Worlds Apart

I sat on the bridge of our ship "Golden Adventurer" trying for the umpteenth time to get a reading from the scanner. The display in front of me was lit up like a Christmas tree as system after system went down. The main computer sounded like an Angel of Death as it related a damage report that grew longer every minute. It is tough luck to be hit by a tachyon storm. Still, experienced deep space explorers such as Maria and I have learned to take the rough with the smooth. This one was going to be pretty rough.

My wife was standing behind me watching the display. After a while, she said

"Looks as if I better start clearing the mess up." She went to leave then suddenly turned and gave me a peck on the cheek and whispered in my ear, "I love you."

In return, I squeezed her arm and replied, "I love you too." Then, she was gone.

Before the scanner joined the list of casualties, I finally got a fix on CD 1497, the star whose system we were here to chart, then laid in a course sunward. It seemed prudent to do so. If Maria and our astrobot Arnie could repair the "Golden Adventurer" then no harm was done. If not, then our chances of a rescue were much greater if we were on an inhabitable (and hopefully hospitable) planet. Assuming that there was one. If not, then the only alternative would be months in stasis in an escape pods. To me this is nothing less than a living death.

Suddenly, our luck changed. The main computer reported a planet in the biosphere. Immediately, I set up a flight plan to it. Then, I reviewed the meagre data from the scanner. There had been insufficient time for a full reading, but what had come in was the best news since the appearance of the storm. I immediately called Maria.

"There is an inhabitable planet about four days travel away. We can reach it as long as the ion drive stays working."

Her reply was less than optimistic.

"That assumes that the main engines don’t pack up. It’s becoming a full time job keeping them running. Is there anything that we can shut down to save power?"

I examined the board in front of me looking for a break.

"Not a chance. In fact, we got to have to get some more systems on line if we are going to make it into orbit. How about taking a nap? Arnie can easily take over from you." She was sounding tired in spite of the stims that she had been taking.

"No! We need it working on the computers. Anyway, with a bit of luck I will have one of the auxiliary generators working soon," she spat in reply. I did my best to avoid snapping back. Rowing wasn’t going to help the situation. We would only end up hurting either other. Besides, she was the last one in the universe that I wanted a fight with.

Maria never did get to finish work on that generator. All the main engines shut down at the same time so I had to send Arnie anyway. We were already on course for the planet so it was a dead hulk that drifted through space towards an unknown destination whilst it’s crew fought to get it back under power.

When at last, the main engines were running again, I checked our flight plan and made a minor course correction. Then, I left the bridge for an equally important task. The "Golden Adventurer" was slowly dying and it was now when not if we would abandon her. With the shuttle a burnt out shell, the only way to land for us land on the planet was by lifeboat (or escape pod). Of course, the former are supposed to be able to survive almost any damage because everything is either indestructible or has triple backups. Still, I was going to check it over, just in case.