Trophy: Decision: The Trophy Saga, #3

Synopsis of the Trophy Saga

The year is 475 of the New Victorian Age (N.V.A.), which began in 2065 A.D., the year of Great Sadness, and the New Beginning. The New Victorian Empire rules the Solar System, but the human race is finite, with only one generation remaining before extinction.

The story begins in the Kuiper Belt, a region of space beyond the planet Neptune. Lieutenant Janet Rogerton, of the New Victorian Empire, leads her squadron of Patrol Class ships in search of wanted criminal and avowed rebel, Galen Bestmarke. The Empire is anxious to apprehend Bestmarke’s engineer, Louis Franelli, who has discovered the technology of time-travel, a possible remedy for the unrelenting march to extinction. The ships of the Empire attack Bestmarke's ship, Black Eagle, but he escapes through the Keyhole, an anomaly in space, and travels back through time to 1975 A.D. Bestmarke is planning a slave-trade through time and this is his final test run.

Galen arrives at Earth and descends to the mountains of Southwestern Montana in a space-plane with his twin brother and pilot, Terran. Galen is a skilled hunter bent on completing his trophy collection during this voyage. His hunt is successful and he captures Martin Bucklann, preserving him with his other living trophies. Bestmarke takes his ship back through the Keyhole to 475 N.V.A., but this time the Empire is waiting, and his ship is attacked and boarded. Bestmarke escapes again, but not before two of his trophies and his engineer, Louis Franelli, are captured and taken to CENTRAL, the location of the government for the Earth and Solar System.

The Guardians, the custodians of the computerized government, CENTRAL, fashion Martin Bucklann and another trophy, a black panther, into powerful androids, half-living, half-machine. Along with Lieutenant Rogerton and Pilot Kolanna, they make up a dynamic team. Meanwhile, CENTRAL is attacked. Franelli and Guardian-Five are abducted and returned to Bestmarke. The destruction of CENTRAL is barely averted and Star-Commander VanDevere orders the dynamic team, under the leadership of Lieutenant Rogerton, to speed to the rescue in their new ship, Clipper. After battles with Bestmarke, the dynamic team captures the Black Eagle at Io Station, near Jupiter's moon, Io. Martin’s father is not found among the trophies. Franelli and Guardian-Five are rescued and head back to Earth, but Galen and Terran Bestmarke, mortally wounded, escape to Io Station with all of Franelli's knowledge of the Keyhole downloaded into their space-plane. They are cared for and then become allies with Dr. Eng, the leader of the rebel Freedom Movement.

Once back on Earth, Janet, Kolanna, and Martin take a vacation to the wilderness of Montana where they encounter poachers and wild animals. Eventually the poachers lead them to an asteroid owned by a trophy hunter named Izax. Martin’s father is recovered and taken to Earth only to be lost again in a legal battle. Martin and Panther fight against the Computer and escape to the Black Eagle with the dynamic team. They recapture Martin’s father, shut down Izax’s illegal operations, and head for the Keyhole. Meanwhile, the ships of the Freedom Movement move against the Empire in a great battle for control of the Keyhole. The Black Eagle comes to the rescue of the outnumbered Empirical ships in a stunning victory against the rebel forces although Star-Commander VanDevere is mortally wounded. Dr. Eng’s ship flees through the Keyhole and Martin, Panther, and the dynamic team are exonerated. So ends TROPHY: RESCUE, the second book of the Trophy Saga.

TROPHY: DECISION begins where TROPHY: RESCUE ends. The race to save the Star-Commander begins. The contest escalates between the Empire and Eng’s Freedom Movement to repopulate the Earth by means of time-travel through the Keyhole. The struggle for control of the Solar System reaches a climax and humankind faces extinction. The decision is at hand...

The Trophy Saga

Book One:  TROPHY

Book Two:  TROPHY: RESCUE

Book Three:  TROPHY: DECISION

For more information about the books of the Trophy Saga in both printed and ebook versions please go to www.paulmschofield.com.

(An Appendix and Glossary is included at the end of each of the books to help the reader understand some of the technical terms and measurements used throughout the Trophy Saga.)

