MYLEA: the journey begins (Mylean Universe Chronicles Book 1)

by Philip Elrod

  MYLEA

  THE JOURNEY BEGINS

  An advanced civilization’s

  desperate attempt to save themselves

  from a cosmic cataclysm

  Philip C. Elrod

  Copyright

  © 2014, 2015 Philip C. Elrod All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.

  In Memory of Tinker

  The real-life Mitch

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Part One

  Mylea

  Chapter 1

  A Looming Tragedy

  Chapter 2

  The Interstellar Transporter

  Chapter 3:

  Unforeseen Difficulties

  Part Two

  Casting the Players

  Chapter 4

  The Starring Role

  Chapter 5

  A Key Supporting Player

  Chapter 6

  Completing the Supporting Cast

  Part Three

  The Mylean Spacecraft

  Chapter 7

  Tom Meets Maxx

  Chapter 8

  Visiting Mylea

  Chapter 9

  Meeting the MCM

  Part Four

  A Plan of Action

  Chapter 10

  Setting Up Slater

  Slater Visits Maxx

  Chapter 12

  Slater’s Report

  Epilogue

  NASA

  The President of the United States

  Akiro Matsumoto

  Lei Ling Zhang

  Maxx

  Jim Slater

  Tom and Mister T

  Coming Events

  Prologue

  Long ago, in a galaxy far away…. Oops, wrong story!

  About twenty thousand years ago in a small globular galaxy that was in the process of merging with the nearby great spiral galaxy, our Milky Way, there existed a small blue planet much like Earth. The planet was called Mylea. It was much like our Earth, but very different in one significant way: almost all of the land mass of Mylea was contiguous around the middle of the planet, with a huge ocean dominating the lower hemisphere and another somewhat smaller ocean dominating the upper hemisphere.

  Mylea was inhabited by an advanced civilization of beings that were remarkably like humans in appearance and shared physical traits. But, mentally and emotionally, there were many significant differences.

  As the civilization advanced and matured, the Myleans managed to control warlike tendencies and live in harmony. Early in their civilization, warfare became an alien concept. That alone would set them apart from humans.

  Myleans were technologically advanced compared to earthlings. Their scientists even conquered physics at the sub-atomic level, enabling them to generate electricity directly from several forms of matter. Even more importantly, they had been able to conquer the mysteries of gravity and used it extensively, particularly in their transpiration systems.

  Life on Mylea was very close to utopian for several millennia and might have remained so for many more. But a disaster suddenly threatened to completely destroy them and their planet. When it looked as though they surely were doomed, their most famous scientist stepped forward and proposed a plan to save the planet and all its inhabitants.

  His plan, however, was beyond anything ever conceived before. It was beyond audacious!

  But it could be their only hope for survival.

  The big question they had to answer was, “Is it possible?”

  Part One

  Mylea

  Chapter 1

  A Looming Tragedy

  “Reality is what people who lack vision see.”

  - Mokokoma Mokhonoana, The Confessions of a Misfit

  The special team of top scientists made their report of the looming tragedy to the Mylean Scientific Council. They presented only two options, and neither was considered to be good. It appeared that Mylea and almost all of its people were doomed. The black hole approaching their sun could not be deflected sufficiently to save them.

  The Scientific Council pleaded for another possible solution.

  The meeting chamber remained hushed for several moments. It seemed that no one even breathed. Then, at the back of the room, a solitary figure rose and addressed the chairman of the meeting.

  “Mr. Chairman, may I address the meeting?”

  Every face in the room turned to look at the speaker. He was tall for a Mylean and moved with an easy grace that projected complete self-confidence. His piercing eyes scanned the room and rested on the leader of the special team that had delivered the report to the scientific committee. Those eyes spoke a thousand words. He would not accept such recommendations and frankly thought that they were ridiculous at best.

  A murmur went through the crowd. The speaker was Mylea’s most renowned scientist, Tanaka Tainaikai. He was famous, but almost never seen in public and even less frequently did he speak publicly.

  The president of the Scientific Council motioned for him to come to the podium.

  Tanaka was the most respected of Mylean scientists. His achievements in computer technology and robotics had elevated him to the very top of the scientific community. He had followed in the steps of his father and grandfather who were pioneers in the discovery and mastery of gravity waves, which had transformed Mylea society and made them legends in Mylea’s scientific societies.

  Tanaka strode purposefully to the podium and looked out across the audience of his peers. Then, he calmly explained that the two options presented by the team of scientists were simply not acceptable. He asked for sixty days to produce another option. “Give me that chance and I promise to return with a third option.”

