To Touch the Stars (Founding of the Federation Book 2)

by Chris Hechtl

  Kathy turned to Jamey in surprise and gratitude. He smiled and shrugged sheepishly. “Just think what I would have said during the ceremony had they let me. I probably would have stuck my foot halfway down my throat,” he said in self-depreciation.

  She smiled. “Oh I don't know, you're doing just fine,” she said, voice soft.

  The dolphin's sonar could see the two human's bodies reacting to one another. They were both in heat he realized, attracted to one another and distracted. It would normally be amusing, a subject to tease and torment them about. But both were distracted from his concerns so he blew a raspberry and swam off to leave them alone. He had a lot to think about.

  -*-*-^-*-*-

  Hannah had continuing problems with Miss Coldwell, her career counselor. The woman was insufferable and positively deaf the teen thought darkly. She did not listen, nor read e-mails nor apparently the reports in Hannah's files. The problem escalated when she complained to other staff members when the woman arranged for interviews with terrestrial companies and colleges without her consent or knowledge. She was ignored, which only angered her further.

  The second time she was called in from home for an interview she arrived and then turned around and went home after a polite smile and handshake. She made it clear she was going into space. The interviewer had ten other people to interview, he thanked her for her time and waved her off. She seethed all the way home. She'd been led to believe something was wrong, and she had to come in to the campus to deal with it, not that crap.

  She started to skip such appointments, even when they were during her on campus time. Miss Coldwell was on vacation so another career counselor called her into her office to find out why. Hannah was ready for it; she wanted to clear the air and hopefully get some support. What she got instead was a lecture on what she needed to do, which was go with the flow. “Any number of your classmates would kill for a position with one of these companies! Why not give them a try!”

  “Because it's not what I want!” Hannah said, throwing up her hands in despair. “Do any of you people listen? Are you …” she bit her tongue rather than insult the woman out loud. She knew that would get her in serious trouble.

  The woman's red eyes flashed. “That proves you are a child. You don't always get what you want growing up. Which is obvious you still need to do, you are very immature. Definitely not ready to advance or move into the job market.”

  “I will point out to you that I have acted with professional decorum despite being deliberately slighted, sneered at, and steered in a direction I flat out refuse to go in. I have made my wishes on my future clear,” Hannah said, trying to keep her tone cool and professional. What she really wanted to do was throttle the insufferable bitch sitting across from her.

  “Oh? Well, perhaps what you want isn't possible. Did you ever consider that?” The other woman asked, smiling nastily.

  “A space career is very possible. Since I have family in space, I already have a reference I can and will use. A job is guaranteed me as long as I get on the proper educational path and stick with it. Which I am trying to do,” she said. “Despite your office's interference.”

  “I don't see what Miss Coldwell is doing as interference. She knows what's best for you. She knows a career in space isn't worth it.”

  “That's my decision to make,” Hannah said. “I can and will go into space. Either help with that or get out of my way,” she said.

  “Well, you can take it up with her when she gets back. I won't argue further. I'll cancel your assigned interviews until she returns next week. I know she will be very disappointed in your attitude young lady. You really should keep an open mind,” the substitute said then shrugged. “Your career counselor knows what is best for you career wise dear.”

  That insufferable condescending attitude infuriated her even further. Hannah fumed and left the office without another word. The other woman didn't say anything as she left and practically slammed her door.

  When Jamey called a half hour after she got home, she wanted to bring it up with her brother but got distracted by recent current events. Jamey asked if she and their dad was okay. She waved such considerations away. The thunderstorm had hit nearby, and she'd seen a couple wicked twisters but it had barely ruffled her hair. Sure, a few trailer parks had been flattened, but that was bound to happen.

  Hannah turned the tables and chatted with Jamey over the infamous incident in space. He deflected it with talk about his work. The talk led to a distracting talk about field interactions. Apparently Hannah had picked up a physics course with a professor who insisted the design would never work. Jamey frowned. He wasn't sure where the professor was getting that. Then again, the physics community was working under some outdated data and preconceptions. He and the other scientists who had perfected the company's hyperdrive hadn't been allowed to publish their recent work.

