Star One: Tycho City Survival

by Weil, Raymond L.

  “We will be working on the main cavern as we wait for the Luxen,” Steffan continued. “We will also be putting a one inch layer of Luxen on the curved ceiling of the main cavern.”

  “Can we make that much Luxen in the time we will have?” Mase asked. They were talking about thousands of tons of the alloy. Luxen was created in the center of the reactor because of the tremendous heat that was necessary to create the alloy.

  “Barely,” Isaac confessed. “It will be close, but we should be able to do it. We plan on running a three shift operation on the reactor.”

  Mase nodded and then looked over at Jolene. She still looked nervous from all the responsibility he had given her setting up the ecology for the new habitat and making it self-sustaining.

  “Jolene, how are your plans coming for the new habitat?”

  Jolene took a deep breath before replying. “I have talked to both Julie Gray and Kathleen Preen on Star One. They are sending me samples of the plants they are using and suggestions for animals.” She stood up and, leaning over, pointed to two more small caverns off to the side of the main Tycho City one. “We will be setting up both of these two smaller caverns to grow food. We will be using a lot of hydroponics and intensive small plot gardening methods. The environments in both of these will be controlled so we can substantially increase plant growth.”

  Mase looked at the two indicated caverns; they appeared to be twice as long as the one the Fusion reactor was going in. “How many people are you going to need for this?”

  Jolene sat back down and opened a notebook she had brought. “Each food cavern will have its own control room where nutrients, humidity, temperature, and other variables will be monitored. They will be computer controlled but will also have a small staff twenty-four hours a day. In addition, there will be crews tending and harvesting. I estimate I will need close to forty people for each food cavern. These will be very similar to the ones already established on Star One. We just need to duplicate what Julie and Kathleen have already done.”

  Mase nodded. What Jolene proposed sounded reasonable. “I know we don’t have the qualified people here in Tycho City for this. Get with Linda and tell her the type of people you will need. She will help to find qualified candidates we can bring up from Earth.” Mase had assigned Linda the job of working with the various department heads to determine the personnel they would need to keep their areas operating during this crisis. She was also helping to screen candidates from Earth.

  The door to the conference room opened, and Captain Daniels stepped in. She had a worried look upon her normally calm face. “Sir, you need to see this.” She walked over and turned on the main viewscreen on the wall to an Earth broadcast station.

  Instantly, the scene of a massive riot appeared on the screen. There were burning buildings, and police lines were being pushed back and overrun. It was obvious numerous people were being injured.

  “Where’s this?” asked Mase, leaning back in his chair and gazing at the screen.

  “There are a number of riots that have broken out,” Daniels reported. “This is going on in a number of cities around the world. This particular riot is in Chicago and was caused when several grocery stores ran out of food.”

  “People are panicking,” Isaac said his eyes glued to the viewscreen. “They are trying to stock up on supplies, particularly food.” He could see several police vehicles on fire even as more were arriving. “The news of the neutron star and what it may do to the Earth is all over the Internet. People are starting to question what the president said about the nation surviving.”

  “It’s only going to get worse,” Captain Daniels informed them. “I received a message from Jane Kinsey earlier today. They are setting up a list of protocols that all inbound shuttles will have to go through shortly. There is some concern that one might be hijacked and used against Star One or us.”

  “This situation is getting serious, fast,” Steffan commented worriedly. “These riots are only the first; there will probably be many more in the coming days.”

  Mase nodded, tearing his eyes away from the screen. “It just stresses how important it is for us to move as quickly as possible. If the situation on Earth continues to deteriorate, it could endanger the shuttle launches. We need to make sure we get everything and everyone we need up here as soon as we can.”

  The group nodded as their eyes went back to the viewscreen. It showed mobs breaking into stores and looting them. The police seemed helpless to control the situation. Many of the people on the Moon would be concerned about friends and family on Earth after seeing this. They would be demanding to know how soon their friends and family members could be brought up to Tycho City and possible safety.

  -

  On Earth in Colorado, Warren Timmons was outside one of the new bunkers that was being built into the side of a small mountain.

  “How soon before construction is complete?” he asked the supervisor in charge of the operation as he watched several large yellow trucks hauling rock away. Everywhere he looked were armed soldiers. The area was restricted, and no one could get within five miles of the construction site without being stopped.

  “Four months,” the supervisor replied as he looked at a clipboard he was carrying. “That will complete the basic internal structure. If necessary, some of the living quarters can be completed after it’s closed up.”

  Timmons nodded. He had just been told by President Kateland that he would be in charge of this facility. Already six thousand people were secretly being chosen to be brought here. Every effort possible was being used to keep what was being built in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado out of the public’s knowledge.

  Warren just hoped the facility would survive. It would be capable of surviving a nuclear strike, but the expected earthquakes were another matter. He let out a deep breath as he contemplated living years deep underground. In his heart, he wondered what the point was. If the Earth’s orbit was changed significantly, they might be trapped underground permanently. It was not a prospect he cared to think about.

