Connection (3 page)

                                                                                    ****

“Robert. A ship has directed communications in our general direction,” Cassandra said.

“Can you understand what they want?” he asked.

“It seems to have something to do with our positioning.”

“Cassandra. Use the Hall Drive and put us right alongside them. I imagine they want to find out what we are all about. What size ship?” he asked.

“From the skipped harmonics and albedo off the surface – the ship is about four times the mass of this ship,” Cassandra said.

“Yikes. Well – bring us along side as quickly as you can then. Send ‘Welcome from Earth’ and any contact algorithms as you move us.”

The Hall Drive was driven a little hotter than usual and the Cassandra swiftly covered the distance, pulled alongside a large boxy spacecraft. The ship was really utilitarian, colored a ghastly gray with strange white symbols on the side. Robert wondered if it was a freighter or other cargo hauler.

                                                                      ****

“Assessor. That ship is moving too fast me to keep in my sights. Zhast. It is right alongside us. Did you look at that thing? It looks like a racer and it moved really fast – no wonder. They must know we can’t shoot this close…they are not heeding normal ‘stop and be boarded’ commands,” said Proffer LeMit.

“Back us off Proffer, and disable their engines,” said the assessor. “Use the concentrated light projector.”

“Yes sir. We are back two ship lengths…Firing…No effect. Trying to hit bow and multiple hits across the hull length…no effect…”

                                                                      ****

“Robert,” said Cassandra. “The contact ship seems to be trying to hail us with a maser and laser communication device but our radiation shield is stopping them. What do you recommend?”

“Drop our radiation shield if you think its safe. Contact them on those ship-to-ship frequencies we detected earlier. Maybe they are having trouble with their low power transmissions. Bump up our signal strength and send them a simple signal.”

                                                                      ****

“They had some type of screen blocking our light beam – Evidently our first shots knocked it out. Currently firing…their hull is not affected by microwave or light blasts. I only get localized heating.”

“Assessor. Now they are jamming us with strong transmissions on our secret emergency frequency – most of our main frequencies. It will damage our equipment to receive this strong a signal for any time. What do you want to do?”

“Back us off and then move away as fast as you can…as soon as we are at a minimal safe distance – fire two GetYou missiles. That should handle the problem.”

“Assessor. Are we authorized to use deadly force in this situation?”

“Are you in the habit of questioning your superiors, Lewit? Let me remind you. They approached a restricted area, when caught and ordered to move in FRONT of us – they used a trick maneuver to come alongside us. They communicated on unauthorized ground frequencies. They jammed all our communications and refused to communicate with us. Isn’t that enough – they’re dangerous criminals with a bit of advanced technology that we can’t allow to go unchecked.”

“Moving away Assessor…Preparing to fire…missiles locked…firing!” LeMit said excitedly. This was the most exciting thing that had happened the last three months.

                                                                      ****

“The ship fired two missiles at our ship. I have taken automatic protection measures,” Cassandra said as the two men felt the hard push of the Hall Drive on full power. It was also obvious that the radiation shield was back on.

“Move toward the planet Cassandra. Look for possible landing sites. See if you can make head or tail of any of their transmissions,” Robert said.

“I have been recording all communications for later historical records.”

“Historical records? Thank you Cassandra,” Robert said and Skip looked at him oddly for treating the computer as a person.

                                                                      ****

“Assessor. The ship has almost disappeared off our scope already. We cannot hope to catch up with them – they’re gone. Assessor. ‘GetYou’ missiles lock onto the nearest object when they lose a track…we are the nearest object,” Proffer LeMit said.

“Zhast LeMit. What have you done? Get us out of here befor…”

                                                                      ****

“Robert. The ship behind us has been destroyed,” Cassandra said.

“How did you determine that?” Robert asked.

“There was a transmission in progress that was cut off, I believe, before it was completed. In addition, there was a large flash and expanding ball of luminous gas the moment the transmission ceased. I can only assume that the missiles lost track on us and returned to their launch point.”

