by Paul Rix
"You're now the resident alien expert," joked Winter. "I'll be ordering you to write a handbook."
"I'm not sure we'll get another chance. Bear in mind the Sentinels have been watching humans for thousands of years and what happened to me was pure chance. It makes you think about documented records of aliens throughout history. But I don't believe the Sentinels want further direct contact. They see it as contaminating our evolution."
"Yet they rescued you and then returned you to us. What did they expect?"
"They tried to wipe my mind so I wouldn't remember. I'm sure they didn't anticipate that my subconscious brain would recall some events. And my experience on Challenger today really kick-started my memory. I doubt Falmas would be impressed that I remember so much about them."
Redmayne spoke up again. "Maybe I was wrong yesterday. There is now enough evidence for me to believe in the existence of aliens. Thanks to you, Georgia, we finally know that we are not alone. Which is all the more reason we should go out and discover where they are, make contact, and convince them to share their technology. Imagine what a difference they could make in our society. Medical advances for a start, with you as a shining example. But also, what about the eradication of hunger? No more famine or suffering."
Georgia suspected Redmayne was trying to push his own agenda. Despite his objections earlier, he had been giving the matter a lot of thought. "Their culture doesn't view it in the same way. Maybe they don't see us as an advanced civilization. Helping us would be cheating our natural path. Falmas compared it to the tough love you might give your child. We have to learn to overcome the challenges that are affecting humans on Earth. Demonstrate that we have the capability and resolve to deal with those problems before taking the next step as a society. If we were given all that technology on a plate, with all our problems solved overnight, what would we have learned?"
Captain Winter agreed with Georgia. "You're right. Although it may seem inhuman for the Sentinels to allow people to die and struggle, those issues are of our own making. And we should be the ones to work it out. What we should take away is that there is a future in space for us if we can survive as a species. It's an ambitious goal that we should strive for."
"That's all well and good, captain," sneered Redmayne. "Tell that to the people who are needlessly suffering when there's the possibility of dealing with it overnight."
"You don't know that for sure. What other consequences may there be? How do you know for sure that the aliens' intentions are completely benign? History has shown on many occasions that the best of intentions does not always work out well for the weaker party. It will be for the politicians back home to decide what may be best for us all. You should bear that in mind."
"So, you won't be making any recommendations in your report?"
"Not that it's really your business, but I'll be stating the facts as Georgia has shared them with us. And I will be sharing some thoughts of the crew. It's important for Ground Control to understand the motivation and stress that we're going through. While I respect your opinion, it doesn't mean that I or anyone else has to accept it."
Georgia spent the next hour detailing the rest of her experiences on board the alien vessel and answering a multitude of questions from the crew, most of which she couldn't answer. There was a mixture of astonishment and fear at what they had all heard. As the session wrapped up, Winter looked around the room to assess how the crew was handling this latest development. The looks of astonishment didn't fill him with confidence. He knew he, along with Doctor Betts, would have his work cut out to ensure there was no unnecessary panic.
Chapter 50
Redmayne excitedly returned to his quarters and opened up his computer tablet. He knew that the latest confirmation that aliens existed and were on Mars would be eagerly received in orbit and back on Earth. The Russians had been seeking the last part of the puzzle, and here it was. He would now have to step up his research to discover where the alien craft was. At least he now knew what he was looking for. And Georgia's theory on the probable location made sense. If he was observing a culture and didn't want to be seen, then where better than from high on top of the cliff.
His mind filled with possibilities. When he'd applied for the mission, he had just wanted to share all the expedition's secrets with the Russians, allowing them to seize an advantage and foothold. The last thing he had expected was to discover the existence of alien life. He still couldn't quite accept the fact that they were here on Mars, watching him and the rest of Expedition Two. Or, as they had told Georgia, that they had been watching for thousands of years on Earth. But that was a clue. To have been observing humans for such a long time, the Sentinels must have some kind of stealth technology that shielded them from being observed. It may not have mattered for most of Earth's history but with the invention of telescopes, radar and the widespread use of cameras then it was reasonable to expect that the Sentinels would have been spotted in the past one hundred years.
Which meant that it wouldn't be a straightforward task to locate their craft now. If he was correct, then it wouldn't be visible to the naked eye or from standard optics. Otherwise, it would be visible from satellite imagery. Redmayne set his mind to working on possible solutions, although he couldn't ignore the fact that the Sentinels' technology was far superior to anything on Earth. It wouldn't be easy to bypass whatever they were using.
As he considered the problem, he also thought back to Georgia's revelations. He'd had so many more questions but had not wanted to arouse too much suspicion. He was confident that he could figure out some answers on his own and didn't want to give Georgia more credit than was necessary.
