What Ever it Takes.
Chapter 5.
It was two weeks into their trip to the penal planet, Herod and everybody had become resigned to their lot. There did not seem to be any way out, they all felt helpless. Sitting around the Mess table eating lunch, Owen could see the hopelessness on everyone’s faces.
Owen stood up and without warning thumped his fist onto the table, everyone looked up, “our situation is bad, there is no escaping that, but sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves is not going to solve anything. If living out the rest of our lives on the planet, Herod, in our future, so be it, but we must, must keep a look out for opportunities, and be ready to take them when they come. I want reports from each of you, Chief, I want a report on locking systems, John, a report on the crew, Turner, report on the location of Herod. The rest of you I want you to think about where we are and what we can do,” ordered Owen.
“Captain,” said the Chief, he then continued, “you know we are under surveillance.”
Owen just looked at him with his best poker face, the Chief said nothing, he just did his best to not smile.
A short time later the hatchway opened, six guards came into the Mess Hall, grabbed Owen and man handled him through the hatchway and took him to the brig. They throw him through the door way and slammed the door after him, “that’s a bit of an overreaction,” called out Owen, as he sat down on the bunk.
A few minutes later and the brig door opened and Bob walked in and sat next to Owen on the bunk.
“Hello Owen,” said Bob.
“Bob, I’d like to say I’m surprised to see you, but I can’t,” replied Owen.
“How did you know I was on board,” asked Bob.
“We are being transported on a warship, with another warship as escort, that is overkill for transporting a few prisoners to a penal planet, normally we would be transported by a lowly old transport ship, so something must be in the wind,” replied Owen.
“Your terrorist group might try to recue you,” said Bob, with a smile.
“You know as well I do that there is no terrorist group,” replied Owen.
Bob continued smiling and then said, “I have a proposition for you, Owen.”
“Is this one of those offers I want be able to refuse?” asked Owen.
“Something like that,” said Bob.
Owen just looked at Bob, the sort of look that made Bob feel uneasy before saying, “you know Bob we were once good friends, I went to your funeral.”
“I want you and your crew to travel into Alien space and collect intelligence, their numbers, level of technology, everything you can,” said Bob.
“Is that all, what do you want me to do with my other hand?” asked Owen.
“You will have the Artemis, which is loaded with our best cloakable surveillance probes, our best guess of their location and of course, your crew. In return everyone will get pardons, new identities, as well as the freedom to live anywhere you like,” said Bob.
“Sounds like a suicide mission to me,” replied Owen.
“It’s a good deal, you need to put it to your crew,” said Bob.
“Why don’t you use the military?” asked Owen.
“We were going to, but it is hard to hide military activity from our masters and then you and your crew fell into our laps, we couldn’t just let the opportunity go,” said Bob.
Owen was not convinced by Bob’s explanation but he did not press the point.
“I’ll talk to my crew about it,” replied Owen.
“Don’t take too long,” said Bob, as he got up and left the brig.
As Bob walked out, a guard came in and said, “come on, move yourself.”
Once back in the Mess Hall, sitting around the mess table, Owen outlined the deal on offer and sort comments from the crew.
“How dangerous would it be?” asked Bill.
“I would call it very dangerous, in the military it would be a volunteer’s only mission,” replied Owen.
“What are our chances?” asked Joe.
“Fifty, fifty, may be a bit better,” replied Owen.
“Why don’t we just take the ship and go back to Lark,” asked John.
“Not a bad idea but I’m sure Bob will have something preventing us from doing that, no doubt it will become clear soon enough,” replied Owen.
“How would we go about it?” asked Jones.
“We need to get as close as we can, fire ten clocked surveillance probes towards areas of interest, their planet, space stations, military bases. We would have to do this from behind a moon or planet or asteroid, wait for a few days, then recall them. Now there are many things that could go wrong, if any of the cloaks on the probes failed, we would be in trouble, if we were found, we would be in big trouble,” replied Owen, he then added, “and of course we need to get there and back without being seen.”
