USS Kepler Dawn

by Gerald Lane Summers

  He stays in his own compartment now, as do I. The plan is for him to stay with the ship when it departs. It has been his first love and I have never been a serious part of it. I love working on the engines, but not like he does. If he could, he’d spend all of his time polishing the dammed things. Fortunately, with the life extending processes we now possess, there is no reason why we both cannot live full and happy lives by ourselves for at least another two hundred years. Divorce would be the next logical step for us, since in his current condition Buryl will no longer be underfoot. Our younger son, Charles Jr. has been a dream. He is bright, loves the thought of being in service and unlike Buryl, will one day make a great officer. It is probable he will choose to stay on the ship with his father.

  Please understand that Buryl has been a problem for a long time and has been acting out in many unsavory ways. None of it affected his classroom performance, so we elected not to intervene in any substantial way. I am still not able to understand how he managed that. Still, it is a fact that he did. I saw it and so did Charles, so I want you to know that none of this has been your fault.

  I know Buryl blamed you for many things we knew were not true. Anytime he failed at something, he tended to put blame on someone else. Charles ignored it, all with full knowledge of the horrible things Buryl had been doing to other students. I have reprimanded both of them, to no good end.

  Charles took the position that Buryl was old enough to make his own mistakes and would have to live with the consequences of them. I thought that excessively harsh and not a very good form of parental guidance. Nevertheless, that was the situation and while I am very sure he was upset about Buryl’s use of stimulants, he did not intend to attempt an intervention.”

  “Actually, ma’am — I’m not sure that is true. When he realized Buryl was using drugs, he started monitoring his whereabouts with the ship’s scanners. In fact, that is how we established where Buryl was getting his various drugs, how he managed to take the wrong ones and how he became so screwed up. The people responsible for it are now in the brig and unlikely to get out until the colony is well established, if then. It is also possible they will never be released. Crimes and conspiracies of the type they envisioned have traditionally been dealt with by hanging.”

  “Well,” she said. “At least one good thing has come out of this. I hope they rot to hell in there. Is there any way for you to make it worse for them than it already is?”

  “No, ma’am. The ship’s penal system will do that. I can verify it will not be easy on them, especially because of their breach of fiduciary duties. It was their job to see to the needs of the colonists, not hook them on drugs or encourage them to commit crime. We don’t know their ultimate intent, although the primary option appears to have been a rebellion of some kind. I am sure the judiciary will also see it that way. Please note all of this is top secret and must not be repeated to anyone. Release of it to any unauthorized person could result in imprisonment. I know you hold the highest secret classification status, so I trust you will understand the need to be bound by it.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I can understand that.” She then paused, and looked directly at me. “Can you answer one question for me?”

  “If I can.”

  “Is it true that the board of trustees was behind all this?”

  “Uh, do you mind if I ask you how you came to ask that question?”

  “I can, if you swear to keep my answer secret. You want me to honor your request, so it seems fair that I get the same respect.”

  “Very well. Yes. It was Chairman Marshal and the rest of the board. Buryl represented an opportunity for them to gain information on what the captain and Commander Boggs might do, and to get Buryl’s support they made sure he became addicted to cocaine.”

  She shook her head. “During our last conversation, Charles told me he suspected it might be cocaine. We’d both had experience with that drug in our youth and neither of us thought it would affect him so severely or so quickly. Charles was about to confront him about it when all this happened. We agreed it could not have been the cause of his insanity. Or was it?”

  “No. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what did cause it. It was a drug, as you suspect and its very existence remains top secret, code word only.”

  “I thought so. I didn’t accept the drug allegations at first. When word got out there might be a problem on board, the ladies bridge club knew it could only have been caused by Marshal, who had been involved with a drug company on Earth. We did not know of any specific plans. The general view was just that Marshal was up to something. Had any of us been able to verify it, we would have informed the captain.”

  ∆ ∆ ∆

  I continued to talk to Mrs. Boggs for about thirty minutes and then told her I had a meeting to attend on the bridge. It was true and she must have known it because she did not object.

  As I was leaving, she stopped me. She told me she really did need to talk some more and had no one close with whom to do it. I asked her if it would be okay to send my aide to visit her now and then.

  “No, I think I would prefer you to come by every once in a while. You are easy to talk to and that’s what I need. Once Charles and I get a divorce, I will be able to get out and about without worrying about what people might think. But right now, it is just good company I need.

  As I was walking to the door, a thought occurred. I turned to her and said, “It is possible that other ships will arrive here before we leave. We know they have left Earth, but not when they will arrive. That too is classified, but if one of them does arrive before we leave, it would give you another option if you did not want to become a colonist.

  She perked up. “So, I might yet have a career in service? That would be nice. I am fully qualified in many fields, including AG engineering and hold the rank of lieutenant commander. If they have openings, I’d love to try out for one.”

  Chapter 24

  Iarrived on the bridge and met Commander Herman. Miki came in a few moments later. We did some preliminary scanning to see if anything else might be seen that we could include in our speeches to the colonists, found none and then started working on the program outline.

