Chapter 1CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
8:00, JANUARY 1ST, 2225, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
Bradley had never gotten used to the early mornings at the Presidential Residence. The President normally pulled long hours, and since the Crash he was almost always up.
“Mister President?”
Bradley looked up from his desk to see Jonathan Ford, Director of the Interior, step inside.
“Jack. Good news, I hope?”
“We just got a report in from the North African Union. The industrial operation there is ready.”
He dropped the report onto the desk.
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01/01/2225 Report on Infrastructure Redevelopment, United Earth Alliance Directorate of the Interior“Well,” Bradley said, “it’s about time we found a use for all that desert. Has there been any progress on the hyperdrive?”
“Yes, sir. Two ships have been equipped with it – the UES
Destiny, a space command survey ship, and the UES
Discovery. The
Discovery is a colony ship. It’s loading passengers as we speak.”
“A colony ship? Since when did we have a colony ship?”
“It was left over from the Mars Project. The Lunars left the thing alone. Word from the Techers’ Guild is that she’ll fly just fine. They’ve started producing more down in Brazil, but unless we rush construction she won’t be finished for another four months.”
“And the
Destiny? There’s a portent if I ever saw one.”
“The
Destiny is on the Role of Honor, sir. The new one’s a good ship. She’s captained by a fellow named Chon Yu. The executive officer’s a Lunar, goes by Cain.”
“Is there anything else I should know?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Damien-Lee’s on the crew roster.”
“He’s
what?”
* * *
UES
DESTINY, SOL SYSTEM, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
8:41, JANUARY 1ST 2225, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
Captain Chon Yu of the United Earth Space Command leaned back into his command chair and looked out over the holographic display in front of him.
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The Destiny’s
tactical display.He was watching the display more as a diversion than anything else. The techer they’d been promised as an Engineering Officer was running late, and they were already behind schedule.
The bridge hatch hissed open. He looked over his shoulder to see a woman step onto the bridge. She was wore loose gray robes, and her face was a pale, pasty white.
Well, it was about time.
“Hitomi Tanaka,” she announced, “Techer, Second Class. I have been assigned to this starship by the guildmasters.”
Yu stood up and turned to face her.
“Chon Yu, Captain, United Earth Space Command. Welcome aboard the Destiny, Madam Tanaka.”
The techer moved swiftly to her terminal and took her seat.
“The interface developed for this ship is impressive,” she observed, “I assume you have our orders.”
“That is correct. Earth’s hyperspace observation grid picked up a meteorite entering the system about five hours ago. Apparently we are to investigate.”
“Investigating comets?” the helmsman muttered, “this is what we’ve been reduced to?”
“Lieutenant Bradley,” Yu ordered, “would you mind keeping your damn mouth shut for five seconds and setting the course?”
“Of course, sir,” Lieutenant Damien-Lee Bradley replied.
* * *
CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
10:22, JANUARY 1ST, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
“Mister President.”
Bradley looked up from the paperwork on his desk. A pale-faced figure in a gray robe was standing in front of him.
“Master Chelinsky,” he said, “what brings you here?”
“The Guild has completed its analysis of the crash that claimed the life of Master Williams. We thought you would be interested in our report.”
“Well, of course I’m interested,” Bradley answered, “is there anything in particular?”
Chelinsky nodded.
“There is an access log, partially corrupted, but legible. Whatever downed the hypernet and severed Master Williams’ Trance left behind several corrupted copies of itself.”
“And what is your analysis of the copies?”
“The technology behind them is Clarkian,” Chelinsky said, “but Clarke is the Guild’s teacher. What we have seen of this thing shows that it is technologically advanced beyond anything we have ever imagined. It is almost alive. Simply analyzing what we’ve found will increase our research potential exponentially.”
“Wonderful,” Bradley said, “I’ll put Director Marshall and her team on it immediately.”
“Doctor Marshall is not a techer,” Chelinsky said.
“No, she’s not. She is, however, a brilliant scientist and our new Director of Technology. She will supervise, and your men will assist. How long will it take?”
“With the Directorate getting in our way?” Chelinsky answered, “about a month.”
“Get on it.”
“Of course, Mister President.”
“There is one more thing…”
“Yes, Mister President?”
“Williams’ apprentice, what will happen to him?”
“Until such time as a new master can be found for him,” Chelinsky said, “Hans Geitrich will serve as the Guild’s liaison to you.”
“You mean the Guild’s spy in the Residence.”
“I am a techer, Mister President. I mean exactly what I say.”
* * *
IMPERIAL CITY, DRENGI, DRENGIN EMPIRE
14:21, JANUARY 4TH, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
Lord Kona, Prince Imperial, leaned forward across the table.
“You are sure?” he asked.
“Completely, my lord,” Engineer Draku replied, “what’s really fascinating is not the hyperdrive itself, but the reactor needed to power it. It’s something like the inside of a star, but it occurs at a much lower temperature, which means the net energy produced is increased dramatically. It’s not quite the ultimate power source, but it’s more than enough to power the device we found.”
