The Quest: Part Ii of the Leap

By Jay J. Drummond

So here we are, soaring through the depths of space as if we belong here. Twelve years ago, we had no deep space program and we'd never ventured past the moons of Jupiter. We were forced into this sci-fi existence. Scientists from all around the world had warned us to take care of our fragile environment, which had already been suffering from rising sea levels and global extremes. They tried to prepare us for the consequences of neglect and the cost of our ruthless consumption of the planet's natural resources, but greed is a powerful thing, as is lack of foresight.

Our planet went into a global whiteout that began during the 21st century. It was expected to cause the annihilation of all advanced life on planet earth. In an attempt to save humanity, an enormous self-contained spaceship, lovingly christened The Enterprise, set off for the Orion nebula in January of the year 2120 in the hopes of finding an inhabitable planet to claim as our own.

Able to make great leaps into the galaxy, through an induced wormhole, this vessel enabled us to be found by a Federation of different species of advanced humanoids inhabiting planets in over one hundred solar systems. We now know for sure that we are not alone in this universe. We were invited to join this federation. We also found a planet we could inhabit. There are also two dangerous and surprisingly advanced reptilian adversaries, the Palchek and the Crau, who have terrorized the Federation for several millenia. After thousands of years of this aggression, Kotar, the leader of the Federation, declares an all out war....

--Commander Robert Manning, First Mate of New Earth's Flagship, The Elusive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490763118

Jay J. Drummond

I have a good understanding of the natural sciences and engineering coupled with a passion for the future and what we could do with it if we can avoid extinction. Born and raised in Logansport, Indiana, my first real exposure with the rest of the world was my three-year tour with the military. When it was over, I spent the following twenty-seven years in Europe, absorbing what I could from every culture I came in contact with. After returning to the United States, I spent several years working and once again becoming Americanized. I was fortunate to meet an artist who is also a writer and journalist in New York City. I have found my way into this fascinating and fast-changing world and am now living only three blocks from the Museum of Natural History and surrounded by people of the present who are undoubtedly creating the future this story found its way to paper.

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Copyright 2015 Jay J. Drummond.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6310-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6312-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6311-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015912350

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter I The Adventure

Chapter II Protecting New Earth

Chapter III A Star-Ship is born

Chapter IV The Quest

Chapter V The Ultimatum

Chapter VI Korant and the Ty

Chapter VII The Test Flight

Chapter VIII The Repair

Chapter IX A New Planet

Chapter X New Encounters

Chapter XI Shore Leave

Chapter XII The Wedding

Chapter XIII The Attack

Chapter XIV A Time of Peace

Chapter XV Surprise Visit

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the renowned art critic, artist and author Kim Levin for her encouragement and support in my endeavor to write this novel. With her seemingly endless patients she would read sections and say how good it was and in the same breath she would also say, Now do it again and it’ll be even better. Her guiding nudges were and still are deeply appreciated. Without them this novel would not have been possible.

I want to thank Martha Nilsson Edelheit for her editing, her detailed constructive criticisms and encouragement.

I would also like to thank Reba James for her time and efforts leading to her constructive criticism.

I would like to dedicate this story to our troubled world in the hope it might help take our fears of the unknown and replace them with an enduring quest to better ourselves and in the words of the immortal Leonard Nimoy,

Live long and prosper.

©Jay J Drummond

Introduction

A time of peace has come. A time to look back, reflect and try to comprehend what brought this present day reality upon us.

Here we are, soaring through the depths of space as if we’ve always belonged here. But that’s not at all what happened. We were forced into this sci-fi existence. Scientists from all over the world had warned us to take care of the fragile environment we lived in and tried to prepare us for the consequences of neglect and the ruthless consumption of our natural resources.

The twentieth century brought the invention of plastics and what we called advanced technologies. It was a glorious time of prosperity and truly the cause of our demise. The over population was not considered a real threat but once we hit the five billion mark our doom was sealed. We frantically and without due consideration of the consequences genetically altered food items and fished the oceans empty almost not noticing that the earth itself had decided to fight back and we soon learned she had no sense of humor.

