Chroniech! (47 page)

The door opened and Doug Scarboro strode into the room. "Your taxi is here!" he announced.

Ken stood up and shook hands with his friend. "We were beginning to wonder what was taking you so long. Why didn't you call us as soon as you arrived?"

"I thought you two could use the time together. Besides, we still had to send a shuttle down to pick you up. A good old-fashioned knock on the door works just as well as a com-link."

"I thought you and Cheryl would be going on a honeymoon together?" Tasha remarked.

"We decided to wait until you two returned," Scarboro replied. "I did not want both the captain and the XO to be away from the Dragon at the same time. Speaking of a honeymoon, did you enjoy yours?"

"Too short," Ken answered. "But relaxing never-the-less."

"I'll bet!" Doug replied with a sly look in his eyes.

"As long as you're here," Ken said finishing the last of his coffee. "Why the recall? What's happened?"

"There's a transport outside. I'll explain as we load up your things," Doug said picking up a waiting suitcase.

As they loaded the transport, Doug quickly told Ken all that he knew. Ever since the Kyrra had left, the Alliance had been sending probes into Chroniech space using a string of them to act as communication relays. Two days ago contact with all the probes except two had been lost.

The data collected by one of the operational probes seemed to indicate that all of Chroniech space has simply ceased to exist. It was not known if this was some sort of Chroniech deception to hide a massive attack or some other phenomenon. As a precautionary measure the Alliance was recalling all military personnel and was putting the fleet on high alert.

As soon as they had transferred their bags and boarded the shuttle, Ken asked to see the data from the probe. Doug activated a computer terminal and said, "Display probe C189 data from time index previously marked as event one minus sixty seconds."

One part of the screen showed a star field as it was observed through the electronic eye of the probe while the other part of the screen displayed a series of graphs and numbers representing the non-visual information which the probe collected. Suddenly, the star field shifted — several stars seemed to grow brighter and others vanished entirely. The effect was so fast that it was difficult to see.

"What was that?" Ken asked the first time he saw it.

"Hard to see, isn't it?" Doug replied. "Watch this — computer, loopback replay of event one over a five-second interval at one-half normal speed."

Once again, Ken watched the stars shift. This time the computer repeatedly displayed the shift over and over again. Ken could now pick out which stars had disappeared and which ones had brightened. He stared at the computer screen for thirty seconds before turning away. "What the hell is it?"

"We don't know," Doug replied. "There is something else. Computer, isolate energy spectrum spike associated with event one and display."

The screen now showed an energy spectrum. The complex series of graphs reminded Ken of something but he could not quite make the connection. The time-line showed that the spike lasted a mere ten millionth of a second. Shaking his head, Ken asked, "Which stars brightened and which ones vanished?"

"Now that is the most interesting part of this entire mystery," Doug replied. He glanced out the window of the shuttle to take a look at the Komodo Dragon which had just come into view. Still staring out the window he continued. "According to the computer, all of the stars which have disappeared are those located within Chroniech space. Those which have become brighter are located beyond Chroniech space. It's as if all of Chroniech space has ceased to exist and the rest of the universe has shifted to close the hole."

"That's impossible!" Stricklen said not believing what Doug had just said.

"Not according to Falnath," Doug replied turning around.

"Falnath has seen this?" Ken asked incredulously.

"You can ask her about it yourself after we dock. She's aboard. We were actually on our way to her home planet in Rouldian space when we got the order to return. Since the Dragon is the fastest and most powerful ship in the Alliance, we have been tasked with investigating this phenomenon. We'll be leaving as soon as we dock."

Stricklen sat in his seat in silence. Scarboro loved to spring little surprises on his captain now and again, but this was too many too fast. Nothing he had just heard seemed to make sense. Stricklen was still trying to make heads or tails of it all when the shuttle docked with the heavy-cruiser. Before he had even exited the shuttle, Ken felt the familiar sensation as the ship engaged its stardrive.

