Anachron

The Secret Code

After we returned to the Anachron, I went back to my quarters to think about how to destroy the ship.  I came up with a few options how to do it.

I considered sabotaging the weapons tubes.  The anachron carried nearly enough firepower to sterilize the surface of a planet, so that would make for a spectacular explosion.  Unfortunately, it would require a weapons technician to pull it off.  I didn't have a weapons tech, so I'd be taking a chance of blowing myself up with the ship.

If I took the ship and crashed it into a nearby star, we could escape in the shuttle.  It would be a simple enough course that I could program the ship to do it.  At least this plan didn't require anyone else to help me.

I could also sabotage the engines to blow up the ship.  This was really the same as rigging the tubes.  I'd need an engineer for this one, and if it triggered the missiles, the explosion would be very dramatic.

Finally, there was the self-destruct.  All ships had the option, just in case.  Unfortunately, the system required codes from at least two of the captain and subcaptains.  I only had one code.

When my newfound accomplice heard these options, he had a very simple solution.

"Just break into Lattimer's quarters and get his code.  Ship's security uses the communication system to pass signal, so I could easily cut it off and let you in."

"So you cut some wires and I can just waltz into his quarters and take the code?"

"Actually, cutting the wires would set off a service alarm.  I'd do it in the software.  There's a few options: I could set the whole area as down for maintenance, or I could reroute the signal away from the security desk to my own.  Heck, if it did go off on my shift, I could just send the ignore signal myself as if I was the security guard responding to the alarm."

"I'm not sure I like how easy you make it sound."

"Most comms officers don't even know this stuff.  But hey, I wouldn't have been chosen for the Anachron if I wasn't the best."

"Let's go one easier.  Can you just get into the security system and grant me access to it as if it was my own quarters?"

"Yeah, but that would take the fun out of it."

"I think there will be enough risks coming up.  We don't need to take any more."

"You're right."

So we had a plan.

It took him a day before he could get into the system to change the locks, and before I found myself standing outside Captain Lattimer's quarters, breathing deeply.  I'd done a lot of terrible things lately, and it seemed like I was spiralling out of control.  I killed the captain, failed the mission, changed history, made deals with Rejjik the Conqueror, and now conspired to destroy the Anachron.  I just hoped it would all be over soon.

One more breath, and I stepped in.  Sure enough, the door reacted like I was supposed to be there.  Jack Martin had done his part.

It was unnerving being in the captain's quarters.  I felt like he might come in at any moment, even though I knew he wouldn't.  I had all the time I'd need to do this, but that didn't mean I wanted to waste time.  It could take hours to find what I was looking for, and in fact, it did.  Lattimer didn't keep his destruct codes in his ship files like I did.  I checked his personal files, his clothes drawers, under his bed mattress, behind his photos.

On the wall, there was a photo of Lattimer from when he was younger.  He was standing next to an older man, who I recognized as Captain Lucas Raime.  Raime had been hailed as a hero during an earlier part of the war.  Lattimer seemed to pattern his career after the older man with his dedication and bravery.  Years later, Raime would be killed in a Markadian raid.  His funeral was a major event, the loss of such a grand hero.

Lattimer must have been especially proud of this photo, because that's where he hid the destruct code.  It made me wonder if there still was a Lucas Raime, what with all the alterations in history.  He might still be alive, or he might never have been born.

I shook my head to get my mind off all this and got back to the task at hand.  Now that I had the code, it was time to go and finish what I had to do.  I just had to figure out how to get the ship all to myself.

After making all the appropriate arrangements, I waited until a shuttle from the station came to get what was left of the crew.