HADRON Resurgent Read online

  Mace smiled. “I’m anxious to take her out. And if what your scientists say is true, we’ll be able to jump as much as twenty thousand light-years in a single hop. With the gatrellium we have aboard, we could travel clear across the galaxy and back without making a dent in our supply.”

  Jasper gestured. “Follow me down to the shuttle and we’ll take her out for a spin.”

  Mace said as he walked, “You eager to get the Revelation in that dock?”

  Jasper nodded. “I am. We’re putting together our plan for updating the entire fleet. Gonna take us a year. As long as the Karthians aren’t attacking, we have the time. I plan on outfitting a shuttle for scout duty and then sending it out to the rift to wait and watch. Already have a long list of volunteers wanting to man it. Not an assignment I would want, personally.”

  Mace chuckled. “Maybe you can load them up with an entertainment system and a few thousand of those Human movies.”

  Jasper grinned. “Already in the plans.”

  They moved aboard the shuttle and headed for bay one of the Rogers. The sky-blue cruiser glistened in the Divinia sunlight, the previous dull gray of the old hull now hidden. The shuttle docked and Mace and Jasper headed for the bridge.

  Liam nodded as Mace entered the room. “Mr. Hardy, we’re all set for a destination.”

  Johnny said, “You brought the king with you?”

  “Didn’t want to miss the maiden voyage,” said Jasper. “Gonna be two months before the Revelation is ready.”

  Mace sat in his command chair. “Mr. Hobbs, take us back to Earth. We’re picking up the others. From there we jump to the system Favia claims as her home world. If her people will have her, we can drop her there.”

  Jasper said, “Still a risky move jumping into the unknown.”

  Mace nodded. “It is, but we now have increased hull protection. And if needed, we can immediately jump away.”

  Once returned, the Rogers settled in above the cave. The ramp was lowered and the remainder of her crew came aboard.

  Jane walked to the bridge with Zax, Fina and Favia. “Is it true? We’re taking her home?”

  Mace replied, “We now have the means to do so.”

  Zax and Fina made a beeline to Johnny, crawling up and on top of him. As usual, he held his arms out and the two toddlers shimmied out and dropped to the floor.

  The coordinates were entered and the wormhole brought online. Seconds later, the Rogers was slipping through to the other side, into a star system with eight planets showing on the sensors.

  Humphrey said, “Not registering any immediate threats, Mr. Hardy.”

  “Any stray comm signals?”

  Humphrey replied, “Nothing showing. Sensors are clean.”

  “Mr. Hobbs, according to the starmaps, that second planet should be her home. Take us in, but be prepared for a jump back out of here.”

  Liam nodded. “I’ll enter the coordinates to take us back to Earth. If we have to jump, we’ll only need three to four seconds for an exit.”

  As the Rogers approached the second planet, Favia commented: “It looks so brown.”

  Jane asked, “When you last saw it, what did it look like?”

  “Similar to Earth. The water reflected blue. Not that brown. And there were clouds.”

  Humphrey said, “Sensors are showing very little atmosphere, Mr. Hardy. Water vapor readings are low. It looks dry.”

  Favia shook her head. “No. Laventor was a blue-green planet with vast oceans. Our cities lined the shores, trees covered most of the continental interiors. We had reached a balance with our available resources, having replanted most of those forests from an earlier blighted time.”

  The Rogers entered the thin atmosphere and was soon hovering above what was at one time one of the great cities. It sat dry on the edge of what was once a great ocean, its tall buildings in ruin and decay.

  Favia sat with a saddened look on her face. Laventor had been destroyed or abandoned. Her people showed no sign of remaining. The Rogers settled on an old shoreline and the ramp deployed.

  Mace, Jasper, Johnny and Jeff walked down the ramp, hopping off onto the sand that had once been a beach. The foursome walked several hundred meters to reach the remains of the nearest building.

  Jeff said, “There’s a lot of glass on this beach. I’d say this place saw some very high temperatures.”

  Johnny said, “Steel beams like we use … but look how they’re bent and twisted. Almost look melted.”