  Tanaka bowed deeply toward his audience and left the chamber without saying another word. His bold promise was intriguing. How could one person, even though the most revered of scientists, come up with a plan when the entire scientific community couldn’t develop a single workable solution?

  Some were angry at his audacity but even more were embarrassed by their futile attempts at solving the problem. Within minutes, the scientists had all filed out of the room quietly and returned to their laboratories.

  ****

  Tanaka went straight to his laboratory and began his studies. Suddenly, he realized that sixty days would be a very short period. He wondered if he had been too bold. Should he have requested ninety days? Or, more?

  He usually worked alone in his private laboratory, and today was no exception. He did his best work without the interference or interruption of others. He could concentrate on a project with a laser intensity that other scientists could hardly understand. Nevertheless, even though a solitary researcher, he was beloved by other scientists. He never failed to share his knowledge with others and freely gave his colleagues assistance whenever they needed it.

  Tanaka began with the most basic aspects of the problem. Mylea faced complete destruction in less than a thousand years. At present, there were approximately two billion Myleans living on the planet. At first, he could see no possible means of saving them all. Time and technology were on his side, but, nevertheless, he feared that saving all two billion Myleans might be far beyond their considerable capabilities.

  Tanaka spent day and night in his lab
oratory with little food or sleep during the next few weeks. He spent many hours poring over scientific reference materials. He consulted with hundreds of scientists and engineers. He ran thousands of complex mathematical calculations.

  At last, late one night, he had the glimmer of an idea. It was so radical that even he could hardly accept it. It could be their only hope, so he pursued it with a passion.

  Tanaka confirmed through his studies that the gravitational pull of the black hole, hundreds of times greater than the gravity of their sun, would be impossible to divert.

  Even after all his precise projections and calculations, he was hesitant to propose his project. It was beyond audacious, but it was the only possible solution.

  As he sat in his laboratory late at night, he said softly, “We can build a space transport that will save ourselves AND our planet.”

  He began to outline his plan immediately. By the time the first draft was completed, it was well past dawn. He was exhausted but exhilarated at the same time.

  It took another two weeks to finalize his plan. At last, Tanaka scheduled his appearance before the scientific council. The sixty days were up. That night, he slept soundly and peacefully.

  ****

  The air in the meeting room was charged with tension as the scientists and government officials found their seats and prepared to hear Tanaka’s proposal.

  “What could he possibly have in mind?”

  “How could he have devised a scheme that would save Mylea when all others had failed?”

  The room was totally silent. A pin dropping would have probably resounded like a thunderclap. It was obvious that the audience was both apprehensive and hopeful as Tanaka moved to the podium.

  Tanaka spoke without any introduction. He reminded all present that Mylea most certainly was doomed unless they did something. They must find a solution or their civilization would be destroyed. He outlined the plans that had been presented by the scientific team at the last meeting and reiterated that both options were totally unacceptable. Mylean scientists should be far more imaginative and creative than that.

  He went on to explain how he had spent the past sixty days developing a third option. His plan was massive in scale and daring in design, but it was not impossible for them to accomplish in the amount of time available.

  He warned that his plan would require the maximum resources and capabilities of the entire planet. Mylean technology and creativity would have to be stretched to the limits for many years. No one present in the room would be alive to see its completion. But their planet could be saved. Myleans would live and prosper in another location in another galaxy far away from the black hole that threatened them.

  The audience was awed by Tanaka’s audacity. “How could a man of his stature and reputation bring forth such an outlandish idea? Had he lost his senses? What was he thinking?”

  Tanaka then spoke the words that no one could have expected. He proposed, “We shall build a spaceship and leave this perilous spot in the universe.” Then raising his voice to a very high level, he shouted, “AND WE SHALL TAKE MYLEA WITH US!”

  There was a brief period of stunned silence followed by muttering and mumbling as the audience shook their heads in disbelief and began to converse animatedly among themselves. Obviously, the proposal did not meet with instant enthusiasm.

  Tanaka stood silently for several minutes before speaking again. He brushed at a piece of lint on his shoulder and adjusted his purple jacket. He looked out at the audience rather absentmindedly as they continued to argue and gesture among themselves.

  Tanaka stared at the audience and then smiled like an indulgent parent for several seconds before he spoke. “My colleagues and fellow scientists, I swear to you that we can do this. I place my reputation, and that of my family, on the line.”

  He raised his arms in a gesture of embrace towards the group and made his vow.

  “We can do it! With the help of our scientists, engineers, and many other skilled Myleans, we shall succeed in moving our planet to a new and safe location in the great spiral galaxy.”

  Tanaka promised that he would provide them a detailed plan as quickly as possible, and Myleans could begin their monumental project without delay.