  He frowned as he turned the ideas Hannah was spouting over and over in his head. The force emitters created a shadow mass that was force emitter physics 101. They projected an egg shaped force field from the emitter, with the tight narrow end near the emitter coil and then the broad base outward. The coil fields interacted when they overlapped and formed bubbles, one bigger than the two combined but not as strong. The amount of force projected dropped exponentially, then further away from the emitter. However it, could be directed, and its strength controlled to some degree.

  The current design put the emitters in long looping coils around the ship. They were clustered together in the bands. He wasn't sure there was another way to go about enclosing a ship nearly a kilometer long … he shook his head. What she was suggesting sounded absurd.

  “But can you form the bubble without a coil wrapping around the entire ship? The fields interact to form a bubble anyway, right? What about a different process? Pods? Nacelles? Do you need coils wrapping around a ship in a ring?” Hannah asked insistently, using her finger to make a circular motion. “The overall force field relies on the field interactions and surface tension right? The more you have, the bigger the field, but you don't want or need a big field. You need a powerful field. A strong one closer to the hull to minimize the surface area and maximize energy usage. It also limits the ships footprint so you aren't snagging on things in hyper I heard. So if you had enough emitters along the hull …” she paused suggestively. “Think pimples,” she said when he didn't immediately rise to the bait.

  Jamey frowned thoughtfully. He'd gone through an awkward stage of acne so he didn't know if she was pulling his leg with a prank but …Hannah pulled up a sketch program and sketched out her idea. Jamey thought about it, and the more he thought about it the less hair brained the scheme became. Especially when he plugged in the projected new emitters and their abilities. That got him excited as he worked backwards to test the idea. He frowned furiously and plugged in numbers into the equations he'd worked out. The fast and loose equations all supported the idea but it would need refinement. “I'll look into it. Thanks squirt,” he said.

  “And they say you're the thinker in the family,” Hannah mocked.

  “Sometimes one is too close to the problem to solve it,” he said absently, still intent on the equations.

  “You mean it was too close to your nose to see it properly,” Hannah retorted. She grinned at him when he grunted but recognized the signs of her brother distracted. “Later, bro, don't stumble and break your neck,” she said.

  “I won't. Behave,” he said back to her.

  “Now when have I ever done that?” she said, grinning as she cut the connection.

  -*-*-^-*-*-

  “They aren't ready,” Aurelia said in a cold put-down voice when Kathy and Jamey reported the dolphin situation.

  “Doc, with all due respect, they are ready to leave the nest. One pod is,” Jamey said, waving a hand.

  “Keep your voice down,” Aurelia hissed at him, eyes flashing. She looked around furtively to the party. Fortunately, Jack was the center of attention as he showed off the ship
with a hologram in the dimmed room. Zack was a darling, pointing with a tiny finger at various features and asking questions. He seemed to have everyone wrapped around his finger.

  “Doc, you know they have a right. They are people. They want to stand up.”

  “No. They aren't ready. Mankind isn't ready.”

  “Doc …” Jamey sighed as he saw her intransigent expression. She would not be moved by any argument he made he realized, her mind had been made up long before. He frowned and then exhaled slowly. “They aren't going to give up, and if you stand in their way you are going to make enemies.”

  “I am not standing in their way! I am protecting them,” Aurelia said.

  “Over protection is a form of standing in one’s way. They are ready to fly with or without you. I'd rather see it with you. Don't force them to break away and do it on their own. They are resenting us now, Aurelia. Think!” Kathy urged.

  “It's no use Kathy, she's not interested. All she cares about is herself. Protecting her reputation,” Jamey said. Kathy's eyes widened in concern. One didn't talk that way to a Lagroose. Jamey looked at Aurelia sadly. “You know you are in the wrong but can't admit it. I thought you were better than that.” He turned and walked away.

  “He …” Aurelia shook.

  “He's right, Aurelia. You just won't see it. Space help us when you do. If you keep this up, you will poison any good will the dolphins and other Neos have for you. They will turn on you in an instant and so will the public.”

