Deception

“Three years passed since the beginning of this project… Three entire years and this is the outcome…” Was John Lamb thinking… “This ship is the work of thousands of people over all those years… And even more for a longer period of time… And I’ll be the first one to fly on that project…” being the future captain of that ship would be a great challenge for him… As the shuttle was preparing to dock with the shipyard, huge letters were seen on the hull of the ship: “Colombia”.
- So, captain, ready for this? – Asked a man, with about my age, wearing a green and dark yellow uniform. He belonged to engineering, I remembered.
- I’m ready James. I guess. – Replied John Lamb. Commander James Tull was one of John Lamb comrades on the academy. In fact, lots of members of this crew were people that belonged to my career once in John Lambs life time. – And you, ready to learn more about this beauty?
- Even more? – Asked him with surprise. – That one thousand and fifty pages manual, only about the Warp Drive was huge and you still tell me there is more to learn? Damn!
- Of course there are, else I wouldn’t need a engineer for fixing that stuff… - Said Lamb.
The shuttle, a modified version of a Space Shuttle fit for personal transport duties had docked with the shipyard. The seal was closed and the Shipyard personal opened the door. I passed through the seal and met with the shipyard commander.
- Welcome aboard, Captain Lamb. – Said Commander Mark Banks, a man wearing a blue uniform, with a large, black beard, wearing a shipyard engineer hat. He seemed to be a on its fifties.
- Thank you, Commander Banks. – Said Captain Lamb, while appreciating the work behind the man. The ship showed a dark green color, imitating land camouflage, and had the shape of a sea ray, without that huge tail behind. – Pretty fine work you seem to have done there, Commander.
- Two years on the building and one year on tests… - Said the Commander. – But now, it’s ready for your mission. You’re going to be the captain of the first manned ship to exit our solar system.
- I hope so… And I hope we don’t bring doom to humanity. – Said John…
- That ain’t gonna happen, Captain! We’ve been here for the last two million years, and we’re gonna stay here for even more time! – Said Marks. – Please head for your new home, I’ve been tying you and you’re crew for too much time! Good Luck and Have Fun!
- Thank you, Commander! – Said John Lamb, before heading towards the entry of his first assignment as a Captain.
When he arrived there he turned to the fifty crew members that were following him, and opened his mouth:
- Comrades. We are about to board a journey that’s a lot bigger than anything mankind has ever did. We are going to be pioneers among pioneers. We will fly the first interstellar space ship that mankind was ever able to build. We will be the first men to fly beyond the Oort Cloud. Many Men and Women worked their whole lives in this project. And we won’t let them down. We will bring a name for our race out there. If we find other civilizations, we will make contact with them and create huge friendships between our peoples. So, let’s board this ship and settle up, so we can accomplish our mission: To make Earths name heard through the entire galaxy!
The crew supported with a single yell from everyone:
- Sir, yes Sir!
- Let’s enter. – Said the Captain, right before turning back and crossing another hatch and another connection tube. After crossing it, they were inside one of the several boarding bays. Those were grey rooms with blue lightening inside the walls, giving the room a sea-like feeling.
- Sir, whoever designed the interiors was more thinking on subs than on space ships. – Said Cadet Thomas Marks, one of the bridge helm officers.
- Good thinking, Cadet, but somehow I like it this way. – Said Captain Lamb. – Now, go search your quarters and settle up… In one hour I want everyone on their stations.
- Yes, sir.
I began walking through the corridors… I knew exactly where my chambers were. It was one level below the Command Bridge, right in front of the turbo lift leading to it. “Turbo lift… Those guys shouldn’t have watched too much Star Trek and Star Wars...” Thought John Lamb, but after another considering, it was obvious that this situation had too much to do with it. He carried his packs through a labyrinth of grey corridors, lighted with blue lights… Two minutes later, I was there.
“I never imagined this ship being so big.” Thought John Lamb while unpacking his stuff, putting his personal computer bag over a desk on the corner of his room, and unpacking his travel bag. After working five minutes on that, He decided to see how the command bridge was. He exited his room and entered the turbo lift, pressed the button saying “CIC/Bridge”, and felt a little bump. Three seconds later, the door opened.
