Paul did not respond, but Gretchen squeezed his arm while Jubal spoke.
“Also, and I am speaking for the entire Committee now, you are commended. The other Committee members would be here, but after viewing the records you brought back from Dome 3, as well as those of Karen, and the ones Jamie made, especially that visual recording, the others needed to have some quiet time to reflect and cope. So only I am here representing them. And honestly, I do not want to talk about what you saw, nor discuss the video you brought back. It is just too shocking and too much to…..” Jubal paused as his voice gave out. “Artificial Intelligence?”
“Yes, Jubal. How may I assist you?” the mechanical voice of Artificial Intelligence asked.
“Without adding any of the disgusting or graphic details, please give a summary of the cause of Dome 3’s failure,” Jubal commanded.
“Yes, Jubal. Dome 3 failed because of chronic and system-wide neglect of proper maintenance procedures. The primary reactor malfunctioned fourteen years, one month, and eighteen days ago. This was caused by fouled interior uptake valves. Those valves were blocked by human biological matter. This allowed a cascade of malfunctions and loss of regulatory feedbacks,” The AI named Artificial Intelligence responded. “I can give more detailed explanation of the failure if you desire, but that is a basic summation.”
“But what caused the people to kill each other?” Paul asked. “I really need to know.”
“Jubal? Shall I answer the question?”
“Yes, Artificial Intelligence, please do so,” Jubal said.
“There were multiple causative agents in Dome 3. The two primary ones are toxic air and inadequate light. The air scrubbing system of Dome 3 had been inadequately maintained. Records indicate that for the five-year period prior to the final breech of Dome 3 the recycling of air did not remove all the toxins, especially pseudo-toluene. Those toxins built up to dangerous levels. The air recyclers also showed a chronic lowering of oxygen levels over approximately that same five-year period. The full spectrum lighting of Dome 3 was also failing for the last ten years before the final breech. These conditions led to dome-wide air and light impurities. The final medical log entry, which was submitted by Medidac, one of the last artificial intelligence systems in operation, stated ‘Rampant manifestations and variants of formication, spongiform encephalopathy, hypocobalaminemia, and paranoid psychosis. Staff unable or unwilling to comply with directives.’ There are no records of any medical treatments being attempted for the last twenty seven months of human life in Dome 3.” Artificial Intelligence stated.
“They just let themselves die?” Paul asked.
“They quit maintaining Dome 3, and they died. Why they stopped the maintenance is unknown. They deliberately shut down most of their AIs manually,” Jubal replied. “I already went over all the morbid details with the other Committee members, and I can make them available from Artificial Intelligence to your personal AI if you insist. We have covered it all and nothing else can be learned. Trust me.”
“Does it apply at all to us in Dome 17?” Gretchen asked.
“Not really. We already have vigorous controls and upkeep schedules for our equipment. We also have our people involved in doing research and development which improve our systems all the time,” Jubal replied.
“So Karen died for nothing?” Paul said.
Jubal did not respond. The awkward silence lasted for a few more moments. Finally Gretchen asked, “Is there anything else?”
“I understand you saw Doctor Chambers, which is a good thing to do. Also speak with Doctor Carolyn. For now, just take care of each other, and relax. Thank you for coming here. I hope next time it is a far more pleasant topic we can discuss.”
Paul and Gretchen left and returned to their own apartment.
3 Committee meeting one
Several weeks had passed since Paul’s ill fated mission to Dome 3.
Life returned to normal inside Dome 17, except that Paul deliberately worked hard to avoid seeing Jamie, or Michael the adventurer she lived with. It did take some effort to avoid them. Even though Dome 17 had been originally designed for a much larger population than its current level of less than fifteen hundred people, many of the unneeded and unused areas of Dome 17 had been sealed and secured to save on resources. Nonetheless, Paul scrupulously avoided Jamie.
Another team of adventurers went out on a mission. They returned several days later and reported that Dome 9 did not exist anymore. It was just a large cratered area. None of them had been hurt. Paul was envious that all they saw was a huge empty hole, instead of the things he saw in Dome 3. The more the adventurers studied the other domes, the more it looked like Dome 17 was the last surviving one.
Gretchen and Paul were sitting in the cafetorium and had just finished the midday food ration and water. Another adventurer walked up to them and sat down. “Gretchen and Paul, did you hear about the orbital mission?” Cammarry asked.
“There was another space flight?” Gretchen asked in surprise.
“It is supposed to be a secret, but it worked very well. The sling bay launch was perfect, and the return hit the reception strip with no problems at all. Rumor has it that Brink has perfected something,” Cammarry responded. “It seems pretty exciting. Those missions must be better than trips to dead domes…” She caught herself and then looked apologetically at Paul. “Sorry. I do not mean to bring up a bad memory.”
