REPORT: Sentinel 0006753. Location: DARRA Moon VERSAVIA Planet. FARSAL Quadrant.
Current 234/ 90
Radar
assembly checked – OK. Life support Habitat – OK. Pulsar weaponry – OK
Number of
micro-meteor strikes – 5672. Self
diagnosis and tests – OK. Traffic – 0
The robotic
unit ended its report and instituted, send. The message started its long
journey back to Earth. It would take Earth minutes to traverse the empty void
that separated the galaxies, planets and stars. The uNit stood up from where it
had sat at the consul and going over to its power unit it fitted tightly into
the metal coffin that was its docking station, then almost as an afterthought –
plugged in the charger unit to its body. It slept or as near to human sleep as was
possible, to an assembly of circuits and wires. It dreamt, for sub-programmes
ran diagnostic checks on all its systems and images formed, dissolved and
reformed in its computer of a brain. All was peaceful and would remain so until
six Earth hours had elapsed when Sentinel Unit 0006753 would again check all
was well in its watchtower on Darra Moon, Versavia Planet.
The
watchtower had been placed on the moon by the last deep space probe which had
made moon-fall over two hundred years previous. The Sentinel uNit was atomic
powered so would run almost forever and having nanotechnology built in to the
unit which not only diagnosed problems, it would repair and replace when
necessary.
Its purpose
was to keep guard on a white hole, No. SYH. 5643 which orbited around a neutron
star in the Karsii system. The white hole being an outlet from its twin, a
black hole, in another galaxy could be used for interstellar travel if the race
had the necessary technology to withstand the colossal pressures found between
these twins of destruction. The race, the Xarrtippi, that could use it had been
defeated in the Third Styrian War and massive embargos and privations had been
forced on this race to ensure that they would never sally forth on a
war-footing ever again.
Such was the
Sentinel uNit’s remit, an eternal watch for an event that would never happen or
was this a naïve hope wished by other peace loving races?
S.U. 0006753 reached for the charging plug and withdrew it
from its socket. There was the background sound of small pings which signified
a mass of micro-meteors striking the outside of the habitat. As the uNit left
its docking unit it observed the meter that recorded the strikes on the outer
shell and logged their severity. After a certain amount of impacts the habitat
would grow another outer skin and the original would be absorbed, recycled and
stored for use in growing subsequent outer skins.
The radar
gave a chirrup to attract the uNit’s
attention. Something had been picked up on the long range detector. It was
moving contrary to normal star movement and this anomaly had been discerned,
logged and reported.
“Powered
vessel, two light weeks out. Fusion drive,with minimal weaponry,” the
mechanised voice reported and a million relays clattered the information
straight to the intel- gatherer to be relayed to Earth on the next report.
The uNit moved slowly over to the electron telescope and
spent a few Earth minutes setting the focus and its tele-extrm-lens. Applying
its two light receptors to the viewing lenses, the uNit gazed at the incoming
vessel. It was a series of connected orbs which spun about an axle which was
the ship’s body. The markings on its hull showed strange cyrillic type writing,
totally unknown to the uNit. The ship sported various spine like projections
which could be weapons or simple sensing equipment.
Upon
establishing the approach of the unidentified vessel, S.U. 0006753 immediately
began preparations; these instructions had been built into its neural-psyche
over two centuries before, but were as fresh as if it had received the orders
one Earth day before.
#1 Check
docking bay for receipt of lander.
#2 Make
ready various atmospheres which would be available for different race species.
#3 Arm the
self destruct unit and program in the initiating code WQ.13467.
The last
instruction being the most important as, if all else failed; the in house
technology could never be allowed to fall into the grip of an attacking race.
The uNit sat
down at the consul to make its regular report. It began inputting the data:
REPORT: Sentinel 0006753. Location: DARRA Moon VERSAVIA Planet. FARSAL Quadrant.
Current 234/ 91
Radar
assembly checked – OK. Life support Habitat – OK. Pulsar weaponry – OK
Number of
micro-meteor strikes – 5672. Self
diagnosis and tests – OK. Traffic – One vessel, fusion drive, minimal weaponry.
Two light weeks out and closing, approaching from the direction of the Dargal
system. No motion at or around No. SYH. 5643.
It prepared
to send the report off when a red light began pulsing on the consul. “Electromagnetic
interference. Unable to transmit. Check for local magnetic disturbances!”
pulsed the mechanised voice.
The uNit
stood up and went over to check the various readouts, but nothing showed any
extra- habitat irregularities. Space in this quadrant was as ‘still as a
veritable millpond’ and apart from background radiation was as silent as the
grave. The uNit gently tapped the assemblies in case of a malfunction but
nothing registered.