The Bridge and the CIC were in a shared room, with the Bridge being identified with the Captain chair and more four positions, which appeared to be Helm, Communications, Weapons and Science stations. The CIC was identified with a table that seemed to be also a computer, based on one of the works made by Microsoft Corporation: the Microsoft Surface. But this one was entirely produced by the military, and appeared to show the schematics of the vessel, and, by what the book said, it was used to control emergency situations that occur on the vessel, like fires, air decompression and stuffs like that.
A little while after appreciating the bridge a communication appeared:
“Captain, this is Commander Banks, another shuttle carrying the rest of your crew has arrived.”
- Copy that, commander; I’ll be there to receive them. – Said Lamb, before shutting down the communication. He then went all the way down to the boarding bay. This time the ship didn’t look so big now.
After arriving, John Lamb and the few members of the command crew that were aboard received the remaining crew members. Among them was one long knew man to him: Commander Chris Kroznuski.
- Hey there, my friend! – Said John Lamb as soon as he saw him, giving him a friendly hug after that.
- Hey buddy. How’s life? – Asked him.
- It’s going great, as you can see! – Replied Lamb. – And yours?
- Going great also. – Commander Chris Kroznuski was the tactical and security officer of the ship; he was the one in charge of the safety of all crew members and the use of tactical ship equipments, like ship-to-ship weapons and others. – Oh, by the way, this young lady here is Lieutenant Marcie Lucas; it’s our ship science officer.
- Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Lucas. – Said John Lamb, while shaking up her hand.
- Nice to meet you too Captain. – Said she. John immediately noticed upon her silhouette. She was a young beautiful woman that would make every men dream come true. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be that one, since he was his superior officer.
- So, you two have twenty minutes to get your stuff done and go to the bridge. – Said the Captain. – We’re going to wait here for the third shuttle.
- Yes, sir. – Said the two, before leaving.
On John Lamb’s personal communication device, also called a PCD, a device similar to a cell phone, but only linked with the ships systems, and with a range of two astronomical units, a communication appeared. He pressed the button on the touch screen…
- Here is Captain Lamb, what’s the reason of your comm., commander? – He asked.
- The last shuttle with the Marines is arriving, Captain – Said Commander Banks.
- Thank you for your warning, commander. – Said Lamb. – I guess you’re not going anywhere, guys.
- Seems true. – Said Commander James Tull.
A group of thirty one men entered in the ship. Their uniforms were grey colored, probably because of camouflage. On their head was a man, looking to be fifty years old, with a strong stature and an authoritarian look. The men he was leading should be the best of the best in the entire planet. Picked up from among several elite groups like the Seals, the SAS, the Spetznaz, and the GOE and even from the French Legion. He started walking towards me, and saluted me.
- Colonel Philly Homer reporting to duty, Captain. – Said the strong man.
- Welcome aboard Colonel. – Said Captain Lamb. – Hope that we can both work together pretty well on this mission.
- Sure we can. It just depends on your will. –Said the Colonel. – Now, if you excuse me, we will make our way to the quarters.
- Sure you can Colonel.
John Lamb and his crews saw the Marines walk away, before Commander Tull, made the following remark:
- Army boys. They always think they boss on everyone.
- Watch that statement. – Said Captain Lamb. – Some of them belonged to the navy, air force or even police forces. They were then integrated into the NATO Space Program, more exactly in the marine forces and attributed a army like rank. And mentality.
- That’s true. – Said James Tull.
- Let’s go to the bridge, we’ve to prepare the maiden voyage of this ship.
- Yes, sir. – Said the Commander.
They went to the CIC, and started double-checking the status of this vessel from the PC-Table. The ship was just awesome, and when Lieutenant Lee Watson, the main Helm Officer showed up, his face also expressed a huge surprise when seeing all of that. In the table, they could see the exact size of the ship: two hundred and thirty meters length, one hundred and fifty meters wide and thirty meters tall, equivalent to three levels and more than seventy rooms, for working and for resting. This ship had nothing to do with submarines, since it was visible that it was made for long trips, sometimes reaching up to years. But unfortunately, its supply stocks were only big enough for six months.
