Frontier Effects: Book 1

by Mars Dorian

  He opened a new Booster coke and handed one over to Tavio. The mobile freezer box had cooled them down to frosty five degrees. Tavio drooled at the sight, but he had almost reached his calorie intake for the day and wanted to stick to the dietary plan. He politely declined and watched his brother gulping down the dark elixir.

  Quintan said, “Can’t believe ‘Jackal’ Jackstadt is chief director of the Exo Protectorate now. Old bastard must have gone soft.”

  Tavio hadn’t spoken to his former superior in ages. Ever since he had left active duty and started teaching at the Training Center, contact fizzled out. “Maybe he’ll put in a good word for us.”

  Quintan licked his lips. “Your lack of confidence is disturbing.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Tavio accessed his virtual version of the Liquid Lancer and re-experienced the book for the 144th time. He could still find new gems of knowledge, such as focusing on the moment, not on the monsters that may or may not be up ahead. Tavio wished to be immortal for the sole reason of reading the Lancer until the end of time.

  “Houston Alliance station,” the bored voice of the capsule AI said and parted the doors.

  “Already?”

  “You mean finally,” Quintan said.

  Tavio and his brother stepped on the platform and soaked up the warm, summer sun. With the Hyperloop weaving through the North American Commonwealth like a spider web, riding to capital cities became a matter of minutes. Good for urgent appointments, but bad for reading downtimes.

  “You can bookworm later,” Quintan said and spearheaded the walk toward the center. “It’s time to make history.”

  Tavio switched off the reading experience and followed his brother through the flowerbed-graced entrance area of the Exo Protectorate Division. He noticed Quintan walking like a young cadet eager for his first day in the forces. Was that the same brother who had moaned like a burned-out servant only hours ago?

  “Someone’s trying to outshine the sun.”

  Quintan chuckled. “Flying through space and investigating an exoplanet beats talking to a room stuffed with rookies any day.” He patted his chest. “This body was bred for space.”

  The glass doors of the center slid sideways and ushered the brothers into the lobby that smelled of industrial wax. A biometric scanner analyzed their signatures and released an affirmative beep. A service bot looked up from behind the reception counter and waved them over. “Welcome, Captain Tavio and Lieutenant Colonel Quintan Alterra. Please go ahead to room D-twelve in the west wing of the second floor. Chief Belcher is awaiting you. Good luck on your application.”

  “Luck has nothing to do with it,” Quintan said and targeted the nearby lift. “Mind and muscle power maketh the man.”

  The way points of the destination blended into Tavio’s augmented vision and revealed the distance to the office—fifty-seven meters. The brothers entered the second floor and reached the translucent office door of the Exo Protectorate Head of Earth Recruitment, Melody Belcher.

  “Please come in,” a female voice said from above the doorframe’s camera when the door automatically opened.

  The woman inside stood up behind her desk and flattened her uniform. She seemed fairly young but oozed military authority. “The situation is urgent, gentlemen, so we cut straight to the core.”

  “My kind of cutting,” Quintan said and planted himself in a chair.

  Tavio followed suit and observed the woman’s neutral face. He couldn’t read her emotions—maybe she excelled at hiding them.

  “There’s good and bad news.”

  The Alterra brothers exchanged a glance.

  The woman folded her delicate hands and pressed her lips.

  “Technically, you’ve both passed the application, but only one Alterra will join the operation.”

  5

  Tavio swallowed first. He loved competing, but not with his brother. “May I ask why?”

  “The Protectorate wants to deploy a minimal task force of highly specialized officers. Since both of you offer similar skill sets, one Alterra will suffice.”

  A grimace shadowed Quintan’s face. “The Alliance has no problem building a new artillery cruiser class but is stingy on hiring two brothers at the same time?”

  The woman’s voice remained leveled. “I don’t make the rules.”

