Panspermia Deorum

by Hylton Smith

  *

  Sophie didn’t want her father or brother to be with her when she was being prepped for losing her kidney. She had a tearful conversation with her mother before going under general anaesthetic. Her focus was on catching up on the family house, now that Elise would need to recuperate before deciding her future, if she had a future. Having convinced herself of this, Sophie couldn’t help thinking about the illogicality of having an operation to make oneself less healthy than before the procedure. When she recovered consciousness, a surreal world beckoned. One in which she had ‘hallucinatory’ images, all of which she wanted to paint. She was uncomfortable, even with the morphine drip, and found it difficult to concentrate on the post-op reassurances of its success, and what would happen next. She was barely aware of Julien and Eugene at her bedside, despite their relief that she’d suffered no complications. She waved her acknowledgement of whatever they said, and gradually drifted back to sleep, seeing only vivid colours and unique shapes.

  *

  Far away from the maelstrom playing out in the brain of Julien Delacroix, the Martians had hit a setback, but one which was not entirely unexpected. The happenchance euphoric discovery of water ice and liquid carbon dioxide was more than a little offset by the disappointing analysis of over one hundred ‘soil’ samples. Above ground, underground, split rocks, black dust, red dust, dust containing sparklers, and dust apparently emitting static electricity - no evidence could be found that any of it could support plant life. It was simply spent geologic matter. This prompted the decision for Laika to request an earlier return. The surface crew were all in good health and they requested urgent acquisition of advanced hydroponic units from Earth. They needed to establish an experimental bridgehead of flora propagation with as many consumable species as possible, in the shortest realistic timeframe. Kolorov had a dilemma. He’d gambled on indigenous Martian ‘greenhouse’ facility being up and running before the nuclear strike force confronted its target. Remote analytical data had been misleading at best. He asked the surface team to be absolutely precise about the area from which their entire collection of samples had been taken.

  His real concern was exactly how to deliver the news to the orbiting Laika crew. They hadn’t been told about the launch of the nuclear strike force. He now had to reveal the real reason for the complex monitoring equipment on board the vessel. The crew had been told it was simply charting technology, a kind of space cartography, already set up for extremely high definition observation. Kolorov was now answerable to one shareholder only, Malenkov. The oligarch had issued instructions to track the nuclear fleet as close as possible to the planned strike coordinates with the asteroid. Those coordinates were yet to be disclosed, and the fuel capability of Laika factored in to the equation. Kolorov had been told by Malenkov that the lives of billions of people on Earth outweighed a few people on Mars, and the same number in a space vessel.

  “Ivan, we have to prioritise. If Laika can report success with the strike, everything changes here on Earth. If the warheads fail we have to revise our plans once more. Laika has sufficient thrust capability to get back to Mars, and we then launch another supply vessel to get on with the job of creating a bridgehead to colonisation. You know it makes sense, there would be no point in Laika returning home to a bankrupt Soyuz. If we don’t knockout the asteroid, we won’t have the resource or time for a second shot, which means that VB Aerospace will have the only realistic means of averting disaster, even if they continue to procrastinate over their own strike. If that happens, I want to go to Mars with my family before they launch their diversion force, because that might be the last train out of town. If we don’t push this damned asteroid off course, why would I think they can? I need to know the outcome of our nuclear fleet’s clash with the asteroid before any observatory or anyone else on Earth. Just do it, Ivan.”

  Chapter 22

  When Kolorov sent the captain of Laika details of the new plan, there was disbelief, which was quickly followed by anger, and finally a flat refusal to comply.

