The Pathfinder Trilogy Read online

  “Affirmative, sir,” Thomas responded. “Our backup batteries were down to 47 percent but I’ve already used the singularity’s energy to fully recharge them.” He paused, a little frustrated. “The Brotherhood attacked us too soon, Captain. If we had spent just a couple of more years researching this technology, we’d have been able to find a way to use this new, renewable energy source to power a weapon.”

  “Are you planning to join the military in the near future?”

  “No, sir, but with the attack on Earth and everything…”

  “I know, Thomas. But we’re an exploratory vessel caught in the middle of an all-out war. I’m itching to take a shot at this ‘Brotherhood’ myself, but for now we’ve got to worry about the health and safety of everybody aboard the Pathfinder first.” The Captain paused long enough to smile reassuringly. “Even so, we do have to prepare for our next encounter. Did you read my E-Note?”

  “Are you talking about that really lengthy document you sent asking me if we could use the CAS Drive to attack other ships?” Thomas again looked frustrated. “I read it and your plan is doable, but it would take perfect timing and I really don’t think an unarmed vessel like ours should venture into a battle zone without an escort.”

  “I want you to set up a practice model and begin running drills anyway,” ordered Kaufield. “Have one of your teams start on it as soon as we’re finished here. The pilots from the shuttle patrol that just came aboard said the Brotherhood has completely captured our home solar system. They’re also sending out patrols of fighters to search for and attack any survivors. They could locate us at any time now and I want us ready to go. Call it Contingency Plan Delta.”

  “What about our standard PTP engine?” Glen asked. “How long do we continue using precious fuel for what will shortly become our backup engine system?”

  “Only until we’re certain the CAS system is totally reliable,” Dennis responded. He glanced past Glen to a pair of technicians cleaning up the remains of a smoking laptop.

  “That was an accidental, preventable overload and it won’t happen again, sir.” Thomas promised. “We’re ready to go, and I’m going to prove it to you.”

  “How are you going to do that?” the Captain asked, extremely curious. “Describe for me how the CAS system is as reliable as Point-to-Point transit.”

  “Because it’s the same thing as PTP… except that it’s a thousand times more efficient,” Thomas insisted, growing somewhat irritated at what he perceived to be criticism. “The major difference is that we have gained access to a much more powerful energy source. This allows us to use only electronics instead of the traditional combination of electronics and fuel-driven mechanical hardware. We can now quite literally extend the range of our transitional jumps as far as we want to. It’s kind of like the computer revolution, or a better comparison would be the difference between analog technology and digital.”

  “Thank you Thomas, I’ve grasped the basic concept. Now, if I were a skeptical politician from Washington D.C., how would you describe to me the details of the CAS Drive along with its capabilities?” Kaufield wondered aloud, continuing to apply subtle pressure. He needed to know just how dependable this new technology was in order to prepare for the inevitable command decisions that would be needed.

  “Well, I would ask you – the politician – to take about a dozen years of college first and then prepare for a six hour lecture,” replied Thomas. “Everyone always says we scientists should talk in layman’s terms. Well,” he said firmly. “The basic model for generating the singularity is saved – we can duplicate it at any time instantly.” He pointed at his console. “So in layman’s terms all I have to do is press this button to turn on that!” He glanced casually at the tiny orb of energy still burning on the monitor’s visual.

  “And the next step?” queried Kaufield.

  “I’d like permission to send out and retrieve a Canary probe,” said Thomas confidently. “The only question I need answered is – where do we send it?”

  “Where do you want to send it?” Kaufield prodded. He knew full well that he was dealing with a scientist.

  Thomas grinned with enthusiasm. “Where I’ve wanted to send it since this project began,” he said matter-of-factly. “Let’s send it to Bravo Point.”

  “Agreed,” replied Kaufield. He watched Thomas grin from ear-to-ear and promptly busy himself at his workstation.