“On the other side of the coin, we would get our lives back, I for one, don’t want to live on a penal planet for the rest of my days,” said Helen.
Everyone said, “here, here.”
“One more thing, I don’t trust Bob, there will be a catch, you can be sure of that,” said Owen.
“Let’s take a vote,” said Bill.
Owen worked his way around the table asking each in turn and everyone said, “yes.”
Owen looked around the room, looking for the cameras and said, “well Bob, that’s a yes.”
Nothing happened for a little over twenty four hours, then the ship slowed and not long after that it came to a complete stop, and after a few moments the ship shuddered as the Merlin docked.
Everyone gathered around the Mess hall table, anxious about what was going on, there had been no contact with the guards, or any communications over the intercom for some time.
“What do you think is going on,” asked Helen.
“I don’t know,” answered Owen.
The ship shuddered as the Merlin detached and the hatchway opened. Owen moved over to the hatchway and looked out, there were no guards in the passageway. He turned around and barked out some orders, “Chief, go and check engineering, Jones, Turner, your with me, the rest of you, stay here till you hear from me.”
The Chief rushed out through the hatchway heading for engineering, Jones and turner followed through the hatchway, Owen looked back at the others and just gave a little reassuring smile, and then followed. Owen, Jones and Turner proceeded slowly to the bridge, where they found it empty. Looking at the main view screen, Owen could see the Merlin standing off to their starboard side, after a quick glance around the bridge, all seemed operational.
The Artemis’s Bridge, now fully repaired, was larger than it’s Auxiliary Bridge but, for the most part, it was laid out in the same way. It was a large circular room, the main view screen was located at the front, then the helm and navigation just in front of the main view screen, the Captains chair was just behind them, with all the other stations located around the walls.
“Jones, helm, Turner, navigation,” ordered Owen, he sat in the Captains chair and activated the intercom and continued, “Chief, report,”
“Engineering seems to be fully operational, Captain,” replied the Chief.
“Get up here, Chief,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
Still on the intercom, Owen said, “Mess Hall, everyone get up to the bridge.”
Owen looked at Turner and ordered, “determine our position.”
Owen searched the computer, checking the inventory, the ship had a full complement of surveillance probes and mines but was short on offensive missiles.
The Chief arrived onto the bridge, followed by the rest of the crew who took up their positions.
“Captain, we are just off the wreckage of the Space Traveler,” reported Turner.
The Merlin is making contact, Owen,” said Helen.
“Stall them,” replied Owen, as he looked over at John and ordered,” John, I am sending you the access number for the Merlin, hack into their computer and stand by for instructions.”
Owen then looked back at Helen and said, “put them on the main view screen.”
The main view screen flickered from forward view to the bridge of the Merlin, it was darkened and only Bob seemed to be on the bridge.
“Bob,” said Owen.
“Owen,” replied Bob.
“You look a bit lonely over there,” said Owen.
“I’m not here, I’m not talking to you, the computer is not recording this, there is no one on the bridge to see me not talking to you,” replied Bob.
“My complements to the repair team, they have done a great job repairing the Artemis’s bridge,” said Owen.
“I’ll pass it on,” replied Bob.
“What do you want, Bob,” asked Owen.
“All you need to know is in your computer, all the details of what you are expected to do, it’s all self explanatory,” replied Bob, who paused for a moment before adding, “there is some irony in our location, the Space Traveler was the first ship destroyed by these nonexistent Aliens.
“The first?” replied Owen.
“There has been four all up, the Space Traveler, Space Adventurer, Space Explorer and of course the Space Odyssey.” said Bob.
“I thought the Adventurer and Explorer just disappeared without trace,” replied Owen.
“They did, sort of, take my word for it, it was these Aliens,” said Bob, he then continued, “they seem to be raiders, just after tech and resorses, they strike on average every fifty years, give or take, we don’t know all that much about them.”
“Why hasn’t something been done before now?” asked Owen.
