by Knox, Barry
“We’re on our way,” Mary said as she entered the Triple C and sat at one of the unused console stations. “This morning at zero five hundred I received official notifications of the responses we received from our requests for the scientist we’ll be picking up. I was ordered to share these responses with you once we’re under way.” She turned to the console, brought up three message boxes, and displayed them on the main Triple C display. “Here’s the diplomatic response from Gliese,” she said as she enlarged one of the three message boxes and leaned back in her seat. The message appeared.
To: The United States of America, Planet Earth
From: The Communal Tribal Union, Planet Gliese
Subject: Expedition Request
(1) The Communal Tribal Union has considered your request and is willing to discuss the terms of the expedition with a small scientific envoy representing your mission.
(2) The meeting will be at the Communal Tribal Union seat capital, Canton Mie, on February 21, 2372, at 1400 (Earth date and time).
(3) No military personnel, other than the Captain or First Officer of the expedition ship, are allowed to accompany the scientific envoy to Canton Mie.
(4) Contact Gliese Space Command upon arrival in the solar system for a vector approach to Gliese.
(5) Any variance of your ship from the vector will be considered hostile, and your ship will be attacked.
Signed: Director of Science, Communal Tribal Union
Message Complete ........
“At least they’re willing to talk to us,” Dr. Jones said with a hint of hope.
“I’m afraid that’s all they’ll want to do is talk, and I’ve been ordered not to waste time negotiating,” Mary said, paused, and then added, “We will, however, see what they have to say and use the time when we’re meeting with the Gliese officials to locate Doctor Kastriva.”
Mary leaned forward in her seat and used the console again. “We also have a picture of Doctor Kastriva.” A picture of the doctor appeared. He looked to be of Middle Eastern descent and in his early thirties with a short, trimmed beard.
“Here’s our response from Corot,” Mary said as she brought up the next message.
To: The United States of America, Planet Earth
From: New Kalgoorlie, Planet Corot
Subject: Expedition Request
(1) Although New Kalgoorlie has no interest in your proposed expedition, Dr. Bailey was notified of the expedition and declines to participate.
(2) No further communications about the proposed expedition is necessary.
Signed: Minister of Research, New Kalgoorlie
Message Complete .......
“Short and sweet,” Captain Neubauer said.
“There’s no way Doctor Bailey would refuse to join our expedition. I’m sure she wasn’t even told about it,” Dr. Harper said.
“It doesn’t matter if she was told or not. We have to locate her and have our marines persuade her to come with us,” Mary said with half a smile, “The State Department did, however, contact the Bungay Republic, the eastern neighbor of New Kalgoorlie, and we have permission to send a trade committee to discuss mining and military equipment. We’ll use the meeting as cover for our operation to locate and extract Doctor Bailey.”
“Our final response,” Mary said as the message from Leonis was displayed.
To: The United States of America, Planet Earth
From: Council of Czars, Planet Leonis
Subject: Expedition Request
(1) Participation in the expedition was considered by the Council of Czars.
(2) Dr. Qasim will not be allowed to participate as she has in-depth knowledge of all classified Council of Czars military computer systems.
(3) Another representative will be appointed by the Council of Czars and allowed to accompany the expedition.
(4) Upon arrival in the Leonis system, contact with the Council of Czars must be immediate.
(5) The appearance of any United States ship without immediate contact will be considered hostile and attacked by Council of Czars Space Forces.
Signed: Planet Relations Administrator, Council of Czars
Message Complete .......
“It seems they want to cooperate,” Dr. Jones said. “I know we asked for Doctor Qasim, but it looks as if they’ll allow another scientist to accompany us.”
“Sorry, Doctor, but the replacement they’ll want us to take along will be a spy,” Captain Neubauer said.
“I agree with the captain,” Mary said.
“So what do we do?” Dr. Harper asked.
