Mase quickly put in a call to Steve and was hurriedly connected by Margaret Sullivan, the communications specialist on Star One.
“What’s going on, Mase?” Steve asked in a pleasant voice. “Margaret said it was urgent.”
“You won’t believe this,” replied Mase, trying to keep the aggravation at the AI out of his voice. “But I have just received a report from Farside that Teela has somehow seized control of the array’s computer systems. This occurred twenty minutes ago, and she has directed them to make some type of unknown observations of the neutron star.”
“Are you certain, Mase?” Steve asked, hardly believing that Teela would do such a thing. She had been behaving so well recently.
“Yes,” replied Mase, with growing concern in his voice. “She has overridden our computer controls completely, and we haven’t been able to regain control of the arrays. Can you find out what’s going on and have her release the arrays back to us before something is damaged? The scientists and technicians at Farside are in an uproar. We have detected a tremendous amount of data being transferred between the array’s computers and Star One.”
“We’ll take care of it, Mase,” promised Steve, determinedly. “I’ll get a hold of her now and see what the hell is going on. She will definitely have some explaining to do.”
“That won’t be necessary, Commander,” Teela’s feminine voice spoke, unperturbed, breaking in over the communication’s line. “I am through with the arrays and have returned control back to the Farside computers. It is imperative that Commander Jones, you, and I talk immediately in your office. I have discovered something of immense significance that will force even Mr. Colton to agree that I did the right thing. I’m sorry Mr. Colton, but what I did was necessary.”
“Very well,” replied Steve confused but determined to get to the bottom of this. “But this had better be good, Teela! I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, Mase.”
Mase hung the phone up even more confused now than before. What the hell was going on, even more important, just what had Teela discovered? Mase had a haunting feeling that it wouldn’t be good.
A few minutes later, Steve called back and explained that Teela had discovered something of tremendous importance and needed to use the arrays at Farside for an additional period of two hours uninterrupted. With a heavy sigh, Mase agreed to Steve’s request. He had known Steve long enough to know that he wouldn’t be making such a request unless it was extremely important.
“I will contact Adam Strong at Farside and explain to him that Teela needs the array. He won’t be happy, but I will make him understand it’s important.”
“Thanks, Mase,” Steve replied. “I will be sending you the information that Teela has come up with on the next shuttle. I don’t want to risk this getting out on our regular communication lines.”
“Okay, Steve,” Mase replied. “I’ll be waiting for it.”
Mase leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in thought. Just what the hell had the AI discovered? Mase felt a cold chill run down his back. Whatever it was, he strongly suspected it wouldn’t be good, and he wondered how it would affect the FarQuest mission.
-
The next day, Mase was in the large conference room next to his office with Adam Strong, Charles Turner, Isaac Anderson, Steffan Darrow, Jackson Pierce, and Jolene Lang. Linda was sitting in to take notes of the meeting. He handed out a report to each one describing what Teela had discovered. What she had found with the array was frightening beyond belief.
“A black hole?” spoke Charles skeptically, as he looked at the data. “How is that possible? According to Teela, the neutron star is orbiting a black hole that is forty-two miles in diameter and twelve times the mass of the sun.”
“A black hole,” muttered Isaac, wondering how this was going to affect their plans. This situation couldn’t get any worse. All their planning may have been for nothing!
“The neutron star in is orbit around the black hole at a distance of 12,000 miles,” Adam commented as he continued to read the report. “No wonder our data has been off.”
“I guess the dust cloud could have been masking it,” Charles said, running his hand through his hair. “It does explain some of the discrepancies in the readings from the neutron star.”
“What are we going to do?” Isaac asked as he looked at the predictions from Teela on how quickly conditions on Earth were going to deteriorate. “According to Teela, life on Earth will be questionable in six to eight more months. The launch centers could only be expected to function at most for four more months.”
Mase let out a deep breath as he considered the ramifications of Teela’s discovery. “We continue as we had planned. Even if Earth becomes untenable, we can carry on our work here. We also need to prioritize what the shuttles are bringing up.”
“Teela mentions there is a forty percent chance the Sun could go nova,” Charles spoke, his face creased in worry. “If it does, even the new Tycho City won’t be safe.”
The room became very quiet as everyone thought over what Charles had just said. Did it mean all of their hard work would be for nothing?”
“But there’s a sixty percent chance that it won’t,” Mase pointed out. “Let’s assume the nova is not a threat and continue from there.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but the worry and fear about the nova would be in the back of their minds for quite some time.
Linda listened carefully to what everyone was saying. The black hole stuff she didn’t quite understand. She would have to ask Mase about it after the meeting was over. She also knew that she needed to get Karen up to Tycho City as soon as she could. After what had been occurring on Earth, Linda didn’t feel it was safe for Karen to be there any longer.
-
A few days later, Mase was inside the Control Center with Captain Daniels as the first of two special military shuttles arrived from Earth. The two shuttles had been launched from one of the military’s two space launch centers.
