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CAPTAIN GIGA
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CAPTAIN GIGA
(in memoriam)
Giga was a terribly rough man. He was THE CAPTAIN in everything he did or talked about, and not just
any captain: he was a Karr Boundary-Crossing Captain of the old generation! Now, if you take into
consideration he had been sick with Ionic Storm Fever all his life, you might understand why he was in a
permanent fighting mood: physical, verbal, juridical, financial--you name it.
People called him Giga, and he liked that. Truth is, the name fitted his attitude, since he had
endless combating resources and he never gave up. His philosophy was, "If someone plays dirty with you,
you have to play back ten times dirtier!" I do not like any kind of dirty plays, therefore his crude
philosophy never worked for me.
He also used to say, "I am not bad: I am very bad!" Problem was, that was perfectly true. I
learned many things form him. Most of them were bad things, though few of them had deep philosophical
meaning; very deep! For example, "forward". Whenever we had problems, and we did have plenty of
them because--hey!--living was not easy in the Padi System, he used to say to me, "Never look back in
life, Rale: always head forward."
When I was a child I read a fiction book about a Universe free of any Nebula matter with a
frightening, empty, and dark space, and with thousands of tiny stars ... It was just a children book having
lots of amazing colored pictures, and I will never forget it. Better said, that idea haunts me ever since.
This is in fact my weakness: my imagination is too rich. I think too much, and I imagine thousands of
utopian things, instead of being practical and realistic like everybody else.
You see, there is this Padi-Ena problem: they are two stars! Sure, Ena circles Padi, and they
together form only one binary Star System, but they are two of them! If it were only one then, yes, I would
agree there cannot be other stars in the Nebula Universe. Because they are two, it means it is possible
there are other stars born out of the Nebula matter in other corners of the Nebula Universe. In addition, we
do have this Purple Cloud enigma: many suspect its light is generated by a gigantic star ... How exciting!
I love to explore, and I also love the Nebula. I believe there is nothing more beautiful in the
Nebula Universe than its apparently motionless, white-brown clouds--they never cease to amaze me! However,
watching is not sufficient for me, therefore I decided to be a Technician instead of Navigator. In order to
navigate beyond the Nebula clouds we need engines way more powerful than the Najka-Derin ionic-wave
propulsion we use these days. No. I am thinking of an engine that would amplify the ionic-wave to the
brink of atomic fusion, and I calculated I could safely reach one tenth light speed. That should be
sufficient to take me beyond the Purple Cloud to see for certain if there is another star there or not.
Problem is, I do not know how to increase the containment field of wave to stand the atomic fusion ... then
I need a special radiation reflecting shield ... and then the fore deflectors need to work as Nebula matter
collectors ...
I am an inventor, and my goal is to build a better interstellar engine one day. Thanks to Captain
Giga, I already built my first spaceship, and I also tested my first invention, in secret: it works! Well,
it works only as an improvement for now but, theoretically, there is great potential there. Possibly, more
than I can even imagine ...
Things happened this way. One day Captain Giga told me about his plan: to build a Boundary-Crossing
Glider. He had plenty of money, he knew lots of people and he was in the Navigators' trade--respected by
everybody--so ... I believed him. He asked me if I was interested to work on his project. It was obvious he
intended to repay my work only with the honor of building "his Glider", but I accepted. That was
an exceptional opportunity to implement my first spaceship design, and then to test it in real-life
conditions.
I became deeply involved, therefore I rushed to sketch the hull of the Glider, hull deflectors,
dynamic stabilizers, and the engines. Next, I began working patiently on each subsystem module. We lost the
first year starting and abandoning two Glider models proposed by the Captain. He was openly cynical about my
designing aptitudes; besides, he wanted a "tested model"! It had been incredibly difficult to
persuade him to accept my design; the strongest argument I found was: "his Glider" had to be
different and better than all others.
Finally, one day he got so angry he told me to go away, to forget about the Glider, and to mind my
own things. I did just that but, seventeen days later, he came to me in a defensive attitude, and he asked
hesitantly about my design. That was the moment when everything actually started.
It took us about six Karr years of incredibly hard work, made even harder by Giga's rough
behavior--he had booted me out at least fifteen times--but Hesa became reality. It looked like nothing ever
built before, and all local "experts" were openly doubtful about its qualities. Those comments
made my cooperation relations with Captain Giga even tenser. The good part was, Hesa was different, meaning,
it was way nicer than any Glider ever built on Karr! She was impressive!