TROPHY: DECISION

Chapter I

Earth Date: 476 New Victorian Age (N.V.A.), eleventh month

Location: Keyhole region, Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune

Lieutenant Janet Rogerton hurried through the labyrinthine corridors of the Victorian Heavy-Cruiser Laurel to the head surgeon’s office in the infirmary, found the door, knocked, and entered after hearing a muffled reply. She stood at attention and saluted with her left fist over her heart. A medium height Asian woman in dark blue medical fatigues rose from her desk chair and returned the gesture. She wore a ten pointed bronze star at her left shoulder, her dark eyes were troubled.

You must be Lieutenant Rogerton. I’m Dr. Oyama. Please sit down, Star-Commander VanDevere has been requesting you.

Rogerton sat on the edge of the chair facing the desk. "Thank you, Doctor. I’m worried about the Star-Commander and I came as soon as I could get a space-plane over from the Black Eagle. I thought she was going to be all right—what happened?"

As often happens after a heated battle, Lieutenant, we were optimistic in our evaluations of the wounded and didn’t realize the extent of her injuries. We have only battle-hospital diagnostic equipment, nothing like CENTRAL Medical University.

But she seemed okay when we first saw her. Sure, she looked rough and was covered with burn medication. She was sleeping and I thought she was out of danger.

That’s what we thought too. But she didn’t wake up, not until a few hours ago. She asked for her sister Michelle and for you. She’s been drifting in and out of consciousness ever since.

What’s wrong? Is it a brain injury?

That’s our best guess, Lieutenant. It’s quite puzzling, all our scans indicate minimal brain trauma even with a skull fracture. Our biggest concern, however, is her burns, particularly her eyes.

Oh, no, she’s not blind, is she? The Empire can’t afford to lose someone with her wisdom and experience.

I agree—we cannot. And yet, every treatment we’ve tried has done nothing to halt her worsening condition. Her conscious times are shorter and further apart. We’re afraid she’ll slip into a full coma, on life-support systems.

We have to get her back to CENTRAL. Dr. DeWitt can cure her using bio-regenerators like he did for me.

I wish we could, but Earth is nearly two months away. We don’t have the time...

"The Black Eagle has a cryogenics system! That’s how Louis saved Guardian V."

Louis? Dr. Oyama said. Do you mean Louis Franelli?

Yes, Franelli, no doubt you’ve heard of him.

Of course, who hasn’t? His methods are brilliant, but sometimes questionable—he may be our only hope. Talk to him, Lieutenant. See what can be arranged.

I will, Doctor, at once, Rogerton said. May I see the Star-Commander before I go?

Yes, but she may not be conscious. We have her in ICU. I’ll write you a pass, Dr. Oyama said. Thank you, Lieutenant. Let’s hope we can save her in time.

**********

Please stay behind the antiseptic force-field, Lieutenant, the ICU nurse said. Don’t touch her, even if she reaches out to you. She’s awake, but I don’t know for how long. Please be brief.

Thank you, First-Officer. Which direction is she?

Straight ahead, unit number eight. Brace yourself, Lieutenant, we had to shave her head and her burns are extensive.

Rogerton nodded her thanks and walked to the side of the ICU unit. It was worse than she had imagined. Abigail VanDevere, the stoic Star-Commander of the Planetary Control Corps, once a beautiful, blond-haired, determined woman was reduced to a pitiful creature plugged into a myriad of tubes and wires. Her bald head was swollen and misshapen, her steely gray eyes now completely covered with a protective mirrored surface, her smooth white skin roughened with crimson blisters and radiation burns smothered in a layer of sulfurous-smelling medication. Rogerton took a deep breath as tears ran down her cheeks.

Hello, Star-Commander, it’s Janet Rogerton.

You mean... Lieutenant Rogerton, VanDevere said. Her lips barely moved, her voice a whisper. Once again... you... saved us... thank you.

I had to help, Ma’am, even if I was as good as court-martialed. I knew the Corps was out-gunned.