  “We’ve got twenty-eight Canary probes on our inventory sheet. Plus the schematics for their design are on file, so we can manufacture more of them if needed.” Thomas activated a program on his console and watched the status readouts carefully. “A Canary probe is detaching from the bottom of the hangar bay and moving into position beneath the ventral wings.”

  Beside him Glen was watching the status reports on his own work station. “The coordinates are set and the CAS Drive is on-line and ready.” He reported. “Main projector is active and responsive. I’m reducing the size of the PTP window to match the Canary’s specifications. The probe has locked onto the transit portal.” There was a brief pause and then both Glen and Thomas were smiling.

  “Canary probe has transited away, Captain.” Thomas said proudly. “And the PTP projector is holding steady. Using the energy supplied by the singularity we can hold the window open at the target point from here. The probe is programmed to fly forward a thousand meters, taking pictures all the way, then return to its origin point. That will bring it right back here.” He checked his console cautiously. “Probe should return in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …” There was definite tension in the air as the Captain watched the technicians concentrate fully while handling their new system.

  “Well?” Kaufield said after a pause. “What’s the word?”

  “The Canary probe is back and returning to the hangar bay,” said Thomas. “I’m downloading the images it took and routing them to our monitor here.” Above his laptop a series of dark images began flashing quickly by at high speed. Most were completely black while others had a speck of light or two on them. It wasn’t until the final pictures flashed by that Thomas stopped the replay and backed up a few pictures. Curiosity getting the better of them, some of the other technicians had walked over to join the group. Everyone gasped in awe.

  On Thomas’ overhead monitor they could see three Galaxy star clusters. Two were beautiful, complex spiral helixes with lots of curving arms. The third was also spiral in shape, but it was mostly a ball of very distant stars with only two major arms visible – one on top and the other at its bottom. Both of the visible arms in the third Galaxy curved clockwise on the image. Also scattered amongst the three larger Galactic clusters were a series of tinier, dwarf galaxies.

  “It worked!” Thomas grinned euphorically. Glen smacked him proudly on the back and then shook his hand. “It worked!” Thomas said again. “One of those is our home Galaxy, the other two are in the local area.” He shook his fist in triumph and turned to meet Kaufield’s gaze. “I’ll let that D.C. politician of yours take a guess as to which of those three is our home Galaxy,” he commented dryly.

  “The Canary traveled that far instantaneously?” gasped one of the lower-clearance technicians standing next to Glen. “That’s unbelievable!”

  “Yes it really is something!” Glen admitted proudly. He glanced at the Captain. “That was a medium range PTP. The further we send the Probe the more risk is involved. That’s because the longer transits emerge in completely unknown territory – we have no idea whether objects are moving in the area, what the gravitational forces are like, not to mention radiation levels…” He trailed off for a second. “It’s almost incalculable how many risk factors are involved. We’ve even theorized that if we send the Probe too far, the PTP ‘window’ we leave open could conceivably drift away before the Canary is able to return.”

  “So there is some danger involved,” the Captain pointed out.

  “Oh, always,” Thomas said in reply. “But that’s why we designed the smaller PTP field for use beneath
the hangar bay. We’re using the Canary Probes to look before we leap and completely minimize the risk to the Pathfinder. We simply pick a reasonable size distance and send a Canary ahead first to make sure the immediate area is safe.” He nodded firmly. “The Probe has radiological and other warning systems on board. You can consider the site we just surveyed as labeled safe for transport in our computer catalogue, sir. We could take the ship there right freaking now!”

  “Hold on a minute. Just what do you consider to be a reasonable, medium range transit?” Kaufield asked inquisitively. Despite the fact that he was supposed to be unshakable and maintain a Captain’s image he found himself getting more and more excited at the prospect of using the CAS engine. “Just how far was that? If we’re seeing whole galaxies in those pictures, it’s got to be pretty darned far…”

  “The computer reports 7.12 million light years.” Glen couldn’t conceal the astonishment in his voice as he spoke the words.

