Excolopolis_Poles of Enforcement

by Jack L. Marsch

“Well, we have pretty much everything at hand. We can already get into space using DCG anti-gravity technology, and once in space, we can create an artificial Earth atmosphere and build protective shields that can repel any physical object from the ship's hull, such as meteors or debris. If we can navigate and communicate effectively, we will be out of the woods, and the rest will be a walk in the park.”

  “Sounds exciting. I think I already have a few ideas.” Gibbs smiled.

  “Such as?”

  “We can move virtually anything using anti-gravity force and it could work equally well in space, in low gravity environments too. We just need to induce motion indirectly. Because it doesn't strongly interact with anything, we should accelerate and eject material from the drive that pushes the vehicle body in the opposite direction.”

  “The same principle as rocket engines.”

  “Yes, it's an old and well established principle.”

  “Okay.”

  “It will even work with light, if the anti-gravity force is strong enough,” Gibbs hypothesized, almost to himself.

  “Well, these projects will run in parallel with one another. Like I said, we need to resolve many issues. It's not enough to prepare the vessel, we'll need a crew as well. Moreover, the vessel has to operate as an independent ecosystem.”

  “I'll get planning started as soon as possible,” Gibbs mumbled.

  “We're heading into uncharted waters. Make sure you load absolutely everything into the CCI database, right from the start,” he warned the scientist, whose mind was already working away at the problem.

  “Of course.” He looked up at Steersman, but seemed preoccupied with the ideas running through his brain.

  “Talk to you later,” said Steersman as he left.

  Hashimoto

  At ASEC, Steersman had undertaken a lot of restructuring since that first aerial demonstration. He'd had to rebuild and fine tune the quickly growing organization more and more often as one problem arose after another. Besides that, the first year of teaching had commenced at PrEUST with approximately two hundred thousand students in more than one thousand faculties. Professor Kazuma Hashimoto had built a traditional university system, but according to Steersman this would provide only static knowledge for the future scientists, something that could be achieved by anyone with great perseverance. He needed more. He wanted to see how someone was able to test theoretical knowledge in practice. He considered the scale of an individual's effort relevant because the only thing that counted for Steersman was creative force. In other words, how much could someone break out of the box that sheltered them so comfortably. The greater the divergence, the greater the independence of thought.

  The professor was being shown around the ASEC research and development departments for the first time, and they began their circular journey at the main block. Steersman wanted to show the professor what they were doing. Meanwhile, he sketched out his ideas.

  “I feel that the rating system is generally quite outdated. There is a scale, according to which we traditionally assess knowledge, based on how much they could possibly learn from a whole during this time. I would like to evaluate their knowledge according to their previously evaluation see to what extent they can develop in their areas of expertise. Do you understand, Professor? This way, we would be evaluating their progress not by an absolute, but according to relative development,” explained Steersman as they turned towards the main block's distribution center.

  “Yes, it's indeed a rather different system than anything I have worked with before,” said Professor Hashimoto, thinking aloud.

  “I understand that.”

  “What do you intend to achieve with this?”

  “I don't want to create a group of people with the same knowledge base. Because they all learn the same, and the requirements are the same, it doesn't particularly focus on developing or activating the student's brain. Obviously, there will be exceptions, but most will be rather mediocre. I want those good enough to remain in the school to all be exceptional, one student unique in one area, the next in another, but they shouldn't be comparable to each other, they should think differently. They'll need to learn how to work independently; besides, knowing the fundamentals of their specialist area, they will be expected to use the highest level of creativity.”

  “This is not a simple exercise, Mr Steersman.”

  “No, it's not, I agree. Still, by looking at the process, we will be able to produce scientists of true value with real skills, much faster that we can now, in half the time. By the time, they graduate from PrEUST they will be experienced specialists that we can hire immediately.”

  “I don't really know … ” said the professor, still sounding unconvinced.

  “Listen, the PrEUST entry system remain the same, as students come from traditional educational institutions. Those who we admit still gained the basic knowledge they need. Here, they will learn how to make practical use of it in a way as if they are going on journey of conquest each time they do an experiment or try an idea. Those, who are not capable of adapting, will not be trusted at ASEC.”

  “What do you expect the dropout rate to be?” asked Hashimoto, a little suspiciously.

  “It'll be roughly 90%.”

  “Good grief,” laughed the professor. “That's a little unexpected.”

  “We are not producing children's toys, as you have no doubt noticed.”

  “Of course, I'm in complete agreement.” The professor nodded.

  “We are currently starting the biggest project we have ever dealt with. Therefore, we will need geniuses who are able to stand on their own two feet and not puppets; people who don't need to have their hands held and bottoms wiped whenever something goes wrong.”

  “What are you up to?” asked Professor Hashimoto, looking at him quizzically.

