The Lost Fleet: Into the Darkness Page 8

  “It should be,” Commander Grissim said. “We’ve slowed down considerably in hyperspace to allow the other ships to pace us.”

  “They don’t have the advanced hyperdrive like we do,” Lieutenant Parker pointed out from the hyperdrive console. “We can travel at nearly a light-year every two minutes when it’s fully engaged. At the moment, the best speed we can make is a light-year every five minutes due to the drives the other ships are using.”

  “We didn’t have time to update them,” Kathryn explained. “It would have been a major job to tear out the old hyperdrives and build new ones based on the experimental hyperdrive the Distant Horizon uses.”

  “Any new ships we build will have the upgraded drive,” Clarissa said. The battlecruiser Gaia back on the Clan Protector was equipped with it. She was standing to the admiral’s left. “Ariel and I have already prepared the new designs for our other ships, and the Altons on the science vessels are confirming the new construction blueprints.”

  “Unfortunately, this may be the last time we come out of our protective nebula,” Kathryn said with a sad look in her eyes. She would miss flying the Distant Horizon between the stars. “Once we launch the probe it will be best if we avoid further contact with the Simulins. It might be quite some time before we venture out of the nebula again.”

  “What about the AI ships Admiral Strong is using to monitor the Sigma System?” asked Colonel Leon. “There are four on station using long-range sensors to watch the system.”

  “Eventually even that will be stopped,” Kathryn replied. “Someday the Simulins will figure out we’re hiding our ships in the atmosphere of gas giants so they will remain undetected.”

  She let out a deep sigh. Most of her adult life had been dedicated to the fleet. It was difficult to imagine being pinned down to one solar system and not traveling the galaxy, but they had to do whatever it took to survive. They were in a hostile galaxy and vastly outnumbered.

  “Sensor scans are in,” reported Captain Reynolds. “Star is an orange main sequence spectral class K. It’s slightly smaller than Sol. I’m only picking up two planets and they’re in extreme orbits.”

  “Frozen balls of ice,” commented Colonel Leon as she gazed at the data. “Not a very friendly system for life.”

  “Also absent of any Simulins,” said Kathryn, her eyes gazing at the viewscreen.

  “I just hope our luck holds,” added Commander Grissim. “We still have seven more transitions to make before we reach the nebula.”

  As the others returned to their duties, Clarissa stepped closer to Andram and Kelsey. She had modified her figure slightly so her hips and breasts were no longer so pronounced. “There’s a lot of energy being given off by the blue giant stars in the nebula.”

  “Yes, there is,” replied Andram, looking at Clarissa curiously. “It would be an ideal spot to build energy gathering capacitor stations if we ever wanted to make the attempt to return home.”

  “You think it’s possible?” asked Kelsey in surprise. She’d been preparing herself to spend the rest of her life on Gaia. It never occurred to her there still might be a possibility of going back.

  “It would take a few years, but the energy is definitely there.”

  “There may be a problem,” Clarissa said poignantly. “If the Simulins travel between galaxies as we suspect, they could have a substantial presence in this nebula. With the energy available from the blue giants it would make an ideal base of operations for them.”

  Kelsey leaned back in her chair, her eyes growing wide with concern. “The Simulins,” she repeated. “I thought they would be at the black hole in the galaxy’s center.”

  “It’s safer in the nebula,” Clarissa said in an even voice. “Why risk the high gravity near the black hole when you have all of this energy being generated by hundreds of blue giants?”

  “Andram, is what Clarissa’s saying possible?”

  Andram’s brow creased in thought. He then turned and spoke to Shilum over his mini-comm. For several minutes, the two held an animated conversation. Finally Andram turned back toward Kelsey. “It’s highly likely,” he said with some anxiety in his voice. “If the Simulins are traveling regularly between galaxies, they could indeed have a major presence in the nebula.”

  “Does Jeremy know?” asked Kelsey, speaking to Clarissa.

  “Ariel is informing him of our suspicions even as we speak,” Clarissa replied. Anytime the Distant Horizon was out of hyperspace it was easy for the two AIs to communicate with one another.

