Alliance Central Access Network
Presents: Arrhythmia
The Story Of One of the Finest Ship in The Ghost Fleet
ACAN v 1.0
ARRHYTHMIAIn Production throughout the year 2001.
Chapter 8
Ghost Fleet Shipyards #2 was brimming with life as twelve hundred hours approached quickly. The transport convoys heading towards Segania Prime were more numerous as the streams of ships remained steady. Once in a while, passing the transport convoys at more rapid speeds, a Clarel Class Heavy Destroyer on patrol duty would make its appearance. To the starboard side of the transport convoys, the massive Ghost Fleet Shipyards #2 facility made a humongous and looming impression as the ultimate safeguard of the transport convoys. The stars remained seeded on the tapestry, immobile and gazing at the activities of life in space. At the Operations Center of the Ghost Fleet Shipyards, coordination of ship departure was busy, as all of the shuttles’ hover bots maneuvered around, scanning all of the docked ships.
Next to the Arrhythmia’s docking port, a much larger cousin to the Arrhythmia approached from several hundred kilometers away. To the audience looking from the view ports, the amazing ship seemed to almost eclipse the lady-like Arrhythmia. Three hover bots scanned over the ship as it approached its docking port. Its forward guns pointed straight towards the docking port, hiding the full destructive potential it carried. Had it been another era, another time, the people watching the view ports would have waved, as the Captain would be standing outside of the bridge, proud that he had brought the ship back safely from whatever mission it was they had undertaken. As the docking clamps locked onto the battleship, which was more than twice as long as the Arrhythmia herself, the battleship’s engines powered down as the star base’s power systems took over.
Eleven hundred forty five hours, the Shipyards’ Operations Center wasn’t given a moment to loose. The new wave of ships departing had to be made ready. In fifteen minutes, the Arrhythmia, the Clarel Class Heavy Destroyer, would depart on its mission of grave importance. Down on the decks around the docking ports, the medical equipment continued to be placed inside the Arrhythmia at the last minute in order to fulfill the acquisition requirements. People gathered around, trying to find an open view port in order to see the Arrhythmia depart. They were fans of the ships, or mere observers, or a loved one wanting to make sure her hero would make it out all right. For whatever reason they observed, out of distinct interest. Work continued at a arduous pace, as hover bots scanned the engines, approaching the hull and then retracing their path as the Arrhythmia was released to her own power systems.
The ship’s engines made a loud, crystal noise as the sound bounced into space. The engine produced a dazzling and brilliant white color, as they powered up to their maximum strength. On the CONN, Commander Grace de Pax looked intently at the view screen as her ship prepared to make way towards their destination. The holographic viewer was on as the holographic double (of the operations officer of the shipyards) mimicked the officer’s moves and motions. He was confirming the final systems checks, and also confirming that all the hover bots flying around the Arrhythmia were all giving a unanimous green light. Safety came first when the Ghost Fleet was involved, and the Arrhythmia was certainly no regular starship. The hologram looked up and smiled directly to the Captain’s double on the shipyards, as he confirmed the approval for the ship to get going.
“You’re all go, Captain,” The operations officer sounded, “Permission to depart has been granted, good luck.”
“Thank you, Ghost Fleet Shipyards, Arrhythmia out,” De Pax replied, as she turned to her Navigations Officer, “Navigations: release docking clamps. XO, all yours.”
“Docking clamps released, standing by on your orders XO,” Ensign Palladin replied as he waited on the orders.
“Forward engines at station-keeping,” Patrickson ordered, “Reverse thrusters on, back us up nice and easy, half speed, Navigations.”
“Affirmative, reverse thrusters half speed, forward thrust at station-keeping,” Palladin answered as he nervously tapped in the commands.
The docking clamps released as if through explosion, as the clamps curled back towards the shipyards. The Arrhythmia’s admirers looked with pleasure as they watched the ship back up slowly. At half-speed, the thrusters were making the ship’s exit seem extremely slow. The surgical nature of the operation required it. The Arrhythmia slowly backed up, out of its parking space, as next to her the Selevenar Class Heavy Battleship remained still. If the battleship had dazzled the audience on its way in, she would sure make her audience dazzled by her exit. The light blue and gray paint scheme shined brightly as the hover bots remained close to the exiting ship, shining their lights on the vessel’s hull. Within a few minutes, the ship had completely cleared its exit port.
“One hundred eighty degree bubble, engine spin maneuver Alpha One, Navigations,” The XO sat back into his chair.
“We’re spinning away,” Palladin tugged the console slightly in response to the ship’s movements.
