Star Granger Season 5 - Chapter 14
Thoughts
"speech"
"Goa'uld speech"
SG SG SG SG SG SG SG
August 1st 2003 - Cheyenne Mt. Colorado
This Warrick Finn chap turns out to be quite an agreeable fella. A Serrakin apparently, albeit Merlin or maybe Ra only know just how he ended up with an Irish name.
Might ask the plonker once we locate him.
Finn sits at the side of the conference table, confused and disgruntled. He came all the way here to Earth, a courageous endeavour as it is, to find Sam and ask for her help in his endeavour to win this space race at his home planet. Not to bring in even stiffer competition.
Right after we first met him, there was this common dash to Keira's lab. Well, as soon as the details were somewhat clear.
"I'm not making your bloody toy fluxing!" she told Calvin right at the door before even listening to what we had to say.
Keira doesn't really have the time for our nonsense. She threw a crystal powered sublight propulsion system design at us all and told us to stop wasting her time.
Our next dash was to Ted's lab. Calvin won this one. Much to my relief, this annoyed Siya to no end.
"You should make up your mind, lass." I tell Sam with a devious smile.
At least I hope it is devious?
"Be the head of the dog, or the tail of the lion."
This makes poor Warrick even more disgruntled than before.
"We're not in the running for this contract, mate," Calvin tries to put the chap at ease. "Jeremy will make sure your ship is certainly the head of the dog. You'll be the deep space exploration lead for that corporation of yours - no worries, aye?!"
This little speech manages to annoy Sam as well.
"Don't worry about this loudmouth. I'll help you win this," she tells the chap, who immediately looks more at ease. "With your permission, sir!" she then hurries and limits her commitment.
Permission is granted - not to worry. We, Americans included, are all very interested to take a close gander at this Ion Drive tech. Naquadah reactors are considerably more powerful, and power crystals are both powerful and even the medium ones will last you a several decades at full capacity, but Naquadah isn't abundant, and power crystals need some very sophisticated machinery and materials to make. If this Serrakin Hydrogen-fusion reactor can be made stable, it's the real world equivalent of powering your flying DeLorean with banana peels.
Keira and a Tollan engineer had already given Finn's ship, The Cebrus, a visit. In any other way, it's a big, ugly, and dirty POS.
"Just building this core out of Trinium will make it more stable by a scale," the Tollan remarked. They, the Tollans, are quite familiar with ionised particle streams.
"The Toroidal field coils are entirely wrong shaped," Keira kinda agreed.
"I'll make sure a testing model is built for more experimentation." The Tollan moved things along.
"Send me the design before construction begins?" Keira just asked before they went their separate ways.
"You'll need better sensors to navigate the asteroid field part of the loop," I tell Sam lightly, once she has committed herself to race on Warrick's ship.
Apparently, Finn heard me. "I've put an order for a new long-range scanning control unit, just before heading here," he tells Sam, looking a tad uncomfortable.
"No worries, mate," Calvin replies. "We'll sort you up with some decent sensors. No need to spend your hard-earned dosh on this."
"Right!" Harry agrees with a smile, clapping Finn on the shoulder. "Spend it on something nice from Earth for your lady."
Poor Warrick grimaces at this as well. Looks like he has bitten more than he can chew.
August 8th 2003 - Hebridan
"Welcome back to TCNN's exclusive coverage of the 59th Loop of Kon Garat," announces the excited presenter, from every display floating around the city. "We have a startling new development to report. This year marks the first ever alien participation in the loop's history!"
Hebridan city is sparkly and modern and oh-so-commercialised that it puts even the rather horrible Piccadilly Circus to shame.
It was quite a hectic week, trying to prepare our ships for racing. Calvin and Ted had a good team in the making. Jeremy joining them made them truly hard to beat. The last straw was watching Harry giving me his infuriating half smile and walking after his mates towards the indoor hangar.
Bring it on!
"See if I'm bothered!" I call after their backs and go looking for reinforcements.