There was a huge part of him that was envious that Georgia had been the lucky one to be in the right place. In fact, the more he thought about it the more pissed off he became. It should have been him that made first contact. He was confident he'd have managed the situation better. He would have gotten more information out of Falmas about their technology, culture and ship. Instead, it had been Georgia. Someone with no imagination who was incapable of understanding the bigger picture. She may be an expert with computers and robotics, but that really was the extent of her skills. It was a sad waste for mankind that she had been so lucky to have the encounter.
When he was a young child growing up in Johannesburg, he'd often looked up at the stars and wondered if life existed on other worlds. To his childlike logic, it had made sense that among the millions and millions of planets in the universe there had to be other intelligent life. It would be a lonely universe otherwise. But with the Earth just a single planet on the edge of a vast galaxy he had grown up doubting he would ever have a satisfactory answer to his question.
Now the opportunity to establish contact with an alien race was within his grasp. He could feel it. And to be one of the first people to make contact was hugely important for him. No more playing second fiddle to any other scientists. He would be instantly famous, his face known around the world. The history books would forever include his name as a scientific legend, alongside the likes of Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci. Mankind would forever learn about how he changed the course of human history.
Calming himself down, he composed a message to Alex updating the information on the Sentinels, detailing what Georgia had just told him and confirming he was working on discovering the Sentinels' craft. He didn't expect an immediate response as it would be the middle of the night in Moscow when the message would be received. But he knew the message would garner the highest attention.
Chapter 51
Redmayne left Alpha Base unnoticed early the next morning while the others were having breakfast. He was not a regular in the common room at mealtimes and so his absence wasn't seen as unusual. Carrying a small spare air supply and two cameras, he took one of the speeders from its charging mount and headed out in the direction of Endeavour.
The sun had only recently risen above the far rim of the crater. A few fine wisps of cloud at high alti
tude managed to soften the effects of the rays. Much like the rest of the crew, he had become accustomed to the sun appearing far smaller than it did on Earth. Long shadows played in front of him and a fine layer of mist coated the surface that created an eerie quality as he sped out onto the plain but would clear as the sun heated the ground.
Half a mile short of Endeavour, Redmayne swiftly changed direction and headed toward Eden. He was confident that no one would be watching him. During his time in Moscow, he had been trained to hide his tracks. He could never be too careful. His excursion was filed as scientific research in case anyone questioned where he was.
Redmayne was keen to test his theory on how the Sentinels avoided detection with a dampening field. Working late into the night, he had calculated how to oscillate the amplitude of light that could be detected by a series of sensors. It would be a simple matter of attaching the modified sensors to one of the science drones stored on Eden and flying it above the rim of the crater. If Georgia was correct, the Sentinels' craft couldn't be too far from the edge and within three miles from the point exactly above Alpha Base.
The sensors hadn't been built with his plan in mind, and the modifications took much longer than expected. It was shortly after lunch when, sitting in his lab aboard Eden, he was finally happy that he had securely attached the sensors to the drone and would work as he wanted. Checking the time, he estimated there was still sufficient daylight that day if he hurried to launch the drone.
He went to his old science lab on the ship to retrieve a controller. Five minutes later, the drone flew out of the hold door and sped rapidly toward the sheer cliff face, gaining altitude as fast as it could. Through his VR headset, Redmayne had a perfect view from the drone's twin cameras. He slowed its assent as it approached the rim and carefully rose several feet, turning the drone slowly left and then right for any sign of the alien ship.
With the plateau looking as barren as Hellas plain, offering no clues to the location of the Sentinels, he tried his luck and headed west, checking all the time for any trace of the ship.
His gamble soon paid off and several minutes later he spotted the telltale shimmer of the dampening field and, within it, the unmistakable lines of an alien craft standing out against the rugged Martian landscape.
This is too easy, he thought smugly. He lowered the drone to within ten feet of the ground and hovered in the same spot, looking for any sign of action or response to his presence. After one minute, there was no change, so he edged the drone forward very slowly, making sure that he was recording everything he could see. When the drone was within fifty feet of the alien craft, static interference started making the image blur and freeze. He immediately decided he was too close and backed the drone away until the image improved. Satisfied the drone was back at a safe distance, he carefully circled the craft. It appeared to be a smooth, metallic wedge about two hundred feet long, with several bulges randomly placed alongside the side. There were also some strange markings that he didn't recognize. Probably their language, he determined. Most surprising for Tom was that he couldn't see any windows, doors or obvious means of propulsion.
This is incredible, he thought. If we can access this craft and replicate its technology, the future for humanity will be changed. The Americans are crazy to give this up so easily. The Russians will know what to do with this technology and will most likely rule the world with it. Perhaps they will give me all the credit and make me a hero. I'll be able to call more of the shots with Alex from now on.
As there had been no response to the drone's presence, he raised its altitude to get a better view of the ship from above. From this perspective, it intrigued him to see that the alien craft looked like a gigantic droplet laid on its side. It was like some sort of optical illusion and his mind couldn't understand how the design could do that.
