Quest for the Conestoga (Colony Ship Conestoga Book 1) (17 page)

“You mean the one that was attached to the hull of the Conestoga?  I thought that was on a cylinder. Is it on the planet?”  Cammarry asked.  “Those cylinders are missing from that orbiting Conestoga.”

“I located the robotic probe.  It is confirmed as the one launched from Dome 17.  Prior to the incident it was attached to the hull of a cylinder.  This one is not.  That sounds contradictory, since Dome 17 only launched one probe to the Conestoga.  However, this probe and the one we originally saw attached to the hull are the same.  I cannot explain how that apparent duplication happened,” Sandie answered tentatively.  “I am not even sure using the term duplication is accurate.  I can only report that we have encountered two probes which are both the exact same probe.  Despite sounding impossible, both probes were, or are, the single probe which was launched.” 

“Duplication?”  Jerome asked.  “What do you mean?  How can there be two probes?”

“Readings prior to the incident indicate that the scout made contact with the hull right next to the probe.  Now, post incident, the probe is here, some 327 meters away from us free floating in space,” Sandie stated.

“The incident affected the probe and the Conestoga and us?”  Cammarry asked.

“That is a valid potential,” Sandie replied.  “However, by scanning the drive section of the Conestoga it looks to have been in a highly eccentric orbit for roughly seventy-one earth years.  I cannot explain the time discrepancies.   I truly am sorry to be reporting what appears to be inaccuracies and contradictions.  I have made optical assessment of the probe.”

The display screen showed the robotic probe drifting alone in space.  The red light was still flashing, yet nowhere was the probe attached to anything else. 

“How much time passed in that incident?”  Jerome asked.  “Were we unconscious?” 

“As I reported, I did not register any passage of time,” Sandie answered.  “I cannot explain how that can be.  I had a perception of time, yet the instruments all show zero passage of time during what we are calling the incident.  I cannot explain it.  It is clear you both also perceived a passage of time.”

“Some kind of teleportation?”  Cammarry asked.

“The incident does not conform to the known teleportation system designed by Brink.  I see no similarities between what was recorded, and the tests proving Brink’s teleportation method,” Sandie replied. 

“Well, did the same thing happen to the probe that happened to us?”  Cammarry asked. “This is too strange; I know time passed while that incident was happening.”

“I agree.  The probe should still be attached to the hull of the Conestoga.  The magnetics and adhesives for attachment are very tough.  The image shows no wreckage or debris from it being ripped off.  How did we all get to this location?”  Jerome questioned.  “The same thing cannot exist in two different locations simultaneously.”

“Again, I apologize, but I am not sure how to explain the incident,” Sandie replied. 

“Was it a singularity or black hole?”  Jerome asked.  “Old novels and entertainment productions made much of those hypothetical constructs.”

“I observed no separation of any of the thirty-seven known weakly interacting massive particles.  There was no alteration recorded of background dark matter, gravity sheer, photonic collapse, quarkite alteration, quantum aberrancies, or celestial tidal forces which would be expected had we encountered what was once called a black hole,” Sandie stated.  “However, the incident is mysterious.  I cannot account for the current distances between the orbiting Conestoga, the probe and our scout ship, even allowing for the time since the incident ceased. I cannot account for the chronology of events around the incident.”

“What are you sure about?”  Cammarry asked. 

“I have some confidence in reporting that we exist.  I am confident that the probe is the same one which was launched from Dome 17.  I have checked serial numbers on a dozen parts and they all are consistent with the probe that was launched, and the probe we observed anchored to the Conestoga.  Jerome makes an important observation.  This probe does not have any signs it was ever attached to anything.  The grappling mechanisms have not been deployed.  This probe shows no record of any anchoring to anything.  That is interesting in light of our mooring lines which also show no sign of attachment and are in the retracted position.  Additionally, my data suggests that two Conestoga vessels were encountered, which is also seemingly impossible.  One in stationary position with eight intact cylinders, dead in the water, so to speak.  Another is here in orbit maintaining a significant enough velocity, relative to the planet, but without the cylinders.  I am compiling and computing and digesting the other information I am gathering.  I am sorry I cannot be of more assistance.”

“Sandie, thank you.  Keep working to figure this out,” Cammarry said.  “There is some explanation, and we just need to find it.”

“A phantom ship?  The more enlightened our houses are, the more their walls ooze ghosts,” Jerome said.  “That first Conestoga, the one Sandie had trouble focusing on with the optics, and that did not have a rebound from the laser, was that real or an illusion?”  Jerome was flexing his hands together, a sign Cammarry recognized as a self-soothing exercise he did to focus his mind and reduce stress.

“Jerome?  The Conestoga a ghost?”  Cammarry asked as she squished up her face.

