by J E Grace
Mitch put the craft into escape velocity, firing the reverse thrusters at full speed. After a harrowing fight, it began to break away and again was headed on course.
During this time, I was looking out the window and saw an unidentified spacecraft fly directly into the path of the magnetic field. I rubbed my eyes and took another look, but it had disappeared. It had come between the ship and the magnetic field in time to draw us away. Who and what was it?
“Did you see that? Where did it come from?” I asked unable to believe what I saw.
“See what? I was too busy trying to save our butts,” replied Mitch.
Mitch laid his head on the module control panel. His heart beat rapidly in his chest and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. “That was too close for comfort.”
“You’re not kidding,” said Michael and Randall in unison.
We were quickly approaching Europa. Its surface of frozen ice resembled a melting country lake with fractures zig-zagging its surface. It had an unusually smooth surface, a few large impact areas and was made up of mostly silicate rock containing silicon and oxygen. Geysers erupted along its cracks.
“It’s time to collect some more samples. Put err’ down Mitch,” said Michael.
We quickly got into our couches and strapped in for the landing. It would be a bumpy ride down to the surface.
Chapter Eight
In the control center, tense flight controllers sat riveted to their data consoles. The control center was configured in terraced rows. Each successive row toward the front of the room was lower than the one behind it so that each skilled technician had a clear view of the staff and also the enormous projection screens covering the front wall.
The screens of the monitors in front of each person glowed and flashed with every twitch and slide of Alganon I. Flight Director, Max Reed, paced nervously between consoles. He was the final authority in an emergency situation. He prayed everything would go according to plan.
“Control Center to Alganon I, we are receiving your photographs. Keep up the good work.”
“Alganon I to Control Center, we copy,” said Mitch.
In a few minutes, the spacecraft came to an abrupt stop, and we unstrapped. Michael, Randall and I went to the windows for a better view. Europa with its distinctive orange lines was in sight before us.
Michael readied the drilling equipment and began his work. The drill went underneath the surface and made contact. Ore samples started filling a separate compartment. They would each be analyzed according to the location where they were retrieved.
The indicator light on the equipment went off letting Michael know that there was water concentrated amongst the ore. He quickly switched the machine over and set it up for liquid extraction. It immediately began sucking up the liquid and placing it in the special compartment.
“Well, they may be right. There might be a global ocean underneath Europa after all. We won’t be sure until we compile the data when we return,” he said as he switched off the equipment. “All this work is making me hungry. Break out the grub.”
We had the latest hi-tech food processors available; the pouch filled rations were a thing of the past. Anything our heart desired was within reach. We each programmed in our choice of food and sat together at the dining table just to the left of the control module.
After cleanup, which was virtually non-existent thanks to the computerized food extraction system, we were ready to lift off again. We were heading to Ganymede.
I decided to get some shut-eye. I was beginning to feel a little fatigued. We had captured some great photos that were being sent to the control room at Interplay, and everything had gone as planned.
I had just drifted off to sleep when the craft took an abrupt right dip. I jumped to my feet and made my way to the command module.
“Hey, guys, what’s up. You almost dumped me out on my head,” I asked walking over to Mitch who was busy flipping switches on the control panel.
“Paul took over for me while I caught some sleep. He accidentally erased some of the navigational data from the computer. I had to enter some commands for the computer to counteract the action.” said Mitch.
“Command Center to Alganon I, do you read?”
“Alganon I, we copy,” said Mitch.
“What happened up there? It looked like your navigational system malfunctioned.”
“No, just Paul. He had wandering fingers. Pushed the wrong sequence and erased some navigational data. It won’t happen again.” said Mitch.
“I thought we might have to upload new data to you and take over the controls,” said Max Reed.
“Not necessary. We got it covered,” I said. “Alganon I, out.”
Men hunched over their consoles studying the spacecraft’s telemetry to make sure everything was working correctly. Once again, the control center sat in silence. Men whose shifts had ended earlier mulled about their consoles waiting to catch any glimpses they could of Ganymede.
~
Randall walked over to the stereo system controls and flipped the switch to on. The command module filled with the music score from “Star Trek.”
“Good choice, Randall."
“Yeah, makes me feel like I’m headed into the lost frontier. Just don’t forget the way home, Mitch,” said Michael. The music made him remember just how far away he was from Carol and the kids. Michael missed them so much. Being up in space made him realize just how much they meant to him and he just wanted a safe return home.
~
We were quickly coming up on Ganymede. Out the windows to the right, we could see that it resembled Earth’s moon. There were darker zones caused by dirt, rock and ice flung from impact craters had whitened its surface in places. As we flew over another area, we could see long grooves that looked like they were made by a giant rake pulled in crisscross patterns.
“It looks like crop circles. What do you think?” asked Randall.
“You never know. After all, the origin of the ones on Earth has never been determined,” I said observing the terrain below.
