Lost in Time Chapter 18

[Ed Man]

Pandora’s Box
Chapter 18

[Josh] “Sarah is everything ready for the test on the Gate?”
[Sarah] “A team is in position with the test ship which Gate do you want to be at the sending or receiving?”
[Josh] “I’m already on this side of the Gate so here. I’m ready and watching so start the test.”

Several sectors away a Gate is flooded with particles from a test ship as it enters the Gate.
[Sarah] “Josh the ship made a normal jump into the next sector. But we received a flood of random bits of unusual data as the Gate opened the event horizon. What are your orders?”
[Josh] “Recover the test ship after everything is clear and get it ready for a second test. Have the team return here with the data so we can compare it with the data from here and see if there was any connections on this end?”
A few minutes later the support ship entered the system with the team.
[Josh] “I’ll transport over to compare the date.”
[Team Leader] “Negative I have started a quarantine lockdown for myself and the crew.”
[Josh] “What happened?”
[Leader] “When the gate opened we all were overcome with a flood of thoughts. It was like someone was trying to brain wash us somehow.”
[Josh] “Sarah are they in good health and can you send the data?”
[Sarah] “Scans show they have no physical differences but they have been attacked mentally somehow. The data is disorganized and severely overlapped and will take some time to sort out the streams. No data can be transferred until it has been cleared. I am moving the ship to a safe location for security reasons and terminating all transmissions.”
Josh watched as the ship pulled away off into the darkness of space.
[Sarah] “I have requested a squadron of heavy assault fighters to cover the support ship.”
[Kate] “What is Sarah talking about covering the support ship?”
[Josh] “If the support ship tries to move before the quarantine is lifted the fighters will destroy the ship.”
[Kate] “Can’t it just jump away and what about the crew?”
[Josh] “We have installed a failsafe lockout on the ships to put the weapons, jump drive, transporter and main engines out of action incase of capture or quarantine.”
[Kate] “How long will it take before you know anything?”
[Josh] “Maybe a few hours or it could last for days I don’t know we’ll have to wait and see.”
[Kate] “Will they really fire on their own people?!”
[Josh] “If they have to? Yes!”
[Kate] “Doesn’t that make you all as bad as the Ancients for closing off the sector you’re leaving so they all can die off.”
[Josh] “I never said closing off the Gate was bad. It’s the smartest thing for them to do. If they didn’t close off the Gate the whole system of sectors could be infected killing off unthinkable numbers of people. Everyone onboard our ships have been vaccinated and we are going to be gone before the final mutation of the virus takes place.”
[Kate] “Why not just stay there and give everyone shots?”
[Josh] “We thought about that but the planet is about to go into a ice age because of an asteroid collision and before you ask yes we could stop the asteroid but I received a message from the future explaining how a large fleet of advanced ships came and destroyed everyone along with all the signs of intelligent life from the planet trapping the survivors in the sector. The sector remained closed until the Ancients reopened the Gate up in my time 100 thousand years in the future and we didn’t find any signs of intelligent life in the system anywhere.”

The crew and Josh watched the ship on the monitor for hours until the all clear was given.
[Sarah] “Commander the data stream we received was over lapped by the same signals each a little altered or totally different. The crew have rested and are starting to sort out the thoughts. They said it was like being hit with a thousand dreams at the same time. The crew are remembering small bits of their counter parts life’s. I theorize that when the gate was open the crew seen for a few seconds their alternate realities.
Commander the Gate was only open for a few seconds and the affect was devastating on the crew I suggest we use automated ships for any other test.”
[Josh] “I agree! Will the Crew be alright?”
[Sarah] “They are starting to try and sort out the thoughts and sights most were familiar to them as they are each keeping records as they describe what they each seen. Some were from their home planet while others were from space and unfamiliar places.”
[Josh] “Call for a support ship to transport the Crew back to the Venture and give each of them a full medical and psychological exam and all the time off they need. Assign a psychiatrist to assist and monitor the team.”
[Sarah] “A ship is on the way and repairs have been started on their ship. The ship will be ready for a second in an hour the support ship should be repaired and ready what do you want to test next?”
[Josh] “Study the added component on the Gate and see if you can find the activation that links the gates. We have a part of the puzzle and the Gate is another part. We know that the Gates open wormholes in space and time. The added particles opened up random space so something has to link them together.”

Josh went to his room to try and come up with a new strategy. “Sarah if the Gate was reopened with the particles into random space could you isolate one of the signals and connect and gather data form them?”
[Sarah] “Their have all ready been some top secret experimental work done with the jump drive trying to gather data from unknown signals. The test were stopped after a lack of success.”
[Josh] “Can you do it?”
[Sarah] “I have been able to isolate a few of the data streams by relative relations in the data. Each bit of data is overwritten like the same person saying a hundred different things at the same time. If I can connect to one stream at a time I can transfer data and gather information.”
[Josh] “Then the question is Gate or jump drive and where?”
[Sarah] “The sector the team was testing in and a jump drive and a modified support ship.”
[Josh] “Use the ship being repaired and put some safety measures onboard in case we need to disable it.”
[Sarah] “Understood.”

