The Alpha Premonition: Book 1: A Gathering Storm

by Steve Catalano

  “In progress, Paul, and the power grid is in full regenerate/recharge mode. Alpha will be ready for departure at 1700 GMT.”

  With docking complete and the Alpha secured, AG and Paul proceeded into the Freedom, that they had departed from just yesterday. It seemed longer than that. Paul had to remind himself, it was just this morning that they left the red planet for the LaGrange point and the Quantum slipstream. Theoretically, far more time should have passed, but the factual had overtaken the theoretical. These new facts would probably dictate some new footnotes in many books, if not modifications or rewrites of some chapters.

  Meeting them at the Freedom airlock was Jim Andrews, with smiles and hugs all around.

  “I see you have brought back some samples, huh?”

  “I tried to find you a t-shirt, but all I could find were rocks!”

  “AG, you’re starting to pick up Paul’s sense of humor. Next thing I know, you will be tall.”

  Once again, they all chuckled.

  Jim, AG, and Paul discussed and debriefed the events of the last two days.

  “Paul, just a heads-up. I have had several discussions with NASA. They have been and remain subordinate and supportive of you. But I can already see the government bureaucracy trying to get their hands on this and run the show. They don’t want you to return to Oregon Meadows. My best guess is that they would like you to return to a Navy ship, an aircraft carrier, so they can isolate you and the ship. They are concerned about biological contamination.”

  “Yet, here we are on the Freedom, huh? Guess they were not too worried about you getting contaminated, huh?”

  “Yes, Paul. Can you say ‘expendable’?”

  “Not to worry, Jim, the Alpha filters out anything larger than a thousandth of a micron, so we are clean.”

  “Paul, I never had a doubt. With the technology you have harnessed, it’s the least of your worries. The government wants to have a chat with you about your return, and another press conference as well.”

  “Mr. President, it is critical that the Alpha returns to one of our aircraft carriers for quarantine. We have several positioned in the Pacific ready for recovery operations.”

  “General Bellinger, NASA has assured me that they are fully capable of the same operations at Edwards Air Force Base in the California desert, and that they are well suited to handle any biological contingency. We have not even discussed this with Paul Christian. My own science advisor has recommended Edwards, as well.”

  “Mr. President, I urge you to reconsider.”

  “Thank you for your input, General. That will be all.”

  The general was used to having things his way. It angered him being dismissed in such a cavalier manner. If it were anyone other than the nation’s Chief Executive he would have pressed the issue. Even so, he began to think to himself about what intelligence he could use against the President for leverage, if need be.

  After the general left the room, the President queried his science advisor. “What do you think Bob?”

  “Mr. President, I think this has more to do with the military having control than any biological concern. What better way to isolate the Alpha than on a carrier in the Pacific? While I don’t want to minimize the potential threat of an unknown biological organism, this guy has launched his own spacecraft, landed it on Mars, traveled around Jupiter, then traveled faster than the speed of light in the last few days. We should address our concerns to him, but remain strongly in favor of Edwards.”

  General Bellinger made a few phone calls, and ensured that some of his people would be at Edwards tomorrow.

  “Freedom, Houston. We have the President and his scientific advisor on line to speak to Paul Christian.”

  “Go ahead with the tie-in Houston. He’s right here.”

  “Congratulations on some truly amazing accomplishments, that have captivated the whole planet.”

  “Thank you, Mr. President, but I had lots of help from Houston, Freedom, and Cosmonaut Gagarin.”

  “We have some concerns about your return to Oregon Meadows Air Park. We feel that Edwards Air Force Base in the California desert might be better suited for your return.”

  “If I may be so bold as to ask, what are your concerns Mr. President?” AG frowned and shook his head. He seemed to know what was coming. He was quite familiar with bureaucracy, as well.

  “NASA, Homeland Security, and the National Security Agency believe that security could be an issue, not to mention crowd control. There is also the issue of unknown biological organisms that might be present.”

  “Mr. President, I do agree that Edwards would be a better place for our return. I can assure you that the Alpha is free of any unknown organism; the ship filters out anything larger than one thousandth of a micron. I did a full biological scan prior to departing Mars, and another just prior to Earth orbit and docking with the Freedom.”

  The President’s science advisor passed the President a note with just one word.

  “Just how did you do that?”

  “After what is essentially a computerized biological scan, we use low-level radiation and handle any problem on a molecular level. For the record, AG, Jim and I are clean. I will send you the telemetry via NASA.”

  “Thank you, Paul, but we would still like to keep you in quarantine at Edwards till the NASA and Air Force doctors give you a clean bill of health. Consider yourself our honored guest. Is there anything you need from us?”

  “Yes, Mr. President. I would love to see my family and my friends who are in Houston as soon as possible.”

  “Paul, I will be leaving on Air Force One in a few hours for Edwards. We will stop in Houston and pick them up. I look forward to meeting you in person soon. Safe journey home.”

  “Thank you, Mr. President.”

