Chapter 6 (Jeffrey Sinclair)
As a successful commander with the responsibilities of a hyperspace city in his hands, Jeffrey Sinclair liked to use his time productively. Instead of moping around in his quarters for the next hour, he got up and prepared to start his shift early.
Minutes later, he left his home and walked down the sleek, narrow passageway of Spartan design. The occasional missing steel plate snuck its way through. The entire apartment complex should eventually have a homey feel to it, once it was finally constructed.
Moving on, he finally stepped outside through the main entrance and was immediately greeted with a spectacular view of the entire city, which was surrounded by natural vegetation and trees.
The view always left him breathless. He stepped forward and placed his hands on the main walkway rail, drinking in all the details as he scanned the distant skyline.
Buildings stretched into the artificial sky like steel-glass fingers reaching for the heavens, and huge wind-fans in the middle of the city circulated the air and created a warm breeze. The entire city was encased in a shielded dome, away from the harmful effects of hyperspace.
The titanic city stretched as far as he could see. Lakes and huge grasslands mingled inside the city where people carried on their everyday lives. It was as if someone scooped a city from the Earth and dumped it into a domed ship.
Hyperspace clouds created shadows that swept throughout the city, adding a night-time-red-illusion that began to dampen Sinclair's early morning mood. He knew the automatic clock would change the filter of the dome shield soon, but since he was already awake, he decided to call and have it changed immediately.
With a gentle tap to his wrist-com, he said,"This is Jeffrey Sinclair to Control Centre. Can we activate the shield filters and bring in some proper light? This redness is straining my eyes."
With confirmation from the Control Centre, the filters on the massive shield altered the hyperspace environment into a sky blue atmosphere with the hyperspace clouds moulded into normal planetary clouds in the background. The area was as bright as daytime.
With a smile, he walked along the balcony, noticing many civilians seemed happy about the additional daytime he'd given them. That's the power of being a city commander, the ability to change day and night, just like God.
Electric vehicles whizzed back and forth below his walkway, and ships glided past in the open air ferrying people and goods from one end to the other. Shuttle cars also shot past on tracks in the middle of the city, providing rapid transport. A building with a symbolic design stood tall in the middle of the metropolis. It was the Control Centre that ran everything from defence to water. He was due to start his shift in one hour, but problems needed to be solved and Sinclair did not like to leave them unsolved.
He took one final breath and headed to the rapid transport system. Officers saluted and civilians gave their warm greeting as they passed each other. Sinclair was proud of the inhabitants of the city. Everyone had helped build the city with their own hands and that earned them the right to live here. Construction still carried on in some undeveloped sections, and that helped fuel crime and unjust behaviour. But the city was one step closer to being paradise.
As Sinclair disembarked from the rapid transport system that had taken him over one mile from his home, he slowed his pace in order to read the newest reports that came through his holographic data pad.
With a slight frown at the disappointing report, he deactivated the handheld-holographic-device and then it closed into a rectangle no bigger then a cigarette lighter. He promptly shoved the device into his pocket and walked into the Control Centre.
He strolled along the hallways of the Control Centre with a small matter on his mind. He didn't dwell on small matters, but this small problem could escalate into something catastrophic. Sinclair had doubts about his own solution, but he needed to observe the current situation first.
The corridors offered a hint of fragrance in the air from potted plants and prominent mis-painted bulkheads sprung up from time to time.
Before he had the chance to enter the elevator that led to the top floor control room, he heard incomprehensible screams down the well-lit corridor.
When he investigated the source of the disturbance, Sinclair entered the dimly lit room. He smiled as he approached Bester.
Bester stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at the drained and torn features of a captured Minbari prisoner. He glared into the Minbari's mind, inflicting great pain. "Ha, Sinclair. What a pleasure it is to see you on this fine day."
Sinclair smiled even more boldly as he entered the room. "Bester. It's always good to see you doing your best work."
"Thank you for your encouragement, it always brightens my day." He interlocked his gloved hands together and walked around the table, slowly and methodically. "So, what can I do for you?"
"Nothing much. I heard screaming and decided to investigate."
"Sorry to cause you any problems, Sinclair, but as you can see, I have a small task to complete. I'll make sure he does not make too much noise in the future." Bester grinned at the blood-soaked Minbari.
"No need to do that, you can carry on anyway you see fit. But I am curious as to what you're doing?"
"The standard-" He removed one of his gloves and placed it on the side table. "-finding out intelligence and just messing around. I am not taking much care in his mind as you can see. Much more efficient that way." His ghostly eyes stared at the Minbari and his grin grew broader on his face.
"I see, having fun… I always enjoy a little fun from time to time myself. It tickles the fancy." Pausing for a moment, he remembered the small problem that needed his immediate attention, so he wrapped up his conversation.
"Anyway, Bester, make sure you leave a report about what you've discovered and do whatever it takes. That intelligence is vital for the human race, and… I hope you enjoy yourself." He gave Bester a sideward grin before he departed the room. Bester grinned back and Sinclair could only imagine Bester's face turning cold and hard as he looked back at the Minbari.
More screams echoed through the passageway as Sinclair strolled along. In his mind, the cries were those of the suffering humans during the Battle of the Line. Bester was good at his work and Sinclair allowed him to use any technique available to gather intel, even if it killed the victim. Chances are, the victim will eventually be executed anyway.
The lift stopped at the Control Centre and Sinclair stepped out into a flurry of activity as people rushed around as though something worried them. People carried data pads and screens flickered with alarming trajectories.
"What's going on?" He pulled one of the workers to the side and gave him a stern look that made him spill the information faster then he normally would.
"The city has drifted from its local position. We have no Vanguards to give us the correct coordinates to get us back; we are drifting blind in hyperspace." The worker hurried off to deliver his data pad.
"Sinclair! Where the hell have you been?" A gruff looking man named Bill approached, his uniform was all wrinkled and his body odour followed him like a rain cloud.
"I've been in my quarters. What the hell's going on? Something about this city drifting off its point?" He couldn't suppress a hint of panic in his voice.
Sinclair knew all too well the enormity of the situation. If a hyperspace city drifted off its mark in hyperspace, that city would be lost forever. The people might survive for years, but the last city to drift off had never been found again and no one knew the effect of such isolation. The human cities were drifting so deep in hyperspace anyway that a slight miscalculation would cause the loss of millions. Sinclair was not going to let that happen.
"Where the hell is the new Vanguard? He was supposed to be here yesterday!"
"I don't know, Sir, we've lost contact with the anchor probes and our trade ships are cut off." Bill handed Sinclair a data pad with devastating reports flashing for his attention.
"What about the new Vanguard recruits?" Sinclair was at a loss for ideas. He didn't know what to do. This was a situation out of his control and only a Vanguard could help. But even as he suggested the idea, Sinclair could clearly see the look of fear in Bill's eyes.
"Are you crazy, Sir? The trainee Vanguards aren't ready for this. Only an experienced pilot can help us out of this mess!"
Sinclair's heart skipped a beat. The entire city was in peril and only a hyperspace Vanguard could save them. And we don't have one.