CHAPTER 2
“...to be a hero...”
{Earth: Deep Space Central Command - 2098}
The young lieutenant stood at attention in front of his superior. “Should we notify the families of the missing personnel on Sojourner5, Colonel?”
An extinguished half smoked cigar lay in an ashtray. The Colonel leaned back in his chair and put a foot on the edge of his desk. He spoke with a raspy hoarse voice. “Reports indicate we have seven people dead on three ships, many in critical care, several missing—all from that idiotic disturbance in space. And you want me to contact the next of kin?”
“But it’s protocol, as stated in article six of the universal solar code, Sir.”
“Ha! Code books! Ya gotta love ‘em. The real fact is that it’s not prudent to contact family members who are in stasis. Their in a dream world and don’t need to know that their relatives are missing. Besides, the missing Deep Space personnel may not be dead. What ship did you say it was?”
“Um, let me see,” the lieutenant said, as he scanned his portable directory. He inserted it into 3D desk monitor. "It was the Sojourner5 and its six crew members.”
The monitor scanned for key events of each of the personnel‘s lives, then flashed a 3D photo of the personnel out from the monitor.
As the photos were displayed, the lieutenant read out a summary of the crew’s background. “Captain Alexander T. Livingston: 98, Married, 2 children, Top pilot—class of 2021, 30 years military battle experience, 15 years Top Gun training instructor, and 27 years of deep space research.”
The next photo appeared. “Co-pilot and navigator Thomas Dover: 62, Widower, twice, 4 children, lost all but one family member. Top gun instructor—25 years military battle experience. Received medal of honor from the Europa uprising, and a long list of heroic accomplishments.
Shelby Kind: 57, Married, one child. Husband, Tom Kind—Team Leader of Europa Astronomy Institute. PHD in Astrophysics. Employed by Boeing/AirChung Intergalactic in 2060. Enlisted to deep space research in 2070.
Bioengineer Christopher Davis: 45 Divorced, no children. PHD from MIT II in 2080,
Designed and produced the ‘Davis Chip’ in 2090, revolutionizing download connections between computer memory and human memory. Sent to prison in 2092 for passing technical information to rebel groups during the Europan uprising. Enlistment to deep space research in 2094.
Structural Engineer Dale Tinker: 32, Single, Employed by Boeing/AirChung Intergalactic in 2080. Enlistment to deep space research in 2090.
Foreign Body Specialist Tammy Dart: 34, Single. Masters in Phylum Biology at Stanford 2089.
Enlisted in Mars expedition as Exobiological advisor in 2090, Enlisted in deep space research in 2095.’
The lieutenant shut off the images. “That’s a summary, Colonel. Would you like more detailed information?”
“No, that‘s enough,” the colonel said, with a raspy voice, “Set up a meeting with the Deep Space staff, so we can determine the next course to take.”
“Yes sir,” said the lieutenant.
After the lieutenant exited the door, the colonel gazed at the monitor, deep in thought. “Where are you, Sojourner5?”
***
Later that day, the staff met to discuss options for continuing the deep space research project. As Colonel Hastings entered the meeting room the Lieutenant ran up behind him.
“Colonel!” he whispered loudly.
He swung around to face the approaching officer. “What is it, Lieutenant?”
“General Marge Tobias won’t be able to make it, because her son was one of the injured personnel in the Discharge. She is on her way to see him at the mobile Deep Space Hospital, outside Pluto. However, General Philip Keagan, Major Pete Larson, Professor Yushi Sanyo, and Dr. Kinta Mobabi, will be here.”
“Sorry to hear about her son. He’s a good man. Thanks, Lieutenant. Stand by. I may need you.”
“Yes sir.” He backed up to the wall to be discrete.
Colonel Hastings entered the room and greeted the rest of the staff members. After introductions and pleasantries they took their seats to listen to the colonel. “Men, General Tobias can’t make it to the meeting due to an personal emergency. But due to the situation and the Interspatial News stories that will be haunting us shortly, we need to come up with some options quickly. My first and biggest concern is to save the lives of those injured and lost, and second concern is to evaluate whether or not to continue the deep space project. It has cost us trillions of dollars to get outpost communities on Europa, not to mention the deep space program to investigate the nearest star systems. And now, with of all our deep space vessels returning home, with the exception of one which is missing, the opportunity to possibly colonize Alpha Centauri and the others is being jeopardized.”
There was a pregnant pause until Professor Sanyo spoke up. “I believe there are much costs to consider—human and financial. One thing I am interested in is the How and What. How did this Discharge happen, and what was it? I suggest we continue to investigate the data on what it was that crippled our people and yet left the equipment and ships in tact. If we do not know what we are up against, we can not know how to respond to it appropriately in the future.”