When five minutes were remaining for the launching ceremony, Lieutenant Marcie Lucas showed up.
- So, this is the Bridge? – She asked amazed. – It’s a pretty large room.
- Yes it is… - Said John while trying to focus on her eyes. He noticed on her beautiful blue eyes. – So, how’s your staying on this ship being?
- It’s amazing. And we did it before 2012. – Said she before starting giggling. – Anyway, have you seen my uncle?
- Your uncle? – asked Captain Lamb.
- Sorry, I mean, Commander Kroznuski.
- Not yet. – Said Commander Tull. – He is your uncle?
- Yes, he is… - Said she.
Suddenly, Commander Chris Kroznuski entered in the bridge.
- Hey there, everyone! – Said he, before stopping and admiring the room. – This is the bridge? It’s quite awesome!
- You can bet! – Said Captain Lamb to his old friend.
- So, where is my console? – Asked Chris.
- Over there, behind my left. – Said John to him.
- Awesome, let’s take a look at this! – Chris Kroznuski entered his secure password and observed what the screen had to say.
- Thirty three Gauss Cannons? Forty five Flak Rail guns? That massively huge MAC gun? – Started Commander Kroznuski. – We even have ten missile launchers and another four torpedo launchers? Oh my god, this ship is a dream!
- It’s sure is. – Said John Lamb. – It sure is.
But his divagation into the wonders of the Colombia was interrupted by a communication from Commander Banks, warning that Commodore Chris Cameron and it’s comity had arrived to the shipyard.
Captain Lamb pressed a button on his chair and said:
- This is Captain John Lamb. The launch ceremony is about to start. I would like that everyone would be in the ceremonial posts. Thank you very much.
A minute later, Colonel Philly Homer appeared on the bridge.
- Welcome to my bridge Colonel. I hope that you come here to watch the launch ceremony. – Said John Lamb with a little sarcasm.
- Of course I am. Being, with you, one of the most ranked members of this crew, my place during the ceremony would be on the bridge. – Replied the Colonel.
- Sure, enjoy the view Colonel. – Said I. – Cadet Johanson, would you please show us the Commodore speech?
- Yes, sir. – Cadet Johanson was another of the women on the bridge. She was charged with the communications. At least until the person she was there to replace could be considered fit for duty.
A holographic screen appeared right over the bridge view-port. It showed the shipyard boarding room, which was considerably larger than the Colombia’s boarding room and with glass covering it, allowing it to see the exterior of the station with ease. In the room, forty seats were set for the comity, which included a couple of journalists and several high ranked military personnel, from almost all NATO countries and other countries that participated in the project, were standing there. Commodore Cameron rose to the stage and started talking:
- Today, it’s a big day for mankind. Today, December 5th of the year 2010, the first interstellar ship will depart, heading towards the unknown. Those brave men and women, who will compose its crew, lead by Captain John Lamb, they shall represent us outside! Exploring the deep and dangerous space, making contact to numerous alien species, and keep fighting for the freedom and independence of our people! They will fight for what is good, and what is wrong! They will fight for our values, and for our very existence! Those men are among some of the best, strongest and brightest of our world! Those men will lead us to a new future! And I can’t wait the day, were this would all be shared with the rest of mankind! May they find glory to our glorious race, to our glorious world!
Everyone cheered and rejoiced with his speech. After this, Commodore Cameron pressed a button, and a bottle of the finest French Champaign was shot in the direction of the ship, breaking right over the letters on its hull. The Colombia had been baptized, and was now launching.
- Everyone to your stations! – Said Captain Lamb. – Engineering, start the Fusion reactors.
- Eye, sir! – Said Commander James Tull, while pressing a couple of buttons. Both reactors started working, melting hydrogen atoms and creating helium atoms.
- Helm. – Started the Captain. – Set us loose.
The engines started pushing forward, and all the clamps and hoses that were keeping the ship in the dry dock were retrieved into the dock. The ship slowly exited the Ship Yard. When the entire structure left, everyone rejoiced.
- Helm, half speed, head towards 060-082.
- Aye, sir.