  Amelie Kuznetsov discussed the situation with the other two crew members on board, Polish-born first officer Pavel Lot, and engineer Roman Dimitrov. At first, they were simply perplexed by the content of the transmission, and then they realised that if Soyuz did not send another vessel to Mars immediately, the instruction to leave orbit and track the missile fleet would effectively become a death sentence for themselves and the scientists on the surface of Mars. It was plainly a sacrifice dressed up as a duty of martyrdom. When Kolorov responded to their refusal to comply, he tried to talk up the deteriorating situation back on Earth. The crew knew nothing of Soyuz being wholly owned by one oligarch. He erred in trying to explain this to Kuznetzov, and the exchanges became extremely hostile. The crew was absolutely dedicated to the Mars programme, and had accepted there was a distinct possibility they would forfeit their lives, but this sudden change of plan grated with such dedication. It was merely a self-serving order from one man. Kolorov then compounded his first error of judgement when he reminded Amelie Kuznetsov exactly how ruthless people like Malenkov could be.

  “It is not only me who will face elimination, you and your crew have families, and unless you want to put their lives at risk, you simply have to do this.”

  The scientists on the surface of Mars were informed of the new edict and accompanying threat if the orbiting crew refused to carry out the task. After a long discussion they supported their captain’s decision to ignore the order to track the missiles. Captain Kuznetsov authorised the scientists to prepare to return to orbit. She then sent Kolorov the message he desperately wanted to receive.

  ‘After considerable debate, and taking into account our families, we acknowledge that Mars has become very much a secondary objective. We will follow the missiles until we have to turn back due to energy and life support constraints. We would like you to confirm that a rescue vessel will be on standby to bring us home in the event of such difficulties. Please transmit the date when this can be ready. If we comply with this new objective we must now prepare for bringing the scientists on Mars back to Laika’.

  Kolorov breathed a sigh of relief and forwarded the transmission to Malenkov. It partially placated the oligarch, who’d been continually pressing Kolorov for information, and the ‘storm’ subsided. Meanwhile, with the scientists aboard, Amelie Kuznetzov gave the order to return to Earth without delay.

  *

  Sophie’s rate of recovery was, as expected, quicker than that of her mother. She had been moved to the same room as Elise. The surgeon had already told both patients what they could and could not do in the next few days. The prognosis for Elise was quite positive. The procedure had gone well and there were no signs of an adverse reaction as yet. It would be a while before the anti-rejection regime could be finessed. Sophie’s medical stats were very encouraging and her time in hospital would be much shorter than that of Elise.

  Julien and Geraldine arrived with the usual flowers and grapes, forgetting that both patients were on a controlled diet. Sophie was busy lecturing her mother about the new house design, and repeatedly suggesting that she should consider staying in Guiana. Elise was tired and such stress was ill-advised, so Julien asked his daughter to ease off until Elise was feeling better. Geraldine smiled through the tears and made a declaration.

  “Elise, we can discuss this later, as Julien has just said, but if it makes your decision any easier, I will come and live here too. I know I said I wouldn’t, but with this damned asteroid thing, and your narrow escape – made possible because of Sophie’s bravery, I want to spend whatever time I’ve got left with all of my remaining family. We don’t have to speak about it again until you are ready.”

  Julien closed the subject by saying if that’s what Elise wanted, he would give Geraldine a slice of the plot and build her a bespoke cottage. Elise, despite her weakness, nodded her approval, saying she wished Eugene could have been there. Sophie reminded her that he was very much like his father, a slave to his
passion, and wouldn’t mind being told by text.

  *

  It didn’t take long for Kolorov to query the course set by Amelie Kuznetsov.

  ‘Your link up coordinates to the missiles were quite explicit. Why have you deviated from the plan?’

  She’d already anticipated such a reprimand.

  ‘On studying your coordinates more carefully we noticed that the intercept course would consume more fuel than necessary. And, as we are the ones who have to make it back to Mars orbit, we ran several computer simulations and realised that there was a more fuel-efficient observation trajectory. The missile fleet heading is not that much different from the Mars-Earth path at present. The divergence from that trajectory will increase, so we chose to mirror that divergence, but coming from the opposite direction. It will take a little longer to get within observation range for the fleet, but what does that matter? It is still a long way from the asteroid, and our fuel savings may allow us to shadow the fleet for longer than your plan would permit. If you don’t concur, we will alter course’.

