Copyright © 1997, 1998
Last updated on 1/21/98
Paladin - 06:40-06:50
Goughzar eases the Paladin down onto docking mount #4, and feeling the gentle thud engages the magnetic grapples and begins to stand down.
"Kharrbyegh, shut down to minimal power. Notify me of any intruders or emergency calls from Pater..." Switching the communications link to the Elissa, "Pater - I'm crashing. Inform the OD I'll be down for at least 6 hours, but I can always be awakened." Cutting the connection, of course, I might have to try and kill someone then, but...
Goughzar slips out of the pilot's seat, "Kharrbyeghm, shunt all sensor controls over to Pater... I'm sure it'll like that, or at least the sci team will."
It's a good thing Goughzar is the only one in this ship, as he stumbles through the corridor, fatigue finally taking it's inevitable toll, and makes his way into his quarters and crashes, barely shrugging out of the boots of his vacc suit.
All that can be seen of the distinguished doctor is roughly his lower half, with the remainder tucked into the guts of a very delicate part of jump drive technology. What is not seen is most definately heard, as vague mutterings and silly profanities drift in the air. Faint sounds of industry are heard before the relative peace is shattered by an impatient demand.
...as Karl considers all the interesting things he *could* be doing right now instead of maintenance...
"PATER, vhile I'm not doing anyting too demandink, please patch in ze ship's passive zensor feeds to mein handcomp, tagged for ztorage und later study."
{And after noticing that the Paladin's superb sensors are linked in for public viewing...}
"Ach! und divert herr Goughzarrr's primary zensor feeds to vindows in my HUD, please." He then proceeds to study and study, and think and think...
"Karl? KARL? I need the de-polarizer!" A thin hand shoots out, anticipating. Clearly, Christian feels the pressure of the moment, as well as the feeling of being out of place.
"Vas? ah ya, mein freund..." Karl says absently, handing his companion the tool while keeping one or two eyes trained on his displays.
<< Security, this is Shrike, Hfolraw and I are on our way back to the armory with our new collection of battered weapons. Be there in about 6 minutes. Also we found something that looks close enough to be a detonator that we think Thule or somebody should check it out, it's probably nothing dangerous, but it's not a design we're familiar with. It's located at the aft end of deck 4 between the port jump engine and the fighter bay wall. Pater can help find it and also warn any engineers who might have to work near there. >>
As they start trudging back, "Say Hfolraw, you got a short nickname or something? I should have thought of this earlier, but if I had to yell something to get your attention fast, your name is kinda hard for me to pronounce."
<< Rrrrrr. >> Hfolraw considers the problem as he shoulders the load of guns. << It's polite of you to ask. I was an Imperial citizen... >> He frowns for a bare moment. << ...when there was an Imperium worthy of the name. In my Marine unit, I got used to humans mispronouncing my name. I could excuse alien vocal cords more easily than somebody calling me 'Fangs' or whatever. Just call me, >> He screws up his face in a passable imitation of a Human's pronunciation, << Fall-Raw. >>
As the party heads off down the corridore Bex scampers up FixesThings and dissapears into the giant suit's neck ring. When he reappears he is wearing a tiny vac-suit. Thus packaged the size of the rodent's tail becomes even more evident. It gives one the impression of a vac-suite with built in luggage attached at the rear.
Bex asks Merkle, "So, what's the boss like? How many engineers are on the team? Do we get reduced shifts now the reinforcements have arrived? Do you think we'll be able to jump soon?", and would ask more were it not for a subsonic rumble emitting from FixesThings.
Chiifraa pipes up, "What kint'a prop'lims ya kot? Pad Chump Drive? 'Lectronics? Kravitics? I pe koot wit' alla t'ese t'ing..." He pauses. "Mos'ta." Another pause. "Not so koot wit' Kravitics," he finally mumbles. Then he brightens. "Put I pe REAL koot wit' 'lectronics, Chump drives, pow'plants, mechanics, an' so!"
Boris pops back into the present. With a slight sigh, he comes to a stop and turns around to face the odd bunch. Chiifraa almost runs into him, and stumbles to a halt. He seems as comfortable on all fours as on his hind legs, perhaps more so.
The contrast in size between the large and the small, once again startles Merkle, as he takes a small step back.
"Uhh..one moment."
Merkle consults the handcomp at his belt, then withdraws a video communicator from a belt pack. Ensuring everything is working smoothly, he holds it before him.
"PATER, I dunno how much of this you're getting, but Alliara will likely have my rump if I don't make an effort. I'm sending you pictures and sound, as well as to my handcomp."
_Recording, Mister Merkle,_ PATER intones. _The orders of Mister Sokuku and Miss Niigurd are quite clear in that regard._
He turns back to his guests.
"The Boss, as you refer to him, is a great guy. I'm sure you'll get along fine. Aiwi, on the other hand, can be demanding. Engineers? Enough of us I guess. Chief Munro runs a nice efficient rig and she's fair. You'll find most of the crew friendly, if not somewhat eccentric at times."
Chiifraa blinks, then grins. "See?" He says triumphantly to the others. "I tol'ya! T'ese Var'kr, t'ey relax! We haf FUN 'ere, ee?"
Boris clears his throat, cracks a famous if not slightly tired looking, grin.
"I'm sure you'll get along fine. We *have* to get to Engineering, now, after this one little job. Could you smile, and introduce yourself once again?"
