U.S.S. Humanity Read online

U.S.S. HUMANITY

  By

  Nathanial Covell

  * * * * *

  PUBLISHED BY:

  U.S.S. Humanity

  Copyright © 2012 by Nathanial Covell

  Thank you for downloading this eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form, with the exception of quotes used in reviews.

  Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

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  AUTHOR’S NOTE: I started this as an episodic adventure that involved limited settings and it just went all kids of cool from there! I think it would work in multiple mediums, but what do I know? Thanks for reading and please leave comments at my website! -n8

  https://www.natecovell.com

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  U.S.S. HUMANITY

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  Episode I

  Dex walks down the metallic corridor of the launch platform, eyes unfocused. At a window, he stops a moment to look down upon the Earth in its glamour-shot-like haze. “Hey, I’m Earth. Water sign. Come to this solar system often? Is that a gravitational pull or are you just glad to see me?” Dex postulates, smiling, “Earth, you slut, I’m leaving you.” “No, please, I can change …” it pleads. The smile leaves his face slowly. Dex turns his head away from Earth and into space. Six years, he thinks, sighing, if the rest of the crew doesn’t bludgeon me first. His eyes drop the datapad in his hand as its screen illuminates: Hawthorne, Aristotle, Homer ... thousands of titles. Out of the window he looks back at Earth and then to the Humanity, the ship that would bare them out of one solar system and into another.

  Weeks earlier, the eccentric owner of Chaste Holdings, Xavier Zimmer tried to quell Dex’s concerns. “But why is the ship so big? I mean, what is in these rooms back here?”

  “Dex,” he’d said, “I would ride this baby into space.”

  “Okay, that’s great, but I need to know everything.”

  “Well, good luck with that! I’m rich and I don’t know everything!” Xavier laughed, slapping Dex on the back.

  “I don’t see how that relates … oh, whatever.” Dex began laughing, infected by Xavier’s crazy goodness.

  Dex jars back to reality when a small sanitation bot bumps into his foot. “There’ll be a few hundred of these on the ship.” He slides it down the corridor with his sneaker and the bot fails and then finds traction again emitting a perturbed bleep. Dex raises his eyebrows, “I think I’ll program all of you to curse. That’ll keep me busy.”

  *****

  “Hold the door!” says Dex, quickening his pace. Xiao was closing the large, steel door, but stops it with some effort. She looks to Nadia, who glancing at her briefly continues on into the ship. Nadia’s short, jet black hair seems as functional as the flight suit that fails to hide her female form. Xiao pulls the door open a bit more. “Thanks, nice of you,” Dex says and Xiao smiles. Her smile is warm and genuine, one that conveyed interest and intelligence. She is sensibly dressed in black cargo pants and a long-sleeved pink shirt with a black far-eastern print. Her hair is dark brown over hazel-green eyes.

  “What else could I do ... for a future neighbor?” Dex looks to Nadia down the hallway.

  “A simple act can tell you a lot about a person. Right, Captain?”

  Nadia turns to look at Xiao and speaks with a slight Russian accent, “He’s manipulating us. He didn’t need the door held. He’s testing us ... already.”

  Xiao’s eyebrow arches, not unattractively, “Is that true?” Xiao looks over Dex’s cropped dark hair and blue eyes.

  “Ouch,” replies Dex, feigning injury. “Actually, no, I just wanted the door held open for me. We did learn a few things, though, didn’t we?”

  “Why would you test us?”

  “It’s his way.” Nadia turns and continues walking away. “You’ll be briefed shortly ...”. Convinced, Xiao lets the door close on Dex and he exhibits some skill scrambling his frame out of its path.

  Xiao walks a few steps and looks over her shoulder at Dex. “Be careful you don’t pretend too much ... lest perception becomes reality.”

  Dex nods, impressed and reappraising Xiao, “Well spoken.”

  *****

  Xiao and Dex enter the room together, where Nadia, already sitting, eyes them and looks over the rest of the group. “Xiao, Dex, meet your shipmates.” Nadia sweeps her hand in the direction of the others. A young man sits in a chair away from the others, while a tall, unshaven man and primly dressed woman sit at an oak table with Nadia.

