Table of Contents
Copyright
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Novels By Robert Stadnik
EXODUS OF
THE PHOENIX
By
ROBERT STADNIK
Exodus Of The Phoenix
Copyright 2010 Robert Stadnik
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2018 – Relations between Pakistan and India deteriorate after years of hostilities between the two nations. They recall their ambassadors and all foreign visitors are urged to leave the countries. In a dangerous game of brinkmanship, they aim their nuclear weapons at one another. Negotiations in the United Nations break down as participating members bicker with one another as to how to resolve the crisis.
By the end of the month, the Russian Confederation has aimed its nuclear missiles at India and Pakistan in an attempt to cease their aggression towards one another. The United States formerly protests the actions by Russia and breaks off diplomatic relations.
APRIL 2, 2018 – India launches the first wave of nuclear missiles at Pakistan. Forty-three seconds later, Pakistan launches its nuclear arsenal at India. In less than an hour, the major cities of both nations are destroyed, including the capitals housing their governments.
APRIL 3, 2018 – Syria and Iran, now both nuclear capable, blame the United States for inflaming the situation between Pakistan and India. Each nation launches their single nuclear missile at the United States in retaliation. The U.S. immediately responds by launching warheads at the attacking nations. The NATO satellite defense network destroys both missiles heading towards the United States. However, Syria and Iran are obliterated by the U.S. assault. Outraged by its actions, Russia and the European Union formerly break ties with the U.S. and end their memberships to the United Nations. The European Union also leaves N.A.T.O.
SEPTEMBER 2018 – Millions of civilians have fallen ill from the nuclear clouds moving from both Syria and Iran. A large nuclear cloud has spread from the India/Pakistan region throughout much of the continent. Massive relief efforts begin to try and help those suffering. The entire Middle East becomes uninhabitable and the population migrates to the continent of Africa. The governments of several African nations collapse as they are unable to handle the influx of refugees crossing their borders. Media outlets throughout the world state that humanity is at its end.
NOVEMBER 2021 – The radiation clouds dissipate in the atmosphere. Final tally puts the death toll at nearly one and a half billion people, with millions more afflicted with radiation sickness. Shock from the enormous loss of life convince the nations of the world to meet to discuss how to prevent such an atrocity from occurring again.
DECEMBER 25, 2021 – The Accord of India is signed. All nations agree to dismantle their nuclear arsenals immediately. The United States is the only country who refuses to sign, citing its right to defend itself from the aggressors of the world. Rioting erupts as U.S. citizens respond violently to their government’s refusal to sign the treaty.
DECEMBER 29, 2021 – A civilian coup backed by the military and supported by state governments overthrows the federal government, dismantling Congress and removing the President from office. A new interim government is installed by the civilian leaders. Their first and only act is to sign the Accord of India.
FEBRUARY 2022 – MARCH 2028 – The world nations pool their resources and begin to clean up the nuclear waste left by what’s become known as the “Nuclear Holocaust.” As they work to make radiation afflicted regions habitable once again, they begin to address other social issues.
JULY 4, 2029 – With nations feeling more united from their efforts to improve world conditions, the historic Paris Gathering takes place. A new world government is formed at the convention and leaders from their respective nations become representatives of a new world government body. The headquarters for the new government is located to Sydney, Australia.
MAY 2031 – With Earth entering a new age of peace, the world government focuses its attention to space. The International Space Agency, or ISA, is established. The agency’s first directive is to begin preparation to colonize both the moon and Mars.
SEPTEMBER 2032 – The first colony ship, the ISA India, establishes the first colony on the moon. The moon is officially renamed Luna.
APRIL 2036 – The first Martian colony is established by the ISA Pakistan. A directive is passed by the world government prohibiting individuals with genetic disorders resulting from nuclear radiation from becoming colonists on Luna and Mars. This is done to prevent the need for additional resources on the colonies and to ensure these individuals receive the best medical care on Earth.
NOVEMBER 2037 – Voters on Earth and the colonies approve legislation making the world government the sole governing body of Earth, Luna, and Mars. The world government becomes the tri-planetary government. Luna and Mars are given equal powers as provincial regions on Earth and elect representatives to speak for them.
2032 – 2061 – Through the efforts of the ISA, new technologies rapidly develop during this period. Ship designs are tested and refined, environmental systems improved upon, expanding the Luna and Mars colonies. On Earth, technologies are developed improve the daily lives of civilians. New techniques in recycling permit the reuse and conversion of all manufactured materials. The biggest accomplishment is the development of technology that quickly breaks down nuclear matter and radiation. Scarred regions of Earth are cleaned up, allowing people to inhabit the areas once again. Near the end of this period, regular traffic of space ships are traveling between Earth, Luna, and Mars. Probes are sent throughout the solar system and establish a network of sensors for scientists to use to explore the other planets from the comfort of their labs.
