The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

By Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 6

On the Stellar Flash in the medical bay, after an hour of injections by robots, monitoring by systems, tissue regenerative sprays, and other rejuvenation procedures, Hogart was finally able to feel free of the pain that had been overwhelming him. It had been so strong that he couldn’t even activate his mind-view system, or other implants for that matter. In fact, it looked like his mind-view system had never even started. Strange. Maybe the crack to the skull had damaged it. He activated it now, and did a quick scan of his body. All systems go.

Then he opened his eyes, and saw a strange blur on his lens.

Eyelashes and eyebrows were gone, so his view should have been even clearer, apart from his nose being there. So, why the blur? Did they slice some of his iris too?

Just then he felt a warm liquid slide off him, and his view became clear. Had Amy been…? The mind-view system confirmed that she had been closely wrapped around him, possibly for over an hour.

He grinned. “Amy, I’m really flattered.”

The gelatinous blob slid off him and down to the floor, then rose in a pole shape. Moments later the green goo had flattened out into a feminine humanoid shape with long, dripping green hair, and all the right curves, her translator repositioning itself on what could be termed an upper arm. “Ahem, Captain Hogart. I was just doing my job. You had your entire upper epidermis removed, and even in this highly sterile environment, there was a chance of infection.”

“Of course,” said Hogart, still grinning. “I’m very appreciative.”

Then Amy looked down his naked body, and said pointedly. “As your doctor, and xenobiologist, I’m happy to also say that your reproductive systems are functioning well for your age.”

“My what?” Hogart raised his eyebrow muscles, then looked down at his body to see…

He quickly leapt off the table, grabbing a sheet to wrap around him, concealing his embarrassment. “Ahem. Well, this is what is technically termed on my world as a morning glory.”

Amy laughed. “Good to know.” She slid across the floor to the door, briefly indicating a pile of clothes on the table next to them. “Your blue uniform is there. Have a quick shower, get dressed, and meet us in the Center. Spiney is in charge until you return. Ship complement is mostly the same, but with the six upcoming deaths, it’s best you get up to speed on the mission quickly.”

“Deaths?” muttered Hogart, worriedly, as Amy left.

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital

The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

by Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 5

Heartness looked across her desk at Patel and Zhou, and pursed her lips.

“Well, John. How did you know before the AI had worked it out?”

“Your A.I. monitors everything. Even gas being flashed from that oxygen star, as well as the fluctuations in radiation levels. We only monitor people. The mass of the station dropped without the mass of the Stellar Flash increasing.”

“From the look of Jonathan, they almost killed him!”

Patel grinned broadly. “He’s tougher than you think.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” began Zhou. “But with the main emergency over and my other responsibilities at the North Australia Space Port, I really should be going.” She got up and moved to the center of the room to flash back to Earth.

“I’m very happy you’ve agreed to take over the station if both John and I are unavailable, all things considered,” said Heartness, with a wry smile.

Zhou laughed. “An indestructible station with a flash drive? Force and nanite suits for everyone?” She swiped her band, and her nanite suit dissolved around her, flickering back into her shoes in seconds, and revealing her form-fitting black suit jacket and pants. “Probably the safest place in the universe. Call anytime.” She made a little wave with her hand, slapped her flash band and disappeared.

Heartness became serious and turned back to Patel. “Alright, John. Gravity waves, captain abduction. Changes to the next mission. The Florans know about 2.5m, yes?”

“I would say that they would want to use the opportunity to create a new timeline.” Patel leaned back in the chair and steepled his fingers. “It is quite interesting, actually. The SS has scoured this entire galaxy for years and not found much in the way of ancient technology from the war. Not because it was hidden or destroyed, but because it was simply far too old to survive millions of years. Even all the leads were long dead, swallowed by stars moving into those spaces. We now have a chance. Perhaps we could bring back an original burygine, rather than make do with a copy. Maybe acquire some ancient space-fold technology. Or even one of the Dinosauroid’s rock ships! It’s all very exciting.”

Heartness looked concerned. “You’re acting like an ancient-aliens’ technology geek. This is serious! It was an intergalactic war. In M31, asteroid belts were destroyed, hundreds of planets were cut in two, even stars were blown up or turned into black holes.” She had to make him see. “This section of the Laniakea Local Group hasn’t had a war for millions of years. We don’t need to get involved in something so ancient. What do we need all that technology for, anyway? Are you expecting a new war with the Florans?” She sighed, reaching out a hand but stopping short of touching his arm. “Look. I think we should just put this record down to the effects of an alternate reality, and ignore it in our own timeline.”

