Now, it would simply be how fast they could go.
His first manned prototype, which he called the Stingray in honor of where he lived, was not going to go into space today. Today, it was only going to tour around in the ocean and then above it in a limited capacity.
The photodrive, named for the fact that whatever was within its field would appear unmoving to the point of creepiness, was not very fast yet but could achieve speeds up to about ninety miles an hour in any medium. It could also change direction on the proverbial dime. In the air, and especially within space, that was not an issue, but underwater it could create problems. The first time they’d moved their test probes underwater at full speed, it had displaced the water in surprising amounts.
Today, Terry knew to limit himself to only about forty miles-per-hour while underwater so as to not cause too much disruption. While close to the Atlantis hanger bay, he limited himself to twenty while Piper talked to him over the Stingray’s com device.
“Okay, Terry, I’m reading everything as operating well within parameters,” Piper said, sounding distracted. Terry could picture the spunky blonde flicking and move things on her holographic display. Faintly in the background, she could hear Tad asking her a question.
“What’s he going on about?” Terry asked, changing the Stingray’s vector by ten degrees up using the manual controls. They were fairly basic, mimicking a holographic handle that Terry could grasp and as long as he kept his hand closed, it would follow the direction he indicated. Speed was a matter of how far in a particular direction he moved his hand before letting go. If he let go, the craft would continue on its present course until re-directed. The hologram had indicators for direction and speed built in, measuring his hand placement and giving him feedback for learning purposes.
“Tad, shut up, I can’t hear what Terry is saying over your blathering,” Piper said faintly before hearing her voice more clearly. “Come again, Terry?”
Terry smiled, repeating his request. His own DPA, Hutch, was plugged into a recess in the control panel, helping him to fly the Stingray. Hutch was not nearly as odd as Tad, but after being connected to Terry’s brain for several years, he had his idiosyncrasies. “I asked what Tad was talking about. Something about steering?”
“Yes, the pest wanted to know if you were adapting to the weird steering or if you were having problems,” Piper asked.
Terry thought about it, though he knew he didn’t really have enough information yet. However, it was strange only moving in a particular direction. There was no drift or curving around obstacles because there was no momentum. If he wanted to turn a corner, he had to go just past the corner, and then move in a ninety-degree-angle. The most difficulty came when attempting to rotate the craft and move in a different direction. That could become confusing.
They had been able to practice with the various remote-controlled test craft, and while still having some difficulty with rotation, they had installed a reset button that would automatically orient the craft on a forward heading. What Tad was referring to was if there would be any difficulty from being in the vehicle. “So far, so good. It’s not been a problem at all, and gives me decent control, though I’m out in the ocean. There’s nothing to hit out here.”
“If we need to, I can program curves into how the drive travels, but I’m not sure why we would need to do that.”
“We’ll have to figure that out sooner than later. There are a ton of pilots that will have an opinion, I’m sure,” Terry said, watching the flickering mirror that was the surface of the ocean.
“Approaching ocean surface in forty feet,” Hutch’s voice said from the Stingray’s speakers.
Terry’s dark hand rose, wrapping around the holographic control stick and goosed the speed a little up to thirty miles-an-hour. He wanted to make an entrance for the surface craft.
A moment later, the Stingray burst from the surface of the ocean, erupting into the air amid a massive spray of crystal water droplets. Terry could almost feel the awe from the observers that had been sent ahead, knowing that seeing anything breach from the ocean on a sunny day was awe inspiring.
He let the craft reach about fifty feet before attempting to level it out. He spent several seconds trying to adjust the angle but missing his goal by minute degrees before finally giving up. Reluctantly, he sent Hutch a mental request to do it for him, eliciting a small chuckle from his companion as the Stingray settled into a flat course.
“Still issues with manual flying,” Terry said over the com. “Maybe we can incorporate some sort of auto-correction component into the steering? Something that might anticipate the ground and fly perpendicular to it? Maybe even an auto-correct function?”
“Maybe, though just think of the headache auto-correct causes people who text,” Piper said, though she didn’t sound convinced. “We might also be overthinking this. I don’t want to limit the steering yet. Besides, Hutch seems to have made the correction easily enough.”
“True, but not everyone will have a mental interface with their DPA. Most people seem to think that’s what too far feels like as far as computers go,” Terry said. “No offense, Hutch or Tad.”
“No offense taken,” Hutch said. Terry heard Tad say something unclear over the com, but it didn’t sound nearly as polite as Hutch, so he didn’t ask for clarification. A moment later, the Stingray pulled a stunt that most people would have thought was impossible a few years earlier. It literally changed direction, going one-hundred-eighty degrees from its previous course in an instant. There was no deceleration or acceleration involve. It simply went from moving one direction to the other with no impact or stress upon the hull of the Stingray itself.
Terry, moving at a cool thirty miles an hour buzzed back over the observation ships, waving down at the scientists on the decks. He couldn’t wait to take it into space.