“So it can be activated?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Kona paused.
“I will consult with my mother.”
“And I shall prepare a ship.”
* * *
SHUTTLE 328, SOL SYSTEM, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
9:43, JANUARY 6TH, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
“Hey, I've got a great idea,” Lieutenant Bradley said, “let’s send off members of the
command crew to the meteorite sending us strange energy signals. That way, if it turns out to be something dangerous, we’ll lose vital personnel instead of our expendable marine unit.”
“Lieutenant,” Commander Cain replied, “
shut up.”
“I’m just saying that I don’t understand the log…”
“I am ordering you to shut up, Terran. You want to know why were on this shuttle? I’m here because I’m Lunar. I’m used to non-atmospheric environments. You are here because the Captain thinks you’re annoying. Any other stupid questions?”
“No, sir.”
The shuttle slowly approached the stray asteroid while Bradley sat in his crash-chair mentally debating whether to sulk.
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Shuttle 328 approaching the meteorite“Sir,” the shuttle pilot said, “we’re approaching the object.”
There was a jolt as the shuttle touched down on the asteroid’s surface and gravity was restored, though not much of it. Bradley breathed a sigh of relief as he undid his harness.
“Michaels, Larsson!” Cain shouted, “take up defensive positions around the shuttle. Bradley, Tiberius, you’re with me.”
“Yes, sir,” Sergeant Tiberius said. The lithe Lunar marine fell in behind Cain. Bradley grudgingly followed.
They made their way carefully across the rocky surface of the meteorite, Cain holding the energy tracker out in front of him. The uneven surface and the bulky spacesuits made the going slow, but the asteroid was small, and it wasn’t long before they reached their destination.
A silver metallic rod was imbedded into the rock, like it had been plunged in.
“What the hell is that?” Bradley said.
“I don’t know, lieutenant,” Cain answered, “let’s get it back to the Destiny. We’ll have Tanaka take a look at it.”
“Sure thing.”
The three of them stood silently.
“Well,” Cain said, “go get it.”
“I’m not touching that thing!”
Cain rolled his eyes.
“Lieutenant, do I have to give you another order?”
“No sir. Retrieving object.”
Bradley reached down and grabbed the rod. He slowly pulled it, and was amazed to find that it came out easily. He pulled the rod clean from the asteroid and raised it above his head.
“Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone and anvil,” he announced to the ‘net, “is rightwise king born of England. I am King Arthur!”
“Hail, King Arthur!”
Bradley turned to see Cain and Tiberius on their knees. Hey, the guys could take a joke after all.
“Come, my knights! Let us away to yonder palace.”
* * *
UES
DESTINY, SOL SYSTEM, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
10:12, JANUARY 6TH, 2225, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
Yu and Tanaka watched Shuttle 328 set down in the Destiny’s hangar through the hatch window. As soon as the airlock door had closed they stepped into the hangar and made their way towards the shuttle.
The shuttle ramp opened, and the away team stepped out. There was something odd, though.
“Presenting His Royal Highness, King Arthur Pendragon.”
And at Cain’s cue, Bradley walked down the ramp, some kind of metallic rod in his hand.
“Lieutenant!” Yu shouted, “What the hell is this?”
“Silence, cretin!” Bradley shouted, “I am your king!”
Something came over him. It was as if his mind had been rearranged. He knew things he’d never known before. He
knew that Bradley… no, that Arthur was his king.
“My liege,” he said, kneeling, “I beg your forgiveness.”
“Uh… guys?” Bradley said, “this might be taking it a little to far.”
“Let me see that rod,” Tanaka said.
“Oh, sure.”
As Bradley tossed the rod to the techer, the fog over Yu’s mind cleared. He climbed to his feet.
“What the hell just happened?” he asked.
“It appears the rod has some kind of interfacing ability,” Tanaka said, “it can implant ideas into others’ minds.”
“Isn’t that impossible?” Cain asked.
“It is definitely Clarkian,” Tanaka answered, “this is technology unlike anything I have ever seen. It must be sent back to Earth for analysis.”
“We’ll send it back by courier boat,” Yu said, “if what you say is true, the Directorate of Foreign Relations is going to have a field day with this one.”
* * *
CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
21:24, JANUARY 6TH, 2225 TERRAN STANDARD TIME
President Bradley stood on the balcony outside his personal quarters, looking up at the stars. Somewhere out there was the body of his dead brother. Somewhere out there was his the body of his wife, lost aboard a refugee ship. Somewhere out there was his son, the only living family he had left.
And somewhere out there was the key to humanity’s destiny.
I hope you have enjoyed this First Chapter Special. Future chapters will cover more than one turn, I swear!
As far as completing my goals goes, I'm out of practice, so I don't really expect to. Hell, I'd be happy just to survive to the end myself, knowing what's out there. But it's something to shoot for.
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