There were only few Gliders on Karr, and all of them were custom built because the KANST Government
didn't encourage the construction of Boundary-Crossing Gliders, or any other type of private spaceships. We
had been allowed to continue our work only because nobody dared crossing Captain Giga--not even the
government people. Besides, everybody who knew about us was terribly curious if our strange design was going
to work.
In '32 at the end of the Trading-Season Hesa was finished, functionally. Outside, she was bare,
unfinished metal, and there was a lot of work needed inside, but she was in working condition. Both of us
rushed to launch it. I was anxious to test an invention I implemented on Hesa--and to end my long and
tiresome work on "his Glider"--and Giga wanted to clear his doubts about Hesa's worthiness. The
fact the Trading-Season was ended and the Storms-Season was in effect was totally not important. I was
certain Hesa could stand any storm, because I increased three times her critical structures. As for the
Captain, no storm could have deflected him away from his plans, despite his Ionic Storm Fever. No, Sir; not
Captain Giga.
After five days of brief preparations, we launched surrounded only by sarcastic smiles. Giga had
managed to fill the cargo-bay with 755 barrels of an awfully stinking organic oil--there was no way I could
convince him to navigated to Ena-Ihta without any cargo of some sort. That cargo load was slowing Hesa a lot
though, once we lifted off, it became obvious she was faster and more responsive than any other Glider ever
built on Karr! Five private Gliders were accompanying us, and soon we left them all far behind. We went
straight up above the planetary plane, then we started on a nice parabola down towards the Boundary, to Ena,
and to Ihta.
The Boundary Zone appears between the Padi and Ena Planetary Systems. A certain quantity of the
Nebula matter is trapped there, and it is strongly ionized by radiations coming from both stars. The
Storms-Season comes in effect when Ena is closer to Padi on its elliptic trajectory. Due to the increased
Ehga-vectors interference, the activity in the Boundary Zone also increases to the point of becoming
dangerous for navigation.
The Glider type of spaceships has few remarkable characteristics when compared to the ordinary
Trade-ships. First of all, Gliders are very small, because they are built primarily for pleasure travel.
Inside the Padi or the Ena System both the Gliders and the Trade-ships have almost the same speed, since
they are both propelled by Najka-Derin ionic-wave engines.
The difference comes when crossing the Boundary: because there is matter in the Boundary Zone, both
type of ships have to slow down a lot. The Trade-ships use a matter deflection technique to cross the
Boundary, while the Gliders use the electromagnetic attraction and repulsion forces of the ionic matter.
Consequently, a Glider is, roughly, three to four times slower, but they consume ten to twenty times less
fuel in the Boundary Zone. The point to note is, maneuvering a Glider in the Boundary Zone requires
particularly tough skills, and few are able to do it properly.
After only ten Karr hours we had the first problem: the fore-right deflector lost one coupling
connection. We stopped, and I went out to correct the situation. I discovered the problem was a fastener,
and it was common to all couplings and to all deflectors. We had lost one iranem fastener in space, then I
lost the second one and Giga was blowing steam around--those iranem fasteners were absurdly expensive.
However, we had three more spare fasteners, and I worked for half a day to secure all couplings
appropriately. Truth is, that was a design mistake, but it was a minor one.
While working, I noticed there was no sign of storms in the Boundary, ahead of us. That was good
news, although I knew good weather could change in the Boundary Zone in no time during that Season. Once
finished we continued down towards the Boundary.
Next day we entered the Boundary Zone, and we soon encountered what has later been named, "the
Great Storm of '32". It was magnificent! I never thought it was possible the Nebula storms could be
that beautiful. Such powerful electro-magnetic waves; an impossible to describe play of iridescent lights;
perplexingly strong ionizations; and all sorts of harmonic noises in all metal parts of our little Glider!
Captain Giga had been caught by his Ionic Storm Fever seizures and he locked himself in his cabin.
That was just fine with me, since I was able enjoy that marvelous spectacle in total relaxation. I wasn't
afraid. Fact is, I am never afraid when my hands are on the controls. Giga was well aware of my exceptional
gliding skills; therefore, he checked on my vector and on my state of mind over the interlink from time to
time.
