Alpha One - Chris Burton [111]
The second hole would be substantially larger than the first. Its spread, even in its shrunken dormant stage, was over five thousand kilometers in diameter. It was huge; the sheer size of it presented the team with very different challenges.
For a start, there was a substantial risk to nearby planetary objects. The pull from the wormhole would be considerable because the mass had probably grown substantially in size since it had last opened. Although there were no planets as such in the perceived danger zone, there were several small planetoids and a small asteroid belt, a busy section of space. In real estate terms, the region was priceless. It had two wormholes, three interconnecting but distinct planetary systems, and a plethora of other features, including gas clouds, ice belts and non-classified moons and orbiting satellites. The risk to many of these bodies was insignificant, but their value was real enough, and, as a commercial organization, the Nexus chiefs made it clear they wanted the region kept largely intact as a result of the ‘experiment’.
The Nexus fleet and the supporting craft were checked at a safe distance from the wormhole. This was a large headache to Cameron because of the swollen numbers of unauthorized private craft who amassed over the last few weeks.
Then there was the Betanica Sect. They showed an increased level of activity. It seemed likely they would again take steps to try to prevent the holes from being opened.
Cameron was ready for all of these eventualities. He was well-prepared and was not about to let a few minor issues stand in the way of what was likely the greatest deep space discovery in the last 100 years. His main concern was the AUSWAS ship. She positioned herself slap-bang in the middle of where they expected the blue wormhole to materialize. The Halo 7 and a large number of the private craft also joined the AUSWAS ship in the area. This wasn’t good. On the one hand, they might well be at risk from the pull of the second wormhole; on the other, if the blue wormhole opened, they could be pulled directly into it, or ripped apart by the contrasting forces of both the wormholes and the blue wormhole. It was time for Commander Hoskins and his team to deliver. Cameron opened a comm link directly to Hoskins who responded immediately.
“Commander, the AUSWAS ship and the other vessels and your ship must move away from the site of the new wormhole and the prospective blue wormhole. This must be achieved before we can commence work on the second hole.”
“I will do my best, but I doubt the commander of the AUSWAS ship will be in the mood to move. I will try light offensive tactics, but I may have to try something a bit more hazardous.”
“Do what you must, Commander. I am working to tight schedules here. If they won’t move, I will proceed with them still in the danger zone.”
Jonathan Hoskins didn’t like this imposition. He knew gentle persuasion would have no effect whatsoever and the only way he was going to move the AUSWAS ship away from the danger zone was by physical force. Alpha protocol was clear in such situations. He must follow the process before he could take effective action.
Hoskins tried to open a comm link with Winterburn, but was rejected. He ordered two Rapier 3’s to launch, and despatched an Eagle with two of his officers in the guise of ‘negotiators’. The Eagle tried to dock to allow the negotiators to board with a view to opening discussions. Winterburn was having none of it and withdrew his coupling clamps to prevent docking from taking place. Hoskins asked his negotiators to move to a safe distance, and again tried a comm link.
It was obvious Winterburn had no intention of either talking or moving. Hoskins covered all the peaceful means available to him and was left with two