“So that is good news,” Hobart said. He looked over at Gwen and gave her a hug.
“Very good news,” one of the other adventurers replied.
Paul saw Jamie beaming with anticipation. She looked like no one had said anything about four of their friends just committing suicide. “Am I the only one who really cares that they died?” Paul whispered.
“I care,” Gretchen said. “I know the others do as well. But these missions offer hope.”
“AI, are the PFTL ships ready for deployment?” Lorna asked, somewhat overly loud, which was out of character for her.
Artificial Intelligence replied, “All seven are in ready status.”
“What is the soonest launch time?” Jubal asked.
Paul did not hear the discussion for a while. He was studying Jamie and Michael. He knew Michael had been scheduled to go with them to Dome 3, but had injured his ankle playing ricochet ball just prior to that mission. Paul had been asked to fill in. ‘How would things have been had Michael gone and not me?’ Paul pondered that, and then remembered that Michael was the only one who had been on a solo and not died. He looked at Michael with more respect.
Cammarry was speaking to Gretchen. “So which ship will you select?”
“What?” Paul interrupted them. “What do you mean, select?”
“Muriel just said we can request specific ships as our destinations. She also said we can choose our own two person teams, but insists it be one man and one woman. That seems kind of weird, but who knows why the Committee does things?” Cammarry was kind of flippant.
“They always have a reason,” Paul responded glumly. Gretchen, do you want to do this mission?”
“I am going for sure!” Cammarry said. “Jerome and I will pick one out. I just need to speak to him, but I have an idea where I want to go.”
“You know this is one way and forever, right?” Paul asked.
“Yes, I asked that question. Where were you? No coming back, but that is why we build a teleportation pad on the other end. That way the people here come to us. We only have one hundred and twenty some days here. Might as well live out the adventure!” Cammarry said with a smile. “Besides, Brink is confident that the teleportation will work.”
“You are almost as bad as Jamie,” Paul said in disgust.
“Thank you. That is quite a compliment,” Cammarry said in retort. Her eyes held some tears back, and Paul realized she was masking her own fear with a false front of bravery. ‘Does Jamie do that too?’ he wondered. Cammarry turned away and spoke more to Jerome.
“Paul, we need to discuss this,” Gretchen said and met and held his gaze.
“Okay. Right here?” Paul asked.
“Not right here. Take a walk with me, it looks like this could go on for a while,” Gretchen said as the others in the room were in vigorous discussion. Paul noted that Jamie and Michael had departed.
6 volunteers for the vanguard
Paul and Gretchen walked the corridors of the dome for a while. Gretchen held his hand tightly. As they rounded a corner near where the seniors lived, she turned to him and kissed him.
“What was that for?” Paul asked. “I mean, it was great, and unexpected, and well, pretty nice.”
“I know you had a horrible time at Dome 3. Worse than I can imagine, and far worse than the records show. You have been different since you came back from there. Not only different toward Jamie, but different toward life. But I am here for you.” Gretchen said. She then hugged him tightly.
Paul looked at the double doors which led into the senior’s living establishment. For some unknown reason he thought of how the seniors did not have age mates like the younger people. Some of them had had parents, and siblings, and children in the old fashioned and dangerous way. Then it occurred to Paul, ‘We are heading into more danger than ever. These people need me. I must find them a safe place to live. I might be the only hope Dome 17 has.’
“Gretchen? I think we need to go. There are barely enough adventurers to fill every spot. They said seven ships, and two people in each flight. I do not fully trust the faster-than-light drive that has been built. Nor do I think teleportation is proven. But Brink says they will work. So I leave it up to you. Gretchen, whatever you decide on this, I will stand with you,” Paul said. “Even though you are a bit taller than I am.”
“Roy, Dave, LeAnn, and Constance made their choice. I wish I had done something different about that,” Gretchen said. “But we can do something now. I agree with you. We need to go.”
They hugged again for a moment. Then Gretchen pulled back, “Delphi?”
“Yes, Gretchen. How may I help you?” Her personal artificial intelligence responded.
“Send a message to the Committee and tell them that Paul and I are going,” Gretchen said with confidence.
“Affirmative,” Delphi responded with its mechanical voice.
As Paul and Gretchen walked back toward their apartment, Delphi relayed a message that they were scheduled on flight number three.
“Who do you think is ahead of us?” Gretchen laughed, her pearly white teeth a contrast to her dark skin.
“Jamie and Michael, of course. Maybe Cammarry and Jerome?” Paul replied.
“Those were my guesses as well. Do you have a target preference? Which ship sounds like a winner?” Gretchen asked. “I was thinking you might not even go and was worried about that decision. What ship do you want to try?”
“At the apartment, we will review those probe findings. They all sounded bad to me.”