“You are right. A space flight would be better than a dead dome,” Paul said. “I hope this rumor is true.”
“Well, I heard it was a single person on a solo flight. That seems to fit with the Committee’s ideas now. You heard they approved solo missions to the remaining domes?”
“What? That it is a poor decision,” Paul said. “When do they propose starting those?”
“Michael is already on the first solo mission,” Cammarry stated. “He could be back anytime. It seems kind of a secret that he went.”
Paul was quiet, Gretchen felt a bit nervous about the whole topic. But finally she broke the awkward silence, “Why are they doing solos now? They used to insist on a minimum of three people, sometimes more.”
“The way I figure it, the Committee is seeking to learn as much as possible about the other domes as fast as possible. After Michael went, LeeAnn, Roy, Dave, and Constance all left on solos too. They are not even waiting to see how the first solo mission goes, but just sent those four out to four other domes. I am not sure I would volunteer to be alone on a mission.” Cammarry shuddered in only partially mock fear.
“Wonderful. No contact back to Dome 17, and no help from someone along with you? Sure that is a great idea,” Paul said, his words laden with sarcasm. “I am going back to the apartment.” Paul stood and walked away.
“Thanks for the information,” Gretchen said honestly. “Something is happening, and it gives me pause. I wish we knew more.”
“I will keep my ears open and let you know what I hear,” Cammarry said with a smile.
Gretchen caught up to Paul in the hallway outside of their apartment. “How about some exercise instead?” she asked.
“Sure, why not? Ricochet ball?” Paul asked.
“Great!” Gretchen tried to sound excited.
They changed clothing and put on exercise shirts, shorts and athletic footwear. The court was not far from their apartment, and they walked in silence.
“Yellow or green?” Gretchen asked as she pulled two oval balls from the locker outside the court.
“You decide,” Paul said as he went through the motions of stretching and limbering his muscles.
“I will be yellow,” Gretchen said as she tossed the green oval ball to Paul. She too stretched and went through some calisthenics.
Paul entered the court which consisted of two sloping sides, two holes in the wall which were the goals, and the overhead launcher which would spin the balls and release them. Each side of the court was painted in large squares of either yellow or green in an alternating grid patt
ern. The floor sloped upward at an incline away from lowest point which was down the center. The goals were on the far wall, one yellow and one green.
“So we play the basic game? Or advanced?” Gretchen asked.
“You decide,” Paul said.
“Basic game!” Gretchen announced. They each threw their respective balls into the far goals. The oval balls were not weighted in the center and they flew in wobbly arcs. Both landed perfectly inside the goal.
Paul jumped onto a green square and adjusted his footing to the incline. He crouched a bit as he saw Gretchen leap onto a yellow square.
The launcher at the top of the court began to rotate around. They watched as the oval green and yellow balls were unexpectedly flung from each end of the spinning launcher. When the balls struck the walls, floor or ceiling they bounced in haphazard ways.
They both moved swiftly after the ball of their color. Grabbing it was not easy as it ricocheted off the walls and the angled floors. Paul was first to grab his and he swung quickly and tossed it right toward the green goal. It bounced just to the side missing the target. He dove to recover it. But in the meantime Gretchen had landed her ball into the yellow goal. Above the yellow goal the number one appeared on the scoreboard which was part of the wall.
“Score!” Gretchen called.
Paul causally tossed the green ball into the goal and again the launcher on the ceiling began to rotate. The balls came shooting out and the second round began. It was not long before both Paul and Gretchen were focused on the rigors of the game. Round after round went by. Dripping sweat and panting from the cardiovascular workout and mental distraction, the score stood at a tie at eleven each when there came an interruption.
“Paul and Gretchen? Sorry to disturb your exercise, but we have a special message from the Committee,” Delhi stated.
“Do you want us to display it here, or wait for your return to the apartment?” The AI Cunda asked.
“It can wait, right?” Gretchen asked. Her fizzy black hair was ringed in sweat. “Can we finish?”
“Certainly. However, the Committee has called for a meeting tomorrow morning with all the adventurers. They suggested reviewing the special message prior to the meeting,” Cunda replied. “I shall remind you of the special message when you return to the apartment.”
“Thanks,” Paul replied.
“Must be very special,” Gretchen said, “For both our AIs to contact us here. Could it be about the orbital flight?”
“Or the ridiculous notion of going to a dome alone,” Paul replied. “Perhaps someone on a solo died? But then, how would they know? No way to contact or call for help once you are on the ground outside the dome. They have enough trouble getting those tight beam transmissions down here from the orbital satellite.”
“Maybe it is good news?” Gretchen suggested. She gave it a huge smile of sincerity. “Maybe they found a living dome with other people?”