“Do you think they implicated us in their transmissions?”

“Unknown Robert. I do not have enough data.”

“Skip – let’s say you were going to try to land on an alien – possibly hostile planet. What would you do?”

“Boss. I’m the one that said – okay – let’s try the bias drive. I’d find some place that isn’t teeming with aliens – nice little near rural area…where we can land and hide the ship. We do a few orbits and scan the surface…then let her down easy and explore.”

“That some fine detailed thoughts Skip…good – solid guidance. Can I write that down? Cassandra. Can you help…Suggestions?” Robert asked.

“Explain the criteria you require and I will give you the best options?” Cassandra said.

“What do you think Skip? You add to any of these. Let’s see… We want to find an apparently abandoned landing strip that’s got enough hard surface for us to use safely. We need some civilization nearby… but not right adjacent to the landing strip. We need to be able to steal food, clothes, and transportation if we have to…Skip?” Robert said.

“It needs to be where land vehicles have been used recently,” Skip said. “…and check the hydrocarbons to see if they are burning anything we can use. Maybe within a few kilometers of a moderate city.”

“That’s a good idea,” Robert commended. “Get us in an orbit that takes us away from as much as their orbital stuff and radar as you can. I don’t know why they fired at us – they may be at war with someone. Do we have any weapons?”

Skip canted his head to the side and pulled a small automatic out of his boot. “Just this boss. You want it,” he asked and held it out butt first.

“No – no… I want it but it’s yours – you keep it. A pocket forty caliber isn’t much against a whole planet.”

                                                                      ****

They orbited five times – which didn’t cover much surface even with Cassandra altering their orbit widely to cover as much territory as they could. They still got hit by radar several times and had possible transmissions directed at them. When some type of vehicle launched from the surface to attempt an intercept – they decided to ‘explore their options’.

Cassandra spoke. “There appears to be an abandoned airfield on the large continent we would cross on our next pass. It is right near the coast of a large ocean – destruction of buildings near it seem to indicate that there was a weather related event in the recent past. I have observed many vehicles and they appear to burn a refined form of petroleum. There is a chemical factory a few kilometers north and a moderate city lies due south a few kilometers. There have been vehicles on the airfield in the recent past. There were no current vehicle or personnel infrared signatures on the last flyover.”

“Okay Cassandra. Cue me when I should reverse thrust. Skip. Get me atmospheric pressure and winds aloft. Please return your seats and tray tables to their upright position,” Robert said. “Thank you for flying with F*#kup Airlines.”

Skip smiled and knew Robert was just being nervous.

                                                                      ****

LeSlur gave the proffer some currency and then headed back out, into the night. He had an
arrangement
with this interdiction official – when particular ships in orbit would trigger an alert – LeSlur would be notified – if it was in orbit over a ‘particular’ deserted airfield. This particular alert came a few days early so LeSlur had to gather his ‘boys’ quickly and hustle over to the airfield. They had just enough time to meet it as it was landing. They already had a refueling tanker with hydrogen peroxide and diesel fuel all set to go – LeSlur knew he didn’t want to drive that tanker…too explosive.

                                                                      ****

Robert switched to scramjet and came in hot and fast. Cassandra’s unique design broke up the ‘boom’ from the shock wave but anyone would have heard the roar of her engines anyway. Robert eased the ship down and flared as he felt the lift of the ground effect. He rolled to a stop near a deserted hangar and spun the ship headed back out. They’d have to get more fuel before they could do another orbital insertion but they had enough to do a short ‘hop’ away if need be.

                                                                      ****

LeSlur appreciated good fortune when it came his way and he heard the ship arrive before he saw anything. Good timing…they’d be over to them in no time…perfect. He was a little upset when he saw the ship ‘cause it was different than last time and it was parked near one of the hangars. As he got closer, he realized this was a craftier location anyway – not just out in the open at the end of the runway. This could be a good thing. He kept his thoughts on business as he pulled up next to the ship and directed the fuel tanker toward the rear.

