>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Subject: Paul Freeman - The Name of Nothingness: "The Assignment"
Date: 18 Jan 92 20:22:05 GMT
This is a repost after I redid parts of the original article.
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "The Assigment."
ISSUE: Introduction to Vol 1.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Unlimited Horizons
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for "Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
###########################################################################
"Ok, well I guess that takes care of everything," said the
SEU suit. "You've uploaded the relevent documentation to your
personal AI 'PAM.'"
"Yes," answered Paul.
"Your will is up to date and other personal affairs in order?"
"As always," responded Paul.
"Then that's it. I was more than a little stumped by the deep-
space probe reports myself. That head office for this sector
has decided to send a Class 1 explorer like yourself out means
there must be something big out there. I look forward to reading
your report when you get back," finished the suit.
"I'm sure you'll be pleased, sir," said Paul.let's-get-on-with-it.
"Very well," continued the suit as he stood offered his hand.
"I wish you the best of luck. See you when you get back."
Rising, Paul took the proffered hand, shook it, and then left the SEU
Administration offices. Every time he had to deal with these guys, he
always left with a dirty feeling, like there was something they weren't
telling him. This time was no exception. He'd read the reports, seen the
holoscans, spectrographic analysis, and every other form of analysis
known to man, and still it didn't add up.
<<Talk to me Paul,>> thought PAM.
<<I'm not sure what to think,>> said Paul. <<This assignment is
too different from the other ones I've done before. I've surveyed
over 750 solar systems, 10 star clusters, been within scanning
range of more pulsars, quasars, and black holes than I even want
to think about, and I've *never* come across something like this
before. It just doesn't make sense. Not at all. You saw the
planetary motion studies they conducted. By rights, there should
be who-knows-how-many solar systems in there, but instead there's
nothing. Zero. Zilch. Zip. And that just doesn't fit,>> thought
Paul.
<<Well, if they knew what was out there, they wouldn't have sent
you, would they?>> asked the AI
<<No, they wouldn't have. Ours is not to reason why,>> began Paul.
<<ours is but to do or die,>> finished PAM.
With these thoughts on his mind, Paul proceeded through the halls of Stellar
Exploration Unlimited's (relatively) small branch office and made his way to
the spacedock, where his ship, the Solar Expedition class scoutship SEU
"Unlimited Horizions," was waiting for him. As he approached the dock's
transparent titanium windows, he could see her in synchronous orbit within
the administration docking complex, strangely alone, yet majestic in the
isolation.
<<It's the way an explorer was born to be,>> thought Paul, <<and
soon we'll be out among the stars once more, looking into another
unknown to see what we can see.>>
<<IRA welcomes you back,>> thought PAM, <<and reports that all
loading and maintenance activities have been completed. Everything
checks out green.>>
<<Glad to hear it,>> thought Paul. <<Have IRA prep Horizons for
launch.>>
<<Aye aye, Cap'n,>> responded PAM. <<IRA, you got that?>> echoed
the AI. <<Message received, prepping the TLS drive now, SLS drive
on standby, main thrusters online, ready for launch,>> reported IRA.
<<IRA, I don't know what I'd do without you,>> thought Paul.
<<I'm sure you'd think of something,>> responded IRA affectionately.
<<Probably get lost or trip over the nearest nebulae I'm sure.>>
<<Cute IRA, real cute,>> responded Paul. It was life as usual.
* * *
Continuing through the docking area, Paul made his way to the airlock. After
passing through decontamination, he made his way to the front pilot's seat
and sat down. As the pilot's chair re-molded itself to seat him more
comfortably, he attached the padded wrist-cuff which contained the antennae
need to properly establish a full-speed communications between the shipboard
AI and PAM.
<<PAM, verify connection with IRA secure,>> thought Paul.
<<Connection verified on this end,>> responded PAM.
<<Connection verified here also,>> thought IRA.
<<Seal airlock,>> thought Paul.
<<Sealed,>> responded IRA.
<<Clear dock moorings,>> thought Paul.
<<Moorings clear. We are free,>> responded IRA.
<<Perform final systems check,>> thought Paul.
<<All green here,>> thought PAM.
<<All green here. Thrusters and sublight drive at your command,
translight drive once we've cleared orbit,>> thought IRA.
<<Activate the space-dock navigation program, thrusters at my
command,>> thought Paul.
Instantly a flourescent green grid was overlaid in Paul's vision field,
with a wire frame pathway outlining the way out of space dock. With a
mental nudge, Paul activated the Horizons' thrusters and gently manevered
her sleek form out of the SEU docking bay. With another mental command,
Paul gently set the ship in the departure path outlined in his viewfield.
Softly, silently, Unlimited Horizons made her way out of space dock and
into the clear.
Below him, the large expanse of blue beneath made the planet look like
a giant marble. As he looked, Paul's breath caught in his throat. Mennari I,
a planet Paul had discovered on an expedition almost 10 years ago, was the
crown jewel of his explorations. Like a proud father, Paul looked over
the wide expanse of blue waters, the greens and browns of it's forests,
and the gentle wisps of clouds drifting over it's surface. It was hard
to believe that only 10 years after he'd discovered it, that planet
already contained over 15 million inhabitants, and a set of developing
industries that was making record advances in production each year. Who
wouldn't be proud to've discovered such a hospitible planet?
After taking one last look at "his" planet, Paul turned his attention
back to the task at hand.
<<IRA, lay in system departure course and increase velocity to
0.9c,>> thought Paul.
<<Acknowledged,>> responded IRA. <<Departure course plotted.
Increasing velocity to 0.9c.>>
Almost immediately the effects of the the sublight engines became
apparent as Mennari I quickly shrunk down to a pinpoint. Paul swore
he could almost feel the inertial dampers kicking in, but was sure
it was probably more his imagination than anything else. But as long
as everything worked as adverstised, that's what counted. He wasn't
here to analyze his tools, but to do what he did best.
Go exploring.
* * *
<<Range from Mennari I now 15 AU. Course to the final destination
computed and locked in. Ready to go to translight drive at your
command,>> reported IRA.
<<Execute,>> thought Paul.
<<Executing now,>> responded IRA.
Instantly the Mennarian solar system disappeared from view as SEU Unlimited
Horizons severly bent several laws about faster-than-light travel and left
3 dimensional space.
* * *
<<Estimated time 'till arrival?>> asked Paul.
<<8 weeks, 5 hours, and 10 minutes,>> thought PAM.
"Switch to voice communications girls, I need to think out
loud for a while," said Paul.
"Need to listen to yourself speak some more Paul?" teased
PAM. "Or just keep those gums in practice?" added IRA.
"All of the above girls, and don't you forget it," replied Paul.
"And while you're laughing over that one PAM, maybe you'd like to
get a copy of the mission dossier and put it up in my viewfield so
I can look them over again."
"Sure thing Paul," responded PAM.
Almost instantly, Paul's area of vision was overlaid with a number of
visual cues outlining the contents of the dossier he had been given at
the Mennarian space station.
"Summarize please," said Paul.
PAM spoke first. "According to this report, deep-space probe
CYL70F was sent out 5 years ago and passed through an area of
space seemingly devoid of any stellar matter. This phenomenon
was ignored at the time as subsequent reports from the probe
turned up reports of gas giants which had vast implications for
the asteroid mining company that had sponsored that particular
mission.
The next report is from probe CYL75A, which was launched 2 years
later. It too passed near the same area of space, and reported the
same abscence of stellar matter. Once more this phenomonon was
written off as ' interesting, but not important enough to warrant
further investigation' by SEU experts and the sponsoring client.
The final report is from proble CYL85A, which went out about
12 months ago. Since it was passing near the same area of space
CYL70F and CYL75A had passed by, it was decided to alter the
trajectory of the probe so that it would pass near the middle of
this abnormality. What it found was identical to what the prior
two probes had reported," finished PAM.
"Which was, to put it simply, nothing," said Paul.
"Exactly," said IRA, jumping into the conversation. "However,
I've been working on the information we have so far, and if my
extrapolations are correct, there's an area of space 10 parsecs
square that's totally devoid of the normal stellar matter that
should be there."
"Theories? Speculations?" asked Paul.
"A black hole's been ruled out. Not enough radiation, and the
galactic systems around the affected area don't show any sign
of the effects such a massive gravity well would have. In fact,
one of the peculiarities of these probe's reports is that the
radiation level is exceptionally low for that area of space,"
said PAM.
"Anything else? There's got to be something else in there," said
Paul.
"I'm afraid not," said PAM. IRA concurred. "A footnote in one
part of the dossier suggested a manned exploration vessel go
out and check the area over to find out the cause of this. There's
even some speculation of a possible sentience behind this, but
for any known force to excavate whole planets and stars on a level
like this was written off as too improbable. That, and the fact that
no sentient life form has yet been discovered in 150 years of space exploration, would seem to write off that line of speculation."
"Hmmm... I wonder," said Paul.
What to do. An area of space that large, totally empty of all stellar
matter, was not natural. But what could it hold? What was the reason
for the abscence of stars, planets, and all the other usual stellar
matter in that area of space?
A puzzle. The explorer in Paul was getting impatient already, itching to
find out why this part of space was so devoid of the kind of things space
is supposed to hold. But first they had to get there. Which would take
more than 8 weeks, one way. And getting back would take just as long.
But it'd already been there for over 5 years. It'd wait a little longer
for him to get there.
"I'm going to sleep PAM. Wake me when we get there," said Paul.
"You got it boss. Have a good nap," said PAM. "I'm sure I will,"
said Paul. Then, more to himself, "I'm sure I will."
* * *
<<Arriving at the destination now. Return to sublight drive
will take place in 5 minutes,>> said IRA.
"Huh? Wha's that?" asked a sleepy Paul.
"Wake up Paul!" said PAM. "We're almost there!"
"Oh. Well, why didn't you say so?" asked Paul, as he rubbed one eye
in an attempt to clear his vision. "When you drop out of translight,
run a long-range scan of the area and let me know what you find.
I'm going to take a shower," thought Paul.
"Acknowledged," responded PAM. "Will keep you informed."
Satisfied that all was well under control, Paul made his way back to the
washroom. In all his years of exploring, it was always the long journeys
getting to the destination area that were the hardest on him.
