What Ever it Takes.
Chapter 7.
As the Artemis travelled at M8.5 towards the rouge planet, Artful, Owen, while sitting in the captain’s chair, addressed the crew on the bridge.
“During our transit from the planet Lark to Station Aga the Chief and I launched a communications probe containing all the data from the Artemis computer relating to the destruction of the Space Odyssey. This communications probe was programmed for a soft landing on the planet Artful. The same information stored in the probe was deleted from the Artemis computer and a communications probe I sent to Station Aga after the destruction of the Space Odyssey. This data proves we were not responsible for the destruction of the Space Odyssey,” said Owen.
“No one is going to listen to us now, the data will be destroyed just like the others,” said John, who then added, “let’s just go to Lark.”
“I’m not saying, we shouldn’t go to Lark, we should definitely go to Lark. I’m just think that it would be a good idea to retrieve the data, load it into the ships computer, copy it into a communications probe and launch in the direction of one of the breakaway planets. It might get some traction on Tiral or Manx,” said Owen.
“I think Owens right, we don’t know what the future holds, so it might come in useful,” said Bill.
“We could program the communications probe to travel at a slow speed, so that it takes a year or more to get to Tiral or Manx,” said the Chief.
“Why not send one to each planet?” said Bill.
“OK, I can see the benefit, let’s do it,” said John.
“Is everyone happy with this course of action?” asked Owen.
Some said, “yes,” while others just nodded.
“Jones, maintain course and speed,” ordered Owen, he then continued with, “I want two on the bridge at all times, I will post a roster.” Owen then looked around the bridge at the crew, they seemed deflated and tired. Owen then asked Turner, “how long to Artful?”
“Four days, Captain,” replied Turner.
Jones and Turner stayed at their stations while the rest of the crew headed to the mess hall or their cabins, Owen stayed on the bridge. Helen came over to Owen, took his hand and said, “I’ll see you in the mess hall.”
Owen looked at her, he could see that, like the rest of the crew, she was tired and just wanted to get of this merry go round. So he said, “we are just about there, not long to go.”
Helen left the bridge while Owen stayed for a while longer making up a roster for the crew.
“Turner, keep sensors at full range, we are not in a busy part of space but it’s not empty either,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied Turner.
Owen left the bridge and made his way to the Mess hall.
The next four days were uneventful as the Artemis traveled through space, they saw no other ships and no other ships saw them. The crew went through the motions, doing what was required, but that was all. The realization that they were never going home had sunk in, and that a new, somewhat uncertain future awaited them on Lark. John on the other hand, was very upbeat about the prospect of going to Lark.
Everybody were on the bridge, except for Bill and Joan who were in Sick Bay, as the ship approached the planet Artful, a rouge planet drifting through space.
“We are coming up on Artful, Captain,” said Turner, from the navigation station.
“Jones, slow to M2.5,” ordered Owen.
Jones disengaged the auto pilot and slowed the ship.
“Captain, there is another ship in orbit,” said Joe, who was sitting at the tactical station.
“Can you identify it,” asked Owen.
“Not yet, Captain,” replied Joe.
“Increase magnification on the main view screen,” ordered Owen.
“Their scanning the planet, Captain,” said Joe, she paused for a moment then added, “it’s an old type 9 pleasure ship, it’s the Digger.”
“Those miners,” said the Chief.
“Give them a wide birth, stay outside their scanner range, Jones,” ordered Owen.
“The communications probe is on the other side of the planet, Captain,” said the Chief.
“Thank you, Chief,” said Owen, he then added, “Jones, maneuvered around to the far side of the planet and take up a stationary orbit.”
Jones maneuvered the ship in a large ark around the planet, keeping out of range of the Digger’s scanners, before approaching the planet from opposite side to the Digger. With the ship in a stationary orbit, Owen ordered Joe to, “scan for the communications probe.”
Joe activated the scanner and slowly started scanning the surface of the planet.
“Put it on the main view screen,” ordered Owen, he then turned to the Chief and continued, “Chief, launch a surveillance probe, I want to keep an eye on what those miners are up to.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
The ship gave its familiar shudder as the surveillance probe launch and spiraled out into space.
“Grant, monitor the transmission from the surveillance probe, tell me if those miners change course,” ordered Owen.
“Captain, those old MK 2 Communications probe don’t transmit very far,” said the Chief, he then continued, “once we find it, we’re going to have to get in pretty close to up load any data.”
“How close?” asked Owen.
“Five hundred meters,” replied the Chief.
“That is close,” he paused for a moment, then added, “Jones, are you up to getting that close to the planet and then maintaining that position for,” asked Owen, who then asked the Chief, “how long will the up load take, Chief?”
“Three minutes, Captain,” answered the Chief.
Owen then continued, “three minutes, Jones.”
“No problem, Captain,” said Jones.
Joe continued scanning the surface of the planet without any success while Grant kept a close watch on the mining ship, the Digger. After completing a search pattern in the area where the communications probe was thought to be, Joe expanded the search area, and continued the search.
