Endeavour by Ralph Kern

Author:Ralph Kern [Kern, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Exploration, star trek, Space Opera, Hard Science Fiction
Publisher: Tickety Boo Press
Published: 2014-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30: 2232 AD 55 CANCRI RING FRAGMENT

Looking far more like a scaled-up old Grumman F14 Tomcat than the cylindrical affairs of the Tau Ceti mission, the swing wing lander was more capable in every way. It was larger, able to carry a much bigger payload and what’s more, had the ability to fly from site to site on most world types they would likely encounter.

Harry loved the flash-looking craft, and had switched it over to full manual control, his hands lightly gripping the throttle and stick. Whilst they were in space, these automatically controlled the thrusters that were dotted around the ship whilst the fusion engine had a range and acceleration that made the old Excels seem like a clapped out old bangers. If they needed to, they could cross 55 Cancri in it, and cross it in style.

The four members of the expedition were strapped into the cockpit as the lander approached the vast artefact. It first appeared like a strand of spider silk, glittering to itself in the distance. They closed the distance, slowing down as they did, every sensor they had stretched out to the Artefact, both to gain as much information as possible, and, if there was anyone still down there, to announce their presence as loudly as they could. They didn’t want to be taking anyone by surprise, least of all anyone able to make something that big.

The Artefact grew in size as they approached it, expanding from the strand of spider silk into a wide metallic road stretching into the distance. They were closing in from one of the ends and Harry pitched the lander down so that they could see the fracture point more clearly.

‘Looks like sheering damage, the metal is discoloured where it has warped. The scale is overwhelming, but it seems abandoned to look at.’ Tom had been providing the commentary for the flight recorder. As well as the sensor data the scientists back home would be interested in the impressions of the crew, not to mention those that weren’t scientists would want to know how the crew felt. After all, this discovery wouldn’t be for just a select few.

‘No sign here of any shattering damage, there’s a few signs of impact damage, but nothing like what I’d expect to have been responsible for the ring coming apart. I can see inside the break point now, yeah, there’s some cratering and pitting in there too. I’d say that was debris from its own destruction falling back in on it.’

Taking them up over the top of the ring, they began travelling along the length of the ring fragment. From above, it seemed like a series of boxes in a line stretching to infinity. The sunlight washed over the vast structure, but the light still cast shadows that almost seemed menacing.

‘Mostly seems intact, whatever happened was either very gentle or this structure’s pretty damn tough. There seems to be a hell of a lot of power generating cells, at least I presume

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.