  The following day we called a special meeting of the colonial department heads for the purpose of finalizing the Kepler landing plans. I was to give the first talk, tell them what had happened in the last few days and what we had in mind for the immediate future. Commander Herman would discuss the technical matters we would be facing as we approached the planet and solicit the opinions of the various scientific minds to help as we went along. Lieutenant Sakura would be assigned to help them all in getting organized and reviewing the plans for location selection.

  Prior to leaving the Sol system, extensive studies had been undertaken on how to organize and manage the new colony. The plans drawn up would now be brought out, studied in depth and the first of many research ventures would be undertaken. Picking a proper spot for the first town would be very important, require extensive geological studies, oceanographic studies, atmospheric studies, biological studies and many others. Nothing could be left to chance.

  When we arrived at the large meeting room, which was similar to one on Earth that might have served a large hotel, I noticed the number of bright shiny faces was roughly half of the number we had expected. It occurred to me that many of the colonists as well as department heads that might otherwise have been in attendance were probably still suffering from addictions. I thought about it and decided to face the problem directly.

  I spoke into my com/AI computer link and asked the computer if there was a medical treatment for addiction that could be immediately put into practice and block for all time a person’s desire for drugs.

  “Yes,” the computer said. “Doctor Dundee is an expert on that subject, although he has not had to deal with the problem since shortly after we left Earth.”

  “Very well, would you contact and ask him to report to the colonial meeting room as soon as possible.
Tell him to bring whatever information he might have available on treatment programs for drug addiction. We have a large problem on our hands.”

  “Yes, and it might be better if I put the information up on the view screen for him when he gets here. He could review and refer to it as he speaks.”

  “Excellent idea. Make it happen.”

  The three of us stepped up onto the dais and I took the lead. “Ladies and gentlemen. I am Lieutenant Andy Kelso, Aide de Camp to Captain Hollenbeck. To my right is Lieutenant Commander Herman, in charge of the long range scans of our destination planet and its satellite as well as the mathematics of our trajectory into the system. She will also be in command of the overall activities of the colonists as they prepare for landing. To my left is Lieutenant Miki Sakura. She is our communications and diplomacy expert and will assist the group in organizing the structure of the planetary colony.

  Right now, it is our job to bring you all up to date on our mission and what needs to be done between now and our arrival at Kepler 186f. As some of you probably know, the ship has increased its speed to 5.5 FTL and we will now arrive there within three years.”

  The group began to murmur and then buzz with interest.

  When they quieted down, I continued. “That means we must start reviewing procedures preparatory for landing, which of course means we must all be sober and free of drug addiction. Right now, this bunch could survive about five minutes on a ground mission, and we are going to remedy that.

  Those in attendance started glancing at each other and some low level grumbling began.

  “How many of you are currently addicted to some kind of illegal drug? Raise your hands.”

  No one did.

  “Alright, Doctor Dundee will be here shortly to test you all. If he finds that any of you have lied, you will be placed in the ship’s brig for the duration of our travels. Now, let’s start over again. How many of you have been or are now addicted to illegal drugs?”

  This time almost everyone raised their hands.

  “How many of you still have drugs in your possession or in your compartments?”

  Again, all of them appeared to raise their hands.

  “Good. Honesty to one’s self is the best way for anyone to deal with a drug problem. Now I want you to go to your rooms, get what drugs you have left and bring them here to be turned over to the doctor. He will then prepare a medical program for each of you to relieve you of this addiction and put you all straight. Once that is accomplished, you will never be able to take such drugs again without experiencing violent illness or death. The treatment will not be simple or without discomfort and I’m certain you will not like it. It will, however, be done! This mission has so far taken us ninety years and no one here is going to ruin it for want of some inner peace trip that even you cannot want to become permanent. Now, get going.”

  I must have had a rather harsh tone to my voice because all but one person started to comply.

  I looked at the man, a scruffy looking fellow who I could smell from the dais. “Why are you not complying with my order?”

  He stood up with a sour look on his face. “Because I think you are a punk kid trying to bluff your way through life. I don’t care who you are. I’m not going to give you anything but grief. We have rights and that means you cannot just order us how to behave like we were simpleton sailors.”

  I turned to Miki. “Lieutenant Sakura, arrest this man and take him to the brig. If he gives you any trouble, shoot him.”

  A collective gasp rose from those who had not yet cleared out of the room. Most of them stopped to watch what might happen.

  Miki looked at me and then back at the man. She opened her small purse, rattled around in it for a moment, took hold of something within and then walked down from the dais to face the man.

  “It’s your choice,” she said. “Follow my orders or face the consequences.”

  “Pishaw,” the man spat. “You don’t have a gun.”

  Miki reached into her purse and while his eyes were focused on that movement, she kneed him in the groin. He went down and immediately assumed a fetal position groaning and holding his crotch.

