“The system doesn’t have as much debris as the Sol system which is a good thing. Both ‘c’ and ‘f’’ have magnetospheres since auroras have been observed at their poles. Ground sensors on both planets show more radiation hits the ground on ‘f’ than ‘c’. ‘C’ seems to have life; another suggestion that radiation is most likely acceptable. What we don’t know is whether there’s any spiking of radiation from the star, and whether the magnetosphere can guard us against those hypothetical radiation spikes. We must take into consideration that all data that comes back from these probes are just a snapshot of the area. We could go there only to find that after some unknown length of time, a solar ‘burp’ from the star, fries us where we stand. We would get no warning being so close to the sun.”
“Having said all of that, GJ667c is now our prime target. And as such, we will train all our equipment that way and study it much more closely. We will no doubt send out another probe there with different equipment to study the system in greater detail. Until some other system becomes more appealing, ‘c’ satisfies the minimum conditions as a new home world.”
“We also sent out probes to GJ180 and GJ163 to investigate. GJ180 has two planets of interest, ‘b’ and ‘c’. They also orbit around a red dwarf. Both planets turned out to be lifeless and unable to support life for multiple reasons. GJ180c has an oxygen and nitrogen atmosphere; however, it also has poisonous volcanic gases as well since the planet is extremely volcanically active. It has promise in about a few tens of millions of years. Unfortunately, we cannot wait that long.”
“We would like to explore more yellow or orange dwarf type stars that are like our own. Most of the ones we have documented so far are one thousand plus light years away. We are redoubling our efforts to find more systems with planets that rate looking at more closely. We are running out of time to investigate systems from very far away and to get them back before departure. We may need to entertain the idea that we have to do our hunting on ‘the road’ while on our way to prime targets.”
Chairman Rocha stood. “Thank you, admiral,” Izzy said kindly. “All of you have a much more detailed synopsis of the probes in your data packets that were sent to you earlier.” She approached the dais, her expression changing to a more serious appearance. “While it is true that we have one prime target system, I would feel a whole lot better if we could obtain at least three by the time of departure.”
“Madam Chairman,” Sonny interrupted, “do you choose the number three because it holds some superstitious meaning that makes you ‘feel better’, or is it because the number three have often been represented as the first statistical advantage in almost any endeavor?”
Izzy replied, “Why can’t it be both, Sonny?”
“Of course, both representations are also a choice. It was not my intention to imply that there was not another option. Humans often chose both sides of an outcome as an ‘option’. It is a quality I sometimes struggle to understand.”
Izzy was a little aghast, “You struggle Sonny?”
“Why, yes, I do struggle,” Sonny replied. “I struggle all the time. I spend a certain amount of cycles continuously searching for the answers to questions with insufficient data. Sometimes I can extrapolate the answer, but many times, I must wait for more data to point to a certain path among many paths.”
“In your struggle of the moment, I think I can help you.” Izzy felt strange, with a proud joy that she could help the mighty machine that was Sonny with a ‘problem’. “In calculus, integrals can represent infinite points along a function. So, as an example where you have infinite choices, some of those outcomes could include choosing both sets of choices. The more complementary the choices, the more likely this will happen. Did this help you Sonny?”
“Yes, you have. Thank you, Madam Chairman. You have explained the problem in terms that I can most relate. Forgive the intrusion. I meant no disrespect.”
“No problem Sonny, however, if you could wait until the meeting is over to ask questions that are unrelated to our discussions, that would be great.”
“Acknowledged,” Sonny replied.
“At the time of departure, we will have a list of systems that are prioritized by the chance of successful outcome. What I’d like to see is at least three choices that rank moderately high to high percent chance of success. If we hit the jackpot, we can seed all three planets. If none of them work out, we’ll have to rely on our ingenuity. We don’t want to be running around in deep space any longer than we have to. Space is too dangerous. We should keep searching while in route to our destinations and make any changes to our course as needed. Sonny has been monitoring GJ667c since the probe telemetry has come back, and will continue to monitor the star all the way to arrival. Sonny will be checking for instabilities, solar weather when we get closer, and radiation output. Hopefully this data will help us make relatively sure that the star won’t kill us right away. All other prime targets will get the same scrutiny before we leave.”
“Alice has helped create jobs and given purpose to those who want it. Since Alice is ‘plugged into’ much of the planets goings on, it’s been instrumental in alerting Security to immediate threats and helped to mobilize them. Alice has also been helping us to identify snags in logistics and scheduling. There have been twenty-two moderate to severe cyber-attacks in the last ten years. All were put down, suspects were arrested, and threats were neutralized. Alice does not seem concerned, but I for one am scared to death that eventually some son of a bitch will get just the right bug past our impressive firewalls and screw the pooch for the whole human race. I think that the machines often underestimate our creative insights and can think of things that they cannot. This is the main reason that humans and machines make a great team. It’s also why these attacks scare me so much. It only takes one success for them to ruin a whole civilization’s future. We may need to be heavier handed toward terrorist activities as we get closer to departure. The other governing bodies are on board with this, and stand by to assist us in any way. Projections are looking good, and moral is good now that we are half way there. People have been working on the Project like we have been doing this forever. It’s part of our normal lives. Working in space has become as commonplace as working planet side. We’re half way there, ladies and gentlemen; let’s get the other half finished with time to spare.”