“It fits the facts as we see them now,” Jerome replied.  “But I too am mystified.”

“I cannot explain what we went through,” Sandie commented.  “The best of my readings showed that we had arrived via the FTL system at the Conestoga, however, prior to the incident the navigation, astrogation, optics, and lasers all showed erroneous readings.  Then when we made physical contact the incident happened.  Now we find ourselves here with another Conestoga, and another probe, near a solar system which was unknown and not observable prior to the incident. Here all systems are reading accurately with all sensors and assessment tools are fully functional.  There are no erroneous readings.  I can focus the optics, and I have gotten quality rebound using the lasers against both the probe and the orbiting Conestoga.”

“What about astrogation?  Where are we?”  Cammarry asked. 

“As I said, that remains unknown.  I have been unable to locate the Earth’s solar system.  I am searching for reference points in other astronomical bodies.  Some pulsars have been located, none of which are in the database.  I am attempting to establish reference points by finding known Westerhuis star systems, however I cannot conjecture how long this process will take.”

“What did you perceive?  Give us all the information you have and make a best guess as to what happened,” Cammarry commanded. 

“The data is too contradictory to make a guess,” Sandie replied.  “I resist sharing it.”

“Just say it,” Jerome commanded.  “We all had something happen. There is no great genius without a mixture of madness.”

Sandie answered, “I have shared some of what was recorded, but here is part of what was more bizarre.  The scout’s sensors recorded a place which was 47 millimeters in diameter, which according to the ship’s systems we passed through, which is impossible.  The reading of the Conestoga showed it to be two dimensional as we passed through that spot, also an impossibility.  I also recorded several images of the scout ship as seen from the surface of the hull.  Those images showed the scout docked to the hull, which we know did not happen.  The flight speed indicator read 78% of light speed before it shut down, yet at that some moment the astrogation showed no movement relative to the prior position.  Those are just some of the contradictory findings.  May I suggest we dispense with discussion of the incident for the time being, and concentrate on the orbiting Conestoga?  Our mission still demands we dock and find a suitable location for the teleportation receiving pad.”

“We must call it something, not just the incident.  Sandie, pick a name for it, and then we will move on to the now orbiting Conestoga,” Jerome said.  “Sandie you picked your own name as you were created, so pick a name now for that thing we encountered.”

“My name Sandie is a derivative which means ‘defender of humanity’ and that is what I intend to do for you both and for the people in Dome 17 who are depending on the success of our operation.  As to naming the incident, I dub it the Cosmic Crinkle,” The artificial intelligence system was just regaining some of her spunkiness and positive attitude. 

“Cosmic Crinkle?”  Cammarry asked. 

“Sounds good to me,” Jerome replied.

“Space, time, and perception were all crinkled,” Sandie replied.  “I believe the name is appropriate.  Despite the Cosmic Crinkle, we need to continue onward on the mission.  The scout is fully functional.  You both are fully functional, and our mission remains to be completed.  Shall I set course for the orbiting Conestoga?”

“Yes, take us there,” Cammarry said.  “And gather information about this solar system, it is probably our new home.” 

9 docking

The light from the solar system’s star cast a dull red glow which encompassed the interior of the scout ship’s cabin as they approached the Conestoga.  Sandie set the filters to keep out some of the new star’s light, but not nearly as much as she had for the light from the Earth’s sun.

“I have made preliminary assessment of this solar system.  It is not a previously known or charted solar system.  The star has an average surface temperature of 3650 and a mass of 0.457,” Sandie reported.  “The spectrum of light being emitted is….”

Cammarry interrupted.  “So this sun about 60% as hot as the Earth’s sun, and not even half its mass.  Certainly the light is more red. Save the other details on the star and tell us about the planet.”

“The planet is the second in this system,” Sandie the AI replied.  “There is a small rocky planet in a closer orbit, and five gaseous planets further outward.  This planet does not have a moon.  The planet’s diameter is 19,109 km.  My instruments cannot penetrate its upper atmosphere effectively.  Conjectured rate of planetary spin gives it a day of 32.17 hours, with 289 days to its year.”

“So is it suitable as a home?”  Cammarry asked. 

“Not without terraforming.   A complete assessment with better equipment will be needed to give a comprehensive answer to your inquiry.  From the limited scans I have been able to make of the atmosphere, it is toxic to human life.  There does appear to be an active biosphere on the planet, but the composition and details are yet to be uncovered.  Shall I now report on the Conestoga?”

“Why did they land their habitats?”  Cammarry asked.  “They must know more than we do.”

“They may have had no other choice.  Just like we have no real choice but to dock to the Conestoga,” Jerome said.  “So did you find a place to attach?”