Now, Siya was already working on the conversion of Precious' main power system. Sensors were upgraded long ago in an effort to enable my parents to fly safely within our AIS and IFF networks. But, there is nothing realistic to be done about her rather limited piloting controls.
I need a much better pilot, if I'm to compete with the boys with Calvin at the helm.
Luckily, Jane was only glad to go off world for a day at the races. Ecstatic even. She then went on and invited mother dearest to be her co-pilot.
How lovely…
The looks R is giving us all for doing this and leaving here behind can turn Basilisks to stone.
We arrived at Hebridan to find a surprise waiting. Parked right next to our reserved spot is a truly peculiar shuttle. Honestly, it's hard to even tell where is front and where are the sides on this thing. As soon as we're out, a hatch opens, probably on her side, and out come Lya and Sappho.
"This is so much fun!" Sappho exclaims clearly stoked about it all.
Lya greats us with her usual serene smile, though there's a devious glint in it. "Have not enjoyed my family's old racing pod for ages now," she agrees.
Right then! Calvin and mates we can handle. What a Nox obsolete race pod can manage is something completely different, as the saying goes.
Right beside the Nox race pod is a small shuttle which is clearly of an Asgard design, what with it resembling a hummer, and giving a general feel of an old Biliskner. Probably something the annoying plonkers have cobbled together in a few hours of work. Honestly, no finesse or style. Sadly, I'm quite certain it's a capable race ship, hurried construction notwithstanding.
Apparently, together with the carnal abilities of their new bodies, Asgard also rediscovered curiosity and a certain sense of adventure. Turns out a few among them can now even conceive smashing little mechanical buggers with ingots of hot lead - imagine that! Must be driving dear Thor up the walls.
Would have turned his hair grey if of the right species.
Having so many aliens planet side made many of the locals somewhat apprehensive. It also forced our kind hosts to hold a gala party of some sort for the competitors and other dignitaries.
"What is the planet Earth like?" asks our host - a Mr Miles Hagan. He's the head of just about everything around these parts. Owner and president of Tech-Con Group - the most advanced, largest, and only corporation on Hebridan. Naturally, what goes for a government around these parts are all working for him too. Remarkably for a singularly powerful person, pun intended, he's sort of an alright bloke.
I play in my mind with several optional answers, till Harry beats me to it. "Complicated," he answers.
Mostly harmless?!
Mr Hagan can just barely manage to comprehend the concept of a planet being divided by nations, as if the Hebridians and Serrakins couldn't have found a way to live in harmony with each other. Maybe even having three separate nations, like Langara does. Naturally, he reckons that in these unlikely cases, those will be forever at war with each other. But, one hundred and ninety five?!
I agree with Mr Hagan's point of view and sadly accede that war is indeed a frequent occurrence on our planet.
"War is good for business," Harry shrugs.
I hurry up and assure Mr Hagan that in between most of Earth's nations peace rules.
"Peace is good for business as well," Harry is quick to agree.
I can just shrug in acceptance with both statements. "Greed is eternal," I conclude.
Mr Hagan is clearly familiar with this fact. What's truly inconceivable to him is the whole concept of economic competition, and the man perfectly understands the meaning of this word. So sad Jane has done such good work of our Trust friends. They and Mr Hagan would have gotten along famously.
Harry, working under his hat as a Deputy Director General of the WIB, then introduces Mr Hagan to our other friends.
Hagan is less impressed with Lya, even after learning that she has a seat at her planet's council. I can't pretend to be surprised, though. The Nox, secretive as they are, are not well known in the galaxy. Also, with their quirky and benign behaviour, they don't really come out as authoritative and impressive.
Don't judge a book by its cover, and all that rubbish.
He's slightly more impressed when Sappho introduces herself as the acting High Chancellor of the Alterans.
"You might have heard about us," she remarks lightly, with a glint in her eyes. "We created the Astria-Porta network a few years back."
The Asgards, as a race, don't need introductions. They are galactically renowned for being the most technologically advanced race out there, and a formidable force opposing the Goa'uld.