No... court-martial... you... will be... cleared. VanDevere paused as if slipping back into unconsciousness. She struggled to speak again, even fainter. Must stop Eng... use Keyhole... finish... assignment.

What assignment, Star-Commander? Rogerton said. She waited for an answer, but it didn’t come. The monitors continued the slow steady heart-beats of the Star-Commander, sleeping again. Rogerton sighed once more and wiped the tears from her face. I’ll do my best, my friend, she said as she turned to go. She nodded to the nurse as she passed the station and increased her pace to the space-port. She needed to talk to Sondra and Louis without delay.

**********

Yes, I think I can have the cryogenic unit back in operation in a few hours, Louis Franelli said. He was bent over the monitor screen adjusting the controls. The last time we used this was to save Sondra from Galen Bestmarke. It still should be operating properly.

Were you afraid when Louis put you in it, Sondra? Janet said. Wow, frozen solid, I wonder what that’s like.

I have the greatest trust in Louis, Sondra said, glancing at him. But truthfully, I was apprehensive. It’s easy to say you won’t be afraid until it comes right down to it. In the end it was easy, like a deep dreamless sleep. Waking up was a little rough though. After a few days I was back to normal.

Dr. Oyama was uncertain how it will affect the Star-Commander, Rogerton said. But she conceded that something has to be done, even if it’s risky.

Risk or no risk, it’s the only way to save her, Louis said. I had hoped to continue on through the Keyhole. But we need more time to prepare the ship and work out the final calculations.

I’ll contact the Doctor and begin the arrangements to take the Star-Commander back to Earth, Sondra said.

The Star-Commander told me to stop Eng, use the Keyhole, and finish the assignment, Rogerton said. Do you know what she meant, Sondra?

I know some of the details. We’ve not yet studied the information Pacifica sent to Estelle before their ship disappeared into the Keyhole. No doubt it will enlighten us on their overall plan. I do know the Bestmarkes were scheming to start a slave-trade through time via the Keyhole. Whether this is also Eng’s intention remains to be seen.

Perhaps their plans have changed now that many ships of Eng’s Freedom Movement have been damaged or destroyed, Rogerton said.

There’s no doubt about that, Louis said. Transporting a sufficient number of biologically sound people from the past will be a monumental undertaking. It will take intense planning and a great deal of resources, something Eng didn’t have time to prepare.

I guess they figured they’d first defeat the Empire and then have plenty of time for their slave-trade, or whatever they were planning, Rogerton said. Do you really think that’s what Eng wants to do, Louis?

Didn’t you know her back in school? Sondra said. If I remember correctly, at one time she was considered to be a candidate for a Guardian.

I don’t know about that, Louis said. But she was an idealist during our post-graduate studies and fully behind the Empire. She wanted to save the human race. But her cloning research faltered and the programs were discontinued. She insisted she had overcome the problems, but CENTRAL wasn’t listening.

What did she do then? Rogerton said.

She appealed to the Guardians—some believed her, others were unsure, Sondra said. They failed to have the consensus needed to present a strong case to CENTRAL. The whole matter died on the vine along with Eng’s idealism for the Empire. She became embittered and finally disappeared.

Once again CENTRAL messed things up, Louis said. Eng’s methods were unconventional at times, like mine, but she had the gift of seeing the big picture, how things worked and went together. And like me, she ran aground on the conservatives and their narrow thinking.

How soon will Eng bring her ship back through the Keyhole? Rogerton said. Is there a time limit? Could they come back in the past or the distant future? It’s hard to comprehend.

The Keyhole has many secrets, Louis said. I’ve only begun to unlock a few. But one thing is certain; we must not upset the time-space continuum. I’m not sure what will happen if someone is duplicated in the same time realm.

Are you referring to someone meeting and interacting with themselves? Sondra said.

That’s one scenario, Louis said. Perhaps nothing would happen. Or maybe one would cancel out the other. If a cancellation did take place, who would disappear, the one that’s out of sequence in time? Would that person then reappear in his own time sequence or be lost forever? Too many unknowns. I don’t even know if two or more ships together can safely traverse the Keyhole and both come out in the same time realm.