Outside, the Arrhythmia spun on its own axis, as its forward nose began to move in a semi-circle. By the end of the maneuver, the vessel was pointing away from the shipyards. Its forward impulse engines activated as the ship pulled away from the shipyards, which had been its refuge for almost several days. On the bridge, the crew was busy performing diagnostics on the systems, as the ship prepared to go to warp. Captain de Pax nodded to Patrickson, and pointed out the mistakes in his departure sequence, as she observed the crew at work. Patrickson waited for the ship to get through the safe distance before they could go to warp. Patrickson seemed almost eager to get the ship going to warp; the Arrhythmia had always been an amazing experience at warp. Defont turned from his seat, as he walked over to the executive officer, he nodded handing the padd which confirmed the Shipyard’s authorization to go to warp. De Pax stood up as she looked over the padd.
“Navigations confirm your course to Berleon VII,” de Pax ordered.
“Course confirmed, Captain, ready to go whenever you are, Sir,” Trevor replied, as he looked over his console.
“Set your speed, Warp 13,” de Pax turned around and sat in her chair hearing Trevor’s confirmation that he was ready, “Initiate!”
The Arrhythmia’s engines replied obediently as the
ship’s impulse engines moved to full impulse. As the impulse engines
reached their top speeds, they were substituted by the warp engines, which
were quick towards catapulting the ship at faster-than-light speeds. What
remained of the Arrhythmia at the place where she engaged warp was
only a small shimmer of light. The Arrhythmia was on its way towards its mission. Within several minutes, however,
its warp engines gave way to the hyper-transwarp engines. The
hyper-transwarp nexus seemingly engulfed the ship as the ship entered the
nexus at deafening speeds. Thirty times faster than the speed of light,
the Arrhythmia was performing at speeds, which were ideal
for its engines. At hyper-transwarp, they would be able to cross Alliance
space within a week, and be in orbit of Berleon VII in a week and a half.
Pending the arrival of the Arrhythmia at her destination, both sides would work feverishly to exchange notes
on the disease, except for one.
The whiney sound of the animal could be heard from a hundred meters
away, as the animal huffed as it worked. Its four legs hit the soft
ground, its hooves parting the soil as it rushed towards an unseen
destination. Its belly was being tapped softly by its loyal friend as
together they rushed through the grass fields, parting the wind itself.
Their speed made the grass blades wave from one side to the next, as the
animal kept its head proud and tall. Its four legs made a rhythmic sound
as it approached the other side of the pasture. Its tail flew in the air,
as the animal carried its willing passenger towards the forest. As it
approached the forest, it slowed down, huffing and puffing as it whined
again. The passenger turned the animal around from the forest with the
reins as they both looked back at the scenery which remained silent before
their judging eyes.
The capital city’s skyline rose above the forest and prairie,
which the animal had just galloped through. The two stared as hover
shuttles flew every which way around the dozen skyscrapers that rose high
above the trees, on the top of the hill, which they had been built. Avuen
had been built several generations ago as a symbol of Xiverdand unity, and
Xiverdand dexterity. Avuen was the farthest of outposts, and had succeeded
as a new colony of the Xiverdand Nation. The nation had built it from the
ground up, and now Avuen was a modern and prosperous city. The loyal
friend patted the neck of the animal that was carrying her as she looked
back at the skyline. The Berleon star shone brightly as the two pink moons
of Berleon VII could be seen in the blue and red sky. While she was proud
of the Xiverdand and what they had accomplished, she could neither be
proud nor happy that The Alliance of Incorporated Worlds and their Ghost
Fleet were soon going to come.
She rubbed the horn that was at the forehead of the animal as she
grabbed the reins again and disappeared back into the forest. She often
used the forest as a place of refuge. It was dark, lonely, and filled with
beautiful colors that reminded her of her countryside roots. Avuen, even
though a city of only thirty thousand people, still seemed so big compared
to her village of thirty-six people some three hours away by
hover-shuttle. She came to Avuen to study university, and she graduated
with top honors in medical administration. When she was at the University,
she would have laughed if the professors had suggested that she would one
day take on a position in the government. But ten years after she had
graduated, she did – she ran for governess (in order, incidentally, to
improve the hospitals of Berleon VII) and won on her first try.
The animal trotted across the forest paths as the governess of
Berleon VII and her favorite animal walked across the beaten forest paths.
The forests were part of the Berleon natural reserves, a protected
sanctuary for Berleon life so decreed by the Xiverdand Nation in response
to pressure by the Selevenar Alliance of Powers, already back then, there
were external pressures to the Xiverdand Nation. Berleon VII had
overwhelmingly voted against joining The Alliance of Incorporated Worlds,
but it seemed the majority of the Xiverdands didn’t think like the outer
world. Now, she had to take orders from the government of the province of
the Xiverdand Nation, orders which she resented. She looked up, deep in
thought, to see her village. The animal and the governess exited the
forests, which had been their childhood playground. Entering the village,
which consisted of modern buildings and large tracts of agricultural
pastures, the governess quickly headed towards the large farmhouse that
was owned by her family.
