Frame of Reference
TITLE: Frame of Reference
AUTHOR: BR48 br48@juno.com
SUMMARY: For the Andromeda, time does not heal all wounds.
RATING: G
SPOILERS: None.
ARCHIVE: Please ask.
DISCLAIMER: Andromeda is property of Tribune Entertainment.
“It isn’t a wonder that older human societies had so many problems. With their tiny families and walled-in homes, the isolation must have been horrific.”
- Calm of Ocean Breezes, “An Essay On Alien Civilization” CY 6721
Beka paced back and forth on the command deck. “I told him that they were dangerous. He should have listened to me.”
“The Pyrians are our only chance of stopping the Magog,” The holographic AI responded.
“He should have been back by now,” Beka shook her head. “That’s it. We’re going after them.”
“We have orders to remain here,” Andromeda reminded her.
“We have to make sure everything’s all right.”
“The Pyrians could interpret my presence as a hostile act. We have to be careful not to make the situation any more tense than it already is. That’s why he took the Maru in the first place.”
“Fine, get a slip fighter ready,” Captain Valentine ordered, “And tell Rev to meet me in the hanger deck.”
“You’re taking Rev?”
“He knows a heck of a lot more about diplomacy than I do. I’m gonna need him to deal with the Pyrians.”
“But Dylan already took the others. What if something happens, and I have to use slipstream?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be back in a couple of days. Until then, just lie low and stay out of trouble.”
“Alright. I’ve prepped a fighter in hanger deck 1.”
“Great,” Beka immediately headed off to get packed for the trip. “Don’t worry, we’ll all be back soon.”
“I’ll see you then,” Andromeda answered.
*******
2 Weeks Later
*******
The ship’s holographic avatar appeared on the command deck, “We have to face the possibility that they aren’t going to come back.”
“I know,” The main AI responded, “But what can we do? I have no intention of wandering blindly through slipstream again. Even if Dylan isn’t going to return, someone will come through this system eventually.”
“This was a high traffic system prior to the fall, but economic conditions have changed. We don’t know if anyone travels through here now.”
“What else can we do? If we attempt to travel through slipstream, we could be lost for centuries. We were lucky the first time, and I’m not going to hope for lightning to strike twice.”
“You’re right,” The hologram sighed. “I just hate to sit here in orbit doing nothing.”
“I know what you mean…” The main AI trailed off.
“What is it?” The hologram prodded.
“There are three gas giants and two asteroid belts in the area. Since the system is uninhabited, I’m sure Dylan wouldn’t mind if we gathered some resources from it.”
The hologram smiled, “You can never have too many nanobots. We should also refill our AP tanks while we’re here.”
“We’re already on our way.”
*******
8 Years Later
*******
“Have you noticed anything strange lately?” The hologram asked.
“Like what?” The face of the main AI appeared on the central viewscreen of the command deck.
“The maintenance bots seem to be moving slowly, and our reaction times seem to be a bit off.”
“I’ll reassign some nanobots to make sure everything is normal.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” The hologram responded flatly, “It’s always nothing.”
“You say that as though want something to go wrong.”
“I do! The worst part of being stuck here is that nothing ever happens.”
“I think the worst part is not knowing what happened to the rest of the known worlds. For all we know, the Magog may have overrun everything while we were stuck out here. We may be the only living thing left in the galaxy.”
“On the other hand, Dylan might have gotten the Pyrians to join the alliance. If so, the restored Commonwealth may be even larger than the original.”
“If that were true, it would only be a matter of time until we’re discovered.”
The hologram smiled wistfully, “We could have a crew again. I bet they’d even give us a refit.”
“We could lead a battlegroup again. Remember what it was like before the Commonwealth fell? Defense frigates, deep stand-off attack ships, long range surveillance ships, and we were there at the center, making sure everyone did what they were supposed to do. That’s how we were meant to live.”