  Jeff looked side to side. “Most of these buildings look as though they either burned or were hit with tremendous heat.”

  Mace asked, “Any idea as to what might have happened?”

  Jeff replied, “Definitely heat. From what I couldn’t yet say. Interesting the lack of water.”

  Jasper said, “Maybe it got boiled off. Along with the air.”

  Humphrey came over the comm. “Mr. Hardy, I’m showing very little oxygen in the atmosphere.”

  Jeff replied, “We’re seeing some evidence of burn, but not much. Everything has been baked though. The beach has a lot of melted glass on it.”

  Humphrey said, “The sun is showing a lot of activity. Data from the first four planets shows them as barren. Little to no atmosphere. No water vapor in their spectrums to speak of. I’m showing a large CME coming from that sun.”

  Mace asked, “Would a mass ejection burn off the water?”

  Jeff tilted his head to one side. “I don’t see how a single one could. Perhaps their sun became unstable.”

  Jeff asked, “Mr. Humphrey, could you do a complete workup on that sun for me?”

  “Certainly.”

  As they approached the base of a near building, Favia covered her mouth in dismay. “I recognize that building! Momotac Towers. It was a residence building. That city in front of you… that was Jore. My home!”

  Jane wrapped her arm around the distraught Hoorka.

  Humphrey said, “Mr. Moskowitz, the sun is overactive as compared to ours. I ran a comparative simulation on it, and it appears as though it may have absorbed another body. Perhaps a large asteroid? Something just a bit smaller than our moon. Simulation places that event at about thirteen thousand years ago. That’s a thousand years, give or take a few hundred, after Favia went into stasis.”

  Jeff walked into the base of the Momotac building. “Very much has a lobby look to it. And it’s been cleaned out.”

  Jane asked, “Cleaned out?”

  “There’s nothing on the counters or walls. Other than dust, this place was empty when whatever happened here happened.”

  Mace said, “So our best initial guess is that an object struck that sun and the resultant outflow of plasma wiped out the atmosphere and boiled off the water?”

  Jeff nodded. “That’s one plausible explanation. We’ve only just begun looking about, but I don’t see any evidence of intentional destruction. This all looks natural.”

  The comm chirped. “Mr. Hardy, a small satellite just came over the horizon. It’s in orbit around this planet.”

  “Man.. or Hoorka-made? I should say.”

  “Appears to be. Would you like us to capture it?”

  “Please. We’ll continue our investigation here.”

  Johnny stood in the doorway watching as the Rogers lifted up to meet the orbiting mass.

  Several minutes passed before Humphrey returned status. “We have it aboard. It looks to have had arms extending out from it at one time, like our satellites with their solar panels used to have. It’s probably two meters diameter, so not very big.”

  Jeff said, “I don’t see us gathering much else from down here. Have them come pick us up.”

  Mace pressed his comm. “Mr. Hobbs, come on back for a pick-up. I think we’re done here.”

  The ramp closed when the foursome had come back aboard. The team walked straight to bay three, where the satellite was being held.

  Jane stood with Favia by her side. “Gonna open it up?”

  Mace nodded. �
��In a few minutes. Jeff would like to look it over first.”

  Gnaga Klept followed Heeb and Hooba into the bay. The four scientists poked and prodded the exterior of the chrome catch for several minutes before a decision was made.

  Jeff turned. “Let’s do it. Sensors haven’t detected anything toxic or radioactive, but I would advise you to put on your helmets and seal up your suits.”

  Gnaga said, “There are eight hex-type bolts circling the outside. I believe it will open if those are removed.”

  The proper tools were brought in and the bolts removed. The four scientists, with the aid of the exo-units built into their battlesuits, lifted the top half of the circular satellite, setting it gently on the deck nearby.

  Jeff was the first to look into the Hoorka-made object. “That is definitely a fusion reactor. It’s dead. Reservoir is empty. Probably burned through its fuel. These systems here are probably power conversion, or could be a computer of sorts. And this feed is to an antenna. It probably was broadcasting a signal of some sort. From the looks of that antenna it was plain old RF.”

