as to avoid as much of the Solar System’s debris as possible. The ship’s automatic systems had placed them in a high orbit around Earth to avoid any possibility of detection, but that was far too remote for her to consider. “Helm, move us into a polar orbit. Low and fast. I want a ball of twine survey of this time period.”
The crew turned toward their primary tasks and began the survey, using instruments that varied from optical telescopes and cameras to x-ray spectrometers and gas chromatographs. Maps of a primitive planet began to form, showing a shockingly low level of development. There was some good news. The pyramids stood, and Rome seemed to have come and gone. China was flourishing, and Europe seemed to be clawing its way toward civilization.
Forty-eight hours elapsed before Lieutenant Commander Williamson surfaced again. “Captain, we have to land. I have made every repair that can be made in space, but there are some things that absolutely must be done on the ground, with all ship systems de-energized.” He sighed and offered her a lopsided grin. “Sorry.”
“Very well. What kind of ground conditions do you want?” Captain Reordan asked, straightening her back and looking him in the eye.
“Flat and dry, Ma’am. With a minimum of snakes.”
The captain eyed her engineer slyly, then nodded. “All right, Jarred, I’ll try.” Turning back to the control room, she raised her voice. “Mapping, I want a deserted piece of real estate, flat and dry.” Turning back to the engineer, she tilted her head. “I don’t suppose that you want the Sahara Desert?” At his negative response, she grinned. “Pick somewhere in southwest North America. If I remember my history, there shouldn’t be many people there to avoid.”
A suitable site was soon chosen, and preparations for a landing on an unprepared surface were instituted. Captain Reordan called an officer’s meeting to announce her decisions concerning the landing. “I want as many of our people as possible in the landing craft and shuttles. Minimum crew for re-entry. If the Wells breaks up, I want to lose as few lives as possible.”
Turning to her XO, she nodded once sharply. “Commander Frazier, you will be in charge of the small craft. Follow us at a safe distance. If we break up...use your own judgment as to where you land. Find someplace isolated and friendly, maybe in Polynesia. Above all else, ensure that none of the ships can ever be found.” She paused again and looked each officer in the eye. “Gentlemen, good luck to us all. Dismissed.”
The meeting broke up with the seven officers heading for the ships they would be commanding to the surface. Captain Reordan took her seat, strapping herself in for what she expected to be a rough descent. “Begin deployment,” she said softly, but her voice echoed through the Wells and her offspring. A slight jar and rumble announced each departing ship. When Shuttle Six left the ship a familiar voice said, “COB to Control. Don’t scratch her, Captain. I have a date when we get home.” Finally, when the seventh shuttle had separated, Erica took a deep breath and ordered “Begin descent.”
The Wells fired her main thrusters to slow her orbit, her helmsmen using years of experience to guide the damaged ship into the gentlest reentry they could manage. Still, the Wells bucked and roared, her heat shields blazing brightly as the friction of the atmosphere slowed her on her way down. Finally, the air around the ship began to clear and the captain dared to breathe again. “Status?” she asked, knowing her people would tell her what she needed to know.
The senior helmsman wiped his brow and turned to grin at her. “Ma’am, we are in a normal reentry. Atmospheric drive on line, gyrostabilizers at full power. We should make landfall in two hours.”
Captain Reordan returned the helmsman’s grin. “Well done, gentlemen. Very well done.” Thumbing her mic, she spoke to the air. “Mister
The crew turned toward their primary tasks and began the survey, using instruments that varied from optical telescopes and cameras to x-ray spectrometers and gas chromatographs. Maps of a primitive planet began to form, showing a shockingly low level of development. There was some good news. The pyramids stood, and Rome seemed to have come and gone. China was flourishing, and Europe seemed to be clawing its way toward civilization.
Forty-eight hours elapsed before Lieutenant Commander Williamson surfaced again. “Captain, we have to land. I have made every repair that can be made in space, but there are some things that absolutely must be done on the ground, with all ship systems de-energized.” He sighed and offered her a lopsided grin. “Sorry.”
“Very well. What kind of ground conditions do you want?” Captain Reordan asked, straightening her back and looking him in the eye.
“Flat and dry, Ma’am. With a minimum of snakes.”
The captain eyed her engineer slyly, then nodded. “All right, Jarred, I’ll try.” Turning back to the control room, she raised her voice. “Mapping, I want a deserted piece of real estate, flat and dry.” Turning back to the engineer, she tilted her head. “I don’t suppose that you want the Sahara Desert?” At his negative response, she grinned. “Pick somewhere in southwest North America. If I remember my history, there shouldn’t be many people there to avoid.”
A suitable site was soon chosen, and preparations for a landing on an unprepared surface were instituted. Captain Reordan called an officer’s meeting to announce her decisions concerning the landing. “I want as many of our people as possible in the landing craft and shuttles. Minimum crew for re-entry. If the Wells breaks up, I want to lose as few lives as possible.”
Turning to her XO, she nodded once sharply. “Commander Frazier, you will be in charge of the small craft. Follow us at a safe distance. If we break up...use your own judgment as to where you land. Find someplace isolated and friendly, maybe in Polynesia. Above all else, ensure that none of the ships can ever be found.” She paused again and looked each officer in the eye. “Gentlemen, good luck to us all. Dismissed.”
The meeting broke up with the seven officers heading for the ships they would be commanding to the surface. Captain Reordan took her seat, strapping herself in for what she expected to be a rough descent. “Begin deployment,” she said softly, but her voice echoed through the Wells and her offspring. A slight jar and rumble announced each departing ship. When Shuttle Six left the ship a familiar voice said, “COB to Control. Don’t scratch her, Captain. I have a date when we get home.” Finally, when the seventh shuttle had separated, Erica took a deep breath and ordered “Begin descent.”
The Wells fired her main thrusters to slow her orbit, her helmsmen using years of experience to guide the damaged ship into the gentlest reentry they could manage. Still, the Wells bucked and roared, her heat shields blazing brightly as the friction of the atmosphere slowed her on her way down. Finally, the air around the ship began to clear and the captain dared to breathe again. “Status?” she asked, knowing her people would tell her what she needed to know.
The senior helmsman wiped his brow and turned to grin at her. “Ma’am, we are in a normal reentry. Atmospheric drive on line, gyrostabilizers at full power. We should make landfall in two hours.”
Captain Reordan returned the helmsman’s grin. “Well done, gentlemen. Very well done.” Thumbing her mic, she spoke to the air. “Mister
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