Read Online Mutiny on Outstation Zori by John Hegenberger - Free Book Online
Authors: John Hegenberger
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Metaphysical & Visionary, Galactic Empire
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CCDscopes that peered deep into the Great Unknown, gathering micro-bits of information about the location of objects at the end of the universe.
Zori was different from most outstations ln one other significant way. Instead of guest modules branching out from its central shaft just below the gravitic landing pads, Zori contained a medium-sized military barracks. The station was pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so the Imperium had decided it would make a good site for special training exercises and the cold storage of undesirable and dangerous materials.
The chances of dealing with the station's unusual condition—let alone of locating Cast or the missing Esper Shadow ships—dropped dramatically in Jamie's mind, when he learned of the high military contingent on Outstation Zori. Dealing with circumstances on the station would not be an easy task, especially in his current weakened condition. He would just have to tough it out, aches and pains and all.
Gradually the effects of his cold began to fade, leaving him with a mild muscular stiffness in his neck and shoulders.
Due to Jamie's illness, Kleg had begrudgingly taken to training a few of the Qestans in the rudiments of piloting a scout ship. Aura's followers seemed adapt at the finer points of spacemanship and navigation, and they showed an even stronger interest in the Dagger 's programming.
One morning, a loud and nearly violent altercation occurred when Kleg discovered two of the colorfully clad Qestans busy stripping down the nav comp in an attempt to modify its motherbrain.
Zaxt had helped a sneezing Jamie re-install the programs and loose components. The Qestans were ordered to stay away from the command center without full supervision. Aura defended them by saying that they were only trying to improve what was obviously an archaic piece of equipment. The situation resolved itself, after Kleg with his clever dice games, won nearly every deit the Qestans had to their names.
As the ship neared FZ13, Karr prepared to activate the cloaking device and they all met in the lounge, gathered around a gametable to discuss strategy.
"I say we go on in and take advantage of the situation," Kleg announced.
"How?" Jamie asked. "We don't know what's going on over there."
"Exactly. There's never been an outstation taken over by 'outside forces,' whatever that means. It's possible they might be easy victims, under the circumstances."
"The problem is," Aura offered, "we have no idea what those forces might be. All communications have ceased, even though a localized scan of life-signs indicates that everyone is still on board."
Jamie wadded up his face mask. "How did word reach Turner that the station had been taken?"
"There was a transmission sent a little after we left Hyperion." Aura pointed at a data screen. "The message said that it contained the final communication from the residents of the Outstation. No reason was given for why this was considered final, and there has been no response to replies made since."
"So it's a terrorist attack or a rebel uprising from within," Karr suggested. "In that case, they'll need an outside contact to appeal their position and demands."
"I'm not so sure about that." Aura continued to study the screen. "They seem content to remain free of any outside contact."
"Well, they can't be self-supporting," Jamie said. "Are they?"
Zaxt displayed a series of graphs on his chestscreen indicating the relative ratio of reprocessed protein versus un-recyclable materials.
"That doesn't look good to me." Kleg stroked his hair with his staticomb.
"On the contrary," Zaxt commented. "I think Aura may be correct. If they're cautious and frugal, these individuals have a chance of remaining on their own for perhaps as long as a decade."
"That's absurd," Kleg sneered. "The Imperium will be out here pounding at their doors inside of a month."
"Why would these people chose to be secluded?" Aura mused.
"Why, indeed?" Jamie agreed.
"Maybe it's
Zori was different from most outstations ln one other significant way. Instead of guest modules branching out from its central shaft just below the gravitic landing pads, Zori contained a medium-sized military barracks. The station was pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so the Imperium had decided it would make a good site for special training exercises and the cold storage of undesirable and dangerous materials.
The chances of dealing with the station's unusual condition—let alone of locating Cast or the missing Esper Shadow ships—dropped dramatically in Jamie's mind, when he learned of the high military contingent on Outstation Zori. Dealing with circumstances on the station would not be an easy task, especially in his current weakened condition. He would just have to tough it out, aches and pains and all.
Gradually the effects of his cold began to fade, leaving him with a mild muscular stiffness in his neck and shoulders.
Due to Jamie's illness, Kleg had begrudgingly taken to training a few of the Qestans in the rudiments of piloting a scout ship. Aura's followers seemed adapt at the finer points of spacemanship and navigation, and they showed an even stronger interest in the Dagger 's programming.
One morning, a loud and nearly violent altercation occurred when Kleg discovered two of the colorfully clad Qestans busy stripping down the nav comp in an attempt to modify its motherbrain.
Zaxt had helped a sneezing Jamie re-install the programs and loose components. The Qestans were ordered to stay away from the command center without full supervision. Aura defended them by saying that they were only trying to improve what was obviously an archaic piece of equipment. The situation resolved itself, after Kleg with his clever dice games, won nearly every deit the Qestans had to their names.
As the ship neared FZ13, Karr prepared to activate the cloaking device and they all met in the lounge, gathered around a gametable to discuss strategy.
"I say we go on in and take advantage of the situation," Kleg announced.
"How?" Jamie asked. "We don't know what's going on over there."
"Exactly. There's never been an outstation taken over by 'outside forces,' whatever that means. It's possible they might be easy victims, under the circumstances."
"The problem is," Aura offered, "we have no idea what those forces might be. All communications have ceased, even though a localized scan of life-signs indicates that everyone is still on board."
Jamie wadded up his face mask. "How did word reach Turner that the station had been taken?"
"There was a transmission sent a little after we left Hyperion." Aura pointed at a data screen. "The message said that it contained the final communication from the residents of the Outstation. No reason was given for why this was considered final, and there has been no response to replies made since."
"So it's a terrorist attack or a rebel uprising from within," Karr suggested. "In that case, they'll need an outside contact to appeal their position and demands."
"I'm not so sure about that." Aura continued to study the screen. "They seem content to remain free of any outside contact."
"Well, they can't be self-supporting," Jamie said. "Are they?"
Zaxt displayed a series of graphs on his chestscreen indicating the relative ratio of reprocessed protein versus un-recyclable materials.
"That doesn't look good to me." Kleg stroked his hair with his staticomb.
"On the contrary," Zaxt commented. "I think Aura may be correct. If they're cautious and frugal, these individuals have a chance of remaining on their own for perhaps as long as a decade."
"That's absurd," Kleg sneered. "The Imperium will be out here pounding at their doors inside of a month."
"Why would these people chose to be secluded?" Aura mused.
"Why, indeed?" Jamie agreed.
"Maybe it's
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