* * *
Somewhere in space, a bright light flashed into existance, and just as
quickly disappered.
SEU Unlimited Horizons had arrived.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories I've thought
about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them together and send
them out for public comment. I don't know how often they're going to get put
together, but I do have a definite idea of what's going to happen. With luck,
this will come out a bit more often than the Unity.* story entries. (It
should, since there's no overhead time required to put these together). I
hope you like my first foray into writing a space-exploration story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
###########################################################################
From organpipe.uug.arizona.edu!amethyst!noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!xenitec!wynnds.xenitec.on.ca!timk Mon Jan 20 10:35:59 MST 1992
Article 423 of alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:
Xref: organpipe.uug.arizona.edu alt.prose:819 alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:423
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>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Subject: Paul Freeman (The Name of Nothingness): "Probes Away!"
Message-ID: <1992Jan20.035411.12607@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 20 Jan 92 03:54:11 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 366
I got on such a roll that I've actually got the next issue out already!
This is fun! :-)
Tim
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Probes Away!"
ISSUE: Part 1 of Vol 1.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Unlimited Horizons
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for "Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
###########################################################################
The shower felt good on Paul's body. Muscles that in over eight weeks
had only the electro-stimulation PAM used to keep them from atrophing
loosened as he moved through their full range of motion. Slowly he made
his way through the various levels of wakefulness until he was fully awake.
Finished with his shower, Paul put on a pair of shorts, then made his way
back to the pilot's chair.
"What do you see IRA?" asked Paul.
"We're at the edge of the phenomenon now. There are a number of
different solar systems to the port and starboard, and scanners
report nothing remarkable in any of them. Forward scanning
indicates a lower than ususal atomic density, and a markedly
decreased level of radiation in all bands," said IRA.
"Give me a color-coded chart of the radiation levels," said Paul.
In a blink of an eye, IRA downloaded the appropriate information to PAM,
who then superimposed the display over Paul's optical receptors. As he
looked around, varying levels of radiation were clearly shown in the
different colors of the spectrum.
"This is quite remarkable," said Paul. "No variation greater than
plus or minus 10% in the scanning range."
"This doesn't tell us much though," returned PAM. "Our ship-based
scanners only have a range of 0.5 cubic parsecs."
"In a 1000 cubic parsec range of utterly empty space -- I know,"
finshed Paul. "Break out eight of the sensor-extender probes,
have them assume a standard configuration around the Horizons,
and let's see what that tells us."
Further back along the Horizons's hull, ports opened to space. Swiftly,
eight small cylinders rushed out and away from the ship. When they had
reached the correct position, they stopped and began actively scanning
the space around them.
"Scanners deployed and operational. Range now 0.85 cubic
parsecs. Current information on visual," said IRA.
A cubic pseudo-hologram appeared in Paul's sight, and what he saw there
looked the same as what the initial scan had. The area of space they were
in was totally empty.
"This doesn't tell us much either," said PAM. "It only covers
0.0006141 of the total volume in question."
"That's all?" asked Paul. "Just how big *is* this thing? When
they said 10 parsec on a side, I thought they were kidding. Except
for gas giants and galaxies, there's nothing that big in space!"
"Well, it looks like they weren't kidding after all," said
IRA. "And it also looks like we're going to be here a while,"
finished PAM. "A while indeed. Doing even a preliminary scan
of the area's going to take another 2 months."
IRA and PAM kept silent. Paul sat in his pilot's seat, considering the
alternatives.
"Let's see, 1000 cubic parsecs to cover. Which is 10 parsecs high,
10 parsecs long, and 10 parsecs deep. Doesn't that strike you as
rather odd -- that it's 10 parsecs in every dimension?" said Paul.
"It could be," ventured PAM. "Or maybe our theoretical sentience
just decided to stop there."
"Maybe," said Paul distractedly. "IRA, get me a spread of class 1
probes, set to record mode only, and distribute them in the
following fashion."
With more mental gymnastics, Paul indicated the trajectory the probes were
to follow after leaving the Horizons.
"And while they're doing that, let's follow a course of our own
following this path, going 75c," said Paul as he indicated a
course around the edge of the cube.
IRA's circuits moved swiftly to comply with Paul's instructions. Within
moments, 100 class 1, low-resolution recording probes capable of covering
a square parsec were released by the Horizons and sent off on their pre-
programmed course.
"All probes away. Everything within normal bounds," said IRA.
"Engage translight drive when ready," said Paul.
"Translight drive ready. Engaging now," said IRA.
And the SEU Unlimited Horizons once more left 3-space.
* * *
A month later, Paul and the Horizons was on the other side of the empty
cube of space, having completed their scan of the perimeter, and having
found nothing more than a few less than spectacular near-class M planets
on the fringes, and nothing within the cube itself.
"Activate homing beacon," said Paul.
"Activated," responded IRA.
Immediately a high-energy, omnidirectional beacon flashed out into space to
the probes like a mother hen calling her chicks. On reception of the signal
the various probes began homing in on the signal and returning to their nest.
One by one, the Horizons' collected its precious cargo, transcribed the
probes' information and compiled it with the reports the other probes gave.
Slowly, as Paul watched, IRA and PAM filled in the cubic solid of space with
more and more information that still shed no light on the mystery.
"Is that all the information we have?" asked Paul.
"All that is available from the probes which have returned
so far," said IRA.
"How many probes are still missing?" asked Paul.
"Nine probes still have not reported yet," responded PAM.
"Probes 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 6-4, 6-5, and 6-6 are still
unaccounted for."
"That sounds rather odd," said Paul. "It's almost like something
or someone in that area of space interecepted those probes. PAM,
put a display of the affected block of space on visual."
PAM immediately replaced the current display with that of a rectangular
solid, three parsecs high, three wide, and ten deep.
"Well, at least we're down to ninety cubic parsecs, instead of
the one thousand we had before," said Paul. Then to IRA, "Program
another spread of probes, this time programmed to travel in a
course perpendicular to those of the missing probes. Launch when
ready."
"Acknowledged," responded IRA.
In short order, thirty more probes were programmed and launched, and
Horizons moved to the other side of the scanning area to wait for them.
* * *
Six weeks later, Unlimited Horizons wasn't exactly a happy ship.
"What do you mean, 'Only fifteen probes returned'?" asked Paul.
"Exactly that," responded IRA. "Only fifteen probes responded to
the homing beacon, and of those fifteen, the recording mechanism
on eight malfunctioned."
"Malfunctioned? How?" asked Paul.
"Their recordings show a number of massive objects in space, bigger
in size than some planetary orbits. Since an object that size
couldn't possibly exist, there must be something wrong with the
probes" said IRA. "I'm running an exhaustive series of diagnostics
on them now to see what happened."
"Show me where these sightings were," said Paul.
Immediately the now very-familiar cube appeared before Paul's eyes.
Initially it started out as the full 10 square parsec area they'd been
sent to investigate, then expanded so that the thirty cubic parsec area
they had narrowed the search down to was all that showed. Within the
new volume of space eight pinpoints of light showed where the probes
reported the massive objects.
"Show reported objects at scale," said Paul.
The rectangular solid was replaced by a large sphere, with various markings
that measured the item in question. The scale's indicator showed 8.5 AU.
When Paul saw the readings, he sat down heavily.
"You're right IRA, those readings can't possibly be true," said
Paul. "Let me know what your diagnostic turns up. I'm going to
work on a new set of programs for the probes while you're
working."
"Acknowleged," said IRA.
8.5 AU. 8.5 times the distance from the earth to the sun. Paul's mind
rebelled at the thought. At a random thought, he asked PAM --
<< How much material would be required to construct an object
that size? >>
<< The size of the object those probes are reporting?>> responded
PAM. << Assuming minimal depth in the surface area of the object,
it would be enclosing 1,929 cubic AU's of space... >>
<< Wait a second -- one thousand, nine hundred and twenty nine cubic
AU's?>> said Paul.
<< Allowing for a possible 10 percent variation due to unknown
factors, that's correct,>> said PAM.
<< What's that in something more comprehensible?>> asked Paul,
boggled at the numbers PAM had shown him.
<<Well, given that one AU is equal to 149,599,000 KM, one cubic AU
would be equal to 1.402 times 10 to the 25th power cubic KMs.>>
said PAM
Before Paul's eyes, the number 1.4024077 * 10 ^ 25 KM^3 hung in glowing
luminescence.
<< Let's try again. What's that in terms of Earth volume? >> asked
Paul.
<< Earth has a radius of 6,371 KM, giving a net volume of 1.08
times ten to the twelveth power cubic kilometers, meaning that
the objects could contain 1.295 times ten to the thirteenth power
objects with the same volume as Earth,>> said PAM.
The numbers 1.08 * 10^12 and 1.295 * 10 ^ 13 were added to the other
previous huge numbers before Paul's eyes.
<< Now, if we assume these objects are hollow, then what? >>
asked Paul.
<< Well, assuming we have a surface thickness of one hundred
kilometers, that would take up a net volume of...nearly 907
cubic AU's of material,>> said PAM.
Another luminescent number appeared in front of Paul's eyes.
<< Measured in terms of Earth volume, that would take one billion,
eight hundred eighty-two million, nine hundred and eighty one
Earths to provided the required material to create such an
object,>> finished PAM.
Yet another luminescent number appeared before Paul's eyes.
<< Using the another means of measuring, it would take twelve
thousand, two hundred and fifty systems the size of Sol to make
such an object,>> said PAM.
Another luminescent number appeared.
<< I see, >> said Paul numbly.
<< In either case, on one side it would have a surface area
equivalent to one million, six hundred and ninety five thousand,
one hundred and nineteen Earth's.
Still another luminescent number appeared.
<< Anything else? >> asked PAM.
<< I don't think so. This is as bad as trying to understand the
principles behind my translight engines. I'm going to take a nap,
this much thinking is giving me a headache. Oh my aching head! >>
thought Paul, holding his now throbbing temples.
* * *
"Paul? Are you awake? Hello -- Paul?" asked a voice.
{mmmfttt} " I guess I am now," said Paul. "What have you got?"
"No probe malfunctions to report, I'm afraid," said IRA. "Each
of them check out perfectly."