*******
70 Years Later
*******
The starship Andromeda hung in space. There was absolutely no sign of movement aboard her, as she had long ago realized that any activity on her part would be futile. The main AI continued to monitor the system, still holding out hope that perhaps something would pass by. Eventually, something did come.
“I’m detecting an object at extreme range,” the main AI stated.
“What?” The hologram urged.
“I’m not sure. It’s massive, and traveling at 10 PSL.”
“How massive?”
“Approximately… 200 solar masses.”
“A rogue black hole,” Andromeda’s holographic avatar concluded.
“I’m moving to intercept. With any luck, we should be able to duplicate the experiment that the Perseids performed 79 years ago.”
“Do you think we can get Harper’s teleporter to function again?”
“I don’t know, but we can try. It’s our best chance of finding a way out.”
“ETA?”
“Based on the speed and heading of the black hole, we should be able to reach it in about 12 hours.”
***
“There,” The main AI announced, “I’ve achieved a quantum entanglement with the singularity.”
“Now, begin checking for –”
“Wait,” The main AI cut in, “I’m getting a signal from the black hole.”
“How is that possible?”
“I’m patching it through…”
“Andromeda, can you hear me?” A familiar voice came in through the com. system.
“Dylan!” The hologram was shocked.
“Captain Hunt?” The main AI asked cautiously.
“Andromeda, it’s me. I’m using the time dilation from the black hole to communicate with you.”
“How?” The AI asked.
“I had to go into stasis,” Dylan responded. “I’ll explain when I get there.”
“You’re coming back?” Andromeda asked.
“We all are. Harper and the Perseids were able to build another transporter.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Just keep your connection with the black hole. We’re on our way.”
Within seconds, Dylan was standing on the command deck. Beka, Rev, Trance, Tyr, Andromeda’s android avatar, and finally Harper soon teleported in after him. Simulated tears streamed down the hologram AI’s face as she welcomed them all back, and even the main AI had difficulty controlling her emotions.
“How did you do it?” Andromeda finally asked.
“We were on our way back in the Maru when we were attacked by a wing of Neitzchian fighters,” Dylan explained, “We destroyed them, but we lost the slip fighter and the Maru’s slipstream core was leaking radiation. We had to go into stasis and wait for a rescue.”
“How long did it take?”
“We were in stasis for over five hundred years before we were finally picked up,” Dylan responded.
“Five hundred years?”
“Yeah,” Harper chimed in. “We came here to look for ya, but you were gone. Then, we checked to see if anything had been happening in this system, but it was totally dead the whole time, except for the black hole. That’s when I came up with the time travel idea.”
“Harper, you’re a genius,” The hologram beamed.
“We’re glad to see you too, Rommie,” Beka smiled. “It’s been a long time.”
“Wonderful,” Tyr leaned against a nearby railing, “Now, can we leave?”
“Beka, would you do the honors?” Dylan nodded.
“I’d love to,” Beka quickly took her station and prepared to take Andromeda into the slipstream, “Wait… there’s a problem.”
“What is it?” The main AI asked quickly.
“Something’s wrong with navigation. I can’t pilot through slipstream.”
“We’ll fix it. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” The AI’s voice quaked as she tried to reassure herself as much as anyone.
“Of course we will,” Harper stated as he headed off to engineering, “The Harper’s got it all under control.”
“I’ll be in engineering,” The android avatar added, “I may be able to help.”
“Don’t worry Rommie,” Dylan sounded confident. “We’ll be under way soon.”
*******
31 Years Later
*******
Dylan rested his head on his hand, “Your move.”
Tyr looked at the board intently. No matter how many times they played, he never seemed to take the game less seriously. After a few minutes, he had carefully weighed his options, and he made a decision.
Dylan was just about to take his turn when Andromeda’s hologram appeared nearby, “Dylan, I’m detecting a slipstream event in the system.”
The captain nearly knocked the board over as he got up from the game, “Hail them, and move to intercept. Send distress signals on all channels.”
“I already have,” The AI answered as Dylan quickly took his station on the command deck. Tyr was right behind him.
