Free Chroniech! by Doug Farren

the Komodo Dragon reported finding an ancient ship, I was assigned to the science team in case your discovery was related to the probe. Because of the technological advances that will be possible from an examination of the alien device it must be protected at all cost. It also must remain the property of the Alliance and not allowed to become the sole property of any one member. For this reason, the Grand Council has assumed ownership of the ship and its contents. I am here under the direct authority of the Grand Council to protect this discovery at all cost."
    "That explains a lot," Stricklen replied after allowing himself a moment to digest the facts. "Can you explain why Falnath, the top expert on continuum physics, just happens to be on the science team?"
    "Falnath was on Almaranus attending a conference on applied continuum physics when your report arrived. We availed ourselves of the opportunity and asked her to review the data. She became very excited and demanded that she be placed in charge of the science team.”
    "Her supervisors were unwilling to send such an important individual to a remote area of unexplored space until she explained her reasoning. She felt that the energy signature you had recorded indicated a new unique application of high energy field dynamics which, once analyzed, could allow us to improve upon our current stardrive technology. She convinced everyone that she was the only person qualified who could perform the analysis."
    Stricklen couldn't help but smile as a thought crossed his mind. "I have no doubt that she could be very persuasive if she was so inclined."
    Sorbith returned the smile and turning to leave, replied, "Rouldians are a very peaceful and stubborn species. They can, however, be very intimidating if they want. Good day captain."
    Stricklen sat in thought for several minutes after Sorbith had left. The existence of an ancient star-traveling civilization was still hard to believe. These people had apparently been traveling among the stars and sending out probes to distant worlds before the Human race had discovered that the lights in the sky above them were anything more than just lights. What had become of these people? Where were they now?
    Stricklen's thoughts were interrupted by his XO reminding him of the staff meeting. During the meeting, a plan was created for extracting the chamber from the derelict's cargo hold. Most of the Dragon's shuttles would be transferred to other ships in order to make room in the shuttle bay for the object. A needle beam would then be used to cut the cargo bay doors apart to allow the contents to be extracted. It would then be towed to the shuttle bay and secured.
    The extraction operation was to begin as soon as the Dragon's hanger bay could be cleared and the engineers determined the exact locations to make the cuts in the alien ship. The entire operation had to be very carefully planned due to the presence of the powerful gravitational field that existed on one side of the device. Hopefully they would be ready to begin in about eight hours.
    On his way to get some lunch, Stricklen received some disturbing news. "The alien probe has destroyed our HK," the voice on the other end of the com-link said. "Two destroyers have been dispatched to intercept. The probe has accelerated to 1,560c and has begun evasive maneuvers. It is now at a distance of 0.33 lights and at its current speed will be within weapons range in less than two hours. Mobius has ordered the fleet to an alert status."
    Stricklen ordered the Komodo Dragon to follow suit. He was not worried about the probe itself — it posed no threat and the destroyers would obliterate it. He did, however, recognize the tactic the probe was using. It was trying to get as close to the fleet as it could in order to gather as much information as possible before it was destroyed. To Ken's military mind it meant their uninvited guests would soon be arriving. Ken's lunch-time was filled with worry.
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