  “No, I don’t have a gun,” she said. But I have a black belt in karate and have been dealing with shrimpy little pricks like you all of my life. Now, get up and start moving.”

  “Take him outside Lieutenant,” I said “… while I call for a Marine. He can escort the man to the brig. We will need you here.”

  I spoke into my communicator. “Computer, call Commander Lipscomb and have him send a Marine to the colonial meeting room. We have a prisoner for him.”

  “Done. The Marine is on his way.”

  “Did you anticipate this?”

  “Of course. “I’m not deaf.”

  “No, but you must beware of insolence. It is not a valuable trait.”

  “Oh, I was trying to emulate your command voice. I apologize.”

  “Accepted. And note, my command voice and tone are variable depending on the situation.”

  “Ah, yes.”

  At that moment the biggest, meanest looking Marine I’d ever seen stepped into the room. He immediately grasped the situation, picked the man up by the collar with one hand and took him outside.”

  I turned to the remaining people in the room, most of whom were still slowly making their way to the doors.

  “I expect you all to be back here in twenty minutes. One second later and you will join your friend there in brig.”

  Once the room was empty, Commander Herman said, “Good work, both of you.” I nodded my gratitude. Miki said, “My pleasure. Next time, however, I would appreciate a bit of warning.”

  “I was pretty sure you would not need it, especially after watching you singlehandedly disable Buryl in the lounge.”

  Doctor Dundee arrived a few moments later huffing and puffing, his stethoscope swinging from his neck and an emergency bag in his hand.

  “What’s the problem?” he said as he looked around the empty room.

  “We have a rather large group of colonials, department heads mostly, who have become drug addicts in need of treatment. I understand that has been a specialty of yours since before we left the Earth. So, before we can get moving on our landing plans, they will need to be treated. In fact, I want every colonial on the ship to be examined for drug use and treated if they show any signs of it. I don’t think any of the Marines are suffering from the malady, but it might be wise to check with CID Colonel Lipscomb to get his advice before excusing any of them from the program.”

  “Phew,” he said. “I thought it was something serious.”

  “How long will it be before they are ready to work intelligently?”

  “Two days, max.” he said. “The medication immediately takes away all desire for the drug high. After that they will become violently ill if they try to take any non-prescribed medication. And I mean ILL. Mostly, however, the desire for such drugs will simply be removed from their brains. On very rare occasions, the medicine does not work. I’ve never seen a case like that, but I’ve read of them in the literature available before we left Earth.”

  “That’s great,” I said. “The department heads will be back shortly and you can start working on them. After that, we will call all of the colonists to meet here. Even then, I suspect you will have to visit quite a few personal compartments and it is likely some of the colonial security people will be just as messed up. When you get to them, make sure you take some Marines with you and are prepared for an armed fight. Some of them may have their own weapons.”

  Special Report of the Captain – USS Kepler Dawn

  Classified – Eyes only – Director Spa/Com

  Johan C. Hollenbeck – Captain - 2453

  I am sad to report that the crew had to put down a mutiny planned by the board of directors. We discovered that under the leadership of Director Marshal, (former CEO of Marshal Industries) weapons (over 1000 plasma rifles as well as grenades) and addictive drugs, including the
‘compliance’ drug ‘De-Tach’ had been illegally stocked aboard and hidden from our normal scans. A great many colonists had been supplied with addictive drugs and were to receive De-Tach before carrying out their attack. Discovery of this plot came as the result of Lieutenant Andy Kelso’s investigative instincts and the breakdown of one of the addicted colonists. The board was arrested and will be confined to the brig until their sentences are carried out.

  I intend to reward Kelso for his diligence by promoting him ahead of schedule to lieutenant commander. This is much earlier than normal and well justified. He has demonstrated capability well beyond his years and is now in command, along with Commander Herman, of the landing on the planet or the satellite as soon as both have been thoroughly evaluated.

  All future colonial ships should be thoroughly examined for the storage of weapons and compliance drugs. It might also be wise to double the complement of Marines. Further, while there is a need for some form of colonial governance on each ship, it should be made clear that all are subject to the captain’s orders. As of now, the standing of our colonial board has been revoked.

  Chapter 25

  After a week of suffering, the colonials managed to get themselves completely sober and inspired to choose their new home. They put together a well-rounded plan for development with the primary question being which home it would be, the planet or the moon?

  I paid close attention to Lieutenant Commander Herman and Lieutenant Sakura as they completed the colonial observation room. Experts among the colonists were now clamoring for time on the various scanners and telescopes, examining and analyzing both bodies daily. We finally had to give them more access to the equipment on the bridge.

  Personally, I was getting excited. Everything was going according to plan. Then I started thinking about that fact. If something was to go wrong, now would be the time for it. Over lunch one afternoon, I mentioned my concern to Captain Hollenbeck. We discussed it for quite some time before giving up. Everything was working like a well-oil machine without a hint of disaster. I decided to take a day off and spend it with the computer.