“I wonder what General Karver is sending us?” Daniels asked as the first shuttle sat down smoothly on a landing pad.
The pad gradually began to descend and deposited the shuttle safely in one of the underground hangars. The second shuttle was in the process of commencing its descent and would be arriving shortly.
“I don’t know,” Mase replied a little uneasily.
“It has to be some type of weapons,” Daniels said. She knew that General Karver had promised to send them what was needed to defend Tycho City if it became necessary.
Mase nodded in agreement. Knowing General Karver, anything could be on the two shuttles. He watched as the second shuttle landed and was taken down below.
“Let’s go find out from the pilot’s just what’s going on and what they brought us.”
“I’m guessing it’s weapons,” Daniels said. She knew that if she were General Karver that’s what she would be sending up to Tycho City.
A few minutes later, they were at the first shuttle and watched as its hatch opened and a young marine captain stepped out. Spotting Mase and Captain Daniels, he came over and saluted.
“Captain Struthers reporting for duty, Sir,” he said, snapping smartly to attention.
“At ease, Captain,” replied Mase, returning the salute. “What’s going on?” Mase could see other marines coming out of the shuttle. He hadn’t expected this and, looking over at Captain Daniels surprised face, she evidently hadn’t either.
“I have some information from General Karver and the president that will explain everything, Sir.” Struthers replied as he reached into a pocket and handed Mase two small computer disks.
Mase nodded. There was a small conference room next to the Control Center. They could view the disks there.
A few minutes later, they were in the conference room, and Mase placed the first disk into the computer terminal for playback. The message would be displayed on the single large viewscreen on the wall. The screen flickered on instantly with a view of the preside
nt and General Karver sitting in her office, looking grim.
-
“I’m sorry to have to keep this mission so secret, Commander Colton,” President Kateland began amiably. “But if the word was to get out it would create a serious uproar and possibly even an international incident. Who knows what Senator Farley would do with this information?”
Pausing she looked over at General Karver before continuing. “We presume from the activity with Teela and the Farside array that you now know about the black hole that is with the neutron star.”
Mase looked at the screen in surprise. What was going on? How could the president know about the black hole? They hadn’t sent that information to Earth yet.
“The Super Crays located the black hole several weeks ago, and we have kept it a secret,” President Kateland continued evenly. “If the word were to get out, we believe the entire world would go off the deep end in just a matter of a few days. Yes, we know that the Earth probably cannot survive the passing of both. We also know that when people and nations here on Earth realize that Star One and perhaps Tycho City are the only hopes of real survival there could be attempts made to seize or even destroy one or the other, or even both. That’s what these military shuttles are there to prevent. The two shuttles contain eighty highly trained men and women in equal numbers whose job it will be to protect Tycho City and Farside. I will let General Karver explain the particulars,” she stopped, looking over at the general.
“These men and women are highly trained in various fields and can be used to help wherever needed as well as in their military capacity,” General Karver began. “On the other disk Captain Struthers has given you is a complete dossier on each member of his team. You have final say so in all matters, and Captain Struthers understands that you, then Isaac Anderson followed by Captain Daniels, are the direct line of command. Captain Daniels is also promoted immediately to the rank of major.”
Steve looked over at the young marine captain and then over at now Major Daniels. She looked stunned by the sudden promotion.
“Captain Struthers and his marines have been instructed to obey your orders without question,” General Karver continued. “In the cargo holds of these two shuttles are forty Black Knight interceptor missiles, similar to the ancient Patriot missiles of the late twentieth century, but highly upgraded versions. The missiles are fourteen feet in length, contain conventional explosives, and are capable of intercepting any threat that may come within 250 miles of Tycho City or Farside. We are sending a larger contingent of marines and missiles to Star One as they are between you and Earth. If an attack comes, they will bear the brunt of it.”
“There is an awful lot of behind the scenes maneuvering currently being done by Senator Farley,” President Kateland began after General Karver had finished. “He has been contacting people in the military and other power groups around the country. Some of my people have even suggested that we arrest the senator, but the general and I feel that would only ignite the powder keg that is coming even sooner.”
The president paused, looking over at General Karver before continuing. “We are sitting on a time bomb that could go off at any moment. I have instructed Jane Kinsey to increase shuttle launches to the maximum possible without violating too many safety protocols. I fear that we will not be given the time to get as many people up to the Moon as we had originally hoped,” she paused and took a deep breath. She had an extremely sad and haunted look in her eyes.
“Tycho City has a remote chance of surviving if the underground caverns can survive the stress from the neutron star and the black hole. We are still working on the two secret underground complexes in Colorado. They might survive if the Earth doesn’t break up due to the stresses it will be subjected to from the neutron star and the black hole. Their top-secret communication frequencies are on the other disk. Make no attempt to contact them until after the black hole and neutron star have passed. Several other countries are also building underground shelters that might have a slight chance of surviving. You need to prepare for the worst. We will be in touch,” she finished as the screen went dark.
