CHAPTER 3: Arrival:
(May 17, Earth Year 2127- June 14, Alpha Year 1): The group gathered in the observation area watched the planet far below on the large viewscreen. Newly out of stasis, with their muscles weakened by their long sleep, adjusting to the world around them was challenging, but it also carried a sense of rebirth at their new home. Earlier Colin had ordered all calendars and official clocks changed to fit the reality of Alpha 2; an Alpha 2 day equal to approximately 23 Earth hours, with a year consisting of 420 days. The decision was to continue to use the 12 Earth months, but with 35 days each, with adjustment to reflect seasonal differences; instead of mid-May it became mid-June.
Colin sat at a table near the window with Frank Schumacher watching the panorama below. Alpha 2 filled much of the viewscreen before them, an oversized, brightly colored globe. The sight was similar, yet different from, their views of Earth years earlier. Multicolored in shades of blue and brown under patches of floating white clouds, the globe below was a comforting view of their future home. A water world, the nearly three quarters of the surface covered by ocean wasn't divided into sections by multiple continents like Earth, but stretched in an unbroken sweep over the planet from the east to the west coasts of the landmass of Pangaea, punctuated only by the north-south string of islands several thousand kilometers off the west coast; looking almost like a 'zipper' or 'scar' marring the surface of the water, stretching in a long chain until interrupted at the polar caps. Many of the islands contained active volcanoes caused by the cataclysmic clash of planetary plates; a phenomenon common on Earth. To the north and south the polar icecaps mimicked those of Earth in its earlier days.
The major landmass had been given the name Pangaea, taken from the old unified landmass of Earth that existed before continental drift created the many continents of the present time. The name seemed appropriate; in a few hundred million years the Alpha 2 landmass would probably also drift and separate. Even from this altitude the major landmarks could be seen. The green of the extensive forests east of the central mountain range that stretched from north to south forming the backbone of the continent. The narrow western coastal plain that would be their home. The major rivers, particularly the large western flowing river that emptied into the western ocean, were clearly visible. And faintly, to those who knew where to look, the bay north of that major river where the first colony would be established was also visible. The peninsula jutting into the sea, the small river that looked like a thin, black thread, the green of the broad sweeping savanna, and the light blue of the shallow bay itself outlined by the deep blue of the depths beyond.
Originally Colin had questioned the decision to establish the colony on the west coast, but after looking at it from above he agreed with its wisdom. Much of the eastern area had the appearance from orbit similar to the Siberian taiga, the vast, brooding coniferous forest stretching south from the Russian tundra. Even the central portions, where the heavy forests gave way to spotty forests and savannas, stretched for thousands of kilometers east to west in a seemingly endless monotony. The eastern section lacked a dominant river like the Great River, but was instead laced with dozens of smaller ones. The more Colin thought about it the more he agreed the constrained western coastal plain was more in scale for the small colony; the eastern side was incomprehensively vast, like Earth's Siberia.
The Columbia had entered the gravitational field of Alpha 2 ten days earlier, the engines turned off except for minor adjustments as the final orbit was attained, and the last of the colonists removed from stasis. The next step was preparing the landing site for the pods and their detachment and subsequent placement on the surface, where they would form the core of the new colony. The pod landing engines would be converted to other uses or cannibalized for spare parts, unnecessary parts of the pods stripped away for use in other construction, with any remaining fuel salvaged for future use. Little was wasted. Even the fusion reactors used as the power source for the engines would be brought to the surface to provide power to the colonists.
The Europa had achieved orbit the day after the Columbia, and the two freighters yesterday, giving the planet four new orbiting satellites. Orbiting Alpha 2 the spaceships had the appearance of huge, rotating bicycle wheels, with large lumps on the periphery in each quadrant where the four pods were located. Connecting the pods was the 'rim' which housed the transportation system for traveling between pods in enclosed, high speed rail vehicles. Similarly, a rail system in one of the spokes connecting the pods to the power sources in the hub provided for emergency repairs. Kept rotating as long as the colonists were aboard to provide minimal gravity, once the colonists landed on the surface the rotation of the pods would be stopped prior to detachment for landing.
Equipped with spacesuits, members of the engineering crew were outside readying the two shuttle craft of the Columbia, the two of the Europa, and the two brought over from the Yellow Sea for the first descent to the surface for landing the survey and site preparation teams and their equipment, scheduled to begin in a few days. Only later, after the landing sites had been prepared and temporary quarters constructed, would the passengers be brought down, followed by landing of the pods. Each circular pod was over 20 meters deep by 100 meters in diameter, with 12 solid rocket engines around the periphery, and once in place on the surface would form a large ring within which the city would develop. Controlling those engines during descent was one of the most critical phases of the expedition.