Patel shook his head. “I can tell you’re concerned, and I’m trying to make things light. Of course, this is a dangerous situation. If the Florans can find the point in space-time where they can create a new timeline, they could shift there. A Floran universe. The priority is to prevent this. Technology acquisition is secondary.”

Heartness looked at Patel closely, trying to understand his motives. He looked almost the same age, but she knew he was much, much older. And with hundreds of mental upgrades, he could probably take over the entire universe in minutes. Probably with some kind of beam he had invented himself. But, he had never yet showed even the slightest interest in doing something like that, which means Heartness always had the sneaking suspicion that ‘yet’ was the most important word. Perhaps this was why he had always wanted ancient technology. Why invent it yourself when you could grab someone else’s, easily figuring out how it works?

She had to meet him on his level. “But, it’s all quantum fluctuations. If we don’t send anyone, then neither will they. If we go, then they will, too. They’ll start that new timeline, then find a way to bring their Floran universe army into our universe! We have to cancel this new mission!”

She stood and placed both her hands flat on the table in front of her and looked at him seriously. “If the gravity waves start again, we’ll have bigger issues. I’m already getting reports from other stations in the Solar System. Everyone was affected outside of Earth orbit. What could have caused that? What if it is something the Florans are doing? We need to investigate that first!”

Patel met her gaze. “Firstly, Earth Council feels the threat of a new timeline is great enough to make sure the mission goes ahead. With only the upper atmosphere of Earth facing away from the sun being affected by the waves, Earth Council thinks they’re low priority. If the Florans decide to follow us back in time, then we should do whatever we can to prevent them from involving themselves in the Great Collapse, so that another possible timeline doesn’t become a probable one. But, there is something more important that can’t be changed, part of our agreement as members of the Interdimensional Coalition, which I sent to you not long ago.”

Heartness’ eyes flashed, remembering. “I know,” she said angrily. “Six beings are to die on the mission in the Andromeda galaxy, and we cannot interfere in their fate. That is no justification for guaranteeing the mission!”

Patel stood up and walked over to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. He stared out at Saturn, as further asteroids hit its atmosphere, little red sparks in the gas bands. “It took me awhile to get used to. We’re the only alien race in this sector that doesn’t know when we’re going to die. It’s what pushes us so far forward, makes us struggle, makes us work harder for something that may or may not be obtainable. But most of the aliens assigned to the Stellar Flash know exactly when they’re going to die. They live for the moment. They let reality take them along, enjoying the ride, no matter what happens. But they also know why and how it will end. Imagine if humanity knew that.”

“I personally am happier not knowing.” Heartness looked at her nails, then the computer screen. This conversation was getting uncomfortable. She didn’t want to be reminded about aging, now that she was approaching 50. The extra weight appearing around her hips and stomach had begun to remind her, in no uncertain terms, that her physiognomy was already slowing down. The idea that others had easily accepted their aging and fate was difficult to take. The last thing she wanted was to know, no matter what she did, it could be all over sooner than expected.

“Read the whys,” said Patel, pointing at her screen.

Heartness called up the crew manifest, and clicked on the category that asked ‘Will you die on this mission? Yes/No – If yes, and you can reveal details, please describe how you believe you will die.’

The crew manifest listed the crew deaths during the next mission. Heartness shook her head, but the names had already been burned into her memory. Ssyrer, Greg, Bublo, Chirpy, Clicky…and one listed as ‘anonymous’. “I don’t want to know.”

“Read them,” Patel ordered.

Heartness instantly felt annoyed. On this station, she was his superior. On Earth, he was hers. He was overstepping the mark here. Perhaps she should just throw something at him.

Patel read her look. “Sorry, Victoria. It’s just that I really need you on side with this one, as my department doesn’t have much time. Please read them.”

Heartness raised herself to her full 1.65m, took a deep breath, then swiped a hand across the panel, scanning them quickly.

Then she gasped. “My God. What the #$%^* does Hogart think he’s playing at? How can they all die like that?”

“This is how it will play out, quantum fluctuations notwithstanding. We should let the situation take its course, and see what we can get out of it.”

Heartness shook her head. “I can’t condone the deaths of six aliens for this.”

