono, we covered the two AU distance in just over three minutes! It still amazes me!”

“I think it amazes us all.” Burke turned to look at Long. Still speechless, but now with his mouth hanging open, he added an air of comic relief to the tense situation.

Burke returned to his job, “View screen on, full mag, please.”

What played across the screen was a scene straight out of a ship graveyard. At least six Atoms Technical freighters lay strewn between them and the Spaceport. Some of the ships had burn marks from where the station’s defense lasers had found their targets. Others lay motionless next to their brothers, as if deactivated. However, beyond the graveyard, the battle looked like it was about to start up again.

Four Atoms Technical ships were slowly, but unswervingly, advancing on the Spaceport. Burke knew the carnage that was to come and barked to McKenze, “Raise the Spaceport, now!” Could the ships be stopped in time? Burke didn’t know.

A dimly-lit control center came into focus. Alfred Sorenson’s cut and bruised face came into view. “Mr. Sorenson, this is John Burke. I show that there are four ships bearing down on you. Fire at them, sir!”

“Mr. Burke. I never thought I would see you again. I never thought I would see anyone again, after today. Our lasers are burnt out, Burke. We can’t stop them. The only thing that has kept them from hitting us already was that backdoor command. But it’s just prolonging the end.”

“Don’t lose heart, sir. We’re on our way. Burke out! Miss O’Neil, take us around those dead ships. Mr. McKenze, prepare two ST’s with a seventy-five percent charge, and quickly!”

The Destiny came to life again. Moving like an ancient football halfback, the ship dodged the obstacles, one by one. As they approached the Spaceport, the four rogue freighters were in a diamond formation. Burke’s stomach churned on itself. Not only hadn’t he eaten, but it was late at night, too. Only in space did day and night not matter.

“All right, Mr. McKenze, target the lead, and left most ships. Ready, FIRE!”

Like before, the ST’s shot out and quickly grabbed their targets, burning out the two ships’ electrical systems completely, making them drift into the other two.

“Miss O’Neil, take us in behind the two remaining ships. Mr. McKenze, when we are in position fire lasers and burn-out their engines.”

Just like a well-oiled machine, O’Neil and McKenze worked in sync. The automated freighters were just not up to the challenge. One of the ships tried to take a shot at them, but because of the collision with the other freighters, it went wide of the mark.

“All ships now disabled, sir!” stated Masters from his tactical board. A sigh of relief could be felt all over the bridge.

“Very good. All thrusters to station-keeping. Launch any rescue and support vehicles we can to help the Spaceport. Send any techs and engineers we can spare, too.”

Just when Burke thought it was over, it wasn’t. McKenze piped up, “Captain! I’m picking up some signals going to the active C3’s on those disabled freighters. It’s coming from the direction of the asteroid belt. If I’m not mistaken, the signals are coming from the General!”

“Well, well, it woke up. At least we don’t have to worry about its weapons! So it was controlling the Atoms Technical ships after all. What is it telling the freighters to do, Jones?”

“Attack all Shepherd Industries installations and ships starting with Shepherd Spaceport. Theta override. End of transmission.”

“Theta override? What’s that?” asked O’Neil.

“Theta override is an old C3 code that overrides any current programming and loads another. Rush must have done this for revenge; he probably knew you had him dead to rights.” Burke looked at Long.

“Sorry, Captain, but both Micah and I knew we had to bring Rush down.”

“No, Richard, you did the right thing. We’ll just have to rebuild, that’s all.”

The Destiny sat still in space, keeping watch over its charge, Shepherd Spaceport. It had been a total of sixty minutes since they had disabled the last of the attacking freighters. All was quiet until the proximity alarm went off!

“Begora! What’s that!” shouted O’Neil, startled out of her wits for a moment.

“Captain, I’ve got a ship coming in at high speed. It matches the configuration of the General. It’s on a collision course with the Spaceport!” Masters rechecked his findings to be sure that there was no mistake.

Burke should’ve expected this, but his mind must have been distracted. Quickly he called over his right shoulder, “Mr. Long, scan for weapons. I want to be sure we got them all!”

“No weapons, Captain.”

“At least that’s something,” he thought. “It must have been coming our way while we have been busy here! I should have destroyed it when I had the chance. I thought we could study it at a later date. I should’ve just gotten rid of Rush’s deadly toy!” Burke was mad at himself. He had endangered his ship and crew, and now the Spaceport, because of his misstep.

”ETA to our position?” he asked.

“Just minutes, sir!” responded Masters with a hint of worry in his voice.

“All right, Jones, when that ship is in range, fire an antimatter torpedo right down its throat. Let’s end this right now!”

“Mr. Burke, shouldn’t we try to disable it for further study if it is the next generation of C3 technology?”

“Mr. Long, you got a deep scan of the system. That will have to do. I won’t let this ship get away again to cause more destruction!”

The tense moments of the wait went by slowly. Burke wanted to end this chapter quickly and he tapped his fingers against the arm of his command chair impatiently. Everyone waited for the General to come in range. Finally it did.

“General now in range of torpedo strike!” called McKenze.

“FIRE! FIRE!”

At Burke’s order a slim but deadly cylinder shot towards its target. “Torpedo on track. No. Wait! Its guidance system is being jammed! It’s off course. Clean miss!” said McKenze.

“Well, our enemy has learned once more. It recognized our torpedo’s guidance system from our last attack. That means we can only use a trick one time, and one time only! All right, let’s go get him! Helm, intercept course!”

“Coming about to heading eight-five-three point eight-two,” stated the Helm officer.

“Full power to lasers. FIRE!”

The General had never experienced a laser barrage before; it took the hit full on. The strike sent the ship spinning. However, it was not good enough. The General regained its attitude control and continued its march. The ship was a little slower now but still blazing fast.