- Comm., open a link to the Commodore. – Said John Lamb.
- Yes, sir. – Said the Cadet.
- Commodore, permission to engage the Warp Drive. – Asked Captain Lamb on the Comm. link.
- Permission granted Captain. You’ve your destiny coordinates and you’ve cleared from dry dock. Good luck to you all…
- Thank you, sir. – After this, I closed the channel and said. – Engineering. How’s the Warp Drive?
- Charged and ready to go! – replied Commander Tull.
- Great. Helm, what’s our ETA?
- Our ETA is three days, two hours, twenty three minutes and fifty one seconds, sir. – Replied Lee Watson.
- Engage! – Said the Captain. A bright light appeared in front of the ship, right before the Colombia being stretched out into it. After the ship entered the light, it dissipated into a shock-wave, looking almost like a white-ring from the station.

Chapter 2 - Centauri
Three days, two hours, twenty minutes later…
- Hmm… Marcie… - Was John Lamb mumbling in his bedroom, while sleeping. Suddenly, a call sounds inside the room.
- Captain Lamb to the bridge. – Said the intercom, with Cadet Johansson’s voice. “That one is also a nice catch.” Was John Lamb thinking.
- I’m there in thirty seconds. – He said.
Twenty nine seconds later he was on the bridge.
- I’m here guys, let’s start working! – Said Captain Lamb. – So, what’s up?
- We will arrive in five... – Started Lieutenant Marcie. – Four… Three… Two… One…
The ship exited Warp Space right in over of a planet, similar with Earth.
- Marcie, please make a scan of that planet. – Said John.
- Hm… hm… - grunted Commander Kroznuski.
- I’m sorry! – said John Lamb. – Lieutenant Lucas, could you please make a scan to the planet?
- Yes, sir… - Said she. – The planet’s atmosphere is composed by 98% nitrogen, 1,2% oxygen, 0,5 water and the remaining are other gases. The planet surface is covered by 45% of water, but we don’t detect any type of major life forms, only bacteria.
- So, it’s not worth it… - Said John Lamb.
- Not yet, at least. – Said Marcie.
- Thank you, lieutenant. – Said the Captain. – Do you detect any disturbance nearby?
- Just the nearby stars, nothing more. – Said Marcie.
- Thank you dar… - John Lamb interrupted himself, and looked to Commander Chris. – Lieutenant.
The Captain stopped for a bit and appreciated the light blue Perl.
- Helm, put us in orbit of that planet. – Said John Lamb to Lieutenant Lee Watson.
- Aye, sir. – Replied Lee.
The Colombia moved to the planets high orbit, and maintained it.
- Ok, Lieutenant Lucas, please make another scan. – Said Lamb.
- Still nothing on sensors, sir. – Replied Marcie Lucas.
- Thank you. – Said John Lamb. – Ok, everyone is relieved from your duties. Oh, and Lieutenant Lucas, please set your terminal to warn us in case something appears.
- Sure, Captain. – She said.
Twenty minutes later, John Lamb enters in the cafeteria, there he see’s Cadet Johanson, which calls him:
- Sir! Over here! – Yelled the Cadet.
- Oh, hey there, Cadet. – Said Captain Lamb. – Mind if I join you?
- No, sir, not at all. – She replied. As he sat, John Lamb looked at her breasts. Those weren’t huge like Lieutenant Marcie ones, but they looked great. Then he looked to her face and saw how she wasn’t only breasts, with thin, shinny lips, and beautiful brown eyes. “Why the hell did those guys brought so many beautiful ladies into my crew?” Thought the Captain.
- So, Johanson is you only first or? – Asked John Lamb.
- Ah, no. Johanson is my last name. – Said she. – My first name is Janie.
- Oh! J.J! –Said John with a small tone of joke.
- That was exactly what my friends used to call me back at school! – Said she while giggling.
- Nice nickname! – Said the Captain.
- And you had any? – Asked Janie.
- I had a couple of them. – Said John. – Some offensive, some less offensive.
- Care to tell?
- Nah… I’m not gonna tell that… At least yet!
- Oh, too bad…
Suddenly, and alarm rang off.
