(EO) Erica Olafson, New Frontiers
Erica Olafson, New Frontiers
Foreword
When I completed the 10th volume of Erica’ saga. I wanted Rise of the Dark One to be the last of the EO Saga and perhaps to return to the individual characters of the Tigershark in stand alone novels (And I am still going to do that) but I realized I miss Meeze and all the others. I also realized the crew of the Tigershark is a family and their best stories are told when they are together. So here is one more, one more tale that is and I have no idea at this point how many volumes it might take to tell it, but after telling Roy’s story. The crew was yelling at me inside, there are still stories left to tell and Shards to be found.
Vanessa
Prelude
The year is 5041, the famous trial of Eric Olafson is now in the past. The Dark One has separated from Erica and has apparently left this plane of existence. Admiral Augustus wasn’t hanged after all but he was demoted all the way to Ensign and was transferred to Hell’s Kitchen, a particular nasty world and distant outpost. To his credit it took eight weeks for him to finally resign. Only to be sent to Brisbane for going AWOL before his resignation was accepted.
The old Tigershark was officially decommissioned mainly to be studied in great detail, as to the many “improvements” the crew had made to it. McElligott in his wisdom and foresight already had a bigger ship designed and constructed. Initially he wanted the new ship to be crewed by a new crew and built on the huge success of the first ship and crew. But even he admitted there would never be a crew like this ever again, and technically they had still a few years of service left before they could officially file for retirement. Not that any off them would consider early retirement. That they all would turn down promotions and transfers to their own commands was as certain as space was black. As long as there was a Tigershark under Captain Olafson none of them would ever want to be transferred. That held true for the XO all the way to the lowest star man assigned to environmental services.
While crew loyalty was a common occurrence especially aboard ships with outstanding and remarkable Cos, there was no crew in the entire Union fleet that came close to the deep bonds of the Tigershark crew. A crew that included princes. kings, future queens and mighty rulers and more of them than any crew ever. Both immortal admirals wished they could somehow find the formula of that special glue that tied these individuals together they agreed both that it would be exceptional cruel to separate them before they were ready themselves.
The Union itself was once again fighting a war. This time against the Shiss, a war caused by the brazen attacks of a Gray Throat called Hazzock. The Union in general was not even taking real notice of this conflict against a once serious opponent.
The war machinery of the Union turned slow at first, but once it was in motion there was little and certainly nothing the Shiss could do to stop it.
The Nul were still in the process of integrating into the Union, but the process went faster and smoother than anyone could have predicted. The Gray Nul ruler had been seen playing Grubbs and Eggs with the Klack Queen and was known to conduct personal tours of the Nul Sphere of rule to Union School classes. Nul warriors actually stood in long lines before recruitment offices to sign up with the Union Marines. The living Matter cloud Vanuur took on the role of Speaker of the Assembly for the first time and the Narth Supreme reported that the god like entity who easily was on the same level not only understood but experienced a feeling of great pride. A component of the Vanuur aboard a Narth Sphere hunted down and destroyed any remnants of the Unpronounceables, it did so in a single day.
Everyone, friend and foe agreed the Shiss stood no real chance and soon would be a side note of Galactic History and the same observers agreed that the Union, now firmly considered TL 9, was the biggest kid on the block within the M-0 galaxy and perhaps the entire Local Group.
That did not mean the Union was beyond challenge. The Ancient Gate Network was still mapped and Long-Range Units mapping that Network went deeper and further into uncharted regions of the Universe.
Neither Richard Stahl, nor the ones that went with him to a distant place called Avondur forgot about the Tomradi who apparently ruled over several galaxies and reached TL 9.
The Big Four had ceased to exist and the known spacefaring societies of the M-0 Galaxy are meeting at Summit Peak to come to a new Freespace agreement. Especially the Kermac who now openly admit being behind the Galactic Council, are more than eager. The Union demands come from a position of strength, especially since the Togar and the Kartthanians are now Union members, while the Jooltar strongly think about it and all but three Oghr Kingdoms either had joined or were in the process of joining, particularly the highly advanced Kakth-Oghr. The Kermac in this period are very careful as not to aggravate the mighty Union.
All this while the USS Tigershark, technically the Tigershark II had left the last Ancient Gate within the Local Group behind following the chain of gates to find a different route to Avondur. To some it might seem as a very dangerous and foolish endeavors sending only a single ship on such a potentially dangerous mission, but their voices had been silenced by the Eternal Warrior himself as he was overheard speaking to the Old Highlander. “You are sending THEM to Avondur and potentially meeting the Tomradi and whatever else might be out there?”
