Page 221 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

The passage into “Folded Space” was bad enough. But being in it had other problems too.
Some of the crew; especially the Genovan members, seemed to suffer from visual distortions and
hallucinations. The Untharans kept getting gaseous attacks and Sara reported she’d started having
contractions. She was rushed into Med Bay and prepped for the birth of her child “I didn’t see any
indications in the detailed reports about this kind of “side effect”” he’d said angrily to T’luha
“I’m sorry Doc; but it was an oversight by the research committee not to include tests on pregnant
species” she replied bashfully then to Sara “If it’s any consolation the baby looks fine; just a little…
early that’s all” she felt at a loss at not knowing how to handle the situation. She’d been present
during her two older sister’s pregnancies and births; so she thought she’d be able to handle another.
But this was different; and to make matters worse there didn’t seem to be any specific cause for the
effects. Midas thought he’d isolated a narrow band static
presence, but it later turned out to be a slight mismatch in
some plasma relay couplings.

One of the Achenazi telepaths said she could sense
some kind of energy dispersed around the fleet, but it was
too vague a feeling to clarify. T’luha asked for an Achenazi
headband and put it on. After a moment or two of
disorientation as the ring adjusted itself to her thought
patterns; T’luha began to also sense something. She asked
Jason to run a set of analyses to check the ring was
functioning properly.
“From these readings the Headband is working correctly. Hang on a moment while I try something.”
He said and touched one of the jewel-like cabochons on the front of the rings. “There; I’ve
telepathically locked and synchronised the two rings. Can you read my thought message Ma’am” he
thought at her. T’luha was amazed. She’d heard of this ability to telepathically transfer information
that the Achenazi had mastered. To experience it first hand was something else
“Perfectly clearly” she thought back. Jason spoke there after so as to conserve his “Energies”. He
explained that by working in pairs; linked like this, it was possible to refine and home in on stray
signals and get a clearer picture of direction and location.
“It’s a bit like the ancient practice of Directional Radio Location” he concluded
“I came across dissertations on the subject By Hors Lancaster at Velgas Mining Historical Engineering
Department. I understand the principle. But we need three points of reference surely?” she said
puzzled.
“Mari Spring Buck; the Biologist who caught the “sensations” earlier is willing to act as a “Locus”; our
“fixed” point and we can work together from different parts of the fleet to get angles and lines of
transmissions to refine the source point” he responded.

… Arthur was gathering his overnight things from his Hospital room and placing them in
bags. He was being discharged after having the microscopic sliver removed from his left eye. It was
being carefully examined as it should have caused much more damage than it did. It was late
evening. He laid out his clothes for tomorrow and settled down in a hospital gown for his last night’s
sleep in the private side ward he’d become to think of as his own. In the Nurse’s Station a shift
change was underway. The young Night Matron was being briefed about the patients still on the
ward; who was going for surgery and possible admissions that may come in from other wards in the
early hours. Arthur would be one of the first to be discharged in the morning. He had requested a
sleeping draught; but the on duty doctor had refused and thought it better he have a warm; milky
drink or, as he was not requiring any surgery or medication in the morning and would not be driving,
a small glass of warmed wine. Arthur had opted for the latter.

In the Forensic Lab the sliver had been placed in a container for further examination by a
Ministry “Expert” tomorrow afternoon. A Lab tech had included a set of X-ray Photographs, some
Electron Micrographs and had placed a note stating that the item was to be scanned by the MRI