June 19, Alpha Year 1 (mid-morning)
Eric Moffa stood as the first man on the surface of Alpha 2, the members of the landing team having drawn lots for the honor. He was followed by Commander 'Yasu' Hata, first officer of the Europa and chief of colony security, who headed the landing team during this initial phase. The initial landing team would ensure the site was safe for the site preparation teams that would follow, and for the later landing of the colonists. Jacob Spector, member of the Europa's engineering crew, Jake and Margie Kaminski, agricultural specialist and marine biologist respectively, and Sonja Evans and two assistants representing the medical staff, as well as several members of security, completed the landing team. The heavy equipment and land and air vehicles would be brought down as soon as the shuttles, following removal of most of the seating, could return to the freighters for loading.
Sonja's medical team was already in the process of collecting air, soil, water, and plant samples for testing for bacteria and viruses or evidence of toxicity. While the scientific survey and site preparation were underway all those on the surface were under quarantine and would reside in temporary housing modules, with the pilots of the shuttles remaining in their sealed control compartments and not allowed access to the planet's surface. Similarly, on return to the motherships each shuttle required thorough decontaminated. The quarantine and isolation procedures would continue until screening for alien bacteria and viruses was completed. Until clearance was given by the medical department the bulk of the colony personnel would be held in orbit, and if all went well, landing of the colony personnel and the pods should start in about three weeks.
New Athens. That had been the name selected for the colonization site, the first city on Alpha 2.
June 20, Alpha Year 1 (mid-afternoon)
Light, filmy clouds drifted idly across the light blue sky, moved by a breeze that periodically reached to the surface of the planet to cause ripples in the grass covered savanna. In the distance the slow swells of the ocean flowed evenly up to the broad beach, encroached, then receded. Seabirds circled and dipped, only to climb again on an updraft where the ocean met the warmer land. What spread before viewers was indistinguishable from the primeval Earth of an earlier time.
Jake and Margie Kaminski, followed by two technicians and one of the security guards, walked through the knee-high grass on the slight rise between the colony site and the ocean to the west. As they walked occasional insects, disturbed by their presence, jumped or flew from their path and settled again as if to watch the int
rusion. Their destination was the tree covered peninsula jutting into the ocean a short distance away, and then the shore of the ocean extending in a long curve to the south and southwest. Behind them in the shallow valley the survey crew was busy staking out the landing sites for each pod in preparation for the equipment operators. The domes off to the southeast used for equipment storage and living quarters at the temporary site looking like what it was, an alien presence; a group of large, white mushrooms.
Jake and Margie paused to rest. It had been only a gradual slope, but the years in stasis had weakened muscles, and it would take months to recover. In the mid-day heat the sweat was running down Jake's back, darkening his shirt, but providing cooling as it evaporated in the low humidity. Wiping the moisture from his forehead, Jake continued the gesture to brush away the cloud of small insects swirling around his head, and lowered himself next to where Margie had seated herself. The sun drenched, rolling landscape seemed to stretch endlessly to the east under the lightly clouded sky, with the few trees in the distance appearing as isolated clusters. Far in the distance the horizon appeared as a blue haze which could be mistaken for the distant mountains which lay beyond, but which Margie knew was an illusion, the mountains hidden by the planet's curvature and atmospheric haze.
To the west the expanse of water stretched to the horizon, penetrated by the tree covered peninsula that was their destination. This peninsula formed the north side of the large bay, with the curve of the land to the southwest connecting to the mouth of the small river that entered at the southern end. This bay had been key in selection of the colony site, since someday, when the colony was firmly established, it could serve as a safe harbor for large numbers of ships. For now it would be the focus of their investigation of ocean life; a large shallow platter which they expected would provide one of their major food sources.
To a large extent the size of the harbor was academic at this time. Once the first priority items were completed the colonists could afford to construct only one small ship; it would be many years before the full harbor could be exploited, and construction of ships was low on the list of current priorities. Before any serious use of the harbor could be implemented, however, a study of water depths and tides was required. While initial indication showed there would be no problem with the shallow-draft ship they planned, some dredging near the planned wharfs might be necessary due to the extreme tides.
Jake was a large, dark man in his mid-thirties with a heavy, muscular frame. Big boned, with over 250 pounds packed on his 6'3" frame, Margie looked like a child as they sat next to each other. Jake and Margie had been the butt of friendly jokes ever since they had paired up and married prior to the flight. They were a study in contrasts. Margie, barely into her thirties, had joined the expedition directly after receiving her degree in marine biology at Stanford. Only 5'2", and with a slight build, the two made an incongruous couple. Jake, with his size, dark hair and craggy dark complexioned face, and she with her slight frame, cornflower blond hair, and light complexion. Even her friendly, always smiling and cheerful personality served as a counterbalance to his quiet, serious demeanor.
Jake kneeled to insert his soil sampling tube, obtained a sample, and added it to those already in the case he carried on a strap. Then he used his monitor to record precise coordinates which he entered in his notebook. The soil was rich and loamy, the accumulation of thousands of years of vegetation, and Jake had little doubt it would provide exceptional crops. His only concern was the factor of rainfall; not the amount, since the healthy appearance of the fields of grass gave every indication that rain would not be a major problem, but how it spread across the growing season. From all appearances there had been a spring rainy season, but there was no indication of significant rainfall in the recent past. However, soil moisture remained good. If this was typical, carefully planning the planting cycle should allow even an extensive summer drought to be adapted to.