  “7.12… million?” Kaufield almost fell over, but managed to maintain his composure.

  “Confirmed,” Glen replied. “It works just like in the playbook, Captain.”

  “Bravo Point indeed,” Kaufield noted, laughing nervously before nodding with satisfaction. “I’ve been reading status reports and projections regarding the potential of this project for years,” he said, “and sometimes we still can’t believe such a thing is possible until we see it done – right before our very eyes.”

  “What are your orders, sir?” Thomas asked thoughtfully, his growing curiosity blatantly evident.

  “Assign some of these colleagues of yours to work on my Contingency Plan Delta,” he decided. “Then I want you and Glen to run two dozen more Canary Probe tests to that same destination. If you score 100 percent success on that, pick a secondary, closer destination and run two dozen more tests. Let’s see how reliable this new CAS technology is.” He turned to leave. “I’ll be in the Command Center if you need me. We’ve still got a pair of shuttles on patrol out there, and I’m very interested to hear what they’ve found.”

  “We’re on it!” Thomas replied, walking over to Glen’s workstation. “I think we should send a copy of the data we downloaded from the Canary over to the Observatory. They will be very interested in this.”

  “Oh, I’m certain of it,” Glen said, still a little bit stunned by what they had just done. “Those scientist ladies are going to want to kiss us… one can hope.”

  *

  Adam Roh was seated comfortably in the shade of a large apple tree. Above him several birds chattered happily as they worked on constructing a nest. He had gone off-shift several hours prior and decided to spend the time reading in an outdoor atmosphere. His right hand was accessing Pathfinder’s schematics on his laptop, while his left held the remains of an apple that had fallen from the tree and landed next to him. The technology to maintain proper gravity, lighting, and other environmental conditions for the ship’s farming and ranching areas was rather detailed… he still had a few areas he wanted to brush up on. Off in the distance he could see civilians and several off duty personnel walking around, admiring the rich farmland that surrounded them.

  The artificial gravity systems didn’t cause Adam a bit of concern any more – his team was getting so good at simulating planetary conditions that most people couldn’t even tell the gravity field changed as they moved from one area of the ship into the next. He shook his head – slightly amused – as he opened an E-Note from Thomas that consisted of two words: “It works!” Off in the distance he could hear a hatchway open.

  “Oh, wow… this is great!” said a young boy’s voice. He glanced absent-mindedly up from his laptop and smiled at Joseph Kaufield’s expression.

  “Welcome to the Garden wing, kid!”

  “This is absolutely fantastically marvelously seriously great!” Joseph repeated, running happily over to Adam. Just look at this place!”

  Adam decided to take the young man’s advice – he put aside his laptop, stood up, and surveyed the area as he took another bite from his apple. Surrounding him were the rest of the fruit trees in the immediate area. They were both standing in the smaller space near the exits reserved for trees, bushes, and other fruit-producing plant life. Stretching beyond the fruit-producing area were organized, rectangular sections of farmland dedicated to growing the various crops that they would need to survive. There were tall cornfields, golden yellow sunflowers, and row after row of shimmering wheat.

  “Do you like it, Joe?” Adam asked, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  “It’s great!” Joseph laughed, a wide smile lighting his face. “It’s just like being on Grandma and Grandpa’s farm back in Iowa.”

  “It’s even better than that,” promised Adam. “I take it this is your first time here!”

  “Yes, at least since everything was installed. And it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Well, if you want to see something even cooler…” Adam smiled back at the kid and pointed upward.” He watched the expression on Joseph’s face as the kid slowly looked upward.

  “Oh, wow Adam is that ever great!”

  The two of them were standing on one of the port wing’s flat surfaces. The total height from surface to surface was roughly thirty-five meters – the distance comprising the total width of each of Pathfinder’s upper “wings”. Approximately twelve meters above them was a suspended ceiling that divided the wing completely in half.

