Chapter 4

Thor (leviathan class battleship) was in orbit.

Now Galactic Space Headquarters wants to communicate. They responded with incessant demands for status reports, weapons and ordinance accountability, and requests for all documentation authorizing our launching. All this while attempting to implement the necessary communication security protocols using our outdated hardware keys.

Several deep space patrol spacecraft were being diverted to intercept us now that we have appeared in their area of operations.

Without proper identification or communication protocols. Begrudgingly, we are allowed to operate using the antiquated identification software that Leviathan retained while she was decommissioned Approaching patrol craft were at the edges of the solar system and even if communications were received, we would have long since departed the Earth orbit. In the meantime, Galactic Space ComSec was attempting to develop software ‘patches’ to facilitate secure communications and tracking with us.

Galactic Command Headquarters demanded to know our capabilities and that they be provided with crew manifests. I left all such responses to Alara and her crew.

Even as I set course for Saturn to ‘scoop’ up a fuel load for intended interstellar flight, my focus was upon a shake-down cruise to demonstrate our flightworthiness for the ‘doubting Thomas’s’ at our Earth-bound Space headquarters.

Alara found the dictates of Galactic Space Command operators somewhat amusing as she transmits digital records of requested information as it is made available in the specified formats they dictated. It seems that Space headquarters is primarily focused upon my age, experience, and qualifications for command of the Leviathan and its crew. I instructed Alara to search her archives for information relating to former skippers and mirror their qualifications as much as possible. Age, I couldn’t fudge that at all, so I told her not to even try.

I can’t wait to leave this solar system and travel beyond convenient radio communication distances from Earth. At least Saturn is several hours or more distant.

Even one-way radio frequency transmissions traveling at the speed of light take more time as we travel further into space.

Two-way communications more than double that required wait period between transmissions.

Once re-fueled by flying through the cloud tops of the Jovian upper atmosphere, I intend to make Warp Speed for Alpha Centuri, long before any patrol craft can intercept us in system. My only real draw-back is that trans-Warp propulsion capabilities have to wait for us to travel at sub-light speeds a certain distance away from the core planets. Once engaged, trans-Warp engines will propel Thor clear of our solar system, our sun’s electromagnetic boundary with interstellar space. Effectively, I become autonomous once past that celestial threshold.

My next stop would be several light years distant. Far beyond Galactic Space Commands concerns, at least for the present. Of course, I was expected to provide status reports on periodic burst transmissions made from Warp-capable message torpedoes aimed back at our home world. Those would only be launched as I dictated to update my minders from Earth of our mission successes.

Torpedoes are ingenious creations, A miniaturized Warp Drive with limited fuel designed to leap ahead at up to twenty-five Warp speeds, thus traveling great distances through interstellar space on a course for Earth.

Once the torpedo drops from Warp, all remaining fuel is expended to slow the missile as it approaches its destination. Once arriving within the targeted solar system, it broadcasts its signals until a confirmation is received that its message has been recorded and authenticated by proper authorities.