Boris straightens the camera in front of him, wondering if he's got a career in First Contact.
Chiifraa squints at the camera, recognizes what it is, and passes along a tiny whisker-twitch to Bex. He then goes rigid, his hackles fluffing out, his arms shooting up above his head. "No shoot! NO SHOOT! I PE UNARM! NO! REEYEEEEK!" He clutches at his chest melodramatically and keels over against Rigo, clutching at his arm. "Tell Mama I speak of her last," he gasps, then his eyes roll back in his head and he swoons to the deck with a THUD.
Rigo impulsively reaches down and casually lifts Chiifraa by the scruff of his vacc suit and says: "Oh dear. The captain is very strong on keeping the Elissa tidy. We can't have dead bodies littering up the gangways. I guess I'd better lock this one in an empty storeroom until you can get around to burying it. That's all right with you two?"
Bex squeels and chitters with delight and, dancing around the giant ursine's shoulders, cheers this suggestion, adding, "Better make it coooold storage, he smells bad enough live. Maybe tow him behind the ship!!"
The dead Engineer suddenly resurrects himself, sputtering and chattering angrily until Rigo sets him down. He straightens his uniform and looks up at Rigo, the very picture of wounded childlike innocence, before shooting Bex a withering glare. "Hokay hokay," he grumbles. "I sorry."
FixesThings looks down into the camera and in an almost shy basso profundo simply says, "Greetings, we help." Then looks at Merkle as if to ask if this is sufficient.
Bex stands still for the first time since entering the Elissa and says, "Hi, I'm Bexleyheath Tube Station Pop Vending Machine but you can call me Bex!". With this he is off on his nervously energetic course again as though he had built up energy while sitting still.
Merkle emits an amused snort. Holding the camera steady for a few more second, he then turns it on himself.
"Apologies Mister Niigurd...it's the best I can do for now."
<< To all engineers, this is Munro. You've knocked off a goodly amount of repairs while I've been galavanting around outside. Good going folks. >>
Boris winces, and checks his chronometer. "Sorry folks, we'll have to cut the fun short. There's a ton of work left to be done." He clicks the video unit off, removes the crystal, and stows them separately.
<< Merkle to Shurv...I've got some presents for ya. One very large Jump Engineer, name 'He Who Fixes Things', and one very small Jump Engineer, name, uh, 'Bex'. Where would you like them? >>
<< The offer of assistance is most welcome, Boris. I am currently running a skim-check of the main Zuchai arrays.... >> There is a heavy, regretful sigh. << We have no facilities for a microscan, I'm afraid. I sorely miss Dan. Please have them report to Deck 5 as soon as possible. >>
<< PATER, this is Dr. Limner. When he has a moment free could you ask Captain Stubbs if he could give us any information about these three unknown species we have remains of. Better yet would be if the Hamilcar could down load any medical files, histories, etc. No sense re-inventing the wheel. >>
<< _I will relay the request, doctor Limner._ >> answers PATER.
It's not easy to tell whether Dr. Manfred Werner is enjoying himself or not. The data from the surviving Elissa sensors, plus that coming back from the two surviving probes, is more than a person can easily assimilate.
Werner constantly reconfigures the data display for the holo-tank, pausing occasionally to confirm a figure with his hand-comp.
"Ostyn, look at this!" Werner points to the holo-data model floating in the tank. "Radially immediate to the ship, all sensors show normal landmass characteristics. But then, further down here, about forty kilometers," Werner moves his finger to a different point in the trans- lucent model of the Wire, "the surface just *disappears*!"
Werner presses a key and a floating window appears in the tank.
Seated in a corner in front of his own HOLOPTIC computer and 1 meter holo display, Dr. Ostyn Smythe, looks up distractedly, "Whuz thaht Warnuh?"
"The ELR imagers show this ionizing layer continuing to the limit of detection. That's, er," Werner does a furious calculation on the wristcomp, "better than twelve hundred kilometers. But there's nothing under it."
He steps back and rubs his chin with his right hand, "Either the solid land just drops away to nothing," he frowns, "or it becomes something that either is a perfect full-EM-spectrum reflector or absorber."
"Ahh see whuht yor sayin', but cuhm take a look at this heeyuh display," Ostyn indicates his 1 meter holodisplay with a wave of his hand. "Wait uh minuht, I'll reroute ta thuh tank...", Ostyn adds as he rapidly taps out some commands at his console.
As Smythe's holographic blossoms in the physci holotank, Smythe jumps down to the tank railing, and walks over to Dr. Mahnfred Werner.
"But whuht 'bout thuh poss'bil'teeh thuht thuh land really is there? Ah've been toyin' with Boyuh's Transduhmensional Space Man'fold theory. Look heeyuh at these two terms in Boyuh's equation," Smythe points out two grotesque mathematical terms, floating in the holotank.
"If n goes tuh 'nfinitee, thun these two heeyuh terms cancel... leavin' uh singuhl dimensionuhl manifold through n space, actually 'nfinitee space - JUMP SPACE!!!" Ostyn adds as he starts to get excited. "Nuthah words, if ah'm right, somehows, somebodies done pushed back jump space, creating this wiyuhh.... Izz almost like some body o' land'z been mapped ontuh this man'fold... Wait'minute, thuht means... umm... thuht means thuht jumps in this wire ought tuh be 'nsantanyus!!!"