"Let's get this straight then -- what those probes reported was
true? That there's one or more objects out there, they're 8.5 AUs
across, and they're not gas giants?" asked Paul.
"That is essentially correct," said IRA.
"I think this calls for a closer look," said Paul. "Plot a
course for the nearest sighting and ready the translight
engines. Set the arrival point five AUs away from the reported
position."
"Acknowledged," said IRA.
Paul made his way to the front cabin. After sitting in the pilot's seat he
took the opportunity to look around. Except for the large area of space he
was currently in, there wasn't anything to be seen except for the far-off
twinkle of other stars that were beyond the bounds of what he was searching.
While he was considering things, put a small notice in the lower right hand
side of his vision field indicating that the translight engines were ready.
With a mental command, he brought up a plot of the immeditate area and the
course they were to follow.
"Shields at full," said Paul.
"Shields at full, sir."
"Set translight engines for maximum velocity. Engage when ready."
And Unlimited Horizons went from a relative stop to full speed in 0.005
seconds.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories I've
thought about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them
together and send them out for public comment. I don't know how often
they're going to get put together, but I do have a definite idea of
what's going to happen. With luck, this will come out a bit more often
than the Unity.* story entries. (It should, since there's not nearly the
overhead time required to put these together). I hope you like my first
foray into writing a space-exploration story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
###########################################################################
From organpipe.uug.arizona.edu!amethyst!noao!rutgers!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!xenitec!wynnds.xenitec.on.ca!timk Fri Jan 24 08:38:52 MST 1992
Article 426 of alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:
Xref: organpipe.uug.arizona.edu alt.prose:838 alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:426
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>From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Subject: Paul Freeman: "Screen Test"
Message-ID: <1992Jan23.035638.1616@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 23 Jan 92 03:56:38 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 419
(Alaric - I tried to mail you, but I've got a problem with some site
named "synapse.bonzai.athenanet.com" bouncing all my message to your
machine. I'll get through one of these days though!)
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Screen Test"
ISSUE: Part 2 of Vol 1
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Unlimited Horizons
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for "Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
(1,499,999,000 KM)
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
###########################################################################
Another twinkle of light, and Horizons had arrived at its destination.
"Sensors at full," said Paul.
"Scanning. Nothing reported in this area of space, sir," said
IRA.
"Nothing? Something that big has to show up on the scans!" said
Paul.
"Nothing here, sir. Scanner operation verified, there is nothing
in scanning range of this point in space."
"Ok, let's go to the next sighting. Same procedure, engage when
ready."
"Acknowledged. Engaging translight engines now."
* * *
Over the next week, all eight locations were scanned. Each got the same
result -- nothing was found.
"All eight reports checked out false. And yet the probes'
sensors checked out functional," said Paul.
"There's also the other seven probes that didn't answer the
homing beacon," said PAM.
"That's true. For such an empty cube of space, it has sure
developed an appetite," said Paul.
"What does this tell us?" asked IRA.
"First of all, that there's something in here. Secondly, if the
probe reports are accurate, it's got the lowest radiation profile
known to man for such a large object. Finally, it's doing an awful
good job of keeping its location a secret, if it even exists," said
Paul.
"How about if we follow the same path travelled by one of the
probes and see what happens?" asked IRA.
"Sounds like a reasonable idea to me," said Paul. "Execute when
ready."
"Executing now," said IRA.
As Paul watched, IRA plotted the course on the projected rectangular cube of
space the search had been narrowed to. The stars outside appeared to warp
and distort when the Horizons's translight engines engaged.
* * *
Two weeks later, all was quiet as the Horizons dutifully followed her
programmed course. Both the normal and extended sensors reached out into
the surrounding space looking for things of interest to report. In the
meantime Paul was in his study making yet another attempt at trying to
understand the layman's version of "Overcoming the Effects of Einsteinian
Relativity" and failing miserably when it happened. First the hairs on
the back of Paul's neck stood up on end, then an electric feeling filled
the air. When Paul looked up, the walls of his study had warped, and then
faded to translucence. Paul didn't even have a chance to ask PAM what was
happening when everything turned black.
* * *
IRA's sensors picked up the anomoly only 0.005 seconds before it enveloped
the ship. Static raced through IRA's circuits as space and time warped, and
SEU Unlimited Horizons was sucked into a black hole that seemingly appeared
out of nowhere.
* * *
When Paul came to everything around him was bathed in the dull red of the
ship's emergency lights .
<< PAM, what happened?>> asked Paul.
<< From IRA's last report, we seem to have been ambushed by a
micronized black hole,>> thought PAM.
<< A black hole? Why didn't navigation steer a course around it?>>
asked Paul.
<< According to IRA's last report, the sensors were all clear when
some kind of space-time anomoly appeared, engulfed the ship, and
here we are,>> responded PAM. << Which, by the way, is nowhere near
where we were before.>>
<< You mean we were teleported somehow?>> asked Paul.
<< That is correct,>> answered PAM.
<< IRA, what else did you find? >> asked Paul.
<< IRA is presently not functional,>> thought PAM. << During the
'teleportation,' the translight and sublight engines became
unbalanced and automatically shut down. IRA will be functional
once full power has been restored.>>
<< Glad to hear it,>> thought Paul.
<< Engines coming on line now, sir. Full power restored,>> thought
PAM just as the red emergency lights were replaced by the ship's
"daytime" lights.
<< IRA? Are you there?>> asked Paul.
<< Checking....yes, all systems report functional. I am here,>>
thought IRA.
<< What happened?>> asked Paul.
<< Would seem to have been teleported,>> answered IRA. << We are
presently 2.5 lightyears away from our last recorded position on
a heading nearly perpendicular to our prior course.>>
<< Plot a course to a point 0.5 AU from where we were teleported
and engage translight engines when ready,>> thought Paul. << I
want to know who just tossed us out their front door.>>
<< Acknowledged,>> responded IRA. << Executing now.>>
* * *
When the Horizons arrived at its destination Paul carefully scanned the area
of space where they'd last been. When the scan had been completed and nothing
was found, Paul decided to try a different tack.
"Ready a class 5 probe. Set it for a full spectrum scan with
continuous transmission. Program it to follow the same
course we were on. Set the range for 0.25 AU ahead of us,"
said Paul.
"Ready," said IRA.
"Launch," said Paul.
A flash of light passed the Horizons bridge, shrunk to a pinpoint,
and finally disappeared as the probe moved ahead of the scoutship.
"Probe at station. Initiating scanning now," reported IRA.
Paul's field of vision was overlaid by a series of displays that showed
various displays from the probe's sensors. Looking the readings over in
a cursory manner, everything looked like it was within normal limits
for that area of space. Satisfied, Paul gave the engines a mental nudge.
Deep inside the Horizons's hull the sublight engines hummed a little
louder as the ship moved forward on the course it had previously followed.
Obedient to its programming, the class 5 probe preceded the Horizons
through space. IRA began calling out the probe's range to the anomoly as
they travelled --
"Range at zero point four AUs... point three... point two...
point one... contact."
Readings from the probe halted. A few minutes later the ship's optic
sensors picked up a flash of light where the probe had once been.
"What do you make of the readings?" asked Paul.
"Intense local gravitational fluctuations appeared, followed by
the probe's disappearance. Visual transmission from the probe just
before contact was lost suggest a the probe is now at a point 18
lightyears from here," said IRA.
"It must not an offensive weapon, otherwise it would've just
destroyed the probe, and us," said Paul.
"If it had been a force field, we would've been able to pick it
up on the short range sensors, and probably our long range sensors
as well," said PAM.
"I wonder if this effect is local, or if it covers wide area,"
mused Paul. "IRA -- move us to 0.1 AU from the point of contact
and ready the railgun. Set it for practice rounds only, I want
to see how this thing reacts to inert matter penetrating it's
field."
"Railgun ready, set for practice rounds only," said IRA.
"Activate tactical systems," said Paul.
Displays from the probe were replaced by a gridwork pattern. A red circle
with light-green crosshairs tracked the movement of Paul's eyes as he
looked the targeting grid over.
"Target the contact point," said Paul.
A light blue circle began to pulse slowly just left of center. Paul centered
the targeting circle in the middle of the blue circle. When the command to
fire came, a set of hypervelocity rounds erupted from the railgun and
streaked towards the target area. As Paul watched, the rounds's projected
movement was tracked on the tactical display. When they closed on the probe's
last point of contact a light flashed briefly, followed almost immediately
by a second, more distant flash of light.
"Two highly localized gravitational disturbances recorded,"
reported IRA. "Apparently, whatever it was either missed the
practice rounds or didn't get them all the first time."
Paul didn't comment, but instead moved the targeting circle to a point
near the upper left corner of the display. Once more the railgun spat a
set of practice rounds, which in turn met with yet another pair of closely
spaced gravitational disturbances. When Paul repeated the same procedure
at the other extremes of his tactical display, the same effect was recorded.
"Put display of contact points on visual," said Paul.
The tactical display disappeared and was replaced by a set of points. A
larger red dot showed the Horizons's location, while the smaller white
dots were where the practice rounds and probe had vanished. Setting all
the points into a plane showed that for each set of practice rounds fired
there had been two points where the localized gravitational disturbances
had erupted, which were the same distance apart each time. Where the probe
had made contact, there was only a single occurance of the field's effect.
"A different kind of shield maybe?" asked Paul. "One that teleports
impacting objects away instead of destroying them? IRA -- set a
course parallel to and in an outgoing spiral away from the central
point of contact. Reactivate the targeting system."
The targeting display reappeared. At short intervals Paul fired more
practice rounds at the anomoly while IRA moved the ship in an increasingly
large spiral away from the first point of contact with the anomoly. Each
round was met with the distinctive double flash.
An hour later Paul ordered the ship to a halt.
"Display points of impact so far," said Paul.
A set of points appeared with two flat planes connecting them together.
Turning the display around in front of him, Paul obtained an end-on view
of the area of display.
"This look like part of a sphere," said Paul.
"Which suggests there could be a central source for it," commented
PAM.
"Yes, but what I want to know is, 'Where did the pictures the
probes reported come from?'" said Paul. "We haven't picked up
anything yet," said Paul.
Niether IRA nor PAM commented.
