“You know what? Fuck him. The military in this country is under civilian control, under the direct orders of the Commander in Chief. If he has a serious problem with that, he’s free to resign. As a matter of fact, it’s not going to take much more insubordination for me to can his ass,” growled Wilcox. “I would like for you to find someone who can be trusted to do some work for the Executive Branch and keep it quiet. I don’t want to meet them; I don’t want them to know that I’m the one running the show. I don’t want plausible deniability, I want air-tight deniability. I want to know every move General Archer makes before he makes it. If he’s somehow cooked up a plan to attack the colonists, he must be stopped; even if it means his life. I will not preside over whatever disastrous retaliation they visit on us.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll get on it right away. May I ask you a question?”
“What, Nate?”
“Will it just be easier if the Chairman has an accident?”
The President paused, knowing the answer would put her on dangerous ground. “I hope it won’t come to that. But neither am I afraid to do whatever is necessary to safeguard the country. Let us pray that General Archer doesn’t force my hand. Now, git!” she said with a shooing motion of her hand.
Slade tipped an imaginary hat and left, mentally prioritizing the calls he had to make to set things in motion.
* * *
Piper and Benjamin were lounging together on the couch in his hab quarters listening to music, sipping wine from the colony’s vintner, Teaberry. He also distilled spirits and brewed beer in addition to tending bar at Sherman’s, the colony’s only restaurant.
“Why do you like so much classic R & B from Earth,” Piper asked while Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up played in the background.
“I’m not really sure. Do I play the oldies a lot?”
“That and jazz from the same era, maybe some earlier like Miles Davis and Monk. You’re almost like an old soul when it comes to popular music,” she replied.
“Hmm, I never thought about it. It’s the music mom and dad listened to when I was growing up. They lived through it, especially the 1960s. Mom always said that 1969 was the most creative year for pop music in the history of man; the variety, the groups—even to me it’s pretty incredible,” explained Benjamin. “It has heart and it doesn’t all sound the same as the recent stuff from Earth. There’s some nineties stuff I like, too.”
“A lot of the stuff you’ve played over the years I ended up making playlists of, partly because of you but mostly because it doesn’t sound like anything today. My mom doesn’t particularly like music, but she really likes audio of nature sounds like the sea, storms and birds in the forests. I think a part of her misses Earth, at least the natural parts of it. She used to play the sounds from the sea to put me to sleep,” she said laughing. “I can remember when I was bouncing off the walls during the day when she would put the seashore audio on and hold me in her lap, and how more often than not I would calm down and fall asleep.”
“I didn’t know that. Every now and then, Mom would play a thunderstorm and tell me a story about what experiencing thunder and lightning was like on Earth. But it was mostly music. One of my favorites is Ray Charles and Cleo Laine singing Porgy and Bess. That always seemed like the times when my grandparents were coming up,” Benjamin said wistfully.
Piper ran her fingers through his close-cropped hair and kissed Benjamin on the cheek. “You had quite the busy mission. And you garnered the respect of the entire Ops team with your help wrangling those asteroids. I mean we girls already knew about your ‘johnny on the spot’ abilities, but even I had no idea just how versatile and capable you were in the pilot’s seat.”
“Aw cut it out! You’re making me blush,” he said with a laugh.
“No seriously. You’re destined to be a leader just like your parents. Think about this: when the hab is completed, it’s going to need crew, residents, Ops, local council and all the rest. You could easily be a leader of some sort, and most of our crowd would probably follow you if you set up shop here,” Piper said.
“I haven’t really thought that far ahead. How do you know about the others?”
“Come on. We all get along really well. And we’re mostly all more than just friends. Plus, we’re some of the best of the best. I think the hab is going to be outfitted for exploration. And if your Uncle Peanut gets a real FTL drive working, what better way to explore the galaxy than to take the whole hab with us? It’s pretty exciting if you think about it.”
Benjamin sat up to look at Piper. “You’ve really thought about this, haven’t you?”
“And talked about it too. Our generation isn’t as set in our ways as our folks. I’m going to put in for reassignment to the hab once they start deciding with whom and how it’s going to be populated. Give it some thought. Just so you know, the rest of our mission team is planning to apply, we just never had time to discuss it with you.”
“Joy too?”
“That’s what she said. I also think we’re more likely to want to move here because we’re going to be completely out from under our parents’ scrutiny,” Piper said laughing.
“Yeah, unless some of them decide to move as well,” Benjamin reminded, also laughing at the look on her face.
“It’s a fair bet that your folks will be staying put. Although I wouldn’t be too upset if your Uncle Peanut came along. His team is amazing! Plus, if the hab is outfitted with an FTL drive that he or your dad develops, it would be great to have him aboard,” she said.
“Yeah, Uncle Peanut is pretty cool. He and Bernice are really laid back,” he said, laying his head in her lap. “Just think about it. No one on Earth has anywhere near the kinds of decisions we have to make.”
“True. There’s a lot of things about America that are pretty cool, especially the music. Who’s that?’ she asked.
“The Jazz Crusaders, A Search For Soul,” he replied.
“Nice piano.”
