“Yes, Chairman Rocha,” Sonny acknowledged.
“I want you to work closely with Dr. Zubov and Dr. Iversen to complete this project as soon as possible. Please devote as much of your brain as you can spare to assisting them.”
Sonny answered, “Since I know that you are aware that I do not have a ‘brain’, you are referring to computational cycles that can be spared.”
“Yes, Sonny; computational cycles,” she replied rolling her eyes. Izzy thought that for the most powerful ‘brain’ in our known universe, he sure was kind of thick sometimes. Elsewhere, Sonny wondered how humans got as far as they did, being such imprecise creatures.
“I will assist them anyway I can, Chairman Rocha,” Sonny answered.
“Good then,” Izzy began. “Jeff, if you’re ready, would you please continue with the briefing.”
“Thank you, Chairman Rocha,” Jeff acknowledged. “I just wanted to say that I have been having my departments assisting Stan and Loke’s project without knowing just what they were doing. Now that I know of it in more detail, I want the both of you to know you can count on us to get your materials wherever you need pronto. A lot of people in my departments were initially furloughed, but as activity had been increasing, I’ve been asking people back to help. Now that I know of the project, I should be able to get as many as I need to maintain service loads. Since we would not be launching cargo into orbit, we will be using less energy per launch, and will be able to power up quicker for faster turnaround. I’ll also contact management on the Mars colony to step up production and send shipments of materials and resources directly to Earth. It would seem that we only have just two years and a bit to build as many of these domes as we can.”
“Thank you, Jeff,” Izzy said. “Matt, if you’re ready, you can proceed.”
“Madame Chairman,” Matt began, “I’m waiting for some updates on a couple of projects. Gwen can go ahead of me, if that is Ok.”
“Sure Matt, I’m sure Gwen doesn’t mind going before you. Are you ready to give your briefing now Gwen?”
“No problem,” Gwen replied as she stepped up to the dais. "Most of all our projects are finished, except for the collection of Earth's life forms. We have reached our target of ninety five percent and are going for the gravy on top. We have two more years, and we intend to use that time up to the last minute. A problem that we are going to run into more than anything is that we are running out of allotted space for these specimens. It looks like we underestimated the space that we will need, or underestimated how far we would get. Either way, we may need to create a little more room for some more samples."
"Logistics and Construction should be able to help you there," Izzy said
"Thank you, Chairman, I think we are going to need it. I think we need to decide when to release our selectee list and get a 'go no go' for those individuals. We need to notify the Mars colony first. I can tell you, not everyone will want to go. We need to keep going down the list and fill up the sleepers. We want to save as many people that want to go. That part will take some time. We will want to definitely start putting people into the sleepers in the next six months, maybe sooner."
"What are the numbers?" Izzy inquired.
"Well, fifteen million people in sleepers in two years is about 20,500 per day that needs to get tucked in."
"Sounds like we need to start now, doesn't it?" Matt questioned.
Izzy's eyes widened a little, "Make arrangements for transports from Mars colony to start taking selectees to the Atlantis as soon as it gets back from shakedown. Make announcements about doing a gene audit. Give them a questionnaire about a 'go no go' decision and then start loading people that are going on the transports. It will be impossible to keep this 'need to know' on Mars, however, we cannot let any unauthorized transmissions get back to Earth. Security will need to be beefed up and on alert. Send an automated probe to intercept the Atlantis and relay our intentions. They may need to cut their shakedown a little short. Is there something I missed Sonny?"
"As it pertains to the current discussion, a suggestion would be that the test ship be sent to Mars to help with transport. We should ask for assistance from the moon ships. Once there, selectees could start moving to the ships to be offloaded to the Atlantis once it arrives in Mars orbit. Atlantis will need to be prepared to receive the flood of sleepers."
"The test ship, of course," the General said. "I forgot about the test ship that had finally gotten repaired and checked out. We could send in security and support personnel on the trip in. Do you think we need to contact our moon partners?"
"We should contact them and tell them to stand by and be prepared to take in the sleepers," Izzy said.
