using minimal power so we’re not much of a sensor target.”
“Okay. Let me know
when you have more information.”
Justin continued to
look for a switch, knob, or lever, that would allow
them to pass. After several moments he glanced back at Naomi still
standing several meters behind. “Is something wrong?”
Naomi didn’t
move. “The ships…. It is probably Ferren , and
others, looking for us.”
Continuing to search
along the wall he nodded in agreement.
“The gate may not
work…”
He gestured toward
the door. “It might if we get inside.”
“I need to say
something—just in case.”
Frustrated, he
slowly turned and without emotion asked, “What?”
The radio crackled
again. “Justin, come in.”
“What?” He didn’t
attempt to hide his annoyance.
“They’re
broadcasting an order for us to surrender. It’s Ferren’s ship, the Acheron, and a police cruiser.”
“How much fuel do we
have?”
“Not enough to get
away. What do we do?”
Justin leaned
against the bulkhead. “Are they on an approach vector?”
“No, they’re in a
search pattern.”
He shook his head.
“They haven’t found us.” Yet. “But if we
activate the gate you can bet they’ll jump right on top of us.”
Looking at Naomi, he
asked, “What were you saying?”
“Never mind,” She
said coolly. “Let’s figure out how to open that door.” For the first time
she moved right in front. It slid open.
Justin swept the
small room with his eyes. Consoles and displays lined the bulkheads. A terminal
stood in the middle.
Naomi stepped into
the compartment.
Immediately the
doors moved to close. Justin leapt through as they did, landing with a thud on
the deck. He picked himself up as the holographic image of a man in uniform
appeared.
“Greetings. I am the sentinel
for this gate. If you wish to pass through come forward and be identified.” The
man gestured toward the panel in front of him.
Justin followed his
motion. Located at the center of the controls was the contoured
depression in the shape of a left hand. Before he could say anything,
Naomi placed her hand in it.
“Ouch! It pricked my
finger,” she said rubbing it.
The sentinel’s eyes
fixed on Naomi standing at the console. He seemed to ponder something about
her. Then text streamed down the screen beside him.
Justin stepped
closer attempting to read it, but it wasn’t words, merely long strings of
letters that rapidly scrolled down.
“My
DNA?” Naomi said, staring at the screen.
When the cascade of
letters stopped the display ended with two lines of text.
Subject: Female.
I noticed.
DNA sequence:
84-11. Specialty: Mobile Infantry Pilot.
A slight smile
spread across the face of the hologram. “Welcome, sister Titan. What is your rank?”
“Sister?” She looked at
Justin. “Rank?”
He shrugged.
“Lieutenant?”
He nodded. “There is
another person on the bridge. Come forward and be identified.”
Justin placed his
hand in the outline and felt the sting at the end of his index finger.
Again the letters
flowed in rapid succession.
Subject:
Male
DNA sequence:
133-37. Specialty: Naval Line Office r.
“Welcome, brother Titan. What is your rank?”
In some corner of
his mind, he had held out hope that it was all some misunderstanding, that he
was not a Titan, and could explain what had happened to Ferren and resume his ordinary norm life. But that last thread of hope had been
consumed by the words “Welcome, brother Titan.”
He glanced at Naomi
and was thankful that if he must travel down this frightful road he had her and
Mara’s companionship.
“What is your rank, brother Titan?”
Brother Titan? His eyes darted from
the sentinel to Naomi. He had no desire to be outranked by her so, with a wry
smile in her direction, said, “Admiral.”
The sentinel
saluted. A holographic display of the system appeared. Turning toward it he
pointed, “There are three ships in the
“Okay. Let me know
when you have more information.”
Justin continued to
look for a switch, knob, or lever, that would allow
them to pass. After several moments he glanced back at Naomi still
standing several meters behind. “Is something wrong?”
Naomi didn’t
move. “The ships…. It is probably Ferren , and
others, looking for us.”
Continuing to search
along the wall he nodded in agreement.
“The gate may not
work…”
He gestured toward
the door. “It might if we get inside.”
“I need to say
something—just in case.”
Frustrated, he
slowly turned and without emotion asked, “What?”
The radio crackled
again. “Justin, come in.”
“What?” He didn’t
attempt to hide his annoyance.
“They’re
broadcasting an order for us to surrender. It’s Ferren’s ship, the Acheron, and a police cruiser.”
“How much fuel do we
have?”
“Not enough to get
away. What do we do?”
Justin leaned
against the bulkhead. “Are they on an approach vector?”
“No, they’re in a
search pattern.”
He shook his head.
“They haven’t found us.” Yet. “But if we
activate the gate you can bet they’ll jump right on top of us.”
Looking at Naomi, he
asked, “What were you saying?”
“Never mind,” She
said coolly. “Let’s figure out how to open that door.” For the first time
she moved right in front. It slid open.
Justin swept the
small room with his eyes. Consoles and displays lined the bulkheads. A terminal
stood in the middle.
Naomi stepped into
the compartment.
Immediately the
doors moved to close. Justin leapt through as they did, landing with a thud on
the deck. He picked himself up as the holographic image of a man in uniform
appeared.
“Greetings. I am the sentinel
for this gate. If you wish to pass through come forward and be identified.” The
man gestured toward the panel in front of him.
Justin followed his
motion. Located at the center of the controls was the contoured
depression in the shape of a left hand. Before he could say anything,
Naomi placed her hand in it.
“Ouch! It pricked my
finger,” she said rubbing it.
The sentinel’s eyes
fixed on Naomi standing at the console. He seemed to ponder something about
her. Then text streamed down the screen beside him.
Justin stepped
closer attempting to read it, but it wasn’t words, merely long strings of
letters that rapidly scrolled down.
“My
DNA?” Naomi said, staring at the screen.
When the cascade of
letters stopped the display ended with two lines of text.
Subject: Female.
I noticed.
DNA sequence:
84-11. Specialty: Mobile Infantry Pilot.
A slight smile
spread across the face of the hologram. “Welcome, sister Titan. What is your rank?”
“Sister?” She looked at
Justin. “Rank?”
He shrugged.
“Lieutenant?”
He nodded. “There is
another person on the bridge. Come forward and be identified.”
Justin placed his
hand in the outline and felt the sting at the end of his index finger.
Again the letters
flowed in rapid succession.
Subject:
Male
DNA sequence:
133-37. Specialty: Naval Line Office r.
“Welcome, brother Titan. What is your rank?”
In some corner of
his mind, he had held out hope that it was all some misunderstanding, that he
was not a Titan, and could explain what had happened to Ferren and resume his ordinary norm life. But that last thread of hope had been
consumed by the words “Welcome, brother Titan.”
He glanced at Naomi
and was thankful that if he must travel down this frightful road he had her and
Mara’s companionship.
“What is your rank, brother Titan?”
Brother Titan? His eyes darted from
the sentinel to Naomi. He had no desire to be outranked by her so, with a wry
smile in her direction, said, “Admiral.”
The sentinel
saluted. A holographic display of the system appeared. Turning toward it he
pointed, “There are three ships in the
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