  Everything in the room is extravagant: plush carpeting, baroque chairs and couches. Calming, tropical ocean views fill large video screens on every wall. Dex smiles like a kid, “You could fit an Olympic pool in here.”

  Xiao walks to a small table, carved and painted with Japanese imagery. She reaches into a bowl of rice crackers and takes a few. “It’s not like being in space at all.” She tosses one in the air toward her mouth and it rises and falls barely slower than at standard Earth gravity. She jumps over the back of a couch and lands, bouncing slowly for effect. The tall, scruffy man at the table smiles, relaxes with her capriciousness.

  Fidgeting and mumbling ever louder, the young man taps his foot nervously. He holds a computer datapad which he continues to tap in frustration. “There’s no security on this computer. Anyone could get into it! Unreal.”

  “Alex, who do you think is going to get into it? Aliens?” asks the tall man, smiling, his accent, thick and Italian. He looks to see if he’s evoked a smile from the reserved, sensibly dressed woman sitting across from him, but she only eyes the exchange curiously. He looks at the others, “I am Giuseppe, by the way. Please, call me Beppe.” The scruffy Italian straightens his black leather Harley jacket and takes measure of Dex and Xiao.

  “Well, we might have guests, from time to time.” They all exchange amused glances. “Well, personal files?” he’s almost pleading. Alex eyes Beppe up and down and asks, dubiously, “What do you do around here, anyway?”

  “I fix things,” Beppe says, without turning to look at the young man.

  He scoffs, “A handy man?”

  Beppe returns his gaze to the young man, “Complicated things.” He looks back to the woman, arching an eyebrow.

  The reserved woman flashes a smile and a wave, trying to be casual, “Ship’s doctor. Dr. Silvera. Jennifer.” This seems to have exhausted her cordiality.

  “You may establish security protocols within reason, Alex. Computers are why you’re here,” interrupts the Captain.

  “Lucky for you.”

  As Xiao and Dex sit, the handsome, slightly-aged face of the ship’s owner suddenly consumes most of a large video screen on the wall.

  “All present and accounted for, sir,” reports Nadia.

  “Now that we’re all here, welcome to the Humanity. How do you find your accommodations?” All nod their approval. “Your destination is Chi Draconis, which you should reach in approximately 3 years. This is a civilian vessel, which means that there is no official code of conduct, but you all have a job to do, none the less, and you will be expected to perform. The ship’s recycling systems will require maintenance and, of course, the hydroponic bay, if you wish to have fresh vegetables and meat for the duration of the voyage. You have freeze-dried rations, as well, but trust me when I say you do not want to subsist on those things. Our mission is to claim the Earth-l
ike planet there, Ikijima, so that I can populate it entirely with children from my supermodel wives.” The crew exchanges dubious glances.

  Dex leans forward, raising a finger, “Ah, Xavier, remember you promised I could help with that?”

  The face laughs, “Ah, Dex, I can count on you to get me. No, we claim it for the company and the United States. Both have an obvious interest. Look around. I have handpicked each of you. Each one of you has sacrificed and each one of you has been persecuted. Together, you are one of the most remarkable examples of humanity I can imagine.” The crew exchanges glances, some entertained, some perplexed. “Sorry for the name of the vessel, but humanity is what you’ll represent while you’re out there and each other are all you’ll have. Remember that. And one more thing: There are forces that may not want you to reach your destination. Enemy corporations would desperately like to reach Draconis before you. Be careful.” Everyone exchanges anxious glances. “Good luck Humanity and God speed.” Xavier’s face disappears as the screen goes black.

  “Let’s get to the bridge. Our launch window is in 30 minutes,” Nadia urges. The crew rises to prepare for launch, uncertain.

  “Ah, dumb question, maybe, but why do we ‘launch’ if we’re already in space,” asks Alex, rising.

