Chapter 435

Deep Space – The Alien Ship

The First Officer stood next to the Chief Engineer while he intently observed two of his sub-engineers as they finished inspecting a generator. When the inspection housing was closed and locked down again, the Chief finally turned to the other. “And what can I do for our fine Captain?” he said with what passed for a grin on his face.

“I told you that comments like that are not funny,” the First Officer groused.

“Oh, we are touchy today, I see,” but the grin stayed in place.

The First shrugged. “I need to ask you something.”

The Chief just waited.

“Will your warp coil repairs hold at normal cruising speed – at least for a while?”

The Chief’s grin turned into a frown. “I told you that I would have to continue my tuning of the coils as we gradually increased the load on them. I presume there is a reason for your question? Nothing has changed that would make what I told you any less valid. So why do you ask?” he said.

Just what I said before, “I... know that we are being observed. That power surge in the asteroid belt came from a ship. I am certain of it.”

“Hmmm. Unless my memory is faulty, you, at first, were concerned because the Captain had ordered your search stopped before you could confirm your worries one way or another. But, over time, those worries seem to have changed to a near, if not total, certainty. What has changed? Have the physical searches produced evidence that you have not shared with me?”

While the two had been talking, they had moved to the Chief’s office. As he motioned for his guest to be seated, the First blew out a sigh of frustration, suspecting that the Chief was trying to make him realize just how insane his continued worry about being watched sounded. “Look, I know something or someone is out there. And no, I do not have any absolute proof, but I cannot shake the feeling. I know how this sounds, but I... know that I am correct.”

“So, I assume that you want to suddenly go to high warp in order for this – whatever it is – to show itself as it tries to catch up?”

“Precisely.”

The Chief leaned back to put his feet on his desk in an entirely human manner. “Well, I certainly agree that seems to be a logical response on your part ... if there was any indication that we actually had an observer, but ... nothing has changed about what I told you concerning the warp coils. The tuning is as perfect as I can make it at present, but ... I must continue that tuning under load – a gradually increasing load. First, I told you that repairs of this type have never been successfully completed outside the repair facility where they build the coils and have the equipment to tune them properly. Ask any engineer. What I – no make that what we did, since my subs worked just as hard – has never been done before in deep space. And ... I hope never to have to attempt it again, but we are not finished with the tuning yet. It must continue as we incrementally increase our speed. If I screw up just once, those coils will come apart and scatter us across space and probably the dimensions as well. I will not push my schedule. It could very well be suicidal to do so. At best, I would have to initiate the tuning process from the beginning. And frankly, I do not know for certain if I could even do it again.”

“Shit,” the First mumbled as he absentmindedly got up for a cup of stim. After taking a sip, he turned back to the Chief Engineer. “How soon before I can get us out of here?”

The Chief glanced at his boards. “I am ready now. I can even give you ten percent more speed now that we have made certain that the coils are holding without obvious damage.”

The First Officer touched his communicator. When his Second answered, “Go to warp. Same course as before. Same speed plus ten percent – and no more than ten percent. The Chief Engineer will also continue to monitor our speed.”

“Affirmative, Sir,” the Second responded. “Going to warp.”

The two waited quietly as reality shimmered about them, then steadied, before the Chief said, “You could always drop a mine or two in our wake. That should end your observer problem, or at least make them go to emergency warp to outrun the mine – if they can.”

The First looked over his cup at the Chief. “I have considered that, but what if they are friendly, or worse yet, are part of a superior force that is checking us out.”

“Well, as far as being friendly goes, we have never bothered to become friends with any of the races we have subjugated.”

“So, have you been involved in taking another planet before?”

The Chief, beginning to worry that the First was becoming paranoid about this observer, real or imagined, let out a chuckle before responding. “Do I look like I am rich?” When they both laughed, he went on, “No ship I have ever crewed on has found a planet with a viable civilization – same as you. But I have always thought that overall returns could be escalated by a more ... diplomatic approach, I think the term is. I also think it is logical to assume that a partnership based on trade would produce far greater dividends than we enjoy through our present method of enslaving every civilization we encounter. But ... my friend, what we have mentioned today and earlier could very well get us spaced should High Command learn of our comments.”

“Oh, I agree, particularly should the race have a similarly advanced technology. But we have never met such a race, at least that I have heard about,” the First Officer pointed out. “Our technology has always proved far superior, and we have captured the planet and taken what we wish, then enslaved the inhabitants.”

There was quiet as the First sat to sip his stim and a frowning Chief Engineer, suddenly hearing a sound, turned to check his status boards.

“Yet, we are unable to detect this watcher,” the First continued almost under his breath.

But the Chief didn’t hear him as he abruptly came to his feet. Muttering a curse, he left the office as he called over his shoulder, “I have a spike. Looks like that ten percent increase is causing an imbalance between coils two and five. Talk to you later.”

The Construction Site at the Retreat

The next morning, the construction supervisor called his assistant into the office. As he entered, the assistant motioned toward the outside. “Snow’s starting to melt and it’s much warmer this morning. Looks like we’re heading into spring.”

The supervisor shrugged. “Don’t bet on spring just yet – not this high in the mountains. Oh, we might have a few days with temps above freezing in the daytime, but I’d be amazed if this is the last of the cold weather or the snow.”