“Yes, I have.”
“God help whoever they meet. You did give them a bigger ship? Who knows who they convince to join their motley crew?”
“The new Tigershark is bigger indeed, much better armed and as state of the art as we could possibly make her.”
“I bet they have “improved” her by now.”
‘You lose that bet, Old Warhorse. They started doing that an hour after they took her out.”
Sources to be present when this exchange occurred reported one of the rare occasions where Stahl face palmed.
--“”—
1. A New Mission
(recap of Ch 23 A new Mission of Rise of the Dark One)
McElligott stood in the large crew reception lobby of Ross-Torus port eight.
The lobby was spacious and like all such fleet facilities featured a mustard yellow wall to wall carpet. There were seating groups of sleek looking vari-form seats and rubber trees. The floor to ceiling behind the Old Highlander gave a grandiose view into a truly gigantic man-made cavern. Big enough to accommodate several of the Union's biggest battleships.
The landing field, however, was empty now.
The old admiral was not alone. The being next to him was the mighty All Gray and to his other side Admiral Lydaa. A little removed, from the three VIPs, was a small crowd of high-ranking Fleet Command officers.
Deepa glanced at her Wrist PDD. “You think they will be on time?”
McElligott sighed. “In all my years as Admiral, I never have seen a crew more eager. To them, it seems leave of absence is punishment.” He held up his PDD and turned the display to Deepa.
” Eight hundred and fifty-eight requests to be reassigned to the USS Tigershark as soon as possible.”
The Nul leader could of course not smile, at least not in any way a human could recognize. “Xon, my successor prefers the company of his shipmates over the ruling seat. Not that I blame him. It moves my Narl,
to know he has so many friends of so many different societies and species.”
Deepa glanced at the empty landing field. “What was wrong with the first Tigershark?”
McElligott made a wide gesture. “We didn’t take that strange magnet into account that attracts all sorts of strays, individuals, and whatnot. We made her too small.” He grinned. “Truth of the matter is of course of technical nature. The second we gave the most advanced ship to that crazy bunch they started to fiddle with it and modify pretty much everything.”
--“”—
Ross 128 was only 11 light-years from Earth. After the trial before the Assembly and the departure of my brother, the Dark God, I felt right as rain. All the nagging uncertainty of my existence had melted away. I felt free at last.
McElligott ordered me to proceed to Ross 128 for further orders and instructions, after a short vacation of a week on Earth I spend with Shea, Narth, and Har-Hi.
From Luna Port Armstrong, we took a fleet shuttle to Ross Torus, the largest Union Fleet shipyard.
What was originally planned to be quiet out of the way munitions depot and service dock had turned into an industrial complex of tremendous importance and became one of the Unions busiest systems. Easily equal to Blue Moon, only this was for the Fleet alone. In times of war the Ross Torus could turn out 20 battleships a day, at its core was the Battleship assembly line. Over 5000 km long, with Ultronit Armor foundries, assembly lines with gigantic robots nuclear bonding frames, at one end and armies of technicians and smaller robots performing the final touches at the other end. One part of the assembly line, the so-called Red Area, ships received the Translocator canons. The place was guarded by Special Guard Marines trained for this purpose. They did not ask and always shoot first. I had been here once before, during an Avatar and guided tour by McElligott and Admiral P' Tchak, the Commandant of Ross Torus. This mind-blowing scale of the battleship assembly line was only a small part of the Ross Torus. SII, Enroe, and DeNoir assembly lines were just as big. This in addition to yards for smaller ships and equipment provided permanent jobs to over 18 billion beings.
Translocator cannons were not the real secret of the Union's success, it was places like this. Terran megalomania, Klack unprecedented talent to organize and delegate workflow to the smallest detail, Bellebee managers making sure nothing was overlooked, neglected or forgotten. Oromals keeping meticulous storage and depots. The Unions unexplainable ability to combine the natural talents of a myriad of societies without really planning it or forcing it that was the real reason.
Our Leyland military transport approached this mind-blowing artificial construct and slipped past energy curtains.
Once inside, there was no real difference to a planet surface, except that the horizon kept curving up and you could see cities, forests, and lakes beyond the distant clouds the sky.
Even though billions of civilians lived here, this was not a civilian place and security was tight. Two marines not only checked our CITIs but verified all data. They then repeated the process of checking the MITI.
Only then did they deactivate the force field barrier to let us pass.
Har-Hi looked around. “By the spirits. The largest Dai Mother would look like a speck compared to this.”