                                                                      ****

Superintendent LeTant turned to Assessors LeRoc and LeXant. “I need you to immediately deploy your teams to LeShea Airfield right away. We had an emergency broadcast from one of our roving patrols and then lost contact in mid-sentence – no contact since then. We fear they’ve been destroyed. A strange ship has performed multiple orbits and an informant has notified the local Traggs. I’m ashamed to say the informant is one of our people – a proffer.”

LeTant heard the gasps from his men.

“Has he been arrested?” LeRoc asked.

“Not yet – we want to capture the higher ups. We know who he is and will catch him later. You two deploy your teams. Get out of here. Report in afterward. Dismissed,” said the superintendent.

The men turned and started issuing orders to their teams who had been waiting outside in running vehicles. They screeched off a moment later.

Cassandra had alerted Robert and Skip to the approaching presence. They decided to stay inside until they determined the disposition of those outside. There was a definite knock on the outside of the pressure door. They looked at each other and Skip hoisted his small automatic and slid it into his cargo pocket on his right pants leg. They stood up and took off their helmets – it wasn’t like they had enough air to last anyway.

                                                                      ****

LeSlur was a little annoyed. He had the team here in place and on time. He’d used the secret knock – why weren’t they coming out. He started to knock again but heard rustling and the door disappeared somewhere and became a little ladder – pretty cool. Too bad, it was so dark – he’d have liked to see the whole ship.

                                                                      ****

Robert lowered the door and backed down the ladder – he wished it wasn’t so dark. He’d have liked to see the aliens. He chuckled to himself – guess here – we are the aliens. He turned around and a large squat being near him held up both hands with palms toward him. He responded the same.

LeSlur knew that his job was to refuel the ship first before any other business so he immediately started walking toward the tanker. He figured if this tall man didn’t want to talk – he wouldn’t talk. He walked up to the tanker truck and then pointed to the ship. He pointed to many parts of the ship and then turned his palms up.

Robert was a quick study. He went over to the truck tanker outlets and turned on the red night light on the base of his wrist Dex. He detected the different fuels available and realized that the hydrogen peroxide and diesel fuel would be a compatible rocket fuel. He patted one outlet and one of the beings immediately hooked up one end of a hose to that tanker outlet. He unrolled the other end toward the ship. Robert again turned on the red light and held his Dex over the hull. An area of the hull receded and unveiled a fueling port that looked nothing like the fitting at the end of the hose. Robert took the end of the hose and just pressed it against the fueling node on the ship. The ship’s node immediately bonded to the hose output. Robert patted the hose operator on the shoulder and he went back and turned on the transfer pump.

LeSlur was intrigued when he saw the ship operator move in the darkness. The tall guy did something to his wrist and a dim red light came on over the fuel truck outlets. He then watched as one of his fellows went to hook up the other end of the fueling hose. Again… that dim red light…then a section of that ship just disappeared and the hookup adapted to the hose. These guys must be some high-class operators. The last pilot ran his mouth non-stop and his ship was huge. These guys didn’t say anything and their ship was half the size of the last one – wish he could see it in daylight, LeSlur thought. It didn’t seem like it but this little ship took on more fuel than the last one – half the truck. The tanker truck operator went back to the different fuel outputs and indicated another hose. The tall guy did the little light routine again – seemed satisfied and then hooked up that second hose end to a different part of the ship. LeSlur could have sworn it was a different place but he couldn’t even see the spot where they had unhooked the hydrogen peroxide hose…pretty slick.

Robert wasn’t going to spoil this little party – hydrogen peroxide and diesel fuel (ish) were a pretty generic rocket fuel. Preheating from the fusion reactor made it fine for what they wanted and the quantum folding allowed them to store more fuel than the ‘normal’ volume. Robert was glad he had demanded they install self-adapting connectors, in case the ship landed in some remote region on Earth. Cassandra told Robert in a
sotto voce
, through his implant phone that the refueling was complete – too bad these implant phones wouldn’t work without cell towers, Robert thought.