“I was told that we can use an undercover agent that the CIA planted there just before the end of the last war. I was told how to contact him once we arrive in the Leonis system. We’ll arrange to meet with him and proceed from there,” Mary said, paused for a few seconds, and asked, “Are there any questions?”
Everyone remained quiet.
Mary continued. “Very well, that’s all for now. We’ll arrive at Gliese in three days. Captain Neubauer, please have a plan to locate and extract Doctor Kastriva on my desk by seventeen hundred tomorrow, and we’ll meet here at eighteen hundred tomorrow to discuss the plan.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Neubauer said.
Ship Engineering Storage Compartment, SRS Stephen Hawking
1300—February 18, 2372
Gideon entered the engineering storage compartment, hoping to find several environmental life-support suits in various sizes, which could be used when extracting one or all of the scientists.
“Anna, access the ship’s inventory database and tell me where the life-support suits are located,” Gideon said aloud as he started looking on his own.
“The spare life-support suits are located in a locker by the pressure suits hanging on the wall in the back of the compartment,” Anna said.
Gideon walked around closed cases and racks of parts until he reached the back of the compartment and saw the pressure suits to his left. As he walked toward the suits, he saw Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Sipes appear from behind the row of suits. The big man was inspecting the pressure suits.
“Checking out the pressure suits, Sipes?” Gideon asked.
Joseph turned with a jerk, and the surprise on his face gave way to a big grin.
“Yes, sir. Master Chief Ostrow asked me to check ‘em out and told me to pick out the biggest one and put my name on it.” Joseph answered with a smile. “What’re you doing down here, sir?”
“Looking for a couple of life-support suits.”
“They’re in a locker over here by the pressure suits, sir.”
“Thanks, Sipes.” Gideon said.
Gideon walked over to the locker, opened it, and looked for small, medium, and large sizes. A few seconds later he heard a noise behind him and turned. He saw Joseph with a large pressure suit hanging over his broad right shoulder.
“Sipes, did you just take that pressure suit off the wall?” Gideon asked, surprised that Sipes could have lifted it and slung it over his shoulder. “It weighs close to five hundred pounds!”
“Yes, sir. I’ve always been able to dismount a pressure suit by myself. I hate to ask for anyone’s help since I can do it.”
The pressure suit’s weight included all the environmental units that were needed to work in space for eight hours. The suit also used a powered exoskeleton system that allowed the person inside the suit to move with little effort. The user lifted a leg, arm, or even a finger, and the exoskeleton detected the movement and used a hydraulic system to move the parts of the suit easily.
“I need to get this pressure suit to the aft air locks and check it out, sir. Anything I can do for you before I leave?” Joseph asked as Gideon stared at him in disbelief.
“No, Sipes. I’m good.”
“Yes, sir,” Joseph said as he walked away with the heavy, bulky suit over his shoulder.
As Gideon watched the big man leave, he got an idea.
“Sipes!” Gideon yelled before Joseph round
ed the corner.
Joseph stopped, turned, and yelled back. “Sir?”
“Come by my quarters this evening. I want to talk to you,” Gideon said.
“Yes, sir!” Joseph said with a smile and left.
Lieutenant Klaxton’s Living Quarters, SRS Stephen Hawking
2013—February 18, 2372
“Gideon?”
“Yes, Anna.”
“Petty Officer Sipes wants to know if it’s okay to come by and talk now.”
“Yes, now’s a good time,” Gideon said as he hurried to put the finishing touches on the plan to extract Dr. Kastriva. Captain Neubauer wanted Gideon to develop his own plan, so they could compare his plan to Captain Neubauer’s plan tomorrow morning and come up with a single plan to present to Mary. A knock at the door announced Joseph’s arrival.
“Enter!” Gideon yelled.
Sipes came in and stood at attention.
“At ease, Sipes. I want to talk to you about a mission we’re planning.”
“Mission, sir?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard we’ll be picking up three more scientists before we proceed with our mission.”
“Yes, sir…I think I remember something about that,” Joseph said.
