Last Stand Page 16

  Maria Esteban-Smith responded, “Aye, sir!” as her fingers flew across her console. The Bennu altered course to reach the nearest life pod.

  “Hangar Deck Officer, this is the captain,” Bradley said over the Bennu’s intercom system. “Prepare for life-pod recovery operations. Send out two drone-operated maintenance pods and bring two life pods aboard. Med-bay, get medics down to the hangar deck ASAP!” Personnel from both locations acknowledged their orders. Within a few minutes, the first life pod was aboard and the Bennu adjusted course to intercept the second pod. Arriving at its location, the two maintenance pods made quick work of bringing it aboard as well.

  Satisfied that the Bennu wasn’t in danger, Bradley and Caulder left the bridge and made their way to the hangar deck. The two life pods sat in the middle of the massive hangar bay. Terrans and Z’Laan avatars had already opened the first pod and were in the process of opening the second one.

  The two senior officers looked at the medics standing next to the second pod. The medics shook their heads indicating that there were no survivors in the first pod. Jarrod stuck his head through the pod’s hatch and saw the corpses of three humans, two females and a male laying on the pod’s deck. He didn’t recognize any of them. He glanced around the interior of the pod and his gaze stopped when he saw a fist sized hole punched through one wall.

  Jarrod stepped away from that pod and moved towards the other. The crew had the pod’s hatch open and Jarrod moved in for a close look at its interior. What he saw made him wish he hadn’t looked. There were two bodies inside the second pod. Jalil Manzur, his father’s assistant, was sprawled on the deck on one side of the pod. Jarrod started to enter the pod but was pulled back gently by Bradley. Another body was strapped into a seat facing the pod’s small control console. One of the medics gently turned the chair and raised a hand to the person’s throat to check for a pulse.

  Jarrod looked up just in time to recognize his father’s face! He climbed into the pod. The medic turned to him and shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir. He’s dead.”

  Chapter 10

  Ship's Log

  The Bennu

  Earthdate: 15 January 2231

  Captain McLelland Bradley, Commanding

  We were too late to save Professor Caulder and his crew. Maybe if we’d arrived a few days earlier, we could have scouted the edge of the Z’Laan star system and prevented the loss of the professor’s crew and vessel. Jarrod has got to be taking this hard.

  The crew are examining the debris field and the recovered life pods for any clues that may help us as we proceed on our mission. I wish Harlu Az was more forecoming with information. Is he intentionally withholding information or is it because he’s programmed to respond only when asked the right questions. I wish I knew!

  The Bennu hung at the outer edge of the Z’Laan home star system for a couple of days as the crew continued their investigation of the debris field, the two life pods, and the five corpses. Jarrod tried to keep himself occupied while the engineers examined the pods and some recovered debris and the medical staff conducted autopsies of the deceased.

  Late in the afternoon of the second day, Captain Bradley called a staff meeting in the ship’s dining hall to discuss the findings. After opening the meeting, Bradley turned it over to his chief engineer to start the ball rolling.

  Commander Ian Huntington-Smith began somberly. “My engineers and I have been examining the two pods for any clues as to what happened to Professor Caulder’s vessel. Each Terran vessel’s primary computer is programmed to download its data into its life pods during an emergency on the off chance that the flight data recorders fail or are lost. From the first pod’s onboard computers, we’re were able to determine that the vessel struck, or was struck by, some kind of object. Further analysis of the data, in conjunction with the data from the second pod and data from our own sensor sweeps using our Z’Laan sensors, tells us a quite a story.”

  Several people gave the engineer quizzical looks, so Huntington-Smythe continued. “It appears that there is indeed some type of minefield or defensive array involved. Our sensor sweeps have identified hundreds of them, all within several thousand miles of our current position, forming part of a sphere around the star system. We believe that the entire system is encapsulated within this minefield. There must be millions upon millions of the bloody bastards.”

  “Did you know of this?” Jarrod asked Harlu Az who was seated across the table. “Did you send my father and his crew to this system without warning them?”