  Nadia explained while leading the group through the ship, “Using the ion drive would take too long to accelerate us to suitable traveling speeds. We have to use some more incendiary fuel in a quick burn to reach cruising velocity. Also, Earth Control will provide us with extended radar node access and help us plot and avoid obstacles.”

  “Obstacles?” Xiao asks, not without surprise.

  “Ships and rocks, mostly,” answers Dexter, opening the door to the bridge. “At high velocity, even tiny rocks could puncture a ship’s hull. After we reach velocity, we’ll drop the ERA skirt to help with that. ” Xiao returns an expectant look. Dex smiles, “Right: Explosive reactive armor skirt. It drapes over the ship to protect it from impacts.”

  The doors cycle open to the bridge: pristine glass and stainless steel, modern and carpeted. “Okay, who is vacuuming this place? It’s enormous.” Dex looks at Nadia. “You like housework, no doubt, Nadia?” She gives him a sidelong glance, nonplussed thus somewhat menacing. Everyone takes a seat, while Dex and Nadia sit in the pilots’ chairs. Everything is digital and touch activated. “Oh, daddy like.”

  *****

  “This is the Deep Space 4837 Humanity bound for Deep Space Station 1. Control do you read?”

  “This is Control, 4837, we read you 5 by 5.”

  “Okay, let’s do the list,” Dex sighs, examining its length.

  “I already did before you arrived,” says Nadia as Dex’s forehead creases.

  “Well, that’s very efficient of you, but regulation requires that the copilot confirm you perform these items.”

  “Then confirm them.”

  “You know I can’t from here.” Silence. “Look: This is your ship and you can minimize me, if you wish. Run me down in front of others ... undercut my responsibilities and/or steal my fruit cup ... I don’t care. I’m just looking forward to six years submerged in some relative peace, but I will not allow you to take shortcuts when it comes to safety: mine or theirs, but mostly mine.” She looks at Dex, calculating. “I’ve been around enough to see cocky sons-of-bitches kill and die because they saw fit to veto a well thought out plan or procedure because of a gut-feeling or out of pure ego.” Dex’s voice crescendos, “There are countless technical and organic reasons for the existence of this thing, so it’s over the checklist, we go. Are you feelin’ me?” Nadia sighs and picks up the checklist.

  “I know about you, you know.”

  “I’m sure you know all there is to know, since you read it.”

  “You destroyed a 40-million dollar space fighter while satisfying your ego.”

  “Is that what it was?” Dex turns his head, pursuing the eye contact she evades. “Then why did you select me?”

  Nadia keeps busy with the controls, “Xavier had something to do with it, that’s for sure. Seems to have a real soft spot for you.”

  With the weight of the memory, Dex relents and surveys the panels in front of him. “Xavier ... “ Dex looks up at the stars before them. “Let’s just get far, far, far from here.”

  *****

  “Control this is 4837 requesting initialization of countdown to fire main thrusters,” says Nadia.

  “Okay 4837, hold on one moment,” says the voice from the radio speaker. Indirect voices can be heard.

  “Okay, check the guidance path.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Now release the clamps.”

  “This one?” asks the voice, uncertain.

  “No! This one.” Nadia rolls her eyes and sighs. Dex smiles.

  “Okay, go ahead, Private, and tell them they’re all set.”

  “Control, this is Colonel Masterson, do you have our sheet, so we can blow this LZ?”

  “Working on it, sir ... did you say Masterson, sir? Lieutenant Colonel Dexter Masterson?”

  “That’s affirmative.”

  “It’s an honor, sir. We all studied the Belt Maneuver at the academy. You’re a ... legend.”

  Dex shakes his head, sneaking a sidelong glance at Nadia and wincing. The passengers arch their eyebrows and exchange glances. “You’d have done the same, Private-”

  “But the speed!” insists the voice from Control. “I’ve never seen- I mean, we tried … in the simulator, but no one in my class-”

  “Let’s move this along, Private,” interrupts Nadia.

  “Sorry, sir. 4837, you are clear on those coordinates. We are initiating countdown. Safe journey, Humanity.” Nadia glances at Dex who is busy at various instruments.

