The Colony Ship Warren #1-7, page 171
part #0 of Colony Ship Warren #1-7 Series
“But I think you offered Islamic values and Christian values, or did I hear you wrong?” Allen asked. “Then you encouraged the elementalism Sora offered. Three vastly different spiritual views, which are incompatible. Why?”
He looked intensely at Allen for a moment, but not in a mean way, rather in a manner as if he was trying to read Allen’s mind or soul.
“Sora is a sweet woman. She offered what she could. That is so much better than I have seen others do. And I am not referring to you or Beth. Sora did what she felt called to do. She needed that for herself, as much as for the dead.”
He paused for a moment, then went on, “As to what is or is not spiritually compatible, well, my friend, judging that is way over my pay grade. Oh, maybe that figure of speech is antiquated. It means the question requires more knowledge, information, and wisdom than I have. As long as a religious view is not leading to actions which cause harm to others, I leave them be. My marines have a very diverse set of spiritual beliefs, and if you can sort out which are compatible and which are incompatible, my hat is off to you.”
“Thank you,” Allen faded back and then continued the hike next to Beth.
The team had to backtrack a distance and then take a different corridor to reach the bulkhead door which Gunny and her team had used. There were no signs of anyone along that route.
Colonel Landcaster approached Beth and Allen, “Would one of you mind carrying Elsa in the ALP? I would like to utilize the security automacube as a scout, but Elsa’s being carried by it. I hate to lose any part of our team, be it an automacube, a person, or an AI. Monitor has been giving me feedback, but I want some independent scouting ahead.”
Beth nodded and stepped over to the red automacube. She took the ALP out of the reader and stored it in a breast pocket of her RAM suit. The top portion of the ALP, where its sensors and speakers were located, poked up above the lip of the pocket, allowing Elsa to have some perceptions.
“Elsa, is this acceptable to you?” Beth asked.
“Monitor agrees that it is for the good of the mission, and I cannot expect anything better,” Elsa answered. “The ALP’s power resources are fully charged.”
Allen used a subvocal connection through the com-link to Beth, “The Colonel and Monitor are talking behind our backs, and now we cannot even speak openly to each other. Is that too convenient or what?”
Beth was uncertain how much of even a subvocalization that Elsa would hear, so she only nodded.
C57-U moved off ahead of them all and sent back reports.
At that next constituent joint, the bulkhead door was already open from C57-U’s passage. The lead marines cautiously moved onward, followed closely by Sora and the rest. Sparks was serving as a rear guard.
There were no issues as they moved from the habitat’s shell and across the constituent joint and into the needle ship. They made steady progress until they arrived at the main tramway and came upon the slidewalk system.
The tramway was wide, well lit, and had numerous signs indicating how it operated. Down the middle of the tramway was the six-laned slidewalk with each lane being about two meters wide. The tramway stretched out in both directions for as far as they could see.
At the place where they had come, there was a pedestrian overpass which people could use to walk up and then cross over the slidewalk paths to get to the opposite side. Each side of the tramway at that location had shops and small offices, all seemingly empty and abandoned.
“A ghost city feel,” Beth commented.
“I thought the same thing, only this place is not overgrown,” Allen replied.
Sora then quickly explained to the others what she knew of the places called ghost cities.
“Any ghosts show up, I will send them back to the spirit realm,” Private Good snidely said and one of the other marines gave her a high-five.
The slidewalk had six different paths—sometimes called belts on the signs—with three paths which would move in one direction, and three which would move in the other direction. The signage clearly indicated which paths were for which destinations, and where people could step on, along with the speed of each path. There were rails between the paths with occasional gaps where people could move from one path to another.
None of the slidewalk’s paths were moving at the moment.
The security automacube rolled onto the closest path and it began to move. It started slowly but accompanying it were growls from mechanical bearings which needed lubrication.
“Machine Maintenance will be addressing the slidewalk’s needs. The noise is not indicative of the system being inoperative, but it does need adjustments,” Monitor stated from the security automacube. “Those adjustments may occur before we come back with the remnant, as engineering automacubes are en route to perform the services.”
The second path over began to move and that added some additional shrieks of complaint from the slidewalk as that second pathway sped up and exceeded the speed of the first.
Then the third path—the one which was closest to the center of the tramway—also started up and it too added squeaks and some rubbing sounds, but it accelerated until it was the fastest moving of all three paths.
A higher guardrail was an unbroken barrier between the three paths moving one direction, and the three paths which moved in the opposite direction. The designers had built into the pathway system numerous safety features which greatly reduced the chances of falls or other incidents.
By the time C57-U had moved from the first to the second path, and then onto the third path it was moving at its top speed. The automacube had easily rolled on the indicated crossover places and smoothly had established that the tramway’s slidewalk pathways were safely functioning.
The slidewalk was loud, but it was functional and would transport them along quickly.
As Beth and Allen watched, occasionally there were seats which passed by. Those seats were anchored to their respective paths. A traveler could use those seats to sit comfortably as they were carried along.