  “I was unaware of the existence of this defensive system,” answered the Z’Laan avatar. “It must have been deployed once the Z’Laan race withdrew to the home system. I only know that we had developed and used such mines during conflicts up to moment I received my last update while within Kulera’s Central Core.”

  “And the minefield hasn’t reacted to the Bennu because?” Bradley asked.

  “Harlu Az believes the minefield, specifically this part of it, has become dormant because it recognizes the Bennu as a Z’Laan scout vessel.” Ian replied. Harlu Az bobbed his head in agreement. “The first pod’s hull was ruptured when it was struck by a piece of debris. It vented atmosphere and experienced a cascade system failure as a result of the damage from the collision. The second pod functioned normally and still had atmosphere and survival consumables aboard. The other debris we recovered from Professor Caulder’s star vessel included part of the data from the vessel’s primary computer. We’ve turned that and the flight recorders and computer memory cores of the two pods over to Computer Sciences for analysis.”

  Ellie spoke next for Medical. “The three personnel aboard the first life pod were killed when the life pod vented its atmosphere. None of them had time to don protective equipment and they all died from the effects of rapid decompression. Professor Caulder and Mr. Manzur both appear to have been injured prior to entering their life pod. The professor’s injuries were more severe and it’s quite possible that Manzur helped the professor into the pod. After leaving their vessel, the professor died first and Mr. Manzur died a short time later. The personal effects of the deceased have been inventoried and stored for release to next of kin, if possible, once we return to Terran space. Commander Caulder, here are the personal effects we recovered from your father, sir.” With tears in her eyes, Ellie rose from her chair and took a small box from a medic who was seated behind her. She stepped over to Jarrod and placed the box in his hands.

  “Thank you, Ellie,” Jarrod said softly. His eyes locked with hers and, for a moment, he drew strength from her.

  Captain Bradley pointed to Lieutenant Ronni Fassnacht of the ship’s computer section and she began her report. “We’ve run deep scans of the recovered memory core from Professor Caulder’s vessel. It contained some of the ship’s astrometric and flight control data but otherwise, not much else. The FDRs from the pods give us their flight data from the point of launch until we recovered them. We’ve compared the pod memory cores and the data dump from the star vessel and that showed us that they were on course to the Z’Laan home system and were unaware of any dangers in their path.” Fassnacht paused for a moment then turned to face Jarrod Caulder.

  “Commander, we were able to pull a significant amount of data from the memory core of your father’s life pod. Part of it is a record of events after they abandoned ship, some of it relates their findings during their mission, and the remainder…is a private message for you, sir.” Fassnacht turned her gaze downward to a data cube sitting on the table in front of her. She picked it up and carried it around the table and presented it to Jarrod. After accepting it, Jarrod nodded his thanks.

  Bradley waited for a moment, then spoke. “Commander Caulder, with your permission, I’d like to play part of your father’s message…not the private part, of course. But the part that relates to his most recent mission update, the collision, and abandoning ship.”

  Jarrod looked deep into Bradley’s eyes. He knew that his captain was trying to avoid
hurting him but he wanted to be sure Bradley fully realized the pain he was feeling at the moment. Jarrod could see that Bradley did and nodded his assent.

  Fassnacht punched in the appropriate time codes and the large monitor at one end of the room came to life. Jarrod saw his father, Professor Hollis Caulder, sitting at a desk, presumably in his quarters.

  “Entry 557, the journal of Professor Hollis Caulder. We’ve left the planet Kulera and are, if our information is correct, on the last leg to the Proge...uh, Progenitor homeworld. The captain tells me she is taking the vessel to maximum velocity. We are so close now. I wish my son could be with me when we get there.” Bradley glanced sharply over to Fassnacht who quickly tapped in a new time stamp. The image shifted to a damaged room, whisps of smoke curled through the air, his father looked disheveled.