There is just so much hurt, disappointment, and oppression one can take... The line between reason and madness grows thinner. --Rosa Parks
T-Minus 35 Years
Derrick hated this point in time when an attack was about to be launched. You never knew with one hundred percent certainty that Alice hadn’t figured out what you were about to do. Security forces could be there waiting for you. Many people have nothing but accolades to fling about Alice. But Derrick saw Alice for what she really was. A way to control a doomed population until the select few could run off like cowards. Leaving their brethren to endure the final apocalypse. Oh no; we all came in together, and we’re all going out together. Personally, Derrick believed that God was closing the chapter on man, and this gesture was a blasphemous attempt to override God’s decree. There were others that looked at the Project like the Jews fleeing into the desert in search of their new home. They believed that the Project was a holy mission, opposite to the beliefs that Derrick held. He could see how people were fooled and deluded by that notion. Probably propaganda spread by the Consortium. No, he knew too many true Christians that were not going. They were deemed ‘impure’. Since when does man decide who is pure and who is not! It was the same reason that he did not accept the ‘Ark’ prophecy. God would have given us time to make a ship big enough to take all the worthy. No, He just gave us enough time to get our affairs in order, and that’s all.
They were about to attack a part of the spaceport’s track that seemed to have the weakest protection according to the Intel. He had been with this group for a couple of years now. Before, they had attacked convoys and supply lines. This was one of the
‘hardened’ targets that he had taken part in just once before. He waited at his spot about fifty yards outside of the monitored zone. Once they crossed that invisible line, hell would start to come unglued. The biggest thing to remember, especially in this level of attacks, is not to panic. Keep cool, stick to the plan; however, be ready to improvise should the plan go south. Orders over the TOR network was short and coded for speed and less likely to be figured out.
“Player 4,” the translated voice softly said in his earpiece.
“Acknowledged,” Derrick responded.
“Option 1-1-A,” the voice said.
“Option 1-1-A,” Derrick repeated to acknowledge and ensure that he heard correctly. This meant that he was going to take the second of four options for the group to approach the track. This may mean that something was up, or just changed at the last minute in case their intentions were guessed. He had been hearing others getting their orders now for a couple of minutes. The time was here.
“43-24-3.14…. HIKE!” the voice said to everyone at once, which was the code to strike, coming directly from the commander of the mission. Derrick moved silently toward the zone in the prescribed option called for as practiced in the VR chambers and in live terrain exercises.
“HALT. YOU ARE TRESSPASSING ON PROJECT GROUNDS. LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND STAND STILL WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOU HEADS AND AWAIT SECURITY THAT IS MOVING IN YOUR DIRECTION NOW.
It was an automated message triggered by crossing into the security monitored zone. The whole area was probably being bathed in various detection wavelengths with all kinds of video and audio recording hidden in the light forest. The booming message repeated two more times and then,
ANY NONCOMPLIANCE WILL BE MET WITH DEADLY FORCE.
That was your final warning. Here we go, thought Derrick.
“Player 4, 62-21 BREAK-BREAK!” the voice commanded.
“62-21 BREAK-BREAK,” Derrick acknowledged.
He was to move in for the pylon that was one of the targets for demolition. Suddenly, two other people were on either side of him. His HUD display showed them to be friendly players 2 and 8. They all wore coded RFID chips that immediately identified themselves so that they would know friend from foe quickly. The three moved silently toward their target. When they were within two hundred yards of the target, a laser fence appeared. Player 2 and 8 quickly rummaged in their backpacks for the elongated mirror stands that they used to make a hole in the fence.
After they cleared the fence, they started to here particle fire. The particle rifles were a real threat. They were essentially a hand-held rail gun that accelerated a projectile, in this case a particle a little larger than a grain of sand, at nearly the speed of light. When one of those hit you with the kinetic energy that it had, now imparted to you; well, it was not pretty. He had seen someone get their arm blown off that way once. Usually you just got dead. They didn’t have particle rifles. They relied on stealth and speed to accomplish their missions. However, there may be snipers stationed to help. They just needed to push on to the target. They couldn’t use a missile since the auto defense laser guns would track it and detonate it before reaching the target. No, they must reach the pylon and place the charges that Derrick had and get away as quickly as possible before they detonate. He slipped on the small mirrored shield that expanded to cover a large part of his profile. He no sooner unfurled his shield when he took a laser cannon hit. He felt a very small percentage of the heat from that cannon, but it was still considerable. Security will now have no doubt as to their intentions and will be mobilizing to their position immediately.
The downside to using the mirrors is that the guys with the particle rifles can see you pretty good now. Derrick took two more hits from the laser cannon and a near miss from the particle rifle. Player number 2 wasn’t so lucky. His mirror took a hit with the particle gun and sheared his hands off, and was immediately burned down by the laser cannon before he could scream. Drive to the target Derrick, he told himself. He kept zigzagging his way to the pylon. Two more particles shots miss him. He makes it to the pylon. Before he could get the charges out of his bag, a figure, in standard Security body armor and head gear stepped out from behind the massive pylon.