  Paul crinkled his forehead and raised his eyebrows. “Wow, the hits just keep on coming. Air Force Two, three days ago, and now Air Force One. My family and friends are going to get spoiled.”

  “Paul, you have landed on Mars, orbited Jupiter, and traveled faster than the speed of light. What’s next? A vacation?”

  “Very funny, but not a bad idea, actually. I need to spend some time with my family. There are a few modifications I want to make to the Alpha, too.”

  Jim and AG both questioned, “What kind of modifications?”

  “Some software changes, fine tuning of life support, programming an automatic mode for transition from sub-light speed to Quantum slipstream. I also believe that I can use the Quantum drive to generate a force field even in static mode.”

  “When you return to Earth, you are going to need a force field, not only for the Alpha, but you could probably use one for yourself too.” Jim nodded.

  “Every government agency, not to mention industry, is going to want to get their hands on the technology. It’s probably safe to say you will be the world’s richest man in a very short time.”

  The press conference went well - many expected questions, a few unexpected. Nearly two billion people saw and listened to the event. It was quite clear that Paul Christian and his family’s lives were to be forever changed, to say the least.

  As Paul Christian was dining with Jim and AG, his friends and family were dining on Air Force One with the President.

  “So, young man, tell me about your father.”

  Steve Christian smiled and spoke. “You will probably find this hard to believe, but he is just a normal guy - goes to work, runs, works out, goes to the movies. And he does great BBQ. Over 18 months ago he built AIMI; then started on the Alpha shortly thereafter.”

  “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the ramifications of the last few days, and how much this means to our country and the world. I also hope that you understand why it’s important to put your father and your whole family under Secret Service protection. There are unscrupulous organizations and extremists
who would do anything to have the technology your father has created, or to destroy it.”

  “I understand, Mr. President. What will this protection entail?”

  “Your father, sister, uncle, and grandmother will each have an agent personally assigned to them. Your days will be normal; you will just have an extra shadow following you. Your father is going to be a pretty popular guy.”

  The President smiled and went on to converse with Paul’s mother, Louise.

  Paul savored his last night at the Freedom Space Station and his two new friends. They spoke of the past, the present, and the future. They talked about their families and their friends.

  “Paul, when I heard your broadcast from Mars, and heard you honor all those who gave their lives in the pursuit of space, it brought tears to my eyes, but it gave me a pride in the human spirit I have not felt for a long time. The space program, indeed the exploration of space and development of new technologies, has been stagnant for years. What you have accomplished in the past few days I thought I would never see in my lifetime, and probably not for generations.”

  AG nodded, “I could not agree more.”

  “Thanks, guys. At times this doesn’t seem real - almost like a dream, or as if I’m watching a movie that I just happen to be in.”

  “So what’s next for the Alpha. Where to from here, figuratively and literally?”

  “As I mentioned, I have some new programs to write, and some physical modifications of the Alpha as well.”

  “It’s mind boggling to think that you could be almost anywhere in our solar system in less than a day.”

  “It is for me too, AG, but then I think that even at Quantum slipstream 3, it would still take me over fifteen months to get to our nearest star, Alpha Centauri. It would impossible to store that many supplies in the Alpha. Which leaves two options - suspended animation, or a higher slipstream velocity.”

  Both Jim and AG asked, “What velocity do you think the Alpha will be ultimately capable of, Paul?”

  “That remains to be seen, but with some fine tuning, program modifications, and a tweaking of the intermix ratio, faster than 300% of light speed - a lot faster.”

  “What’s a lot faster, Paul?”

  “Somewhere between linear and exponential.”

  “Thanks, Paul, that’s as clear as mud. AG and I are in over our heads anyway!”

  They all laughed and Jim raised his glass in a toast, “Here’s to interplanetary and interstellar exploration!”

  “That’s a lot of energy bars to cover over four light years, or a really long nap. Speaking of naps, it’s about my bedtime. I think it’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.”

  “That an understatement, if I ever heard one. Have a good rest; you’re going to need it for tomorrow and the days that follow.”

  Jim added, “Paul, everyone is going to want a piece of your technology, and there are countries, organizations, and people who will stop at nothing to get it. You say you like to play it close to the vest. This is the time to do just that.

  “Take good care; be careful whom you confide in. Both AG and I have been debriefed several times on what knowledge and technology we may have learned or acquired. I told the powers-that-be that it was way over my pay grade. I’m a pilot and administrator, not a scientist.”

  AG smiled and added, “I am a scientist, and other than some analysis of the Martian rocks and soil, I told the Science Directorate I was way in over my head, which is pretty much the truth.”

  “Thanks for the heads up, guys. I will be careful and exercise due caution.”

  Paul slept well in the space station, and awoke once again to the sounds of smooth jazz. He then worked on a few software modifications. He also thoroughly checked the Alpha for its de-orbit and terrestrial atmospheric flight.

  Suffice it to say, after the last few days, coming back to Earth would be almost mundane.

  Air Force One had landed at Edwards. The base had made numerous preparations for the Alpha’s arrival, starting with an arrival pad with a biological isolation canopy. There were bleachers for the media, which were there in force from all over the world, as well as scientists, doctors, and numerous technicians.

