LARC (Jim Able: Offworld Book 9) by Ed Charlton

Author:Ed Charlton [Charlton, Ed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jim Able, aliens, contact, Humor, metaphysical, visionary, theology, spiritual, exploration, space, action, adventure, Ed Charlton, Scribbulations, ABLE, able series, Sci-fi, Science Fiction, serial, sci-fi serial, sci-fi series, series, kindle, TMV, Sopha, A&#39, nir, Lone agent, female scientist, Strong female, discovery, Cooperation, friendship, persistence, Relationships, feel good, Classic
Publisher: Scribbulations LLC
Published: 2021-06-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Tella called the approaching Rapaxan ship as instructed. Daum Robertus’s face appeared on the screen. “Tella! Jim! We are ready for you. Please follow exactly the flight plan we will transmit. It would be...unfortunate to vary it even by an inch. You’ll understand in a few minutes.”

“Very well,” Tella replied. Jim and Tella looked at each other in silence.

“Oh, and if you would, instruct your craft to perform a continual sensor sweep of your immediate area and transmit it to us.”

“Very well,” said Tella with a frown.

They received the flight plan and began the sensor transmission.

“They are bizarre!” Jim muttered, “What are they doing?”

“For some reason they need to know exactly where we are and what is around us.”

“Why?”

“I would not care to guess.”

***

They left Tanna Gul behind them.

Tella said, “You know, Larc called Rapaxans creepy.”

“With one exception, I’d say he’s got something there.”

Alarms sounded in the flight cabin.

“What’s happening?”

“We are no longer in free space.”

“What?”

“Look outside.”

Tella rotated through the external monitors around their flier. Their craft was still traveling but now seemed stationary. Below them was a docking hatch attached to a grid of beams and scaffolding. Hundreds of feet to either side of them, the same skeletal structure rose into walls. Ahead of them, it continued a thousand feet or more. Overhead was open to the stars. Between some of the beams below, they could see space, but also solid structures attached in a seemingly haphazard configuration.

Daum Robertus’s voice returned, saying, “Please dock at the port below you. We will meet you in the reception area.”

Tella nodded and said under its breath, “Very clever. I am reluctantly impressed.”

“You know how they did it?”

“They used our sensors to ensure that they had clear space around us and, then, used their D-switch.”

“I thought D-switches didn’t work so close to star systems.”

“They don’t. The gravity well of the system distorts space too much. But it seems the PR can move into a system given enough sensor data. I would judge it reckless in the extreme. Very clever, nonetheless. Very efficient.”

“Cheap—in an elegant sort of way.”

Tella laughed. “Indeed.”

They made their way through their hatchway and found a ladder that brought them up through the floor of the reception room. Daum Robertus was there to greet them.

“Jim and Tella, how good to see you!”

“Daum Robertus,” said Jim, shaking his hand.

“A most novel arrangement for meeting us,” said Tella, bowing.

The monk smiled and said, “We were lucky to hitch a ride on this delivery cradle.”

“You were on Beta Oraga Rap less than an hour ago. How did you manage it?”

The monk gave Jim a sly glance from under his bushy eyebrows. “We would rather not discuss our technology nor its use. I’m sure you would prefer I not ask how you conduct your investigations.”

“Fair enough,” said Jim, “Are we to return with you to Beta Oraga Rap?”

“Yes, at least to the cradle dock.”

Daum Robertus showed them to seats arranged in a small circle around a low table. The door opened, and Brother Huh-Llahn joined them.

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