“Captain,” said Grant, who paused for a moment, before then continuing, “the mining ship, Digger has changed course.”
“Put it on the main view screen,” ordered Owen.
The main view screen went from a view of the planet search area to view from the surveillance probe. The Digger was moving slowly on a course that would eventually bring their sensors into range of the Artemis.
“If they stay on their current course, how long before they detect us?” asked Owen.
“Thirty minutes, Captain,” replied Grant.
“Keep an eye on them,” ordered Owen, he then asked, “anything, Joe?”
“Nothing yet, Captain,” replied Joe.
“Main viewer back to planet view,” ordered Owen.
The main viewer flicked back to the view of the planet surface.
“Captain,” said Andrew, he then added with some excitement in his voice, “top right hand corner.”
Owen looked closely at the area Andrew indicated, “what is that?” asked John.
“Turner, magnify the top right hand corner of the main view screen,” ordered Owen.
The main view screen went blurry for a moment before refocusing on an item in the top corner of the screen.
“Scan that area, Joe,” ordered Owen.
Joe adjusted the scanner on the area and her panel lit up, and she said, “that’s it, we have found it.”
“Well done everyone,” said Owen.
“Grant, how long before the Digger can see up?” asked Owen.
“Fifteen minutes,” replied Grant.
“Jones, take the ship to within five hundred meters of that probe,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied Jones.
“Turner, restore the main view screen to normal magnification, and adjust proximity alarms to five hundred meters,” ordered Owen.
Jones, taking a firm hold of the joy stick, slowly maneuvered the ship closer to the planet coursing the stress level on the bridge to climb. The main view screen was filled with a close up view of the planet surface, making it feel like they were about to crash. The ship started to experience turbulence as it got closer to the planet and then the proximity alarm sounded.
“Chief, activate the probe, Helen, try to make contact with it,” ordered Owen.
“It’s responding, Owen,” said Helen, she then added, “It’s a strong signal.”
“Start up loading data,” ordered Owen.
“Hold it steady, Jones,” ordered Owen, as the ship shook due to turbulence from their proximity to the planet.
Owen continued with, “how long before the Digger sees us, Grant?”
“Four minutes, Captain,” replied Grant.
“Up load complete,” said Helen.
“Jones, back us away from the planet, to three thousand meters,” ordered Owen, he then continued, “John, target that probe, launch a type one missile when ready.”
The ship shuddered as the missile launch and seconds later an explosion could be seen on the main view screen as it impacted with the communication probe on the surface of the planet.
“Two minutes, Captain,” said Grant.
“Turner, plot a course away from the Digger, keep the planet between us and them, Ordered Owen, then adding, “Jones, when you’re ready.”
Looking over at the Chief, Owen ordered, “Chief, activate the self destruction on the surveillance probe.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief.
Staying at three thousand meters, the ship followed a course around the planet till it was well out of scanner range of the Digger.
Turner, plot a new course to the planet Lark,” ordered Owen, he then continued, “Jones, when you’re ready, set speed at M8.5, strap in everybody.”
The ship turned and gathered speed till it was at M8.5.
“Go to auto pilot when ready, Jones,” ordered Owen.
Everyone relaxed just a bit, as they were now on course for the planet Lark.
“Chief, prepare two type eight communication probes for launch,” ordered Owen, who then turned to Helen and continued, “when the Chief has them ready, can you copy all the data we just up loaded to the two communication probes.”
“What destination coordinates, Captain?” asked the Chief.
“The planets, Tiral and Manx, and set the speed at M0.5, they will be in transit for a good year at that speed,” ordered Owen, he paused for a moment before adding, “and Chief, program them to start transmitting as soon as they make orbit.”
The Chief smiled and said, “Yes, Captain,” as he headed towards engineering.
“One more thing, Chief, manipulate the time stamp, make it look like they were launched during our original transit from Lark to Station Aga,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief as he left the Bridge.
The Artemis continued at M8.5 towards Lark for the next day passing through empty space. Sitting in the Captain’s chair, Owen looked at the main view screen, it showed nothing, only some very distance stars. Jones was at the helm, while Turner as at navigation.
Owen activated the intercom and said, “Chief, are those communication probes ready to launch?”
The Chief replied, “yes, Captain.”
“Jones, bring the ship to a complete stop,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied Jones, who disengaged the auto pilot, the ship slowed and came to a complete stop.
“Launch when ready, Chief,” ordered Owen.
The ship shuddered as each communication probe launched and spiraled away into space. The bridge crew watched them disappear into space.
“Hold this position, Jones,” ordered Owen, he then activated the intercom and continued, “Chief, I think it time we got rid of that old explosive mine.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied, the Chief, who then added, “do you want me to load it into the waist extraction system?”
“Yes, Chief, let me know when you’re ready,” ordered Owen.
About ten minutes later the Chief came onto the intercom and said, “ready, Captain.”
“Hold, Chief, I want the communication probes to be well away before setting of such a large explosion, I will let you know,” ordered Owen.
Over an hour passed, with the Artemis stationary in space, before Owen activated the intercom and said, “Chief, eject the waist when read.”
