Page 129 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

chamber. Lorna and Mortimer laughed; Lennie wanted to examine the craft, but finding a way into
the chamber, without destroying the alien probe, was proving difficult.
“I wonder how it got inside. Did the probes creators build it around the ancient craft?” he asked
rhetorically. Even Jock Hasselblad seemed to be stumped for an answer. A technician eventually
found the answer to that when power was restored to the probes circuitry. He found a set of
symbols; presumably numerical, on a key pad underneath the chamber. The Probe had been
suspended so the underside could be examined. Playing around with these triggered a mechanism
and a beam shot out to an empty spot in the docking bay. The Voyager craft vanished from within
the chamber to reappear in the vacant spot and the beam ceased.
“By the Maker! A Matter Transporter!” Jock exclaimed turning almost white. The poor Technician
fainted when he realised that the beam had only just missed hitting him by millimetres. An alarm
suddenly sounded over the ships intercom followed by a terse message
“All personnel, we have an unknown craft approaching, all personnel to ready standing and
emergency positions!” it announced
“We’d better get up to the bridge” Mortimer said to Lorna and Lennie and they headed up to the
Command Deck.

They arrived to a scene of “controlled chaos”. Hart was receiving data pads and issuing
orders. Suddenly a signal came from the strange ship. It was a Hail signal in early Interlac.
“Requesting initial contact. We are the Scharnhorst. Identify self and respond!” the message
repeated. Hart ordered a standard acknowledgement sent with a stand by.
“Scharnhorst? That’s an experimental craft the Untharans were working on when I was last in their
sector. They must have progressed quickly for them to get here so fast!” Lennie said.
“You know this craft Lennie?” Lorna asked
“Yes; I was consulted on the shield mechanics a year or so ago. The ship was still under construction.
Captain Hart request a ship’s crew contingent and use my access code” He said, giving a numerical
index. The Scharnhorst replied and Lennie smiled. “That explains a lot. Those Mechanoids are the
new Biotech enhanced units from Venosia Prime. They are capable of working ten times as fast as
humans, they have six limbs and multi- rotational joints. They make excellent construction workers.
The body model is based on Krall Exo-suits made for the Hadra, an amphibian race that the
Hagunenon once used as slaves.” He added
“Stand down to general quarters! Lennie I’ll let you make contact as they should recognise you. Ask
them why they’re here please” Hart said. Lennie established digital contact with the Scharnhorst

Coms and did as Hart asked. The main viewer sprang into life. An image
of an Untharan appeared.
“Forgive our surprise arrival Captain Hart. We were asked by the High
Council to assist you, but our earlier attempts to contact you were
hampered by the local distortions The Veil throws up; I’m sure you’ll
understand. If it might be possible could my Bridge crew I and come
over and you can bring us up to speed on current circumstances. I am
Captain J’unmat Thugrah” the Untharan asked.
“By all means Captain… Thugrah; I look forward to your arrival. I think
Lennie would like to come aboard your vessel to inspect the work that
was done. Would that be O.K.?” Hart responded
“That would be most fine. He is the best Engineer I’ve ever come
across; excluding one or two Terrans that is. Thugrah out!” and the
screen blanked.
“Well there’s a turn up for the books. I recognise one of the Flutvarn names on that list. She’s a
Xeno-Archeologist like me. I would value her expertise on the probe. With your leave Captain I’d like
to go over to the Scharnhorst with Lennie and take copies of what we’ve discovered so far” Lorna
said.