The URANUS Code (Citadel World Book #1)

by Kir Lukovkin

  “You won't be. It's time to invent a mission for your project, brother mine.”

  So while they were connecting the communication lines and digging pits to build level zero, which would be located underground, Archimedes began to think of a purpose for his brainchild. He held a large press conference on the following day, where he made a report that became history.

  Archimedes spoke of the rapid development of human science, about progress and about the improvement of technology. The architect described the main issues of the century—environmental disasters, military conflicts, the economic crisis and planetary overpopulation. Archimedes warned that the growth of humanity would lead to mass starvation and a new world war. However, there was a solution, and it was much simpler than it seemed.

  Thermopolis.

  A city-building. A gigantic, autonomous complex that could hold up to two million people, the population of a small metropolitan area. A complex which included all that someone might need to lead a fulfilling life. Without going into technical details, Thermopolis would help solve the issue of housing, employment, food production, provision of clothing and entertainment and many other requirements without outside assistance. Archimedes turned on an interactive presentation of his project, describing every sector and every level of this gigantic building in detail. And then he made his clothing statement.

  “I would like to invite all those that would like to a cheap home that includes every convenience that they might require to purchase it in Thermopolis at a bargain price which will only grow with time. Moreover, those that will want to purchase a place of their own in Thermopolis will become the citizens of this small state, with every right, guarantee and responsibility. You will want for nothing.”

  No one expressed any particular interest. Individual eccentric wealthy individuals applied and that was the end of it.

  Archimedes was not taken aback—this was the reaction he expected. While the legal deliberations, issues with documents and endless negotiations went on, he could focus on his work.

  The construction of Thermopolis took forty years.

  The most technically complex and difficult works were carried out in the first five years. Having finished the construction of level zero, they laid the foundation layer on top of it and started to outline the shape of the future building. The wider the area the less pressure there would be at the bottom—this simple law was used in this case as well. According to the master blueprint, Thermopolis was shaped like a stepped cone that consisted of five segments called aeons, which would then be divided into five sectors each. There would be twenty five sectors, each containing fifty floors, making a total of one thousand two hundred and fifty floors at a height of just over five kilometers

  A hand-wrought Mount Elbrus.

  Every sector had its own purpose, which was inextricably linked to the other sectors and made one whole together with them—a gigantic residential complex. The sectors were designed with a dual purpose—both as elements of the whole building system and as mini-autonomous systems able to survive in isolation for a while.

  The second five years was spent on building the fifth aeon—it was decided to count them from the top as that was what Archimedes wanted. At his stage, the architect hired the leading energy, communication and construction specialists, as well as many others, generously compensating them for their labor. Whole caravans of raw materials were brought to the building site, because transporting ready made objects was difficult, expensive and dangerous. The city around the construction site was overgrown with plants and factories and now had its own administration, taxation system and security forces.

  Archimedes spent the next ten years on the erection of the fourth aeon. This was an incredibly complex stage, because the four wings and the main body of the building had to be connected into an impervious frame that would not collapse if there was an earthquake and which could resist floods. By this time, the tower was around a kilometer in height and already drew attention from afar, like a mountain in the middle of the plain. The laughter and mockery of Archimedes gradually and inconspicuously quietened down. The populations of every country wanted to know what was going on at the building site. But Archimedes turned away from the people and did not want to comment on anything outside of official press conferences which were planned for the end of the construction of the latest aeon.

  When the fifty-year-old Spanidis held his second conference, the world finally understood that he was not joking. An avalanche of Thermopolis citizenship applications was sent to Archimedes' construction company. However, the limit was very quickly reached. The number of application surpassed the capacity of the complex one hundred and twenty times over—two hundred and forty million people wanted to become citizens of Thermopolis. In the end, a general database was created. An especially selected team chose applicants based on secret criteria that were known only to a small circle of people. Spanidis did not just need people, he needed people of particular backgrounds, races, mental acuities, genders, ages, levels of education and natures of employment. An offer to become a citizen of the city-building could come to anyone that lived on planet Earth if Archimedes' team deemed them appropriate. Any person could become a citizen of Thermopolis—the poor of the slums of India and the wealthy residents of Swiss mansions had an equal chance of acceptance.

  The construction of Thermopolis stimulated the development of the science of engineering. It was at the construction site that a huge number of innovative methods for joining frames were invented, as well as a new building material called plasteel. Technologies of building growth were used, where the frame was not made up of connected elements but grown through a process of cold melting that ensured the integrity of the structure. Special block models were developed for the internal walls—universal blocks and blocks with brackets, railing, and openings, just like a child's construction set. This allowed for the blocks to be assembled in any order according to the current building plans. The plates for the external lining were modeled according to similar principles. All of the building elements met the standard specifications developed by Archimedes' companies and were identified by a specific symbolic mark. It could be a circle or a triangle, a cross or a square—whatever the company decided was appropriate.

  The chemical composition of the central core rod of the building was kept a secret. Some structures that were under construction were under restricted access, and the security service carefully checked everyone that worked there.