“You don’t have to. The universe has. It’s their path. If you take away their right to their deaths, you take away their free will. And don’t forget quantum fluctuations. It might not be our universe they die in.”

Heartness swiped the page closed, upset. “Fine. I heard all that at school.”

“How long before he’ll be ready to manage the new mission?” Patel had already turned and put his hand on the door release button. He wasn’t one to hang around once the answers were given.

Heartness sighed. “Perhaps an hour?”

“One more thing. I checked your sleep cycle reports. Please take some refresher pills to make up for the lost regeneration time.”

Heartness’ eyes flashed. “I hardly think my nightmares are your concern.”

“Everything is my concern. Especially you. Thank you, Victoria.” Patel gave a respectful bow, then left.

Heartness stared at the door for a few moments before getting up and looking out the window at the damaged Saturn. Travelling between frequencies was one thing. Travelling back 2.5 million years and to another galaxy with the potential of it being during an intergalactic war was another thing altogether.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had begun creeping over her.

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital

The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

by Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 4

The Stellar Flash crew looked expectantly at blank area of the surround screen, where Heartness had been moments ago. She had turned it off to have a private conversation with whoever was in the room with her.

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Tonderai.

“Be patient,” said Puppy. “You’re new to this, but the rest of us have spent quite some time traveling with Admiral Heartness when she was our Captain. Rest assured she’s working hard on this issue, right now.”

Heartness’ image returned to the screen. “Normally, they don’t take high profile people so noticeably.” Her frown had not left her face. “But, taking him would not change the mission. Does anyone have any idea why the Florans might have taken the Captain?”

“If the Captain has been captured,” said Tonderai, “We need to go after him.”

“It’s not that simple,” said Heartness. “If the Florans have him, then we need to find a way to trade him back before they mulch him. Unless they have some other use for him besides extracting knowledge.”

“But, the agreements!” said Tonderai, surprised.

Heartness shook her head, but her look said she couldn’t talk about it. “I’m afraid we have no choice. I just hope this works. Thank you, team. Spiney. Operation Extraction.”

The screen faded to show Saturn again, and everyone turned to the first officer who had remained silent throughout the communication. Spiney continued touching his spikes to his white screen, and absorbing more information.

“Well?” asked Tonderai. Then she edited herself. “I’m sorry, Sir. What I mean is, First Officer Spiney, Sir, what can we do to help Captain Hogart?”

“We’ve been working on something,” said Spiney. He swiped his screen, and moments later a naked and screaming Hogart appeared on the floor next to them.

Hogart was now completely bald, and had no eyebrows or hair anywhere else for that matter. His skin was bright red, as though he’d just been scraped all over with a razor.

Immediately, Amy rushed over. “AI, flash the Captain to Medical. Level three epidermal abrasion. Initiate skin spray. No wait…”

Amy leaped on top of the captain, and surrounded his entire body with her glutinous form, leaving just a little space for his nose and mouth. “Two to flash to medical.”

A glow enveloped them, and they disappeared.

Admiral Heartness appeared on screen again.

“Well done, Spiney. Send me a report when you’re ready. Continue getting ready for the mission. Launch when Captain Hogart has recovered.”

Heartness disappeared again, and the rest of the aliens looked at Spiney, confused.

“What did you just do?” asked Tonderai.

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital

The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

by Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 3

Hogart felt the rough vines whip away from his arms as the tree-like Floran released him, then his legs gave way and he fell forward, knees dropping into the soft mulch of the forest-like ground.

Definitely outside. But where?

“What the hell?” he began, before a rough branch slapped him stingingly  in the face, scratching his cheek.

He was glad Florans weren’t poisonous.

What had happened? How was he here? He had just sent a thought to his flash band to take him to the Stellar Flash ship to begin their next mission, and what seemed like moments later he was groggily coming to his senses on an obviously alien world. He was sure the address had been right.

He had to get back, and quickly reached to slap his flash band hard to activate the emergency return, but it had somehow been removed. Impossible. If they could remove a flash band easily, what else could they do?

He grimaced in realization. Now he had to escape the hard way. But he had to work out where he was first. A quick glance at the stars above suggested somewhere far away from the Solar System, and Saturn Space Station X-1a.

A large bush in front of him scuttled aside like a centipede, root-legs moving synchronously, to reveal the orchid-mouths and eyes-on-stems face of the Floran’s Central Influencer, Csrekrsk, standing behind it.

