The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 2

  The downside of this system was that it was power consuming. Taking most of the Antimatter the ship’s laboratory generated to be able to create sufficient matter annihilation to produce the Photon stream. The bluish color of the photon stream was purely an unavoidable by-product.

  She showed no sign of any windows or sub-light parabolic propulsion units. Her drive units were hidden within her hull while her weapons and force field emitters were embedded in it. With the emitters showing as tiny blisters.

  Unlike Henderson’s crude warp focusing ring that had been employed in the design of the earlier Starships, Constellation and Hawk. Andromeda's WF ring was situated sixty metres back from the front of the ship. In operation, each section of the ring extended outwards, virtually instantaneously. With sliding parts then closing the gaps that were created, to complete a full circle some 50 metres out from the hull.

  Once extended, a massive pulse generated by the warp drive engine was passed along a power conduit feeding directly to the focusing ring, which in turn, directed the pulse to a point just in front of the ship. This pulse caused space to fold and created a wormhole. Then, when the vessel had entered the wormhole, the ring automatically retracted back to and flush with the hull.

  Of course, with the Andromeda being over a kilometre long, there was plenty of space to play with.

  As well as catering for the main crew members, there was also a small space marine contingent. Courtesy of a rare concession which had been made by the Earth Federation, after they had banned the presence of military personnel in space over seventy years earlier. However, the marines were more symbolic than essential.

  There were thirty crew cabins, with fifteen each side of a central corridor. In fact, more cabins than were really required on this voyage.

  Two short corridors, off the central one, linked the habitation section with the ships technical departments. Including Quantum Engineering, Weapons, Astro, and Data Analysis. Together with, a Medical Department, and other services that were crucial to the operation of the vessel. With the Space Marines accommodation behind this and opposite the Recycling plant.

  The Andromeda also had several service droids that tended to the ship’s physical maintenance. Plus, three medical droids. These were more sophisticated and were based in the Operating Theatre, where the state-of-art surgical tools and the resources and knowledge of Andromeda’s memory banks were at their disposal.

  The rear third of the ship held the Central Power generators. These supplied the massive amounts of energy that were required for the Warp Drive ring, Weaponry and Photon Drive units.

  Protected deep within the ship, was Andromeda's processing unit, her brain. Her processor was housed in a large cream colored block some five metres wide, six long and two high. On one side, there was a square panel that was full of ever-changing multi-colored pinpoints of light.

  Another, smaller unit, with two smoked glass domes on the top, was physically connected to the first.

  There were two other slightly smaller units elsewhere in the ship with no apparent connections to the main housings. These gave added protection by storing the core memory data. Thereby allowing Andromeda's service droids to auto-repair her without any loss of information.

  The central computer, or AI, occupied about four percent of the vessel's capacity. The design of Andromeda’s self-aware central computer had been a significant advancement. Particularly regarding voice communications between the computer, her human counterpart, and the rest of the crew. The computer systems employed in the older ships utilized voices that sounded mechanical and were designed to be too impersonal. Whereas Andromeda’s computer voice circuit had been specially designed to enable her to interact with her crew and Captain in such a way that she seemed alive and part of them.

  Even though Andromeda’s ‘brain’ had a few quirks thrown in, she was the real heart of the ship. This advancement had resulted in making all the older ship’s central computer systems obsolete, virtually overnight, when the Andromeda came into service.

  Captain Richardson’s transceiver implant, as with all his crew, linked directly to the Andromeda. Richardson didn't even have to speak to convey orders. And, at no point within the starship, would he, or his crew, be cut off.

  When Andromeda7 was first activated on Mars, she had become aware of the ‘mind-link transceiver’ embedded in her human Captain and her aloneness faded.

  But when Frank first linked with Andromeda’s computer, he felt as if his brain was being crushed. Her emotions, smothering him with, well, it was almost like joy. The joy that Andromeda felt at knowing that she was no longer alone.

  His ‘link’ with her was different from the connection she had with the rest of his crew. Their implants were only connected to Andromeda for work-related discussions, and to impart relevant information to and from them at critical times.

  Frank, had also been overwhelmed by the flood of information and analyses coming from these different departments, and it took him time to learn to filter out the important pieces of information.

  Finally, he and Andromeda had managed between them to get the filtering down to a fine art, and now the communications between him and Andromeda were just like two humans talking to each other. It didn’t matter if they were communicating by thought transfer with the transceiver implant, or by direct speech.

  These sensors were everywhere in the ship, mind linked with the transceivers embedded in her human crew of just twenty-one, two of whom were female. Her sensor-links made Andromeda almost a living entity, enabling her to perform virtually all operational needs and gave an organic feel to the ship.

  But Andromeda, at this stage in her rapid learning curve, still lacked the actual ability to think outside-the-box, which was something that only humans seemed to be able to do.

