Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy)

by Knox, Barry

  “There’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, Gideon: any mission that you’re assigned to that sounds like a cakewalk…well, it usually leads to some nasty fighting. I agree with you. Gunny Xia is a loose cannon, and you have to keep your eye on him, but if we do run into trouble, he’s the best fighting marine I’ve ever seen.”

  “Understood,” Gideon said.

  Captain’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking

  1900—February 15, 2372

  “Have a seat, Petty Officer,” Mary told Joseph after he reported to her.

  “Yes ma’am,” he said as he sat down.

  “Petty Officer, please address me as ‘Captain’ or ‘sir,’” Mary said with a smile.

  “Yes, Captain. My great-grandma always scolded me when I didn’t address a lady properly. I’d better just address you as Captain because I’ll always forget to say ‘sir’…if that’s okay?” Joseph said.

  “Very well, Petty Officer,” Mary said as she smiled again.

  “Tell me about your family,” Mary said.

  Joseph told his story about the death of his family, about how his great-grandmother had raised him, and about his enlistment after her death.

  “Your great-grandmother sounds like she was a wonderful person,” Mary said.

  “She was, Captain. She taught me to work hard and for me to treat everybody like I’d want them to treat me,” Joseph said, then smiled. “She was pretty hard on me sometimes too. She had rules in her house, and if I broke one, she’d punish me. Like if I was late coming home after school and didn’t call her and let her know, she’d make me do extra homework or read to her from her favorite book. I wish she was still here. I’d give anything to be able to read to her again.”

  Mary sat in her chair, listening to how open and honest Joseph was. It was a pleasant change from her normal interaction with other people. She immediately knew she could depend on him, and he’d do whatever she ordered him to do.

  “Do you like the navy?” Mary asked, trying to change the subject.

  “Yes, Captain, I do. I love to work, and I love going out of the ship and working on the hull.”

  “Why is that, Petty Officer?” Mary asked because no sailor liked to go outside a ship into space unless he or she had to. Not only was the task dangerous; it usually made one sick.

  “The stars, Captain. They’re just so many of ‘em, and they’re all kinds of colors.” He paused, deep in thought for a second, and said, “You know, Captain, it’s funny, but it makes me feel good to be so small and be able to see such a big universe full of stars.”

  They talked for a while longer about his job and what he liked to do in his spare time. He told her he loved fixing things and really didn’t have a hobby other than reading. Mary thought it odd that he enjoyed reading.

  “I think we’re done here, Petty Officer. It was good talking with you,” Mary said as she looked at the time on her desk’s holographic display.

  “I enjoyed talking with you too, Captain,” he said with a big grin.

  “Do you have any questions for me?” Mary asked.

  “No, Captain, none that I can think of.”

  “You’re dismissed then.”

  Joseph stood at attention, saluted, turned, and walked to the cabin door. The door opened, but instead of leaving, Joseph stopped and turned to face Mary.

  “Captain, I do have one question,” Joseph said, then looked down, put his hands in his pockets and moved his right foot along the deck as if he were pushing around an invisible object.

  “What is it, Petty Officer?”

  “I…I…I haven’t been able to make any friends on the ship yet,” he said, paused, then continued. “Is it okay for me to be friends with an officer aboard ship?”

  Not sure how to respond, Mary hesitated and then asked, “Do you have any particular officer in mind?”

  “Yes, Captain, Lieutenant Klaxton. I’ve talked with him several times. We’re both orphans, and I think he’s my friend.”

  “Yes, Petty Officer, that’s okay. But never forget to treat him as an officer and give him the respect he deserves,” Mary said, relieved it wasn’t her he had in mind.

  “Yes, ma’am!” he said with a big smile and left.

  Mary shot up from her seat as he exited; she was going to call him back and remind him her title was “Captain” or “sir.” She opened her mouth to speak but closed it and sat back down, shook her head, and smiled. She liked the way he addressed a lady.

  SRS Stephen Hawking

  1445—February 16, 2372

  The crew spent the day training. The ship’s main AI computer, named Stephen, was based on quantum physics technology, and created flight simulations for the bridge crew and sailors. The crew learned to fly and operate the Stephen Hawking along with repairing problems and defending themselves in battle. Mary tweaked Stephen’s simulations, based on how the crew responded to a specific situation, and ran them over and over again until she was comfortable with her crew’s reactions.

  ***

  Dr. Harper and Dr. Jones spent the day in the mission control center (MCC), which was set up especially for the scientific equipment that would be used to view the origin of life on Earth. The MCC was packed with consoles, a wall-size holographic display, and the QMAC communications device. Stephen would double as the ship’s computer and the mission’s scientific computer responsible for interfacing the advanced long-range sensor arrays with the ship’s many functions, such as navigation and engineering. This interfacing and control would give the scientists a real-time view of Earth as it was at a specific point in the past. From this, they could perform analysis on the sensor data and hopefully determine the origin of life on Earth.

  “Stephen, please simulate the ship’s location at three hundred light-years from Earth for a calibration test,” Dr. Harper said.

  “Simulation completed and is ready for analysis,” Stephen said over the MCC intercom system. The quantum computer then displayed, on the holographic display, what Earth had looked like three hundred years ago.