I could not respond, because my throat tightened as I saw the huge crowd waiting for us.
I recognized them all, it was my crew. Hans towering right next to Xon and TheOther. There were Mao and Shaka, Elfi and Cateria. Ak Fective, Alice, Roghor next to Jolai. Brena and Mehedi, Fivcheer, petite Lilith, Tyron and all the others that have become dear friends. Even the Mini Terrans and Fafnir our mascot. Sodoby, Dusty and Warner.
Roghor called them to attention and reported. “Captain Olafson your crew, Ma’am. Present and accounted for.”
I swallowed hard. “Thank you, Commander Roghor. I am surprised to see you all. Did you all not get offers and promotions?”
“Ma’am. When Admiral gave us a choice between advanced postings or volunteer for a new mission with you, there was no choice.”
Har-Hi looked around. “Well, it looks some of our friends did take new postings. I don’t see Krabbel, Circuit or our special friend, Meeze.”
Roghor spread his massive fur-covered arms. “Commander Circuit is here. Your shuttle flight was announced to be delayed an hour, Ma’am…”
Just as he said that a walking mountain of packages and shopping bags appeared, with a huge spider right behind him, holding a big ice cream cone.
A familiar voice behind the packages complained. “Krabbel you could help me carry the stuff, she could be here any moment, and did we lose Meeze?”
Krabbel said. ” He is right behind us, I think. The Swine and Dine offered soft serve with Strawberry sauce. Our culinary expert applied it to BBQ ribs.”
A voice with a distinct lisp, despite the improved voice box made itself heard. “Iz not zo bad. Meeze likez the Straberriez.”
Then the Archa shrieked as he saw me and scurried right over and hugged me. Only then he remembered and snapped into his version of attention. “Sorry Captain, Ma’am.”
Circuit dropped his load of packages and came to attention. His artificial never-changing face as always, but I felt his warm affection nevertheless.
Before I could put them at ease. A worm creature scurried in, his face smeared with red sauce holding rib sandwiches and a bag of fries. “Burgers with the strawberriez. Not so bad at all.”
Meeze also noticed me and completely uninhibited scurried close. ”It's the Captinz! Meeze likes it.”
“Guys, at ease.
It didn’t take long, and we all started to hug and shake each other’s appendixes.
--“”—
The lobby where Admiral McElligott and the others waited was located on a third story tier just above this section's entry concourse and watched as Captain Olafson arrived and the hugging and cheering started moments later.
The PSI Corps commandant sighed softly. “Whenever I see this, I wish I be a part of that crew. They are acting like a close family.”
McElligott nodded to that with a smile reaching his eyes. “Not exactly proper military décor and behavior I have to say, but I share your sentiment.”
He then demonstrated that he too could act outside the expected behavior for such a high-ranking spatial navy officer and whistled like an old sailor between his fingers. He was obviously satisfied with the loud noise he managed to produce.” Captain Olafson, get your crew and yourself up here on the double.”
The Old Highlander did jump back as Olafson popped out of thin air along with her Narth friend. Narth said.” I get the rest,” and disappeared.
--“”—
There were a little over eight hundred individuals crowding the spacious lobby. The Old Highlander had me and the senior officer’s group before the viewport.
He appeared as giddy as a teenager as he gave the signal through his Wrist PDD.
On his signal, the floor of the landing hangar split open and an almost black spaceship was slowly pushed up and into view.
It was clearly of the same design as the old Tigershark, it was substantially bigger, somehow managed to look even faster.
McElligott said with openly displayed pride. “Your new ship, Captain Olafson. Technically it is the Tigershark II, but since we decommissioned your old ship, she carries the same name.”
--“”—
I felt right as rain before, but as I stepped on the bridge which was just a little bigger than our old bridge, I knew I was home again. SHIP stepped into view.” Welcome aboard Captain.”
“Now we are complete,” I said with a deep smile on my face. To the admiral who had also stepped on the bridge, I said. “I like the new ship already, but what was wrong with the old one?”
“It wasn’t big enough, Captain. We are sending you through the Ancient Gate Network to find a regular route to Avondur, that strange planet you found. We need to know more about the Tomradi and those Shards. It is a mission that might take a while. You need to take more supplies, have bigger guns in case you have to fight and knowing you, there is a good chance you add a few unusual individuals to your already diverse crew.”
He gestured towards the Command chair. “We also decided there can always be only one Tigershark. We decommissioned the old one, so we can study what you guys have done to her and because we removed SHIP and added her to this one. She is now truly free-roaming by the way.”
