Starting with this chapter I will be using a 24 hour clock to reference times

Progenitor


Chapter 19

Day 1 0600

The next morning as soon as everyone, the whole crew, had finished their meal, Amy stood and got their attention.

"As just about all of you are aware by now, we have detected the approach of an alien space craft. It has been determined that if the craft continues on it's present course and at it's present speed it will impact with Earth in about four months. It is doubtful that anything Earth has would be able to prevent this from happening. It will be 45 days before anyone on Earth will even know about this. We are the only ones that might have a chance of doing something. But in order to be effective we need more people to train and use in this situation. We will need pilots first, security and engineers second, and the rest of the crew in that order. Talk with your section leaders, I know you were asked this yesterday, and give them the names of people you think would be of assistance in this time of need. Telling the people on Earth is not an option at this time. That would just cause panic, if the governments even let the general public know anything.  Engineering will be very busy as there are still many modifications to do to get us ready for this. If you have any questions, please speak with your supervisors. They may not have the answer right then but will get an answer for you as soon as possible. Now go about your duties as usual." Amy said.

There was a generalized quiet throughout the Mess Hall as Amy got up and left. Jake stood and told his workers that they were going to only two shifts of 12 hours each so that the modifications could get done. With that said he asked that the people who just got off go get some rest and that the rest get ready for some long hours.

1200

Based on the information from the previous day, Amy had Sam and Tasha to prepare for a trip to the planet to interview some of the people suggested. She made sure they both understood that secrecy was very important. Kate and Sally would each take one of them in a shuttle down to the planet and standby to help out as they could and to monitor the conversations. Sam was going to Chicago first and Tasha was going to Moscow. They each had a list of people to contact in different parts of the planet.

Jake had checked the forth fighter and was headed back to his quarters for some rest after 13 hours. He had made one person the lead person for the next 11 hours.

Ted came in as Sam and Tasha were leaving Amy's office, and asked if he might go also to contact some of the military personnel. He told Amy he had completed, to AL's satisfaction, his training in a shuttle and was now able to operate one as well. Amy told the two girls to go get ready and to report to their assigned shuttles in 30 minutes. After Sam and Tasha were gone Ted told Amy that he thought about this last night after their meeting and thought this would speed up the recruitment process, as time was a very important element. Also, he still had his military ID and that would allow him to get on base with little hassle. Amy told him to stay away from bases as it might cause problems since he wouldn't have any backup, but to be back by 1800.

John and Gregori had been going over the newest data all morning and nothing seemed to have changed overnight.

Ivan was monitoring the radio, television, cable news links for anything that might be of use or importance to them when he noticed that there was increased traffic on an encrypted military band coming from the area of the missile launchers they had left behind for the US to find. The forces on site had found the launchers okay but had also found an unusual radiation signature in the area. Ivan isolated this feed to see what was up.

1800

Ted, Sam, and Tasha had returned. Each of them had been able to recruit two or three people and the new arrivals were in Sick Bay being examined and fitted with transceivers. Ivan had reported the unusual traffic, but it turned out that the radiation scanners being used weren't calibrated correctly.

Amy went to Sick Bay to meet the new arrivals. There were three pilots, Ted's recruits; three security, Sam and Tasha's, two electro-mechanical engineers, and one communications tech. Amy gave the group the usual explanations and welcomed them to the base. Afterwards she lead them to the Mess Hall and had them introduce themselves to the people there and to receive their assignments. The pilots left with Sally, the engineers were shown to their stations, Ivan took charge of the communications person, and Tasha took off with the security people.

Day 2 0600

Jake had sat down with his coffee when Kate came into the Mess Hall. Kate got herself a light breakfast and joined her brother.

"Been awhile since we had much time to talk brother, or do anything else together. The new pilots are amazing, they already have the basic skills and are taking to the shuttles today for a hands on demonstration. So, how's your love life?" Kate asked.

"What is left of my love life is fine. It's the rest of my life that is about to drive me nuts. The two new people think they are supposed to be in charge and I had to really dress one of them down when I came on duty last night. She thought she was running the show; at least until I asked her to explain how the power core worked and pointed out the difference in the insignia on our collars." Jake replied.

Sam joined them just then, and Amy was at the coffee pot now. Amy came over and sat down, she looked tired. Amy asked and received an update on the new personnel from each of them.

1300

Sam and Ted had just left to go back down to recruit more people, Tasha stayed as Security Supervisor, when Amy was notified that there was a change in the sensor data from the ship. Amy went to the control room to see first hand what the change was. Just as she entered both John and Ivan vied for her attention, both seemed excited.

"Okay, I can only listen to one of you at a time." Amy said.

"There is a distress signal coming in" Ivan exclaimed.

"It's from the ship" John added quickly.

"Are you sure it's from the ship?" Amy inquired.

"Yes, I had AL double check the data. It's from the ship, but it is very weak. We have tried to clean it up but the signal strength is too low. AL says it is a standard distress call and it might be automated." John replied.

"The signal comes and goes" Ivan added.

"AL, what can you tell us about this signal?" Amy asked.

"It appears to be an automated signal in standard format. We would need to get much closer to tell much more. The signal is so weak that it is almost non-existent. If your concern is about someone on the planet detecting it, that is not going to happen. Ivan just happened to scan over that channel when the signal was strongest; that is the only reason it was detected." AL replied.