"I wonder what it'll think of a MicroNova warhead..." said
Paul. "PAM -- authorization codes alpha tango zulu zulu delta
niner five eight zero."
"Confirmation sequence please," said IRA.
"Sunburst echo niner," said Paul.
"Warhead release acknowledged. Logging event for report to SEU
Control," said PAM.
"Activate tactical."
"Tactical activated," said IRA.
After he aimed at a point near the center of contact, Paul fired the weapon.
The missle's tract clearly displayed on the visual up to the point where
the other projectiles had impacted, and then it detonated. But instead of
a normal detonation like the ones Paul had witnessed during target practice,
there was a slightly larger flash of light than the other contacts, then
nothing.
"So much for..." started Paul.
Suddenly the proximity alarm went off --
"WARNING! Supernuclear detonation detected, bearing one zero
niner, range ten kilometers!" said IRA.
"Emergency evasive!" said Paul.
At once the sublight engines cut in and the Horizons streaked away from
the expanding cloud of transuranic energy particles. At a point 1 AU
away from the detonation, Paul turned the ship around.
"That was close," said Paul.
"Evidently we can't use an energy overload to get through the
screen," said PAM wryly. "Got any other 'bright' ideas?"
"There must be some way through that," said Paul. "The longer
I'm kept out of there, the more I want to know what's inside!"
* * *
Over the next three weeks Paul tried every conceivable way he could think
of to get through the screen. Railgun rounds at full power, translight
warheads, and all the other toys in Ultimate Horizons' bag of tricks
carried. None of them got past the screen.
* * *
"Doggonit! There's GOT to be some way past that screen!" said
Paul as he paced back and forth in frustration. "Ok, one more
time PAM. What have we got?"
"We've got a reasonably full mapping of the area covered by
the screen. It appears to be a sphere, roughly 10 AU in
diameter..."
"There's that dratted number ten again!" said Paul. "That's got
to mean something... but what??"
Paul paced some more, while PAM kept silent.
"Continue please," said Paul.
"The best we've been able to do so far is 2KM using the low
velocity towing drones."
"Wait a second," said Paul. "That was the 'low velocity' drones
that got the best results, right?" asked Paul.
"That is correct," responded PAM.
"By golly, I'll bet that's it!" said Paul. "IRA, ready a class 1
probe and program it to move to a point 100 KM from the plane of
contact," said Paul.
"Ready," said IRA.
"Launch," said Paul.
A few moments later, IRA reported --
"Probe at station now."
"Move the probe ahead 100 KPH."
"100 KPH, roger."
Over the next hour, Paul watched closely as the probe inched its way towards
the plane of contact with the anomoly. Eventually the probe encountered the
anomoly, but at a point where it should have vanished like all the other
prior attempts, the probe blithly continued on its programmed course.
"By george, I think we've got it!" said Paul excitedly.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is part of a series of stories I've thought
about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them together and
send them out for public comment. I don't know how often they're going
to get put together, but I do have a definite idea of what's going to
happen. With luck, this will come out a bit more often than the Unity.*
story entries. (It should, since there's not nearly the overhead time
required to put these together). I hope you like my first foray into
writing a space-exploration story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or
even an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to
spend umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what
I'm doing right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
###########################################################################
From organpipe.uug.arizona.edu!amethyst!noao!arizona!arizona.edu!mvb.saic.com!network.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!xenitec!wynnds.xenitec.on.ca!timk Thu Jan 30 22:25:37 MST 1992
Article: 441 of alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
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From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo,alt.callahans
Subject: Paul Freeman: "Old Friends"
Message-ID: <1992Jan30.191808.758@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 30 Jan 92 19:18:08 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 340
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Old Friends"
ISSUE: Part 3 of Vol 1.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Unlimited Horizons
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for "Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
(1,499,999,000 KM)
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
###########################################################################
"Activate short-range scanners," said Paul.
"Activated," said IRA.
"What's out there?" asked Paul.
"You're not going to like this," started IRA.
"I'm not going to like *what*?" asked Paul.
"No detectable planetary masses within scanning range. The
shield we just passed through is definitely artifical in nature,
but I do not find any recognizeable central power source capable
of generating it on the short range scanners," said IRA.
"By Quigley's Pulsar there's GOT to be something in here!
Scan again! Something's keeping that field up and we're NOT
going to leave here until it's found!" exclaimed Paul.
"Paul, maybe there's a reason we can't find the power source,"
said PAM.
"Yeah? Like what?" asked an annoyed Paul.
"Because who or whatever's been running it doesn't want it
to be found," said PAM.
"What -- are you suggesting there's little green men out there?
Get real PAM, the closest thing to sentient life in the explored
galaxy is the amorphous slime in Traklin 4, and heaven only knows
how much they had to strain the definion of the word 'sentient' to
get that gooey substance to qualify. I've got more brains in my
middle finger than they found in an entire pondful of that stuff!"
said Paul.
"Never the less, one must consider the possibility. We have seen a
shielding screen that matched our best weaponry, transported us and
our various probes lightyears away in less time than it takes our
best propulsion drives to warm up, and works with no visible means
of generation," said PAM. "*Something* put that system here for
some reason, and if it's hostile..."
That stopped Paul in his tracks. What PAM said made sense, if only a
little. But no sentient life had been discovered in over a century and
half of exploration! That he could make the first contact with such a
life-form... Naaah. Couldn't happen to him.
"IRA, plot a course to the center of this field. Ahead one quarter,
continue scanning," said Paul.
"Executing," said IRA.
* * *
A couple of hours later, IRA announced --
"We are now at the center of the field. No planetary bodies register
on short range scanners. No generating source for the screen detected.
All long range scans blocked by the screen."
"On visual," said Paul.
A transparent, light-orange sphere appeared in Paul's viewfield. Inside
the sphere was a number of small pinpoints of light, but nothing that
was even close to planetery size. Paul rubbed his temples in annoyance.
"Ok, if there's no apparent power source creating that field,
then we'll have to settle for what we *can* find," said Paul.
"IRA, what are those pinpoints on the display?"
"Small objects the scanners picked up," responded IRA.
"They may be small," said Paul as he expanded the display to get a
more detailed look at the points, "but they're the only things in
this section of space that even begins to make sense. Steer a
course for the nearest point, ahead three quarters."
"Executing," said IRA.
* * *
Paul looked at the object through the pilot's window as it floated serenely
in space. It was quite small as space objects go, no larger than the
fuelcubes his sublight engines used.
"Scanning report?" asked Paul.
"Nothing remarkable about the object detectable. It appears to
be a asteroidic composition, roughly 3 meteres in diameter at
its largest point, with the normal composition of the alloys
and materials common to asteroidic objects," said IRA.
"Then it's safe to bring on board?"
"Yes, sir."
"Get my suit ready IRA, I'm going out."
"Yes, sir."
Towards the back of the ship, near the cargo-bay airlock, IRA opened the
doorway to the closet which held Paul's spacesuit. By the time Paul had
reached the closet, IRA had the suit warmed up from its space-normal
storage temperature of 10 degrees Kelvin to Paul's normal body temperature.
First on was the close-fitting bodystocking which carried the bulk of
the suit's life-support. Next came the powered multi-purpose exoskeleton
which could crush small asteriods to gravel, push them short distances,
take samples, or scoot through space like a miniture rocket. In short order
Paul had all the seals closed and life-support was operational.
<< PAM, confirm all suit functions within normal limits,>> thought
Paul.
<< Confirmed,>> responded PAM.
<< IRA, zero gee in the cargo bay please,>> thought Paul.
<< Zero gee, confirmed,>> thought IRA.
With a mental nudge Paul activated the microthrusters in the suit's boots.
Slowly it lifted off of the Horizons' cargo deck until a short burst from
shoulder microthrusters countered it's motion.
<< Activate internal navigation systems,>> thought Paul.
A three dimensional navigational display grid of appeared, accompanied by
a series of other status displays. With a twitch Paul banished the
non-essential information to a corner of the viewfield leaving the rest of
his perspective clear. Activating the microthrusters again, Paul moved
into the airlock. Once he was inside, the airlock went through it's cycle
and evacuated all the air. A few moments later the outer cargobay doors
opened, and Paul was clear to maneuver in space.
Once out of the Horizons Paul moved toward the object. Closer examination
showed a normal mineral composition and not much else to make it any
different from the hundreds of thousands of similar objects he'd seen in
space before. The only thing that distinguished it from all the other space
debris was its prescence in an area of space that was otherwise totally
empty.
Paul maneuvered around to the side of the asteriod farthest from the Horizons,
engaged the microthrusters, and tried to push.
The rock refused to move.
"PAM! Scan that rock again," said Paul.
"Scanning," said PAM. "No anomolies to report."
"IRA?" asked Paul.
"Scanning with main sensors," said IRA. "No anomolies to report.
Microscopic, macroscopic, spectoral, gamma, infrared, ultraviolet,
and gravitic scans all report normal."
Paul regarded the rock thoughtfully. Maybe he just wasn't trying hard
enough. Setting his microthrusters to their highest setting, Paul once
more applied himself to the rock. The rock just as stubbornly refused to
move. Determined not to be out-stubborned by a mere rock, Paul engaged
the suits normal thrusters at full power and tried again, but only
succeeded in depleting the suit's power reserves by two percent.
When that attempt failed, Paul shut the thrusters down, then examined it
from various different angles in an effort to see what could possibly
have kept it from moving. Not being conversational, the rock refused to
divulge its secrets. In frustration Paul grappled onto the rock. Tapping
the suit's massive strength, he began to methodically take the rock apart
piece by piece in a determined effort to make it reveal it's secrets.
<< Warning...power reserves at fifty percent and decreasing
rapidly,>> thought PAM.
<< What?>> asked Paul as he paused in his demolition work.
<< What's wrong?>>
<< Nothing now. Power reserves now up to sixty percent and
climbing,>> thought PAM.
With a mental shrug, Paul applied himself to demolishing the rock. Again
PAM reported a massive power drain on the suit's power reserves.
"This is getting annoying," thought Paul. "If I can't move it, and
I can't take it apart, maybe I can blast it to pieces and figure
out what's going on that way."
"Is that advisable?" asked PAM.