"Doctor Werner," Hryawi touches a control and a harmonic filter overlays the existing image. "I would suggest that reflector is the more likely choice. Look at the back-scatter from the plasma layer."
There is a sudden hiss as the door slides open and Johann Abuko, still wearing his vacc-suit with helmet tucked under one arm, marches into the room. A rather frazzled-looking tree-rat is clinging tightly to his shoulder.
"Well, Bit is just fine." Abuko grins.
Werner glowers at the small animal.
"I'm quite *unable* to express my relief." he responds acidly.
"Hey, what did he ever do to you?" Johann retorts.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Werner puts up a hand. "Now let's stop concerning ourselves with your rodents' state-of-mind. Sit down here and put those remarkable sensor op talents of yours to use."
"What do you know about my..." Abuko slides into the seat", Whoa!! What the *hell* is *THAT*??"
"Precisely." retorts Werner, "What indeed?"
Surveying the holotank display, Akhouw softly growls in agreement with Aiwi. The very last of the fueling is completed as he turns back to the controls and activates the maneuver drive with a claw-touch.
"Indeed, milady, but it is quite clear that the fteirle of this place follow a different path than ours. We must keep this in mind."
"I should think," Aiwi says mildly, her eyes on the screens before her, "That certain concepts would be universal. If not, the resulting changes to the paradigm would be most disturbing."
Bending the nimble scout to his will, the Khtaliyr turns away and glides toward their docking point with proper speed under Akhouw's alert guidance. A slight pivot, and the ship settles into position, comfirmed by the faint clank as the docking clamps engage.
Akhouw turns to Aiwi. "Comfirm docking with OOD and begin warm shutdown."
Aiwi nods, releasing her Lord from the routine tasks of powering down the Khtaliyr. << Elissa, Khtaliyr reports docking and warm shutdown. Our compliments to Captains Bhyarrvouf and Stubbs. Inform Mister Nanadh that Commander Akhouw and I will be on the Bridge momentarily."
By 06:45, the Khtaliyr is idling in warm-shutdown mode and the two Fteirle are on their way to the Bridge, the return trip made much easier by the restored gravity and door power and by the temporary airlock installation.
<< Well, that's that, >> 'Vouf sighs softly as he helps Munro through the jagged-edged hole in the Cargo Bay door. << Ouma alone knows if it'll hold, but I guess there's only one way to find out. >> He looks at the carnage in the Bay only briefly, seeming to care more about the destroyed JiffyBang controller than the dead bodies waiting to be bagged, and heads with Munro down the central corridor to Engineering.
All the way back to engineering Munro has had the data monocle pasted in front of her eye. She comments to no one in particular "At least it doesn't look like badly torn lace-leaf. Just partially chewed."
Once there, 'Vouf activates his commdot. << Bridge, the Chief Engineer and I are back on station. Let us know when the Commander and Crew Chief are on the Bridge, and we'll begin the grid sequence. >>
He then says, << Call me when you're ready, Yolanda. I'm going to see to some of these last-minute touchups. >> Reading an item off the list of things to do, he starts in on whatever is tagged as most urgent.
Murno is distracted from her perusal of ship's status. Her face is drawn and fatigued looking as she glances at 'Vouf,
<< What?! Right! Be careful in there and keep your suit radio on. I'll be right behind you after I double check what can be re-routed and what can't. >>
Zben Blaine tries to follow the navigational info Stubbs is feeding into the NavComp, but only for a few seconds as it's way beyond his skills. Turning to his console he notes that the Paladin is now secured to the Elissa, and all sensor info has been shunted to PATER. `Good. We need all the eyes we can get.' Checking on the Khtaliyr's progress he notes it has begun its approach to the dock point.
"PATER, do we have enough exterior cameras or sensors left to cover the entire field around Elissa? If not will the docked riders give us 360 by 360 coverage? I'd like a little warning if something comes at us, either now or after we jump. Also, what is the status of our communications system? Did we lose antenne in the attack?"
_All exterior hull pickups on the stern, and starboard outrigger dorsal and starboard surfaces are inoperative mister Blaine._ reports PATER. _Remaining ventral and bow pickups, plus those avialable from all port outrigger surfaces and the relayed data from the riders still provide three hundred and sixty degree coverage in all three axes. We do, however, have a 'blind spot' in an irregular wedge, approximately thirty two degrees wide, off our starboard dorsal stern quarter._
As PATER describes the dead zone, a graphic appears on blaines display, showing a 3-axis projection of the Elissa, with the area under discussion highlighted in red.
_Assuming we lose no additional sensor capability, it would be theoretically impossible for any macroscopic object to approach the ship undetected, unless a psi talent were to teleport directly into the no-coverage region._
_With regard to our communications system, all components are nominal and all antennae are intact._
_Captain Stubbs,_ calls PATER, _Our medical personnel have requested physiological data on the known races in the Wire. Would it be possible to establishe a MEDLINE link between the Hamilcar and the Elissa? This would also facilitate acquisition of the medical files for the personnel trans-shipping, assuming that they remain aboard for any extended period._
Stubbs, deep in his Nav problem, takes a moment to answer. "Mm? Oh, certainly. Mister, buh, Blaine, is it? Please feel free to raise the Hamilcar and get a tie-in. I don't know how much of a download you can get before we Jump, but med records on the new team are probably a good idea." He is back into his work almost before the words are out of his mouth.