  “Entry 583…the captain and most of the crew are dead. The vessel appears to have struck something. We’re dead in space and the vessel is coming apart around us. Many of us have been seriously injured…or killed. Jamil is checking the life pod at the end of the corridor and will come back to assist me in reaching it. Close…we were so close. Now, none of us may live to see the wonders of the Progenitor homeworld. Perhaps my son will lead the next expedition and do better than I…”

  Jamil Manzur, the professor’s assistant, entered the camera’s field of view. “Professor, the pod is still there! Come, we must leave…now! Hurry!” With Manzur’s help, the professor rose from his chair. He made no effort to end his journal entry, but rose with difficulty and left the camera’s view. Manzur returned a moment later and pressed the button to withdraw a data cube of Professor Caulder’s journal recordings. The video stopped and Fassnacht turned off the monitor.

  Captain Bradley spun his chair to look at his assembled officers. “Professor Caulder and his team died trying to find the Progenitor…Z’Laan…homeworld. There’s still a chance that we can get there in the Bennu and, once there, we can recover some useful technologies to help us fight the Azairi. Harlu Az and the Bennu are prime examples that something must have survived of that once great race! And, by God, we’re going to complete our mission! Huntington-Smythe, Engineering status?”

  “Captain, the Bennu is ready to fly, fight, or conduct retrograde operations as required, sir!” the British engineer answered brightly.

  “Flight?”

  Maria Esteban-Smith answered promptly, “Sir, give me a destination and I’ll fly us there!”

  “Medical?”

  “Captain, our crew is in excellent physical and emotional condition and ready to continue our mission!”

  “Sciences?”

  “Sir, we can finish our analysis of the recovered data en route. The Bennu’s computers are in the green!” Fassnacht responded.

  “Commander Caulder?”

  Jarrod jerked his head around. He had been lost in thought for a moment. He took a breath to calm himself and gather his thoughts. “Sir, ship and crew are ready. Let’s go!”

  “Very well!” Captain Bradley began. “Our mission is a go! Take us back to Battle Stations at 0600 ship’s time tomorrow, we’ll cross the boundry into the Z’Laan star system at 0605. Until then, stand down, rest, and recreate. Thank you, everyone. Jarrod, please stay a moment.” The others filed quickly from the room and soon the captain and his friend were alone.

  Bradley stepped up close to Jarrod and placed his right hand on Jarrod’s shoulder. “Jarrod, I want you to go off duty now. Go to your quarters and watch your father’s message. Then take a walk or a jog and get a bite to eat. If you need a tranquilizer to sleep tonight, have Ellie give you one. I need you at your best in the morning, okay?”

  Jarrod smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Mac! I mean it. I’ll be ready oh-dark-thirty for the next phase of this operation.”

  Bradley returned the smiled and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “I know you will, Jarrod. Now get outta here!”

  On his way to his quarters, Jarrod swung by the med-bay and asked Ellie if she could join him in listening to his father’s message. “Are you sure?” she asked. “Yes, definitely,” Jarrod answered. Several minutes later they were in their private quarters. Jarrod set the data cube into the receiver on their desk and sat down next to Ellie as the monitor came to life.

  The scene was obviously from the interior of the life pod. Professor Caulder was sitting at the pod’s command console. Jamil Manzur was visible in the background, either asleep or unconscious. The professor’s face was pale and pain was clearly evident in his eyes. “This…may be my final entry. If someone finds this, please get it to my son, Lieutenant Commander Jarrod H. Caulder of the Terran Federation Defense Fleet.” The senior Caulder paused to cough for a moment and wipe small flecks of blood from one corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Jarrod…son, I’m sorry I didn’t have more time to be with you. It was unfair of me to drag you across the stars from one world to the next as I chased my dream…the Proge…Progenitors, after your mother died. During your school years, your aunt and uncle took you in and cared for you while I ran off searching…always searching.” He began to cough again but the spasm ended quickly.

  “Son, I tried to pass along my zeal for my life’s work. I tried to convince you to be…become a xenoarcheologist like me…but it wasn’t meant to be. You had your own path to follow. I want you to know that I’m proud, very proud, of you and your accomplishments…even if I haven’t told you that as often as I should have. Proud…very proud…of you, son! I’ve tried to leave you…a trail…trail of clues to find me. Perhaps, my work can…be of help…now that the Azairi…are attacking the Terran…Terran…Terran Federation. I believe that the Progenitors left behind, left behind many great things. I pray, son, that it is…you who find them.”

