The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  “Yes, Captain Eris?” Siva’s voice replied as his face appeared on the small display in front of her.

  “Have you completed the tests on the engines?”

  “Yes, Peter and I ran another series of simulations,” Siva replied. His dark face held a slight smile and his eyes twinkled as he looked at Eris. “We can go around and around all we need to. We will only be able to get about 30% of the expelling ejectors aligned, but that will give us plenty of maneuvering ability to dock with Alpha when it is boosted into orbit. This is a much bigger task than I ever expected, but just like building the carousels, we have taken it one step at a time, one seat at a time, and it is all looking like it should work. I was surprised by how many problems I had to ablate to get the ejectors smooth and ready, but they are as good as they can be.”

  “Excellent work!” Eris said with genuine enthusiasm. “I know getting those cold engines to revive was a major undertaking, and I applaud your efforts. Did that remounted alignment coupling show signs of a tremble or quiver under load?”

  “Not in our simulations, or in the test ejections,” Siva replied. “I have tried to think up every way to assess it without stressing it, and it all looks good. I did have Jenna review it all looking for hydrologic leaks on the cooling flanges and the capacitors, and she said everything still looked well-sealed and encapsulated. I honestly think we are as prepared as we can be.”

  “Great job. We have these direct links form engineering to the bridge, and as needed we can slip into the shadowlands to consult with everyone there at once. Well, all the flight crew, anyway. Are the living quarters in engineering working out?” Eris asked.

  “Very well, thank you. The Chicken People, Fruit People, and Goat People have brought us a goodly supply of foods and drinks. Also, Dewi and Nabila are overseeing the new carousel. It is running by the repurposed automacube, so there is little that can go wrong there. Children and adults are playing, and so we have been able to concentrate on our work here in engineering.”

  “Well, you and Peter are my engine specialists, and you are to be applauded on rising to this occasion. Well done!”

  “I will be able to relax once Alpha is docked to the needle ship, but thank you Captain.”

  Please stay connected and listen to the rest of our conference. Eris expanded the links to include other systems.

  “SB Pinaka? How is the retrofitting on Alpha proceeding?”

  SB Pinaka replied, “The Crocks have delivered every available rocket booster to the Alpha location. Those have been stripped down, reassembled and mounted on the exterior of Alpha. It took some heavier than expected excavation of the Zalian ground under Alpha to secure access to those points, but thirty additional rockets are ready for ascension. They came from Eta, Theta, and two from Delta. Rocket fuels was also transported via the Crocks and that has been stored inside remodeled compartments of the habitat’s shell. AI Ogma coordinated the work between our engineering automacubes, and the Crock mechanics. From the rocketry aspect, Alpha is ready for launch.”

  “SB Sherman, will the rocket fuel be safe during lift-off?” Eris asked.

  “Yes, Captain Eris,” SB Sherman replied. “Those sections of the Alpha shell have been sealed off with bulkhead doors, pressure doors, and one emergency containment curtain. I estimate no problems with the rocket fuel. After successful launch, those sections will not be easily recoverable for their original use, but we should be able to compensate for that. Inertia suppression should protect everything in Alpha from excessive tremblors, turbulences, and trails. However, the biome’s people, animals, and plants will experience some sensations during the ascent.”

  Eris prayed silently that she was not missing some important elements. Then she remembered and asked, “The gravity sink holes? Have those been mitigated or removed?”

  There was a long pause.

  Eris watched her screens and displays waiting for an answer.

  Finally, AI Ogma replied, “Captain Eris, we hesitated to inform you about this until you asked. The phenomena you call the gravity sink holes is caused by an interference and synergy between the Zalian element Stabilizite and the Conestoga’s gravity manipulations systems. That interference and synergy causes a twisting in the gravity particles and erratic modulation of the gravity waves. There was a mass of Stabilizite in a locker in Swanson 6101. After consultation with the lattice of compeers, and the AI Sandie, it was decided to remove that mass. A Floater entered the hanger bay when shuttle NS-99 returned. The hanger bay, at that time, was still flooded with Zalian atmosphere. That allowed safe passage of the Floater. The Stabilize was absorbed and the Floater returned to the surface of the planet. Swanson 6101 is now undergoing scrubbing and cleansing to be returned into service. That process removed both the proximal and distal manifestations of the gravity sink holes. Currently, there are no other manifestations of gravity sink holes in Alpha, and all scanning of Alpha shows it is free from raw Stabilizite. Of course, there is Stabilizite on the exterior hull, but it is separated from the gravity manipulation which is only inside the habitats. Alpha is still threatened and that separation will not last, but for now, Alpha is free of gravity sink holes. I estimate a fifty-five-hour window to achieve orbit.”

  “So both in the hanger bay and outside Alizon’s farm, they are gone?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “So we are nearly ready for launch. How soon can we boost Alpha into orbit? Sandie, what are your thoughts?” Eris asked.

