The Contact Episode Four by Sartison Albert

Author:Sartison, Albert [Sartison, Albert]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Albert Sartison
Published: 2014-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

Anomaly

“Good day, gentlemen, how can I be of service?” asked MacQueen as soon as the connection on the closed communication channel had been made.

Steve and Clive had just finished work on analysing the errors occurring in the calculated location of certain spacecraft and other objects. Almost as soon as he received the report on their work, Shelby requested a private audience with MacQueen. Although MacQueen was extremely busy, once he knew the subject of the proposed conversation, he appointed a virtual meeting for 15 minutes later.

This time the camera showed a panorama of the room in which MacQueen was sitting. There were several people alongside him, who, judging from their appearance, were no less important than the General himself. However, MacQueen did not take the trouble to introduce them; given the level of secrecy, this was not taken as impolite. In fact, as far as Clive was concerned, he actually preferred it when the useless rituals of mutual niceties were reduced to a minimum and people got down to business.

“General,” began Shelby, “some days ago, my young colleagues drew attention to a certain anomaly which affects fast spacecraft.”

“What sort of anomaly are we talking about?” asked MacQueen.

“We are not yet confident enough to give you a complete answer to that. The only thing we can say at the moment is that this is the first time such an anomaly is known to have occurred in astrophysics, but it may have far-reaching consequences in the context of the use of modern weapons.”

“Please explain in more detail,” the General said.

“This anomaly was noticed for the first time in analysing data from fast-moving objects. Your blockade group has deployed static weapons and they, if I remember rightly, fire pulse charges which move in space at sub-light speed. I fear that shots from these weapons will be particularly strongly affected by this anomaly.”

The General looked round those sitting alongside him, after which he again looked at the camera.

“Professor, in that case, let’s have it from the beginning,” he asked.

“OK. General, do you remember our experiment in remote manipulation?” asked Shelby.

“Of course,” replied MacQueen.

The other people sitting with him also nodded in confirmation.

“Are you acquainted with the theoretical part of the matter?”

“Not very well.”

“Then I’ll explain. This whole technology of remote manipulation is a huge breakthrough in science. For the first time, we have a tool to influence not only objects within space-time, but space-time itself.”

“I have heard that many times, but I must admit I have never understood it,” MacQueen interjected.

“It is not easy to explain to anyone who is not a specialist in physics. But I shall try. An understanding of the concept of space-time is important for understanding the nature of the problems which my assistants noticed.”

“You have my undivided attention, Professor,” said the General, leaning back in his chair.

The faces of the others present expressed clear discontent mixed with impatience. One of them, a man in a grey suit, would have tried to object, but MacQueen dismissed his protest with a sharp gesture.

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