Falnath was waiting for them on the bridge. Ignoring her for the moment, Ken took his place in the command chair and said, "Status!" He needed to get up to speed on what was going on with his ship.

The officer he had just relieved replied, "All systems on-line. Course has been set for the heart of Chroniech space. Ship's speed now nine-kay-cee and accelerating. All sensors clear. ETA to Chroniech border is roughly six days."

After looking over the status screens, Ken finally felt comfortable enough to address Falnath. Turning to the Rouldian he asked, "Explain to me how a piece of space over twelve hundred light-years in diameter can simply vanish."

Falnath maneuvered her considerable bulk until she was closer to Stricklen's command chair. "The Kyrra have most likely erected a hyperdimensional field around the Chroniech. This would explain why their area of space has appeared to vanish."

Something clicked inside Ken's mind and a connection was made. He now remembered why the energy spike recorded by the probe looked so familiar. It was basically the same as that seen when the Chroniech were attempting to form their transdimensional matrix field. "How could they generate a field that big? Twelve hundred light-years is one hell of a big force field."

"Not in hyperdimensional space. A thousand light-years of our three-dimensional space can be crossed quite easily in a short distance if you exist in multi-space."

"I don't follow," Stricklen said. "Can you put it into simple terms. All I want to know is what happened. What will we see when we get to the Chroniech border? A force field? A hole in space? Nothing?"

"If we had never mapped this area of space," Falnath said after a moment's reflection. "We would never have known that a part of it was missing. It is very difficult to explain in physical terms. It is much easier to explain mathematically."

Falnath paused for a moment and Ken could tell that she was trying to come up with some way of explaining what was most likely unexplainable. Finally, she reached out and formed a cup with her clawed hands. "Let us say that this area of space is enclosed within a hyperdimensional field. Normal space flows around the surface of this field. To someone traveling in normal space, this curvature cannot be detected and it appears as if that person continues to travel in a straight line. This supposed straight line curves around this area of space and thus that area no longer exists."

Ken thought he was beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. "So what we are seeing is actually the surface of a hyperdimensional shape? Doesn't this affect stardrive fields?"

"Stardrive fields affect normal space much like a hyperdimensional field does. However, there are differences. A stardrive field is also affected by the hyperdimensional field and thus the area within the hyperdimensional object is unreachable and undetectable."

"A perfect cloak," Ken said to himself.

"Not quite perfect," Falnath explained. "While the hyperdimensional field itself is undetectable and it renders everything inside undetectable, the gravitational effects of all the objects contained within the hyperdimensional field's boundary are still present meaning there is a way to detect that such a field has been employed."

"I'm not quite too sure I follow that but it's good enough for me — no need to explain further. Do we understand enough about hyperdimensional theory to be able to create such a force field?"

"Technically it is not a force field. It is a field-induced curvature of space. To answer your question, no we do not. Our understanding of hyperdimensional physics is limited and not complete enough for us to develop the field emitters required to generate the proper fields to fold space into a hyperdimension."

"If we can't detect this phenomenon, and we can't understand it then what do we hope to accomplish by the trip toward Chroniech space?"

Falnath cocked her head to one side in her people's expression of puzzlement. "We cannot detect the field but we will be encounter some incredibly odd gravitational readings as we approach it. Gravity is unaffected by the field.”

"Also, since we have access to star maps of the affected area of space we can verify that the stars on the other side of the now vanished section of space are now closer to us. If this is found to be true, then we will know for certain that the Kyrra have encased the Chroniech within a hyperdimensional prison."

"And themselves along with them," Ken said. "Thank you Falnath."

Stricklen sat in his chair and thought about the Kyrra, their worldship, and the friends he had made during his stay there. The more he thought about it the angrier he became. He felt as if the entire situation was his fault. If he had not offered to take the Kyrra home then the worldship would not be where it was now. Admittedly, they had done the Alliance a great good by removing the Chroniech threat, but at what expense.

"Tell me Falnath," he suddenly said. "You said that this hyperdimensional field requires a constant source of power to maintain it. Is there any way at all that we can breach it?"