  Steersman stopped at the edge of the distribution center.

  “An expedition in space,” he said quietly.

  “Why!?” asked the professor, with a short laugh.

  Steersman smiled, then went on. “Listen.” His expression changed to a serious frown. “You need to listen very carefully to what I'm about to say, because it looks very much as if we're no longer alone in the universe.”

  “Pardon me? What do you mean?” asked the professor, a little louder than he perhaps realized. “What do you mean we're not alone?”

  “We have a message in our possession, from out there,” Steersman answered looking up for a moment. “From out there … from an alien civilization.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, not at all. The message is genuine. We know by now that it's definitely not from Earth; and what's more, Professor, it is absolutely certain that this was sent by creatures of highly advance intelligence.”

  “I must admit that I find it rather hard to believe,” said the professor, wiping his forehead.

  “I know. I had the same reaction until I saw it for myself.”

  “Is this why you want to go into space?”

  “No, there is a much simpler reason for that. My aim is to find new raw materials and resources. This is now our most important focus, and the construction of a space program is now fact, so I need good people to implement it.”

  “I see. In light of this, the restructuring of our university system becomes understandable, as does the speed at which it is happening.”

  “Good,” said Steersman, finally.

  “I've never been in such a huge research center,” said the professor, changing the subject. “I've been informed that you are expanding it.”

  “Yes, that's right. In just the last month ASEC has expanded and created further research and development units, including a third production facility sector. It has almost doubled in size.”

  “It must be a huge challenge to keep the entire ASEC facility under control. I can't imagine how it is possible,” observed the professor.

  “We have to have huge work areas due to the nature of our activities, which can be
a little misleading. Vehicle development and manufacture is quite demanding in terms of space.” deprecated Steersman.

  “It seems so. What new facilities have been commissioned?” the professor asked quickly, sensing Steersman's slight embarrassment.

  “The new facilities are all specifically designed to serve the success of our new endeavor. A shorter passage is now being constructed to the second research block, where mainly biological research takes place. Equipment and supplies for the spacecraft are also being created there: navigation systems, communication systems, and preparing for previsional cases we are also working with stealth and reconnaissance technology. And we are developing associated subsystems to increase our chances of survival. For example, optimization of limited space for storage has a dedicated development team,” explained Steersman.

  “Why did you start engaging in biological research?” asked the professor, intrigued.

  “This is a completely new area of research for ASEC, so we are trying almost anything that could increase our capacity for adapting to extraterrestrial conditions. For example, we are engaged in plant development to allow us to be able to establish more viable vegetation in non-terrestrial conditions. In addition, we are conducting genetic and psychological research, and immunological and nutritional development in the Medical Center.”

  “What will happen to discoveries that have already been made? Your robots have integrated themselves into ASEC life rather well.”

  “Where we are now, the main block, has also undergone restructuring. Seven departments are operating here at the moment. These include Neil Gibbs' energetics division, Alec Samuelson's vehicle development department, and alongside that, a specialized unit has been established for investigating raw material processing systems and mining technologies. There is also a study group dealing with space architectural materials and technologies and last but not least, we have established an entirely separate unit for the development of advanced space vehicles and aircraft.”

  “So far that's five.”

  “Yes. Crop development technology was brought over here because it proved to be an incredibly space dependent enterprise. Furthermore, I set up a workshop for robotics and automated systems because, in the second sector, there are only production and unit divisions.”

  “Very impressive.”

  “Come, there will be a briefing for the design and simulation team.”

  “Really? What do they do?”

  “They'll be designing the new spaceships. As this is still a relatively new area, the majority of the team are top industrial designers, because they are very experienced and the engineers love working with them as they never lose sight of functionality. We started with this basic philosophy when deciding who to hire,” Steersman smiled.

  “A relatively new area, indeed. They must be excited about the challenge,” said Hashimoto, nodding.

  “Even they don't know what's in store for them,” said Steersman. “I'm on my way there now to brief them and see how they react.”

  “Oh, I'd be happy to join you then.”

  They went back to the main hall and then headed to the design level by elevator, in the same building that housed Steersman's office.

  As they entered a large meeting room, Professor Hashimoto spotted an old friend.

  “Nishihara?” he called out.

  “Professor?” said the man in surprise.

  “You know each other, that's wonderful,” observed Steersman.

  “Of course. It's Zach Nishihara. Till now he's been designing carriages for companies specializing in manufacturing high-speed trains,” said Hashimoto. “He graduated from the University of Tokyo.”

  “I'm happy to see you, Professor. I knew that you were working in Excolopolis, but I didn't expect to see you here. Do you bring in everyone this way?” Nishihara asked Steersman, reflecting the usual reaction of people first exposed the methods of ASEC.