FEBRUARY 2062 – Francis DuBois successfully creates computational equation that allows the properties of mass to be displaced from normal space. Secondary effect of displacement is the hyper-energizing of the surrounding spatial matter, allowing an object to be hurled faster than the speed of light. Work immediately begins on creating technology that utilizes this new theory.
FEBRUARY 21, 2068 – Miniature prototype jumpgate successfully hurls satellite Voyager IV outside solar system. ISA orders construction of an exploration starship at the Luna shipyard, while construction begins on a large scale jumpgate in Indonesia on Earth.
JUNE 15, 2073 – ISA HORIZON is officially commissioned and the ship is deployed from the Luna shipyard. Two months later, the jumpgate is delivered to the HORIZON from Earth.
DECEMBER 1, 2073 – ISA HORIZONA reaches orbit around Pluto. The public’s last image of the HORIZON on broadcast is watching the ship deploy the three cargo containers housing the jumpgate.
DECEMBER 7, 2073 – Contact is lost with the HORIZON. The ISA remains tight-lipped about the ship’s status, releasing a brief public announcement
stating “The mission has encountered some difficulties.”
JANUARY 1, 2074 – ETS RENAULT is secretly hired by the ISA to travel to Pluto to confirm the HORIZON’s status.
MARCH 30, 2074 – Several ISA associates, working in conjunction with computer scientists on Mars, hack into ISA controlled solar system sensor array. The goal is to patch the sensor array’s tracking of the RENAULT to the public airways.
APRIL 20, 2074 – ETS RENAULT is lost near the ring formation of Saturn. The public watches in horror on the broadcast channels as the RENAULT is destroyed by a green alien craft shaped like a triangle.
APRIL 20 - 22, 2074 – Panic hits Earth, Luna, and Mars as people fear an imminent invasion. It takes two days for the regional military divisions to restore order on all planets.
APRIL 26, 2074 – The tri-planetary government assumes direct control of ISA. It is disclosed to the public the fate of the HORIZON. The ISA watched the HORIZON attacked and destroyed by the same type of alien craft that destroyed the RENAULT.
MAY 2074 – March 2084 – For the next decade human vessels are attacked and destroyed by the same green triangular ships. All attempts to communicate with the aliens fail and no one can determine if it’s one ship conducting the attacks or multiple ships of the same class type. New defenses developed to counter the attacks also fail
JULY 2085 – TERRA (Tactical Earth Reconnaissance and Recovery Authority) is officially established. The remaining divisions of the ISA and all global military divisions are merged into this new institution. TERRA designates the hostile aliens the Screen.
OCTOBER 2085 – An analysis of Screen attacks reveal that no human ships are harmed within the sphere of Mars’ orbit around the sun. The government orders a ban on all travel to the outer solar system. TERRA begins regular patrols around Mars to prevent any ship from attempting travel to the outer solar system. A moratorium is instituted prohibiting the installation of hyper drive engines on vessels.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2114 – The last recorded Screen attack occurs, destroying the ES DARK REBEL. Finally seeing the futility of trying to pass beyond Mars, no one attempts to travel to the outer parts of the solar system. The Screen attacks cease.
DECEMBER 2121 – The EXODUS Project is initiated by TERRA at a secret facility in the Tormented Valley area near Skaway, Alaska.
PROLOGUE
April 20, 2074
“We’re clear of Saturn’s gravitational horizon,” crackled Mary’s voice over the ship’s antiquated speakers.
The captain stood in the washroom drying his rugged face, freshly cleaned from a thorough scrubbing of soap and water, when he heard the update. Some orange hydraulic fluid had dripped on him while he worked in the engine bay and he stopped by his quarters to get cleaned up. The thought of the fluid sitting on his face for any length of time annoyed him and he wanted to get rid of the greasy feeling. He also believed it important to lead by example and maintain a clean look for his crew, even if the crew consisted of just two other individuals.
His fist pounded the speaker button. “I’ll be right up. Set a course straight for Pluto.” He looked at his reflection in the mirror. A few more gray hairs had sprouted around his beard and moustache. Age made its presence known and even hair coloring wasn’t concealing the slow march of silver on the captain’s head. Whoever said a freighter captain’s job was easy was delusional. Sure the money was lucrative, but the stress could be hell at times. Maybe if he had a cushier job a lot less gray would be dancing around his head. The captain’s girlfriend was going to enjoy teasing him about his looks when he got back to Earth.
“Already done, captain,” replied Mary. The captain flipped the speaker off without a response. He hadn’t been in a good mood this entire trip. They just finished up a nonstop run from Earth to Mars, delivering garden plants to the colony nestled on the red planet. With no stopover at Luna the trip seemed lengthy and was taking its toll on the captain. He used to be able to handle such runs without missing a beat. Now that his youth had evaporated from his veins these assignments were becoming increasingly more cumbersome to undertake. He preferred the short jaunts between Earth and Luna and was planning to schedule the next few jobs delivering supplies to the moon. Screw Mars! They could get their cocoa beans and tomato plants from someone else. But first things first, the captain was looking forward to a relaxing three month sabbatical on Earth before resuming any more freight runs.