  Dr. Harper, sitting at a sensor console, selected the simulated object as input and started an analysis on the object using the advanced spectroscopy sensors. A few seconds later, the main holographic display sprang to life, creating a display of Earth as it analyzed the simulated data.

  Starting as an unfocused display of a planet, its focus improved as reports of the analysis began displaying below the holographic image. The reports included types and quantity of gases, mass, radial velocity, and so forth. Seconds later the main holographic display and calibration display began to blink simultaneously, indicating a match.

  “Calibration test completed with one hundred percent accuracy,” Stephen said in his calm, humanlike male voice.

  “Thank you, Stephen,” Dr. Harper said.

  “I suggest that I continue with a series of calibration tests notating any irregularities,” Stephen offered.

  “Very well. Continue calibration testing using parameters at your discretion and prepare a report for me to review,” Dr. Harper said while smiling at himself for not coming up with the idea earlier.

  ***

  The marines spend the afternoon in the armory being briefed by Captain Neubauer. He told his marines they may be ordered to “rescue” the remaining three scientists, who would join the mission, and wanted his marines to be familiar with all three planets’ governments, social structures, military capabilities, and climates.

  “We’ll extract the first scientist, Doctor Aaron Kastriva, from Gliese,” Captain Neubauer said while a three-dimensional display of the planet emerged from a wall holographic unit.

  “This is a cold planet ruled by the Communal Tribal Union. The CTU is a global totalitarian regime that took power twenty years ago after a bloody civil war. The United States supported the fourteen independent nations with military equipment to augment the Gliese United Nations military force. Even with our assistance, after six months of fighting the CTU took control.
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  “We don’t have a picture of Doctor Kastriva yet.”

  Neubauer paused as Gliese disappeared and the next planet appeared. “This is the Planet Corot and Doctor Rachel Bailey.” The display showed a planet covered with a network of mountain ranges colored with various shades of red with level plains colored yellow and green. Next to the planet hologram, a picture of the doctor appeared. She looked to be in her late twenties, with blonde hair and a pretty, round face.

  “Corot is a hot planet, rich in rare minerals like gold, platinum, and palladium. Its mountain ranges provide natural borders for its eight separate nations. Unfortunately, Dr. Bailey lives in New Kalgoorlie, a nation currently not friendly with the United States.

  “Finally, Doctor Vashni Qasim,” Neubauer said as the holographic picture of the doctor replaced information about Corot. The doctor was female and in her forties, with dark hair and olive skin; she looked slightly overweight.

  “She is on Leonis.” Neubauer paused as all the marines sighed. The United States had been at war with Leonis four times over the last two hundred years.

  “You already know about this planet, which is ruled by the Council of Czars and has the military capability to not only defend itself but also attack other planets. We’ve been at peace with them for twenty years, and I don’t plan on causing an incident that might start another war.” Neubauer paused, looked at everyone, and continued. “This will be our toughest assignment.”

  Captain’s Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking

  1605—February 16, 2372

  “Sir, Lieutenant Klaxton reporting as ordered!” Gideon said.

  “At ease, and please take a seat, Lieutenant,” Mary said. “As you probably already know, Lieutenant, I’ve been meeting with the crew and marines to get to know them a little better.”

  “Yes, sir,” he responded.

  “I reviewed your records and found yours very interesting,” she said. “Remember our meeting when I called you a genius? I didn’t know at the time that you really are a genius.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have you ever thought about applying for an engineering position in the navy or marines?” Mary asked, trying to get Gideon to talk openly and not just sit there, saying, “Yes, sir.”

  “No, sir,” he responded.

  “Why?” she asked, hoping he’d have to talk more.

  “I’ve never been interested in science and engineering, sir. I like excitement, and being a combat marine suits me.”

  “Your grades at Annapolis were outstanding, Lieutenant. Didn’t anyone try and talk you into a research job?”

  “Yes, sir. Several instructors and even the commandant of the academy recommended that I pursue a more challenging career.”

  “But you wanted marine combat infantry?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you really remember everything you read, see, and hear?” Mary asked with an expression of awe.

  “Yes. sir.”

  Mary, wanting to change the tone and mood of the conversation, decided to move on.

  “Your records state why you joined the marines; tell me more about your childhood.”

  Gideon told Mary about being an orphan and moving from foster home to foster home and then finally striking out on his own.

  “Why did you finally leave the foster care system? Was it because you didn’t like to be disciplined by your foster parents?” Mary asked, hoping that she hadn’t gone too far with her personal questions.

  Gideon thought for a second and answered. “No. Discipline wasn’t a problem. As a matter of fact, I went out of my way to please my foster parents. I was the one who asked to be moved from one foster home to another.” Gideon hesitated for a second and continued. “To answer your question, sir, I ran away from the foster care system because I never found what I was looking for in any of the foster homes, and I simply gave up.”

  “And what were you looking for?” Mary asked, still probing.

  “Love…love from a mother, a father, a family,” Gideon answered.

  Taken off guard by the answer, Mary didn’t know what to say next. She hoped that she hadn’t made Gideon uncomfortable.

