The Iris (Gravity, Space, and Time: Book 1) by Patkós Csaba - HTML preview

Chapter 13 - Probes

Date: April 19, 2856

The bridge hummed with a subdued energy as Peterson entered the next morning, his stride brisk, a hard line to his jaw. Collins was conspicuously absent, no doubt sequestered within the labyrinth of the ship, wrestling with evasive maneuvers.

"Corporal Hari!" Peterson's voice cut through the quiet. "Get the Chief Engineer up here, immediate priority! And prepare another transmission to Earth – the stationary phase is over. Change of plans."

He swung towards Sensors. "Specialist Jouvier, situation report."

Anita's reply had the crisp efficiency of a seasoned crewmember. "Seven more sightings since the initial detection, Sir. Three on my watch, four overnight. I've taken the liberty of briefing the night team, and installed a detection algorithm within the main sensor suite. The objects maintain their rough distance. It's two distinct entities. From here, they appear at roughly 45 degrees relative to the galactic plane, one northwest, one northeast. Movements are sporadic. We haven't been able to pinpoint a pattern yet, but it appears like…circling, or a back and forth patrol."

Peterson nodded, the news a mixed blessing. "Any indication they've seen us?"

"Negative, sir. We'll need more observations to determine if their behavior changes significantly."

The bridge door hissed open, and Chief Engineer Lieutenant Ratiu strode in, her usual air of unflappable competence tinged with a hint of surprise. Peterson wasted no time. "Chief, Tactical – ready room. Now!"

Within the confined space, the tension was palpable. Peterson launched straight into it, his voice tight. "I need those gravity well probes operational, yesterday. I want readings down to 3 GUs by tonight, and down to 4 GUs by morning. We have…neighbors. I need to know what the Iris is capable of below 2 GUs. No human ship's ever dared venture that deep...but we're built differently. Before I risk the whole ship, I want data. Get Jovier involved if you need navigation expertise, but this is absolute priority. All other duties, yours and his – shelved until this is done. Updates to me on the bridge. Dismissed."

Ratiu's voice echoed through the bridge speakers, the usual warmth replaced by an engineer's focus. "Captain, first probe prepped. Target depth: 2.5 GUs. As we discussed, even in this 'stationary' state, galactic rotation imparts a significant velocity to the probe at that depth. Our plan is to use the Model-1 Grav Probe.

Essentially, it's a massive capacitor with a sensor package – minimal shielding. At target depth, the sensor unit detaches, returning to normal space with its original velocity. That's when things get tricky. We have to rendezvous with it quickly."

She continued, "The retrieval beacon's a compressed grav-balloon, think of it like a miniature version of our engine capacitors. Pre-charged, it's only about two centimeters across. Once it pops back into normal space, it releases a burst of gravity waves – similar to our sensor strings, spreading at roughly a light-year per minute. We'll use those to pinpoint its location."

Peterson interjected, a flicker of concern in his voice. "Distances, Lieutenant? Let's ensure we don't lure our 'neighbors' any closer with this maneuver."

Ratiu's response was measured. "Probe should descend to 2.5 GUs in roughly 500

milliseconds, and its return to normal space will be near-instantaneous. Search radius, at most ten light-minutes."

Peterson gave the order, a hint of hesitation underlying his usual decisiveness.

"Proceed."

As the seven-meter probe slid from the Iris, a thrill shot through Peterson. This was exploration, the core of why he'd taken this command – the unknown. But there was a counterpoint of unease now, the knowledge that they were no longer alone in this void.

"Ten seconds… nine…" he murmured under his breath. "…two… one…launch!"

Less than two seconds later, Sensors spoke up. "Probe returned, located. Seven light-minutes out. Transmitting coordinates to Helm."

"Coordinates received, proceeding at 0.99 GUs, ETA ten minutes, retrieval included."

Days blurred into a tense rhythm. Probe after probe vanished into the gravity well, reappearing with precious data. Things lulled into a deceptive normalcy– data collection, analysis, Jovier refining his navigation algorithms. Even as they pushed towards 3, then 4 GUs, it felt methodical. A triumph of engineering, with an undercurrent of unease.

Then came the 4 GU barrier. Probe returns grew wildly erratic in speed, gains no longer matched depth. A sense of something wrong tightened in the pit of Peterson's stomach.

Then, the breakthrough. One probe slipped to 4.1 GUs. Cheers echoed in Engineering, but their joy was short-lived. While the depth gauge remained intact, the sensor package returned fried beyond recognition. Subsequent attempts failed to repeat the feat. It was as if some unknown force was actively resisting their probes.

And at that precise moment, the problems began.

Anita's voice echoed through the bridge, a subtle tremor now beneath the usual professionalism. "Captain, a change in the objects. No more intermittent appearances...they're constant now."

"Course?" Peterson's question was sharp.

"They're heading…straight for the last 4.1 GU probe's return point."

Peterson turned to Navigation, a flicker of unease in his eyes. "Dr. Jovier, distance?

It's been a while since we retrieved that probe."

Jovier's reply was immediate. "Regrettably close, sir. We remained…in the vicinity.

Hopes for another breakthrough. Speculated it might be tied to this specific location."

Peterson swung back to Sensors. "Speed, Specialist Jouvier? We can drop the pretense of natural phenomena by now."

Anita's reply confirmed their worst fears. "Approaching 1 GU, sir. But they're not exceeding lightspeed, yet."

Peterson's face hardened. Turning to his second, there was only one option now. "

XO, execute your plan."