“Always the optimist,” Paul returned the smile. “So now we are tied. Shall we continue to twenty-five?”
“If you can keep up,” Gretchen teased.
They played as vigorously and energetically as they could, each seeking to get the next score. When they were tied at nineteen each, the pressure to win increased. Gretchen felt her concentration focusing, her perception of time slowing down, elongating. That gave her mind increased abilities which translated into physical movements. Her steps became more graceful and efficient. Her throws even more accurate. She was able to see exactly where the ball would land before she threw it. Her motions were fluid and precise. Gretchen scored round after round and won the game.
“Like usual,” Paul said to her through heavy breathing, “when the pressure is on, you were able to score. That is one of the things I love about you.”
“And I love the graceful way you accepted my latest victory,” Gretchen said with honest appraisal and no hint of arrogance.
They returned to the apartment and Paul was thankful for the exercise. He always admired how Gretchen moved with grace and agility. Her longer reach than his also gave her some advantages in the game. His advantage of strength did not count for much in ricochet ball.
Back in the apartment, both AIs immediately reminded them of the special message from the Committee.
“You are so eager to show this, then show it. But I am washing up,” Paul said addressing the AIs. He took his clothes off and placed them in the bin for cleaning, then scrubbed himself with some foam sanitizer. Gretchen did the same thing.
“Delhi, display the special message,” Gretchen said as she put on a clean set of clothing.
“This message is for both Gretchen and Paul. It has been delivered to all the available adventurers,” Delphi stated.
A three dimensional and very detailed set of images hovered in the center of the apartment. From Gretchen’s as well as Paul’s angle of viewing, it looked the same.
Dome 17 Committee Only Memorandum on Colony Ship Recovery
In light of the success of faster than light communications over the last 5 years, and the newest breakthrough which has allowed development of the Piloted Faster Than Light (PFTL) scout ships, information is now being shared about the Old World colony ship program. Research and Development still has not been able to get past the weight and mass restrictions, so PFTL missions will only be able to accommodate two human pilots.
As you are aware, information released to our dome’s general public - regarding the colony ship program - has been minimal. The surprising lack of interest in the colony ship program by the general public has been well documented and is presented in appendix one.
Generally speaking, the view is that the Old World’s colony ship program was a total failure. This memorandum is to inform you about the newest finding of our reassessment of the colony ship program. The public is unaware of these issues, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The PFTL missions have the real potential to directly assess what remains of the colony ships. What the general public needs to know will be reassessed after the PFTL missions are completed. Robotic FTL probes are ready to be dispatched to those colony ships deemed best available to re-contact. PFLT scouts could be read in the near future.
According to the old world records, a total of seven colony ships were manufactured. Two major factors led the leaders of the old world to think the colony ship program possible: modern permalloy and gravity manipulation. Major manufacturing was from a spun material called modern permalloy. Not to be confused with the nickel and iron alloys made about one hundred and seventy years previously, modern permalloy is still the hardest substance known to humanity. Breakthroughs of technology in the old world showed that, because of the strength and other qualities of modern permalloy, the colony ship projects were possible. Combined with the gravity manipulation technology the ships were assembled in orbit over a thirteen year period. These ships were then inhabited with various ecological zones’ flora and fauna, rescued from preserves on earth and established in homeostasis in suitable habitats.
Each colony ship had eight separate and unique habitats populated by a thousand generational humans. These people lived in the habitats with the full knowledge that they would spend their entire lives there, Estimates of transit time from Earth to target world were from three to eight generations. Ship operations were overseen by one thousand humans of the ship’s active crew, and various artificial intelligences. The crew positions were in dynastic successions to the subsequent generation. An additional 144,000 humans were kept in suspended animation capsules in storage bays, to be awakened upon arrival at target world.
Ships listed by launch date:
Vanguard CS 1:
Latest assessment: 23% into voyage, when an incident occurred. Last known message received stated a mutiny had occurred and captain of ship had been assassinated by unknown crew members. Reporting officer was J. Baldwin, Pilot 3rd class. No further reports. Ship considered lost. Trajectory plotted and potential of robotic FTL contact, 48%.
> Marathon CS 2:
Latest assessment: 19% into voyage when incident occurred. No human contact, but distress signal sent from secondary Artificial Intelligence, Lenore, reports that ship has been attacked by hostile aliens. This date is first contact with any alien race. AI also reported that counter attack had begun, but message was garbled and when decrypted also contained contamination from other Artificial Intelligences. Ship considered lost. Trajectory plotting attempted repeatedly using all three methods of colony ship tracking. Marginal success on plotting of course, Estimated robotic FTL contact and less than 5%.
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 4
