Talosian Chronicles 2: Star Dancer Read online

  Star Dancer

  Talosian Chronicles, Volume 2

  Ben Winston

  Published by Blue Space Publications, LLC., 2014.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  STAR DANCER

  First edition. November 10, 2014.

  Copyright © 2014 Ben Winston.

  Written by Ben Winston.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  The story so far...

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Also By Ben Winston

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  The story so far...

  Roughly forty-five hundred years ago, a Talosian Federation warship, the Heavy Cruiser, F.S.S. Olympus, crashed on Earth’s moon as the result of an attack. Faced with almost irreparable damage to the ship, the loss of ninety percent of his crew, and the total destruction of their ‘race’, Commander Zeus came up with a radical plan to try and save his race.

  His plan was to leave Olympus on the moon, go down to the beautiful blue planet, and breed with as many of the inhabitants as possible. Olympus, under command of the AI, would remain on the moon, make repairs, and then begin searching for someone with the correct genetic markers to assume command of the great ship.

  A beautiful young pilot trainee that was orphaned in the attack asked the Commander for permission to take her own life since she no longer wished to continue without her mother and girlfriend. Zeus didn’t have the heart to grant her request, so he asked her to instead go into cryogenic suspension and assist the new Commander, once one was found. Believing that she would never wake-up, Talena agreed.

  After watching the last of the crew depart, the ship’s AI had his hologram walk young Talena to the Cryogenics bay. He told her he would be there when she awoke. She just smiled sadly at him, and said good-bye.

  With Talena safely in cryo-sleep, the lonely computer set about his first task of repairing and decontaminating the ship; it took far longer than he had estimated. Nine hundred years later it had finally completed all the repairs it could. However, he remained on the moon for the simple reason that since she was never intended to land; the ship had no method of lifting its large, multi-megaton mass off the surface.

  Hoping his new Commander would have an idea, he turned his full attention to the planet his crew had emigrated to. After an exhaustive (even for him) survey, he was dismayed. It appeared that only a few of the natives showed traces of his former crew. Fearing that the Commander’s plan had failed, but bound by his final commands, the old computer resigned himself to monitoring the small planet and awaiting his eventual core systems failure.

  In an effort to occupy his time, Olympus rechecked for the proper genetic sequences once every fifty or so years. Realizing that the planet needed help, but knowing that interference could very well make things worse, he avoided politics and religion. He began to influence man in small subtle ways that, while not correcting major issues, kept mankind from killing themselves long enough to learn how to fix it themselves.

  Then one day, one of his probes reported finding two young people that were almost exact genetic matches for Commander Zeus and Colonel Hera, the ship’s second in command and bond mate to Zeus. Taken somewhat by surprise, the old computer shifted his full attention to the young couple. The fact that they lived only four blocks apart and were best friends amazed him. Excited, and full of anticipation, he continued to monitor them as they grew and directed his remotes to continue to check the entire populace – this time with far more optimism. Shortly before Ian Williams graduated from high school, Olympus convinced him of his heritage, and Ian accepted the responsibility. He immediately began recruiting a crew after taking his best friend as bond mate. Suspecting that the ship had sustained further, possibly undetectable, damage, Ian ordered diagnostics run on the ship. After rescuing young Talena from her impossibly long four-thousand-year stasis, the small group finds out how badly damaged the ship actually was, and even Olympus was surprised by how close to killing his new crew they had come.

  Not letting the unwelcome report deter him, Ian orders major sections of the ship to undergo emergency repairs, to include the total destruction and replacement of its primary power reactor. While waiting for the ship to become safe for occupancy once again, Ian and crew set up a corporate township in New Mexico as a cover for recruiting new crew members, as well as forcing the introduction of suppressed technologies and ‘green’ research.

  The ship finally gets finished and a method to lift off the lunar surface was devised. Shortly after officially assuming command of the newly rechristened Star Dancer, Ian and crew launched the old warship back into the heavens where she belongs.

  Chapter 1

  Far away, near the center of the galaxy, two beings review the report from a distant probe.

  “It seems the humans have not only found the old Talosian warship, they have managed to repair and relaunch it.”

  “Yes, we must report this to the Council. The question is, do we report it to the Talosian Ambassador?”

  “No,” the first being replied. “Although the Council may disagree; the Talosian people believe the ship lost. I say, let the humans keep it, and we will see what they do with it. If it looks like they are going to use it to make war on others of their kind, then we should intercede and seize the ship. Since it was an individual, and not a government that discovered it, this could be a good thing for the Earth.”

  “If you are wrong, this could very well wipe them from the universe.”

  “Then it is most fortuitous that I am not wrong.”

  Since the completion of the massive moon base only two weeks before, there had been constant shuttle flights moving a good portion of the Eggheads (scientists) from Talos. However, enough stayed at the town to actually begin to produce viable products.

