Echoes of Future Past
Part 2: Time Jump
Harper followed Rommie to the Maru's bridge, and stopped behind the pilot's seat, "We ready for the last jump?"
A tall, well built Nietzschean sat at the controls, "Ready when you are."
Harper double backed to the engine room while Rommie took the sensor station, "Ok, the ECM-generator is powered up. Ryan; takes us in."
The pilot nodded, and activated the slipstream drive. The Maru weaved its way through the slipstream smoothly. Rommie smiled, "Your mother would have been proud of you Ryan: you're as good as she was."
"Thank you." Ryan smiled.
The ship exited slipstream, and Rommie took Ryan's place at the controls, "Ok, it will take me a few minuets to match the course and speed needed. You better go see if Harper's ready."
Ryan squeezed her shoulder, "Thank you for all you've done for me over the years."
Rommie laughed, "Your farther would have had a fit if he'd ever heard you say something like that."
Ryan smiled, "It must be my human side. Goodbye."
Rommie squeezed his hand, "Good luck."
Harper was busy tweaking the controls of his latest creation when Ryan found him, "Are you sure this thing will work?"
Harper took a step back and admired his handwork, "It worked before, and it'll work again."
Ryan leaned against the handrail, "Yes, but last time you had a quantum commuter and a black hole: this time you've got a cobbled together computer attached to the Maru's drive system and a point-singularity bomb."
Harper shook his head, "It's all just a question of scale: I sent Dylan back 303-years where as you only need to go back 21-years. It'll work. Trust in the Harper, the Harper is good."
Ryan smiled, "That's easy for you to say: you're not the one making the trip, I am!"
Harper was about to respond when Rommie's voice came over the PA-system, "Make it quick you two: I've gotten us into position, but we have three Magog ship's inbound, all packing point-singularity weapons."
Ryan jumped into the teleporter, "Time to do your work Mr Wizard."
Harper nodded, "Good luck kid." He pressed the controls, and Ryan disappeared.
He reappeared two meters in the air above the Andromeda's hydroponics bay. He hit the ground with a thump, "Ouch! Nice one Harper!"
Sirens started going off, "Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder: identify your self!"
Ryan raised himself up on his hands and knees, "Override code: Tango Charley Brake 10 Bravo."
The sirens stopped, "Override code accepted. Identify your self!" Andromeda sounded confused.
Ryan laughed, "That could take a while I'm afraid."
"Feel free to take your time. How did you get on my ship?" A forcelance tapped him on the shoulder.
Ryan turned round to find that he was looking at a man he had only seen in photos, "Captain Hunt I presume?" He saw Rommie and Harper standing by the door, "They sent me: I'm here to stop your ship being destroyed in 8-mounths. I'm here to save your life."
TBC…
