Read Online Solbidyum Wars Saga 5: Desolation by Dale C. Musser - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dale C. Musser
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is damaged and operating at only 5% capacity. Weapons system is inoperable. Life-support systems operable, communication system functional on emergency channel only. Emergency beacon activated prior to crash, beacon still functioning.”
“Ship, this is Tibby, can you tell us what planet we have crashed on?”
“You are in sector J-2398 on the planet named Desolation in orbit around the star DZ-665708.”
“DZ!” Kala blurted. That means it’s a star which experiences periodic large and dangerous solar flares, like the one that destroyed Astamagota. Ship, when was the last major solar flare that impacted this planet?”
“Last solar flare to impact the planet was 43 years ago.” The ship replied.
“And how often do major solar flares occur here?” Kala asked just as the med unit voice chimed in with “Contraction starting to commence.”
Kala began panting again as her body stiffened and the ship’s computer droned. “Major solar flares occur every 40 to 48 years.”
“Oh great,” Kala grunted out between clenched teeth. We landed right in the middle of solar flare season.”
“Won’t the ship’s hull protect us from the radiation?” I asked. There was a pause while Kala panted before answering. “It should, but we don’t know how intense the flares are or how much radiation they emit, nor do we know how much heat it will pour out on the planet when it does. It might be strong enough to melt the hull for all we know.”
“I seemed to have noted some vegetation on the vid screen before we crashed. If there is vegetation, the heat can’t be that much or everything on the planet would be vitrified and there would be no plant life.” I said.
“I hope you are right Tibby.”
“Ship, how far are we from the planet Plosaxen?”
“The ship is 95.4 standard light-years from the planet Plosaxen,” the ship's computer stated.
“And how close are we to the nearest Federation planet?”
“We are 8.8 standard light-years from the Federation planet Crontos of the AG-93745 star system.”
“But how? How did we get so far from Plosaxen and the battle?” I blurted out.
“Question not understood.” The computer droned.
“Ship, how long has it been since we departed from the space around Plosaxen?”
“Four days, 19 hours and 27 minutes.” The ship replied.
“Four days!” Have we been unconscious all that time? I asked.
“You were unconscious until one hour and 23 minutes ago at which time you regained consciousness and changed course direction resulting in crashing with the planet surface.” The ship answered.
“What caused us to lose consciousness prior to us leaving the area of the planet Plosaxen?”
“Unknown.” The ship answered.
“The last thing I remember,” Kala began, “we were looking at some projections on the Tottalax ship, and they started to glow.”
“Ship, can you tell me what happened after we lost consciousness at Plosaxen?”
“You initiated the Gravity Wave drive as you lost consciousness, the ship impacted a glancing blow against the nearest ship as it accelerated away from Plosaxen.”
I didn’t remember engaging the Gravity Wave system, but it was possible my hand may have brushed the control as I blacked out.
The ship said. “Contraction starting to commence.”
Once again, Kala began panting and making a whining sound as her body tensed in contraction.
“The contractions seem to be coming relatively regularly.” I said while trying to act as calm as I could, but actually I was a nervous wreck and felt I should be doing something, but at the same time having no idea what it should be. I walked to Kala’s side and put my hand on her shoulder as though somehow it would help.
“Don’t touch me,” Kala snapped through gritted teeth. “This is hard enough without you touching me!”
“Sorry,” I muttered and then as her contractions subsided, I said.
“Ship, we were traveling at sub
“Ship, this is Tibby, can you tell us what planet we have crashed on?”
“You are in sector J-2398 on the planet named Desolation in orbit around the star DZ-665708.”
“DZ!” Kala blurted. That means it’s a star which experiences periodic large and dangerous solar flares, like the one that destroyed Astamagota. Ship, when was the last major solar flare that impacted this planet?”
“Last solar flare to impact the planet was 43 years ago.” The ship replied.
“And how often do major solar flares occur here?” Kala asked just as the med unit voice chimed in with “Contraction starting to commence.”
Kala began panting again as her body stiffened and the ship’s computer droned. “Major solar flares occur every 40 to 48 years.”
“Oh great,” Kala grunted out between clenched teeth. We landed right in the middle of solar flare season.”
“Won’t the ship’s hull protect us from the radiation?” I asked. There was a pause while Kala panted before answering. “It should, but we don’t know how intense the flares are or how much radiation they emit, nor do we know how much heat it will pour out on the planet when it does. It might be strong enough to melt the hull for all we know.”
“I seemed to have noted some vegetation on the vid screen before we crashed. If there is vegetation, the heat can’t be that much or everything on the planet would be vitrified and there would be no plant life.” I said.
“I hope you are right Tibby.”
“Ship, how far are we from the planet Plosaxen?”
“The ship is 95.4 standard light-years from the planet Plosaxen,” the ship's computer stated.
“And how close are we to the nearest Federation planet?”
“We are 8.8 standard light-years from the Federation planet Crontos of the AG-93745 star system.”
“But how? How did we get so far from Plosaxen and the battle?” I blurted out.
“Question not understood.” The computer droned.
“Ship, how long has it been since we departed from the space around Plosaxen?”
“Four days, 19 hours and 27 minutes.” The ship replied.
“Four days!” Have we been unconscious all that time? I asked.
“You were unconscious until one hour and 23 minutes ago at which time you regained consciousness and changed course direction resulting in crashing with the planet surface.” The ship answered.
“What caused us to lose consciousness prior to us leaving the area of the planet Plosaxen?”
“Unknown.” The ship answered.
“The last thing I remember,” Kala began, “we were looking at some projections on the Tottalax ship, and they started to glow.”
“Ship, can you tell me what happened after we lost consciousness at Plosaxen?”
“You initiated the Gravity Wave drive as you lost consciousness, the ship impacted a glancing blow against the nearest ship as it accelerated away from Plosaxen.”
I didn’t remember engaging the Gravity Wave system, but it was possible my hand may have brushed the control as I blacked out.
The ship said. “Contraction starting to commence.”
Once again, Kala began panting and making a whining sound as her body tensed in contraction.
“The contractions seem to be coming relatively regularly.” I said while trying to act as calm as I could, but actually I was a nervous wreck and felt I should be doing something, but at the same time having no idea what it should be. I walked to Kala’s side and put my hand on her shoulder as though somehow it would help.
“Don’t touch me,” Kala snapped through gritted teeth. “This is hard enough without you touching me!”
“Sorry,” I muttered and then as her contractions subsided, I said.
“Ship, we were traveling at sub
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