Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

Soaring toward the golden-white sun and the planet of Faber Eridani, Legroeder could only imagine how the passengers must be reacting, as they watched the growing image of Faber Eri on their viewscreens. Captain Friedman stood for long periods of time on the bridge with his hands clenched, eyes focused on the growing orb of his ship’s home port. Soon they would be calling for a tow to guide them into final planetary orbit.

As they passed the outer markers for inbound starships, Captain Friedman gave the order to contact Approach Control. Com Officer Tiegs made the call. “Outer Orbit Approach, this is Starship Impris , Faber Eridani registry Sierra Alfa Niner Four Two Seven Two, with you at half a million kilometers. Transponder ident active on eight-niner-one Alfa…” A newer ship would have made the contact automatically, but they were lucky Impris’ s com systems were compatible at all.

The reply from Approach Control shocked Legroeder: “ Ship identifying as Impris, Outer Orbit Approach One. Change to vector three-two-seven Tango Charlie and proceed to holding orbit at four hundred thousand kilometers. Do NOT approach any closer to Faber Eridani.”

Tiegs glanced up in surprise. He adjusted the com settings. “Outer Approach, say again?”

The instructions were repeated. “ Any attempt to approach this planet will result in immediate police action…”

The captain summoned his officers to a hurried conference. Legroeder could only admit his surprise and advise the captain to go along with the orders.

They were not alone for long in the holding orbit. Two interplanetary destroyers were approaching at high acceleration. The lead destroyer contacted them with a curt: “ Ship identified as Impris, this is Spacing Authority Destroyer Vigilant. Prepare to be boarded for inspection. You are ordered to shut down all propulsive systems. Any unauthorized maneuvers will be considered hostile and subject to immediate response.”

Legroeder stared at the warships in dismay and disbelief. Was this to be a replay of his first arrival, only worse?

“What the hell is going on?” Captain Friedman asked in bewilderment, with a tinge of anger in his voice. “This is our home planet! Do they think we’re an enemy? A threat?”

“They’re quarantining us, I think.”

“Why? Do they think we have some kind of space disease?”

Legroeder shook his head. “I think this is political, not medical.” Were they after him? This would be overkill, even if they knew he was aboard. But who knew what might have gone on in his absence? “Captain, I’m worried about who’s in charge down there. Given what happened to me last time, I would be… reluctant… to let them board us way out here, if we can avoid it.”

But what could they do? They couldn’t fight—though for a moment, he fantasized having his finger on the button of H’zzarrelik ’s concealed weapons. He shivered. A glance at Agamem, the Narseil weapons officer, suggested that he was not the only one harboring fantasies.

“Got to be a misunderstanding,” Friedman muttered. “Tiegs, send our ident again.” He paced the deck for a moment, then strode to the com. “This is Captain Noel Friedman of Impris . We are Faber Eridani citizens. We have been stranded in space for one hundred and twenty-four years. We are a registered starliner of Faber Eridani, with civilians on board. I demand you explain this treatment.”

“We are aware of your claim,” answered the destroyer. “ You are being detained under Special Provision, Section 128-d of the Spacing Authority Code, by order of the Commissioner. Match orbit and turn off your space inductors. This is your final warning.”

Friedman muttered orders to the maneuvering crew, then glanced at Legroeder. “Looks as though we’re going to be boarded, like it or not.”

Legroeder thought furiously. Why the hostility? Confusion, he’d expected—or skepticism. Even caution might be called for—a prudent medical quarantine, perhaps—but that could be done in a far less bellicose fashion. That left one possibility that he could think of: someone in the Spacing Authority didn’t want Impris coming home. Did they really have that much stake in perpetuating a lie? “Captain, if you can find any way to stall—and see if we can get a signal out onto the worldnet on Faber Eri. Make some kind of broadband announcement of who we are and what’s happening…” He frowned, wondering if they could somehow reach Harriet.

“Tiegs, did you hear that? Get on it!”

“Captain, I don’t know how to tie in—”

Cantha slid into place beside him. “I’ll help. I know the Centrist nets.”

“Good. Legroeder, do we have any allies on the ground? Any remnant of Golden Star Lines? Any surviving officers? Anyone who might have a legal interest in our return?”

Legroeder rubbed his jaw. “Besides my lawyer, none that I know of. There was chaos after the war, and then a deliberate cover-up. But people still know about you. I think the worldnet is our best bet. Try to get picked up on the news.” He pointed to the destroyers moving against the stars, like two sharks in the night. “This far from the planet, that’s probably our best protection against our friends out there opening fire and asking questions later.”

Fre’geel stepped forward in agitation. “Captain, it was clearly a mistake to come here without advance preparation—but it’s not too late to get a message off to our diplomatic ship. And our embassy. They can apply some pressure.” Fre’geel shot Legroeder an enigmatic glance. Annoyance, for rejecting El’ken’s plan?

“By all means,” Friedman said, gesturing to the com. He leaned over Tiegs. “How are you doing on that announcement?”

“Sending a first burst now, Captain. We didn’t have time to say anything fancy—”

“We don’t need fancy—just get word out that we’re here!”

“First announcement away. Cantha, are you ready with the next?—oh hell!—Captain, message from destroyer Vigilant .”

“Put it on.”

“Ship identifying as Impris, you are ordered to cease your transmissions at once—”

Friedman jabbed a finger. “Don’t answer. Finish those messages! Fre’geel, have you gotten your messages out yet?”

“I’m sending blind,” said the Narseil. “No replies yet.”

Friedman reached across Tiegs to open a third channel. “ Vigilant , this is Impris . Say again? Your signal was garbled. Did you say—?”

“Look out!” cried several of the Narseil at once.

An instant later, there was a flash of blue-green light from the lead destroyer.

“They’ve fired at us!” cried Johnson, on the nav console. His voice held steady. “Tracking now—it’s a missile, aimed for our bow!”

“Reverse space inductors!” Friedman shouted. “Sound collision alarms!”

Legroeder grabbed for support as he felt a momentary change in gravity.

The missile billowed into a prolonged, exploding swath as it streaked past the ship’s bow, only a few kilometers wide. It had obviously been intended as a warning—but a deadly clear one.

Fre’geel hissed a stream of Narseil epithets. Legroeder didn’t say a word; he stared into the monitor, feeling his eyes bulge. Had he brought Impris home only to see it destroyed?

The com crackled to life again. “ Ship identifying as Impris, if you do not cease transmissions, the next shot will not miss.”

“They’re jamming now,” reported Tiegs.

“Cease transmission,” said Friedman. “And open my response channel.” Friedman raised his voice. “Destroyer Vigilant , I remind you that this ship carries several hundred citizens of Faber Eridani. How dare you fire upon us! I hold you responsible for the safety of—”