Subroutines - Episode II: Temple of S.A.R.A.H., #2

By Ben Winston

A new place to live, and a new society to learn about. It has become a very exciting time in the Cowan family's lives, but is everything as it seems?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Space Publications, LLC.
• Release date: Feb 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507000526

Ben Winston

Ben Winston (1965 - ?) was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota on the family dairy farm. Upon reaching adulthood, he joined the United States Army as a communications technician. Before getting out of the military, he decided to go to school for computer electronics. Shortly after getting out of the military, and after getting a new job with an over-seas company, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. A month after beginning the new job, he was laid off due to budget over-runs on the project he was hired for. Upon returning to the United States, he had difficulty maintaining employment because of the chronic illness. He began writing as a form of stress release, from being home bound and not being able to work, and found he liked writing erotica. Ben wrote a trilogy called the Talosian Chronicles (Currently in rewrite to remove the graphic sex and finalized his vision of the story). The first book, Star Dancer, won awards and was nominated for many others by the online communities where it was posted. Ben Winston returned to school for literature, after completion, he began writing professionally. Being an avid fan of science fiction he focused on this genre. He was, and still is, influenced and inspired by Gene Roddenberry, Anne McCaffery, David Weber, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury. Some of his favorite movies and TV shows are; Battlestar Galactica (both versions), Andromeda, Star Trek, Firefly, Star Wars, and many of the B-rated movies that were actually box-office bombs.

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Subroutines – Episode II

Mediterranean Ocean

Middle East, Earth.

Sol System.

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We flew to Tel Aviv, and from there we took a modified cargo ship named Summertide toward the island nation of Cyprus. About eighty miles out, the ship lowered us over the side in a specially modified container. We had a rather large, but friendly, ‘crewman’ from the ship with us. Once in the water, he checked a control panel and reported everything was green. The ship let us go, and down we went.

May I ask how far down we’re going, Corporal? Jamie asked.

He nodded. About a half mile; deep enough that most of our activities can’t be detected from the surface.

Julie handed him a cup of coffee. Why here? This is a perpetual war zone. Aren’t there safer spots to have a base?

Yeah, there are. But the fact that it’s a war zone is exactly why we’re here. It’s easier to hide our operations in a conflict area. He smiled, shrugging to indicate the decision hadn’t been his anyway.

Do you usually have more people going to the base? I asked.

No, not really. If we have more than one family at once, it’s really unusual. They’re kinda picky about who they ask to join, the Corporal answered. "There is a group from Apollo that will be going back up to the Summertide this trip."

Have you been aboard the whole time? I didn’t see you when we first came aboard? Chris asked.

He chuckled. No, we came aboard this morning to guide the pods down to the base. Is this the first time you’ve been overseas?

My late husband brought me to Paris for our honeymoon. I never would have imagined ever going all the way to the moon! Julie replied.

We all chuckled. Jamie spoke next. My ex-husband took me to Daytona for the Daytona 500. That’s the only reason we were there, and we came home right after the race. That should have been my first warning right there!

The families we get are usually a couple of elder scientists, or a married couple and their kids, if they have any. I think this might be the first time we’ve had extended family included in the deal. Corporal Hayes said. The rest of you must have some pretty impressive skills to be included."

Not really, Christy and Eric are the superstars, we’re just along for the ride I guess, Julie replied.

A soft chiming started and the Corporal stood to return to the control panel. "We’re arriving. It was nice talking to you folks. I hope you enjoy your stay on Apollo.

You’re very welcome, Corporal Hays. Give us a ring when you get back to Apollo. We can have you and your lady over for dinner, Jamie replied.

Thank you, Mrs. Cowan. I’ll check with Terri and let you know.

Please, call me Jamie. This is Julie, Ellie, Chris and Eric, Jamie replied, smiling at the young man.

Thank you, Miss. My name is Mike. However, while I’m on duty, I’m required to address you all formally. Even when my wife, Mrs. Terri Hays, finishes her doctorate, I’ll have to address her as ‘Doctor’ while I’m on duty.

I imagine that’s one of the more idiotic regulations, I said.

Not really, Dr. Cowan. You see, Apollo is a mixed race base. For two of the other races, informal address to a non-peer, even among members of the same species, is considered a major insult. So they worked it out that while at work or on duty, its formal address; off duty we can relax, Mike said.

