The lottery was conducted later that day. Two more people from each ship were selected to go. No one knew how long they would be gone, so there was some dispute over what provisions should be taken on the trip. The problem was easily solved when Link said “Be you not concerned. All will be provided.”
The following day the selectees assembled in the Brighid shuttle bay. Tearful embraces were exchanged all around as everyone waited in the staging area for shuttle maintenance crews to complete last-minute preparations. Then, when all was in readiness, the passengers boarded and strapped themselves into their seats.
When the last of the on-lookers and well-wishers were evacuated, the bay was decompressed and the huge bay doors were opened. Outside, distant stars provided a backdrop in the vast darkness of space. The shuttle craft rose, then propelled itself slowly out into the void. There in the distance, the huge cylindrical shape of the vehicle that was Link seemed to glisten with reflected starlight.
Inside the shuttle, Asha sat at the controls. Sitting beside her in the co-pilot seat, Imamu read the last few items on her ‘departure’ checklist.
“Inertial Navigation System checks complete. Destination coordinates locked in. Prepare to intercept vector.”
“Roger intercept,” said Asha as she gently manipulated the joy stick. “Vector lock confirmed. Propulsion to 50 percent, please.”
“Confirm 50 percent,” Imamu punched in the setting and then keyed her mic. “Brighid shuttle 6 to Link.”
“I am Link.”
“Roger, Link. We anticipate arrival at your location in 3 point 2 hours. Please confirm.”
“If you will allow me, I will guide you into position.”
“Link from Brighid 6. We have vector lock and will. . . .”
Before Imamu could finish her sentence, the INS screen flickered and went blank. Next to the blank screen, the accelerometer readout did likewise. Through the front window they could see the giant cylinder growing. In only a few seconds it filled the entire view. Now before them, all they could see was a huge shimmering light-blue surface. They were now so close to the cylinder that its perimeter was no longer visible. The surface in front of them looked like a placid lake, seen from a few feet above. They had traveled a distance of almost 200 kilometers at blinding speed. Yet none of them felt any sensation of acceleration.
“You are now at the terminus. The realm within me will seem strange and unfamiliar, but will cause you no harm. Once inside, you will no longer be able to communicate with your ships except through me. Be not concerned. It has ever been so.”
The view before them dissolved as they moved through the terminus. Once inside, all they could see was a white luminescence. Everyone felt a momentary light-headedness very much like what they had felt when Link had first SEEN them.
“Link, this is Zuri. what’s going on?”
“You need not identify yourself. I have SEEN you. Your voice is known to me,” another unknown masculine voice responded.
Taken aback, she blurted, “Who is this!?”
“I am Link. I am like unto the others.”
The luminescence began to dissipate. Before them a shimmering surface started to take shape. This time it looked almost black, as though the sun had gone down above the lake. As they passed through the terminus, a huge ball resolved before them. It looked like a planet. Everyone onboard the shuttle stared in silent, wide-eyed fascination.
“Wh . . . where are we?” Zuri could hardly believe what she was seeing.
“You are in orbit around Cygnus 5. Emissaries will soon arrive to offer greetings.”
“Look!” Chetan jumped to his feet, pointing toward the planet. “Did you see that!?” They all looked where he was pointing. There in the distance . . . a faint flash, like light reflecting off a shiny object. As they watched, the object grew in size. Soon they could make out its shape. It was a spacecraft. It didn’t appear to be as large as one of their ships, but it’s shape was very similar. It continued coming closer until it partly eclipsed the planet. As it came to a halt before them, the speaker in the Com console crackled.