Far Flung: Far Flung

By T.C.C. Edwards

William Flynn's idealistic dreams of a fresh start with his fiancé on humanity's first interstellar colony are shattered when the colonist ship he boards is flung far from its intended destination, appearing in an uncharted corner of the universe.

 

Now, Flynn and the crew of Tereshkova are forced to partner with a mysterious alien known as Asar, who offers to guide them to a new habitable world. But the journey to safety thrusts them into a bloody feud between two vastly advanced races—with one bent on eradicating all who oppose them.

 

Caught in the middle of a catastrophic war and billions of lightyears from home, Flynn must put his trust in otherworldly strangers to survive and find a new home amongst unfamiliar stars—one far from the life he'd hoped for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duskbound Books
• Release date: Mar 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224471195

Book preview

1

CAST AWAY

The stars shifted and the reporter was impossibly far from home. The flight deck was silent as William Flynn looked between the other three crewmembers at their stations. They leaned forward in their seats, glancing between their consoles, the display screens, and the titanium-framed viewport that looked out on a few stars flaring in the blackness. Flynn’s stomach fluttered, and his skin prickled underneath the layers of his thin suit. It shouldn’t take this long to confirm their location after the dimensional jump, he thought. Why isn’t anyone saying anything? The question hung as the crewmembers continued to recheck the systems.

Warnings flared on the four screens around the viewport, and alarms blared. Flynn’s visor lit up, now displaying at the bottom of his view the same error that flashed across the screens: NAVIGATIONAL ERROR: CURRENT LOCATION UNKNOWN.

What the hell is that? Captain Joseph Konev’s voice came from behind Flynn.

Flynn turned toward the voice, but his visor flashed a new warning as something crossed the blackness visible through the viewport. On one of the screens next to it, an overlay highlighted an object with a red aura and the text UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT APPROACHING.

The other screens around the flight deck also showed the silver object, with readouts showing its size and distance from the ship. It looked like a colossal silver pill; the main body was a cylinder longer and wider than the Tereshkova, with hemispheres of silver-gray at each end. One of those hemispheres now split into four equal-sized parts, the curved plates folding back against the main hull of the craft. The object turned, revealing the interior surface and a hollow space within that could easily swallow the colony ship whole.

It’s adjusting to our flight path. Commander Helena Clarke turned in her chair ahead of Flynn. It’s coming right at us.

Get us away! Captain Konev shouted. Anything on comms?

Negative! said Officer Esan Green, not bothering to turn as he tapped at his console screen.

Do whatever it takes. Flynn, sit the hell down!

Flynn turned back toward his seat, but the flight deck lurched around him, forcing him down into an awkward crouch with his magnetic boots holding fast to the metal deck. The capsule on the viewscreen veered to one side, and Flynn’s stomach clenched as he pulled himself into his chair. The object was soon behind the colony vessel, and pinprick stars were barely visible through the viewport ahead. One screen above the viewport switched to show the view behind the Tereshkova, where the object was still approaching.

It’s accelerating, Clarke said. Our thrusters are already at the max!

Sir, something’s coming over comms. Green looked to the captain and back to his console, eyes wide. It’s … I’m not sure. I’ll try putting it on audio.

Speakers in the ceiling of the tight space crackled, and discordant bass notes played, like a child discovering a piano for the first time. A series of clicking noises followed. Flynn imagined the claws of a crab, clacking in a regular sequence. Morse code? Flynn turned to Captain Konev, hoping for some recognition in the man’s expression.

As if sensing Flynn’s unspoken question, Konev shook his head. It’s not Morse, or any other code I can make out.

The computer’s got nothing, Green said. Could be a warning, a threat, a distress signal … Only thing I can tell is that it's not random noise.

One problem at a time! How long do we have?

Fifteen seconds before they’re on top of us, Clarke said. She tapped her console, and one of the screens zoomed in on the object. From this angle, it was a ring of metallic silver, with a gaping void in its center. I’m trying to shake it, but this bucket is too damn slow.

Konev began a response but was cut off as the screens and lights in the cockpit were extinguished all at once. Flynn slid forward in his seat, grunting as he realized he hadn’t fastened the belt. The Tereshkova was slowing down – Flynn imagined the silver thing pulling the ship in, like a predator consuming its stunned prey. Flynn reached around himself, his hands finding the ends of the belt. He hastily snapped it around his waist.

