“Incoming images from Outer Marker D9 via Cougar 1 on tachyon pulse.” said Janet. “Starting to record these images and feeding it ship wide on channel 3.”
Victoria got on the intercom and said “All hands this is the Captain speaking, the Dillingham has managed to get a video feed from Outer Marker D9 from inside the starship designated T1. While we are recording this please look on channel 3 and report any positive findings to me, Captain out.”
Victoria then turned her attention to the Parker twins. Cora was at helm and Corinne was at navigation. “Cora, Corinne” said Victoria “make sure we do not run into anything out here.”
“Aye Captain” said Cora
“Will do madam” replied Corinne
Victoria then went over to the science station manned by Danielle and said “So Doctor Jackson what is inside this starship. Is it them?”
“No idea yet,” said Danielle “so far camera number 1 is not showing any images.”
“Failure in the camera?” asked Victoria
“Darkness mostly but I think the camera is working.” replied Danielle. “The Dillingham are switching to camera number 2. I see some light and dark spots.”
“Can we control these cameras?” asked Victoria
“I think we can but the Dillingham is closer to the action than we are.” replied Danielle. “I suppose we can contact them and suggest to them to whatever we want them to do with the outer marker.”
“Janet, who else is getting these video feeds?” asked Victoria
“It is fleet wide, to all ships and bases in the UNSF.” replied Janet.
The image changed from camera 2 to camera 3.
“They are switching cameras.” said Janet
“Why?” asked Victoria
“I suspect they found nothing interesting. To tell you the truth this view is just useless as the one from camera number 2.” replied Janet
“How many cameras does these outer markers have?” asked Victoria
“I know the A ring markers have six cameras, but they are of the older design.” replied Janet. “I do not know how many camera that the other models have.”
“Excuse me Captain” said Lieutenant Linda Sikes
“Yes Linda.” said Victoria
“The C and D ring outer markers,” said Linda “they have fourteen cameras on them.”
Victoria looked at Linda, Linda then said “I was on the UNCV Laupahoehoe when those rings were deployed a year ago.”
“You was on a carrier?” asked Cora
“Is that strange?” asked Linda
“I had the impression that the folks in the combat fleet do not like the folks in the science fleet.” replied Cora
“They do not.” said Linda
“Switching over to camera number 4.” said Danielle “No change in the view coming from the feed.”
“Then why the change?” asked Cora
“Coming on the Dole was a promotion” replied Linda “and the food is better too, besides who would shoot on a RV?”
Cora, Corinne, Janet and Victoria looked at Linda, Danielle for her part kept on looking at the screen but was shaking her head at the statement said by Linda.
“What?” said Linda “What did I say?”
“Corinne put up the entire grid on screen #2.” said Victoria
“Will do madam” said Corinne
Victoria went to screen #2 and motion to Linda and said “Come here young lady. See that group of targets close to Saturn?” Victoria pointed to a mass of red squares.
“Yes.” replied Linda
“That is a group of forty starships that we have no idea who or what they are. Are they peaceful? Are they hostile?”
“No idea.” replied Linda
“Right. We have no idea.” said Victoria
“See that blue triangle marked ‘Cougar 1’?”
“Yes.” replied Linda
“Where is it heading?” asked Victoria
“It looks like it is heading toward that fleet.” replied Linda
“Right. Now who do you think ‘Cougar 1’ belongs too?” asked Victoria
“Our side?” asked Linda
“More than you can imagine Lieutenant.” replied Victoria “More than you imagine.”
“Excuse me Captain?” asked Linda
“What kind of ship is ‘Cougar 1’ Lieutenant?” asked Victoria
“Well it is traveling alone so it is not a carrier or a carrier escort so I can assume it is a strike cruiser.” replied Linda
“*Buzzzz*, wrong Lieutenant. Call sign for a strike cruiser is Jaguar. Cougar is the call sign for the RV.” said Victoria
“Oh my god, we are charging head long to that?” asked Linda who was sort frighten by the display.
“No, we are on the other side of the solar system.” said Victoria “Just in case someone tries to sneak in while we are busy dealing with that group there. But if they did guess who is going first head long to great them.”
“Us?” said Linda
“Right” replied Victoria.
“Excuse me Captain.” said Danielle “I think you need to look at this.”
“Put it on screen number 2 Danielle” ordered Victoria
“Will do.” replied Danielle
The screen had displayed some text labeled ‘D9 - Camera 10’ on the bottom. In the middle of the display were two forms, each form had two limbs that went toward the foreground of the screen. The forms were on the top of the screen.
“What is this?” asked Linda
“Inside of the starship that has D9.” replied Victoria
“I am just engineer Captain but it sort of looks like the rear end of somebody lying down.” said Linda
“It does look like it” said Victoria
“I see movement.” said Linda
“Where?” asked Victoria
Linda pointed to the middle of the screen.
“Is that a head?” asked Victoria
“Seems like it.” replied Linda
“Oh, oh he sees the camera.” said Victoria
“It looks like he is touching the other guy, signaling him about the camera.” said Linda. “The other guy is turning too. I think we are busted big time. They are on to us.”