Hebridanians, in general, tend to keep to their homeworld, what with all those pesky Goa'uld milling about the galaxy, enslaving worlds right and left. Problem is that certain vital resources are becoming scarce on their planet as of late - which is the whole point of this race.
"Aye mate," Harry wholeheartedly understands their need.
"Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum," I add, well - Quark's tuppence.
"Latinum?" Mr Hagan asks, intrigued. "Is it useful?"
Might just have the earlobes for this business rubbish.
We also have the opportunity to mingle with our local competition for this sporting event. Jarlath is your common brute. He can certainly bite, but is about to find out we are most likely more than he can chew. Miss La'el Montrose is the stark opposite. She's composed, professional, and competent. Arguably, she also has the best prepared ship, in local terms. She might truly resent us being here.
It is the local kid, though, this Muirios chap, who's supposedly the top banana around here. He's dashing and oh-so-charming, princehood practically dripping off him. more front than Brighton, though. Now, I'm certain he's a good pilot, and he probably has a top-notch ship too, in local terms, but against the likes of the Asgard?
There's talk on the street it sounds so familiar
Great expectations everybody's watching you
"Are you sure you're up to it?" Muirios asks, leering at me.
"We'll just make sure Warrick here wins," Sam answers decisively.
"And it's gonna be fun!" Harry enthuses.
"Right," Sappho agrees. "We were told that in this race there are no rules!"
"What's a girl to do?" I answer, winking at Sam.
Muirios doesn't seem happy about all this enthusiasm, though.
There's a new kid in town
Everybody's talking
A new kid in town`
He'll just have to adapt.
Just then, my bag pings and out comes my tablet. It's the boundary ward Harry layed around our ships. Footage shows a human male in blue overall workwear and carrying a metal case making his way around the hangar and trying to gain access to various ships, getting more and more confused and frustrated with every moment.
"That's my brother's superior," Finn is surprised to see. "What is he doing in the hangar, dressed like this, at this time of the night?"
Meh, we will just have to ask him after the race, then.
August 9th 2003 - Hebridan
Race day arrives bright and clear. Not that it matters in any way, up here in space. All participating ships are lined neatly on the starting line, running last minute diagnostics and the likes. Well except for us, who are occupying ourselves with our morning tea.
Local selection is rather atrocious.
"And, with the loop set to begin only minutes from now…"
All communications relay race commentary from both the presenter and a former double winner, acting as commentator. They are discussing how tense things are, as well as how dangerous the race is, how us aliens are most probably not prepared for the ferocity and stiff competition the loop represents, and what products and services Tech-Con offers, which might have been good to have for any of the competitors, but especially for us 'rookies'. Wagers on the loop's outcome are also widely encouraged. Mr commentator clearly favours the local kid Muirios. Hopefully for him he didn't put his money where his mouth is.
Precious is floating in space, dull and grey as she always has been. What's new is the bright sign announcing her hull No. as the WIB-1701P. Also new is the silence now coming from under her floor, in place of the constant hum of her old Naquadah reactor and engines.
= Prepare for race start, = calls flight control. = All pilots, check in now =
Jane turns down her 'Smooth FM' music for a moment, to check in.
= Precious is ready =
It's her last hurrah, so to speak. We have plans for her, once back home. Plans which will not see her fly evermore.
Beside us is this DeLorean-like monstrosity Calvin has built to amuse himself. Naturally, it's enlarged some three times over, to be large enough for hyperspace engines. It's also not fluxing.
Well, as far as any of us knows.
Otherwise, it has this cool landing gear, which turns its 'wheels' on their side when up. Jeremy and Ted wasted a whole weekend on this one.
On our other side are Lya and Sappho in the Nox racing pod, which still defies my ability to describe.
Also present are the Asgard. As expected, they arrive just in time for the start, but this isn't the time and place to get into this.
About a dozen local ships are also participating. Those were expected to be the main focus of their local race, but are sadly relegated to the second violin group.
"This was splendid dear," mum sighs happily, and posts her now empty cup of English Breakfast to the side. "Mind if we change the music for something more racing appropriate?" she asks Jane kindly. She then presses a button on the controls, without waiting for an answer.