  They stood firmly planted on four meters of Earth’s finest topsoil – carefully surveying the complex ceiling of lights, environmental controls and windowed openings far above. Through those glassless, open windows they could see the other surface area of the port wing where the gravity was reversed. That locale was also coated with richly fertilized topsoil and covered with trees, grass, and growing things. The depth of the ground varied around the two farms – dropping from three to two meters – in some places it was only one. The distance downward changed mostly based upon the needs of the vegetation planted at each location.

  “Keeping some varieties of trees from growing too high has really been driving our botanists crazy,” Adam commented. “But all of your Dad’s specialists have little details to work out in their respective areas of the Sciences.”

  “You’ve got two farms!” Joseph giggled with delight. “Dad didn’t tell me you were going to do that!”

  “Why waste the other flat surface?” Adam replied boldly. “But it’s actually four farms, because there’s a Livestock wing on the other side of the ship – and that one has a farm plus animals on both of its sides, too!”

  “That’s where I’m going to ask Dad for permission to visit next,” decided Joseph. “This is just cool beyond words!”

  “The suspended ceiling that divides the surfaces regulates gravity on both sides, provides simulated ranges of sunlight, generates a range of wind activity and even waters the crops occasionally,” grinned Adam. “I’ll bring you in here some time when it’s raining.”

  “It rains in here too?”

  “Yup. And for half of the year the other side of this wing and one side of the Livestock wing also have cooler temperatures and snow. The growing things we planted over there are the varieties we brought on board that need all four seasons in order to grow properly.” Adam found himself absolutely delighted by the look of wonder on the young boy’s face. He instinctively had an idea. “You must have turned left when you came in. If you had turned right you would be way over there…” he pointed upward, to the other Garden above them, “Standing by yourself and looking up back at me!”

  “I want to do that!” Joseph decided, noting that he could already see the tops of the heads of several people walking around on the other side. “It’ll only take a couple of minutes. Will you wait here for me while I go over there?”

  “Sure,” Adam responded. “But first take a look at this.” He reared back and threw the remnants of his apple upward as hard as he could. The already-browning core flew direc
tly toward the ceiling, then stopped several inches from its surface and hovered… suddenly completely still. From slightly behind him he could hear Joseph’s delighted laughter. “That’s right where the gravity for our side begins. It’s really a simple setup if you understand the concept, but it confuses the hell out of the birds and insects.”

  “Now how do you get the apple back down?” Joe asked, intensely curious as he watched the floating piece of fruit.

  “The maintenance crew will find it when they do their next check,” Adam pointed out. “It’s how I say hello to them and let them know I’ve been by admiring their work. I’ve done it before and I will do it again.” He chuckled. “Now go run over to the other side and look up until you see me – I promise I’ll wait here for you.”

  Adam Roh picked up his laptop and closed it as he watched the boy run off. He stood proudly on one side of the Garden wing. Particularly when viewed through a child’s eyes, the Project Team really had created something truly extraordinary. What he hadn’t told Joseph were the basic dimensions of each wing surface – roughly 600 meters by 400. Together both wings and their four surfaces yielded approximately 240 acres of farming and ranch land – plenty of area to feed the 900 people currently aboard ship. Although, the young scientist decided, having recently noted the shortage of actual livestock in the Livestock wing… it was quite probable that their diets would consist mostly of poultry, fish, fruit, and vegetables for at least a while longer.

  *

  Two quick flashes of light lit up the local area of space as a pair of shuttles emerged from faster than light transit. They drifted casually forward, toward the distant lines of the Pathfinder. Captain Nori ‘Siren’ Andrews glanced out the forward window and adjusted her ship’s course slightly. She had been Dennis Kaufield’s Air Group Commander on Khyber Base for over four years. After the attack on Earth, word had gotten around pretty fast that the shuttles would be up and running first. With the fighter squadron relegated to the backseat for the time being, Nori had decided that there was no way she was just going to stay behind on Pathfinder while her pilots went out to search for enemy ships.