  The 'Eggs' finally produced things like cold fusion, and room temperature super-conduction. They also produced a completely fossil-fuel free automobile, as well as upgrade kits for existing vehicles. Of course, the government immediately began to try to block production. Several times, security had to escort ‘lost hikers’ off the property. In one case, it really was a lost hiker that had been trying to find the complex so he could try to get a job. Janet Laskar and her recruiters took him aside and spoke to him.

  However, the rest were neither lost nor were they hikers. Intruders ranged from NSA agents to private contractors hired by the Oil and Automobile industries. There were a few others as well; more mercenaries, formed into assault teams that were armed to the teeth, also tried to get into the compound.

  Ty’s research showed that all of those teams were supposed to be on assignment in either the Persian Gulf, South America, or South-East Asia. Each of those teams was supposedly employed by oil-funded conglomerates. Why?

  The public relations team at Talos decided to hold a tech fair in order to showcase their products. While invitations were sent to all of the auto manufacturers and a few defense contractors, only a fe
w actually responded, with only half of them accepting the invitation.

  Talos, New Mexico.

  “I’ve been asked to move up to Selene (the moon) to continue with my research for my degree! Isn’t that great?” Brittney asked Valerie. “Alma Punjab is sponsoring me!”

  “That’s wonderful news, Sweetheart! When do you leave?” Valerie asked.

  “We can leave as soon as we can get packed up. Once we’re packed, all we have to do is call flight ops down in the base to get booked onto a shuttle,” Brittney replied, not noticing what Valerie had said.

  “Well, we better get you packed and ready to go then. I’ll see if we can get one of the men to haul your stuff down when we’ve finished,” Valerie said, smiling sadly as Brittney finally heard what she’d said and looked at her.

  “You’re coming with me aren’t you?”

  Valerie shook her head sadly. “No Honey, this is something you need to do on your own. I can’t go with you. This is your time to fly. My life is here.”

  “Then I’ll stay too. If you can’t go, then I don’t want to either,” Brittney said petulantly.

  “Baby, you need to go! You need to get out and stand on your own for a while. I’m not going anywhere. We can still visit each other, but you need some time on your own, making your own decisions.”

  Brittney had tears in her eyes as she replied, “But, I love you! I want to be with you!”

  “I love you, too Baby. That’s what makes this so hard for me to do. You’ve never been on your own. You’ve never had a chance to be free. I know you won’t believe me now, but I knew you’d eventually begin to resent me for that. I don’t think I could stand that,” Valerie explained. “Besides, it isn’t like we’ll be all that far apart, really; just a short shuttle ride.”

  Brittney argued with her for another hour, accusing Valerie of not loving her anymore and trying to send her away again. Finally, Valerie fled the house in tears.

  Almost spitefully, Brittney quickly packed her things, called the flight officer, and booked a flight on the next shuttle.

  Forty-five minutes later, when Valerie returned to the home she and Brittney had shared, she found it empty. Horrified, she hurriedly called the flight officer and found out that Brittney had already left the planet.

  Valerie went to her room and cried.

  Although the medical computer in the underground base wasn’t an AI, it was still ‘smart’. Sensing the high levels of distress in one of the residents of ‘top-side’, it sent an alert to the medical staff.

  After consulting Dr. Johnson, a team was sent to the Benson home to administer an anti-depressant and a sedative. The two Nurse/EMT’s got Valerie onto an antigravity stretcher and lead it back down to Medical.

  Being a small community, Valerie’s neighbor called another of Valerie’s friends and told them what had happened. When Valerie finally opened her eyes late the next evening, four of her friends were there to greet her and offer their support.

  F.S.S. Star Dancer.

  Selene Orbit, (Earth’s moon)

  Earth, Sol Sector.

  As Ian sat in his office dealing with reports and the ‘paperwork’ that came with being the commander, he came across a request for permission to launch a class IV planetary survey probe for a mission to the Alpha Centauri system.

  “XO; do you know anything about a planetary survey probe to go to Centauri?” Ian asked through his com.

  “Yes Sir, if I understood correctly, Anna Shostokovitch has jumped into the stellar cartography section with a vengeance. She would like to start exploring, if she could,” Jenny replied from the bridge.

  Ian looked surprised. “How’s she doing that with a newborn?”

  Jenny chuckled at her husband. “Serge isn’t a newborn anymore, Ian. He’s over a month old. Besides, she simply takes him with her now so she can feed him. He’s the unofficial head of the section.”

  “Oh! I, uh, didn’t know that,” Ian admitted. “Well, I have an official request from her for a probe. Since she has her munchkin with her, I’m going to head down there to talk to her about it.”

  “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that, Sir. I’ll give you a call if anything comes up.”

  Ian grinned in reply. “Or if one of you ladies goes into labor, right?”

  “I think you already know the answer to that, Ian. Besides, if I ‘forget’, I’m sure one of the nurses or orderlies you bribed will contact you.”