Josh flew his ship to the TL. “Requesting permission to dock.” [TL] “Permission granted.”
Josh docked and went to talk to Captain Mitchell about the TL. After looking over the plans Mitchell decided to refit and upgrade his TL.
While the drones were starting the work and Mitchell and Josh were enjoying a cup of coffee as a unknown ship jumped into the sector and fired a missile.
[Mitchell] “Intercept that missile.” Mitchell ordered as the fighter speed of on a intercept course.
[Josh] “Sarah launch and transport me onboard.” Josh transported into his ship as it entered space just in time to see the missile explode as the fighter fired on it and then destroyed the fighter in the expanding blast.
[Josh] “Launch the fighter drones! Mitchell recall your fighters and retreat I’ll take this one!”

[Josh] “Enemy fighter stand down and cease your attack!”
[Enemy] “That’s ///<<<< funny you’re about to die and you say stand down!”
The enemy ship fires another missile as the drones close to range. A drone fires as the missile explodes destroying all the drones but two.
[Josh] “Sarah what just happened why didn’t all the drones explode?”
[Sarah] “Two of the drones were in the ships subspace field.”
[Josh] “Lock onto one of the drones and transport a missile into the field when the ship re-enters our space and have a drone fire on it. Sarah I want to capture the pilot if we can.”
[Enemy] “I’m through playing with you bunch of >>>///”

The ship re-entered their space as a missile transported in behind the drone while the other drone fired as the missile exploded within the field leaving the ship disabled. The ship spun around like a ball from the blast as it rolled out of control through space.
[Josh] “Transport the pilot into the holding cell when we’re in range and then retreat. Send in a unmaned ship and tractor the enemy fighter off to a safe distance and take control of it.”
[Mitchell] “What just happened!?”
[Josh] “We just caught ourselves a live one! And maybe a ship with some new toys.”
[Mitchell] “Have you ever seen a missile with that kind of power before? It took out one of my fighters in the blast wave.”
[Josh] “Yes they’re designed to take out anything in a five k/m radus.”
[Mitchell] “Even a capitol ship?”
[Josh] “Yes. Your point to point jump drive and shielding just became top priority with the upgrades.”
[Mitchell] “What if two or three of those ship jump in I’ll be a sitting duck.”
[Josh] “I just placed the fleet on a high alert. You can transport most of your men down to the planet or onto several of our support ships until the jump drive is finished. I need to go and check on the prisoner right now just decide and let me know something.”
[Mitchell] “Can I transport over and watch the interrogation? I’ll let my officers decide where they want to go.”
[Josh] “Yes but you’ll have to watch from a monitor.”
[Mitchell] “I want to be there if it is just to watch he killed one of my men and tried to kill us all.”
Josh transported Mitchell over and took him to the holding cell and showed him the prisoner. “Pilot I just want you to see the Captain of the ship you tried to blow up.”
[Prisoner] “I didn’t!” The prisoner replied as he looked at Josh and fell in the floor dead.

[Josh] “Sarah what just happened?”
[Sarah] “The prisoner is dead a small capsule inside his head exploded killing him instantly.”
[Mitchell] “Who would put a explosive in their head.”
[Josh] “Someone with something that needed to be keep secret. Sarah I want to know how this happened and how to stop it.” [Sarah] “Understood Comander.”

[Mitchell] “What now he’s dead? Have you ever seen anything like this before?”
[Josh] “No but I have went on an escort mission with secret orders to kill the man I was guarding if we were about to be captured.”
[Mitchell] “That I understand but putting a explosive in your head is just to far out there for me.”
[Josh] “The end result is the same. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do it but the military has given out pills to soldiers to take to kill them selves to keep from giving out information.
I took a class about this, the instructer said don’t be a hero kill yourself they will get the information and then they are going to kill you anyway so save lives and kill yourself before capture. Someone went to a lot of trouble to keep this man quite if we get a second chance I plan on keeping the next one alive so they can tell us the secrets that’s worth putting an explosive in your head to keep you from talking.”


A meeting is taking place at Galaxy Venture Enterprises headquarters at the station in The Wall as Ban Danna steps up to call the meeting to order. “Thanks everyone for coming as you all know a year has passed and Mr. Galen has not returned as of yet. So in keeping up with his instructions he left in the time capsule found at The Rock the Company ownerships are dived up as he establish in his will. Josh may reture someday if there is one thing I have learned about Josh is never count him out he is a survivor and I for one am looking for his return. The lawers have the papers ready for each of you I’ll be waiting to talk to each of you at the get-together in the lounge.”

