by T J Bryan
Victor drew a deep breath. "That's very unfortunate. Your calling me interrupted a very urgent and I dare say rather troublesome meeting with the Executive Committee." Victor paused a moment looking at first Helen, then Emmitt, and then fixing his gaze on Abel. "I'm sorry to admit this and it's just for your ears, but the Committee thinks the Bountiful may never arrive." Victor paused. "She is so overdue at this point that we must face reality and accept... no, we must plan for her not arriving."
"But its' only been five months now," said Helen.
Victor responded, "That's three months longer than the last delay. We just have to assume the worst and perhaps hope for the best. But we cannot run the Commonwealth on hope. When you first described those ships I thought we had found our salvation, but..." Victor trailed off and into a prolonged silence again.
Abel spoke, "How long do we have until we deplete our foodstuffs?"
Victor looked up. "About 18 months. With rationing and emergency population control probably 24. Perhaps a bit longer. Maintenance thinks we can open up the caverns on Dio put a fusion engine or two in there and grow food. Grains most likely and some algae vats. Might give us a short reprieve. Might help us for a year. But even with population control we have 45,786 mouths to feed."
Abel almost corrected the Chairman. The number was not 45,786, but since yesterday 45,788. Abel recalled that Dio, a 120 kilometer rock, had been one of the first mining sites in the Commonwealth. Much of the rock had proven hollow as the miners excavated for rare earth metals. More than a hundred years ago the Mining Association had given up on Dio, sealed the caverns and closed the mines, and moved on to other sites.
Victor stood with an intense gaze focused on Emmitt. "Emmitt you're absolutely sure we can't use those ships. We can't even get one running. It's that bad what Unity did to them."
"I don't think the ships are of any use. I suggest we tow one over here, one of the smaller ones, and do a close structural and control survey. The ship's structure will probably be serviceable. The hull integrity is undoubtedly sound. But getting any flight control system running again after those cores were slagged... I just don't think it's possible."
"We can't just weld or attach some rockets to the thing, seal up the doors, run some control cables to rockets?"
Emmitt thought a moment. "Our impulse engine technology is just too slow. With what we know today it would take three or four years to reach Girots and then perhaps five or six to return. Well, we can try, but I really doubt it will work in time. We might as well try to build a ship from scratch, but given our limited fab and our limited propulsion technology it could take far longer than we have left and even then the technical obstacles will be well beyond our skill and the time we have left."
Victor took a hard stare at Emmitt, "The Executive Committee ordered up a ship building effort this afternoon. Emmitt their going to need your help as head of the ME Department. I have appointed you as head of the Ship Development Committee."
Emmitt was surprised as was Helen. Abel knew that desperate times required desperate acts.
"Abel," Victor said. "As Chief I want a plan. We need some of that Greayson technology now and somehow we need to keep the potential for harm and mayhem away from the Habitat. The very idea of someone finding and tinkering with an anti-ship torpedo scares the living daylights out of me. We need more vac-suits and it's critical to get some of those fusion engines over hear the keep Habitat power on line, get Dio up and running, and give the ME something to power any ship we build. Regardless of its' propulsion system it will need energy."
Abel had been giving thought to a plan during the trip back from the zone. As victor sat back down Abel stood. "I have some preliminary ideas that we can put into action immediately. First we declare the zone off limits, post a police picket, close the public dock, and inspect every runabout, bus, or ship that goes in or out of Habitat. Second we tow in one of the Frigates and bring it to Habitat. Tie it up at Ore Dock One. The one we don't use anymore. We get the Pilots Guild and the Me Department studying the thing 24 by 7. Third we mobilize EmVac and the auxiliaries under Helen's direction and survey the ships out there. Our first priority will be vac suits and fusion engines. In addition to the war ships, Helen spotted several armed freighters, three supply ships, one of which is a wreck, and what must be a repair ship. Of course none of them can be restored to service given the lack of control cores, but we might be able to strip them of useful material, either to buy us time or perhaps help in building our own ship."
