Traveller Probo

The arrival of the sleek, new Transporter was Turkey’s closely guarded secret. There was an enduring fear that a hostile act might target the project. Osborne was advised that the men who had attempted to assault McAlister and Erol had been subjected to ‘brisk interrogation’ by Turkey’s MIT, the national intelligence organisation, and had yielded nothing. They were just stupid young men who had been inspired by home-grown religious extremism. Some members of the Turkish intelligence community were still convinced that there were plans by any number of terrorists to target the project as a means to demoralise the nation. Osborne was never certain where truth blurred into fiction, for too many nations used the ongoing international climate of fear as a perfect excuse for renewed military action against any aggressor, real or imagined.

It was under a cloud of rigorous security that a military hanger in the country’s Istanbul Atatürk Airport became Byzantium Traveller’s main operational centre. The location was secure and allowed for efficient movement of materials and personnel. The initial location of choice had been Belgrad Forest at the north of Istanbul but the security concerns saw this forest option rejected. Specialists had surveyed the airport and announced that, one thousand years in the past, it was likely that coastal forest covered the area. The location would also place the team closer to the main Roman road of Via Egnatia that would lead them to the great city.

Though the Transporter required little space, a secure transit area was constructed around it. There, as the Transporter was being assembled, Osborne ran into Zak. Zak was a far cry from the pasty young man they had met all those years ago in England. There was something about the young man that Osborne liked. As they watched the security and the horde of technicians assigned to the task, Zak shook his head in wonder. “Look at that!” he nodded to the blast-proof structure that was to be the Area of Convergence from which the Travellers would depart. “Remember the old shack in England?”

Osborne grunted, “Just goes to show how important the Transporter’s becoming. Blowing that baby up would gain capital for some dickheads, no doubt.”

They walked around the hanger, where heavily armed Turkish Special Forces Maroon Beret troops were deployed. “When we started Traveller, it was a vague concept, an idea,” commented Zak. “The last thing we ever expected was to be involved in anything political.”

Osborne chuckled as he replied, “Well that worked didn’t it! Now you own and operate the most political game in town.”

Technicians assembled the Transporter while others put the finishing touches on cameras facing the Area of Convergence. A media and VIP stand looked on. Every departure and arrival was to be carefully supervised and recorded.

“The little woman not coming?” asked Osborne. He had met Mel on a number of occasions and was aware that she had been the chief technician for the New Zealand Traveller project.

“No way mate! My turn now. Besides, she’s pregnant, so the last thing you guys will want is her having to rest with her feet up all the time.” Osborne chuckled and Zak continued, “Seriously, she’s great but after the New Zealand thing I prefer her role is more administrative and managerial. She still has nightmares, you know, about New Zealand. That was some pretty heavy shit but she’s coming along. We just want to do all we can to prevent any such mishaps ever being repeated.”

Osborne looked at Zak with his watchful grey eyes before he grunted, “Well congratulations anyway.”

Zak smiled. “It’s funny, you know. This whole celebrity life isn’t our thing. We like the recognition, of course but the Byzantium Traveller launch had it all strike home.” He looked across at Osborne and frowned as he thought aloud, “We never considered ourselves to be a target of aggression. Oh sure, we had moments when we thought the drug cartels might have a go at us because of the success of our passenger and cargo scanners but we never really believed anyone would be interested in us personally. Now I have a pregnant wife to think about and, after the attack on your team members, we further strengthened the security around our head office and warehouses. Mel has the shits now as she has to be accompanied by an ex-Special Forces security specialist.”

Osborne screwed up his face and replied, “The price of fame.”

“Yeah. It’s not our cup of tea.”

“Our intel suggests that the Religious Right, from anywhere, fears old knowledge,” replied Osborne. “Linguists and theologians who’ve been researching the old documents from the monks of Giolgrave have found quite a few … anomalies. It seems early-medieval religious doctrine would not sit well with modern Christian beliefs. Some high-profile religious leaders now deny the works were divinely inspired but rather the works of Satan.”

They walked to where media rooms were being given their finishing touches. “Not surprising,” Zak conceded. “Michael Hunter’s findings seem to be getting a lot of credit lately. I’ve also heard that the Forest Green movement, you know, those following the teachings of Tatae, are making significant inroads with the youth and young adult age groups, especially in the West. I know it’s going gangbusters in Australia.”

Osborne chuckled. “Well that’s a good enough reason to blast the living hell out of us all.”

Zak shook his head in frustration. “Politics and religion, it always boils down to power, which is, of course, politics and religion. Why the hell did I become involved in that shitfight?”

The Transporter was ready to be tested by the time they had finished their coffee and Colonel Babacan oversaw the operation. He was in conversation with Professor Askar and senior officers, including a two-star general, while an aid to Turkey’s president hovered. A lot of careers, both political and military, rested on the success of this project. Osborne knew that the new device was essentially the same one they had used to travel to Saxon Aengland. Things were so different to then. Then, no-one actually thought they would go through with it.

Professor Askar asked, “Is all ready, Mr Chandler?”

“Ready when you are Professor,” Zak confirmed.

As planned, a small tripod-mounted camera was placed into the Area of Convergence by one of the Maroon Berets. The system was then activated and the tripod vanished. Those who had never witnessed the Transporter in action caught their breath, while the General muttered his amazement.

One minute later, the tripod returned. The camera was to conduct a 360 degree scan of the surrounding area. There was a risk that the camera would be dropped into a populated area and the return could see an innocent farmer or peasant brought back, so this test was essential. Professor Askar opted to display the immediate results onto the large screen that faced the empty media area. All watched breathlessly as footage of forest was broadcast. Even though he had been sent back in time by the Transporter, the thrill of discovery that accompanied the first view of a lost world gave Osborne goose-bumps.

There was scattered applause. Professor Askar grinned as he exclaimed excitedly, “It seems that our location might be ideal. There is no habitation or farming and we aren’t on a path or road. This is definitely a good start.” His grey moustache bristled and the accompanying general nodded with enthusiasm. Osborne knew this was the time when the immensity of the project finally struck home.

The General laughed with Professor Askar as he heartily shook Osborne’s hand and then pounded the academic’s soft shoulder in congratulations.

So far, everyone seemed to be happy.