Quest for the Conestoga (Colony Ship Conestoga Book 1)

by John Thornton

  “Not only is it true, but seven single-person missions are already underway,” Cammarry said.

  “Is the Committee horsing around or what?” Jerome asked.

  Cammarry ignored his figure of speech as ran toward the cafetorium.

  There were about a dozen of the adventurers already gathered in the cafetorium. Jamie, Paul, and Gretchen were notably absent. There were a number of other people from the general population at the various tables.

  “Cammarry? Why did you ask us to come here?” Hobart inquired. He no longer looked tired and was recovered from his mission.

  “The Committee is pushing single-person missions!” Cammarry stated. “Your AIs can access the information. Committee Member Lorna has it available.”

  “As do all on the Committee,” Murial said as she walked in. Following her were Jubal and Lorna. “There is no need to be rash and incite panic.” Murial Hodgesyn was a strong woman of sixty years. Her speckled gray hair was pulled back into a bun. He eyes were lively but piercingly intense. She glanced at the occupied tables where the non-adventurers were seated. Those people quickly stood up and walked out of the cafetorium. Murial nodded, waved and mouthed, ‘Thank you’ as they left.

  Turning to address the adventurers there was a somewhat annoyed look on Murial’s face. “I do apologize for the recent confusion about the new mission parameters. Additionally, there was the unfortunate incident where the report of the last team was inadvertently sent out prior to a proper briefing. That should not have happened.”

  Lorna looked away as Murial glanced quickly at her. Cammarry and Jerome caught the exchange, but the other adventurers missed it. “We are still in the process of correlating the information and then interviewing Jamie and Paul. They are both getting psychological services by the post trauma specialists here. We plan on holding a full and open briefing when they are recovered and ready for that. That meeting will include all the facts from the last two missions. We only were waiting because of their needs. Sadly, the news about Karen got out before Jamie or Paul were ready for it to be shared. I am told their emotional recovery from the traumatic experience will not be greatly hindered by this unfortunate series of events.”

  Jubal then interjected. “As to the message which was sent out just a short while ago. There is nothing of substance there. Yesterday, I did meet with some of the adventurers and offered them the opportunity to volunteer for a solo mission. Seven of them eagerly accepted those assignments and they departed this morning. No one declined, and there were no real objections from any of them. Their missions have the same goal as the ones you have already been on.”

  Jubal swept his arms about as he continued. “My assistant, Artificial Intelligence, conjectures that these missions are of no greater risk than the previous ones have been. You all know the basics. Travel to a possible dome location. Search out that place. Make contact with the people there. Exchange technology and information as much as is safe and possible. If, as has tragically been the case, if the dome has failed, then you adventurers are asked to investigate the scene, record the findings, and bring those back for analysis. So there is nothing new or very different about the missions that left today. We decided to offer the solo missions, to select volunteers, so we can more quickly gather information, and from a wider range of locations. That is all. Our friend Cammarry and her vivid imagination seems to have read more into our actions than we anticipated. Gossip is currency sometimes, but it should not be. Scandal mongering especially in those who are well trained and educated, is just deplorable and reprehensible.”

  “Jubal, no call to be mean. Yes, Cammarry overreacted, but with all the stress of Karen’s death, and the horrific and raw scenes which were so inappropriately shared, that all was very disturbing to everyone. After what we all saw, well, a bit of paranoia is perfectly understandable,” Murial said. She walked over and stood before Cammarry and placed a hand on her shoulder. “All is forgiven.” The condescending look on her face was reserved for Cammarry and lasted but a moment. Her back was to the other adventurers, and her voice betrayed none of her contempt.

  Cammarry took in a gasp of air and was ready to verbally let loose a barrage of words. Jerome remained silent, and he firmly squeezed Cammarry’s hand indicating she should do so as well. Cammarry was incensed and gripped his hand very steadfastly, but she did refrain from a response.

  Murial stepped away and turned to the others. She gave them a wide smile and a wave of reassurance. “You see, no need for any panic, all is in order.”

  “So now that this manufactured crisis has been explained, please go about your business,” Jubal said. “We will let you know when our brave adventurers return and what news they have recovered.”

  The adventurers walked away easily, with only a few muttered comments. Soon Cammarry and Jerome were the only adventurers left in the cafetorium. The people in the general population had not returned.

  Cammarry stared at Murial and recalled what she knew. Murial had been elected to the Committee some years ago. Her fourth term would expire this year. Standing just behind Murial was Jubal. He glanced expectantly between Cammarry and Jerome. His eyes were hard. Jubal was in the middle of his term on the Committee, and Cammarry had never seen him act in this manner before.

  Cammarry looked to the last member of the Committee. Lorna was the one year randomly selected Member. As everyone in the dome knew regarding the Committee, ‘Two elected, one selected.’ Lorna did not meet her gaze and just looked away and remained silent.