Zben looks pointedly at Commander Ger, and assuming he does not countermand the request Zben opens the previous channel to the Hamilcar, and ties PATER in on receive only.
Limner is, with Lucan's help, slotting the enemy remains in several of the lowberths, setting them to cryogenic suspension. He's not much help, but tries to assist Lucan with moving the large corpses. In a separate specimen locker he carefully arranges the bags and tubes of samples from the invaders, making sure tags are secure and complete. He's only been at it a minute or two when his hand comp flashes to get his attention. Noting that it's his secure channel to Igor he stops quickly. << Line open Igor: Voice ID, report >>
<< Dr. Limner, the ship designated Hamilcar is moving out of my effective surveillance area. Request instructions. >>
The displays indicate a surprising degree of activity, apparently centered around the Hamilcar. It looks as if a dozen telepaths are holding a Koffee Klatch over there. None of the individual signals overpowering, but the sheer number is unusual.
Morton glances at the graphic still on screen. The activity levels seem constant, still indicating an active, almost casual, psionic environment. Seeing nothing new, or exceptional, he replys:
<< Igor: closefile code-name Centerpoint. Align Zhodtenna to Elissa axis, using Bridge location as forward focus. No-record, report only anomalies above .4 microjoules. Limner out. >>
<< Elissa to Hamilcar. >>
<< Hamilcar to Elissa. Go ahead, Elissa. >>, a sultry female voice replies instantly.
When the link opens Zben continues. << Communications Officer Blaine here. We have Captain Stubbs permission to download medical files for the Personnel you have loaned us. In addition we'd like to download any basic information your computer has on the, to us, unknown species we found among the raiding party. If you are willing I'd like to open a high speed data link and let our computer record this data so it can be available to our Medical team, ASAP. >>
<< Comm Officer Dri'kezhzdir here. Roger your request, Officer Blaine. Wait one... >>
There is a pause of several seconds. Then the husky voice returns.
<< Hamilcar to Elissa. Our compliments to Captains Bhyarrvouf and Stubbs, request granted. Please stand by to recieve 3.71 terra-bits of compressed data stream on Beta side-band at 191.5R. Acknowledge when ready. >>
As soon as Blaine is set up and acknowledges, the voice of the Hamilcar comes back,
<< Very good, Officer Blaine. Transmission beginning. >>
The comn data buffers immediately begin filling and frantically shunting new data to transient storage for examination by PATER before assimulation.
As Abuko bends intently over the sensor controls, Werner returns his attention to the main holo-tank.
"Hmmm..." Werner studies both Smythe's equation and Hryawi's display. "Based on our probe data, if the ionization layer density is constant, the reflectivity is approaching one hundred percent!"
"I concur, doctor." nods Hyrawi. Her eyes widen and her fur begins to rise. "You're correct, doctor Smythe! This confirms what the hisol'i captain of the Hamilcar claimed!" She moves around the holo-tank to stand with Smythe and Werner.
"Ostyn, look here." Werner manipulates the equation Smythe has displayed. A time-based plot appears beneath it.
"The transition is not *quite* instant." Werner points. "The function goes to infinity, but is discontiguous... here...", he moves his finger, "and here. Would those to points not correspond to entry and exit of jump space?"
Smythe looks puzzled for a moment, then his eyes light up, "Yussuh, ah buhlieve you ah correct. Buht, if weeze in jump space now, ah mean raht now in theez heeyuh wire, thuhn wouldn't theez tuh points cor'spond tuh thuh wire's end point int'sections wuth no'mal space? If thuhts true, and we kuhn muhnip'late these othuh two terms, couldn't we control the wiyuh's en'points? thuht is, we could control where we would kuhm aht!"
"No, no, no." Werner waves his hands, in a fashion that suggests he is thoroughly enjoying being deep in his line of work with another knowledgeable colleague, "I didn't mean to suggest that we were *in* jump-space." He frowns briefly at the holo-tank and mutters, "The fact is, I have no idea *where* we are. That comes next."
Returning to face Smythe, he continues, "No, Ostyn, what I was suggesting in only that Boyer's theory, when applied to this manifold, would cause the 'T' value for bi-directional jump transition to approach one over infinity."
If Werner had anything further to add, it is trampled by an exclaimation from Abuko, who has been doing things with the ships sensor that the original designers would have certainly thougth impossible.
"Hey, Doc!!" Abuko bursts out (and neither Smyther nor Werner can be sure which of them is being addressed). "Look at this!!"
Pointing to the sensor display, Abuko explains, "I've been pushing out every form of active sweep this tub is capable of generating. Out to about one hundred and thirty five klicks off the bow, I read normal geographically features. You know, hills, trees, buildings, the lot. I get the same readings for about one hundred and seventy klicks astern. Then, WHOOSH, it just *STOPS*! I mean, the tube goes on and all that, but the surface becomes... ", Abuko pauses to consult a readout, "ninety-nine point nine nine eight five seven percent reflective," he pauses again, "... of *everything*!"
"What do you know that only reflects fifteen out of every one *million* neutrinos?"
