Talosian Chronicles 1: Olympus (40 page)

“Well done, Major. Stand-by to secure the maglevs and seal the doors,” Ian ordered. He tapped another button.

“May I have your attention; this is the Commander. At this time all personnel should be in their assigned positions for the lift. This is the real thing people. Secure all non-essential systems and prepare for the lift. All departments report Go/NoGo to the Exec. We launch in twenty-five minutes,” Ian said.

“I would guess that now is the time that I should say something profound, and full of wisdom. Heck, you all know me, I’m definitely not one for speeches. Yet, as I sat in my ready room planning for tonight; I thought about what the future may hold for us, and all the tasks still ahead,” Ian continued.

“Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures; Go,” Star reported.

“Communications; Go,” Lieutenant Liefson reported.

As Ian spoke, other department could be heard reporting their status.

“I sit in awe of what all of us have accomplished in such a relatively short period of time. I wondered at what we’ll accomplish in the future. We’re growing larger each day. Each new person brings their own unique skills, added to our existing society, they help create a sum much larger than its parts.

“I looked down at the plan before me, and was, once again awe-struck; never, in all the sordid history of our planet, has one single task affected the lives of so many. No one but us will know about it, but it is the whole planet we are protecting.

“Very soon, we’re going to be joined by those of other nations, even some that Americans and her allies would consider to be enemies. We are no longer Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, or Indians. Our nation of birth is no longer a reason to dislike one another. We are, all of us, Earthlings. It is only as a united force will we ever stand a chance against the enemy that destroyed the Talosian race.” Ian glanced down at a grinning Jenny. “Oops! I think I just made a speech! Sheesh, I’m starting to sound like a politician! Carry on, people.”

Ian watched as Jenny put a green check beside each department. He stepped down from his chair and got a tray of different drinks from the replicator. He set one beside Jenny, and Liefson, before headed for a tired looking Chekov.

“Are you sure you’re up for this, Cory?” Ian asked for once using the man’s name.

“Da. I’m Russian. In Russia nights are colder then space. We have to stay awake all night to keep from freezing to death,” the young man replied, grinning.

Ian snorted. “You were born in Brighton Beach to wealthy parents. You’ve never been cold a day in your life!”

“This is true,” Cory replied, nodding and grinning tiredly.

“I brought you a double mocha espresso. Try to get most of it drank before we start this, okay?” Ian said.

“Thank you, sir. I’d meant to get something before you got here, but I ran out of time. I’ll probably be looking for another one by the time you order me to lift, Commander.”

“Just don’t give yourself a hernia; she’s a big ship,” Ian said before heading back to his chair.

Chekov found that extremely funny, but managed to get some of the hot drink down between guffaws.

“Sir, Flight Control reports a NoGo; one of the launch tubes is failing to seal. The deck gang’s already on it,” Jenny reported.

Ian nodded acceptance. He just hoped that the delay wouldn’t put them too far off schedule. In the meantime, they could get some of the rest of the preparations complete.

“Operations.” Ian called.

“Operations here.”

“Secure the Maglev and seal the doors.”

“Aye sir.”

“Flight Control, stand-by to launch Gold Squadron,” Ian said to the Flight Operations Center.

“Issuing the alert, Command.”

“Commander, I have a Go from Flight. Beta’s secured,” Jenny reported. At that point, Ian simply left the comm open to all departments as things got moving rapidly.

“Engineering is a Go.”

“Operations is a Go, we have a green board, XO.”

Jenny nodded up to Ian, confirming Operations’ report. “All departments are ‘Go’ for Launch, Commander.”

Ian nodded, and tried to control his excitement. “Okay Boys and Girls, Don’t try this at home.” He took a deep breath. “Sound General Quarters. Flight; launch Gold Squadron and the navigation drones. Engineering; bring the reactor up to twenty percent.”

Ian heard the acknowledgment of his orders, but his mind was on his ship. He could feel the pulse of her excitement now. He glanced at Liefson who looked back at him and grinned. He also noticed that Jenny’s eyes sparkled. Even Star seemed affected as she appeared to be breathing heavier, and she stood prouder.

“Gold Squadron is away, Command. Alpha bay is secured,” John reported.

“Good work, Flight. Navigation, initiate launch program,” Ian ordered, somewhat apprehensively.