I softly caressed the Pseudo Leather of my seat and said. “To the conference room, for a detailed briefing, Sir?”
“I am sure this ship has one or two of these, but I am sure you prefer the Den. We preserved it and made it a real feature of the original design. As for a detailed briefing, what will that do? Here is an order chip with your general instructions. I expect you to take this ship off my landing field and get started as soon as I am off board. Good luck and good speed.”
--“”—
An hour later, we passed into deep space. Shaka under his Virtu Helmet, silently humming a happy melody. Krabbel busy finding the correct Ancient Gate.
Sodoby now having his own console and dedicated seat also smiled deeply.
Har-Hi crossed his arms. “I almost think they wanted to get rid of us and sent us far away.”
I looked at him. “One could get that impression. Do you think there is more to this?”
He could not stay serious as he said with a grin.” Who cares, captain. This is what I am born to do. I would not want to be anywhere else.”
Narth agreed.” I am very content, and so is everyone aboard. There is a common feeling of satisfaction and eagerness to go past known horizons.”
I leaned back. “Mr. Krabbel, do you have a course for our Helmsman?”
“On the board and calculated, Ma’am.”
“Mr. Nbebele, ready?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Step on it.”
Meeze came onto the bridge and took the engineering position. “The shipiz has two Big Boomz. Meeze likes it.”
2. ONTO NEW SHORES
Shaka did not turn. “It is official now, captain. We have left the Local Group of galaxies behind and have entered NGC 3031 which is the largest Galaxy in the M-81 group.”
Narth beat Shea in giving me more information. “We are now 12 million light-years from Pluribus. This is a so-called Grand Design Galaxy.”
Shea could not help herself and added. “We are not the first Union ship of course, coming here. There is a Union Gatehouse associated to this Gate and a Station Support System. The Gatehouse is very new and has been established only a few month ago. The SSS is still very much in the very first phase.”
I turned to look towards Shea’s station and her. “Any known gates going upward from here?”
“Yes, there is a gate mapped 133 light years from here, it has been mapped but no Gate House has been established yet.”
“That means our next jump will end us up in truly unexplored space?”
Narth raised his finger. “We are not in explored space right now, Captain. All survey activity conducted here so far is within a 200 light year radius around this Gate House. Similar to the galaxies we traversed so far.”
“I am glad you are still the same smart ass as you always been. I would have to order me a new Narth if that wasn’t the case.”
“I was not aware you could order a new Narth.”
I grinned and blinked at Elfi’s symbol. “Princess, hail that Gatehouse and ask for docking permission. Since this is our last chance to resupply and soak in some Union culture, I think we should take advantage and take a few days local R and R.”
There, less than a light-minute from the actual gate hung a sizeable space station Just like with all the Ancient gates we had passed through before, but this was different. It was certainly not of any Union design I was familiar with. The station was under Union type ParaDim shields and according to out sensors we were the focus of a SII-MULTITRACK battle sensor array and the full Friend-Foe dialog.
SHIP’s Free-Roaming Ego-Avatar also had a seat in the new Bridge layout and was behind me and next to the NAVTANK. It was SHIP who commenced our part of the process. Unusual perhaps as we should have been announced coming through the gate, but not completely unexpected, this Gatehouse was technically the furthest Union Outpost and in unknown and unexplored space.
The station almost had the appearance of a Sea-Star. A bulbous center and five substantial arms radiating from this center, each about 5000 meters long.
Elfi said “We are already being hailed by the Gatehouse commandant as we speak, Captain. It sounds urgent.”
“Put him on. Probably doesn’t get much up-line traffic.”
A brutish, slate blue alien with a blocky head wearing the uniform of the Union Gate Authority appeared on our main screen. Shea places a text info on the screen as well, identifying the being as member of the Plato Slave species. The Computronic added his name and other open CITI data below the image. His name was Flokker Suxim and he held the UGA rank of Field Commander which was equal to that of a Navy Captain.
I greeted the being in the official standard way. “This is the USS Tigershark and I am Captain Olafson, good First Hour to you.”
The Plato was alien to me, I never really met one. I knew they were genetic altered beings and bred by the millions. The Kermac created and used the Platos as the lowest kind of slaves. I also knew there was a substantial community of former Plato Slaves on Union Side, but I could not shake my first impression of him being nervous.
“Good First Hour to you, Captain Olafson. I am Field Commander Suxim of Gatehouse SagDwarf-One. Welcome to the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy. Will you have some time to dock and meet me in person?”
