by M. Alan Marr
The ship approaches the astroport and slows to nearly a hover. Landing gear is extended, and Dev eases the ship through a gentle touchdown onto the designated tarmac. Propulsion is secured. Reaction system is powered down. The crew, eager to take their first step onto another world, leave the canopy and file into the control deck.
“Wow, look at you two,” Jen says, seeing their flight suits for the first time.
“Ooh, cool uniforms,” Annette says.
“They are cool,” Chaz says, and then notices Matt stabilizing himself on a computer console. He keeps picking up his leg and shaking it. “Matt, you okay?”
“My legs feel a little funny.”
“Mine too,” Annette says.
“It’s just the gravity here,” Chaz says. “It’s a little heavier than on Earth. You get used to it in no time at all. By tomorrow, you’ll hardly notice it.”
Jen frowns upon seeing the weapon on Chaz’s hip and nudges Harrison to look.
“Hey, Chaz,” Harrison says, “what kind of gun is that?”
“They call it a kinetic energy weapon.”
“Cool. Ever fire it?”
Chaz is a little uncomfortable with the question. “Yeah . . . once.”
“What were you shooting at?”
“A Yeti.”
Jen is surprised. “You mean you’ve seen one?”
“Yeah.”
“What did it do to him?” Harrison says.
Chaz winces. “There really wasn’t much left of it.”
Dev finishes securing the ship’s systems and claps his hands together. “All right, guys, once we exit the ship, we will be met by a medical team to make sure you’re not bringing in any Earthly pathogens. They’ll also give you a battery of inoculations and clean up all the junk in your systems. Everyone ready? Let’s head down to the cargo bay.”
Everyone eagerly files downstairs to the lower deck. At the bottom of the stairs, Matt lingers behind and asks to have a word with Dev and Chaz.
Harrison, Annette, Jen, Franz, Milo, and Steve enter the cargo bay, ready to go. They all notice a green line of light surrounding the cargo bay. Steve turns to ask about it, and is surprised to see Dev, Chaz, and Matt talking quietly at the other end of the passageway. He sees Matt hang his head down, and Chaz put a caring hand on Matt’s shoulder. Dev opens up a compartment door near the sleeping berths, blocking Steve’s view at this point. Chaz enters the bay a minute or so later.
“Everything all right?” Steve says quietly.
“Just a little snag.” Chaz explains to the crew that the green border light is an external atmospheric detector that arms with extension of the landing gear. Green is good, red and blue are bad, but he admits he can’t remember what the blue light signifies.
“Hey, what’s in all these boxes?” Steve says, referring to the cargo in the hold.
“Stuff we’ll need for the base. We didn’t have a chance to off load it. I guess we’ll have to take it back with us.”
Dev enters the cargo bay followed by Matt, who is now wearing a dark blue Tertian environmental suit. The getup looks something like a wet suit with enclosed transparent helmet and has integrated boots and gloves. The suit has a control panel along the left forearm and a belt lined with small gas cylinders and power packs.
Jen looks at Matt. “What the hell are you wearing?”
“Yeah, what’s with the Hazmat suit?” Harrison says.
Matt looks at his friends with glassy eyes. “I . . . I don’t want to bring a virus into their world.”
“Virus?” Harrison says. “What, are you sick?”
Jen jabs Harrison in the arm with her elbow. Matt sees she’s trying to protect him.
“I . . . have HIV,” Matt admits somberly. He flails his hands a little. “Don’t make me cry . . . I can’t wipe my eyes in this thing.” He takes a breath. “Anyway . . . they have to make sure it’s okay for me to enter their environment.”
No one says a word. The good mood is totally crushed by this news.
Harrison looks at the sullen expressions all around him and breaks the uncomfortable silence. “Talk about Hazmat.”
Matt looks at Harrison and starts chuckling. “You ain’t lying.”
The other pilots start to laugh at Harrison’s choice of words.
Dev whispers to Chaz. “Hazmat?”
“Short for Hazardous Materials,” Chaz whispers back.
Dev nods in understanding.