Nothing’s responding, Clarke called out. Maneuvering thrusters and main drive are offline.

Backup systems coming online now, Green said. Comms, sensors, and viewscreens are back … wait, what the hell? There’s another ship!

A crimson vessel then flew into view, stopping directly ahead of the Tereshkova. Next to the viewport, two screens flickered back to life, casting a pale glow over the darkened cockpit. One screen showed a view of the crimson spacecraft that resembled a giant bloody arrowhead, and the other screen showed a graphic of the silver object that was now superimposed on the aft section of the Tereshkova. The silver vessel was indeed swallowing the Tereshkova, just as Flynn had imagined. But what was this other red ship in front of them?

I’m receiving … something, Green said. I think it’s a communication, but I can’t be sure.

Can we reply? Konev demanded. Tell them to back off?

I’ve been trying, sir. They aren’t responding.

What the …

Flynn barely had time to blink as a blue arc streaked forward from the red ship. The cockpit glowed red for a half second before the viewport tore open in a mass of twisted, melting steel. Konev screamed, but it was lost in a roar of rushing air and groaning metal. Flynn glimpsed the ruins of the captain’s chair and burnt flesh that remained, but he had no time to process the horror.

His restraints dug into his shoulders and chest as air rushed out the hole in the cockpit. A handheld tablet smacked across Flynn’s cheek as debris and loose objects flew out into space. A blackened, skeletal arm flew past his vision. Flynn’s breath was forced from his lungs. Something snapped, and his chair tore from the floor. His belt slapped him as one end remained anchored in the floor while the other came loose. He was twisted around, his chair spinning as it flew to the window. The cockpit spun away from him as he fell into space. His view flashed red, his visor warning him of the dropping pressure and temperature.

Darkness was claiming him. He knew he should be cold, colder than he had ever been, but shock and adrenaline numbed him. The colony ship seemed to orbit him as he spun, drifting ever further away. He couldn’t tell if anyone else had been blown out. Is someone else out here dying too?

Something silver approached in the corner of his eye, but Flynn was already slipping into blackness. Sorry, Darya, he thought as he succumbed to the darkness.

2

NAVIGATION

Dena Lee crossed the doorway between Engineering and the forward sections of the cylindrical service shaft. She ran her fingers along the thick open hatch as she looked back at the column that ran down the center of the spherical chamber behind her. Chief Engineer Park was at the base of the column, directing other gray-suited engineers as they floated to terminals around the chamber. Normally Lee would close the hatch, sealing away the jump drive chamber and the fusion core, but repair crews needed to move quickly between the rings and the aft sections. She turned away before Park could growl at her again to get to the Nav Center. She ached to fix the jump drive but was glad to be out of Engineering for now. Away from the taskmaster that Park became whenever the situation slipped from his control. He’ll figure it out, she thought. He always does – that’s why he’s the chief and I’m his lackey.

Voices echoed in the shaft, adding to the clunks of magnetic boots from the passageway ahead of her. Lee kicked off the inner surface, angling her flight so she could push off the ceiling again further down the corridor. She passed the hatches marked Colonist Ring B and Colonist Ring A in bright red text painted under each airlock. Her skill with zero-g maneuvers allowed her to cover the space with ease, as she pushed easily off the curved surface of the wide shaft. Ahead of her, a group of people in black security suits emerged from the final hatch, marked Crew / MedBay / Navigation. The security team ran out across the curved floor as they rose. Lee shoved with her outstretched hands, directing her flight toward the security team. She activated her magnetic boots in mid-flight and landed just behind the group as they clambered out of the airlock.

Security Chief Holloway glanced back at her, acknowledging her with a curt smile.

Impressive, Officer Lee, Holloway said. You always get around like that?

I have to know the ship well, sir, Lee said. Learned a few things running back and forth for Chief Park.

As long as you get where you’re needed. Holloway nodded. Let’s get to the situation at hand. Systems in MedBay are fine for the moment – we just saw Doctor Reynolds before we came here. She received multiple reports when the rings stopped spinning – she has her assistants helping out in the colonist sickbays. No life-threatening injuries, but we’ll need to help a few people get to MedBay for intensive treatment. There’s still heat and air in the habitats in all three rings, but we’d better double-check life support anyway. Also, I just heard from Officer Green – he said not to try to get into the command shuttle, just wait for them to get out. No idea what happened.