"I don't care if it's advisable, I want that rock!" said Paul.
Turning, Paul headed back for the airlock. "IRA -- prepare the
railgun, powerlevel four."
"Preparing railgun now," responded IRA.
* * *
Once inside the Horizons, Paul sat down in the pilot's seat.
"Activate tactical," said Paul. "Move to 100 KM range."
"Activating," said IRA. "Moving to range of 100 KM."
Immediately the targeting grid and circle appeared while the rock shrunk
in size.
"Magnification factor 10," said Paul.
The rock leapt into view. Paul centered the weapons targeting sights.
"Fire!" said Paul.
The hypervelocity round sped towards the rock. About ten meters away from
the rock, a bright flash was seen and the missle disappeared. Paul looked
at the displays, mildly stunned by what they told him. Apparently the same
screen that had previousl blocked all his efforts to get past was also
protecting the rock.
"Maybe we should look at some of the other sightings," said IRA
softly.
"That's not a bad idea," said Paul numbly. "Plot a course to the
the next nearest sighting and execute when ready."
"Executing now," said IRA.
While the rock hung serenely in space, the Horizons veered off and went in
search of easier prey.
* * *
Eight sightings in total, and each time they found the same thing -- a
non-descript rock that refused to budge.
"That's the last one," said PAM. "They certainly don't seem too
co-operative."
Paul rubbed his temples. Another headache was coming on him, and he wasn't
happy at all.
"So, what's left for us here?" asked Paul.
"In this volume, nothing. There are the other seven probe sightings
we haven't investigated yet," said IRA.
Paul looked at the last rock which still remained in silent defiance of
his last attempt to move it and made a decision.
"Plot a course to the next volume sighting, and engage when
ready," said Paul.
"Executing now," said IRA.
* * *
Eight times eight is sixty four. Eight volumes enclosed by the same force
screen. Eight rocks which refused to budge inside each of the eight volumes.
Sixty four rocks in all. And not one of them with a story to tell, except
for their abject refusal to move. Paul examined a holodisplay of the
offending objects. As he idly rotated the holographs in front of him, Paul
thought about what he had seen and hadn't seen, trying to figure out just
what was this mysterious puzzle was all about.
"Incoming message," said IRA.
Incoming message? Out here? Paul sat up a little straighter.
"Who's it from?"
"The SEU 'Solar Flare,' Melissa Phofftney commanding," said IRA.
"Oh no," groaned Paul. "Not her! Not here! Not now!"
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories I've thought
about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them together and send
them out for public comment. I don't know how often they're going to get put
together, but I do have a definite idea of what's going to happen. With luck,
this will come out a bit more often than the Unity.* story entries. (It
should, since there's not nearly the overhead time required to put these
together). I hope you like my first foray into writing a space-exploration
story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
###########################################################################
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From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn <><)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.stories.sf,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Subject: Paul Freeman: "Old Friends pt 2"
Message-ID: <1992Feb07.141950.9256@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 7 Feb 92 14:19:50 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 377
This doesn't seem to've gotten out the first time I posted it, so here it
is again.
Enjoy!
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Old Friends pt II"
ISSUE: Part 4 of Vol 1.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Unlimited Horizons
Division Atached To: Solar/Galactic Explorations
Name: Melissa Phofftney
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU Solar Flare
Division Atached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for the "SEU Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
AI: CARL (Cognitive Assistant/Research/Librarian)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Characteristics: Level 12 Cybernetic Intelligence AI, in charge
of all ship's functions and research for the
"SEU Solar Flare."
DEFINITIONS:
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
(1,499,999,000 KM)
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
###########################################################################
"SEU 'Solar Flare' to SEU 'Unlimited Horizons,' come in
please," said Melissa.
Paul winced at the sound of her voice.
"Hold reply IRA. Let her stew for a while," said Paul.
"Holding reply," said IRA.
Time passed. Melissa repeated her requests, but to no avail. Finally her
patience ran out.
"Paul Freeman, if you don't answer in five seconds I'm going
to come over there and kick your worthless butt halfway across
the solar system!" said Melissa. "And don't you think I won't
you trigger-happy leftover from a toxic asteroid dump!"
"That's more like the Melissa I know and love," said Paul
dryly. "Open a channel please IRA."
"Channel open."
"Melissa! Darling! How good of you to come to see me! What brings
your aristocratic highness out to this neck of the woods, as if I
didn't know? I'll bet you weren't satisfied with nearly blowing the
'Horizons out of space once already, and you want to try again!"
said Paul with heavy sarcasm.
<<IRA, activate visual,>> thought Paul.
<<Activated,>> responded IRA.
A visual image of Melissa Phofftney appeared before Paul. She was of medium
height with short mouse-brown hair, non-discernable figure, with almost an
aristocratic bearing. But one of the more striking aspects of her that always
drew Paul's attention were her eyes. A light blue with a sprinkle of white,
they could twinkle like the stars themselves, or turn to blue-tinged daggers
of ice when she was mad.
And they were not twinkling now.
"Paul Freeman, I don't know *why* you won't drop that," said
Melissa. "I didn't fire on you, the deflector we were testing
did. I didn't know its central databases had never been programmed
to tell the difference between a Scout class ship and an asteroid.
And furthermore, if you'd had had your translight beacon activated
like you were supposed to, nothing would've happened!"
"Maybe so *Mel*," said Paul. "But we can't assume that other
starships you get near with that deflector had a translight
beacon either. Face it Mel, you were asleep at the switch,
you were only supposed to see if the deflector's firing sequences
would've engaged. But noooo, you had to have it fully armed when
we ran that test, you were *sooo* confident it'd work right."
"Paul, you're impossible!" said Melissa in exasperation. Then her
expression hardened, "But no matter, I'm not here to play patty
cake with a worn-out ex-military jock with a shoot-everything-in-
sight mentality. I'm here to investigate the reports you've been
sending. What you've found out here is the closest thing we've
had to *real* sentient contact so far and I'll be *damned* if
I'm going to let you blow up everything in sight like you did the
moon at Krelin 2."
"Hey Mel, it was either that volcano or me, and given a choice
I'll take my hide over an orbiting rockpile any day!" retorted Paul.
"Yeah, sure," said Melissa sarcastically. "You *only* destroyed
a priceless deposit of transanium, not to mention putting two very
expensive orbiting mining shuttles at risk."
"They were on the other side of the moon, there wasn't any risk
to them," said Paul.
"I'll bet," said Melissa.
<<CARL from the 'Flare has requested download access to our logs,>>
thought PAM.
<<Let 'em have them,>> thought Paul. << Maybe that'll get 'em off
my case, and the sooner they go away, the happier I'll be.>>
"Initiating transfer," said a voice on the 'Flare.
On the viewscreen Melissa visibly relaxed as the data came in. Paul knew
what would happen next when she got to the MicroNova warhead, so he sat
back and braced himself. Sure enough, her eyes flew open wide, and she
jumped up towards the holocamera.
"You used a MicroNova warhead on an unknown force screen?" she
said incredulously. "My god, are you INSANE?!? Do you know what
kind of damage you could've done???"
"You know me Mel, 'Peace through Superior Firepower,'" said Paul,
grinning at Melissa's discomfiture. "'There's nothing that can't
be fixed by the judicious use of enough explosives'."
"It's trigger-happy warmongers like you that make me sick," said
Melissa with disgust. "You should *all* be locked up on a prison
planet with a label 'Use only in case of war.'"
"And without us 'warmongers' you wouldn't be here to make these
snide comments about my past profession," said Paul. "Now would
you finish downloading those logs and get the hell out of here
so I can go about my job in peace?"
"I'm afraid that's not possible," said Melissa.
"*What's* not possible?" asked Paul.
"My departure. Until further notice," said Melissa as she 'leaned'
towards Paul, "you and the 'Horizons are to co-operate fully with
me in investigating this phenomenon."
"Co-operate? With you?!? Says who?!?" demanded Paul.
"The CEO of SEU herself. This came straight down from the old lady,"
said Melissa.
"I don't believe it! My contract specifically says I don't have
to work with *anybody* -- all my work was going to be deep space
and done solo!" exclaimed Paul.
"Then you should've looked at the fine print, you money grubbing
little creep," said Melissa. "Section ten, paragraph eight, sentence
two, and I quote: 'Guarantee of solo operational status may be waived
at the option of SEU at any time on payment of triple the fee
specified in schedule 'C' by SEU for said mission,' end quote."
Paul didn't have a response to that. He remebered all too clearly the clause
SEU had insisted on, which he'd fought tooth an nail. He'd thought a triple
payment of his already steep fee was enough to keep him solo for the rest of
his career. And for more than five years it had. Until now.
Melissa continued on "So if you could find it in yourself to get
a civil tounge in your head and co-operate for once in your life,
I'll finish what I came here to do and get out of your precious
little way so you can blow things away to your warmonger heart's
content. Believe me, I don't find this any more enjoyable than you
do."
"Like hell you do," Paul sulked. "IRA, finish dumping the logs
and then close down long range communications. This is giving
me indigestion."
Then to Melissa --
"Well, if your majesty doesn't mind, I'm overdue for my rest
period. Unlimited Horizons out," said Paul.
<< Terminate audio and visual,>> thought Paul.
<< Audio-visual broken, continuing download of the mission
logs,>> replied IRA.
That done, Paul retreated to his living quarters as IRA silently continued
its work.
* * *
A few hours later...
"'Solar Flare' to 'Unlimited Horizons,' come in please," said
Melissa.
"I am sorry Captain Phofftney, Captain Freeman left instructions
he was not to be disturbed," responded IRA.
"Oh, he did did he?" said Melissa in a sugary tone. "CARL, slave
the 'Horizons' navigational controls to the 'Flare's please."
"With pleasure, maam," said CARL. "Slaving link completed. The
'Unlimited Horizons' will respond to helm in duplication with
the 'Solar Flare.'"
"Set a course for the nearest volume and initiate standard data
collection pattern. Execute when ready," said Melissa.
"Plotting course, executing now," said CARL.
Tightly leashed energies of incredible proportions were released within
the bowls of the two ships as they winked out of normal space.
* * *
Paul's sleeping area was actually a rather sparse room with a hook near
the center of each wall. Attached to the hook was a light nylon bag which
he crawled into to keep from floating around in the zero gee environment.