“FIRE!”

The Destiny, still in front of the General, lashed out once more. This time the General was ready for them and had computed an evasive action to take, before the beams struck out.

“Clean miss, sir!” stated McKenze as the General shot by in a blur!

“Come about; we have to stop that ship. The Spaceport can’t take another hit!”

Coming around, the Destiny riffled forward as it tried to overtake the General. Before the General was out of range Burke gave new orders, “Jones, get a Magna-tractor on that ship! No, put two Magna-tractors on the General!”

The green wash of tractor energy found the trailing edge of the General and latched on like a pit bull, ready for a fight. Slowly, the Destiny crept up on the unsuspecting General, like a person climbing a rope, hand over hand. “Now that we have him, Jones, keep that power coming. We can’t lose him. This may be our last trick!” Burke was on the edge of his chair, the pain from his burns, notwithstanding.

The General, now sensing the drag on its rear quarter, tried to shake off its unwelcomed burden. With a great rumble, the Destiny shook. It was like being on a roller coaster ride with no seat belts. “Don’t let go, Jones! Hold it a little longer. We have to get in closer!” cried Burke.

The General weaved and bobbed, trying in vain to drop the bull terrier from its tail, but to no avail. The Destiny held. It was shaking apart, but it held. Data pads, equipment, and people that weren’t tied down fell everywhere. Micah Shepherd and Doctor Yamari in sickbay held on to Rebecca’s bed for dear life as medical equipment crashed everywhere.

On the bridge it was much the same, except they could see the source of the effects. The tail-section of the General was coming up fast now as the Magna-tractor pulled the General in.

Burke shouted over the din, “FIRE Lasers! FIRE Lasers!”

The General, unable to move because of the tractor’s grip, couldn’t get out of the way. The energy weapons struck true. The General vibrated and shook under the bombardment. Debris flew back from the laser strikes and battered the Destiny’s forward hull. Finally, after a last ditch jerk, the engines of the rogue ship died! The energy feedback from the lasers did their job.

The Destiny let go of her grip, drifting free and smooth. Then, taking up a position between the aggressor and the Spaceport, they waited for any signs of aggression.

The lift doors opened and Micah Shepherd stepped out, “What in the world is happening up here!” He wasn’t mad, just concerned.

“It’s over, Micah! It’s finally over! We had to deal with the General again. You could say it was Bernard Rush’s final stand against Shepherd Industries, and we won!” Shepherd leaned against the bulkhead and smiled with a relief he hadn’t felt in months. Now he could deal with his daughter’s death in peace, if there could be any peace in death, for the living.

Burke turned towards Long, “Well, looks like we didn’t have to destroy it after all. You can study it all you want, Mr. Long.”

Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted in the middle of the screen. The light dampers of the optics were barely able to handle the sudden change. The General exploded, the two sides of the horseshoe splitting apart like a wishbone after a turkey dinner.

“Whoa! Self-destruct?” asked McKenze with a look of puzzlement.

“Could be!” replied O’Neil.

Burke swiveled in his seat just in time to see the debris flying out and away. He frowned, yet he was not entirely unhappy.

“Now it’s over, John!” said Shepherd still in the lift, watching the screen. “I’m going back to see about Rebecca.”

Burke called out, “WAIT! I’ll go with you. McKenze, you have the bridge. Mr. Masters, see to the ship’s clean up. Micah, I have been giving some thought to how to save Rebecca. I may have an idea!” As Burke slipped into the lift, the doors closed. Rebecca’s only hope now rushed to her aid.

Chapter 31

Impossible mission

“What do you have in mind, John? Doctor Yamari said the only antidote was lost with the Cartone probe fifty-six years ago, remember?”

“That probe may not be as lost as she thinks! First, I want to see Rebecca, then I’ll need to talk to the Doctor.” The comment caught Shepherd by surprise and he raised an eyebrow.

In short order, Shepherd and Burke arrived at the Sickbay and respectfully the doors parted before them. Rebecca was awake and at the sound of the access doors she weakly turned her head.

“Rebecca, how are you?” Burke leaned in and kissed her. “I see that you’re off the ventilator. That’s great.”

“Hello, John.” She slowly moved her hand over to his. “Thank you for what you did for me. I don’t know what else to say except that I still love you. I guess I always have.”

“That will do, for now.” Burke launched one of those melting smiles Rebecca had come to miss. He seemed quite at home on this ship. She couldn’t explain it really. It just seemed like he had found a home. It was in his eyes, she concluded, a sense of confidence and control she hadn’t seen before. She liked what she saw.

“Evening, gentlemen. Visiting hours are over. Come see the patient later.” Yamari was up to her old tricks and Burke knew from experience not to cross her.

“We’ll come back in the morning, Rebecca. Sleep well.” Her father leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Burke squeezed her hand and bid her good night.

“Doctor, could we see you please?” asked Burke. She motioned them into her office. The three of them sat down.

“I trust you are done shaking us up for the evening!” Yamari’s half-serious, half-kidding tone came through as she looked at Burke.

“I would say for the evening, yes.” Burke traded playful stares with the Doctor. “I want to ask you about the poison Rebecca has been given. Are you sure that the only antidote was on that probe?”

“Yes. Professor Criton could only afford one auto lab and he sent everything into space. The idea was that in a year the probe would return the completed experiment via jet pack back to Earth orbit where it could be retrieved. The auto lab was to transform the toxin into a cancer cure. It’s too bad we’ll never know.”

“And this cure would be the antidote to the poison Rebecca was given?”

“Certainly, Captain. The toxin was the first stage of the experiment. Unfortunately, it was also one of the most lethal killers ever produced.”

