The Alpha Premonition: Book 1: A Gathering Storm
Page 7
“Unbelievable. I’m going to wake up Armstrong and bring him up to speed. Freedom out.”
“November 1 Alpha, NORAD.”
“Go ahead, NORAD. This is November 1 Alpha.”
“Per the President, NASA, and Homeland Security, you are cleared to dock with Space Station Freedom. Do you need coordinates?”
“Roger, cleared to rendezvous and dock, ETA 29 minutes. I have a navigation lock on the Freedom, but a communications frequency would be appreciated.”
“It’s all being transmitted to the data link that you gave us.”
“Roger that and thanks, Major. It is appreciated.”
“My pleasure, N1A. We have a request from the White House.”
“Go ahead, Major?”
“NASA has an astronaut, Maxwell Michaels enroute to your airport and hangar in a NASA T-38. We are requesting permission to observe and assist your ground crew.”
“Granted. Tell him not to forget the pizza and beer!”
“I think that can be arranged. NORAD standing by.”
“Alpha Ground – N1A. You all copied that last transmission?”
“Make it Hawaii Long Board, and a Julian’s combo pizza!” Steve Christians
response humored every one at the hangar.
Armstrong Gagarin shook his head as commander Jim Andrews briefed him on the arrival of N1A.
“That’s unbelievable - a civilian ship, here in less than 30 minutes. I must still be dreaming!”
“Dream or not we should be hearing from him soon, and picking him up on radar.”
“Well, Jim, not what I expected to wake up to.”
“Space Station Freedom - this is November 1 Alpha, requesting rendezvous and docking.”
“November 1 Alpha - Freedom Commander Jim Andrews speaking. You are cleared to rendezvous and dock.”
Jim Andrews shrugged his shoulders and glanced at Armstrong. “November 1 A. Are you familiar with the docking area that we use for space shuttle ops?”
“Affirmative, Freedom, I am. And NASA sent me some additional info.”
“Roger, November 1 Alpha. Freedom standing by.”
“Alpha Ground - Alpha. We are commencing rendezvous and docking ops with Freedom.”
“N1A, thanks for the most exciting hour in our lives.”
“Fun up here too, with more fun to go.”
“Roger that. Alpha Ground, standing by.”
Everybody, it seems, was standing by; everyone except KPLT public affairs liaison Ralph Seaton, who now had the biggest scoop of his career and in the history of KPLT. This small local TV station was about to go national, with the story of a home-built aircraft launched from a local Oregon airport less than an hour ago, that was minutes away from docking with Space Station Freedom.
Ralph Seaton’s phone rang. “Hello, Seaton here.”
“Mr. Seaton, this is the White House.”
Not the call Seaton had been expecting.
“Yes, how can I be of service?”
“The President would like copies of your release. We know you are preparing to go Public.”
“Consider it done. Anything else?”
“Congratulations on the scoop - of the decade, at least.” The White House Press Secretary was a bit envious.
“November 1 Alpha - Freedom. We have you on radar; please advise if we can be of assistance in any way.”
“Thanks, Freedom. We are tracking you as well; see you in nine minutes.”
“AIMI, tactical rendezvous and docking display.”
“Display on screen.”
“Thank you, AIMI.”
Paul reduced the forward thrust, and glanced at the display, very simple and color-coded, showing deceleration points in blue over the green course between the Alpha and Freedom. Paul didn’t remember writing that into the software. “That’s funny. Guess I will just chalk it up to yet another AIMI mystery, or anomaly.”
The KPLT anchorman prepared to read the teleprompter. The camera’s light illuminated.
“At approximately 12 noon today, a home-built aircraft took off from the Oregon Meadows Airport. That aircraft is now in orbit and preparing to dock with Space Station Freedom. The pilot is a local man, Paul Christian. We expect to have some feed or at least footage as the docking occurs. Mr. Christian is a commercial pilot for Universal Airlines. We have contacted the airline and they have no comment at this time. Please standby for updates and continuing coverage of this event on KPLT.”
Burt and John had their work cut out for them; the hangar was about to be deluged by media.
At Los Angeles International Airport Dan Ashcroft’s phone rang; he muted the TV volume. “Captain Ashcroft, Universal Airlines.”
“Dan, what the hell is going on?”
It was the president of the airline.
“Sir, I am just as surprised as everybody else. I had no idea Paul was working on a project of this magnitude. I had the TSA looking at his records and asking a few questions, but that was it. The whole crew lounge is glued to the television.”
“Do you realize what this could mean to Universal?”
“Just saw the coverage and they showed the DVD that Paul had made prior to the flight. The ship is powered by gravity, or I guess, anti-gravity power plant. This has global implications.”
Dan Ashcroft was quite correct. Within minutes, Wall Street took notice and Universal Airline’s stock went through the roof.
The media had begun to arrive at the hangar, but only KPLT was allowed inside. Media surrounded Paul’s house as well. Since no one was home, the media questioned numerous neighbors about Paul Christian and his family.
November 1 Alpha had completed the rendezvous and had commenced docking with Freedom.
