Beyond Hyperspace Book 2 by P.J.Lawton (summer beach reads txt) 📕

put it on speaker, we all have a great stake in this and everyone deserves to hear our success or failure.”

She pushed the play button and a sterilized computer generated voice began. “I am doctor XENO of Zandro Perfect. This is a record of our efforts to find a cure for the great sickness that has destroyed our land. Yes, after many months we were finally able to isolate the disease and manufacture an antidote to the contagion. It was quite simply really, once we had found the root cause.

There was a short pause then the voice continued. “I shall start at the beginning. A little over four years ago one of our vessels returned from a long voyage. It brought with it a new food supply, a grain of which we had never seen. We, being a vegetarian society were overjoyed to have a new source of food. Half of the shipment was made available for immediate consumption and the remainder was planted in anticipation of a bountiful spring harvest. Little did we know that the grain while being a wonderful addition to our diet would also be a contributing factor to the destruction of our world.”

James slowly scanned the bridge. All eyes were glued to the communications console with each crewmember listening with rapt attention. The tape continued.

“Everything went well for the first few months. The crops began to grow and mature. It was the maturity that caused the problem. Something in our atmosphere differed from that of the plants home world caused the ripening grain to mutate and give off microscopic airborne spores. The grain itself was not harmful to us; however the spores proved to be deadly. It took many months and an accidental discovery to finally determine the cause.

After millions of deaths and the departure into space of what remained of our society, the few of us left were determined to work until the very end. One of our junior scientists had grown some of the grain in a laboratory setting. During one of his experiments he made a calculation mistake and accidentally found the spores. After a close inspection it was determined that they indeed were the cause of the contagion.

The cure was simple and came quickly. Our scientific team was able to isolate the mutation at its earliest stage and by using the mutated grain was able to produce an antibody that made inoculated ones immune to the spores. The formula is listed below with the findings of the accidental experiment. The antibiotic can be synthetically reproduced using harvested grain. The disease took three stages to complete its cycle. It was found that if a person was inoculated before reaching the second stage then the chance for recovery would be greater than ninety percent.”

Exclamations sounded throughout the cabin. Ninety percent! That was even better than they had hoped. If they could get the antibody isolated and back to Terra, millions could be saved. They just had to hope that the computer was able to decipher the formula.

For a moment the tape hissed and then the voice started again. “A few of the remaining not yet into the second stage were inoculated and cured. Since our home world was again safe for habitation, it was proposed that they travel into space to find our people and lead them home. I am just sorry to say that I won’t be here for that joyous day.” The tape ended there.

“Doctor!”

“I’m on it Captain,” said the ships doctor as he headed through the hatchway.

Turning to the First Officer, James said. “I remember seeing a vacuum sealed warehouse down there with what looked like tons and tons of grain. Even after all these years it should be in superior condition. I want it brought up here, decontaminated and packed for shipment. I want this ship loaded to the seams.”

“Roger Captain, we will start making plans right away!”

***

The antibody had indeed been easy to manufacture. The ship’s doctor, utilizing the provided formula and a stock of local grain was able to provide serum to inject the entire crew within two days.

Since the grain loading was going to take some time James asked for and received four volunteers to work along with him without containment suits to test the effects of the antibiotic. While the four were loading the grain he used the time to search the ruins taking into account the condition of the buildings, the water supply, and the state of the infrastructure, carefully logging all information for future use. It took almost a week before they were ready to depart for home. None of the unprotected workers became ill. It looked like they had indeed found it, the T2 cure!

***

For the most part, the trip home would be a jovial one. Crew spirits were especially high as they prepared for their victorious return. James had transferred the First Officer and half the crew to the Brigand to take her home. James also he decided to take the Brigand crew home. The deserved to be buried with honor since they, in actuality, had found the T2 cure.
He also ordered the Brigand loaded with as much grain as she would hold. He realized that being shorthanded with half a crew on each vessel was risky but he also firmly believed that the risk was worth taking. After all, the extra ship full of grain just might be useful.

James felt that he should be happy as well, but even with the means to save what remained of Terra’ population he still felt a great loss, a deep sense of melancholy. Nothing, no matter how much he wished, could replace the loss of his family or the millions that had needlessly died. If only he had come a year earlier. As painful as those thoughts were, even more painful was the realization that even with a cure Terra was still in deep trouble.

What to do about millions of dead from the plague and the rioting that ensued as well as almost half of the planet’s surface all but destroyed were immediate questions to be answered. Added to that was the fact that food and natural resources were almost exhausted or non-existent. A cure was great, millions would be saved, but to what?

He realized he would have many hours during the homeward trip to ponder the possible consequences. He’d heard that all the Confederations had built massive transports to relocate colonists should a suitable planet be located. He also knew that T2 was a simple few days journey and that it had all the necessary natural resources to provide a fitting home. The task to move the remaining population wasn’t all that insurmountable. If everything went as it could, then T2 would become the new Terra.

The trip home would take almost five days; he had that much time to devise and draft a workable plan. Something had to be done, something to really save the ones still remaining. With grim determination he would set about this task. He would find a way, for the remaining people of Terra and the memory Jan and Janey he would do it, of that he was sure! Anything else was completely unacceptable.
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Publication Date: 07-16-2011

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