CassaDark by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Author:Alex J. Cavanaugh [Cavanaugh, Alex J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Fleet Science Fiction, Gifted young man, Space war science fiction, Space wars and exploration, Politics science fiction, Galactic Empire Science Fiction, Space opera, First contact aliens, Teleporting
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press LLC
Published: 2022-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“Diagnostics complete,” Barnenden said.

Bassan leaned forward, grasping the edge of the console. His left foot drummed out a rapid beat.

Please let it be right this time.

Barnenden tapped the screen and brought up the results. Bassan held his breath and read through the lines of code. No red. No blinking numbers. It was a go.

“Finally,” he whispered.

“I’ll alert personnel. Ready to turn on life support,” Barnenden announced.

Bassan stretched his back, aching from hours spent bent over the console.

It better come on.

Despite a day of frustration, the small room now buzzed with anticipation. Three other technicians had assisted them today, pooling the compound’s resources to find a solution. Last night’s diagnostics indicated a power issue and the one today revealed a routing problem. After several attempts to route the signals correctly, they completed the third diagnostic. With everything checking out and no other issues surfacing, Bassan hoped nothing else went wrong.

Come on! Work. I want off this damned planet.

A distant hum oscillated in the air. Bassan glanced around the room. No one else responded to the sound.

Can no one else hear it?

The hum increased in volume. Bassan scanned the consoles in the room. The monitor in the corner flashed information across its screen. Bassan moved closer. The ever-changing numbers drew him in, enticing him, and he loomed over the console. The figures made no sense.

“Life support still not operational,” one of the technicians said.

Bassan stared at the screen.

What are you trying to tell me?

Tired, he didn’t relish another plunge into the computer’s history. If they were to find the solution, no other option remained. He drew a breath, closed his eyes, and placed his hand across the connection orb.

Life support. Show me life support systems on the Kintal ship. Show me those numbers.

The darkness dissolved and his view shifted. A Kintal console came into view. He stood to the side as two other men, olive complexions marking them Tgren, worked on the console. They punched in codes and waited. Bassan leaned closer, hoping to catch the combination of numbers. One man slammed his fist on the edge of the console.

“We’re so close.” He turned to Bassan. “What are we missing?”

Startled to be part of the equation, Bassan took a step back. The men stared at him, awaiting a response. Bassan approached and examined the screen. Every connection appeared correct. Except…

“This is routed wrong.” Bassan tapped the screen and entered new coordinates. “You need to route these three auxiliary BUS modules in the correct sequence.”

The numbers flashed on the screen. Within seconds, the lines all exhibited green.

“That was it,” the man said.

The correct sequence of the modules. Of course.

His hand lifted from the connection and Bassan rocked on his heels. One of the technicians appeared at his side.

“Are you all right?” the woman said, grasping his elbow.

Bassan shook his head to clear the confusion in his mind. What had he witnessed? Life support. Three auxiliary BUS modules. That was the answer!

“It needs to be routed in the correct order,” he said, staggering toward Barnenden.

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