by Hylton Smith
*
Julien needed a short private conversation with his son while Elise and Geraldine reminisced with Sophie.
“Eugene, I’m sorry to drag you away from the family reunion, but what I have to say is for your ears only, at least for now. If you like what you hear, then I can begin preparations to create a completely new department. You need to think this through carefully, so don’t even try to give me an answer now. Take all the time you need. Assuming Kepler touches down on Mars, and the resupply chain hits no snags, I’m sure we will find that it is a very inhospitable place. Not just the physical aspects, but the mental fortitude required for long spells of ‘leisure’ time. It’s a subject which has been simulated by some organisations, especially NASA back in the day. However, all of those tests had the option to abort if something went wrong. I’m being deliberately pessimistic when asking – what will it be like if we fail to deflect the asteroid? Even if the colonists can become self-sufficient by 2039, the prospect of a handful of people clinging on to life will be dire. They have to consider procreation, but will they want to bring other souls into an alien world with so little to offer?
“Listen carefully, Eugene. I’ve read quite a lot on the work you currently do, and it occurred to me that there might be some overlap with this mission. You seem to imply that in the domain of the very small - bacteria, viruses, diatoms and the like, there are ‘mechanisms’ which exist in abundance, thus giving their species a strong chance to adapt to external stimuli. Mechanisms which human research has largely ignored.”
“Now you have got my attention, Dad. Sorry… please carry on.”
“Ok, now let’s jump to something you told me relatively recently. You made a comment when Sophie was at her lowest ebb, one which stuck in my mind. If I remember it accurately, you claimed that viruses, when adapting to a host could actually affect our physiology. The mental change which follows that shift is often attributed to cerebral residue, depression etcetera, whereas you said there could be increasing evidence of mutation of our DNA at play. If this still holds true in your mind, I want research done as quickly as possible.”
“That’s a hell of a tall order. We would need state-of-the-art facilities, and that would just be the beginning. We would also need some of the best microbiologists on the planet.”
“I know that, but in the scenario of life on Earth being extinguished, what else is there to invest paper or electronic money in? It becomes irrelevant. Just answer one more question. You intimated that schizophrenia was a typical condition which could result from the genes we humans were born with. But, in a wider context, we have to include examples from the entire animal kingdom. We then find that some genes are switched on to form wings, other switching patterns can cause deficiency in immunity to life-threatening diseases. In the case of schizophrenia, couldn’t we engineer some of these virus activities you mentioned to combat the affliction rather than causing it?”
“Uh, well, I suppose it should be possible in principle. But hang on a moment, all we have up until now are observations. It’s a big step from watching viruses waving their magic wand to us making them do our bidding”
“Sure, I get that. However, the ethics lobby will disappear if the asteroid gets past our defences, we could all be dead! Also, Eugene, if that time comes and there is no hope, people here will not be thinking about the fledglings on Mars, mark my words. From where I sit at this moment in time, we have to take this awful possibility into account. I’d like to explore whether we can change human resistance to all kinds of physical and mental degradation. Just sitting and hoping we might be lucky enough to dodge toxic atmosphere, radiation, utter depression at being a survivor isn’t good enough, it all feels so negative. We have to do something while we have time, and anyway, I appear to be calling the shots now. Is this task sufficiently interesting to get you thinking about joining me?”
“First reaction? Absolutely, but I’m going to take your advice and look into what it all means. I don’t want to get to 2039 and realise it was all just a pipe dream.”
*
Eugene left to link up with Sophie, as they both wanted to see the proposed site for their father’s new property. Julien had laid on the transport and was pleasantly surprised to hear that Geraldine had gone with Eugene for a second look. It gave Julien the opportunity to speak with Elise alone, but first he had to check his in-tray. There was a message and he was more than a little relieved that Brandt had managed to halt any intent to waste precious burn capacity. Elise arrived and began to express her wonder at the change in her daughter’s attitude. Julien smiled, and let her finish before launching the difficult question.
“This man you’ve met, has it become a physical relationship yet?”
“It’s really none of your business, Julien. A bull in a china shop couldn’t cause more damage than… than your tongue when it comes to delicate matters. I will try to answer your question before I return to Lyon. I was honest when I told you I’d met someone, so please allow me…at least a few days with the kids before we sour the family atmosphere… yet again. Let us change the subject for now. I thought you had invited me here on my own to see if I would reconsider staying here. Sophie does love Guiana, so have you talked Eugene into joining your…your fan club?”
“He has a specific offer to consider, and I advised him to take his time before letting me know what he wants to do.”
“Oh, that’s good. I wouldn’t like to be the only one who might spoil the party.”
“Elise, I know I’ve been a selfish bastard all my life. I don’t deserve your loyalty any longer. I was going to say that if your relationship had become sexual, I’d understand. I’m too old to change some habits, but I still want to make you feel welcome at any time here in Guiana. That applies whether or not the kids get sick of the place and return to Europe. I don’t really want to meet this guy, but I wouldn’t object if you came with him. I don’t want to lose you completely, and anything I can do to retain the bond between us is uppermost in my mind. I just hope that you appreciate exactly why I can’t abandon the work I’ve committed to. I still love you dearly, and I admit I never seemed to show it. I can’t put that right, and I really don’t blame you for looking elsewhere. Can we still be friends?”