“N1A, you’re looking good - lined up and on target.”
“Roger, that. See you in a few minutes.”
“Captain Christian, we can’t wait to meet you. We have a lot of questions.”
Paul then switched the quantum drive from dynamic to static, and the field emitters back to neutral.
“AIMI, verify primary and secondary thruster control in manual and paralleled to my control.”
“Confirmed and verified. You have manual primary and secondary thruster control.”
Watching the docking time and range-to-docking countdown, Paul manipulated the primary thrusters. Fifty feet, five feet per second closure, thirty feet, four feet per second closure, fifteen feet, three feet per second closure, five feet, one foot per second closure, five seconds, four, three, two, one. He then took the primary thrusters off-line.
“AIMI - secondary thrusters to maintain station. Standby for magnetic lock with Freedom and hard-seal docking.”
Paul felt a slight clunk as the Alpha docked with Freedom.
“Secondary thrusters to standby, and systems green. Magnetic lock engaged; hard-seal docking complete.”
The cheers from the Alpha Ground hangar could be heard two hangars away.
“Alpha Ground - we are docked with Freedom.”
“Great job, Dad. Incredible! What’s next?”
“Well, Steve, I am sure Freedom would like a tour of the Alpha as much as I would like a tour of the space station. I will be on a mobile com line, via the Alpha.”
Paul then put a small thin metal device on his forearm.
“AIMI, activate my remote com/data link.”
“Online and tracking.”
“Thank you, AIMI. I will be leaving the Alpha for a while, and returning with visitors.”
Armstrong had been filming the Alpha and its approach. It was still hard to believe. They were not expecting anyone till the next week, when the space shuttle Endeavor was scheduled to arrive.
As Paul opened Alpha’s door, there stood a smiling man in a blue jumpsuit.
“Commander Jim Andrews, I presume?”
“Yes. Captain Paul Christian?”
“Just Paul works for me. Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted.”
“Paul, I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say!”
“How about a tour of the space station?”
“Do I get a tour of the Alpha?” grinned Jim Andrews.
“Absolutely.”
“Paul, my flying partner here, Armstrong Gagarin, filmed your arrival and is chomping at the bit to meet you.”
“Mr. President, as you have seen the docking was successful. We have given Commander Andrews a script of questions for Mr. Christian.” The White House press secretary had done his job well.
“Yes, thank you, and please keep me updated. What’s the tactical read on this worldwide?”
“Mr. President, most of the big players think it’s a military/NASA operation. They figure that Paul Christian’s story is just a cover or code name. I think the CIA is stirring the pot a bit, too.”
“Well, don’t let it get out of hand.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
Maxwell Michaels lined up his NASA T-38 with Oregon Meadows Airport’s longest runway. After touchdown, he rolled to the end of the runway. John Lohman was in his truck adjacent to the edge of the taxiway, signaling Maxwell to follow him.
Maxwell shut down next to the Alpha’s hangar. Upon egress of his T-38, Burt Roberts and John Lohman greeted him. After exchanging pleasantries and handshakes Maxwell asked, “What’s the latest?”
“The Alpha has docked with Freedom, and Paul is aboard Freedom getting a tour,” answered John Lohman. Astronaut Maxwell Michaels toured the Alpha hangar and its facilities, and made a few cell phone calls.
“Cool name, Armstrong. Is it what I think it is?” asked Paul Christian.
Armstrong grinned, “I don’t know, Paul, what do you think it is?”
“I think your parents were enamored by the space program, and named you after the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, and the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin.”
“Correct. I guess if you could build a ship and fly it up here, you could probably figure my out my name.”
“Armstrong, how does a Russian speak better English than I do?”
“TV, internet, four years at Stanford, and three years at Massachusetts Institute of Technology probably helped as well.”
“So what did you like more, Boston or the Bay?”
“It was different leaving Stanford and the San Francisco Bay for Boston. In the winter it felt like I was back in Moscow.”
“Not much of a football team at MIT either.”
“Yeah, that, too. And Armstrong is too formal for me; just call me AG.”
Jim and AG gave me the grand tour. “This is quite a remarkable feat of engineering.”
“Paul, we have seen your ship, and we have seen the DVD that you released to the media, so you will understand if we don’t quite consider this station as remarkable as you do. It’s not even finished.”
“So I guess you’re ready for a tour of the Alpha?”
“I’m the Commander; I get to go first!” Jim jokingly pushed AG out of the way.
“Yes, but I’m the scientist. I should go first!”
“You go first, AG, my father always told me to be kind to those less fortunate than myself.” The tall, lean 6’4” commander laughed, as did the 5’6” Russian scientist.
“I can take both you guys.”
“Paul, I’m sure you’re aware you have generated quite a bit of media interest. NASA has suggested, perhaps a joint press conference, if you’re agreeable?”
“Sure, that’s fine with me; I guess your guy is at my hangar now. Quite a day for the locals - the Alpha flies out and a NASA T-38 flies in.”
“Great! While you are giving AG a tour, I will work out the details on the press conference. Can we have it on the Alpha?”
