Behemoth: Rise Of Mankind Book 1 by John Walker Read Free Book Online Page A

the ship safe and I suppose we’ll know when we’re needed. Until then, let’s get this party started. I’ll see you out there.”
     

Chapter 5
     
                  “Readings, Darnell,” Adam leaned forward as he spoke. “What’re you picking up?”
                  “It wouldn’t have mattered if I gathered data on the hull before, sir.” Darnell’s fingers flashed over his console, moving with magician like dexterity. “The chemical composition is unknown to all our databases.”
                  “I’m getting sick of hearing that.” Adam turned to Clea. “Any clue why our information seems woefully inaccurate?”
                  Clea shrugged. “Perhaps it’s merely brand new, Commander. We didn’t chart every single item in the universe, much as we tried.”
                  “What about the drones, Olly?” Gray asked. “Are they armed?”
                  “Yes, sir. They definitely have weapons. They seem to be similar to our own as do their shields. Defensive barriers are generated from the power core located at the center of each. Since people don’t crawl inside, they can be smaller and pack the same punch.”
                  “Brilliant.” Everly frowned in thought. “But there’s no indication of a power up from the larger ship?”
                  “If anything, it seems to be powering down. The shields are still up but the engines are off, not even idling. It’s very strange.” Darnell looked over a couple of charts before speaking again. “I’m getting information from the inside. Oxygen, gravity, heat…at least one of their stations is dedicated to life support and while other things are shutting down, that’s still going strong.”
                  “So there must be people on board,” Gray said. “How’re you able to analyze the atmosphere but not pick up life forms?”
                  “There’s still some interference,” Olly said, but didn’t sound certain. “The ship’s definitely set up to support life…maybe they’re in a safe room, something lined in a material defying our scans.”
                  “They might be dead,” Clea added, “depending on how long they’ve been making this journey. The ship must’ve been programmed to stop when another vessel came too close. I suspect the drones are merely a distraction, something to keep enemies from bothering the thing so it can move on its way.”
                  “Why stop?” Adam shrugged. “It can haul ass, so why risk an engagement?”
                  Clea tilted her head, observing Adam with her odd, silvery eyes. “A universal similarity concerning starship design is what sub light travel does to the engines. If this ship traveled at top speed, it would be unable to make defensive maneuvers. Inertial dampeners are not sophisticated enough to protect the inhabitants of a vessel from dramatic course changes. It could not respond to any threat.”
                  “The program stops and deploys defensive measures. Hence the drones and why we’re keeping our distance. Correct, Captain?”
                  “We have to figure out what the hell’s on board somehow.” Gray scratched his chin. “What do you think will happen if we approach the ship?”
                  “Something will be blown up,” Clea answered.
                  “Not as helpful as I’d hoped.” Gray stood, paced toward the screen and clasped his hands behind his back. “If we back off, it’ll likely fire up its engines again and speed off, huh?”
                  “Yes,” Clea said. “An automated program would analyze the situation, assess the threat, recall the drones and continue its journey.”
                  “Olly, you talked about shield density,” Gray said. “Can our weapons penetrate