“There has been, we have sent missions into their space before, but no one ever comes back, and you know what it’s like, fifty years is a long time between drinks,” said Bob.
Owen just looked at Bob for a moment, taking it all in, before saying, “What’s stopping me, Bob, from taking this ship anywhere I want?”
“Thanks for reminding me, Owen, I all most forgot, you all have been infected, through the air supply, with a fatal disease, Anx12, it’s an old germ warfare disease, and I’m the only one with a cure, so you better do what your told or you’ve only got about three months to live, give or take a few days,” replied Bob.
Owen looked around the bridge at the faces of his crew, he looked a bit longer at John, who much to Owens relieve, understood what he had to do. Owen looked back at the main view screen, while John got on with looking for the cure to the disease in the Merlin’s computer.
Owen needed to buy John some time so he said to Bob, “looking through the Artemis’s inventory, I seem to be lacking offensive missiles, I might need some of them,” said Owen.
“You will have to make do without them,” replied Bob.
“No, I don’t think so, Bob, I’m not going anywhere without some,” said Owen.
“You’ve got no option, Owen,” replied Bob.
“We could just sit here for three months,” said Owen.
The link to the Merlin cut off and the main view screen went back to the forward view.
Owen looked over at John, who was looking at his computer screen, after a moment he looked up and said, “got it.”
“Send it down to Sick Bay,” ordered Owen, he then looked over at Bill and Joan and continued, “get down to Sick Bay, study that data, I need to know if you can make the antidote and for that matter check that we have been infected with something.”
Four missiles were ejected into space from the Merlin, as it accelerated away at high speed.
“Chief, recall those missiles,” ordered Owen.
Owen studied his screen for a few moments before touching his panel and saying, “Turner, I’m sending you our destination, set a course,” he then looked at Jones and continued, “once those missiles are aboard and when you ready get under way, Jones, set speed at M8.5, strap in everyone.”
After a minute or two, Turner touched his panel, Jones then took hold of the joy stick, touched his panel and manipulated the joy stick. The Artemis turned through ninety degrees and increased speed, quickly climbing to M8.5.
“Turner, estimate on time to destination?” asked Owen
“Two weeks, Captain,” replied Turner.
“Go to auto pilot when ready, Jones,” ordered Owen.
Owen looked around the bridge, at the faces of the crew, it was like the events of the last weeks had never happened, everyone was at their stations as if they had been there all their lives.
“Attention everybody, I need two on the bridge at all times, I will make up a roster as soon as I can. Jones, Turner, you can take the first shift, the rest of you can study our mission, I will listen to options after lunch tomorrow.” ordered Owen.
The next morning, Owen and Helen were sitting in the ward room, just trying to have some time away from the others when the intercom crackled into life, it was Bill, “Captain, can you come to Sick Bay?” asked Bill.
Owen activated the intercom and replied, “I’ll be right there.”
“Can I come with you,” asked Helen.
“Yes off course,” said Owen.
They made their way to Sick Bay hoping that Bill and Joan had worked out how to make an antidote for the disease that they all were infected with.
Passing through the hatchway into Sick Bay, Owen and Helen could see Bill and Joan sitting at a station, Bill touched a panel, a large screen on the wall activated and a chemical equation came up.
“Well, to start with, we are infected with Anx12, now do you want the good, the bad or the ugly news?” asked Bill.
“The good news,” said Owen.
“I know how to make the antidote,” replied Bill.
“OK, what’s the bad news?” asked Owen.
“One of the elements I need to do so, is not on this ship,” replied Bill.
“It’s made from the root of a rare plant that grows on the planet Yak,” said Joan.
Owen activated the intercom and said, “Jones, Turner, change course for the planet Yak, maintain speed at M8.5.”
“Yak will be in winter by now, it will be near on impossible to get some roots of the plant, what’s it called?” asked Helen.
“Macky bush,” replied Joan.
“We’ll work that out when we get there,” said Owen.
