Voyage of the Neo Star

By Michael G. Johnson

Freshman college student Steve Brighton accepts the official account that his father, the chief engineer of the Neo Star spacecraft, has died in an explosion soon after launch . . . until a mysterious sealed envelope falls into his hands and puts his life and the lives of his family in extreme danger. Faced with evidence that the official story is a lie, Steve joins a select few who know the truth about the fate of the Neo Star, and a desperate rescue attempt ensues.This is a story of time machines, space travel, and otherworldly adventure and of strange dreams, broken hearts, and shocking revelations. It's also about courage and cowardice, and betrayal and redemption, where not-so-superheroes prevail against desperate odds by appealing to the most Powerful Force in the Universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098011444

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Voyage of the Neo Star

Michael G. Johnson

Copyright © 2021 by Michael G. Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

A Dangerous Secret

The Nightmare

Wormholes of Time and Space

Sorrows of the Earth-Bound

The Interrogator

Ancient Mars

The Plague

Abandoned

The Prayer

Breaking News

Ghosts of Mars

An Underground Journey

The Time Machine

The Abduction

Voyage of the Tachyon

Brothers of Boldness

The Brave Men

The Tachyonic Chrono-Transporter

Chamber of the Martian Seers

The Motion Picture Script

A Time Long Awaited

After the Storm

Coming Home

The Final Storm

We came upon a planet like no other, said the captain, where the most ordinary of men had strange dreams…

1

A Dangerous Secret

The test chamber of the huge lab shook, and the men clasped their ears to block the thunderous roar.

Brighton, come out of there, and shut the door behind you! shouted Captain Bradley Raymond.

The short bespectacled engineer who was Dr. James Brighton exited and secured the heavy soundproof doors, locking the thunder behind him.

The captain smiled, carefully twisting a knob on the nearby control panel. A video monitor revealed a pulsing glow from the reaction chamber. Cannon, we have to hurry, he said to the powerfully built man beside him.

John Cannon listened politely. His attention was distracted by a heavyset stranger holding a clipboard near the back door.

I’ve taken every precaution, said the captain, but I still don’t think we have much time. Joules tried to do this ten years ago at the old Starlight Technologies lab. Before he could get this far they shut him down.

Who shut him down? Cannon asked.

All I know is that one day I drove by his lab and saw a row of black vehicles in the parking lot, and two unmarked helicopters lifting off. No explanation. Nothing in the news either, except he was missing. No one ever saw him again. I used to visit him when I was in graduate school. His house was just down the street. He was more help than any of the professors, but he seemed afraid to discuss his work projects.

What kind of projects?

He called it hyper-dimensional physics. Didn’t say much about it though, and what he did say seemed impossible to believe. Anyway, two weeks after he disappeared there was a knock on our front door. It was late at night. No one was there, just a large package.

What was in it?

A lot of papers. Notes, equations, and diagrams.

You mean…?

That’s right. It was Joules’ work. This entire project is based upon the contents of that package. When I saw the schematics and equations, I knew I was in over my head, but with some good help from our chief engineers Jim Brighton and Jack Paulson, we’ve made very good progress these past years. After this test, I think everything’s ready to go.

That explains the tight security, said Cannon. His attention was again diverted to the heavyset stranger, now conversing on his cell phone.

Any questions?

Yes, Captain. Who’s on the phone by the back door?

That’s Arnold Gouge, our second in command. Hired him about a year ago. He’s Special Forces like you, and has a strong background in security. He’s now vetting all new hires, and I’ve asked him to build our backup team. You’d be amazed how much he knows.

Captain Raymond, what are those helicopters doing over there? said Dr. Brighton, who just joined them.

Brad Raymond ran to the window. Through binoculars, he saw four black helicopters approaching. He also spotted a line of black vehicles descending into the valley from the mountain pass. Running to the other side of the building, he stepped outside the door. A much closer convoy of black vehicles approached from the opposite direction.

His heart pounded. A chill washed over him and his mind slowed to a standstill. What to do…? That was the bottom line, and for a long moment, no thought would follow.

Captain, are you all right? asked Cannon.

The captain seemed to awaken from a trance. Gouge! Cannon! Get everyone into the ship! NOW! he shouted.

Chaos erupted as all scrambled for emergency boarding and launch.

The helicopters drew closer.

2

The Nightmare

All right, Sheri, come in and tell me what’s wrong, said Dr. Jake Healman. He opened the door to the NEO Astro Propulsion Labs medical clinic, ushered in his upset daughter, and led her to an empty examination room.

I had the nightmare again, Dad.

