ebook - the sigma vortex

8/15/2019 eBook - The Sigma Vortex

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The Sigma Vortex

Arun Nair

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CONTENTS

Preface..............................................................1

The Mission.......................................................3

Launch Control................................................17

En route to ua!rant E"##..............................$1 The Sigma Vortex............................................$%

An &nex'ecte! Ac(uaintance.........................3#

The Alien Shi'.................................................#)

*irst Contact....................................................#+

S'anner in the ,or-s......................................1

/o'e against /o'e.........................................%

The &ltimate Sacri0ce.....................................7

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Preface

ear $2)) CE an age ,here human ci4ili5ation hasachie4e! 'eace an! e(uili6rium an! man-in! hasfurthere! his (uests for science an! s'ace. Threecenturies ago 'lanet earth ha! come together an!forme! a coalition of nations calle! the &nite! EarthConsortium ushering in an un'rece!ente! age of'ros'erit culture an! colla6oration.A!4ancements in science an! technolog too- on a(uantum lea' ma-ing it 'ossi6le for humanci4ili5ation to coloni5e 'lanets in the 4icinit.

The a!ministration an! go4ernance of the 'lanetsmature! an! a!4ance! ,ith time mo!ele! aroun!

the Earth8s o,n. Along the centuries these colonies9ourishe! an! so !i! the fre(uenc of tra!e an!tra4el 6et,een the 'lanets. :nter"'lanetarcoo'eration on science technolog an! ex'loration'rogresse! 6 lea's an! 6oun!s. ; $#)) CE the'lanets of the solar sstem came together formingthe &nite! *e!eration of Planets esearch Association A=. The &*P is hea!(uartere! in Mars an! the SE>Ahea!(uartere! in the >amano4a sector Earth.

?4er the rest of the centur the SE>A ,ereinstrumental in re4olutionar in4entions an!a!4ancements in s'ace tra4el inclu!ing!e4elo'ment of s'ace shi's ,ith unimagina6lerange in s'ee! an! !istance. ?ne such ra!icalin4ention ,as the !e4elo'ment of a 'rotot'e ,ar'

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!ri4e ,hich excee!e! the s'ee! of light 6 a factorof 1 in ex'erimental con!itions. The ,ar' !ri4e,oul! 'ro4e 4ital in inter"galactic ex'lorations as,oul! 6e re4eale! in the stor that follo,s.

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The Mission

2500 CE

@anuar 2 &*P time )#3) hrs.

Ca'tain Vihn Nathan ,as u' earl as usual an!'rocee!e! to Bog aroun! the lush green gar!en thesea 6ree5e an! the sun ma-ing u' for a 'erfectmorning. The 6eautiful Monte Quinos ,as his,ee-l retreat an arti0cial islan! sus'en!e!hun!re!s of feet a6o4e sea le4el one ,hich

'resente! an ama5ing 'anoramic 4ie, of theAtlantic ?cean.

/is Bog ,as interru'te! 6 a 'riorit alert from the&EC fre(uenc. ?n ac-no,le!gment a holograma''eare! of Phili' Carson Vice A!miral at SE>A an!Mission irector of Nova Spatiale, the intergalactic

ex'loration 'roBect.

Ca'tain Vihn age! #) ,as alrea! a 4eteran ofse4eral s'ace ex'loration missions an! theoungest mem6er of the elite Aquilius s(ua!ron. /e,as 281) tall ,ith an athletic 'ersonalit an! a

'hsical !is'osition that ma!e him a''ear muchounger. Vihn8s re'ertoire inclu!e! se4eral to'honors in na4igation an! s'ace comman!

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'rograms A!miral Citations an! the Senator a,ar!for his contri6utions to SE>A.

Dhen the A!miral ha! to choose a comman!er for

this s'ace mission he ha! no !ou6ts.

Vihn Sorr to cut our 4acation short 6ut ou84e6een chosen to lea! a 4er im'ortant s'acemission an! : ,ant ou to 6e there at the mission/ 6 )7)) hrs.F

es Sir mission / )7)) hrsF he re'lie!.

An! than- ouF Vihn a!!e! ,ith a smile.

ou !eser4e itF the A!miral sai! 6efore signingoG.

This could only be the Nova Spatiale, he thought. /e ha! 6een ,aiting for this moment for he -ne,the rele4ance this mission ,oul! ha4e on hiscareer an! more im'ortantl in the annals of s'aceex'loration.

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&*P time )#2 hrs.

Mission /ea!(uarters the SE>A &EC TerminalH

A s'ra,ling com'lex ,ith glass 6uil!ings the sha'eof or6s home to SE>A8s o'erations.

Vihn entere! the main 6uil!ing ,hich houses theoIce of the SE>A strategic comman! A crest on hischest he struts to,ar!s the a!miral8s ca6in.

Joo! morning SirF

Joo! morning Vihn ou are Bust in time. Loo- at

thisF the a!miral motions his 0ngers in mi! air an!rotates a 3 !imensional 'roBection of a s'acecraft.

A 'iece of art isn8t sheKF the A!miral a!!s.

She certainl is A!miralF

Vihn she is the USF Hyperion the nextgeneration i!ing "#, ex'lorer class s'ace shi'Fhe exclaime!.

Ama5ing :sn8t this the one ,ith the Mar- $ $arpdriveKF

That8s rightH she is also e(ui''e! ,ith the italis climatiser an! 4ital su''ort sstem ,ith a 6ac-"u'of 3)) !asF

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No, that is something A!miralF

es an! so is the mission she is 'art of. She has

6een !e'ute! to the Nova Spatiale mission.FNo, here is ,here ou count.F he 'ause!.

ou are the comman!er of this missionF

:8m honoure! sirF. Vihn ,as ex'ecting thisassignment 6ut the next generation i!ing s'ace

craft ,as a sur'rise. /e ,as ex'ecting to comman!the "% ,ith a retro0tte! ,ar' !ri4e.

our mission commences at 5ero hun!re! hours&*P on the 2th of A'ril $2)) CE. Exactl 3 monthsfrom no,.F

&ut that's too short a ti(e) /e thought. The "# isa ne$ space cra*t)

Vihn the "# control !ec- isn8t too !iGerent fromthe "% sa4e for the hyperspace co((and andco((unication (odule.F the a!miral sai! allaing

his fears. 3 months shoul! 6e goo! enough time totrain the comman! cre, na4igation an! technicalstaGF

our training starts in a ,ee- at the SE>A trainingfacilit sector A1 an! ou84e 6een grante! accessto the Nova Spatiale 0les starting no,F.

All the 6est VihnF he conclu!e! 6efore excusinghimself.

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@anuar &*P time ))) hrs.

;ac- at Monte Quinos Vihn relaxe! in his stu!an! contem'late! the e4ents an! the missionahea! o4er a glass of ,ine.

Not ,ishing to ,aste an more time he summone!for Aurora an arti0cial intelligence com'uter ,hichinterfaces ,ith 4oice or gestures.

Aurora, operational and ready F a female 4oiceechoe! from a hologra'hic 'roBection.

+Access Nova SpatialeF he 6ec-one!.

AuthorisedF

Mar-u' USF HyperionF

Fetching and ro-ectingF the Aurora echoe!6efore 'roBecting a three !imensional image of theUSF Hyperion.

Vihn starte! ex'loring the s'aceshi' an! ,asim'resse! 6 ,hat he sa,. This is a big leap inspace technology he thought an! realise! that theairframe an! 'ro'ulsion sstems of the Vi-ing V2,ere signi0cantl !iGerent from the V#.

?nce !one ,ith the ex'loration he ,ante! to learna6out his core cre, mem6ers.

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+Pro0le core cre, ,ith summarF

The Aurora 'roBecte! a summar of the cre,mem6ers.

Second in o((and/First 01cer 2 aptain 3a(es4arner eteran o* 5# space (issions6 passed out o* theS78A training progra( in the Top 596 recipient o*the coveted Sirius (edal *or e:cellence innavigation, co((and and control.

hie* Medical ounsel ; ? space (issions6 one o* the pioneerso* 7li:ir, the deep space li*e sustenance progra(and an authority on cryogenetics6 recipient o* the@old ross a$ard *or her contributions to (edical

science and research.

hie* 7ngineer 2 space (issions6 Associate Mission 4arp drive6 8eceived the

Ad(iral's citation *or his thesis on ropulsion


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A fe, ears ago Vihn comman!e! the USF Novah on a trial 4oage to ua!rant E## ,hen an anomalin the 4ortex resulte! in extreme s'i-es of

ra!iation. The s'ace craft coul!n8t shiel! theinmates from the ra!iation an! 12 mem6ers of thecre, lost their li4es. The rest of the cre, ha! to 6ee4acuate! an! (uarantine! for a ,ee- 6efore the,ere nurture! 6ac- to health free of ra!iationcontamination. The inci!ent raise! a furor at the&*P Senate an! all missions to ua!rant E## ,ere

halte!.

This inci!ent shoo- Vihn 6a!l an! it too- himsome time to recu'erate.

Mission ;riefF he summone!

Mission NS5 the Sig(a orte: the Aurora 'ause!6efore continuing.

An unprecedented (ission through the portals o*space, and a quantu( leap in space e:ploration.This (ission $ill conduit through Quadrant 7%%a*ter the S78A2UF (andate $hich has authoriBed

the quadrant *or space e:plorations.

Vihn -ne, this ,as coming. S'ace ua!rant E## issituate! in the 'roximit of 'lanet Ne'tune an! it0rst came into attention ,hen astronomers!etecte! an anomal in the surroun!ing s'ace. :t,as !ismisse! as a 6lac- hole in s'ace until r. @arrra4is a note! astronomer an! scientist 'ro4e! the'resence of a s'ace 'ortal an! also ga4e it its nameO the Sig(a orte:. /e also h'othecate! that the

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4ortex ga4e access to an un-no,n !imension ins'ace a ,ormhole in s'ace if the s'acecraftentere! the 4ortex at $arp s'ee!.

:nci!entall r. ra4is ,as the 'rinci'al scientist6ehin! the 'rotot'e ,ar' !ri4e a future 4ersion of ,hich no, foun! its 'lace in the USF Hyperion 'ro'ulsion sstem.

After the theories on the Sig(a Vortex ,ereacce'te! r. ra4is ,as to Boin the cre, of the

Nova Spatiale O 6ut he ,oul! ha4e to ,ait. The &*Psenate ha! not lifte! the 4eto on ua!rant E## an!he ,oul! ha4e to ,ait another 7 months 6efore themission ,as gi4en a go"ahea!.

r. ra4is ha! s'ent half his life stu!ing an!

con!ucting ex'eriments on the Sig(a orte: an!he !i!n8t ,ant the &*P senate to tell him to ,aitan longer. /e felt that the 4eto on E## ,asunnecessar./is 'atience ran out an! he !eci!e! to ma-e the

Bourne himself ris-ing re'riman! 6 the &*P an!SE>A.

/e use! an ol! V$ reconnaissance craft that ,asun!er maintenance an! re'lace! the 'ro'ulsionsstem ,ith a 'rotot'e ,ar' !ri4e that he 'uttogether.

Then one night he snea-e! into (ua!rant E## in hisrefur6ishe! V$ an! aligne! it to the Sigma Vortex.

This intrusion into E## raise! the alarm at the SE>Amission control center an! a stri-e s(ua!ron ,as on

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its ,a to interce't the intru!er after allcommunications faile!.

The ,ere too late to interce't as the V$ s'e!straight into the Sigma Vortex ,ith ,ar' s'ee! an!

!isa''eare! ,ithout a trace.