As we entered the twenty first century society seemed to be imploding upon itself, the Gulf Stream was collapsing due to global warming. Giant icebergs, the size of some of our smaller states, were seen floating through the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the oceans of the world were rapidly rising. By 2050 wild fish was a delicacy that only the extremely wealthy could afford. And they risked lead poisoning with every bite.

The earth was slowly drowning in our sole contribution to this planet. Plastic waste cluttered every shoreline. Most sea birds perished before 2080, poisoned by our greed and lack of respect for life, and the time of reckoning was upon us.

As if to say Enough is enough the earth began its final assault. Super storms developed and raged, sometimes for weeks on end. All major cities located on the oceans either created gigantic sea-walls or perished. The next event although obvious and by no means a surprise, overwhelmed and devoured the earth in less than eighteen months. The chaos, suffering and death went far beyond comprehension. The earth went into a global white-out destroying everything in its path and it is now awaiting a new beginning.

So, here we are, hoping to have learned and attempting to do a better job this time.

Chapter I

The Adventure

I ’m Robert Manning, I began this adventure as a historian, appointed by the earth-bound delegates who put the original thirty five thousand person strong exploration group together. The group that was to venture into deep space, find an alternative planet to populate and thereby save humanity from extinction because earth is headed for an ice-age that promises to escalate into a global white-out. The human race will most likely not survive it.

A gigantic space ship was constructed. It’s capable of sustaining all thirty five thousand indefinitely. A scenario I’m not really fond of.

Shortly after graduation from law school and advanced training by the CIA I was assigned to the lead ship we later christened Enterprise, after the twentieth century fictional TV and movie series. I was assigned to be observer and he who would document the fate of mankind. I do hope there’ll be someone there to read it.

During this time I’ve not only told our story but was given the opportunity to become a part of it. I became a pilot and then a member of the commanding crew.

Once our new home, New Earth as we call it, was settled, Cpt. McCain appointed her first mate Jerry Chapman Chancellor and ordered a new star-ship to be built, a starship second only to Kotar’s infamous Simu. It’s been named The Adventure in honor of the star ship Adventure, which had fallen during the war with the reptile aliens called the Palchek.

Once the dust had settled on New Earth and the final work was completed on this great new vessel. Cpt. McCain was promoted to Admiral in order to maintain her status as commander in chief of all remaining humanity.

We now have three star-ships with almost a thousand battleships and of course two additional captains, Captains Zarka and Cheadle.

Jerry Chapman will govern the planet as supreme chancellor. Admiral McCain appointed me as her new 1st mate. I am now known as #1.

Wow, what a rush.

It’s been an amazing metamorphosis. I’ve gone from being chosen to document the quest of a species trying to save itself from extinction to pilot of a fighter plane sized vessel capable of seventy percent of the speed of light, and now to first mate on a mighty starship, and all that in a little more than twelve years. That’s one hell of a metamorphosis. We seem to be in a time warp and nowhere near stabilizing.

We’re also new proud members of a federation of over a hundred species of various peoples here in this galaxy. The federation numbers in the trillions and we’ve managed to establish ourselves amazingly well. Technology is shared and ours seems to improve on a weekly and sometimes daily basis. Surprises are a thing of the past. We now mingle with people eight feet tall and others with actual horns coming out of their heads. Some are blue while others are grey. There seems to be no end to the diversity and it’s all as if it were meant to be.

The Ty, the true rulers of our known universe have implanted translators in us to enable communication with almost any species. Their lips aren’t always in sync with what we hear, at least those who have lips but the translations are very good. This is truly an exciting time for the human race and it just keeps getting better.

Kotar is the leader of the dominant species, the Ty. He seems to be a very liberal and good leader. I believe him to be much more than that.

Admiral McCain managed to retain most of the crew from the bridge of the Enterprise, which now hovers over New Earth in a geo-stationary orbit. It’s been designated a multi species university, research center and defensive outpost.

On board the Adventure Lars Berger is science officer, Lin Chi is propulsion officer, Simlayar of the Ty is communications officer and ships counselor is still Kim Lien. New to our crew is Leah Collins, a micro-biologist and mechanical engineer. She’s taken Victor Kofi’s position as Chief of life support. He and his family have opted to live a less adventurous life on New Earth.