  “I'm doing this for their benefit!”

  “They are adults. Listen to them. Stop patting them on the heads and telling them you know best! Damn it!” She snarled, eyes flashing. Her raised voice caught the attention of those around them. Jack looked up with a frown. She blushed. “Sorry,” she mumbled as she left.

  Aurelia fought her whipsawing emotions. A familiar face cut its way through the crowd. The broad shoulders and strong physique was just what she needed. “General Murtough, a pleasure,” she said with a welcoming smile. She tucked her arm in his. “I am excessively wearied with the pregnancy and well, this,” she said airily, waving a hand. “Could you by any chance lend me your arm to help me back to my quarters?” She asked.

  He nodded gallantly. “It would be my pleasure, madam,” he said. She smiled and blew a kiss to Jack and Zack then made her way out.

  Chapter 12

  Speculation about who would man the helm and how the antigravity cylinder worked led to an inevitable leak about the dolphins. Speculation mounted since the media didn't have much beyond accusations to go on. They started to get wild as people called in faking knowledge of things. When each source was disproven the media dropped it … but the ideas lingered in people's minds. The biggest question was why did Lagroose hide it. What did they have to lose?

  Barbie convinced Jack who did his best to convince Aurelia it was time to come forward. He finally called Barbie in to their suite to discuss the situation. She nodded to them and started right in on the offensive. “The dolphins want it. I heard about their chat with Kathy,” Barbie said. Jack nodded.

  Aurelia frowned, off balance and defensive immediately. She hated that and knew they knew it. Athena had recorded the encounter with Kathy and had put it in her inbox. She'd watched it troubled. Their body language screamed that the dolphins were intensely frustrated and upset. She too was nervous and upset. Her second pregnancy wasn't going well, but she was strong enough to insist to limit the damage and spin control carefully.

  “The media has known about them for years, ma'am,” Barbie told her patiently. “But they have been distracted and hadn't had confirmation.”

  Aurelia eyed her. “They have? I thought we were secure?” She glanced at Jack. He spread his hands. “You planned this,” she accused.

  “I didn't have to. It happened. The dolphins might have,” Jack admitted. She blinked at him, now unsure. He nodded. “Think about it.”

  “How could the media know for years though,” Aurelia demanded, turning on Barbie.

  “Of course they've known. Our people are fanatically loyal, but we've had some bad eggs you know. Thousands were involved in building the habitats for the Neos, the medics and people involved in their care …” She shook her head. “Plus some leaks through the net. Throw in rumors between family and friends …” Barbie shook her head. “The problem is they had no proper sources. No video, no images, just eyewitness testimony. Up until now that has never been enough, it's circumstantial. Now they have more.” She made a face. “It was inevitable it would come out, I am actually surprised it hasn't up until now. We planned on a news release before the ship launched remember?”

  “It was delayed,” Jack said. “That crap with the antimatter, then the damn terraforming mess. Then you said it wasn't time since there were crises on Earth and the polls were trending against us.”

  “Which they were,” Barbie agreed with a nod. “We've also had an understanding with the mainstream media; we wouldn't clam up on them on other subjects. We've been as open and honest as we can be. Some of the media outlets respected that.”

  “I've also got friends who own those same media outlets,” Jack said smoothly. “They've done their part to keep a lid on things as a favor to me, but they are pressuring me pretty fiercely to come clean.” His wife turned to him. He shrugged. “Come on, honey, you and I both knew it was going to happen eventually. The apes have been pushing it for a decade. I know a few have deliberately leaked images of themselves online. Roman's came to me about it. It's increasing exponentially now.”

  “Fortunately people have thought it was a prank,” Barbie interjected as Aurelia opened her mouth to protest. “Someone with CG or a puppet. We've reinforced that idea from time to time; it was easy since people use just about any image as an avatar. Animatronics have also been brooded about, which is why we did those movies a while back.” She smiled.

  Aurelia frowned. “I still think this is a mistake.”