Hogart groaned inwardly. He should have known. Now he knew he was on the other side of the galaxy, right in the heart of Floran-occupied space. Their technology must be much more advanced than he had thought. Interrupting a relocation flash mid-jump? Not something humans could do yet.

He was about to speak when he recognized that she had yet to even acknowledge his existence. Most undiplomatic. What had he done to upset the Florans?

“What have I done to upset the Florans?”

The Influencer unfurled a frond, swiping it across a plant beside her that seemed to have metallic attachments. Hogart surmised that it had to be one of their less conscious biomechanoids – electronic implants running on its biological energy.

A bubble of luminescent gas wafted from its leaves and expanded above it, forming a three-dimensional image of a galaxy. Hogart recognized it instantly. Messier 31, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy.

Hogart raised his eyebrows. It can’t be a coincidence. He hadn’t been debriefed about his mission yet but one thing he knew was the location.

Though, just to make it harder, it had been listed for journalists as mission NGC 224.

Obviously, it had still been too obvious.

Influencer Csrekrsk looked at him and pointed up at the galaxy with a frond. “One of Terra’s recent records.”

“No pleasantries, then?” Hogart carefully struggled to his feet to get a closer look, then jerked back as the image expanded, zooming fast into a blue star. He grimaced as the fiery image spread outward, his face becoming almost enveloped by the bright light.

He didn’t like blue stars. Hottest visible things in the universe. He shook just thinking about it. If he got out of this, he would remind himself to avoid any blue star missions in future.

He ran a shaking hand through his dark-brown hair and looked at the Floran, trying to work out her motive for grabbing him. “Well, Influencer, I’m impressed with your greenware, but I’m not entirely sure why I’m here.”

Csrekrsk hissed, spouting pollen into the air from her three sets of petal lips as her translator pushed out the words. “Typical impatience from a Doper.”

“And, if you’re going to call me something, at least categorize me as human. I can’t believe you’ve labeled every entity that has ever evolved on my planet after their dopamine systems.”

Csrekrsk ignored him, uncurling a second frond, and slightly turning the image of the blue star with it. Another flick, and the hologram zoomed into what looked like specks in orbit. An asteroid, a comet… and something else.

Hogart gasped.

Impossible.

There was no way it could be there. “But… the light from NGC 224 is over 2 million years old!”

“And yet, the evidence is there, for all to see.”

It was too incredible for him to take in. No humans had ever gone that far back into deep time. There was no way his ship, the Stellar Flash, could be orbiting a star 2.5 million years ago. “I don’t know what to say to you, Csrekrsk. We have no record.”

Csrekrsk angrily sliced a frond through the image. “This IS your record, Doper. We obtained it from your Secret Services. This proves you have been interfering in our history.”

Hogart felt a diplomatic incident developing. The last thing they wanted was a war with the Florans. “I swear, my ship has never been there at that time. It’s an illusion, or maybe something from an alternate reality. We were planning to go to the Andromeda Galaxy, yes, but we weren’t planning to time travel!”

Csrekrsk stared at him for a few moments, and he began to feel sweat collect across the back of his neck. The Floran’s torture could be quite painful. Bamboo-like racks at high-speed. He swallowed, checked his mind-view system, and got ready to increase his pain-threshold level.

“Captran Huggut. Since the unfortunate regenderation of one of our trusted personnel by one of your ship’s crew not long ago, you may forgive me if I have trouble believing you. The Florans cannot trust the Dopers anymore. However, it is possible you may not understand time like we do. We charge guilt before and after the fact. Even if you have yet to commit the crime, you are still guilty. But you have similar laws when there is evidence of a potential crime, do you not?”

“But, even if I end up there in the future or past, whatever, what crime will I be guilty of committing?”

The Floran curled up her three fronds, and held them tight. Anger, or emphasizing importance? “Millions of years ago, we were the sole influencers of what you call the Andromeda Galaxy. Now there are only a thousand suns there that we can call home. We only have a vague memory of the great collapse. If you somehow influenced our past, we must influence your future. Equality across time must be maintained. You have a concept in your philosophy, yes? Karma?”

Hogart began getting a sinking feeling about this. There was no record of this in any of Earth’s agreements with the Florans. If Csrekrsk was revealing some great secret, she didn’t expect him to leave with it.

She leaned forward. “If you, or for that matter, any Dopers, began the Great Collapse…” Then she smashed a fist of frond onto the bush in front of her.