  Chapter Nine

  Mase was at Farside meeting with Adam Strong and Charles Turner to discuss the future of the astronomy complex. The discussion had been heated as neither of the two scientists wanted to abandon Farside.

  “Adam, it could be extremely dangerous to stay here once the moonquakes begin,” Mase insisted, not wanting to see the people at Farside put in danger.

  “Commander, our entire living area is one hundred and twenty feet underground. Surely if we reinforce it we could ride out the quakes,” replied Adam, stubbornly shaking his head in denial. “Once the neutron star passes, Farside is going to be needed to determine exactly what has happened to the solar system and what the long-term effects will be on the orbit of the Earth, as well as the Moon.”

  “The orbits of all the planets are going to be affected,” added Charles, wanting to stress the importance of keeping Farside up and running. “It will take time to determine the exact orbits of the planets once this is over. It might be several years before the final orbits can be determined.”

  Mase shook his head feeling exasperated at the two scientists. “I don’t think you two understand what I’m saying. It’s just too dangerous to stay. Perhaps after the neutron star has passed, we can reactivate Farside.”

  “Commander,” Adam spoke once more, disagreeing with Mase. “I am not saying we keep the entire staff. Just enough people to help make repairs in case the complex is damaged by a moonquake and to keep the Albertson reflector operating. We have other instruments that will also be invaluable in observing the passing of the neutron star. This is an opportunity we can’t just throw away!”

  Mase leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He knew the two had made some good points. “Just how do you propose to protect the reflector if there is a moonquake? I can guarantee you that some of the dish antennas are going to be lost.”

  “We have talked to several of our structural engineers,”
Adam replied. “Andrew Carnegie believes with a few modifications he can strengthen the dome of the reflector so it will withstand a strong moonquake.”

  “How?” Mase demanded, already suspecting the answer.

  “With Luxen,” Charles answered, his eyes taking on a serious glint. “Andrew believes if he can put a half inch layer of Luxen around the dome it can survive.”

  Mase let out a heavy sigh. “I just don’t know if we will have the Luxen,” he responded, shaking his head. “We are going to be pushed just to have enough to build the new Tycho City cavern and the smaller ones next to it.”

  “Commander, all we are asking is that if we can use Luxen to strengthen the dome a small number of people be allowed to stay,” Adam implored. “Just thirty people would allow us to keep the complex online and make repairs if they’re needed.”

  Mase was silent for a full minute as he thought about what the two were proposing. He admitted to himself that having the complex operational could be extremely beneficial.

  “All right,” he finally said. “But only if we have the extra Luxen for the dome and some of your living quarters. I won’t risk your lives needlessly.”

  “We can accept that, Commander,” Adam replied with a relieved smile. “We wouldn’t be suggesting this if we didn’t think we could do it.”

  Mase nodded. Once they knew if they were going to have the extra Luxen, they could discuss this again. “How are things running without Pierre and LeAnn here?”

  “Fine, Sir,” Adam replied. “Charles and I have assumed the duties they were doing. I am taking care of the dish antenna array, and Charles is handling the reflector. So far, there have been no problems.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Mase responded. He knew the two were extremely talented and had expected no problems from Pierre and LeAnn’s absence. “Let’s go on a quick tour, and then I need to return to Tycho City.”

  -

  On Earth, President Kateland was meeting with Jane Kinsey, Tim McPhryson, General Karver, and Vice President Edwards.

  “What’s the latest from other countries?” asked President Kateland, looking over at the vice president, who had spent the last several days flying around the world talking to key U.S. allies.

  “Britain, Japan, Australia, and Canada have followed our lead and pledged to support us,” Edwards replied. “They have declared states of emergency and are in the process of determining the best locations to build underground bunkers. France, Germany, and South Africa are planning on building bunkers, but their governments have stressed serious doubts about their survivability in the conditions we have described.”

  President Kateland nodded and turned her attention to Jane Kinsey. “What’s happening at the cape?”

  “We are preparing to go to around the clock launches with the shuttles, including the six military ones,” Jane replied. “There is some concern about possible attempts at sabotage from several radical groups. We have had several reports from the NSA about potential threats. ”

  “We are placing an aircraft carrier battle group off the coast next to the cape,” General Karver added. “We are also in the process of moving two full marine divisions around the cape facility to protect it. That will include missiles that can shoot down anything threatening.”

  Tim McPhryson looked questionably over at the president. “There are reports that Senator Farley has called a special session of Congress to attempt to impeach you and put a stop to our efforts to prepare for the neutron star. He has also asked you to resign.”

  “Yes,” President Kateland replied, her eyes heavy with concern. “I have the votes to stop the impeachment proceedings and Farley knows I won’t resign, but I fear the senator and his allies are going to be an ongoing problem.” Then, in a more serious tone, “We need to move quickly; the future is growing more uncertain every day.”

  -

  Mase was eating lunch in one of the small restaurants in Tycho City when he received an urgent summons to report to his office. He looked over at Anthony as he stood up. “Something’s going on; Linda just called and said she needs me back at the office immediately.”