Our terrifying voyage across empty space wondering where the hell we’re going, what we’re doing and oh yes, that haunting question, are we alone, has been answered and we’re doing our best to absorb and adapt.

We have a new planet we can call home. A place to return to as Admiral McCain has announced exploration is her forte. We’re proud members of a federation that is based on one of the Ty home planets called Korant. It has members from one hundred and nine systems and is more powerful than any entity we have ever known or could even imagine.

We have a crew of three hundred seventy five people. Eighty-four of them are pilots.

There are forty-five fighters and six shuttles on board. Twenty-nine members of our crew are extra-terrestrials. No sci-fi movie could possibly top our reality.

We have food and water for a yearlong excursion and the ability to replenish both should we find planets with natural resources or inhabited planets willing to allow us to restock our supplies.

As we set off for what we hope to be an exciting new adventure, we can see laser displays from New Earth and its neighboring satellites wishing us a bon voyage. It’s as if the skies around the planet were electrified.

After our first Leap, which is of course our means of traveling faster than the speed of light, we’ll be entering the Lepus constellation. The Leap is our primary form of crossing great distances. When I say great I mean from ten to over a hundred light years in less than twenty five minutes. I try very hard not to think about it.

Our propulsion process is based on utilizing anti-material to create shockwaves that bend time and space. It’s the proverbial worm hole, mini black hole or I guess you could call it warp speed. Lars Berger has found a way to concentrate this power into a tremendous pulse or guided shockwave. This wave can actually bend time and space into waves. These waves, not unlike those on the ocean, grow until they almost touch at the top. When they do we cross from one wave to another. When the waves dissipate we’ve traveled unimaginable distances. It’s not without risk but then what is?

We’re now over forty thousand light years from our old home planet earth. We hoped to find planets with advanced life forms when we passed the M-79 constellation. What we found was that the few planets that are circling the stars there are all much too large and hostile for life as we know it but life is there and actually all around us. All we have to do is recognize and embrace it. If possible.

One very pleasant attribute of our adventurous excursions is that there’s no pressure. We can take as long as we wish. There’s no end goal and everything we find benefits the entire federation.

While traveling through the Orion nebula, which by the way is a very violent place, searching for planets, we’ve actually seen new stars being formed. To say the least, it is dramatic when one ignites. From time to time we pass through shockwaves that the new stars have created. I think it may be a lot like being on the receiving end of our Leap shockwave. I wonder if that’s why some of the stars produced here are so far away from their source. Maybe they used the Leap too. Our sun could have well originated here and ended up in an involuntary leap into the void.

Admiral McCain is reluctant to attempt a Leap while in the nebula.

Lars, our science officer, is worried about disrupting it. This soup which is actually trillions and trillions and I suppose gazillions of tiny particles. Gravity pulls them together in certain areas and when enough mass has accumulated nuclear fusion takes place and a star is born. When I say enough mass I mean at least three hundred thousand times more mass than the earth has.

Our Leap, which is a form of shockwave, could disrupt these particles which I suppose could start a chain reaction to disrupt the asteroids which would disrupt the planet sized rocks that are to one day become stars and so on and so forth. It’s the butterfly- effect in space and we don’t want to be responsible for its possible changes.

At any rate we’re actually racing through one of the Milky Way’s many star producing nurseries and it’s both primeval and fascinating. It’s also reassuring to know we have extremely strong force fields protecting us.

Kim came over to my station and asked, Are you going to take me to lunch #1 or shall I have it delivered? She and I have been a pair for almost seven years now. She’s also the closest thing to a wizard I’ve ever experienced. Her abilities to communicate telepathically and sense things near and far have saved us many times. Some people find that unnerving. I’ve almost become accustomed to it and simply accept the rest as something I’ll never understand.

I answered her, I’d love to take you to lunch madam. Let me check with the boss. I went over to Admiral McCain who was talking to Lars and asked if we could be excused. She said, Please be back on the bridge at 13:30 and bring me a small green salad and a sandwich. I asked Lars if he wanted anything but he declined. It’s just as well, I don’t think he can chew and think at the same time. His eidetic memory is often unnerving and he is undoubtedly what I would call a real wizard.