Entering the apartment, Cunda the AI stated, “There is a summons message from Committee member Muriel, shall I connect you?”
“Certainly,” Paul replied.
A three dimensional display appeared in the room showing Muriel’s head and shoulders. She spoke to them through the display, “Paul and Gretchen, I received your message about going on the faster-than-light scout mission. The ships Eschaton and Conestoga are already taken, but you may have your selection from the remaining five ships. You are slotted for launch number three. Please let me know your destination within the next three hours. Launch number three; your launch will be in three hours and twenty minutes. You will need to see medical, the Quartermaster, and finalize any goodbyes to others by that time. Do you have any questions?” Muriel looked rather haggard.
“So we were the third group to volunteer?” Gretchen asked.
“Yes, Jamie and Michael departed a short while ago, and Cammarry and Jerome are leaving on launch number two,” Muriel replied. “Only Committee members and Brink’s control team are allowed at the sling bay for launches, so say your farewells before you come to the sling bay.”
Paul rubbed his face with his hands.
“Paul what is it?” Gretchen asked. Muriel was looking on intently through the display.
“I guess the reality of this is hitting me. Gretchen and I will never see Jamie or Michael again,” Paul blurted out. “None of the adventurers will ever see each other again.”
“That is correct,” Muriel replied softly. “But hopefully one of the scouts will succeed and the majority of the dome’s population will be united in a safe place. But yes, tragically, none of the adventurer teams will ever be reunited. That was one reason the Committee decided to send two person teams. The solo missions to the domes were dismal failures. We considered solo trips to the colony ships and using the second pilot’s mass for equipment, but that mass was insufficient for a completed teleportation pad, and the AIs conjectured better chances of success with two pilots.”
“What are our chances?” Paul asked.
Muriel bit her lip a bit, but that was the only sign she had of the inner struggle she was enduring. She said, “One of the seven scouts must succeed, but that means the others will not. However, as the probes showed, each colony ship has signs of being life supportive. Hopefully all the FTL scout pilots will survive somewhere. That is a much greater chance than Dome 17 has. The pilots will survive, I feel that. Personally
, I think you adventurers have a greater chance of survival than we who are staying here in Dome 17, but do not tell anyone I said that. Mass panic in the population may doom us all.”
“So Member Muriel, what ship would you choose?” Paul asked.
“I have no idea. You and Gretchen are far more suited to making that decision than I am. I wish you the best of luck and I look forward to when that teleportation orifice opens and I can walk through and join you. I will see you in the sling bay. Your AIs have the itinerary. Please have your decision to me as soon as possible. I have two more acceptances which have come in since we began speaking. You have your choice for now of the remaining five ships.” Muriel disappeared as she disconnected the display.
“Gretchen, what do you think? Which ship?” Paul asked.
“I want to review what we heard. Delphi, please replay the last known status of each of the remaining five colony ships.”
The AI brought up the meager facts known about each ship from the robotic probes and last known reports. They listened and discussed each one’s possibilities.
“Replay the Vanguard’s information please,” Gretchen asked.
Delphi responded, “Latest assessment: 23% into voyage, when an incident occurred. Last known message received stated a mutiny had occurred and captain of ship had been assassinated by unknown crew members. Reporting officer was J. Baldwin, Pilot 3rd class. No further reports. Ship considered lost. Trajectory plotted and potential of robotic FTL contact, 48%.
“Gretchen, are you thinking what I was?” Paul asked.
“I was thinking a mutiny has no ship damage, only a leadership change. That seems a bit better possibility than the others,” Gretchen answered. “I am having trouble understanding why the Eschaton and Conestoga were selected. I see nothing especially inviting about them.”
“I agree with your assessment on the Vanguard. It looks like it might be the best choice. Shall I tell the Committee?” Paul asked.
“Yes, and I want to try to talk to Jerome and Cammarry before they launch. If for no other reason than to say goodbye.”
Paul pushed a few buttons on the wall unit and sent the message. They had selected the Vanguard.
“So it is decided,” Gretchen said. “Now can we find those others and get the itinerary done in time?”
“I doubt they will leave without us,” Paul said. “But with the Committee they might bump up the next team. So we hurry now.”
“Delphi? Where is Cammarry?” Gretchen asked her AI.
“Cammarry is just leaving the Medical Unit. Shall I contact her?” Delphi asked.
“No, but thanks you. I think we can catch up with her,” Gretchen stated. She looked at Paul. “We missed Michael and Jamie leaving, I do not want to miss Cammarry and Jerome.”
“Right!” Paul ran out the door with Gretchen chasing quickly after him.