Matt’s condition not withstanding, it is time. Without further ado, Dev puts his hand on the control panel and flips up the safety cover and presses the button to activate the cargo ramp. Everyone turns toward the front as the ramp motor engages. Bright daylight seems to burst through the outer seams of the lowering ramp, making everyone inside the dimly lit cargo bay squint.
Dev turns forward and smiles. “Welcome to a larger world.”
Chaz leads the troop down the ramp and is the first to take a deep, cleansing breath of clean, fresh Tertian air. Chaz’s gait is enthusiastic. The others are a little more cautious. They, too, notice the air is clean and unpolluted. The oxygen content is a little higher than back home. The sun is more whitish than they are used to. The gravity feels even more odd now that they’re off the ship. A gentle breeze from the shoreline is comfortable. The tarmac they are on is close to the ocean below.
A white vehicle the size of a large motor home with something like a DNA graphic on the side arrives at the ship, along with several smaller fleet maintenance vehicles. It is somewhat unnerving for the new arrivals, not knowing exactly what is happening. The main doors of the vehicles rotate open, and a group of personnel step out and salute Dev and Chaz. The ‘civilian’ group is somewhat relieved to see normal Human beings, and that they seem unfazed by the group of Earthlings. The ground crew are wearing enlisted fatigues, the medical team is wearing white, all with the same sort of DNA insignia. Chaz doesn’t remember seeing what he assumes is a medical insignia from his brief visit on the Warship Adonis, but he was preoccupied, so it is no surprise he does not remember small details.
“Oasis pilots and crew to the medical vehicle, please,” Dev orders, and then hands over the ship’s electronic docket to the lead tech crewman.
“Thank you, Commander. Anything to report, sir?”
“No malfunctions,” Dev replies. “Prior to flight the ship was submerged in water for an extended period, so you may want to check all her ports. There is some cargo that will need to return to Oasis with us.”
“Aye, sir, we’ll store it for when you go back.”
“Excellent. The ship is yours.”
Chaz sees the apprehension on the crew’s faces. He takes the lead, and they cautiously enter the large white vehicle with him. Inside, a host of built-in medical equipment awaits. They all look around nervously.
Jen, the wildcard of the bunch, and least convinced of Dev’s good intentions, leans toward Annette and whispers, “This is like my worst nightmare coming true.”
Chaz introduces himself. “Lieutenant Commander Ronaldi.”
The medical officer salutes. “Commander Ronaldi, Medical Lieutenant Chao. I need to establish medical clearance for your group, sir.”
“They’re a little nervous. This is their first time away from Earth.”
The doctor nods, then addresses the group. “Welcome to Trieste.” He sees Matt. “I see there may be a complication. Please, sir, just over there.”
Matt, looking worried, is directed to lie down on an examination table, where another small group of medical personnel begin taking scans.
Dr. Chao addresses the nervous Oasis group. “Have no fear, none of the diagnostics are intrusive. Who will be next?”
Jen pushes Harrison forward.
Steve, Jen, Franz, and Milo wait while Harrison sits on a table and is examined by the medical staff.
Harrison, for one, is intrigued as he stands in a vertical diagnostic cubicle. While the scan is taking place, he looks around at the high-tech mobile setup. �
��It looks like you could do surgery in here.”
“We can, sir,” the medical crewman reading the screen replies.
Detailed scans are taken of Matt through his environmental suit. The medical officer and enlisted crewman take many notes as they read the ongoing scan. Harrison looks over and sees Matt has a worrisome expression.
“Hey, HazMat,” Harrison calls from across the vehicle. “You okay?”
“HazMat.” Matt smiles. “That’s a good one, Harr. Way better than Skinny Merle.”
“Why did they call you Skinny Merle anyway?” Harrison asks.
“My awful middle name is Merle. I guess I’m part hillbilly. When I was a kid I found a lady’s hat in our attic that still had the price tag on it. I wore it around like Minnie Pearl . . . So, Minnie Pearl . . . Skinny Merle.”
“HazMat is better.” Harrison smiles, as the doctor raises Harrison’s right arm to scan the tattoo on his bicep.