  Tavio squirmed in his metallic chair. He craved going into space again, potentially initiating first contact with a sentient race. He envisioned a new opportunity to serve and advance mankind, but witnessing his brother’s frustration with his teacher’s life changed his outlook. Tavio would manage many more years of teaching—his brother wouldn’t. “You go.”

  Quintan’s eyes widened. For some reason, he didn’t seem to expect that reaction. “You sure?”

  “I’m positive. Besides, I like life at the Training Center. I don’t need to have high-velocity shells whistle by my starboard to feel excitement.”

  Quintan grinned. “You’re the best.”

  He was about to get up and hug Tavio when the recruitment officer released an artificial cough. “I’m sorry to break up the festive mood, gentlemen, but after close examination of your records, the Council has decided to choose Captain Tavio Alterra for the mission.”

  Shocked, both men froze.

  Tavio could hear the scent dispenser in the back spraying lemon essence into the air. Quintan shifted around in his chair and cracked his knuckles. “We’re twins.”

  “Well, technically you are, but—“

  “Still,” he said, interrupting her, “there are obvious differences.”

  He pointed toward the array of medals gracing his uniform. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the Lieutenant Colonel.”

  The woman nodded with patient politeness. “I thank you for your service, Lieutenant Colonel, and your deeds during the Colony War will be remembered, but the instructions were clear: Captain Tavio Alterra will be the one to join the first contact operation.”

  Tavio should have felt honored about being picked for the operation, but it broke his heart to see his brother get sidetracked. In a perfect world, they would have joined the crew side by side, but as always, the universe moved in mysterious ways. “Is there a way for both of us to join?”

  “I’m afraid not. Rules, you see, matter in the military.” She checked her inner watch; a not-so-subtle gesture to show her growing impatience. “Would you mind waiting outside, Lieutenant Colonel?”

  Quintan threw her a dismissive glance and marched out the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The recruitment officer switched straight to Tavio. “Because of security reasons, the full briefing of the operation will not be revealed prior to departure.”

  She transferred a collection of digital documents to his personal area network and spat out words like an assault rifle on auto-fire. “We will contact the Alliance Training Center about your imminent leave. Tomorrow, you will board the space elevator at zero eight hundred and take the Solar Express to the Alliance space station orbiting Mars. You will then be instructed on the next phase of the operation. Questions?”

  Tavio could swear he spoke to a service bot even though the woman featured organic traits. “Are you serious?”

  The woman narrowed her slim eyes. “We’re dealing with a potential first contact scenario; if that isn’t to be taken seriously, what is?”

  “Right.”

  “Splendid. If you have more questions before you leave, feel free to ping me. But make sure you read the documents first.”

  The teacher was getting schooled—funny how fast things changed. Tavio accepted the classified digital documents on his personal server and left the office. His brother sat on the bench in the corridor with his broad shoulders slumped. He looked up at Tavio with empty eyes. “That was fast.”

  “Wasn’t an interview, more like a quick-fire burst of high-velocity word shells.” He tried to smile. “I swear, that woman must have been an android in a previous life.”

  Quintan n
odded with little care. “When are you leaving for duty?”

  “In about sixteen hours.”

  Quintan moved up like a two hundred year old fighting gravity. Tavio cringed seeing his brother down again. He, of all the service members, deserved to join the mission. Tavio wanted to ease the decision for him. “Forget about the operation. It’s probably another routine scout ride to justify the Exo Protectorate’s tax spending.”

  “At least you get to ride a starship in real-life.”

  “It’s virtual reality with better graphics.”

  For the first time since the announcement, a smile washed over Quintan’s bitter lips. “You’re such a nerd.”

  The two left the Exo Protectorate center and reached the main plaza of the Alliance complex. The Texas sun was low in the sky, signaling the late afternoon. It was a cliché hologram-styled image but Tavio couldn’t get enough of it. “Look at it this way; you get to soak up the summer sun while I’m gazing at the void and getting squeezed into tight quarters at near light speeds. Maybe you’re the lucky one.”

