“John wouldn’t have gone on this ship if he didn’t think it had a chance of beating the Screen. We should assume it’s still out there and figure out a way to communicate with them without TERRA being aware.”
“I’m going to need to give you a crash course on spying on TERRA communications. I can't do this by myself.”
Billy smiled. “Sounds like fun. Let’s do it. We got a friend out there waiting to hear from us.”
While the boys got to work, President Butu entered her office on the other side of the planet and, without missing a step, sat directly on the dark brown leather couch in the middle of the room. She took some deep breathes, a method she used to relax herself. It had been one of the busiest days in her three years in office. She had just completed a press conference that was broadcasted throughout Earth, Luna, and Mars. Reports of panic reaching unprecedented levels in parts of Earth had been received and she wanted to calm everyone’s fears before paranoia ran rampant and extended to the two colonies. Although the main objective of the conference was to calm the public’s fears about the Screen, Butu provided very brief information. She only stated that the ship was an experimental Earth vessel, had launched for unknown reasons, and TERRA had not established communications with it. Butu had hoped to receive more detailed information from the command council before the conference, but they never contacted her office again after their initial discussions.
Although she held TERRA in high regards she was becoming increasingly frustrated with them. She had received multiple reports from the various government agencies about the unfolding situation, but TERRA seemed to be holding out. Her conversation with Admiral Donalds was the only contact she had with TERRA with regards to the EXODUS. The command council’s lack of communication convinced the president there was more going on than what was initially told to her. But what could prompt them to keep the civilian government out of the loop? Donalds had mentioned the ship was an experiment. What was its purpose?
A knock on the door broke the president’s train of thought. “Come in,” she said as she sat up in a more professional position. She tried to take advantage of those rare moments of peace and quiet that came her way, but whenever the office door knocked she knew she had to put on her political game face.
“Madam President,” replied her chief of staff as he entered the office. “Your speech seems to have calmed the public’s nerves.”
“Despite not having much information to rely on. But it's good to hear the public’s fears have been allayed for now. What do you have for me?”
Charles handed her a large file. “That’s everything I was able to get my hands on. TERRA has not communicated with any of our constituents or agencies regarding this matter. Information from them is in short supply.”
“I’ve made personal requests repeatedly to speak with the council, but they’ve ignored me so far.”
“Despite their silence there’s been a lot of activity going on in TERRA. They’ve sent security detachments all over Earth and our people confirmed that security have detained several individuals.” Charles opened the file in the president’s hands. The first page was a list of names. “The individuals they’ve taken into custody all worked on this EXODUS Project.”
Butu looked at the names and the occupational descriptions. They were either scientists or military personnel.
“We have not been able to ascertain the exact reason why they are being held,” said Charles, anticipating the president would ask that question.
“What about the launch site?”
“We’ve confirmed the ship was launched from the Tormented Valley in the Canadian province. TERRA has cordoned off the area which would further confirm that’s where the launch site is located. I had our Interior Minister try to get to the site and even he was turned away.”
Butu got up and slowly paced around the office looking over the files contents. “TERRA is determined to keep this quiet if they're willing to go as far as refuse one of my cabinet members to the site. It seems to me that the launch of this ship was done without the knowledge or consent of the command council.”
“What makes you believe that? My understanding of the council is that they have complete knowledge of what's occurring within their organization.”
“If they knew the ship was launching they wouldn’t be tracking down these project members and sealing off the launch site. They’re trying to get information about what happened as quick as they can while keeping outsiders at arm's length.”
Charles never questioned the president’s assumptions. She had a keen sense of interpreting people’s motives, something that has served her well in her political career. He believed it was that skill that got her elected to office.
“The head of the project, Admiral Oliver Johnson, has disappeared,” continued Charles. “We don’t know if he’s on the ship but our sources say TERRA believes he’s still on the planet.”
“Then we need to find Admiral Johnson before TERRA does."
"We may have a lead on that," said Charles. "There was an incident in California where a house exploded. Our sources say that a large detachment of TERRA security was in the house when it detonated. Witnesses report a TERRA shuttle leaving the scene shortly afterwards."
"Do we have any idea who's on the shuttle?" asked Butu.
Charles shook his head. "No, but there is a connection to the house. It belonged to John Roberts, one of the cadets taken to the ship."
