Titan

By Alan W. Staves

Project Time Warp has come to an end. Or has it? The sudden disappearance of a leading British politician and the attempted assassination of Alf Spanner, suggest otherwise. Liam Mail is brought back to Earth to try and discover just what is going on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491888223

Alan W. Staves

Alan W. Staves is now in his fifties. He is married, with two grown-up children. Alan has lived all his life in Sheffield, England. He is a passionate follower of his local football team, Sheffield Wednesday. He likes loud rock music and has been a fan of the Rolling Stones for more than forty years. He is a lifelong friend of the former Geddes Axe and Baby Tuckoo guitarist Andy Barrott. The UFO Theory is his first novel.

Book preview

Contents

About Titan

Chapter 1  The Day after Tomorrow

Chapter 2  Maybe I’m Amazed

Chapter 3  A New Breed

Chapter 4  Dycron

Chapter 5  Emma

Chapter 6  Doves

Chapter 7  Missing persons

Chapter 8  Stretched to the limit

Chapter 9  Astra

Chapter 10  Going down

Chapter 11  Exodus

Chapter 12  The Departed

Chapter 13  Trustful

Chapter 14  Wild geese

Chapter 15  Interpretations

Chapter 16  Assassins

Chapter 17  Shadow

Chapter 18  Hooper

Chapter 19  Devastation

Chapter 20  Jed

Chapter 21  Double agents

Chapter 22  The Voyage

Chapter 23  Help

Chapter 24  Confrontation

Chapter 25  Expect no mercy

Chapter 26  Jacob

Chapter 27  Capricorn 2

Chapter 28  Ghosts

Chapter 29  Mark

Chapter 30  Gabriel

Chapter 31  Fox on the run

Chapter 32  And in the end

About Titan

Saturn is one of four giant gas planets in our galaxy it is 743 million miles away from the Earth. It is estimated that Saturn has up to sixty-two moons of which thirteen have been named.

Titan or Saturn VI is the largest moon of Saturn. Titan was discovered in 1655 by the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens; the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere. Titan is the sixth ellipsoidal moon from Saturn. Frequently described as a planet-like moon; Titan has a diameter roughly 50% larger than Earth’s moon, and is 80% more massive. Titan is the second-largest moon in the Solar System, after Jupiter’s moon Ganymede. Titan is larger by volume than the smallest planet Mercury. The moon itself is primarily composed of water ice and rocky material. Titan contains the largest known deposits of Tricolite and Carbonite crystals in the galaxy. It is thought that Titan has an atmosphere similar to ours and could support human life and plant forms. This would make Titan ripe for mining.

Chapter 1

The Day after Tomorrow

He held his arm in front of his eyes to shield them from the light. His eyes hurt, his head hurt. He tried to move and his shoulder hurt. He tried to look into the light; he could see a vision in front of him. He rubbed his eyes and looked hard in front of him, it was all shadowy and out of focus. He looked forward blinking in to the light. Then slowly, very slowly the shape of Vanessa Steele came into view.

You’re a very lucky man Mr Davidson, she said.

Where am I? asked Teddy Davidson.

You’re in the LMC.

How did I get here and why do I hurt so much?

Do you not remember? You have just saved Liam Mail’s life.

Teddy tried to think about what had just happened, but it was still a blur, he has a bullet wound in his shoulder and his head hurt like hell. Is Liam ok?

He is fine, thanks to your courage and bravery.

Where is Liam now?

He is still on Earth he went back to save Suki Sato. She is now safe and sound but they are both still on Earth.

Things started to come back to Teddy’s mind. He had been in the police HQ when Martin Hodge walked in. He had not seen Martin for six years, since the day they had took John Pearson back to Earth.

Now he had turned up out of the blue asking about Suki Sato. Teddy had looked into her office and she was not there. He looked back at Martin, The tall ex-soldier who now worked for the ESRA Corporation, informed Teddy that someone had taken Suki Sato and Liam was in danger and he needed a doctor. Teddy had suggested Vanessa; they went across the square to get her. There was someone else there but he couldn’t think who.

Are you alright? asked Vanessa.

Yes, it’s coming back to me now, we came for you.

That was two days ago, today is the day after tomorrow for you.

I cannot remember what happened next

You came for me with Martin Hodge, Mark Patel and David Lucas, Martin had said Liam was in trouble and we had to save him. I looked for Jake but he was nowhere to be found, so I left him a note and we went off with Martin. He had some strange craft in the loading bay.