  There were fewer people at NASA Houston than normal. Many were at Edwards as well. The Covert Operations Group was there as well; several of their people were imbedded with the doctors and scientists. General Bellinger was there with the VIPs as expected. It was quite a large presence for an organization that did not exist.

  “See you soon, I hope!” Paul bid his friends on Freedom farewell - hearty handshakes and bear hugs all around. Life would never be the same for any of them again.

  AG was being recalled home. His newfound fame would follow him there and scientists would now be become his second shadow. AG was brilliant in his own right. Perhaps his people were hoping that he would be privy to the Alpha’s technology through osmosis. At any rate, being the second man to walk on Mars and travel faster than the speed of light certainly elevates a man’s social status in Moscow.

  Air Force Colonel and Space Station Freedom Commander Jim Andrews’ tour of duty on the Freedom space station was due to end in less than a month.

  His performance before and after the Alpha’s arrival would net him a promotion as well; he was going to receive the star of an Air Force General.

  As Paul sealed the Alpha’s door, it was hard to fathom that he would be back on Earth in less than an hour - almost funny considering the huge distances of space he had traversed in the past three days. He ran through the pre-departure checklist with AIMI - all systems green and ready for de-orbit.

  “Houston, COM check please,”

  “Loud and clear. Your family and friends are monitoring your arrival from Edwards, along with a cast of hundreds on base and, last we heard, several million outside the base.”

  Paul Christian - the guy who didn’t like crowds. When his children were young, he had called Disneyland to find out the least crowded day of the year, so he could take them. He now had three million people out in the California desert, watching and waiting for his arrival, not to mention several billion who would see him on TV and streaming video.

  “AIMI, quantum drive to dynamic, and manual thruster control, please.”

  Paul had refined some of the automation functions on the Alpha. One such change was to tie all quantum modes into AIMI, although he still had manual and override functions available via voice command or alphanumeric digital input.

  He modulated the thrusters for lateral control and slowly moved away from Freedom at a velocity of a foot per second. At thirty feet he could still see Jim and AG still waving at him.

  As he switched the thrusters back to standby, he increased the power level on the quantum drive and accelerated away from Freedom. In just a few minutes he was well into the de-orbit phase of his journey, overlooking the eastern Pacific. It was ironic that from this point on, he would essentially be on a similar profile as what the space shuttle uses, but that was where the similarities ended. In less than five minutes, he was passing abeam the Hawaiian Islands, just south of where he had achieved orbit three days ago.

  “Houston, Alpha. I am commencing my deceleration. ETA: Edwards, fifteen minutes.”

  He looked at the chronometers. 1720 GMT, now just under fourteen minutes. “AIMI - Final Systems Check.”

  “Structural integrity green, life support green, power levels one hundred percent and holding, Quantum drive green and at ten percent, navigation green, communication green.”

  “Thank you, AIMI. I concur.”

  While Paul’s approach profile was similar to the shuttles, it was not nearly as steep. Although the Alpha was considerably lower than the shuttle would be at 1,000 miles from Edwards, it was considerably faster. The space shuttle is in effect a glider, managing the potential energy of altitude and the dynamic energy of velocity;
but both are finite values with little room for error. While he did mange the altitude and velocity in a similar fashion, he had the Quantum drive and the thrusters, so energy management was not critical. At some point, the shuttle is committed to land. Paul had no such limitation.

  Crossing the California coast, he was still slowing. The display read just less than 100,000 feet altitude and airspeed of 3,000 knots and decelerating. In two minutes Paul would be overhead Edwards at the HAC, or the point where the shuttle starts its alignment maneuver for landing.

  “Houston. The Alpha is overhead Edwards, transitioning for landing.”

  “Copy that, Alpha. Good luck, and well done!”

  “Alpha. This is Joshua control. We have you approaching overhead, 50,000 feet, 600 knots and decelerating. Traffic four o’clock and 8 o’clock low at 10,000 feet - Air Force and Navy welcoming committee. You are cleared for approach.”

  As he approached overhead Edwards, Paul made a left turn back around to enter a conventional traffic pattern. He was slowing through 250 knots and still decelerating. As he commenced his turn, the tactical display in front of him showed ten aircraft rapidly approaching, five on the left side and five on the right side.

  “Military aircraft approaching; data base identification five F-16s and five F-18s.”

  “Thank you, AIMI. I concur.”

  As Paul maneuvered downwind in the traffic pattern, he began to recognize the aircraft abeam his left side. In echelon formation was the Air Force flight demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds in their F-16s. To his right, also in echelon formation, were the Navy Blue Angels in their blue and yellow F-18s.

  “November 1 Alpha - on behalf of the US Air Force, welcome home.”

  “November 1 Alpha - on behalf of the US Navy, welcome home.”

  As Paul Christian looked right and left, both pilots smiled and saluted him. He felt a bit strange being a civilian, but smiled and returned the salute, followed by thumbs up.