“Then we have no choice. We have to find the Cartone probe and retrieve that antidote.”

“John, the ship and crew were destroyed shortly after liftoff!” added Shepherd.

“I have a hunch that it wasn’t destroyed. Its crew may not have survived, but the probe could still be intact.”

Yamari looked surprised. “Mr. Burke, after FIFTY-SIX years? I know that you love Rebecca and want to save her, but be reasonable.”

“I am, Doctor. The first time we leaped during the C.M.E. encounter, Mr. Roundtree discovered a radiation trail leading off into some uncharted nebula.”

Shepherd interrupted, “But that could have been a natural thing for that region of space. John, I see where you are going with this. I want to save her, too, but...”

Now Burke jumped in, “Listen, both of you! Roundtree had Masters check his findings. He concurred with Roundtree that is was not a natural radiation signature but more like old-style, nuclear-powered engine exhaust. Look! Rebecca will die if we don’t try. If we aren’t successful then nothing is lost except some time and fuel. Now that we have FTL drive, let’s use it! Maybe that trail is from the probe. Micah, it could mean Rebecca’s life! I request permission to try.”

What could Shepherd or Yamari say? It was worth a try. “All right, John, but in case we don’t find the probe, I want Andrea to be here. Rebecca could die before we get back.”

“I’ll tell Mr. Masters to send a shuttle right away. We don’t have much time.”

Then smiles crossed everyone’s faces. Hope filled the room where resignation and despair were only moments before. “All right then, let’s go!” said Shepherd.

An hour and a half later the Destiny and her crew were ready. Everyone was in their places and ready to go. Burke gave the departure orders, “Miss O’Neil, set course for the Sun. Take the same route we took before. Full speed! Engineering, Connor, we need to make another super-charged jump. Can your buffer handle it?”

“Sir, I would not make a habit of this, but if you must, I believe it will work one more time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vencetti.” Burke smiled over at Shepherd and Long, “Prepare to sweat a little bit.” The two men gulped and nodded. Burke gave the order to proceed.

“Aye, Captain,” coming to prescribed course. Going to full speed.” The Destiny left near-Earth orbit and headed towards the Sun. Slowly at first, but within only minutes they were cruising at twenty-five percent light speed. “Full speed, sir, forty-six thousand five hundred miles per second!” said O’Neil with confidence. Everything began to heat up.

“Mr. Masters, pull up the flight log. Find the record of where we landed after our first leap to light speed. That’s where we will start our search.”

“Captain, we are coming up on the Sun’s outer magnetic field and building energy.”

“Fine, Miss O’Neil steady as she goes. Mr. Masters do you have our starting point?”

“Feeding the coordinates to the helm now, sir.” replied Masters.

“Aye, Captain, I have them, setting course,” added O’Neil.

The ship banked slightly and continued its flight. “Sir, since our course will take us quite close to the Sun,” O’Neil said with sweat rolling down her face, “Wasn’t this the same way the Cartone probe came?”

“Indeed. According to the records its course was altered by a malfunction that sent it towards the Sun. If I don’t miss my guess, this is the same route they took fifty-six years ago,” stated Burke.

“Then why don’t we have an exhaust trail to follow here?” asked O’Neil.

“There probably was, for a time; however, with all the solar activity in our system, the trail would’ve been wiped out quite quickly. It’s a miracle we found it at all!”

“All systems show green, Captain. Ready for jump!” stated Masters from Ops.

“Very well, Mr. Masters. All right, Shannon, it’s all yours. Get us out of this heat!” Burke gave the order and again the Destiny disappeared in a flash of crystal and gold, shooting off into the unknown.

In two blinks of an eye the Destiny came to a stop at the same place she had sat little more than two days before. In front of them loomed the large gaseous nebula. It was beautiful to behold. Blues, reds, whites, and golds all danced in cosmic harmony as if being led by a unseen conductor. The array of color swept off to one side in a graceful arc. Wide and expansive, all the gases came together to form a great maelstrom, like a giant whirlpool at the center.

Whether it was from the cosmic material coming together, or something else was the cause, the center of the nebula was lit up like a fireworks display in July. The whole scene evoked the beauty and wonder of outer space.

“This is the place, all right. I’d know that scene anywhere!” confirmed McKenze.

“Mr. Masters, give Mr. Long the location of the radiation signature that you recorded before.”

Masters fed the coordinates of the trail to Long. After a moment Long commented, “I have the trail, Captain. It’s weak, but it is as you described it, definitely not a natural pattern of radiation. It seems to be heading off into that nebula. However, I’m reading some strong radio jets emerging from the center of the gas. That could be a medium-sized black hole at the center of that whirlpool. I advise extreme caution, Captain. If we get in too close the gravity may be too intense for us to break free.”

“Thank you, Mr. Long. Can you put the trail onscreen?”

“I believe so.” Long fiddled with the sensor and screen controls producing a shimmering phosphorous trail that he superimposed over the forward image. It snaked its way straight into what looked like the heart of the nebula.

Burke was intrigued and ready to find the probe. “Helm, follow that trail. Mr. Long, set sensors for maximum gravimetric sensitivity. Mr. McKenze, ready on the Magna-tractors should we need them. Time is wasting. Let’s do it!”

O’Neil moved the Destiny ahead at one quarter A.M. speed. After a few moments they entered the cavorting mass of colors and gases. “Captain, the radiation signature is straightening out. It’s like something just yanked it straight ahead.”

“All stop; thrusters to station-keeping.”

“Answering all stop,” said O’Neil as she watched the swirl of gases and debris on the screen.

“Mr. Long, now that we’re closer, what have you got?”

“There is definitely a gravity source at the heart of that cloud of gases. The radio jets are much stronger.”

