by Kurt Winans
Hank had remembered Ross once informing him that the scientists of his earlier life on Earth had calculated a six month voyage would be necessary in order to reach Mars. That calculation during the days of NASA had been based primarily on two factors. First were the available propulsion systems that the technology of those years had provided, while the second relied on the respective orbits of each planet and their optimum positions to each other at the time of launch. Unfortunately, neither of those calculable factors could be replicated for the current endeavor.
What was known about NASA from the historical disks, or from the various probes which had been discovered and retrieved from Mars, was a constant mind set with regard to the speed of flight. The unmanned probes sent to Mars by NASA, or other space agencies of the time, had used a propulsion system that generated identical velocity throughout the duration of the journey. Fortunately, a more advanced system of propulsion had been developed by the scientific community of new Earth that would allow for a steady increase of speed, and its use had already been successfully proven with modern day probes.
That technological advancement would have made the upcoming journey a more palatable duration of four months, but Mars was not currently in the optimum orbital position to do so. As the red planet requires slightly less than twice as long to orbit the sun as the Earth does, the Earth is perpetually either pulling ahead of, or catching up to, as in the current case, the position of Mars. It was not possible to remain on Earth waiting for optimal positioning, so the truth became inescapable. One of the aforementioned factors would be most favorable, while the other would be a significant detriment. Even with the aid of the six energy collecting and velocity enhancing solar sails that would soon be deployed, the journey to Mars, or ₹-829-4 as their old alien friends referred to it, would require eight full months to complete.
Tikal entered the flight deck area of the lifeboat where Hank and Joseph sat at the controls. After gazing out the large viewing window he projected, “It looks bigger than it did a few days ago when we collapsed those sail things.”
Hank replied in kind, “You mean the solar sails that we used to get here? By collapsing them we have halted the slow and steady acceleration process that had been building up over the past eight months. Since furling all six of them in, we have been gliding at a constant speed. As for Mars, yes it looks much larger, and isn’t she beautiful?”
“Yes it is beautiful, but why did you call it she?”
“Ross told me once, and Joseph among others has confirmed it, that long ago on Earth many lifeless objects of beauty such as cars, ships, or planes were often referred to as she. I thought that I would pay Mars the same level of respect.”
“I’m not familiar with any of those objects that you’re referring to Hank, but if you feel the need to label that thing out there as a she, then go ahead.”
“Thanks Tikal, I will.”
“Janet informed me that I should come see you, as you have some information that could be interesting.”
Pointing toward a barely discernable white mass at the left of Mars, Hank replied, “Yes I do Tikal. That little white blob is Diemos. It’s the outer most of the two moons. Soon we will see the inner moon Phobos, which is nearly twice the size, and then we can begin our breaking procedure.”
Having learned from Ross of the “slingshot” model used for acceleration purposes by numerous probes during the space age that predated the apocalypse, Hank thought something similar might be of use for this vessel. During the early stages of development for the lifeboat, he presented his concept to what remained of the scientific brain trust. They in turn developed a method to reverse that process by ingeniously using the small amount of gravity created by Phobos to gently grab hold of the lifeboat as it passed close by. The intent would be to slow down the craft by having it circle the small moon several times, and then the vessel would move toward Mars where the remainder of the breaking procedure could be handled by much larger gravitational forces. After a few revolutions of the red planet, a controlled descent to the region of the northern polar ice cap could commence.
Gazing at the small white blob of Diemos, Tikal then projected, “Hank, do you really think that this will work?”
“It should. I’m aware that no one from the team who developed the plan lived long enough to come with us, but they explained how everything worked to me and a few of the other pilots long before we left Earth.”
“You just informed me that we were headed for the northern ice cap of the planet?”
“Yes. Many of the probes that were sent during the ancient time of NASA, and all of those launched in more recent years, revealed that the northern ice cap is significantly larger than its sister at the southern pole.
“Sister?”
“Sorry. That’s just another one of those old Earth expressions that Ross told me about. Anyway, as we can now plainly see, the information from each of those probes was correct. Besides, that’s where the cave chambers are.”
“So when do we get there?”
“If all goes according to the plan, then it should only be a couple more days.”
“That’s good. I can’t wait to get off of this vessel and really stretch my legs.”
“That won’t be as easy as you think. First I must put this lifeboat down in exactly the right place, and then a few of us in pressurized spacesuits will need to do a lot of work before you or anyone else can simply move about underground.”