  “Mind if I tag along?” Anthony asked.

  He had hoped that Jolene could join him and Mase for lunch, but she had gotten tied up in a meeting she was having with Steffan Darrow. He knew it had something to do with the ecological habitats that were going to be built next to the new Tycho City cavern.

  “No, come on,” Mase replied as he turned and began making his way toward the door.

  A few minutes later, the two stepped into his office. Linda came out of the main conference room and gestured for them to follow her. She had a look of worry and possibly fear on her face. “You need to see what’s on the viewscreen. Isaac and Captain Daniels are already here.”

  Going inside, they saw Isaac and Captain Daniels sitting at the conference table. They were staring at the large viewscreen on the wall, which showed a scene of turmoil.

  “What’s going on?” Mase asked. Then his eyes widened in shock when he saw what they were looking at. On the screen, he could see an overturned army personnel carrier and numerous soldiers standing around with assault rifles. Even more frightening were all the bodies lying on the ground.

  “Did the soldiers do that?” demanded Anthony, finding it hard to believe the military would commit such an atrocity.

  “They were fired on first and then the crowd rushed them,” Captain Daniels replied in a deeply worried and constrained voice. “Some of those soldiers are very young recruits just out of boot camp. They panicked and fired into the crowd.”

  Mase turned to listen to the news announcer.

  “This was the scene in Los Angeles earlier today after Senator Farley denounced the president and the establishment of martial law,” the monotone male reporter’s voice said.

  “Senator Farley is calling on people across the country to denounce the government of President Kateland. He is demanding the immediate rescission of martial law and the resignation of the president,” the newscaster paused for a moment and then continued. “The senator is quoted as saying it was the president that brought about the riots today, the worst of which was in Los Angeles. The death toll is expected to rise to over 100, with nearly 1,200 injured in the rioting and fighting. Military casualties are reported at 22 dead and 37 injured. The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on Senator Farley’s bill restricting the president’s use of funds in this supposed national emergency.”

  “They’ve gone crazy down there,” muttered Isaac, turning his eyes away from the viewscreen and the horrible scene it was still showing.

  “They’re just frightened,” spoke Linda, shaking her head in sadness. “The Secretary General of the UN coming out yesterday and basically announcing that he supported and believed what Senator Farley has been saying only made matters worse. People aren’t sure what to believe anymore.”

  Linda had also spoken to her sister Karen the night before and had detected the fear in her sister’s voice about what was going on in the country. She was currently at their parent’s home in Kansas City. So far there had been no riots in their hometown, but Linda feared it was only a matter of time.

  “I spoke to Jane Kinsey at the cape early this morning,” Mase said, looking around the small group. “They are going to start sending one passenger shuttle and one cargo shuttle up each day for as long as possible. We need to decide where we are going to put all these extra people.”

  “We can set tents up on the outskirts of Tycho City,” Isaac commented. This was something he had already looked into. “From what I have calculated we can easily accommodate several thousand additional people if we do that. We also have room in Tycho City itself for about three hundred more.”

  “Then what?” Mase asked. “We need room for ten thousand until the new cavern is completed.”

  “I don’t know,” admitted Isaac, shaking his head. “We’re going to be stressing our oxygen and water recycling systems as it is.”
>
  “We need to come up with something,” Mase informed them with a serious look. “If necessary, we can request more oxygen and water recycling equipment from Earth. We may be crowded for awhile, but at least we can survive.”

  Mase looked back at the viewscreen. It was showing a scene from another country, and it was very similar to the one of Los Angles. He just hoped that General Karver could keep the cape and the two military launch centers operational. They had a lot of people and essential supplies that were waiting to be brought up to Tycho City, as well as Star One.

  -

  Later that afternoon, Mase was sitting at his desk reviewing the latest supply requisitions from several department heads. Linda opened his door with a worried and confused look on her face. “I have Adam Strong on line one. He is saying that they are having major computer problems at Farside, and he needs to speak to you immediately.”

  Mase nodded and, picking up his phone, pressed the blinking white button. “What’s the problem, Adam?” Mase asked. Everything at Farside had been running smoothly up to this point.

  “It’s Teela, that crazy AI on Star One,” Adam said speaking rapidly in an irate voice. “She has taken over all of our computer systems as well as the arrays. I don’t know why she’s doing this, but she’s going to break something!”

  “Do you have any idea what she’s doing with the array?” asked Mase, trying to figure out what was going on. Teela had never interfered with anything on the Moon before.

  “Teela’s got the array pointed at the neutron star!” Adam replied. “I think she’s taking some kind of readings.”

  “I’ll contact Commander Larson immediately and get to the bottom of this,” promised Mase, feeling agitated that Teela would do something like this.

  Steve had only told him a few days back that Star One’s AI was behaving normally again. Now it looked as if it had developed additional problems. He also wondered what Teela was doing by taking control of Farside. Why was the AI looking at the neutron star with the dish antenna array?