Teddy remembered the round dish like craft that Martin said went backwards through the time line vortex, and they needed to warn Liam that a killer had been sent to get him.

Did we travel through time? he asked Vanessa.

It appears that we did, we stayed in the same place but travelled back to when Peter Marshall was on the moon base.

Teddy remembered crossing the deserted square and seeing Liam come out of the control room that in Teddy’s time was the police HQ. The lights had gone out, and the emergency generator was on. In the half-light Teddy thought he saw someone in the shadows with a gun aimed at Liam. There was no time to warn Liam; in an instant Teddy reacted he jumped into Liam just as the gun went off. He could still feel the searing pain as the bullet imbedded itself into his shoulder, and then everything seemed to go dark. Teddy could remember no more.

Vanessa started to fill in the blanks After you were shot we carried you down to the underground railway. You were losing a lot of blood we needed help, Liam told us to take you to Delta. Liam and Alf went for help. Liam crashed an Avenger in a crater to be found years later, but he had lodged a boulder in front of the door and couldn’t get out. Alf went for help. He had heard me say earlier that we couldn’t find Jake. He knew that was because he had already taken him to help Liam and save you. So Alf went to back to get Jake before you came for me. That explains why we couldn’t find him he was already at delta in 2050 waiting for us to get there with you

Vanessa started to think about what had happened and was wondering if Liam knew when he sent Teddy to Earth to fetch her to the moon if he knew this was going to happen. He had seen Jacobs’s uncensored version of Peter’s life story and wondered how much he had known before he went to save Peter.

What’s up doc? Teddy asked he could see her staring in to nothing and thought something was wrong.

Either those two knew exactly what was going to happen. Yesterday or they have worked it out as they have gone along they have been piecing together the events in a time order. Alf knew that he had to get Jake to move the stone to save Liam. He knew that he had to collect him before you got to me, and he knew that they had to be on the station when we arrived with you. He also knew that he had to give Liam ten minutes to write the note to himself to find when the Avenger was found nearly a hundred years later.

I think they must have worked it out as they went on. This could not have all been in Jacobs report. No-one could have kept something as big as this secret for all these years

Pearson knew about the craft in the crater, and he kept that a secret for fifteen years

Teddy tried to make himself comfortable, he winced slightly, and Vanessa held him up.

Can I see Liam? he asked.

Liam is still back on Earth he will not be back for a few weeks yet, he has been charged with overseeing the end of operation time warp. Karen is in the waiting room and would like to see you, if you are up for it?

Yes I would like that very much.

Vanessa left the room, in the quiet stillness of the LMC Teddy tried to clear his thoughts.

Then Vanessa returned with Karen, her eyes were red she had obviously been crying. She ran up to Teddy and put her arms around him. Teddy tried put his arm around Karen to comfort her but the pain was too much so he just lay there as he was.

Vanessa could tell that they needed time alone and turned to leave when the door opened and Neil Sullivan entered. Dr Steele, I’m looking for Liam Mail, he said.

Liam is still on Earth he hasn’t returned yet, she replied.

I know why Peter Marshall never returned to Earth.

Why?

Because Liam promised him we would return for him, he is still waiting for us to go back to the moon.

What can we do now?

We need to see Liam, we need to borrow an Avenger and return to the moon.

But Liam has been ordered to destroy all the Avenger craft.

Then we need to go right away.

Neil held the door open for Vanessa: she went out in to the corridor where Amanda Jones was waiting for them. Vanessa took them back to the police headquarters. She went into the control room, where Clark Warrington was in with Steve Black.

Is there any transport back to Earth today? She asked.

Clark checked the flight schedules, Next flight is tomorrow at 3.00pm.

Can you book me three seats on that flight? she asked.

Clark checked the booking form and reserved three seats on the flight. You do know you should not be booking this flight here without Liam’s authority. You should do this in the flight departures lounge, he remarked.

Yes, I do, but this is hush-hush, I don’t want anyone else knowing we are going, she said, tipping him a wink.

Clark understood police bookings showed the number of seats required but not the names of the passengers, Clark smile politely and said no more, Vanessa went back downstairs to where Neil and Amanda were waiting for her. We cannot go until tomorrow, she advised them.

As soon as Vanessa left the control room Clark called Chris Turner, it took a while for him to pick up, but eventually he answered the call. Turner, he responded.

