Stranded on Haven

by William Zellmann

  A little closer, and we'd learned that the atmosphere contained elevated levels of hydrocarbons, which Lisa said might indicate a pre-space civilization. Of course, she admitted, it could also indicate active volcanism, widespread forest fires, and a number of other possibilities that I ignored.

  As we entered the system, Lisa began detecting very weak signals in the radio spectrum. Since we were still moving so fast, she had to sample in snatches, at first only a few microseconds long. Still, she was monitoring closely, and before long was able to report that most of the sounds seemed to be within the range of normal human speech. Even that little bit, however, was enough to send me into a tizzy. For the last month, I'd been struggling to control my impatience, without notable success. We even discussed entering the system at higher speeds, and swinging around the sun to shed velocity. All right, that was my idea, but Lisa explained that doing so would actually delay achieving orbit around the target planet. I'm still not sure she was right.

  As we passed the last of the outer planets and our delta-vee dropped toward .01C, she was more successful in grabbing intelligible snatches of conversation, and even what sounded like music. By the time we entered orbit, we were monitoring complete programs, apparently commercial ones, as well as cryptic transmissions between individuals.

  “Please be careful, Captain,” she told me. “These are not unlettered savages. From the fact that they speak a version of standard, I infer that they are a lost colony. It appears they have reverted past space flight, but they seem to have retained a developed science, and use at least the radio spectrum. Don't forget, rockets were used as weapons for centuries before they powered spacecraft.

  “They have probably already detected our approach, though they might think us an asteroid or comet. But once we assume orbit, they will know we can only be a spacecraft. To these people, this ship and its cargo are worth any risk.”

  I nodded. As I said, I'm not really as stupid as I look. “I know, Lisa, quit nagging. It's like living in a slum on Trask, and having someone drive into the area in a brand new truck piled high with goodies. The thugs would be killing each other to get to be the one to kill the driver and grab the goodies, and the grifters would be trampling each other to be the first to get to him. Let's just assume orbit, and see what happens. Meanwhile, we'll observe everything we can, and try to separate out the good guys from the bad guys.”

  “Assuming there are any good guys.”

  Sometimes that Artificial Intelligence is just too damned intelligent.

  ******

  Richard, Duke of Lazenby looked up at the gentle knock on his door. Irritated by the interruption, he snapped, “Come in.” He suppressed an eye roll when he saw who his visitor was. Professor Wain. The old fool was here to beg for more money. Probably wanted a new telescope.

  The chubby, elderly man bowed with surprising grace. “My apologies for disturbing you, Excellency, but I have exciting, and disturbing, news!”

  The Duke dropped his quill into the inkwell and straightened. “Exciting and disturbing, eh?”

  The balding head bobbed. “Yes, Excellency. I'm certain a spacecraft has entered our solar system and even now orbits overhead.”

  Duke Richard froze. “A spacecraft? Come, Professor. Surely just a close-approach asteroid.”

  Amazingly, the old man's head shook in the negative. “No, Excellency. This object actually slowed as it approached Haven, rather than speeding up. And now, it orbits our planet about every four hours.”

  Duke Richard's eyes widened. “Four hours? It circles the planet in four hours?” At the professor's nod, he frowned. “You did well to report this. Do you think the Cellians will have seen it?”

  Professor Wain looked pained. “I'm afraid so, Excellency. Anyone watching the sky with a telescope would have seen it. Will see it. It can hardly be missed.”

  Duke Richard grabbed the speaking tube, blew into it. “Austen? Light off the steamer. We must get to the Castle immediately.” He turned to the professor. “Is there anything else you can tell about it?”

  The Professor shrugged. “Well, it appears to be quite large, and generally spherical in shape, much like the Adventurer, though it has some odd bulges. It made no attempt at concealment, but simply sailed up and assumed orbit.”

  The Duke frowned. “You don't think it's another colony ship, do you?”

  “Impossible to say, my lord,” the old man replied. “It is a bit smaller than Adventurer, which it approaches occasionally as it orbits.”

  The Duke rose. “Well, come on, Professor.”

  Wain looked puzzled. “Where are we going, Excellency?”

  “To the palace, of course. The King must know of this.”

  ******

  The telephone rang, and George Cass jumped. He glared at the instrument for a moment before he lifted the receiver. He hated the thing. Why should anyone under the sun have the right to disturb him any time they pleased, no matter how busy he was, or how inconsequential the call? He'd fought for years to avoid the privacy-destroying device, but he'd been painfully aware that his was the opinion of an ever-shrinking minority, and he'd been unsurprised when the Director of Security himself had finally ordered him to have it installed. He sighed and picked up the receiver, placing it to his ear as he'd been instructed. “Hello?” he said uncertainly.

  The voice on the other end was excited. “Sir! Sir! They're back! They're here!”

  George sighed. “Calm down, Edward. You're not making sense. Who is back, and where have they been?”

  “No! No!” protested Edward's excited voice. “You don't understand, sir. There's a spacecraft orbiting Haven! Right now!”

  George was puzzled. “Of course there is, Edward. Adventurer has been orbiting for more than 500 years.”