"Chairman Rocha," Sonny said. "When I said that we should contact the moon ships, I propose that we should send all ships to Mars. Fill them up while waiting for the Atlantis. The test ship should fill up first, followed by the moon ships. The moon ships can remain in orbit while the test ship heads back to Earth. When the Atlantis arrives at Mars, some transfers can go directly to the Atlantis plus whatever the moon ships have collected. The Atlantis must return to Earth or people there will panic. After returning to Earth, selectees that are still on Earth should be given priority boarding in addition to the sleepers on the test ship. In the meantime, regular shuttles from Mars will arrive with passengers as well as any cargo that is needed in the interim."
"Copy that Sonny," Izzy said. "We should be able to fit a quarter of a million sleepers in the test ship. Let's find out what kind of capacity the moon ships can accommodate. The test ship needs to be supplied to take care of that many people for an extended time. General, can you reach out to the Navy to make the arrangements?"
"Affirmative Chairman."
"Good. Matt, are you ready?"
"Yes, Chairman, thank you," he replied. I was waiting for a couple of people to verify something for me. Since we were discussing the loading of the sleepers, it’s important to note how fast can we put sleepers to bed. I made some calls to some of my people that worked with the protocols on Atlantis and they tell me that our max loading is about twice the figure quoted for the average load per day."
"So about forty thousand a day?" Izzy questioned.
"More like between forty and fifty thousand. I agree that we need to prioritize selectees on Earth. The same story can be used on Earth that we will be using on Mars. We do want to make sure that we are getting the cream of the crop people as well as the common man, woman, and children."
"Very good Matt." Izzy acknowledged. "It would seem that there are things that still need doing. So, if that is all Matt, we can break up here and tend to business."
"No, I have nothing further."
"Ok then, General and Loke, I need to see you in my office please."
Departure
“I'm scared mom!" "I know Louis." Ellen had heard it a thousand times from a thousand other people besides her own family. Louis was almost thirteen, at least he had a reason to be scared, he was young. Ellen was trying to put up a strong front for Louis and Clint as much as for herself. It had all been a whirlwind of activity. First the strange gene audit where they were working there at the Mars colony, then nothing for more than a year. Lots of transport activity, but not much production. There were other 'fishy' things happening too. Word had gotten around that the colony was 'bugging out'. Sometime later a notification came over the inner-comm from Sonny that we were selected for departure with the Atlantis and that someone would come to collect them three days from notification. 'Security will escort you to the transport three days hence. Be at your apartment.' That was the longest three days. Sonny piped in the video detailing the itinerary, and there was also a video on the hibernation pods or 'sleepers' as they were called. Now they were on the transport about to dock with the Atlantis! There was the familiar 'ping' just before a call on the inner-comm.
"This is Captain Metcalfe. Welcome to the Atlantis. As you already know, disembarking will take as long as boarding on the
Intrepid. There are a quarter of a million of you, so I ask that you be patient. Sonny will coordinate and guide you from here, all the way to your personal sleeper. I ask that you do your best not to delay the process, as this causes delays all down the line. There will be many people to assist you along the way. I want you to be assured that the crew of Atlantis will take care and watch over you on this historic and long journey. Good luck to you all."
"Did he say, 'the Intrepid'?" Ellen asked.
"The Intrepid is the test ship that was built scale of Atlantis, remember?" Clint replied.
"Oh yeah. I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"I know, it’ll be alright. Strange; but alright."
"Dad, I'm not sure that I want to be a popsicle."
"Louis, this is what we have to do to stay together. We’re lucky; many families were broken up because the family was genetically dissimilar. Son, this was the only way that humanity could take as many people as possible and minimize resources needed to take care of them. It could be worse you know."
"Yes, I know. I could stay and meet a nasty death."
"You could have traveled as an egg or a sperm," Clint proposed.
"Well, that's comforting," Louis said with a smirk.
Ping! "This is Sonny. I will be your guide throughout this process. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. If you need further assistance I will summon someone to help you. I will queue each of you, in turn, to proceed to the exit into the Atlantis. If you have seen the video, you will be acquainted with the itinerary. I thank you in advance for your patience."