  The third aeon was erected faster than the fourth, over six years. The sectors were assembled piece by piece, from four segments that were pulled towards the central supporting rod and linked to each other with resilient beams, making a giant internal ring around the two hundred meter thick rod. The sectors were laid one on top of another and attached to the rod, as well as around their perimeter, looking like a pyramid. While one army of builders grew the levels, the other was covering the lower aeons with three external shell layers, ensuring the complete isolation of the internal space from environmental effects. Helicopters, cranes, winches, internal elevators and massive anthropomorphic construction machines called exoskeletons operated by a single crewman from a cabin were used for the construction.

  The second aeon was constructed over four years.

  And the first, upper aeon, which was the smallest in volume took five years to build.

  Thermopolis now had its shape and became noticeable dozens of kilometers away, looking like a gigantic stalagmite from afar. Some compared it to ancient Egyptian tombs where thousands of people would be buried alive, some called it a human termite mound and other's called it the Noah's Ark. Every observer found something of their own in Thermopolis. No one considered the building a flight of fancy anymore. Everyone agreed that this was a new wonder of the third millennium

  The final five years were spent on interior decoration, the installation of utilities, elevators, communications and the placement of complex machinery. The builders were replaced b
y engineers and fitters, who were replaced by specialists in even more complex disciplines in turn. Thermopolis was like a sponge which absorbed particles of human culture, striving to summarize them and make a smaller copy of them. Books, artworks, ancient relics, unique objects, examples of different machinery, geological samples, soils and various plant and animal species were all brought to Thermopolis—everything that the planet and humanity could muster.

  By the time construction was complete, Archimedes was seventy two years old. His eyesight was failing and he suffered from arthritis and hypertension. He felt the end approaching, but he could not yet rest as he had not finished the last of his work on Thermopolis. When all of the fireworks had thundered in honor of the grand opening of the building and when all the parties and other official ceremonies had passed, the state of Thermopolis declared itself complete and entirely independent of the outside world. The candidates chosen to be citizens were traveling to the tower from every corner of the planet.

  But the construction works continued. Workers still toiled in the final levels and the final sets of machinery were still being supplied to the hangars. Thermopolis came to life—the generators that were its heart had been turned on, the ventilation system that formed its lungs was passing air through the pipelines and the automated systems which were its eyes, nose and ears were collecting and processing incoming data. However, the main thing was its lifeblood—its residents.

  The date when Archimedes Spanidis died is unknown. A year after the Commissioning of his brainchild, he vanished without trace. The great architect's son said that his father was deep in thought in his last days and often sat on the balcony looking up at the starry sky.

  The architect had made his dream come true.

  His dream became reality not only for him, but also for over two million people that got a new chance in life. The Great Thermopolis still stands, its visage a testament to the power of humanity.

  17

  ONCE THE FILM was over, Paris returned to the room and led his guests further along.

  He was graciously explaining everything that he knew about and answered the questions he was asked, but Rick's thoughts kept coming back to the archive and that first moment after watching the film when he could not understand where he was, and then how he saw Maya's bewildered face and stretched out towards her like a child towards its mother when it wakes up. The girl also stretched her hands out towards Rick and they embraced each other clumsily, almost falling out of their seats. It was a funny and pleasant moment, and Rick was smiling at the memory as he followed Paris down the corridor.

  They soon approached the observation post in the Thermopolis Control Center.

  A large section of the hall where the post was located turned out to be abandoned. The people of the Epsilon sector did not have enough specialists to watch all of the monitors and terminals. The operators took up barely a quarter of the places in the main hall, which was entirely filled with screens and control panels.

  A three dimensional holographic model of Thermopolis flickered in the middle of the hall, projected from the center of a round table. The model flickered in blue now. Paris explained that if an accident were to happen, that area would be colored in red. Blue meant that the complex was in hibernation mode. But now, the diagram started to show green lines around the Chorda and the outline of the well. This happened as the results of the actions of someone in the lower sectors—that was where they launched the Uranus program.

  “What is that?” Rick asked about the program.

  “We don't know. That information is secret and none of our citizens is able to gain access.”

  “Chairman, could you tell me why Thermopolis became the way that it is if it was planned as a fortress city?” Maya said. “Whole sectors are dark and abandoned. How did this happen?”

  “It all happened because of the plague. The epidemic came in here from the outside world, and the sectors were automatically isolated to prevent its spread. And then somebody turned off the generators.”

  “What sort of plague was it?” Rick exchanged a meaningful look with Maya, who had once told him about the illness that had stricken the residents of Thermopolis.

  An assistant approached Paris and quickly whispered something into his ear. A shadow passed over the face of the Chairman for a split second, but he quickly pulled himself together and nodded.