Above . . . .
Eric Moffa banked the small two seat scoutplane and curved slowly over the colony site, watching the scene spread out below. Commander Hata, in the adjacent seat, scanned the surface through a set of binoculars. Far below the survey team stopped work to wave as they passed overhead. To the west Eric could make out the figures of Jake and Margie Kaminski and their team as they made their way toward the peninsula to the west. Banking the scoutplane in the other direction, Eric headed toward the ocean. He circled low over the peninsula, watching for any unusual features. From beneath the tree cover a group of small animals, the size of sheep, but built more like antelopes, bounded toward the southeast, nearly dropping from sight in the high grass with each bound. Eric nudged Commander Hata and pointed to the rapidly disappearing animals. Shortly, several more of the same type of animals bounded from the trees and fled in a northeasterly direction.
The scoutplane banked again to follow the shore to the south where, just beyond the river, it curved out to form the other jaw of the large bay. The shore was separated from higher inland areas by low, rocky cliffs, but the shore area exposed by the tide was sandy, sloping gradually to the water's edge, with a wider, sandy delta formed by the sand deposited at the river's mouth. Eric dropped to less than 50 meters as he followed the shoreline, the breeze from the west forcing shallow waves up the shore. Increasing elevation and heading inland they were once again over the grass covered savanna. More of the small antelope-like creatures were evident in small herds mostly in the open. Further in the distance larger grazing animals could be seen, also gathered in herds. Looping slowly to the north they passed over a small tree bordered lake, then several more.
Yasu lowered his binoculars and leaned back with a satisfied smile. "If there was an Eden, it must have been much like this," he said, adding, "just as long as we don't find the Devil in the garden."
Eric laughed, "enough of your inscrutable oriental mysticism," he said, "the only Devil I expect to find is a large beer when we get back to camp."
June 25, Alpha Year 1
Margie sat on the large boulder jutting like a finger into the sea. She sat hunched, with her arms pulling her knees up under her chin. Below, low waves were gently crashing against the rocky projection, while in both directions where the rocky shore changed to a smooth sandy beach the waves bubbled and died. Her eyes darted constantly, looking for any movement or sign of life along the shore or in the water.
Several hundred meters off-shore the water whitened where the waves crashed on a ridge of rocky bottom emerging from the sea; a rocky ridge covered with seabirds and what looked like seal-like creatures. They had named the ocean the New Pacific as a reminder of home; it was slightly less salty than Earth's Pacific, but from Margie's location had much the same appearance and feeling, and appeared to be rich with fish, shellfish, and various forms of crustaceans. She and her two assistants, who were wading in the shallow water, had been busy collecting samples for analysis. So far everything they had found fit their expectations, although the discovery of a lobster like crustacean over two meters in length had been an unexpected find.
Two days before during a night survey of the shoreline they noticed the area of beach near the water appeared to be in movement. On examination the beach was found to be crowded with what looked like large lobsters, in constant movement; like an Earth lobster, and yet different. Its two claws were both massive, and its legs were stronger and better formed than the normal Earth lobster. With its stronger legs this crustacean seemed able to move about on the shallow beach, much like some crabs on Earth. In fact they could move quite rapidly, which they had as they rushed to the water when exposed by the team's flashlights. In spite of the differences, to them it became a 'lobster' in name as well as general appearance.
They had captured several of the large crustaceans, sending some up on a shuttle for analysis, but keeping one for their own use. After persuading Sonja to make an initial test of the flesh for toxins they had eaten that one for supper. Perhaps that was risky without completion of the testing, b
ut it certainly was a welcome change, and no one was the worse. Their craving for variation from their restricted diet, which depended mostly on soy substitutes for protein, overcame any reticence. It was very rich, much like an Earth-side lobster; if they proved to be only seasonal inhabitants of the bay she decided almost immediately that one of her future projects would have to be incorporating the creatures in the planned sea farming industry.
Margie found the sea life, and also the predators and carrion feeders that exploited the ocean's food supply, surprisingly similar to forms found in Earth's oceans. With the wide diversity of life that formed in the oceans the opportunities for variation were endless, and yet what they found were fish that looked like fish, crustaceans much like Earth's, and shellfish which in many ways were like those found on Earth. While strange and different creatures were also found, even in Earth's oceans that still happened occasionally.
Alpha 2 provided living proof that the species that survived were those best adapted to the conditions, and the conditions on Alpha 2 were not that different from those of Earth. Margie looked forward to later when one of their inflatable rafts was brought down and they would no longer be restricted to the shoreline. But the deeper and more distant areas would have to await construction of their first deep-water ship.
Rested, Margie climbed down from the boulder and rejoined her team. Hoisting their load of samples, they headed back for the truck parked on the top of the slope for their trip back to base.
The First Colony: Book I: Settlement Chronicals Page 4