  Another coughing spasm wracked the professor’s body. This time blood flowed freely from the corner of his mouth and he didn’t bother to wipe it away. “I love you…Jarrod! I…love…yo…” the professor tried to finish but his head tilted slowly forward and his chest stopped moving. The image remained like that for couple of minutes longer as Jarrod and Ellie watched, praying that the professor was still alive.

  Finally, Jarrod reached over to his desk and shut the playback off. Tears welled in his eyes as he sat back down by Ellie. She, too, was crying and reached over to put her arms around his neck.

  **********

  The next morning, the primary bridge crew arrived for duty half an hour early. Promptly at 0600, Captain Bradley called for Battle Stations to be sounded. Klaxons went off throughout the ship and the halls echoed with the call, “Battle Stations, Battle Stations, Battle Stations! This is NOT a drill!”

  Throughout the Bennu, personnel responded to their Battle Stations. In truth, this constituted only a few stragglers from breakfast as the vast majority of the crew was already on station when the alarm was called.

  “Captain, all stations report staffed and ready,” Jarrod reported at 0602. “Bennu is ready to enter the Z’Laan home star system upon your order, sir!”

  Bradley checked the ship’s chronometer and was impressed by his crew’s rapid response time. He looked around the bridge for a moment then said, “Very well! Let’s get underway. Pilot, plot us a course to the Z’Laan homeworld!”

  Lieutenant Commander Maria Yolanda Esteban-Smith responded immediately, “Aye, sir!” Her fingers became a blur of motion as they flicked across her helm console. “Course plotted, sir!”

  Captain Bradley smiled and responded, “Best sublight speed!”

  “Aye, sir!” Esteban-Smith replied and slid her hand along the throttle control panel on her console. The Bennu leaped forward and crossed through the outer boundary of the Z’Laan system. Harlu Az had identified the fourth planet of the system as the Z’Laan homeworld. With each passing moment, the Bennu drew closer and closer to that planet.

  “Half speed!” Bradley suddenly called out as the outer edges of an asteroid belt appeared in their path.

  “Half speed, aye!” Esteban-Smith answ
ered and slid the throttle control backwards, reducing the Bennu’s speed as they drew near the asteroid belt between the sixth and seventh planets.

  Bradley looked over to Jarrod. “Anything on the sensors, Commander Caulder?”

  “Scans are clear, sir! We are registering no threats!” Jarrod reported. “Asteroids are not giving any indication of danger, skipper.”

  “Harlu Az,” began Bradley, “does anything seem out of the ordinary to you?”

  The nanite avatar of the long dead Z’Laan Gary stepped closer to Captain Bradley before he answered. “Captain, the original Harlu Az left this system many millennia ago, before the construction of the minefield we encountered at the edge of this star system. I have searched through my predecessor’s memories and can identify no indicators of potential danger.”

  “Maria, ahead slow. Eye’s sharp, everyone! Weapons hot!” Bradley said quietly as he leaned forward in his chair. His eyes scanned the primary monitor and other displays looking for any hint of trouble. If he had looked around the bridge at that moment, he would have caught his bridge crew doing much the same thing.

  Several moments later, the Bennu cleared the asteroid belt. Bradley leaned back in his chair and said, “Huh! Well, that was a pleasant surprise.” He shrugged then leaned forward again. “Okay, then! Half sublight speed ahead!”

  “Half sublight speed ahead, aye!” Esteban-Smith repeated and adjusted the acceleration controls accordingly. The Bennu accelerated once more towards the Z’Laan homeworld. With the vessel nearing Z’La, Jarrod took a moment to speak with Harlu Az.

  “How does it feel to be returning home, Harlu Az?” Jarrod asked.

  The Z’Laan avatar’s eyes were fixed on the forward monitor. “I possess the memories and personality of Harlu Az. I am experiencing excitement at the prospect of approaching the homeworld. My predecessor was born and raised on the primary continent of Z’la. He was naturally inquisitive and forever looking to the stars. It was natural for him to move off-world when the opportunity arose. But…he held a deep love for Z’la. I share that love and must admit that I am eager to look upon that world once more.”