Warren CS 3:
Latest assessment 31% into mission when incident occurred. Unnamed crew member reported some “disaster” on-board the ship. The ships main Artificial Intelligence, Monitor, was put into Command Mode with only instruction to “protect human life.” One report received from the AI Monitor which stated “biological organisms killing each other. Request immediate instructions.” Trajectory plotted and estimated robotic contact at 87%.
Conestoga CS 4:
Latest assessment: Unknown time of incident. Report received from unlabeled AI as having made planet fall. This would be at least a century prior to when ship was scheduled to arrive. No human messages from Conestoga. Trajectory plotted and robotic FTL contact estimated at greater than 90%. Star charts show location is not a known solar system, nor does there appear to be a solar system at that location. Report from AI is suspect, but tracking shows ship has not moved from the reported location.
Eschaton CS 5:
Latest assessment No reports of any kind from ship. FTL communications have not received any reply. Trajectory plotted and robotic FTL contact estimated at 95%. The nature of the crew and their religious extremism may explain their failure to report. Ship and crew considered as probably hostile.
Trailblazer CS 6:
Latest assessment: 14% into voyage, massive systems failures reported by Captain Josey Alberts. Cause of malfunctions thought to be encounter with micro singularity. Captain Alberts also reported loss of 62% of sleepers but stated “repairs underway.” 29% of way into voyage, automated distress signal activated. No further contact. Trajectory plotted and robotic FTL contact estimated at 71%.
Zubalamo CS 7:
Latest assessment: Still on course as scheduled. No human responses to FTL transmissions. AI Kwame reports “situation normal, all systems operational” to every request. Uncertain if AI is functioning, and uncertain if human crew awake. Trajectory plotted and robotic contact estimated at 90%.
Conclusions:
Each of the seven colony ships in the project have fallen short of design and mission parameters. Loss of at least three ships is probable. Loss of human life estimated at over 70% of all sleepers. Loss of environmental systems also a high probability. Program review concludes colony ship program a decided failure.
Gretchen watched as the special message faded out.
“Do you wish to review the special message?” Delphi asked. “It can be replayed as often as necessary.”
“Not right now,” Gretchen said. “From a historical viewpoint that was only moderately interesting. But what does it mean? Why is important for us to review before tomorrow’s meeting?”
“Do not get all excited and overwhelmed about this,” Paul said sarcastically. “I can see you are holding in all your bursting enthusiasm. I bet one of the teams found some additional records about those colony ships. It will be some boring academic matter. Some ancient history that is meaningless today. Gretchen you are very intellectual and a deep thinker. What else could it be?”
“Well, it did not fit the rumors Cammarry was talking about,” Gretchen replied. “Unless the orbital flight recovered something about the colony ships? Could that be it?”
“Maybe. There is a lot we do not know about those times. Maybe they found something in orbit? Either way it will probably not impact us in any significant manner. Besides, we will find out in the morning.” Paul yawned.
Gretchen wondered about the special message far more than Paul did. She privately reviewed it on a small display on the inside of a set of entertainment goggles before going to sleep. She lay awake long into the night, listening to the rhythmic breathing of Paul. Her mind bounced from one topic and possibility to the next quicker than a ricochet ball. Finally she did fall into a deep and dreamless sleep.
***
“Gretchen?” Paul said as he awoke her. “Shall we go to the Cafetorium and then to the meeting? If we head out soon, we can miss the crowds.”
Gretchen knew he meant miss out on seeing Jamie. “Sure, I am with you,” she responded even though more time sleeping would have been appreciated.
The cafetorium was one of the largest rooms in the dome. One wall was made from transparent permalloy. Paul often wondered why anyone would want to look outside, for all that was there was the dead, dull, tan dust blowing and swirling. Nothing ever changed in that tan wasteland of nothingness outside. The walls around the cafetorium were the same color as most everything else. A few people were already lined up for breakfast. Jamie was not one of them. Paul was pleased with that fact.
Paul and Gretchen grabbed their ration of water and a food package. They then sat and consumed breakfast: ten ounces of water, and the small grey brick of food.
Cammarry and several other adventurers came and sat with them.
“So what did you think of that special message?” Cammarry asked as she pushed a strand of hair back over her ear.
“Not much,” Paul replied. “It is just old history. How can it apply to us?”
“One never knows,” Hobart said. He was a happy man with a large voice. “There are rumblings of new things coming.”
“You listen to Cammarry too much,” Gretchen teased.
Cammarry rolled her brown eyes, and grinned. Everyone knew she liked to tell stories and share rumors.
“I too think something big is happening,” Gwen said as she slid in next to Hobart. “They would not have us all getting together for no reason, right?” Hobart gave her a quick hug.