This is much more like it!
Space control calls the 'ready'. This impressive starting line hologram disappears - we're off!
Off the mark, both Asgard and Lya shoot into the distance. The boys and us are hot on their tails. Keeping the distance manageable is all we can do at the moment. On speakers, electric guitars are howling. Mum nods her head slightly to the music.
Smashing!
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Out of the window I can see the boys keeping with us and just a little behind.
Where they belong…
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
Local crowds were all left behind. I hope Finn and Sam are leading, but don't truly care. Today's Precious last hurrah. Today, we win.
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
I sing with the radio. Both mum and Jane smile back at me, amused.
Now, the locals like to say that the illustrious Loop of Kon Garat 'has no rules' which is untrue. It has a single one stating 'sublight' - otherwise the hours-long-race would have been done in milliseconds, and the winner would have always been the one with the quickest spooling hyperspace engine. Now, even at sublight, the only section making it an actual race is the Ice-asteroid field, where ship handling and actual piloting abilities matter. I mean, local freighters are probably finding some small space cannons shooting at them, and navigating a star corona to be challenging, but for us? Asgard pod just ploughed through all that firepower, like it's London drizzle, and I do use the word "firepower" lightly. The Nox pod is the direct opposite and somehow constantly finds itself in between the metaphorical raindrops without even trying. Generally speaking, we go the Asgard way ourselves. Mum's monitoring the shields, but there's nothing even remotely noteworthy to notice. On our portside, the boys are treating this stage as a round of 'Goa'uld invaders'.
At beginner's mode
= Having fun already? = Comes Sam's voice over the comm. A glance at the sensors show that she is certainly the head of the dog, though not by much for now. Finn cleverly is doing his best to follow the boy's route, which they are leaving relatively clear of mines.
An alarm ping interrupts my thoughts and alerts me to look back, where that Jarlath prick just appeared on our transporter pad.
"What is the meaning of this!" he shouts. He then pulls out a pistol of some sort. He then promptly falls to the floor, stunned.
"I've known him for two minutes and I can't stand him." Jane remarks dryly from controls.
= Mates, = Jeremy now calls us. = Did your automated systems start picking up strays as well? =
= Affirmative = mum answers. = darling, = she adds, and I chuckle softly, imagining the grimace on his face.
Race goes on and nothing really happens but the gradual thinning of the field behind us.
"Buttered crumpets?" I offer those at the controls in front. "We have honey, marmalade, and cream."
The asteroid field is still an hour and some away. Outside, the local sun looks like most yellow suns I've seen. Nothing much for us to do for now, but leaving the navigation computer to guide Precious through the pre-planned course.
Wonder just how much Mars is shining today?
You see, sublight racing doesn't offer much of a challenge in itself. The time dilation effect makes it so that there is a single exact speed to take one over the finish line and make the clock there measure the minimal local time passed. I won't get into it in detail, but above about 0.25-0.3C (Local gravitational conditions depending) this effect will gradually start making you arrive later (according to the finish-line's local clock) even though you are travelling faster and measure a shorter time yourself. It'll tie your mind in knots if I'll try to elaborate.
It did mine when I tried to learn all this.
Now, I would like to believe that any civilization, able to reach these kinds of velocities, understands the related physics and maths. I would also like to believe that they hold the technology to develop navigation computers sophisticated enough to calculate all this in a timely fashion. The end result is that an advanced enough navigation computer will plot one's best course and calculate one's best speed through that course, making the field practically levelled for all such competitors flying fast enough ships.
Till we reach the asteroids.
Sadly, the Asgard pod treats the asteroid field the same way it handled the minefield - totally ignores it and flies right through in a straight line and at full speed, blasting into asteroid after asteroid, pushing those away.
Well, here goes our superior piloting abilities advantage.
Right beside it, Lya manages to find a straight line of clear space, where there's just ain't one to be found.