“Of course, Field Commander. Our mission does not have a particular time frame.
“You can use Arm four as a mooring point and I look forward to see you.”
The screen went dark. Krabbel confirmed receiving Docking Instructions, while Har-Hi rubbed his chin. “I wonder what spooked him.”
I agreed with a nod and said. “Mao, light up all our sensors to max and see if there is anything in the vicinity we should know about.”
“Aye Captain.”
But even our advanced Seenian sensors did not find anything.
Hans behind his security console in the back of the bridge, an area we called the Upper Tier said. “There are no warnings or negative reports on the Field Commander. All I could find are recommendations and a clean service record.”
“Good job checking anyway, Mr. Neugruber. Does anyone know what kind of station this is? Looks big enough for a Gigamon, but apparently has no internal hangars for ships of our size.”
Narth slowly shook his shrouded head. “No known Union species builds space stations like that, Captain.”
SHIP was next and she said. “According to our records, this Gatehouse was created utilizing something that was already there.”
I watched our approach on the main screen. “Did you say it was already there?”
“Indeed.”
“Well that might turn out to be a more interesting lay over than I expected. Har-Hi sound Yellow Alert, Mao stand by on our shields. I want them up as fast as possible if I say so. SHIP, just to be on the safe side activate Intruder detection and confinement.” I then made Com contact with my Marine department. “TheOther send a double guard to our port side docking port. Don’t let anyone in or out until I say so,”
“Aye Captain.”
Shea now turned to get up and said. “Do you expect something bad to happen?”
“Right now I expect anything and nothing. I just did not like the emotional state of the Field Commander and the ‘Already There’ part.
--“”—
The station was big alight and featured all the common businesses around the entry concourse. Arthurs, McDonalds, Wuerg&Kotz Delicatessen. There was a Silverhawk Emporium which was basically a supermarket for common household items and a General XChange. There were advertisements for Hotels and long-term accommodations for civilians and military personnel alike. The usual Green-spots with grass, trees and water ponds. All in all the things one would expect in all Union installations, but the layout was somehow wrong. The walls were not the smooth gleaming white but had a rough looking raw metallic feel. The floors were also metal and nowhere did I notice white stone tiles or Mustard Yellow carpet.
The concourse was populated by the usual Union beings. I saw Holdians, Blue, Bootnar, Humans and even a Garbini but large place did not feel overly busy.
We were welcomed by a friendly Gate Force office. The being was a Norak, a distant relative to the Holdian. Unlike the Holdians I was thanks to our Warner awfully familiar, this Norak was of substantial size and about the size of Har-Hi. Other than his size, he did look like a Holdian, complete with bushy tail. The officer wore the gray and black uniform of the TSGA, and it was immaculate and crisp. The manners polite and professional and because he was a Norak, the first I ever encountered I could not decipher the body language. But following him to the station commanders office I could not help but thinking he acted nervous as well.
Narth asked.” Officer, would you be able to tell us, who built this station?”
“No, Sir. The survey ship found it and it was closely examined by the engineering personnel modifying it for Union use.”
He then pointed to a transparent door, with the Union Flag and the TSGA logo etched in the material. Behind it a typical Union lobby, with the expected yellow carpet, the smooth white Duraplast walls, with the indirect diffused light sources and an organic shaped desk with a human desk officer, crisp and looking important and busy. He thanked the Norak and greeted us, all perfectly by the book. Of course this was a brand new installation and the personnel just assigned not really knowing each other yet, So I returned the appropriate greeting and we were led into the Field Commander’s office, with a nice round viewport behind his back looking over one of the mooring arms and prominently showing the Tigershark. Yes I loved the old ship, but I had to admit with a deep feeling od pride, she looked awesome and she was my ship.
Shea, Narth and Har-Hi had accompanied me. The Plato greeted us again and offered refreshments. After we all had been served, he sat down in his chair looked at me and said. “Captain Olafson, you are not the experts we requested, right?”
I held a coffee cup as my choice of refreshment and sipped at it. “No, I think we are not, we are on a long-range mission following these gates on a pathfinding mission so to speak. We just decided to have a few days layover and R and R as this Gatehouse is the last Union outpost we will pass on our way. Is there a problem?”
He shook his head. “No technically there is not, and you are only the second Union visitor we welcoming.”
Shea, also holding a coffee cup leaned a little forward. “Field Commander, this base is amazing. It does not seem to be designed by any species I know.”
Even though he was a Plato, I was now quite certain he was more than nervous and if I would be pressed to describe the vibe, I got from him, I would call it fear. He answered Shea’s question.