“Of course, just let me enjoy the break and we can talk before I go back. And, thank you for saying you’re ok with me seeing… well, being friends with someone else. The world might end for all of us, and I do realise the importance of what you are doing about it.”
They hugged as they parted, and she saw how her husband was struggling to keep his emotions under control.
Chapter 14
Julien received the call from his driver to say Kolorov had been picked up at the airport. It was the signal he needed to prepare the flight deck. He’d considered the conundrum facing the Mars mission relentlessly, and finally concluded that he would never be able to think along the same lines as Brandt. However, he had to trust someone with such experience, as much as that in itself was troublesome. Kolorov had scores to settle and would therefore be driven by such a need; he also had to have employment which provided the means to achieve his objective. It was a question of how long rather than if he should align himself with the Russian. All screens were blacked out but ready to go at the flick of a switch.
“Good morning, Delacroix. My god, I knew Volker had his fingers in many pies, but hell, this is beyond anything I ever imagined. I really underestimated the man, in more ways than I was prepared to admit.”
Julien shook his hand and ushered him to sit in the ‘cockpit’.
“Yes, I think we both thought we knew Volker better than we actually did. So, to business. Perhaps you should begin, with how you claim to know about the smoking mirrors of the Mars mission. That really is the key, you know, as to whether or not we have mutual interest in working together.”
“Fine. It is not rocket science, forgive the humour, but you must have guessed I was kicked out of Soyuz because Brandt
timed the announcement of his new launch date so perfectly. I was one of many employees suspected of leaking the intention that we were hell-bent on attempting to get to Mars before VB Aerospace. Soyuz were then pressured by NERO to set an even more ludicrous date to launch. Virtually every technician who could be linked with this ‘assumed betrayal’ of Soyuz was interrogated. Every one of them had deemed this premature launch as extreme folly, and repeated their views, even under duress. Despite the evidence they produced to show their innocence, they were subsequently dismissed. Soyuz itself didn’t really want to take such draconian action because they lost some of their best people. But NERO insisted that the cleansing had to happen, otherwise their investment would be withdrawn. Money always wins in the end. The purge was overseen by Henry Fellowes, a really devious bastard, you must know of him, surely?”
“I actually know the man quite well, he made a favourable impression on me when he restored my pension rights and got rid of Waverly. Having said that, I did think at the time it was a damage limitation decision rather than any moral judgement about my predicament.”
“Right, I see. Well, he basically runs everything and everybody in both organisations now. Some of the people who escaped his edict are still friends of mine. They do not accept what Soyuz has become, but, like myself, they don’t have better prospects. I have to be honest with you, if I had been offered re-instatement by Soyuz I would have accepted, especially as Brandt washed his hands of me completely. So, there you have it, that’s how I know, but not what I know. I hope we can now progress to whether you feel able to employ me, assuming the information I have is important to you, and then what can be done about the situation. Knowing something is one face of the dice. Proving it, using it, pretending you don’t know about it, and reversing its effect, make up the other faces – all but one. When we last spoke I asked you to prepare a contract offer, unsigned, and then we could get down to specifics. Do you have such a written offer for me to look at?”
“Yes, I have it ready, but before I let you peruse it, I have to know how Soyuz and NERO are likely to react to you joining us. I know we’ve touched on this already, but it is pivotal with respect to what is in the contract.”
“Putting it bluntly, they will shit themselves. They truly believe I am a spent force, tarred as a double agent, to be avoided by other respected organisations around the world. The only exception is VB Aerospace, because you already know how I was hung out to dry by Brandt. Soyuz and NERO could never have foreseen you succeeding him. I have an inside track and they know that, and you offering me a job is the last thing they want to see happen. I can put you in control of the immediate future, you will surely judge me on how I achieve this, and you don’t have much time to play with. The proof of that is evident – you almost sanctioned a completely unnecessary burn programme – the first step to crippling the Mars mission. Whatever you decide, do it quickly, otherwise my leverage will decrease and your objectives will become collateral damage.”
Julien pushed the contract across the table for Kolorov’s perusal. The Russian studied every clause carefully and finally spoke.
“Are you serious about asking me to take over the leadership of Mars mission control?”
“Of, course. Why? Does that scare you?”
“Quite the opposite, in fact, but you must realise it would raise my profile to such an extent that NERO will sharpen their knives. I can handle that, but can you handle Brandt?"
“He can’t interfere much out there in space, and Captain Muller seems to be on a crusade to diminish his influence on Kepler. It won’t be a problem. Now, let me have the contract back and tell me what’s really going on. Then I may sign it.”
