Discovery

by Paul Rix

  "Thank you, sir. What will you do?"

  "I'll have a quiet word with her when we return to Endeavour. She won't like it, but she'll have to accept my decision. Now, are you going to show me the rest of the base? I'd like to see where we'll be living for the next two years." Winter stood and shook the commander's hand.

  "It would be my pleasure, sir."

  Chapter 30

  It wasn't going so smoothly outside the habitat. Georgia and Jim had donned their suits and stepped out of the airlock into the darkness of the cave. We should get the lighting sorted as soon as possible, thought Georgia as she stood waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. Although she was holding a flashlight in her gloved hand, there were plenty of cables or boxes to trip over. She watched as Redmayne carefully navigated his way to the water storage facility, part of her expectantly waiting for him to trip. She was disappointed and concentrated on finding her own path.

  "We need to determine what's been causing the power spikes we've been noticing," the chief said as he stepped up beside her. I was hoping they'd settle down overnight but they're still causing me worries."

  "Any chance it could be the reactor. It's never been properly tested in the field."

  "That was my initial thought too. I sent the data to AJ at Ground Control late yesterday and they ran the calculations overnight. She advises that the reactor is functioning normally. There's something else happening here, either with this power grid, the cabling or a connector. We cannot move into the base when there is a risk of power failure. These power spikes prevent us from charging the batteries. I've been over the system with Rashid and we can find nothing obvious. I could do with a fresh pair of eyes, if you have time."

  "Always glad to help, especially if it means saving your ass," Georgia said with a smile. "Let's start from scratch and work back to the reactor. Where does the power enter the habitat?"

  "Over there," Jim replied, pointing to the far corner of the cave. Georgia looked to where he was pointing and could see three yellow umbilical cables laid on the ground and plugged into a large square junction box on the side of the living quarter habitat. Also visible was the plumbing for the water and waste management systems.

  That looks like a good place to start, Georgia thought. She was sure that Jim and Rashid would have done a good job connecting the power cables. It was more likely that a power board was malfunctioning. It was just a matter of finding it. But she had to remain open-minded and not discount any possibility at this stage. Getting the power functioning was too important.

  Georgia slowly tiptoed her way toward the junction box, pointing her flashlight to avoid any obstacles in her path. Jim followed, keen to see if Georgia could find the fault that had so far eluded him. With the junction box's front plate removed, Georgia checked that each of the connectors was securely in place. Once satisfied that they were she followed the trail of the power cables as they snaked their way around the rear and side of the cave until they reached the transformer, about halfway to the entrance of the cave. It was about the size of a filing cabinet. On the display panel, all lights were showing green, except for two flickering amber lights that indicated the fluctuating power.

  Once Georgia had again tested the connectors were secured in place she asked, "Can we open this up?"

  "I wouldn't recommend it. It's sealed to prevent dust and not designed to be opened in the field. We'd have to take it into a clean room to ensure integrity. I've run diagnostics, and it passed with flying colors. You can run them again if that helps."

  "I'll have to. You know I trust you, but I have to test everything." She knew that the chief would not take it personally. They were both professional and doing their jobs.

  As Georgia started the diagnostic program, Jim received a call from Commander Anders. "Sorry, Georgia," he said. "The commander has a few issues in the science labs that need my attention. I'm sure you can manage without me for thirty minutes."

  Georgia watched as he walked back to the main airlock, leaving her to her thoughts as she waited for the diagnostics to complete. She'd worked with Jim for almost three years, since they were both selected for Expedition Two, and she couldn't remember many times when he had been unable to fix a technical problem. So, it was a real shock that he couldn't resolve the power supply issue. I suppose there's a first time for everything, she thought. She had to admit that she enjoyed working with him, even socializing with him as she had over the past few days. Off duty, he was easy to talk to, and he understood her quick sense of humor without being offended. She had to admit she had found it comforting for him to visit her over recent days. She knew he was there because he genuinely cared, rather than because of pity, and that meant so much.

  The control screen flashing blue interrupted her thoughts. The diagnostics were complete. Georgia frowned as she looked at the readout. "I don't get," she muttered as she noted that there were no faults with the transformer. She would have bet her daily salary that there was a faulty component inside the large metallic box. Frustrated, she took a deep breath and created a mental map of the electricity grid, starting from the nuclear reactor and ending at the base. If the reactor was causing the power spikes, then it would likely be a permanent issue; they wouldn't be able to get inside the reactor.

  So that left the power cables and connectors. Please be one of those, she said to herself, knowing that there were spare replacement parts available. Although she had already tested the connectors in and out of the transformer, there could still be a problem with the connections. Maybe a particle of dust or grit. Georgia disconnected the power cable going into the transformer. It was secured by two thumb sized hexagonal bolts that she quickly undid with the screwdriver in her utility belt. Turning off the transformer and waiting for thirty seconds, she carefully pulled on the power cable, loosening it until it disconnected from the socket. She hoped the emergency batteries in the base could cope for a short period, even if they weren't fully charged.