“Well, you may be right, but I’m damn tired of the snow and cold. I’m ready for spring.”

The supervisor chuckled. “Me too, but there’s a downside, though. With warm weather comes the mud from all that melting snow.”

“Yeah, there is that,” the assistant returned as the supervisor motioned for him to be seated. After turning down coffee, the assistant said, his voice tight, “I doubt you called me into your office to discuss the weather. So, what have I done this time?” he finished with a sigh.

The supervisor grinned as he thought about his first time as an assistant to a construction supervisor on a big job. “I told you on your first day that this job was complicated. If you don’t make a screw-up now and then, there’s a good chance you aren’t working. Besides, most of the time when I have corrected you, it wasn’t really a mistake, but merely that I had discovered an easier or better way to do some things. It was just experience talking, and I was teaching. If you keep on as well as you have so far, I strongly suspect you will be a full supervisor in charge of a big job one of these days. You have the education; you’ve worked hard and haven’t made the same mistake twice. I have no complaints and I’ve said that on your review.”

“Uh, thank you, Sir,” the assistant responded, but there was a look on his face. After a moment, the supervisor let out a chuckle, “So? I do tend to get a bit grumpy at times, and today is definitely one of those times. Unfortunately, I have a valid reason for being pissed today. I just got a call from the front office. They’re sending a helicopter to take me to the airport where a jet will be waiting. At least you get your ass chewings, such as they are, on site. But ... I have no fucking idea what I’ve done to piss the front office off. Hell, we’re ahead of schedule and have had only a couple of very minor injuries. A skinned knee and a pinched finger. Nothing that a Band Aid couldn’t fix. And there was no time lost because of minor injuries. They didn’t even fulfill the criteria for a reportable injury, but I reported them, anyway. We’ve had only minor stoppages and most of those were preventative maintenance before something broke down. Yet, I get a summons to the front office. That always means an ass chewing, but be damned if I can figure what I’ve done – or not done.

“So now you know why I called you in. You’ll be in charge while I’m gone.”

“Oh, shit,” the assistant muttered under his breath. “What if that rich guy and his women come out for another tour? I’m uncomfortable around him. Not to mention being around all those sexy women he brings with him. I don’t do well around rich people.”

“Fuck. Tell him the truth, but keep your eyes above the women’s chests if they should come with him. Tell him that I’ve been sent to the main office and you’re busy as hell, because I’ve left you in charge. So far, Mr. Matthews – hell, all of them – have treated me well. No obvious arrogance and no ridiculous requests. He knows we’re working three shifts trying to get this thing done as soon as possible. If he asks for another major tour, ask him if he can wait until I get back. From what I hear, he’s an inventor and earned his fortune, so he should understand. He’s been reasonable with me so far. Chances are, if you ask, he’ll wait until I get back. Each time he’s been out, other than the tours, he has been alone or with just that one woman” (Kayla) “that seems always to be with him. Most of the time, he simply wants to check on something in particular. They’ve just had a major tour, so chances are you won’t have to worry about him while I’m gone.

“I do have one bit of advice, though. If something happens, listen to your lead man from whichever crew has the problem. Our team is fortunate because we don’t have any supervisors that were given their damn job because they have a relative high up in the company. Our crew leaders know what they’re doing. If the leader doesn’t volunteer to give you his ideas on the problem, and you are the least bit undecided, ask if he has any suggestions before you make the decision.”

The two men went over various job related problems until they heard a helicopter in the distance. The assistant stepped out on the porch, but quickly returned. “Looks like it’s your ride, Boss. It’s headed toward our pad.”

The supervisor stood, grabbed his bag and started toward the door. “Things are running smoothly, so you shouldn’t have any problems while I’m gone. Just keep it together until I get back.”

Ten minutes later, the office SAT phone rang, and, after greetings, Jeff Matthews said, “I hate to bother you, but my architect and I need to check out something.”

The assistant’s great day just vanished. “Uh, yes, Sir,” he responded while trying to sound cheerful. “Uh, will it be just the two of you?”

“Well, no,” Jeff responded. “Kayla will be with us too. So, there will be three of us. We don’t need a tour per se. The architect just needs to see the area where our living room will be – the area we walked through yesterday. She’s here now, so we would like to do this as soon as possible.”

“I’ll have a cart waiting and I’ll take you myself, Mr. Matthews,” the assistant responded while trying to keep his voice normal.

As soon as Jeff hung up, the assistant grabbed his coat and hurried to find a cart that was fully charged. “Shit. Shit. Shit,” he muttered. “I don’t need this bullshit right now.”

Jeff, Kayla and Kei Yoshida, the architect, walked across the lot and entered the construction area through the security gate. The assistant’s timing was good, and he exited the downslope with the second cart just as the trio arrived.

“Good morning, I’m...”

“ ... Mark Hall,” Jeff finished for him as he reached out to shake the assistant’s hand. “And this is Kei Yoshida, our architect, and you remember Kayla, I’m sure.”

After the introductions, the assistant, knowing he would be asked, spoke up. “Mr. Kingston was called to the main office, so I will escort you this morning. You said you wanted to see the area we visited last time?”