“They are doing the solo missions,” Gretchen said as she finished the food ration. “I bet the meeting is about that.” She nodded her head toward Michael and Jamie who had just walked into the cafetorium. Jamie’s short red hair was bouncing as she walked. It was clear she was excited that Michael was back. Michael’s face was set in a brooding look, his dark hair thick. He walked as if carrying an immense load.
“We should go to the conference room,” Paul said and stood up and left.
The other seated adventurers knew of the tension between Jamie and Paul, but had not seen it so obviously acted upon. They glanced back and forth.
“I will accompany him,” Gretchen said. “See you at the meeting.” She hurried after Paul who had slipped out a side door of the cafetorium.
“Paul?” Gretchen called.
Paul walked onward to the room where the meeting would take place. He entered and walked past the large triangular shaped table. He stood near a seat behind where others would sit.
“Paul?” Gretchen asked again.
“What?” he snapped back. Then he caught himself. “Sorry. I just do not know how to handle the memories I have. Every time I see Jamie, I just remember her leaving me with Karen.”
Gretchen walked over and gave him a hug. They stood there together. She said nothing but just held him against her. He cuddled for a bit then he said quietly, “I just think Karen would be alive if Jamie had helped me.”
“You may be right. But we will never know,” Gretchen said kindly. “You cannot change the past, no matter how much you want to. I just wish I had been the one to go with you and Karen.”
“Me too,” Paul said as he rubbed his eyes. “I better be ready for this boring meeting.”
“I see some are here early,” a woman said as she walked into the conference room. Her voice alone revealed that she was a woman with a strong personality. She was fifty-five years old and her hair was pulled back in a bun. She had some wrinkle lines in her face from concentration and her eyes were bright with intelligence.
“Member Murial Hodgesyn, forgive us if we are too early,” Gretchen said quickly as she stepped in front of Paul to shield him from the Committee Member’s gaze.
“No worries,” Murial Hodgesyn replied. “But did I interrupt something? Paul, I know what you saw in Dome 3 was appalling, and we all miss Karen. Her death was a tragedy that no one could have prevented.”
“I wonder,” Paul said, but then caught himself.
“Well, please be sea
ted. The others will be here soon. The chairs over here will fill up fastest, and you may wish to sit in those.” There was a look on her face which told Paul that she knew more about his trouble with Jamie than she verbalized.
“Thanks,” Paul muttered and sat where she had indicated.
Sure enough, other adventurers filled in the chairs, and also the other two Committee Members came and sat around the triangular table. Jubal Morris sat on one side, Lorna Vasquez on the other, and Murial Hodgesyn on the third side. Paul remembered the leadership etiquette of Dome 17, “Two elected, one selected” as the three of them sat down.
Most of the seats were filled by the time Michael, followed by Jamie, came and sat down. Paul was thankful he and Gretchen had gotten the seats they did. For Jamie was on the opposite side of the room.
“Glad to see you back in one piece,” Member Hodgesyn said to Michael who was just sitting down. “Are you ready with your report from Dome 11?”
“He must have really found something special on his solo,” Gretchen whispered to Paul. Paul nodded and listened with renewed interest. He could not recall another incident where all the adventurers were called to a mission debriefing.
“Yes, Member, I am ready. I have recovered files from Dome 11, and the AI has them.” Michael replied in the formal speech patterns of Dome 17.
“AI please display files from Dome 11, and put visual images or Michael’s report.” Murial commanded.
“Yes, Member, here are the files" A mechanical voice sounded. A three dimensional image appeared in the center of the triangular table. It looked identical from every seat’s perspective around the table. Even Paul and Gretchen could see clearly from where they sat a row back.
“Dome 11 was reached in the typical manner using the old dome plotting records and maneuvering the outside rover vehicle,” Michael began reporting. He was very detailed and methodical as he made his report.
While Michael verbally explained what had happened, the AI displayed images showing the breached dome, floor plans, schematics, area images, conjectured plans of utilities which were thought to be behind walls, under floors, in the ceilings, and other interior fixtures from Dome 11. The way the dust covered the things in Dome 11 reminded Paul of what he had seen in Dome 3. There were even a few dried out bodies there in Dome 11 as well. Not the same level of carnage, but death nonetheless. Michael finished his report by asking, “Does anyone have any questions?”
“Did you have any difficulty in travel to or from that dead dome?” Member Lorna asked. Lorna was the most shy of the three Committee members, and did not ask questions often. Paul’s blond hair was sometimes compared to Lorna’s for shade and color; however, his was even lighter.
“No, Member Lorna, I had no difficulty. The vehicle performed well, even in the dust storms and higher winds than I expected.” Michael replied with little emotion.”
“Did you run into any monsters? Like a sand shark?” Hobart asked in good humor. His big voice laughed as he said it.
“Or perhaps see the ghosts of the Great Event?” Gwen gibed.
