Dreams among Stars Read Free Page B

survival, considering the primitive state of technology on board the best course of action might even be to exit in the midst of the night.
    Regrettably I cannot take too much equipment with me, else I would be weighed down far too much.
    The main computer suggests an alternation of my mission parameters.
    It was not envisaged that the data connection could be cut, so to mend the situation the main computer would like me to reconnect it.
    This time though through a connection on the outer hull, as soon as the connection is established, the maintenance centers should be able to establish a wireless network and provide access throughout the whole ship.
    It might have been a morbid assumption, but it had been taken into consideration that all permanent staff could become disabled or die.
    For that reason a flotilla of maintenance drones and robots was always ready to take over the caring for the ship, but apparently the backup mechanisms had been deliberately sabotaged. This obvious recklessness drove home the fact that someone must have been outright insane 225 years back.
    The establishing of the data connection on the outer hull was a pretty easy task.
    All I needed were 100 meters of cable and a working space suit or alternatively a remote controlled maintenance drone.
     
    Slowly my plan is taking shape and my stamina is measurably improved.
    It might be calculated optimism, but I cling to the belief that I am able to survive the discharge and am able to fulfill my new mission.
     
    Not much longer and my preparation time comes to an end, sadly the outside activity is not lessening.
    The weird dreams subside, which I take as a sign that my consciousness finally is fully embedded in the present.
    Instead I dreamed of my past life on earth last night and even though it actually took place not even two full weeks ago, it seems so much more unreal than everything that is happening around me now.
    Since then far more than a thousand years have passed - everyone I ever knew is long dead by now, or still in cryostasis as I was just before now.
     
    The question which side I should join id driving my to and fro, if even only the two sides I know of exist. Without any question everyone out there is ready to take extreme measures. The silly thought of me being a trophy crosses my mind, but the fact is that I am the hunted in a deadly race.
    Because if one side is able to get a hold of me, the other side will find a way to destroy the prize or in other words kill me.
    By now I do wish never to have seen the recordings, although I would not stand any chance without them.
     
    My equipment is ready, instead of the rifle I just packed a collection of knifes and two pistols with enough ammunition for a war.
    It probably even is a war I am going to.
    Additionally I take as much maintenance equipment as I can, the most important are the nanite machines, which will allow me to repair nearly everything I might need repaired. With enough raw materials I even could create completely new constructions.
    To enhance my chances I devised a distraction plan.
    Since at the outside they are waiting for the opening of the exit I took advantage of this.
    My plan consists of sending robots outside on a walkabout twice times a day, once at daytime and once at nighttime.
    The first times the robots even had been attacked with a hail of arrows when they reentered, but after six days of this game the people became accustomed to the robots walkabout.
    My hope is that this allows for an undetected exit on my part.
     
    Now that everything is prepared and my physical condition is as good as it ever could be, I only have to conquer my fears. However beforehand I prepare a report for the next to be awakened and moderate the four recordings, to mitigate their cruel brutality if only by a bit.
    I don’t mean to sugarcoat the situation, but only to lessen the shock, as the situation as it is already is grim enough.
    Just two weeks ago I was shopping in Paris, now I