The gas image shut down, and Hogart heard loud rustling and scuttling coming closer.

The conversation was over.

Vines wrapped quickly around his arms and legs again, lifting him off the ground.

“Mulch him,” she said to the security vine. “And filter the calcium for me for later.” Then, as though for some invisible camera, “This is what we do to races that betray the Florans.”

Hogart was about to comment, when a branch snapped out of her side, and knocked the right side of his head, hard.

He felt his mind-view system activate to begin regenerating the damage, but the pain was enough for him to lose consciousness moments later.

His last thought was, at least he wouldn’t feel the body grinders.

 

As Hogart’s unconscious body was dragged away, a bush scuttled forward. “Influencer. Important news from Earth. It may change everything.”

Csrekrsk took the leaf, absorbing the information. This did change everything. She would have to speed things up. “Spray the recording, and activate temporal lab 42. I’m sure the humans will try to take him quickly”

The bush acknowledged, and scuttled away, then Csrekrsk crumpled the leaves in a fist of fronds, rose to her full nine feet and pushed herself through the nearest grass wall.

Gravity waves from Earth orbit meant her main plan hadn’t worked. Skrgypst had failed in her mission, and the Stellar Flash would not be, or could not be destroyed in the past.

But, with this news only appearing once the current quantum wave had collapsed, then her recent acquisition had a lot to do with it. It meant her secondary plan was already on the way to being successful.

If her secondary plan was working in the future, it was time to get started in the present.

Destiny awaited.

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital

 

The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

By Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 2

A black triangular shape, a kilometer long on each edge, turned slowly above Saturn’s north pole, its white dome center making it look more like a giant chocolate than a state-of-the-art interfrequency flash ship.

Inside, a whitish-green caterpillar-like alien with a metallic band wrapped around it between four of its upper prolegs, inched its way quickly along one of the outer corridors of the Stellar Flash, looking for someone.

Multiple windows on his left displayed the eclectic collection of personal escape ships in various Hangar sections, and multiple door shapes with the occasional decoration passed quickly on his right.

As he passed a corner airlock, and turned to one of the central corridors in the triangular ship, his prolegs waved in recognition. Several meters ahead, a large, round, spiked, purple alien was moving away from him, heading for the Center of the ship almost half a kilometer away.

He called out. Several wet glottal sounds quickly translated as “First Officer Spiney! You’re in charge!”

Spiney had already stopped moving, sensing the communications officer coming up behind him. “Officer Cuddly. Are communications still down?”

“Yes, sir. But we’re not detecting further gravity waves, so they should be back online soon.”

“And Captain Hogart?”

“Still missing, sir.”

“Thank you for your update. Are the other senior crew on their way?”

“I checked with both Officer Geo and Officer Torus on the way here. I assume Officer Puppy is coming from the other side of the ship, and both Officer Josie Tonderai and Doctor Amy are already at their stations. As far as I am aware, none of them have been able to find any evidence of the Captain.”

“Thank you, Officer Cuddly.” Spiney recommenced his slapping and rocking movement, and they inched and slapped their way to the Center, making small talk as they passed many crew quarters and research windows.

About fifteen minutes later, the privacy door to the Center dissolved in front of them, just as Puppy, a giant, green, hairy, twelve-legged alien, made his way through from one of the other entrances.

Geo, a purple sphere with drop shapes on its surface rolled in, and Torus, an electrical entity in a toroidal shape, came together near their stations.

Both Amy, a greenish liquid in a humanoid female form, and Josie, a greenish-brown half-human half-plant alien waved at both Spiney and Cuddly as they entered.

Cuddly quickly swiped a proleg across the panel on his white stand. “Communications are back online. No further gravity waves expected. Station X-1a has flashed safely to another point in its orbit. No messages from the Captain.”

“Officers,” began Spiney, taking his position towards the entrance they’d come through, “finding what has happened to Captain Hogart is our top priority. Do what you can to track him. Check frequencies, last known position, previous communications and anything else you can think of. We cannot go to the Andromeda Galaxy without him.”

An official looking Japanese woman in a traditional Yukata, the avatar of the ship’s A.I. system, formed near the center of the Center. Near her were the standard ceiling and floor columns of the flash drive, like oversized stalagmites and stalactites, awaiting their command to activate.

“Welcome back, everyone.” Her voice echoed slightly. “First Officer Spiney. If the Captain is not found within the hour, you must action Operation Ex.”