“I guess I am somewhat hazardous,” Matt replies to the doctor near him.
“Viruses can be very troublesome, sir.”
Matt scoffs slightly at the officer’s choice of words. “Troublesome is not exactly how I would describe it.”
“We have to be particularly careful with exo-viruses.”
“What’s an exo-virus?” Jen says.
“A virus of off-world origin, ma’am. We will need to establish how this particular virus behaves in ambient gravitational, thermal, and atmospheric conditions.”
Matt is concerned. “Why, what happens?”
“Viral organisms, when exposed to differing gravity and atmospherics can often mutate. They have extraordinary survivability responses.”
The doctor scanning Harrison’s arm comments, “You appear to have a latent injury to your flexor tendon.” The screen shows the tendon and a small tear along the edge that hasn’t healed properly.
“Yes, I tore it a couple of years ago, lifting.”
“Lifting what, sir?”
“Just lifting . . . uh, exercising with weights?”
“Ah, yes. A common injury.” The doctor retrieves another device. “This is a transdermal suture, sir. It will repair the tear. May I?”
“I guess, yeah.”
The doctor activates the device and directs it at the area in question. On the screen they can see that the edges of the tendon begin to join together.
Harrison is impressed. “Wow.”
A medical technician delivers a battery of inoculations plugged into an injection gun.
“Sir, these are inoculations that will protect you from pathogens you may encounter here in the Crown. Also, metabolic compounds that will clear your system of toxicities from your own world.”
“Don’t worry, Harr,” Chaz says. “It doesn’t hurt.”
The group watches as the doctor places the somewhat imposing-looking injection gun on Harrison’s neck. The group flinches somewhat at the recoil sound of the injection gun, but Harrison barely notices. The medical crewman has Harrison press his hand against the pad and state his full name. Workup complete, Jen is reluctantly up next.
A smaller white medical vehicle pulls up near the open door of the big vehicle. Two people in white containment suits, similar to what Matt is wearing, enter the mobile medical lab to collect him. They escort him out to the waiting vehicle.
“Where are you taking him!” Jen demands.
“He’ll be fine, Jen,” Chaz tells her.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been here before,” Chaz says evenly. “Please trust me. He has nothing to worry about.” Chaz walks outside while Matt is getting into the van. “Matt, just ask them to contact me if you have any concerns. You’re in good hands.”
Matt’s voice sounds shaky. “Okay.”
Chaz issues a stern look at the unknown medical technician. “Take good care of him. That’s an order.”
“Aye, Commander.”
***
The medical staff clears the rest of the new arrivals right there on the flight line. Their handprints and voiceprints are logged into the system, as well as optical and DNA images.
Upon arrival at the Admiralty headquarters building, the new arrivals are amazed, not only by the gallantry on display in the form of the military guards, but of the historic feeling the architecture of the Admiralty buildings exude. Steve and Harrison take notice of the formal military courtesy shown to both Dev and Chaz.
Dev escorts everyone up the grand stone staircase, where he stops before an immense stone globe, upheld by four tightly spaced pillars that each seem precariously placed and far too small to bear the entirety of the globe.
“My friends, this was once a globe of Trieste. As you can see, its surface is now smooth and undefined, because it represents more than just one world. At its base are four pillars representing the Four Pillars of Service: Excellence, Integrity, Altruism, and Honor.” He nods to Chaz. “Commander Chaz.”
Chaz takes over. “This is important, guys. When they say the Four Pillars support the weight of the world, they don’t just mean this one, but all worlds, ours now included. None of the pillars can support the weight on its own. They take this very seriously. Excellence, Integrity, Altruism, and Honor. Remember it. Respect it. Live by it. It is the backbone of their military service, and it’s a standard we all have to uphold.”
The group takes a few moments to gaze up at the giant and heavy-looking globe and let this new axiom sink in, because they will, each of them, truly bear the weight of the world.