Redmayne was now impatient to see inside the craft, but he still had not found the entrance. That would have to wait for another day, and he knew he had taken too many chances already. It was time for the drone to return. He had to get back to the base before darkness fell.
He waited ten minutes for the drone to return, recovered the detectors and, satisfied with his day's work, sped back to the base just as the sun sank behind the crater rim for another day. That was cutting it finer than he'd planned but he was able to park the speeder, access through the airlock and return to his lab without bumping into anyone.
Chapter 52
Captain Winter called Commander Anders to his room for their daily briefing session. Winter was surprised that Anders was several minutes late. He was normally so punctual.
"Is anything wrong, Lars? You look on edge today."
"Yes, I'm good thanks, sir. I just didn't sleep well. It's a bit discomforting knowing that we're being secretly observed by an advanced civilization. I know how a lab rat feels now. What's the update from Earth?"
Winter knew there was more to Anders' mood than met the eye, but he let it pass. He was sure Anders would speak with him when he was ready. "No change as regards our Sentinel neighbors. General Stockton has acknowledged that aliens probably do exist, but the only advice is to proceed with caution, whatever that means in practice. The protocols remain in place while the United Nations decides how to inform the public without causing a mass panic."
"Surely this news can't stay private for long. It's bound to leak sooner rather than later."
"Agreed. But I imagine the politicians cannot decide among themselves what to do. They're probably trying to work out how they can benefit from this discovery. Most nations will want to be the first to start a relationship with an alien race. Or, at the very least, prevent any other country from being first. I can't begin to conceive the advantage a single country would have."
"There's enough tension already. I can see one side forcing the issue to gain that advantage."
Winter nodded. "We may be in the best place for the time being," he said ruefully. "I don't want to be in the middle of any conflicts. Just as long as they launch the next supply ships. Hopefully, it will get sorted out peacefully, but I don't hold out much hope at the moment. How's the crew holding up, by the way? You spend a lot of time with them. Are they concerned?"
"They're doing well as far as I can tell. Handling the news professionally and getting on with their tasks. The crew needs some time to adjust to the base, and some stability for a while. I'm willing to take on more responsibility to ensure the crew is adequately supported."
"Thanks, Lars. For the time being, however, I want you focused on rectifying the snag list on the base. Use Rashid and Grace. Maybe include Emily. No doubt her injury is driving her mad. There must be something useful she can do inside that will keep her busy."
"But you know that I can do so much more than that. I can't understand why you're holding me back."
The sudden outburst shocked Winter. "Commander, I have no doubts about your ability. For now, though, I've given you orders which are determined by the necessities of the base. I expect them to be carried out. I hope I'm making myself clear."
"Very, captain." Commander Anders stiffly saluted and left the room, staring straight ahead.
That wasn't like Anders at all, Winter thought. He's not been himself lately but that may be simply down to stress. Winter made a mental note to speak with Doctor Betts on the subject. Maybe she could have a talk with Lars and discover if anything was wrong.
***
At that same time, Redmayne had his own concerns to address. The response from Alex was not one he had expected. Someone in the Russian camp either had a warped sense of humor or they were seriously overestimating his skills. Although he had the utmost confidence in his own abilities, this was going to be the ultimate challenge for him. The location of the Sentinel craft was no longer enough. The Russians wanted to know they would have access to the craft when they landed.
Tom was disappointed that he had not anticipated this request. Once the Russians committed to a landing on the plateau so close to Alph
a Base, there would be an international outcry. Time would be of the essence to control the situation, which meant there would be no time to waste attempting to contact the Sentinels and gain access. There was also the probability that the Sentinels could relocate their craft. Finding them again would be like looking for a needle in a haystack with the Russian lander forced to return to the Andropov.
He sat at his science station, absently tapping a pen on the corner of the desk, working out in his mind how he could regain control of the situation. He was not sure what options he had. He doubted the Russians would expose him if he refused to help or failed in his attempt unless they decided he was no longer a valuable asset. His strong position was now looking more tenuous.
Reaching the plateau, five miles straight up, was the easy part. A two-person jetcopter was stowed on Aquarius for surveying the terrain outside the crater. He was sure that it hadn't yet been unloaded though and knew he would require the help of someone else as the jetcopter was large and unwieldy.
The only person likely to assist him was probably Commander Anders, but it was a dangerous game he was playing. Taking the jetcopter was a one-way ticket; he'd never be able to offer an adequate explanation to Captain Winter. That stakes were that high. He would have to succeed and join the Russians or fail and be confined to quarters for the rest of the mission. He knew which option he preferred.
The tough part was figuring out how to convince the Sentinels to welcome him aboard. That required further thought and careful planning. But the rewards for success would be immense. He was convincing himself that such rewards far exceeded the risk of failure.
Redmayne discovered Commander Anders in the common room, reading some reports on his tablet device while eating a protein bar. "Lars, have you got a few minutes?" he asked.