SE>A ,ere 'ut in a s'ot 6 this e4ent an! the ha!to !e'lo a s'ace station name! oseidon an! a4igilance s(ua!ron at the E## (ua!rant to a4oi!an more em6arrassments.

Vihn ,as shoc-e! 6 the e4ent an! coul!n8tun!erstan! ,h r. ra4is ,oul! !o something sorash. After all he ,as 'art of the SE>A team ,hich,oul! chart the same 'ath on a 6etter e(ui''e!s'aceshi'./e also felt sa!!ene! that insanit got the 6etter of

a 6rilliant scientist ,ho ,oul! ha4e 6een anexcellent resource for the mission.

Log oG No4a S'atiale that ,ill 6e all. En! sessionFhe conclu!e! for the night.

Cou have no$ been logged oD Nova Spatiale.

7nding Session. @ood night aptain the Aurorafa!e! out.

This ,oul! 'ro4e to 6e the most challenging ofassignments for Vihn fraught ,ith ris-s O 6eon!the frontiers of s'ace on a mission using a ra!icalne, in4ention an! through a (ua!rant that 6rought6ac- 6a! memories. ;ut the mission ,asun'rece!ente! in the histor of man-in!8s s'ace

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ex'loration an! here ,as an o''ortunit to 6e atthe helm of it.

Vihn coul!n8t ,ait to 6e on the Hyperion's

comman! 6ri!ge.

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Mission Training entre

@anuar 1)

Vihn s'ent the follo,ing ,ee-s at the mission8straining centre getting rea! for the mission. This,as also an o''ortunit for him to meet his coreteam.

The 0rst to meet him ,as Ca'tain @ames Darner.

Ca'tain @ames Darner #) tall an! lan- ,as a4eteran of 0fteen s'ace missions.

Joo! morning Ca'tainF @ames ,as ha'' to seehis ol! frien!.

Morning @im goo! to see ou againF Vihn,ishe! him ,ith a smile.

AeF @ames reci'rocate! ,ith a salute.

The s'ent the next fe, minutes exchanging

'leasantries an! catching u' on times.

/a4e the rest of the cre, arri4e!KF Vihnen(uire!.

es Ca'tain :leana an! >ohn ,ere here an hourearlier an! the are in the Hyperion. : guess no onecoul! ,ait to 6e in here.F

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:8m gla! to ha4e a 'assionate team for thismissionF Vihn smile! 6ac-./a4e ou 6een aroun! the HyperionKF

: ha4e : ,as here 3 hours earlierF he re'lie!enthusiasticall. :8m sure ou can8t ,ait to see iteitherF

ou 6etF Vihn coul!n8t contain his excitement.

Come let me ta-e ou aroun!F @ames oGere! to

gi4e Vihn a ,al-through of the USF Hyperion.

*or the 0rst time Vihn got a glance of the USFHyperion in all her glor. She ,as slee- o4alsha'e! " +) m long 2 m ,i!e an! 1$ m tall. /erhull ,as ma!e of the s'ace age Trichediu( metal

an! her 6o! ,as coate! in 6lac-. The s'aceshi'registr num6er &SN"11$ an! i!ing "# ,ereengra4e! neatl in ,hite. The ,or!s USF Hyperion,ere etche! on 6oth si!es of the s'aceshi' in sil4er,ith the letter n stle! in the sha'e of a star./e coul! feel the goose 6um's as he sur4ee! thes'acecraft This is truly a $or! o* art), he sai! to

himself.

Vihn8s next !estination ,asn8t the comman!6ri!ge 6ut the engine room.

This comes as no sur'rise 6ecause at the heart ofthe Hyperion ,as a state" of"the"art h'er!ri4e'ro'ulsion sstem.

Joo! Morning Ca'tainF he ,as greete! 6 r.>ohn Mae!a the Chief engineer.

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r. >ohn Mae!a #3 ,as an accom'lishe! engineeran! a han!s"on 'erson. Dhen a re'lacement ha! to6e foun! for r. ra4is after his fateful 4oage the

!i!n8t nee! to loo- 4er far. >ohn ha! ,or-e! ,ithra4is on the ,ar' !ri4e as the associate mission!irector.

Joo! morning >ohn : see ou ha4e alrea! ma!eourself at home hereF he smile!. De ha4esomething here !on8t ,eKF

?f course Ca'tain she is a ,or- of art The'o,er'lant can churn u' enough 'o,er to 'ro'elthe s'aceshi' to ,ar' s'ee! in less than 1)secon!s.F >ohn coul!n8t contain his excitement.The engine room also contains the Ey(er "las(a

core that 'o,ers the h'er!ri4e an! also fee!s thes'aceshi'8s 'rimar 'o,er 'lant.F

:m'ressi4e >ohn : can8t ,ait to get this 6eautu'F

: coul!n8t agree more Ca'tainF he smile!.

Let me hea! o4er to the 6ri!ge no, : shall seeou aroun!F

Pleasure meeting ou Ca'tain. ; the ,a :leanashoul! 6e thereF

es :8m a,areF Vihn sai! 6efore signing oG fromthe engine room.

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Ver ,ell then Ca'tainF >ohn conclu!e! ,ith asmile.

Vihn -ne, the reason 6ehin! the smile an! rightl

so. /e ,as eager to meet :leana.r. :leana Solus #1 ,as a 4er 'rett ,oman an!ha! the !is'osition an! 'ersonalit that ma!e herthe center of attention. She ,as also a highl!ecorate! me!ical oIcer an! an authorit oncrogenetics. /er ,or- on 7li:ir the !ee' s'ace lifesustenance 'rogram ,on her the 'restigious Jol!

cross a,ar!.

At the comman! 6ri!ge :leana ,as re4ie,ingVitalis the climati5er that ,as retro0tte! ,ith the7li:ir su6sstem ,hen Vihn ste''e! in.

Joo! Morning :leana goo! to see ou here.F

Joo! Morning Ca'tainF :leana greete! ,ith anenthusiastic smile. She ,as 'lease! as much asmuch to see Vihn.

:s e4erthing in or!erKF Vihn en(uire!.

es Ca'tain the Vitalis ,or-s li-e a 6ree5e The!ata is encouraging.F

Joo! to hear thatF

Vihn then ma!e his ,a to his seat an! felt a rushof a!miration as he glance! through the controls.

The Hyperion also came ,ith Athena, the next

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generation A: com'uter that ,as the 6rain of thei!ing "#.

@ood Morning aptain Nathan, Athena echoe!.

Joo! MorningF the ca'tain a''eare! sur'rise!. :!i!n8t -no, ou ,ere onlineF

='( per*or(ing so(e scheduled diagnostic tests,and = $ent online a *e$ (inutes be*ore you $al!edin

Goo!ing *or$ard to your co((and aptain

Joo! to -no, that Athena. Nice meeting ou an!loo-ing for,ar! to the mission. : must no, hea! tom training sessionF

The training ,ent oG smoothl as sche!ule! an! he,as rea! for the mission ,ith a fe, !as to s'are.

/e use! this time to catch u' ,ith frien!s an!famil s'en!ing more time ,ith them than usualan! 0nishing oG erran!s.

on8t 6e ri!iculousF his 6rother tol! him ,hen hesai! he ma not return.ou84e !one a hun!re! missions 6eforeF.

:8m not a''rehensi4e :8m Bust 6eing 'racticalF here'lie! ,ith a smile.

This time :8m 9ing into the Sig(a orte: F.

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This also ga4e him the time to re4ie, the mission9ight 'lan ,hich ,oul! ta-e him through a

contro4ersial s'ace corri!or into the un-no,n. *romthe Nova Spatiale mission control centre the,oul! ma-e a 'it sto' to the Posei!on s'acestation Ne'tune an! su6se(uentl to the 7%%s'ace station.

*rom here the Hyperion ,oul! charge into the

Sig(a orte: at ,ar' s'ee!.

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Launch Control

The SE>A com'lex V Maxis sector Moon

A'ril # &*P time $$)) hrs.

The SE>A com'lex V ,as ne,l constructe! for theNova Spatiale mission. S'rea! o4er 12 miles thecom'lex too- 3 ears to com'lete lea's ahea! ofits time an! a mar4el in s'ace station construction.

The com'lex also hoste! a colossal s'ace !oc-2))) feet u' in s'ace ,ith the ca'a6ilit to !oc-12) Vi-ing V2s.

The USF Hyperion ,oul! 6e launche! from this!oc- ram' S1 in exactl t,o hours.

Ca'tain Vihn Nathan com'lete! a 0nal meeting,ith his cre, an! ,as in great antici'ation of themission.

;efore hea!ing for the Hyperion he ,as gi4en afare,ell 6 the mission !irector Vice A!miral Phili'Carson.

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Ma this mission 6roa!en our hori5ons an! o'enu' ,orl!s for us VihnF the A!miral shoo- hishan!s 0rml. ou -no, the im'ortance of thismission come 6ac- gloriousF.

Citius Altius &lteriusF the A!miral com'lete!,ith the SE>A motto for *aster, higher, *arther.

Ae sirF he aIrme!.

Comman! ;ri!ge USF Hyperion

$3)) hrs. 1 hour until launch

The stage ,as set for the launch. Vihn !i! a re4ie,of the 9ight 'lan ,ith his secon! in comman!Ca'tain @ames Darner 6efore logging in to the SE>Alaunch control centre.

Log on to the SE>A launch controlF Vihnsummone!.

+AuthoriBed. onnected to the S78A launch controland ready *or co((unication, Athenaac-no,le!ge!.

This is Ca'tain Vihn Nathan of the USF Hyperion

6earing s'ace registr &niform Sierra No4em6er?ne ?ne T,o.F

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De are rea! for Nova Spatiale mission NS1 to theSig(a vorte: .F

Ca'tain this is Launch control. Mission

authori5e!.F re'lie! a 4oice from the launchcontrol.

USF Hyperion 6earing s'ace registr &niformSierra No4em6er ?ne ?ne T,o shall 'rocee! tos'ace station oseidon. At )%)) hours &*P ou ,ill'rocee! to ua!rant Echo *our *our an! ,ait for

further instructions.F

Pre'are for launchF came the 4oice from thelaunch control.

Ac-no,le!ge!F Vihn re'lie!. @ames un!oc- an!

're'are for launch.F

AIrmati4e Ca'tain.F came the ac-no,le!gementfrom @ames Darner the secon! in comman! of &S*Hyperion.

&n!oc-ing com'leteF he re'lie!. :nitiating launch

se(uence al'haF he sai! referring to the stage,here the mission ,a'oints ,ere fe! into thesstem an! the na4igation sstem ,as acti4ate!.

Launch se(uence al'ha com'lete rea! for!e'artureF @ames con0rme!.

Than- ou @amesF. Vihn ac-no,le!ge!.Launch control launch se(uence com'lete!. Deare rea! for !e'artureF.

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Ca'tain ou are cleare! for !e'arture. No moreinstructions. All the 6est an! Jo! s'ee! Ca'tainFcom'lete! the 4oice from the launch control.

Jo! s'ee! Than- ou launch controlF Vihn sai!6efore signing oG.

@ames set course to N1 (ua!rant ;ra4o se4en5ero. Dar' s'ee! to 'oint $F

Ae ca'tainF. Course set to N1 (ua!rant ;ra4oSe4en ero. Dar' !ri4e set to $ 'er cent. ETA)#2 hoursF

Team ,e are rea!F Vihn smile! ami!st cheersfrom the team. Pre'are ourself for launchF.

Engage thrusters. LiftoG in 1) secon!sF

AIrmati4e. Thrusters engage! !e'arture in 1)secon!sF @ames con0rme! 6efore 6racing himself.

