Page 264 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

“If my assumptions and the information that our Abductee
friend are correct; this is some kind of long distance
communication device” The director of the Array said.
Arthur corrected him
“It wasn’t just used for communication. I saw them use it to
transmit matter streams over interstellar space once or
twice between mother ships. But we don’t have the ability
to generate that amount of power here. So I suggest trying
a signal to the Eloi Platform. As a trial” he interjected
“Arthur is right; baby steps first; I’m not happy with the
state of the equipment. It looks like our ancestors were
responsible for some of the damage to certain crystal
circuits” Lucius Foxx; the array’s chief Engineer said adding
“That’s why I had the inhibitors fitted in the supply chain. If
they don’t work the system would explode destroying the entire asteroid. The replacement circuits
we made are at the limits of our capability; and the Kryst say they have nothing anywhere near as
heavy duty”
Arthur had brought some expensive recording equipment from the Flexor HQ on Eretti
Prime. He’d paid for it so if it was lost; it wouldn’t be an expense for the company. It was; after all a
chance to find out what had happened to his beloved Helen. Besides he could easily afford the loss
should it be a failure. And it was an excellent media opportunity he thought cynically. To add some
drama to the situation he’s asked for a countdown clock signal to be transmitted from the
equipment. It was fast approaching zero; only 40 seconds left. He looked at the recording equipment
readouts; all seemed stable and were already recording. The output of the unit was being modulated
to give a visible image when the directed burst fired out. He had been given access to the messages
that Terra prime had received from The Platform so knew that they were having difficulties;
however they had set aside a monitoring crew should this experiment work, it was they who would
reply.
From the platform a glow started to appear around the devices transmitting array. When the
operator pressed the sequence of commands that would send the burst; all the observers saw on
the platform was a blue-white beam shoot out of the array and off into the interstellar regions. And
then it fell blank. The device switched to listening mode.
“We won’t get the same spectacular display for a received signal unfortunately” Lucius said as they
waited for the tell-tale sign of a reply. The sight of the beam going out triggered repressed memories
in Arthur. He remembered now seeing the Beam array being used on one of the Motherships. He
also remembered how his guard had told him just what power it took to send such a signal across
the galaxy. He visibly trembled and Sandra had noticed
“Are you all right Arthur? You look pale” she asked
“It’s OK; I’m just remembering my experience of seeing this tech at work for the first time…” and he
recounted his treatment by the Team that had “acquired” him. “That’s right I remember now; they
referred to all of us Abductees as “Acquisitions” or Specimens. They used my First name and a series
of Numbers etc. for identification purposes. That unique identity code was also required to obtain
food from the “replicators”; devices that produced synthetic, molecular built, reproductions of foods
they had sampled” he laughed “They didn’t know about texture or taste though. The “Tomato” soup
was revolting at first; slimy and far too salty. It wasn’t until they found our Mental signature with
those headband things that they started to get things right. I had some pretty horrible meals. I think
the Untharans had it the worst; what with them being primarily meat and fish eaters” and he
chuckled some more. He snapped out of his reminiscences and turned all business-
like. He reviewed the data and image streams his recording equipment had
managed to capture. Sandra and Lance watched over his shoulder as he deftly
adjusted parameters. As they watched him work; cursing occasionally in arcane