Never mind corporations and governments that wanted to export their own particular form of greed and corruption to the stars, ensuring they owned all the resources they could wrap their hands around – some of whom were willing to kill to achieve their goals.
Today, though, things were looking up. Kirsten and her team had settled on the first planet they would colonize. Looking around her quarters one last time, she picked up her flight bag and stepped outside, ready to embark on her trip to 40 Eridani A – to confirm that the planet 40 Eridani A-c, provisionally named Liberty, could be colonized by humans.
At MarsDock Gusev in orbit overhead, the scoutship Rigel waited for her. Kirsten handed her bag to her aide, Lieutenant Commander Malthe Jensen - recently of the Royal Danish Navy – and walked to the shuttle bay and into the arms of Teresa and Jake, come to see her off. They hugged mightily for a long minute, before Kirsten finally broke free and told them, “I gotta go, guys. The shuttle’s waiting.”
“We’ll miss you, Kirs,” said Teresa. “By the time you get back, I’ll be taking Atsuko’s spooks to Aeolis. I won’t see you for at least three months. Please take good care of yourself.”
“I will,” said Kirsten, hugging Teresa one last time. Then she hugged Jake again and said, “See you in a month, big guy.” Jake nodded, kissing her on the forehead. With a wave, Kirsten turned and was gone through the hatch.
Jake turned to Teresa and shook his head. “I knew when we agreed to this crazy marriage we’d be mostly separated, but it’s still a hard thing to do.”
Teresa nodded. “Something we have to live with.”
Returning to his office, Jake thought about next steps. There was a lot going on now; things were starting to move.
Kirsten was on her way to check out the first colonization planet. It was her job to vet the planet as a viable colonization target, then make it happen. Kirsten was good at her job; a graduate of MIT in physics and astronomy, she had worked for several years in exomoon detection and classification at Columbia with Luebmann but grew frustrated at the limitations of their equipment and budgets. She then moved to Applied Engineering Labs in Austin, Texas, becoming a primary researcher in asteroid mining as the tech startup attempted to create the first viable deep space mining venture. There were few astrophysicists in the world who matched her level of expertise in these dual areas. Jake knew Kirsten would lead them to the right decisions for both.
Meanwhile, another of his favorite new officers, Captain Lois Vetton, was leaving in the frigate Beijing tomorrow for a clandestine journey into the Bat Empire, their first tentative foray into the area of great danger. Lois had come over from the European Space Agency astronaut program. Jake found her to be extraordinarily capable and had assigned her to make the first scout of the Bats.
Finally, Teresa was taking the newly commissioned frigate Chengdu to insert some of Atsuko’s intelligence operatives into the Aeolian Empire – the recently revealed humans 580 light years from Earth, in the Beehive Cluster. Teresa’s trip would take 38 days, one way. Jake would not see her again for at least three months, depending on how much time she spent sneaking around the Aeolian Empire before she could drop off Atsuko’s ‘operatives’.
There was no reason infiltration couldn’t work. Pandora had told them the humans of the Aeolian Empire were physically indistinguishable from those of Earth. And Pandora had, somewhat grudgingly, provided a technology called ‘compressed learning’. This allowed a person to learn a new language in three or four nights of sleep, while the machine inserted the knowledge directly into their brain.
Teresa had insisted on being the guinea pig for the first test. As a result, she now spoke fluent Japanese – which amused her no end as she and Atsuko cracked dirty jokes in a language nobody else on the team could understand. Teresa had not discovered any side effects, nor had her medical team, so she signed off on the use of the device for Atsuko’s intelligence operatives. Personnel targeted for insertion into the Aeolian Empire received a compressed learning course in Aeolian language and customs, information provided by Pandora.
Pandora did this with poor temper; she explained to Jake that the Ruling Council of the Machine Space had authorized her to warn Earth of the Bat Empire and the danger it presented, and to provide technology to humanity to give them basic technical equality with the Bats; nothing more was authorized. However, they had provided Pandora with some discretion, she said, to make her own judgment as to what was ‘equality’. Thus, she provided as much support as she thought she could get away with; but she affirmed she was not looking forward to reporting some of her actions back to the Council.
Jake sympathized; but he needed every advantage if the RDF was to successfully fight the Bat Empire before Earth was discovered and wiped out. Therefore, he was not above playing on Pandora’s emotions when he needed something. They had developed a good relationship; he looked at Pandora as a person, who just happened to have the body of a starship. He treated her with respect and humor.
Only four people were allowed inside Pandora; Jake, Teresa, Kirsten and Atsuko. No one knew that Atsuko was a clone, created by Pandora before her arrival on Earth; that had never been revealed to humanity, and as far as Jake was concerned, it never would be. There was too much prejudice in the world for him to take that chance. Atsuko had been onboard waiting for them, that first day when Jake, Teresa and Kirsten entered Pandora.
Jake would never forget that day; he had been stunned, as had Teresa and Kirsten. Atsuko told them she had been created by Pandora specifically to help them assimilate the news – that humanity was in great danger. And the three of them would be key to the survival of the species. She had told them about the Bats. And the Aeolians.