Lee raised her eyebrows. The command shuttle was attached to the front end of the central shaft of the Tereshkova. Konev, Green, Clarke, and that reporter Flynn had taken the shuttle from Luna to the colony vessel once it was ready for final launch. With the shuttle in place at the Tereshkova’s bow, Konev had taken control of all systems from within the shuttle, rather than using the colony ship’s Nav Center. Had something gone wrong with the connection between the shuttle and the Tereshkova? She filed the question away. One thing at a time.

We’re clueless in Engineering too, Chief, she said instead. We’ve got some backup power and we’re running checks, but I’ll need to get to the Nav Center to really see what’s happening.

Another black-suited man sidled in next to Holloway and addressed her. Dena, it’s damn good to see you.

The man looked sideways at Holloway, and the chief gave him a short nod. You got thirty seconds, Akiyama.

Yes, sir, Hayao Akiyama said, a smile of relief spreading over his face. Holloway smirked and turned to address the other guards, leaving Lee with her husband.

Thirty seconds, huh? Lee said, stepping close to clasp his gloved hand. Damn, what can we do with that?

No kidding. Can’t even get these suits off, huh?

Lee scowled in mock disgust at the suggestion, then smiled warmly as they came together, their helmet faceplates bumping in the closest approximation of a kiss available.

See you tonight, Lee said.

As you wish. Akiyama bowed deeply, and Lee laughed.

Get on with it, Holloway grunted.

Akiyama saluted her as he pulled away and fell in line with the security team. Lee followed the team, still wearing her stupid smile as the group approached the hatch for the crew ring.

Akiyama, Taylor, Holloway said to the group, you go to Colonist Ring A. Ariss and I will go to Ring B – though I hate leaving those people in the shuttle.

We’re here, Chief, said another voice in the corridor.

Two more officers in red suits approached the hatch from the opposite end of the shaft. They stopped before the ring of yellow and black stripes that contrasted with the dull gray of the rest of the corridor. The bright yellow hazard stripes marked the sections that rotated with the rings, warning anyone who had to pass through while the rings were in motion.

Esan Green stopped, the red of the emergency lights highlighting his rugged goatee and piercing eyes as he turned to the woman next to him. She adjusted his grip around his shoulder, awkwardly propping herself up as they breathed heavily.

Holloway and the other guards met the eyes of the Green and the woman, who Lee now recognized as the navigator, Helena Clarke.

Lee was the first to break the silence. Esan? What happened?

We lost the captain.

Holloway stiffened. How?

There was an attack, Clarke said. She shook her head and took a careful breath before continuing. Some unidentified object – a big ship, I think – was chasing us. We tried to get away, but something stopped us, interfered with the ship’s systems. Another ship, a smaller one…it attacked. Fired on us with some energy weapon.

I tried to send a red alert, Green added. Ship systems were down; we barely got out of there. There isn’t much left of the shuttle’s cockpit. Clarke needed help with her suit; that’s why we took so long. Konev was killed by whatever shot at us, and that reporter, Flynn, he was blown out into space.

Dammit. Holloway grunted. What about the attacking ship? Still out there?

Can’t be sure, but there’ve been no more signs of damage. We need to get to the Nav Center to regain access to sensors and cameras.

Right. I’m acting captain until we sort this out. Konev was a good man. I didn’t know Flynn that well, but I know he had a fiancée waiting for him. Damn. We’ll have to mourn them later.

Understood, Green said. Just hope we can keep everyone calm. Last thing we need is panic.

Exactly. Holloway’s eyebrows knitted. Any idea what happened to main power?

Green shook his head. All we know is that the power went out – looks like all electronics were affected.

Lee tilted her head at Clarke, who confirmed her unspoken question with a solemn nod. Yeah, that’s what happened to my legs. Fully cybernetic, not so awesome without power. Did you find anything in Engineering?

Lee shook her head. We’re running diagnostics. Chief Park’s working on the drive computer, trying to get any usable data off it. Chief Park ordered me to get to Navigation, see if I can get that up. It’ll be a lot easier to coordinate and see what’s going on.

Understood, Holloway said. Change of plans. Lee and Green will go to Navigation and check on vital systems. Let me know if you can get the rings spinning – I’m sure Dr. Reynolds would appreciate some gravity to work in. I’ll get Clarke to MedBay. Akiyama, Taylor, Ariss – the most pressing injury reports were from Ring A, so the three of you start there – you can recruit any help you need from the colonists.