“Understood,” replied Spiney, and the AI disappeared.

“X?” whispered Josie to Amy.

Amy moved her green goo shoulders up and down. “No idea.”

For several minutes the alien crew explored every avenue, while serenely and surreally, the hexagonal-tattooed north of planet Saturn filled most of the surround screen, watching the hive of activity closely like an ancient god.

“All I can determine is that Captain Hogart left the station at the correct time.” Geo closed one of his many flipped-open droplets, indicating there was nothing further he could do.

“The flash jump location had been activated, but the Captain did not materialize in Corridor 3 as allocated,” said Torus.

“I can’t sense him on any nearby frequencies,” said Puppy, towering above all of them. “He has not shifted out of this reality as far as I am aware.”

“A.I.?” began Spiney. “Transition status of Captain Jonathan Hogart?”

The Japanese avatar appeared again. “Not transitioned. No further information available.”

“That’s it then,” said Tonderai, her bark-flecked arms flung wide. “He’s still alive somewhere. Officer Spiney. Now that X-1a’s emergency is over, can we contact them about this? Permission to call the Admiral?”

“Proceed.” Spiney continued to focus intently on his screen, purple spines flicking back and forth across it.

Tonderai connected with the space station’s communications system. Admiral Heartness’ connection opened moments later. “Sorry to disturb you, Admiral, but there’s still no sign of Captain Hogart. We can confirm he’s still alive somewhere, but everything points to him not being in this sector of space.”

Seconds later, one of the surround screen areas lit up with Admiral Victoria Heartness’ worried visage, her hands moving fast in front of her.

“Thank you, Josie. We’ve been investigating a flash mass difference and have just confirmed it was Captain Hogart. Linking Stellar Flash systems to my outlet. Accessing station security cameras.” She briefly looked at something behind the camera and nodded, then turned back to them. “Captain Hogart activated his flash band to materialize on the Stellar Flash, just before the first gravity wave hit, but the readings say he never arrived.”

“Flash band fault?” asked Amy, slumping back from a humanoid shape into a dark green blob after speaking.

Heartness’ image frowned as she flicked her fingers at the screen, sending a file.

On the surround screen above the aliens, a section lit up to show a ribbed corridor inside the space station.

The security camera record zoomed in on a tall, muscular man in the standard skin fitting dark blue material of his rank. Long, brown hair and brown eyes, a face slightly lined, but with a smile that suggested life was one big adventure, Captain Jonathan Hogart checked the address on his flash band, then pressed it. He was briefly surrounded by a spherical isolation field before disappearing, lightning-like sparks flickering for a few moments where he had been.

“It looks like a standard flash out,” said Torus, his coruscating ball of energy flickering as his translated voice reverberating slightly around the room. He separated and reformed closer to the screen.” Admiral, can you feed all the relocation vibrations to me through the surround screen panel?”

Heartness swiped her fingers towards the screen, and a stream of energy sparked from it to Torus. He flickered slightly, then sent a spark back to the screen, changing it to a thick cloud of numbers. “A minor vibrational change was applied to the Time and Localization signal, the moment the captain’s isolation field formed.” He highlighted a section of numbers.

“A.I?” asked Heartness.

The avatar flickered for a moment. “T.L. corresponds with a location on the homeworld of government 838, sector 63.”

“Florans,” said Heartness, her eyes wide, “As if the day couldn’t get any worse.”

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital

The Andromeda Effect: Stellar Flash Book Two

by Neil A. Hogan

Chapter 1

The space station corridor shook wildly, as another gravity wave crashed over the 100-kilometer structure. “How much more can this thing handle?” Admiral Victoria Heartness asked, clinging tightly to one of the curved black metal ribs, as the stanchions shifted in their clamps. A pale woman in her late 40s, she’d had her share of space dangers, so her question was more fact-finding than fearful.

Not far from her, Dr. John Patel, a bronze man in his 60s, sporting white hair and a toothbrush moustache, was equally clinging, arms wrapped about another shaking girder. “The station is indestructible. Alas, we are not.”

Families of aliens of many different shapes, sizes, colors and manifestations stumbled, rocked or floated haphazardly along the shaking corridor leading to Ring Two, attempting to get to a safer environment. With each wave, the ones with legs stumbled and fell, then picked themselves up again, moving quickly. Others, more used to space collisions, ambled stoically amongst the crowd, heeding the call to return to their living areas.