  “Yes,” said Steersman with a smile. “By the way, how are your family getting on in the new house?” said Steersman. He knew from long practice, what to ask to defuse surprise.

  “I think they are beginning to like it. There won't be any problems settling in,” answered Nishihara.

  “I hoped as much,” said Steersman.

  Nishihara took a few calming breaths while he looked around his new work area. For the time being, the unit that had been allocated for spacecraft design looked rather like a blank canvas in the ASEC design workshop.

  Many of his colleagues had similar backgrounds and there were design gurus that hailed from all over the world, of whom he was now the leader. Among them were those who swore by virtual design, and then there were the traditionalists who created miracles by hand with a simple pencil and a paper.

  “I see now that you are not planning a low-cost endeavor, but what exactly is it that we are all here for? We haven't yet been told anything.”

  “Please, call everyone together and I will tell you all.”

  Nishihara gathered the designers, who were chatting together in excited groups after looking over the new equipment. The new facilities would allow them to create scale models of anything they designed.”

  When everyone had gathered round, Steersman began.

  “Welcome to the ASEC research base. Briefly, what is ASEC and what are we about in principle? Our organization intends to take another step forward for humanity, a step with which we will change the balance of power in the world today, a balance that has become skewed. It is a multifaceted issue. One side is all about addressing inequalities in society, distortions of civilization development that are caused by concentrations of power and force; the other part, however, is about our planet's complete ecosystem, and deals with the question of whether humans have the right to do anything we please with nature. We have a very clear position on these issues, and by using our technologies and product enhancements, people will not be able to go in any other direction than the right one. Unfortunately, we face many enemies who continually watch us, which will sometime make resolute action against them essential,” he explained carefully. “You are all now a part of this process.” Finishing his introduction, Steersman looked around. “Now then, to the task for which you're all here. After further investigating the options, we have decided that ASEC will begin exploring the possibilities for expeditions outside out own planet.”

  “Are you talking about space travel?” interjected one of the designers.

  “That's the plan.”

  “I'm curious, how do we come into the picture.”

  “Transport!”

  “You want us to make spaceships?”

  “I want you to design the fleet for the expedition. If you think this is going to be difficult, then I am afraid I will have to disappoint you further and say that there will be even more difficult problems to come. You should take everything into account in your designs; everything that will keep people alive, in comfort, supply the requirements of a closed system. In addition, these expeditions are not just sight-seeing trips. Apart from basic discovery, there will be certain goals for which equipment will be transported by the crew, so you have to think of everything,” said Steersman, laying the foundations for their design work.

  Nishihara stepped forward and began to outline the project details. “Okay, let's start at the beginning. Information! How can I put it? Starting the process of design can only be done when every detail and every sub-detail of those details are established. Broadly speaking, we need to recognize and understand the purpose of everything in all possible situations and states, right down to questions like what to do with a used tissue, where will be placed, what equipment will dispose of it and how, what is it connected to and who is responsible for its operation.”

  “Exactly,” confirmed Steersman. “Now, I'm just outlining the general task. Your work will begin exactly with this, with the acquisition of information. For that, you will be talking to many people and there'll be plenty of time to do so here at the research base. You
'll be talking with the people responsible for developing a variety of tools with which it will be possible to travel in space,” Steersman paused and then continued in a more focused tone. “In larger terms, you're going to design a living space that is a closed ecosystem. Think about the needs of a city and you will have an approximation of the needs of a spaceship: food supply, energy, public services, accident and safety issues, communication, transportation issues, recreation, entertainment, education, management, maintenance as well as servicing waste and by-product processing, and so on. In addition, there will also be the specific processes that come as part of space travel.”

  “You mentioned a fleet. If I understand it correctly, we'll have to keep in mind the existence of at least several ships,” added Nishihara.

  “Yes. To be more precise, you need to design three mother ships which will carry smaller vessels that can detach and reattach themselves as required, in order to carry out specific tasks further from the fleet,” Steersman elaborated.

  The team remained silent, their minds already filled with thoughts, as if the whole scene was already in front of them.

  “Could you tell us a few words about the specific goals of the mission in space, and also the additional tasks the crews will be required to perform,” said Nishihara.

  “The fundamental purpose of the expedition will be exploration for raw materials, meaning that detection, exploration and extraction will be core to the mission, as is the establishment of colonies. A team of energetics engineers and chemists will be going along to investigate the properties of any new material found.”

  “Dividing this group into teams will be particularly important then. Each team will then only have to deal with the developers who are producing equipment for a specified function on the ship. What do we know about the time-frame?” asked Nishihara.

  “All departments will have one year for research and development, and we'll then have an additional year for construction and testing. Meanwhile, we'll also be training the expedition team.”

  “How long will this expedition last?”