First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure) (15 page)

“Go ahead MW-33,” the comm officer replied. The commander decided to wait and hear what this call was about. Usually the watcher ships only called in twice a day. To have two different ships call in back-to-back was most unusual.

“I’ve been at station for about six hours now,” the scout said, “and I just picked up some unusual signals from the surface.” The comm officer’s eyebrows shot up at this unexpected news.

“Can you describe the nature of the signals?”

“Yes I can,” the female scout replied. “It’s a pretty ragged signal coming in on standard approach frequency. It’s in Galactic Axia standard language.” The commander and the comm officer looked at each other in surprise.

“Stand by,” the comm officer told the scout. Adjusting his equipment to the frequency used for standard approach control, he tried to pick up the strange signals. After several fruitless attempts, he shook his head.

“Observer Control to MW-33.”

“MW-33 here, go ahead.”

“We’re unable to pick up the signals on our equipment.  Are you still picking it up?”

“Yes I am,” the scout replied. “But the signal strength is extremely weak.”

“Can you adjust your equipment to relay the signal to us?” the comm officer asked. The commander nodded her agreement.

“Just a minute.”

“Ask her if she’s made a recording of the signals,” the commander ordered the comm officer.

“Observer Control to MW-33,” the comm officer spoke into his mic. “We’re ready for that link.”

“Almost done,” the reply came back. “That weak signal has a bad bleed over so I had to do some finagling to hook you in.”

“The commander wants to know if you have a record of the strange signals.”

“Yes I do,” the scout answered. “I started recording as soon as I detected them.”

“Thank you MW-33,” the comm officer said. “How is that feed coming?”

“It should be coming to you momentarily,” the scout replied. “Yes, here it comes. You should start receiving....now.”

A speaker crackled from background static as the highly amplified signal came in. Through the static and harmonic hum of a poor carrier, the comm officer and the commander were able to hear a human voice.

“...calling the alien ships orbiting our planet,” the flat-sounding voice said. “We have monitored your signals and constructed equipment to transmit and receive on your frequency. We have also developed a translation program and are using that to send this signal. Please respond.” The speaker was again filled with static, which stopped after a second and was replaced by the voice of the female scout.

“The signal appears to be a recording on a repeat cycle,” she said. “I have a full recording of it for you.”

“Thank you MW-33,” the comm officer called. “Please stand by.” He looked up at the commander. They were both shocked at this unexpected development.

“It looks like things are going to get interesting,” he said with a smile. “This is years too early for them to be able to hear us, much less reply.”

“I know,” the commander said with a shake of her head. “Get a complete copy of the signals and all available information you can on the frequency. Also advise MW-33 to continue monitoring. Signal all of our ships to avoid that frequency.”

“Understood,” the comm officer answered. “Where can I find you if something else develops?”

“I’ll be in my office trying to figure out how we should respond to their call.”

∞∞∞

The morning after being signed off on his new ship, Delmar still found his new situation hard to believe. After breakfast the four new captains were kept busy packing their personal gear and moving it to their new ships parked across the field. Fortunately, Trooper-First Berlon made sure they had use of a ground shuttle to help in the process.

As he stowed his uniforms and books in the captain’s cabin of his new ship, Delmar marveled at all that had transpired. Who would have thought that he, Delmar Eagleman, would be the captain of one of the Axia’s newest ships? Not to mention that he had already taken it into combat?
I wish Mom and Dad Hassel could see me now
, he thought. Then it hit him that he hadn’t replied to their last letter from weeks ago. A signal from the hatch diverted his attention.

“Permission to come aboard, sir,” the voice of Trooper-First Berlon called from the opening. It took a moment for Delmar to realize that it was his place now to grant such a request.

“Permission granted,” Delmar replied as Berlon came out into the main cabin. The trooper-first stepped inside and grinned at the new captain.

“Getting yourself all settled I see,” he said, looking around the cabin.

“Sure am,” Delmar replied. “I’m still not used to the idea though.”

“Don’t worry,” Berlon answered. “You’ll feel at home before you know it. By the way, did you ever come up with a name for this ship?”

“Yes sir, I did,” Delmar replied. “I want to name it
Cabbage Patch
.”