This is about your dream?

Please find another job! I always see the helicopters just before launch. Later the spaceship goes crazy like it’s going to crash, but an escape pod ejects. I see it hit some mountain cliffs and burst into flames. It’s always the same! The first time I came to work, I recognized the buildings and launch facilities from my dreams. Oh, Dad, I know this will happen if you stay here!

Jake Healman had heard all this before. He was genuinely pained at his daughter’s words, but had never loved a job as much as this one. He’d hoped having her as his intern would calm her down, but things were now, if anything, worse. Honey, we’re still a long way from launch. Besides, Captain Raymond needs me, and it’s difficult to find people he can trust. That’s why you were hired. Security is so tight, and he can’t afford to have a repeat of what happened last summer, or even worse, at Starlight Tech Labs. The crew needs a medical doctor, and he has no one else.

What makes you think launch time is far away? It doesn’t look that way to me. And do you realize what it would do to Mom and the boys and me if we lost you?

Jake sighed. Try to understand. The captain needs you and me both. When he put you on the backup team, he told me he’s never seen anyone learn so quickly. It’s sometimes difficult to find material that you don’t already know. You’ve done exceptionally well here.

Sheri Healman stared in silence. Dad…what good is all this if you die in a crash? What can you do to make sure my nightmare doesn’t happen?

Honey, I don’t know, but I’ll give it some thought. In any case, I’m sure it’s long into the future. And if it helps, there are no steep mountain cliffs around here. Why don’t we—

The phone rang. Sheri picked it up and listened. Her face went pale… Yes, Captain, I understand, she said before hanging up.

What is it, Sheri?

It’s an emergency! she shouted, running down the hallway. You have to help me!

Jake ran and followed his daughter into the medical supply room.

It’s in that closet. Please get it for me!

What’s this all about?

Just help me, Dad! I’ll tell you!

She opened the padlocked door. He stepped inside, impatient to know what was going on. Suddenly the door shut behind him. He heard the padlock locking.

It’s an emergency liftoff! Captain Raymond says the ship is launching now! I’ll make sure someone lets you out! Love you, Dad!

A siren wailed as Jake kicked and banged at the door. After remembering that the closet walls consisted of only drywall nailed to studs, he kicked a hole in the wall, through which he reached and unlocked the door. He then raced down the hallway and into the lobby, and gazed through the large front window, which shook so badly he feared it would shatter. The spacecraft known as the Neo Star blasted into the heavens. Helicopters approached, and a black sedan rolled to a stop in the parking lot just outside the door.

3

Wormholes of Time and Space

Aconvoy of black vehicles momentarily stopped in their tracks as spaceship and crew ascended, then continued toward NEO Astro Propulsion Laboratories. Ahead of them four black helicopters prepared to touch down, knowing they would not find what they most sought.

Far above, the Neo Star shook violently.

Brighton, can you stabilize that? shouted Captain Raymond.

Sorry, Captain, replied Brighton, making adjustments to the control circuitry. This is the first time, you know!

As Earth shrunk smaller in the ships monitors, the shaking of the ship subsided, but fears and worries of its crew did not.

Electrical engineer Charles Brolin worked the onboard ham radio, attempting to let the world know what had happened, before the world was too far away. Later, when it became clear that the Neo Star had escaped its enemies, the captain called a meeting at the bridge.

Thank you all for your quick and excellent work, he said to the assembled crew. Everything with the ship seems okay, but what has happened to Gouge and Paulson?

Paulson left work early today, said Brighton, and I don’t know what happened to Gouge.

He had a little accident, answered John Cannon, seated near the captain’s chair. Stumbled and banged his head on the ascent ramp. Sheri Healman’s attending to him. Says he’ll be unconscious for a few hours.

Sheri Healman? Where’s Dr. Jake Healman?

He didn’t make it. Not really clear what happened. Sheri says he was detained.

Overhearing this in the outside hallway, Sheri decided to wait a little before entering.

We should be fine, said the relieved captain. I think we’re just lucky to have such a capable backup crew.

Roll call was next, and Sheri quietly took a seat. When everyone was accounted for the captain nodded toward his chief engineer. Jim, he said, I think it’s time.

James Brighton pointed toward a large viewing screen that faced the captain’s bridge. It showed what resembled lightning bolts, knotted together like roots of a tree and leading in all directions. Any questions? he asked, noting the puzzled looks of the crew.

What are those lightning things? asked Cannon.

Those are cosmic wormholes, and this is a hyper-dimensional space-time map. The astro propulsion hyperdrive, or H-drive as we call it, puts the ship in a bubble of sorts outside normal space-time. This enables us to traverse these hitherto unseen paths that can lead across millions of miles and far into the future or past.