Chapter 3
Time: April 27, 2036
Location: Gateway Station, Mid-Earth Orbit
Like Atlantis under the ocean floor, Gateway had grown over the intervening years and had fulfilled most, though not all, of its objectives. It still served as a place for businesses and nations who wished to rent space for a variety of reasons, but with the UN and so many major countries continuing to work against Empyrean, the tenants it did have were experiencing a renaissance, and it was beginning to have an impact on the world below.
Many countries that had once been considered second or third world had embraced the change, using Empyrean as the bootstraps they needed to pull their countries out of poverty and even reversing some of the brain-drain that had plagued them for decades. Now, for the opportunity to work in space and in many ways, the cutting edge of many sciences, the intellectuals, and scientists of the world were forced to go not through the Western World, but through whoever was willing to work with Empyrean.
It was both a great and sad thing to watch. Alex himself had been an American until forced to give up his citizenship several years ago. While the US was not the most vocal detractor, it was a political country that could be swayed too easily by powerful special interests. After the UN had come out against them, too many companies had used their lobbyists to work the American public into a froth against Empyrean, and science in general. It had resulted in a terrible reversal from embracing innovation to celebrating tradition which had slowly eroded the country’s power.
Alex pondered this as he gazed out over the beautiful blue planet, watching it turn under him from his office. He loved the fact that the inertial shields enabled them to have massive windows, protected from the dangers of space. Seeing the earth like this was breathtaking, and reminded him that what was important, was the preservation of all of it, not just individual areas.
“I still have no clue how you stay so damn young,” growled a voice from behind him that Alex recognized immediately.
Alex grinned, turning and seeing an old friend walk into his office. General Tali Solmon, retired, no longer wore a uniform having left the service sever
al years ago after having suffered through a terrible scandal where he’d been ousted from the military. Though noble in cause, once it had been found out he’d helped arrange for many vets to find their way to Empyrean hospital ships, and a significant increase in quality of life, his career had been over.
He’d mourned the loss of his career for precisely one day before boarding a flight with his wife to Chili, and then from there to his new position as head of intelligence of Empyrean incorporated. It had been a shock to some of his enemies, but not to some of his friends who had followed close on his heels, resulting in a mini-exodus.
“The same thing that’s keeping you from falling apart,” Alex said, watching as the general walked spryly toward his desk. “How are the treatments? Helen said she’s managed to reduce any accompanying nausea.”
“Like you don’t know,” Tali said, squinting at him. He still looked old. Helen hadn’t been able to remove the effect of aging, but she’d managed to figure out several enzymes that assisted with regenerating tissue and help deliver them through the use of her ever-more-efficient bio-nanites. It helped a little but didn’t undo everything. “I figure you must be bathing in that nasty concoction she injects me with daily, or drink it like wine. You haven’t aged a day since I met you. It would have been ten times worse without gravity, too.”
“Good genes, but you’re right about the gravity. It’s made the world of difference up here on the station. Some days, I almost can’t believe I’m in space.” Alex said, shrugging.
“I wish I had some of those genes,” Tali said, snorting. “I know how old you are, and more importantly, how old Colleen is, though I’d never admit that to her face. I am a gentleman, after all.”
Alex grinned. “John says otherwise.”
“Of course,” General Solmon said as he sat in the chair in front of Alex’s desk. His DPA flitted over his shoulder, seeming to come to attention as if it were in the military. General Solmon, unlike many others, had not shied away from linking his mind with that of his DPA and taking advantage of the benefits that it offered. As a result, his DPA’s personality had developed. Not surprisingly it had taken a distinctly military bearing. “Listen, I didn’t come here just to tell you about my bathroom habits. Private Benjamin here and I have something to show you.”
He flicked his hand, signaling the DPA to float forward and flash a hologram onto Alex’s desk. One that had Alex leaning over in curiosity. “We’ve finally managed to trace one of the signals that the unknown satellite received,” Benjamin said in a voice that sounded exactly like Goldie Hawn. It made Alex grin whenever he’d hear it though the subject of the report quickly whipped it off of his face.
The satellite. They’d been trying to figure out where its controllers were for years and had not had any success. Whoever owned it had attempted to fire a laser through it a month after Empyrean announced its intent to resist the UN directives, but thanks to Tad having smeared oil onto the lenses, the beam had only ended up melting the mirrors rather than threatening Gateway. However, it had not destroyed the satellite, entirely.
In response, Empyrean had decided to leave it alone in hopes it might lead them to its masters. Whoever was behind it was clever, however, bouncing their signals to a truly staggering number of relay stations and keeping their signals short enough that it had been impossible to trace.
Until, apparently, now.
“Is this it?” Alex said, pointing to the small clearing situated in some tropical jungle that he didn’t recognize.
“Yes, Sir! The signal looks like it’s coming from this building in northern Brazil,” Benjamin said sharply, filling Alex’s imagination with a picture of the diminutive actress standing at attention. “Records indicate it’s private property listed under a truly ridiculous number of shell companies.”
“Is there any way to find out who’s behind them?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
General Solmon shook his head. “No, and even if we did, they don’t go to anyone very impressive. Most likely these people don’t even realize they own this building. The CIA did that all the time. It’s a good cover.”