"Well the usual rule is that anyone that hears the signal responds. Can we respond without giving away our position or location?" Amy asked.

"Automated response has been sent per standard protocol." AL intoned.

AL, we need to talk about these hidden protocols. What type information was sent?" Amy asked, getting irritated.

"Standard response is to acknowledge signal and transmit request for exact cause of distress and ship ID" AL replied.

"I take it we have not received the requested information. Ted, Sam come in" Amy said.

"We are both here, what's up?" Ted responded.

"We just received a distress signal form that ship but it will not, or can not, respond to queries. I am sending Kate out to try and get a better signal. I suggest that you both return to base." Amy responded.

"We are returning now, ETA 10 minutes." Ted replied.

Amy had Kate meet her on the flight deck. Once Amy explained what was going on, Kate suggested that she take another ship with her, with one of the new pilots. This would give her some backup and provide excellent training for the pilot. Amy wasn't sure about this but Kate was the senior flight officer; so she agreed. Amy told her to launch as soon as possible and to keep an open channel at all times.

1400

Kate and a second pilot launched and made for the ship. It would take several hours for them to get close enough to get a better signal, even at max speed. Amy decided to also launch a shuttle and the remaining fighters to follow and act as a relay and backup. Sally and the rest of the fighters left about an hour later but were told not to go past Saturn's orbit unless the first two ships were in trouble. Amy retired to her ready room and asked not to be disturbed except in an emergency.

"AL, I need some information and this Captain's eyes only. What would it take for us to get this ship back in space and get to that inbound ship?" Amy requested.

"We could launch in five days, as soon as the rest of the modifications are completed (given the present number of crew). It would take about a day to reach the inbound ship." AL replied.

"What is the very earliest we could launch, if we continued the upgrades in flight. I don't like having to send people out with the little experience that we have. But if this is a hostile ship then we would stand a better chance against them than Earth would."

"You could launch in two days, but that is only if the drive upgrade is made a priority and all systems check out. It would be risky. Also, the people on Earth would notice our departure from the Moon" AL replied.

"Well that gives me something to think about. Now what other protocols are there that I'm not aware of existing? And disable the automated response until further notice as of right now." Amy said.

"Automated response disabled. There are protocols for emergencies such as a power core explosion, hull breach, and attack" AL responded.

"Please monitor Kate's progress and let me know if there is anything that I should be concerned about. Ted, please come to my ready room after you wake Jake, and bring him with you." Amy said.

It was about ten minutes later when Ted and Jake arrived. After apologizing to Jake for waking him, Amy explained her thoughts. The idea that this was actually a ship not just a base surprised Ted. Amy told Jake to have his people concentrate on the drive systems, and any other systems that AL suggested. She then asked for their opinions and any options that they might be able to think of also. She told them she wouldn't make a final decision until they had more information, but she wanted to be prepared. Amy also asked that they keep this to themselves for the time being. Jake said he would get right on it and left. Ted left just a few seconds later.

1800

"Alpha flight to base. We are still getting an intermittent signal. We are approximately 100,000 km from the alien ship. We will hold here for further instructions."  Kate called.

"Alpha flight, do an active scan of area and launch another probe. Program the probe to orbit the target. Feed all data back to Bravo flight for relay to base. Do not approach any closer at this time" Ted replied.

1815

"Data coming in Ted. John and AL analyzing now. Should we call Amy and let her know?" Ivan said.

"Not yet, she needs her rest. We will call her when we have something to report. But let Jake know that Kate is okay. John, I need that analysis as soon as possible." Ted replied.

It was about 15 minutes later when John told Ted the results of the scan data. It would have been faster except John had AL recheck the data twice just to be sure.

"Ted I have the data analyzed, the alien ship shows to have only minimal power. There are no shields detected and no life signs detected. There does appear to be some structural damage to the ship." John reported.

"Very good. Captain, we have the results of the newest scans. It looks like we have ourselves a derelict." Ted reported to Amy.

Amy came to the bridge immediately. After verifying that the data had been double checked, she asked for opinions from both John and Ted. She also called Jake to the bridge, after telling him Kate was fine so he wouldn't worry. Once Jake was on the bridge, Amy asked AL if he had any more information for them. AL told them that the ship was a colony preparation ship. It usually had a crew of 100, with most of the crew in stasis. There did not appear to be any functional stasis chambers. The ship was almost fully automated. It might be possible to board the ship and restore control so as to avoid the planet strike. But that boarding would have to take place within seven days, based on the power outputs detected. After that time the power to the main computer would probably fail. If that happened, then there wasn't much they could do but destroy the ship. Ted asked if it would be possible for either Kate or the other ship to do a fly by and do a visual inspection before returning to base. Amy and Jake seemed to agree with this so Kate was to have her wingman do the fly by.

1900

"Alpha flight to base. Alpha 2 reports that there are many holes in the hull of the ship. There is also a very weak broadcast coming from the ship. He had to get within 500 meters to pick it up clear enough to record. Do you want me to relay that recording to you or wait until we get back?" Kate reported.

After the recording had been relayed back AL told them that it was an automated announcement that the hull had been breached. Amy had all craft return to base, with Sally and her escorts waiting until Kate's flight joined up with them. Once all personnel were back on board Amy sent them all to bed, but scheduled a senior staff meeting for 0800. Amy went to her quarters and passed out due to the stress she had been under that day.