“AS you might now, the Assembly created the Trans Spatial Gate Authority. One part of our mission is to map the Ancient Gate Network and the other part is to secure these gates with Gatehouse stations. Our primary mission is to secure these gates, conduct research as to who built them and why they built them. We are also here to monitor who goes through these gates, deny access if the user has hostile intentions and if we can’t deny access we are to enact the SLAM DOOR protocol and destroy the gate and retreat to our Station Support Planet if possible.”
We all nodded, and I said. “Yes, Commander we know. It was one of my officers who is responsible for the Ancient Gates activation. We were briefed on these stations and since we are here, you know we passed through several them, each with a Gatehouse. Some are repurposed stations, but they are all of Union origin. This one however is not.”
“I am getting to this, Captain. The survey ship found this alien construct right where it is, big as a Gigamon and after close examination it was abandoned by whoever built it. Building Gatehouses so far from Union space is a logistical challenge, so anything that could be used as a Gatehouse is used. There are several Gatehouses built into asteroids and one utilizes a dark moon. “He made a waving gesture, this station was examined, scanned and scanned and examined again. No remains or any active technology was found that would reveal any information about the builders. Xeno Techs believe it was a TL 7 society that built it. There is no habitable world within the hundred light year sphere we explored so far.”
I put the cup down. “There is more right?”
He looked around as if to make sure no one else was listening. “Captai, do you believe in ghosts?”
“What kind of ghosts?” I asked instead of giving him an answer.
“The scary insubstantial apparition kind. We had some very unusual occurrences, Captain. The ghosts are real, and they kill. The last time only yesterday.”
“Yesterday? What happened?” I asked
“Well technically happened very early this morning. One of my Environmental Maintenance Engineers spaced himself. He was found floating near the station apex. Security footage shows him running screaming through a corridor and entering an airlock without space suit and killing himself by cycling into space.”
“Why do you think it had to do with ghosts? While it is exceedingly rare nowadays, insanity is not entirely unknown, and men have spaced themselves before.”
“Because his robotic toolbox recorded the last word of Seiko, the technician. He begs a ghost for mercy.”
Shea interrupted” Has there been a forensic examination of the body?”
“No, we only have med bots and Auto Docs, our CMO is scheduled to arrive with the next Gate Train in about four weeks.”
“This sounds like a case for the Rangers or the Union Police.” I mused. “But I assume there had been more such incidents?
“Oh yes, captain. Ghostly vapors have been reported, technical malfunctions. Intruder sensors going off, but nothing there. And ghastly apparitions howling and screaming. I heard them myself.
At first, I dismissed it all for superstition, but we are in an alien space station and we are about as far as you can be from Union space and help. I reported it and they promised to send a team of specialists, but I made that request only a week ago.”
Shea looked at me, “Captain, someone died, and it does not appear to have occurred naturally.”
Har-Hi shrugged in a very human way. “Our mission has no specific parameters. I am Dai and I have seen things that cannot be explained by Union science. Coming face to face with a God for one.”
Shea actually rubbed her hands in a happy eager manner. “Captain, a real mystery.”
Narth had his arms shoved deep into the sleeves of his shroud and said. “Union science also includes Narth technology. I am certain there are logical conclusions to be made.”
To the Field Commander I said, suppressing a sigh and hiding a smile. “My senior officers are eager to assist. I can offer you the resources of my ship and the talent of my crew to help you get to the ground of this mystery.”
The Plato managed to look relieved and awfully glad. “Captain, you are sent by the Gods. All resources of this station are at your disposal.”
==””—
An hour later I was back on my ship and decided to call for a conference in our Den, with open audio as always so everyone could hear.
The Den was almost the same as before, the same round table, the same chairs, and chandeliers. The only difference were actual view ports in the side, a dedicated transport tube from the galley and integrated serv-matics.
All our trophies were of course still there.
I told everyone what the Filed Commander told me, and all my crew seemed overly excited. I leaned back. “So, you guys think we are ghost hunters now?”
Shea spread her arms. “The Old Highlander simply told us to find out more about the Tomradi and the shards they mentioned. He did not give us a time frame and he gave us explicit permission to examine unusual things along the way. “
Narth said. “I like to examine the station closer.”
Meeze’s head appeared above the table. He was chewing something. “Meeze wanz to check on the supozedly dead tech devices. Meeze thinks we finz something,”
Circuit agreed. “Yes, this is a good idea. Their conclusion that it is dead and unusable might not be accurate. Meeze and I think we detected a few energy sources that do not look right.” Then my Centmac chief engineer asked. “What in the world are you eating?”