“Ok, where to begin? I think we can start with Waverly’s demise. Henry Fellowes needed him out of the way to convince the board of NERO to align themselves with Soyuz. He manipulated the terms to deliver his own candidacy for merging the two company structures, saving a hell of a lot of money, but more importantly, to plant his spies throughout Soyuz. Once that was done, it was only a matter of time before he ‘bowed’ to the clamour to head up the new beast he’d created. One of his first decisions was to head-hunt the ex-employees of VB Aerospace who’d left because Brandt promoted you to oversee both the asteroid programme and the Mars mission. These people were more than happy to be primed to sabotage Kepler’s quest. They still had friends in your organisation, and some were carefully selected and offered serious inducements to devise a plan, whereby you would convince yourself that there was something wrong with the vessel. Whether that meant the voyage would be abandoned, or worse still, the crew would find a way around each problem but ultimately perish due to overconsumption of fuel.”
“And you have proof of this?”
“I have a list of ex-employees and those still working for you. You will need to check everything out for yourself, and you should begin in the IT department. If I am really to take over this mission control, I would be bringing in independent expertise which would elicit confessions from each conspirator. They would be charged and asked to surrender the bribes they received from Henry Fellowes. This plan should remain within these walls so that NERO believes everything they set up is still on course. We continue to put out disinformation that we cannot pin down the problem.”
“Sorry, but I must have missed something. Why would these people confess and then surrender the bribes?”
“Because we will offer to pay the bribes back to them when the mission lands on Mars. After all, they accepted the money on the basis of delivering failure. But they will be offered a choice. If what I have outlined is not to their liking they will suffer an untimely accident.”
“Wait…I can’t sanction mafia-style behaviour in this company. There has to be another way… otherwise it’s a deal-breaker.”
“May I address you as Julien?”
“You didn’t need to ask, I never understood why you always referred to me as Delacroix.”
“Good. If for some reason we forget to seal off the airlock in space, what happens?”
“Everybody dies.”
“Right. That’s what is going to happen to the entire crew if we don’t make the conspirators believe we won’t shrink from sending them to the same fate. Trust me, I have dealt with such people in Russia all my life. Lean hard enough and you get the confession, and they still get paid by our enemy. We have a paper trail which allows us to blackmail NERO whenever we have such a need. But it is actually important for another reason. One of the crew is involved in this conspiracy, but I have yet to find out the name. You do not know what you are dealing with here, Julien, but you should at least believe that I do. I am desperate to accept your offer, but unless I can eradicate these people if it becomes necessary, I will have to turn it down.”
Julien was completely thrown by such moral quicksand as described by Kolorov. He decided that the moment had come to switch on the screens.
“Jesus Christos,” whispered Kolorov, “this simplifies things for us. We still have to make NERO believe we cannot solve the riddle, but this setup offers me the option of dispensing with independent expertise and its attendant risk of leaks. I can use this monitoring system to get you the proof of what is going on, and by whom it is being orchestrated. However, my last remark stands, I will not accept responsibility for the mission unless I am allowed to convince the traitors that I would have them killed if they do not comply. Julien, they are scum; they are quite happy to put a suicide martyr on Kepler and put thousands of your people out of work by murdering your company.”
Julien blinked first and they both signed the contract.
Chapter 15
The crew aboard Kepler had not been apprised of Kolorov’s appointment, on insistence by the Russian himself. He painted the picture for Julien.
“The NERO mole on the vessel has to be someone who has been recruited and trained with the rest, however, I don’t want that person to get a message back to their controller that we are on to them. At least not
until it becomes an advantage to us for them to know. You can use Brandt to investigate with my guidance. Once we do know the identity of the mole, we can decide how to use the individual without them knowing what is going on. Julien, just keep focus on the big picture – always the big picture.”
“I’m trying, Ivan, I really am. Let me know when you want me to contact Brandt. I feel sure he will contact me soon because I haven’t given him the full rundown of our ‘doctored’ propulsion variance, he just knows that there isn’t a problem with Kepler. The current situation is still a worry for the crew though, if they have no confidence in our data.”
“True, but let us just stay quiet for now.”
*
Eugene told his family of his decision, he intended to accept his father’s offer, and that he’d be moving to Guiana pretty soon. Sophie was overjoyed that she would be re-united with her brother and began pressing Elise to do the same.
Geraldine was now aware of her sister’s relationship back in Lyon and excused herself from the discussion, offering to make everyone a coffee. Elise dropped the bombshell of her new ‘friend’ as gently as she could. Eugene was relatively philosophical about it, but Sophie was distraught.
“Mum, how can you even think about doing something like that when I’m just beginning to get on top of my problems? Does Dad know?”
“Yes, he does, and he understands. I have needs too, the rest of you seem to have forgotten that… if indeed you ever gave it a thought. Now listen, I’m going to tell your father that I will join you here for long spells, but I’m not going to just… just airbrush my friend in Lyon out of my life. We have mutual interests and I want to preserve that feeling as long as it lasts. You seem to think I’m nothing but your mother, to be there whenever I’m needed. And I have been, Sophie, ever since you were born. You and Eugene have made your… your free choice to live in Guiana, so why can’t you just accept my preference for France? If your father can put up with that, then you are going to have to adjust in the same way.”
