Golden Light, Silver Light

Scene 021

Scene 021

While thinking about the conversations, he had just completed with Jac and Beauf, Dam stared at his desk. Within moments Dam shifted his thoughts to the reports he had finished reading last night, his fingers began to tap in an unsteady movement on the desk. 

It would be easier if I could spend the next couple of weeks with Amy. I could teach her my discipline to help her. She would then become comfortable with me, thought Dam. 

Heaving a sigh, Dam turned to look out the window. He watched two of his private garden birds fly toward each other. They were a life mated pair he had received from a friend. The pair of colorful, small birds met in the middle of the garden. As he watched their play, he said, "That gives me an ideal." 

Turning back toward his desk, Dam requested, "Computer, place a map of the Valdiar Star's flight plans on my screen. Also, include on the screen the Valdiar Star's range of its transporter beam." 

The computer put all of the requested information on Dam's desk top screen. It showed the Valdiar Star's flight plan and the spherical area of the transporter's range. 

"Plot an interception course using a one man shuttle," said Dam, with a slight tone of hope in a voice filled with doubt. 

The display showed how far a fully fueled one man shuttle could travel upon leaving Valdiar. The distance between the ship and the shuttle was too far to overcome. The transporter beam fell way short. A growl came from Dam. 

"Do these calculations include how far the Valdiar Star would have traveled during this time?" asked Dam. He felt as though he was trying to capture the wind. But, he knew that he didn't have many options. 

It took a moment for the computer to recalculate. The distance the ships traveled was corrected and placed on the viewer. Then, the computer displayed the transporter's sphere of range, it moved closer but not close enough. 

Dam let Jac's favorite word slip. He was desperate for a way to reach the Valdiar Star. Running over all the options in his head, he couldn't figure out a way to reach the Valdiar Star and Amy. In frustration, he slammed his hand down onto the desk. The force of the blow caused the desk top screen to bounce. Watching the screen bounce, a wild ideal struck and hope lit up his eyes. "Are there any experimental shuttles left with the Trans-drive Engines in them?" 

The room was silent. The computer said, "All of the remaining eleven Trans-drive Shuttles are still in working order." 

"Great. Display the distance a Trans-drive Shuttle would travel on an interception course with the Valdiar Star," said Dam. He was really hoping he had hit upon the answer. A Trans-drive Engine in theory could cover three or four times more distance than a regular Polarity Engine could in the same time. 

Upon the viewer, the computer put up the two new courses. The Valdiar Star's course didn't change much, but there was a huge change in the distance of the shuttle's area. 

"Good," said Dam with excitement. "Now, the Transporter Beam." He was focused on the viewer. 

The Transporter Beam's radius was displayed. It still fell short. It was so close, but was not close enough. 

With a sigh, Dam pushed away from his desk. Staring intently at the viewer, he was hoping that some way some how the calculation would change. Coming to attention in his seat, an ideal hit him. He thought, it probably won't work. But... "Would it be possible to use the Valdiar Star's engine to power the Transporter? What precautions would be needed for the person being transported?" he asked. 

"That would not be advisable," stated the computer. 

"I didn't ask if it would be, I asked if it was possible," Dam said, growling in frustration. The jerky motion of his hands became a steady shake.