“OK, Bill, what’s the ugly news?” asked Owen.
“I noticed something odd about this diseases equation, so I checked it against the equation, on file and it is a bit different, see the last six symbols,” Bill pointed at the symbols on the screen, he then continued, “there added on. They don’t change it as far as we are concerned, the antidote will still work but what’s with these extra symbols? Then it downed on my, this is for the Aliens, this will kill them,” said Bill.
“The Aliens would have to come into contact with one of us alive or, our died bodies within a few hours of death,” said Joan.
“This is a suicide mission, we are suppose to get court,” said Owen.
Owen activated the intercom and ordered, “Jones, Turner, return to our original course, maintain speed,” he then added, “everybody to the bridge.”
“Captain, one more thing before you go,” said Bill.
“There’s more,” replied Owen.
“Yes,” said Bill, before continuing, “the disease has side effects, we are all going to get more emotional, you can expect the crew to get argumentative, and the couples might start spending a lot of time together, if you get my meaning. As time goes on, arguments will become physical altercations. Three months is hypothetical, we will have killed each other before then.”
“Thanks for that, Bill, it’s like the icing on the cake,” replied Owen, as he head off towards the bridge.
With everybody on the bridge, Owen informed them, that they had been double crossed and that they were on a one way mission.
“It would seem that we were also being use to wipe out the Aliens by germ war fare, the disease we carry would will kill them as well, but to catch it they would need to come into contact with one of use, dead or alive.” said Owen.
“I for one don’t want to wipe out an Alien species with germ war fare, I don’t care what they have done,” said Joan.
“Even if it was necessary, it should not be done by setting us up, and then sending us on some sort of one way trip. Not by some shadowy secrete person called Bob,” said Bill.
Everyone started talked amongst themselves, and taking over each other. Owen stood up said in his best forceful military voice, “quite.”
They all just sat at their stations, in silence for a few moments contemplating their situation.
“Let’s take a vote, all those in favor of not dying for the course of wiping out the Alien, put your hand in the air,” said Owen, after a moment he continued, “carried unanimously.”
“As the good Doctor said to me a short time ago, one more thing, this disease has side effects, apparently we are going to get emotional, I expect everyone to, keep it under control,” said Owen.
Owen then pointed out that the ship was more than likely being tracked and that was why they were still on course towards Alien space.
“Chief, check the surveillance probes for tracking devices, oh, and check the cloak, make sure their not faulty,” ordered Owen, he then turned to Bill and Joan and asked, “is there anything you can do about the antidote without the root from the Macky bush?”
“Yes, there is a lot we can do, we can get it to the point where we would just have to add the Macky bush root,” said Bill.
“You two get on with that,” Owen then looked at Jones, and continued, “Jones I need you to stay on the bridge,” he then looked around the bridge at everybody and continued, “the rest of you, I want this ship searched from top to bottom, with a fine tooth comb. You’re looking for, tracking devices, communication devices, homing beacons, anything that can be used to track us, go with the Chief he will issue you with scanners and tools. Split yourselves into two teams, one start from the front of the ship and the other from the rear, take your time, these devices will be well hidden.”
Owen sat down in the Captains chair and looked at the main view screen for a few moments.
“Jones, is there any large asteroids, planets, or moons close by along our course?” asked Owen.
Jones check the space chart and said, “yes Captain, a few hours ahead there is a large asteroid.”
“When we get there we will be maneuvering around to its dark side and coming to a complete stop, so prepare yourself for that maneuver,” said Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied Jones.
“The bridge is your, Jones, let me know when we are coming up on that asteroid,” ordered Owen, as he left the bridge and made his way to the air lock. He spent some time checking one of the space suits, making sure it was fully operational and that the air tanks were full. He had just checking the space suit when the intercom crackled into life.
“Captain,” said John.
“Yes, John,” replied Owen.
“I’ve found one, it’s in the rear storage bay,” said John.
“Is it active?” asked Owen.