“Yep. Dad was more into jazz than Mom. I like the discipline, and then when someone does a solo they can go anywhere, then drop right back into the groove. Dad told me how he and my uncles went downtown and saw Miles Davis play. And Mom went to some of the Motown Reviews at the Regal Theater on the south side of Chicago. Other than downloading live performances, I really regret not seeing a lot of these artists live.”
“Yeah, but you live in outer space, baby. Come on, let’s see what the rest of the team is up to. G3?”
“Yes, Piper. How may I be of assistance?”
“Joy please.”
“Hey Pip! What’s up?”
“Where are you guys?”
“In the commissary, by the window. Why, where are you?”
“Cooling out in Ben’s quarters listening to music,” said Piper.
“You all want company?”
Piper looked at Benjamin, but he shook his head and hooked a thump toward the door. “Tell you what, we’ll meet you there. Who’s with you?”
“Our team and a couple of the guys from Ops. That cool with you all?”
“Absolutely. Be there in a few,” Piper promised. “Hey! Maybe we can play some of your tunes for the rest of the gang!”
“That’ll be fun,” he sat up, pulling on his shoes. “Plus, I could really use something to eat.”
They made their way to the commissary, finding the group had pushed two tables together in front of the viewport looking out toward the rings of Saturn.
“Spectacular view,” Piper said while Benjamin went off to grab something to eat.
“You know everybody?” Joy asked Piper.
“Sure do. I’ve worked with both Edgar and Chance in Ops. Gentlemen,” she said nodding to them both.
Benjamin returned with a bowl of chili heaped with grated cheese and a beer. He sat down at an open chair, nodded to the others, then began to eat.
“What were you all talking about?” asked Piper.
“Wha
t might happen with the hab once we return home. There’s been no word on who will live here and how the crew is going to be chosen. It’s looking like most of the second gens want to move to the hab,” Sam observed.
“Ben and I were just talking about that earlier,” Piper revealed.
“All of us would love to move here once the hab’s completed and continue to explore using the hab as a movable base of operations,” Sam added.
“And if Peanut does install a FTL drive on the hab, your living here will ensure your being on the maiden flight to another star!” Virginia excitedly said to Benjamin.
Speaking around a mouthful of chili, Benjamin said, “You all are preaching to the choir. I’d love to move to the hab once it’s completely habitable. And I can’t think of a better bunch of neighbors to have.”
“Awww, he says the sweetest things, doesn’t he?” Joy quipped, affectionately rubbing his head.
“Think about it. To me this habitat is all about exploration in ways the original isn’t. The shell of this station is damn strong. We have water reserves fifty-percent larger than back home. The technology here is brand new where some of the original installations and systems back home are decades old. Uncle Peanut and Uncle Chuck have made what—half a dozen smaller stations? This one will travel with a full complement of jumpers and whales, and once finished will be able to grow and process enough food for everyone here just like the original.
“The American and European ships they sent to the colony; they were small, flimsy, and they couldn’t transport but a handful of people. It took them eight months to get from Earth to the belt, we do it in less than a week. This new hab, is exactly what we need to leave the solar system and explore new star systems. This is what I’ve been living for,” Benjamin said seriously.
“You know, all along I’ve felt we were destined for something unprecedented. My mom was one of the last to arrive and recruited all your moms to come here. She’s always told me we had an opportunity that no one on Earth has, that we’re special. Ben wants to be the first person to visit another solar system. I want to be the first one to meet an alien and figure out how to communicate. All of us here have our dreams. We’re in the best position in the history of humanity to fulfill them,” Joy said.
“She’s right. I’ve even talked about it to my folks. They’re excited for me if it happens,” said Edgar.
“Me too. My dad was really cool about the mission. I think he’s psyched about me wanting to explore. Mom says he wanted a boy, not that he wasn’t excited about having a daughter. When I went in for engineering and tech, he was stoked about that,” Virginia explained.
“He still want a boy?” Sam asked grinning.
“Naw. I can’t tell you how many times he dug me coming home at night all dirtied up from some engineering project I was doing with Chuck’s people,” she explained.
“When we get back, I’m going to check around to see if they’re putting together any criteria for the hab crew. If I find out anything, I’ll let you all know,” Joy promised.
Lois suddenly chuckled.
“What’s up?” Piper asked.
Lois looked around at the others and said, “You know what? We’re pretty jaded.”
“How so?” Asked Sam.
“Here we are, sitting in a space station as big as an entire neighborhood, looking out a window strong enough to stop a rocket, with Saturn’s rings and moons only a stone’s throw away and it’s all old hat to us. Ben’s eating chili, we’re all drinking coffee or tea, or whatever. like we’re in any bar or restaurant on Earth!” she replied.
Everyone was silent, then they all laughed uproariously, drawing the attention of the other crew members in the commissary.
“Oh man, talk about putting things in perspective!” Benjamin said still laughing.
“The other issue that the council, Lucius and my mom are working on is how to safely recruit new blood from the United States,” Joy said.
“How the hell do we do that and make sure we don’t get a joker in the deck that takes a jumper to Earth, for example?” Sam said seriously, sitting up to look at Joy.