Of course.

Holloway then knelt before the hatch set into the brightly painted floor. He opened a small panel next to the hatch and pulled sharply on the red handle underneath. The floor of the corridor rumbled as the hatch slid open.

All right, Holloway said as he stood. Let’s get back to MedBay.

Holloway helped Clarke crouch next to the hatch, and the two of them placed their magnetic boots on the wall of the shaft below them. Lee smiled as the veteran spun ninety degrees to stand on the wall of the shaft. He kept a flawless grip on Clarke through the whole maneuver, moving as only one who’d spent many years in zero-g could. Once he was done, Clarke and Holloway were walking down the wall of a dimly lit hole below Lee’s feet.

A hand touched Lee’s shoulder, and her eyes went to Akiyama’s face. She took his hand in hers as she gazed into his eyes.

Officer Akiyama. Holloway’s voice was harsh, but when Akiyama and Lee looked, Lee saw a slight smile curling the security chief’s tight lips.

Yes sir! Akiyama turned to the other two security officers and led them down the service shaft to the hatch for Colonist Ring A.

Still don’t know what you see in that guy, Green said as he knelt before the hatch. Lee looked up to find him smiling warmly at her. Smart woman like you could get any man you want.

You flirting with me? Lee dashed around the open hatch to stand at Green’s side. Plenty of single girls around.

I appreciate a challenge. I figure my rugged good looks can win you over.

Lee snorted. Does that ever work?

You’d be surprised. He winked.

Lee rolled her eyes. He laughed, and Lee joined him.

Esan the Ladies Man, so he liked to say. Lee played along with his pretend flirting – she knew he would never actually come between her and Akiyama. Still, Lee wondered if there was a line of broken-hearted girls somewhere, wondering why he never called. There was a time, before she met Akiyama, when she could have been at the back of that line. But he’ll never know that, she assured herself.

Once Holloway and Clarke were a good distance down the narrow passage through the spoke of the Crew Ring, Lee and Green carefully maneuvered themselves through the hatch.

Lee closed the hatch behind her and followed Green as he pulled himself along the ladder in the spoke corridor.

Did you see them? she asked over the suit radio as they climbed. The large object, or the other ship that attacked? What were they like?

Like nothing I’ve ever seen. The first one was a huge cylinder. It was bigger than this ship, and it had a silver surface like mercury. One end of it opened up when it chased us, like it was trying to swallow our ship or something. The other one – I think it was triangular. We didn’t get a very good look before the attack.

Huh. They couldn’t be some Ulysses prototypes we haven’t heard of? Or military?

Green raised an eyebrow as he considered the idea. Could be, but I’d have a harder time believing they were manmade than what I really think.

I bet I’m thinking the same thing. Are we allowed to say it yet, or should we keep playing skeptics?

I think we should get our asses to Nav and find out.

Yeah, of course. If there are aliens … God, I hope we can tell them we’re friendly!

3

SALVATION

Flynn’s eyes adjusted to the soft lights that surrounded him. The bed under him was a gray-black slab with a glowing band of blue lights set into the perimeter of the polished surface. He moved his hand to the edge of the bed, and the light flared, forcing him to shut his eyes. The light dimmed as long as he stayed away from the edge, so he resolved to stay in place while he assessed the room. The gray ceiling was at least two meters above him, and the rounded walls were about the same distance from his bed. There were no other features to the room aside from one round pedestal about half a meter from his bed.

Flynn’s visor sat there, surrounded by a circle of blue light. Seeing the visor prompted him to check his own clothing – he was still in his dark brown jumpsuit with the white logo of Galactic Media emblazed on the chest. He was breathing – but what was he breathing? The air had no scent, no character; like hospital air but without the lingering hint of antiseptic cleansers.

A series of clicking sounds began. It was soft at first, but Flynn immediately recognized it – the Tereshkova’s comm system had made that sound when the bizarre object had appeared. There was no clear source for the sound – it seemed to come from everywhere. Then the lights around the visor flashed, while at the same time, an image took shape in front of the bed.

The glowing image became a sphere. It looked as big as Flynn himself and hovered above the floor near his bed. It was violet at first, but slowly shifted to indigo,