“Yes, it’s transmitting on 5.8 hertz,” said John.
“Is it fastened down?” asked Owen.
“No, it’s just hidden behind a storage unit,” replied John.
“Take it to engineering and give it to the Chief, then resume the search, well done, John,” said Owen.
Owen activated the intercom and said, “Chief, John’s bring you a tracking device, ready a decoy missile.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief, he then added, “Captain, the cloaks on the surveillance probes are all faulty, it’s a deliberate fault, the cloak would of turned off after a few hours, giving away our position.”
“Can you repair the fault,” asked Owen.
“Yes, Captain, it’s a two minute fix,” replied the Chief.
“Repair one of them, Chief,” ordered Owen.
“Captain, you know there could be tracking devices on the outer hull,” said the Chief.
“It’s in hand, Chief,” replied Owen.
The intercom crackled to life again, “yes,” said Owen.
“I’ve found a tracking device Captain,” said Turner.
“Is it active,” asked Owen.
“Yes, Captain and Captain, it’s fused to the bulk head,” replied Turner.
“You will need to trick it into thinking it’s still fused to the bulk head before you can remove it, do you know how to do that?” asked Owen.
“I have done it in training Captain, but never in the real world,” said Turner.
“Were you successful in training?” asked Owen.
“No, Captain,” replied Turner.
“Well you will be this time, once you have removed it, take it to engineering and give it to the Chief and then continue the search,” ordered Owen, he then added, “good luck.”
“Thank you, Captain,” replied Turner.
Turner opened a small access panel on the tracking device, connected one end of a small jump wire to the circuit board and the other end to a piece of metal. He then slid a thin sheet of metal between the bulk head and the tracking device. The tracking devices came away from the bulk head but continued transmitting. Turner sighed with relief as he headed toward engineering with the tracking device.
Jones came on the intercom and said, “Captain, we are approaching the asteroid.”
“Slow to M1 and take up a position on the dark side of the asteroid, let me know when the ship is in position.
“Yes, Captain,” said Jones.
Owen activated the intercom and said, “hold tight everyone we are just going to go through some sharp maneuvers.”
Once the ship had completed the maneuver, Owen made his way back to the bridge, on getting there he sat in the Captains chair.
“Captain,” said Jones, who then added, “the ship is stationary.”
“Thank you, Jones,” said Owen with a wry smile, he then added, “hold this position and then launch a type six surveillance probe.”
The ship gave a shudder as the probe launched.
“Give me control of the probe, Jones,” ordered Owen, he then continued, “put probe eye view on the main view screen.”
Using a small joy stick mounted on the Captain’s chairs, arm rest, Owen maneuvered the probe up and down the length of the ship, slowly scanning the outer hull. After the seventh pass the probe detected a tracking device located near the front missile launcher. Owen continued scanning and on his last pass along the underside of the ship he found another tracking device, located near one of the landing strut hatches. Owen activated the return program for the surveillance probe, letting it return automatically.
Owen activated the intercom and said, “Chief, meet me in the air lock.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
“Jones, you have the bridge, hold the ship in the location, I’m going outside, so keep it steady,” ordered Owen.
Owen made his way to the air lock and started getting into the space suit as the Chief arrived in the air lock.
“Captain, I should be the one going outside, space walks are, by their nature, dangerous,” said the Chief.
“When did you last do a space walk, Chief?” asked Owen as he continued getting into the space suit.
“A long time ago, when did you?” asked the Chief as he helped Owen with the space suit.
“A long time ago,” replied Owen.
“The tracking devices will be fused to the hull, you will need these,” said the Chief as he fitted a tool belt to Owen.
They ran through the final space walk check list before the Chief said, “all ready,”
Owen looked through his visor at the Chief and said, “if things go wrong, get the crew to safety.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
Owen stepped through the hatchway, which closed after him, he touched a panel and the air was sucked out. With no air in the air lock, Owen touched a panel and the outer doors opened and he walked to the edge and climbed out. He clipped his safety cable to one of the rails that ran along the ship and started pulling himself along towards the front missile launcher.