“Step away from the bag or die,” a female voice said.
The order was clear it was not going to be repeated. Player 8 jumped in from nowhere and leaped for the woman. She raised her particle weapon and split his comrade in two. Derrick stood up with his hands in the air and started to move away from the bag. As he did so, he kicked the arming switch from one of the charges. The Security woman charged and hit Derrick with the butt of her rifle knocking him unconscious immediately. The woman grabbed the satchel and ran with it a safe distance and flung it safely away from the pylon. Moments later an enormous explosion was seen easily in the darkness. As the woman walked up to the unconscious form, a male voice spoke over her earpiece,
“Looks like the attack has been put down. Alice says twenty-two dead, six captured; including your buddy, and two got away.”
“That sounds about right,” she acknowledged. They usually attack in units of about twenty-five or thirty. I really hate to see ones end up like this one,” as she looked down at the unconscious captive, “he can’t be but about fourteen or fifteen. I wish they would quit using kids. I hate killing kids.”
Meanwhile….
Admiral Johnson was at his desk in his apartment on board the ship. It was temporarily permanent digs for himself and his men since the command structure had not been built. There was not much of a naval compliment here on the ship since they were not underway. However, it did present training opportunities for various units. This allowed plenty of time to work out logistical kinks in the road long before departure. This was all new territory for humans. Up until the time news hit about the neutron star, the furthest mankind had traveled was to Mars. Now, we’re going to the stars! He hoped that he would live long enough to make departure. The admiral was one of the very few people taken that was exempt from screening. He knew that one of his long-range plans was to select an officer that he could groom to take his place that was also amongst the chosen. He would be the next to the last Earth-bound admiral to take the helm and seek out their destiny.
“Lieutenant Kedrovsky, I need those telemetry readouts for the scale ship ASAP!”
“The last of the telemetry is coming in now, sir,” said the lieutenant, with clear stress in his voice.
“Send them right to my office. I’ll look at the raw data myself,” Admiral Johnson said with a little less snap.
Kedrovsky gave a crisp “Aye aye, sir” and the speaker went silent.
Leonard was an engineer in the Navy which helped make him a good fit for the Consortium position. It was coming in handy again as he began to look over the mountains of telemetry from the scale ships first power up. A bit later there was a ring at the door.
“Enter,” the admiral said, glad for the break he gave his eyes from pouring over the data. It was yeoman McNealy.
“Sir, I just want to remind you that you haven’t eaten in over eight hours. Would you like me to bring you something from the galley or one of the shops?”
“That’s alright yeoman, I think I’ll just take a stroll and get a bite on the way, thank you.” He knew a little coffee shop not too far from the apartment. He needed some time to digest some unpleasant information. The test run did not go well. They almost lost the ship. The buildup of power and the resultant generation of the warp field almost tore the ship apart. It would have if Sonny did not intervene and shut the process down faster than a team of humans could have. He arrived at the shop and ordered a hamburger, some coffee and a slice of pecan pie. What if they were building a ship that could not be driven? He did not want to think about that. After he had sorted out what questions to ask, he would talk to Sonny. He was always up.
“Your shmeatburger is ready,” the proprietor announced tiredly, ready to go home.
“Thanks,” he replied appreciati
vely. He did not know how hungry he was until he smelled the burger. Shmeatburger. That was what people were calling the cultured meat that was somewhat pervasive on the ship. He collected his pie and a refill on his coffee and sat back down at his table. It was plain now that modifications to the warp generator did not go as expected. He thought Sonny checked on the entire math and engineering calculations that went on with the Project. These will be questions he will bring up with Sonny also. For now, he shoved those thoughts out of his mind and concentrated on his hamburger, shmeatburger, whatever it’s called, it tasted good.
As he walked back to his apartment, he was filled again with the awe and wonder of the immensity of the ship and the Project. He wondered if this was what it felt like to walk along in the morning, in Egypt, thousands of years ago, watching the pyramids being built, or the Great Wall of China, knowing that this was one of the greatest structures ever produced in human history. He hoped it wasn’t in vain. When he arrived at his apartment, he went straight away to his desk. He tapped a few buttons.
“Sonny,” he called.
“Yes, Admiral Johnson,” Sonny replied.
“Have you evaluated the telemetry from the scale ship power up test?”
“Yes, Admiral Johnson.”
“What is your evaluation of the test?”
“It did not work,” Sonny replied.
“That much was immediately apparent.” The admiral’s lips were tense with frustration, “What is your appraisal of what went wrong?"
“There were discrepancies in these four areas of the ship’s warp generator that were inconsistent with what was predicted,” Sonny displayed the four areas with a breakdown of the mathematically predicted outputs versus their actual outputs. “There seems to be input errors for these equations that indicated the output settings that were made.”
The Journey of Atlantis_Leaving Home Page 13