We left the bridge and went to the canteen. There are far fewer places to eat on the Adventure than there were on the enormous Enterprise but we do have real windows and other amenities that the Enterprise didn’t have. Well, they’re like windows, they’re actually circular or oval holes sealed with force fields.

Although the Enterprise was over 100 times larger, it had no real windows. Watching the stars is always fascinating and it helps compensate for having less space to live in.

Most of our windows are 4’X25’ and are secured with invisible force fields. If they should fail the holes are sealed with pop-up titanium shields.

Our fresh food is for the most part frozen-fresh-food. We have real fields fifty by a hundred and fifty meters where we have three levels of fruits and vegetables growing using hydro culture. Lars has perfected artificial light and the plants grow hydroponically.

We have no need for freezers on the ship. The food is stored in a room with exposure to the temperature outside.

It’s at least -450 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that’s what I call cold. It takes forty-eight hours to thaw a two-pound bag of string beans properly or you just throw them into hot water, which sometimes results in a small explosion, so much for my cooking abilities.

The restaurant is cafeteria style. We walk through, choose what we want, and then it’s prepared and brought to the table. That eliminates the need for a menu. I ordered a steak but I’m not sure what kind of animal it’s from. Our good friends, the Lumy from the planet Copat have dinosaurs that are harvested for their meat. It’s very tasty, kind of like a big chicken and I believe that’s where a large portion of our meat comes from.

We have the ability to grow meat for consumption but the flavor has to be added artificially. It’s not a popular item.

As Kim finished her New Earth fish she said it was as good a fish as she has ever eaten. I tend to believe that most planets begin with life forms in the water and then they progress and become land dwellers. Having seen the monsters on New Earth I really don’t understand how fish survive them.

As Kim’s fish has vanished from her plate. She said, I’m ready for desert, how about you? Sure, why not. Are you thinking what I’m thinking you’re thinking? She smiled, Of course I am, you haven’t noticed yet but the cook here is the same cook who worked in the Out Look Restaurant on the Enterprise. We both smiled and in one voice said Flourless chocolate cake, chocolate ice crème topped with whipped crème and chocolate syrup. It’s his specialty and it’s a real treat.

It is now shortly after 13:00 so I ordered the admiral’s salad and sandwich. After the waiter brought it we headed back to the bridge.

Walking along the steel grey carbon nanotube corridors we passed Lars. He seemed extremely nervous.

I stopped him and asked, Lars, what’s wrong? He said, "I’m on my way to ask Rada to marry me. Do I need flowers or candy? Is this the proper time of day? What will I do if she says no? Maybe I’m rushing things.

Kim interrupted and said, If she says yes are you going to do it right away or make a date for the near future?

Lars asked, Is that relevant? Maybe we should wait for shore leave so we could have a honeymoon. Do you think a honeymoon is appropriate? She answered, Of course a honeymoon is appropriate. Do you have an engagement ring? He said, Yes I do. I have a set of three rings. One has a three-carat diamond. They’re made of unobtainium. Is that over doing it? Do you think that’s enough? Will she approve of its texture? He looked like he was going to faint. We both said, Of course it’s enough and yes she will like them. Kim said, Lars… relax, breath. Color slowly returned to his face, then he smiled, he seemed to be the happiest person in the galaxy and undoubtedly one of the most nervous.

We wished him well and he was on his way. I looked at Kim and said, You do of course realize we were just talking to the smartest human in the universe? She smiled and released a soft, Hummm.

The bride to be is Rada Byko. She’s a beautiful young fellow scientist who was trained by Lars. She has a photographic memory, her math is second only to his and she worships him. They’ve been together for a little more than a year and it was a perfect fit. I hope he can talk the admiral out of some shore leave.

Kim and I returned to the bridge where Admiral McCain was eagerly awaiting her salad. I asked her, If there’s no other agenda, do you mind if I break the silence by sending a few fighters on a maneuver?

Not at all she said, I’d like for it to be out in front of us so we can physically watch them. I’ll send out a few drones as targets.

