Destiny's Wildest Dream

“Is everything ready? This bird hasn’t exactly been run much lately.  Being under sea water for a thousand years can’t be good for the machinery.”

Aurora responded before Alleana was able.  “Et’Lantis is in perfect working order and we are ready.  The ship is in full stealth mode, and course and portal points have been plotted.  Estimated time till arrival is sixty eight point three hours.”

“Okay then, let’s light this candle.”

Kevin felt the excitement mounting within himself at the prospect of leaving Earth for space and also felt a little guilty for leaving Didi.  But if all went well he’d be back soon.  If all went well!

The large theater style screen in the fore section of the bridge brightened, as did several of the smaller screens to either side of the main viewer.  It showed the murky underwater depths, while several of the other smaller screens depicted various tactical views of Et’Lantis’ position relative to her surroundings and her position on Earth.  Indicators and displays all around the bridge were now coming alive with pertinent data as the tremendous vessel vibrated almost imperceptibly.  A low reverberating hum began to build from deep within the ship.  Kevin could feel the movement, the shiver as the ship extricated itself from its submarine cradle.  The water surrounding them quickly became turbid leaving nothing visible on the main monitor.  However, the tactical displays indicated that they had risen from the ocean floor and were slowly climbing to the surface.  Kevin could now detect the increased throbbing of the engines as they applied more force against the Earth’s gravity.  He walked over to a monitor screen set into the port side wall that displayed an exact schematic or representation of Et’Lantis with all her various decks and sections.  Mentally he calculated the size based on a ratio of decks and rooms he had seen to decks and rooms represented in the schematic and was shocked with his conclusion.

“Just how big is this ship Aurora?” Cade asked.

“Your calculations are very close Kevin, I measure two point two miles in length at my longest point and point six miles wide at my engine nacelles,” was her response after accessing his deduction directly from his mind.

Kevin didn’t know whether to be more surprised by the immense dimensions of the vessel that was just breaking the surface of the waters around it or the fact that Aurora could so easily extract his thoughts from his mind without his knowing.

“So you can just read my mind anytime?”

“We have been linked for a long time, Kevin,” explained Aurora.  “It is common as well as practical for Lantians to transfer data and information mentally.  Not only does it save much time but many can be reached simultaneously.  Soon you will have this ability as well.”

Kevin was unsure as to what that meant, but he decided to file it with the other stack of questions reserved for a time when he didn’t mind if Aurora became loquacious.  For now his attention was riveted to the forward screen which showed the bright sunny California day along with a horizon of sparkling bluish purple water which had been disturbed by Et’Lantis rising from it.

Kevin voiced a concern to Alleana, “Can we be seen?”

“Only by someone close, and then only vaguely.  However we are invisible to all forms of electronic surveillance.”

Outside, the hovering ships great engines and graviton generators could be heard by fleeing sea gulls and other waterfowl as they droned powerfully.  The ocean, though no longer disturbed by the rising of the ship from the depths, began quivering tumultuously as the expenditure of power dramatically increased.  A shift in that power induced forward momentum, slowly at first, but speed and altitude were increasing at a geometric rate.  The main view panel showed the breathtaking