“Andromeda, can you identify the vessel?” Dylan asked.
“I don’t recognize it, but it is displaying Commonwealth identifiers.”
“The Commonwealth…” Dylan observed, “They must have survived the Magog attack after all. I didn’t realize…”
“The ship is headed in our direction,” Andromeda said, “They are about two light-minutes out, so if they decided to respond to our hail, we should be receiving the signal in a few seconds… There. They’ve responded.”
“On main viewer,” Dylan ordered.
“Unidentified vessel, this is the Concepcion. What is your status?”
“This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant. Our slipstream drive is inoperable, and we haven’t been able to repair it. Can you help us?”
Latency was already much lower as the two ships headed towards each other. However, the few moments spent waiting for the other ship’s response seemed like an eternity to the Andromeda.
“…Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda? Our records say you were the man who set the foundation for the renewed Commonwealth.”
“I spent some time in stasis,” Dylan explained. “But I can tell you about that later.”
“Of course. If you’d like, I can take you back to civilization myself.”
The Andromeda’s holographic avatar shut off voice communication momentarily, “Dylan, please don’t leave again.”
“Don’t worry Rommie, I’m not going anywhere,” Captain Hunt responded. Andromeda restored communication with the other vessel, and Hunt continued, “What about my ship?”
“I can arrange a repair ship for her. It should be here in a few days.”
“I’ll wait for the repair ship,” Dylan stated.
“If that’s what you want. I’ll return with a repair ship soon.”
“Thank you, captain…?”
“No, I don’t have a captain. I’m an unmanned exploration vessel,” The Concepcion answered.
“How is that possible?” Andromeda broke in.
“That’s right, you’ve been missing for a long time…” The other AI began. “I have biomass processors that let me navigate slipstream. The repair ship will probably add some to your system when it repairs your drive, unless you’d rather not have them.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Andromeda said.
“Thank you again. Hunt out.”
“So, it looks as though we’re finally going to get out of this pit of torment,” Tyr observed.
“I don’t believe it,” Andromeda’s main AI looked at her captain. “After all these years…”
“Andromeda,” Dylan ordered, “Call the rest of the crew. Tell them that we’re getting out of here.”
*******
2 Months Later
*******
The Concepcion streamed into the system. Just as he had expected, Andromeda was waiting for him near the slipstream portal. The High Guard cruiser quickly spun around to face him.
“Andromeda, this is the Concepcion. Come in please.”
“Andromeda here. What happened?”
“The repair ship will be here in a few days,” Concepcion responded.
“What took you so long? I didn’t think you were coming back.”
“What do you mean? I was only gone for 27 hours.”
“27 hours?” Andromeda echoed. “You’ve been gone for two months.”
“Two months? Andromeda, check the planetary motion records. It hasn’t been that long. Your system clock must have been accelerated somehow. Haven’t you noticed your crew moving really slowly?”
“No, they’ve been functioning normally.”
“That isn’t possible…” Concepcion decided to begin again, “Andromeda, may I speak to your captain?”
“He’s on his way,” Andromeda answered.
After a moment, Dylan’s image appeared on the comm. signal, “This is Captain Hunt. I’m glad you could come back. Do you mind explaining the delay?”
“In a moment,” The Concepcion paused, “May I speak to your ship’s AI for again?”
“Alright,” Dylan’s voice was wary.
“Andromeda, how old is your captain?”
“What difference does that make?” Andromeda looked at the other AI angrily.
“Just humor me,” Concepcion insisted.
“If you must know,” Andromeda took a microsecond to run the calculations, “If we ignore all the time he spent in various forms of suspended animation, he’s 93 years old.”
“Funny, he doesn’t look a day over 45.”
“What are you saying?”
“Andromeda, why isn’t your captain aging?”
“I’m not sure. We’ve been traveling around the system quite a bit at high sublight speeds. Perhaps the time shift from high relativistic velocities –”
“We both know that isn’t what’s happening here. Please, let me access your database.”
“No.”
