Solar Warden

Icarus Part 14

There were some improvements and finally the Icarus reached its destination. They used the faster active scan and went out of the hyperspace about a lightyear away.

This time they found a planet in the habitable zone and also a moon. It was a G-class system, but younger as that of Earth. After two more jumps they had what they needed. A planet outside of the habitable zone with two moons. They selected one to close in and also used the planet as cover to the habitable one. There were no other signals of a civilization detected so the decision was made without worries. They jumped closer to the uninhabited planet and used him as cover. They found two more much smaller moons not suitable for cover around the habitable planet.

This time they had to stay longer to evaluate everything. But as here also no uncommon signals were found and visuals seemed to have found nothing of importance. They skipped to send shuttles down. It was time for their essential approach to a planet with possible life. Already their scans showed water and indication of vegetation. They jumped into hyperspace and moved to the cover position of the moon. They decided to use the quick active scan again.

"Nothing found. We are clear to go," Clark informed.

"Exit hyperspace. Send the scout probes closer to the moon and scan." It was the altered protocol for a habitable planet they worked out which the Captain now used.

At once the sensor officer scanned with the passive ship sensors as it was his duty. But even after one hour there was no sign of uncommon activity found.

"Send the stealth probes to the orbits and move closer to the moon. Get the scout probes back," the Captain ordered.

Newman also was on the bridge and checked on a terminal the incoming data.

"Suggestions?" the Captain asked.

"As planned, one-day scanning of the planet with the stealth probes. Then we have to decide to send one to the planet," Newman replied.

That day was a very long one. The shift changed and Newman was nervous enough not getting to much sleep. Others had the same problem. Finally, the shift switched to them again. They used three shifts to get the best quality out. This also helped for the sleep problems a bit. The one-day scanning was over. They had a planet similar to Earth with a bit less gravity. But life is there for sure. Still there were no signals of a civilization nor other signs they searched for.

"With that data we have, the decision for me is easy, I would send a stealth probe now. Any objection?" the Captain had time. It would not matter now if he sends the probe now or some days later.

Also Commander Knight was on the bridge.

"Well there is no way back if we do this," Newman noted.

"Sure it is, we jump into hyperspace and fly home," the Captain countered.

"For that we need to fly further away from the moon first," Newman replied.

"Yes, but why should we leave at once. Our probe finds something, gets scanned or even intercepted. At what point is there an imminent threat that is important enough to stop collecting intel. We also should get our stealth probes back. Therefore, we stay closer to the moon." The Captain waited. It was a bit of silence now on the bridge.

"Well, at the end I think everyone wants to know what's there," Newman said.

"Newman, to get intel we have to risk something," Commander Knight noted.

"OK. Send a stealth probe to the planet," Fisher commanded, knowing there was anyways no other choice.

"Probe away," Clark replied.

"Now we can plan for our next action. It will take quite some time till the orbit of the planet and then another day till the full orbit scan is done. The next step would be to jump, orbit the planet and send the shuttles down or only jump near the planet." The Captain didn't want a faster scan also the probe had to stay in sight to transmit the data in real-time.

Everyone were on their duty now while the stealth probes sent the data to analyze.

The probe nearly reached the orbit, as suddenly an object appeared, coming from the backside of the planet.

"Sir, we got an incoming vessel on the probe," the sensor officer informed.

It was the next shift. The executing officer was on duty.

"Inform the Captain. Wake him up if you need to," he replied.

"It's accelerating. There is also a satellite spotted now and a second one which are scanning our probe," the sensor officer notified.

"I hope the automatic scans the incoming vessel. It would be bad if we send commands to the probe. But our moon probes can be informed to focus passively on the vessel. So focus with them now," the XO ordered.

"Affirmative," the sensor officer replied, then continued. "Incoming active scan on the probe. We get now data of the vessel the probes automatic has been triggered."

"On screen," Portman the XO commanded.

They saw a similar vessel they had in their archives. It was of the kind with the hyperdrive. There was light coming now out of the front and moved very fast against the probe. Then the data stream was lost.

"Probe destroyed," the sensor officer reported.

"And the vessel?" the XO asked.

"Seems heading back to the planet," came the answer.

"Do we have the satellites on sensors?" the XO wanted to know.

"No, only the probe near the planet could detect them. But we have their course and can estimate their position," the sensor officer replied.

"Captain on the bridge," someone called.

The XO turned and reported what happened.

"Good, the vessel we could spot so we would see it coming. Move the ship further away from the moon. I want to be able to jump within one minute if needed. For now, I think they haven't detected us. So we can think and plan our options. Let the current shift plan, if something is heading to us jump away in time and head for Earth. Retrieve the stealth probe if you can do that undetected. I go to sleep and check the plans tomorrow," Fisher ordered.

"Yes, sir," the XO replied.