The worm creature looked at the shriveled brown thing. “Meeze findz it under the table.”
“That looks like a real rotten apple.” Elfi said with a disgusted face. Is there more rotten food under our table?”
“Of courz, I put it there.”
I tapped my flat hand on the table. “Well, do your thing. I trust my crew and anyone who wants to go on R&R can go. Coordinate with our XO as usual, stay in groups of at least two. I authorize side-arms and double check your communicators. Tell SHIP where you are going. I planned this to be a three day layover, but since my Senior officers want to do some Ghost hunting, we might be here till the requested specialists arrive. This is a Union installation and asked for help and this is our job.”
I turned to look at the Mobile Ego Center of SHIP. “You did relay that ship wide?”
“Of course, Captain.”
“Mr. Meeze, please find a better place for your food experiments. Our conference table is not a good choice.”
Meeze gave Circuit a scolding look from all his four eyes. “Iz his fault, he finz it and throws it away. “
Circuit spread his arms. “Captain, he is a good engineer, but he keeps hiding the most disgusting food things all over engineering.”
--“”—
3. Sightings
Marlowe's light beam, emitted from his helmet lamp danced across the metal floor in front of them, joining the light of his partner as he turned to face the tall Vvolti that was walking next to him. “What do you think make them leave and abandon all this?”
“I don't know, and I am not so sure I want it to be us to find out.”
Marlowe, a Security Officer of the Gatehouse held up his scanner. ” Nothing alive for miles, and no energies either.” He walked a few more steps then turned again. “Casnu, if didn't know better, it almost sounded if you are afraid.”
“I am not thrilled to walk down the corridor of an abandoned alien space station, almost 12 million light-years from home. Something made them leave...”
“Casnu, you are a seven-foot-tall Vvolti, strong enough to wrestle a Petharian and win, with claws able to carve Duro steel. Why would you be afraid of anything?”
The Vvolti put one of his clawed hands on the customized TKU blaster he carried in a holster. “There are many beings stronger, faster, tougher than us Vvolti, and then there are Terrans like you. Weak sacks of easily damaged bio tissue, but with a temper and terrible weapons.”
“I am not Terran, I was born and raised on Ontario, planet in the Delta Pavonis system. Never been to Earth. You know that you've been to Devil's Oven Desert, our lovely little boring town.“
“You are Terran human and it must be true, you walk down a corridor of an abandoned alien space station without the slightest concern.”
“Because I am friends with a Vvolti and seen it eat. There is little that can scare me after that.”
“That cow was not alive, despite you telling everyone otherwise.”
Marlow laughed, “Yep and Aruell believed...”
He stopped in mid-sentence. He was sure he saw movement just outside the column of light. His scanner still showing nothing, but the hair on his back stood up. Then he saw it, a greenish vapor hovering there, with the distinct shape of a being.
–
Distant outpost stations like this had very large and very well-designed recreation facilities. This space construct of alien origin was no difference. It was not that uncommon for the Union to use and repurpose tech from basically unknown sources. The most prominent example of course was the famous USS Devastator, the huge spaceship Stahl brought back from his exile. My crew and I found an entire depot of Seenian tech and it was slowly integrated into the Union. So it did not seem too unusual for Union engineers to take possession of a huge construct, which had a similar purpose when it was build by whatever race.
I sat on by a small table outside a charming decorated small café at the Recreation Core of this station. Of course, much of the outside effects were artfully simulated, but this was one aspect of Union tech that amazed me greatly. These Rec deck Designers, really knew what they were doing, the simulated sun projection in the sky emitted the exact same wavelength of light as a yellow G2V star would. There were white clouds, smooth rolling hills of soft green grass and wooded areas with trees, real forest floors and an assortment of animals one might find in such a forest.
One of the gravel paved paths led to the bank of a sizeable lake. The Field Commander told me with pride that this was one of the largest lakes installed in Gatehouse stations and had Surface area: 200 acres and reached a depth of 25 feet.
The small town featured a collection of restaurants, shops, and cafes like the one I had chosen. I didn’t take the haunted problem very serious I had to admit and enjoyed a little me time, out of uniform and wearing a fluttery summer dress. I did have a PDD with me and did some background research on the Field Commander and this station.
To me, it seemed very practical to acquire this alien construct. It was there and abandoned. From the records and visuals of the initial survey team it was abandoned for at least 500 years.