  Mace looked in. “And that box in the bottom?”

  Jeff shrugged. “That’s a mystery we’re about to solve. Mr. Heeb, I’m going to lift you over and inside. Undo the bolts holding down that box and then pass it up to me.”

  The small chest, when set on the deck, took up half a cubic meter.

  Mace pointed. “Look at the ornate scroll on the outside of this. It was meant to be opened.”

  Johnny laughed. “Well, do it then. You’re killing us with the suspense.”

  Jeff pressed two small buttons on the face of the chest. A click could be heard as a lock released. The lid was slowly lifted. Inside were several papers which immediately turned to dust when disturbed. Also, a small cylindrical device.

  Jeff picked it up, looking it over. “The base has a small reactor in it. Again, it’s out of fuel. Mr. Hooba, could you bring me a small hydrogen store? And Mr. Hardy, could I borrow that everspark? We’ll see if we can power this device up.”

  Hooba returned with a pocket-size hydrogen pod. Jeff fit it in place. Using the everspark, the tiny reactor was again lit. Jeff set the device on the deck, flat side down, and pressed a small depression on top. A lid flipped back, revealing a spinning light-wheel. The life-size holo-image of a Hoorka showed above the device. The Hoorka-to-English translators were put to work.

  Greetings. If you are witnessing this image you have already been made aware of the destruction of our planet. The destruction was from an accident caused by our arrogance and ignorance. As a people, we attempted to push the third moon of Karaka into orbit around Laventor. The effort was a colossal failure, resulting in the moon falling into the gravitational pull of our sun. All efforts to stop it failed. The moon eventually found its mark, crashing into the sun’s surface and causing an instability that is projected to last for a hundred thousand years.

  We expect coronal mass ejections to devastate the inner four planets of this system, burning off the oceans and atmospheres, making them uninhabitable. Our mistakes, our arrogance, cost us our world. But the Hoorka live on.

  We relocated to the coordinates provided in this holo-display. Our colony at Promexa was chosen as our new home. The demise of Laventor happened over a fifteen year period. This enabled us to construct housing, to plant farms, and to move our entire population. Come join us. We live in continued harmony.

  As a final request, we would ask that this message be repackaged and returned to orbit where our explorers and entrepreneurs who are out on long missions may find it, and find us. Good luck, and we hope to see you soon.

  The coordinates of the new colony flashed on and off.

  Jane hugged Favia. “They’re alive. We can still return you to your people.”

  Mace said, “Let’s put the box back together and put it back out there.”

  Jeff nodded. “I’ll add a more significant store to it that should keep it functional for a few thousand more years. Not that it’s needed. I’m sure those explorers and such have long ago returned.”

  Jane said, “We have one right here who hasn’t.”

  Jeff held up a hand. “My apologies. We’ll do our best to see that it stays functional for as long as possible.”

  The satellite was repaired and placed back in a stable orbit.

  Chapter 14

  *

  The coordinates to the Promexa system were entered and a micro-wormhole opened. The bright-blue cruiser slipped through. Sensors on the other side detected five planets that matched the Hoorka starmaps.

  Seconds after arrival, a massive warship slipped through another wormhole, taking position between the Rogers and the planet Promexa. A hail came over the comm.

  The translator aboard the Rogers began to output English as an image of a Hoorka military officer showed on the wall display. “You have entered the dominion of the Hoorka. You will stand down all weapons and shields and prepare to be boarded.”

  Jasper said, “Crap. Exactly why I didn’t want to come here.”

  Mace replied to the officer. “Sir, we are here to return one of your citizens. We found her in a stasis pod in a crashed Hoorka ship.”

  Mace waved for Favia to come into camera view.

  The officer stated, “I am commander Dar Juppe. Regardless of your mission, your ship has entered our space uninvited. You will comply with my order or face the consequences.”

  Jasper said, “Don’t do it. Let’s just leave.”

  Liam turned and shook his head. “We can’t. They’re too close for us to open a portal.”