When the 'Horizons took off after the 'Flare, the inertial dampers had let
a slight tremor get through to the bag, and had touched off Paul's already
heightened sensitivities. Opening one eye groggily, he decided it wasn't
worth the effort to try getting up the rest of the way.
<<PAM, what's going on?>> asked Paul.
<<Our navigational controls have been slaved to the 'Solar Flare's
and we are proceeding in formation with the 'Flare to volume area
number two,>> responded PAM.
Instantly awake, Paul said --
"WE'RE ***WHAT***???"
"We are slaved to the Solar Flare and are proceeding to volume
number two," repeated PAM clearly.
Paul scrambled out of his sleeping sack, bolted headlong to the door, then
landed lightly on his feet in the earth-normal gravity outside. On reaching
the pilots' room, he looked out and saw the distorted space that characterized
the effects of the translight drive.
"IRA, who cleared this?" asked Paul.
"CARL did sir," said IRA.
"And just *why* wasn't I informed of this?" demanded Paul.
"Instructions from Captain Phofftney," said IRA.
"That arrogant, self-centered, spiteful little witch..." said
Paul.
"Excuse me sir, but I am recording this for later transmission to
the Solar Flare. Do you wish me to record this as well?" asked
IRA.
"What? No! I don't want you sending this to that meglomaniac!
Matter of fact, I want you to disengage the translight engines
now and come to a full stop!" said Paul.
"I'm sorry, sir, I cannot do that."
"IRA, I'm giving you a *direct* order. All engines, full stop, NOW,"
said Paul.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"What is this, a palace revolt?" asked Paul <<PAM, what do you
know about this?>>
<<IRA is correct sir, while she's in slave mode to the 'Flare, we
cannot change heading or speed,>> said PAM.
"Like blazes we can't. I don't care if Mel was the old lady herself,
*nobody* makes me a captive in my own ship!" said Paul as he headed
for the engine room.
* * *
In perfect formation, the Solar Flare and Ulimited Horizons re-appeared in
normal space. Paul immediately hailed the Solar Flare.
"Why hello Paul, did you have a nice rest?" asked Melissa sweetly.
"Damn you Mel, why'd you take my ship?" asked Paul.
"Because IRA said you weren't to be disturbed," said Melissa with
a smile. "And since I only wanted your ship anyway, I took it. You
just came along for the ride."
"Fine. You've got us here. Now give me my controls back!" said
Paul.
The smile on Melissa's face faded away as her expression hardened.
"Are you going to co-operate?"
"If it'll get rid of you!"
"That doesn't answer the question," said Melissa. "Are you going
to co-operate?"
Paul, breathing heavily, knew he was beat. With an AI three levels above
his on her side, there was no way his combined AIs could hope to overcome
CARL's control of his ship. He couldn't resist Melissa even if he wanted
to.
"Yes," said Paul reluctantly.
"That's better," said Melissa, the smile re-appearing on her
face. "You may discontinue slaving their helm CARL."
"Slave mode discontinued. Unlimited Horizons free and clear
to navigate," said CARL.
"Now then, Paul, if you'd be so kind as to pay attention, here's
what I want to do," said Melissa.
Paul gritted his teeth. The next few weeks were going to be rough, he
could see it now.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories I've thought
about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them together and send
them out for public comment. I don't know how often they're going to get put
together, but I do have a definite idea of what's going to happen. With luck,
this will come out a bit more often than the Unity.* story entries. (It
should, since there's not nearly the overhead time required to put these
together). I hope you like my first foray into writing a space-exploration
story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS:
timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca -or- uunet!utai!watmath!xenitec!wynnds!timk
###########################################################################
From organpipe.uug.arizona.edu!amethyst!noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!xenitec!wynnds.xenitec.on.ca!timk Tue Feb 25 09:02:36 MST 1992
Article: 529 of alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Xref: organpipe.uug.arizona.edu alt.prose:960 alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:529 alt.callahans:11126
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From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo,alt.callahans,alt.stories.sf
Subject: Paul Freeman: "Answers from a Nightmare.
Message-ID: <1992Feb24.033005.12694@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 24 Feb 92 03:30:05 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 325
[I've included a cross-post to alt.callahans since I thought the gang
there might appreciate this posting to their storyboard. If this is
not appropriate, I'll keep future posts to alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo,
and alt.stories.sf. Work on the Unity.* storyline continues after a break
due to the normal Christmas/December insanity. TDK]
###########################################################################
CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Answers from a Nightmare"
ISSUE: 6 of Vol I.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Humans:
-------
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU "Unlimited Horizons"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Explorations
Name: Melissa Phofftney
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
Name: C'cul Et'ena
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Director of Research, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
Name: Patricia "Pat" Schmidt
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Apprentice Engineer, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
AI's:
-----
AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for the "SEU Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
AI: CARL (Cognitive Assistant/Research/Librarian)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Characteristics: Level 12 Cybernetic Intelligence AI, in charge
of all ship's functions and research for the
"SEU Solar Flare."
AI: Soldi
Owner: C'cul Et'ena
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
------------
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth to the sun
(1,499,999,000 KM)
SLS: Sub-light speed
SLD: SLS drive
TLS: Trans-light speed
TLD: TLS drive
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
###########################################################################
"Begin recording, Captain's log," said Paul.
"Recording captain's log entry now," said IRA.
"Captain Paul Freeman, SEU 'Unlimited Horizons.' reporting."
"It's been over four weeks since I was last in contact with the
'Solar Flare.' After monitoring the hydron-injection experiment
on sphere number eight, I returned to the rendevous point with
the 'Flare, but was not able to find them. A search of the immediate
area did not turn up any signs of or clues to the current location
of the 'Flare. There isn't any debris in space, or other measurable
release of energy that would have been left behind if the 'Flare had
been destroyed. I am continuing a standard search pattern in the
hopes of finding some clue to the 'Flare's disappearance."
"End log recording," said Paul.
"Recording closed. Log entry sealed," said IRA.
"Launch reporting drone to the nearest outpost, max velocity,"
said Paul.
"Drone away," said IRA.
Paul felt more than heard the *thump* as doors in the 'Horizons opened to
space and the drone departed at max speed. From past experience Paul knew
it would take it over eight weeks for help to arrive. In the meantime he
was on his own.
"Orders, Paul?" asked IRA softly.
Paul contemplated the space where he had last seen the 'Flare. Not too long
ago he would've been glad see Melissa and the 'Flare gone, but now here he
was searching for them, hoping against hope to find them intact and alive.
Not too long ago he'd have called anyone insane if they'd had said he'd be
trying to rescue the 'Flare. And yet here he was. After thinking his
options over briefly, Paul made a decision.
"Plot a minimum distance course around the surface of sphere
number eight that will provide a complete coverage using standard
planetary sensors. Set engine speed at max velocity to yield accurate
sensor readings down to a resolution of one meter," said Paul.
"One meter?" asked IRA.
"One meter," said Paul. "If there's any wreckage of the 'Flare,
I want to find it."
"Acknowledged, sir," said IRA. "Course plotted. Beginning revised
search pattern now."
As Paul looked out from the pilot's seat, he contemplated the stars
surrounding what had become an increasingly hostile section of space.
It would take some time to make a proper planetary surface scan, and
it may not even turn up anything. Idly calling up a display of the eight
mysterious spheres in front of him, Paul contemplated their artifical
representations as the cold hearted enemies they seemed to've become.
One old saying Paul remembered from his military days regarding fallen
comrades was that, "In space, nobody can hear you scream." It was a
harsh fact of life that, in space, there was a million different ways to
die before you even knew what'd hit you. If the 'Flare had been destroyed,
death would have come quickly to it's occupants. For Apprentice Engineer
Pat's sake, Paul hoped that, if the 'Flare had been destroyed, it had
been quick, sudden, and without pain.
* * *
Pat looked back into Paul's eyes, a cheerful smile flashing over her
face while she playfully tickled his ribs.
"You can't hold me forever, you know," said Pat with a laugh.
"Maybe not, but I've got you now," said Paul with a smile.
Pat arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, a
mischievous grin on her face.
"Last time I checked I was," said Paul.
At that moment Pat jumped up and wrapped her legs around Paul's waist. As
Paul struggled to regain his balance she mercilessly dug her fingers into
the sensitive spots where he was the most tickelish. With a howl of laughter
Paul let go of her torso, grabbed both her hands and pushed them away in a
valiant attempt at self defence. At the same time Pat released her hold on
his waist, yanked her hands out of his, and ran a short distance away while
Paul fell to the ground holding his sides in pleasant agony.
"Nyah nyah nyah!" said Pat with a laugh.
"Not fair!" said Paul as he struggled to get up.
"Told you I could get away!" said Pat in a voice that challenged
him to try to catch her again.
"Not for long you don't," said Paul with a laugh as he
stumbled to his feet and started after her.
Laughing, Pat turned and ran away, her long, chocolate-brown hair streaming
behind as Paul took up the chase. She made a valiant attempt to evade him
in the meadow, but eventually his longer stride and size made the telling
difference and he pinned her down in the soft forest grass.
"Not fair! You cheated!" said Pat with mock indignance.
"As they say, 'All is fair in love and war,'" said Paul with
a smile.
"Yes, they do say that," said Pat softly as she reached up behind
Paul's head, stroked the back of his neck, and gently pulled.
No further words were needed as Paul met Pat's waiting lips and they closed
in a passionate kiss. Paul closed his eyes as he savored the sensation as
Pat's warm body responsively melted against his. Suddenly her lips turned
cold and a sticky substance spattered onto his face. Opening his eyes in
shock, Paul watched as Pat's once-lovely face erupted in what his mind
coldly remembered as the low-pressure boiling of blood exposed to the
vacuum of space. Still not believing what his eyes told him, he watched
as Pat's body exploded in a horrific shower of flesh and blood that coated
him from head to toe.
* * *
<<PAUL! WAKE UP!>> thought PAM urgently.
Disoriented, Paul sat up quickly, his eyes wide and heart pounding like a
sledgehammer.
"Pat! Where is she?!? Quick, we've got to save her!" said Paul.
<<PAUL! Pat's not here!>> thought PAM firmly.