:n the 1) secon!s the thrusters ,ere engage! an!

the s'acecraft 6egan to mo4e slo,l im'eriouslthrough the s'ace li-e a giant ,arming u' 6eforethe s'rint. The s'ee! 6egan to 6uil! u' 'acing thes'acecraft for,ar! at an ex'onential rate until she,as at $))) -nots. 2 minutes later the s'acecraft ,as cruising at $2)) -nots an! at that criticals'ee! the Hyperion ,as rea! for the next ste'.

+Activating 4arp 4arp Speed in #seconds the Aurora announce!.

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J# J% J? ...> J5

The ,ar' !ri4e ,ent online an! cata'ulte! the

Hyperion into h'er s'ee!. The s'acecraft s'e! outof sight lea4ing a ghost trail.

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En route to Quadrant E-44

A'ril 2 &*P time )#2 hrs.

As the Hyperion entere! (ua!rant ;7) Aurora!eacti4ate! the ,ar' !ri4e an! s,itche! o4er fromh'er s'ee! to su'ersonic 9ight.S'ace station oseidon the Hyperion's interimsto'"o4er ,as Bust a fe, minutes a,a.

As the s'acecraft ease! into su'ersonic 9ight theca6in an! a4ionic lights fa!e! in. The ca6in seating

tha,e! an! the comman! cre, ,as no, rea! tota-e o4er.

Ca'tain Vihn Nathan stretche! his arms an! legs6efore resuming comman!.

Joo! morning Athena. Status u'!ate 'leaseF

@ood (orning aptain. =t is April #, UF ti(e I%#hrs. 4e are no$ in quadrant & Athena echoe!.

4e are no$ cruising at 5# !nots

All syste(s nor(al

Ver ,ell AthenaF Vihn ac-no,le!ge! relie4e!that the mission ,as on trac-.

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The cre, got u' from their seats to get a 4ie,outsi!e.

The 4ie, ,as a sight to 6ehol!. More so 6ecausethe 6ri!ge ga4e the comman!ing oIcers a 1+)!egree 4ie, of the s'ace. The clear s'ace ,as!otte! ,ith 6right stars an! ne6ulous o6BectsH thehea4ens ,ere s'lashe! ,ith mria! colors oforange an! mau4e in a !a55ling !is'la.

No, that is some sightF r. :leana Solusexclaime! as she glance! into s'ace.

:t certainl is :leanaF >ohn agree!. Dho ,oul!ha4e imagine! that 6ehin! this mar4elous sightmillions of light ears a,a ,ere ex'lo!ing stars

6lac- holes an! all the anomalies of s'aceKF

ou are right >ohn. Sometimes 6ehin! all the6eaut an! charm lies a sinister moti4e luring outo,ar!s itF :leana sighe!.

An! s'ea-ing of s'atial anomaliesF >ohn sai! ,ith

a little anxiet in his 4oice De ,ill 6e soonhea!ing to oneF.

Loo- at the 6righter si!eF @ames interru'te! thehi!!en galaxies an! 'lanets that ma 6e far more6eautiful than ours.F

Team there is more to it than Bust lure or charm.De are ex'lorers.F Vihn a!!e! 'utting his han!so4er >ohn8s shoul!ers (uelling his a''rehension.

29


30/93

Li-e an ex'lorer ,e trea! along the un-no,n nomatter ho, sinister it ma a''ear. :t is ouro'timism an! s'irit that o'ens u' the hori5ons forman-in!.F

No, that8s s'o-en li-e a true comman!erF @amesa!!e!. ;esi!es ,e84e all 6een ,aiting for this!aF

:n!ee!F >ohn grinne! feeling 6etterem6arrasse! for exhi6iting his anxieties.

Time for some refreshments gusF :lleana oGere!./o, a6out some mountain coGeeKF

E4er6o! no!!e! in unison.

The s'ent the next fe, minutes si''ing theirfreshl 6re,e! coGee an! con4ersing ,hen the6ri!ge ,as interru'te! 6 an inco(ingco((unication alert.

aptain, $e have co((unication *ro( oseidonlaunch control. Athena ste''e! in.

:nitiate communicationF Vihn ac-no,le!ge!.

Joo! morning Ca'tain Nathan this is Coloneleming Li comman!ing oIcer of s'ace stationPosei!onF greete! a frien!l 4oice.

Delcome to ;7)F

30


31/93

Joo! morning Colonel an! goo! to hear our 4oiceafter a long timeF

:t is m 'leasure Ca'tain Nathan an! :8m gla! to

recei4e ou on this historic tri'F his 4oice ,as6eaming ,ith excitement.

No, if ou ma Ca'tain : shall acti4ate the tractor6eamF Li continue! referring to a shaft of lightthat ,oul! chauGeur the s'ace craft to a're!etermine! !estination.

es Colonel 'lease acti4ate the tractor 6eamF

Athena engage ,ith the tractor 6eamF

Tractor bea( 7ngaged.


32/93

S'ace station Posei!on

&*P time )712 hrs.

At the o6ser4ator of s'ace station oseidon >ohnMae!a an! Ca'tain @ames Darner 6egan 'eering at4ital !ata a6out the 4ortex 6efore 'rocee!ing forthe mission. As he glance! through !iGerentrea!ings he notice! an anomalH there ,as a s'i-ein the ra!iation le4el that 4eere! !angerousl close

to the threshol! le4els. :n short it ,oul! meana6orting the mission if the ra!iation le4els !i!n8tsu6si!e.

Vihne ou ma ,ant to loo- at thisF >ohn calle!out concerne!.

This isn8t goo! the al'ha le4els are highF Vihneloo-e! in a''rehension.*or a moment it remin!e! him of the fateful &S*No4ah inci!ent.

/o,e4er the V2 can shiel! us at these le4els

that8s ,hat the test con0rms.F >ohn a''ease!.

;ut !oes it ma-e sense ta-ing the ris-KF :lleanainterBecte!. Since the shiel! 6orro,s energ fromthe same source as the italis, there is a 'ro6a6ilitof contamination.F

;ut that ,oul! 6e negligi6le :leanaF

Negligi6le >ohn 6ut not 'ermissi6le.F

32


33/93

:n !ee' s'ace through a 4ortex e4en the mostinsigni0cant can 6e magni0e!. So it is still a ris-.Fshe asserte!.

Not if ,e can 9 into the trough ,in!o,F @amesste''e! in.

Ca'tain there seems to 6e a 'attern a 'ulse thatthese s'i-es follo,. De ha4e a6out 23 minutes6efore the next s'i-e.F

: agree @imF Vihn ste''e! in. Let8s not mull o4erthe 'ossi6ilities. De must ta-e a!4antage of this,in!o,F

Cre, see ou at the !ec- in $2 minutesF he

summone!.

e'arture in #) minutesF

AeF the sai! in unison 6efore hea!ing to the!oc-ing station. ;ut :leana ,asn8t con4ince!.

Ca'tain ,e can8t start the mission on a ,rongnote. Let us o6ser4e the ra!iation le4els o4er thenext $# hoursF

Exactl m 'oint ,e can8t start the mission on a,rong noteF @ames seeme! miGe! at :leana8sgro,ing a''rehensions.

Vihn ste''e! in. /e !i!n8t ,ant to Beo'ar!i5e thishistorical mission 6ecause of ,hat a me!ical oIcer

33


34/93

thought 'ro6a6le.The le4els ma get 6etter in $# hours 6ut thenthings coul! also get ,orse. This is the 6est ,in!o,,e ha4e right no,.F

De are ex'lorers not theorists so let8s getmo4ingF he conclu!e!.

;ac- in the s'ace craft the cre, ,as at theirassigne! locations a,aiting clearance for thecritical 'hase of the Bourne.

QUSF Hyperion, 're'are ourself for !e'arture tothe Sigma 4ortexF heral!e! Colonel eming Lihimself.

Thrusters engage! an! ,aitingF Vihn res'on!e!,ith a little anxiet in his 4oice.

ou are no, cleare! for !e'arture to the SigmaVortex. ET 3) secon!s. Joo! luc- Ca'tain an! theteam of the &S* HyperionF

Ac-no,le!ge!. Than- ou Colonel.F

@ames Engage thrusters !e'arture in 3) secon!sF

Ae Ca'tain. Thrusters engage! h'er !ri4e online.e'arture in 3) secon!sF

That 4er moment the comman! team ,asen4elo'e! in a force 0el! an! their seats mor'he!into cocoons to shiel! them in the h'er s'ee!9ight.

34


35/93

The Athena then too- o4er. K J>L J> J>I J># J>% J>? J>> J>5

J> ...5K J5L J5 J5I J5# J5% J5? J5> J55

The 4oice got lou!er

Q1) Q% Q+ Q7 Q F

:n that 4er moment the thrusters ,ent online.

Q2F

The ca6in lights ,ere turne! oG. The a4ionics an!other illuminations in the control 'anel fa!e! a,a.

Q#F

Q3F

Q$F

Q1F

Gi*t 0D)

The Hyperion arche! 6ac- 6 2 !egrees thethrusters re44e! u' turning the rear of the hull into6right neon 6lue. This ,as accom'anie! 6 a hum

,hich ,as 6arel au!i6le insi!e the s'acecraft. The s'ace craft nu!ge! ahea! the next moment5ooming a,a to su'ersonic s'ee! s,itching soonto h'er s'ee!.

35


36/93

The Hyperion s'e! to the 4ortex in no time an!!isa''eare! ,ithout a trace lea4ing a ghost trail.As the Hyperion s'e! through the 4ortex 9ashes of

light emanate! aroun! the 4ortex along ,ith acrac-le in s'ace.

The Siga !orte"

A'ril 2&n-no,n Location

:t ,as 12 minutes since the h'ers'ace 9ightthrough the 4ortex 6efore the Hyperion s,itche! tosu'ersonic.

Su!!enl as the ease! into su'ersonic s'ee! thes'acecraft starte! rattling an! sha-ing ,ith suchforce that it almost thre, the cre, oG their seats.

The ,arning signals starte! 6laring through the shi'

36


37/93

an! the comman! cre, ha! to inter4ene to sta6ili5ethe s'acecraft.

After ,hat seeme! fore4er the Hyperion 0nall

slo,e! !o,n an! came to a halt. The cre, ,ere4isi6l sha-en 6 the inci!ent an! imme!iatel gotinto the act.

Athena status u'!ateF Vihn sai! ,ith an urgencin his 4oice.

There ,as no ans,er.

Athena are ou onlineKF

No res'onse.

Team. Ji4e me an u'!ate.F

Ca'tain Athena is !o,n structural integritcom'romise! 6 $2RF

This isn8t goo!. The rattle must ha4e !one this toherF Vihne sai! ,ith anxiet. Dhat a6out the

restKF

The 'rimar sstems are functioning. Pro'ulsionsan! na4igation in or!er.F @ames re'lie!All sstems ha4e 6een route! to the secon!armo!ule comman! an! controls are no, manual.F

Ca'tain the Life su''ort an! italis are normalan! functioningF :leana ste''e! it

37


38/93

*rom the log Athena ,as functional until ,e'asse! through the 4ortex.F

That ex'lains the rattle Ca'tainF >ohn inter4ene!.

The s'ace resonance !am'ener is controlle! 6the AthenaF

The s'ace resonance !am'ener ,as meant toa6sor6 shoc-s an! !istur6ances in s'ace !uring9ight. The Athena controlle! the 'ro'ulsion!namics in h'ers'ace an! ,hen it ,ent oine it

turne! the !am'ener oG along ,ith it.

es >ohn 6ut ,asn8t the Athena teste! forh'ers'aceK An! 6esi!es there are t,o auxiliariesfor the AthenaF

This is interesting Ca'tainF @ames ste''e! in.

