The Icarus

An abandoned spaceship is found floating in space on a routine Space Patrol.

"Ranger Sx to base."

"Go ahead Ranger Six. Have you anything to report?"

"Nothing to report so far. It has been pretty quiet. I am about to start my turn toward Saturn. Will report back later. Ranger Six out." Dak Storm Turned the joystick to bank his Star Rover to the left. He could have sped up, but why end the flight too soon? He would then have to deal with a certain somebody back at the Base he had been avoiding.

Several sectors pass by without any incidents, just empty space. Then a warning light starts blinking like no tomorrow on the instrument panel. Rarely does that go off unless there is Danger nearby and if the danger had been imminent a loud annoying buzzer would accompany the blinking light.

Flipping on the targeting screen, Dak tried to find out what had caused the warning light to go off. At first, he did not see anything and he is thankful for that, as there had been rumors of Pirates operating in this section of the Solar System. He had yet to come upon any on any of his patrols, but there is always a first time.

"Ranger Six to Base. I am in Sector five of Saturn. A warning light of danger went off on my instrument panel. I am checking it out. Will let you know the results of my investigation. Ranger Six out."

"Be careful Ranger Six. Base out."

Dak's heart raced a little. He knew that sultry voice well. He and Ariyan had been dating for a few months now. It is her Brother Nate that is the problem Dak has been avoiding.

As he avoided the beginning of Saturn's Rings, something flashed in the distance and he slowed down. The Sun's rays had hit a metallic object, otherwise, he would never have known with his naked eye. The sector slowly slid by and the object grew in size that Dak knew it dwarfed his ship many times over. Stopping half a sector away, he looked the ship over. It seemed to be dead in space. Sensors showed no power coming from her engines and no life forms on board either.

Where did you come from? Dak wondered. How long have you been drifting around space? He moved forward going around the ship trying to find a name somewhere on her hull. The ship has five huge engines in its butt. It took him many minutes to cover the small part he had so far. Near the nose cone of the ship, Dak finally found the name of the ship. Icarus.

The name is foreign to him. He could not recall ever hearing the name mentioned before at the academy. His ship's computer could give him no information on t either. Maybe some back at the Base would know something? If not, then The Inner Planetary Association might have a clue.

"Ranger Six to Base."

"Go ahead Ranger Six."

"I found out what had sent the warning light haywire. A huge ship floating dead in space. Sensors show no power on board or any known type of lifeforms alive. This thing is larger than one of our Battle Cruisers. I do not see any damage to the hull at all."

"Did you find the name of her? Ranger Six."

"It is The Icarus. She is of an unknown class. Beautiful in her own way. I can not see any weapon ports on her, but I imagine she must have some form of defense. Do you want me to leave her or stay on station until a ship can arrive to tow her back to Base?"

"Ranger Six. Sit tight and I will get back to you as soon as I know anything. Do Not! I repeat. Do Not try to board her! Base out."

What to do while he waited, wondered Dak. After staring at his onboard computer terminal for a few moments, he started typing for a minute, then hit enter. Putting the ship in motion, Dak drove slowly all around the circumference of the Icarus mapping and measuring its entire surface. Its immense size he found hard to fathom. What race of beings could have built it and for what purpose? As Dak neared what he figured the front viewing screens were, the ship's surface changed slightly. Huge panels appeared. dark and foreboding.

Up until this time, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Now, this. Were the inhabitants staring out at him? What did they look like? Was anybody on board the ship at all or had he somehow triggered some sensors with his presence? He backed away until half a light section lay between them.

"Ranger Six to Base."

"Base to Ranger Six. Go ahead Dak. What's up?"

"As I was mapping the entire hull, after one complete pass, huge panels appeared before me from where I figured the bridge would be.I back away half a light sector to await further orders."

"Hold on a moment , Dak..I just received a communication from Command. The Battle Cruiser Ticonderoga has been dispatched to assist you and should be there in two to four hours at the most traveling at Warp speed. Expect to hear from them by long-range communications in an hour. Any change in the ship's shape since we have been chatting? Nothing has changed Ariyan. How's your brother Nate doing?"

"You should find out soon enough..He is serving aboard the Ticonderoga as a Science Officer.. You know why he does not like you?"

"Ariyan. I have no clue and it is his choice to like me or not. It is you I am interested in."

"He is envious and jealous. He flunked out of Ranger training and you seemed to breeze right through it."

