by Knox, Barry
“Thank you, Director. I’m Commander Nebo Steward, United States Navy, SRS Stephen Hawking executive officer. This is Doctor Seth Harper, physicist and expedition lead scientist; Doctor Heli Jones, astrophysicist; and Doctor Gideon Klaxton, computer scientist,” Commander Steward said as they returned the director’s bow.
“Captain Bowser, commander of SRS Stephen Hawking doesn’t feel well today and sends her regards,” Commander Steward lied.
Director Buru frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that, Commander. When you get back to your ship, please tell the captain I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to speak.”
“Certainly, Director,” Commander Steward responded with a smile.
“Please follow me, and we’ll begin our discussion about your expedition. I’m eager to hear about it,” Director Buru said as he motioned with a hand for the envoy team to accompany him.
The envoy team followed Director Buru while trailed by the military escort. The envoy team and their escort entered the space port building and walked through several corridors. People wearing gray jumpsuits immediately parted and stood against the walls of the corridors once they recognized Director Buru and allowed his party to pass. As the envoy team passed, the people touched their forehead with the fingers of their right hands and bowed. Nothing was said, and the party continued. Gideon had heard of such nations and colonized worlds demanding their citizens show such respect, but this was the first time he had witnessed it. It was as if the people were acknowledging a deity.
Minutes later the envoy team entered a large corridor several stories high. A four-lane roadway stretched down the corridor, and on it several vehicles zoomed by. One vehicle, with an unarmed soldier standing beside it, was parked in front of them. The vehicle looked like a standard diplomatic-motored vehicle shaped like the traditional, yet ancient, stretched limousine.
Director Buru walked toward the parked vehicle and said, “We have a vehicle that’ll take us to the Communal Tribal Union Science Division building.”
As they arrived at the vehicle, the unarmed soldier, using a remote-controlled device mounted on his forearm, opened the passenger-entry double doors. The envoy team entered, accompanied by Director Buru and one armed soldier.
The passenger compartment was spacious and enclosed by dark-shaded windows. Seconds later the limousine began moving.
“Commander Steward, I’m very pleased the United States offered the Communal Tribal Union an opportunity to participate in the proposed expedition, and we’ll discuss it in detail during our meeting,” Director Buru said as their vehicle began to pick up speed. “I am, however, curious why there’re military personnel commanding a scientific research vessel.”
“Basically, Director, the SRS Stephen Hawking is minimally armed to defend itself,” Commander Steward said. “During the planning of the expedition, it was decided to arm the vessel to defend itself since it would pass through hostile space systems and eventually go further than man has gone before. Our current State Department has mandated that any armed ship must be commanded by a military crew. I hope you understand our desire to protect our interest.”
“I completely understand, Commander,” Director Buru answered with a nod. “I realize our nations are currently at odds with one other, and I hope that our participation in this expedition will improve our relations.”
“It would definitely be a step in the right direction by both nations,” Commander Steward agreed with a smile.
Gideon sat listening to the conversation between Commander Steward and Director Buru and couldn’t help thinking that Commander Steward should someday go into politics.
The drive from the spaceport into the biosphere took the envoy team through a gigantic blast door used to seal the biosphere from the tunnel leading to the spaceport in case of an emergency. Once in the biosphere, Gideon noted pairs of armored soldiers carrying weapons stationed on the corner of certain blocks of the city.
Citizens walked up and down the streets, dressed in the same gray jumpsuits, and all had anxious looks on their faces. No one was smiling. Also along the way, Gideon memorized everything he saw. It may come in handy if he and the team had to get back to the spaceport on their own.
Science Division Building, Canton Mie Biosphere
1405—February 21, 2372
The limousine arrived at the Communal Tribal Union Science Division building. The building was gray with twenty-five cylindrical stories, each story smaller than the one below it. The building was cone shaped with its large round base and its point aiming toward the top of the biosphere.
A soldier awaiting their arrival opened the limousine door after it stopped, and the envoy team and their escort exited. As the team was escorted into the building, more passing citizens stopped and gave Directory Buru and his trailing party the same touch of the forehead and bow. The envoy team and their escort walked up steps that circled the building and were led to an entrance.
The entrance double doors parted inwardly as they neared. Once inside, Gideon noted everything as they walked: doors to rooms, other entrances, soldiers, elevators, and so forth. A few minutes later the envoy team was led to a counter flanked by soldiers. Behind the counter stood a lady wearing the same gray jumpsuit but with a few chevrons of rank on her collar. As they neared, she gave the same performed hand-to-head-and-bow salute to Director Buru.
She addressed Buru. “Director, the conference room you requested is set up, and your staff is waiting there for you.”
“Thank you, Attendant Leeward,” Director Buru said. “I’ll proceed to the conference room. Please process our guests.”
“Yes, Director Buru,” she said.
“I’ll see you and your team momentarily, Commander Steward,” Buru said as he faced the commander, then walked away.
“Of course, Director,” Commander Steward responded.