LeSlur was ready to get on with the rest of the transaction – the fueling had finished much faster than he thought possible. He told the truck to go on and walked over to the tall guy…he assumed the this one was the pilot. The tall guy and LeSlur started walking together, back to the little ladder on the side of the ship. LeSlur started to go up but turned around to ask Robert permission. The tall guy gave him a palm up – ‘have at it’ sort of expression so he climbed into the ship. Whoa – dull red lighting came on. The inside was really modern and more spacious than the last ship. Zhast. This was really nicely laid out but he didn’t see any way for pilots to see out.

Robert entered the ship’s cabin and saw the alien being for the first time. He seemed humanoid – almost human, but with a slightly more bulbous nose and badly splotched skin. Nose adapted for a colder climate. The being was looking around and pointed to the front blank wall and then his two almost human eyes. Robert realized he was wondering how they saw out and Robert leaned up and touched a button. Suddenly, the red night-vision viewscreens turned on. They were on along all the walls. The being swiveled around, squinting at the screens. Robert realized this being couldn’t see as well in this frequency of light.

LeSlur was amazed. He could see in all directions around him – not very well but in a full circle. He finally looked straight at the tall guy – maybe not polite to stare but wow! This guy must have been a model. He was handsome. He must have surgically altered his nose ‘til it was slimmer and the pilot had big eyes. Wow – LeSlur wondered what it would have been like around girls if he’d had big eyes like this guy’s eyes…not as if he didn’t see a lot of action. He knew he needed to get back down to business and looked around the interior of the ship. He saw the boxes strapped in the back seats and indicated that he wanted to look at them. The handsome pilot held out both hands seeming to say – ‘have at it’. He wasn’t going to leave without getting value. That fuel was expensive. The tall guy obligingly whipped out a little blade and cut through the top of the package. He then folded up a bunch of flaps.

Robert wondered if this being had ever seen coffee so he indicated a bag of freshly ground espresso. He opened the bag and breathed in the heavenly aroma. He turned back to the squat guy – if the guy has filled up my ship and wants some coffee and spices as a price – bet Tom won’t be upset – he bet Tom Thorton would be super pumped that his gifts were the first interstellar present. He indicated for the squat being to take the box.

LeSlur pulled a little pair of tweezers out of his pocket, reached into the bag, and grabbed a grind or two of the Jamaican Blue Mountain espresso. He dropped it into a little clear plastic bag where the liquid in it instantly turned black – it turned jet black. LeSlur couldn’t believe it. This stuff was stronger than the strongest stuff anywhere. He leaned over, smelled the heady aroma, and sucked in a tiny sniff. He staggered on his feet and moaned a sound that was clearly pleasure. Zhast…this stuff is so good. He picked up the large box and the tall pilot picked up the smaller one. They trundled over to LeSlur’s vehicle and placed the two packages into the back seat.

Suddenly, Robert heard gunshots and saw lights running at them from different directions on the field. The squat guy’s friends sped off firing at the assaulters. Robert saw Skip take a hit to the head that knocked him off the ladder. Robert ran to his side and saw the blood on his face. He started to check his pulse, but instead reached and grabbed the little automatic out of his pocket. He started dragging Skip’s body back toward the ladder but the volume of fire tripled and he had to stop. He couldn’t expose himself on the ladder because the fire was so intense.  He told Cassandra, through his implant, to keep monitoring the airwaves and not to let anyone inside if she could help it. The squat guy’s car whipped around between the gunfire and the ship giving him a little cover. The car door opened and LeSlur shouted something that Robert just knew was – ‘leave him and come on’. Robert laid Skip’s body down, jumped in, and they sped off into the night. They were soon out of range of the gunfire. Robert felt crushed. He had lost his friend, his ship, and…any link to his planet.

                                                                      ****

“Report,” he demanded.

