The Accidental Explorer

by George Deeb

  8

  168 HSB

  Plessa and the maintenance crew, supplemented by Eowaar personnel, were able to seal multiple sections of the Orysta, and reestablish pressurization. The ship had been righted and placed on temporary supports so that the floors were fairly level again, making it easier for personnel to work inside. The main computer was interfaced to the Eowaar, and the ship's logs and databases were transmitted to the battle carrier for storage. Power generation was still operational and a new umbilical was run to the base for construction and every day use, which made life there a little easier and more secure for every one. The bridge, forward part of the ship, and rear sections of the ship were put back into operation one section at a time. But the overall damage to the hull was too extensive. The Orysta would never fly again.

  9

  Inspection of the Folly's airframe along with the crew debriefing astounded everyone. Recorded data from the Ganaphe' equipment removed all doubt that the Folly had broken the FTL barrier. The data showed the ship had achieved low FTL speeds – nothing near the speeds that intergalactic ships reach routinely, but so very much faster than anyone thought possible with the Folly's design. The excitement level was very high as word got around about the accidental technological breakthrough. Cove was especially surprised. His mind was working overtime as he tried to understand the underlying physics to what had happened. He thought about how to design his next engine and ship, which would be specifically designed for FTL flight, but had a mental block that kept interfering with his thoughts on the matter. Cove was a great admirer of Albert Einstein and his theories. The specific Einstein theory that interfered with his thoughts was Special Relativity, which basically said that it was impossible to exceed the speed of light. He had studied it – learned it – believed it. Even contact with the Ganaphe' hadn't really changed his mind on the subject because he had never experienced it. After all, whatever the Ganaphe' had claimed, the Orysta had never been able to fly. It existed. It was there for all to see. It did have technology beyond anything on Earth – but it never moved. But now there was the Eowaar, and all the smaller vessels it carried – all capable of exceeding FTL by a large margin. Now he had flown in them himself. He could no longer deny that the Folly had broken the speed of light.

  The problem remained that they did not yet know how to cancel the injurious effects of such sudden high speed acceleration on the human body. It was one problem demanding a solution to another. Cove's initial thought was simple and direct. Physically mitigate the effects through the design of the crew seats, improving on what the Folly's crew had done by reconfiguring their seats for their return trip. This was only a temporary solution. Washington's condition clearly showed that the stresses on the body would be too drastic for this to be put into regular use. The second course of action would be to figure out a way to compensate for the forces as the Ganaphe' had done. Under IGT law the Ganaphe' could not tell them how to do this. They were not allowed to directly affect the technological advancement of another world.

  While Cove worked on his new design, two more Folly design ships would be built to quickly get the base fleet back to normal force levels. One to replace the shuttle lost during the battle, and the second to increase the size of the fleet. After analyzing the battle damage to the Folly it was determined that missing and damaged components could be replaced or repaired, and the ship put back into service as a test platform for future innovations. All ships would be retrofitted with greater firepower capability. Space was no longer just a passive entity that coldly tried to suck the life out of you. Space was now a known potential harborer of enemies. The romance of space travel had run right into the wall of reality. It was a new era in the moon base's history, and limits to personnel and equipment were no longer in effect – the Ganaphe' were going home.

  10

  “... they expected a damaged mining ship to be an easy target that they could pick off whenever they wanted.” said Planna to the intent listeners at his table. “They destroyed the emergency beacons as they followed them, so that the rescue vessels that would inevitably come would not be able to find the ship. That is where they ran into a problem. Some of the Orysta's beacons had failed to launch and the trail was broken.”

  The new formal dining room in the Giell-sil-Dhona Moon Base was just as extravagant and beautiful as the old one. Three oval shaped chandeliers threw their glittering light over the central part of the room. The hand carved teak and old redwood table that ran the length of the room was actually multiple tables designed to be assembled as one long one if desired.

  It was covered by a high-tech table cloth of woven optical fibers that subtle light pulses ran through, displaying random patterns. This was a formal affair, and everyone wore their best and most stylish clothes. At the head of the room-long table was the guest of honor seat. The name card at that location read 'Warta Giell-sil-Dhona', and the chair was left empty in honor of the man that remained in a coma. On the right side of that seat sat Kalinor Gorheel-sil-Planna, and to his right was his niece Mersuul-sil-Vaana followed by his command staff. To the left of Dhona's seat was Farber-Chatwell, Toisae-sil-Blin, Ramsdel, Travellor, the command staff of the moon base, and the crew of the Orysta.

  Except for the skeleton crew that were required to man their posts, including the newly established Early Warning Defense section, all other base personnel as well as a large contingent of Eowaar personnel were seated at the table, enjoying a social event that was meant to form ties between the two peoples. Everyone was having a good time. Base personnel were enthralled by descriptions of space travel from the Eowaar's crew, while the battle carrier personnel were entertained by descriptions of vacation spots on Earth. Food, drink, and conversation flowed continuously.