Falnath turned from her science station to answer the question. "The field is artificial and will collapse as soon as the generator is turned off. As far as I know, there is no possibility of penetrating the barrier from either side. We do not have the knowledge to even detect the presence of the field. If we were in possession of Kyrra technology, we might be able to detect the field but I do not believe that it can be penetrated."

"Captain," the communications operator spoke up. "Urgent message coming in from Almaranus."

"On the main," Stricklen ordered.

The tactical plot of the main viewscreen was replaced by the image of Admiral Singth. The link indicator showed it to be a live feed with a round-trip delay of less than half a second. "Captain Stricklen here Admiral, how may I help you?"

"We've just received a message from the Kyrra," the Admiral replied. Ken's interest instantly increased. "It's from an automated beacon which was set to send a message on a time delay. It's about to repeat so I'll pipe it through to you."

Ken could see the Admiral manipulate something below the camera's field of view. The image shifted and a Kyrra appeared. Ken immediately recognized Trel'mara. The image was frozen for a few seconds and them suddenly came to life, "Attention Alliance! I am Trel'mara of the Kyrra. By now you may have discovered that all star systems belonging to the Chroniech have vanished. Be assured that they are still in existence.”

"We are generating a hyperdimensional field which has isolated the Chroniech from the Alliance. Do not fear for our safety. We have chosen a location near the center of the Chroniech empire for our new home. The worldship is safely cloaked and therefor hidden from detection. Even if we are found the defense systems aboard the worldship are quite capable of protecting it from any possible attack.”

"The council agreed that this course of action was the best for all concerned. They felt that the continued presence of the Kyrra among the various cultures of the Alliance would have resulted in increased competition between yourselves in attempting to obtain a technological advantage over each other through the acquisition of our technology.”

"Many of our people were uncomfortable with the decision to establish relations with a group of cultures so different from our own. The actions which we have taken have served both our peoples. The Alliance is free from the Chroniech and my people are once again isolated, however we also now have a purpose which is to protect the Alliance and, if possible, attempt to guide the Chroniech toward becoming a different society.”

"We shall maintain the hyperdimensional field for as long as required. It is our belief that the Chroniech will either learn how to cooperate with other species and thus eventually mature into a society which can, at some time in the far future, be re-joined with the rest of the galaxy or, they will turn upon each other in mutual destruction. Either way, when the time is right, the hyperdimensional field will be dropped and we shall initiate contact with the Alliance once again.”

"I wish to personally convey my thanks to Captain Ken Stricklen and the entire crew of the Komodo Dragon for their willingness to help me and my fellow Kyrra return to our people. Do not worry about me my friend, I have found a purpose for my life. I am the new head of the alien species information and cultural research organization.”

"This message is being transmitted from an automated capsule. The message will repeat on multiple frequencies until an Alliance ship locates it. The concept of an alliance between your varied species shows us that your inherent aggressiveness can be controlled and that your cultures have a long future ahead of you. The Kyrra look forward to re-establishing a relationship with you in the future. Until then we wish you luck."

Trel'mara's image once again froze. After a moment, the image of Admiral Singth reappeared. "We have dispatched a ship to retrieve the message capsule. There is no reason for you to continue with your mission captain. Return to Almaranus. I am declaring the Chroniech threat to be ended and all Alliance military units are to stand down. See you back at base. Almaranus sector command out."

Ken suddenly felt very empty. "Set course for Almaranus," he said as he stood up. "Let me know when we arrive." Ken then silently walked off the bridge and headed for Tasha's stateroom.

* * * * *

This is how life was meant to be enjoyed, thought Ken as he stretched out on the deck of his twelve meter sailboat. The pleasure craft was drifting aimlessly, the only sound being the gentle slap of the waves as they caressed the side of the ship. Ken was watching a spectacular sunset and enjoying every minute of it. The sun hung suspended in the evening sky looking like a gigantic reddish-orange ball sitting on top of the water's surface. As he watched, it slowly sank below the horizon.