Victor nodded. "Helen, Emmitt... any objection? I see there is none, so do it. The three of you are in charge. Take whatever resources you need. Just do it. Tomorrow the Council will declare a Class Four Emergency. You will have all the resources you need." He paused a moment. "And get that small ship over here immediately. I know it's probably useless but it will give our citizens some hope. Even if that hope is misplaced, our people will need to focus on a positive outcome if we are to get through this."
"One other thing," said Abel. "We have to postphone the Singleton race this year. We can't have a hundred runabouts outside the Public Dock. It would be an invitation to every teen to go take a look at the ghost fleet."
Victor winced and then nodded his head.
The three stood and began to walk to the door and Victor called them back looking directly at Abel. "Abel, as Chief of ES this emergency gives you enormous power to mobilize the Habitat. Use it wisely. And I want a status report every morning when I wake up and every night before bed."
As they left the Chairman, Abel's vid-com buzzed, and he looked briefly at the text message. "Ingvar's service is tomorrow at noon. I suggest we get some sleep and gather for breakfast at Nolo's about 7:00. Helen see if you can get Lennie to join us, and Emmitt call the dock and let them know I want Quark ready tomorrow at 15 hundred or before for another trip. The two Queenies are still down and they really couldn't tow one of those massive things over here, but Quark can. I'll have the station shut down the public dock and try to get someone out there to monitor the approach to the zone. Were going to need a more detailed action plan but without some sleep we are likely to screw up. And Helen gather up a crew to fill every vac suit we have and organize a survey of the fleet. EmVac, auxiliaries, even your grad students and include some of those technology history buffs so we will have some idea of what we are looking at. I suggest you start your survey with that supply ship. The one that seemed intact."
Emmitt looked at Helen. "Helen that repair ship. Take a careful look at it. It's way to massive to tow over here but we might strip it of fabrication equipment to get our own shipbuilding effort underway. It's worth a try."
"Ok, we have a plan. Now lets get some sleep," Abel ordered.
Both Helen and Emmitt nodded in agreement and then set off toward their homes and a fitful night's sleep.
...
Jamon System - Nolo's Diner, Public Dock - Year 3245. May 16 ET: 06:30
Abel had arrived early and was on his third cup of coffee. Nolo's was deserted and the Public Dock that would normally be starting to wake up was silent. From Nolo's Abel could see in the distance Officer Nells Reiter standing at the distant hatch turning away the few who approached the now closed dock.
Abel was lost in thought stirring his coffee as Milli pulled out one of the iron chairs and sat down. "Ok Chief what's up. No sooner do I get to the diner, brew up the coffee, break six dozen eggs, than they shut down the dock. What's going on anyway? It's about those vac suits. Isn't it?"
Abel looked up. God I'm tired he thought before answering. "Yea, it's about those suits. We found some more but we need to keep it under wraps for a day or so while figure out what to do with them."
"I knew it!" Millie replied with a kind of triumphant look on her face. "It's that important you need to close the dock?"
"Just for the day Millie. We can't have a bunch of unorganized folks out in the void looking for more vac suits. We're organizing a search party now and it will all be over in a
day or so."
Millie paused a moment wanting to ask another question but uncertain how to approach the subject. "Is it true? About the Bountiful? That the Council thinks she's not coming."
Abel lied, "Well I'm not giving up. It's been only a few months and lots of things can delay a starship. We just need to give it more time."
Millie snorted. "More like five months. Almost six. I don't know Abel but this sounds bad."
Millie rose to return to the kitchen as Helen and Emmitt entered the dock followed by Lennie. Moments later Abel recognized Silvi Karrlson talking to Officer Nells at the entry hatch. Abel stood and motioned to Nells to let Silvi join them.