"Remember," Clint said, "we stay together. When it is our turn, we do not want to go through this alone." It was another three days aboard the Atlantis before they were called. Louis really enjoyed the stay exploring the ship together. It really was surreal.
Ping! "This is Sonny. Please collect yourself and your family and travel to the nearest automated vehicle station. No need to give the car any instruction. It is under my control."
"Well," Clint sighed, "That really was a lovely three days that I spent with my family. I don't know about you guys, but I will always treasure it."
"This was the most time I’ve had with you two, at the same time, since we have been a threesome. Of course, I will treasure it." Ellen leaned in to kiss both of 'her boys'.
"It was a shame it had to end," Louis said looking around the wonder that was the Atlantis.
"Well, family," Clint said with some dread, "I suppose it is time for that nap I was telling you about." They moved quietly to the nearest station where a car arrived and collected them and whisked them off to their destination. The ride in the auto lasted about fifteen minutes, but it seemed like a couple of hours. It was a very quiet ride as each of them was savoring what could be the last images for a long time. As they approached their destination, they could see the throng of people moving in the same direction. They got out of the auto and were looking at the moving line of people. Ping! “This is Sonny, if you would take your place in the line, we will get you tucked in. You will be escorted to a holding area where you will wait until you are called to your personal sleepers. You and your family will be called in approximately seven hours and three minutes. Atlantis personnel will assist you with anything you need. Please make yourselves comfortable while you wait.”
“Well, this sounds familiar,” Clint said. “No matter where you go, or how technology progresses, you still have to hurry up and wait!”
“Personally,” Ellen replied, “I would rather have the slower human touch than to be processed by Sonny, moved by conveyor, and popped into a sleeper like a bagel in a toaster.”
“You mean like meat in a freezer,” Louis chimed in.
“Yes, like meat in a freezer,” Ellen muttered.
The holding area was not too bad. It was comfortable enough for you and five hundred of your closest ‘friends’. There were all kinds of access to amenities, but mostly people milled around and chatted with other people nearby. For about six hours they waited. Then, at the far end, a steady line of people was leaving through a door.
“It must mean that our holding area is to be emptied.” Clint said. “We will be leaving soon.”
“Good, I was bored to death,” Louis said with a heavy sigh.
Ping! Clinton Parker, Ellen Parker, Louis Parker please make your way to the exit and an assistant will escort you to your personal sleeper. Good luck to you all.”
“Sonny,” Louis said.
“Yes, Louis Parker.”
“I think that maybe I don’t want to be a popsicle.”
“Louis Parker. I’m going to let you in on a little secret only you and I will know for now.”
“Will my parents hear?”
“Hear what?” Ellen asked.
Louis just pointed to his ear and she understood.
“No Louis Parker, just you and I.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know Captain Metcalfe?”
“The captain of the Atlantis?”
“That’s the one. Well, he is the first and only E-human.”
“E-human?”
“He has been enhanced in a way that allows him to access things with his mind like a computer.”
The assistant took them to a sled that shot them down a very long tunnel. They got their first looks at the endless rows of sleepers in the tunnel.
Louis said, “So he is some kind of cyborg or something?”
“Only technically,” Sonny replied. “He is still Levi Metcalfe, but better. It was very important that as captain of the Atlantis, that he become an E-human to ensure the success of this journey. The first subject failed in integrating all of the process. Newly appointed Captain Metcalfe was not convinced that the process was going to work with him. He decided that he would rather be a cadet with a whole brain than a captain with slush for brains.”
“Why did he do it?” Louis was hooked into the story.
“Because I explained that the whole success of the project now rested on this decision. Could he sacrifice himself for the sake of the human race? Could he turn his back on all of this now? I made him realize that he was the best fit, and anyone else was likely to fail. So, you see Louis Parker, sometimes humans are called upon to do things that they do not like, or are afraid to do because it contributes to something larger than them. Are you prepared to do something larger than yourself, Louis Parker?”