  “How will this affect the mission?”

  “It shouldn’t,” Clarissa responded. Her deep blue eyes focused on Kelsey. “It won’t take us very long to deploy the capacitor stations and the vortex generators. Once they’re in position, we can activate the vortex ring and send the probe through.”

  “How long?” Kelsey persisted. If there were Simulins in the nebula, then their mission had just become much more dangerous.

  “Six to ten hours,” Clarissa responded. “If everything goes according to plan.”

  Kelsey took a deep breath. That was six to ten hours in which the Simulins could find the task force. Standing up, Kelsey motioned for Clarissa to follow her. “We need to inform Rear Admiral Barnes of this. If we find a suitable star, the Distant Horizon will be jumping in first. She needs to know what might be waiting for us.”

  -

  Jeremy closed his eyes and shook his head. It seemed like their plans to use the blue giants was going to be just as dangerous as traveling to the black hole.

  “Do we go ahead?” asked Commander Malen. She had listened as Ariel explained the possible danger of a major Simulin presence in the nebula.

  “I think we have to,” Jeremy responded with a deep sigh. “We’ve come this far, and I don’t want to turn back without knowing what’s in the nebula.”

  “I assume Clarissa has informed Rear Admiral Barnes of what might lie ahead?” asked Commander Malen.

  “Clarissa and Kelsey are doing that now,” Ariel replied. Her eyes seemed to focus sharply for a moment and then she continued. “I don’t think Rear Admiral Barnes is pleased. She’s asking Clarissa a lot of detailed questions about the Simulins and what they might be doing in the nebula.”

  Jeremy looked at the viewscreens on the front wall of the Command Center. Most were focused on the stars and one was showing a magnified view of the nebula, which glowed a light red on the screen.

  “We’ll jump in, emplace our equipment, send the probe and then leave as soon as we can.”

  “We could leave the capacitor stations and the vortex generators behind,” Ariel was quick to point out. “That would reduce our time in the nebula by several hours.”

  “It’s an option,” Jeremy conceded. He didn’t really want to leave the equipment as it had taken several months to construct.

  “Angela, get me the Command AI on the comm. I need to inform it of the danger we may be jumping into.”

  “The AIs could jump first when we reach the nebula,” suggested Kevin, looking over at Jeremy.

  “The Distant Horizon is better suited for such a jump,” Jeremy reminded Kevin, shaking his head at his long time friend. He knew Kevin had no love for the AIs. Unfortunately, there were many in the fleet that felt the same way. It would take years before the AIs were fully accepted.

  “It was just a suggestion,” answered Kevin, turning to check his sensor screens. Eleven friendly green icons were displayed. Four of them were the massive fifteen hundred-meter AI spheres.

  Once the Command AI was on the comm, Jeremy quickly explained the possible danger they might be jumping into. The Command AI took a few moments to consult with several of its science AIs and then informed Jeremy they agreed the Simulins might have a significant presence in the nebula. They also saw no reason to cancel the mission.

  Once he was finished speaking to the Command AI, Jeremy contacted Rear Admiral Barnes and held a brief conversation with her. All they had at this time was conjecture and
no hard evidence the Simulins would be in the nebula, but it would be wise to take precautions.

  “What about Grayseth?” asked Commander Malen. She glanced at one of the viewscreens showing the Carethian battleship Warrior’s Pride.

  “Contact the Warrior’s Pride,” Jeremy said to Angela.

  In moments Jeremy was explaining to his large friend what might be waiting for them in the nebula.

  “It is the way of the hunt,” Grayseth boomed over the comm. “We must always be prepared for the unexpected. If the Simulins are there, we will destroy them.”

  “The way of the hunt,” Jeremy repeated. He knew his clan brother would always be there beside him.

  Once he was finished talking to Grayseth, Jeremy sent a joint message to the two Alton battleships and the strikecruisers Nemesis and Orion explaining to their commanders what they might be facing in the nebula. Everyone agreed the mission should continue. The launching of the probe was a high enough priority to justify the risk.