“Can you detect the source of the gravity?” asked Burke.

“Not at this distance. But the gravity will be getting stronger from here.”

“Shannon, stay sharp. Take us in.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Once more the Destiny went forward, picking its way along. Soon the bumps of the road began to make themselves known. The bridge lurched, “Captain, we just went through a gravity wave! More will be coming. They will get stronger and stronger as we approach the center.”

Burke gave the all stop command. Questioning, he turned and looked at Long, “How much can we take and still make our way back out?”

“Unknown. A ship like ours has never been put in this kind of situation before. However, I would guess, at the point where even light itself can not escape, that’s the point we dare not pass. From there, even Tachyons would be trapped, and our drive would be ineffective.”

“Any sign of the probe?”

“I am picking up some metallic debris along the trail. Nothing big or serious, but there does seem to be some damage. Captain, the probe may already be destroyed.”

“It may be, Mr. Long, but we will continue until we either know for sure or can’t go on ourselves.”

“Miss O’Neil, move on. Steady as you go.” O’Neil looked at the man she had come to trust. She still trusted him but wondered if his desire to help Rebecca would cloud his judgment.

“Aye, sir. Proceeding forward.”

The maelstrom churned before them like a hungry monster with an open maw. Slowly but surely, the source of the gravity began to reveal itself.

“Captain, it’s confirmed! That is a black hole! It has an event horizon. If we enter the event horizon, we’ll never leave!” Long was getting more instant in his suggestions.

“Hold it here, Miss O’Neil. Mr. Long, Mr. Masters, let’s have a deep scan for the probe’s engine signature.” Burke was unruffled by Long’s discovery.

Just then Long sang out from the science station, ”Gravity wave coming in, very strong, force three!”

“Shannon, turn us into that wave!” yelled Burke.

The Destiny pivoted in place. As the nose of the starship came into position the wave hit! Like a great tidal wave, the gravidic surge swept over the Destiny. In a sudden explosion, the wave picked up the bridge crew and threw them from their places. Only Masters remained at his post.

“Captain, we have a hull breach on deck seven! One of the cargo holds. Fortunately, no one was in there at the time. I’m sealing off that section of the ship until we can get repairs. Other than that we seem to have come through it OK.”

Long was back at his sensors, “Captain, I think I can predict when the next wave will hit. Judging by the time between the first wave we encountered, and now this second one, we should have about an hour and a half before, a... Captain! I’m getting readings of a metallic object, dead ahead! Sir, it’s the probe! I don’t believe it, after all these years!”

Long wasn’t the only one astonished. Everyone except Burke couldn’t believe their ears. He just knew it was intact. “Excellent, Mr. Long, put it onscreen, please.” Burke was as anxious as everybody else, but he tried to control himself. The image of the probe appeared and Burke asked for full magnification.

The screen resolved itself into more of a ship than a probe. Long and singular, about half the length of the Destiny, with a rotating solar collar providing energy and gravity, it hung there.

“According to the scans, the solar collar has long since stopped rotating, but it is still providing a small amount of power to the ship. As for the engines, they appear to be functioning although at very low levels. That’s why the trail was thinning as we got closer,” said Long as he continued to scan.

“I know this is a long shot, but are there any life signs?” It was a possibility, even though remote, so Burke felt compelled to ask.

Just then the lift doors opened and Micah Shepherd emerged. Face drawn and full of concern, he approached the command deck. “Is that the probe?” Seeing the probe should’ve given him heart, but at this point, hope was running quite thin in the water.

“Micah! How is Rebecca?” asked the concerned Captain.

“Not good, John. She’s slipped into a coma. Doctor Yamari says she won’t have the strength to come out of it unless the antidote is administered soon.”

“Well, that’s the probe!” Burke pointed at the view screen, “We are about to go get it!” he said with mock hope. He knew this mission was a long shot, but now the goal was in sight. He had to be optimistic, although the possibility of any experiment lasting this long intact, was a million to one.

Burke tried to bolster his friend's confidence. He put a hand on his arm and tried to be as reassuring to him as he could. Burke locked eyes with Shepherd. The two men knew each other quite well by now; each knew how much the other wanted this to work. However, both knew how impossible it would be. Burke tried to put the impossible out of his mind. “Mr. Long, did I hear you say that the gravity waves from the Black Hole are coming in at one and a half-hour intervals?”

“If all waves are like the two that passed over us, yes,” Long replied.

“We’ll have to take that chance. Helm, take us in. Standard docking approach.”

“Captain!” Long seemed urgent, “according to the most recent scans the probe is getting awfully close to the event horizon. It seems to be in orbit of the hole just as all the rest of the gases are. We, too, will be trapped in a decaying orbit if we stay with the probe too long.”

“Understood. Miss O’Neil, let’s have the fastest docking you’ve ever performed!”

“Aye, Captain. That I can do. It may be the only docking I’ve ever performed, but I can do it!”

“I hope you’re right. Ease us in, Shannon.”

Slowly the Destiny approached. Swinging around to catch the probe ship’s forward docking hatch. The Destiny made contact with a scraping thud. “We have soft seal. Pressurizing docking collar,” came the satisfying confirmation from Grant Masters. Sitting atop the Cartone’s docking hub the scene resembled a Stone Henge construct. One piece straddled atop another. The coming gravity waves would make the joining a temporary one at best, but that could not be helped.

“Good work, Shannon! Mr. Long, you’re with me. Mr. Masters, tell the Doctor to meet us in the lower docking port with medical gear. Micah, the ship is yours. We’ll have COM units on at all times. Keep an eye on those waves and let us know when we need to come back.” Without another word, Burke and Long entered the lift. “Lower docking port!” Burke said to the C3.

“Mr. Long, you never answered me as to whether there were any life signs over there?”