The auxiliaries -ic-e! in 6ut the ,ent oine in(uic- successionF

StrangeF >ohn a!!e!. The Athena is 4er ,ellsuite! for such 9ights. :t hasn8t faile! in an of the

2))) o!! tests an! the 3$) test 9ightsF.

:f ou also notice there ,eren8t an 'ro6lems inthe 9ights 6efore ,e crosse! the Sigma 4ortexF

>ohn !o a 'reliminar examination an! gi4e mean u'!ateF. Vihne ,asn8t too 'lease! ,ith the

'rocee!ings an! ,ante! to get into the heart of thematter.

38


39/93

/e ste''e! further an! loo-e! at the 4ie, outsi!esince the 0rst time the crosse! the 4ortex.

The 4ie, ,as 'itch"6lac- exce't for faint ne6ulae "

a star- contrast from the 4ie, Bust half an hour6ac-. E4erthing felt so un-no,n an! unfamiliarHthe onl familiar sight ,as the en! of the 4ortexfrom ,hich the ha! emerge!. The cre, ha! 6eenthrough se4eral !angerous missions 6efore 6ut thistime it felt ominous an! eerie. The start ,asn8tgoo! either " the failure of Athena the ner4e of the

Hyperion ,as !istur6ing.

As the ca'tain he ha! to alla these fearsa''rehensions an! loo- for o'tions.

@im ,hat else !o ,e -no, a6out this 'laceKF

Vihne sai! soun!ing a little tense.

M rea!ings tell me that there is no i!enti0a6lesector in range.F @ames re'lie!. Ca'tain ,e areoutsi!e the -no,n uni4erse.F

Dell ,e ha4e successfull crosse! the 4ortex. No,

the mission 6eginsF he ha! to 6e o'timistic. @imo'en u' all communication channels an! initiate aP>EC?MF

Ae Ca'tainF. The communications mo!ule ,asno, acti4e scanning the s'ace across multi'le

fre(uencies for an signs. The Hyperion is no,o'en to communications scanning all fre(uencies.F

39


40/93

:nitiating P>EC?MF @ames re'lie! referring to therea(ble o((unication a customar ,elcomemessage sent across in all -no,n languages ofcommunication -no,n to man-in! across all

fre(uencies. The P>EC?M also inclu!e! semanticsan! semiotics of !iGerent earthl languages to hel'an alien contact un!erstan! the human form ofcommunication.

:t ,as meant to initiate communication ,ith anneigh6oring shi' or 4essel an! con4e the intention

of esta6lishing a frien!l contact.

Joo!. No, let8s ,ait.F

3) minutes 'asse! an! there ,ere no signs of are'l ,hen su!!enl a 6li' a''eare! on @ames8

console.

Ca'tain Loo- at this There is a series of faint light'ulses. The rela an! form of these 'ulses suggestthat it8s not ran!om. This is coming from anintelligent life form.F

:s the communication 'attern alienKF Vihn(uerie! ra't in attention as the rest of the cre,gathere! aroun! @ames8 console.

Let me seeF he anal5e!.

: Q: !on8t 6elie4e thisF @ames stammere!.

40


41/93

Ca'tain the 'attern is !istinctl human. :nfact it8sin an ol! form of communication use! in the $)th centur.F

The cre, ,as stunne!. :t ,as the Morse co!e.

41


42/93

#n $ne"%ected #c&uaintance

As the cre, ,as stunne! ,ith the re4elation theMorse co!e streame! in.

: ha4e the 0rst message. :t sasQF

@ames ,as sur'rise! ,ith ,hat he ha! to sa next.

+J4elco(e aptain ihn and the cre$ o* the USFHyperion.

Dhat ho, can that 6eF Vihn interBecte!./o, is it 'ossi6le the P>EC?M !oesn8t sa

anthing a6out the cre, :ts highl im'ro6a6le that,e ,oul! 6e recogni5e!.F

&nlessQF

;efore Vihn coul! com'lete the sentence the nextmessage streame! in. /is heart s-i''e! a 6eat.

+This is 3arr ravis, your old *riend.

@ood to see you old *riend. 4hat in heaven'sna(e are you doing, 4here are youO Vihnrelae! 6ac-.

= crossed the vorte: too, re(e(ber) = (ust have!ic!ed up a stor( at the senateF

42


43/93

4e'll tal! about that later. &ut $hy are you on(orse and $hy isn't your "> on our radarO Vihn,as uneas e4en though r ra4is a''eare! to 6e0ne.

='( not on a ">, this is an Alien ship.

+An Alien shipO

The cre, ,as stunne! ,ith the 'rocee!ings.

+Ces, an alien ship. About the siBe o* a (ini city.

+Ho$ (any on boardO

+3ust (e ihn

+0nly youO 4hat about the Alien cre$O

There ,asn8t a res'onse.

@ames retransmit the messageF/e !i!n8t ha4e to.

The res'onse streame! in shoc-ing e4er6o!.

='( the only survivor, the rest o* the L# alien cre$have perished

Ho$ did that happenO

+There is a lot to tell you. = don't have too (uchti(e

43


44/93

+4hat do you (eanO

+= $ill tell you everything. &ut you (ust co(e tothe ship

There ,as a 'ause 6efore Vihne relae! 6ac-.

0!


45/93

Ae Ca'tainF

?-. The ren!e5 4ou5 team ,ill consist of me @ames an! r :leanaFVihne a!!resse!.

>ohn ou are in comman!. ee' me u'!ate!a6out the 'rogress of AthenaF

AIrmati4eF >ohn re'lie!.

Ca'tain the Shuttlecraft is rea!. Cre, rea! for

!e'arture.F @ames follo,e! 6efore han!ing o4ercomman! to >ohn.

Joo! lets hea! to the 6a.F

The cre, assem6le! at the 6a ,here the C$2 a

6ran! ne, shuttlecraft ,as ,aiting to chauGeurthem to the Alien s'ace craft. The C$2 ,as a selfcontaine! s'ace craft ,ith the ca'acit to carr 12'assengers an! ferr them at su'ersonic s'ee!s.

@ames ha! fe! the C$28s on6oar! com'uter ,ith theAlien shi'8s coor!inates earlier an! ,as rea! for!e'arture.

TeamF Vihn starte!. This ren!e54ous is 6othhistoric an! !angerous for this coul! meanman-in!8s 0rst contact ,ith an alien craft or e4en'ossi6l the alien race themsel4es.F

De !on8t -no, ,hat ,e are getting oursel4es into6ut this is a chance ,e ha4e to ta-e. As a team ,eha4e 6een on se4eral missions 6efore an! this isn8tgoing to 6e an !iGerent.F

45


46/93

:f ou ha4e an a''rehensions s'ea- u' no,F

None Ca'tainF the sai! unison.

?- then oG ,e goF

E4er6o! too- u' their 'lace insi!e the shuttlerea! for !e'arture.

Com'uter ,e are rea! for !e'artureF

Ac!no$ledged.


47/93

An! then a morse co!e transmission streame! in.re$, this is 3arr ravis. Cou are $ithin range.


48/93

:n Bust a cou'le of minutes the shi'circumna4igate! through a section of s'ace 6eforeslo,ing !o,n.

Then all of a su!!en the shuttlecraft ,as suc-e!into an area hurling it insi!e the alien s'acecraft.

The shuttle ease! to a halt an! a fe, secon!s latera message relae! in.

aptain, you are no$ inside the alien ship.

48


49/93

The #lien Shi%

A fe, secon!s later a message streame! in.+repare *or dise(bar!ing.

+4hat then


50/93

magical aura to the 'lace. Dhat struc- themho,e4er ,ere the num6er of s'acecrafts that ,ere'ar-e! a fe, meters a,a from their s'ace shuttle.Some of them ,ere sil4er or6 sha'e! an! a6out

t,ice the si5e of their C$2H the others ,ere 6lac-6ean sha'e! ,ith alien mar-ings on them an!se4eral times the si5e of the V2.

The s'acecrafts also loo-e! far su'erior to the V2Vihn an! the cre, coul! onl hel' 6ut mar4el attheir !esigns. Vihn ,as also certain that these

,ere Bust one of the man s'acecrafts that the alienshi' coul! carr. /e ,on!ere! a6out the othermar4els that la ahea!.

;ut there ,as an eerie silence heightene! 6 thea6sence of sentient 6eings.

Dhere is the ,elcome 'artKF @ames Bo-e!6rea-ing the silence.

At that moment a 4oice echoe! across the room.

Delcome Ca'tain an! the rest of the cre,. Than-s

for coming hereF. The 4oice ,as unmista-a6l thatof r. @arr ra4is 6ut Vihn coul! sense somethingamiss though he coul!n8t 6e certain.

: shall no, acti4ate the gui!ance 6eam that ,illchauGeur ou to meF the 4oice continue!.

:nstantl a 6lue 6eam of light encircle! the cre,lifte! them gentl oG the 9oor an! carrie! themfor,ar! at a stea! 'ace.

50


51/93

:t too- them a minute Bust getting out of the foer,here the ,ere in.

?nce out of the foer the ,ere ele4ate! to a fe,hun!re! feet the groun! 6eneath them loo-e!hollo, an! there ,as nothing a6o4e them asthough the ,ere !angling in em't s'ace.

Ahea! of them in the !istance ,ere giant clin!ricalstructures that 9oate! in s'ace ra!iating green

light an! these structures ,ere se'arate! fromeach other 6 a fair !istance a6out se4eral foot6all0el!s.

There ,as also some -in! of snchroni5e!mo4ement amongst these structures in a 'atternalmost li-e a ,a4e. *aint soun!s emanate! out of

them li-e a hum from a metallic tu6e. The cre, coul!n8t hel' 6ut a!mire the sightso4er,helme! 6 the 'ro'ortions of the alien shi'Hthis alien race ,as trul far ahea! of the humanrace.

The ,ere no, mo4ing at consi!era6le 'ace an!

seeme! to 6e nearing the en! of their ri!e ,hen rra4is s'o-e Ca'tain ou ,ill no, enter the cre,(uarters ,here ou ,ill 0n! me in m roomF.

Then all of su!!en the sto''e! mo4ing a shaft of,hite light co4ere! the cre, tem'oraril 6lin!ingthem.

Dhen the o'ene! their ees it ,as a !iGerentscene. A s'acious room greete! them ,ith theam6ience an! em6ellishments that ,ere 0t for a

51


52/93

ing. There ,ere se4eral 'aintings of ,hata''eare! to 6e 6eautiful lan!sca'es of an alien'lanet an! 'ara'hernalia that ,as ,ell out of the,orl!.

DelcomeF r ra4is s'o-e.

This time the 4oice came from 6ehin! them. Theturne! their hea!s 6ac- in sur'rise.

:t ,as r. @arr ra4is himself. resse! in a rich 6lac-

ro6e ,ith gol!en seams he loo-e! li-e roalt. /e,as 4isi6l 4er ha'' an! 'lease! to see them.

Delcome to the am6assa!or suite m frien!s,hich is also m room :8m so gla! to see ouCa'tain NathanF.

octor :t is in!ee! m 'leasure to meet ou an! :coul!n8t ha4e 6een more relie4e!F Vihn re4erte!.

The em6race! each other ,ith a camara!erie thene4er ex'erience! 6efore. A multitu!e of emotions

ran through Vihn as he contem'late! thismoment.

Loo- at ou @arr ou loo- a6solutel 0ne. : mustsa : ha4en8t seen ou in 6etter sha'eF Vihnconce!e!.