Both Helen and Emmitt looked the worse for wear, but Lennie looked the worst of all. While Helen and Emmitt might have caught some sleep, Lennie clearly had not. Abel thought that he should have asked the Pilots Guild for a pilot, but knowing the guild they would have insisted on a full inspection of the Quark followed by a long list of deferred maintenance items requiring an immediate fix before flying, and even then one of the pilots would have to volunteer to fly a ship they disdained. Able suppressed a slight laugh. The Pilots Guild would also probably insist that any pilot be certified on the Quarks design that would undoubtedly take weeks if not months. No, Lennie was their only hope if they were to get out to the Zone today.
Moments later Helen, Emmitt and Lennie reached the table and sat down. All three looked terrible. Millie, without being asked, brought three cups of coffee to the table placed them on the scuffed formica top and returned to the kitchen. As Emmitt and Helen reached for their coffee Abel looked up as Silvi was approaching the diner.
In a small community like the Commonwealth the head of ES tended to know everyone and Silvi was no different. But what struck Abel was how incredibly beautiful Silvi had become. Age 21or 22 he recalled, number one or two in her class at the Collegium, with nordic blond, almost white, hair falling to the shoulders of her six foot five inch frame. Silvi was thin but her muscle definition showed an aggressive work out regimen. Her pale skin was even more pale than Abel remembered after she won the Singleton Race last year. Abel had stood by as the Chairman presented the trophy. Her green eyes were rimmed with red and Abel knew she had been crying only moments before. No wonder she looked so pale.
Before Emmitt or Helen could speak Abel looked at Lennie. "Lennie were going to take Quark out again this afternoon. We need some heavy lifting and only Quark can do it. Are you up to it? Piloting us out there and back?"
It was obvious that Lennie had not slept and he replied without touching his coffee. "I don't know. I don't know. I'm so tired. I'm not sure I can."
Abel was about to respond when Silvi spoke up, "I can."
The four of them looked up at Silvi as she said again, "I can." Abel saw a dark look of determination in her eyes. "Lennie told me everything. I can take us out there and back. Just, let's just get through the memorial. I'm ready."
Abel recalled something his mother had often said; 'Sorrow makes us all children again — destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest know nothing."
Without delay Abel began to lay out his plan. Emmitt and Helen added some details and new information as well as an update of the marshalling of resources needed to begin a round the clock exploration and inventory of the zone. The first task, now that a police picket had been established, was to take the Quark out and tow back one of the frigates and attach it to the old mining dock. Emmitt said he had contacted the Pilots Guild and they were prepared to take a look at the ship sometime next week. So much for urgency thought Abel. Helen said all the new vac suits had proven serviceable and she now had 29 volunteers ready to begin the survey and while performing the survey they would try to prioritize recovering more suits and take a look at how to get the engines over here. Helen commented she had far more capable volunteers than suits. Abel said they would leave on the Quark at 15:00 after the memorial service, but he wanted Helen to remain behind to organize the search crews. Lennie should stay behind as well because they would need Lennie to pilot Quark on the second shift. Quark would be operating full time and he wanted Lennie fresh. Abel wanted suits for the three of them and perhaps two engineering grad students in suits to help with the towing. If they left at three they should be at the frigate line by say four thirty. He was unsure how long it would take to attach a tow line to the frigate but perhaps an hour our two would be needed. Then perhaps six to ten hours of towing and docking the ship would complete the first shift. At that point Helen should take the ship out under Lennie along with the fresh volunteers and begin the survey starting with the undamaged supply ship. Regardless of what they found Abel wanted them back by 17:00 the following day when Abel and Silvi would begin another shift. Hopefully with a batch of fresh volunteers.
"Sounds like a plan," spoke Emmitt as Helen nodded her head.
Helen stood "I need to get to work. Come on Lennie let's get you ready for the service."
Abel stood and turned to Silvi who also stood. "Silvi can you preflight Quark? Will we have any problems towing a frigate to the old ore dock?"
Silvi paused a moment in thought. "What's the mass?" she asked.
Helen paused and tapped he inter-tab and a moment later said. "The EG says a Greayson Frigate has a mass of no more that one hundred eighty thousand kilos without weapons. With weapons two hundred seventy thousand."