General Keagan stood up and pounded his fist on the table, startling the others. “Good God men! This albatross has been hanging around my neck for ten years and it hasn’t paid us one dividend! The mining expeditions have come up virtually empty, my own country has been on my back, day-one, for investing our resources with the colonies when there are more pressing concerns at home. The E-News is going to rake us over the coals due to injured personnel who were conducting operations in a risky scheme to colonize the galaxy. I say we dump the whole intercontinental program and go with the drones. They’re cheaper and less susceptible to environmental conditions. We can still do our research, but without the danger to human life.” There was another pause as the General straightened his uniform and sat down.
The Colonel spoke his low course way. “Dr. Mobabi, do you have an opinion?”
The African professor of astrophysics, sat with his hands folded in his lap, quietly contemplating his next words. “Too me, it is a necessary condition that we continue the program—whether it be with the manned or unmanned space vehicles. I hate to sound selfish, but the overpopulation of my people and the lack of food supplies is directly correlated to the land and the resources available. Thus, there is no question, we must pursue colonization of other worlds. The methods are irrelevant...regardless of popular opinion to have manned vehicles.”
“Major, what do you think?”
Major Larson was deep in thought. “I understand the cost dilemma of this program countered by the popular excitement to send humans out into space. And yet all has gone awry. But this may be an excellent opportunity for research, which may be beneficial in the long run. Investigating teams are still analyzing information on this so-called Disturbance and have nothing to show for it. Therefore, my suggestion is this: I take the experimental Wayfarer1 and explore the phenomenon. This would allow me to test the newer Hydrogen Photoionic Gravimetric engineering design, or as you know it the HPG. If I had two good crew members along with me, I know I could get to the neighboring systems within a couple months. I could then continuously relay information back to Earth, which in the case of another disaster would allow you to have full information on the phenomena...even if I don’t make it back. In all, this would provide the deep space program proactive solutions for future flights.
After the major spoke, the Colonel squinted at the major over his nose. “I really don’t want to lose another good man to this Disturbance, but I like the idea that this could help the public feel like we are doing something, without spending a lot more funds than we already have.” He paused. “The Wayfarer does need a good long test run.”
“What if the Wayfarer has problems?” complained the general. “You know the navigational problems haven’t been eliminated. I don‘t want to have to plead with the Continents for additional resource expenditures, let alone have to reassure the spouses of this new team.”
Major Larson addressed the general calmly. “Sir. I’ve already had two test flights and they went very well. The ship starts slow, but picks up speed exponentially and rides smoothly. At the very least, it will give the public something to hope for. I’m single and I will enlist a crew that has no ties, so you don‘t have to concern yourself with spouses. When General Tobias returns, she will add to the information from those that experienced the Disturbance. This is a good first step.”
“Hmmm, if there is a next one,” said the Colonel, drumming the table with his fingers.
The major persisted. “Who knows, I may get lucky and find the Sojourner5 and find out what caused the disturbance.”
The colonel stood up and set both hands on the table. “Doubtful, Major. Nevertheless, we need to respond promptly, and the major’s idea sounds like the only stop-gap measure we have. What do you think men?”
All staff members agreed. Major Larson walked out of the meeting with a proud smile. He immediately punched in calls on his wrist-phone to his prospective crew candidates.
Three days later, Major Larson and his two crew members were ready to depart. The Wayfarer1 was docked at the intercontinentally owned space station. The older international space station was still used for connections between passenger craft to mars or lower orbits, but ICSS2, with its large docking and research facilities, allowed deep space projects to be conducted without commercial interference.
The Wayfarer1 was a slim, glistening, craft that has been tested with the sole purpose of deep space voyages. The Hydrogen Photoionic system was developed to achieve near light speed. But the Gravimetric system was coupled with it to achieve a leap beyond the Light Barrier. The Ship’s propulsion moves it toward light speed and then, since light is bent from masses like planets, cheats the bent space by finding a short-cut by adjusting the magnetic flux of the ship to pull or repel itself to any mass that is in the universes—much like the poles of a magnet to draw a metallic object.
Scientists have speculated that moving into this unknown speed will cause the ship to either break-up or move the ship into a different space-time continuum. Two previous tests with the Gravimetric system engaged, proved positive. However, these were only completed in five-second intervals. While no apparent complications were noted, very little data has been accumulated for analysis. The Major’s biggest challenge was controlling the ship after it passes light speed. If there is one tiny miscalculation, it could have the potential of either hitting an unforeseen object or worse. Saying it’s a risky, premature, venture, is putting it lightly…but that’s what test pilots like Major Larson live for.
Major Larson and his crew made the final checks on all operating systems and settled into their take-off positions. With the crew in their seats, the countdown began.