Ah es : ha4e ha! it goo!. The air is reBu4enatinghere as ou ,ill ex'erienceFAn! ,on8t ou intro!uce me to the cre,KF

52


53/93

?f course octor. Dell ou -no, a6outComman!er @ames Darner the 0rst oIcer of theHyperionF

:n!ee! :84e hear! that his han!ling of the in(uirafter the Novah sa4e! us the !aF he re'lie!referring to @ames8 tact in han!ling the &*P senate,hen (uestione! a6out the fateful mission on &S*No4ah.

Than- ou : guessF @ames smile! 6ac- not-no,ing ho, to react.

: ,as ne4er a fa4orite of the senateF the !octora!!e! ,ith a ,in-.

An! this is octor :lleana Solus the chief me!icaloIcer on 6oar!F

Ah :leana ou are the most 6eautiful ,oman :84eseen in a ,hileF

Dell than- ou octor ra4isF :leana re'lie! she

ha! hear! that se4eral times 6efore.

?r ma6e it8s 6ecause : ha4en8t see a ,oman in a,hileF

@ames almost 6ro-e into a laugh ,ith thatstatement.

>ohn Mae!a is the Chief Engineer a6oar! theHyperion an! he nee!s no intro!uction. /e is

53


54/93

statione! in the shi' no,.F

Ah es he ,as m associate an! a shar' gu. ouare luc- to ha4e him in our teamF

es octor ,e nee! his luc- an! ex'ertise rightno,. The shi' ,ent through a !isastrous rattle an!the Athena ,ent oine after going through the4ortexF

Ah @ust as : ex'ecte!F

ou mean ou alrea! -ne, a6out itKF @amesinterBecte!.

: theori5e! that the 4ortex coul! ha4e shar'ra!iation s'i-es that coul! 6arel 'ass through the

hullF octor ra4is re'lie!.

/o,e4er in h'ers'ace this gets exaggerate!coul! 'ierce through the shi'8s !efenses an! fr the

Athena's neural net,or-.F

Das the SE>A a,are of thisKF Vihne ,as

concerne!.

?f course the ,ere. : ha! e4en 'ro'ose! analternate contro4ersial solution. ?ne that in4ol4e!mitigating the s'i-e ,ith a counter phase ra!iation6urstF

;ut as ex'ecte! the SE>A Bust !ismisse! the i!easaing that it ,as too !angerousF

54


55/93

The a!miral thought : ,as insaneF

So is there a solutionKF

es Ca'tain 6ut ou ,ill ha4e to 6orro, 'o,erfrom the shi'8s mer"'lasma !ri4e coreF.There is nothing to ,orr though : ,ill instruct>ohnF

;ut ,on8t it 6e too !angerousKF

No, !on8t tal- li-e our goo! frien!F octorra4is ,as referring to Phili' Carson the mission!irector of SE>A.This is a chance that ou must ta-e or ou manot ma-e it through the 4ortex the next time.Dhat8s the hull integritKF

De ha4e lost $2RF @ames re'lie!

Ver ,ell octor : get our 'oint. Jo ahea! an!s'ea- to >ohn a6out itF Vihne ha! no choice 6ut totrust ra4is8 solution.

Ca'tain ou are not as irrational as the rest of theSE>AF he Bo-e!.: shall hail >ohn right a,aF

Dhen ou are !one ,ith that octor : ,ant a run!o,n on our mission.An! also ,hat ha''ene! to the alien cre,F

: ,ill ex'lain all that in !etail in a ,hile. ;ut ounee! to relax an! refresh ourselfF

55


56/93

Ma-e ourself at homeF

As 'leasantries ,ere 6eing exchange! 6et,een the

four Vihne o6ser4e! that the octor ,as li4el an!cheerful. robably it's us that's had an eDect onhi( he thought. Much li!e seeing another hu(anbeing a*ter being incarcerated or !ept in isolation.

/e coul! sense a tinge of a''rehension in theoctor8s mannerisms though he coul!n8t 0gure

,hat.

A cou'le of hours later after a 6rief na' Vihna''roache! the octor ,ho ,as !ee' incon4ersation ,ith :lleana.

octor ra4is sa, him a''roaching. /e learnt theintent an! excuse! himself from :lleana.

Delcome again Ca'tain : see ou84e ha! a goo!na'F he sai! exten!ing his arms.: must a!mit ou are luc- ,ith someone li-e

:lleana on 6oar!.F

es she is a 4er ca'a6le ,omanF he smile!6ac-.

So octor is this a right time to !iscuss ,hatha''ene! ,ith our missionF

es Ca'tain it is.F

56


57/93

Ma : in4ite m cre, o4er for the !iscussionKF

Most certainl Ca'tainF

Vihn summone! his cre, an! so 6egan the octor @arr ra4is8 a!mission of the e4ents that ha''ene!since his renega!e mission.

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'irst Contact

ou ma 6e a,are that : 6ro-e all 'rotocols an! Beo'ar!i5e! m career ,hen : crosse! the Sigma4ortexF he starte!.

To me this tri' ,as more im'ortant than anfailure or ris- that la ahea! an! : coul!n8t ,ait forthe SE>A to tell me to ,ait an longer 6ecause of!i'lomatic reasons8F

M V$ ,as not the most suite! for this -in! of amission 6ut : -ne, enough to get it to h'er s'ee!

an! through the 4ortex.F

?nce through the 4ortex the shi' ha! Bust enough'o,er to !o a !a8s Bourne through ,ar' s'ee!6ut that ,as enough for me. : ,ante! to 'ush mshi' to the limit an! hea! out farthest an! closer toanother ci4ili5ation if there ,ere anF

: set the throttles on full an! 6laste! intoh'ers'ace for 1 hoursF

:t must ha4e 6een 'ro4i!ence 6ecause ,hen :com'lete! the Bourne : reache! the most 6eautiful'art of s'ace :84e e4er ex'erience!F

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The s'ace ,as littere! ,ith a million !a55lingstars li-e !iamon!s scattere! in 6eautifulformations.F

?ut in the !istance ,as the most ama5ing sight. T,o 6lue moons or6ite! a 'lanet the si5e ofNe'tune.F

@ust ,hen : ,as a6sor6ing the 6eautiful sights mcommunications channel lit u'. : ,as 6eing haile!F

: coul!n8t ma-e an sense of the hail it ,asunintelligi6le an! it ha! to 6e an aliencommunication signalF

: sent a 870M ho'ing that the alien ci4ili5ation,ere more a!4ance! than ,e ,ere an! coul! ma-e

sense of the communication than m 'rimiti4e shi'coul!F

@ust ,hen m ho'e 6egan to fa!e after a fe,minutes another signal haile! in.F

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: coul!n8t 6elie4e m ears Vihn : ha! Bust ha! the0rst -no,n contact ,ith an alien ci4ili5ation Aci4ili5ation much a!4ance! 6ecause the coul!anal5e the 870M learn our language an! s'ea-

to me in Bust a matter of minutesF

An! the ,ere certainl more a!4ance! than : ha!imagine!. The reali5e! m shi' ,asn8t in ancon!ition to enter their atmos'here so thetele'orte! me !o,n to the 'lanet an! !oc-e! mV$ at a s'ace station.F

: ,as no, in Planet Larthia the $n! 'lanet of asolar sstem 4er similar to ours. : ,as tele'orte!!irectl to the tem'le of the su'reme council thea'ex seat of 'o,er of the 'lanet.F

This ,as also the time ,hen : came in 0rst contact,ith an alien life form the !ominant s'ecies of the'lanetH : ,ill call them the Larthians.F

The Larthians are humanoi!s 6ecause theresem6le us in man ,as. The are 6i'e!s ha4eees ears nose an! a mouth 'ositione! Bust li-e a

human 6eing. The exce'tion ,as that the ,ere allo4er 7 feet tall 9o,ing ,hite hair gol!encom'lexion an! ra!iance that ma!e them a''ear4er content an! ,ise.F

The are tele'athic s'ecies an! can communicatean entire stor a6out the time it ta-es us to muttera single ,or!F

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The cre, of the Hyperion ,ere all ra't in attentionthis ,as the -in! of su6stance science 0ction ,asma!e of.

:n fact the ,ere curious that ,e shoul! e4en use4oice to communicate.F he continue!.

All of them s'o-e to me in a 4oice that soun!e!familiar until : reali5e! it ,as a mo!ulation of the4oice sent from the 870M.Dhen : ex'laine! that e4er human has her o,n

characteristic 4oice the imme!iatel a!a'te! a!iGerent 4oice tone for themsel4esF

As a ci4ili5ation the are far ahea! of us. An!Ca'tain that ,oul! 6e an un!erstatement if ou,oul! ha4e notice! the construct of this shi'F

es octor a!4ancement ,oul! 6e anun!erstatementF he no!!e!.

;asicall the Larthians are ma!e u' of 2 tri6esthe ,a8en Le48&r5 Ne8Var5 :ng8Er5 an! the:ng8ar5. The are in!istinguisha6le from each

exce't for a sign on the forehea! that mar-s thetri6e.F

Millenniums ago the ,ere at ,ar ,ith each othero4er ,ho hel! the right to rule Larthia until itcasca!e! into the Jreat Dar that laste! for threehun!re! earth ears. The Jreat Dar 0nall en!e! ina truce ,here the tri6e chiefs !eci!e! to rule as aconsortium an! forme! the Su'reme Council of theEl!ers of Larthia.F

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The Su'reme Council has gone una6ate! e4ersince an! has 6een res'onsi6le for the 'rogress an!'eace that continues. The chief or the el!er of each

tri6e has a re'resentation in the su'reme council.F

Maes @lishtan =ng'arB, the one ,ho s'o-e to meis the el!er of the :ng8ar5 tri6eF

on8t the tri6es 'rocreate ,ith each otherF :lleanainterru'te!.

No the !on8t. ;ecause 'rocreation 6et,een t,o!iGerent tri6es isn8t 'ossi6leF he ans,ere!

Dhat !o ou mean octorKF she as-e! ,ithsur'rise.

Their genetic structure !oesn8t allo, inter tri6e'rocreation.F

The 'rogen either !ies at 6irth or is 6orn ,ith ase4ere !efect that results in 'remature !eath.F

A s'ecies as a!4ance! as theirs ha4en8t thefoun! a solution to this 'ro6lemKF :lleana as-e!.

The !on8t 'la aroun! ,ith genetics it8s stillconsi!ere! 4er ta6oo. The are 4er s'iritual an!consi!er it sacrilegious to inter4ene. That sai! the!iGerent tri6es co exist 'eacefull an! are e4en-no,n to marr 6et,een tri6esF

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An,a : ,as o4er,helme! ,ith all that : sa, an!hear!. The Larthians ,ere -in! enough to ex'laine4erthing to me inclu!ing a !isaster that nearl,i'e! oG the 'lanetF

This Bolte! e4erone from their seats.

Dell that ,as m reaction ,hen : 0rst hear! a6outitF he sai! o6ser4ing the reactions of his listeners.

