Ok, sorry about the delay, but I know where this story is (about 3/4th
over) and I know how I want it to end, it's just getting there that's the
hard part.
Echoes of future past, part 29
Rommie signalled to Tyr and Ryan to hold back, and then slowly edged forwards towards the opening at the end of the tunnel: the titanic mountain of metal that was the Point Singularity Projector filed the carver, disappearing off into the ceiling, and beyond. Far below she could see Magog moving around, preparing the weapon for the coming battle. She backed up, and signalled for Ryan to put the generator down. Ryan set the generator down, and started to set up the overload-loop that would causes it to explode, hopefully taking the PSD with it. He attached a small hand held computer two it, "How long should I set the timer for?" Rommie thought for a moment, "Well, it took us two hours to get here, plus the time we need to get to slipstream, facture in some extra time for unforeseen circumstances, say three hours." Tyr nodded, "I agree: any longer would risk the Magog finding it and disarming it." Ryan smiled, "That's not a problem: I rigged it so that if anyone try's to disarm it after I've entered the final detonator code, it'll go off."
Tyr looked at the metal cylinder, "How big a bang we talking about with this thing?" Ryan smiled, "Let's just say that it's similar to a Nova Bomb, but without the radiation. The only problem is it's a lot unstable: if the regulator field is not properly aligned, you can kiss good by to your solar system." Tyr looked at his son, "And you're sure you put it together properly?" Ryan smiled again, "We'll find out in a sec." He pressed a button on the computer pad, starting the generator.
It hummed for a second, than stopped.
Ryan glanced at the computer display, "We have a slight problem." Tyr looked at him, "What do you mean 'We have a slight problem'?" Ryan handed over the computer, "The timing mechanism's fired: it most have taken a hit in that last gunfight, and overloaded." Rommie looked it over, "Is there anything we can do to fix it?" Ryan shook his head, "Not with what we have on us. Back on the Andromeda, maybe, but here, no." He typed a command into the computer, and the generator started humming again, "On the other hand, the manual detonator still woks." He turned to look at the other two, "I'll stay and set it off manually."
Rommie looked at him, "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, what if the Magog find you before the three hours are up?" Ryan shook his head, "I'll set a dead-mans switch so that if anything happens to me, it'll blow right away." Tyr nodded, "As much as I hate to say this, it seems to be the only way we can do this." Rommie was shocked by Tyr's apparent indifference, but then she saw the look in his eyes, and nodded her silent consent. Ryan rigged a med-sensor from his first aide kit so that it sent a signal to the detonator, then took up a position where he would be able to fire in ether direction, "I'll try and hold on for three hours, but if it get's bad, I'll blow it." Rommie nodded, and with an after thought, handed him a spear forcelance, "Good luck." Ryan smiled, "You just go help Dylan and Trance, then get as far away from here as you can."
TBC
Echoes of future past, part 29
Rommie signalled to Tyr and Ryan to hold back, and then slowly edged forwards towards the opening at the end of the tunnel: the titanic mountain of metal that was the Point Singularity Projector filed the carver, disappearing off into the ceiling, and beyond. Far below she could see Magog moving around, preparing the weapon for the coming battle. She backed up, and signalled for Ryan to put the generator down. Ryan set the generator down, and started to set up the overload-loop that would causes it to explode, hopefully taking the PSD with it. He attached a small hand held computer two it, "How long should I set the timer for?" Rommie thought for a moment, "Well, it took us two hours to get here, plus the time we need to get to slipstream, facture in some extra time for unforeseen circumstances, say three hours." Tyr nodded, "I agree: any longer would risk the Magog finding it and disarming it." Ryan smiled, "That's not a problem: I rigged it so that if anyone try's to disarm it after I've entered the final detonator code, it'll go off."
Tyr looked at the metal cylinder, "How big a bang we talking about with this thing?" Ryan smiled, "Let's just say that it's similar to a Nova Bomb, but without the radiation. The only problem is it's a lot unstable: if the regulator field is not properly aligned, you can kiss good by to your solar system." Tyr looked at his son, "And you're sure you put it together properly?" Ryan smiled again, "We'll find out in a sec." He pressed a button on the computer pad, starting the generator.
It hummed for a second, than stopped.
Ryan glanced at the computer display, "We have a slight problem." Tyr looked at him, "What do you mean 'We have a slight problem'?" Ryan handed over the computer, "The timing mechanism's fired: it most have taken a hit in that last gunfight, and overloaded." Rommie looked it over, "Is there anything we can do to fix it?" Ryan shook his head, "Not with what we have on us. Back on the Andromeda, maybe, but here, no." He typed a command into the computer, and the generator started humming again, "On the other hand, the manual detonator still woks." He turned to look at the other two, "I'll stay and set it off manually."
Rommie looked at him, "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, what if the Magog find you before the three hours are up?" Ryan shook his head, "I'll set a dead-mans switch so that if anything happens to me, it'll blow right away." Tyr nodded, "As much as I hate to say this, it seems to be the only way we can do this." Rommie was shocked by Tyr's apparent indifference, but then she saw the look in his eyes, and nodded her silent consent. Ryan rigged a med-sensor from his first aide kit so that it sent a signal to the detonator, then took up a position where he would be able to fire in ether direction, "I'll try and hold on for three hours, but if it get's bad, I'll blow it." Rommie nodded, and with an after thought, handed him a spear forcelance, "Good luck." Ryan smiled, "You just go help Dylan and Trance, then get as far away from here as you can."
TBC