“Yes, Captain,” replied the Chief, as he activated the waist ejection system.
“Jones, move us away from the waist field at M0.5,” ordered Owen.
The ship moved slowly away from the waist field, as Owen ordered, “give me rear view on the main view screen.”
The main view screen changed from front view to rear view, showing a small amount of waist plus the explosive mine.
“Turner, take over the weapons station,” ordered Owen.
Turner moved from the navigation station to the weapons station and said, “ready, Captain.”
“Target the explosive mine with a type one missile, but hold for my order,” ordered Owen.
After a few minutes Owen continued, “distance to waist field?”
“One hundred km’s, Captain,” replied Turner.
“Firer when ready,” ordered Owen.
The ship gave a slight shudder as the missile launch and tailed off towards the waist field, then it hit, and the mine exploded in a flash of light.
“Resume course to Lark, set speed at M8.5, activate auto pilot when ready,” ordered Owen, he then activated the intercom and added, “strap in everybody.”
The crew enjoyed some down time as the ship continued on course for Lark.
One day out from the planet Lark, Owen came onto the bridge, Joe and Grant were on duty, Joe on the Helm while Grant was at the navigation station.
“Deactivate auto pilot and slow to M2.5, Joe,” ordered Owen.
Owen activated the intercom and asked, “Chief, how many surveillance probes do we have left?”
The intercom crackled into life, “ten,” replied the Chief.
“Ready eight for launch, I am sending you the coordinates for their locations. I want to set up an early warning net, just in case we get some unwelcome visits in the future,” said Owen.
“Will do, Captain,” replied the Chief.
Owen pressed some buttons on his panel, sending the Chief the deployment pattern for the surveillance probes.
Ten minutes later the Chief came onto the intercom and said, “ready for launch, Captain.”
“Thanks, Chief, launch when ready,” ordered Owen.
The ship shuddered each time a surveillance probe launched, the Bridge crew watched as each one tailed off into space, setting up a sensor net on the two likely approaches to the planet Lark. One from the Home World and one from the Station Aga.
With all the surveillance probes launched, the Artemis resumed its course to the planet Lark, at M8.5.
With the planet Lark only an hour away, Owen called everybody to the bridge. They slowly arrived and took up their stations, not that they were all needed, landing the Artemis fell mostly on the shoulders of Jones and Turner. But Owen wanted everybody there as it represented pivotal moment for all of them.
For some it was a sad time, through no fault of their own they were being forced to start a new life on a breakaway planet, for others, it was the start of a great new life, an adventure. For all of them it meant that their old lives were in the past and their new lives were about to start.
Owen felt he should address the crew, say something motivational, something with depth and meaning, but before he could, Bill stood up and said, “Attention everyone,” he paused for a moment as everybody turned to look at him, he then continued, “we are about to start a new life, I strangely recommend that you all embrace it, look at it as a life renewal, we have a great opportunity to make a great life for ourselves on this planet. It may not be what we were planning or what we wanting but it’s what we have, so as someone once said, bite of more than you can chew and chew like mad.”
“Thank you, Bill,” said Owen, as Bill sat down, Owen then added, “Our new lives will not be without its dangers, specially for us men, so be careful.”
“Coming up on the planet Lark, Captain,” said Turner.
“Disengage auto pilot and slow to M1.5,” ordered Owen, he then added, keep a low approach towards the southern hemisphere, making sure those satellites don’t see us. Take us back to where we were last time, strap in and hang on everybody, the ship is all your, Jones.”
Jones had come a long way as helmsman but this would be his first time landing the ship on a planet. Jones took hold of the joy stick and disengaged the auto pilot. The planet Lark loomed large on the main view screen as the ship changed course, taking a low approach, heading for the southern hemisphere.
The ship started shaking and vibrating as it entered the atmosphere and then after a few moments it slowed and turned to port. The main viewer showed clear sky’s as they continued to lose height getting closer and closer towards an ocean below. The ship continued to lose height as Jones guided it towards the coast, he leveled out at five hundred meters just as they crossed the coast line.
They continued inland for one hundred and fifty km’s on course for the landing location, making sure they kept clear of all settlements.
Approaching the landing area the ship turned and descended, hovered for a moment, while the landing struts extended, before continuing to descend, until a loud thud and that was that, the ship was on the ground.
“Shut down engines, Chief,” ordered Owen, he paused for a moment as if he was relieved and then added, “cut power to a minimum.”
“Yes Captain,” replied the Chief.
“Joe, launch two surveillance probes, one each to the top of the hills either side of us,” ordered Owen.
“Yes, Captain,” replied Joe.
“OK, everybody out, we need to get the camouflage net in place as soon as possible,” ordered Owen.
Helen came over to Owen and said, “well, a new life starts.”
“A good life I hope,” replied Owen. He then stood up and with Helen started walking towards the hatchway, he then turned and added, “Joe, stay on the bridge and monitor the surveillance probes.”
Joe, who was heading out to help put up the camouflage net looked disappointed but said, “yes, Captain.”
Owen and Helen continued through the hatchway.
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