They came to this conclusion, dating the energy reserve capacity of a few working light elements. While reading the survey report and the quick work of Union Engineers to install Union tech, a large Zero point energy plant, Union weapons including 100 Kilo Load Translocators, Loki Torpedo starters and the new Quark-Gluon Plasma casters, 500 of them in much bigger configuration than the ones we carried.
This being such a distant outpost in unknown space, that made perfect sense.
That this galaxy was not without sentient spacefaring societies was evident in this very station. That it was so close to an Ancient Gate made me curious and wonder about its purpose.
If I was honest to myself, the survey was less than thorough, and the Engineers adding Union tech had only converted about thirty percent of the station and were still working on it.
A Diechsen in Gate Authority Uniform displaying the rank of a O-1 Gate Force Senior. “Captain Olafson, we just received the latest Message Drone from Headquarters. Command is thankful for your assistance. A team of Workgroup Olympus, the expected Experts are on their way, but even at urgent speed, they will not arrive before Six Day next week.”
She handed me an orderchip, this is from Union Fleet Command and it is for you.”
That she was female was clear by her colorful iridescent fine scaled skin that shimmered in many colors. She held the chip as if it was the most precious thing she ever held. “Captain, it is from the Admiral of the Fleet himself. It bears Admiral McElligott’s seal!”
I smiled at her, took the small thing, and put it in my wrist com. The content was not even classified. “Glad to hear from you. I am pleased that you decided to assist TSGA. Please continue to assist, keep me posted, McElligott.”
While the Orderchip disintegrated to molecular dust, as they all did once the purpose was fulfilled, and the content saved.
I smiled at her. “Nothing secret or special, he just wants us to assist you. You are believing in these supernatural occurrences?”
She was a Diechsen, and non-human, but I had been around many non-human beings to notice she seemed a little nervous. “We Diechsen have a rich folklore regarding the supernatural. I am a modern Union citizen, but I have seen unexplainable things on this station.”
She then made the gesture of conviction by clasping her clawed hands to her elongated snout and then it seemed to appear to her, that might not know this Diechsen gesture.
I smiled at her and said. “I have no Diechsen in my crew or interacted with Diechsen, but one of my best friends is Shiss.
I tried to do replicate the gesture of understanding as good as I remembered, by putting my hands to my chin.
She touched the sides of her head in the traditional thank you gesture of her kind. “You know Diechsen signs well.”
“Why don’t you join me for a Grobil Blood Squeezer or something like that?”
She nodded and sat down with a fluid, graceful move “Thank you Captain Olafson, but I rather have strong Terran coffee.”
A Norak waiter brought my coffee and took her order.
She thanked the waiter for her coffee and then whatever she wanted to say was interrupted by alarm sirens and armed Guard officers running across the hall.
I got up and saw a Vvolti carrying a man running in obvious panic into the recreation area coming out of a connected corridor and yelling things in his native language. It was the first time I saw a Vvolti, but that being was a frightening giant, the size of a Y’All. I wondered what could make a Vvolti run and scream like that.
The Vvolti lowered the man to the ground while he was surrounded by security personnel.
I went closer.
The Vvolti spoke with a shaking voice. “There are ghosts on this station and the walls are alive!”
The man was not unconscious and appeared not to be hurt as he got up on shaking feet pointed to where they had come from. “We were in section Eight. We saw it! A green vapor shaped like someone and it had eyes! Then there was sand pouring in and taking shape of a being!”
A red skinned man in the uniform of the TSGA and a woman with blue skin also in Border Guard gray. He was Dai and she was Thauran, I was certain.
The Dai officer raised his hands. “Ghosts? You are screaming that over the com for the last ten minutes! There are no such thing as ghosts! What did your scanners register?”
The Vvolti held his device up. “Nothing.”
The Dai Officer said. “I have robots and guards dispatched and the section sealed. There is nothing alive in this station we don't know about it.” Just as the Dai said that, he gasped with an open mouth at something behind me.
I turned and saw a green transparent thing floating there.
The green thing came close, a belt like thing floating within the green mist. “Captain, we checked that section. Dusty and me, then these two TSGA guys come down that corridor. I waved friendly and they suddenly got crazy and screamed. The Vvolti took the man and they both ran. Something might have possessed these poor guys.”
The TSGA officers around me had moved a good distance back and the Thauran faded for some reason while Dusty formed his usual Golem like appearance. “Captain, there are some well shielded energy signature down this corridor, but not even our Psi Scanner detected whatever influenced those TSGA Officers, they ran and screamed just as we saw them.”