Then, an
alarm went off. “Activity detected in
SYH 5643” wailed a mechanoid voice from a loudspeaker. “Report to Earth required immediately!”
The Sentinel
uNit once again tried to send a message to Earth, but with a modification
REPORT: Sentinel 0006753. Location: DARRA Moon VERSAVIA Planet. FARSAL Quadrant.
Current 234/ 92
Radar
assembly checked – OK. Life support Habitat – OK. Pulsar weaponry – OK
Number of
micro-meteor strikes – 5672. Self
diagnosis and tests – OK. Traffic – One vessel, fusion drive, minimal weaponry. Two light weeks
out and closing, approaching from the direction of the Dargal system. Motion
reported in No. SYH. 5643. It put the last two sentences in red to
draw Earth military’s attention to two separate unusual occurrences. A circuit
clicked in the S.U.’s computer-brain. Could they be linked? It rationalised.
Still the
horn screamed “Electromagnetic interference. Unable to transmit. Check for
local magnetic disturbances!”
Sentinel 0006753 was now entering
what to a human would be panic. It ran through its system, but like a chess
game each of its moves was blocked. It attempted again to transmit, but with
the same outcome.
Then, as it all became too much for
the uNit to handle, a circuit connected in its computer-brain. It didn’t have
any knowledge of the circuit’s existence but the logic bridge it activated made
the uNit raised its metal arm and sticking out, what was in fact a metal
finger, used it to poke a small red button on the consul before it. There was a
loud click which was echoed throughout the habitat and below the uNit’s steel
feet, a grinding noise commenced followed by a loud bang. The uNit looked about
it. Had an attack begun? Were these noises the start of a massed attack?
A steel trapdoor opened in the floor
of the habitat and a sound like something climbing up a stair resounded out of
the opening. Minutes later a figure stepped into the control room. It was
humanoid, six feet tall and probably weighed about 210 pounds.
“What’s the problem, dude?” asked the
new arrival. “You woke me from a deep sleep. What year is it anyway?”
“It is Year 234…What are you, I do
not know …” the uNit mechanically stuttered.
“Chill out, my metal friend. I was
put into cryogenic sleep whenever our masters built this watchtower. I was to
aid you in the event of… So what has happened?”
“I am unable to transmit a message to
Earth, reporting the presence of an incoming vessel and activity from SYH
5643.”
“Syh…what?”
“The white hole that the watchtower
was constructed to watch.” The uNit was finding interaction with the humanoid
illogical. “You have been asleep for two centuries. My role is to warn Earth of
any possible transitions using the black/white hole conduit.”
“But, why?” the humanoid said
scratching himself. “I would have thought after all this time; travel would be
by using hyperspace.”
“The Xarrtippi are the only
race with the necessary technology to use this link and they would be on a war
footing from the point they emerged.”
“Oh, right,I
get you mate. So, what have you in the weapon’s department?”
“Nothing,
Earth was to send hyper-light ships in the event that I reported activity in
SYH..the white hole!”
“You mean
you have nothing to retaliate with?”
“No…although
I was instructed to self destruct in the event of a possible takeover by the
enemy.”
“Is there
any coffee?” the humanoid asked. “It always gets me thinking clearly.”
“I can
construct a beverage if that is what you want, but we are in the throes of an
emergency, what is your purpose?”
The
humanoid, whose name was Jed Garret, had been left in cold storage within the
basement of the habitat by Earth Command to be the organic component of the
Watchtower System. If the Unit found itself in a quandary, as what to do,
certain chemicals would be released within its computer-brain, which in turn
would activate a circuit, which would connect with a logic bridge and activate
a cryogenic wake up of the humanoid. The humanoid or Jed, as he would rather be
called would provide an alternative approach to the uNit’s dilemma.
“My purpose
is to aid you in making decisions,” Jed grunted as he surveyed the consul.
“When did this sombitch appear?”
“Somb…This
term is unknown to me.”
“O.K. When
did this vessel appear on your scope?”
“Two Earth
days ago.”
“And when
did you lose the ability to transmit?”
“I tried one
Earth day ago.”
“Could the vessel
be interfering with your ability to transmit?”
“Yes, this
is possible,” the uNit replied.
“You think?
Let’s get the scope on this incomer.”
The vessel
had moved closer reported the uNit. “It is only one light week away now.”
“What about
the activity in the white hole/” asked Jed, looking across to where the white
monstrosity rotated. “What would trigger your alarms?”
“The
profusion of X-rays, which would speed out from both sides of the conduit.”
The uNit and
Jed checked and rechecked all the data that had been coming into the Watchtower
from its various sensors.