"Believe me it was not as easy as you might think. Hold on! Something's happening. Those screens had lightened as if behind them the ship is powering up. Still, I am not registering any signs of lifeforms aboard her. If those engines come to life, I could not even think about keeping up."

"Ranger Six. This is Major Tom. Move in closer and keep in touch. See what happens when you get near them open screen panels. Record every movement. That is a direct order."

"Have already been doing that Major. I will keep the communication channel open. Moving closer, Major and so far there is no response from the ship. The intensity of the lights behind the panels have no changed in the last few minutes. I am now sitting a dozen yards off the ship.Still, nothing is happening....Wait a minute, Major..Something's happening. Running lights have powered up and I still not detected any life forms on board. Do you think the whole ship could be automated?"

"That is always a possibility, Ranger Six. Have you tried hailing it?"

"I will try on all channels. Here we go...Spaceship Icarus. This is Ranger Six off your bow. Is there anyone in there alive and in need of my assistance? Your ship is floating like a derelic. I see no signs of damage to the hull. " Then I waited and waited and waited.

Finally, after half an hour had passed, the light intensity of the panels changed. They began pulsating as if using OLD Earth Morse code. I was glad it was still taught at the Academy.

"Son of a Galactic Whiore!" I exclaimed.

"Ranger Six. What's happening?" The Major asked.

"Can you see the Light panels in front of me, Sir"

"Yes. Your camera sensor feed is coming through clear as the Stars. I see what you mean Ranger Six. Hang on a minute for me to translate."

I didn't need him to translate it. I knew what was being said, and I was speechless for a change. Someone or something is calling for help. And I thought to myself, I was going to see if I could help..Orders or not. It would not be the first or last time I had gone against stupid orders that made no sense.

"Ranger Six..Sit tight. Do Not, I repeat, Do Not enter that ship. " His words trailed off, or maybe I just stopped listening.

I found the nearest docking to them Light Panels and prepared to dock with the Icarus. Pulling alongside, I let the Star Rover's computer take control of the ship and she gently connected us. The was no way in hell I was waiting for the Battle Crusier Ticonderoga to arrive and take the glory.

I powered down the engines and had the ship's sensors check to see if the space beyond the lock was safe to enter. I also needed to know whether I would need my Space suit or my usual Flight suit. All seemed normal for one of my species, but I took along a Breathing mask and a standard ray gun pistol, with plenty of extra charges for it. Two should do the trick. My boots were magnetic, and being used to them, they were not cumbersome to walk around in.

For safety's sake, I put on the air breather before opening up the docking hatch. Switching on my suit's light and camera, I entered the Icarus. No sound came to me immediately, only silence, and that in itself was intense. With a slow purpose, I took step after step into what could only be called a reception area for visitors. A few tables and seats were scattered around a central desk. Corridors went off in different directions from there. It would take one man Months, if not years, to explore this ship.

Pulling up the direction finder on my suit's arm turned me to the right and down the corridor leading toward the panels and hopefully some answers. About fifty feet down the corridor, a Red light started blinking on the wall I had not noticed before. Then I looked for more down the corridor, and there they were, silent, until I neared each one. Everyone I passed started blinking Red. Silent alarm sensor I suppose.

The corridor seemed to go on forever, but it could have been my imagination. Finally, there was a hatch at the end. No sign to indicate what lay on the other side. I paused to see if my scanner could detect anyone or anything on the other side. Well, my scanner had been programmed to detect.

Slowly, I reach out to lay a hand on the hatch's handle. A low throbbing hum started and then stopped when I let go. Guess, being unnoticed, went out of the spaceport window. I tried the handle and it turned without any trouble. I swung the hatch open to step through, and darkness greeted me. Good thing I had a light source on my suit. Then one foot inside must have triggered the sensor to announce my presence. The lights were switched on, not too bright to hurt my eyes, but they were designed for a species other than humans.

Before appeared what could only be described as the Bridge of the ship. Horseshoe-shaped with stations for at least six or seven beings to run this ship. The light panels I could now see were forward port windows and my ship must have set off a sensor on the bridge here. I examined every station without touching anything. Who knew what it would take to blow the Icarus to pieces.

I could not see anyone in here, but i had that feeling of being watched, and it was unnerving. Maybe my rushing in had not been such a good idea after all. One of these days I will regret it.