Gideon motioned to a chair. “Sit down, Sipes. I’ll tell you a little about it and why I’ve asked you to come by.”
Joseph sat and Gideon began.
“Sipes, the marines have been tasked to extract the scientists and bring them along whether they want to come or not. There may be a scientist who doesn’t want to come, and we’ll have to force them. Understand so far?” Gideon asked.
“Yes, sir, I think so,” Joseph said.
“To get to the point, I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to help us out.”
“I’ll help anyway I can, sir,” Joseph answered with a big grin.
“I want you to come along on the extractions and be our heavy lifter. All you have to do is carry our breaching system and possibly a scientist. That’ll free us to maneuver around faster and protect ourselves if we have any resistance.”
Joseph thought for a second and asked, “So, all I have to do is carry stuff, and you’ll tell me what to do and when to do it?”
“That’s right. After I saw you lug that pressure suit around this afternoon, I figured we could use your muscle. Also, if any of us are wounded, I bet you can carry a marine too.”
“I can do that, sir,” Joseph replied and stared as if looking at something behind Gideon.
“Got a question, Sipes, or something on your mind?”
“No, sir. I was just thinking about a dream I had the other night. My grandma said I was to help save the crew’s lives. Maybe this is what she was talking about,” Joseph said.
Gideon looked at Sipes and, not knowing really what to say, said, “Maybe Sipes. I don’t know. I do know if I’m wounded, I’ll have a better chance to get back to the ship if you’re with us.”
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
1800—February 19, 2372
“Captain Bowser, I’d like to get your initial impression of the mission plan before we proceed,” Captain Neubauer said as he stood in front of the conference table where Captain Bowser, Lieutenant Klaxton, Gunny Xia, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Harper sat.
Mary said. “The plan looks good to me on paper. I do have a concern about Petty Officer Sipes assisting you, but I’m sure you’ll explain it in detail as you brief us.”
“Certainly, sir. I’d like to verbally step through the plan and see if you have any other questions or problems,” Neubauer said as he walked over to a holographic display on the wall.
“Stephen, clear the display, pull up the latest intelligence picture of Canton Mie, planet Gliese, and enable me to sketch.”
Stephen cleared the holographic screen and displayed a satellite image of Canton Mie. “Altitude and angle perspective?” Stephen asked.
“Five thousand feet, seventy-five-degree angle, eastern perspective,” Captain Neubauer responded.
The display of Canton Mie was magnified and rotated to the requested angle as Stephen automatically noted and tagged major structures in the city.
“Okay. Here’s the layout of Canton Mie. As you know from reviewing the image in the plan, there’re seven multistory buildings used as government offices and several hundred homes in the city biosphere,” Neubauer said. “Here’s the last-known living residence of Doctor Kastriva, and here’s his laboratory.”
A home on the northwestern quadrant of the city was illuminated in red along with a large government research center in the middle of the city.
“We suggest the following persons be included in the scientific envoy: Commander Steward, Doctor Jones, Doctor Harper, and Lieutenant Klaxton. The team will use the standard naval orbital VTOL and will probably land here.” Neubauer used his finger to mark the spaceport just south of the biosphere.
“Why’s Lieutenant Klaxton part of the scientific envoy?” Dr. Harper said. “We were specifically told that no military personnel other than the captain or first officer could be part of the envoy.
“Lieutenant Klaxton will be introduced as Doctor Klaxton, quantum computer scientist. No doubt their intelligence agency has a dossier, and hopefully it’s not up-to-date on our active military personnel. If they discover he’s military and confront us, we’ll say that Doctor Klaxton resigned his commission, earned his doctorate in computer science, and joined the expedition. If they have records, they’ll know his IQ and shouldn’t be that suspicious.”
“Lieutenant Klaxton?” Dr. Harper said. “Are you sure you can pass as a quantum computer scientist?”
“Yes, sir. I read several books and white papers last night. I’m well versed in the subject,” Gideon said.