  “What are we going to do, hide them for the next century? Everyone knows about them! Janitors know about them, remember? Remember the guy who had a fit in your office? The people who built the habitats? Who managed the farms? A secret is only as good as the number of people who know it. Tens of thousands of people know about them. They've accepted them,” Jack insisted.

  “Because you pay them well enough to not say anything,” Aurelia said darkly.

  “I think it's more than that. Everyone in space came here because they A, wanted a good job, or B loved the idea of being in space. Seeing new things, new frontiers, and most importantly C possibly meeting aliens. Now they have and for some it's been exciting. We've dreamed about uplifting animals for thousands of years. Yes, we've got to be careful. I'm scared too,” he admitted as she eyed him. He spread his hands. “But we're at the point where we no longer have a choice. We either get out in front of it or we get run over by it.”

  “We need to exert control over the situation or it will run us over,” Barbie agreed with a vehement nod.

  -*-*-^-*-*-

  Miss Cole held a press conference with one each of the ape representatives as well as a dolphin in a walker. She introduced each of the four apes as well as the dolphin. There were three females and two males in the group. She took her time and explained that the project had been started by Doctor Ursilla Lagroose near her death two and a half decades prior and had been continued in her honor by Doctor Aurelia Lagroose and others.

  Emilia the bonobo tugged on her arm. She looked down and then stepped aside as Emilia stepped up to the podium. When she couldn't see over the thing, she heard a very human chuckle. She felt a bit embarrassed by her small stature, but then felt a massive hand pick her up and drop her on top of the podium. She smiled her thanks to Ginger, the orangutan of their group.

  “We're here to stay, folks,” Emilia said. “We're people, we're standing up and letting you know it. We're ready to become full citizens; you could say we're eager for it. It's about time,” she said.

&nb
sp; The gorilla female Ngozi chuffed in amusement and agreement. “It's about time,” she said quietly. Her eyes roamed the crowd.

  The Neos took turns briefing the reporters who were quiet for the entire thing, some in wonder, some saving their questions for later when they spun the story. Miss Cole stood to one side, smiling slightly as her students worked their magic. Even Nak'nak'chick, the youngest of their group put in his two cents. The dolphin told them he was excited to fly starships and see new worlds.

  The chimp was brief. He had a tablet, which he consulted. He went on to describe the Neo program and the habitat. Then he nodded to Barbie Cole to take over as he stepped away from the podium.

  There were some clicks and sounds as the cameras took photos. Drones bobbed about jockeying for the best angle.

  When they were ready for questions, one black male on the fringe of the reporters stood and shouted before anyone else. “You people are all freaks!” he said, cutting everyone else off. Some turned in surprise, others in interest. “Either Lagroose is pulling a prank for his own sick twisted amusement or you are all Frankenstein monsters that are an abomination to God. Moreau, all of you. Freaks to serve as slaves to the corporations and steal jobs from good hard working people!”

  His aggression and accusations hit a nerve. “The very idea! Moreau indeed!” Ginger said as she chuffed in annoyance. Ngozi hooted and patted her chest, bristling.

  The chimp Charlie Allen ruffled his fur in rising anger. He was practically at the shriek and snit phase when the female orangutan patted his shoulder to get him to calm down. He shrugged such things off; he knew the ladies were pissed too and for good reason.

  The tiny bonobo female put a restraining hand on his arm as she smiled sadly to the human. Her wise troubled brown eyes stared into his, seemingly digging in to the depths of his soul. Not a word was spoken as the humans waited with baited breath for the ape to respond.

  “We were afraid of human racists, bigots, and fascists but we insisted your species was well past that now. For years we have asked to come forward into the light, to become fully recognized members of society. We've dreamed of it, of being accepted. Of being people. I've been excited about becoming a doctor,” she said with a half smile. “I had wished Doctor Lagroose had been wrong. She warned us you would react with fear and ignorance. I didn't believe her. I thought you were better than that—that man had risen above such ignorance and hate in this day and age.” Her brown eyes closed sadly. A tear fell. “I guess I was wrong.”