Kim, the Admiral and I were seated in our semi-circle in the center of the bridge. The enormous front window begins one meter above the floor, rising to the ceiling and extends the entire width of the bridge and is sealed only by a force field. The view is spectacular to the point of almost being overwhelming.

She sent out the drones and I ordered a class C alarm. I appointed six fighter pilots the task of securing our path and within ninety seconds all six were in their ships and out of the bay. We were, to say the least, very happy with the reaction time.

From our vantage point it looked like a swarm of wasps chasing an adversary. As they approached their targets the light blue glow of their emissions turned to a screaming violet as they went to full power. Once within range we could see laser blasts relentlessly pounding the drones eliminating all but one. They circled the last vessel and demanded it to power down. It was given ten seconds to respond and then it too was torn to pieces by laser fire.

The entire process from initiation of code C to the destruction of the last vessel took two minutes and thirty-one seconds. The admiral and I are, happy with the results.

Kim said, That had to be some kind of record. Admiral McCain said, Everything we do is some kind of record, counselor. Mr. Berger keeps us one step ahead of ourselves. I’m certain we’ll be able to handle most of the challenges to come without extensive losses.

As the ships returned to the Adventure, I asked the squad leader to report to the bridge. Twenty minutes later Cpt. Kaito Akera reported, mission accomplished and although not perfect I am content with the outcome.

Admiral McCain said, Tell me Cpt. Akera, how you would suggest improving such results? He reluctantly answered, "We could have easily destroyed those vessels with weapons on the Adventure, Admiral.

It would have been faster and the last ship would have been locked in a tractor beam for further questioning. I asked, Do you consider the fighters ineffective? No sir, he said, it’s a matter of using the right tool for the right job."

I answered, This was a test of your skills in a fighter aircraft. I trust you know that. Now answer the Admiral’s question.

He blushed and it got very quiet. Then he said, We were as effective as we could possibly be but would welcome suggestions from the bridge. Admiral McCain replied, We were quite pleased with your maneuver and commend you and your team for your efforts. You, Cpt. Akera will contemplate who, what and where you are. If you would rather be somewhere else please let us know, if not I expect personal improvement. Do we understand one another? He answered, Yes mam, we, excuse me, I do. She said, Dismissed.

He left the bridge without making eye contact with anyone and Kim asked, Was that really necessary? I answered, Yes, I’m afraid it was. He deliberately evaded a question that could not be answered with a yes or no. He changed the subject and created a synopsis that made him look good instead of praising his fellow pilots. I believe he needs guidance counseling, don’t you?

She looked a little astonished and said, I suppose you’re right. You’re obviously a far better strategist than me. Would you like me to tend to the matter immediately? I answered, I’d be grateful if you would. Then I asked the admiral, May we proceed? Yes, yes, of course please do. I think she’s actually surprised at my actions and reactions.

I asked Kim to talk to at least half the pilots about him and then drill Kaito for hidden discrepancies. She smiled and said, I’ll speak to them and I assure you, I’ll know his most hidden thoughts in no time at all. Should he know what’s going on? "Yes, I think he should.

I’ll see you at dinner. Is seven alright? I’ll be there. That said she left the bridge. I hoped it was nervousness and just a slip of the tongue. Admiral McCain said, Number 1, I’m pleased with your actions. You have the bridge, quite frankly, I’m still hungry."

Kaito Akera stood in his room staring at his mirrored image. He’s a tall semi-Asian looking fellow, very athletic and has reflexes like a cat. He said to himself, What is wrong with you? Have you completely lost your marbles? You pull that shit again and they’ll have you ejected from an air-lock. You’re a good pilot…act like one! He sank into his chair, extremely upset and wondering what kind of consequences would follow.

After the admiral left I decided to enjoy the scenery for a while. As we’re traveling at ¾ the speed of light anything within a few million miles of the ship seems to have a colorful glow to it. After all, 140 thousand miles per second is amazingly fast. Dust particles bouncing off our shields creating long lighted ribbons around the vessel. It must be quite a light show for others to see us flying by.

I was so entranced with the show that I hardly heard a buzzer going off. Then one of the screens at Lars’s station went ultraviolet and a computer voice said air-space intrusion. I asked Lars, who had returned from his adventure with a great success story, who or what it was and he answered with the complexity of the most advanced science officer the human race had ever known. No problem. It’s a friendly. I asked, A friendly what?