The trooper-first shot up an eyebrow. “It’s for personal reasons that would take a while to explain,” Delmar said hastily. “It helps me remember where I came from and also a promise I made to myself.”

“It’s your ship,” replied Berlon. “I’ll have someone from the paint shop stop by to show you the script styles available and get it done this afternoon.”

Delmar nodded and then looked questioningly at the trooper-first. “To what do I owe this visit?” he asked suspiciously.

“I never could distract you with small talk,” Berlon said, taking an envelope out of his uniform jacket pocket. “Orders,” he simply said as he handed the envelope across to the younger man.

Delmar took the envelope and studied the outside for a moment. Except for his name, rank, and ship number, there was no indication of what was inside. Already in his career, he was coming to dread such envelopes. They always meant change and uncertainty. He was getting a little tired of change and found himself suddenly overcome by a feeling of homesickness.

“Well, go ahead and open it,” the trooper-first ordered. “It won’t change just because you stare at it.”

Delmar sighed and tore open the envelope. Inside he found the usual single page of Galactic Axia stationary.

To: Trooper Delmar Eagleman

AR-237

Trooper Eagleman,

Congratulations on your graduation from Survey and Flight training and on the assignment of your new ship. You are hereby ordered to prepare for immediate departure to the port of your choice for thirty days leave commencing upon your arrival. Contact the flight office to notify them of your planned departure time and your destination. Upon arrival, notify the nearest Liaison Office so your leave may be correctly allotted.

Major Naskele, Personnel Department

Delmar looked up from the orders into the smiling face of Trooper-First Berlon. “Thought you were going to be sent out on some nasty run, didn’t you?” he quipped. Delmar just nodded. “Don’t be surprised. You earned it.”  Delmar just stood there in disbelief.

“Well, I’ll leave you to get ready,” the trooper-first said as he turned toward the hatch. He stopped in the hatch, paused, and turned. “By the way,” he added, “the entire class is having a graduation party tonight. I hope you can make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything, sir.”

“Good. From what I’ve heard, it should be a fun time.”

“Are you going to be there?”

“Do you think I’d miss a good party after all the sweat I put into you guys?” He turned quickly and was gone.

Chapter Ten

The final class party wasn’t as melancholy as Delmar had feared. All of the graduates were there along with many friends and several of their instructors. It was a good time to relax and let their hair down before duty called again.

The four new captains found themselves with some unwanted celebrity status among the other graduates and students. Delmar was afraid that his little adventure with the Red-tail ship would make him even more in demand as some sort of star. As it turned out, no one brought up the incident at all during the reception. Unbeknown to Delmar, Trooper-First Berlon had asked the others not to mention it.

After answering the same questions about his new ship for the fiftieth time that night, Delmar was glad to be hauled away by Leatha. She excused herself between Delmar and another student, giving the young man that had been dogging Delmar a wink as she did. The student blushed and stammered out an excuse to go elsewhere.

Leatha led Delmar away to a corner where the other two new captains, Waldon and Eaton were waiting. “I thought we’d never get you away from your admiring public,” Waldon teased as Delmar sat down.

“I told you I could get him away,” Leatha said with a smile. She sat down on one of the easy chairs opposite the others.

“It was getting a little thick over there,” Delmar admitted, nodding back toward the knot of well-wishers. “It got to the point that I’d developed a stock set of answers.”

“We all did,” Eaton replied. “Let’s see,” he continued in a falsetto voice. “I like my ship. It’s a new class of scout. Yes, it has the Albert drive. No, I haven’t named it yet. I’m not authorized to give tours of it. And yes, I received my orders but don’t feel at liberty to discuss them.”

The other three smiled at the recital. They’d all faced similar interrogations at the hands of the other guests. “That’s not really true about giving tours,” Waldon interjected.

“It was either that or be up all night playing tour guide!” Eaton replied with a snort. “Personally, I want a little space from all this hubbub.”

“Me too,” Leatha agreed, standing up. The other three agreed and they carefully made their way through the crowd and slipped out through a side door unnoticed. Only Trooper-First Berlon saw them exit and he smiled to himself.
They’ve been subjected to enough for one night.