“Did you find a sealed vault with canned goods and frozen foods?” Beth laughed. “Maybe eat all that delicious food on your own on the first solo?”
“You were on your own, buddy,” Allen kidded. “Did you find a glacier of drinkable water?”
Several other adventures also remarked in a gallows humor kind of way.
Michael did not rise to the humor and just stated flatly, “It was all in my report.”
“Well, Michael, thank you for your service. It looks clear enough that Dome 11 is also dead like the others. But let us learn the specific cause." Member Jubal stated in a causal way, “Artificial Intelligence, please analyze and give us most probable cause of demise of Dome 11. “
“Failure of Dome 11: inevitable. All dome systems have exceeded best-case life spans, and multiple system failure occurred.” The AI stated.
The room became completely still. No more flippant comments, nor giggles. The attitude change was dramatic.
“Now I know why we are here,” Paul whispered to Gretchen. “It is worse than we ever thought.”
“I agree. This is bad. Very bad,” she returned in a whisper.
With the exception of a few murmurs, no one said anything for an uncomfortably long time.
After a while, Murial spoke up, “Using the data available, project application of known problems to our dome.”
Instantly, Artificial Intelligence replied, “Failure of Dome 17 is unavoidable. Estimated time to failure is no more than one hundred twenty days.”
Paul sucked in his breath. This was a shock. Again the room was silent.
“Explain your analysis of last statement,” Murial commanded with a bit of a tremble in her words.
“Dome 11 technology level was nearest to this dome’s. Dome 11 failed thirteen point six years ago. All other domes assessed have consistently showed similar patterns of deterioration of systems, progressing from oldest to newest.” The AI continued with a long series of strength of materials statements, effects from geological shifting and a myriad of other factors. “The records from Dome 3 show that proper maintenance is only partially effective in slowing the inevitable failure of each dome.”
Paul’s and Gretchen’s ears picked up on those statements. Michael and Jamie seemed to have not noticed. As Paul looked at the faces of the adventurers he could see that many of them were nearly overwhelmed by this news. Dome 17 was supposed to last forever. It was all there was, and should always be there. Or so Paul thought.
“One hundred twenty days?” Gretchen asked Paul. “What do we do?”
“I am not sure. But we are all here,” Paul answered.
A few questions were asked, but Paul missed them as he pondered this news. Then he heard the Committee member Murial state, “This means we must implement the PFTL scout missions to the colony ships.”
“I agree,” stated Jubal, followed by Lorna. “Indeed, it is our only option.”
Many people began to speak all at once. There were some questions, but they were lost in the general chatter.
“The colony ships were lost, decades ago!” Jerome stated loudly. Cammarry looked at him in agreement.
“How is a dead colony ship any better than a dead dome?” Paul asked in an equally loud voice before he even realized he was going to speak.
“Besides, no one can get to a colony ship, they left long, long ago,” Gretchen added.
“Quiet everyone!” Lorna yelled. It was so unexpected, that everyone stopped talking and listened.
All eyes turned to Lorna who spoke clearly and articulately. “We have been checking out the status of the colony ships, and there is a good chance of reaching them. We now have faster than light travel and are building scout ships to go to the colony ships. That along with the teleportation technology gives us some hope.”
“There was a successful orbital flight,” Cammarry said to Gretchen. She smiled at the confirmation of the rumor she had heard.
“So how long before we load everyone into one of these super ships?” Jerome asked, with near hysteria in his voice.
“We cannot load everyone into a FTL ship. The best we can build are two person scout ships. AI please display PFTL mission parameters. Authorization, Lorna 76A69,” Lorna commanded.
“Authorization accepted” the mechanical voice stated. A very detailed set of plans were shown in the three dimensional display. The dates displayed showed that The Committee had been working on the plan for some time.
“As you can see, there is a good possibility of recovering a working colony ship. When we do that, we will need to establish a teleportation receiving pad on the colony ship. None of them were anywhere close to that technology. But the raw materials to make the receiving pad should be there, and with the plans and components you take; it will be easy enough to use colony ship stuff to build a receiving pad. So then when that happens, people from here just basically walk through a teleportation syst
em and walk off on the colony ship.” Lorna finished her statements and sat down.
“So this is why we are all here?” Gretchen asked.
No one seemed to hear her question over the other comments
“Why not just teleport to another planet? That will be as likely as finding a colony ship,” someone said from the other side of the room.
“Just which planet would that be?” Jubal snapped back. “Want to go to Mars? Or Venus? Or how about Triton or Titan? All the planets, or moons, we know about are as bad, or worse, than outside this dome. The colony ships offer habitats designed and fashioned for human survival. They are our only hope.”
“Some hope,” Paul muttered. Both Gretchen and Cammarry looked at him. “Sounds like a wild scheme.”
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 5