Shocked out of his train of thought, Smythe turns towards Johann, almost shouting, "Whuht!" His deep chocolate face contorting in a frown, he sputters on, "Wait, wait... wait uh minuht, if thuhts true... thuhn, thuhn..." Turning back to Dr. Werner, he continues, "Mahnfruhd, do yuh know whuht thuhs means? Ah wuhz thunkin thuht weez actshullee in jump space heeyuh in thus wire... buht yowuh right, weez not actshullee in jump space, weez in uh one duhmenshun'l thread _throug_ jump space... 'T' goes tuh zero, cuz tuh transition tuh jump, weez don'havetuh traverse all thuh way frum no'mal space tuh j-space, weez only gottuh break though thuh 'thread'... and since T is _almost_ zero, thuh jump drahv gits us thuhr almost 'nstuhn'tenneous.
Werner nods in rapt attention as he follows Smythes excited discourse, but then frowns at this point. Still, he makes no effort to interrupt as Smythe continues.
Now lookee here at the gravitee term in Boyuh's 'quation: n goes tuh 'finitee, 'T' 'proaches zero... one would think thuht gruhvitee goes tuh 'finitee too, buht this term folds in on itself... zero ovuh zero!!! Mahnfruhd, ah's thinks weez in uh worm hole, a black hole! Boyuh wuz right! Gravitee doesn't go tuh 'finitee in a black hole... and ain't black holes thuh only thung thuht don't 'flect neutrinos!"
"'Beyond the Blue Event Horizon', huh?" mutters Abuko incredulously. "*Oh* *BROTHER*!!"
"Be silent, pup." growls Hryawi as she concentrates on the revelation.
As the second door is pushed into place, haut-Frieder hastily inserts the pins and pushes them partway into place. << On three, Aolrkhea', >> he says. << One...two...THREE! >>
He pushes on one of the pins, letting 'Khea push the other. They snap into place with a smooth *click* and clamp down tightly. Aaron quickly attaches the control wires and the Jump Grid contact strap. << Okay, Thul, >> he says. << Ready to arm. >>
Several brief manipulations by Thul are followed by, "They're armed!"
Aaron calls, << Fighter Bay to Pod One. Thank you, Mynheer Bishop; we are locked down tight here. I think you should return to the Bay at once, we will soon prepare for the Jump. >> He switches channels. << Mynheer Munro, this is haut-Frieder. Fighter bay doors are secured and nominal. >>
<< Roger that, Aaron. >> responds Bishop. << Wilco. >>
He smiles to his assistants. << Thanks to you both, >> he says. << Thul, Rafe reports unsecured explosives on Deck 2...you'd best have a look. Doctor 'Khea, I fear there is much more for us to do.... >>
Aaron heads inside, consults the list of repairs, and is soon on station on Deck 5 with Shurv, skim-checking the jump crystals.
Aolrkhea' packs up the welder kit and tools.
<< Job well done, w- ... gentlemen >> Aolrkhea's congratulations are well-intended, but stumble on the gender in a moment of carelessness.
Aaron grins at her, then at Thul. << Thank you, Mynheer Aolrkhea'. It's a pleasure to work with you.... >> he heads out to Deck 5.
After wrapping up the fighter bay door repair, Aolrkhea' returns inside and establishes a link on her handcomp. Paging through repair tasks, Aolrkhea' selects a lower priority job - manual verification of power conduits to the jump grid - but it gives her the opportunity to prowl around engineering and the jump decks. If there's a medical or other emergency, she's mobile. She fetches a field 'scope and heads for the power grid nearest the destroyed shuttle bay.
Munro types furiously at the Main Engineering console, trying to wrestle the data into a reasonable chance for her ship and the people it contains. Wonder what kind of effects we'll feel from an *instantaneous* jump? Her body language straightens a little.
<< Pater, please request information from Capt. Stubbs on the physical and mechanical effects we will encounter from an instantanous jump. Oh, probably should ask about psychological as well. >> Can't have us going bonkers the first jump in this crazy universe, hummm?
Shrike and Hfolraw, still fully sealed up in their combat armor, arrive at the Armory, "So where do you want this stuff?" Shrike asks.
"On the table," Horne says, pointing to the partially organized pile of gear Kor is sorting through, then goes back to the monitors.
After putting down his load Shrike starts unsealing his helmet. "Nothing like some fresh...", pops helmet, sniff, "..er air. A nice cold beer would go good right about now too."
Hfolraw removes his helmet and scratches his mane with a soft purr- growl of relief. "I'd settle for water that tasted like something other than my own sweat."
The found weapons are given a more thorough examination without the hinderance of heavy gloves in the way and stored for later cleaning and examination.
<< Lazer this is Shrike, we left the Peltast secure but idling you want us to go shut it down? >>
Starting down the corridor again, Merkle turns and winks at Chiifraa.
"You sir, are with me for the time being!"
"Hokay, Poris," Chiifraa replies, with a rapid wriggle of grinning whiskers. He suits up when the team gets to the working airlock, and is obviously restraining an urge to lope ahead impatiently as they make their way back to Main Engineering Control.
Further questions of Merkle are greeted with silence and a wagging finger.
Another couple of minutes, and Limner is about half done slotting invader corpses when the Medline opens with the transmission from Yorblin.
<< Morton, we're going to need to review our psi preplan at some point. >>
Limner stops, and for just a moment a look of anger flashes over his helmeted face. It's quickly replaced with a weary look... << True, Jan. But I don't know of any pre-plan that could take some of what just happened into account. Not even mine, and I *thought* I had everything covered. >> He looks around, as if expecting to see spies or worse. It's just he, Lucan, and the chewed up bits of formerly living beings. However...