We came upon what appeared to be ice fields and great tile-like blocks. Interplay had a theory that beneath the crust there might be a liquid water mantle and below that a solid core rich in silicate rock, similar to the foundation that made up the Earth’s crust. It was up to us to collect data samples to either prove or disprove their theory.
“Time to buckle up,” said Mitch as he punched in the landing coordinates. In minutes we were down, making a smooth landing.
“Algenon 1 to the command center. We have touched down. How are the pictures?” asked Mitch.
After a few minutes, the command center replied, “We’re in the dark. There’s a problem.”
Paul entered some data into the computer, and the pictures were operational again.
“Command center to Alganon I, you’re coming in sharp and clear. Happy mining.”
Michael got his equipment ready. Based on another Interplay theory, one that suggested that frozen oxygen existed on the surface, he would extract the material and place it in the cylinders that had been prepared for that specific purpose.
“If this works we may have a new source of oxygen. We could set up an interplanetary station and dock to refill our service modules as necessary during space travel,” said Michael.
“We could definitely go to the far reaches of the universe. Who knows what’s out there,” I replied as I unbuckled.
We decided to stay docked for a while and take time for some downtime. It consisted of a poker game. Paul decided he would pass. After a couple of hours, Randall emerged the winner. When he got home, he would collect $500 from his companions in space. After taking turns in the shower facility and having dinner, the crew made preparations for their return voyage home. It was a few minutes to liftoff.
Chapter Nine
Jeanette did not enjoy the last few days alone with Doug. He could be a royal pain. He was always in her way, and his smirk was getting on her nerves
. Two more days until the rest of the crew would be back, and things would get back to normal. She felt a yearning to see Davis again. She couldn’t explain the feelings that had surfaced deep within her. They were feelings that she hadn’t thought of for quite some time.
She had missed Philip and the life they had shared together. He had been a wonderful husband and was taken from her prematurely. A veteran cop, killed in action four years ago, but to her, it seemed like yesterday.
She tried to concentrate on the work in front of her. There were still some lab samples that had to be analyzed before the rest of the team returned.
“Doug, do you think you could manage to get this report down to operations without getting lost?” she asked giving him a look of mistrust. “They need it right away.”
“Sure, anything for you babe,” he said with a grin. “Be right back.”
“Don’t hurry. I’ll make out fine without you.”
There were times when she wished someone would give him a transfer to the North Pole or some other place far, far away.
A few minutes later Doug handed the paperwork over to an operations intake supervisor, and it was time stamped and dated.
Upon leaving the secured area, he grumbled quietly under his breath. They were all a bunch of stuffed shirts without a clue. Deception would be an easy task, one he would enjoy immensely.
Doug left the building and made his way across the open yard. Interplay was bustling with activity as usual. He had just entered the long walkway area leading to the lab when the orb appeared. It floated above him and seemed to emit a message only he could comprehend. He retrieved it and answered back without hesitation. He would enjoy his assignment very much.
The hallways of Interplay were virtually deserted, except a guard stationed just outside of the lab area. The guard would be no problem, as he was one of their own. He would be in and out without anyone even knowing he was there. He entered the lab quietly and proceeded with his plan. The entire operation took less than ten minutes.
~
Miles up in outer space we prepared ourselves for our final descent to Earth. My time in outer space did very little to take my mind off of Jeanette. If anything, I seemed more infatuated with her than ever.
Michael prepared for the landing. He was relieved that the mission was so close to being over and he would see his family soon. Carol’s apprehension and bad feelings about his leaving had concerned him. It wasn’t like her to be bothered with premonitions of despair.
Chapter Ten
Back in the lab again, I was glad to have my feet on solid ground. Jeanette was busy analyzing the chemical makeup of the atmosphere of the planets. The machine was busy separating light into component colors or wavelengths and creating a corresponding map of its electromagnetic spectrum. At the end of the spectrograph, data was being printed as dark lines.
In another part of the lab, Randall was busy checking fluoride amounts in the extracted water from his device. Screening and sedimentation were done to eliminate suspended materials and then treated with activated carbon to remove tastes and odors. Then the process of filtration, chlorination or irradiation to kill ineffective microorganisms was used.
Pressure would be used to force the fresh water through a thin membrane that would not allow minerals to pass. All this was done, in hopes of making potable drinking water, which would be stored as reserves. So far, everything was going well.
“How’s the data coming?” I asked.
“The water tests will be complete by morning. Looking good so far,” said Randall as he set the controls on the filtration system.
“The atmospheric chemical data will be ready before we leave today. I’ll give you my analysis as it’s completed. Welcome back,” said Jeanette trying not to seem too obvious. She hated to admit it, but she had missed him.
“Where is Mr. Personality?”
“He said something about checking ore samples. We haven’t received the ore from the last mission yet. I can’t figure out what the holdup is.”