  There was a pause as Edward evidently struggled to control his seething excitement. “It's not Adventurer, sir. I'd never call you for Adventurer.” His tone was wounded, now.

  George's eyebrows rose. “Are you telling me there is another spacecraft orbiting Haven?”

  There was a deep sigh. “Yes, sir. That's exactly what I'm telling you.”

  “I'll be right up.” He hung up the telephone receiver, paused, picked it up again. “Hello, Central? This is Deputy Director Cass. Please connect me with the Palace.”

  “One moment, please,” the operator replied with cold formality.

  It was almost a minute before a male voice came on. “George? They actually got you to use this thing? Is someone standing behind you with a gun?”

  George chuckled “not yet, Charles. But something important has come up. How soon can you get me in to see the President?”

  Charles snorted. “Are you kidding? Next week.”

  George shook his head before realizing that Charles couldn't see it. “Make it this afternoon. A new spacecraft entered orbit around Haven a few hours ago.”

  “No, I … Wha? What?” There was a pause, and then Charles's voice returned. “Have you been drinking, George?”

  George chuckled. “You know I don't drink, Charles. I'm heading upstairs right now to confirm and see it for myself. If it's true, I'll grab a hansom and come over. I'll just wait until the President can see me.”

  Charles's voice was shaken. “I - I'll tell the President. I'm sure she'll want to see you as soon as you can get here.”

  George smiled. “I rather thought she might, myself. I'll see you shortly.” He hung up the receiver before he remembered he was supposed to say 'goodbye'. Oh, well. He gave the telephone another glare before hurrying out of his office for the astronomy lab on the top floor of the building.

  ******

  The General entered silently, and stood silent until Maximum Leader Gerard Len looked up. “I'm sorry to disturb you, great leader, but something of great importance has occurred.”

  The Maximum Leader put on a scowl. These fools were always running to him with 'something of great importance' that was usually something they should have handled themselves. I
t might be time to replace the General. He was good on the battlefield, though. Oh well. “What is it, General?”

  “There's a spaceship in orbit, great leader,” The General finally permitted some of his excitement to show. “Not Adventurer, a new one!”

  The Maximum Leader started to ask if the General was sure, but stopped himself. Of course the General was sure. He knew what would happen to him if he made an unconfirmed report. Len frowned, deep in thought.

  “All right General. If there's a spacecraft, there are people aboard it. And those people will be landing. I want a Special Operations team on constant alert, with an airship idling on the field. When those people come down, I want us to be the first to reach it. Is that clear?”

  The General bowed. “Of course, great one, but …”

  Len looked irritated. “But what?”

  The General gulped. “Uh, well, great one, it's just that they could land anywhere on the planet. We may not be able to reach them in time.”

  Len's eyes closed in frustration, and his lips firmed. Did he have to do all the thinking around here? The General began to tremble.

  After a moment, the Maximum Leader opened his eyes, and his face relaxed. “Anyone intelligent enough to travel in space is undoubtedly intelligent enough to recognize that Cellia has the most advanced culture on Haven. They may not come to us directly, but they are certain to ground near us, and we must be ready. Do you understand, General?”

  The General bowed, “Of course, Maximum Leader. I'm certain you are right.” He saluted and spun on his heel before marching out. “Idiot!” he mouthed, careful to make certain it was said under his breath.

  ******

  I'd spent over two years, thinking, hoping, and dreaming about this planet. But when we entered the system, and learned that it contained a technological culture, I was amazed by the seeming never ending stream of thoughts, ideas and worries that I hadn't considered.

  “I'd love to just drop down and mingle with people again,” I told Lisa. “But Startrader represents an incredible amount of scientific knowledge far in advance of their own. It's not going to take someone more than ten seconds to realize that they can kidnap me, hijack you, and take over the planet.”

  “You have the robots for protection,” Lisa put in.

  I nodded. “Yeah. But they can't harm a human. A bodyguard that just stands around while their target is kidnapped is no bodyguard.” I shook my head. “No, we need some kind of weapons.”

  “I am unarmed, Captain,” Lisa replied primly. “And I could not use weapons to harm humans even if we had them.”

  I nodded again. “I know that, and you know that, but they can't be sure of it. We need a way to convince them we could do them great harm, if necessary.” I paused, thinking. But after a moment, a slow smile spread over my face as I continued, “And I think I know how we can do it. But we're going to have to slow down, and take a slight detour.”

  The most interesting thing we discovered as we approached the planet was that there was another spacecraft already in orbit. Lisa quickly discovered that the ship was dead, a hulk. Apparently, it was the ship that brought the original colonists. The ship was actually larger than Startrader, but she was no trading vessel. Instead, she was something I’d only read about in history books: a colony vessel.

  When the jump drive was invented some 700 years ago, it was much more dangerous than it is now, and ships disappeared with alarming regularity. Still, it was safer than the incredibly deadly Cobb drive it replaced. Even after the old EarthGov Colony Program ended, there were adventurous souls who would sell everything they owned to buy into a share of a colony mission. They would buy a ship, load it with all the equipment they could afford, and set off for a world that was just a catalog number in the stellar index. Hundreds were launched. A few dozen established successful colonies. A few have limped to their destination in normal space, carrying descendants of the original colonists, only to find the planet already settled and industrialized. Nearly a hundred have been found drifting powerless and lifeless in normal space, light-years from the nearest planet. Of the other hundreds, there has been no trace. So “lost colonies” are a popular theme in trivids and bookchips. Apparently, we’d found one.