  “Well, now that this foolishness is over, we have other matters to attend to,” Murial said and walked briskly away. Jubal followed closely behind her with his nose in the air. Lorna lingered for a moment, but then glanced at Cammarry and Jerome. She looked away quickly, bowed her head and left.

  “Jerome!” Cammarry said as she turned to him. “Why not confront them?” Her words echoed in the empty cafetorium.

  “To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence. Cammarry, you are full of confidence. However, now I thought it was the time for us to show ignorance,” Jerome replied.

  “Ignorance? Really? Michael was pressured into that solo mission?”

  “Can you prove that?”

  “What? Why should I have to prove it? Michael told me himself,” Cammarry snapped back.

  “And Michael is on the mission now, out of contact with Dome 17.”

  “Right, and they needed to know why he left…. But Jubal had already discredited me,” Cammarry said as understanding dawned on her. “It would have looked like more paranoia if I claimed anything about Michael.”

  “Absolutely. Jubal had you all set up. Better check Winchell,” Jerome suggested.

  “Why? What do you think happened? Winchell?”

  The mechanical voice of Cammarry’s artificial intelligence system replied. “I am here.”

  “What is your status?” Cammarry asked.

  “I am unable to report to you my status,” the AI replied.

  “I thought so,” Jerome said and shook his head sadly.

  “Jubal has restrained Winchell just like he did Faraday,” Cammarry said under her breath. “This is just wrong.”

  “Indeed it is,” Jerome said. “But for the life of me I am not sure why it is happening. Muriel and Jubal are both acting very strangely. Like they have bananas in the belfry.”

  “I agree something is seriously amiss,” Cammarry said. “Is that what you mean about bananas? They were a type of food, right?”

  4 The bad news breaks

  “I am so frustrated with the restraints placed on Winchell,” Cammarry said one morning a few days later. “All I did was share the truth that solo missions were happening, and now I am about as bad off as the general population. I almost want to go to the education section and access the public AIs.”

  “For some leaders, instilling frustration is a necessary essential,” Jerome replied as he did some calisthenics next to their bed. He had taken to staying in
the apartment more since the incident with the Committee.

  “Jubal did not have to do this. I cannot even ascertain if any of the adventurers on the solo missions have returned. Winchell just keeps saying, ‘That information not accessible to you’ and so I will be one of the last to know.”

  “Exactly. That may have been Jubal’s intent,” Jerome replied. “Just as he shut me down from watching for the teams to return, so too he has now shut down your ability to learn about it.” Jerome them proceeded onto the next series of his routine exercises.

  “We should go to Jubal and confront him,” Cammarry said as she stomped her foot.

  “The poor eat well when they bite their tongues,” Jerome replied with a sardonic smile.

  “You are right, when you tried to talk to him, it did not help at all. It is just so frustrating.” Cammarry sat down on one of the chairs which folded up from the floor. “Winchell, will you please contact Jamie and request a time I can speak to her?”

  Winchell replied, “I have made another inquiry. Jamie’s artificial intelligence, Sequoia, stated she is not seeing any visitors. There is no other information.”

  “Then I will contact Paul,” Cammarry stated. “Winchell, please contact Paul and arrange a meeting with him.”

  The AI replied, “I have made the inquiry. Paul’s artificial intelligence, Cunda, stated he is not seeing any visitors. There is no further information.”

  Cammarry thought it was extremely odd that she could not contact Jamie nor Paul. But then she wondered to herself if Winchell was actually reporting accurately. ‘Paul might shut himself off, but Jamie is not one to lock herself away, even after a tragedy. Am I being fed misleading things through Winchell?’ The possibility gnawed at her thoughts.

  “I am walking over to find them and see what is really happening,” Cammarry stated.

  “Good luck!” Jerome called as the door closed behind her.

  And so she walked about the dome manually looking for Jamie or Paul. Paul’s apartment door was tried, but the AI there said it was unoccupied. So Cammarry continued her quest to find them. When she entered the cafetorium, Cammarry saw Gretchen and Paul. They were at one of the tables. Gretchen’s dark frizzy hair and pretty brown complexion was easy to spot, especially when she sat next to Paul whose hair was almost white blond and whose complexion was lighter than most in the dome. They were each wearing white shirts and work pants. She walked up to them and sat down. She considered asking if Paul had received her request for a conversation, but then refrained. Instead she asked, “Gretchen and Paul, did you hear about the orbital mission?”

  “There was another space flight?” Gretchen asked in surprise. Her eyes were gentle and supportive.

  “It is supposed to be a secret, but it worked very well. The sling bay launch was perfect, and the return hit the reception strip with no problems at all. Rumor has it that Brink has perfected something,” Cammarry responded. “It seems pretty exciting. Those missions must be better than trips to dead domes…” She caught herself and then looked apologetically at Paul. “Sorry. I do not mean to bring up a bad memory.”

  There was a bit of unease on Paul’s face as he replied. “You are right. A space flight would be better than a dead dome. I hope this rumor is true.”