“I think I’ll check on them myself.” I left the lab thinking to myself that somehow Doug was behind the delay. We needed to run tests on any organisms within the ore. Maybe he knew something we didn’t.
Just as I rounded the corner, I caught a quick glimpse of Doug as he ducked into a doorway and it quickly closed behind him. I approached cautiously and eased the door ajar. I could see the shadow of a figure in the darkened room, but couldn’t quite make out what he was doing. If I went barging into the room, I would scare him off and then never get the evidence I needed. I would sit back and wait and document each opportunity.
I made my way back to the lab, convinced that Doug was up to no good. When I entered, a cheer broke out from the rest of my crew. They were flying high, but what was all the excitement about?
“Davis, you’re not going to believe it. We just finished the last samples we collected, and we’ve created some new type of organism. It’s replicating at an astounding rate. If we could introduce this into the food supply, we could virtually end world hunger,” said Randall motioning for me to come and look at the scope.
“Don’t get too excited yet. It would have to go through some rigid testing before we could take a chance on growing something for consumption. Maybe we are on the right track though. Get all the results together so they can be submitted to Interplay. It’s in their court now.” I was excited to see the rapid movement of the molecules. “Have you seen the last samples of methane ice crystals we gathered from the last mission? I know it sounds like I’m repeating myself, but I can’t locate them anywhere.”
“Any ideas?” said Jeanette with a troubled look on her face.
“I can’t say as I do. What is it with methane crystals? Every time we get close to analyzing them, they seem to vanish. It’s as though someone doesn’t want us to discover something. I’ll get to the bottom of this one way or the other,” I said looking straight into the eyes of all my assistants. Until I had proof, they were all under suspicion. In reality, there was only one actual suspect as far as I was concerned.
The telephone system in the lab lit up and began ringing
breaking my moment of deep thought. I quickly picked it up. “Davis, here.”
“Reginald Livingstone. Make up some excuse to bring something to my office. We need to discuss the investigation at hand. See you in ten.”
I hung the phone up abruptly as I contemplated what to say to my team. Then it came to me.
“Everyone, you will have to continue without me for a few minutes. I’m going to check with security. It seems they have an idea who might be tampering with our samples. Be back as soon as I can.”
As I left the room, I glanced back to see Doug pacing about at his station. Good make him sweat a little.
I made my way down the hall and left the building. What would I say to Reginald? I didn’t have any concrete proof yet. It would take time and Doug was very good at concealing his plan, whatever it was.
Approaching Reginald’s office, I stopped and knocked.
“Come in.”
“Davis. Sit down,” he said as he walked over glancing out into the Interplay yard. “Any new developments in who might be stifling our efforts?”
“I have nothing concrete, Sir. It’s going to take some time to be able to nail this down. Our suspect seems pretty good at covering up his or her tracks,” I said as I watched Reginald grab a coffee urn and refill his cup.
“Care for some coffee? It’s fresh.”
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do. It seems every time we get close to discovering something the samples disappear. I followed Doug down the hallway from the lab and quietly observed. It was too dark to tell what he was up to and I thought it was best not to confront him yet.”
“Keep an eye on him. I have people at Interplay helping you on this. I will keep them informed. What office was he in?”
“He was in the supply room, Sir.”
“Make sure and check your compound
s daily. I don’t like the sound of this. I wouldn’t want to lose any of your team. Keep me posted if anything else happens.”
“There has been a new development in the results of our last mission. We have to run the obvious tests to double check results, but we may be onto a cure for the world hunger problem.”
“That’s great news. As soon as the analysis is final, bring it to me at once. It could mean a new future for us,” said Reginald patting me on the back. “I knew you were the right man for the job.”
“I’ll do my best, Sir.
“Speaking of doing your best, I have another mission for you. You and the members of your last crew, with the exclusion of Randall, will be suiting up in three days. I need him to be second in command while you’re away. Can’t be too careful you know. Do you trust him?”
“I would trust him with my life. He’s a good man, Sir. What’s our destination?”
“Triton, you will transport equipment necessary to set up a frozen oxygen mining facility. It will be handled totally by the robotic equipment aboard the spacecraft. It will just be a matter of time before we have a space capsule retrieval unit large enough to pick up the contents. Are you up for it?”
“I’ll have to arrange the lab schedule and notify Randall of his duties, so he can handle things while I’m away. I don’t foresee any problems. He’ll do a good job for you.”
“I’m putting my trust in you and your crew. I’ll see you after the mission. Good luck,” said Reginald as he shook my hand.
Chapter Eleven
We were on our way to Triton, the most prominent moon in the Neptune system. Triton had a nitrogen-rich atmosphere with thinner air so that the surface could be seen. The landscapes there varied. There were impact basins, which probably were once lakes. Also, long crisscrossing valleys, vast plains covered by fallen nitrogen snow, and dark streaks that seem to have been blown by the wind and then deposited on the icy surface were visible.