“Aye, Sir. Launch program is online, and running, AG field generators are online.” Chekov replied. “Main reactor at twenty percent. AG field at five percent and climbing.”

Again Chekov paused while the lifter field built up strength, just as in the simulation Ian had witnessed earlier.

“AG field at ten percent.”

Ian heard the ship start to creak as more pressure was applied.

“AG field at fifteen percent. Main reactor at thirty percent. Main engines at stand-by. Maneuvering thrusters at full,” Chekov reported.

“All stress points are still well within safe parameters,” reported Star.

“AG to twenty percent. Reactor to thirty-five percent. We’re kicking up dust.”

“Engineering, inertial dampeners amidships are reporting a two percent fluctuation,” Jenny said calmly.

“We’re already on it, Command, we are still ‘Go’ for launch,” Major Dommer replied.

“AG now at twenty-five percent. Reactor at thirty-seven percent. Bow coming level,” Chekov reported.

When the ship had crashed, she had ended up with the bow lower than the stern. It hadn’t been enough to hamper repairs or make living aboard difficult, especially with internal gravity, but it was noticeable if you looked at the ship externally.

Now, the ship groaned as she started to move after four-thousand plus years. There was a vibration felt through the deck plates, but Ian still felt that the old girl was doing just fine. The vibration though, was short lived as it rapidly faded away to nothing.

“AG to thirty percent. Reactor at forty percent. We’re off the Moon’s surface; altitude zero meters.”

Ian could hear the cheer without the comm; it echoed through the ship as the joyous sound was carried by the frame of the ship.

“AG at forty percent. Reactor at forty-six percent. Altitude; zero-zero-five-zero meters. Main engines coming online.”

“All stress levels are still in the safe zone,” Star reported again.

“AG at fifty-five percent, Altitude is zero-two-zero-zero meters and climbing,” Chekov reported. “Zero-two-five-zero meters; we have officially cleared the Moon’s surface.”

This time, Ian did hear the cheers, as the people in the connected departments gave voice to the announcement, before the Chiefs could call them back to order.

“AG at seventy percent. Altitude now zero-zero-zero-three kilometers. Still climbing. Main engines now at ten percent.”

“Hull torsion readings are climbing,” Star reported.

Chekov looked frustrated. They were now high enough that they could use the normal ship’s engines to pull away from the moon, but the program was supposed to take them all the way to one hundred kilometers.

“Return the main engines to stand-by, Lieutenant,” Ian ordered.

Chekov typed quickly for a moment before replying. “Main engines are dropping back to stand-by.”

“Keel torsion is dropping,” Star reported.

“Steady as she goes, Mr. Chekov,” Ian said when he saw the questioning look on the Lieutenant’s face.

“Aye sir. AG at eighty percent and holding. Reactor at seventy-five percent. Altitude zero-zero-two-nine kilometers.”

“Okay, before we stop gaining altitude, and fall back on a thick anti-grav pillow and get trapped there, I think it might be time for a slight change of plan,” Ian said.

“AG still at eighty percent. Altitude zero-zero-three-six kilometers. Our rate of climb is dropping,” Chekov reported.

“Engineering; stand-by to go to one hundred, ten percent on the reactor,” Ian ordered. A worried sounding Major Dommer acknowledged the order.

“Colonel, would you assist the Lieutenant with navigation. When this starts, don’t worry about replying to my orders, just execute them, because we’re going to have to act fast.

“Star, no matter what; do not shut down the main reactor or we’ll crash. Trust me on this; I can feel what the old girl can handle,” Ian asked.

Star looked up, into his eyes, then nodded slowly. “I’ll try to help as well.”

“Altitude zero-zero-four-four. Climb reaching apogee,” Chekov said. “We need to do this soon, sir.”

“Reactor to one hundred percent. Bow positive twenty degrees, stern negative twenty degrees. All ahead full! Stand by to disengage launch program,” Ian ordered, and both Chekov and Jenny began typing furiously.

“Keel torsion climbing rapidly!” Star reported.

“AG field to neutral. Increase yaw positive three degrees. Stand-by Engineering,”

“We’ve reached apogee and are slowly starting to lose altitude. Main engines at sixty percent, AG field is dissipating. Keel torsion is above the safety limit, but stabilizing,” Star reported.