  However, even this was purely a moment in time before her artificial intelligence approached her full potential.

  The Starship Andromeda was tethered to the Mars orbital docks, after completing her acceptance trials for the Space Federation. Now, everyone was ready and waiting for Frank’s last crew member to board so they could leave on this their first voyage together.

  Chapter 2.

  Preparation.

  Captain Frank Richardson was 37 years old, and well built, with darkish hair and piercing blue eyes. He had been a well-respected Shuttle Captain for several years and had been decorated for an incident during one of his shuttle’s runs between Earth and Mars.

  At that time, his quick thinking and ingenuity in saving another shuttle from a disastrous situation had got him noticed. Since which he had been fast-tracked for promotion and had now been given the Command of the Andromeda. But this ship was very different from the shuttles that Frank had been used to. Also, the lack of instrument panels and things to twiddle seemed very odd to him.

  He understood why there was only a small complement of personnel on the Andromeda. After all, the ship wasn’t large enough to have the resources to support many more. Especially, if there was a remote chance of any survivors from the Hawk.

  He also knew that with no bridge crew to keep him company, it was going to feel like a very long voyage indeed.

  Now, Frank was in Andromeda’s control room, which didn’t have any of the numerous instrument panels that had been associated with twenty-first-century spaceflight. In fact, it didn't look like a control room at all. There appeared to be no windows and very little furniture.

  There were three interactive screens, which seemed to hang unsupported. These screens were transparent with a bluish border marking their physical boundaries. The larger, central display, was for general views. While the other two, showed, tactical, and ships status that was continuously updated by the Andromeda. Along their bottoms of each display, were a row of department head Icons.

  When required, extra facilities rose out of the floor and were auto-configured as needed.

  Nowadays, there was a consensus of opinion that favoured the officers taking a mor
e relaxed approach to controlling their crews. Frank, agreed with this and knew from experience that working with them in a more relaxed manner had produced a better atmosphere and working relationship. And, had also encouraged the crew to use their creativity and imagination to solve the complex problems that had been created in the simulator exercises carried out during their induction process.

  He appreciated that this might well be harder to maintain if they were attacked. Still, although the Andromeda hadn’t been built as a fighting ship, she had the knowledge of years of warfare on Earth, and simulations of all possible types of space battle to call on. And, if necessary, would be capable of conducting any such battle by herself.

  Frank, believed that if and when they encountered any difficulties, Andromeda, and her crew, who were mostly made up of scientists and engineers, would be more than capable of pitching in to survive.

  Looking at the control room’s main screen, Frank could see the three completed cradle sections of the space dock. Next to it, he could also see Force craft moving around, and suited figures who were busy constructing two more cradles. When completed, the spacedock would comprise of five docking cradles, all of them capable of assembling sections of StarShips as they were brought up from the construction domes on Mars.

  Frank had seen another little-known shipyard complex that was being constructed close to Jupiter. Robotic mining of the Asteroid belt and three of the Galilean Moons, Io, Ganymede and Europa were well underway. Of course, Earth and Mars’s resources were only a few days’ flight time away.

  Construction work was also aided by the significantly improved computers and 3D PM printer systems. This meant that many items, in any material, and had previously been complicated to manufacture, could now be manufactured in days, rather than weeks.

  Two of the space dock’s three cradles held the next two StarShips, which were virtually complete and would soon be ready for their rigorous testing and acceptance tests.

  Frank knew that they were about ninety metres longer that the Andromeda. Apparently, this extension was to cater for any future upgrades.

  Meanwhile, in Earth orbit, a large science vessel was being constructed but was a year away from completion. This had been specified and funded by the Space Federation. But, was being manufactured under licence, by the private sector.

  Frank shifted the view on his main display, mentally using his transceiver implant, to focus on a dust-storm that was slowly drifting between the Starship Construction Domes on the planet Mars below him. From this distance, the red dust seemed to be the only movement on the planet.

  The music that had been playing softly in the background dropped in volume, and Andromeda audibly spoke to him.

  “The Earth shuttle is approaching Captain,” Andromeda announced, her voice sounding both human and feminine.

  “OK. Give me visual.”

  The view then changed to show the Earth shuttle coming in backwards, with its photon sub-light drive units flaring white to slow it down. The shuttle finally came to a stop about a thousand metres from the Andromeda.

  Frank hated the photon drive. It was inefficient and dangerous. Let alone the fact that the flare from its beam marked their position.

  A few minutes later, a force craft left the Earth shuttle and headed in towards the Andromeda to transfer the last member of her crew to the ship. Frank watched, as the craft, looking like a small blurry dot, swelled in size as it rapidly approached them.

  The force-crafts were oval shaped multi-faceted platforms, about four metres by six, with force field emitters located around the edges. At one end was a small fusion-drive pod which powered the force field that protected the passengers, and provided full life support and drive capacity servicing the needs of six people for two months. After which time, its fusion reactor would need to be refuelled by Andromeda.