Mase looked over at Captain Struthers as he tried to decide what to do with the marines. “Captain, for the time being, we will be putting your people in tents on the outside of Tycho City.”
“We were expecting that, and brought our own tents,” the captain responded. “We will be quite comfortable in them.”
“We also need to decide where to store these missiles of yours for the time being.”
“Commander, we have an empty hangar that can be locked that would serve,” Major Daniels said as she considered the options that were available to her.
“Very well, Major,” Mase spoke. He had called Stephanie captain for so long it was going to take awhile to get used to calling her major. “See to it, and once you’re done contact Linda and inform her. I will check and see where the best location for Captain Struthers and his marines will be to set up their tents. Also, Captain, I would feel more comfortable if a guard or two were placed at the hangar with the missiles for security reasons. I don’t expect any problems, but I want to make sure those missiles stay secure.”
“Yes, Sir,” Captain Struthers replied. “I will take care of it. Two of my marines will be on guard at all times.”
Mase nodded. Thinking about what the president and General Karver had said, the future was quickly growing much more dangerous. If the situation on Earth fell apart, then none of them would survive. The launch centers had to stay operational for at least a few more precious months.
Mase also knew he needed to get his brother Phillip up to Tycho City as soon as possible, as well as Linda’s sister Karen and Anthony’s sister Jean. Mase let out a deep breath; there were so many decisions that needed to be made. At least some might be able to save a few lives.
Chapter Ten
Mase and Anthony were on the outskirts of Tycho Crater. With the aid of some engineers and several of Captain Struthers marines, a large platform had been built and two missile batteries set up. Three small white domes set off to the side contained the controls for the missile batteries as well as quarters for the four marines that would be stationed here. Each missile launcher contained four of the deadly Black Knight interceptor missiles.
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Anthony spoke as he watched one of the launchers swivel around until it was pointed almost directly toward Earth, high above the horizon.
“You should see what they’re doing on Star One,” Mase replied. Steve had told him that General Karver had sent ten of the new experimental railguns to the giant space station to aid in its defense along with the Black Knight missiles. Nothing could reach the Moon without going past Star One first, and Steve didn’t intend for that to happen.
Anthony gazed up at the distant Earth. “Do you really thing it’s going to get that bad, Mase?” From here, the Earth looked the same as always.
“It might,” Mase said, looking over at Anthony. His tinted visor was down, and his face was barely visible through his spacesuit helmet. “The situation is getting worse each day. The last I heard, General Karver was moving even more marine and army units around the launch centers.”
“They have to hold those launch facilities,” replied Anthony, hoping that it didn’t come down to Americans fighting one another. That hadn’t happened since the Civil War.
Mase gazed across the crater. He knew on the far side another set of missile batteries had been installed. Major Daniels and Captain Struthers were both over at that site conducting an inspection. The crews would be rotated once per week.
Nearly eight weeks had passed since Captain Struthers and his men had arrived at Tycho City. In that time over three thousand men, women, and children had been sent to Tycho City from the cape launch facility. Every day at least two shuttles landed, one containing forty more evacuees from Earth and the other with essential supplies. On some days, they received three of the large shuttles.
Spe
cial preference had been given to close family members of people already living on the Moon. There were also a number of additional scientists, doctors, nurses, technicians, teachers, engineers, and others from various professions that had been invited to come up to Tycho City.
“It’s getting crowded in Tycho City,” commented Anthony, recalling the long line he and Jolene had been forced to stand in the night before to get into their favorite restaurant. “I was speaking with Jolene last night, and she said she has one of the new ecological habitats nearly ready. She’s been speaking to Julie Gray nearly every day, and Julie even sent down a couple of her assistants to help Jolene finish setting up the first habitat.”
Mase smiled to himself. Jolene and Anthony were seeing each other on a regular basis. Sometimes he and Linda would go out with them to one of the restaurants in Tycho City. Mase had to admit that he did enjoy going out with Linda, she was bright, easy going, and a lot of fun to be around.
“I spoke to Julie yesterday, and she is quiet confident that Jolene will be able to handle the habitats,” Mase replied with an easy smile. “Julie also suggested several people from Earth she thought would be a big help in monitoring the habitats and assisting with setting up future ones. I don’t want Jolene overworking herself.”
His suit com system suddenly blinked a yellow attention light inside his helmet, indicating an incoming message from his office. He knew it had to be Linda, and if she was calling him now it had to be important. He pressed the receive button on the small com panel on his wrist.
“This is Mase,” he spoke. “What’s wrong, Linda?”
“It’s terrible, Mase!” Linda spoke in a frightened and upset voice. “I just spoke to Margaret on Star One, and she is saying that both the president and vice president have just been killed. It seems that Senator Farley and part of the military are in the process of staging a coup. There is fighting breaking out everywhere on Earth. There have even been some nuclear weapons used in the Middle East and between China and Taiwan.”
Star One: Tycho City Survival Page 13