12 Larthian ears ago an asteroi! a6out half the

si5e of Earth came hurling to,ar!s Larthia an! thecoul! !o little to sto' this from stri-ing their 'lanetF

: tol! ou a6out the $ moons : sa, circling the'lanet. There ,as a thir! one ,hich came in the,a of the im'en!ing collision an! got com'letel

o6literate! in the 'rocessF

The resulting collision set oG a ,a4e of !estructionacross the 'lanet an! its atmos'here ,i'ing oGmore than half the 'lanet8s 'o'ulation. :t ,as acatastro'he of a scale no one ha! -no,n in thehistor of Larthia.F

Ca'tain : can tell ou ,ith certaint that a !isasterof this scale ,oul! ha4e ,i'e! oG our 'lanet an!more.F

;ut ,h !i!n8t the esca'eKF Vihne en(uire!.Surel the ,oul! ha4e -no,n of the !isaster an!ha! the means to esca'e or coloni5e another'lanetF

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es a6solutel Ca'tain. The Larthians areex'lorers themsel4es 6ut their ex'lorations an!(uests are out of curiosit. The ha4e !isco4ere!other 'lanets to coloni5e 6ut to them these are

'laces for recreation much li-e our holi!a homesan! not one to inha6itF

An! ,h ,oul!n8t the inha6it thoseKF @amesas-e!.

Dell @ames li-e : sai! the Larthians are 4er

s'iritual an! 6elie4e that the source of their energan! existence is greatl !eri4e! from the 'lanet.Larthia isn8t Bust a 'lanet it8s their mother.A6an!onment is not an o'tion. To 'ut it in'ers'ecti4e the ,oul! rather !ie than a6an!onthe 'lanet.F

Dhen the asteroi! came racing to,ar!s the 'lanetthe !i! e4erthing in their 'o,er to !i4ert it a,afrom its traBector 6ut sa!l it !i! little to 're4entthe ine4ita6leF

The catastro'he ,i'e! out more than half the

'o'ulation a6out 7 6illion LarthiansF

:t also com'letel !estroe! t,o continents that,ere the mainstas of t,o tri6es ,a8en an!:ng8Er5. These t,o tri6es accounte! for #2 'ercentof the 'o'ulation an! no, there are Bust a6out a3)) million of them.F

The catastro'he also ha! other !isastrousconse(uences that !isharmoni5e! the 'lanet an!

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'oisone! its atmos'here. There ,ere 9oo!stremors 4olcanoes that continue! for ears afterthe collision.F

:n short Larthia ,as on its !eath6e! uninha6ita6lean! unsustaina6le for an life formF

:t too- the grit an! the collecti4e intelligence ofthe entire s'ecies to re4i4e the 'lanet an! itsci4ili5ation.F

;ut the 'lanet hasn8t com'letel reco4ere!. Theoxgen an! other 4ital gases are 6elo, theacce'ta6le le4els for sur4i4al. The ha4e anarti0cial atmos'here that co4ers the inha6ita6leregion of Larthia a 6u66le o4er the 'lanet. F

:n time life returne! 6ac- to normal on the 'lanet6ut there ,ere rifts 6et,een the !iGerent tri6eses'eciall 6et,een the :ng8ar5 an! ,a8en ,ho,ere no, in the minorit. Some factions of the:ng8ar5 ,ere !iscontent ,ith the fact that the,a8en ,ho ,ere their arch enemies 6efore theJreat Dar ha! e(ual re'resentation in the gran!

council !es'ite 6eing in the minorit.F

Things ,oul!n8t 6e the same ho,e4er the rifts,eren8t 6ig enough to !esta6ili5e the societ orresult in a !efection. The su'reme council felt thatall ,as ,ellF.

/o, ,rong the ,ereF

An! it sa!!ens me that : ,as the catalst that

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in4o-e! the !emon in them.F he sai! ,ith a hea4heart an! sa!ness in his 4oice.

/e 'ause! for a ,hile loo-ing into the !istance an!

6o,e! his hea! as though he ,as in !ee' remorse. There ,as silence in the room as e4erone ,aite!for ra4is to continue.

Pra tell us more. Dh !o ou hol! ourselfres'onsi6le octorF Vihn 6ro-e the silence.

At the su'reme council : ex'laine! the reason form arri4al an! ga4e them a run !o,n on ourci4ili5ation. The ha! some un!erstan!ing of ,here: came from 6ase! on an inter'retation of theP>EC?M 6ut the ,ere in a,e ,hen : !escri6e!'lanet Earth.F

: coul! sense a earning in the Larthians ,hen :!escri6e! Earth in !etail.FCa'tain Larthia ,as once as 6eautiful if not more6eautiful than Earth ,ith their forests mountainsoceans la-es.F

: exten!e! an in4itation to the council to comeo4er to our uni4erse an! learn more a6out us. Themeeting ,oul! 6e un'rece!ente! in the histor ofman-in! an! ,e ,oul! 6ene0t 4astl from their-no,le!ge.F

: must also a!mit Ca'tain that : also ha! a sel0shmoti4e for ma-ing the ren!e5"4ous ,or-. : ho'e!that if : ma!e this historic tri' ,ith the Larthians it

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,oul! re!eem me for ha4ing ma!e the renega!emission through the 4ortex.F

The council ,as -een on m 'ro'osal 6ut no6o!

,as in a hurr an! the ,ante! to !iscuss it 6eforeagreeing to it.F

/o,e4er one 'erson smelle! an o''ortunit here.Ne4 Mal8a-h the son of the el!er of the ,a8entri6e the heir a''arent a 4er 'o'ular Larthian.;esi!es his lineage he ,as also one of the most

cele6rate! ex'lorers of his time.F

: ,as 4er im'resse! ,ith his !emeanorH he cameacross as a ma4eric- ,hose !ee' !esire 'assionfor ex'lorations ,as not unli-e me. /e also ga4eme the assurance that m 'ro'osal ,oul! 6e

consi!ere! an! that he ,oul! lo66 strongl infa4or of a mission to Earth.F

An! lo66 he !i!F

/e con4ince! the el!ers of the su'reme council forthe mission to Earth ,ith him Ne4 Mal8a-h as the

Larthian am6assa!or for the mission.F

As the lea!er of the mission he ,as also gi4en thefree!om to choose his o,n team. /e chose!i'lomats ex'lorers scientists an! other s'ecialistsfor the mission ,ho ha! ,or-e! ,ith him 6efore on,hom he ha! immense faith.F/e ,as careful to onl inclu!e those Larthians ,hoha! allegiance ,ith him. The council ha! no'ro6lem ,ith that 6ecause he ,as the !oen of

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s'ace ex'lorations an! for a !i'lomatic mission toanother ci4ili5ation the felt he ,as 'erfectF

/o,e4er as is the 'rotocol for a mission of this

nature there ha! to 6e one s'iritual counsel as'iritual lea!er ,ho ,as much res'ecte! across thetri6es.*or the mission the su'reme council chose Gan'BenNe'arB as the s'iritual counsel. A s'iritual counselis sai! to 6e enlightene! 6 the s'irits of theancestors of Larthia one ,ho is gifte! ,ith intellect

intuition an! fortitu!eH Lan8en Ne8Var5 ,as 6lesse!,ith these at an earl age an! has ascen!e! theLarthian s'iritual hierarch much (uic-er than his're!ecessors./is 'rogressi4e thoughts an! i!eologies ma!e hima fa4orite ,ith the Larthians across all tri6es.F

Though Ne4 Mal8A-h the mission comman!er ,asthe !e facto lea!er of the mission in matters ofcon9ict the s'iritual counsel ,as the o4erri!ingauthorit. That ,oul!n8t ha4e 6othere! Ne46ecause he ha! great res'ect for the s'iritualcounsel an! ,oul!n8t min! conce!ing to him if an

issue arose.F

;esi!es the s'iritual counsel there also ha! to 6ee(ual re'resentation of the 04e !iGerent tri6es!eli6erate! an! selecte! 6 the su'reme council.

The selection ,as an a''ortionment of ruling clanof the !iGerent tri6es an! not necessaril on meritsor s-ills re(uire! for the mission. :n the 'rocessthe inclu!e! lesser !ecorate! mem6ers for themission 6 4irtue of their !i'lomatic status. ?ne of

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them ,as Ta(rah =ng'arB the !aughter of theel!er of the :ng8ar5 tri6e.F Ne4 ,asn8t too fon! of her an! the ha! their

confrontations 6efore. She ,as a conformist ,hotightl hel! to the Larthian 6eliefs an! hate! Ne4Mal8A-h 6ecause of his ra!ical 4ie,s on the futureof Larthia.E4er mem6er of the mission ha! a role to 'laan! her role ,as the custo!ian an! oIcialre'resentati4e of the culture an! heritage of

Larthia. She coul! (uestion an! ,ith theinter4ention of the su'reme counsel also sto' an!ecision that ,as against the Larthian norms an!4alues no matter ho, critical the !ecision ,asF

Ne4 Mal8A-h ,asn8t too ha'' ,ith inclusion

'articularl ,ith the role she hel! for that coul!mean the 'ro4er6ial s'anner in the ,or-s. This timethough he !i!n8t resist her inclusion 6ecause he!i!n8t ha4e a choice an! that ,oul! also lea! to a!ela in the !i'lomatic mission.F

/o,e4er a !i'lomatic mission ,asn8t the onl

thing he ha! in min!. Ne4 Mal8a-h ha! otheras'irations.F

As an ex'lorer Ne4 Mal8a-h ,as the strongest'ro'onent of inha6iting an! coloni5ing another'lanet to s'rea! the race. /e 6elie4e! that thefuture of Larthians ,oul! 6e 6eon! the con0nes ofPlanet Larthia. /e ,as also the lea!er of the lo66that ha! 'ro'ose! the i!ea to the council.F

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/is i!eas ,ere shot !o,n 6 the council 6ecause it,ent against the core of their 6elief.F

An! as : tol! ou ,hen the great !isaster struc-

Larthia all those li4es ,ere lost at a gargantuanscale. ?f all the tri6es ,a8en ,ere the ones ,hosuGere! most of the losses. As the heir a''arent ofthe ,a8en tri6e Ne4 Mal8a-h ,as !ee'l hurtan! angr after the inci!ent 6ecause he 6elie4e!the catastro'he coul! ha4e 6een greatl minimi5e!ha! it not 6een for the i!eological nonsense of the

council.F

That is ,hen : came in an! s'o-e so con4incingla6out 'lanet Earth the other 'lanets in the solarsstem. /o,e4er it ,as 'lanet earth that caught hisattention an! : also see!e! a thought in his min!.F

/e ,on!ere! if co"ha6itation ,oul! 6e 'ossi6lean! !iscusse! the i!ea ,ith me. : ,as thrille! 6the i!ea an! ,as con4ince! that ,oul! 6e a greatthingF

/e as-e! me ho,e4er to 6e !iscrete an! not

re4eal this to anone 4er ,ell -no,ing theconse(uences ,hich coul! Beo'ar!i5e the mission.F

:n a ,ee-8s time ,e ,ere rea! for the missionan! em6ar-e! on the historical Bourne.F

The s'aceshi' selecte! for the mission ,as the7t'MeBneth name! after a mthological LarthianJo!!ess ,ho !escen!e! from the hea4ens gi4ing6irth to the 0rst !aughters an! sons of Larthia.F

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Accor!ing to the legen! she 6rought in the 6est of4irtues from across the uni4erse an! see!e! it intoher chil!ren.F

The s'aceshi' 7t'MeBneth is in0nite times moreresourceful than our V2 an! can sustain a missionon her o,n for 1))) earth ears ,ithout a 6rea-.F

The 7t'MeBneth also 'ossesses the ca'a6ilit gointo a stealth mo!e as ou ,oul! ha4e notice!.

:nterestingl the s'aceshi' is !esigne! to gocom'letel stealth not !etecta6le e4en to theLarthians.F

ou mean the s'aceshi' can go un!etecte! e4en6 its o,n mission controlKF @ames interru'te!.

es no6o! can !etect it. Not e4en the su'remecouncil if the ,ante! toF

;ut ,h ,oul! the !o thatKF @ames as-e! ,ithsur'rise.