So, if I understand that correctly, then we can call you Mike, but you have to call us by our titles since you’re still ‘on duty’? I asked.

That’s correct, Dr. Cowan.

That’s going to take some getting used to, Chris said as the exit door slid open.

Mike stood next to the door at attention. Welcome to Med Majestic, Doctors Cowan and family. A guide will show you to a lounge while they finish getting the shuttle loaded for tonight’s flight to Apollo. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. He lowered his voice so only we could hear him. I’ll see you in a week, when I finish this rotation.

As we filed past him we all thanked him and shook his hand.

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Fleet Navigational and Maintenance Stop

Near the Giant Dust disk of Tau Ceti

12 light years from Earth.

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I don’t know what she’s doing, Sir, but Sphinx is pulling those fighters right back towards us. What’s odd is she’s spread her whole wing out and is drawing ALL the fighters back toward us, Ensign Yolina said from tactical. Like normal, I can’t understand her strategy.

You know how it works, Ensign; it’ll make perfect sense after she pulls off whatever it is she’s up to. Our fighters will be there in a few minutes to help her keep them off us. Did we get a final count on those fighters? Vance asked.

A hundred and nine wings, Sir. They could really hurt us all by themselves, which is why what Sphinx is doing is insane, Yolina said. She should be trying to draw them off to one side, so our fighters can engage well outside the fleet firing solutions.

Such a small craft has no armor in a fight where bullets destroy planets, this is a different level of sanity, Ensign. It is those that do not see this that are insane, in truth. A cold, hard lesson will be taught this day; let us hope we survive the education, Tactical Fleet Strategist CleinSal said. 

She’s up to something, that’s for sure. She knows our fighters don’t stand a chance. Try to be ready to give her support if she needs it, Ensign, but otherwise let her do her thing. Now, let’s figure out our strategy, shall we? Commodore Vance replied.

Yes Sir, Yolina replied and began plotting the two fleets in the big holotank.

Uh...Sir, Sphinx flight has launched missiles. ComTrac has sixteen, full-yield TAMSAM missiles heading... fighter relative one-eight-zero, true.

They what!? What’s the target? Vance asked, looking up at the Tracking Officer.

I can’t tell, Sir. They’re out of range of the capitol ships. The fighters are on full burn for the fleet, and the missiles are heading toward the enemy fighters, Lieutenant Cralik said, confused.

Oh SHIT! Get the shields up! Tell our fighters to stop where they are and switch to double strength on forward... Vance yelled when someone interrupted him. Multiple Anti-matter events! Force six plasma wave approaching!

Get those shields up! Vance yelled.

A hard lesson, indeed, TFS CleinSal said grimly.

Sir! Sphinx flight is...

I know, Yolina! They probably just saved all our asses. Now, sound collision and brace for impact!

The huge warship rocked and shook with the passing of the huge plasma wave. The icons for Sphinx flight were removed from the holographic battle tank. In the silence that followed, Vance began to give orders again. Get our fighters moving again, and get me an up-to-date count on the remaining enemy fighters. Navigation; show me our approach track.

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Still fifteen minutes from extreme firing range, an excited middle-aged man came running onto the bridge. Commodore! May I have your permission to test a weapon on the enemy?

You’re not going to rip a hole in the fabric of the universe again are you, Dr. Sparks? Vance asked.

TFS CleinSal almost smiled at the banter between the Commodore and the scientist. Such a flagrant disregard of protocol would never have been allowed aboard a Veranorian ship. However, humor and this type of... comradeship, was new to the Veranorians. Such bantering served to relieve much of the tension and stress, putting the crew at ease and improving performance. He’d decided to make a full report on this curious aspect of the human social structure, and he watched the interplay between his commander and the scientist with great interest. Also, it was rather... amusing.

Sir, I did apologize for that! It was just a simple misunderstanding! the man said seriously. Besides, this is only a slightly modified Vibrand AM missile; and I didn’t modify the payload this time, I swear! Sparks almost pleaded. Vance called him a mad scientist, and Sparks called him a warmonger. They were good friends.

Vance nodded to the battle board. You got plenty of targets, Ced. If you can fuck one of them up before we get there, I’m all for it. But once we get in range, your test is over.

I’ve already had the test missile loaded into a launcher, Sir. This won’t take but a few moments! Sparks said as he turned to face the board.