- Well… To the bridge. – Said John Lamb.
- Yes sir.
A few seconds later, the command crew was on the bridge.
- So, what’s happening? – Asked John Lamb to the air.
- Sensors detected five unknown ships. – Said Lieutenant Lucas. – They are small sized, but there’s one that’s bigger than the others. It might be their leader.
- Sir, if they’re hostile we can easily dispatch them, if the energy read outs prove to be faithful. – Said Commander Kroznuski.
- Not yet, Commander. – Said John. – James, how’s the Warp Drive?
- We’re ready to jump in twenty minutes, but not before, sir! – Said Commander Tull.
- Damn. – Said Lamb. – Cadet Johanson, hail the lead ship!
- Aye, sir. – Said Janie. One holo-screen appeared on the view-port.
- I’m Captain John Lamb of the Earth ship Colombia. We come in peace. We’re here on an exploratory mission for the benefit of everyone.
The alien looked had a face similar to a blue mantis. He walked on its back legs, and used what it looked like hands to control his ship. He seemed to yell several sounds, and then shut down the transmission.
- Wow, what was that? – Asked Lamb.
- Well, I guess those guys don’t share the same views as us. – Said Lee.
- Agreed, should I power up our defenses, sir? – Asked Chris.
- Do it! – Yelled John.
- Incoming! – Marcie yelled. A vibration was felt.
- Hull has been polarized; weapon systems have acquired targets and are now shooting. – Reported Commander Kroznuski.
- Great! Marcie, what’s their status? – Asked Lamb.
- We’ve heavily damaged one of them on the first salvo, but their flagship is out of range of the gauss cannons. – Said she.
- Chris, warm up the MAC gun, and load it with a two tons projectile. – Said John.
- Yes, sir.
- Lee, align us with their flagship! – Said the Captain. – Let’s see if we can put a round right through them!
- Aye, aye! Sir!
The Colombia changed its course, making the main cannon point towards the other ship.
- MAC gun fully charged! – Said Kroznuski.
- We’re aligned sir! - Reported Lieutenant Watson.
- Fire! – Ordered John Lamb.
A two tons projectile exited from the front of the ship, traveling almost instantly, hit the hostile vessel, almost obliterating it.
- Ok, that worked great. – Watched John Lamb amazed.
- That’s what a two tons piece of metal can do at the speed of light. – Said Commander Chris Kroznuski…
- Sir, another vessel appeared on sensors! – Said Lieutenant Marcie. – This one is huge!
- What? – Asked John. – How big?
- Three times our ship.
- Oh, crap!
Suddenly, the newcomer shot four times, literally obliterating the smaller vessels.
- Sir… Each of those shots had the entire output of our fusion reactors. – Said Marcie.
- Well… I hope they came in peace. – Said John Lamb. A small “bip” was heard on the bridge.
- Sir, we’re being hailed by that ship. – Said Cadet Johanson.
- Put it through.
Another insect face was seen on the screen. Everyone on the bridge started feeling tense, as the bug was messing around on his console. Suddenly, he spoke:
- Greeting, Humans from Earth! We belong to a federation of species present in this galaxy. We’re the Mantisis, from the Gould Federation.
- Greeting, Mantisis from the Gould Federation. We’re humans searching for cultures outside our solar system. We’ve come in peace. Also, I’m Captain John Lamb of the Earth-vessel Colombia.
- Nice to meet you Captain. I’m Commodore Vaxial Gona of the Mantisis-vessel Ganun. Could we ask you the privilege of meeting you on our ship?
- Sure. I’ll get that arranged. – Replied John Lamb.
- Great. – Said the alien. – We’re sending you docking vectors. See us soon. And also, bring a female companionship. It’s tradition on our people the diplomats being accompanied by females when on diplomatic missions.
- Sure.
- See us in an hour.
- See us in an hour.
The comm. link was closed, and the Captain turned back.
- So, Commander, would you mind if I took your niece in there? – Asked John Lamb.
- Not at all… - Said Commander Kroznuski. – Just control yourself.
- Yes, Boss! – Said Lamb, with a little tone of sarcasm. – Lieutenant Lucas, go to your quarters and put the ceremonial uniform on. In fifty-five minutes I want you in the boarding bay one.