I don't know, it could be something natural, but I think I am the best Glider driver on Karr, and
that is due, mostly, to my scientific training. I simply "feel" each ionic wave of the storm, long
before it comes, and I polarize each deflector the best way possible to catch and use the last drops
available of that electromagnetic energy. In comparison, Captain Giga could barely move a Glider. In order
to cross the Boundary Zone gliding, he needed about half Season to do it. He had decided on building Hesa
out of pride, to be among the "very few", though he wasn't able to take it over the Boundary by
himself. His favorite aphorism during the past six years had been: "People are poor, but if you do not
have a Glider, then you are very poor!" I suspect he was very proud of being a Glider owner, although
the meaning of his words still eludes me.
The Great Storm of '32 was a true monster, and Hesa was performing admirably! I think it happened
only six or seven times it rolled briefly out of control, during those seven days crossing, and that was
only when I was asleep. We rushed too much to launch Hesa, and we were not prepared to face a serious storm
like that one. Normally, we should have had at least two aft static stabilizers, and category seven or eight
storm-wave fore deflectors, but we didn't have any. When I was too tired, I simply powered the engines down
and Hesa went adrift. No automatic pilot could have handled the Glider during the storm. In fact, using the
automatic pilot could have broken Hesa in two if I was fool enough to engage it.
Honestly, the sleep-time during those days was the most relaxing I ever had. My body was broken,
after an entire day of riding the waves of the storm, and my head was foggy due to the maddening and never
ceasing sounds of vibrating metal. However, when I was too tired and I went sleeping, an amazing tranquility
engulfed me. Hesa could have hit a rock, or she could have been hit by a wandering rock--and we would have
died instantly--but I simply did not care about anything. There was total peace inside my soul: that was the
"Boundary Storms' Charm"!
After four days we actually crossed the Boundary. In the other side the storm appeared to be even
more violent than before, as if the space had other characteristics there. I was stunned to see sparkling
blue, red, and violet lights exploding each time Hesa was struck by a wave, or when I changed direction. I
read about that phenomenon, but seeing it was totally different. Besides, those lights were particularly
strong, and they had perplexingly strange color gradients ...
When Hesa was close to exiting the Boundary Zone in the Ena System, I noticed four huge Ihta warships
in the region. I reported to the Captain, then he came to the Navigation Control. We tried contacting the
warships over the ANAK-link, but the storm made all communications impossible. Giga told me to steer away
from the warships. He was preparing to leave when an object from the group of military ships started on a
vector right towards Hesa. Its speed was so great that I had no doubts: it was a military missile! I froze
thinking intensely of any possible escaping maneuvers.
Captain Giga said in a tense voice: "Dump the cargo bay, then change the vector dead ahead on
the missile, Rale! Accelerate to maximum speed!"
I did exactly as he had ordered, because I understood his plan in an instant. There was no way our
little Glider could run away from a military missile. The only thing we could do was to use exactly
missile's speed to our advantage. By setting a course right towards the missile, Hesa's apparent speed
related to the missile became the sum of both speeds. That was our only chance to escape pulverization, if
we were sharp enough in maneuvering the ship. Then, after changing the vector, the barrels of oil were going
to appear behind us as a much larger target, sufficient enough to fool the missile to retarget.
The only problem we had was dumping the cargo. That operation needed to be executed in just few
moments, and I was the only person in the entire Nebula Universe capable of doing it that fast. First, I
released the constraining locks of the barrels--it was Giga who insisted on building automatic release of
the cargo, about 3 years before, and I suspect his intention was little contraband. I opened the cargo bay
gates, then I kicked the engines to maximum, although that has never been done before on a Glider inside the
Boundary Zone. However, it was taking time to gain speed, and I wanted to start as soon as possible.
The gates were rather slow to open, therefore I lost all decompression advantage to dump the
cargo. What I did, I used a "tail kick" to push the barrels out, and I did that while setting
Hesa's nose on the missile. The barrels of oil went spreading in space, then I closed the gates. Hesa was
gaining speed fast, and we were both monitoring the distance to the missile attentively. Soon Hesa went
diving into the waves, because her speed was faster than the running storm. All metal parts were creaking
alarmingly, but that was not our main concern.
"Keep the vector dead on the missile, and be prepared for a right turn of 25 degrees: no more
and no less, Rale. I polarize the fore-left deflector to maximum charge, and watch out, because I will
change it to the fore-right one after you steer Hesa," said the Captain.
