“Are you sure about that?” Rodker replied. He couldn’t believe he lost a cargo ship. Even though he had a second one with the exact payload, the lost meant they had to extremely careful with the resources left.
“Completely sure, Sir.” Godley replied.
“Understood, commander,” Rodker took a few seconds to think about the consequences of that catastrophe. The idea of sending two cargo ships with the mission was simple. If one cargo was destroyed, the second one, carrying the same payload as the first, wouldn’t dynamite the whole mission. On the other hand, four cargo ships arrived previously with some necessities the crew would need in the two years mission, but the main payload of that previous unmanned mission was the automate propellant plant and the solar power plant to operate it. “Prepare your crew to disembark.”
◆◆◆
Back on Earth, the news of the cargo ship destroyed felt as ice cold water. Isaac Wyse, President and CEO of OmegaTech, the technological giant, was in the main hall of his company’s Headquarters in Houston, Texas, in front of over two thousand guests, including heads of states, NASA representatives, scientist and hundreds of media reporters for News channels. Everyone was paralyzed with the words of Second Commander Godley. There was a delay of several minutes in the video feed due to the distance between Earth and Mars. Wyse then coughed lightly, taking the microphone. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are on Mars,” the attenders of the event, the most important one in human history, were a bit confused, some were applauding, others looking at each other in dismay. “The mission has been a success. As explained in many occasions, accidents may occur as what we are trying to accomplish has ever been done. The surviving cargo has all what it’s necessary to proceed and complete the mission. Both cargoes were identical, just as a precaution. Do not panic, the crew is safe on the Martian surface. We should be receiving video feed by now of the crew steeping outside. Neil Armstrong made a little step for man and a huge for humanity, well, we have made history today, this is not a small step, this is a huge jump.”
The attenders then realized that he was right, the mission was a success and they must celebrate. Jubilation erupted in the whole place, when suddenly, Mr. Wyse conceded a young and beautiful journalist a question.
“Good afternoon Mr. Wyse, I am Rebecca Hernandez from Channel 4, my question is a bit controversial. Was it deliberated to change the landing site of the mission from the equatorial area to the freezing Cydonia Mensae because you and the Government want to find if the Pyramid Complex in there proves there is alien life?” the journalist agent said to cause the maximum effect possible. She was known in the News world as one of the most controversial journalists. That made her to have millions of followers in social media around the world.
Isaac Wyse grinned. “Well Miss Hernandez, once again you are misinformed. There isn’t a pyramid complex in Mars, just a casual formation of rocks in that area.”
Hernandez interrupted. “That isn’t what the satellite images show to us. A natural formation of rocks as you mentioned it, doesn’t resemblance the Pleiades Constellation. Are you denying to the world this information as well as the Oumuamua incident?”
Wyse looked confused at that question and then answered. “I do not deny anything as I can’t confirm it. I promise you, if that formation turns out to be a pyramid, I will inform the world about it. And for your information, I don’t know what you’re talking about the Oumuamua incident, if I pronounced it well.”
Suddenly, Commander Rodker video feed appeared on the gigantic view screen in the hall, just behind Isaac Wyse, interrupting the daring journalist. “Well, I have no idea what to say in this moment. I tried to prepare these words for over six months and now my mind is blank. So, to all inhabitants of Earth, this is for all of you,” Rodker begun descending the few steps separating the spacecraft and the Martian ground. The view was astonishing, several red hills were visible, with a partially red sky and little Co2 clouds in the horizon. Rodker stood still in the last step. Everyone was silence in the event room. Their hearts racing as steam trains. “Humanity has arrived in a new world. We are an interplanetary species now,” Rodker said when he finally stepped on the surface of Mars.
He will be remembered forever in history as a brave pioneer whom has conquered a new world. More cheers of jubilation appeared in the room. Bottles of champagne were opened everywhere and many of the attenders hugged each other. It was a gigantic event, the most important one from the Moon Landing back in the twentieth century.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Mission Accomplished,” Spoke out loud Isaac Wyse. Moments after, in closed microphone, he said to one of his assistants, “Find out the source of the attack in the cargo ship.” The assistant nodded and left the site.
Solaris Fall: A Behemoth Ascending Novella Page 9