<< When we get to where we aren't in a crisis I'd like to talk to you for a while, in Igor! He's the only place I know we can be _really_ secure. There are matters we need to discuss, especially if half of what Captain Stubbs says about psionics here is true. I'll join you in Sickbay in time for the jump. Limner out. >>
Closing connections he sighs deeply, succeeding only in temporarily fogging his helmet. He then renews his filing, moving as quickly as possibile. He's finished by 06:49, and leaving Lucan with instructions to monitor the freeze-down operation as he hurries the few steps back to sickbay.
The bridge door slides open and Etienne steps through, still wearing his vacc suit, with the helmet under his left arm, and a carrying case over his shoulder.
His eyes first glance over the piloting station, then check the captain's chair to see who is currently OOD, and only then does he notice the damage done by the teleporting Vargr. His already drawn face seems to become just a bit more grim.
Nick Talon slides his red ballcap back further on his head and nods a tired greeting.
"Nice shooting out there, Etienne." he remarks. "I getting ready to launch a SLOT buoy with my obituary." He grins and then quickly turns to Ger. "Just kidding, boss."
Turning back to Count?, Commander?, Nanadh?, (sometimes he has a difficult time deciding how to think of him) Ger, Etienne raises his hand in salute and says, "Sir, I was told to report to the bridge and relieve Mister Talon, if wished. According to the latest schedule I saw, I should be on duty until 0800, but..." Etienne shrugs, "I doubt that still holds. Your orders, sir?"
Ger turns from the navigation console, "I can't make too much sense of this...What? Etienne, yes, by all means relieve Mister Talon."
"If it's OK with you, Count" interjects Talon, "I'd really like a break long enough to head aft and check on 'Shurv. Sometimes he's just a little to self-effacing for his own good."
"Certainly Mr. Talon. I hope we won't be on Full alert for a little while, just update Etienne on what you are doing."
_I will do so immediately, miss Munro._ acknowledges PATER.
Switching to the engineering channel, Munro continues.
<< To all engineers, this is Munro. You've knocked off a goodly amount of repairs while I've been galavanting around outside. Good going folks. >>
Switching off, she wonders if it will be enough. Gathering her tools and shaking off fatigue that is more depression than muscular, she trudges toward the next repair site.
Switching comn channels, Bishop hails the bridge, << Workpod-One to bridge. I am clear of the fighter bay and returning to cargo bay number one, starboard. ETA ninety seconds. >>
Gently pulsing the RCS, Bishop backs the pod away from the now reattached doors and pivots the pod. Applying low power to the gravitics thrusts the small craft vertically. Moments later, Huey clears the stern of the Elissa and heads over the dorsal surface, revealing the four re-docked riders and the two blown docking collars, waiting for a yard and some desparately needed repairs.
There is a gentle *CLUNK* as Discovery-1 settles on the floor of the cargo bay, next to the now unmanned Ace. Bishop re-engages the magnetic base of the pod, and automatically begins the power down sequence.
<< Workpod-One to Bridge. I am secure in cargo bay one and am sealing the bay door. >>
*PATER,...* Bishop is interrupted by rumbling vibration being transmitted to the pod through the cargo bay decking.
*_Already in progress, Adrian._* comes the reply. Bishop glances out the oval forward viewport and notes with satisfaction that the cargo bay doors are closing smoothly. As he begins pumping down the pressure in the pod, he adds, *Don't repressurize the bay, PATER..*
*_Affirmative, Adrian._* responds PATER. *_Until a yard inspection is available, I recommend that all depressurized compartments remain in their present states._*
*Probably a good idea.* Bishop acknowledges. Opening the stern pod hatch, Bishop strides towards the blank forward bulkhead of the cargo bay.
*_Shall I inform miss Niigurd that you will be joining her shortly?_* queries PATER.
*Negative. I think I'll be avoiding miss Niigurd as long as physically possible.*
Stopping at the wall, Bishop gently places his glove at the bulkhead junction of the aft crew quarters wall and the wall housing grav-lift C. He runs his right hand over the bulkhead metal, as if feeling for something that isn't there.
*PATER. Direct connect to LCARS.* In his mind, schematics of the Elissa spring to life in three dimensions. The view zooms in and focuses on the conduits, power lines, and fiber optic lines contained within the adjacent wall. After a few seconds, Bishop gingerly moves four feet to his left, until he is directly opposite Hur'Shurvan's double-sized quarters.
*Show me Hur'Shurvan.* commands Bishop. Another window in his mind opens and 'Shurv can be seen, working diligently to restore damaged drive elements.
*IASIC?* prompts Bishop.
_The_contruct_is_functioning_correctly._
Bishop closes his eyes for a moment, then takes a deep breath...
...and steps *through* the bulkhead.
Dr. Ostyn Smythe, mind warping through jump space, stops, pauses, takes a deep breath, then adds, "But wait uh minuht, thuht can't be 'tirely true, cannit? We know foh uh fact thuht 'xistin' black holes have 'mmense gravity wells.... hmmm... at least _outside_ the hole... we don't know whuht it's like _inside_... foh all we know, inside a black hole is jist like here... black hole... worm hole... one-duhmenshun'l space-time thread, one-duhmenshun'l wire... hmmm... Mahnfruhd, waddya thuhnk?"