  “They had no means to decrypt the data from the beacons, even if they had not destroyed them all. The dhrojja were also not equipped to search a solar system for a ship whose comm transmissions had suddenly stopped. They had no way to track her journey. They considered the Orysta to be a prize to search for when they had the time and the inclination, since mining ships usually carried high value cargo.” Planna continued, with the Orysta crew intently focused on his words.

  “After the company realized the Orysta was overdue they notified the Inter-space Safety Organization authorities and a Search and Rescue operation was initiated. They knew the Orysta was headed to this moon, and came to look here first, but nothing was found. Even if the Orysta had crashed they would have found the debris – but there was none.”

  “Except we did crash!” said Mersuul.

  “Yes.” said Planna, smiling at his niece. “You crashed, and broke through the surface crust and the ship was buried by the loose ground material and covered up. SAR found nothing. Not one clue pointing to your location.”

  “And our comm signals were being blocked by the debris as well.” added Munen. “We could not transmit a call for help.”

  “Even if your signal was not blocked, your transmission would not have made it out of this solar system. SAR sent three different expeditions and found nothing. Your employer was not happy. He refused to accept that all on the Orysta had lost their lives while in his employ. When SAR called off the search after the third attempt, your company sent out its own ships. They also found nothing.”

  Munen closed his eyes and shook his head. “It was just bad timing. None of the search vessels came here when we were running shuttle excursions on the surface.” He shook his head again in disbelief. The others all showed similar expressions on their faces.

  “Oh my God!” blurted Erika in a low voice, also shocked at the misfortune of the Orysta crew. “You could have all gone home long ago if not for bad timing.”

  “That is very true, miss Aimsler.” said Planna. “Sometimes fate works against us.”

  Everyone was shaking their heads in agreement, except for Travellor.

  “You are wrong Kalinor. Fate wasn't against these people. It was their fate to find the Trailblazer
crew. It was their fate to save Tonio's life. It was their fate to teach us about things we didn't know existed. Yes, they weren't able to go home, or contact their families. And Yes, many times they felt sad, and lost, and depressed. From my point of view their misfortune was a good thing. These people are friends, and have been accepted as family. I think fate was with them and with us – and now they will be leaving us, and when I think of that it makes me sad. I will raise a glass to fate,” Travellor said, holding his wine glass high, “and drink to the fate that brought them here.”

  “I will also drink to that.” said Blin, raising her glass.

  “And I also.” said Califas.

  Everyone at the table followed by raising their glasses. Mersuul did also, but her face was troubled. She had been quiet and sullen for the past few days, and Travellor had not been able to find out why.

  “To fate then.” said Planna. “It is often a double edged sword.”

  11

  Erika and Cove danced slowly to the soft, low music that emanated from all directions on the dance floor. She very much liked this unexpectedly real genius that couldn't care less about his designated status. Genius was only one of his notable attributes. Her uncle had filed an official report praising his bravery and composure under enemy fire. Farber-Chatwell on the other hand had cursed the proverbial blue streak at him when he read the report. She liked the way he held her hand when they walked, and the way he felt when she had her arms wrapped around him. When he was working on Earth and she was on the moon she felt a sense of emptiness.

  When the music ended they went back to the table and sat together. The double rich chocolate cake with butter cream frosting tasted better when Cove fed it to her, even if he did intentionally get it all over her mouth. They were both enjoying the evening. She glanced around the dinner table and spotted Mersuul. Her friend had had a strange unsettled, almost unhappy look on her face for days now. Erika had tried to ask her about it but could not get a straight answer. Mersuul occasionally would smile at a remark made to her, but Erika could tell it was not a heartfelt response. Erika's uncle had also noticed the change, but he had not had any better luck at finding out what was bothering her. Then her friend stood up looking like a person who had finally made a serious decision, picked up her wine glass and tapped it with a knife to get everyone's attention. The room went silent to hear what she had to say.

  “This is a special gathering of friends, and family, and friends who have become family.” started Mersuul. “If I were back home I would do this in the privacy of my parents home and in the presence of family only, but circumstances demand a change in custom.”

  She moved from her place at the table and stood behind Travellor, and placed both of her hands on his shoulders.

  “I choose this man!” she said loudly.

  It was a short and simple statement, but the reactions from the front of the table came immediately. Many of the base personnel looked confused. Many of the Eowaar personnel showed surprise and even mild happiness. Kalinor Planna looked shocked. Doctor Blin had a big smile on her face – she knew, or at least had suspected, and Farber-Chatwell leaned over to ask what was going on. Travellor looked shocked and surprised. He knew what the Ganaphe' custom meant.