“Hell,
mate!” said Jed angrily. “This is a set up; the vessel is blocking our ability
to warn Earth to allow these, what do you call them, to come through?”
“The
Xarrtippi. A warrior race.”
“The
Xartippi were defeated before I was put into cryogenic sleep,” grunted Jed.
“How come they are able to mount an invasion…and use hyperspace technology?”
“Reports
have been coming in for the last Earth decade of activity in a Universe running
parallel to this one,” the uNit reported. “This would explain the utilisation
of SYH 5643.”
“Do you have a plan B?”
“What is a…Plan B?”
“A contingency plan to use, in the
event that you were somehow unable to get aid from Earth.”
“Darra Moon
is orbited by a moonlet Categorised DS 6936.”
“And…? What
use is this moonlet?” asked Jed.
“It is
artificial and contains weaponry with nanotechnology backup.”
“Come
again?” Jed asked with a querulous look on his face.
“DS moonlets
are capable of launching nuclear missiles and possess enough fissionable
material in their interior for nano-bots to construct at least three more
complete replacement of the missiles,” the uNit reported.
“Well, now
you’re talking! Let’s just launch the missiles and destroy the rogue ship that
is blocking our transmissions.”
“The moonlet
is in the wrong configuration. It was always thought that an attack would come
from the direction of the mouth of SYH 5643.”
“But…you can alter the direction of
their targeting, can’t you?”
“I could, if signals were not being
blocked by the incoming vessel.”
“Can they be reset manually?”
“Of course, but there is no one on DS
6936 capable of making the changes,” reported the uNit almost with a human impatience.
“Do you have
space suits with jet packs attached in this station?” Jed asked.
“Yes…but
they are only for use on the moon’s surface.”
“Are the
jets powerful enough to propel me to the moonlet?”
The Unit hit
some buttons on the consul and after a few minutes reported: “A jetpack will
carry you to the moonlet. The orbit is within the acceptable distance and with
drag factors removed, it is possible.”
“So, in
short, yes!” hissed Jed. “Can you get me one now...please?”
The uNit
hustled away to a different room within the habitat and returned after five
minutes with a space suit with jetpack attached on the rear. “Your oxygen
supply will be the only restricting consideration to your journey,” reported
the uNit. “You cannot carry enough to sustain yourself on the moonlet.”
“Is there no
oxygen on the moonlet?”
“Yes, but it
is used by the nano-bots to produce new sets of missiles.”
“Can I not
tap into the supply?”
“I have
insufficient data,” the uNit said pushing various buttons on the consul and
bringing up schematics of the moonlet.
“There,”
said Jed pointing to a sketched tube on the blueprint. “I could cut into there
and obtain oxygen.”
“You will
reduce the moonlet’s capability of replenishment of arms.”
“Needs
must,” grunted Jed. “And the Devil drives!”
“How will you
be able to avoid detection by the incoming vessel?” asked the uNit.
“When is the
moonlet due? If I can position it between me and the vessel, my trip will not
be detected.”
The uNit
looked down at its viewing screen. “In three Earth hours the moonlet will be in
a position that you require, but the odds on you surviving are very low.”
“And you
think that we will be allowed to survive once the Xartippi emerge from the
white hole? I would imagine that they will use this habitat for target
practice!”
Jed stood
surveying the distance that he would have to ‘jetspace’ over. It seemed immense
and would he have enough oxygen to gain entry to the moonlet. The uNit had
furnished him with the location of the airlock and the combination required to
open it, but would he manage to get inside, obtain a supply of oxygen and
finally, reprogram the missile strike area?
As the
moonlet appeared round the side of the habitat, the uNit stepped over and stood
beside Jed. “This is a very brave thing that you are about to do,” It stated.
“Hey,
imagine, a robot with feelings!” laughed Jed.
“I have an
empathy chip included in my assembly,” the uNit explained simply. “I can feel
certain degrees of emotions.”
“Well,
simply put, unless I get over to that lump of rock and reset the missiles,
Earth and all inhabitants of this Universe are going to be annihilated. I
fought the Xartippi three hundred years ago and they were the most bloodthirsty
race I have ever known. They killed and destroyed everything in their path.”
“Did you
lose anyone close?” the uNit said quietly.
“Just my
whole family…” Jed said hanging his head sadly.”My wife Maureen and our two
daughters Gail and Sylvia.”
“Was this
why you requested to be cryogenically stored?”
“Well, there
was nothing back on Earth for me and I felt that I could possibly, in a future
existence kick back at someone…something!”
The uNit
stood silently absorbing the human’s pain. Its empathy circuits attracted,
disseminated and fed information into its computer-brain. Synapses flared and
logic gates passed as the pure essence of Jed’s feelings were processed. The
uNit raised its metal arm and placing it on the human’s shoulder gripped him
tightly. A moment passed when metal man and human stood in a universal hug
which meant everything to them both simultaneously.