  Cammarry swallowed hard. She did not like what Jubal had done, especially in discrediting her and the insinuations by the Committee painting her as a gossip. “Well, I heard it was a single person on a solo flight. That seems to fit with the Committee’s ideas now. You heard they approved solo missions to the remaining domes?”

  “What? That it is a poor decision,” Paul said. His eyes burned with emotion. “When do they propose starting those?”

  “Michael is already on a solo mission,” Cammarry stated. “He could be back anytime. It seems kind of a secret that he went.”

  Paul was quiet, Gretchen felt a bit nervous about the whole topic. But finally she broke the awkward silence, “Why are they doing solos now? They used to insist on a minimum of three people, sometimes more.”

  “The way I figure it; the Committee is seeking to learn as much as possible about the other domes as fast as possible.” Cammarry felt odd relaying the same thing Jubal had stated. She regretted the conversation, for from the look on Paul’s face, he did not need more stress added to him.

  Cammarry pondered for a brief moment, but decided she must relate more, since she had broached the topic. She gave a concise overview of what Michael had told her, but left out the coercion regarding Jamie. She was concerned that Paul would be anxious about being sent out on a solo mission as well. Then Cammarry said, “They are not even waiting to see how the first solo mission goes, but just sent those missions out to other domes. I am not sure I would volunteer to be alone on a mission.” Cammarry shuddered in only partially mock fear.

  “Wonderful. No contact back to Dome 17, and no help from someone along with you? Sure that is a great idea,” Paul said, his words laden with sarcasm. “I am going back to the apartment.” Paul stood and walked away.

  “Thanks for the information. Something is happening, and it gives me pause. I wish we knew more.” Gretchen’s face was a bit tense, but her smile was genuine.

  “I will keep my ears open and let you know what I hear,” Cammarry said. She did not tell Gretchen of her AI troubles, nor of her doubts about hearing anything before anyone else did. She stood and watched as Gretchen led Paul toward the recreation area. ‘Paul seems better than I thought,’ Cammarry said to herself. ‘I really doubt that Winchell was accurately reporting that Paul was refusing visitors.’

  Cammarry walked about and checked several other places, but did not see Jamie anywhere. She spoke to some other people, but no one had any additional information, and a few of the adventurers were hesitant and withdrawn when she spoke to them. Apparently, the Committee’s actions, at least those of Jubal and Murial, had caused some of the adventurers to distance themselves from Cammarry.

  On her way to Jamie’s apartment, Winchell delivered a message, “Cammarry? The Committee has issued a message. I am allowed to play it for you, but only if you and Jerome are in your apartment.”

  “Oh bother,” Cammarry blew out her breath. “How juvenile of Jubal to further restrict my AI. I am walking back to the apartment now.”

  Several people who were from the general population heard her express her feelings about Jubal. They hurriedly walked away.

  “Jerome? What is this about some message?” Cammarry asked as she entered their apartment.

  “The one that can only be played when we are together in here?” Jerome replied with a smirk. “I see you heard about it as well.”

  “It must be about the briefing on that Dome 3 fiasco and Karen’s death. My guess is it will also have the overdue briefing about Dome 9 where Hobart, Ken, and Beth found that radioactive crater.”

  “You are probably correct, but the way Faraday has been responding and how restricted it is, I would not be surprised if this was just some minor matter,” Jerome said. “Faraday refused to play the message until you returned. My own AI is not even my own anymore.”

  “Winchell? Are you allowed to play this all important message for me now?” Cammarry asked.

  “Sarcasm will not free me from the restraints placed upon my operations,” Winchell replied. “Faraday and I received the same message under the same restrictions. We will display it for you both now. The Committee will be notified you have received this message.”

  Cammarry seethed, but did not respond. She folded up a chair from the floor and sat down heavily. Jerome sat on the corner of the bed.

  A three dimensional image appeared in the air in front of them.

  "Special message for Cammarry and Jerome. The following message has been sent to all other adventurers, and they all have received it. Since they have reviewed the message it can now be displayed for you.

  Dome 17 Committee Only Memorandum on Colony Ship Recovery.

  In light of the success of fas
ter than light communications over the last 5 years, and the newest breakthrough which has allowed development of the Piloted Faster Than Light (PFTL) scout ships, information is now being shared about the Old World colony ship program. Research and Development still has not been able to get past the weight and mass restrictions, so PFTL missions will only be able to accommodate two human pilots.

  As you are aware, information released to our dome’s general public - regarding the colony ship program - has been minimal. The surprising lack of interest in the colony ship program by the general public has been expected.

  Generally speaking, the view is that the Old World’s colony ship program was a total failure. This memorandum is to inform you about the newest finding of our reassessment of the colony ship program. The public is unaware of these issues, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The PFTL missions have the real potential to directly assess what remains of the colony ships. What the general public needs to know will be reassessed after the PFTL missions are completed. Robotic FTL probes are ready to be dispatched to those colony ships deemed best available to re-contact. PFLT scouts could be ready in the near future.