  “Oh my God. Yes!” said Erika in a low voice only Cove could hear.

  “What's going on?” he asked.

  “Mersuul just proposed marriage to my uncle. And by his reaction, I don't think they talked about it before hand.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Marriage is something the Ganaphe' take very seriously. In their culture the woman declares her intention at a gathering of her and his immediate families, that is normally prearranged by the two people involved. I can't believe she did it in front of all of these people. No wonder she was so moody lately. She never told uncle Tony she was going to do this, and she was scared he would reject her - which he wouldn't. He's crazy about her. She probably didn't even decide to do it until just now.”

  “I guess she considers you to be his family and the Kalinor to be hers. So what happens now?”

  As if answering Cove's question, Travellor got up, and stood facing Mersuul. He placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I accept this woman.” he said, then he kissed her on both cheeks.

  It was done. Proposal and acceptance. Both acts done in the traditional Ganaphe' manner. The tension and fear in Mersuul's face disappeared, replaced by a big smile. Planna turned in his seat and looked away, deep in thought. Erika noticed his unexpected reaction, and wondered what was going on. Everyone else who understood the custom toasted the couple. Then realization set in.

  “Oh... Now I see.”

  “What?”

  “Kalinor Planna.” she said, turning to Cove. “Did you see how he reacted? I couldn't figure out why until it hit me. He came across galaxies to find Mersuul and bring her home. But Mersuul won't be going home with him. She'll be staying here, with uncle Tony - with her soon to be husband!”

  Chapter 23

  The Journey Home

  1

  April 2015

  The last few months had seen an unbelievable and unexpected amount of activity that strained the large resources of Operation 361. The above ground structure of the Giell-sil-Dhona Moon Base was seventy percent completed and fully operational, thanks to the added manpower and equipment from the Eowaar. New fabrication techniques had been introduced by the Ganaphe' battle carrier's engineers that made the structure much stronger than the original. Sections left to be finished were additions that expanded on the original design, and would be used for the planned deep solar system explorations that would slowly be brought into operation when Cove's new ship design comes on-line. The sections of the underground structure that were damaged by the blast had also been repaired and re-enforced.

  Communications relays had now been placed throughout the Vialactea galaxy by Eowaar's engineering team, and a reliable connection to the IGT communications network had been established. It was a rudimentary system not meant for heavy comm traffic, but would no doubt be able to meet the requirements of Vialactea for some time to come – unless the random factor called Doctor Eckelberry Cove came into play. The Orysta crew members had all been able to contact their families, many of which were shocked that they had been found alive and well after so many decitans of thinking that they were dead. A lot of tears and crying were transmitted over those calls.

  The Project 361 organizational heads and Kalinor Planna had signed a treaty agreement which allowed regular visits from an IGT vessel to be scheduled every 6 months. The ships are to enter the solar system camouflaged, will approach from the far side of the moon, and will maintain their position there. The first visit will be a return trip by the Eowaar, and after that by vessels from other galaxies that may be interested in establishing a relationship. This procedure would remain in effect until 361 determines the procedure is no longer necessary. The agreement wasn't anything major. Mainly it was an invitation to visit. its implications though were huge. The transfer of knowledge and potential purchase of technology could propel moon base capabilities at an accelerated rate.

  In the collective eyes of the people that lived and worked on the moon base there was one thing that out shone all of these accomplishments. Giell-sil-Dhona was conscious again, and healing. His physical condition was that of a newborn baby due to the extreme reconstruction that had been performed on his body. His brain had recovered completely and tests showed his memory to be intact. His speech sounded a little odd, and his body movements were uncoordinated. He would have to relearn control of his muscles and it would take time to strengthen his body. He had no lack of visitors, both friends from the ship and strangers from the base, and a strict visiting schedule had to be enforced since his recuperation demanded many hours of sleep. A rehabilitation program had already been designed for him, which he was expected to start in a few weeks. It would be a long, slow process.

  Dhona had several video chats
with his family. They had been informed of what had happened to him, what his condition was, and what was yet required in his treatment. They were just glad that he was alive.

  2

  May 2015

  “You made us your friends, and took us into your homes. You taught us about your culture, and were interested enough to learn about ours. You allowed us to be productive in our work, and mundane in our leisure, and for that I cannot thank you enough.” said Munen to the gathered moon base and Eowaar personnel. “Please raise your glasses with me, to toast the newly weds. To Anthony and Mersuul. May you have a long happy life, and may all your desires be yours.”

  Shouts of agreement went up from the wedding guests, and Erika noticed that Kalinor Planna was one of the loudest. His attitude was so very different from that on the night Mersuul had proposed, and Erika was very confused by the change. His conversion had only been over the last week or so, which Erika thought was rather sudden after months of seeming to feel the opposite. It was a puzzle she was determined to figure out.