  Four such transporters were held and controlled by the StarShip’s computer.

  Frank thought, ‘Screen-Off' and the image disappeared.

  “There doesn’t seem to be much information about Alan Fairchild, on my crew-register. Why?” Andromeda asked.

  “We met some years ago, we were classmates at the Academy.”

  “So?”

  “Well, the Space-Fed bosses thought he would be helpful as a trouble shooter in Astro. But Astro doesn’t need him yet. So, he’s going to work with me for now.”

  “Why?” Andromeda asked. Sounding slightly annoyed, if that was possible.

  “It’s OK Andromeda. I'll be keeping an eye on him. Anyway, he won't be with me too long, he answered sounding slightly irritated.”

  “But why is there a hidden encrypted file in his minuscule data file that has a naval code?”

  “I don’t know why?”

  Andromeda remained silent.

  Frank had woken up this morning from having a nightmare of a dream, and with a sore right arm. But he’d taken up till now, to decide that he should get Andromeda to carry out another medical scan on him.

  “Andromeda. Did you register any unusual happenings while I slept?”

  “No, Captain.”

  “Then, scan me for any changes from yesterday’s medical scan.”

  He felt a slight tingling sensation. Then...

  “The only difference is a small graze on your right arm,” Andromeda informed.

  “Something real then,” he jokingly replied. But that had made him nervous.

  He knew that no one could have entered his cabin without a security access code. Yet, the dream or nightmare he’d experienced had felt real.

  He remembered it, vividly.

  There had been two young women, one standing each side of him. It seemed strange to him that the women appeared to be semi-transparent, and one of them was holding something that looked like an atomizer against his arm. Yet her hand and the atomizer had seemed solid and real to him.

  Then he’d felt something he couldn’t explain, almost as if something was being injected into his arm.

  He remembered the young women because they both had long auburn colored hair. Or was it more of a coppery color? He wondered to himself.

  Anyway. Who were these two women? It didn’t make any sense at all to him.

  What if it hadn’t been a dream? Now that did worry him.

  Maybe it was something that was going to happen to him in the future? Perhaps a premonition? But there was nothing apart from his sore arm, that made any sense. So, he shrugged and decided not to worry about it for now. Unless it happened again, of course.

  Five minutes later Alan walked into the room.

  “Alan,” Frank exclaimed, shaking his hand. “Hi, it’s great to see you again.”

  “You as well. What a trip. I hate forcecraft, all that static makes my hair stand on end.”

  Frank smiled politely, then changing the subject, asked, “Do you like the design of the Andromeda?”

  “Yes. It's excellent. I hear the Federation has turned her into a battleship.”

  “No way, Alan.”

  He couldn’t help smiling as he mentally pictured Andromeda bristling with guns like some old seafaring battleship.

  “Perhaps those next two ships out there will be better armed than Andromeda.”

  He knew that Alan must already know what the Andromeda was from his induction and training course on Earth.

  “But, we’re not a military ship, Alan,” he continued. “Our primary function is to find, and hopefully, rescue the Hawk’s crew. We have to search, just in the unlikelihood that they’ve managed somehow to survive all this time. Then, after, to carry out scientific studies and extend the Hawk’s predetermined area of exploration as far as we can.”

  “And if we meet something ugly?”

  “We believe that we have enough weaponry to protect ourselves if we have to.”

  “Well, that is good to know. But why this shape? It must have been an engineering nightmare, especially when a tin-can would have worked just as well in space.”

  “True,” F
rank replied. “But when they were designing the ship, they found that the exit point on Henderson's prototype star-drive was so random it wasn't practical. Plus, the power used and distance travelled in the wormhole wasn't as calculated, with a loss of about fifty per cent.

  Henderson then modified the drive, by adding two steerable coils to direct the wormhole exactly where it needed to go. He had also proved that there was a surface tension between the ship and the inside of the wormhole. Similar to the drag on an aircraft in flight. So, he decided to treat it like a plane and changed the shape of the ship.” Frank paused.

  “Less the wings and tail, of course,” he added.

  “I see. Yes, it makes sense,” Alan replied.

  “I think the ship is beautiful. Everything is streamlined. The force field emitters are built in, and the weapons all have sliding ports,” Frank continued.

  “But the sub-light drives also gave the designers a problem,” he added.

  “The pods on the older ship, the Hawk, caused a small eddying that made exiting the wormhole unpredictable. But they eventually solved this, and new materials were used. Now we only have five percent loss.”

  Changing the subject, Frank then asked if Alan would like a drink.

  “Yes, please. Water will be fine.”

  Frank thought, ‘Drinks please,’ and a small tray holding their drinks floated out of a recess in the wall and hovered close to them. They both took a glass.

  “I didn't know we could do that, the tray. It's floating,” Alan said.