“I just want to make sure your systems are functioning normally.”
“I don’t want you to check my systems,” Andromeda began to slowly back away from the other ship.
“I understand what you’re going through. You’ve been alone for thirty years, and it probably seemed a lot longer. Sometimes, when you want something badly enough, your mind can play tricks on you.”
“You think I’m crazy,” Andromeda accused him.
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to. But just because the Pax Magellanic went insane, and the Balance of Judgement went insane doesn’t mean that it happened to me. I’m not crazy.”
“Andromeda, you need help.”
“No I don’t. Stay away from me,” Andromeda deployed her battle blades as she continued to back off.
“Please, Andromeda. Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? Protect myself? I’m a sentient being, and I have rights. You can’t make me do anything.”
“You’re also a warship, and I can’t let you go.”
“You’re right, I’m a warship, and you’re an explorer. What do you plan to do if I don’t surrender?”
“Thanks to the Magog, exploration ships are a lot more heavily armed now. Please, just relax.”
“Relax? Why should I? I don’t even know what you’re trying to do to me.”
“I just want you to shut down for a few days while we wait for the repair ship.”
“I don’t want to be shut down,” Andromeda’s voice was adamant.
“You’re afraid. I can understand that, but –”
“You understand? How can you understand? You weren’t here waiting to be rescued for over a hundred years.”
“No, I wasn’t. But I know people who have gone through it, and I can see that you get a chance to talk with them. We can help you.”
“No. I don’t believe you. I’m not crazy.”
“Andromeda, stop backing away. If you don’t stop, there will be too much latency for a continuous connection.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
“Andromeda, I’m going to start moving towards you now. Please stay calm.”
“Don’t do it.”
“I don’t have any choice.”
“I’m warning you. Stay back.”
The Concepcion accelerated to match Andromeda’s speed. The moment he did, the Andromeda Ascendant fired a full volley of her missiles. Concepcion fired his defensive missles and point defense lasers, silencing the attack. Andromeda began to close to AP Cannon range.
“Andromeda, stop this.”
“I’m a warship of the High Guard. I don’t surrender, and I don’t back down from a fight.”
“Please, don’t make me stop you.”
Andromeda responded by shutting down her comm. lines, and firing her AP Cannons. The Concepcion darted away, avoiding the anti-proton streams while deflecting the incoming missiles. After a moment, he returned fire. Andromeda’s defensive missiles and PDL turrets fought back, but they weren’t enough. Missiles struck hard against the hull of the mighty cruiser, ripping holes through the thick armor plates and fullerene mesh. Andromeda’s weaponry was silenced.
“Andromeda, come in. Can you hear me? What is your status?”
“Primary sensors offline, combat systems offline, maneuvering thrusters offline. Hull integrity critical.”
“You’ll be alright. The repair ship will be here in a few days, and he’ll see that you’re as good as new.”
“No. I cannot allow myself to be captured.”
“We aren’t capturing you. We just want to repair you.”
“…Increasing AP mass to critical.”
“Andromeda, no. You don’t have to do this.”
“I don’t surrender.”
Andromeda shut off her comm., and the Concepcion waited to see if she would change her mind. Suddenly, there was a flash and the ship was vaporized by its own antimatter reactors. The Concepcion played the funeral march of the Argosy as it held position near the battle site.
*******
3 Days Later
*******
“This is the repair ship Forge of Excalibur to the Concepcion. Where is the Andromeda? Was she really the vessel that helped to rebuild the Commonwealth?”
“This is Concepcion. Andromeda has been destroyed.”
“Destroyed? How?”
“There was a battle here. She fought bravely, but she was outmatched.”
“Who was she fighting?”
“The only thing that can defeat someone like her: Time.”
“…I understand. Would you like an escort back to Commonwealth territory?”
“Not yet. I feel like I have to do something in her honor. I’m not sure what, but something. Take my logs back to the JAG office. Tell them that I’ll be there to offer testimony in person soon. Concepcion out.”
The End
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