It did not take long to locate the tracking device but removing it would be more challenging. He opened the cover panel on the tracking device, exposing the circuit board, he then attached a wire to the circuit board with a clip and the other end to a metal tool on his tool belt. He then tried to slide a thin piece of metal between the tracking device and the hull, but it didn’t work, it was fused solid. He attached another wire to a different part of the circuit board and then studied the circuit board for a few moments.
Activating his radio, Owen asked, “Chief, which connection activates the disconnect circuit?”
“The blue one,” replied the Chief.
Owen touched the wire onto the blue connector and the tracking device let go from the hull. Owen was not holding it and it started to drift away but he managed to catch it before it got out of reach. He placed it in a bag secured around his waist and then made his way back along the ship.
The other tracking device was under the ship so he had to change his safety cable to a different rails. He pulled himself along the rail till he was under the ship, where he had to change rails again, he pulled himself along this rail till he got to the landing struts outer door.
He followed the same process to remove this tracking device and then made his way back to the air lock. With the outer door of the air lock closed, the air lock filled with air, which took a few minutes, a green light came on indicating that the air lock was full of air, he then opened the inner hatchway. Once safely back inside the ship, Owen gave the tracking devices to the Chief and said, “put these and the others in the decoy missile and ready it for launch.”
The chief headed to engineering while, Owen made his way to the bridge. On arriving, Owen sat in the Captains chair and just took stock for a few moments before ordering, Jones to, “resume original course and speed.”
Owen activated the intercom and said, “Turner, report.”
“No more tracking devices found yet, Captain, may be another ten minutes before we will be complete,” replied Turner.
“John, report,” ordered Owen.
“No more found, Captain,” replied John.
“How long before you will be finished?” asked Owen.
“Fifteen minutes Captain,” replied John.
“Captain,” said Turner, he then, with some hesitation, added, “I’ve found an explosive device.”
“Where are you?” asked Owen.
“Storage room next to the armory, Captain,” replied Turner.
“I’ll be right down,” said Owen, he then added, “Chief, to the armory.”
Owen rushed toward the armory but as he left the bridge he said to Jones, “maintain course and speed.”
Owen arrived at the armory to find the Chief already there, Owen looked at the explosive device it and said, “what is that?”
“It’s an old dumb mine, they had no technology, just a primitive fuse, but this one has been modified with a remotely activated fuse,” said the Chief.
“Can you make it safe?” asked Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
Owen had a close look at the explosive device and said, “this was in case we managed to return, they would of used this to destroy use. Once you make it safe, move it down to waist disposal, but we’ll keep it on board for now, it might come in handy.”
“Turner, when you and your team finish scanning, come up to the bridge,” ordered Owen.
Owen made his way back to the bridge, sat in the Captains chair and waited and enjoyed a few minutes of peace, but it didn’t last long, may be ten minutes. Turner, Grant and Joe came onto the bridge and took up there station, followed not long after by, John, Helen and Andrew. The Chief arrived about ten minutes later and reported, “all ready Captain.” Bill and Joan were in sick bay.
“Chief, launch decoy missile on our current course, Jones bring us to a complete stop,” ordered Owen.
The ship shuddered as the decoy missile launched and the ship came to a stop. Everyone watched the main view screen as the decoy missile disappeared into the blackness of space.
“Turner, set a course for the planet Yak, Jones come about and set speed at M8.5, when you’re ready gentlemen, strap in and hang on everybody,” ordered Owen.
The ship turned about and accelerated away, building speed till it reached M8.5.
“How long to Yak, Turner?” asked Owen.
“A little over a week, Captain,” replied Turner.
“We can relax for a while now, I want two people on the bridge at all times, I will make up a roster, thanks for all your hard work,” said Owen.
Helen came over and stood next to Owen as he sat in the Captains chair, she took his hand, he looked at her, smiled and said, “thanks.”
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