Over the speaker the last words the crew heard were: “Four—Three—Two—One—initiate launch.”
Slowly and methodically the ship moved off the docking bay toward the Epsilon system, with its blue particle beam trailing behind. While the most recent Antimatter propulsion ships have achieved two thirds of the speed of light straight out of the docking bay, the HPG displacement initiates a paltry 100mph at launch. The Wafarer1 is expected to double its speed every hour, for the next 24-30 hours, ultimately hitting an unknown diminishing yield. This ship is not only sustained by an experimental propulsion system, but by the hope and the future of deep space exploration.
***
Meanwhile, at the other side of the galaxy, the Negritee High council’s 2nd and 3rd premier were discussing strategy from the recent loss of their ship.
“Those Vlancos have interfered once to often into our affairs!” shouted the 2nd premier. “We had a simple agreement of non interference on one another's space interactions, and they have violated it! I will capture the High Onos Advisor and urinate in his face, for assisting those aliens!”
As the premier pounded his fists of the table, the 3rd premier cautioned him. “Excellency, before we extinguish our anger on the Vlancos, we must decide what retaliatory action should take place.” He bowed his head.
The 2nd premier looked at him with dormant fury. “Why have you stopped me from enjoying my anger? If I want to be angry with the Vlancos, let, me, be! You shan’t worry where I waste my anger!” he shouted back, face red, veins expanding.
The 3rd premier kept his head bowed, so as to show his submission, all the while with glorious thoughts of dismembering his Excellency, in a continuing sequence of steps to power. He had wittingly, and by chance, risen to power, using any means possible was not about to engage in primitive fear tactics.
Intellect, strength, and power are the mantras that feed the Negritee. They subdue the weaker species and control by fear. Slavery is a popular life style, but it only lasts as long as the life of the slave owner or slave retaliation. The people of the Negritee system allow pleasure in all forms to be experienced grandly. In their minds, there is no good or evil there is just power and pleasure.
It’s simple really. The current rules are based upon the 1st premier’s decision. Once the 2nd premier obtains that positions, his rules are immediately the law of the land. The premier status is only held by fifty Negritee, usually by becoming ruler of a planet or group of moons, or both. Status below premier is based on the military ranking system. As the Negritee gain dominion over more land, they have more ruling power. This is one reason conquest is so important. As a premier’s property increases so does his status with the Fifty. Unfortunately, for the 22nd premier, he was on the vessel that attacked the Earth ship and eventually captured by the Vlancos. The 23rd premier will move into his new position unless the missing premier can make his claim within six months of his capture. Each premier, in essence, has his own military power, but when the Negritee see a personal gain, they reluctantly band together with a total compliment for a mighty show of strength. Obviously the 1st premier wields the greatest power, and provides many incentives for his troops to support him.
“Excellency,” Disguman said, “if it were not for the Latent Energy device I provided you, you would not be in the position you are in at this time. I realized you granted me 3rd premier, but don‘t underestimate my resourcefulness.”
The 2nd premier sat back, with a hard gaze on him. “I know your place, Disguman, and I appreciate your cleaver mind, but remember you are no longer 4th premier, so do not dare to underestimate me. Continue,” he said, waving a pompous hand, eyes fixed with a deadly stare.
“Excellency, I propose that we send word to our emissaries in the outlying area of the Vlanco system. Let them know we must find a weakness which will enable us to penetrate their defenses and once and for all dominate them.”
“I do not understand how you think we could infiltrate the Vlanco system, even with one individual, even one can be marked in less than the time it takes me to do this,” he said, as he smashed a large insect, which oozed under the foot of the 2nd premier, a smile creeping up his lip.
“That is true, Excellency, which is why we need to enlist the help of the aliens. If we can make contact with them, we may be able to persuade them, for the right price, to help us.”
“How do you expect to contact these aliens, Disguman?”
“Excellency; the moment always presents itself, and when it does we must react promptly. But it is imperative I rely on the highest quality individuals at my command. My favorite approach is flattery and bribery. Therefore, if the aliens have even a little motivation for self pleasure, I guarantee we will have an ally inside.”
“Very sound tactic. Let me know when your emissary has made contact with the aliens. In the mean time, I will realign the Carpusian’s Armada for the Vlanco system. They are only two months from there. The reserve fleets will follow suite. Do you have the Latent Energy Device?
“Yes 2nd Premier.”
“Excellent, this could be the opportunity to subdue the Vlanco people. Tell the other fourty-seven of our plans, while I get confirmation from 1st premier.” He squinted at Disguman, “I believe you have two months to be a hero...or a slave! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
“Yes Excellency,” Disguman said. He bowed and turned to leave.
Laughter trailed off behind Disguman, as he strode briskly to the communication center.
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