Two days later Hank activated the controls that would allow the lifeboat to begin an orbit around Phobos. To his knowledge, no one among the passengers even noticed the change in pitch angle, as the small moon caused the vessel to bank ever so slightly to port. While adjusting the controls set forth by the flight operational specifications, Hank smiled as the gauges revealed a slight slowing of the vessels momentum.
Standing proudly behind him was Janet, and after Hank gave her a quick smiling glance, she projected, “It must be working.”
Hank returned the projection of, “Yes it is. So far the drop in our speed is less than one percent, but at least we know the concept works. I don’t expect that the small body of Phobos will have a tremendous impact in decreasing our speed, but anything will help. It also gives me greater confidence that we can achieve a safe descent speed to the surface after our planned deceleration orbits around Mars.”
“You mean you didn’t have ultimate confidence in this theory until now. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Of course I had confidence in the theory. The people who developed the process were not only very smart, but all of the specifics looked fantastic on paper. What I meant was that now the theory has been tested through practical application, and actually experiencing the results, no matter how minute, have increased my belief in the overall success of the plan.”
Hank was aware, at perhaps a much greater level than Janet, that the entire venture was a long shot at best. Even if the aspect of the lifeboat landing was successful, there was no guarantee that the human contingent could survive in the long term. However, he was also aware that a distinguishable level of belief in the overall success of their quest existed within the youthful population. Such a belief could become significant when it came time to persevere over unforeseen obstacles in their future. If all did go according to the complex plan, then their efforts would ensure that the alien species would need to reclassify the red planet as ₹-829-Ԅπ-4. The addition of Ԅπ would signify that life with an aptitude for both language and math now existed on the planet.
As expected, the completion of the process had taken three months for those few who could actually perform the necessary work, but the challenge of the vital and daunting task performed entirely while in pressurized spacesuits had been met. A series of cave chambers under the northern ice cap had been discovered, and subsequently mapped, through the use of sensors from exploratory probes before the lifeboat ever left Earth orbit, and the newly completed portal toward them was now believed to be fully s
ecure.
That painstaking process had begun from a location beneath the underbelly of the lifeboat within hours after their arrival on the Martian surface. After Hank had manipulated the thrusters of the lifeboat to expertly navigate through a valley framed by long fingers of the thick ice cap, he successfully set the ship down within meters of the hopeful pre-determined landing site. That snug location between towering fields of ice at the valleys termination point would not only help protect the ship from any conditions that the Martian surface and limited atmosphere might create, but it was also in close proximity to one of the larger discovered sub-surface cave chambers. With each of the onboard systems checked, and all sections of the lifeboat deemed to be secure, Hank suited up. Descending through the forward airlock for his initial extravehicular stroll, Hank then instantly joined a very select group of individuals. He had just become the modern day version of Neil Armstrong, or what his own older half-brother Ross had originally believed himself to be, as the first member of the human species to set foot on a world other than Earth. Shortly after that historic moment, which would never be recognized by anyone other than the group of survivors within the lifeboat, a handful of the Mayan men and women joined him on the surface of Mars. Hank knew that there would be no time for any celebration or ceremony for having done so, as any such action could, and most assuredly should, wait until after all the upcoming work had been completed. Not being one of those people who clamored for notoriety, he quickly made peace with that truth. For him, it was actually more gratifying to know how successful he had been with the landing.
The deep access tunnel to the cave chambers, which in the most simplest of terms demanded total success, had then been dug through the rocky soil of the Martian landscape. That process, which included shoring up the perimeter walls and ceiling against potential collapse, required removing most of the excavation tailings. Those tailings were subsequently utilized as several feet of compacted insulation within four constructed walls reaching from the planet surface to the smooth underbelly of the lifeboat. Once those had been erected, and thoroughly inspected for sound structural integrity, the entire surface of each wall, both inside and out, were then sprayed with the same honey like substance that had been used to seal the joints along the external and internal shells of the lifeboat. An airtight seal against the minimal Martian atmosphere had thusly been achieved, and in time that fully enclosed area surrounding the tunnel entrance would enable the human cargo to transition both to and from the lifeboat and the caves with the upmost of safety. As additional sections of the tunnel were completed, that same invisible lining had been applied in order to seal any of the fissures in the rock strata that might create venting to the surface high above. When the tunnel reached the large cave chambers, much of the loose soil that remained from the dig was moved into positions within where food would soon be cultivated.
