She had been on the night shift now for five months. As with everyone else on the force, she threw herself into the investigation of the missing transfer ship. Late one night as she was going over the files of possible routes, she thought back to her History of Planets class in her first year at college. A boring class, but she did remember one particular lecture. The professor was talking about a primitive world in a small galaxy. Unfortunately, he lectured that all information on this world was lost in The Great Fire of 4045.
So, she thought, what would it hurt? She started inputting as much information as she could remember about this long forgotten planet into her research computer, but got nowhere. Then, with a late night call to her old professor, she was able to add crucial information. And to her surprise her theory held up. She checked and rechecked her calculations. She took everything into consideration – the ship's last known position, it's speed, it's fuel – and theorized that there was a small chance that the escapees could have made it to that particular galaxy.
That morning, Cheralet stayed after her shift and presented her research to the lead investigators. Many of the investigators had never heard of this galaxy and its one populated planet. But all theories were taken very seriously. So, they took her information and pointed all their long range sensors toward a star-filled pinprick area in space, located the galaxy, then found the small world. And sure enough, they detected the faint signature of ionized particles. Ionized particles way too advanced for this world. The ionized particles from the exhaust system of IPPT 964 as its power plant transitioned from vacuum of space to atmosphere as it entered the planet's orbit.
They were elated. Finally this long nightmare would soon be over. The mission was planned to enter this new world, find and apprehend the prisoners.
This was by no means an easy task. The way they had always introduced themselves in the past to other worlds was first with radio transmissions. Then after many months of communications and letting the new world adjust to the fact that there were others out there, they would plan on a meeting.
This couldn’t be done, because this world was not psychologically ready for the overwhelming reality of other life out there in the Cosmos. And time was of the essence.
This was hotly debated among principal members of the three main planets. Some thought the Earth should be prepared for such a visit. But others protested, asking how could they even comprehend introducing themselves with a speech like,
“Greeting humans, we come in peace and have traveled several million miles to bring you technology and hope.
And, oh! By the by, eight of our worst criminal psychopaths have escaped upon your world. - Sorry about that!”
So, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the human race to enter unannounced. They gathered as much information on the human race as possible. Which wasn’t much, since The Great Fire of 4045. The all-volunteer crew of two viewed and studied the one and only folder that they had on this race. And after several weeks, they were ready.
The vehicle was chosen and well stocked. The coordinates were set, a date of departure picked, and the covert mission was a go.
And for her brilliant work, Cheralet Commons was awarded the highest commendation available, and a full-time position.
On the day shift.
Chapter Six
Jeff Trent and Genghis Khan surveyed the area for a few moments and then with a verbal command Genghis turned off the holographic image of his computer console.
“Well then,” Trent announced, “we might as well get going.” Genghis got up and jumped into the back bench seat. Trent opened his door and stepped out, then folded down the back of his bucket seat so he could enter the back seat easily. Genghis reached up with his paw and pulled down the back cushion of the bench seat to reveal the metallic stairway leading to the lower decks, just as it was before the replication. Genghis descended the stairs followed by Trent.
They both entered the science lab. Trent walked to the center table and started to gather handheld devices and paperwork into a large duffel bag. Genghis walked to a computer console, hopped up on his hind legs and placed his front paws on the counter. He started to access the computers files.
“The nav com did an excellent job,” Genghis said. “We’re close. I’m picking up a large reading of plasma. Approximately twenty-five miles northeast of our present position.”
Trent looked up from what he was doing and asked, “How much plasma?”
“Much more than the normal output. The transfer ship must have a breach in its power plant.”
“What’s the percentage of the output?” Trent asked, a little alarmed.
“Thirty-two percent. Well under the harmful exposure level.” He looked over his shoulder toward Trent, “But, we’ll have to contain that before we scuttle her.”
“Agreed,” Trent said. “Let's go ahead and load up. We have to be prepared for the fact that some of the escapees are still with the vehicle.”
“Roger that,” Genghis said, as he hopped off from the console and proceeded to the armory with Trent. The exterior and cockpit of the cruiser were replicated to resemble a human automobile. But the interior decks below were left just as they were.
The armory door slid open revealing a ten-foot-by-twelve-foot room bristling with weapons of all makes and models mounted to the walls. Weapons such as the MK 101 Auto Laser, a fully automatic weapon equipped with rapidly spinning multi-barrels. When one of the five barrels rotated to the firing position it spewed forth a foot long beam of coherent radiation. With a rechargeable internal power source and a rate of fire of 2,500 laser blasts per minute, the MK