“So, what do you recommend?” Alex asked.
“Go in and look,” General Solmon said. “Maybe we can get some active intel. Nathan’s been chomping at the bit, and he’s ready to go, though I trust him not to take any unnecessary chances. After all this time, finally getting a trace is a little suspicious. He’ll be cautious enough.”
“Very well, let’s see what we can find,” Alex said, still staring intently at the small, fenced shack in the middle of nowhere. “I’d love to put these people behind us.”
“You and me both,” General Solmon said before getting up. “Private Benjamin, fall in.”
“Yes, sir!” Benjamin said as she floated in behind the man, following as he rushed out of the room. Alex wondered if General Solmon walked casually anywhere, but doubted it.
Chapter 4
Time: April 27, 2036
Location: Gateway Station, Mid-Earth Orbit
That same day on another part of the station, Nabhitha stood waiting on the landing deck of the hanger where her friend Captain Amobi was just departing from his spacecraft. He had just come back from the slowly developing moon base where Empyrean was working to set up several mining operations and research stations.
“Tayo! It’s so good to see you,” Nabhitha said, smiling and giving the graying captain a hug. “How is everything going at Peary Station?”
“It goes well, Nabhitha,” the man said, his smile bright on his face. “We managed to find the problem with the gravity fields. You won’t believe what it turned out to be.”
Nabhitha cocked her head to the side, curious. The construction of the moon base had proceeded without issue until they’d tried to install the gravity fields. It had caused instability in the soil, and even a minor moonquake, setting the mining efforts months behind schedule. She knew it was a matter of time before they learned the solution, but knowing they had succeeded was good news. “What was it?” she finally asked when Captain Amobi didn’t answer right away.
“Patience, dear Nabhitha,” Tayo said. “Perhaps I shall tell you over some Suya? I told my crew I would make some for them, and you are welcome to attend the dinner tonight.”
Nabhitha rolled her eyes playfully at the taller, dark-skinned man. “Would you really make me wait for the answer, Tayo? That would be torture, though I will still take you up on your Suya. No take backs on that spicy goodness!”
Captain Amobi chuckled, shaking his head. “And you would read the reports, anyway, I am sure. Okay, I will tell you,” he said. “It turned out to be a shamefully simple issue that we all should have thought about from the beginning. The gravity compressed areas of the moon’s surface under the station. It created space between the compressed areas and the non-compressed areas, where the dust and loose rock acted almost like a lubricant. It has caused some issues with several parts of the base.”
Nabhitha frowned, looking down at her feet as they walked. Tayo was right, it was something they all should have thought of, and it would set the activities on the moon back. However, she also knew that as fast as their technology was improving, there would be times like this. She was just happy that this phenomenon hadn’t resulted in any deaths. “How long will it take to correct?”
“Well, construction going forward will not be difficult, we just have to make sure we sink anchor points deep into the surrounding rock, and pre-compress the ground before building. The longest delay will be in those areas that have already been built. We either have to re-adjust some sections to be level, or de-construct and re-construct them. I’m afraid we’ll end up doing the latter for most of it.” Tayo said, shrugging. “The good news is that most of the mining and refining areas are kept low-gravity, so production is proceeding as planned. We’ll be on track to launching material from the moon for pickup within a few months. I’m just glad we didn’t get the mass drivers working before we figured out
the problem with the gravity.”
Nabhitha’s eyes went wide, imagining one of the massive magnetic launchers trying to fire off tons of material into space while attached to, effectively, nothing. The damage would have been dreadful.
“Exactly,” Captain Amobi said, observing the look on Nabhitha’s face. “However, I didn’t ask you to meet me just to tell you about the disaster we avoided. I wanted to show you something and get your take on what it might be.”
“Oh, a mystery? I love mysteries.”
***
Thirty minutes later, Captain Amobi and Nabhitha had retired to a currently unused holographic lab deep in the heart of Gateway station. His DPA hovered down, linking in with the table’s controls and using them to project several screens above the surface. After a few moments, Nabhitha gave Toya an amazed look and then immediately called Colleen.
“Hello?” Colleen said as she answered the call, dressed in a bright blue lab coat with paisley flowers splattering its surface. A moment later, there was a violet flash from behind her which diverted her attention, making her call off screen to someone about adjusting something or other. When she was done, she wrinkled her nose and waved her hand before turning back, a bright smile reappearing on her face. “What can I do for you Nabhitha?”
“Captain Amobi from Peary Station found something odd on the moon, and I wanted you to take a look at it,” Nabhitha said, sending the results that Toya had brought down so Colleen could see it as well.
Colleen leaned forward, studying the readings for several moments before drawing in a sharp breath. “Oh my,” she said, looking back up. “You say you found this? In what form?”
Toya nodded, flicking his fingers and calling up a map of the moon, then directing it toward a specific spot deep below the surface. “Here. It was scattered amongst some meteoric tungsten and silicates. I’ve never seen it’s like before.”
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