When the president first heard about the two cadets being taken to a classified facility she did not dwell too much on their involvement with the ship's launch. They were only cadets and could provide only a limited role on a space ship. But with Charles telling her that a house belonging to one of them had exploded and killed several security officers, it raised her interest in the cadets even more.
"What about those cadets who were taken to the ship?”
“I managed to get a copy of their Academy records through back channels so the superintendent is unaware we have it. Julie Olson’s file is typically remarkable for a TERRA cadet: excellent grades, highly regarded by both students and professors. John Roberts file is a bit more colorful.”
The president flipped to John’s file and began reading it. “I see what you mean,” she remarked as she read the file. She smiled as she read some of the pranks John had been caught doing and the description of his defiant attitude at the Academy. He may not have been an ideal cadet but it sure provided whoever read his dossier some great reading entertainment. “I can see why they chose to put him in the reserves. He's not an exemplarily individual.”
“Despite all the animosity he's generated amongst the student body and faculty the general consensus is he’s one of the most intelligent individuals ever to attend the Academy. Oh, and one more thing. Both cadets were roommates.”
“Are there any indications Admiral Johnson knew them?”
“None. We couldn’t find any past event where he would have encountered them. Olson’s father is a farmer in the United States territory of Lexington, Nebraska with no ties to TERRA. Roberts’ parents died when he was four. He had an older sister but she disappeared several years ago.”
Butu put the file down and sat at her desk. “This is good information, but we still do not know why the ship was launched or its purpose. Once we know that we’ll have a better understanding of why these people are involved. If Admiral Johnson is indeed still on the planet we need to find him before TERRA does. Have our people do a thorough but discreet search for the admiral. Let them know that under no circumstance should TERRA be made aware of our search. Can I assume our people are tracking the shuttle that left the cadet's house?”
"Yes."
"Have them bring in whoever is on board. They may have knowledge of the admiral's whereabouts, and may be able to give us some more information about the EXODUS Project."
“Should I have Janice stop making meeting requests with the command council?”
“No, that will draw susp
icion. They’ll expect me to continue demanding a meeting so have Janice keep making the request.” Charles’ DAT buzzed on his belt and he activated his ear piece wirelessly connected to his DAT. He put his hand up for a moment to listen to the message coming in. “We need to put the news on.”
“ELM channel on,” said Butu loudly. A large monitor hanging on the wall flickered to life. An image of the newscaster appeared.
“Reports have been circulating for hours about a large ship that rose from Earth and headed into space. After numerous eyewitness accounts from people on transport ships and Mars we have obtained official word from TERRA about the existence of this ship. TERRA has just released a statement about the vessel. According to them the ship is an experimental vessel called EXODUS that was hijacked by extremists from Earth whose goal is to take it beyond Mars and attempt a hostile encounter with the Screen. TERRA attempted to halt the vessel, but was unable to slow its advance without risk of destroying it. The vessel crossed the border and was shortly destroyed by a Screen ship. We have attempted to verify these events however the sensor grid that monitors the solar system was damaged when the Screen fired on the EXODUS. We will bring you more information as the day progresses.”
“Screen off,” said Butu. She turned to her chief of staff. “Confirm that what TERRA is saying is the truth. This is too convenient. I suspect this may be a cover story, otherwise we would have heard from the command council by now.”
“You don’t think that the ship could have possibly survived an attack from the Screen?”
“It's highly unlikely, but I’m not convinced of anything at this point. The council has already lied to us and we need to verify their statements. See if the Science Bureau has any information about this ship being destroyed. I’m assuming they were monitoring the ship’s progress.”
“Unless TERRA has taken control of the sensor grid. They do have the authority to take control of it and restrict access at any time.”
“Then we’ll need to go to the people. There has to be an amateur astronomer or star watcher who has equipment that picked up the ship.”
“I’ll have our people start looking,” said Charles as he headed out the office.
“One more thing, Charles,” said Butu, causing him to stop and turn. “We need to hurry. I want to have as much information at my disposal before I speak to Admiral Donalds again.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
On the command deck John walked down into the pit and joined Julie and Bret at the communications station. Julie had called John while he was down in the engineering section going over last minute details on the hyper-drive system. John also wanted to meet in person the infamous Professor Donavin. From what he heard from the crew the professor was a quirky individual and John discovered they weren't exaggerating in their description. After spending a lengthy bit of time hearing how the military was infringing on engineering operations John was able to escape the professor when Julie called him to the command deck. She didn’t say why he was needed, but her tone of voice clearly indicated it was urgent.