Heading against the flow of alien residents, a short woman with close-cropped black hair, clad in her nanite suit, had just picked herself off the ground from where she had just fallen. She quickly grabbed another stanchion near them. “I guess I arrived at the right time!” Her voice was barely audible above the groaning of the support structures around them. “Though, I hardly expected to meet my peers flat on my face in a corridor. I’m not in college anymore!”

“Not the welcome you were expecting!” called Heartness. “Are you alright, Admiral Zhao?”

“Please, call me Wei. Yes, all things considered. Do these parties happen often?”

Another wave burst through the corridor, warping structures and blurring the air around them with micro space-time eddies. Wei flinched as a stanchion broke from its clamps near them and collapsed into multiple pieces. Her eyes widened as the pieces separated further, then crawled back up the side of the corridor and reassembled as a stanchion again.

“Thankfully, no,” replied Heartness, with a pained expression as the gravity wave passed through her. “Let’s wait until the crowd disappears, then head to my office.”

Both Patel and Zhou nodded.

Sparks flew from metal scraping metal, as another barrage of waves stabbed through them, Heartness almost letting go of the beam as her body weight doubled for a moment. “Oh, my God. I never want to be that heavy again!”

Zhou gasped, while Patel remained silent, the grimace on his face telling them he agreed.

Just as suddenly, the waves disappeared, and they released their handholds and straightened up. “Report!” said Heartness into her wrist band.

The station AI began immediately, sounding both official and motherly at the same time. “Minor injuries. Medical has been dispatched. Gravity wave origin confirmed to be Earth orbit.”

“What?” Heartness looked at Patel in alarm. “Experiments by you lot?”

Patel was equally surprised. “No. Gravity research is currently being conducted at the Proxibee outpost, for the safety of the Solar System.”

“I flashed here only an hour ago,” added Zhou. “If there had been a plan to send a gravity wave from Earth, I would have felt it before I arrived, allowing for the time difference to Saturn orbit. The waves can’t be from Earth.”

“Alert,” interrupted the AI. “Gravity wave has displaced ring matter from planet Saturn. Several bodies on collision course.”

“AI, put me on the station speaker,” said Heartness.

“Confirmed.”

“Attention, Attention. All residents. Activate nanite and force suits where possible, and brace for impact. Possible collisions expected.”

Patel had been waving his hand at her while she was speaking, and finally got her attention. “Victoria, we have to get to your office, now. Displacement!”

Heartness’ looked at him in surprise as the realization hit her. “The orbit! You’re always ahead of us, John. We’ll have to leg it!”

Heartness immediately began running back up the corridor, with Patel and Zhou close behind, dodging the remaining aliens.

As they ran, the windows beside them revealed the slowly turning dark side of Saturn, its rings tilted downwards, glints of light reflecting off several rocks that were heading inexorably towards them.

Heartness pointed at the speeding masses as she ran, and called back after Zhou and Patel. “They’ll knock us into the lower debris orbit. That amount of pummeling will turn everyone inside into mush, while the station keeps rebuilding itself around us.”

Heartness’ office door appeared, and it opened as it detected her unique vibration. She rushed in, then across to the center of the room, and cut the air diagonally with her arm. Immediately, control systems formed, solid holograms linking directly to the main controls on the front of the satellite and the engines at the back.

“Engines offline,” said the system.

“Goddammit.”

“Do your best,” said Patel, as he and Zhou skidded in after her. “It might repair quickly. I’ll have to investigate.”

He began checking the address on his flash band, but Heartness ran around to him and grabbed his arm. “John. You can’t flash-jump now. Gravity waves, about to be hit by rocks, too many variables for the jump to be accurate.”

“Victoria, I’m certain the gravity waves have stopped. And we’ve still got a few minutes before the rocks hit.” Without waiting for her reply, he hit his flash band, and Heartness and Zhou stepped back as the white isolation sphere enveloped him, and he disappeared.

“Fine then. Not like I’m your superior here, or anything.”

Zhou covered a smile.

Heartness turned back to the display, which showed several rocks heading towards the station, while Zhou observed calmly. “A.I. Status.”

“Trajectories of matter, and energy released on impact, indicate an orbital drop of several thousand kilometers to the outermost ring. In addition, gravity waves have disrupted approximately 10,000 bodies, heading this way on various paths.”

“Suggestion?”

“Shift station to the other side of the planet.”