Dell @amesF ra4is continue! the Et8Me5neth is as'ecial galax class s'aceshi' ,hich is use! for!i'lomatic or for other extremel im'ortantmissions. The cre, a6oar! this s'aceshi' iso64iousl 4er im'ortant an! 'art of the Larthianruling class.F

:t is their 6elief that if the Et8Me5neth ,ishes to gostealth the ha4e a reason for !oing so an! the !o

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not ,ish to 'r no matter ho, 'ressing the nee!is.F

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S%anner in the (or)s

@ust as the octor ,as a6out to continue !escri6ingthe Larthian s'aceshi' Vihn got a 'riorit alert onhis communicator from >ohn.

es >ohn ,hat is itKF Vihn re(uire!.

Ca'tain ,e ha4e 6a! ne,sF >ohn re'lie! ,ithtre'i!ation in his 4oice.:t8s the engine :Q : !on8t -no, ,hat ,ent ,rongF

Pra tell me more >ohn ,hat is the matterFVihn ,as concerne!.

As instructe! 6 octor ra4is : 6orro,e! 'o,erfrom the engine core for a counter 'hase ra!iation6urst 6ut something ,ent terri6l ,rong. :t has setoG a chain reaction an! the engine 'o,er is

!e'leting.F

This is 6eon! me Ca'tainF

At that moment Vihn turne! to octor ra4is ,ithurgenc an! 'lea!e!.octor something has gone terri6l ,rong the'rocess of counter ra!iation has com'romise! themer core an! no, the reser4es are !e'letingF

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That can8t 6eF ra4is ,as shoc-e!. Let mes'ea- to >ohnF

>ohn this is ra4is here. /o, !i! it ha''enKF

As ou instructe! octor : con0gure! the sstemfor counter 'hase ra!iation 'ulses 6orro,ingenerg from the mer"'lasma core an! relaing it6ac- to the coreF

An! the moment : starte! the sstem all hell 6ro-e

loose.F

The core ,ent into a chain reaction !e'leting thecoreF

That is not 'ossi6le &nless QF ra4is 'ause!.

>ohn can ou sen! me the engine !iagramF.

:n a fe, secon!s octor ra4is recei4e! theschematic !iagram of the V28s engine an! ,hat hesa, 'etri0e! him.

@ust as : feare!F he sai! 6efore sitting !o,n an!cursing himself.

Dhat is it no,KF Vihn en(uire! ,ith concern.

Ca'tain the V2 uses a ne,er rela sstem for its'o,er transmission an! un!er the ne, scheme thecounter 'hase ra!iation ,oul! ha4e 6een re4erse'olari5e! onl com'oun!ing the 'ro6lemF

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Dhat ou shoul! ha4e -no,n that the V2 ,as ona ne, engine octorF Vihn shu!!ere!.

o ou -no, the conse(uences of our mista-eKF

Ca'tainF ra4is got u' an! clari0e!. Thetransmission schematic for the engine ,as ne4ersu''ose! to change remem6er : ,as the one ,horati0e! the schematic that ,oul! 6e use! for ah'ers'ace 9ightF

es octor ra4is 6ut after our !efection to theSigma 4ortex the SE>A re4o-e! our rati0cationsan! calle! for a re4isalF >ohn re'lie!.

/o, ,as : su''ose! to -no, a6out that >ohnexce't that the SE>A has 'ro4e! their

incom'etence againF

There is no time to ,aste. So ,hat are theim'lications of this octorKF Vihn asserte!.

At the current rate of !e'letion ,e ha4ea''roximatel QF

@ust as ra4is calculate! the energ le4els left >ohn Bum'e! in ,ith urgenc in his 4oice.Ca'tain octor the engine core is heating u' it8srising a6o4e stan!ar! le4elsF

Joo!ness >ohn gi4e me a li4e interface to theengine 'anelF ra4is re(ueste! remote access tothe Hyperion8s engine 'anel to stu! the eGects in!etail.

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?n gaining access octor ra4is s'ent a minuteanal5ing the engine !ata tring to get a'ers'ecti4e of the situation.

This is ,orse than : thought Ca'tain.F he surmise!.De not onl ha4e a !e'leting engine ,e ha4e anunsta6le oneF

At this rate the engine ,oul! ha4e com'letel!e'lete! in 72 minutes an! then there ,oul! 6e acatastro'he.F he continue!.

The engine ,oul! 6lo, an! o6literate e4erthing,ithin a mile ra!ius of the shi'.F

That is : re'eat at the current rate. :t ,oul! 6eaccelerate! at ,ar' s'ee!F

Su!!enl the moo! turne! grim an! the team feltmorti0e! ,ith fear at the turn of e4ents.

:s this the en! of the roa! for usKF :lleana 6ro-e!o,n una6le to contain herself.

:8m afrai! soF ra4is re'lie!.

No : refuse to 6elie4e that.F Vihn re'lie! ,ith hishan!s tightl clas'e! aroun! ra4is8s shoul!er. /e!i!n8t ,ant to gi4e u' so easil. De must 0n! a,a octorF.

There is no ,a Ca'tain. ou can8t !o our missionin this stateF

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An! ou can8t go 6ac- through the 4ortexF

Dh can8t ,e go through the 4ortex ra4isKF Vihn'resse!.

;ecause ou ha4e 4er little to sustain ,ar' s'ee!6efore 6lo,ing u' oursel4esF he re'lie!.

An! then something occurre! to him.

&nlessQF

&nless ,hatKF

: ha4e a theorF ra4is 'ause! thin-ing ahea! ofhimself.

As ,e hea! to the 4ortex instea! of a full ,ar'6ring it !o,n to ).# an! !o an ex'onential increasesuch that ou reach full ,ar' in 2 minutesF

;ut ,e must enter the 4ortex at ,ar' s'ee! rightfrom the start. /o, ,ill a ).# hel'KF Vihninterru'te! a''earing 'er'lexe! ,ith his solution.

/ear me out Ca'tainF

).# is enoughF he continue! 'ro4i!e! ,e ha4esomething to Bolt an! cata'ult usF

De ,ill nee! to generate an external shoc- ,a4ethat ,ill am'lif the s'ee! an! sustain ,ar' s'ee!e4en at #) 'ercent of the engine8s ca'acit.F

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;ut ,e ,ill nee! to a shoc-,a4e of the magnitu!ethat coul! annihilate the V2F

Dhat on earthF @ames exclaime!. Dhat8s the

'oint in generating a shoc-,a4e that can !estrothe V2KF

Not if ou are racing at ).# ,ar' an! ,ith the force0el! acti4ate! at fullFThe force 0el! ,ill act as a re'ulsi4e force 'ushingthe V2 further an! fasterF

Soun!s interesting octor 6ut : ha4en8t hear! asolution li-e this 6efore an,here in the annals ofour s'ace historF

:t is theoretical 6ut this is the onl solution : can

thin- ofF

octor the last time ,e trie! one of our theories,e en!e! u' ,ith an engine that is no, the root ofour 'ro6lems. There is no room for h'othesisF

No, !on8t get me starte! Ca'tain ou as-e! me

for a solution an! this is the onl one ou ha4e.Fra4is shot 6ac-. An! the engine ,asn8t m faultH if : ha! m ,athe V2 ,oul! still ha4e the engine :8! !esigne!an! rati0e!. ou ,oul! ha4e a 6etter engine. oucan as- our frien! A!miral Carson for anex'lanationF

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M a'ologies octor : shoul!n8t ha4e reacte! this,aF

An! ho, !o ou 'ro'ose ,e generate the external

shoc-,a4eF

; shooting the V2 from the 7t'MeBnethF he sai!,ith an insouciance that unner4e! the others.

Ca'tain the 7t'MeBneth has enough 0re'o,er to!estro a small 'lanet. : coul! time her to generate

a neutron tor'e!o of the intensit an! 'o,erenough to 'ro'el the Hyperion to the !esire!s'ee!.F

: ,ill snchroni5e the 7t'MeBneth to shoot theneutron tor'e!o at 'recisel the time the Hyperion

has set oG on ).# an! the force 0el!s ha4e 6een seton maximumF

An! es ,e must turn oG e4erthing exce't the4itals to sa4e on energH e4er unit of energ sa4e!here is crucial. This ,oul! also mean !isa6ling allna4igation an! trans'on!er controls once ,e are in

,ar' s'ee!FLet me also a!! that once ,e ha4e starte! ,eha4e onl a6out 1) minutes or less of h'er9ightthrough the 4ortex 6efore ,e a6an!on the V2 an!esca'e 4ia the shuttle as far a,a from theHyperion as 'ossi6le.F

The sooner ,e lea4e the 6etter our chances.EGecti4el our time starts no,.F

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Vihn hu!!le! his team together an! ha! to ma-e a(uic- conclusion a6out the 'ossi6le solutions an!outcomes. The team ,as concerne! a6out thesolution 'ro'ose! 6 ra4is the uncertaint an!

the 'erils that loome! ahea! of them.;ut the ,ere running out of o'tions an! if ra4is8s,as right the !i!n8t ha4e much time either. Animme!iate !ecision ha! to 6e ta-en.

?- ra4is ,e are a6an!oning our Bourne an! ,illgo ,ith our 'lan 6ac- to Hyperion an! then on to

the 4ortex.F Vihn ans,ere! !eclaring the !ecisionthat ,as unanimousl acce'te! 6 the team.

Excellent Ca'tain : shall trans'ort ou 6ac- to theram' from ,here ou arri4e!. ou must then shuttle6ac- to the HyperionF

/o, long ,ill it ta-e to trans'ort us to the ram'KFVihn en(uire! concerne! a6out not losing antime.

A fe, secon!s that8s all.F

Then ,h !i! it ta-e us longerKF :leana as-e!referring to the tri' from the alien s'ace shi'8saccess ram' to their ren!e5 4ous ,ith ra4is.

?h that : ,ante! to gi4e ou a glim'se a tour ofthe shi' if ou ,illF ra4is re'lie! nonchalantl.

?- Ca'tain Are ou rea! to 6e trans'orte!KF hecontinue!.

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es. ;ut 6efore that ho, !o ou inten! to comeon6oar! the HyperionKF

: must 0rst set the neutron tor'e!o to minimum

intensit align it ,ith the Hyperion an! snch it,ith the V2. The Et8Me5neth ,ill acti4ate itself,hen it recei4es a signal from the V2 an! 0re thetor'e!o. All that shoul! ha''en in less than 2minutes.F: ,ill 6e in coor!ination ,ith >ohn to get the snch!one. ; the time our shuttle reaches : ,ill 6e on

m ,a to the HyperionF

Dhat a6out our shuttle octorKF

: ha4e one from m V$ an! it8s in 'ristinecon!itionF he re'lie!.

Enough (uestions ca'tain ou must 6e on our,aF

De are rea! octorF

Ver ,ell acti4ating 6eamF ra4is exclaime!follo,e! 6 a 6eam that en4elo'e! the team an! in

the next instant the ,ere gone.

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*o%e against *o%e

At the ram' ,here the ,ere trans'orte! Ca'tainVihn an! the entourage (uic-l gathere!themsel4es into the C$2. ?n ac-no,le!gmentra4is o'ene! the exit hatch of the access ram'an! acti4ate! a tractor 6eam to gui!e the C$2 outof the shi'.

?nce ferrie! into s'ace a,a from the alien shi' @ames 'unche! in the coor!inates 6ac- to themother shi' an! ,ere imme!iatel on their ,a to

the &S* Hyperion. The nature of their return 6ac- tothe shi' meant that the ha! to ex'e!ite an! setthe C$2 at full throttle. :n 04e minutes the shuttlecraft reache! the Hyperion an! the cre,!isem6ar-e! hea!ing for the comman! 6ri!ge.