“There didn’t seem to be any time to tell you, sir. As to life signs, the readings were indeterminate. You see, according to the records you had me go over, the crew were all volunteers who were put into cryo-freeze. They were supposed to awaken when they had gone the specified distance from Earth. One or more of the cryo chambers may still be functioning. However, without closer readings, I can’t tell for sure.”

“You mean there might be people still alive over there!” Before Long could answer, the lift deposited them on lower level seven. Yamari was there waiting for them and heard Burke’s final statement as the doors opened.

“Who’s alive?”

“Come with us, Doctor, we’ll fill you in.”

The three hurried down the hall to the waiting airlock. They waited as the airlock tested the pressurization of the collar and then allowed entrance. The first door opened. Burke moved in and peered through the Cartone’s fifty-six-year-old airlock door. “Richard, use your portable C3 unit to scan the other side. Is there O2 over there?”

Long unholstered his pocket C3 unit. Holding it close to the door he gave a negative sign.

“Great! OK, let’s suit up!” said Burke in a rush.

The three pulled open the suit lockers just outside the airlock and dawned the protective gear. They knew that their PES's would protect their bodies; however, their heads were a different story.

“All right you two, ready? Good. Sealing the inner door now.” The inner airlock door slid shut behind them. “OK, let’s see if the probe’s airlock door still works after all these years.” Burke opened the manual release panel on the outer hull and pulled the release bar for all he was worth. The resulting hydraulic pressure was supposed to slide the airlock door open, but after all the years, a leak must have sprung in a bulkhead because the door slid only halfway.

“Richard, give me a hand!” The two men pushed and pulled until finally the door came all the way open. Quickly Yamari looked inside using her hand light.

“This place is a mess!”

Scattered from deck to ceiling was debris. From papers, to pencils, to clothing, to data boards, you name it, everything was floating everywhere in the zero gravity. “Watch yourselves; there could be some sharp objects floating around in here!” reminded the doctor.

Burke led the way, stepping into the past. Walking in magnetic boots wasn’t easy for him. He wondered how Long and Yamari would handle it if this walk got extensive. He hoped it wouldn’t. They entered into the control center first. Burke checked for the the black box that was still in use on all flights at that time. He retrieved it, putting the small recorder in the pocket of his suit.

“OK, let’s go for the auto lab and the antidote!” Burke crackled through the helmet headset.

“Wait! What about the possible survivors?”

“Doctor, our first priority is the antidote, that’s why we made the trip. If there are any survivors they’re not going anywhere. We’ll check on them if we can. Let’s go; we don’t have much time!”

On the bridge, Shepherd, O’Neil, McKenze, and Masters waited expectantly. You could hear a pin drop as they listened in over the open COM channel that Burke maintained. Suddenly, they heard him address them. “Destiny, we are inside and moving to the science section of the ship.”

Jones McKenze replied, “We hear you, John. Be careful!”

“We will. What’s our time till the next wave?”

Masters checked the countdown and relayed the information to McKenze. “Sixty minutes now,” Jones replied.

“Confirmed. We are almost to the science doors.”

As the three approached the doors they noticed a problem. “What is that, Doctor?” Burke asked.

“It looks like giant crystals!”

Inside the doors of the science section, pressing on all the bulkheads that surrounded it, were huge crystal formations. They were larger than any that could have been produced on Earth. Pure and clear, they covered everything, but you could see everything in the room right through them. It was a science experiment run amuck!

“Amazing! During the turbulence one of the crystal-growing experiments must have broken open and this is the result!” Yamari had never seen anything like it. For that matter, no one had.

“Now how do we get to the antidote? Doctor, did Doctor Criton describe the auto lab to you?”

“Yes. He said it was a small black box about the size of a shoe box. His company was called Profit Research!”

“I see it! Sitting over there in the far corner!”

“That looks like it. So far so good,” said Burke with optimism.

“Good? What do you mean, good? There must be twenty feet of solid crystal between us and that box!” replied Long.

“Yes, there is.” Burke examined the obstacle, “This is going to require a cutting laser.” He looked over at Long, “Built into your suit, Richard, is just the laser you need. Richard, do you know how to use a laser?”

“Of course!”

“Good. Then while the Doctor and I go check on the crew, you start cutting. The crystal should cut away fairly easily.” Burke smiled his reassuring smile and pulled the Doctor away.

“Hey, Captain! Wait!”

“You’ll be fine. Just open the doors and start cutting, and keep moving, the crystal may still be expanding. You’d better cut your passageway a little bigger than you need, for safety sake. Oh, and work fast, Mr. Long,” Burke tapped his suit crono, “time, you know!”

Long sighed and opened the doors to the science section. Quickly he pulled out his cutting laser and started to work. In the zero gravity the cut pieces of crystal began to float away as he worked.

Farther down the length of the main passageway Burke and Yamari came to the Cryo-room. Yamari wiped the frost away from the access panel and pulled the emergency open lever. Ice crystals broke away as the door barely moved. With the power nearly gone most of the automatic doors would not work. They had to slide the door aside.

Carefully they stepped over a fallen ceiling beam and into the middle of eight, coffin-like containers. Actually, four of the eight still operated. Burke walked over to one, the name read, ‘Dalton Criton, Jr.’ Burke turned to face Yamari, “Dalton Criton, Jr.?”

“Yes, Doctor Criton’s son. How he arranged for him to get on this voyage, I don’t know.”

The other three cylinders nearby had names too: Judy Moore, Alexander Genesis, and Natalila Zoloft.

”Doctor, are all the Cryo-chambers operational?” Burke started to examine the other cylinders.