"Wha'? But she was right there! We were in the meadow kissing...."
<<I think you had a nightmare,>> thought PAM.
Paul looked around in disbelief.
"But it was so real -- she was right there with me! We were kissing
in the forest when all of the sudden..." started Paul, then faded
off as his mind grasped the signficance of the techie interior of
the 'Horizons.
<<It was a nightmare Paul. Pat's been missing ever since the 'Flare
disappeared,>> said PAM.
Sitting back against the bulkhead wall, Paul finally accepted the truth of
PAM's statement. Sitting there quietly, he considered his options. Suddenly
an idea came to him.
"IRA -- set course for the exact center of sphere number eight. I
have an experiment I want to try," said Paul.
"Course set and engaged," said IRA.
With the image of Pat's imagined death still burning in his mind, Paul
closed his eyes and quietly wept.
* * *
"We're at the exact center of sphere number eight now," reported
IRA.
Paul regarded a display of the Horizon's position in relation to sphere
number eight.
"Program a four spreads of MicroNova warheads, each spread to
consist of three warheads targeted in the following configuration,"
said Paul as he mentally set the programmed target areas. "Make the
time of impact to be simultaneous, with enough delay to let us get
out of the sphere before detonation."
"Are you sure about this?" asked PAM. "Those warheads were designed
for clearing asteroid fields, not leveling a small planet!"
"No, I'm not sure about this, but do it anyway. I have a feeling
that won't go away that this is just what we need," said Paul.
"Programming warhead spreads now," said IRA. "Warheads deployed.
Setting the 'Horizons course for optimal viewing distance outside
the sphere."
"Initiate program and get us the hell out of here," said Paul.
"If this works like I think it will, we may be in the middle of
a soon-to-be-occupied section of space."
"Engaging program now," said IRA.
* * *
<<Five...four...three...two...one...detonation,>> thought PAM.
Even with the pilot's window dimmed to it's greatest darkness, the bright
flash of the three nearest MicroNova's was penetrating enough to cause
some retina burn.
"And now we wait," said Paul. "I hope this works..."
* * *
The results of his actions weren't long in coming. The first indicator came
when astronomical sensors noted that the visibility of certain solar clusters
had significantly decreased. Other sensors began reporting gravitational
disturbances of incredible magnitude and visual sensors reported an
unbelievably huge object in the volume the protective screen had covered.
Whatever it was, it was more than gigantic.
"Back up to one AU range," said Paul numbly.
The object significantly shrunk at the greater range, but it still took up
the greater part of most of Paul's active visual scanners.
"Oh my god," was all Paul could say in awe and wonder.
###########################################################################
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories I've thought
about for a while now, and figured it was time to put them together and send
them out for public comment. I don't know how often they're going to get put
together, but I do have a definite idea of what's going to happen. With luck,
this will come out a bit more often than the Unity.* story entries. (It
should, since there's not nearly the overhead time required to put these
together). I hope you like my first foray into writing a space-exploration
story.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
###########################################################################
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
###########################################################################
From organpipe.uug.arizona.edu!amethyst!noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!xenitec!wynnds.xenitec.on.ca!timk Wed Mar 25 15:32:06 MST 1992
Article: 557 of alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Xref: organpipe.uug.arizona.edu alt.prose:1058 alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo:557 alt.callahans:12092
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From: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca (Tim Kuehn)
Newsgroups: alt.prose,alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo,alt.callahans,alt.stories.sf
Subject: Paul Freeman: "Interlude"
Message-ID: <1992Mar24.173420.7313@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca>
Date: 24 Mar 92 17:34:20 GMT
Organization: TDK Consulting Services
Lines: 522
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CONTENTS: Extracts from the logfiles of Paul Freeman, Captain of the
Stellar Explorations Unlimited "Unlimited Horizons"
Title: Paul Freeman: The Name of Nothingness
Subtitle: "Interlude"
ISSUE: Part 5.5 of Vol I
AUTHOR'S NOTE: It seems the big gap I left between Parts 5 and 6 gave
people the impression they missed something between when Paul left the
Solar Flare for his monitoring station, and Part 6 where he made his
log entry in "Answers from a Nightmare." So I guess a bit of filler is
called for. What follows is Part 5.5, and takes place between Parts 5
and 6.
THE ROSTER OF CHARACTERS:
Humans:
-------
Name: Paul Freeman
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU "Unlimited Horizons"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Explorations
Name: Melissa Phofftney
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Captain, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
Name: C'cul Et'ena
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Director of Research, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
Name: Patricia "Pat" Schmidt
Present Employer: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Present Position: Apprentice Engineer, SEU "Solar Flare"
Division Attached To: Solar/Galactic Research and Scientific
Investigations, Special Projects Branch.
AI's:
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AI: IRA (Interactive Remote-exploration Assistant)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Purpose/Location: SEU "Unlimited Horizons," Ship's AI
Characteristics: Level 10 Cybernetic AI, runs all ship's functions
for the "SEU Unlimited Horizons."
AI: PAM (Personal Assistant/Manager)
Owner: Paul Freeman
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
AI: CARL (Cognitive Assistant/Research/Librarian)
Owner: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
Characteristics: Level 12 Cybernetic Intelligence AI, in charge
of all ship's functions and research for the
"SEU Solar Flare."
AI: Soldi
Owner: C'cul Et'ena
Characteristics: Level 3 embedded Cybernetic Intelligence
Augmentation AI
DEFINITIONS:
------------
AU: Astronomical Unit - the distance from the earth
to the sun: roughly ~149,599,000 KM
SEU: Stellar Explorations Unlimited
c: The speed of light
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In short order the 'Horizons arrived at its destination and began monitoring.
As the probes faithfully made their reports, Paul idly wondered about the
possibilities between him and Pat. It had been a long time since he'd met any
person male or female that he could think of spending any length of time with,
but this pretty apprentice engineer could make him change his mind. But how to
go about this, that was the question...
"Hate to interrupt your thoughts, but we have something for you
here," said PAM.
"Shoot," said Paul, "what's on your mind?"
"There seems to be a minor reaction from the sphere," said PAM. "The
streams of hydrogen seem to be partially de-stabilizing the protection
area and causing a corona effect."
"On visual," said Paul.
Immediately a scaled-down display of the sphere appeared in his viewfield.
Where a light-orange representation of the sphere had been previously visible,
a light blue haze now covered the area. The hues and shading the blue had to
to moved about in a surreal formation not unlike a solar rainbow. Where the
hydrogen streams intersected with the sphere itself showed as a darker shade
of blude, while the fringes on the edge were a lighter, brighter blue.
"That's beautiful!" said Paul. "What's causing it?"
"Uncertain," responded PAM. "Spectral measurements show an energy
influx on the hydrogen stream is causing the luminescence, but its
source and nature are currently unknown."
"Any variation in the effect?"
"There is, and it seems to be directly related to the level of
hydrogen concentration near the surface of the sphere," said PAM.
"This has resulted in the lighter blue colors near displayed near
the fringes."
"Interesting," said Paul absentmindedly. "Any other reports from
the probes?"
"None at this time," said PAM. "Just the effect you see here."
"Hmmm..." said Paul. "Well, if it's not doing anything else,
I suppose there's not much else we can do with it until we get
back to the 'Flare. Continue monitoring, and keep a display of
what you see in the upper right hand corner of my viewfield."
"Acknowledged," said PAM.
* * *
[The following references to activities on the SEU 'Solar Flare' was
extracted from their log files recovered after the incident in question.]
"Isn't that lovely?" asked Pat.
"Indeed it is," said C'cul. "The spectral anomolies are quite
fascinating. I have not seen a reaction of this kind outside of
laboratory conditions before."
"Oh C'cul, you know what I mean!" said Pat. "The colors and
shades are so exquisitly formed, almost like a living painting
in space."
"I suppose you could come to that conclusion," replied C'cul.
"However, such observations do not appreciably forward our
investigation into this unique phenomenon. We must make more
measurements, take more readings, and perform more experiements
in order to gently coax this sphere into telling us it's secrets."
"You know what C'cul, if I didn't know better, I'd have thought
you were in love with that thing!" exclaimed Pat.
C'cul cocked an eye at Pat and regarded her without emotion.
"One does not form romantic relationships with entities that
have radaii large enough to match the orbital paths of orbiting
planets," said C'cul. "Consequently, it is very unlikely that I
currently am or ever will be 'in love' with this sphere. It does
possess a certain 'charm' to it though, I will admit. Almost like
it wants us to find out what's inside it, but doesn't want to make
it too easy."
A huge smile broke out on Pat's face.
"C'cul E'tena, don't you try to deny it to me! You're in love
with that thing!" said Pat. "It's the kind of challenge you
relish pursuing, the chase that most men reserve for the women
in their lives! Your lady just happens to be a bit bigger than
most!"
"Ms Schmidt, I can assure you, I am not in love with this sphere,"
said C'cul in slight distress. "It is a....challenge to me, that
is all. A natural or artificial phenomenon that requires my
investigation."
Suddenly the playful banter was interrupted by a voice on the ship's internal
communications channel.
"C'cul, could I have your progress report please?" said Melissa.
Any sign of the previous humor vanished instantly as the duo involentarily
straightened at the sound of Melissa's voice.
"Right away captain."
However, there was no mistaking the twinkle in Pat's eyes, nor the slightly
amused smile flitting around the eyes of the stoic C'cul E'tena.
* * *
The 'Flare's bridge was a quiet bustle as technicians co-ordinated the
data coming in from the myriad of probes scattered about the sphere. At
the bridge's center section C'cul and Melissa looked over the current
results.
"Can you make anything of this increased luminescence?" asked
Melissa.
"At our current range this is not possible," replied C'cul. "In
order to obtain sufficiently accurate readings we will need to
close to within 100KM of the area in question."
"Consider it done," said Melissa. "Helm! Set course as marked,
ahead three quarters."
"Aye, aye captain!" responded the crew member on helm duty.
The 'Flare's sublight engines engaged and the ship surged forward past
the surrounding probes into the cloud of excited hydrogen atoms.
* * *
"Helm, relative stop," said Melissa.
"All stop, relative, aye."
