“And the robotic probe says they are still on course?” Gretchen asked. She was wiggling her feet around trying to comprehend why the woman in the film would were those kinds of torturous shoes.
“Indeed,” Tiffany replied. “However, initial assessments by robotic probe indicate the Vanguard is not traveling at the speed necessary to make the journey in the 165 year time frame. Better assessment of that can take place when we reach the Vanguard.”
“So what will the ship be like?” Paul asked. “You have given us some history, and there apparently was a mutiny, but how many crew and what is the structural set up?”
“We do not have comprehensive records on the Colony Ship Program. Again, there are conflicting reports. It is possible the ships themselves were not uniform in construction, although that too is debatable. A few records indicate they were all modeled on the same basic plan. From my analysis of the records, I conjecture with high degree of probability the following: First, each colony ship consisted of a number, records are inconsistent on the specific number, of biological zones, or terrariums, which would be self contained in homeostatic equilibrium. Several records indicate that these places were very large cylinders. Conflicting reports on the length, width, and girth of these cylinders. The most commonly reported number for these biological zones is eight, however, that is not consistent, and some reports indicate as many as sixteen. Second, the colony ships used gravity manipulation to simulate Earth normal gravity. Third, solar mimicry by separate reactors was utilized to provide light, heat, and a source for photosynthesis by biological organisms. Fourth, at least one, probably two, of these zones was a water zone. Fifth, there were humans living in these biological zones and reproducing so that the subsequent generations of humans would arrive at the destination world. The exact number of these generational humans is unknown but would likely be in the thousands, depending on the size of the biological zones, and the required numbers to have a safe breeding population. Additionally there would be a crew of roughly one thousand humans to operate the massive ship. Sixth, each colony ship carried a large number of humans in suspended animation to be awakened on the colony world. The exact numbers are not known, but records vary from 100,000 to 150,000 per ship, however those records are suspect.”
“Did you say safe breeding population?” Paul asked. “That should be covered by the regulation of children and the careful planning of reproduction, right?”
“Paul, you are projecting the ideals of Dome 17 into a colony ship which is over one hundred years old. The human reproduction system on the colony ship is unknown, but likely will be more primitive than the sophisticated and safe system in Dome 17,” Tiffany reported. “The colony ships might not use any extracorporeal incubation at all.”
“You mean children will be born kicking and screaming and covered by blood like in the ancient times? Infant mortality was very high even before the Great Event from what I recall of history. They even did male and female genital mutilation of babies. Is that what we can expect to find? Some barbaric anarchy?” Paul was disturbed at the thought.
“History would suggest that as a distinct possibility,” Tiffany responded, “But as I have said, the records are unclear, and it is also possible, the colony ships may have developed a similar system to Dome 17. Both are closed environments. However, we will not know until we get there.”
“But back to the numbers. Are you saying, there might be something like five thousand people living in the colony ship?” Gretchen asked. “Between crew and the generational humans?”
“That is a fair approximation, but the mutiny that took place may have dramatically altered that,” Tiffany replied. “Additionally, there is a strong likelihood that human reproduction on the Vanguard is not monitored and regimented.”
“What do you mean?” Paul asked.
“Dome 17 wisely adopted the age-mate system where gametes are harvested from all individuals at the age of fifteen. Then sterilization is done. The reproduction process takes place after carefully assessed sperm and ovum are compared for compatibility and screened for mutation, disease, or other factors. Then population levels are regulated by…”
“You mean they will not do that on the ship?” Gretchen interrupted. “They will just mate and breed like in ancient times? Paul you are right, this might be barbarism. I had not really considered how utterly different the colony ship might be.”
“Some of the seniors at the dome remember having siblings, which are sort of like age-mates. But they also relate how bad the mutations were and how many dear children suffered and died before the extracorporeal wombs, filters, and screening used in the gamete compatibility procedures,” Paul stated. “Agnes, for example, the elderly lady who fell, I believe she actually gave birth long ago.”
Tiffany then added, “Yes, the reproduction process in the Colony Ship Vanguard will likely be vastly different than that utilized in Dome 17. That makes accurate conjectures about the human population level uncertain. There is a chance there will be no human population at all on the Vanguard. While the robotic probe did relate indications of a functioning biological system, that does not prove human life exists there. Historically there have been mass extinctions of numerous species, and in some localized places humans were unable to survive. The Great Event is an incident which critically injured human survival.”
“So we may get to the Vanguard and have no means of survival,” Gretchen commented. “But you said there are multiple biological zones on the ship. Is that for redundancy and greater chance of success?”
