Planet of the Robots
1.
BEEP! beep! beep! The constant noise of the ship's klaxon and the flashing red lights were the stimulus that awakened astronaut George Taylor from his hibernation after the sleeping chamber automatically opened and started thawing him out. The machinery had injected him with warm fluids, and electro shock restarted his heart back into normal sinus rhythm. His head was pounding from the effects of the emergency reanimation he'd been though, and his vision was a touch blurry, but he knew he had to act quickly.
The small explorer class star ship had been launched from Earth on a 200 year long mission to intercept a newly discovered system less than thirty light years from Earth. The Icarus made use of a newly invented photon drive that could propel the ship to nearly light speed. While the journey would take several hundred years as seen by the people left behind on earth, thanks to the time dilation effect of relativity only a few decades would pass on the ship. Even so, the crew had been put into hibernation to save on food, oxygen, and mental fatigue.
Taylor stumbled towards the main console of the ship. The Icarus was in a death spiral, having been pulled out of its path by a strong gravitational field. The ship was now plunging into the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a class G3 star. Taylor couldn't understand why the ship's autopilot hadn't made the necessary corrections. There wasn't much time left, he knew he had only seconds to get the engines on line and stabilize the ship before it burned up in the lower atmosphere.
He was well trained in the operation of the ship and even in his semi-conscious state he was able to throw the right switches and activate the main propulsion systems. The Icarus's rapid decent slowed and the ship entered a low, but stable orbit. He'd have to make more corrections soon, or they would loose altitude and re-enter the atmosphere in a few orbits, but at least now there was time to awaken the other two members of the crew and access the situation.
Taylor headed back towards the back of the ship and checked the condition of his companions. Both Bob Landon and James Dodge were still in the deep coma like sleep of hibernation. Taylor activated the re-awakening process for both of his shipmates. They would awaken much more gently than he had, the machinery would slowly warm their bodies back to normal temperature and use mild chemical stimulation to restart their cardiac and pulmonary systems.
The three astronauts sat at the small table taking the first first food and drink since they had sealed themselves into the hibernation chambers soon after the ship had left the solar system. Just where are we? Bob Landon asked.
I'm not sure yet. Taylor replied. I had a very rude awakening by the ship's emergency computer protocols as the ship was about to burn up in an uncontrolled atmospheric entry. We're in a low, but stable orbit at the moment, but we are going to have to make some decisions in an hour or two about where we go from here.
I've been looking at the star fields and comparing them to the data records in the computer. James Dodge said. Nothing matches. We are either light years off course, and or we've been in hibernation in deep space for far longer than planned.
Well what does the chronometer say? Taylor asked.
I'll check. Dodge answered, walking back to the computer console.
I guess that explains it. he gasped. According to the flight instruments, we were thrown off course by an uncharted mass and have been on a hyperbolic path for centuries. We're way off our charted course and could be anywhere in the galaxy.
You mean we've gone through a black hole? Landon asked.
More likely we've been slingshot around one. Dodge said. If we made a grazing attitude approach to a black hole at nearly light speed we'd have been thrown away from it at nearly any angle. There'd be no telling what course we'd have been thrown out on. We could be thousands of years away from Earth by now.
I think I'd agree with that analysis. Taylor said. I've just taken inventory of the ship's condition. Power levels are way down, nearly all the fuel has been used up, and very little oxygen remains in the tanks. The planet below us seems to be Earth like and could sustain us. I think we have no choice but to attempt to set the ship down.
Might as well. Dodge agreed.
I'll go along with that too. Landon added.
In that case gentlemen, we'd better strap ourselves in. Taylor said. I have no idea how the ship is going to handle during re-entry after being in space for so long. This may be a bumpy ride.
The three crew members took their seats and strapped themselves in. Together they went though the pre-reentry check list. All systems look operational, though just barely. Taylor announced. Any final thoughts?
No, I think we are committed. Landon said. 10-4. Dodge added. Let's get the Icarus on the ground.
OK, then. Taylor said. Retro countdown, locked in.
With a slight shudder, the Icarus dropped out of orbit. The nose of the ship dropped as it plunged into the atmosphere. There was little turbulence at first, but as the ship reached denser air it began to buck and shake. The tip of the nose and the ends of the stubby wings began to glow with the heat of reentry. Getting a bit rough. Taylor said. Controls feel sluggish.
We're in denser air now. Dodge said. Start the jet landing engines.
Roger that. Taylor said. He pounded on the control panel No use! I can't get any response from the landing engines. Going to have to dead stick us in!
Still no sign of land, the atmosphere is too thick with clouds. Landon said. Radar isn't picking up anything yet.
Altimeter is useless. Taylor moaned. Not without calibration.
I've got a radar fix now. Landon said. Indicates 10,000 feet AGL, but I can't tell if we are above land or water yet.
5000 feet now, Still nothing visual. Taylor said.
There, I see a break in the clouds! Dodge yelled, pointing.
OK, I'm going for it! Taylor said, banking the ship in a turn.
The Icarus broke though the clouds. The crew could see that they were over water, not far from the shore of a large landmass. Taylor tried to stretch out their glide, but the ship came up short. He realized that a water landing was their only choice and pulled back on the stick, while opening up the landing flaps. The ship came down in a nearly vertical descent, and almost made a perfect flat landing. At the last moment the nose dropped.
Quick, grab what you can and abandon ship. Taylor yelled. We may have only seconds before she sinks!
The crew quickly grabbed their back packs and stuffed them with as much of the emergency supplies that they could. Dodge threw a life raft overboard and the men made a quick swim over to it, and climbed on board. Seconds after they started rowing towards shore the Icarus disappeared below the surface of the water.