"*Inside* a singularity?" Werner's brow is furrowing in intense thought. "I... don't... think so. I suppose it *is* possible... in theory."
"Doctor Smythe," interrupts Hryawi, "a singularity *absorbs* neutrinos. It does not reflect them."
"Ohhhh... you ah abs'lutely cuhrect Rieyuhwee, but I pruhpose thuht we ah *inside* the singularity... and how uh singularity ruhsponds tuh nuhtrinos emitted from inside it is subject tuh lotsuv conjectjuh," Smythe replies.
"Hrrrr..." Hryawi's face contorts as she tries to wrap her mind around this new concept. "Perhaps..."
Abuko remains glued to the conversation, trying desparately to follow the arcane flow of physical terms, while occasionally making a slight adjustment to the sensor controls.
"Let's look at it this way." Werner waves his hand in the holo-tank, as if to wipe clean a section of blackboard. "Data from this Stubbs fellow indicates that we will be acquiring jump charges very similar to those used in J-normal space." Werner hastily scribbles the equation for a jump charge in the holo-tank with a lightpen, and the computer thoughtfully replaces his almost illegible handwriting with a neatly printed set of mathematical symbols.
"Now, current theory describes jump transition as a quantum effect. Apply charge X to the grid and you are transitted to jumpspace J1. Apply charge Y to the grid, where Y is significantly larger than X, and you transit to space J2, and so on. If you apply charge X plus N, where X plus N is less than Y, you are still transitted to space J-1, because you have not yet hit the quantum jump threshhold. This equation is unbounded above, but breaks down above space J6 only because of techological limitations in jump drives."
"Ouch! uhh, suhree," Smythe bites his tongue as he was about to interrupt, but defers for now. "Pluheeze c'ntinue Mahnfruhd."
Werner moves slightly to one side, and draws a simple diagram, two short parallel vertical lines connected at the top by a longer horizontal line, next to the equation.
"I am thinking that jumpspace behaves like a wide, swiftly flowing river of infinite width. The further from shore," Werner turns back to Smythe and adds, "which is normal space for purposes of this analogy," he turns back to the holo-tank, "the further out you get, the faster you go."
Werner then draws five more horizontal lines below the first, and then labels all of them "1" to "6" from the bottom up.
"How far out into the current you get depends on how long, or hard, you swim." Werner then labels each vertical end line with the word, 'Energy'. He continues, "You always swim perpendicular to the current, but the harder you swim, the further downstream you're taken by the current per standard unit of time."
"Of course, in our case, the river eventually throws you back out on it's own." He shrugs sheepishly. "I suppose no analogy is perfect."
"Still," he turns back to the holo-tank and frantically draws a second diagram, similar to the first, only with the horizontal linse so close they almost touch one another. "What if we could bring the shore *closer* to the fast current by *compressing* the water in the river?" Werner waves his hand in exasperation, "Ach!! 'Compression' is the wrong word. Physical analogies never work! Still, suppose someone figured out a way to make the faster currents closer to shore, *and* to swim with the current?" Werner shakes his head angrily again. "No, no, no, that's not what I want to say either." Finally, in a fit of desparation, he reaches up with the lightpen and begins frantically scribbling equation after equation, crossing out some terms and writing over the top of others. Smythe follows along, as does Hyrawi with a bit more study. Abuko tries, but gives up half way into the second line.
Werner quickly draws a third diagram, an open-bottomed pyramid with horizontal lines through it, and then adds several small proportional open-bottomed pyramids inside it. Then he begins annotating the diagram until it is almost buried in signs and symbols.
"The explanations from Stubbs state that leaving J-space in the Wire always appear at the axis of the cylinder." Werner hastily draws a circle with a point in the center and many arrows radiating inward from the circle to the point. "I propose that it behaves like an inverted Gaussian surface with respect to jump transition."
"If that is the case, I do not believe that ships in jump transit ever leave the Wire. I believe that they flow along the inner surface or along the 'fabric' of the Wire if you will."
"I believe that whoever built this 'Wire' simply pushed jumpspace aside, and that reflective material we are detecting is the very fabric of compressed jumpspace itself!"
"Wuhl, Ah can see whuht you ah sayin bout 'pressin the river 'n'all, but look back heeyuh at Buyuh's 'quation again.... When n goes tuh 'finitee, uhn these tuh terms cancel... I pruhpose thuht the quantum 'fect no longuh 'plies... Thuht is... we nuh longuh have quantum levels... we only have one quantum _jump_. Thuht is, not only ahr Jumps almost instuhnteneous, they's limituhd only by the wire. Thuht is, if thuh length el of thuh wire goes from 0 tuh 1, then one can anywheyuh from 0 plus uhpsuhlon tuh one minus uhpsuhlon instuhnteneously.... we can jump the lenght of thuh wire instuhnteneously. 'Course there's one way tuh find out fuh sure."
"I suspect we still *do* have quantum levels," counters Werner, "but their behavior is radically altered." Hryawi draws diagonal lines through the two terms Smythe indicated, and the computer thoughtfully greys them out.
"Hmmmm.... hmmmmm....," muses Professor Smythe, running his hand through his thick, curled hair. "Yes, but evuhn if theyuh behaveyuh is radically altuhd, as you put it... if thuh quantum levuhls ah compressed... then they would seem tuh function as uh single quantum levuhl... and uh jump-1 would be 'fishunt tuh jump yuh from thuh centuh of thuh wire, to the so-called jumpspace fabric... Now... might you possibly 'gree tuh that idea?"