“Exactly! Lucius and my mom took their time screening each recruit, and according to Lucius, he turned down way more people than he recruited. Obviously, it’s not an inconsiderable task. But I mention it because if we can figure out how to get new members into the community, the chances are that they’re more likely to be around our age than our parents,” explained Joy.
“Yeah, but now that everyone knows about this place, how will we really know we’re not getting a plant or spy? And if we do, what will the council do with them?” asked Sam. “They’re going to have to space them at the very least. I don’t see us building a jail and wasting time and resources pampering prisoners.”
“I hate to say so, but it’s what anyone with a shitty agenda deserves,” added Edgar.
“Just kill them?” asked Lois. “That’s not what we’re all about. It’s not what our parents came here for, it’s what they came to get away from.”
“If even one of our jumpers is captured by the military on Earth, we’re screwed. It wouldn’t take them but a hot minute to arm one to the teeth and send it down our throats. Angela is as good as they come as a combat pilot, but without missiles and guns, going up against a fully armed jumper would be suicide,” Benjamin explained. “I’m good, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to go up against something fully armed that can fly as good as one of our own ships.”
“If they haven’t discovered how your dad did the whole G-wave thing by now, what are the chances they ever will? You have to figure that they’ve thrown billions of dollars at trying to duplicate the technology and there’s been nothing,” said Chance.
“Dad always said the G-wave discovery was, as he put it, counter intuitive. Genesis keeps scanning all the literature, published and unpublished, to see if anyone gets close, but so far, so good. Lois is right, we are jaded and we do take a lot for granted. I think we have adjusted to living in space with all our advanced tech, I’ve never lived anywhere else and neither have the rest of you. So, it all makes sense to us in a normal way. I’ll say this, I can’t imagine what it would be like living in the United States, not after growing up out here.”
Most of the others were nodding their heads. After a few moments the conversation turned to speculating about what life on Earth was like, the current racial climate in America, which carried well into the night.
* * *
“You guys ready?” Chuck asked Christopher and Peanut.
Peanut, who was riding shotgun looked back at Christopher, sitting directly behind Chuck in the jumper, give a thumbs up.
“All crew ready and accounted for,” Peanut announced.
“Ops, this is Chuck in Jumper Twelve. We’re ready for hanger purge and departure.”
“Um, sorry Twelve, please hold,” came the radioed reply.
“What the fuck,” muttered Chuck. “Ops, this is Jumper Twelve, what’s the holdup?”
“Stand by, Twelve.”
“Am I going to have to pull rank to get us out of here?” Christopher announced, then he looked out of the corner of the forward viewport. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Chuck asked.
“Jumper Twelve, please hold for Escort One to accompany you.”
Then, over the radio came Patricia’s voice. “Chuck, put Chris on, right now.”
Christopher pulled the headset out of his helmet and put it on. “This is Chris. How may I be of assistance?”
“Very funny, wise guy. You’re lucky this is an open frequency. When did the three of you decide it was all right for you all to take off on any mission by yourselves?’
“But.”
“Don’t ‘but’ me, mister—"
“Honey,”
“And don’t ‘honey’ me either! I know I can’t talk the three of you out of what you’re dead set on doing and neither can the council. But you�
�re not going alone. We’ll discuss this when you get back from whatever the hell you’re doing!” Patricia said, and then the line went dead.
Christopher tilted the headset mic over his head, “I think things are going to be a little hot when we get back. That was Pat and I assume Bernice and Iris know what’s up, too.”
“Fuck that! When did we become so indispensable that we can’t head out on a short day trip together?” Chuck said in exasperation.
“Jumper Twelve, you and Escort One are cleared to depart. Hanger depressurization commencing now,” radioed Ops.
“Twelve, roger.”
“One, roger,” came Angela’s voice over the radio.
The two jumpers taxied over to the main hanger door. As they waited, Chuck noticed Angela was piloting one of the Jupiter jumpers.
“Who’s your number two, Angela?” he radioed.
“Damien. Are all of you in your suits?” she radioed back.
“Yes, Mother. And we all have on clean underwear,” Chuck replied laughing.
“Laugh it up, Sparky! Your asses are already in hot water when you get back. Switch to Tac-Two,” she said, wanting a clear frequency.
“Twelve on Tac-Two,” Chuck radioed.
“Where the fuck do the three of you get off taking off without checking with anyone? You know you had Ops in an uproar when they saw the three of you climbing into the jumper. You think no one noticed?” Angela yelled.
“But,” Chuck started.
“But nothing! Look, I know that the three of you don’t think much about how the rest of us look at you, but if something happened to all of you this place would go to pieces. That wasn’t very considerate, Chuck. Put Christopher on.”
“Chris, Angela wants to talk to you on Tac-Two,” Chuck said as the hanger door began to open.
Christopher changed channels. “Yes, ma’am? What can I do for you?”
“Don’t give me that innocent bullshit. You know what you guys did was wrong. What’s up with that, Chris?” she asked.
“Nothing. We just wanted to conduct some tests, that’s all. There’s no risk in this mission at all,” explained Christopher.
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