The Imperial Concordant

One minute twenty seconds to docking. “I'm reading you off course Sal.” “Confirm ... Firing thrusters to adjust.” “Not reading your thruster fire.” “Thrusters didn't fire. Second attempt failed. Initiating diagnostic … Thrusters aren't responding.” “Got a reason?” One minute to docking. Collision warning. “Docking control, Ben here. Sal. Harry. What's going on?” “I don't know Ben. Sal, got a report?” Fifty seconds to docking. Collision imminent. “Problem must be mechanical, all connections and programs check out.” “Eject your payload pod. That'll change your trajectory enough to avoid collision. We'll send the Orbital Maneuvering Module to pick it up.” Forty seconds to collision. “Confirm Ben, initiating emergency ejection of payload pod … ejection failed. Running diagnostic. Harry, ready manual release.” Harry reached to a lever on the side of his seat. “Ready.” Thirty seconds to collision. “How can you have so many mechanical failures at once?” “I don't know. Pull it Harry.” Twenty seconds to collision. Harry pulled the lever. “I don't see anything happening Harry.” Ten seconds to collision. “Confirm lever movement, confirm connecting rod movement.” Five seconds to collision. “Nothings' happening.” Four … Three “Trying AGAIN.” Two … One. “Confir...” BZZZSCHZZRRBZZBSZBSZZHZHZH “Report.” “Collision with docking struts. The shuttle has suffered hull damage and is venting atmosphere.” Ben checked the manifest. Thirty-one people on board. “Send the Orbital Maneuvering Module.” “Confirm, but it won't get there in time. Shuttle will re-enter the atmosphere in fifteen minutes. With the structural damage sustained, it'll break apart and burn up.” *** Bjorn Grey entered the conference room. Video screens lined the walls. Two screens on the opposite wall lit up. “Secretary Kalashnikov, Deputy Santos.” Secretary Kalashnikov spoke first “Head Grey, what do we know?” “Not much, the science team is still investigating.” “Head Grey,” Deputy Santos sighed “You must understand the urgency of getting information out as soon as possible. Rumors and misinformation have already begun spreading.” Bjorn nodded “ 'A shuttle collided with the docking struts of Skyhook No. 3. More information will be released as soon as available.' Release that. Meanwhile, all concerned parties can join my preliminary investigation meeting. We'll start in thirty minutes.” “Alright.” As Bjorn Grey left the room he directed his PAL “PAL-Bjorn, send a message to everyone concerned.” A PAL, Personal Assistant and Library, was a computer and network connection, usually worn as an article of clothing, jewelry, or other accessory. Its connection to the nervous system allowed speech and images to be transmitted directly to appropriate organs. Images and videos could be shown in a display in the users field of vision, usually to one side and translucent so as not to block vision. Speech can be transmitted directly, and silently, to the ear. Its network connection allowed it access to planetary and interstellar cyberspace, and allowed communication with anyone else using a PAL. As Bjorn entered his office, PAL-Bjorn alerted him, “You have an urgent link request from Maurice at Orbital Control.” Maurice's face appeared on Bjorn's visual display “We have another serious problem Head Grey. The skyhooks use a magnetic field to control altitude. Skyhook No. 2 engaged a few minutes ago. The polarity was reversed. It's losing altitude instead of gaining. Controls are not responding to shutdown command.” Bjorn sighed, “Have they ...” “A minute Head Grey, I got an urgent message that won't wait.” Maurice's head turned sideways on the screen, his face lost all colour, he swallowed hard. “Same problem at Skyhooks 1 and 4.” “That can't be,” Bjorn nearly whispered “What about No. 3? “I haven't been able to contact them.” “How long before the others enter the atmosphere?” “Less than an hour.” *** Bjorn delivered the news “All four skyhooks encountered the same problem. When they tried to adjust their altitude, polarity was reversed and they lost altitude instead of gaining. They've entered the atmosphere, broken apart, and burned up ... Ten thousand dead.” Murmurs of shock and disbelief went round the room and came from all the screens. “Alright let's stay calm,” Secretary Kalashnikov said “Now we all know, the only logical explanation for so many failures in such a short period is sabotage.” “I BEG to differ.” “No one is questioning your security measures Chief Oreco. No matter how good the security effort, terrorists will always find a way.” “Well ours was the first attacked!” stated Member Chen, the Chinese representative “And I've just learned many of our satellites have been hit with EM attacks. We've lost communication with nearly half already.” “You seem rather eager to admit what must be a very classified bit of information.” “What are you suggesting Member Smith?” “That China is resp...” “YOU WILL NOT FINISH THAT STATEMENT. You will not make such baseless accusations. It's our satellites that are under attack.” “So you claim.” “HOLD ON, we must have order.” Deputy Santos pounded her desk for attention, “Member Chen, have you been able to determine where the attacks are coming from?” “All have originated over an ocean, at least a thousand kilometres from the nearest continental land mass.” “Perhaps it's time for a little disclosure. Has anyone else suffered attacks? Member Smith.” Smith glared into his camera “I'll have to contact my government before I release such information.” “Our next course of action must be to determine who has the capability of launching such attacks.,” stated Secretary Kalashnikov “And then...” suddenly his screen went blank. “We've lost his satellite feed.” “Simply knowing who's capable won't help. At least a dozen nations have the capability of launching these attacks.” Member Wirth of Iceland pointed out “And anyone of them can finance another nation or terrorist group. We'll need ...” Her screen went blank. Several other screens went blank. And then, all of them. “It seems we'll need to do this the old fashioned way and meet in person. Send out a message to all members, we'll meet in Geneva as soon as possible. Use emergency ground based communication lines.” *** That night Bjorn sat in his backyard looking at the stars. “Every single satellite,” he muttered to himself, “The guilty party took out their own to throw off suspicion, everyone will blame their favorite villain. This will lead to war. Long they've argued over orbital space. Was only a matter of time before someone found a way to settle it with a war. Victor controls the solar system. This will go nuclear for sure.” *** Telsavran soldier Cold Green Eyes sent a message to Commander Swift Claw, “Our sabotage was successful and the Humans have not detected us. As expected, infighting has begun and military assets have been mobilized. Expect the war to start in a few days.” Commander Swift Claw hissed "When they have destroyed each other, we reveal ourselves as their alien saviors. They willingly become our slaves." Commander Swift Claw hissed again "We shall be rich from this genetic treasure trove."