Attendant Leeward used an old-fashioned keyboard to enter some commands into her computer station. As she typed, Gideon saw several data-processing devices behind her and a bundle of fiber-optic cables running up from beneath the floor to several computer network devices. He decided it was a great spot to deploy the S-TIC.
“Hi, I’m Gideon,” Gideon said as he extended his right hand over a counter toward Attendant Leeward.
She looked up from her keyboard and saw Gideon’s hand in front of her as he waited for her to shake it. She extended her hand slowly; her facial expression looked as if she had been asked to touch something disgusting. Gideon knew that most societies on colonized planets were reluctant to use this old-fashioned, unsanitary way of introducing oneself. This must be one of those societies. Gideon reasoned that she would shake his hand as it was better for her to get viral or bacterial microorganisms on her hand than be reported to Director Buru for not being hospitable to his guest.
“I am Assistant Leeward,” she said in a robotic tone, as she used the ends of her fingers and thumb to shake Gideon’s hand.
“Glad to meet you, Miss Leeward,” Gideon said with a wide grin. “I’m assigned to the United States starship Stephen Hawking, and we’re here to propose a joint exploration venture with your government.”
As soon as Gideon said Stephen Hawking, the invisible S-TIC dropped from his sleeve and immediately blended in with the drab gray color of the counter. Within seconds the S-TIC started to intercept and process wireless network traffic and detected the fiber-optic cables attached to the data-processing devices behind the counter.
“I know where you’re from!” she said with a hint of disgust, then quickly withdrew her hand and continued to type. “Please, one after another, walk through the security beam,” she said in a businesslike tone as a blue rectangular-shaped beam projected from the counter.
Commander Steward walked through first, followed by Dr. Harper and then Dr. Jones. Gideon went through last, glad that he had already deployed the S-TIC since he wasn’t sure if it would’ve been detected or not. After the envoy team walked through the security beam, they stood waiting for Assistant Lee
ward to review the scans.
Gideon suspected the scans would also be used to verify their identities by cross-referencing the scanned information with a previously developed intelligence database of American military personnel.
“Each of you has an electronic device implanted in your right ear canal. Please tell me what it’s for,” Assistant Leeward asked as she motioned for the soldiers to move in closer to the envoy team.
“The implants allow us to communicate with our individual AI computer assistant,” Commander Steward said. “We’re not wearing our personal AI computers because we knew it would be better to leave them on our ship. The implant, as you can see, cannot easily be removed. The implants allow us to hear and talk to our personal AI only. Your scan should be able to confirm this.”
Assistant Leeward’s hands moved across her keyboard as she entered commands to verify the devices weren’t a physical or logical security risk. Eventually she said, “My system confirms the devices are passive without the presence of your personal AI computer.”
The soldiers stepped back to their original positions.
“I’m creating a personal security identification badge for each of you. You’ll wear the badge at all times while you’re here. If you’re found without the badge, you will be kil—” Assistant Leeward hesitated, as if trying to better address the team without using the word killed. She continued, “You will be detained.”
A minute later the badges were ready, and each member of the team clipped his or her individual badge on the collar of his or her blue jumpsuit.
“This way please,” a soldier spoke, walking away. The envoy team followed the soldier as another soldier followed behind them.
The soldiers escorted the envoy team to a lift, and they rode it up fourteen stories. As they exited the lift, Director Buru met them and directed them into a nearby room.
“Please be seated,” Director Buru said as he entered the room last. “I’ve excused my staff for now until we clear up a matter that’s been brought to my attention. I’d like to know why Marine Lieutenant Klaxton is pretending to be a scientist.”
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
1430—February 21, 2372
“Captain, we received our first burst message from the S-TIC, and Stephen is decoding it now,” Ensign Young reported.
“Stephen, please read it over the intercom when you have it decoded,” Mary requested.
“The message has been decoded, Captain,” Stephen responded over the intercom and then read the message. “‘Established access to wireless and fiber communication connections. Monitoring for preprogrammed information. Next message in two minutes.’”
“Stephen, continue to decode received S-TIC messages and only notify Ensign Young if preprogrammed information or information related to the envoy team is reported,” Mary said.
“Yes, Captain,” Stephen said.
“Link me to Extract One,” Mary ordered Ensign Young.
Young manipulated his holographic console, and the laser communications device on the Stephen Hawking’s external hull deployed from its protected enclosure and sent a digital sequence of laser beams to Bernice, Extract One, in stationary orbit over Gliese.
“Connected to Extract One, Captain,” Young said once the connection was established.
“Extract One, this is Stephen Hawking,” Mary said.
“This is Extract One,” Captain Neubauer replied.
“Captain Neubauer, the S-TIC has been deployed and is actively gathering information.”
“Thank you, Captain. Any status on the envoy team?” Captain Neubauer inquired.
“Nothing yet, Captain,” Mary said. “I’ll contact you as soon as we have something.”
“Understood, Captain,” Captain Neubauer said.
***
Mary and Ensign Young remained in the Triple C, waiting for Stephen to report something noteworthy. As they waited, Mary had Lieutenant LaPalm run a ship’s weapon test from the bridge and then requested the ship’s doctor, Commander Abilene Pettway, to report to her as soon as possible.