Dev leads the group through the grounds of the Admiralty to the great iron gates. Clad in black and silver, the large iron gates are adorned with metalwork representations of the constellations of the Human cosmos. Each star, a bejeweled artistic work of incredible beauty. Each one is designed to incorporate individual qualities of the constellations they represent. Hercules is done in gold; Eridanus as a river with leafy, starry vines, green with inset emeralds; Lyra, a musical harp with a multitude of gems; Cygnus as a cosmic bird in black stones and silver-black metals unique to that constellation; Triangulum with three radiant stars, and finally, the central constellation at the gates, Corona Borealis, an ornate crown of almost baroque artistry. Gemma is represented by a large blue-white stone, and slightly behind, a yellow gem representing the companion star, Gemini. The artistry of the gate is nothing short of extraordinary. A historical tapestry of a cosmic age.
There is so much to take in, no one really knows what to focus on. Stepping through the portals to the outside world is equally amazing. Here before this group of Earth people, stands a thriving city nearly incomprehensible to anyone on Earth.
Dev leads the group to the transit station. Jen is apprehensive about leaving Matt behind, but she’s forcing herself to keep her reflexive attitude in check and trust Chaz.
“I know you’re all exited,” Dev says, “and probably a little tired. It will be nightfall here soon, and I’d like to get you all settled in.”
The below street level transit station is large, clean, and pleasant, like something from the future. They follow Dev down the escalator and then onto another one to the next level.
Franz looks at Steve. “This is their subway? Where’s all the gum and cigarette butts?”
Steve laughs, “Yeah, where’s the bum pissing in the stairwell?”
Franz is looking around, just amazed. “Milo, I don’t think any of us are going to look at Earth the same way ever again.”
Milo is looking all around in awe. “Is . . . amazing.”
The southbound train arrives inside a large transparent tube, gliding to a halt with minimal noise. The tube doors slide open vertically along the curve of the tube, followed by the doors to the train. At this hour, there are not many passengers in the station, and the train itself is fairly empty. The few ‘local’ passengers notice the weapons on Dev and Chaz’s flight suits and give them a wide berth, as is the custom; the general public have a healthy respect for lethal weapons.
The group makes
the twenty-minute train ride to Bari Province. Jen sits and is lost in thought watching the windows. She is worried about Matt. Not only did they leave him behind at the Admiralty, but now they’re on a train going eight hundred miles per hour away from the city. The rest of them are like high school students on a class trip. They’re excited, trying to take everything in. Of all the questions they could be asking about being on an alien planet fifty-six light years away from Earth, the one thing they seem to be most impressed with is the fact they didn’t have to pay to get on the train. Public transportation, Dev explains, is public.
The train ride is smooth, impressive, and supremely fast. The fellow train passengers are all well put together, seemingly fashionable, and although curious as to the fashion choices of the Oasis group, but are respectful of their privacy.
Arriving in Bari Province, the group is once again amazed at the beauty of the locale. Dev leads everyone into his building and up to his dwelling, where his adjutant awaits. The new people are somewhat confused by Dev calling him Leftenant rather than Lieutenant, but Dev explains the traditional reference to the group.
“Wait,” Annette says, “what?”
“In the old days, Lieutenants would always flank to the left of the senior, so they evolved into Leftenants. You’ll only hear it from officers in fleet service; the terrestrial services don’t say Leftenant. Also, with regard to Chaz’s rank, we never say Leftenant Commander.”
“That’s right,” Chaz says. “Because Lieutenant Commanders stood wherever they wanted.”
“Also, when writing or reading, please note that we always capitalize officer ranks.”
The lift opens into Dev’s dwelling. Leftenant Bross stands waiting and officially greets his Commanding Officer. Dev makes introductions and then invites everyone into his home. The group is impressed with Dev’s apartment and beautiful ocean vista. Bross quietly informs Dev that he managed to secure quarters for the fledgling squadron in the building. Bross is a master at what he does. Bross also has fresh sets of civilian clothes for the new arrivals, and two fresh uniforms for Chaz and Dev.
“Commander Ronaldi,” Bross says, “with your permission, I will inform the group of their lodging assignments.”