How did you do it? Rogerton said. You’ve been back and forth a least a couple of times. Did you have any problems?

No. I was meticulous with my calculations and we came back through in the next appearance. Its cycle is slightly less than eleven standard days. The Keyhole is an oddity in space; we can’t assume it will continue to exist into the indefinite future.

Do you think Louisa and Pacifica will program Eng’s ship to come back through the next appearance? Sondra said. Would they have the same concerns as you?

It’s possible, Louis said. When you study and contemplate the calculations you start to feel them. It’s almost as if they become part of you. The only way I can explain it is that you begin to grasp the very fabric of time and space, and their unique interaction begins to unfold in your mind.

Wow! That’s sure not unfolding in my mind, Rogerton said.

My feelings too, Sondra said. But Louisa will probably understand, and perhaps Pacifica. They could bring their ship back through at the next appearance.

That’s in four standard days, Rogerton said. Can the Empire be ready?

We have enough ships and we know the location, Sondra said. It shouldn’t be difficult to capture one ship.

What if they don’t come back then? Rogerton said. For sure they’ll know that we’re waiting for them, that it’s a trap.

Then we’ll have to hope they understand what adjustments they need to make in the calculations. If they’re successful, they’ll have an advantage over us, Louis said.

Their advantage would be the element of surprise, I suppose, Rogerton said.

I’m afraid so, Louis said. We wouldn’t know when to expect them. We would have to be in a perpetual state of alert. Hard to do when the Keyhole is constantly changing its location.

But it could be done, Rogerton said.

Chapter II

Earth Date: April 20, 1904, Ancient Calendar

Location: Keyhole region, Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune

Pacifica Simms opened her eyes. The darkness was complete. She could hear the flowing air breathing gently through the ventilation grille somewhere above her. Faint computer alert tones were systematically trying to contact someone, anyone, in the bridge area a couple of bulkheads away. The straps were still tight on her gravity seat and she was alive. She had forced herself to stay awake as the ship began its fall into the maw of the anomaly, the strange galactic phenomenon, known simply as the Keyhole. But the Keyhole had won, drowning her and the rest of the crew in unconsciousness, allowing the ship safe but unpowered transit. Now the systems were slowly clicking back on as the ship and everyone else began to awaken. The illumination brightened, Pacifica stretched and sat up, waiting for her equilibrium to fully return. She glanced to the gravity seat next to hers. Louisa opened her eyes and began to move.

I guess we made it somewhere, we’re still alive, Pacifica said. I wonder what the date is. I’ll check the NAV screen. She stood and began to walk but quickly grabbed the gravity seat. I must have stood up too fast, still dizzy.

I’m still fuzzy too, Louisa Franelli said. I’m going to stay right here until I can think straight.

Pacifica stumbled onto the bridge and slid into her station. Terran Bestmarke was already at his pilot’s seat, clicking on systems and monitoring others. Everything looks normal so far. It takes a while to wake up, doesn’t it? he said. It looks like we were successful. I’m checking the date now.

Pacifica heard footsteps behind her. Louisa walked in and sat at her station.

Got a date yet, Terran? Louisa said. I hope we’re at least close to our target.

Got it, Terran said. Fourth month, twentieth day, 1904, Ancient Calendar—hit it exactly. Congratulations on your programming. We’re still alive too, what a bonus. He continued studying his screens.

Are all systems functioning normally? Pacifica said.

Everything is so far, but I’m a little concerned with the start-up of the reactor. Louis had to do some adjustments the first time we went through the Keyhole. He showed me what to do, it was relatively minor.

More activity could be heard as the crew awakened and began their duties. Dr. Eng trudged onto the bridge massaging her temples. Oh, my head, I feel like I had too much to drink. I hope this passes soon. She stood beside Terran, both hands to her forehead, looking at the screens. Did we hit our date?

Right on schedule, Terran said. Now it’s just a matter of getting our reactor fired up and deciding what to do next. We either head towards Earth or go back through the Keyhole.