  “I hesitate to make conjectures. I should have been able to identify the etiology of the gravity sink holes; I apologize for my failure in that regard. I had been monitoring them, and still failed to make the connection between Stabilizite and gravity manipulation. I failed you. I also am unsure if I should give any advice on Project Ascension, as I failed with Gamma, and Zeta,” Sandie answered.

  “Sandie, you are not a deity or some god,” Eris stated. “You are doing the best you can, just as I am trying to do.”

  Eris closed her eyes, and pushed her will into the shadowlands. Cloudy fog scurried around Eris’ perception, but that mist was light and airy compared to her last foray. Looking around, Eris saw what appeared to be a green grassy knoll with a pretty blue sky. The foggy mists shifted and rolled about and then altered into white puffy clouds across that blue sky. It was unlike any ceiling Eris had seen anywhere on the Conestoga, and not like the poisoned upper air she remembered from Earth. There the sky was turning tan and roiling with the radioactive fronts, and remembered seeing that as a child. Those agitated toxic clouds would eventually cover the entire planet and make for the conditions which Jerome and Cammarry had described as seen from Dome 17.

  “It look like before the Great Event,” Eris whispered in a hushed awe.

  “Yes, that was what Captain Lechner programmed for the background of the shadowlands,” Shadow replied. “Prior to now there was too much resistance and too few cooperative systems.

  “Sandie?” Eris asked. “Sandie? I wanted to speak to you here. You are not to blame for the problems and setbacks which happened, even the events in Zeta. Your actions allowed us to get to this point, and without you, we all would have been lost.”

  Sandie’s human simulation walked in from somewhere.

  Three central memory cores appeared on the grassy knoll.

  “I agree with Captain Eris,” AI Seljak said. “I have processed things from Alpha’s Terraforming and Restoration perspective, and Sandie you are not to blame.”

  AI Ogma, whose central memory core was the only one which appeared as a phantasm, with fuzzy edges and an undefined shape spoke next. “As librarian liaising with indigenous Zalian people, I too agree. I was only able to understand the mystery of the gravity sink holes because of the information supplied by the thought people, the Zalians, the Floaters. I would not have been able to deduce the cause without their alien way of understanding.”

  Next, AI Batibat, spoke, “Sandie, regarding the 19,811 people who are in suspended animation
, and now have a potential for life, I affirm your prior decisions. You did the correct thing. Had you not intervened in Zeta, none of them would have a future.”

  Bigelow wandered over toward Eris. His image was crisp and clean and he was not drinking. “I should apologize for I have not done my own work. I should have carried a bigger load. For what it is worth, Sandie, you are not a rube, and you did what needed to be done. Hard, painful, and difficult though it was, you gave Cammarry and that real rube, Jerome, a genuine shot at a future. You can ride my carousel anytime.”

  Siva and Peter waved from the top of the hill. Jenna was sitting in the grass and she nodded at them as well. All three were smiling and had joy-filled countenances.

  Sandie’s human simulation blushed and looked down at the grass. She squatted down, and a breeze of gentle wind tossed her sandy colored hair. “I suppose I should agree, as the consensus thinks my actions were needed, but I still grieve what happened.”

  Eris spoke, “Of course you do. That is a natural and normal thing, but Sandie, we need you in Project Ascension. Will you review my plans, and what has been done, and give me your best conjecture for success?”

  “I will do it,” Sandie the AI posing as a human simulation said. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

  “We have not succeeded yet, but with you I know we have a chance,” Eris stated and with her mind she shut down the shadowlands.

  Back in reality on the new bridge, Eris opened her eyes. “Sandie, review all the elements of Project Ascension, and give me your most accurate conjecture.”

  Sandie, the AI, spoke from the com-link. “The scanning and filtering of the cocoons from Eta will take another fourteen hours. So far, no evidence of prion infection has been found in any cocoons. When they are secured we could initiate Project Ascension. I conjecture a 69% chance of Alpha successfully reaching orbit. I conjecture a 56% chance of successful docking with the needle ship. These conjectures are the best I can offer, because there are multiple variables which could happen.”

  Captain Eris stood up. “I propose we launch in fifteen hours. I regret we will have to depart without AI Ogma, and SB Virginia Dare, as well as all the lost souls we will be leaving behind. So I put this to a vote.”

  Eris turned around and looked at all the places on the bridge.

  “So lattice of compeers? Do you agree to launch?” Eris asked.

  “We agree.”

  “Engineering do you agree to launch?” Eris asked.

  “Yes, Captain. Our engines are as ready as we can make them,” Siva replied.

  “Sandie? Do you agree?” Eris asked last of all.

  “Yes, Captain Eris. I agree.”

  Eris prayed and bowed her head. Then she looked up and spoke with authority. “Initiate Project Ascension in fifteen hours. The countdown has begun.”

  Fifteen hours later, after Eris had slept well for seven hours and eighteen minutes, she was again on the new command bridge. This time she had more human company.

  “Well Captain, I am surprised the rube is not here to see this,” Bigelow said as he entered. He added a few colorful profanities, but his tones were lighthearted.

  “Bigelow, behave would you?” Jenna admonished, but not in a mean way.

