“So, what was it you wanted to tell me.” Johanna asked.
Andros nodded to the Adjutant standing close. Johanna recognized her as the Sensor Handler from the third watch.
“I have been keeping an eye on the alien ship, and as we got a more detailed scan I noticed a few things.” She took a breath and then pointed to the side of the hologram to one of the ship’s tanks. “The ship appears to have suffered some damage, most likely it hit some debris that punctured a hole in one of its air tanks. The damage was repaired, but it looks like the repairs aren’t holding properly. The tank is leaking air very slowly. And it appears as if the ship took other damage as well. Mainly to its engine cooling system. The damage is miniscule, I doubt that their sensors can even detect it. But it poses a threat to the ship, if it is not repaired soon the ship’s engine will start overheating. If the air tank doesn’t burst first.”
Johanna looked at the small ship. “You said it has air tanks. So it is manned then?”
“It is highly unlikely that it is unmanned.” Sensor Handler said.
“And you want us to do what exactly? We are not supposed to interact with them. Bad enough that they will see us as we pass through their system. Should we take the ship on board? Fix it?” Johanna asked.
“I don’t know Fleet Commander, I just thought that you should know.” Sensor Handler said.
Johanna sighed, “Is there any chance that whoever is on that ship will notice the damage and fix it?”
“If they haven’t until now, I doubt that they will figure it out in time to save themselves. They have a few days at the most.”
“Thank you Adjutant. That will be all.” Johanna said, the Sensor Handler moved back to her spot, leaving only Andros standing close to Johanna’s chair.
“What are you going to do?” Andros asked. Johanna thought about sending a message back to Sanctuary, but even with the comm relays it would take four days for the message to get there, and another four for their response. No, the decision was hers alone.
“I have no idea.” Johanna answered.
Chapter Thirteen
Trivax system
Quvor sat strapped into his chair panicking. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, all the test told him that everything was fine, and yet he could still see his engines heat levels rising. The mood back on Trivax was the same, none of the geniuses back home could figure out what was wrong. Only they weren’t in his place. Quvor ran a diagnostic test for the tenth time in the last couple of hours, hoping that something would change. When that test came normal as well, he realized that he would have to leave the ship and see if he can find anything from the outside. He was putting it off because it was unlikely, the ship was big, and he only had a limited air supply for his suit. It would take forever to check the ship without knowing where to look.
“Commander, scanners have detected a fast moving object.” The Computer said.
Quvor frowned, “Where and what is it?”
“The object is on an intercept course with us. I am unable to identify the object.” The Computer said.
Quvor felt a strange feeling in his gut. “Show me.” The screen in front of him changed and showed two dots, one moving extremely fast towards the other. “This is impossible. Nothing can move that fast!” Quvor exclaimed, the object would reach his position in a manner of hours. He quickly started sending all the data back to the command, and ten minutes later as they got the data, they started debating on the nature of the object. Most insisted that it must be some kind of an asteroid, but the chance of it being on a direct course with Quvor’s ship was astronomical, not to mention that it was moving faster than any asteroid ever recorded.
“Can you get me a visual?” Quvor asked.
“Yes Commander.”
A moment later a blurry image appeared on Quvor’s screen. He looked at the video feed trying to figure out what it is.
“This is out of focus.” Finally Quvor said. “Can you sharpen the image?”
“No Commander. The object is moving too fast for our sensors to adjust.”
Quvor shivered, whatever was on his screen wasn’t an asteroid. He shut the video feed off, the only thing looking at a blurry image did, was enhance his fear. He felt hopeless, he couldn’t do anything but wait. The command back home felt the same way, but they weren’t here with him. Quvor watched as the dot that represented the unidentified object drew closer. And then some time later he felt his two hearts stop for a moment as he heard the Computer telling him that the object started slowing down.
Quvor couldn’t believe this was happening to him. First the incident with the air tank, then the trouble with the engines, and now this. Hundreds of scenarios passed through his head as the dot moved closer and closer. Most involved him being taken prisoner and experimented on. He didn’t voice his fears out loud, lest he call them to become reality. He wondered what the control back on Trivax thought. They could see everything that he could, albeit a few minutes later. The Computer told him when the object slowed and came close enough for his sensors to give him a viewable image, but he didn’t want to see it. He was afraid. Then the dot moved closer and closer, and it finally stopped just besides his dot. For a few moments he just stared at it, not moving at all. And then he gathered his courage and unclasped his straps. He pushed off the chair and moved to a window on the side of his bridge.
The sight that met him was that of a ship. It had lights on the outside that illuminated its hull. It was more than double the size of his ship, and he could see that it was much more advanced. Its hull was smooth and black, filled with sharp angles. And with things mounted on the hull. Quvor felt his fear intensify. He didn’t recognize what those things were, but he could guess. He saw the markings on the side of the ship, but of course couldn’t read them. In a moment he felt both elated and terrified. His people weren’t alone in the universe. Since the first time they looked to the stars, they have always wondered if there was someone else out there. They have written stories about them, imagined what they would be like. And now he knew that they existed. A million questions came to his mind. Who were they? Where did they come from? And most importantly – What did they want with him?
“We are receiving a radio transmission from the unidentified object Commander.” Quvor twisted around at the sound of the Computer’s voice.
“What?”
“We are receiving a radio transmission from the unidentified object Commander.” The Computer repeated.
Quvor immediately pushed himself to the chair and strapped himself in. He accessed the communications panel, and then he hesitated. After a few moments he reached over and played the message.
“Greetings.” A clearly synthetic voice said in Trivaxian, which startled Quvor. “We wish your people no harm, and we apologize if our presence startled you. We did not plan on contacting you directly, as our ships are only passing through your system.” Quvor’s ears twitched. Ships? He thought. “But we could not do nothing once we discovered the plight of your ship. Our ships sensors detected the damage to your ship, and we determined that with your current technology it is unlikely that you will realize what is wrong in time. We want to offer our help in repairing the damage to your ship. You can send a response to this frequency. If you do not wish our help, we will leave you alone. And if you wish it, answer quickly. Our ships cannot spare much time in this system and your ship’s time is running out.”