Built of titanium stone, the modern white house stood two stories
tall. The house was protected by a large titanium stonewall that only
nature with her bushes and red plants could capture. The plants had grown,
and had mimicked the structure of the walls. The plants captured the
entrance; the arch made even more beautiful by them. The animal and the
governess walked under the entrance, entering the main courtyard of the
house, as the governess proceeded to dismount her steed. She grabbed the
reins and proceeded to pat the animal’s back as they walked over to the
stables built of artificial wood. She could hear from inside the lively
voices that were her parents and their friends. The house was the largest
in the town village and served as the location for all town meetings. She
looked at the unicorn right in his eyes, smiling at the beautiful and
innocent pink eyes of the unicorn. He had come here all the way from the
Segan Monarchy, and he was the only foreigner she would accept freely. As
she walked out, closing the barn and leaving the unicorn inside, she
entered the main house, to be greeted to the lively sound of her name
echoing as hellos through the house.
She shied away from the crowd as they returned to the village
gossip. Looking at the living room, seeing her father enjoying a cozy
drink with his friends, she knew that her family was happy here. She
walked across the room, entering the sun-lit kitchen as she embraced her
mother who was busy cooking lunch for all the guests. They exchanged no
words, as her mother returned to working, handing over the padd, which had
been received, from Avuen. The planetary government maintained the
governess appraised of every situation that was arising, and even though
she was on vacation for the next two weeks, the medical situation was
definitely an emergency for Berleon VII. The confirmation of a one hundred
twenty first case of the disease was cause for concern, and the local APNN
station (The Alliance of Incorporated Worlds had bought out the company
responsible for providing the news here on Berleon VII, despite the
governess’ protest) was ready to scream medical emergency on the entire
planet. The possibility of quarantine brooding over Berleon VII was also
cause for concern for the thirty thousand colonists.
She accepted her lunch from her mother, as she put the padd down on
the small kitchen table. Her mother disappeared into the other room,
offering the lunches to all of her father’s friends. She munched quietly
and slowly on her dough-like food as she looked outside at the empty
courtyard. A fresh-smelling wind swept across the courtyard, tossing some
of the deaf foliage of the trees around the courtyard away from side to
side. It was pleasant and quiet here in the country side, which was a
completely different feeling from Avuen, over there the city-life was fast
and always observed by the APNN station. She finished her plate half an
hour later, as she looked over the padd again. Her vice-governor begged
for her return, she sighed, looking over her mother who was also reading
parts of the padd.
“You
should go, Star,” her mother urged, as she set some of the finished
plates into the sonic sink.
“You
think so, Ma?” Star replied, looking at the padd, “I think my
vice-governor’s overreacting personally, he always calls everything a
crisis.”
“Well
Star, just remember, the fable of the rescuer whom after receiving the
fifteenth false alarm didn’t go. You know what happened to him, his city
burnt down because he wouldn’t leave the A.F.S. station,” her mother
wisely countered, looking into Star’s eyes, “I think you should go.”
“This
isn’t that bad, Ma,” Star answered, “Besides, there is nothing I can
do from Avuen, the doctors are doing their job. The damn A.I.W’s sending
a ship to take over my job, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Your
presence reassures them, Star,” her mother smiled, “For the good of
Berleon VII, you should go, you can return once the crisis dies down.”
Her
mother’s victory was affirmed by Star’s grumble as she walked into the
communications room, “Interlink to Vice Governor Rock of the Sea”
“Vice-Governor
Rock of the Sea of Berleon VII, what can I do for you?” Rock of the Sea
paused as he saw Star’s face, “Governess! Good to hear from you.”
“I
wish I could say likewise, Vice-Governor,” Star replied tipping her head
to her shoulder, “Listen, can you bring my escort here? I’m cutting my
vacation short, I don’t want to see this crisis go out of hand.”
“A
wise decision, Governess, I’ll have the escort sent immediately,
anything else I can do for you?” Rock of the Sea tapped a few commands
of his console, which called for the governor’s shuttle and police
escort to head towards the village where Star went for her vacations.
“Vice-Governor,
what’s the situation like in Avuen?” Star asked, genuinely worried.
“It’s
getting worse, Governess, one hundred twenty seven cases confirmed, we
have no idea what is causing the disease, and no idea whether it is fatal
or not, though it does make the patients suffer… very much so,” The
Vice-Governor replied.
“I
just hope it’s not fatal,” The governess muttered aloud.
“Or
airborne… the hospitals are starting to worry it might just be the
case,” The Vice-Governor replied in an affirmation of doom.