Then it was
over and Jed stepped up to the airlock and looking over his shoulder at the
uNit said: “Better stand back a bit, don’t want to damage you.”
Under cover
of the moonlet Jed soared through the empty vacuum of space. He looked back
momentarily at the habitat gleaming on the Moon’s surface. The white hole stood
in the background, a vast reversed vacuum cleaner, material, gases and
radiation pouring out of it. The Xartippi would be approaching the mouth where
they would halt to check their weapons before sallying forth at the beginning
of their wave of destruction.
The
moonlet’s airlock proved to be difficult to be entered. Meteorite strikes and
general temperature gradients had warped the metal of the outside hatch. Jed
checked his oxygen, the needle sat on the halfway mark, so it was imperative
that he gain entry as soon as possible. Inserting a crowbar in the edge of the hatch
Jed leant on it. He had entered the combination correctly but the door just
hadn’t budged. Until now, the crowbar seemed to free all the gunk that had
accumulated on the seal and as Jed watched the hatch door swung open. He
carefully entered the airlock and closed the outside hatch. A sharp hiss of air
registered being cut off from the vacuum of space. Jed twisted the handle that
would open the inner hatch.
Inside the
moonlet it was dark, but upon switching on a light that Jed wore on his helmet
he could see the interior of the spherical weapon’s delivery system. Quickly
locating the oxygen supply pipe, Jed screwed in a valve that would allow him to
replenish the oxygen in his tank.He watched as the needle on his readout was
sitting on full before he screwed the valve shut and disconnected the supply to
the tank.
Approaching
the area where several sharp nosed missiles pointed, Jed slid an observation
window open. Realising that the thick glass that he was looking through showed
him the mouth of the white hole, he could see several craft lying just inside
and recognised the Xartippi emblems painted in massive cyrillic figures on the
hulls.
Suddenly a
space vessel hove into view and Jed saw that it was the incoming vessel that
had blocked the transmissions that could have warned Earth of the potential
Xartippi escape. Drifting over to a consul, Jed switched the power on and saw a
schematic displayed of the moonlet, complete with missiles. How could he launch
the missiles manually and would the missiles be enough to stop the invasion?
The uNit in
the habitat looked over at the orbiting moonlet. It could see the space vessel
near the entrance to the white hole. It was obviously communicating with the
Xartippi within the hole. Checking the equipment the uNit was dismayed to see
that the electromagnetic waves from the vessel were still incapacitating any
outgoing signals being made from the habitat to Earth.
All at once
the unit observed the moonlet begin to rotate. A dark faux crater on its
surface was the mouth of the weapons delivery system; the human was moving it
round the wrong way.
Within the
moonlet, Jed had spun the missiles round so that they were pointing into the
middle, rather than outward. Touching a button that he had discovered rotated
the moonlet till it was facing away from the mouth of the white hole.
When all was
still agin, Jed took a deep breath and pushed the firing button for the
missiles. The outside surface of the moonlet with the faux crater on it was
instantly blown away into space as the missile’s jets roared. Suddenly the
moonlet began to move out of orbit, right towards the space vessel and the
emerging Xartippi fleet behind it.
The uNit
watched unable to comprehend what was happening.
The moonlet
was moving out of orbit and slowly increasing in speed in the direction of the
white hole and its gathered assembly. The space vessel started to move
sluggishly out of the way of the incoming moonlet, but it was too late and it
was struck amidships and carried towards the mouth of the white hole.
The
explosion was colossal but totally contained within the white hole. The
missiles detonated, the fissionable material within the moonlet exploded along
with the reserve fuel and oxygen stored within.
The white
hole just collapsed in on itself, issuing Xrays and gamma rays into the void.
The Xartippi fleet ceased to be as the massive forces within crushed them to
particles, parts of the space vessel was mixed in with the tortured remains.
The invasion was over.
REPORT: Sentinel 0006753. Location: DARRA Moon VERSAVIA Planet. FARSAL Quadrant.
Current 234/ 92/3
Radar
assembly checked – OK. Life support Habitat – OK. Pulsar weaponry – OK
Number of
micro-meteor strikes – 7689. Self diagnosis
and tests – OK. Traffic – 0
SYH 5643 no
longer exists, request redeployment elsewhere.
Loss of
cryogenic subject and moonlet DS 6936.
Recommend
Jed Garret for Universal Medal of Honour.
………………………………………………………………+……………………………………………………………………………..
21/01/18
Cairniehill
Arbroath
No comments:
Post a Comment