  Kolorov digested this and felt he needed to speak with Malenkov, feeling sure the oligarch would agree to Kuznetsov’s suggestion. He set up a meeting.

  “Would you like me to come to your Dacha?”

  “No, as I’ve said many times, that is only for giving any eavesdroppers sanitised information. We should meet at my favourite restaurant in Moscow. I’ll reserve a quiet booth so we can be undisturbed. Be there at seven sharp.”

  *

  Eugene had been forced to take the reins from Sophie for the new research wing. It was in truth a matter of bullying building contractors and scientific equipment suppliers on a daily basis. In Guiana it was the only way to get things done and Eugene was more calculating than his sister when it came down to the bluffing game. Sophie admitted that she would have cracked by now, and offered her congratulations to Eugene, albeit grudgingly. The complex was taking shape and Julien decided to throw more capital at the project to recruit a facilitator, whose remit was to complete the wing ahead of schedule. This person would earn a heavily incentivised bonus even to get the building back on schedule again. Somehow, Elise’s recovery having at last picked up pace made the other family members more tolerant of each other’s little foibles. They were pulling together on all fronts for the first time in a long while. The primary patient was almost ready to enter a short regimen of zero dialysis to evaluate the true measure of the new kidney’s capability.

  *

  When Kolorov arrived at the Moscow restaurant, Malenkov was already halfway through a bottle of expensive red wine.

  “Tell me more about this insubordination of our infuriating Captain Kuznetsov. Do you trust her?”

  “I was suspicious at first, but she has a point when she explained her proposal more fully. She can give us more observational time of the missiles by applying the curved trajectory. It was an oversight on my part.”

  “How did you let that happen? Just tell me in plain language, do not blind me with science.”

  Malenkov still seemed suspicious, as anticipated by Kolorov, who decided to bend cosmic rules to make his case for the delay in picking up and tracking the warheads.

  “The asteroid is travelling at circa 40,000 miles per hour, or 64,000 kilometres per hour. We initially wanted to strike it inside the asteroid belt itself, which separates Mars and Jupiter. However, as you are well aware we decided not to wait until it had cleared the asteroid belt, because that might act as a kind of filter if the damn thing fragments completely or bounces off any number of other asteroids. That could produce a very complicated outcome, similar to the cue ball on a snooker table heavily populated with reds. And I remind you that you wanted to get these warheads on their way as soon as possible. Anyway, to reach any object in space we can’t just follow a straight line, so Kuznetsov is correct, we should arrive at the missile space coordinates a little later, but by using less fuel.”

  “Ok, ok, I understand that, but why did she refuse to follow your orders before suggesting this method? I need to…”

  Kolorov noticed a man approaching their booth on the way to the toilets. It all happened in a flash. He produced an automatic pistol, gunned both men down, and ran for the exit. Everyone else in the restaurant dived for cover. When it was obvious the shooter wasn’t going to return, a waiter ran to the aid of the two men who’d been shot. Malenkov had a clean bullet hole at both the front and back of his head, and died instantly. In the split second Kolorov had noticed the shooter approaching, a sixth sense had afforded him the chance to become a moving target. He had been shot in the shoulder, but was alive. He subsequently became unconscious and was rushed to hospital.

  Chapter 23

  Kolorov’s surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his shoulder had gone well, and despite the surgeon telling the police they would have to wait to speak to him, the patient declared that he wanted to help in any way he could.

  Two officers stood at his bedside. One from the precinct where the shooting took place, the other from the Intelligence agency. The latter waited until the precinct detective had taken a full statement from Kolorov and then left before asking any further questions. The Intelligence agent spoke quietly.

  “When you say you saw the gunman approach the toilets at the rear of the restaurant, did you notice any other suspicious person in the place?”