It would have been a great plan, but the government unexpectedly contacted him with a job offer. The captain’s initial reaction was to say no. Actually, hell no! But the money offered him was simply too good to pass up. Despite feeling older greed always got the better of him. He could be on his deathbed and still be able to pull a good one-two sucker punch to the Grim Reaper if enough money was dangled in front of him. The best part of this deal was being paid in full before completing the job. Talk about a windfall. No company every paid a full advance in the freighter business. With the amount of credits the government threw at the captain he would be able to enjoy his time off.
Up on the bridge Mary reclined in her chair, kicking her feet up on the brightly lit console before her. She gazed out of the panoramic window circumventing the small bridge area and saw nothing but empty space, only the stars dotting the background. It would be several weeks before they reached the outer rim of the solar system, the longest stretch any of them spent in space.
Mary looked over at her pilot and navigational support, Juan, who was sleeping peacefully at his station. He was curled up in his seat like a baby in the womb. Mary was envious of how easy it seemed for him to slumber.
Sleep was an elusive creature for Mary during space travel. It was a problem she wrangled to control and over time the trips between Earth and Mars had gotten easier. She took baby steps in order to overcome her insomnia. At first it was two days with no sleep, then a daily nap. She worked her way up to four hours of sleep a night, only waking up once or twice.
While awake Mary found ways to pass the time by stargazing. She had never been this far out of the solar system before and was hoping for some good glimpses of astronomical markers from the Oort Cloud. But the captain prevented her from partaking in such indulgences. He had been keeping her busy almost nonstop this trip, having her check the ship’s systems nonstop and making minor repairs.
The computer had detected a small spike in the ship’s power core, which was normal occurrence for an extended flight. Nevertheless, the captain went down to the engine bay to ensure there were no problems in either the core or the engines. Mary didn't consider him a true space farer like herself. Over the years she dealt with all sorts of emergencies on ships. You name it, she's experienced it. Nothing bothered her anymore, even something as critical as a hull breach. As long as the captain was flying the familiar routes between Earth, Mars, or Luna he was fine. But out here he seemed like a skittish child, lost and unsure of himself. If the government hadn’t offered so much money for this reconnaissance mission Mary was certain the captain wouldn’t have agreed to come out here.
“Ohh, ma,” muttered Juan in his sleep. Mary nudged him on the shoulder with her foot, not wanting to hear him babble in his sleep.
“Get up,” she ordered in a loud tone.
“Wha…,” sputtered Juan as he woke up. He looked around the bridge as he stretched his stiff body. “We there yet?” Juan had only been hired onto the ship four months ago and Mary had still not gotten accustomed to his little nuances, like sleeping at his flight station. It was bad enough he slept at the drop of a hat, but to do it at his post in front of her...
“Hardly,” said Mary, as she adjusted her posture in her seat. Juan rubbed his eyes and looked down at the instrument cluster.
“Aw man, why you wake me up so soon?” said the young Hispanic. His whining tone grated on Mary’s nerves.
“You’re not being paid to sleep,” said Mary.
It had been some time since she broke in a new crew member. Their last pilot served five years
and Mary had him trained exactly to her liking. When he quit Mary was not relishing the thought of bringing someone new onto the team. She even argued with the captain that the two of them could operate the ship. In the end it was his decision and Mary had to abide by it. She was only a hired hand, but she felt her twelve years of service on the RENAULT should have counted for something. At the very least she should have been consulted on the new hire, which the captain neglected to do. He hired Juan and expected Mary to get him up to speed on their operations.
The situation infuriated Mary and she intended to talk to the captain about firing Juan once they returned to Mars. The pilot was too inexperienced and immature and Mary believed she was entitled to voice her opinion on the matter. Since Juan’s arrival she felt like a babysitter, a role she despised. The only consolation was that Juan was being paid a flat rate for this run instead of the usual commission crew members earned.
“We’ve cleared Saturn, so you might as well deploy another sensor package,” instructed Mary.
Juan grudgingly complied. Why couldn’t Mary deploy the sensors herself? It seemed like a waste to be woken up to punch a few measly buttons. He hit the sequence of colored buttons on his console to open the small launch bay. “Where’s the loco at?”
“The captain,” said Mary, stressing the word captain to Juan. “Is doing a check of the engines."
“Man, I never met anyone more paranoid than him,” said Juan as he waited for the computer to signal him the probe package was ready for launch.
Despite his immaturity Juan’s intuitiveness was correct about the captain. He had been on edge this entire trip and did not mask it from the crew. Mary confronted him and the captain admitted that something about this job bothered him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. His instincts were telling him to turn back to Earth, but he had no reasonable explanation why.
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