Louis searched his feelings. He had never felt this way before. No one had ever asked him to do something this big. “Yes, I see. I never thought about being a popsicle as doing my part for the Project.” He brought himself up and put on a determined face. “I am prepared, Sonny. Thank you for the secret.”
“There’s a good lad,” Sonny said, “And you’re welcome. Pleasant dreams Louis Parker.”
They were escorted from the sled and an assistant led them to their personal sleepers. Someone was waiting at the sleeper.
“Louis Parker,” she said as she waved a device over his inner-comm implant on the side of his head.
“Yes,” said Louis.
“Please disrobe and place you clothes in the receptacle. I will assist you into your sleeper and ‘tuck you in’.”
“I have never taken my clothes off in front of a stranger before.”
“I’m sorry, but you must not have anything on in the chamber. No jewelry, or unauthorized implants and I’m afraid no clothing either.”
He looked back and saw that his mother and father were already stripped and ready to go. He remembered what Sonny said and began to disrobe. He felt so embarrassed taking his clothes off in front of a woman for God’s sake. Couldn’t it have been a man for cryin’ out loud. Curse his luck. The assistant came over and gave him a shot.
“This will relax you and help you to sleep. It will take effect in a few minutes. If you could step up, I will help you climb into the sleeper and attach the sensors.”
He looked back one more time and saw that his mother and father wer
e already in the sleepers all shut up. The assistants were initiating the programming for the sleepers and finishing the ‘tucking in’ procedure. His assistant caught his look and said, “Do not worry Louis, we will take good care of you and your parents. Sweet dreams, Louis.”
The sedative was really kicking in now and Louis was feeling warm and fuzzy. The assistant finished with the sensors and flicked some switches and the cover slid into place. Normally he would be freaking out by now trapped in a ‘coffin’, but the drugs were good and he did not seem to care. He noticed a mist was forming inside the sleeper as he drifted off to sleep. His last thoughts were of the pretty girl and doing something bigger than himself.
Meanwhile....
Captain Metcalfe was lying down, 'resting' reviewing reports requested of Sonny. He had his eyes closed but was far from sleep. Communicating with Sonny sometimes was a relief in some ways since he could 'talk' at his own speed. It was painfully slow to communicate with other people. He always felt better after resting. His door signaled a visitor. It was the Admiral. He could 'see' him coming since he kept close tabs on certain video feeds like the ones in his corridor outside his quarters.
"Come in Admiral." The room verified his voice to unlock the door and allow him in.
"Levi, how are you faring?" The Admiral was concerned that the first 'E-Captain' may be overloading himself. It wouldn’t do well to fry the Captain's brain just before departure. Levi, without slowing down the flow of reports from Sonny, sat up to address the Admiral.
"I am doing fine, Admiral."
"Call me Leo in private. We do not have to be all spit and polish in private. One of the pluses of creating a new civilization."
"Ok, Leo."
"What are your concerns so far?"
"Well, my concerns are numerous. I am putting a report together and sending it to your desk right now."
"That damn E-Human business. Ok, just for conversation sake, can you give me a top five?"
"Sure, Leo. We had to take down two power plants due to fluctuations. We’re checking into it. We’re trying to get the most critical updates and repairs finished before departure. The shakedown revealed some maneuvering issues and things we needed to beef up before departure. We will finish the most critical items identified by Sonny or Alice, but there is still a lot to do. The filament in rings 1 – 10 are being replaced. We are making sure that we will be able to replace say, ten more 'on the road'. We’ve had eighty sleeper failures so far with ninety nine percent tucked in now. That’s a very small percent of fifteen million. Fortunately, all of them failed at startup and no one was harmed. It does worry me about the longevity of the sleepers. Sonny knows to monitor them closely, and we have teams to deal with emergencies and maintenance. Lastly, Sonny and Alice are getting last minute upgrades in hardware to increase their capabilities. We are just getting that in under the wire. I get nervous about any hardware upgrades to Sonny. If something doesn't function correctly, it could mess him up. Sonny has assured me that the components are modular and are scanned and tested inside and out before installation and are tested again, in isolation, after they are installed."
The Journey of Atlantis_Leaving Home Page 23