“Yes,” Tiffany responded. “There is a far greater chance of one surviving biological zone when there are multiple zones at the start. Evidence strongly suggests that your own survival is likely, especially with my help. It is less likely that we can find a suitable place to teleport the residents of Dome 17, but that is our mission and there is the potential for success on that account. We need to arrive on the Vanguard and evaluate it in more details. I will assist in every way possible. May I suggest a food ration now, and then a sleep period? That will optimize your chances of success.”
“Good idea,” Gretchen replied.
11 Just a little more from the thrusters
“Gretchen? Paul?” Tiffany said. The lights in the scout ship gently grew in illumination, and the two pilots awoke.
“Should I say ‘good morning’?” Paul yawned as he stretched his arms and rubbed his legs.
“Good morning, Paul” Gretchen leaned over and kissed him.
“We will be coming out of faster-than-light travel in fifteen minutes,” Tiffany the AI reported. “All systems are operating within established parameters.”
Paul looked out through the clear permalloy and saw the unending grayness which seemed to never change.
“In FTL, how do you know where we are?” Paul asked.
“We are outside of normal space, so location is a matter of mathematical formula. Shall I display the computations?” Tiffany asked.
“No need, only people like Brink can understand that math. I am still stuck back in simple stuff like quantum differential equations,” Gretchen added.
“And you are better than I am at those things,” Paul said as he looked in affection at Gretchen. He knew she was very smart, not a genius like Brink, but extremely intelligent.
“Neither of you should debase your abilities. It is highly likely that both of you will be far superior to anyone we discover on the Vanguard,” Tiffany stated. “Your genetics have been pruned and groomed for ideal advancement.”
“That is an odd way of putting it,” Paul commented.
“After our previous conversations, I have been postulating potentials for humanity on the Vanguard,” Tiffany replied. “Biological environments are slow and ponderous in producing advancement. Dome 17 utilized the best technological resources available in producing the age-mates.”
“So when we come out of FTL, what will we see? Or feel?” Gretchen asked, bringing the topic back to the missio
n. She had realized that Tiffany liked to discuss and converse and tended to follow philosophical tangents in conversations. Gretchen admired that, but she had concerns about the mission which were urgent.
“You should feel nothing when we re-enter normal space. Inertia compensators, and subjective velocity will be no different after re-entry than what you experience now. We will be one hundred meters from the robotic probe and beacon. Our exterior lights can be used to illuminate the hull of the Vanguard if needed. Then we will begin our assessment of where to dock, and also attempt contact with the inhabitants, human or artificial, if there are any, of the Vanguard,” Tiffany reported.
Paul and Gretchen moved about a bit, and got ready for the transition.
“We will be coming out of FTL, in five, four, three, two, one,” Tiffany counted down.
The scene outside the clear permalloy suddenly changed. Both Gretchen and Paul were thrown violently against the harnesses. They had kept them on, securing them to the pilot’s seats while they slept. Neither was injured, but both were badly shaken up. Manual control levers and screens projected up from the center console between the pilot seats.
“What is happening?” Paul yelled as he grabbed the controls.
“Assessing,” Tiffany replied.
Outside there was a black backdrop of space, and there were stars visible, but the stars were spinning wildly. Or rather, the scout ship was wildly spinning.
“Initiate stabilization of flight,” Gretchen ordered.
“Attempting to do so. Assessing situation,” Tiffany responded.
The seemingly spinning stars were slowing down, and the pressure against the harnesses was lessening.
“Why were there any forces exerted against us?” Paul asked. He was monitoring the reading from the screen in front of him. He had set it to override mode and was manually checking the systems.
“There was a malfunction on re-entry. The malfunction is of uncertain origin. I am making repairs,” Tiffany responded. There was a touch of mechanical anxiety in the tones.
“Paul, where is the Vanguard?” Gretchen asked as she too was operating some things on manual control. “It looked like we spun around at least two full revolutions, but I never saw the colony ship. Where is it?”
“I am attempting to scan for the Vanguard now,” Tiffany reported. “Primary scanners in non-functional status. Cause unknown, but malfunction is in physical systems, not in nonphysicality. Attempting to locate Vanguard through secondary and tertiary means. Those efforts are tedious,” Tiffany reported. “I have located the Vanguard.”
“Where? What happened?” Paul asked.
“I am reorienting the scout now,” Tiffany said. “May I take back full thruster control? It is imperative that I make adjustments now.”
“Has the malfunction been corrected?” Gretchen asked.
“Partially. I need full thruster control urgently. However, the causes and circumstances of the malfunction are still unknown. I need control now, please.” Tiffany’s voice was imploring. “I have located the Vanguard and can take us to it.
“Yes, you have full thruster control,” Gretchen said and pushed several controls which then descended into the center console.
“Thank you.”