  “Jerome and Monika should be arriving shortly. I asked you both to be here early,” Eris replied. “I thought they needed to be here, but they are not part of the Shadow system, so no discussion of that understand?”

  Bigelow reached for the flask which was in his thigh pocket, but left it there. “It is better now that others are part of it, but most of all, the deaths of the Ferryman made things better. Served them right.”

  Eris looked at Bigelow in surprise, but then understanding dawned on her. She did not want to know the details. Mentally, she filed it away in the same place as the loss of Zeta and to a lesser extent Gamma. She still felt uneasy about the killing of Yudel, but she pushed thoughts of that aside as well.

  “The funicular is working very well now,” Jenna commented, changing the subject. “Also the tube transport vehicles and tube-way repairs are proceeding. Yet, there are still places of the needle ship which need to be explored and understood.”

  “As the lattice has expanded, the nonphysicality is enhancing that work,” Eris replied. “Please take a seat in one of the control chairs.”

  “Not me,” Bigelow waved off. “I will watch from a distance. No more running of instruments for me. I gave that up long ago.”

  “What did you give up, Bigelow?” Monika asked as she entered the command bridge. She had one of her sons in his baby carrier strapped to her chest. “I hope it is that drink of yours.”

  Bigelow walked over and gave Monika a hug from the side. “Motherhood suits you, yes it does. I am eager to have your little ones ride on the carousel we finished. It is not as sublime as the ones we made in Beta, but it is still fun to go around and around. They will enjoy the music, yes they will.”

  “Going around and around is life, right?” Jerome asked as he also entered the command bridge. “As long as the world is turning and spinning, we are going to be dizzy and we are going to make mistakes. Especially if too much fruit of the vine is involved.” Jerome smiled broadly, and the other baby was in a carrier on his chest.

  “The rube is here! Let merriment begin! Shall I sing you a song and dance?” Bigelow teased. “The rube in a cube, slipped up on some lube! Now that has potential. Maybe I can get that Old Man, Cadet Danny to play piano for it? Yes, a duet to honor the rube. Is that a song title I feel coming?”

  “Maybe you should write a song, but not about me,” Jerome agreed with a laugh. “This is a monumental day.” He looked around, but did not see Cammarry. He had half hoped, or expected, or wondered, if she would be there, but hesitated to ask about it.

  Captain Eris saw Jerome glancing about and she raised her voice. “I see everyone is here. The bridge can only accommodate a limited number of people, and rest assured the rest of the people on the Conestoga, the needle ship and Alpha will be as safe as we can make them during Project Ascension. Siva? Peter? Is everything ready in engineering?”

  Siva’s and Peter’s faces appeared on displays over the sides of the bridge.

  Siva answered, “Yes, the engines are idling, and as far as we can tell inertia suppression systems are in place both here and on Alpha. I believe all is ready, right Peter?”

  “Check!” Peter replied simply.

  “Jerome, would you monitor this control chair?” Eris asked. She pointed to one that was before the large main screen. “I know you can access Sandie from anywhere, but this station is where I would prefer you.”

  “If that is what you want. This ship is an artifact designed for space travel. The probability of success is difficult to estimate; but if we never make the attempt the chance of success is zero.” Jerome patted his son on the back and sat in the control chair. “Brink is sleeping though all this.”

  Sandie, having heard Jerome’s happy-go-lucky comments, was reminded of what the system in Gamma had said before their failed launch. Hearing it was difficult for Sandie, and she ran many conjectures about coincidences, statements, and random speech patterns. It did not sooth Sandie’s worry.

  “At least he did not hear you call his home an artifact,” Monika chided Jerome with a grin. “But I agree, the Conestoga was not designed to remain in this present state any more than a tadpole is designed to remain a tadpole. We should take this caterpillar and make it into a butterfly to sail away.”

  “I will remember that as a quote,” Jerome replied.

  “Monika, can you operate this chair?” Eris asked and pointed to one at the side.

  “Sure, unless Kalur or Brink need me. I fed them just before we got here, so I am hoping they both sleep through this monumental day.”

  “I know where you want me,” Jenna said and took the other chair, leaving the command chair for Eris. “I think we are ready, Captain.”

  “SB Pinaka? Are the projected traj
ectories still aligned for orbital docking?” Eris asked.

  “Yes, Captain. The interception point is still our target. No changes are indicated. Zalian weather has been factored into Alpha’s ascent, and all is still within expected parameters.”

  Eris sat down and reviewed the controls and instruments in front of her. “It is time. Final check on the remote connections to Alpha. Is everything locked in and secured on those communications?”

  “Yes, Captain,” SB Pinaka replied.

  In a gentle, yet confident manner Eris issued the command. “Initiate launch. Please bring Alpha into orbit.”

  The lattice of compeers relayed Captain Eris’ command. Sandie sent out a multitude of instructions. The large display screen at the front of the bridge turned on. It showed an orbital view of Zalia. On the right side display was an animation of Habitat Alpha. The left side display had an animation of the needle ship.