The marines then individually took their places on the slidewalk, keeping a proper distance from the one before them.
“This is an impressive talisman… I mean technological tool… mechanism,” Sora stated as she stepped onto the nearest pathway and was moved along. She had watched the marines and she followed their example and soon was on the fast track.
“I am here covering your rears,” Sparks said and motioned for Beth and Allen to follow after the Colonel.
Beth and Allen stepped onto the first pathway and felt the tug on their feet. They walked along it, getting used to the sensation of being carried and walking at the same time. Stepping from that one to the next faster pathway was an easy step, and they walked along that until they were able to step onto the fastest path of the slidewalk.
Once they were all on the slidewalk, only Beth and Allen stood near each other, as the rest of the team was spread out a good distance apart.
They traveled in silence, as neither Beth nor Allen felt like speaking and the intermittent grinding and squeaking from the slidewalk was annoying. They did keep careful watch over the corridor of the tramway. The loading and unloading station, as Beth thought of it, was soon far behind them, and the sides of the tramway were just straight walls. Occasionally, there were signs or murals, and during one part of the journey they saw artwork depicting soccer matches.
That made Beth and Allen look at each other and nod. They were remembering the ruined stadium which was exposed to space, and where they had had such difficulty.
Elsa finally spoke up, “The next slidewalk depot will be where you will want to step off. We have travelled roughly sixty kilometers toward the constituent joint which will take us to Habitat 6. Although, remember, I am limited in my assessments as I can only use what perspectives are available via the ALP’s abilities.”
The slidewalks carried them up to a station—or depot, as Elsa called it—and Beth and Allen noted that the marines ahead of them, along with the security automacube had left the paths and had taken positions around the shops and offices.
Beth and Allen moved from the fastest, to the medium, to the slower path and then easily stepped off and walked along the patio area in front of what had been some kind of cafeteria. The signs showed a wide variety of food options, but the serving counter was locked shut. They did not see any offerings for food ration bars, and were surprised at how many of the depicted foods they now recognized.
“Roasted potatoes,” Allen said and pointed at a sign. “Apricot cobbler!”
“Sandwiches from pulled pork,” Beth grinned as she too identified some food she had actually tasted on the Warren. “Watermelon.”
It was a brief moment of peace and tranquility amid the stress and tension of the mission.
“The area is secure,” Colonel Landcaster told them.
Beth and Allen looked over and saw Sora who nodded.
With a few gestures, Colonel Landcaster directed the team to move out. This time, C57-U was in the point position as they all moved along and then entered the constituent joint which led to Habitat 6.
Remembering what they had seen in the other constituent joint, Beth and Allen were not surprised when they came upon sealed bulkhead doors. Yet, C57-U checked those, then the bulkhead doors parted and they proceeded along.
There were no traps and no signs of any people around. There was not any evidence that Gunny’s team had passed that way.
The team moved along in silence until they reached another set of bulkhead doors which were the egress points to leave the constituent joint.
“Beyond these bulkheads is where we will enter a GAGS,” Colonel Landcaster announced. “Gunny’s team passed through without incident, so I doubt there are traps, but we will still pass through two at a time. C57-U and Private Bishop will be the first ones. The rest of us will follow, but I am having Monitor run a scan, and Sparks to check out the readings from this side.”
Bishop, Sparks and the automacube hustled through the open bulkhead threshold and moved the short distance to where the passage ended at a pressure door. White letters stenciled on that door read, ‘Warning: Oblique Gravity Manipulation Adjustment Beyond this Point’.
Sparks did some assessments on the pressure door and the control pad.
“Readings show normal, Colonel.”
“Monitor? Is the GAGS operating as expected?” Colonel Landcaster asked. “And are your sensors and perceptions trustworthy?”
Monitor replied, “All readings here are normal on both sides and inside the Gravity Alterations Gimballed Sphere show normal. The prior team passed through here without incident, and I observe no changes since their passage.”
“Thank you, Monitor,” Colonel Landcaster replied. “Bishop, you and C57-U, proceed onward.”
The automacube connected a cable into an access port on the nine-section color control pad. The pressure door opened and then Bishop and the automacube rolled inside, the door closing behind them.
“Everything looks good, Colonel,” Sparks reported as he watched the operation of the GAGS.
Colonel Landcaster nodded and then turned and asked Sora, “Are you aware of what these GAGS places do?”
Sora shrugged and was a bit embarrassed as well as somewhat overwhelmed by all that she had seen. The slidewalk was a bizarre experience for her, and being constantly surrounded by technology was almost overpowering. Although she was coping and relying on the experiences she had been having, she wished she were on a prairie stalking any kind of animal.
She then glanced at Beth and Allen.
“These places are where gravity is adjusted,” Allen interjected, “so that we have a feeling for up and down which fits the topography of what is beyond.”
“Exactly.” Colonel Landcaster turned toward Sora, saying, “This chamber is odd, but it gives us proper orientation. It may feel like being pulled along by a rock slide, or snow skiing, or surfing, but not exactly.”
Sora met his eyes and trusted him.
