As the Captain caught up on his copy of the mission brief, he began to shake his head. The Investigator could guess that this wizened space warrior was perplexed. Yet the Investigator knew he would not be able to explain away the absurdity of wasting a galaxy class battle ship on such civilian nonsense. So he said in a sympathetic tone of voice,
"I know what you are thinking. When I read it I thought it was a sick joke."
The Captain looked at this much younger being with doubt in his eyes. Suspecting some galaxy central political trap he kept his blank expression. Then he read the contempt that the Investigator was directing to his own copy of this unbelievable mission brief. So he joined in with equal contempt when he said,
"In all my years as captain, too many to relate I can assure you, I have never seen such a pointless mission brief. Did you scan the space drone footage? There is nothing there! A total waste of my time my crew's abilities not to mention the potential of this fine ship."
All the Investigator could add to this rant was a nodding of his head. The Captain was now in full voice as he outlined his outrage at this wasteful use of the military hardware he had at his command. He said in disgust,
"My ship and my crew were there at the last border wars! We fought the real enemies of the galaxy. What is our reward for risking our lives to save our families from invasion? A baby sitting job for a bunch of star gazers. Can you tell me if that makes any sense to you because it looks like madness to me."
Again the Investigator could do little more than shake his head as he actually shared in the disbelief of this battle hardened veteran. They were both reflecting on what they could have done wrong to merit such a mission, when a new voice broke into their fuming reflections.
"Perhaps I can explain to you both the real importance of this mission. Will you listen as I outline its vital significance to both the defense of our galaxy's way of life....yes even to our freedom?"
Still angry, the Captain spun around to fix this intruder with a cold stare. He spoke in a heightened tone of voice,
"Just who do you think you are coming into this top secret meeting? Who let you past my security? I will have your rank and binary number before the talk with you."
The new entrant did not quail before the obvious temper of the Captain. Instead he said,
"Well my rank is Head Scientist of this mission. I have an up link hologram from you calling me to attend your 'top secret mission'. That means that you let me past your own security.My......binary......number....is 10000111001000100001111000001111001110.
If that is any help?
Now can we get on with it ?
I am a busy man! I was halfway to the time/space coordinates of the most amazing discovery in my lifetime when those idiots at science research recall my ship. The fools. I don't need some military escort. Nothing can match my quantum ship!"
The arrogance of this last statement took the breath out of any retort from the Captain. The Investigator had a better sense of humor so he had to refrain from laughing out loud. Instead he used sarcasm to get the better of this third member of their leadership group. He said in a depreciating tone of voice,
"Can I just call you 10000 or would you prefer your title. I am just called the Investigator. I would have to check my own credentials to give you my binary code number. If you can make any sense of our mission, I am sure we would appreciate your input."
The Head Scientist was put back in his place at the tone of voice from this imposing Investigator. Internally he was shocked that neither of these two top leaders had heard of him. After coming from the science team meeting where everyone was in awe of his every word, it was a real check on his ego. So he said in a pained tone of voice,
"I am considered to be the best scientist in the galaxy. Believe me when I say that I would not be wasting my time on nonsense. But your friend was right, we are travelling across the galaxy to study a zone of nothing. And I mean that literally. This zone is reported to have NOTHING in the extreme sense of that term. No light, no formed matter of any kind, no anti-matter that can be detected and, most amazingly of all, no limits of TIME itself. How is that for a mission? We will all be famous!.... That is if it is true. Of course some space drones never made it back to their science stations. That is very worrying.....but of course obvious when you think that temporal displacement is a possibility......."
Both of the other occupants in the room looked at each other in total confusion. The Professor seemed to be having a debate with himself having seemingly forgotten that they were in the room. Together the captain and the Investigator mouthed the words
"He.....is.....insane!"
Chapter 2
After such a dramatic meeting the actual trip was uneventful. The Captain and Investigator bonded together due to their shared reservations about the mission. The science ships' crews largely kept to themselves. After that first disastrous meeting there were no more sessions with the "insane" leader of the science staff.
The guarding of civilian ships obviously grated with the Captain whose veteran status made it even harder to bear. As for the Investigator, he was still totally in the dark about his own role on this mission. Granted he did outrank the Captain, but he was a guest on his ship. Nothing about his orders made any sense.
Finally they arrived at their destination.
To say that the visual scanning of the area to be studied was disappointing would not be overstating the case. As far as the Investigator could see they were was nothing out there to justify such a large scale operation. Visuals from the nano drones showed an area devoid of any observable matter. Scans from the galaxy ship failed to indicate even any primitive life forms. This led to the logical conclusion that they were exploring what could only be called vacant space. Fed up, the Captain called for another 'progress' meeting.
Waiting for the Head Scientist to arrive for this briefing the Captain said in a disgusted tone of voice,
"We travel half way across the galaxy to study what exactly? It looks like nothing to me. Our own scans have nothing to show from all our own extensive sweeps. What is the point of all of this Investigator?"
The Investigator was nonplussed about how to respond. Finally he said in a harsh tone of voice,
"I could not agree with you more Captain. This is a total waste of time. Yours and mine. I will certainly be lodging an objection when we return. Hopefully that will be soon given that we have nothing to study here."
At this point in their mutual moan fest, the Head Scientist entered the meeting room. He said in a hearty tone of voice,
"Sorry for keeping you gentlemen waiting but we just had yet another amazing discovery. This place is a full of wonders."
Neither the Captain nor the Investigator had changed their first impression of the Professor. Their faces now said it all. But the Head Scientist's next words shocked them out of their contempt.