  “We don't know what happened for sure, because the whole world was in chaos after the plague. No one recorded what was going on. Our historians know that no one paid much attention to the epidemic until the disease engulfed all of humanity like wildfire. As soon as they understood the gravity of the situation, it was too late. The infection attacked the human brain and destroyed the neurons—the brain cells, turning humans into dumb animals. Some died immediately, while others suffered from unbearable pain. The disease was considered to be infectious, but they could not work out the way the virus was spread. A quarantine was introduced around the world, but it did not help. The research required time, and there was none left. Soon, people started to get infected here as well. There were more of them every day, until the disease started to spread through the sectors. The President of Thermopolis then decided to seal the tower and introduce a strict quarantine in every sector. The epidemic seemed to stop, but then reignited with a newfound power. It was a terrible time. The crazed patients were running through the corridor, not knowing how to numb the pain. They attacked healthy people and destroyed anything they could lay their hands on. They were animals—wild, angry, rabid beasts.

  The Government of Thermopolis decided on a desperate measure—sector isolation. All transport links were closed off. People spoke to each other using internal communication networks. This could not continue for long. Then, the revolts started. The sectors were going out of control. Some decided that it was time to get out, while others cut all interactions and switched off communications. There was also the third kind that declared independence and blamed their neighbors for all their ills.”

  Paris said all of this while looking at the hologram of the tower over the table. He turned back to them and finished his story, “The society of Thermopolis fell apart into factions. Fear of the plague ruled over all. The survivors were afraid to come outside for a long time. Every sector survived the way it could. We were a little luckier—we have energy installations and an autonomous life support system. This is what probably saved our lives.”

  “Did the plague recede?” Maya asked tensely.

  “It vanished. The last person who was sick died many centuries ago. And we are praying for it never to repeat.” Paris glanced at Rick. “You wanted to have a look at the Control Center. Here it is. I will be happy to answer any of your questions.”

  Rick was looking into the hall, glittering with the lights of control panels and monitors. They journey was over, here and now. Only one step remained.

  “They told us that it is impossible to get in here. That the aeon's security was reliable.”

  “That is so.”

  “What for?” Rick asked. “What I mean is, what is the point in fencing yourself off from the rest of the world if the plague is long gone?”

  “Maybe so that the remains of a sentient human race can be protected,” Paris said. “The system is in place and it is stable.”

  “But people live below as well, and not all of them are monsters.”

  “Exactly. And they are also part of the system.”

  “I don't understand...”

  “By the gods!” Maya covered her mouth with her hand.

  “It seems that our sweet Maya Kappa has worked it out before you did,” Paris said with a sad smile. “She is an intelligent young lady.”

  There was a pause, and one of the operators clearly stated, “Theta sector. Threat of main pipeline breach. Automated systems in standard mode. I would like to request the technicians to take charge of the situation and report.”

  “Let's not interrupt them,” Paris offered, and set off t
owards the elevator.

  “Chairman, I don't...” Rick tried to say.

  “Dearest Rick Omicron,” Paris made a sharp turn and raised his voice for the first time. “Over the last twenty four hours of your presence here you never expressed any interest in something that any normal person would have thought of in your place. Lovely Maya is polite, because she gives you the leading role, otherwise she would have asked how I know your name, why they call me Chairman and what is it I chair here a long time ago.”

  They entered the elevator, Paris pressed a button and continued, “This question is directly connected to another that keeps tormenting you. If it is difficult for you to connect all of the facts, then a practical demonstration should definitely help. While we descend to the Meeting Hall, I will answer the question that you didn't ask. I am the Chairman of the Government of Thermopolis, probably the last state left on Earth. Our small society has managed to not only survive in the chaos of oblivion, but managed to preserve its knowledge and the culture of its ancestors to take them through the dark present into a bright future. And this has all been achieved by the Government, that created a new control system on the ruins of the past that has let us keep the remains of humanity,” and here he clenched his hand into a fist, “together.”

  The elevator quickly delivered them to the entrance into a spacious room, a lobby before a round hall with a mirrored ceiling and walls as well as a large oval table with people sitting behind it. Paris did not take Rick and Maya there—they walked along the corridor around the hall and walked up a small raised platform that led to the balcony. It was a good place to observe everyone that sat behind the table.

  “Rick, Maya,” Paris said loudly and clearly, “those present in the hall cannot hear or see us.”

  Rick glanced at the faces below and grabbed the barrier railings tight.

  Seven sat behind the table. One sat at the head, as if underlining his importance among those present, who were exchanging short pleasantries. He was dressed in white, and it seemed to Rick that he had already seen him in Paris' retinue. The other participants in the meeting were obviously waiting for someone, passing the time in idle conversation. One of those present was a very squat far man, with bulging eyes and stooped shoulders. A man with faded hair who wore a formless gray robe sat to his right with an expression of concern on his face, which was as long as that of Paris. The next was a slender old man with a long mane of gray hair, who wore baggy green clothing and gesticulated wildly as he rocked in his chair. The next was a woman dressed in a tight, form fitting suit. She took almost no part in the conversation. And then there were people that Rick could never fail to recognize—Warden Croesus slouched in a chair, chatting to Mentor Arcadius without a care in the world.