* * *
Amo Obib snapped back to the present. He realized there were more to think from what Tasiyo had said in the flashback and decided to sleep over it together with the other things he had in mind. “Goopersh, please turn off the screen and goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Goopersh replied.
Leave the Planet
When Amo Obib left the room, he noticed the hallway's end was faintly illuminated. Curious, he walked towards it and soon notice the light came from a room. As he came close, he heard voices, distinctly between Commander Nerus and Goopersh.
At the doorway, Amo Obib saw Commander Nerus at the middle of the room with his back towards him. The commander had instructed Goopersh to convert the room’s walls to computer screens that the walls were full of colored symbols connected by a maze of colored lines that were dynamic---lines moved around, symbols shifted locations, and colors changed seeming to give life to the wall. Without realizing, he walked in with eyes fixed on the screens around.
“Naska is Imar, My Amo,” said Commander Nerus to Amo Obib who was clearly engrossed by the colorful display and quickly added, “I did not mean to startle you.”
Startled, Amo Obib replied, “Naska is Imar Commander. I am so sorry. I did not mean to interrupt.” He was naturally courteous as the commander was much older than him.
“Not at all. Came from the viewing room?” the commander casually asked.
“No, I came from another room doing much like what you . . .” he hesitated as he looked bewildered at the screens around, “well, doing something different. What are all these?” he asked, puzzled as he looked at the colorful screens with amazement.
“You are looking at the process, workflow, material flow, critical path, timeline, resource requirement, and a bunch more being processed altogether. Simply stated, it is the what, where, when, and how to refuel the ship.”
Amo Obib walked closer to the screen. “And this near the bottom . . . paper and printing machine?” he asked.
The commander answered, “All these can’t be done without paper and a printing machine. We have to produce the blueprints, instruction manuals, schedules, and a lot of other things.”
“Amazing! Is it done?”
“Goopersh is working on it in detail that’s why the symbols, lines, and colors are constantly changing. It is calculating the best way to accomplish our goal within twenty-six years. There are trillions of possible combinations to arrive at an answer. It may take a few more minutes to . . .”
“Exercise done,” Goopersh laconically announced.
Commander Nerus walked to the wall and looked at numbers then said, “By the fourth year we must have a workforce of 575,318 with an aggregate population of over three million. This is our ticket out of the planet.” He looked at Amo Obib and stressed, “We have to build the atom converter, refuel the ship, and leave the planet, My Amo.”
“I guess you know how grave our situation is,” the amo sighed. “You have an idea where we will get all these people to help us?” he asked curiously.
“2.3 million years in hibernation is a long time. By then, intelligent beings would have evolved to help us build the atom converter.”
“That was what I was working on at the other room. Based on Goopersh's conclusion, we will most likely wake seeing very much the same creatures we see today. It is important we conduct a genetic map on one particular ape.”
Aware of how strict the church was on genetic manipulation, Commander Nerus hesitated then asked with a bit of discomfort, “Are you considering . . . Genetic Engineering?”
Amo Obib replied with unease, “There are ethical issues involved. I pray it will not come to that. Nevertheless, I want the data available should it come to it.”
“I understand,” the commander responded. He knew the importance of information and data being readily available when time-sensitive and critical decisions were to be made.
Amo Obib surmised the commander to have spent as much time mulling on their problem and not show signs of feeling mentally drained as he was, he asked, “You are in as much pressure as I am. I admire the way you are taking things.”
“I have been a project manager all my adult life. Pressure goes with the job and, after a while, you get to learn to live with it. Getting sick will not change anything.”
“I’m glad you said that,” Amo Obib reacted. The advice was timely and he needed it.
Unsure of how to behave in front of the amo, Commander Nerus asked, “My Amo . . . am I being rude or presumptuous to speak to you in this very casual manner? Am I to bow or kiss your hand? Are there protocols or mode of conduct that I must adhere to, you being the amo and . . .”
“Don't worry,” he said, patting Commander Nerus’ shoulder as they walked slowly out of the room. “Come to think of it, I don't even know how to behave as an amo. I've been an amo for . . .”
Commander Nerus interjected, “We traveled through time but it would be a little less than a week if we were in Ria.”
“That long? Less than a week?”
“Less than a week,” he assured.
“Seems like ages. Things happened all at once and in a rush.”
“I know what you mean. I had soap in my ears when I got to the ship.”