With the tunnel completed, work then began to ensure the structural integrity and sealing of the chambers along with the preparation for occupation. Several small bore holes were drilled through the ceiling and into the lower levels of the thick ice cap above. Their purpose was vital for life within the caves, as the holes would provide a water source needed not only for the everyday needs of drinking water, but to also satisfy the perpetual thirst of the food growing hydroponic system. When the people inhabited the caves, they would actually aid in that process. Their numerous daily activities, and cumulative body heat, would create enough rising warm air through the bore holes to allow for a slow melting of the ice. Even with that action, it was believed that the overall thickness of the polar cap would never be jeopardized. The constant and unrelenting icy cold of space would ensure that the exposed outer layer would forever remain intact.
Finally, before the climactic phase of relocating the people, supplies, and any needed equipment into the caves could commence, one more task needed to be performed. A steady stream of fresh oxygen would need to be pumped through the portal tunnel and into the cave chambers from the processors aboard the lifeboat. Those processors had done an admirable job of providing the compliment of passengers with the life sustaining gas throughout the long eight month voyage from Earth, and the additional three months since the landing, but now their capabilities would be further stretched.
When the ultimate moment of truth arrived for the final test, Hank stood alone within the main chamber. Taking a deep breath, he thought of all those who had sacrificed so this entire desperate attempt, and this specific moment, could be realized. Then he projected, “Can you hear me?”
Janet, perhaps projecting for the collective replied, “Yes we can hear you Hank. How’s it going in there?”
“Everything is fine, so you might as well start pushing the oxygen through whenever you are ready.”
On the flight deck of the lifeboat, Janet gave the signal to one of the other pilots to begin the process. Then she projected only to Hank, “I hope this works.”
Gazing in anticipation at the sensor gauge in his hand, Hank replied, “So do I mom, so do I. If all goes according to specifications, then I should get a positive read for oxygen in just a few minutes.”
For the next fifteen minutes, those on the flight deck remained silent while waiting for a report from Hank. Although there were expressions of concern on their faces during the lengthy silence, it would serve no purpose to pester him with idle projected chatter. Within the cave, Hank had been moving around to several locations, while comparing the corresponding readings of the sensor gauge. When he reached the back wall of a small chamber located furthest from the tunnel entrance, he stopped. A moment later a smile rose on his face as the gauge began to register positively.
Unable to wait any longer for an overdue report, Janet broke the silence with, “Hank, are you there?”
Somewhat perturbed, he projected, “Yes mom, I’m still here. Where else would I be?”
“Don’t behave like your father. What’s happening?”
“It’s good news. The levels vary at different locations within the chambers, but the sensor gauge is detecting oxygen.”
“Wonderful. How soon do you think we can begin the moving process?”
“That’s difficult to answer at this time.”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“I don’t think so, but some of the oxygen readings are still very low. It could take several hours before each of the various chambers has readings that are suitable, and we don’t want to push the processors too hard.”
“I understand, but everyone has been cooped up for a long time. They are all anxious to have a larger habitat to move about in.”
“I realize that mom, but moving everyone into these chambers at the same time could be dangerous. Consider what all of their movement, and the obvious excitement level that would accompany it, could do too many of them as they attempt to claim a spot to call their own. It’s important to maintain the delicate atmospheric balance that has been established, and in order to do that we need to ensure that a controlled and disciplined entry is carried out. If we can’t accomplish that, then the majority of the available oxygen in here could be used up before the processors can replenish it. After all that we have been through, we don’t want our people gasping for air just moments after moving in here do we?”
The day after his initial oxygen test within the cave chambers, Hank suited up once more for a descent through the forward airlock. Once down inside the tunnel, he realized that an artificial atmosphere of oxygen existed. Although Hank had not yet activated the sensor device, he could feel the heaviness of additional gravity. Having worked for three months on the tunnel and cave chambers while in gravity that was only thirty-eight percent of that which existed on Earth, Hank had become an expert on how easily one could move about while in a pressurized spacesuit. Now those same movements became more labored for him, and there could only be one explanation as to the change.
After checking several locations within the chambers, and projecting the now acceptable, a
lthough less than ideal, oxygen readings for each of those positions to Janet on the flight deck, he added, “Should I proceed with the final test?”
“Based on your readings, the air will be rather thin much like that of very high altitude areas of Earth. But if you are ready to proceed, then go ahead.”
Smiling with anticipation, Hank loosened the locking clasp and slowly opened the face shield of his helmet. Then he continued to breathe normally, and even drew in more deeply several times with no apparent ill effects. A moment later, he projected, “The air is colder than I thought it would be, and very thin as you believed, but it’s definitely breathable.”
“Excellent. Do you want to take the next step?”
“Sure, I’m going to need to do that eventually.”