  -

  Later Jeremy made his way to Engineering to check on Chief Engineer Roger Simkins. Simkins was a firm believer in keeping the ship’s intricate systems running at top efficiency. Jeremy had found he needed to remind the chief engineer to let his people have some time off occasionally. It wasn’t unusual to walk into Engineering and find competent engineers down on their hands and knees scrubbing the floor. It was a joke on the Avenger that only in Engineering were the floors so clean you could eat off them.

  “How’s it going, Chief?” Jeremy asked as he walked over to a large control console where Simkins was working. There was a constant hum in the engineering spaces from the steady operation of the fusion reactors and other necessary equipment.

  “Admiral,” Simkins said, standing up and acknowledging Jeremy. “These Fusion Five reactors are fantastic! They’re much smaller than our old reactors and put out forty percent more power. I think you’ll really like what that will mean to the ship’s particle beam cannons and power beams.”

  “Did you have to make any adjustments in the weapons for the additional power?”

  “Some,” Simkins said, nodding his head. “We had to increase the protective lining in both weapon’s systems to handle the increase in energy.”

  “How’s the hyperdrive holding out?”

  “No problems,” replied Simkins, allowing some pride to show in his voice. “It’s working exceptionally well, and there hasn’t even been an iota of variation in the drive harmonics.”

  “Your engineering crew?”

  Simkins looked down at the deck and then back up at the admiral. “I’ve been working them hard,” he admitted. “But I promise, once this mission is over I’ll give them all some well deserved leave time.”

  “Just don’t overwork them,” cautioned Jeremy. “We may need them at their optimum when we reach the nebula.”

  “We’ll be ready,” Simkins promised. “I have the best engineering crew in the fleet.”

  “I know you do,” Jeremy replied with a smile.

  He spent a few more minutes in Engineering talking to various crewmembers and then left. Jeremy enjoyed walking about the ship and speaking with the crew.

  -

  Stepping into the Officer’s Mess, Jeremy picked up a tray and selected something light to eat. Most of the food they were consuming now was grown on Gaia on the farms that had been established. Several herd animals had been selected and were being bred to make their meat more consumable by humans.

  Sitting down at a table next to the wall, Jeremy thought over what was ahead. Once they reached the nebula, their margin of safety would be gone. The Simulins could show up at any time.

  “Deep in thought?” asked Ariel as she suddenly appeared across the table from Jeremy. Her holographic emitters allowed her to appear anywhere in the ship.

  Jeremy smiled at the gorgeous dark haired AI. He was used to her popping up unannounced. “This could be a risky mission. I just hope we all get back safely.”

  “We will,” Ariel replied confidently. “After all, both Clarissa and I are here, and we won’t let any harm fall to the Avenger or the Distant Horizon.”

  Jeremy pushed his plate away and gazed seriously at the AI. “Ariel, I want you and Clarissa to work out some battle plans with the two of you in command of the Avenger and the Distant Horizon.”

  “You mean you want us to fight the ships?” Ariel asked, her dark eyes gleaming with excitement. It wasn’t often she got this opportunity.

  “If we get into a jam, it might be our only option to get out,” Jeremy answered. “You and Clarissa can do things the regular crews can’t.”

  “I’ll tell Clarissa,” Ariel said still showing her excitement. “She’ll be thrilled at the prospect though I would suggest you speak to Rear Admiral Barnes about the idea. She wasn’t really happy the last time Clarissa took control of the Distant Horizon.”

  Jeremy nodded in understanding. Kelsey had finally told him about the incident and how she’d ordered the AI to take control of the ship. It was borderline mutiny, but their actions had saved the Distant Horizon and allowed it to be rescued.

  -

  The time passed quickly by and soon the small fleet jumped back into hyperspace, leaving no evidence in the system they had just left of ever having been there. Seven more times the fleet dropped out of hyperspace to allow their drive cores to cool and scan the nebula they were rapidly approaching. The high levels of radiation being given off by the hundreds of blue giant stars were making long distance observations nearly useless.