Colonel Landcaster went on and gestured with his hands, “The Warren is huge with many different ‘ground levels’ which are canted from the others. Gravity vectors will change inside here, but in an easy and controlled manner.”
He had put his hands apart and angled away from each other, but as he explained, he moved them to align with each other.
“Arrived safely on other side,” Private Bishop relayed a few moments later.
“Good and Osborn, go!” Colonel Landcaster ordered.
The marines opened the door and entered. The door shut behind them. A few moments later, they also reported a safe transition.
“Sora, if you will accompany me, we will go through now. It is no worse than an elevator,” Colonel Landcaster extended his hand to her and she took it.
They stepped into the GAGS.
After they safely moved through, Beth and Allen and Sparks entered. Inside was a sphere about ten meters in diameter. The door closed behind them, and as they looked around they saw that it was not the only door. Three other pressure doors were located at various places around the sphere.
Sparks said, “Just grab onto a handrail. The GAGS will move us to the correct door. This sphere is gimbaled to be able to rotate and align with the other corridors. No need to worry about where they lead, we are heading for the biome. You might feel some sensation of movement, but just hold on.”
“We flew here in an FTL scout without gravity manipulation,” Beth commented, but not in a rude manner.
There was a perception that the sphere did rotate and move around them, but Allen wondered if that was an illusion and that the platform they were on was what actually moved. Momentarily, they were aligned with one of the other doors.
Sparks tapped a sequence on the color control pad and that door opened.
“That would have been the place for an ambush,” Allen remarked. “I can appreciate why we took it carefully.”
“The Colonel does care about us, but losing those two marines to a trap is hard. Harder on him than anyone else, I suppose. Well, except for Tanner and Newton who were crushed,” Sparks rambled. “But at least it was quick. Not like what those fools did when they tried to infect Doc with a disease. Now that is truly ugly. I think the bastards who set the trap are part of Macmillan’s tribe. Bloody terrorists. Maybe even the same exact people who escaped from us. You know, Macmillan, Lucia, Beatrice, and Mary they will be shown no mercy. They knew we were planning stuff and they talked about the needle ship. They will die if I see them. Count on that.”
Beth and Allen exchanged looks, and remembered Macmillan’s previous dangerous antics. Neither of them doubted what Sparks was saying, but they also did not want Sparks to see them as part of Macmillan’s tribe, as he had put it.
The GAGS exit door opened and the three of them stepped out. It was a relatively short hallway with signs on all the walls. All the other members of the group were in that hallway. The security automacube was jacked into an access port at the end of the hall.
Allen read aloud what one of the signs said, “Medial Tertiary Egress Door. Do not allow any of the biome’s flora or fauna to escape from its proper place. Negative pressure air area. Medial and distal doors cannot be open at the same time. Please act accordingly. Immediately report any incidents to Animal Control. Exporting or importing unauthorized flora or fauna is a criminal offense and will be punished.”
Beth turned and looked at the door to the GAGS and it had a similar warning label on it, as well as the warning about gravity shifting in the chamber.
Sora spoke up, “Behind me it warns about wild animals being dangerous. But I doubt this was put here to warn about Jellies. They are far more dangerous than anything I have seen.”
“You are discounting us,” Osborn wisecracked and one of the other marines gave her a high-five.
Sora shyly replied, “I do not mean any disrespect, but I have seen the Jellies, and I do not think you should underestimate them. I have hunted vicious predators, but the Jellies are extremely dangerous and they use talismans even more eerie than what you use. They are life-threatening, murderous predators.”
Something in Sora’s words made them all become quiet.
“Monitor, we are about to enter Habitat 6, Primary Aquatic,” Colonel Landcaster stated. “Any new reports on the human remnant we are here to rescue?”
“No, Colonel. I am still having difficulty in tracking and locating them,” Monitor replied.
“Gunny, we are coming in, is the area secured? We already encountered a trap,” Colonel Landcaster relayed.
“Secure, but the biome is an unholy mess, for sure. Make sure your armor is sealed. Nasty air in here,” Gunny instructed.
The door opened, and instinctively, Beth, Allen, and even Sora, deployed their full RAM suit’s accoutrements. For a moment, Beth and Allen thought they were back in Dome 17, looking out of the clear permalloy windows at the toxic wastelands.
17 Rescue
“That is Primary Aquatic?” Beth blurted out. “Aquatic?”
“Beth, I think that actually is water! Fluid, anyway,” Allen added with disgust in his voice.
The sky tube shone down on the biome, but the light was somewhat hindered by the dusty air which gave the biome a feeling of filth. They looked down from a height of about six meters, and below them was a vista of taupe-colored gunk. At first it had looked like a tan colored plain, but as they watched, it was more a brownish-gray lake of liquid gunk and the air above it was not as thickly filled with dust as the wasteland’s atmosphere on Earth.
The security automacube rolled down the ramp which led from the doors.
The marines followed, pushing past Beth, Allen, and Sora.
“It is ruined,” Sora lamented. “Utterly ruined. I never imagined anything…” her words trailed off.