  No one spoke for several seconds. Then, a noted astronomer stood and began to speak. Tanaka had helped this scientist on many occasions and had even funded some of his research.

  “This plan may sound totally impossible, but we all know and respect Tanaka Tainaikai. He has never made a promise that he could not keep. If he says that we can do this, then we can do it. I am prepared to stand with him.”

  The room was again silent. Slowly, very slowly, the scientists and government officials began to stand. As each one stood, he or she said, “I stand with Tanaka.” It was an impressive sight. From the podium, Tanaka could see the support and approval on their faces. Their voices expressed an enthusiasm and hope for the future that had been absent since the first report of the black hole had been received.

  One lone figure caught Tanaka’s eye. It was the leader of the team of scientists who had made the original proposals. He made his way quickly through the throng and toward the exit. But, even from that distance, Tanaka could see that his face had turned bright red and that he was either quite embarrassed or quite angry. Probably both!

  ****

  Tanaka’s next job was to present his proposal to the Grand Council.

  He had met a few members of the Grand Council before, but he had never made any effort to follow politics, and legal processes were of little interest to him. Nevertheless, he was somewhat intimidated as he was escorted into the impressive hall of Mylea’s central government to make his presentation.

  He never had much thought about the importance of the powers of persuasion. His whole life had been in technology, and he had always relied on his superior understanding of the subject matter to make his points.

  Indeed, he worried that he might not have the communication skills to gain the approval of this august group. What would he do if they turned him down? Could he present his plan in simple terms so that these non-scientists could understand? Would they just think that he was some eccentric scientist with impossibly grandiose ideas?

  He took comfort in the fact that the science council had recommended that his plan be considered. He took his seat in front of the group and felt very lonely indeed.

  The president called the meeting to order and introduced Tanaka. “Thank you, Tanaka Tainaikai, for meeting with us this morning. I have long been an admirer of your work, and as you know, I was a friend of your father, Heilo.

  “We are well aware of our crisis and that our actions will result in the survival or destruction of our planet. Your initial proposal to the scientists caused a great sensation, as you can well imagine. Nevertheless, there are some from our council who are deeply concerned that your plan could not possibly be successful. Today, we are charged with the awesome responsibility of deciding whether or not to accept your plan.

  “I have spoken individually with many of the council members. One question has come up over and over again. If it is not possible to build a spaceship large enough to accommodate all the people, how could you possibly build something large enough to transport the entire planet?”

  Tanaka nodded to acknowledge the speaker, rose and spoke. “Mr. President, I, had a great many difficulties in devising this plan. There were many, many troubling questions and issues. But, that question was the easiest for me to answer.”

  Several council members raised their eyebrows in disbelief. Was Tanaka overrated? Was he disrespectful of the members of the Grand Council? His statement seemed arrogant!

  Tanaka gave his most humble look, “I mean no disrespect to the Grand Council or its members. Please allow me to elaborate on how I came to my conclusion. After I’ve finished my explanation, I honestly believe that you will understand, and it will help you agree to my project.

  “First, I analyzed the gravitational fi
eld data of the approaching black hole. I concluded that our engineers were indeed correct. We would not be able to divert such a massive gravitational field enough to avoid our sun’s destruction. My calculations have confirmed that our planet is doomed if we stay in our current location.

  “I immediately discounted the first option presented to you at our previous meeting. To stay and perish would be totally unacceptable. As a Mylean, I will do anything and everything to save us from that destruction.

  “Of the two proposals submitted, that left only the building of a spaceship to transport some elite Myleans to a new home.

  “The second proposal presented by our illustrious committee chairman had at least a small degree of merit. I rejected the idea but examined the concept carefully to determine if a spaceship could be built that was large enough to transport the entire population. My studies and calculations indicated that such a large vehicle would be totally impossible to develop and construct in the time available. Not because of the size of the ship required but because of the complexity.

  “The principal reason for this is the massive life support systems that would be required to sufficiently provide safe transport for so many, for so long a time. They would be far too complex and so enormous as to be impractical. There could be no possibility of success in such an endeavor, even if we had twice the time to complete the work.

  “At that point, I stopped and realized that we already had a life support system that could handle the entire population with ease. It has been tested for many years and functions perfectly. Yes, of course, I’m speaking of our planet, Mylea.

  “During the time since my last meeting with the Science Council, I devoted myself entirely to researching just how we could move Mylea to another location. The more that I studied the task, the more possible it became.

  “I’ll be the first to admit that the project is enormous. It’s something that has probably never been done before anywhere in the universe. But, my data is solid. We can do it! And it can be done within our allotted time!”