  Adventurer was launched from Earth itself 522 years ago. Her log was gone; presumably, the Captain had taken it down to the planet with him. The ship was in a geostationary orbit above what was apparently the original colony site. But that orbit was beginning to decay, now. In another century or two, the ship would crash to Earth. Well, to "Haven", as the current occupants called it.

  Lisa was not happy when I decided to go aboard the hulk. “The more information we can gather, the better equipped we'll be when we land,” I told her. “Besides, if this thing has been orbiting over their heads this long, there's no better gifts I can give the bigwigs than souvenirs from their original colony ship.”

  But Lisa didn't agree. “That ship is dead, Captain. And it's larger than Startrader. You could spend months wandering around aboard it and find out nothing useful.”

  I'm skilled with spacesuits and free fall maneuvering, so I had no real problems when I spent a full day exploring Adventurer. That was her name. And she'd been orbiting here for over 500 years. But except for some heavy cargo, she'd been pretty well cleaned out when she'd been abandoned. That time line and a few knickknacks for presents were all I gained for a day of effort. Have I mentioned how irritating AI's can be?

  We were in orbit for about two hours before we began receiving radio calls. We'd gathered there was no single government on the planet they called “Haven”, but rather a patchwork of nation-states, most of whom seemed to dislike at least one of the others. We didn't respond to the radio calls. We didn't want to announce ourselves until we figured out what was what and who was who.

  It was about six hours before we hit the commercial radio stations, but when we did, we practically monopolized them. Most of the reports described us as “a great ball, almost as large as Adventurer.” A few even mentioned the odd bulges created by the nickel-iron asteroids we'd collected on the way in and attached to Startrader's hull with magnetic grapples. But I was certain the governments were getting much better descriptions and perhaps even drawings or photos, since they could commandeer the planet's largest telescopes and best cameras.

  We orbited silently for more than a week, while we put together a political map of Haven, as they called the planet, and collected information we hoped would be useful when we finally opened communications.

  As we'd thought, the planet was very Earthlike. Two large continents occupied the northern hemisphere, and a third occupied the southern, connected to one of the northern ones, and accompanied by four large islands spaced around the rest of the southern hemisphere. Three large oceans and several smaller seas completed the planet.

  Most of the developed civilization seemed to be on the largest continent in the northern hemisphere. The largest city was on the coast of the larger of the two continents; Lisa suspected that was the original settlement, and the colonists had spread out from there. It was hard to tell much about it besides its size, though. A pall of black smoke that seemed to be nearly permanent mostly covered it. A network of smaller, rail-linked cities spread out from there, each with its own semi-permanent cloud. Judging by the radio broadcasts and the movements of what we decided were military units, at least four nation-states shared the larger continent.

  The smaller continent was much more sparsely settled, and with a few exceptions, the cities were much smaller, more 'towns' than 'cities'. Only two of them showed the smoke clouds, though it seemed a haze was growing on a third. There appeared to be only two political divisions there.

  The southern continent seemed unsettled, though it appeared that scattered settlements were beginning to move down the land bridge toward it. As far as we could tell, the islands were virtually uninhabited, with only a few fishing camps. Well, 510 years wasn't really a long time, when you're considering settli
ng a planet, starting with only one shipload of people.

  It also explained the technological decline. A truly advanced civilization requires enormous infrastructure and support technology. One ship simply couldn't contain it all. Colony planets were expected to lose much of their technological edge. This one had actually done better than most, judging by the bookfiles I'd read on colonization.

  It had three fairly small, almost equidistant moons, though one was much larger than the others. The arrangement was so orderly that Lisa theorized that it was artificial.

  “Moons create tides and currents that keep the oceans from becoming stagnant swamps. I think you're looking at some primitive terraforming. They simply gathered up three asteroids of the appropriate sizes, and placed them in orbit.”

  I shrugged. “Could be. If so, I guess it was successful.”

  “By human standards, I agree. However, I suspect the upheavals and chaotic weather patterns it created had a dramatic effect on existing life forms, not to mention the planet itself.”

  Lisa estimated that the planet's technological level fell somewhere within about the last 50 years before August 6, 1945 Old Style, Day 1 Year 1 of the Atomic Era; the day nuclear energy was first used in a public, non-experimental way. In a bomb.

  Largest of the four nation-states on the western continent was also the farthest west. It was called “Westin,” and was farthest from Firstlanding, the largest city. It was largely rural, and its largest city was actually only medium-sized, a place called Tarrant. Judging by the radio transmissions from Tarrant, Westin still considered itself mostly a frontier, and its politics sounded disorganized, raucous, and occasionally even violent. Commercial programming in Westin seemed to be of lower power, and more localized. It seemed that much of Westin was beyond the reach of commercial radio.