  Quintan didn’t even seem to listen. He focused on some distant spot where the buildings seemed to converge. “Let’s get this day over with.”

  Tavio didn’t know what to add and waited until his brother resumed the eye contact. Quintan forced out a smile and patted Tavio’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Tav. I’m proud of you. Seriously.” His fake smile became a real one. “Let’s get you ready for Mars.”

  6

  Later that day, the brothers bar-hopped like in the good old days.

  Quintan downed the special beer menu of the mobile brewery, Tavio stuck to decaf syn sugar lemonade, which caught suspicious glances from the bar crowd. “I’m back in the service and need to keep the blood pressure low. Biofeedback is one nano-second away of slapping me.”

  “Congrats,” one bar person said. “Where are you heading to?”

  “The red planet.”

  Silence dropped like a flash bang.

  The folks swallowed their beer and nodded with eyes darting away. Tavio could swear they focused on some invisible spots to avoid conversation.

  “Better not talk about Mars ‘round here,” Quintan said.

  “Come on, those times are over.”

  Quintan gulped down his organic Hefeweizen. “You wish.”

  The night blitzed by like a falling star, and before Tavio knew it, he sat in the space lift reaching Earth’s orbit. He stared through the translucent window frames of the orbital station and marveled at the finest transportation system ever to connect the colonies.

  7//Earth orbit

  The Solar Express ferried humans and cargo between celestial bodies in the solar system. The vessels resembled metallic centipedes with their cylindrical capsules attached to each other. A single ‘space train’ reached up to ten percent of light speed. And since they ran continuously, the Solar Express saved energy and expenses during the acceleration and deceleration phases.

  Tavio took a boarding shuttle from the Earth spaceport and entered his flight unit. He buckled up in the Alliance service section established for veterans. Tavio couldn’t remember the last time he rode the Express.

  He carried mixed feelings returning to the red planet—now officially called the Free Republic of Mars by the colonizers. Not too long ago, Earth and the first major colony bombed each other to nano-particles with combined arms assaults. Orbital ship battles, long-range platform arrays, cyber-hacking attempts, EMP bombs, and ground-pounder infiltration missions—the world wars on Earth were playground scuffles by comparison.

  Almost two decades had passed since the Colony War and Mars was now an official member of the Solar Alliance. Still, mistrust on both sides stayed like foul stains impossible to wash off. Tavio had no beef with the Martians anymore and hoped they thought the same. With the advent of the first contact, Tavio wanted to leave the scars of the past behind once and for all.

  The former captain peeked out the window of his express train and stared into the void of the universe. A ring station reminiscent of an upside down funnel floated in the blackness. The Martians lovingly dubbed the pride of colonial astro-engineering The Red Jewel. At least five mega companies had worked together to make the floating station a reality, but the result blew everyone away. Even out in the nothingness, human inventiveness could make the impossible happen. Tavio snapped out of his reverie, entered the boarding shuttle, and left the Solar Express. The AI resonated her commercial voice. “Flight B-three-one-one, ready to dock on the Red Bastion space station. Please remain seated until you have been pinged.”

  Tavio could hear the dull sounds of clamps attaching to the shuttle’s exterior. The hatch opened up and the service bot welcomed him to the military marvel of Mars.

  Tavio shook his numb limbs and experienced the artificial gravity of the station. He waddled like a drunk and needed time to find his balance, but thanks to spaceflight stimulations, his body adapted quickly. Tavio’s comlink switched to the Martian time zone ‘Sol’ and updated the local channel layout. Over five thousand news and entertainment channels begged to be consumed. Like every colony in the Alliance, they accepted interstellar credits, but Tavio doubted he would have time to spend them. He put his consumer behavior on passive and passed the airlock section of the Red Bastion spaceport’s docking bay. Station guards carried triple-layer armored suits and zero G pistols with high speed, rubber pellets. Tavio also recognized stun batons and smart smoke grenades attached to the soldiers’ utility belts. Pretty high armament, but then again, it was a military station. One guard approached him with his retinal scanners activated. The brick-shaped giant glanced up and down. “Captain Tavio Alterra from Earth.”