They bolted through the halls toward the Medical Unit. Technicians and others in the hall made a few comments, but quickly stepped out of their way. Paul apologized as they ran. Gretchen’s long legs gave her the advantage and she passed Paul as they made it to the stairs which led down to the Medical Unit.
“Cammarry!” Gretchen yelled as she spotted her in the hallway.
“What in the world are you two doing?” Cammarry yelled back. “Has something happened?”
“We wanted to see you before you depart,” Gretchen said as she ran up to her. A few people were looking their direction. People running in the hallways was an uncommon sight. Paul waved at them to assure them things were well in hand.
“Jerome and I are going to the Quartermaster next. I do not have much time. You can walk with me,” Cammarry said.
“So which ship have you chosen?” Gretchen asked.
Cammarry looked around to make sure no one else could hear, then she shook her head. “It does not matter what people know. I will be gone soon enough. Jerome and I chose the Conestoga. I believe Jamie and Michael went to that ship with the religious crazy people. That was not for us.”
Paul interjected, “We are on the third launch.”
“Why did you choose the Conestoga?” Gretchen inquired.
“Well, the ship’s AI reports that it has landed on a planet. The probe found it. So we estimate that it must have found a suitable planet, or it would not have reported that, nor would the probe have found it,” Cammarry stated with only a slight tremble in her lip to reveal her anxiety. “A hospitable planet is the ultimate destination, so we thought it would be best to go right to that planet. Then when we build the teleportation receiving pad, it will save all the people from here. They can walk from Dome 17 right to the new planet, and no need to worry about some ancient colony ship.”
“That is very logical,” Gretchen complimented her. “I just wanted to thank you for being my friend.” Gretchen looked at Paul and then back. “Our friend. No matter which of us establishes the teleportation system, we will not see each other.”
“Yes, I know,” Cammarry replied. She turned and hugged Gretchen and then hugged Paul. “No long speeches or that kind of stuff. Just some really good stories about me to the people you meet.” She wiped her eyes and walked away quickly. She did turn back and said, “The planet we land on will probably already have such good teleportation and technology that I will come looking for you and rescue you both.” She then pivoted around and entered the Quartermaster’s area. Jerome met her and waved his own goodbye.
“Paul, this is harder than I thought. Maybe Jamie and Michael were right to just leap in and leave,” Gretchen stated. “I do not think I can bear to speak to the others, knowing I will never see them again. Can we just follow the itinerary now?”
“Certainly. We are near the sling bay now, but we need to report to Medical first. If you want to, and it is just a suggestion, you could record a message and have your AI deliver it after we depart.”
“Paul, that might be a good idea. From my understanding our personal AIs will not be coming with us. Brink has designed the latest version AI to go along with us.”
“Indeed, another thing we are leaving behind us,” Paul lamented. “I am truly starting to appreciate how this mission is going to change everything.”
“Yes, but when we set up the teleporter, all the Dome 17 personnel can find a refuge with us,” Gretchen said. “They can bring all the AIs and everything else.”
“Yes. But otherwise they all die,” Paul remembered Dome 3 again, and grew more quiet.
7 preparations
The Medical Unit looked just as it had before. Daniel the nurse was coming out from a treatment room as they entered. “Are you here for Doctor Carolyn? I was told another team was coming.” He gave them each a slight and knowing grin. “Unfortunately, Doctor Carolyn had to rush over to the senior care facility. Agnes fell this morning, and while the video conference did help, she insists on having the doctor present for the bone regrowth treatment. Doctor Carolyn said it involved a ‘bedside manner’ not a data stick manner.”
“So do we wait for Doctor Carolyn to come back? We only have a limited time.” Gretchen looked perplexed.
“Doctor Carolyn had me review the last team’s preparation, so I can administer all that is needed. The procedure is really simple, but I understand if you want to wait for her. You said your time is limited, so I could start and if you have any specific questions for her, we can connect though the data sticks,” Daniel said. “Shall I begin?”
“That is fine by me. What do we do?” Paul asked.
Daniel led them to a treatment room. He poured out two cups of liquid, about a water ration’s worth. “Doctor Carolyn has a pathogen prophylactic for you.” He handed them the cups and gave them a broad smile. “I am not supposed to know about what the Committee plan is, and I do not know specifics. So let us speak hypothetically. The need for a broad pathogen prophylactic indicates that the patient is heading somewhere where disease is a possibility. That peaks my interest. Here in Dome 17 there is virtually no disease at all. The atmosp
heric scrubbers, filters, and disinfectants make our home nearly sterile. So either you both are… No, forgive me, we are speaking hypothetically. The patient in this scenario, is going to a functioning dome with some kind of biological system, or is going off world. I did some of the zero gravity tests Brink ordered. He used me as a specimen for his scout ship designs. I could both assess and report for him and directly to him. So I have hints about that as well.”
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 7