“Indeed I have,” Sandie effused.  “Since I am not having the optical difficulties we encountered previously, prior to the incident with the Cosmic Crinkle, I have been able to do detailed assessments of the Conestoga’s core drive which remains in orbit.”

“Any sign of the cylinders?”  Cammarry asked. 

“As you suggested, they might be on the planet’s surface.  I am unable to scan deeply enough through the atmosphere to ascertain if they have landed or not.  The cylinders are not anywhere in space within scanning distance, so I conjecture that it is likely they did make planet fall,” Sandie replied.  “I have located a large hanger bay on the Conestoga.  The ship has power, but it is not evenly divided across the various places on the ship.  There are some spots which have been exposed to vacuum, and other places where there is visible damage.  The hanger bay I have located is in a section which shows power and internal temperatures which are within safe limits.  I will be able to tell you more after we dock.”

The scout ship flew closer to the Conestoga.  Far fewer places on the hull were illuminated by lighting than when they had surveyed the Conestoga before the incident.  Here the lights were sporadically located and varied in intensity and color.  Some flickered erratically.  The main structure of the ship was relatively smooth, and undamaged, but did have the sixteen different places where the cylinders had been attached.  Those places were massive scaffolds which were truncated at the point where the cylinder would have been.  Some of the scaffolds showed obvious damage, and there were places on the drive ship which did have twisted wreckage and areas of ruined permalloy. 

“Have you received any transmissions or messages?”  Cammarry asked. 

“No.  However, I am picking up signals which indicate old-style electronics, magnetico-analog, and digital voltaic frequencies within the Conestoga.  So there are some functional systems still in operation.  A main power system is, as I said, marginally operational.  I have not been able to contact any humans or artificial intelligences systems.  All indications of technological functioning are appropriate to circa one-hundred years ago, at the level I expected to find.”

The hanger doors appeared as the scout circled around the colony ship’s central drive section.  It did not seem quite as gigantic without the habitat cylinders, yet it was still immense compared to the tiny scout ship.

“Can you remotely open them?”  Jerome asked.  “That would be an easy way to enter.”

“I have been sending request and scanning for proper ways to interface with the hanger bay doors, but have not been able to activate them.  No AI or human responses.  No identified remote activation mechanisms.  I do see a small door to the side of the hanger bays.  The door could be an airlock.  I can maneuver us close enough to make an umbilicus which would surround that door and allow us to either decode the door mechanism and open it, or do a forced entry there,” Sandie stated.  “That is, if you approve of another attempt to touch the Conestoga.  It is conceivable that by touching the Conestoga an additional or another incident will be initiated.  The incident remains unexplained, and while I think the circumstances are different this time, I cannot absolutely guarantee our safety.  I conjecture that this is safer than our previous contact, as all my instruments are functioning and I am not reading any erroneous data.  I vote that we plunge into it.  Shall we do that?  I am ready, willing, and able!”

Sandie’s enthusiasm made them both smile.  Jerome replied, “Sure, you brought us through the last incident with that, what did you call it, Cosmic Crinkle, so proceed. Plunge boldly into the thick of life!”

“I agree, get us on to the Conestoga,” Cammarry affirmed.

“Approaching the possible airlock door.  We are now at ten meters.  Deploying mooring lines,” Sandie said.

Jerome felt a surge of excitement as the lines shot out and made attachment to the hull.  There was not another incident.

“Solid adhesion achieved.  Beginning winching procedures.  Umbilicus will be made at three meters,” Sandie said. 

The lines wound up and ever so slowly pulled the scout ship up near to the airlock door. 

“I see writing, or labeling above that square plate on the right side of the door,” Cammarry said.  “It is in standard, and says, ‘Exterior Repair Station 14-NS.’ I think that confirms the supposition it is an airlock.”

“Extending permalloy nozzles for manufacture of the umbilicus.  This will secure the scout ship to the Conestoga.  It would be possible to sever the ship for future use, but that will be a time consuming process,” Sandie stated.  “Shall I proceed?”

“She who hesitates is lost,” Jerome replied.  “The scout cannot navigate in the planet’s atmosphere anyway, and where else would we go?”

“Excellent!”  Sandie exclaimed.

Triple nozzles expended out from the recesses of the scout ship and with precision placed layer upon layer of permalloy in a near perfect circle all around the end of the scout ship and built it until reaching the blue colored permalloy of the Conestoga.  The liquefied permalloy hardened and sealed itself against the hull.  Sandie was careful not to place the final connection layers over anything which looked in any way as if it could open, or was a set of controls or mechanisms.  The square shape near the label was completed free of contact with the new permalloy.  The difference between the old and new were easily seen.  The nozzles prayed the past bits to reinforce the seam between old blue permalloy, and the new tannish colored permalloy.  The new tan permalloy set and hardened. 