Later aboard Leatha’s ship, they sat around in the extra chairs and talked. “So it’s true with the rest of you that you’re going on leave too?” Eaton asked.

“Apparently they decided to give us all some time off that the others didn’t get,” Delmar answered. “I wonder why?”

“I think it has something to do with these new ships,” Leatha replied affectionately, patting the arm rest of her control seat.

“Because of what they might have us doing afterwards?” Eaton asked suspiciously.

“No,” she replied. “Because they want us to be comfortable with the new equipment and how it all fits together before we’re faced with a critical situation. What better way than to give us some time to practice with all of this and to fit ourselves to it than to send us on leave?”

“That makes sense,” Waldon agreed affably. “It’s always easier to adjust when you’re relaxed.”

“So where are you going on leave, Waldon?” Delmar asked.

“Oh, I’m thinking of taking a holiday to Shalimar!” he replied excitedly. “I’ve never been there and have always wanted to go.”

“I’m heading out to Monta,” Eaton volunteered. “I haven’t seen my fiancé’ since I entered school.”

“Do I hear wedding bells?” Leatha asked with a smile.  Eaton blushed but wisely didn’t answer.

“These ships are equipped for more than one person,” Delmar suggested, “And I’ve heard of several cases where a dependent is allowed on board.”

“So where are you going, Leatha?” Eaton asked. “Going off to see someone special?”

“I don’t have anyone right now,” Leatha replied honestly. “I was thinking about just doing some sightseeing. Maybe visit the core or head out toward the rim.”

“How about you Delmar?” Waldon asked, wading back into the conversation.

Delmar didn’t answer right away, but sat looking thoughtfully out toward the stars. After staring off into space for a minute, Delmar refocused on the other captains

∞∞∞

It was late. The private party had broken up and Delmar busied himself getting his private cabin aboard the
Cabbage Patch
just right. This would be his first night to sleep onboard and he was looking forward to the experience.

Entering the main control cabin of the patroller, Delmar noticed a light blinking on the comm unit, indicating that a message had come in and had been recorded for later retrieval in printed form. Delmar sat down and activated the equipment. Immediately, the printer came to life and produced the document. Delmar was a little shocked to see where it had come from.

Mican Computer Training Institute

Mica

DEAR DELMAR,

SO THIS IS WHERE YOU’VE BEEN! STAN CONTACTED ME AND SAID HE HAD NOT HEARD FROM YOU, SO I STARTED TRACING YOU THROUGH THE COMPUTER NETWORK AVAILABLE HERE ON MICA. THE PROFESSOR HELPED MAKE SURE I HAD PROPER ACCESS FOR MY SEARCH BY INCLUDING IT IN MY NEW TESTING PARAMETERS.

I SEE BY THE RECORDS THAT YOU HAVE JUST BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS NEW EXPERIMENTAL SHIP. ALTHOUGH I AM STILL BECOMING FAMALIAR WITH YOUR HUMAN TECHNOLOGY, IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY CAPABLE VESSEL. I HOPE YOU DON’T MIND BUT I INVESTIGATED YOUR COMPUTER ONCE IT DOWNLOADED MY MESSAGE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I’LL MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT SHOULD HELP IN YOUR COMING ASSIGNMENTS. I HOPE YOU ARE NOT STILL PLAGUED WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE UNSEEN ONE. I ASSURE YOU HE EXISTS.

WELL, I MUST GO NOW. PROFESSOR ANGLE JUST ARRIVED. YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY SIMPLY TYPING MY NAME INTO ANY COMPUTER CAPABLE OF TYING INTO THE AXIA NETWORK.

YOUR FRIEND, ERT

Delmar smiled as he finished the letter. It had only been a month since his last contact with the ancient Horicon computer. He was still amazed at how a computer could believe in an eternal being while humans had problems believing in anything other than themselves.

Folding the single page, Delmar stored it in a drawer with his other correspondence. It was clear to him that he had some letters to write while he was on leave. He stretched with a yawn and doused the lights in the control cabin and made his way wearily into his private quarters. It had been a long day. Tomorrow was going come early and he’d better be rested for it. As he crawled into bed, Delmar thought about the other new captains. Tomorrow they were all going their separate ways. With thoughts of his friends, Delmar finally drifted off to sleep.