Jake thought the news of the Aeolians was even more surprising than the Bats. It was one thing to hear about an alien race that would someday come for Earth, intent on destruction. That was scary, but sort of understandable.
It was quite another thing to hear the news there was another human star empire descended from ancient Greeks and Amazons, living in the Beehive Cluster 580 light years away – descendants of a small group of humans abducted in 750BC and abandoned on another planet, where they had survived against all odds, prospered, and formed a Star Empire.
He leaned back and sighed; he truly wanted to go with Teresa and Atsuko to Aeolian space, to see this newly revealed human star empire. But he could not. He had starships to build, a military organization to put together, an academy to develop for officer training, weapons designs to research and approve, a thousand other things to be done to create an entire space navy from scratch.
Jake pushed all the extraneous worry out of his mind and bent to his tasks.
***
Entering the Rigel, Kirsten dropped her bags in her cabin and made her way to the bridge. She took the observer’s chair near the back and watched as the bridge crew made ready for departure. 40 Eridani A was 16.3 light years from Earth; the Rigel would take 34 hours to get from Mars to the Sun’s mass limit. Then they would sink out into six-space. 24 hours later, they would surface in the outer regions of the 40 Eridani A system and spend the next 32 hours traveling into the system at sublight speeds, arriving at the planet Liberty after a total travel time of 90 hours.
Captain Aaron Flagg sat in his command chair in the center rear of the bridge, with three consoles in front of him – Helm in the center, Tactical to the right, Comm to the left. Kirsten was behind and to his left in the observer’s chair. His XO sat slightly ahead and to his right. Captain Flagg’s command chair was elevated above theirs, showing clearly who was in charge.
“XO, are we ready?” asked Captain Flagg.
“Aye, sir,” acknowledged Commander Jeffrey Eidson. “All sections manned and ready, ship is fully ready for flight.”
“Very good. Comm, notify Gusev control we are ready to detach.”
“Gusev control acknowledges and we are cleared to detach, sir.” replied the Comm Officer.
“Helm, detach a
nd take us out.”
With a loud clang that could be heard throughout the ship, the Rigel detached from spacedock and floated free. The Helm officer monitored the NavAI as the ship turned slowly and moved away under low power until the Rigel was two full kilometers from the dock.
“XO, make course for Liberty. I’ll be in my ready room if you need me. Notify me when we reach the 20 AU point.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Eidson. The Rigel slowly ramped up power until the acceleration reached 75g – standard accel for near-planet operations.
“Dr. Monk, would you like to join me in my ready room? I have some decent wine, which I can’t drink right now because I’m on duty – but I can serve my guests!”
Kirsten smiled and followed Captain Flagg. Wine was hard to come by on Mars.
During shakedown and flight testing, the Rigel had already made one trip to 40 Eridani A, as well as quick trips to Proxima Centauri, Tau Ceti and the Trappist-1 system. But those were shakedown missions, focused on ensuring the systems of the scoutship were working correctly. Some science had been done, but not much; Jake insisted only a skeleton crew be used for flight test missions, even more so after the near-fatal issues with the Sirius. This would be the first full science mission for the Rigel.
However, the initial shakedown trip had shown that Liberty appeared habitable for humans. It had therefore been designated as the primary candidate for the first off-Earth colony. Kirsten’s job was to confirm the science, then ensure the logistics, resources and personnel were in place for the first colony ship to depart Earth in two months - target date 15 March, 2124. Back on Earth, the candidate colonists – made up of equal numbers of each of the human races – were already selected and undergoing training for settlement in their new home. The colony transport ship Yorkshire was complete and performing shakedown testing, currently enroute to Tau Ceti for its third interstellar outing. Upon its return in three days, it would berth at spacedock Yehliu. Then, the ETOs would start loading equipment and supplies – until everything needed to support 1,000 humans in their new home for one full year was carefully placed on board. In 55 days – on 10 March 2124 - the colonists themselves would start occupying the Yorkshire. They would live on board for five days, ensuring that all human-required systems were working correctly and eliminating any candidates who couldn’t take life aboard ship. Then the Yorkshire would launch for Liberty – assuming Kirsten gave the green light.
***
Next morning on the Beijing, Lois Vetton called Jake to let him know she was departing MarsDock for the Bat Empire. There wasn’t much to say; everything had been planned out. Now it was time to go take a first look at the enemy. Jake wished her luck and reminded her to send a QE squirt every six hours until she got back.
QE transmission was another technology received via Pandora; based on quantum entanglement principles, it allowed a low speed transmission across interstellar distances instantly. Lois was required to keep them informed as she traveled to her destination – a point in empty space one-half light year above the ecliptic of the Bat home system.
There the Beijing would sit quietly, collecting ELINT – electronic intelligence - for one or two months. Once Lois decided they had milked the ELINT for all that could be learned from that distance, she would return, and the spooks would start pouring over the data.
