The Pathfinder Project Read Online Free PDF Page A

and running and there was absolutely
nothing interfering with our tests – not even the smallest glitch.”
    “Yes, but the Pathfinder has new, state-of-the-art systems,” Dennis pointed out.
    “That is a valid point,” mused
Thomas thoughtfully. “None of our stuff has officially been used yet on
official, operational vessels. Perhaps our software and hardware isn’t as
vulnerable.”
    “It’s got to be something
else,” Mary objected. “All signals from Earth are gone , primarily
because of interference from the massive bombing and attacks on the orbiting
satellites.” She listened closely for a moment. “But the local wireless traffic
is full of ship-in-distress calls. If they were electronically jamming everyone’s systems, we wouldn’t be able to hear those.”
She looked at them, white-faced with terror. “Would we?”
    “If you’ll excuse me,” the
Colonel said solemnly, “I’m going to go see about assembling my Marines. Don’t
stay above ground for too much longer, folks.” he cautioned sternly, and then
headed for the closest exit.
    “Have you been able to raise
the Commander of that supply shuttle?” Kaufield asked curiously.
    “No, sir. If they’re still
alive then they’ve stopped transmitting on their end.”
    Thomas had put on a set of
headphones and was listening intently. “We’re getting creamed,” he said,
whistling softly. “The military has lost entire warships already.”
    “Could it be some sort of EMP
weapon?”
    “No way,” Thomas replied. “You
could blow up the biggest nuke we’ve got right next door to one of those newer
combat starships and its electronics would still work. The people on
board would fry before the systems shut down.” He continued listening intently
for several minutes, and the Operations room became totally silent.
    “Can you continue monitoring
from the hangar bay?” wondered Kaufield.
    “Affirmative,” Thomas
responded. “Most of our fancier stuff is either on or around the Pathfinder anyway.
    “Then let’s shut this stuff off
and get down there, too. The thirty minutes that I advised others about will be
up soon.”
    *    
* * *     *
    The underground hangar bay was
huge… and it had to be. In its center sat the Pathfinder , the most
advanced long-term exploratory Earth vessel ever built. Its central
fuselage was lengthy and massive, designed to accommodate a large population
numbering near a thousand. Sprouting from its dorsal hull at 45 degree angles
were the top two “wings”. The port wing, called the “Garden”, was duly named
due to the entire, self-contained flower and farm gardens located within.
The starboard “Livestock” wing was more like a space ranch – holding all kinds
of small animals and livestock. The two were connected along the top of the
fuselage, allowing insects and other small creatures to move freely from one wing
to the other. It was an engineering marvel.
    Two identical wings sprouted
similarly from the bottom of the fuselage. One housed a complete electronics,
software and hardware “Laboratory”, while the other was an “Observatory” filled
with telescopes and other types of astronomical equipment. Nestled neatly
between the two lower wings was a roomy launch bay, containing half a dozen
shuttles along with room for a dozen single-pilot fighter craft.
    Hatches along the entire port
side of the starship’s ground level hangar bay were open and waiting. Hundreds
of people were streaming through the access points and into the Pathfinder ,
responding as quickly as possible to the unexpected evacuation notice.
Stationed just in front of the bow of the large vessel was an armed Marine
squad led by Colonel Murray Neeland. Next to him stood Captain Kaufield, Mary
Hastings and Thomas Roh. In front of them was just one of many science stations
designed to monitor the Pathfinder ’s key systems. Currently it was
capturing and recording all communications traffic from the vast depths of