Chapter 18 You Can't Get There From Here
“Core power at 100 percent.” said Randall. “Life support optimal, gravity at one point zero, auto gravity is engaged.”
“Propulsion driver is coupled, powered and ready sir,” barked Clary from the astro-navigation station, “orbital course is plotted and laid in.”
“Mr. Wallace, sound lift-off alarm.” Adams ordered and was answered by a distinctive klaxon signal of double pulses and double rests. “Crewman Clary, take us into orbit and prepare for evasive manuevers.”
The hum of the propulsion driver increased in volume and frequency as the unit powered up and the ship began to lift from launch pad 8. The challenge from Barnard's Space Port was expected any second now. “Cruiser C-57-D, you are not cleared for take-off. Power down immediately and return to launch pad 8.”
“Elevation and ascent rate?” asked Adams.
“Five meters at zero point 5 meters per second skipper.” came back the response from Wallace.
“Cruiser C-57-D, return to launch pad immediately or we will be forced to fire on you!” came the familiar voice of Ensign Otomi.
“Crewman Clary, full reverse, bank to starboard and commence evasive maneuvers.” Adams ordered.
The cruiser came within a few meters of striking CO-12-G Comstock as the glide path turned sharply to the right and the cruiser banked. Clary straightened the path once the Comstock was between the ship and the space port blaster batteries. The maneuver had been practiced in the computer simulator until Clary could pull it off in his sleep. The ship's rate of ascent decreased as the reverse speed increased. The Comstock, which filled the main view plate, was shrinking rapidly as the ship accelerated away.
“Range to Comstock Mr. Randall?” the commander asked. Randall replied in precisely timed intervals “Five miles on my mark sir at minus five, four, three, two, one, mark.”
“Get us into orbit Crewman Clary.” came the order from Adams. The rearward motion of the ship reduced drastically as the ascent rate jumped and the ship moved sharply in the vertical direction. From the main view plate, a stream of blaster bolts could be seen in the distance bearing down on the ship, but they would miss by hundreds of meters as the ship streaked toward orbit and outside of blaster range.
The cruiser was soon in geo-synchronous orbit and in communication with Robby on the ground at the Krell outpost. Adams asked for a direct link with Robby and then verified the Krell distress signal had remain unchanged. On cue, Robby gave the Krell language response to the distress signal, and then repeated the response in English. The signal from Robby would be directed to the cruiser and re-transmitted to give the appearance the signal originated from the cruiser.
“Mr. Randall, put the English translation on ships speaker.” said Adams as the com-link indicator signaled the incoming transmission.
“This is Garon space cruiser C-57-D, Commander Julius Martin commanding. Our diplomatic status is emissary ex- officio to the Krell outpost on this moon's surface. Ambassador J. J. Adams heads the delegation to suppress and retrieve Garon violators of the accords for colonial settlements.”
That should do it thought Adams. Alta was confident those would be the correct words to use to get landing clearance from the Krell.
Robby was on the speaker next, relaying the translation of the Krell message responding to the ships signal.
“Commander, the Krell are requesting your challenge code.”
It had taken Alta a few hours at the educator to learn there was a challenge code, what it was and how it should be transmitted. “Go ahead Robby, we will relay the code from here. Mr. Randall, you know what to do.”
Randall relayed the signal and when finished, received another message from Robby. The message had been translated from Krell but it was just a stream of numbers. Adams raised the com-link to ask, “Robby, what are those?”
The robot came right back with “That is your approach vector and landing coordinates.”
“There's just one problem Robby,” the commander said “we don't have Krell charts and we don't know how to interpret Krell vector notation. How much time?”
“Fifteen seconds.” Robby replied and was cut off almost immediately by Alta.
“That won't be enough time John!” Alta said in a very hurried voice. “I need to coordinate your charts with the Krell charts, then work on the notation with Robby. Sorry about that.”
Krell military model robots had assumed a position overlooking the designated landing site and when the ship did not appear or move into the required flight path, they opened fire.
The two beams from the planet had a bluish-white color but were subdued in brightness and very thin as well. The first hit was on the cruiser's propulsion drive unit, disabling the ship. Adams ordered the engineering deck sealed just as the second beam tore through the hull and struck the core. The ship exploded sending large sections of the hull plunging toward the moon's atmosphere.
...
“John? John, are you there?” Alta asked while Sheila could be heard mumbling something in the background. Alta's voice and Sheila's mumbling sounded both