  He sounded stuck between being bored and annoyed, but men from Mars were known to be tough and rough, especially to folks from the home planet.

  Tavio smiled. “That’s me.”

  The guard—and his co-workers behind the biometrical screening monitor section—threw him sharp stares. The same annoyed boredom crept into their faces, but Tavio played it cool. This mission was far greater than personal trouble from the past.

  “Approved,” said the soldier with the retinal eye scanner and waved the former captain away.

  “Thanks.”

  Tavio grabbed his gear pack from the surveyor belt and moved to the exit. Several civilians and military members waited in the welcome area, but a particular group stood out. They wore the neon-blue uniform of the Alliance’s Exo Protectorate and flashed Tavio with petawatt smiles. The freckled woman in the middle stepped up and saluted. “Welcome to the Red Bastion, Captain Alterra.”

  Nostalgia hit Tavio in the stomach area with a warm sensation. The uneventful times of the last years vanished in a snap. Every cell of Tavio's being realized a new adventure awaited.

  8

  “My name is Kelly LaCrosse, and I’m the Mission Master of Operation First Contact.”

  The curly-haired woman with the round face looked naturally young. Tavio couldn’t notice a single trace of regeneration. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

  Her two key lieutenants shared their salute and nodded. The mission master wasted no time. “Unfortunately, Chief Director Jackstadt won’t be able to join our briefing in person. He will, however, set up a holographic call in your quarters once you have recovered from your flight.” She flicked a glance at her lieutenant. “Then, we will hold the mission briefing and get you ready for space.”

  Tavio whistled. “You can’t wait to shoot me into the void.”

  She smiled. “If it turns out to be a distress signal from a sentient race, we have no time to lose.”

  Kelly winked and charged forward. Tavio followed her through the busy spaceport section of the station. Together, they traveled through elongated tube corridors packed with military personnel from across the solar system. Tavio recognized more bumped up Martians, the tall, white-skinned slender Mooners with their noticeable Asian features, as well as the cybernetic colonists fro
m the floating cities of Venus. Thanks to advances in bio-engineering, humans had physically changed through the last century of space colonization.

  The group of lieutenants followed Tavio and Kelly, walking through the corridors as military Alliance personnel passed them by. The station resembled a giant funnel-shaped city, but it was tightly constructed to preserve space. The dank smell of metal and used oxygen pinched Tavio’s nostrils. He missed the clean and sunny air of Texas already.

  “Here we go,” Kelly said and directed her flat palm at the metal hatch with the fresh Captain Alterra engravings. “You will have access to a food printer and a personal hygiene unit, plus a VR frame for your entertainment pleasure. We have feeds from Earth in case you get homesick.”

  “Too late.”

  Pause.

  “It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

  “I need to see the quarters first.”

  The mission master chuckled. “No, I mean the alien signal. We’re writing the next page of human history.”

  “Let’s hope it’s not another horror story.”

  The mission master twitched. “Keep your comlink online, sir. The Director will contact you shortly.”

  She darted away with her entourage. Tavio entered his temporary resting station and noticed the biting smell of caustic lemon trying to beat the metal flavor. The captain’s quarters turned out to be a tight, three-cubed flat with a box bed, a tech table, and two metallic chairs. High-ranking Martian officers were known for their sparse habitats; a quality that Tavio had always admired—the simple setup allowed him to focus on the essentials.

  Tavio stored his gear pack in the wall locker and produced a cup of fresh water from the drink dispenser. He wanted to sink into his new bed and recover from the flight when a priority call clanged on his comm channel. Jackstadt himself showed up in avatar form. Tavio flattened his uniform and straightened his stance as he accepted the call. The director projected into Tavio’s augmented vision and appeared almost real.