It’s Clark in the control room; Vanessa Steele has just been in and booked three seats to Earth on the police booking form.

Three seats, who is going with her?

It says Neil Sullivan and Amanda Jones.

Neither name means anything to me, said Turner. Did she say why they were going?

It’s something to do with Liam Mail and why he is still on Earth.

Turner thought about it for a while. Mail had unexpectedly gone to Earth a couple of days ago and had taken some police officers with him but had not said anything to Turner. He was up to something but Turner did not know what.

Book Steve Black back to Earth on compassionate leave, put the date in the log three days before Steel booked her flight.

Is that legal?

Probably not, but if they are up to something we need a man in there to find out what is going on. I cannot have Mail taking my officers as and when he pleases.

That was the one thing that annoyed Turner about Liam Mail. Although they had swapped roles on the moon, Liam Mail still acted as if he ran the police.

Vanessa took Neil and Amanda back to her apartment. She had Liam’s old place on South Cross Street, next door to Teddy Davidson. It was only a short walk. Neil was walking on the lines in the middle of the corridor.

It was my idea, this you know? he said after a while.

What was? Vanessa asked curiously.

These lines, I had seen it in a hospital once. Follow the correct line you get to the department you want. Follow it the other way you get back to reception. I adopted it for the moon-base the black line takes you to Central Square the Blue line takes you to the nearest exit point

Vanessa seemed impressed but Amanda just giggled and followed on behind like Neil she was walking on the lines.

Vanessa put the kettle on as soon as they reached no 1 South Cross Street. There is only one bed room, Vanessa advised them.

That’s alright said Neil. You girls can share the bed I will be alright on the couch.

Are you sure?

It’s no problem. I’m used to sleeping rough; I’ve had plenty of practice.

Vanessa brought the drinks in. Then Neil Sullivan told Vanessa about a conversation he had with Liam, about Peter Mitchell: When Liam had left Mitchell at drake’s ridge he had told him we will be back. Peter was still waiting for Liam to return. He would not die a happy man on the moon unless we went back and told him we had come back for him. We know he dies on the moon. That has already happened we could go and see him before he dies and tell him we have come back then he will die a happy man.

Vanessa listened intently and agreed that he was right. She knew also that Liam would agree to this. After all Liam had already meddled in his life by saving him in the first place. Just going to say goodbye to him would not be changing anything. You are right we need to see him even if we do not save him.

Neil had spent many a shift in the control room with Peter and so had Amanda. They told Vanessa many stories of their time together and talked long into the night and drank much wine.

The following day they went to the spaceport early with very little baggage. They were checked in By Elliot Gold and Steve Black. They had seats reserved at the front of the craft. When everyone was safely on board Steve Picked up his flight bag and joined them.

See you in a week or two, he said to Elliot.

Elliot was puzzled as to why Steve was working today he was going back to Earth on compassionate reasons, due to a sudden illness in the family but had still done his day shift before boarding the flight, what a top man. He thought as he watched him boarding.

Meanwhile Teddy wanted to get up and return home with Karen, but Jake had told him he had to stay at the LMC for observation. Jake didn’t want to release Teddy just yet, it would be unfair on a pregnant Karen to toil with Teddy in his condition and at the same time it would be unfair on Teddy in his condition to have to look after Karen. Teddy insisted that he was ready to go home.

Jake finally stopped arguing with Teddy and arranged for Andy Barrow to bring round the golf buggy that was now used as an ambulance on the moon base. Andy and Jake took Teddy and Karen back to their apartment on South Cross Street.

On the way they to Teddy’s home they Passed Vanessa, Neil and Amanda going to the Spaceport. See you later sis, Jake called out as he drove past.

Should you not be taking them to the spaceport rather than bothering with me? asked Teddy.

Of course not, you are my patient. Vanessa is big enough to look after herself.

Chapter 2

Maybe I’m Amazed

Hangar 2 at ESRA was still buzzing. The Avenger had gone and was not coming back. Sinita and her team walked out. Liam was left to pick up the pieces.

Liam stood in bewildered disbelief. The Major was gone. Liam held in his hand the report that Martin Hodge had handed to him. Major Tom Parker was not coming back, his time was now in 1947 with Giles Bright.