“Know why we were all rushed to the ship?” Amo Obib asked.
“A forward space sensor that monitored the advancing plasma heading our planet was understating its mass. By the time they found out, the plasma had broken through the last defensive shield. We almost did not make it . . . Can I ask you a personal question?”
Eager to accommodate, replied, “Please, go ahead.”
“Don't get me wrong but you seem so young to be an amo.” Commander Nerus was much older than the thirty-five other Rians in the ship. They, to include the amo, were young adults and nearly half his age. He was the exception solely in his irreplaceable qualification to head the expedition. His academic excellence, broad technical knowledge coupled with proven experience in project management made him the best and only choice. His current designation as Flight Commander and Expedition Head were to change as the pre-appointed first Governor of their future colony.
Amo Obib, baffled himself, looked at the commander. “That question had haunted me since told to succeed Amo Tasiyo. Much as I wanted to object, I was compelled to accept. In the church, you do not question, you simply comply. All I knew was they needed a young amo for the voyage. But being with the church for hardly five years . . . it was beyond me to even be considered.”
“I am certain Amo Tasiyo had good reasons.”
Commander Nerus’ statement caught Amo Obib’s attention. He related it to what Amo Tasiyo said to him on how the choice was made. He replied, “I still need to figure that out,” then paused. Sounding serious, he replied, “Come to think of it, I believe you are to kiss the amo's butt each time you meet him.”
“Holy shit,” Commander Nerus cried and muffled the sound of his laughter with his hands over his mouth as they were near the room where the rest slept.
Amo Obib controlled his hearty laugh as well then apologetically said in a low voice, “I shouldn’t have said that . . . I wish I knew you back in Ria. For that matter, I wish I knew everyone here. Isn't it strange, we are literally strangers to each other!” Being at the doorway of their sleeping room, Amo Obib whispered, “They are all asleep. We will talk more tomorrow and finalize the plan. Naska is Imar.”
Predicament
The pyramid ship, park amidst thick vegetation by the side of a hill, was exactly the same size and shape as the largest pyramid in Giza, Egypt. Its base, a square, measured 760 feet on all four sides, and its height, 482 feet. The first seventy-five feet of the ship’s perimeter walls were configured transparent that allowed outside light to filter through and made the structures above seem to hover in place above the ground. The rest of ship’s outer walls up to its apex became solar panels that converted the sun’s ray into electricity and stored in batterie
s. Except for the long and leafless heap of bamboo poles, lumber, and mounds of earth at one corner of the ship’s ground level, the huge partition-less floor was completely bare. One can see the outside from all four corners of the ship from anywhere one stood. Amo Obib, who helped work on the biological samples at the laboratory, stopped early for the general meeting at the ground floor. Closer to the top of the ship, he went through the elevator shaft which had no elevator but hand and foot holds that stuck out of its inner walls. He strained as he climbed down pausing several times to give his arms and legs rest, and the sole of his bare feet a brief relief from aches as he traversed the almost two hundred feet vertical distance. From there, he walked through catwalks and a couple ladders before he reached the ground floor.
At the ground level, he noticed everyone had their foot wrapped with green leaves. The floor was cold and so were his aching feet. He took large leaves neatly piled nearby and wrapped each foot with several layers of it as well. He felt the soothing relief and comfort of their ingenious shoes as he walked.
Some distance away, by a bamboo pile, Amo Obib saw Ningning waved at him. He waved back as he walked directly towards her. He knew she and four others were in-charge of making basic household things. This was no small task, as they had nothing to start with. They had no extra clothing, no shoes, chairs, furnishings, and tableware---the basic needs to start life in a new world. Worse still, no tools to work with!
They greeted each other then held hands as Ningning showed him around. Showing signs of affection in public is part of Rian culture and the Amo was not exempted.
Ningning, referring to the pile of bamboo poles, said with enthusiasm, “We are fortunate this large reed (bamboo) grows abundantly in the area. In such a short time, we piped the spring water some seventy yards north of us. We made cups and other useful things with it using stone knives,” showing the stone knife she held.
Briefed on what her team did and plan on doing, Amo Obib left them to their chores and proceeded to where a group of three worked on an enclosure. After the greetings, the team leader said, “This is our temporary sanitary facilities. Almost done . . . just placing the finishing touches.”