[Ann] “How are you doing Sherry?”
[Sherry] “I’ll be all right I know he’s alive. How is married life treating you and Elk?”
[Ann] “We’re doing fine Elk wants to start a family and settle down on a planet.”
[Sherry] “That sounds nice I don’t thing Josh would have ever slowed down long enough to take root anywhere.”
[Ann] “Maybe not, but the more we talk about getting a place on a planet the more I like the ideal. How’s the Solar Power plant doing?”
[Sherry] “It’s doing excellent! Josh designed the extra section of the power plant to run for several years before stopping. It makes free energy cells around the clock making more of a profit for the station than the standard crystal production section. I have to keep extra security guards just to watch out for the people trying to get into that section to see how it works. The scientist are still trying to understand how it works Josh gave them a understanding of how to contain the power unit. He said if they could master it they would understand how to make the power unit. But they still keep trying to sneek into the section to look for themselves.”
[Ann] “I know Josh would have come back if he could you know time travel is to hard for me to try and understand. He may have found out how to travel in time and is living in some parallel universe with another Sherry. Give it some time and try and move on and find happiness with someone else Josh is the one that told you to.”
[Sherry] “I can’t just right him off so easy and I’m surprised you can!”
[Ann] “I haven’t given up on Josh I know he’s fine where ever he is! But I do know that if he could have he would have been here by now. He went into the past which means he has lived his life a long time ago and I know he wanted you to live your’s and be happy. I miss him to Sherry. Sarah is working on a time jump drive give it six mounts and if he’s not here promise me you’ll move on with your life.”
[Sherry] “I just can’t right now! I know you mean well and it what he wanted but I’m not ready to let go.”

Elk walked over to Ann after Sherry slid out the side door and left. “Did you talk to her?”
[Ann] “Yes.”
[Elk] “Did it go well?”
[Ann] “No it didn’t go well at all. Could you just forget me and move on so easily.”
[Elk kissed Ann and said] “You know I’d never get over you I love you.”
[Ann] “I love you to Elk. Sherry loves Josh the same way I need to send her a message telling her I sorry for pushing the issue I realy did mean well.”
[Elk] “I know honey and deep down she knows to.”


Josh is looking over the test results when Sarah replies. “Josh you are reciving a sub space message from the Trading Stations security Officer.”
[Josh] “They don’t have that kind of technology is one of our ships calling us?”
[Sarah] “No our ship monitoring the station has just conferred it came from the station.”
[Josh] “I’ll take it in my room this should be interesting.”

Josh sat down in is room to read the message at his desk. “Mr Galen I need to speak with you in person.”
Josh sat woundering which way to handel the message? Someone knew his name and wanted to see him or was it more than that? The only way to find out was to go and see.

[Josh] “Sarah any updates on the device on the Gate or the ship or data collected ?” [Sarah] “No you will be the first to know. What are you planning to do about the message requesting you meet with someone?
Someone in your possion of power should not put himself in such a risky position. I suggest sending a delegate on the first meeting to establish their intent.”
[Josh] “Send a reply that they must meet with one of my agents first.”

A few minutes later sarah replied. “We have a fix on the transmitter and the person and a reply. [I am willing to meet with your agent whenever your ready.] It’s the head of security on the Trading Station that gave you the station.”

[Josh] “Sarah call for a unit of our best fighters to jump in and cover this sector and contact Mitchell.”
[Sarah] “Mitchell is on the line Comander.”

[Josh] “Just wanted you to hear it from me that I have to leave the sector and am sending in a unit of our best fighters as support till we can pull out of the sector.”
[Mitchell] “Understood Comander we’ll be fine.”

Josh called Sherpa. “That was quick do you miss me already?”
[Josh] “I’m leaving the sector for a while Sherpa. Listen Sherpa if anything happens that even looks like trouble get onboard your ship and jump out will you do that?”
[Sherpa] “What’s going on you’re frightening me!”
[Josh] “Nothings wrong I just need to know you’ll be safe.”
[Sherpa] “So you do care what happens to me then.”
[Josh] “Of course I do! Do you promise you’ll jump out if trouble starts?”
[Sherpa] “Yes I promise and you don’t anything crazy or dangerous either I want to see you again.”
[Josh] “I’ll see you when I get back Sherpa and try and hurry up with the evacuation will you. Dinner is on me when I get back by.”
[Sherpa] “By Josh.”

[Ed Man]

parameter are you out there

[parameter]

Yus! I have just got off the chrono-express to bring me 'back to the present future'..

So, things hotting up for Josh with use of advanced comm technology to contact him. Meanwhile Sherry is biding her time waiting for him. Lucky guy!
Don't write him off just yet Sherry. Maybe he just likes Space Fuel more than Sherry?
Entertaining read Ed Man! Keep on!