"No problem," said Silvi. Quark hauls around more than that in rocks every day."
"Lets try to avoid weapons on this trip," replied Emmitt. "The idea of a one hundred gigaton nuclear weapon this close to the Habitat gives me the shivers."
Abel adjourned their meeting and made his way to the ES Station. He had a lot of work to do and he needed to wake up the Chairman with his first morning report.
Chapter Seven
Jamon System - Boda Gaya Temple - Year 3245. May 17 ET: 12:00
Abel was not a believer. He wasn't an atheist, but he just didn't see any need for belief in a Valhalla, the hereafter, or heaven. Abel had seen too much untimely death and he was committed to living in the here and now and to a life of service. He thought for a moment of the old bromide about the Habitat: Ninety percent of the citizens of the commonwealth were Buddhist and the other ninety percent Catholic. Not that it mattered any more since the two religions had merged more than six hundred years ago.
The Boda Gaya Temple was carved out of the rock face high above the living quarters of the Habitat. The Miners Association had spent weekends and off hours creating the temple beginning with the founding of the Commonwealth 400 years ago. The temple was huge and unfinished and the plan according to the Temple Committee was that they were in no hurry to complete it. Something about completion and the end of the universe he had heard. In any event the temple was to all intents and purposes finished and as Abel climbed the very long and steep stone staircase leading to the Temple entrance he was joined by dozens and then hundreds of mourners. As he reached the temple entrance he could hear the chanting of the lead Bhikkhu Monk followed by more chanting coming from some of the congregants. The temple was dim inside and incense smoke made visibility difficult. Environment Maintenance always objected to incense burning but tradition had ruled out over environmental sense. The scrubbers would clear the air within an hour so there was nothing to be concerned about.
Abel held back and remained at the temple entrance but he knew Lennie and Silvi would be seated at the front as Ingvar was given his dharma name and his soul consigned to the Mother of God and the eternity of nothingness. Although Ingvar was a taciturn man, who did not socialize much, he was well known and respected in the Commonwealth. He was responsible for keeping the lanes open and keeping miners safe as they went to and from the many mining sites. When mining accidents and blow-outs occurred, which were far too frequent, Ingvar would always appear with Quark to initiate a rescue. The Queenies were simply not equipped to move away tons of debris, rescue miners, and recover the dead. Abel knew of many heroic rescues lead b
y Ingvar, that Ingvar denied, but the miners knew were true. While the community may not have loved Ingvar they respected him and they felt his loss.
Hours before Ingvar's remains had been cremated in a ceremony attended only by Silvi, Lennie, and the lead Bonze of their local district temple. When Abel had lost his wife and children years ago the cremation ceremony had been the hardest part of facing his loss. Though they had no bodies to dispose of the cremation ceremony was held anyway and later followed by the formal Temple remembrance. Only that time the remembrance had been for 234 souls.
The ceremony lasted less than half an hour and Abel waited until the crowd had cleared and all condolences had been offered to Silvi and Lennie. Lennie still looked exhausted. Silvi saw Abel waiting in the distance. Able was startled by the determination and focus shown on her face.
Abel looked at the mourners as they descended the staircase and saw that none of the Pilot's Guild members had attended.
...
Jamon System - Mining Dock One - Year 3245. May 18 ET: Time 04:30
Dock Maintenance had arranged a small crew to help dock the Greayson frigate at the old unused Mining Dock One. Towing the frigate back had taken longer than planned but the docking had been swift. The delay was because Silvi did not trust the main propulsion jectors of Quark and had relied on the manoeuvring jets only. The Grayson frigate had power and environmental couplings that were compatible with the docking systems and Abel had decided to hold off on power but restore the atmosphere back to the ship. Emmitt had earlier commented that the environmental controls were separate from the command console and the ships slagged core. Environment controls were purposely autonomous for obvious reasons. If the core failed the crew might live. However Abel was taking no chances. Atmosphere would be restored via the docking station lines, but no power until they had a chance to thoroughly go through the ship and its' environmental systems.