  “No, I wouldn’t even have paid any attention to the gunman if he had not been wearing that hat. It is not usual, is it? I mean, going for a piss with a Homberg on your head. That is what alerted me, and then when the gun came out of his pocket, I tried to dive to the floor, otherwise I am sure I would be dead as well. Malenkov had no chance to move, he was facing away from the gunman”

  “Ok, I am only asking this because it was Malenkov. Such a professional hit is rarely carried out by one man. Also, the status Malenkov enjoys in the underworld would normally mean he would have minders with him. But you told the precinct detective that there was nobody else with him. Who knew of the meeting at the restaurant?”

  “How the hell would I know that? He needed me to answer his questions about the current Mars mission, and didn’t want anyone to overhear the answers. It was his choice of restaurant, apparently one of his favourites. As far as I know he was driven there by his private chauffeur, maybe you need to speak with him.”

  “Yes, I will do that. Please understand why I am asking these questions. I have to determine if you are still in danger. If Malenkov did not want any eavesdropping on your meeting and he was asking the questions, you were providing the answers. That makes me think you could have been the main target.”

  “I have no idea why that would be the case. The gunman shot at Malenkov first, and apparently caused a fatal wound. I was a moving target but I thought I was going to die. Maybe he thought he had killed me as well.”

  “Mmm, well thank you for seeing me and the precinct officer. I would like to talk to you again when you are feeling better, if that is acceptable to you.”

  “Of course, especially if you really think I could still be a target when the gunman hears I am still alive.”

  *

  Two days later, Kolorov had another visitor he’d never met before. It was Grigori Malenkov, the eldest son of Oleg. The family lawyer had dumped an unwelcome surprise on his youthful shoulders. The agreement between the nine original oligarchs had been carried out to the letter, especially with respect to provision of a last will and testament that in the event of any member’s demise, the family would not receive shares in Soyuz, but a substantial sum in a side clause. It had been intended to protect the families from enemies of the oligarchs, from rival gangs in the underworld.

  When Oleg Malenkov became the sole inheritor of all Soyuz shares, he had swiftly but quietly changed his will. Grigori was now the legal owner of a juggernaut organisation he had absolutely no intention or desire to accept. He simply asked Kolorov to make the problem go away, but the injured patient had no idea what he was ta
lking about.

  “Wait a minute please,” said Kolorov, as he pressed the button to attract a nurse, “just calm down, we can talk this through.”

  After speaking with the Intelligence Agent, he was very nervous about a strange young man apparently out of control in his private room. How did he get past security to see him? Who was he?

  A male nurse appeared and asked the young man for some ID. When the kid produced this, Kolorov relaxed sufficiently to ask Grigori to sit down. The nurse left them to start the conversation again.

  “Right, son, what exactly is the problem you want to go away?”

  “My father’s will leaves a lot of money to my mother to keep us safe. My brother is only seventeen and gets nothing, but I do and I want out of here. He left me all these shares in your company, but I do not want the job that goes with them. I just want a lump of money so that I can disappear to somewhere they will not find me. I just want to become a full time surfer, a nice warm country would do everything for me. Look, just sell the shares for me, a few million is all I want. You would never see me again. Come on please, my father would want you to help me out.”

  “Listen carefully, Grigori. I am in here and alive because your father was shot first and I had only a split second to dive on to the floor and roll under the table. The gunman still shot me, but I was lucky. Who the hell in their right mind will buy those shares? Speak to the lawyer who read Oleg’s will.”

  “I did already, but he doesn’t want to help me either. I know that the value of these shares is very big, but hell, just give me five million. You work for this company, you are not going to quit are you.”

  “Not immediately, but I have thought about it. Look, the best I can do is to ask for you to bring your lawyer here to talk to me, but you must be present. We can try and sort out your problem. Go, and be quick about it, I won’t be staying here any longer than I have to.”