At the comman! 6ri!ge the team imme!iatel too-

stoc- of the situation an! chec-e! the status of theV2.

:t ,as ,orse than the ex'ecte! an! as ra4is're!icte! the ,ere running out of 'recious timeHthe engine8s situation ,as irre4ersi6le e4erthingno, !e'en!e! on ho, ra4is an! >on han!le! thesituation.

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>ohn ha4e ou snche! the V2 ,ith the alienshi'KF Vihn as-e!.

es exactl as ra4is ,ante!.F

/as he left for the HyperionKF

:8m afrai! not Ca'tainF

Dhat /e shoul! ha4e 6een on his ,a. Dhat8ssto''ing himKF Vihn ,as concerne! no,.

/ail himF. A hun!re! thoughts crosse! his min!he ,on!ere! if all ,ent ,ell at the alien shi'. /e,on!ere! if the ol! V$ faile!.

octor ,hat8s the matterKF

Nothing Ca'tain 0ne tuning the settings. :8m 0neou shoul! initiate the 'lanF he re'lie! in his usualmanner.

Dhat !o ou meanK : can8t initiate the 'lans,ithout ou.F Vihn shot 6ac-. Sort it out (uic-lan! hea! here soonF.

Trust me ca'tain things ,ill 6e Bust 0ne. De mustget starte! on the 'lan no,F ra4is re'lie!.

ra4is it8s no, 6et,een ou an! >onF.

Dith that >ohn 6egan coor!inating ,ith ra4is're'aring the Hyperion for its Bourne 6ac- to the4ortex.

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>ohn ,or-e! accor!ing to 'lan t,ea-ing thesstems an! the engine timing them 'recisel forthe shoc- ,a4e that ,oul! 6e generate! 6 theEt8Me5neth.

Things ,ere going as sche!ule! an! in a fe,minutes the ,oul! 6e rea! to !e'art.

All set Ca'tain ,e are goo! to goF >ohn calle!out.

Joo!F Vihn res'on!e!. ra4is ,e are goo! togo get here (uic-.F

ou ,ill ha4e to go ,ithout me.F

Dhat !o ou meanKF he interru'te! : comman!

ou to Boin us in the next 2 minutesF

Ca'tain.F he 'ause! ou ,ill ha4e to !o ,ithoutme. M 'resence is re(uire! here in the shi' to'ro'el ouF

Dhat !o ou meanK : thought ou ha! time! the

Et8Me5neth to 0re a tor'e!oF

Ca'tain that isn8t going to ,or-.F

This stunne! e4er6o! most of all Vihn. That ,asthe last thing he ,ante! to hear.

Are ou out of our min!K :f there is a 'ro6lem,e can (uic-l assem6le there an! sort the issue.F

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There seems to 6e a 'ro6lem ,ith the 'rimartor'e!o cannon : ,ill ha4e to use the secon!ar.:8m afrai! ,e !on8t ha4e much time to snchroni5eit.F

ou mean ,e a6ort the 'lanKF @ames 6lurte!.

No @ames ,e go ahea! ,ith the 'lan. : ,ill ha4e0re the tor'e!o manuall.F.

Are ou cra5F Vihn screame!. Are ou out of

our sensesKKF

As a senior oIcer of the fe!eration : ,ant ou6ac- in the HyperionFAn! that is an or!erF he asserte!.

Ca'tain m V$ is 6ac- in or!er an! : ,ill hea!6ac- as soon as the Hyperion is 'ast the 4ortex.FCa'tain ou must 6ut 6e on our ,a no,.F

:8m coming thereF Vihn exclaime!.

ou can8t !o that Vihn ou aren8t foolish enough

to 'ut the rest of our cre, at ris-.F

There ,as silence 6ecause Vihn -ne, he ,asright time ,asn8t on their si!e an! he no o'tion 6utlisten to ra4is.

:8m sorr Ca'tain :8m not going 6ac- on m!ecision an! it is too late for ou to !o anthing.F

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ou must lea4e no, or else : ,ill 6e force! toterminate m communication ,ith ou.F

Mixe! emotions ran through Vihn an! he 'on!ere!

a6out the fate of their return 6ac- to the -no,nuni4erse.

Ver ,ell then ra4is. De shall commence our!e'arture.F

:t sa!!ens me that ,e ha4e to lea4e ou again

ra4is.F he conclu!e!.

Team 6race oursel4es as ,e hea! into theuncertainF Vihn summone! his team to 're'arethemsel4es for the !e'arture.

E4er6o! got 6ac- to their seats an! 're'are!themsel4es for the next instruction.

>ohn @ames are ,e rea! to goKF

es Ca'tain : ha4e con0rmation from ra4is thetimer has 6een acti4ate!. ) secon!s from no,.F

>ohn ac-no,le!ge!.

Shiel!s are in snch set to maximumF @amesfollo,e! referring to the force 0el!.Pro'ulsion set to ).# ,ar'. LiftoG in 12 secon!s.F

The count!o,n 6eginsF.

After 12 secon!s the Hyperion ,as on its ,a thecre, hanging on to o4er stran! of ho'e.

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The s'aceshi' s'e! to ).# ,ar' farther an! farthera,a from the Et8Me5neth.

After a fe, secon!s as the Hyperion ,as rea! to0re the tor'e!o the Et8Me5neth 6rie9 a''eare!she!!ing its cloa- of in4isi6ilit a''earing in allmagnanimit. A 6lin!ing light engulfe! theEt8Me5neth in a manner that ,as nothing short of acelestial s'ectacle.

:t ,as as though there ,as a su'erno4a in s'ace6ecause it 6lin!e! e4erthing in sight for athousan! miles. The energ release! create!enough shoc-,a4e to rattle anthing in s'ace.

The cre, ha! un!erestimate! the (uantum of

energ of the shoc-,a4eH the ,a4e ,oul! soon hitthe Hyperion an! ha! enough energ to tear ita'art.

Dhen the shoc-,a4e hit the Hyperion it shoo- an!rattle! the shi' for a fe, secon!s 6efore 'ro'ellingit for,ar!. /o,e4er the ,ere far enough an! the

force 0el! -ic-e! in. As 'lanne! the force 0el!cata'ulte! the shi' an! ga4e it enough s'ee! to go6eon! the ).# ,ar'.

The cre, ,atche! in antici'ation as the shi'gathere! s'ee!.

.%# $arp J .#> $arp J .I? $arp J . $arp J.? $arp

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.# $arp J .LL $arp J .K5 $arp J .K? $arpJ .K%> $arp

:t ,as ta-ing longer to reach ,ar' s'ee! an! the

,ere nearing the Sigma 4ortex.

An! then the ,ar' s'ee! 6egan to !ro''reci'itousl

.LK5 $arp J .L?I $arp J .L5 $arp

The ,arning alerts starte! to soun! the engine!eterioration 6egan to hasten.

*ortunatel >ohn ha! antici'ate! the scenario an!the sstem s,itche! o4er to a less economicalmo!e one that consume! more energ.

The ,ar' s'ee! no, 6egan to rise Q

.LK $arp J .K5# $arp J .KI5 $arp J .KK5$arp J .KK $arp

1.01 warp

The Hyperion 0nall 6reache! ,ar' 1 an! oG therace! into the 4ortex. @ust in time.

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The $ltiate Sacri+ce

After 12 minutes of uncertaint through the 4ortexthe Hyperion !ecelerate! from ,ar' s'ee! easingstea!il into cruise mo!e.

This time ho,e4er there ,asn8t the rattle an! thecre, ,as in for a calm a,a-ening.

Then a familiar 4oice s'o-e.

4elco(e aptain, this is the Athena, live and

*unctional

Dell hello Athena Joo! to hear our 4oice againJi4e me a (uic- status u'!ate an! ho, is theengineKF Vihn ,as 'leasantl sur'rise!.

aptain, $e are in Sector @a((a .

The Hyperion has success*ully crossed past theSig(a vorte: bac! into the !no$n universeJ

+The core propulsion syste( has been shut do$nbecause o* dangerously high radiation levels. oreenergy levels do$n to %9.

+Ho$ever, the radiation has been contained andthe levels $ill be bac! to nor(al in %# (inutes.

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The $arp drive is no longer *unctional and $illneed overhaul. Secondary propulsion syste(s are*unctional, has enough energy to propel theHyperion to the peri(eters o* space station

oseidon

There ,ere cheers ami!st the cre, as the hear!this ne,s. This ,as more than the coul! ha4eas-e! for. The ,ere not onl out of a gra4een4ironment 6ut also out of a 'otential nuclear!isaster that threatene! to 6lo, the shi' an!

anthing in the 4icinit.

ExcellentF @ames res'on!e! ,ith !elight. Are thecommunication channels o'enKF

They $ill be *unctional in less than a (inute

As soon as the communication channels ,erefunctional Athena s'o-e u'.

aptain, $e are being hailed by the oseidon

Delcome 6ac- Ca'tainF s'o-e a familiar 4oice. :t

,as A!miral Phili' Carson at the other en!.

:t is in!ee! a 'leasure to hear our 4oice againA!miralF Vihn 6eame!.

/o, ,as the ex'e!itionKF

Much more than ,e coul! ha4e as-e! for A!miral. There is so much to ex'lain.F

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Joo! ?ur sensor rea!ings in!icate the Hyperion ison 4er lo, fuel. An escort shi' is on the ,a to'ic- the cre,. See ou in Posei!on Ca'tainF thea!miral conclu!e!.

:t ,oul! onl 6e a fe, minutes 6efore a shi'reache! the Hyperion an! escort them 6ac- to thecomforts of ci4ili5ation.

The cre, ,as 4isi6l relaxe! as the reache! theen! of their Bourne

Athena Dere ou online 6efore ,e crosse! the4ortexKF @ames (ui55e!. The *ail over syste(s $ere ineDective and = $asoPine until 5# (inutes agoJ

= ca(e online briey, 5 seconds be*ore $eentered the vorte:

o ou ha4e an memor of the other si!e of the4ortexKF @ames as-e!.

Ces aptain. The sensors captured a shoc!$avethat $as responsible *or the Hyperion reaching$arp speedJ

+The nature o* the shoc!$ave suggests ane:plosion

DhatF Vihn exclaime! ,ith shoc-. Dhat -in!of ex'losionKF

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7:plosion o* a gigantic space shipJ

That can8t 6e ou must 6e ,rong it must ha4e6een the tor'e!oF

aptain, the probability is lo$, considering that (y sensors detected (etallic re(nants in space. Theco(position o* the (etal $as alien in nature J

+Ho$ever, a(idst the pile o* (etallic rubble, there$ere traces o* (etal !no$n to (an!ind.

+ The pattern o* the (etal is re(iniscent o* (etalused in the *uselage o* a Viking VX2”

The cre, ,as stunne! ,ith this re4elation.

:t onl meant one thing the shoc-,a4e that

'ro'elle! the Hyperion ,asn8t the result of ator'e!o it ,as an ex'lo!ing shi'. Ex'losion of the7t'MeBneth.

:t then !a,ne! on Vihn that an hour ago !eathstare! his cre, in the face an! there ,as no ,aout. octor ra4is 6le, the shi' to 'ro'el them to

safet.

/e ho'e! against o!!s that ra4is esca'e! 6eforethe ex'losion.

Perha's the 4ortex he !isco4ere! that ,as theo6Bect of his life hel! him safel.

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ebook - the sigma vortex

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