  The connector comprised twenty-four metal pins, each about two inches long and arranged in a pattern that aligned with twenty-four holes in the socket. Georgia shone her flashlight to get a clear look at the connector and the socket but could see no hint of dust. She noticed that two pins were missing from the connector. "Bingo!" she exclaimed, unable to believe her luck. This was likely to be the cause of the fault and would be easily remedied.

  After reattaching the connector and turning the transformer back on, Georgia looked around for a speeder to get to the spare parts stored on board Intrepid and saw one just at the mouth of the cave. Checking that the speeder had sufficient battery reserve, she headed out toward Intrepid which glinted brightly in the midday sun.

  Thinking that she would be less than an hour, she chose not to check in with the chief. There was also a part of her that wanted to surprise him with a solution to the power issue. It was a mistake that she was going to live to regret.

  ***

  Redmayne watched silently as Georgia departed on her own and disappeared out of sight. He knew full well that she shouldn't have gone alone but he was not overly concerned for her safety. He had no interest in whatever Georgia may be up to.

  If she wanted to kill herself sooner rather than later then that was up to her.

  Additionally, he didn't want to be the one to chaperone her around. He had his own priorities and tasks to complete. Being a nursemaid to Captain Winter's pet project was not on his list.

  Instead, he continued to test the water supply in the newly constructed tanks. Like the habitat modules, the water tanks had also been inflated and would eventually hold water taken from the Martian subsurface. That was what would make the base self-sustaining for whoever occupied it, and he took that responsibility seriously.

  Once the water samples were safely in his pouch, Redmayne quickly made his way back to the airlock. He was eager to test the water to confirm its purity but was even more keen to rejoin Commander Anders to offer his wisdom and encouragement. He was nervous at havi
ng left Anders alone with the captain. He still wasn't convinced that the commander had the measure of Winter without his guidance and encouragement.

  Chapter 31

  Georgia was filled with the familiar sense of euphoria as she sped toward the Intrepid on her own. Even though she was cocooned in her spacesuit, the large panoramic visor gave her a taste of forgotten freedom. And this was the first time that she'd been alone in months.

  Fifteen minutes later, Georgia pulled up underneath the bulk of Intrepid which cast a dark shadow across the Martian surface. Stepping quickly onto the cradle, she pressed the controls to take her up to the cargo hold. As the cradle rose higher, she looked back toward Alpha Base. From where she was, she could just about make out the stacks of white pallets. A thin dark line on the ground revealed the now well-trodden path between the base and Endeavour. A plume of dust was being kicked up by one of the rovers. Georgia guessed that it was pulling another load of supplies, with supervision from Joe and Grace. We're already leaving our mark here, she thought.

  After reaching the cargo level she keyed in the command sequence and was gratified to see that the cargo doors started to open. She knew the schematics of the ship well. The whole of the internal space was designed for storage, with minimal life support necessary.

  Mancuso must have been here already, she thought as she noticed some bare spaces on the floor where pallets should have been. Stepping into the darkness of the hold, Georgia thought she saw some movement out of the corner of her eye. She put it down to shadows as her eyes adjusted to the dim interior.

  She could now see racks and racks of equipment, parts and supplies neatly stacked in the eighty feet of usable space above her head. Each item had been carefully selected based on the expected wear and tear of components. In theory, there were enough spares to support Alpha Base for the next ten years in an emergency. However, the food would run out long before then. Even with one less mouth to feed! "Stop being so morbid, Pyke," she scolded herself. "You will fight this."

  A mechanical lift ran up the center of Intrepid, enabling access to all decks. Unfortunately, it hadn't yet been set up for operations. Georgia was in a hurry and, as the spares she needed were only two decks up, she climbed the access ladder attached to the wall instead. With the only light coming from the open cargo hatch, Georgia switched on her helmet lights before gripping the metal rungs and starting her climb.

  By the time she reached the first deck, her arms were burning with fatigue. You're getting soft, Pyke. Get back in the gym, she thought, stepping off the ladder and onto the deck for a break. Shaking her arms to help with circulation, she looked around at the various equipment stocked on this level. It was like an Aladdin's cave and Georgia knew she'd have the opportunity in the future to have a proper inspection with the lights on.

  After one minute, she was ready to climb to the next level. As she grasped the rungs, she heard a scraping sound from somewhere above her. It was impossible to sense the exact direction from inside her helmet. She looked up, turning her head to allow the helmet's lights to scan the next level, but could see nothing unusual. It's probably just the ship settling, she thought, waiting for a few seconds and listening for any more movement. However, there was only silence.

  By level two, Georgia could hear herself breathing heavily. Relieved that she didn't have to climb any higher, she let go of the ladder and turned around to search for the connectors. She gasped as her light reflected on two large green eyes staring down at her from about ten feet away. The eyes blinked once, and Georgia had a brief moment to see that they belonged to a creature standing on two legs before it quickly retreated behind some pallets. In that brief glimpse, Georgia had time to notice the creature wasn't wearing a pressure suit and appeared to be part organic and part mechanical. Fear prevented her from processing any more information.