Amo Obib inspected the toilet and bathroom facilities with interest. Its walls were made of overlapped banana leaves supported by bamboo stakes tied together with stripped vines. Free-flowing water was piped in using the bamboo as well. He noticed the efforts made to make it presentable. He said, “Great job! Indeed, a structure fit for your amo to use.” His comment brought laughter and as they laughed, Amo Obib, in a friendly gesture, tapped their shoulders then proceeded to the earth mound farther on.
By an earth mound, neat lines of moist clay bricks were dried alongside Rians who made them. After they greeted each other, Commander Nerus said to Amo Obib, “We’re making bricks to build stoves and smelting furnaces, among other things,” then explained what Goopersh had scheduled on doing as he toured him. He also explained the limitations of using the ‘magic liquid’ they saved to create machineries and electronic devices, and would use it sparingly to conserve energy. For this purpose, he assigned the three ship engineers to create computer programs to equip a small lumber mill and foundry shops with machineries using the versatile ‘magic liquid’ soon after their general meeting.
Briefed, Amo Obib had time to spare and joined the Commander Nerus’s group. He felt downhearted as he molded bricks with his hands. They stripped the ship so well that there was nothing they could use as simple substitute for basic tools. With their technology, they had to do everything primitively by hand, fashioning work tools out of stones, sticks, and animal bones!
The Problem
Everyone gathered on a vacant space for their scheduled meeting. They formed a circle, held hands, and bowed their heads as Amo Obib led the prayer. After, he gave the floor to Commander Nerus. With nothing to sit on, the amo, like the rest, sat on the floor fronting the commander.
Commander Nerus explained their situation to an anxious crowd. A few minutes later, concluded, “. . . Our goal is no longer to colonize this planet but to leave it; link with the Colonizing Module; and find another planet to colonize. Taking into consideration what we have and don’t have, we are in a desperate situation but not hopeless. We have God and time on our side. We have thirty-four multi-purpose airships and the best technology stored in our computer. If we plan wisely and with God's help, within twenty-six years we can fulfill our goal.”
There was an uneasy silence that followed. Commander Nerus looked at their confused faces and realized the majority of his audience did not grasp completely what he had said. Being in the biological and medical science, they were not technically oriented. Orientation to the new technology used on the spaceship was not part of their crash-training program while at Ria. He continued, “Let me explain how the ship operates and the fuel it uses as it will likely answer most of your questions. Except for the hibernating capsules and Goopersh, everything else draws power from the fuel produced by the atomic converter. Even the airships fuel cells rely on this energy source to recharge. Since we need to refuel the ship, we have no other option but to build the machine that produces it, the Atomic Converter. With that said, let me answer your questions,” then pointed to one raised hand of the many.
At his place on the floor, one asked, “Building the Atomic Converter requires tremendous physical resources. How can we possibly attain our goal with only thirty-six of us and no more than twenty-six years to accomplish?” The question was a real concern and brought nods from the rest. The Rians took some time to construct the first atomic converter at their home planet in spite of their resources. The atomic converter was a doughnut-shape structure twenty-four miles in diameter. Its cross-section was one-hundred-fifteen feet. The cylinder's inner core was super-cooled, and wound by super-conductive heavy-gauge wires encased in super-electromagnets and built eighty meters underground. It required sophisticated equipment to monitor and control, and used power enough to light up a large city. “Not without outside help,” the commander answered.
“Where will we find help?” someone asked with concern.
“An intelligent creature may evolve from the seemingly mindless creatures we see around. We have over two million years in our favor.”
Spontaneously another aired, “There are over two-hundred-fifty-thousand Rians stranded in space relying on us to save them. What assurance will we have that intelligent beings will evolve in this planet within our timeframe.”
Amo Obib heard the question and realized the subject had shifted to issues related to church doctrines. “Commander Nerus,” he interrupted as he stood then addressed the group, “We will discuss the issue further when we have more information. I will assign a team to study the prospects of intelligent beings evolving from the apes out there and how long. Should the team conclude the time is not enough, they are to consider the feasibility of being a catalyst to the development of intelligent beings on this planet.”
Someone conscientiously asked, “Can we intervene with nature . . . Natural Law and break church law?”
“The situation warrants the church to consider its stand on the issue. As head of your church I will consider very carefully any step towards that direction.”
The meeting continued discussing day-to-day problems then concluded with plans, assignments, and, as always, a prayer.
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