Fifteen minutes later Commander Pettway entered the Triple C.
“What can I do for you, Captain?” Commander Pettway asked.
“Since I don’t have a full crew aboard, it’s hard to man the bridge and Triple C during our mission. I was wondering if you could give us a hand,” Mary explained.
“Yes, Captain. What would you like me to do?”
“First of all, run a complete scan of the planet’s atmosphere and let me know how long a person can live exposed without an atmospheric suit.”
“Yes, Captain,” Commander Pettway said as she sat down at a console.
Commander Pettway was young, short, and thin. She wore her long blonde hair in a ponytail. Her skin was tanned and looked as though she had spent the summer on the beach, when in reality the drugs starship crews used to absorb even the dimmest light gave a small percentage of crewmen this side effect. She was of this percentage. Mary also knew Commander Pettway was the youngest ship’s medical doctor in the navy; she had graduated from medical school and completed her residency before she was twenty-three. This was her second ship assignment.
“Captain, Stephen has decoded another intercepted S-TIC message that I think you’ll want to hear,” Ensign Young said.
“Read the message, Stephen,” Mary responded.
“‘From Assistant Leeward to Director Buru: Doctor Klaxton is a United States Marine Lieutenant,’” Stephen reported.
Captain Bowser closed her eyes a second after hearing the message and said aloud to no one in particular, “They know. We’ll see if Commander Steward and Lieutenant Klaxton can convince them of their cover story.”
Science Division Conference Room, Canton Mie Biosphere
1445—February 21, 2372
“I was a lieutenant in the marines,” Gideon corrected Director Buru, hoping the latest Communal Tribal Union intelligence about the United States military was months old. “I resigned my commission six months ago after learning about this expedition.”
Director Buru, a seasoned politician, said nothing for a second, then responded. “I admit our intelligence information is dated, but I doubt you could’ve received a doctorate in computer science in six months, Lieutenant.”
“May I speak, Director?” Commander Steward interjected.
“Please do,” Director Buru answered.
“Doctor Klaxton has a genius-level IQ and had no problem completing his doctorate from MIT. Your records about Doctor Klaxon should confirm his IQ,” Commander Steward said.
“Very interesting. I had no idea you were such a brilliant man, Lieutenant Klaxton,” Director Buru said with a smug look on his face.
“Doctor Klaxton,” Gideon corrected again with a smile.
“Sorry, Doctor. You won’t mind if I verify your IQ level, would you?”
“Not at all, Director,” Gideon said. “Also, it may help to validate my credentials if you’d allow me to speak with someone in your science department about applying the Terimon Theory to quantum computing. I’d like to see if there has been any progress made in this area by your scientists.”
“If we have time, Doctor, I’ll see if I can arrange it,” Director Buru answered. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll have Assistant Leeward review your file in depth, and then we’ll continue with our meeting.”
Director Buru left the room, leaving the envoy team alone.
“I can’t believe they did a background check on us,” Gideon said as soon as the director had exited the room. The rest of the envoy team sat there confused by the statement. Gideon hoped they’d realize the conference room was probably being monitored. A second later they seemed to understand.
“I’m not surprised,” Commander Steward added. “The Communal Tribal Union is obsessed with controlling their world and distrusts everyone. They may think we were sent here to start a revolution.” Commander Steward said and then laughed. Gideon, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Harper
laughed with him.
***
“They know they’re being watched,” Director Buru said to Assistant Leeward as they watched and listened to the envoy team from the assistant’s monitor.
“I’m sure they do, Director, but I’ve confirmed Doctor Klaxton has a genius-level IQ, and not only that, he has a permanent photographic memory,” Assistant Leeward said as she looked through Gideon’s military file.
“Very well, we’ll proceed with the meeting for now. Have my staff join us,” Director Buru ordered as he arrogantly walked away.
“Immediately,” Assistant Leeward responded.
***
Ten minutes later Director Buru entered the conference room again, followed by his staff. His staff consisted of five older men. Each took a seat without speaking a word.
“I’m sorry for doubting you, Doctor Klaxton. Please except my humble apologies,” Director Buru said.
“That’s perfectly all right, Director. I understand that security is of the utmost importance to the Communal Tribal Union,” Gideon said, relieved for the moment that they believed his cover story.
Director Buru agreed with a nod and then introduced his scientific staff to the envoy team. The staff said little after the introductions. Then Director Buru began the meeting.
“Doctor Harper, you’re the scientific leader of the expedition. Would you please explain the specifics of what you’ll be trying to accomplish?” Director Buru asked.
Dr. Harper told Director Buru and his staff everything he knew about Mission Origin. Anyway, if the Communal Tribal Union wanted more information, they could simply “extract” the information from the team by drugs or torture.
After Dr. Harper outlined the mission, Director Buru and his staff asked several questions for clarification. They seemed more interested in the Harper Power System than in discovering the origin of life on Earth.
“Director Buru,” Commander Steward said after their questions were answered, “we hoped that Doctor Kastriva would be attending the meeting since we asked for him to join the expedition.”