Seeing some startled looks, Brighton paused to let this sink in.

Many of these paths are beyond our reach, he said, and most are of no consequence to us, but look at this one. It goes back millions of years. It also appears to be completely stable.

Like a time tunnel? asked Cannon.

Yes, exactly, replied the captain.

Where do you intend to take us, Captain? said Sheri, suddenly feeling guilty about robbing her father of this adventure.

We haven’t made that decision.

Captain! Dr. Brighton! interrupted security officer Braden Koch. Bold and formidable in stature, Koch was also technically skilled and had become valued by the engineering team. We’re being intercepted by another spacecraft! he shouted, and the speed of their approach is beyond…anything I’ve ever seen!

How long do we have? asked Captain Raymond.

Ten minutes, fifteen at most, answered Koch, studying the monitor display.

And what is your recommendation?

I expect their intent is to seize or destroy our ship, in which case I believe neither we nor the Neo Star will ever be heard of again.

I agree, Captain, said Cannon.

I also, added Brighton.

That is also my assessment, said the captain. And to the rest of you, he now spoke louder: I apologize. Many of you have been ignorant of all the potential dangers of your work, though you were strongly advised that your very lives could be lost. So… seeing no other option, I now advise that we flee into the wormhole. By show of hands, do I have your support?

All hands rose.

Jim, you know what to do, said the captain to his chief engineer, already working to engage the H-drive.

Captain Raymond, asked Sheri nervously, I have a question.

Yes, Healman, go on.

Please, I’m not my dad. Just call me Sheri.

Go ahead, Sheri.

This wormhole or tunnel thing… Can we come back again once we’re through it? And will it bring us back to our present time?

In theory, yes. Seeing the worry on Sheri’s face, the captain added: Jim, would you concur with that?

After we’ve gone through, replied Dr. Brighton, we’ll have a better answer to your question.

Sheri’s worried look remained.

The captain returned to the navigation monitor screen. Jim, he said, that craft is quickly gaining. How long before you engage the H-drive?

The controls aren’t working. I’m doing what I can.

Captain Raymond, said Braden Koch.

Sorry, Braden, we’re very busy.

Dr. Brighton, tried Koch again.

Can’t you see we’re busy? Please wait, answered Brighton.

The override! shouted the exasperated Koch. You wired it to prevent accidental activation of the H-drive!

Brighton remembered. He shouted for tools, then ran and pulled the cover from the control panel. Minutes later a low pitched throb reverberated through the ship, followed by a sudden lurch. Blindingly brilliant light shone through observation ports, cover shields slid into place, and the well-designed machine flew into the void.

Not bad for the first time, said Brighton, who only now noticed the perspiration on his forehead and pounding in his chest.

Not so bad at all, agreed the captain.

Even Koch wasn’t terrible, added Brighton, while loading the flight path into the navigational control computer.

The Neo Star voyaged the infinite, and the H-drive pulsed and droned; an audible heartbeat throughout the ship.

Three days passed. It was evening and Dr. Brighton was busy at the navigation computer. Startled by footsteps, he turned about. The captain was gazing over his shoulder at the display monitor.

You said we’d be through this wormhole in two days, Brighton.

That was an estimate.

"Well it’s been three days. The crew’s uneasy."

Want me to show you the math? Here, work it out yourself.

The captain looked over the equations on Brighton’s notepad.

Everything depends on these factors, said Brighton.

You just plug in the numbers, and it says two days?

Not exactly. Some of these factors, pointed Brighton with his pen, are very well known, but others can only be estimated. I used our best data to calculate our time in hyperspace.

Brighton looked up to see that Cannon, Koch, and Sheri had entered the room.

Assuming the absolute worst-case, how long will it take to get through this thing? asked the captain.

Absolute worst?

The most absolute, worst possible case imaginable. See what the equations say. We need to be prepared. The others nodded.

But Captain, the worst case is most extremely unlikely.

I still want to know. Plug in the numbers.

But…

Just do as I say. We have a right to know.

Very well, said Brighton, entering the data. All were silent, waiting on the computer. About thirty years, he said when the simulation was complete.

Thirty years! exclaimed John Cannon. You led us into a thirty-year long wormhole? Do we even have supplies for one year?

That’s a most extreme estimate, said Brighton.

But still possible! returned Cannon.

Yes, but…

"So we may spend the rest of our lives in hyperspace. Likely that means until food, water or oxygen runs out. How’s that any better than going back to Earth? What do