- Yes, Captain. – She replied.
He went down to his quarters. And put the ceremonial uniform. The male ceremony uniform was black, with golden insignias on the shoulders, those revealing the rank of the officer. Black buttons closed the jacket, and a white shirt was under it. Fortunately for him he took a shower before putting the uniform. Fifteen minutes later, he was already waiting on the boarding bay. There were still five minutes left before the aliens opened their hatch. Lieutenant Marcie Lucas showed up shortly after. Before John Lamb was able to complement her, she asked immediately:
- Why did you pick me? – She asked.
- Because you’re the most graduated female officer on-board this vessel. – Said the Captain, while trying to keep his eyes away from her neckline. Somehow, the NATO Space Program decided to give female ceremonial uniforms large cuts on that area, showing, particularly in this case, a good part of her breasts.
- So, you say that you didn’t pick me because of anything related to sex? – She replied.
- Absolutely not. By the way, nice necklace.
- Oh thank… - She stopped to think, as she remembered she wasn’t using any. – Hey!
- Just joking, lieutenant. – Replied John, while smiling in a perverted way.
As the last minutes went by, Captain John Lamb continued to appreciate her, making his best efforts to be as discrete as possible. He noticed on her curly, brown hair, which reflected the blue lights of the room, on her perfect silhouette, her long, soft looking legs. But on the other hand, the ceremony dress was also beautiful, too much for a military design. It contrasted with the male uniform with its white colors, a white skirt, and those short sleeves. It was really like if the people who choose those uniforms wanted to impress the aliens by showing the beauty of our females. That would also make the fact that, in all the women on this crew, there was none who wasn’t pretty, and at the same time, none that wasn’t intelligent, easier to understand. But, while the Captain was doing his mental exercise, the time arrived, and both seals, from each ship, opened.
- Greeting, fellow being. – One of the insect like humanoid spoke. – Welcome to our humble ship.
- Greetings and thank you for receiving us. – Captain John Lamb said.
Both humans bowed slightly to the aliens, and they reattributed with the same gesture. Marcie was admiring, enchanted, the beautiful dress that covered what appeared to be the female alien. “Those guys look fragile, but they do make wonderful dresses.” She was thinking. At the same time, the Captain John Lamb was engaged chatting with what looked to be the male, when he remembered of asking the question:
- How can you speak like us?
- Oh, that’s fairly complicated. – He started. – We’ve sent several drones to several planets which we believed to have intelligent life. Yours was one of them. Back then, you were at what you called, the First World War, and that we, outsiders, used to call the First Human Civil war. Back then, only three races belonged to the Gould Federation, and for long, we believed to be the only races in the Gould Belt.
- So, you’re saying that you were following us since that age? – Asked John.
- Yes. Continuing, with further expeditions, we learnt your languages and right now, the ships system is messing with your heads so you can understand us, and vice-versa.
- So, it’s also doing the same thing to you? – Lamb asked.
- Yes, it is. And on the ship-to-ship communications, our computer did the translation, since outside the ship, you can’t be affected.
- That’s a great technology. – The Captain said.
- We can later install it on your vessel, and send you the schematics to multiply more. – The Mantis offered.
- Thank you and we appreciate that offer. – Captain Lamb said. – I might them offer you one of our finest drinks from our planets, if you don’t mind.
- Sure. – The insect replied.
Also, a meter and a half to John Lambs left, Marcie Lucas and the alien female were arguing about one of the things that, even light years from home and even with females from another species, seemed to be constant: Fashion. They were both giving reasons why the others dress was more beautiful than its own.
- Do women behave like that in outer space? – John Lamb asked.
- Yes, they do. – Replied the Mantis. - And they eat our heads after copulating.
- That’s… Weird. – Captain Jamb replied.
- Your people don’t do that?
- No.
- Hmpf. – Said Commodore Gona. – And I believing that we weren’t the only species in the universe that wouldn’t do that.
- Don’t worry… One of these days you’ll found the black widows civilization.
- I hope we don’t. Or else we’re screwed.
- True.