Jane's enjoying herself, though. Precious is dancing under her light touch above, under, and round asteroids, keeping in touch with our advanced friends in front. Keeping our nose just ahead of Calvin at our port side. Calvin's doing handsomely as well. I reckon, any advantage we have is out of some luck with our chosen entry point into the asteroid field.
Some luck is fine with me.
"Want to fly some?" Jane then asks mum, who's excited to take her place at the controls. Me, I came here to win and mostly beat the boys, but mum's here to see a little of the galaxy and have fun. Thing is, handing the helm, at full speed, mid asteroid field, lost us that little advantage we had over the boys, and put us at a nose of disadvantage. Mum's good. Very good even, but she can't pull this disadvantage back. She's actually losing a tiny bit more to Calvin with every moment.
"The deflector!" I call, and see Jane smirk, just a little bit, back towards me. The next couple of asteroids Precious is twisting around are pushed a tad towards the boys' shuttle, making them take a wee bit of a longer route round - just enough to pull us back levelled.
Back behind us, Finn and Sam aren't doing that well. Finn is a fine pilot, but certainly not the best racing one. Sam, on the other hand, is unfamiliar with his freighter. Also, said freighter isn't really a racing pod in any shape and form. The dense Asteroid field enables both Ms Montrose and Mr Muirios to level and then gradually overtake them. That La'el Montrose woman is properly good!
The end of the asteroid field surprises us. Also surprising is the sight of the Nox pod diving right back, in the completely wrong direction. She makes Calvin wobble in his path, just enough for mum to regain our nose of an advantage.
I try to raise her on the comm, to thank her. Also to see what this madness is all about, but all we hear is Sappho laughing her head off. Up ahead is the finish line, where fireworks go up as the Asgard pod whizzes through to win. The Asgard don't stop though, and just open their hyperspace window and wink out, without slowing down at all.
I hail the boy's ship instead, to gloat. What we get from them is more distorted guitar sounds.
Thunderbolts and lightning,
very, very frightening me
They all sing together.
Galileo, Galileo
Galileo, Figaro
They then each sing in falsetto, in turns. They then just nod widely with their heads to the beat - as one. Can't help but giggle. Instead of gloating, I click hurriedly on my station, so choose the next song and broadcast it out, just before crossing the line.
Don't stop me now
Yes, I'm havin' a good time
I don't want to stop at all
Some distance behind us Finn, Montrose, and Muirios rush towards the finish line, grouped. The Sebrus is clearly the fastest ship of the three, which enables Finn to pull levelled with his competition. Montrose's ship is clearly well prepared and doesn't fall behind. Muirios though, isn't as fast, or as capable. In desperation he tries to push Montrose out of the race. She's ready for him and gets out of the way just in time. On planetary live broadcast all locals watch their 'kid' hit the right force-barrier, be thrown back across the lane into the left force-barrier, then lose his propulsion and left spinning, just shy of the finish line.
Mr commentator seems to be a tad salty. Might have put his money exactly where his mouth was. About half an hour after Sam and Finn's finish, Lya and Sappho are back. Sappho's still giggling from time to time. The pod, though, is pulling about half a dozen disabled local ships behind it.
"One of those ships was at risk of being pulled into the sun," Lya explains to the local press serenely.
"You were almost winning!" the lad asks. "Why didn't you just cross the line?" he clearly doesn't understand.
Not far from the empty podium stands the Tech-Con representative, rather confused. Both Warrick and La'el have passed through the finish line together. Neither of them has won, and he has only one 'lucrative contract' on offer.
"You can be my co-pilot," La'el offers coyly, and Finn manages only to blink owlishly.
Finally, Harry reaches me with a hug and a soft kiss.
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever." He tells me softly.
I savour his lips for a long moment. "Just remember, luv," I then tell him. "I am still a cat if I see a mouse."
It makes mum smirk.
Huge shout, once more, to flyboy38, my beta, who takes the time to make sure the story is a much better read.
Also to Dalwolf For doing Brit-Picking for, well - you all, and help my British characters stay British.
I am eternally grateful!