  Too shocked to scream she turned back to the ladder and clambered down, taking two rungs at a time until she reached the hold, not once looking up to see if she was being followed. Her only thought was to flee as quickly as possible, so she ran to the cradle in a blind panic. It was only six paces across the floor of the hold. However, she caught her foot on the deck plating and before she knew it, she was tumbling through the open cargo hatch. Her gloved hands clawed for anything to grasp and somehow found the cradle's safety rail. She grabbed the rail in one hand but was hanging high above the ground. Swinging her legs wildly she tried to grab the cradle with her other hand but failed, leaving her grip even more precarious.

  By now she was panting, causing the inside of her helmet to fog up, the environmental system unable to cope with her rapid breathing. As she tried a second time to get a better grip of the cradle, she chanced a look at the hold but there was no sign of the alien.

  She had no time for any sense of relief. Her hand slipped from the rail and she was suddenly falling and staring up at the sky. Despite the low gravity, she hit the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her. She heard her bones snapping and the intense agony spearing throughout her body overwhelmed her. Through the searing pain she looked up at the towering spaceship and the clear Martian sky, unable to comprehend that she was going to die here, alone. And then she felt nothing as the life slipped from her.

  Chapter 32

  The captain, commander, and Redmayne had departed the base in the MEV and were on their way back to Endeavour. Back outside Alpha Base, it didn't take long for the chief to discover that Georgia was missing. He'd spent almost an hour with Captain Winter and Commander Anders, addressing technical issues on the environmental controls in the crew quarters. There had been a build-up of condensation in several of the quarters, but he was confident that the adjustments he had made would deal with the matter. He now regretted not getting Rashid involved as he could have dealt with it just as quickly, leaving him to the power issues.

  Although not surprised to discover she had moved on from the transformer, it annoyed the chief that she had not let him know where she had gone. It was against protocol to be outside on her own. Staring out of the cave entrance thirty yards away, he keyed the comms button on his wrist. "Georgia? Are you at the reactor?" As he paced up and down impatiently waiting for an answer, he noticed the amber lights were still flickering on the transformer. "Come on, Georgia, where are you?"

  Still no response. He knew there could be various good reasons Georgia was not replying to his calls. Yet, in her condition, he couldn't help but be anxious for her safety. He flicked his comms to the general channel. "It's Jim at Alpha. Does anyone have eyes on Georgia? She's not responding to my calls."

  He still had a faint hope that Georgia had returned to Endeavour to rest but Doctor Betts soon dispelled that thought, confirming there was no sign of her on the ship.

  Mancuso was next to respond. "Chief, I saw someone on a speeder heading toward the cargo ships a little over fifty minutes ago. They were too far away for me to tell who it was, but it looked like they had come from the base. From the plume of dust, they were kicking up, they were in a hurry."

  "Thanks, Joe, that has to be her. Everyone else is accounted for." The chief breathed a sigh of relief. At least he now knew where she had gone. Although why Georgia wasn't replying to his comms requests was a mystery that concerned him. He knew she had been pushing herself lately and had ignored his suggestions to slow down. Maybe she'll pay attention next time, he thought, although he doubted she ever would. He had a more immediate problem, however, when he realized that Georgia must have taken the last speeder.

  "Captain, I'll find Georgia. Can someone come by the base and pick me up though? I appear to be stuck here with no means of transport."

  ***

  Winter sat in his chair, brooding. He didn't need the aggravation today. He had just arrived back at Endeavour and, although the base inspection had been a success, it had taken longer than planned. All the urgent activities required in order to move in within two days were running through his head. He looked wearily across at Anders who sat si
lently reading a report on his computer and probably having similar thoughts. "Commander, can you get down to the Comms room? Maybe you'll have more luck using the ship's equipment. You should be able to track Georgia's locater beacon at the very least. I want to know where she is and what she's doing." Anders nodded and headed for the door.

  As an afterthought, Winter added, "And if she makes radio contact, tell her to get her ass back here pronto."

  Like the chief, Winter was becoming increasingly concerned for Georgia's welfare as the redundancy built into the spacesuits made it very unlikely that a malfunction was preventing her from responding. Which meant that there was another reason she could not communicate.

  Anders returned five minutes later, looking confused. "She's not replying and I can't pick up the transponder on her suit. It's as if she's disappeared."

  Winter stood to look out of the window at the desolate and unforgiving landscape, fearing the worst. She could be anywhere out there, he thought to himself, hoping the MEV would have more success. It was on its way to collect the chief, with Mancuso and Nicola King already on board. Winter estimated it would reach the supply ships in the next twenty minutes and hoped that would give the search party enough time to find Georgia. Every minute wasted was a matter of life or death. We need to find her. I don't want to lose anyone, least of all Georgia.

  There was a sense of guilt at having such thoughts. He shouldn't have any favorites among the crew, yet he regarded her as a surrogate daughter and at the moment he was like an anxious parent, desperately hoping to hear positive news.

  What had gone wrong? Was it a physical or a technical failure? It had to be something critical if she wasn't responding, her transponder wasn't working, and she'd not had time to activate her emergency beacon. Despite all of his training, Winter was finding it increasingly difficult to stay rational. He needed answers.