“Disengage Launch program. Stand-by full-emergency speed,” Ian ordered and closed his eyes to feel the ship. He ‘felt’ the last of the AG field go away, and she shuddered as if shaking off the last vestiges of the program, and Ian felt it was time.

“Full-Emergency speed! Kick her in the ass, Mr. Dommer!” Ian ordered, and felt the ship shuddering for a different reason now. Far back in Main Engineering, the six massive plasma engines began pushing as hard as they could. The Main reactor, surrounded by a containment field was at the very maximum of its controllable limit.

“Rate of descent is decreasing; torsion readings are back to normal, but stress readings are climbing. Climbing a gravity well is not what she was designed for,” Star replied.

Ian smiled slightly, but kept his eyes closed to feel the ship. “Decrease pitch three degrees, and adjust course fifteen degrees starboard.”

“Rate of descent is zero. Altitude is zero-zero-three-five kilometers. We’re beginning to climb.” Star reported. “Number three plasma conduit is approaching overheat. Rate of accelerating at fifty meters per second, per second; the rate is increasing rapidly.”

“Reduce speed one-third. Reactor to one hundred percent. Steady as she goes,” Ian said grinning at Jenny.

A few moments later, or so it seemed to Ian, Star said, “Altitude zero-zero-seven five kilometers.”

“Reduce speed to one third,” Ian ordered while Star reported the altitude.

“Approaching one hundred kilometers, Commander.”

Ian nodded. “Main engines to stand-by, thrusters to station-keeping.”

“Sir, we are free and clear to navigate,” Chekov said, making it official.

“Thank you, Navigation. All departments, this is the Commander, sorry for the bumpy ride, but the best laid plans... Stand down from the launch and assume normal operations. Flight; as soon as you’ve opened back up down there, you may begin flight operations. Engineering; you may begin the removal of the AG field generators. Day watch, stand down. Night watch, you’re on; I wish you a quiet evening. Good evening folks and good work.” Ian switched off the comm. “I don’t know about you folks, but I need a beer!”

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“Y
ou’re missing a hell of a party, Ol’ Son!” Elias said, almost shouting over the background noise.

“I can hear that. There are a couple parties going on up here tonight as well. I know for a fact there’s one going on at ‘Starlight Cove’,” Ian said referring to the swimming pool that Oly and Julie Laskar built.

“Well, it’s not every day that you get to help return a Star to the heavens! Morale is through the roof down here! That was a nice bit of drama there for a bit, and it scared the hell out of all of us down here, any idea what happened?” Elias asked.

“Actually, I’m putting a commendation on file for each of the five people that got the launch program to work even as well as it did. I think Engineering should receive commendations too. What happened is we were trying to make the ship do something she was never designed to do, and she almost couldn’t do it.”

“Well, you made it, and we’re celebrating it. I sure wish you could join us, but I imagine you’ve had a long day. I just wanted to call and say Congratulations.” Elias said.

“Well, long day or not, I need to at least stop by a couple of those parties, and mingle a bit. You have fun, and have a beer for me!” Ian said.

“Will do, Ian. Have a good night.”

“Same to you, Elias, goodnight,” Ian replied and closed the connection.

––––––––

I
an, Beth and Jenny did visit the two main parties, and mingle with the crew and their families. The trio received many toasts, and was congratulated by everyone they met. Ian and his girls fell asleep almost as fast as their heads hit the pillows that night. However, Ian did wake in the middle of the night.

As was becoming his custom, he asked the computer to display a view of space, just outside the ship. He was rewarded with a view of the curve of the moon being backlit by light reflected from the Earth. Since the moon phase was three-quarters full, there was also some light from the Sun as well. The stars were brighter than he’d ever seem them; it was a majestically beautiful, awe inspiring, yet serenely peaceful, scene. He got a cup of warm tea, and sat on the couch.

He wasn’t surprised when Beth joined him with her own cup of tea. “Hi sailor, is this seat taken?”

“Yes it is. I’m holding it for the most beautiful woman in the system. Since you fit that description, I must be holding it for you,” Ian replied.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, sir. I just can’t resist a man in uniform,” Beth replied.

“I’m mostly nude, so I guess in order to stand a chance with you; I’ll need to go put my uniform on?”