“Yup, sounds good to me.”
“That’s after I get to check out the Alpha, of course.”
Paul and AG made their way back to the Alpha.
“AIMI, I am returning with a visitor.”
“Yes, Paul, I am tracking your return progress.”
“Welcome aboard, AG.” AG looked around in confusion.
“AG, that was AIMI - Artificial Intelligence Matrix Interface, the brain of the Alpha, so to speak.”
“This is incredible!”
Paul pointed out the primary and secondary AIMI stations, instrumentation, and various systems, subsystems, and backups.
“And you even generate your own gravity?”
“Yes, by way of an inertial dampening system. Since I knew you and Jim were used to being weightless, I had AIMI modulate gravity to half.”
“And fuel for your drive system?”
“Hydrogen - primed and initiated by water. In fact, the Alpha is fully fueled–up and charged for its next journey.”
“Back to Oregon?” questioned AG.
“Not exactly.”
“I had a feeling. You are taking this to the moon, right Paul?”
“Not exactly, AG, but I have a proposal for you.”
Armstrong Gagarin felt light-headed and faint, and had to sit in one of the Alpha’s seats.
“You okay, AG?”
“Don’t know. I’m either hallucinating, or this is a dream. Did you just ask me what I think you did?”
“Yes, I did AG, but think about it and you can give me an answer later.”
“I don’t need any time, I’m in!”
“Great AG, let’s brief Jim just before the press conference, and go public then.”
“Jim’s going be pissed!”
“AG, I’m a pilot; you are a scientist. I think that’s a great combination, I’m guessing Jim would agree,”
Commander Jim Andrews came aboard.
“Welcome aboard, Commander Andrews.”
“Paul, do you have a girl hidden on this ship?”
Paul explained and introduced him to AIMI. He gave Andrews the same full tour of the Alpha that he had given AG. He was understandably full of questions.
“So how does the Quantum drive propulsion system work?”
“Pretty basic, Jim, it modulates gravity from positive to negative. The ship’s skin is an intake. The quantum emitters generate the Quantum field. Their purpose is twofold - energy management and translation of that energy into primary propulsion, and basic control in the pitch, roll, and yaw axes when not in atmospheric flight, by way of primary and secondary thrusters.”
It combines the reaction control system and orbital maneuvering system that you use on the space shuttle into one system. Except it can also augment the traditional flight controls on the Alpha.”
“So how did you fuel this ship up here in space?”
“I initiated the Quantum Drive using H20 on the ground and, after departure, as we accelerated the quantum field that envelops the Alpha, absorbed and translated the friction generated through atmospheric flight.”
“What about outside of the atmosphere?”
“The field collects free hydrogen particles in space. It not only modulates gravity, it stores gravitational energy as well. In short, the Alpha has more energy and power available now than it did when I departed Oregon Meadows Airport.”
Jim continued, “I understand the concept behind the inertia dampening system. NASA has it on the drawing board. It should be a viable system in thirty to fifty years!”
“Paul, how did you come up with this technology? You are literally decades ahead of the brightest minds on the planet.”
“I think you guys are giving me way too much credit. I watch a lot of science fiction. And as of late, I have had a few dreams about this ship and space - dreams, premonitions, and almos
t a sense of being guided for a special purpose.”
“You do realize the military implications here?”
“Jim, AG, the Alpha has no offensive weapons or technology.
Besides, I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
“So, Paul, you up for a press conference soon, maybe thirty minutes?”
“Sure, can I offer you some drinks or snacks?”
“Not airline food right?”
“No, AG, just drinks, energy bars, and fruit.”
“Jim, before the press conference, there is something I need to run by you…”
As Paul Christian elaborated, Jim Andrews’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped.”
“AG, you lucky son of a gun!”
Jim was envious of AG, but also happy to be a part of history in the making.
“Paul, it’s incredible, what you are attempting to do; but even more amazing is your easy-going almost casual attitude in making history.”
“Jim, trust me. I know the risk, and do understand the gravity of what I’m about to do, if you will pardon the play on words.”
“See, there you go again.”
They all laughed and Jim set up the remote camera for the press conference.
“Alpha, this is Alpha Ground.”
“On screen please, AIMI.”
“Visual com link established.”
On screen in the hangar were Steve Christian, John Lohman, Burt Roberts, and Maxwell Michaels.
“Go ahead, Jim. They can all see and hear you.”
“Hey, Max, long time, no see. How’s life treating you?”
“I think ‘amazed and confused’ would about cover it.”
“How do you think we feel up here?”
“John, this is Paul. We are going to have a press conference in a few minutes. You and Burt ready down there?”
“Paul, we’re just along for the ride, or at least the view. Just let us know whatever you need. We have KPLT here; they are ready to tape as well.”
KPLT news anchor Charles White was a bit anxious. This coverage had put KPLT and now himself in the forefront. He was now a part of the biggest press conference of his life.
“Less than ninety minutes ago, an aircraft docked with the international space station, Freedom.”
As he was speaking, the video that Armstrong had taken of the Alpha docking with the space station was presented on screen.