"Scanning," said C'cul. "No discernable reaction beyond the
luminescance." Then, turning to Mel, "It may be a feasible
idea for us to release some oxygen into the hydrogen cloud and
ignite the mixture. If there is sufficient energy to ignite the
combination, we may be able to get better readings of this
phenomenon."
"What risks are there?" asked Mel.
"Based on information collected from the 'Horizon's sensors
during Captain Freeman's initial contact with the spheres,
there shouldn't be any discernable reaction to a widespread
hydrogen-oxygen detonation." said Pat. "The explosive energy
density on a given surface area will be much lower than the
MicrNova warheads Captain Freeman launched. Since he didn't
suffer any ill effects from a more energetic MicroNova reaction,
I don't think there's much risk with a lower energy reaction such
as this."
"Do you concur with this, C'cul?" asked Melissa.
"I do," said C'cul. "Through this experiment, we believe it is
possible to learn some important information about the shielding's
functioning, which would be invaluable towards discerning what and
why this shield is here."
Melissa looked from C'cul, to Pat, then at the beautiful display in space.
Finally she turned back to C'cul.
"Very well, proceed."
"Aye aye," replied C'cul.
* * *
"Boring, boring, boring," said Paul. "Isn't anything interesting
going on around here?"
"Not presently," said IRA. "All probes are functioning within
normal operating parameters. No measurable response to the
hydrogen stream from the sphere detected. Everything is within
normal limits."
"You don't think Melissa would like it if I did some target practice
while we're waiting?" asked Paul.
"That would not be advisable," responded PAT. "Errant energy
fluctuations from live or practice rounds could alter the unknowns
in this experiment, and it would need to be repeated again. This,
in turn, would mean that the 'Flare would have to stay longer."
"And we certainly can't have that," said Paul. "Although, that
might mean Patty'd have to stay around too. It just might be
worth it to ruffle Mel's feathers and keep Pat around at the
same time. Speaking of which, what do we have on our favorite
engineer?"
"Searching," said IRA. "Born Patricia Angelica Schmidt, graduated
four years ago in the upper quarter of of her class with a BSc.
from the University of Toronto's School of Space Engineering and
Science with a dual major in Space Engineering and Astronautical
Science," said Pat. This is her seventeenth mission in space, and
her first deep space mission. Her personnel record shows a record
of commendations for initiative and original thinking. Her last
posting prior to the 'Solar Flare' was to the 'Intrepid.'"
"The 'Intrepid'?" asked Paul. "If she was posted to there, how'd
she get on the 'Flare?"
"When the call came for a Stellar-Quest class research vessel,
the 'Flare was next on the duty roster," said IRA. "C'cul E'tena
was assigned temporary duty on the 'Flare from the 'Intrepid,' and
he brought Patricia along as his assistant."
"Oh," said Paul. "I see."
As time passed, Paul found it increasingly difficult to get Pat off his
mind. Just as annoying was the question of what was so different about
this girl compared to all the others he'd once known, who'd been partly
responsible for him becoming a career explorer. Why her? Why now? What was
happening to him? With these and other thoughts on his mind, Paul went to
his zero-gee sleeping quarters, attached a tether line to a cleat on the
side of the wall, and promptly fell asleep.
* * *
"No silly, not that button, this one!" said Pat as she pointed
out the indicted device on the panel.
"Oh. Why didn't you say so in the first place?" said Paul
as he reached over and pressed the button.
Immeditately they were surrounded by a lush jungle scene. Water came down
in a cascading waterfall, splashing everything in site. Moss-covered rocks
surrounded the stream, and beyond that were palm trees, bushes, with a soft
moss covering the surrounding ground area.
"What do you think?" asked Pat as she looked around. "I
programmed it myself using some travel tapes I found, and
tossed in a few ideas of my own fun."
"Looks quite nice," said Paul. "It's been a long time since
I've seen anything like this."
Paul wrapped his arm around Pat's waist and drew her around to face him.
Wrapping her in his arms, he felt himself falling into the deep blue pools
of her eyes, skating across the time and space on the twinkles of delight
he found within, enveloped in a sea of love.
"And I've certainly never had the pleasure of sharing it with such
a lovely flower as yourself."
Pat blushed. "Oh, you're just saying that."
Paul raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're not going to believe me,
then I'll have to resort to more drastic measures to convince you!"
"You wouldn't!" exclaimed Pat.
"Wanna bet?" asked Paul before he soundly kissed her.
Pat's body melted against Paul's, and the two stood there, together, for a
long time, the gentle rain of the waterfall providing a quiet counterpoint
to the stillness of the forest scene.
* * *
The sleeping form of Paul Freeman smiled in contentment.
* * *
In short order the 'Solar Flare' began sending a steady stream of liquified
oxygen into the hydrogen cloud. As the oxygen and hydrogen mixed, the cloud's
color changed from pure blue to a mixture of blue and white, then to a light
blue as the chemicals mixed. Twenty hours later, all was ready.
"Optimal hydrogen-oxygen mix obtained in the survey volume," said
C'cul. "Ready for ignition."
"Proceed," said Melissa.
"Firing space flare," said C'cul.
A brilliant white light erupted on the 'Flare's port bow and sped into the
distance. On the 'Flare's bridge a monitor showed the flare's progress as
it closed on its target.
"Ignition commencing," said C'cul as he intently watched the
scanners.
Off in the distance, a pinpoint of light appeared on the infrared scanners,
then became a swiftly expanding sphere reaching out into the surrounding
gases.
"Reaction proceeding. All readings show within expected bounds,"
said C'cul.
"It's a neat looking fireworks display, that's for sure!" enthused
Pat.
Melissa remained silent as she regarded the expanding sun.
"Getting a reading now," said C'cul. "Gravity fluctuations showing
in the indicated areas."
One of the auxilary monitors lit up with a display of the affected area.
"Meaning?" asked Melissa.
"Uncertain at this time," responded C'cul. "It does not follow the
patterns previously recorded, being much lower in intensity and
spread out over a wider area. It initiated in the area of initial
impact of the oxy-hydrogen mix detonation on the sphere's surface."
"Threat assessment?" asked Melissa.
"None determined at this time," said C'cul. "I would like to move
the 'Solar Flare' closer to the affected area in order to get
better readings of the phenomenon."
"Permission granted," said Melissa. "But keep outside the maximum
range of the sphere's defensive screens, I don't want to find
ourselves in the next sector by accident."
"Yes Captain," said C'cul.
"I'll be in my quarters," said Melissa as she left the bridge.
"Mr. C'cul, you have the conn."
After Melissa had departed, C'cul looked over at Pat.
"Shall we take a closer look?" asked C'cul.
"Why? Can't stay away from your lady love C'cul?" asked Pat with a
grin.
Ignoring the comment, C'cul turned to the crew member at the helm,
"Close to fifty kilometers and hold,"
"Fifty kilometers and hold, aye," responded the helmsman.
* * *
A range of fifty kilometers put the 'Solar Flare' quite close to the spreading
oxy-hydrogen reaction. It was much closer than the scattering of probes
around the sphere, but afforded much better and more detailed instrument
readings.
"All readings show green here," said Pat. "Nothing unusual to
report."
"Have you checked the gravitational readings? Are they still within
limits?" asked C'cul.
"They are," said Pat. "As well as all the other instrument readings.
Nothing out of the ordinary here...no, wait a second. I've got a
minor fluctuation reported from the navigation sensors. According to
it, some of the stars seem to be moving."
One of C'cul's eyebrows went up. Pat continued on.
"Cross checked and confirmed. No system failure detected. We are
not in motion, but the stars seem to be."
Pat looked over at C'cul.
"What do you think it means?"
C'cul busily checked some other instruments.
"This is most unusual," said C'cul. "All graviational sensors
show constant. No stellar anomolies apparent. No gravitational...."
Suddenly the warning klaxons sounded:
"WARNING! GRAVITATIONAL FLUCTUATIONS OFF SCALE! GRAVIATIONAL WELL
IMMINENT! REPEAT: GRAVITATIONAL WELL IMMINENT! EXECUTING AUTOMATIC
EVASIVE PROCEDURES."
[Transcript from the logs of the SEU 'Solar Flare' terminates.]
* * *
Before anyone had a chance to react, CARL took over helm control and
brought the 'Flare about. Just as the sublight engines fired, a huge
glowing sphere enveloped the spreading oxygen-hydrogen reaction, a good
number of the nearby probes, and the 'Solar Flare.' Moments later, the
sphere disappeared along with the 'Solar Flare' and all hands.
* * *
"Paul! WAKE UP!" said IRA.
Paul jerked awake with a start.
"What in blazes?!?"
"The 'Solar Flare' has disappeared!" said IRA.
Still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Paul reeled himself over to the wall.
"What do you mean, 'disappeared'?"
"The ship is no longer at its station. We received the beginning
of an distress call, followed by silence. Attempts to raise the
'Flare' have not been successful," said IRA.
Paul didn't bother thinking about his next move.
"All ahead, emergency full! Get us over there NOW!" said Paul. "Arm
all weapons, shields at full."
"ETA one four hours, thirty minutes," said IRA.
It seemed like an eternity to Paul.
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REQUEST FOR COMMENT: If you found this article interesting, amusing, or even
an utter piece of junk I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! It's difficult to spend
umpteen hours writing this stuff and get *zero* response on what I'm doing
right or wrong.
COPYRIGHT: All materials copyright (C) 1992, Timothy D. Kuehn, All rights
reserved. Distribution permission granted to any transmission or storage
medium, service, or archive which does NOT charge a fee for this article,
restricts redistribution, or places this article under compilation or any
other derivative form of copyright without the prior knowledge and verifiable
consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance to characters past, present, fictional, or
real, is entirely unintentional.
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS: timk@wynnds.xenitec.on.ca
FTP INFORMATION:
List of FTP Archive sites of the Unity.* and Paul Freeman logfiles:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
bach.cs.columbia.edu [128.59.28.19]. Login as either 'ftp' or 'anonymous'.
ada.stat.uga.edu log in as 'anonymous', leave your address as the
password (you can actually leave anything, but I'd
enjoy seeing from whence my guests come!) and look
around to your heart's content. Unity/Entity stuff
is in the /pub/Text/Texts directory.
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