We cannot go back, Eng said. The Empire probably has the upper hand. Any of our ships remaining would have cloaked and fled. The safest choice is to proceed on to Earth. We need supplies of food and water. We have enough to get us there and not much more. We weren’t planning an extended voyage and we’re certainly not ready for our relocation project.

I agree, Terran said. I’ll go make the adjustments to the reactor. Then we can head for Earth.

Our engineer, crewman Max Pereaux, will assist you, Eng said. "You may find this ship different than the Black Eagle. The technology is newer."

I know it’s newer, but the designs of Louis Franelli can’t be beat, Terran said, his voice trailing off as he headed for the reactor in the stern of the fifty meter long frigate.

**********

What’s that strange sound? Pacifica said. Unusual vibration...

I feel it, Louisa said. Check the screens. Uh-oh, the reactor is spiking...

The ship trembled. Warning lights began to flash, emergency horns blared, and bulkhead hatchways automatically began slamming shut.

Max! What’s happening? Eng said over the COM.

The COM system crackled as Max spoke. Don’t know yet. Terran was adjusting a power coupling module and it arced, starting a fire. The suppression system came on but Terran was hurt before the fire could be controlled. He’s unconscious. I’m trying to move him to a safer place.

Help is on the way! Eng said. Stay there and try to keep the reactor under control.

Can I help out with engineering? Pacifica said. I’ve had some experience, but it was on an older ship.

See what you can do, Eng said. I have to help Terran. Louisa, you have the bridge, keep monitoring the screens. Where is Galen when we need him, still asleep?

Pacifica led the way back through the long ship, reopening hatches, and scurrying toward the reactor. She donned a radiation suit and ran to the last hatchway. Another figure in a radiation suit passed her and threw open the hatchway.

Got to help him! Galen said, running to Terran lying on the floor. Get out of here, Max! You don’t have a suit! I’ll get my brother!

Do you need help? Pacifica said as she dashed in.

No! Shut down the reactor!

The power coupling module was blackened and arcing sporadically. The whole stern of the ship was shaking and the strange humming sound escalated in intensity. Pacifica searched a storage closet and drew out a long-handled, insulated spanner tool. She guided it to the module and inserted it into the emergency shut-off receptacle. Sparks flew and streamers of crimson electricity arced back on the long handles but didn’t reach her hands. She struggled to twist the long handles—finally they budged. The humming and vibration tapered off and stopped. The lights flickered, then held steady. The reactor continued to run at the stand-by level. Fire-suppression gas hung in misty layers throughout the compartment, slowly edging toward the ventilation grilles.

That was too close, another thirty seconds... Pacifica said out loud. Her face was sweating and starting to fog the lens of her breathing helmet. The emergency strobes and horns turned off and the green all-clear lights came on and chimes sounded. She reached up and pulled off her helmet, filling her medium length auburn hair with static electricity. She left on the thick rubber gloves and began to examine the failed module. What was Terran trying to do? What had Louis done to ensure the ship’s continuing operation on this side of the Keyhole? Was there some way she could secretly send a message back to the Empire? She heard approaching footsteps.

You alright? Aludra said. She was medium height and muscular with shining straight black hair. A smirk began to form on her questioning face.

Bad hair day, Pacifica said. I hope we have some spare parts or more than today is going to be bad. This module is cooked. Are you familiar with reactors?

I’ve had some training, but not much. Max has the actual experience. Eng is checking him and Terran.

How are they doing? Pacifica said, turning her attention to the blackened module.

Max has some burns and smoke inhalation. Eng says it’s minor and he’ll be back to work soon.

What about Terran? Pacifica looked back at Aludra.

He’s still unconscious. Eng’s not saying much. I don’t think he’s in immediate danger—I don’t know much more.

I wish I knew what he was trying to do with the reactor, Pacifica said. Why is the adjustment so important? What’s going to happen to the ship if we don’t do it properly? He’s our pilot too, the only one with experience going through the Keyhole. I really don’t want to be stuck here forever.

Me neither, none of us do. This changes things. We’re going to have to make some difficult decisions: either go back through the Keyhole, or continue on to Earth.