Martin tapped the cover of the report. This is the report that has been driving the Major on all these years. It shows a report of a UFO crashing in Roswell. The officer in charge is a Major Tom Parker. A grainy black and white picture shows Major Tom Parker as he is now. On the next page an eye witness claims to have seen a UFO crash in a field. Then the picture of the eye-witness shown on the report was clearly a picture of Giles Bright with Lilly McGill.

Do you think we’ve been had? asked Liam.

Could be, Martin replied.

Liam read the report he was seething inside.

Liam handed the report back to Martin.

There was nothing more Liam could do. They all went out and had a stiff drink or two and then went back to Alf’s place.

The phone rang almost immediately after they entered the hallway Alf picked up the phone. Alf Spanner, he answered.

Is Liam Mail there?

Alf handed the phone to Liam. It’s Munroe, she wants you

After the sudden disappearance of Major Tom Parker, Sinita Munroe had put. Liam in charge of over-seeing the end of project Time Warp, and the destruction of the Avenger craft.

Liam was liaising with Damon Wright on behalf of Sinita Munroe. Liam and Suki were to stay with Alf at his place. Jack and the others stayed with Martin Hodge. They spent many days dismantling the craft. While the work was going on Martin and Mark borrowed one of the Avengers to visit Giles Bright to say their last goodbyes. They went with Liam’s approval. But he had not told Sinita Munroe about this. This was to be the last flight of the Avenger. They would not be able to go back again once the final craft was dismantled. Liam and Suki were having a cup of tea when they were surprised to see Vanessa Steele, Neil Sullivan and Amanda Jones come in to see them.

What can I do for you? asked Liam.

Do you know why Peter Marshall never left the moon?

I have no idea why he wouldn’t leave.

You promised him that we would come back for him. He was still waiting for us to return.

We cannot go back now. We know that he dies on the moon. We cannot change that.

I’m not suggesting that we go back to save him. What I suggest is that we go back to the moon to the day he dies. We tell him that we have come back for him and he will die a happy man. We will not be changing any of the past.

Liam looked at Alf and Vanessa. It sounds like a good plan to me, Vanessa replied.

Liam, Vanessa, Alf, Sam, David and Jack Brown took Neil Sullivan and Miss Amanda Jones to the moon; they landed on moon base Beta in hangar 1. They landed just a short walking distance from the residence of Peter Marshall. It took only five minutes to reach the home of Peter Marshall. There they were greeted by a nurse a large woman with very strong a forthright views she was very abrupt in her speech and mannerisms.

What do you want? she asked when they knocked on the door.

This was not what Liam was expecting; he thought she would at least ask who they were before trying to find out what their intentions were. Liam tried to make himself look important.

We’ve come to see Peter Marshall, said Neil pushing past Liam moving to the front.

He’s not well he cannot see anyone today.

He will see me; he has been expecting my visit for some time.

The nurse looked him up and down And who are you? she asked.

Tell Peter that Neil Sullivan has come back to see him.

The nurse closed the door on them. Neil listened to the door he could hear her scurrying about inside, banging the doors as she went. Liam was getting anxious he was expecting her to refuse their request and send them home. The nurse returned a few moments later she opened the door.

You may come in Peter will see you.

Neil entered through the door and smiled at the nurse, she didn’t seem impressed. They went through in single file. Alf was the last in. The nurse closed the door behind him.

Alf thanked the nurse for letting them in. But he also suspected she didn’t want them there. The nurse led them all to Peter’s room, he was lying in his bed he didn’t look well at all, but he perked up when he saw Neil. He hadn’t changed at all in fifty years. Neil was exactly as he was the day he left, although Peter had aged by fifty years.

I knew you would come back, said Peter holding out his hand to greet them.

How are you doing Peter? said Amanda coming to the side of his bed. Peter smiled when he saw Amanda Jones. He and Amanda had been the youngest on the base and everyone including Peter always looked out for her.

Amanda and a team of four scientists had been sent to the moon base when phase two of the construction started to oversee the construction of the science block Delta. It was Amanda and professor Royston that had discovered Tricolite on the Moon.

Amanda held Peter’s hand although he was now old he still had a powerful grip and Amanda had delicate hands. Peter looked up to Neil.

Can you do me one last favour? he asked.

Sure what do you want me to do?

Peter reached over to his bed side cabinet and fetched out a small tinder box he handed it over to Neil.

What’s this?

It’s a McGuiness flint. When I’m dead and gone I want you to light a candle for me.

Sure, but why do you want this?

"I lit a candle for each and every one of you but there was no one to light a