“Follow the orbit, or just…”

“Relocate Space Station X-1a within 5 minutes and 47 seconds.”

Heartness looked at her screens incredulously.

“How?” asked Zhou, surprised. “This station doesn’t have enough fuel for a pole burn. Unless…”

Heartness rolled her eyes. “Another thing I haven’t been told about yet. A.I. Is this station fitted with a flash drive?”

“Confirmed. Flash drive system is located at the Central Pylon between Ring Two and Ring Three. Operational.”

Patel’s voice came through her flash band. “Arrived safely. Engines should be working, but gravity waves have warped some of the circuits. We need to wait until the nanites finish repairing them before we can fire them.”

“Forget that,” said Heartness. “Get the flash system up and running, and shift this baby to the other side of Saturn.”

“What? Right! Meet you at the Central Pylon.”

Heartness shook her head. Of course, he knew about it. He knows everything about everything. “Wei. Please take care of the station from here. Field any emergency situations that you can. I’ll sort this out with John.”

“You’re going to flash there?”

“Well, if he can do it…”

Zhou nodded, then Heartness sent a thought to her flash band, confirmed the right address showed on the panel, and disappeared.

 

Heartness materialized in the main market area of Space Station X-1a, and approached the Central Pylon. It was currently disguised in the shape of a silky oak tree from Australia – a tourist attraction for many. She looked about, relieved to see that the gravity waves and the impending collisions of rocks had cleared the area. It was best the general residents didn’t know this technology was here.

Moments later, Patel joined her.

“A.I, deactivate the Pylon display,” she said.

The tree immediately disappeared to reveal a large column with a break in the center, and a crystalline floor and ceiling that spread away from it.

“I had no idea this was here.” Heartness looked at it in wonder.

“Earth Council security protocol. Visitors should remain unaware that flash technology is easily accessible. Especially the Florans. They’d activate it and take the whole station, just for their amusement.”

“But, most aliens have flash technology, already.”

“The rules are over from the old days,” Patel sighed. “We humans still have our suspicions. And we’re always worried the Florans might try something else to get this sector of space.”

There was a beep, and a countdown commenced. “Impact in 2 minutes and 33 seconds,” said the AI.

“Right, well, let’s get it done.” Heartness went over to the panel and swiped her hand. Nothing happened. She looked pointedly at Patel.

“You’ve only been here a couple of weeks. I haven’t had a chance to give you the authorization for this yet.” Patel swiped his hand across the white screen, and the drive began humming. “Now any Admiral can command it.”

“Thank you! AI, please enact your suggestion. Choose the best location for the other side of Saturn.”

“Confirmed.”

The flash drive hummed, the light flickered, and a ball of liquid light materialized within the columns. In moments, the sphere of energy expanded and enveloped them.

Outside, the sphere grew, surrounding the 100-kilometer space station in an isolation field. Then, the entire structure disappeared, multiple asteroids flying through the space where the sphere had been moments ago.

Moments later, on the lit side of Saturn, the station rematerialized. Heartness walked over to a window to look at the damaged rings. Streaks of rocks had cut through like spokes, and small explosions were appearing on the surface of the planet as more of the matter of its rings collided with the atmosphere.

“Well,” said Heartness. “It looks like Saturn is going to get the worst of it. At least we’re out of danger now.”

Just then, alarms began blaring again. “Now what?” asked Patel.

“Attention,” said the A.I. “Flash mass difference detected. Analyzing.”

Heartness looked at him with a troubled expression on her face. “Flash mass difference? That’s all we need.”

---

The Andromeda Effect. Stellar Flash Book Two by Neil A. Hogan

Now Available in Digital and Print

Sent back 2.5 million years in time to the Andromeda Galaxy to investigate why there’s a record of them having been there, the Stellar Flash crew encounter a creature so powerful that it has taken control of the entire galaxy by thought alone.

With most of the crew unconscious, Captain Jonathan Hogart is in a race against time to defeat the plant-planet, save the galaxy, and find a way to return to 2133.

But another force is attempting to take control, to use the power of the creature from the past to take over the Milky Way Galaxy in the present. And, for this, Hogart has no defense.

How is the creature controlling an entire galaxy?

Who has the technology to transmit the creature’s power from the past to the present?

And will the Stellar Flash crew and the Space Station team be able to save both galaxies?

Available now at –

  

Amazon Digital  Amazon Print

Barnes and Noble Digital

Rakuten Kobo Digital