A pre-electronic-age Earth at that, Pacifica said. We have to get our reactor operating close to one hundred percent; steam power won’t get us back through the Keyhole.

**********

Pacifica finished as much as she could on the module. She put away the tools, removed the radiation suit, and walked back to the bridge through the long central corridor. She reached the bridge and fell into her seat.

Everything about the reactor seems normal, Pacifica said. We should be able to head toward Earth without delay. I still don’t know about any necessary adjustments if we decide to go back through the Keyhole. Only Terran knows. How is he doing, Doctor?

He received a massive shock. I had to use the defibrillator to stabilize him. He has burns and radiation poisoning. He’s stable but still unconscious.

Will he be alright? Galen said.

I hope so, Eng said. Unfortunately we can’t afford to wait for him to regain consciousness. We need to decide which direction we’re going.

We should go back through the Keyhole, Galen said. We have our weapons and cloak. I’m ready for a fight.

No doubt you are, Aludra said. But what’s going to happen when we come out on the other side and we’re still asleep? You know we’re unconscious for a short time. What if the Empire is waiting for us? We’re as good as caught. I’d rather be here than stuck in a Victorian prison.

Aludra’s right, Eng said. She looked away, silent for a moment, and then turned to Louisa. Can you and Pacifica modify the Keyhole calculations?

Maybe, what did you have in mind?

Is it possible to have the ship start itself and go into cloaking mode as soon as we’re through the Keyhole?

Interesting idea, Louisa said. What do you think, Pacifica?

I suppose it’s possible, but we have no way to test it. The calculations will have to be exact on the first try. We may never wake up again, and if we do, will we know when and where we are?

It’s just another risk, Galen said. We have to go back eventually. Louis always planned for the next Keyhole appearance in our time era. He said that timing was important, but never explained why.

I’m willing to risk it, Eng said. It may be the only way to save Terran. He could go either way. I’m limited in what I can do for him on this ship.

I say we try, Aludra said, glancing at Galen. Galen nodded.

Then Pacifica and I will begin the calculations, Louisa said. We have ten days before the Keyhole opens again—plenty of time to see if it’s possible. We have to go back sometime and the Empire is always going to be there. You may get your fight, Galen.

Chapter III

Earth Date: 476 N.V.A., eleventh month

Location: Keyhole region, Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune

Lieutenant Rogerton guided the space-plane through the open space-port door of the Black Eagle. The craft gently settled on its struts, the huge doors closed, and the artificial gravity and atmosphere were restored. A green light and chime signaled it was safe to open the hatches.

Good job, Dr. Oyama said. She got up and walked back to her precious cargo, giving orders to the nurses. Move her cautiously; watch the monitors.

They slowly moved the Star-Commander down the ramp. The gurney wheels touched the floor and they aimed for the interior hatchway. It opened and Sondra, in her Guardian’s uniform, and Louis Franelli stepped in.

Guardian, this is unexpected... Dr. Oyama said. She stopped and saluted. The nurses behind all did the same.

Please, Doctor, let’s take care of our patient. We can worry about protocol later. This is my friend, Louis Franelli. He has the cryogenics chamber ready.

Nice to meet you, Doctor, Louis said as he grabbed the front of the gurney and led the way down the central corridor of the huge ship. I’m glad we can be of service. Be assured, my equipment meets the highest standards. Sondra can attest to that.

I certainly can. Louis used this very unit to freeze me and protect me from Galen Bestmarke.

I’m familiar with the account, Guardian. I hope we can do the same with the Star-Commander. I’m worried about her; she’s not shown any improvement.

That’s all the more reason to return her to CENTRAL. I know the doctors at the University Medical Center will be able to cure her completely.

I wish I shared your optimism, Guardian. I know the new bio-regenerators are almost miraculous, but they have their limits. I’m very concerned about her eyes.

The bio-regenerators worked wonders for me, Doctor, Rogerton said. Dr. DeWitt told me they could heal anything with them. They continued down the long corridor.

DeWitt is the best—he is a genius, Dr. Oyama said. What he cannot do with his cutting-edge technology he will try to accomplish with his enthusiasm. Unfortunately there are limits, even with the best of advances in medical science.