“Well, if I read these power meters right...I can’t believe it! The back up power is still operating! If that piece of bulkhead over there hadn’t crashed in and severed the lines to the other four chambers, they would have made it, too. This is unbelievable!” exclaimed Yamari.

“Doctor, are these people still alive?” asked Burke with more urgency.

”Just barely. They will need a controlled warm up to bring them back, and rather soon, I should think.”

“Burke to Bridge!”

“Yes, Captain we heard, and we can’t believe it ourselves!” Shepherd responded.

“Micah, have Connor get in here with a few engineers; if we hurry we can save these people.” Burke turned to Yamari, “Doctor can you prepare these cylinders for transport?”

“Certainly. I’ll stay and prepare for Mr. Vencetti.”

“Good. I’m going back to check on Richard!” Burke dodged the floating debris as he made his way back up the main passageway towards Long. When he arrived, there was a floating mass of broken crystal overhead. Looking up, Burke crackled his helmet COM system, “Too bad, these crystals could have been worth a lot of money back home.”

Startled, Long jumped with the laser in his hand. “First you scare me with a giant, growing crystal. Then you leave me alone in this high-tech Jolly Roger. Now you tell me I could have been rich if I had been a little more careful! You sure know how to make a guy feel good!”

Burke laughed, “Well, I didn’t want you being careful with the cutting. We needed access fast! How is it coming?”

“Almost there. Only a couple of more feet.” Long’s laser arced and another piece of crystal broke free. Burke moved in behind Long and started pulling out the debris as it floated away.

“OK, Captain, I’m right next to the box. Let’s hope the crystal didn’t crush the prize of our hard-fought battle.” Long made the final cuts. He traced the outline of the auto lab and carefully pulled away the last sheet of perfect crystal glass. “This sheet, I’m keeping!”

“Fine, Richard, just slide that lab out! Come on!” Burke knew he might be pushing, but he couldn’t help it. Rebecca’s life hung in the balance.

The lab slid free. Long passed it back to Burke who grabbed it and took it out into the open. Long followed him with his souvenir in hand. Burke couldn’t wait. He found the top of the box and pulled it open. There, inside, were two vials surrounded by miniature equipment. One was labeled “Toxin” and the other “Cure.” The Toxin vile was empty, but the Cure vile was full! This was the sight Burke had hoped against hope he’d find, a fully prepared vile of serum. Inside his helmet, his eyes were getting wet. He finally closed the lid on the Auto Lab to protect the serum. “We’ve got it! Bridge, we’ve got it! Micah, we’ll be back shortly. Tell Andrea!”

“Copy you, John!” Shepherd finally felt a ray of hope. Maybe it wouldn’t be too late.

Vencetti and his team disconnected the suspension chambers from their sockets and floated them back up the passageway. Burke had Long and Yamari leave with the first chambers to minimize the risk of anyone getting hurt. However, he stayed behind to see it all through.

“Connor, is that the last of them?”

“That’s it, sir; too bad about the others. I looked; they’re still in there, but you can tell there’s not a spark of life in ’em!”

“I know, Connor. I saw. If we had more time we would take them back for burial. Unfortunately, we don’t. Get that last working chamber up and out. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Right. It will be a pleasure to leave here!” Vencetti quickly pushed the last chamber towards the front airlock and the waiting cart.

Burke took one last look around. A few minutes later he checked in. “Bridge! How long before the next wave?”

“It’s getting critical now, Captain. You should get out of there, ASAP. It’s hard to be exact!”

“OK, we’re done in here! I’m on my way!”

Burke ran as fast as magnetic boots would allow. He was almost to the probe’s forward airlock door when it hit! It was the same kind of wave that opened a crack in the Destiny’s cargo hold.

Everything rumbled and shook, throwing debris all over. Even some of the broken crystal now floated up to the front of the control center, pelting Burke as he held on to the airlock bulkhead.

“Captain! The airlock seal is rupturing! Where are you?” McKenze’s call was frantic.

Burke saw the rent in progress. The probe ship was being pulled away from the Destiny. Burke struggled through the floating crystal. The gap was widening now. Crystal started moving out of the crevice into open space. Burke did not want to join it! Reaching for the Destiny’s side of the lock frame he struggled to hold on. Then one of the sharp crystals Long had cut away came flying up and sliced into his space suit! Atmosphere, frozen by the extreme cold of space, began to leak from Burke’s suit. He knew if he didn’t make it back fast, he’d be a permanent exhibit here. Pulling for all he was worth, he finally landed one of his boots inside the Destiny’s airlock. Fighting against the pull, he planted his other foot and pulled himself in. Quickly he found the outer lock closing button and mashed hard! The door sealed shut with the wonderful sound of an airtight fit. Relief washed over him as O2 began to fill the lock.

Burke yelled out to the bridge. “Get out of here! I’m in! Full power, Shannon!”

O’Neil acknowledged and the Destiny started its escape run. Pulling hard against the increased gravity near the event horizon, the ship labored in the void. O’Neil pushed the engines as hard as they would go, but the ship would hardly move.

Burke was glad to be back in normal gravity again. He exited the airlock only to feel the strain on the ship’s engines. “We’re not moving fast enough!” he thought as he entered the lift for the bridge.

“Engines at twenty-six percent! I can’t get any more out of them!” yelled Vencetti over the engine roar.

“Keep pushing, Connor! We’ve got to make it!” cried Shepherd.

As the lift doors opened, Burke hit the Bridge with a thud. The rocking of the ship dumped him unceremoniously to the deck. He called out above the engine roar, “Report!”

”John, we’re straining at twenty-six percent and just barely moving!” said Shepherd.

“Shannon, throw in the Hydro-Ion engines! We need to put more room between us and the event horizon before we try the Tachyon Drive!”

“Aye, Captain. Engaging Hydro-Ion engines!” O’Neil cried.