"Possibly..." Werner concedes, somewhat reluctantly. "However, I don't think the quantum levels compress to unity. Here, let me explain."
"This is true only if the Wire is a single lightyear in length." Werner points at the second term. "If it is longer than a lightyear, this factor begins to increase," he points at the beginning of the term, "and the coefficient begins to decrease. If the Wire is *significantly* longer, then this term tends toward one, and the first term tends towards one over Planks Constant."
"Okay, I'll buy thuht for uh Suhluhmuhni dolluh," Smythe agrees.
_Please forgive the interruption, Captain Stubbs,_ intrudes PATER, _but I have another request from our engineering section. Chief Engineer Munro requests data on the physical and mechanical effects of a jump in the Wire, with respect to their differences from those encountered in normal space. She also wishes to know whether the crew should anticipate any unusual or distressing physical or psychological effects._
"Hum?" Stubbs focuses more easily on the question this time, having been distracted already by the imposing presence of the Commander. "Good question. It's a lot like a normal Jump except compressed a bit timewise; if you get nauseous Outside you'll get sick here too, but not much more severely, and it passes in a few minutes. The place where you have to be careful is with bad grids or misjumps; severe Jump sickness can be quickly fatal to some exposed crew. I'd strongly advise sequestering all personnel well away from any holes."
Assisted by the partial return of "normal" conditions, Akhouw makes his way to the Elissa bridge with an economy of movement. The door opens and reveals a fearsome sight, enough to make most adults quiver (at least a little) in their shoes.
As Akhouw strides onto the bridge, Talon notes the blood on his face and, leaning towards Etienne, mutters, "I wonder what the *other* guy looks like?"
His face still shows traces of his bloody mask and even now his fur is flared out in a mute indicator of extreme stress. His crimson-tinged helmet is held by one massive claw, as he has continued to wear his battle-sigil vacc suit, which is further marked by his rank and service awards.
Stubbs, listening to PATER's request concerning Jump effects, notes the new arrival with narrowed eyes. The expression is one of a warrior facing an old foe, one long gone but not entirely forgotten.
Akhouw surveys the Bridge, as if an old-style conquering hero. He spares a mere glance for Stubbs before he strides to the conn. In his classic resonating growl, yet stiffly formal, he speaks to Ger.
"I relieve you, sir."
Ger stares at Akhouw for 3-6 seconds, as if deep in thought and then responds:
"I stand Relieved Sir.. Shall I take the Helm then? I just had de Mer relieve Talon."
Akhouw nods in formal agreement. "Yes, Mister Ger." He waits for Ger to vacate the command chair before settling into it himself with awesome determination.
Savoring the moment, Akhouw lets the next few seconds pass in a very brief meditation, then snaps back to life.
<< Bridge to Captain. Sir, I have the conn. Awaiting your go ahead signal to begin jump transition procedures. >>
Stubbs follows this with a sharp, formal bow of the head to Akhouw. "With apologies, sir. I'm Captain Stubbs of the Hamilcar. Am I addressing the master of the Aslan scout craft?"
Akhouw surveys the Solomani Captain with cool judgement. Mirroring his guest, he executes a short formal bow.
"Apologies noted." Akhouw straightens up and a faint smile ghosts his features. "You are correct, I do have the honor of commanding the KCR Khtaliyr." His smile widens incrementally, exposing the merest hint of tooth. "Among other honors."
Stubbs registers neither approval nor anger at this. He pauses to let the Helm situation get sorted out before continuing.
"The calculations for the Jump to Centerpoint are complete," Stubbs says, "But I would prefer to have the Chief Navigator on hand before we run the sequence. I was told to expect a Mr. Aiwihecka--Ai-..." He doesn't try to complete the name, but lets the word tail off on an interrogative note.
Akhouw matches Stubbs' linguistic confusion with a dryly arched eyebrow. "I quite agree. Thank you, Captain Stubbs. Crew Chief Aiwiheikahaih is expected on the bridge at any moment to review your calculations. I trust that she will have her own comments to make on your work."
Jan's organizing of the sickbay is interrupted by his eavesdropping on the bridge conversations.
<< PATER, extend my thanks to the captain for the heads up when he has a moment. Could you pull up a list of crew with Jawetz class 5 or 6 Jump sickness risk factors. Remind me to get them premedicated before jump. Have Lucan pull out the meds when he gets a chance. >>
<< Security, this is Thul, going up to Deck 2 to check out Rafe's unsecured explosives. >>
<< Security acknowledges, >> comes Horne's voice.
Thul puts his tools back into his toolbox << Rafe! this is Thul, I'm on my way, whatja got? >> and heads out for Deck 2...
He is answered not by Rafe but by Farouk. << Jonson, this is Major Farouk. I'm on the scene. Doesn't look impossible, but it may be delicate work; we're talking about detonators and detcord stuck in machinery that I'm guessing Mister Munro would like to keep intact. >>
<< Roger that. >>
Thul steps up his pace a little heading for Deck 2. Arrives on the scene and looks the detonators over *REAL CAREFULL* without touching them. At first lookover he is checking for the myriad of ways of boobytrapping detonators to foil EOD folks...
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