  “Captain, I’m fine,” Gideon said. “I’ve accepted my past and concluded that I was simply a statistic. At the time, one out of every thirty-five kids didn’t have or even know their parents.”

  “I’m glad you’re fine,” Mary said, having to clear her throat as she spoke, not knowing how to respond.

  “It didn’t take me long to figure it out and accept my childhood as it was.” He paused, “After all, I’m a genius.”

  Mary looked at her clock, “That’ll be all, Lieutenant. We’re out of time, and I have one more meeting before chow.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gideon said. Stood at attention, and saluted.

  “I understand you have a friend onboard,” Mary remarked as she returned his salute.

  “Sir?” Gideon asked confused.

  “Petty Officer Sipes,” she answered. “He’s under the impression that you’re friends.”

  “Yes, sir. We talked on our way to Phobos.” Gideon said with a smile.

  “You could do worse, Lieutenant,” Mary remarked.

  “Yes, sir,” Gideon said, performed an about-face, and left.

  Warehouse Section, Phobos Naval Station

  0945—February 17, 2372

  “LT, I detect two armed hostiles at the end of the corridor,” Corporal Gault said as he studied the heads-up display generated by his combat helmet.”

  “Moving?” Gideon asked.

  “No, sir.”

  “Is there a door nearby?”

  “Looks like it, sir. I’ll pull up a structural display to verify.” Before making the request for the display, the corporal’s Anna had already pulled it up. Gault looked at it and smiled. “Sir, there’s a door, and it’s definitely being guarded. The target must be inside.”

  “Understood. Stand by,” Gideon told Gault and then changed the communication frequency.

  “Extract One, Extract One. This is Extract Two,” Gideon said, using squad call signs.

  “Extract One, go ahead,” Captain Neubauer answered.

  “Target found. Anna has sent you the coordinates.”

  “Received. Stand by,” Neubauer answered as he referenced the map coordinates on his heads-up display. A few seconds later he added, “Extract One will be in position in three minutes. We’ll acquire the target and exit through your location. Provide exit cover.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gideon answered, switched frequencies to Gault, and said, “Extract One will pass us with the target. We’ll provide cover.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gault responded.

  ***

  Captain Neubauer and Gunny Xia slipped down several corridors, taking turns, moving, and covering each other until they reached the corner to the corridor where the target was. Neubauer looked at Xia and used the fingers of his right hand to count to three. On three, both men entered the corridor and shot the two guards with a single particle-beam burst. As the guards fell, Neubauer and Xia rushed to the door. Xia used his weapon’s particle-beam again to cut through the locking mechanism and kicked it open as Neubauer guarded him. Xia entered the room and immediately shot a hostile standing behind the designated target. Neubauer followed a second later and swept the room for any threat they may not have detected.

  Finding no more hostiles, Neubauer approached the target.

  “I’m Captain Neubauer, US Marine. We’re here to rescue you. Will you come with us?” he asked as gently and reassuringly as possible, seeing that the target was a young woman.

  “No, I’m not going with you!” she shouted. “Who are you, and what do you want with me?”

  Without hesitation Xia pulled out a minihypo from his medical kit, approached the woman, and shoved the hypo into the back of her neck. A second later she was unconscious.

  “Extract Two, we’re coming through,” Neubauer transmitted.

  A few minutes later Xi
a, carrying a young lady on his left shoulder, rounded the corridor, followed by Neubauer. They hurried past Gault and Gideon.

  Gideon and Gault covered their exit until they reached the simulated breach point into the complex. The team would stay there until everyone involved in the simulation was debriefed and had recovered from their simulated particle-beam wounds.

  ***

  “Ten minutes from start to finish,” Captain Neubauer said as he removed his combat helmet. Gideon and Gault also took off their helmets as Xia carefully laid the young lady on the floor.

  “Gunny, check on everyone we shot and see if they’re coming around.”

  “Yes, sir,” Xia answered through his helmet speaker.

  “LT…,” Gault began to ask and then stopped.

  “What is it, Corporal?” Gideon said. “Spit it out, Marine.”

  “Well…I’m sure you’ve already thought about it, but where are we going to get a life-support suit for our rescued young lady here?” Gault paused and continued. “We’ll have to get her to the VTOL alive, I assume.”

  “Out of the mouth of babes!” Captain Neubauer said as he used the palm of his right hand to hit his forehead. “We hadn’t thought about it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Corporal. Good work!”

  “Thank you, sir,” Gault replied with a smile.

  “Lieutenant, make a note for us to bring life-support suits with us on our rescue missions,” Captain Neubauer said as he looked at Gideon.

  “Yes, sir,” Gideon answered.

  A few seconds later the marines heard footsteps coming down the corridor.

  “How’d your training simulation go, Captain?” Admiral Corbin asked as he approached the marines. The marines stood at attention and saluted.

  “Very well, sir. We were able to find our target and extract her undetected,” Captain Neubauer answered and added, “Thank you again, sir, for allowing some of your base personnel to participate in the exercise.”

  “Not a problem, Captain. They were eager to volunteer, especially when I offered a five-day pass to Station Viking,” he answered with a smile.