You mentioned her eyes, Sondra said. Is that your biggest concern?

It’s one of them, Guardian. Her burns will heal completely. We still don’t know what is causing her to remain unconscious. The skull fracture has to be causing it but she’s not responding to the usual treatment.

The visual process is one of the most complex parts of the brain, Louis said. They reached the doorway of his lab and wheeled in the Star-Commander, still covered in the portable chamber. I’m not surprised the bio-regenerators have their limits. He guided the gurney over to the cryogenics chamber platform. Everything is ready. All systems are at normal levels.

Dr. Oyama reached for the handle to open the portable chamber. She paused, her hand resting on the release, and looked them in the eyes. Be prepared, she does not look good.

Rogerton knew what to expect but the appearance of the Star-Commander had grown increasingly morbid since she last saw her. Sondra gasped and choked back a cry, tears forming in her eyes. Even Louis’s face turned ashen. After a moment he collected himself and spoke. I recommend we put the whole portable chamber in the cryo-unit. It will fit. We dare not disconnect any of the tubes or wiring.

I agree, Mr. Franelli, Dr. Oyama said. We must minimize the chances of any complications if she is to survive.

The nurses helped Louis move the Star-Commander into place. Louis pushed the start button and the door slid shut. He adjusted the controls and touched the lock-down switch. They watched through the thick window as the temperature plunged to near zero Kelvin. A gauzy film of frost enveloped the uncovered face of Star-Commander Abigail VanDevere. The monitors were steady, the screens showing the slightly wavy line of a body in suspended animation, frozen but still alive.

Dr. Oyama breathed a deep sigh. Thank you, her condition cannot deteriorate any further. I know she will be in capable hands when she arrives at Earth. I hope Dr. DeWitt and his staff can restore her.

That’s our hope too, Sondra said. "You’ve done the best you can under the circumstances and the Guardians are thankful. Lieutenant Rogerton will take you and your staff back to the Laurel. We’ll make our final preparations and head for Earth as soon as possible."

**********

Dr. Oyama and her nurses are back on their ship, Rogerton said. She walked over to Louis and handed him a small box. She had me wait while she got this. She wanted you to have it. Apparently it’s an ancient design of some sort of puzzle. She said you would appreciate it.

Louis looked at them all and opened the box. He took out a cube with many facets on each of its six sides. I have heard about these. He began to twist it. Do you see all the colors mixed together? The goal is arrange each side of the cube with matching colors. You can only move them by twisting it about each axis. He began to smile. How good of her, she knows how my mind works.

That’s a stroke of genius in its own right, Sondra said. Let’s start our preparations for our journey to Earth.

The Keyhole will soon make its next appearance, Rogerton said. If there’s a chance that Eng’s ship will be coming back through I want to be with the fleet when they apprehend her ship.

So do I, Louis said. I’m curious about Louisa, my clone ‘sister’, and Pacifica, our operative that is working with her.

They have to be captured alive, Rogerton said. We must use restraint even if they don’t.

That’s why we can’t be there, Sondra said. We can’t risk a battle situation. Our first duty now is to get the Star-Commander safely to Earth as fast as we can. Are the Zenkati engines up for it, Louis?

Everything’s in top condition. We have plenty of food and water.

Is there still a supply of Laconian Lager? Rogerton said with a grin. Or did Marco drink it all?

I hope he didn’t, Sondra said. He’s certainly had his share but that’s coming to an end. I’ve already talked to him and he’s staying here to be with Michelle, that is, Estelle Fairfield as he knows her. It seems he has taken quite a liking to her.

Does she feel the same way toward him?

I don’t know. He did save her life, more than once. And now that we’re taking her sister Abigail back to Earth, he’s going to wait until Michelle is healed enough to travel and bring her back too. Of course, Tommie will be with them.

I hope he likes cats.

**********

Earth Date: April 26, 1904, Ancient Calendar

Location: Keyhole region, Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune

Doctor Eng sat on the bridge monitoring the screens and controls. Green lights were showing on all the panels.

"Max has been running tests on the