Cpt. Jimmy Cheadle’s voice came over the intercom. Don’t shoot me I give up besides, I’m one of the good guys.

Jimmy Cheadle is the trainer of all our pilots, his reactions while flying are so fast that they’re hardly measureable and he’s one of my dearest friends.

Lars and I greeted him and I asked why he was here. He said, I’d like to come onboard to explain. I can be there in twelve minutes. I said, We’ll be expecting you.

I told an orderly to go to the café and ask Admiral McCain to join us, as Cpt. Cheadle will be here in less than ten minutes with what seems to be important news.

Jimmy and the admiral got to the bridge at the same time. We all went to the ready-room and sat at the conference table.

Jimmy said, Palchek have been spotted near M-79 and we’re afraid they could have seen you fly by. I made a lot of noise getting here and now have absolutely no doubt that they know where we’re at. I did it to distract them from New Earth. I hope it meets with your approval. His eyes danced back and forth from the admiral to me.

The Palchek are a large scaled reptile form of humanoid. They’re cold blooded in more ways than I care to think about and are no doubt pissed that we took a planet away from them. They’re very well armed and have enjoyed terrorizing the galaxy and its inhabitants for thousands of years.

Admiral McCain said, You purposely led them to us? Jimmy, Yes. It was either you or New Earth and I believe they’ll consider us a much easier target. As he finished his sentence Admiral McCain said, "#1 go to tactical alert status. I pushed the button and all hell broke loose.

Admiral McCain said, You realize of course that we can cloak and you cannot. Sure but cloaking is nothing more than a tactical maneuver. I have no doubt that we can destroy them and therewith keep New Earth safe. That is our objective, right? She frowned and said, Yes of course it is. Now get back to your ship and we’ll form a greeting party. Aye Captain, ah excuse me, Admiral She smiled, slowly exhaled and said, Be safe.

Jimmy is the epitome of the ultimate warrior. He’s fearless and ruthless when need-be and full of surprises all the time. She was not happy about him being fully exposed.

Adrenalin was beginning to fill the air as he returned to his ship the Avenger. Upon arrival he went to a class A alert. That put all three hundred twenty-five crew members of his ship into action in preparing for battle. He said, "I want all fighters ready to eject and all battle stations manned. We’re out numbered and out-gunned. Let’s hope those scaly bustards can’t shoot straight.

Back on the Avenger Lars walked over to his station, aimed several sensors in the direction of M-79 and increased power on all of them covering every possible angle.

He was about to return to the table when the buzzer sounded again. This time it picked up eleven ships about half the size of the Adventure. Admiral McCain said, Red Alert and people scrambled to their stations all over the ship.

She said to Jimmy, Leave your fighters inside your vessel until after the battle begins, the bigger the surprise the more powerful the effect. Jimmy said, Aye Admiral. Then he watched on his screen as the Adventure faded from sight. We were now 100% cloaked and the people on the Avenger must be feeling very alone. Jimmy faced his ship in the direction of the Palchek and accelerated.

Admiral McCain said, Ahead three fourths straight at the lead vessel. Counselor Lien, who had returned to the bridge, was told to telepathically tell Cpt. Cheadle to follow us.

Kim contacted Jimmy and told him where we’re at, our speed and what we’re doing and gave him the Admiral’s instructions. For the Palchek the maneuver would seem suicidal or at least we hoped it would. He decelerated and began to shadow us.

As they got closer we maneuvered around their first five cruisers. Admiral McCain told Kim to tell Jimmy to prepare for battle. She said, After we fire the first shot tell him to release hell and launch a full scale attack. Kim nodded to Admiral McCain that the message had been conveyed. Admiral McCain said to Lars, On my command destroy the closest two ships with laser fire and the four behind them with torpedoes. Then assist Jimmy with whatever is left of the five ships between him and The Adventure. By now Jimmy was taking fire. There was a short pause and she said, Fire!

I had a death grip on my armrest as I watched the battle ships erupting around us and can feel the shockwaves vibrate throughout the Elusive.

The first two ships split in two as if a sword had