The two men looked at each other and knew they’d be blamed for the failure to get the kingpins and failure to catch the criminals in action. “Superintendent. We were able to catch one of the pilots and he is seriously wounded. One ground vehicle crashed and burned on its escape. Assessor LeRoc’s team nailed them. We don’t think we got the kingpin because a fancy vehicle got away along with a tall, silver suited guy like the one we shot.”

“Were you justified in using deadly force? What happened to the one you shot?” the superintendent asked.

“The vehicle that crashed and burned was filled with people shooting at us. The one we shot was just grazed on the neck and is in treatment. There was evidence of contraband. We found a small drug kit that tested positive so the pilots were probably users. We did confiscate the ship but it’s just half the size of the last one. It appears to more advanced than the last one though.”

“Good work you two. I will put you in for a commendation if you can get information from your prisoner.  Move the ship to the confiscation yard if it is small enough.

                                                                ****

LeSlur pulled off the road in a small empty turnaround and groaned. He pushed his left hand flat against the front of his right shoulder. The sky was beginning to lighten and Robert could see the man had been shot right above his armpit. Luckily the man wasn’t having arterial bleeding or he’d be dead already. Robert turned toward the man and indicated he wanted to see the wound. He reached over and ripped open the shirt and the man flinched a bit. Robert reached into his left cargo pocket and pulled out the pocket emergency kit. He took a trauma patch and pressed it over the wound. Earth had a lot of practice with trauma and this patch included blood clot, local anesthetic, and ‘quick heal’. The man sighed a bit but then reached over his shoulder and put his hand toward the back of his shoulder. He evidently had a through-and-through exit wound. Robert took his last trauma patch and attached it over the exit wound. The man sighed with relief. Robert motioned him to slide over and he’d drive. Robert got out – walked around and sat down behind the steering wheel – just like on a British car. He turned to the man – pointed at himself and held up both palms – “Robert.”

LeSlur thought this guy was being decent – no one uses names in this business and he thought this exhibited a huge amount of trust. LeSlur pointed to his chest – held up his palms and said, “LeSlur.”

                                                                      ****

I had driven about two hours more up the coast and the countryside was really pretty. There were lots of odd trees in various colors and rolling hills. I figured we needed some distance but the fuel gauge on the vehicle looked pretty low. I reached over and shook ‘LeSlur’ awake. I needed to pee. He indicated a spot up ahead and we pulled over and took to the bushes. He unbuttoned his fly – evidently, they didn’t have zippers. I smiled thinking, whipped down my zipper, and let fly. Whew. What a relief? I pissed like a racehorse – after all… I’d been holding it over twenty lightyears. I looked over and LeSlur was staring at my ‘willie’…I’m not hung like Skip, but hey – I have enough to hold on a cold day with a lot of clothes. LeSlur stood there with his mouth open, finished, and buttoned up.

LeSlur stood looking at me then went back to the car – might as well call it a car – it drove like a car, smelled like a car – it was a car. It even had a trunk – a boot. LeSlur opened up the trunk and took out a set of clothes – held them up to me and handed them over. He looked at my pilot boots and knew he didn’t have anything to replace them. He found himself another shirt and grunted as he took off his bloody one. I slid out of the flight suit, and after a bit of a fumble – managed to get into the shirt and pants. The weather was comfortably warm and I noticed the car had no air conditioning. LeSlur took the packages off the back seat and put them in the trunk. There didn’t seem to be much traffic on this road – only an occasional car.

LeSlur indicated he needed to drive and I pointed at his shoulder. He held his left hand out and lifted his index finger – I guessed that was the equivalent of a US thumbs up.  He had three wide, stubby fingers and a thumb. I held up my palms toward him. He did a doubletake and started gobbling at me. I showed my incomprehension – I had left my universal translator in my other spaceship. I held up my hands and said, “Robert.” I pointed at the car and said “car.” When he finally closed his mouth, he said something like “flexwig.” My ability with linguistics was matched with my ability at knitting – nada.