  -

  “What to do you think?” Rear Admiral Barnes asked Andram, gazing at the viewscreen and the massive nebula that now dominated space in front of the ship. He had changed the main viewscreen several times to show different blue giant stars buried deep inside the glowing nebula.

  “Astrometrics is still making observations,” Andram replied. He stood up and took a step closer to the screen. The tall, white haired Alton was an imposing figure. Using his mini-comm, he spoke once again to the Alton, who was running the Astrometrics department.

  “There’s a lot of radiation out there,” commented Clarissa from Kathryn’s left side. “We’ll have to keep our energy shields up at all times though at a low level.”

  “Our armor isn’t enough to protect us?” Kathryn asked, surprised. She’d thought as thick as the battle armor was it would protect them from all forms of radiation.

  “For a while it would,” said Clarissa. “However, there are areas in this nebula where the high levels of radiation would quickly penetrate our armor.”

  “What about our radiation meds?” asked Kathryn, growing concerned. “Should I ask Doctor Keil to have them ready? We could give the crew shots as a precaution.”

  “I don’t believe it’ll be necessary,” Clarissa answered. “If I see the radiation count is getting too high we could always move the crew deeper into the ship. The interior areas should be safe for quite some time even if the shield is off.”

  Kathryn looked back at Andram; the Alton scientist was still speaking to the Astrometrics department.

  “Damn nebula is impressive,” commented Commander Grissim. “There’s nothing like it in our galaxy.”

  “Sixteen hundred light-years across,” added Colonel Leon. “Even here outside the nebula we’re starting to see some of the radiation. I doubt if there are any habitable worlds in this area. The radiation would have long sterilized their surfaces. There are over two hundred stars of spectral type O and WR in the central cluster.”

  “You may be surprised,” Clarissa replied. “Life has a way of adapting to even the most virulent environments.”

  “It wouldn’t be life as we know it,” said Commander Grissim.

  -

  Andram finished talking to the Astrometrics department and returned to sit down next to Kelsey. “We have three possible targets. There are none we can detect that are free of radiation. However, the ones we’ve chosen are emitting lower levels and are a few
light-years from the other stars in the nebula.”

  “Give me the coordinates and I’ll see if I can plot a course,” Kelsey said. They would have to avoid the heavier radiation areas or risk dropping out of hyperspace. Even areas in the nebula where there were thicker clouds of hydrogen gas would have to be avoided.

  “We may have to make several shorter jumps to reach any of these stars,” Andram informed Kelsey.

  “Do you have a preference?”

  “This one,” Andram said, calling up a star chart from Astrometrics and showing Kelsey the star he was talking about. “It’s six hundred light-years inside the nebula.”

  “Wow!” Kelsey said, shaking her head at Andram. “You couldn’t find one any closer?” She didn’t like the idea of going so far inside the nebula. She’d thought they would find one on the outskirts.

  “Not one that was massive enough and with low enough radiation levels,” Andram answered. “There are several large hydrogen clouds that are partially shielding the star I’ve chosen from the radiation from the others. The central cluster of blue giants is where we need to go.”

  Kelsey spent some time working out a navigational path, which would be safe for the fleet. When she finished, she wasn’t happy with the results. “Five days,” she said in exasperation. “We have to reduce our speed by nearly half and we’ll have to exit hyperspace eight times to get there. There are a number of areas we have to avoid or we risk becoming stranded in the nebula.”

  “I’ll inform Admiral Strong,” said Rear Admiral Barnes. She had been listening to the conversation with interest. “What type of course are you plotting?”

  “There are other stars besides the blue giants in the nebula,” Kelsey replied. “I’m maneuvering our course to allow us to come out of hyperspace in the vicinity of five class M T Tauri stars and three class M.”

  “T Tauri stars?” repeated Kathryn, her eyes opening wide with concern. “Don’t they still give off a lot of radiation?”

  “Not as much as the blue giants,” Andram answered. “T Tauri stars haven’t started their hydrogen fusion stage and are powered by gravitational energy generated as the stars slowly contract. There will be some high X-ray emissions and we’ll have to watch out for powerful stellar winds.”