“Any other questions before I continue?” Neubauer asked.
Everyone remained quiet.
“One of the primary reasons for Lieutenant Klaxton accompanying the envoy team will be to deploy an upgraded Technical Intelligence Collector, a TIC device. I think everyone here is familiar with the capabilities of this device; however, I want to point out that the upgraded version uses nanostealth technology and utilizes normal communications traffic to embed intelligence messages that’ll be picked up by the Stephen Hawking.
“Lieutenant, why don’t you show us the Stealth Technical Intelligence Collector, or S-TIC for short, and tell us what it’ll be tasked to do.” Captain Neubauer said.
Gideon stood and extended his left arm for everyone to see. “The device has attached itself to the cuff of my sleeve,” he said.
Everyone looked at his sleeve but saw only the green fabric weave of his uniform.
“It’s in stealth mode right now and is invisible,” Gideon said. “I’ll command it to disable its stealth mode. ‘S-TIC, disable stealth mode.’”
The device immediately appeared as a black device about the size of a thumbnail. It had six robotic limbs protruding from its “body.” “S-TIC, relocate to my watch,” Gideon commanded. The device slowly “crawled” off his cuff and climbed onto his digital camouflaged watch band. “S-TIC, enable stealth mode.”
The S-TIC disappeared.
“As you can see, or not see,” Gideon said with a smile, “its stealth technology is very effective. Once we’ve been escorted into a building, I’ll deploy the device as close to a communications network as I can. The S-TIC’s artificial intelligence computer is programmed to stay in stealth mode, drop to the floor, and begin collecting intelligence about the location of Doctor Kastriva. It’ll passively start collecting wireless communications immediately as it looks for a fiber-optic cable that it can tap into. It’ll collect and store intelligence information we’ve told it to look for and will transmit the information so it can be picked up by the Stephen Hawking every two minutes.
“Any questions?” Gideon asked.
“How will you deploy it?” Mary asked and then added. “You can’t just say ‘S-TIC deploy’ aloud without someone hearing you.”
>
“Before we depart the ship, I’ll program the S-TIC to deploy when I say the words Stephen Hawking. I’m sure I can mention our ship’s name any time in our conversations with the Gliese representatives,” Gideon answered.
Mary nodded approval.
“Any other questions?” Gideon asked, waited a few seconds for questions, and then sat down.
“Let’s continue,” Captain Neubauer said. “Here’s where we think the plan will go one of two ways. Our scientific envoy team will sit down with the Gliese representatives and discuss the mission and then return to the ship, or the Gliese representatives will take the team hostage and demand some type of compensation for their return.”
The lower jaws of both Dr. Harper and Dr. Jones dropped, and their eyes widened as both tried to speak.
“What’re you talking about, Captain?” Dr. Harper asked before Dr. Jones was able to speak.
Captain Neubauer said. “We think there’s a good probability they’ll take the envoy team hostage to try and leverage something from what they think is an unarmed scientific research vessel. They may want technology, raw materials, computer programs, tools, things like that. It’s also another reason to have Lieutenant Klaxton along.”
“I don’t think they’ll do such a thing,” Dr. Harper said. “I do, however, agree they’ll want something if they participate in the mission, but I don’t think they’ll kidnap us to get it.”
“Hopefully they won’t kidnap the envoy team, Doctor, but we have to plan for either event,” Captain Neubauer explained.
“Understood, Captain,” Dr. Harper said uncomfortably.
“If the team is not taken,” Neubauer said, “hopefully the S-TIC will locate Doctor Kastriva in a timely manner and we can proceed with the extraction phase of the plan.”
“Once the S-TIC locates the doctor, our extraction team will land undetected aboard Bernice here, here or here, depending on where the doctor is located in Canton Mie,” Neubauer said as he used his finger to make three X’s on the holographic map. “The extraction team will then proceed to one of these points and breech the city’s biosphere.” Neubauer then marked three points on the parameter of the biosphere.