“Indeed” said Victoria
“I don’t believe this?” said Linda “They saw the camera, they came down from the ceiling and they ran away?”
“It would appear so.” said Victoria
“Is it me or did they run on the ceiling when they moved off the camera’s view?” asked Linda
“No, they seemed to be on the ceiling too.” said Victoria
“It is going to be a problem for them moving on the outside if they every get to Earth.” said Linda
“Let us hope these guys do not get to Earth.” said Victoria
“Yeah I can see the headlines now. Your ceilings are not safe from them!” said Linda.
Victoria looked at Linda, she was already in hot water with the crack about the being in the science fleet being an easy life. And the water just got a little bit hotter with the ceiling crack.
“Any changes in the camera’s view from D9?” asked Victoria
“No Captain.” said Danielle. “I do not think they noticed that their subjects have left the screen because the camera did not pan to follow them.”
“I wondered what happen to those two on the screen?” asked Linda
“More than likely they went to report their close encounter to their superiors.” replied Victoria.
“New feed from camera number five.” said Danielle
The images did not show much, it was just the feed from camera number two, three and four.
“I wonder why the skip from to camera ten then to camera five?” asked Victoria
“Camera one is on top of the outer marker.” replied Linda “Cameras two to seven are on the upper part of the marker. Cameras eight to thirteen are the lower part of the marker and camera 14 is on the bottom. Whoever is in control of the camera must have thought they were looking at places no body would be.”
“Like a ceiling?” asked Victoria
“Yes, “ replied Linda “and then tried something else to see if there was a difference. Say who is controlling these cameras?”
“Cougar 1, otherwise known as the UNRV Dillingham.” replied Victoria
“Feed change to camera number 6.” said Danielle
“Now this is different.” said Victoria
“I see some movement.” said Linda
“Where?” asked Victoria
“Here.” replied Linda, she pointed to what appeared as a corridor that was located toward the right hand side of the screen.
“Does that look like some sort of vehicle over there?” asked Victoria
“Sure does Captain.” replied Linda
“Shuttles?” asked Victoria
“Maybe.” replied Linda “Whatever they are they seem to have a lot of them. I counted at least three that had passed by since we have been seeing these images.”
“So far this view has yield the most results, with camera number 10 being the second.” said Victoria
“On the far left Captain, I see some sort of movement.” said Linda
“Yeah I see them too and they are walking on the ceiling.” said Victoria
“This may sound like a stupid thing, but maybe these guys may have loaded the outer marker upside down in their starship.” suggested Linda.
“It would explain a lot of what we are seeing.” said Victoria. Just then image inverted itself. The beings that they saw were on the floor instead of the ceiling. “Alright Dillingham, they must have noticed the way the images were coming out.”
They showed a group of seven beings approaching the camera, very cautious at first and then boldly going to it.
“It looks like a scene from a western movie there.” said Linda.
“Anyone look familiar.” asked Victoria
“No Captain” replied Danielle “The first guy on the left is carrying a couple of boxes, the second, third and seventh guy are carrying some kind of rods, weapons maybe. It seems that number two, three and seven come from the same race, but everyone else looks like they come from different races.”
“They seem to be discussing something.” said Victoria
“Can anyone read lips?” asked Linda
“You seem to be teetering between brilliance and dare I say it idiocy Lieutenant.” replied Victoria.
“Why?” asked Linda
“I do not think any of us knows who they are much less trying to read their lips of a language we have not heard yet.” replied Victoria.
“Okay dumb idea then.” said Linda.
“Fourth guy from the left seems to be coming forward to the camera” said Danielle.
“Is he the leader?” asked Victoria
“I doubt it.” said Danielle “Before moving forward the rest of the group looked at him real strange. I suspect he is their version of Lieutenant Sikes.”
“Ouch!” said Linda
“You will survive Lieutenant.” said Victoria “Trust me.”
“I wonder what he is saying?” asked Linda.
“I have no idea.” replied Victoria
“What are they doing now? They seem to be waving their hands in a strange fashion.” said Linda
“They are flashing the shaka sign.” replied Victoria
“Is that good or bad?” asked Linda
“Where I come from it is good.” replied Victoria
“Oh great they are flashing the bird at us, now that is bad no matter where you come from.” said Linda
“Hey more new guys are coming to the field of view.” said Danielle
“I see them, coming in from the corridor in the background.” said Victoria “Damn, there are just more of those guys with the rods.”
“Captain, wait from the left, where the first seven came from, another different one.” said Linda.
“Yeah I see him.” said Victoria “Danielle is he the one?”
“Checking.” said Danielle “No he is not Captain.”
“Damn” said Victoria
“Who are we looking for?” asked Linda
“Just keep looking for any new guys appearing on the image.” said Victoria.
“Everyone in the area are bowing.” said Danielle. “Four more new guys are coming into view.”
“Is he there?” asked Victoria
“Checking.” replied Danielle. “Positive I.D. Captain. He is there.”
“Save the image Danielle.” said Victoria “Janet, let us trade positions for a while, I need to draft something to send out.”
“To where?” asked Janet
“To rest of the fleet.” replied Victoria