  “What?” Ian said in a mock offended tone. “I would never ‘bribe’ a fellow officer! You wound me!”

  “Oh? What would you call an exclusive night at ‘the cove’ with a private dinner served by nude marines if they contact you the second anything happens to one of us?” Jenny asked archly. On the bridge, the crew was grinning as they listened to the mock spat. Any outside observer would be able to tell that the command staff was well liked by the crew.

  “That isn’t a bribe! That’s simply rewarding someone for a job well done,” Ian replied. “...and it was four naked pilots of their choice, not Marines.”

  “Uh huh! A rose by any other name...”

  “I’m not going to win this one am I?” Ian asked.

  “Nope! You’re busted.”

  “Would you at least tell me how you found out about it?” Ian asked.

  “Hah! Now, I know you didn’t just ask me how I found out. Hello? Clairvoyant; remember?” Jenny replied, teasing.

  “Well, how about we pick this up later, I need to get going.”

  “It’s your turn to cook tonight, Lover,” Jenny replied.

  “Like hell it is! I cooked last night! It’s Cindy’s turn,” Ian said as he left his ready room and headed to the maglev.

  “No, she has a hard time doing that in the hover chair. I swear, if she doesn’t pop soon, Beth’s gonna recommend a C-Section!”

  Ian left the bridge and made the short walk to the maglev. Sitting down in the maglev, Ian said, “Atrium level, near Stellar Cartography.” As the car took off, he continued talking to Jenny via the comm. “Okay, I’ll help. But I think you’re right, I always thought twin births where usually slightly premature.”

  “I don’t know, you’d have to ask Beth about that. I’ll let you get back to work. Have fun, and don’t spoil your namesake too much.”

  Smiling, Ian let the channel close as the car announced its arrival. Ian got out and felt his body automatically relax as he entered the huge park that was the Atrium. The whole level wasn’t a park, just most of it. There were offices and labs here too. In addition to StelCart, Main Environmental was here, as well as Julie Laskar’s office. Janet Laskar had a ‘work area’ here too, although it was more like a secluded and sound proofed meadow than an office.

  Looking up into the simulated afternoon sky, Ian sighed and headed down the path to StelCart.

  “Hello Commander! Welcome to Star Country! What can we do for you?” Anna asked cheerfully. Nearby Serge squealed and tried to clap his hands.

  “I’ve come to discuss your request, if you have the time?” Ian asked.

  “Certainly! I should feed Little Bear anyway,” She said smiling. She picked up the little one and led Ian over to a lounge area. Ian recognized it as a semi-private viewing area since the table in the middle was a full function holo-table.

  “It’s really good that you could come down here, so I can show you what we want to do more easily.” She grabbed a small controller off the table, before opening her shirt to nurse the baby.

  Once Serge had his favorite food in his mouth, Anna punched a code into the controller and a picture of a star system appeared over the table. Ian realized that it must be the Centauri system when he saw the two stars. He was surprised at the definition that the display had.

  “This is the Alpha Centauri A/B solar system. With the help of Star Dancer’s telescopes and sensors, we have made a few observations that NASA would never believe. First off, as you can see, there are planets. NASA seems to be correct about no gas giants, however, they wer
e way off base about atmosphere and liquid water, at least we think they are.

  “Two of the planets, and a few of the moons, show visual evidence of a life supporting atmosphere. We would like to launch the probe to investigate our theories.”

  Ian nodded in agreement with her. “I have no problem approving an exploratory mission to the Centauri System. However, I do need to ask; have you considered how long it will take the probe to get there?”

  “I don’t think I understand the question, Commander,” She said, and moved the child to her other breast.

  “Well, the probe you requested is a sub-light probe. Which is to say, it can’t travel through hyperspace. Alpha Centauri is four and a half light years away. It’ll take almost a decade for the probe to get to its ultimate destination at its top speed.”

  Anna looked thoughtful for a moment, but shrugged, “At least we will know. If it takes ten years or a hundred I feel the information is important enough for us to wait.”

  Ian got a playful, thoughtful look on his face. “I don’t agree. You see, we seem to be a rather amorous group of people. Our overall population has already grown considerably if you consider the number of pregnancies.”

  Anna looked crestfallen when he said he didn’t agree, but got a confused look on her face as he said the rest. She would have asked about it, but he wasn’t finished speaking.

  “I think the information you seek will be of vital importance to us in our immediate future. So much so, that I think I should request a special shuttle be built so we can get the probes where we need them much faster.”

  Although she had followed what he’d said, she was having a hard time speaking and was spluttering, trying to get a question out. Since this request was important to everyone in the section, they had also gathered a few eavesdroppers. They had questions of their own, which was good, since it gave time for their boss to untangle her tongue.

  “Can you tell us what you have in mind, Sir?” a young looking boy said.