Lois would leave behind an array of QE buoys, which would remain in empty space above the system and transmit at their low bit rate as much as possible about ship movements and traffic patterns in the Bat home system.
Just as he finished the call with Lois, Teresa bounced into his office.
“Hey O Fearless Leader, what’s up?” she said.
Jake stared at her. “Don’t you think you should respect the position, even if you don’t respect the man?”
Teresa smiled. “Now, where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah, - the Academy!”
Teresa came around the desk, leaned over and kissed him. “How’s that?” she asked.
“Better,” Jake groused. Teresa laughed.
“Hey, I’m off to Aeolis. Wanta come with?”
“You know I do,” Jake said. “And you know I can’t”
Teresa nodded. “I know. But I had to zing you. I get to go see these lost children of Earth first. As it should be, of course!”
Jake stood, wrapping Teresa in a hug. “Be careful out there, Terese,” he said. “According to Pandora, these Aeolians are the sharpest tools in the shed. Don’t let them catch you. Please stick to protocol.”
Jake released her from the hug, and she looked up at him.
“I’ll be careful, Jake. See you in three months or so.” Teresa leaned in and kissed him again, then turned to go.
Jake stopped her. “Terese…”
She turned and waited.
“Stick to the plan,” he said. “Don’t get too creative.”
Teresa smiled. “Why, Jake Hammett,” she said. “You know me too well!”
And she was gone.
Jake went back to his desk. He sat and stared off into space. Musing, he considered the downside of a triple marriage. When they were both gone, it was going to be double lonely, he realized.
***
Two days later, Jake was moody. The HQ complex was full of people, bustling around; but there was no one there he could talk to on a personal basis. Teresa was long gone - by her schedule, already 30 light years from Sol toward Aeolis. Kirsten would be almost to Liberty now, ready to start her science scans. Jake decided there was only one entity he could talk to – just outside the main complex in Valles Marineris.
There, Pandora rested under a geodesic dome, where she had come to rest after relocating from Geneva to MarsBase. Most of the MarsBase Headquarters complex was underground; only Pandora and a few surface installations were visible above. The RDF had selected a narrow part of the chasm of the Valles Marineris and roofed a section over with a sandwich of aerogel and regolith, supported by native basalt columns, using a 3D printed scaffolding. The two sides open to the canyon had also been closed off, while the walls of the canyon itself provided protection from the other two directions. Together, the sides and roof provided protection from both weather and radiation.
At one end of the complex, a small factory performed chemical removal of perchlorate from the native Martian soil, yielding a compound amenable to the growth of Earth plants. Four large greenhouses stood at the corners of the site, illuminated by artificial light. Four nuclear generators, two primaries and two backups, sat at opposite ends of the complex. A large enclosed dock for shuttles sat at the opposite end of the complex from Pandora’s dome, with a rotary docking bay which received shuttles and rotated them to the pressurized section of the underground garage. Using the rotary docking bay, shuttles could be simultaneously received and launched, like bullets from an old West six-shooter.
Walking from his office to the end of the complex, Jake entered the tunnel leading to Pandora. Passing through two open hatches, he emerged into her dome. As he approached, Pandora opened a sliding hatch, inviting him in. He entered, turned left at the first door as usual, and found himself once more in the Club room, just as it had been on the first day he entered the ship. Every time he entered this place, his mind snapped back to that day - the incredulity of the three of them as they stepped through the door and found themselves in such a mundane environment, perfectly re-created by Pandora to put them at ease.
Moving to the bar at the back of the room, he prepared a vodka screwdriver. Today had been a hard day. He had received news that three workers had been killed in a construction accident at spacedock Yehliu. Three more names to add to the black slab of memorial granite in the lobby of the HQ complex. Space was not a forgiving environment.
Sitting down at the nearest table, Jake stared out the transparent sides of Pandora, through the windows of the external dome, at the valley stretching southeast before him. Even down in the chasm, it was beautiful – but a sere, wild kind of beauty. Beautiful, but d
eadly.
Pandora refused to tell them how the walls of her ship could be transparent from the inside, but not from the outside. She said it wasn’t information necessary for equality with the Bat Empire, therefore, she didn’t have to tell them. Jake had given up asking.
After a few minutes with his drink, Jake placed it on the table and put forward the question foremost on his mind:
“Pandora, how are our chances looking now? Any improvement?”
Jake heard Pandora’s response directly in his mind; it sounded like someone speaking to him from above his head. He was used to it by now.
“How?” exclaimed Jake. “What did we do to make it better?”
“What? How could that make things better? That wasn’t planned – it just happened!”
“I don’t understand.”
Jake sighed.
“Why do you have to be so cryptic, Pandora?”
Jake laughed. “Yes, of that I’m sure.”
Jake nodded, silently. Then he finished his drink and sat quietly for a few minutes before he rose and made another. As he returned to his seat, Pandora spoke again.
Jake sat, knocked back half of the drink, then set it down on the table.
“What have you done now, Pandora?”
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