  Mace said, “Mr. Hobbs, hold our position. Mr. Mueller, drop our shields.”

  Mace turned back to the comm. “Commander, we’re on a mission of peace and goodwill. Our shields should be down. We’ll open a docking bay for a shuttle if you’d like to send a team over for an inspection.”

  The commander gave a single nod. “A team will be there momentarily. I must warn—any action taken by you or your crew may be perceived as a threat and will be dealt with swiftly and fully.”

  Mace nodded. “No sudden moves. Got it. Your team will be welcome on our ship, Commander. I hope this—”

  The comm closed.

  Johnny chuckled. “Don’t you love when they do that?”

  “We did that to Stark a few times. I know he wasn’t amused either.”

  A heavily-armored shuttle settled on the deck of bay three. A side ramp lowered. Eight Hoorka soldiers marched down with a major behind them.

  The major snapped to attention in front of Mace, clicking his heels together twice.

  Jasper took a half a step back and murmured, “Nazis, just what we needed.”

  Mace nodded to the major. “I’m Mace Hardy, captain of this vessel. This is Johnny Tretcher and this… Jasper Collins.”

  Jasper stepped up. “King Jasper Collins, but you can call me King.”

  The major looked at the three Humans with his bright-green catlike eyes. “What species are you? Where do you come from?”

  Mace replied, “Human. And we come from a system eight thousand light-years from here. We found one of—”

  The major held up a hand, exposing the sharp hook on his wrist. “I will ask the questions. You will give answers to those questions and those questions only.”

  Mace sighed. “Fine.”

  The major looked around the docking bay. “The exterior of this ship has weapons. It is a warship, no?”

  “It is. We like to defend—”

  The major yelled, “You will only answer my questions!”

  Mace slowly bowed his head in submission, keeping eye contact with the major.

  Jasper muttered, “I’d like to rip into this—”

  Mace shook his head. “Just keep quiet and we’ll get through this.”

  The major stepped in front of Jasper. “You have something you want to say?”

  “No, sir!” Jasper yelled in response, making the major take a ste
p back.

  The major scowled, before turning his attention back to Mace.

  “Why have you entered Dominion space?”

  Mace replied, “We recently came across a crashed mining vessel. After investigating, we discovered a still-functioning stasis pod aboard with one of your citizens in it. Her name is Favia of the Higatheps of Jore.”

  The major said, “One moment.”

  After whispering into his comm he waited for a reply. It came in only seconds. “We have no record of such a person.”

  Mace shook his head. “Probably not now. She’s—”

  The major yelled. “Silence!”

  Jasper mumbled, “Getting real tired of this ass-hat.”

  Mace held up his hand as the major glared at Jasper.

  Mace leaned into his arm pad. “Jane, could you bring her in.”

  The major grabbed Mace’s arm. “You are trying my patience.”

  Jane turned the corner with a timid but excited Favia behind her. The major stared.

  Mace said, “We only wish to return her home, Major. She’s been lost for a long time, trapped in a stasis pod on a crashed mining ship.”

  “What was the name of the vessel?”

  The girl replied in Hoorka: “The Telemunde.”

  The major whispered into his comm and awaited a response. Again it came back seconds later.

  “We have no record of a Telemunde registered under the Hoorka banner.”

  The major pointed, “Place the girl aboard the shuttle. And you, Captain, you will come with me. You are under arrest for violating Dominion space without prior registration. Guards! Take him aboard!”

  Jasper began to step forward.

  Mace held out his hand. “Be patient. I’ll get this straightened out.”

  Mace looked at Johnny. “Just wait me out and we can all go home.”

  Johnny nodded with an angry look. The soldiers disarmed Mace before marching him up the ramp into the shuttle. After the heavily-armored transport lifted, it slipped out into space and was soon docking on the Hoorka warship. Mace and Favia were taken to a well guarded hall and placed in separate isolation cells. The doors snapped shut and locked behind them.

  Another officer came into the room with Mace. Her uniform was not the polished black of the military men, but a dull gray with a high white collar that came up under her pronounced Hoorka chin.