The blackness of the isolator drive environment in the arc of screens suddenly snapped to a view of real space. The star-filled display barely had time to register with the bridge crew before the AI executed a random evasion maneuver that had become operational policy for arrivals in unknown situations. The six reactors ran up to fifty percent of rated power and poured most of it through the triple ring structure that circled the hull and passed through the support structure for the two neutron beam projectors.
“Negative radar targets! Negative radar targets! Negative radar targets!”
“Negative mass conflict!”
“AI, stand-down evasive maneuvers.”
The AI settled the Kellogg back on an intercept course for the Forest primary, swapped ends and ran up the power to begin deceleration.
The officer at the navigation station brought up the view of the star they were approaching, “Sir, the situation has not improved. Recommend a by-pass and snapshot.”
Commander Ross Pressler, Captain of the Kellogg, replied, “Do what it takes.”
Pressler knew that the heavy armor and hardened systems of his ship could, probably, take what was apparently happening ahead of them, but he also knew that a less strenuous path was available that would not compromise his mission.
“Can we punch a signal through that crap?”
Lieutenant Commander Liz Milbank, First Officer of the Kellogg, had been working at the com panel, “The Santana should have been on the ground for a couple of days now, but I’m not receiving its beacon.” She looked to her left at Pressler, “At this point, I’m not worried; wait until we clear those flares.”
Pressler nodded and watched as nav altered their previously planned course and lined up a snapshot transition past the Forest primary.
#
The fallout from the talk that Hayes had with Joe that morning was spreading to the general population; the mood of the group on the field had switched from curiosity and wonder to something dark. Like all information that gets handed from one to the other, some of it got confused. The sun was setting as Hayes sat on his usual seat, talking to a large group, and, for the fourth time, assured them that he, Ames, and Twisst were not there to kill them.
Twisst was standing out in the group so that her translator could be heard by as many as possible, “What is happening to your star is far beyond what we can do. All that we can do is to move some of you to a safe place.”
An older male stood and pointed at Twisst.
“In our time of <tribulation/worry> it is a < convenience/coincidence> that you are here <possible accusation> - we can fight and send you to the <limits> of <hell/purgatory/place of punishment>”
Hayes leaned toward Ames, “I hadn’t seen any indications of religious inclination. Is this just galloping paranoia from the fringe cave-dwellers?”
Ames had a surprised look on his face and just shrugged his shoulders.
Twisst was, also, a bit surprised by the outburst; she turned to face the fanatic.
She spread her hands to indicate the group as a whole, “You are an intelligent people, and it should soon become obvious to you that what we are trying to do is disorganized and haphazard. We are billions of people spread across a vast area of space; we possess wealth that you can only imagine, but because of the distances involved and the lack of time, what we can do will be limited to what was available at our star system nearest to yours.”
She pointed at the Santana, “This small ship only had room for the three of us, and we were sent to tell you what we can do for you. The next ship to arrive is a small ship designed for exploration. That will be followed by two warships that have little room for people but can get some of you away from here. There will be two cargo ships and one true passenger ship that will only hold a few thousand of you. The biggest ship that will arrive is an old colony ship that has not been used in fifteen years.”
She turned from one side of the group to the other, “It is all that we had available, and it may not be enough. If we had wanted you for evil reasons, I should think that we would have done a better job of planning. In the end, if you do not wish to go, then we will leave and go back to our own world; we will not force you.”
The fanatic settled back to the ground and began an energetic discussion with those around him. Hayes got the impression he was meeting resistance.
“CONTACT WITH SHIP’S BEACON - IDENTITY, PATROL ESCORT KELLOGG.”
“AI, acknowledged. AI, transmit updated translator program to all ships entering the Forest system and switch traffic control operations to the Kellogg.”
Ames had heard and was looking at him; Hayes hollered to Twisst, “Doctor Twisst, the Santana just picked up the Kellogg’s beacon.”
“AI, full exterior lighting; illuminate extent of game field as much as possible.”
Hayes should have thought about that before he ordered a bazillion watts of lighting to appear on a world where electric lights were limited and low-powered.
It took a couple of minutes to change a wave of panic into general wonder.
“Kellogg to Santana; Hayes, you down there?”
That sounded like Liz.
“Santana to Kellogg; I’m down at Watts as planned and have just activated my exterior lighting. What’s your ETA?”
“We just got a visual on the loom of your lights around the edge. We should be in equatorial orbit in twenty minutes and another twenty to ground. Is everything under control?”
He knew the actual intent of that last question; the Kellogg was a warship, crewed by people that knew how to use it. If he said something nonsensical like ‘Jasper is playing chess’, their arrival would take on a much different tone.
“No problems for us; we’re getting along very well with the locals although they are having the expected problem dealing with the situation.”
“Good to hear that. Be advised that the
