The development of a warp drive began in 2014, and seventy-five years later, Homo sapien became a star-faring species. Soon after, a new discovery would dwarf this achievement; while exploring Alpha Centauri we found proof that we were not alone in the universe. While no extraterrestrials were encountered, hundreds of their ships drifted derelict in the system.

 

It would take another twenty-five years before NASA would return to the alien cemetery with the plan to collect as much data as possible, which would be no easy feat considering the exotic origins of the spacecraft. A ship was constructed containing a fleet of shuttles and a manufacturing facility allowing for the design and fabrication of any item that may be needed.

 

Major Tom Denali and civilian mission specialist Paul Grant finished a visit to one of the alien ships. With their gear stowed, they waited for the data to upload to the command ship. Fifteen minutes later a female voice spoke calmly through the shuttle's audio system.

 

“Necro-Two, this is Undertaker. Data upload complete.”

 

“Upload Complete,” Major Denali repeated, “moving to the next target.”

 

Looking at Paul, Denali smiled and said, “Someday she is going to say yes,"

 

“Not a chance Tom," Paul said. "She is the type that is attracted to us younger guys. There's a little too much snow on your roof.” He tapped a finger on his head to highlight his point.

 

Denali feigned a hurt expression, "Okay," he said, "give us a target."

 

Paul scanned the catalog, "Delta-twenty-three-alpha," he reported.

 

Denali aligned the shuttle towards D-23-A and toggled the engine’s thrust. They arrived a couple of hours later, docked, and then prepared to enter the alien ship.

 

“Undertaker, this is Necro-Two. We have reached delta-twenty-three-alpha.”

 

"Roger Necro- two," Megan replied.

 

Looking past the group of nearby hulks, Denali noticed something at the center of the cemetery, “Hey Paul, what do you make of that?" he said, pointing.

The object was a sphere about the size of their shuttle, with shiny gold plating covering its hull and a thin groove around its equator.

 

“Strange,” Paul said, bringing up a list on the computer, “it's not in the catalog."

 

Denali reported the new find to Undertaker.

 

"Roger Necro-two," Megan replied, "Registering a new species discovery. Oh, and major; you will be happy to know that our research team may have found another pattern."

 

“Rodger Undertaker, hopefully, it’s not just another alien maintenance schedule,” Denali said.

 

“I wonder what happened here,” Denali said as they suited up for entry, “I mean why is there a large concentration of ships collecting in this spot, and why are we finding only dust but no bodies?”

 

“And almost none of the ships so far have any kind of external damage,” Paul added, “and those that do seem to be from collisions not combat.”

 

“Necro-Two, this is Undertaker, “ Megan's voice crackled from Denali’s helmet audio.

 

“Go ahead, Undertaker,” Denali said.

 

Megan’s tone sounded agitated. “Tom, Paul – we found an unusual pattern across all the ships we have surveyed so far; it has something to do with the chronometers.”

 

"What kind of pattern?"

 

"Cyclic, something is happening here every five years. It seems that all of the chronometers have stopped in some increment of five years, and this is the same for each species. Something is happening every five years that is causing all the clocks to stop.”

 

“Any idea what?” Denali asked.

 

“None; but if the research team is correct the next event should happen in about three hours. We are recalling all the shuttles and will be moving Undertaker to a safe distance.”

 

“Megan, it took us more than two hours just to get out here.”

 

“We know, so you better move quickly, Undertaker out.”

 

It took fifteen minutes for Denali and Paul to get back to the shuttle. Once undocked they burned hard towards Undertaker with Denali skillfully dodging dead ships and debris.

 

"Undertaker, this is Necro-Two; Megan we are on our way but still thirty minutes out." Denali radioed.

 

"The captain has allowed you the thirty minutes,” Megan said, “but that is all you will get.”

 

“Thank You, Undertaker,” Denali said and closed the channel.

 

“EM Pulse?” Paul suggested.

 

“I was thinking the same thing and I’m betting on that Sphere,” Denali said.

 

“Necro-Two, this is Undertaker. We have you on the grid.”

 

“Roger Undertaker, are we clear to dock?”

 

“Negative – the captain has ordered a warp-start, you will have to hitch a ride.

 

“Acknowledged,” Denali said.

 

Firing the reverse thrusters Denali slowed Necro-Two as it approached the command ship. The warp rings on Undertaker were already glowing blue, indicating the captain had initiated the warp-start and in ten minutes the ship's capacitors would be charged enough to “spark the rings.” It was tight, but there was still time enough for Denali to maneuver close and take station at Undertaker's starboard side.

 

Suddenly in the center of the cemetery, there was a sun-bright flash of yellow-green light. The flash was followed by a growing sphere of scintillating green energy that expanded at an incredible speed, engulfing the cemetery as it grew. As suddenly as the energy manifested, the warp drive engaged and the space around Undertaker blurred into a blue mist. In just thirty seconds it was over, and Undertaker dropped out of warp with Alpha Centauri just a small twinkle in the distance.

 

“Undertaker, did you get a scan of that energy?” Denali asked.

 

“Really major, you’re as bad as those research guys.” Megan radioed back with a sigh. “No, we did not get a scan – because we were not about to hang around waiting for it whatever that was to get close enough to get a reading."

 

“Too bad,” Denali said, “Is the dock available for us?

 

“Necro Two – you are clear to dock in bay two."

 

Denali looked at Paul with a grin. “She seemed concerned for us; I’m telling you she is going to say yes."

 

Paul smiled and tapped a finger on his head.