  “Two minutes to 8 G. Everyone get buckled in back there?” Nadia turns to make sure the crew complies.

  *****

  A small cargo ship streaks through space at near light-speed. Despite the ship shuddering, Pharris Turner coolly sips a mug of hot tea. “Open the outer doors,” he orders and his copilot, complies. “Release the cargo.” Chunks of rock tumble from the ship as it peals away from their trajectory. “That’ll cut short Humanity’s flight.” He sips his tea again, smiling.

  *****

  “No aperitivo, Captain?” jokes Beppe, trying to dissipate the tension. Jen folds her hands in her lap, intellectually straining to control the uncontrollable.

  Dex’s hands and eyes continue to busy themselves at the controls. Nadia looks at Dex, “Something wrong?”

  “Just on the lookout?”

  Quietly to Dex, “What for? You don’t think there’d be …?”

  “I just think, okay? I can’t exactly turn it off.” Dex slips a small card into the comm system.

  “What did you put in there?”

  “Just a little something I forgot to return to the U.S. Government.”

  An alarm begins beeping. The passengers’ attentions pique.

  “What’s that?”

  “Not exactly unexpected. I tapped into an Opal.”

  “You did what? That’s not authorized!” protests Nadia.

  Control is heard again, “Ignition in 60 seconds.”

  “Ah, Private, we’ve got a big problem. I show high-speed objects merging on our flight path. Switch to frequency Alpha 7.”

  “Sir, I … I don’t have authorization on that-”

  “Listen Private: Go to active radar and code in 877 Charlie Tango, right now.”

  “Umm ... okay, telemetry readings in.” The Private’s voice strays from the microphone, “Holy hell, Major, we need to abort.”

  “What’s going on over here? What? Affirmative, reading inbounds. Damn, initiate abort sequence ... Initiate, Private!”

  Voice squeaking, “There’s no response, sir!”

  “Out of the way! What the- Anyone know what ‘Object reference not set to instance of
an object’ means?”

  Alex begins unstrapping himself, “That’s old computer lingo. Maybe I can-”

  “Sit down, Alex. No time and you’d die in the 8G burn,” responds Dex sharply. Dex’s hands move quickly at the controls, practiced and steady. The young man sits back down. “Damn,” Dex utters in frustration to himself.

  “What about the skirt thing?” asks Xiao.

  “No, debris too big and intersect is too soon,” intones Nadia, barely listening.

  Pharris’ voice, slightly digitalized, suddenly emerges from the radio, laced with the static accompanying near light speed. “Dex, I left you a little present out here. No hard feelings. Conflicting interests, as usual. You understand.”

  “Exactly who was that?” demands Jen.

  “Control, I am unable to shut down. If you cannot override, I need to perform an emergency tertiary burn now,” Dex’s voice is strong.

  The Major responds quickly, “I don’t have the authority.”

  “Control: 433 now or we’re dead. That jetsam is gonna punch us into baby Swiss.” The ship begins to shudder as the main engines engage.

  The Major can be heard trying to speak to the near-light ship, “How the hell? No transponder! Unidentified vessel, this-”

  “Control! He can’t hear you at that speed!” insists Dex.

  The Major is loud, but sure, “Humanity! A lateral burn is impossible. You’ll lose control-”

  “-unless we’re perfect. Nadia! I need you!”

  From alarm, she awakens, professional. “Yes ... on it.” She works quickly.

  “Initiate ..... Now!” She flips a switch and the ship strains to push itself sideways. “Reciprocal burn in ... 13 seconds. I need those course corrections, Captain.”

  Panicked, the Private’s voice squeaks, “Colonel: Main engines fire in 20 seconds.”

  “Steady! Fire reciprocals in 3 ... 2 ... 1. Fire!” The ship groans. “Give me the corrections.”

  Frustrated, Nadia complains, “We’re off! We’ll never-”

  “Do it now!” Dex’s eyes scan the console.

  “I’m gonna throw up. What’s baby Swiss, anyway? I’m never gonna know, am I, Beppe?” Alex frowns, looking at the Italian. The ship shudders continually.