My body was a tense metal spring waiting for his order to change the vector, and I was well
determined to do it myself if he delayed it for a fraction. I threw a glimpse at the fore-left deflector
because I was worried it could break away. Next, what I saw there scared me right to the marrow of my bones,
as never before in my entire life. The oval shape of the fore-left deflector was missing; in its place there
was a black window, and through that window I could clearly see thousands ... maybe millions of glittering,
tiny STARS! With great efforts I forced my eyes away from that nightmarish image.
"Right 25!" ordered Captain Giga, and my hand moved in the same instant.
Giga switched the fore-left deflector charge to the right one, and that came as a great relief,
because the entire body of Hesa was shaking terribly under that enormous inertial moment. We were breaking
through the storm waves at 87.163 TOS, which was more than five times the maximum speed a Glider had ever
reached in the Boundary, as far as I can tell. We were also one and a half times past the maximum Wedhon
speed limit in the Boundary Zone, and it was pure miracle Hesa was still holding together.
Just a flash, and the missile went past us almost touching Hesa's aft-left deflector. The missile
flared soon afterwards, but we were far away from it: the combined missile's speed and ours helped us gain
sufficient distance.
Captain Giga didn't cease to amaze me: although he had been suffering for days, when the situation
demanded quick and intelligent action he was THE CAPTAIN! He had saved my life, and it wasn't the first time
he did that.
Rescue transporters from the military warships came close, and the Ihta aliens were very apologetic.
It had been an unfortunate accident: the armed missile went out of control due to the storm. Everybody was
stupefied with our perplexing maneuver, and by the fact a little, primitive, hand-built Glider had managed
to elude the most advanced military technology: an armed, neutron-shower, hunter missile! On the other hand,
the speed, maneuverability, and the incredibly sturdy construction of Hesa inspired awe, respect, and a lot
of admiration to the Ihta people.
One enormous warship escorted us all the way up to Ihta with full military honors, and they even
supervised our landing in Ghabawoo City. Thousands of aliens came to welcome us, and there were lots of
media broadcasting crews around: we were heroes!
Giga appeared to be very angry. He was demanding an enormous sum of Ihta currency for
"damages", while I was admiring, dumbstruck, the new, strange, alien environment--it was my first
trip in the Ena System. Captain's anger was only for display, and I knew it very well. In fact, he was very
proud he managed to save Hesa, and he had had the chance to "show the aliens" what kind of tough
Karr Boundary-Crossing Captain he was. Besides, that was an unexpected and greatly welcome commercial
opportunity to recover the entire cost of Hesa, and even way more.
To me, reality became a dream since I saw that terrible, dark space-window. Nobody has to tell me it
had been a hallucination or ... whatever, because I know it hadn't. I clearly remember those minuscule,
bright stars and that dark, empty space ... It was obvious the dark space-window was connected to a Universe
different than the Nebula one!
The space-window appeared right into the metal of the fore-left deflector due to its electrical
charge, to the incredible speed of our Glider, to my secret invention, and to some particular
characteristics of the storm. Those were a bit too many variables to consider but ... I was wondering if the
space-window could be used for travel into the other Universe ... But, how was I going to come back if there
was no Nebula matter in the other side ... Could it be made to work both ways?
One year later I was invited to live and work permanently on Ihta, and I accepted gladly, because
their technological level was fairly higher than Karr's. I continued investigating the space-window incident
in private: that led me to few radical, new theories, and to a new set of needed experimentations.
Captain Giga remained on Karr, and we saw little of each other since. Yesterday, I was told he died.
He had the best death possible: he died standing and fighting, and he was defeated by his destiny, only ...
We never got along very well together, and I am going to regret it all my life. Now, I will never
have the chance to correct that situation ...
My Dear Father, I promise I will never forget your wonderful advice: FORWARD!
In Memoriam
Long-Line Merchant Marine Captain G N POPA
[Giga was the most ... impossible to describe "sea-wolf", way tougher than anybody I
have ever met, I heard, I seen in movies, or I read about, and he was indeed nicknamed "Giga".
Yeah, poor soul was not bad: he was very bad! Though ...]
CAPTAIN GIGA by O G POPA, first published on February 15, 2006 in http://www.corollarytheorems.com Copyrights © O G POPA
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