Travailing against the pull of the Black Hole, the Destiny surged a little farther away from the edge of oblivion. The strain was overwhelming! The ship groaned, conduits sparked, and everyone held their breath as the cosmic gravity-well slowly lost its grip.

“OK, Shannon! Get us out of here! Tachyon Drive, NOW!” shouted Burke as he clung to the center seat next to Micah Shepherd.

The ship leapt forward! No one even felt the slight distortion, or the golden hint to the view. They were simply too busy to notice and too glad to be away from where they were to care. Moving just out of range of the Black Hole’s gravity well, O’Neil brought the ship to a much needed rest. Burke steadied himself, dusted himself off and hurriedly checked the ship’s status with Masters.

“Mr. Masters, send out repair crews. I want a damage report, ASAP.”

“Glad you made it back, John!” said Shepherd.

“Yeah. It’s no fun almost being a popsickle! I guess it’s my fault, though. I should’ve come out with Vencetti. Instead, I stayed to take in a piece of space history.”

“That’s what you almost became, space history!” chided Jones McKenze as if to say ‘Why didn’t you listen to my updates and get out?’”

Burke couldn’t help the smirk on his face, but it soon left to be replaced by surprise when Shannon O’Neil came over and kissed him full on the lips! “What’s that for!” said Burke to his helm officer.

“That’s because I’m glad to have ya back, John Burke! Ya should nea scare us again like that!”

Burke took his scolding. He knew he deserved it. He was glad to have friends like his shipmates. Burke cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“Well, thank you Miss O’Neil. Micah, we’ll handle the bridge now. Go to Rebecca! The Doctor should be administering the antidote by now.”

Burke didn’t have to say it twice. Shepherd bolted from the chair faster than a man of forty-five should go. Burke watched Micah leave. His heart went with him. How he wanted to be by Rebecca’s side, but he knew he had to see to their way home first. He just hoped the antidote was in time.

Sometime later, after all the damage reports and engine repairs, Burke walked alone in the ship’s arboretum. There was a cool breeze drifting through the humid plant room. All of the ship’s atmosphere was piped through here before going out to the rest of the ship. The plants provided a natural scrubbing of the carbon dioxide as well as adding pure, fresh oxygen to the environment. Burke decided it would be a quiet place to worry. He didn’t know if Rebecca was still alive or not. He figured she was, or someone would have found him by now. So he thought he would wait here.

Quietly he walked along the gardener’s path, trying to lose himself in the lush greenery, when he heard soft foot steps coming up behind him. He turned. It was Shannon O’Neil. “Hello, John. I thought I would find you here when you weren’t anywhere else onboard,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, you had to look that hard,” Burke smiled back. He thought this was it.

“John. There’s somthin’ I need to be tellin’ ya.” Burke found a seat on a nearby rock and gave her his attention. He dreaded the news.

“John, ya probably know how I feel about ya. I canna deny that I love ya. I have wanted to tell ya for a long time, but there was always somthin’ in the way.”

“Shannon,...”

O’Neil held up a hand to silence Burke. “NO! Let me finish, please. You’re a good man. The crew trusts you and so do I. I know that you still have feelins for Rebecca and I want you to know that I’ll step aside! I won’t be medlin’ where I don’t belong and I’ll still be your friend.” Shannon walked closer to Burke till she was standing right over him. “But, and I’m not being insensitive, if Rebecca can’t pull through, John, please let me be there for you.” Then, reaching down, she took his face in her hands and tenderly kissed him.

Burke was speechless. He knew Shannon had feelings for him, but what can you say to that kind of plea? He cleared his throat to respond, but Shannon placed a finger on his lips.

“Nea, John Burke. That is how I feel. I want your happiness. If Rebecca is what makes you happy, I’ll be glad for you simply to be my friend and Captain. I just wanted ya ta know. Shh! Not a sound now. Ya go back to your thinkin’. I’ll be lookin in on ya later.” At that, she turned and left.

Burke took a deep breath as he watched her go, “She’s quite a woman! I’ve always felt that she’s quite a woman. If I hadn’t known Rebecca before, it might have been a different story!” thought Burke.

Slowly, Burke came back into his solitude. Everything else could wait until he got the news. The wait went on. Another hour more went by before Andrea Shepherd entered the arboretum. Quickly she came up the path.

“John Burke! What a beautiful place this is. Micah tells me YOU are responsible for this ship!” That was pretty chipper talk for the mother of a dead girl! Burke concluded that there might be good news, so he responded in kind.

“Your husband exaggerates. He is the one who designed it! Mr. Vencetti put it together! I just came in at the end and...”

She was almost as good at cutting him off in mid-sentence as Micah, “And made it all work!” She added with a radiant smile. Now Burke was really interested.

“What of Rebecca? How is she? Did she make it?” replied Burke.

Andrea Shepherd could see the look of concern in his eyes, and she couldn’t keep it from him anymore. “Doctor Yamari says the antidote, while a little crude in form, is working well. Rebecca is now out of the coma and resting comfortably. You can see her soon.”

Burke staggered back on to his rock. His head fell into his hands as tears of relief and gratitude welled up and fell to the ground below. He sobbed. The tension of the last few weeks finally all came together. He couldn’t hold it in and didn’t care who saw. He shook as his emotions overwhelmed him. Andrea watched as the flood of tears turned the sand at Burke’s feet to mud.

Some time later the Destiny came shooting back into near-solar space. Burke sat in the center seat. O’Neil, now settled in her feelings and resigned to the fact that the Captain was spoken for, manned her post.

“Standard orbit, Captain. Orders?”

“Very good, Miss O’Neil. Take us to the Spaceport. They should have the central docking port ready for us. I’ll be in sickbay if I’m needed.”