There was the sound of a long thruster action, and then the thrusters were rapidly firing in short bursts.
Slowly the view from the clear permalloy altered until there was the ship in view. It was a bit fuzzy, but was clearly a large colony ship.
“Is that the Vanguard?” Paul demanded. “We were supposed to be one hundred meters from it. That is a lot further away that that!”
“Yes, Paul. That is the Vanguard.” Tiffany sounded angry. “We are obviously not one hundred meters away from the ship. Scanning is erratic; systems are out of configuration and synchronization. I estimate distance is 709.67 kilometers. The Vanguard is also moving on a trajectory away from our location, at a relative velocity which is making that distance increase. I have stopped our uncontrolled spin and directed our scout ship toward the Vanguard.”
“Can we get there?” Gretchen asked. It had dawned on her how far away that was.
“Thrusters are set to maximize fuel efficiency. I estimate we will have enough fuel to intercept the Vanguard, but interception is not our only concern. We must intercept and then align and modify our flight to match that of the Vanguard. Thruster fuel supply is marginal for that task, there will be little room for any additional errors, and we will only be able to intercept the stern most aspects of the Vanguard. I apologize for my abruptness in demanding control. You both did well in this crisis.”
“But what happened?” Paul demanded.
“The malfunction was multisystem. The faster-than-light systems, inertia compensators, entropic stabilization, and location sensors failed to properly and completely disengage from faster-than-light mode at the same precise moment. I am still uncertain why that happened. Because of that failure, we carried some of our kinetic energy into normal space, which you felt as the turbulences. I believe we did initially materialize back into normal space at the one hundred meter location which was targeted; however, what I am calling the ‘carry over energy’ propelled us to this location. It was just luck that the Vanguard was not in alignment with our scout’s course or there would have been a catastrophic collision.”
“We can make it to the Vanguard, but will we have the ability to dock? Or assess the ship?” Gretchen asked.
“My conjectures, utilizing what information is available from the poorly functioning scanners, show we will intercept, so long as the velocity and trajectory of the Vanguard remains unchanged. As to docking, we currently are forced to increase our velocity to overtake the Vanguard. We can only do this at an oblique angle from the axis of the colony ship. At interception we are forced to use more thruster fuel to slow our velocity and rotate our trajectory to match the Vanguard’s. Those maneuvers will almost certainly deplete our fuel supply but leave us close to the stern sections of the ship at comparable speed and course. That is the only interception point possible considering our relative positions and levels of fuel. We will then connect to the Vanguard at the first available opportunity using grappling cables and winch ourselves onto the hull.”
“And how long will this all take?” Paul asked.
“Interception is in thirty-one hours,” Tiffany reported.
“That long?” Paul moaned. “Will we have enough breathable air for that period of time?”
The AI Tiffany replied, “Yes, the recycling system for air is functioning normally. Thruster fuel is the only resource which is doubtful, for the anticipated intercept journey.”
“Can we use the FTL system instead, and catch up more quickly?” Gretchen asked.
“No,” Tiffany responded with an air of frustration. “I am unable to ascertain the causative agent of the previous FTL malfunction. Therefore those systems should not be used again. Additionally, the distance is far too short for faster-than-light speed. I have calculated all potential approaches, and the one I outlined is our sole hope for docking with the Vanguard. Conjectures show 87% possibility of success unless further unknowns are encountered.”
“So we have time to assess and scan the Vanguard,” Gretchen said. “But the people back in Dome 17 are waiting for us to set up the teleportation receiving pad, and now we will be days behind.” She was faintly biting her lip with the stress.
“So what can we learn about our new home?” Paul muttered to himself.
“Scanners have physical damage which I am unable to repair,” Tiffany reported. “The jostling and physical stress placed on those systems by the FTL malfunction was not anticipated in the design of the ship.”
“Then I guess we get to work, repairing what needs repair,” Paul commented. “We have the time.”
“And we have the abilities to fix them,” Gretchen added and gave Paul a grin.
The next few hours were spent adjusting and calibrating and refining the scanning e
quipment. The forces which had flung the pilots against their harnesses had also destabilized some of the equipment. Gretchen and Paul worked steadily at those tasks.
“Finally!” Gretchen said as she brought the first primary scanner back into operational use. “I have one primary sensor working. It is marginal, but giving us some data. I am scanning the Vanguard for information now.”
“Great job Gretchen!” Paul complimented. “I too am just about finished with these recalibrations, and should have a second scanner ready soon. I am having trouble with keeping it equilibrated, and it is only partially working.”
“Yes, well done,” the AI Tiffany reported. “I would not have been able to do the physical repairs you did. I can now run the scanners if you desire.”
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 10