“Umbilicus established.  Pressurizing and heating the interior,” Sandie announced.  “I have also attached sensors to the hull of the Conestoga, and am detecting energy readings and compartments behind the airlock door.  The scans only can penetrate so deeply, but it appears that there is atmosphere and pressure beyond the door.”

“That square under the labeling looks like it might be important,” Cammarry observed.  “I think it is some kind of door lock or mechanism of operation.  The crew of the Conestoga had to have some way to open this from outside.”

“Understanding the controls and tools used on this old ship may take some time, but I think you are correct,” Jerome said excitedly.  “What do you think will activate it?” 

“We will soon find out, Jerome.  Sandie, when can we approach?”

“The pressure is adequate, temperature is adequate, breathable conditions achieved.  The umbilicus is ready for your use!”

The rear hatch of the scout ship was opened, and Cammarry floated out.  She approached the wall ahead of her which was the hull of the Conestoga.  She could see the seam line around the door.  Using the labeling as an orientation marker, Cammarry floated around and looked more closely at the door. It was roughly two meters wide and three meters high.  She touched the old permalloy.  It had a different texture than the scout ship. The weave of the ultra-hard material was thicker and rougher on the Conestoga.  Running her hands over the lettering she felt no differences.  The lettering was a part of the permalloy and not painted, engraved, or somehow placed on the permalloy.  It was in the permalloy.

“Try the square,” Jerome suggested.  He too had floated out from the scout ship, but was carrying a fusion pack, and a set of tool.

“Knock, knock!”  Cammarry said as she tapped her knuckles against first the door and then the square plate beneath the lettering.  “May we come in?”

“I will try setting a fusion pack against that plate,” Jerome said.  “The contacts on the bottom might be able to find an energy source and supplement it.”

Setting the fusion pack against the square plate caused a sudden glowing of the plate.  Two buttons appeared illuminated in the permalloy.  They were in the same script as the label above the plate.

‘Depressurize’ was above a cerulean color button and ‘Pressurize’ was above a button lit in amber color.

“We have found controls,” Jerome said happily. 

“That also looked like an access port of some kind.”  Cammarry pointed to a small hole.  A cover had slid off of that as soon as the plate was energized. 

“I can probe that orifice,” Sandie said.  A small cable came out from the back of the scout ship and attached itself into the access port.  “Yes, I can now follow the, shall we call them circuits, or schematics, or conduits?  These power channels are of antique vintage and I am having to use care in how I assess them.  They are more fragile than I expected.  Their original power source is interrupted at some distant point, but the fusion pack is supplying modulated power at the proper levels.  This door is the external one of an airlock.  The inner door is sealed, and there is a simple lock-out mechanism in place to prevent opening the external door while the inner door is open, or while the chamber is pressurized.  A prudent safety precaution, even if it is rudimentary.  I can circumvent those and have the door open in a moment.  Additionally, prepare yourselves for gravity manipulation which I believe I can activate when the door opens.  The normal system here is the opposite of that.  Gravity manipulation is shut off as the airlock is depressurized and the exterior door is opened.  I am bypassing those so as to operate the door in the fashion we desire.”

“Well done Sandie,” Jerome said.  “Will coming to the Conestoga be one small step for a man, and a giant leap for mankind?”

“Save that quote for when the Dome 17 people start walking through the teleportation orifice we will establish,” Cammarry stated. 

“You may wish to properly equip yourselves before I open the door.  There are two sets of communication links which conveniently fit over an ear.  This will allow me to monitor you as well as hear and see what you are experiencing.  The com-links will keep us in constant contact.  We have very limited knowledge of what lies beyond.  Your RAM clothing should protect you from environmental hazards, however, there may be other threats which are yet to be revealed,” Sandie cautioned.

“Yes, the blasters, we must take Willie’s weapons with us,” Jerome said.  “Let me unpack them, and the satchels with the other supplies.  I will get the containers for the teleportation equipment as well.  They are bundled together in the packs.  We can just move the teleporter gear inside, no sense waiting until the last minute.”

“Right, we need to set up the receiving pad as soon as possible,” Cammarry replied.

Jerome floated back and slid into the scout ship.  He emerged a moment later with the two backpacks, and the belted holsters holding the weapons.  He had a communication link on his left ear.  He handed a commination link and backpack to Cammarry.  She deftly slipped on the ear piece, then slung on her backpack and tightened the belt around her waist, twisting slighting as she floated around.  She patted the holstered weapon.  “Com-link and weapons ready.  Sandie, will I sense down as oriented to this label on the controls?”  Cammarry asked.  “When that gravity manipulation is activated?”