“Aye, Captain, and good hunting, sir!” O’Neil glanced at McKenze who glanced back at Burke as he entered the lift. A smile showed on his face as the doors closed. O’Neil smiled as she faced the view screen again.

The sickbay doors parted to reveal a now much better Rebecca Shepherd sitting up in bed.

“Well, well, aren’t we looking good today!” said Burke as he entered.

“Yes, and I’m told I have you to thank for that, many times over.”

Burke made a mock bow. “All in the line of duty, mum!” he said in his best British accent.

“Really, and there was no other feelings there? Even a little bit?”

“Ah, you know there was Bec!” said Burke as he sat on the edge of her bed. Rebecca took his hands in hers and Burke thought he saw something different in her eyes. Indeed, Rebecca’s eyes sparkled with new life in many ways. Slowly, she pulled him in close and kissed him passionately, letting him know how much she had changed. Burke pulled away with a suspicious glare.

He thought, “Maybe now would be a good time to ask that question again.” Somehow he thought he should. “Rebecca Shepherd, will you marry me?” He held her hands tight.

Would she finally say ‘yes?’ Silently, she stared into John’s eyes for a long moment, then she shook her head, YES!

John couldn’t believe it. A smile spread across his face. Gently, he released Rebecca’s hands and cradled her face between his own. Tenderly, he pulled her close and kissed her as if to seal the arrangement.

“Ahem..Km, Km, Km, Kmm.”

At that moment both John and Rebecca turned to see Alfred Sorenson clearing his throat at the doorway of the sickbay.

“Well, Mr. Sorenson, this is a surprise! To what do we owe the pleasure?” said Burke as he sat at Rebecca’s bedside. He wondered what trouble he was in now. He couldn’t remember a time when Alfred Sorenson came to see him that didn’t spell grief in some way. He expected this visit to be no different. Sorenson just had to spoil a moment like this.

“This ship is really amazing! I got lost on my way here and had to have someone show me the way!”

“Hmm... I can understand that; It happened to me, too. So what can I do for you?”

“Well, sir, I just wanted to thank you for saving the Spaceport and my life as you did. I really thought it was all over!”

John exchanged glances with Rebecca. Burke had never heard Sorenson refer to him as ‘SIR,’ ever! “Well, you’re welcomed, Alfred. However, it was a team effort and Mr. Shepherd is the one who dreamed this whole ship up in the first place.”

“Well, Captain, I just wanted to say thanks and apologize to you for taking you to task for the way you handled Miner Five. I was wrong; you really do know how to fly!” There was a long pause. This was so unexpected that John didn’t know what to say, so Alfred spoke up before John could reply, “Also, sir, Mr. Shepherd asked me to find you and ask if you and I could come to his Spaceport office for a meeting. Ever since you have returned he has been flooded with requests about building more ships similar to the Destiny.”

“What do these other businesses want with ships like this one?”

“Plenty, Mr. Burke! Mining, cargo, science, passenger shuttles, you name it. The technology on this ship will change the face of Earth!”

“Not to mention making Shepherd Industries billions!” said Rebecca, with a gleam in her eye. John turned and gave her a knowing, warning, look. “It was just a thought!” replied Rebecca sheepishly.

Burke turned towards Alfred, “How soon does he want to see us?”

“Right away, sir. He said something about discussing a bright future with us!”

John looked at Rebecca who urged him to go with her eyes. “I’ll be right back. You rest. We’ve got a lot of planning to do, you and I.” John got up and moved towards the Sickbay door.

“OK, let’s not keep the boss waiting. Who are we to stand in the way of the future?”

With that, John Burke and Alfred Sorenson left for another meeting with Micah Shepherd. However, this time it was not to discuss the past but to talk about the adventures to come!

THE END

Look For Volume Two Entitled:

To Whom The Stars Belong

Paul Harrington - Author

Paul.Harrington@mightyap.com

Randy Kinnamon - Editor

RKinnamon@aol.com

Ken Mattern - Publisher

kjmatt@netscape.net

Afterword

Elegant Solutions Software and Publishing Company has worked hard to bring you this eBook. If you enjoyed it then please consider donating a small amount to support our work. While a few dollars may not seem like much, they will go a long way in supporting our efforts to bring quality eBooks to our readers.

Please make a donation by sending your check or money order to:

Ken Mattern

9729 Walwood Drive SE

Huntsville, AL 35803

Thank you for your support.

Ken Mattern

http://esspc-ebooks.com

kjmatt@netscape.net

Table of Contents

Title Page–Light Speed

Prolog–Corporate warfare

Chapter 1–Mining tactics

Chapter 2–A spy’s master

Chapter 3–Dangerous enemy

Chapter 4–A traitor’s regret

Chapter 5–Healing and waiting

Chapter 6–Secrets everywhere

Chapter 7–New friends

Chapter 8–The big test

Chapter 9–Wakeup call

Chapter 10–The great escape

Chapter 11–The tables are turned

Chapter 12–Awesome Destiny

Chapter 13–Preparations

Chapter 14–Broken hearts

Chapter 15–Final recruitment

Chapter 16–More tests

Chapter 17–A distress call

Chapter 18–Danger looms

Chapter 19–Special needs

Chapter 20–Difficult encounter

Chapter 21–As cold as space

Chapter 22–Plan and prepare

Chapter 23–The cost of success

Chapter 24–Captive heart

Chapter 25–Good and bad news

Chapter 26–Another rescue

Chapter 27–Poisoned

Chapter 28–Double-deception

Chapter 29–Last Dance

Chapter 30–Enemy defeated

Chapter 31–Impossible mission

Afterword

Table of Contents

Title Page

Prolog

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Afterword