“Commander,” said Julie as John approached them.
“What is it?”
“Private Michaels picked up a transmission from ELM regarding us.”
“I was able to capture the broadcast over the system-wide sensor network before they shut it down,” explained Bret.
“They closed down the sensor grid?” asked John. He wasn’t too surprised that they would have done that. It was the easiest way to keep people in the dark.
Julie nodded. “Apparently they don’t want the public to know what’s really going on with us. Play the transmission,” she instructed Bret.
Bret punched up the transmission he and Julie had just listened to. John’s blood boiled as he listened to the news broadcast. TERRA had failed in stopping EXODUS, so now they were going to erase their existence to the world. Just tell everyone that EXODUS had been blown away and no one would question the almighty TERRA.
“I thought the Science Bureau ran the sensor grid,” said Bret.
“They do,” answered John. “But TERRA can take it over at any time and shut the bureau out. I’m sure when they realized they couldn’t prevent us from leaving they instituted that mandate. Tell the people we’ve been destroyed and no one would know we’re still out here."
TERRA's actions were despicable but they had moved to protect their interests, something John wasn’t surprised to see. "Is there a way we could send covert signals to Earth without using the grid?”
“Theoretically, we could send a signal through space guised as normal background radiation. But the signal would disintegrate the farther it traveled. The contents of the signal may be too degraded to recognize by the time it reached one of the planets. It’d be a tough thing to pull off.”
“Work with some of the scientists on board,” instructed John. “See if there’s a way to boost the integrity of a signal without increasing the chance of it being detected.”
“Yes, sir,” said Bret. John headed over to his command chair.
“Can I speak with you in private for a moment?” said Julie coming up behind him. John knew this was going to be an argument again. He reluctantly nodded and motioned her towards the office.
“What is it this time?” asked John in a frustrated tone as they walked in his office. Time was limited and John felt that he had more important things to do than straighten Julie out and put her in her place yet again.
“I don’t think now is the time to spend trying to send messages back to Earth," said Julie. "We need to be focusing our efforts in preparing for another possible Screen encounter. I would have thought you’d know better considering you’re the one so concerned about another attack.”
“I am, but we still need to let people know that we’re out here.”
“Why? They’re not going to come running to our aid if we get into trouble. We're on our own, and even if they knew we were alive they’re not going to provide us with any kind of support.”
“If we can show that we survived out here maybe it’ll start changing people’s ideas that humanity is helpless against the Screen,” said John as he sat down behind his desk and put his hands on his head.
“I can appreciate you wanting to spread your ideals to other people, heck I share them. But this isn’t the time. You’ve got a ship to command and we need to concentrate on getting past Pluto to jump out of the system.”
“We will, but our story needs to be told back home.”
Julie was getting fed up with John’s stubbornness. But she told herself that she had to act as a good executive officer and not fly off the handle. She wasn’t going to let John fuel her emotions. “Even if you send a hidden transmission, who back home is even going to look for it?”
John cleared his throat. “Before we left Earth I sent a message to Billy telling him about our mission and requesting he and David keep an eye out for any transmissions we send.”
Julie couldn’t believe what she just heard. It was like coming out of the mouth of a first year cadet. “What the hell are you thinking involving them in this?”
“Hey, I’m trying to think ahead here...,” started John, but Julie cut him off. She couldn’t contain herself any longer and allow him to continue on in this manner. He had finally driven her to the breaking point.
“Damn it, John! You’re the commander of this ship. There are five thousand people here you’re responsible for keeping safe. You need to stop putting you’re wishes above the needs of this ship and crew. You had no right to involve Billy and David in this. You're going to ruin their lives.”
“I’m not...,” he started, but he couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Julie wasn’t about to let him take over another argument.
“Like hell you are! You want the respect of being a captain, then start acting like one. These are people's lives you're playing with and you can't treat them in such a cavalier attitude. What you do affects us and you need to grow up and start thinking of others inste
ad of yourself and you can start by stop disagreeing with me at every turn.”
“Oh so now I have to start agreeing with all your suggestions. Is this what it's about? I don’t respect you?” John threw up his hands and turned his chair around to look out the window.
“We’re not cadets back home debating some school paper. You could have the same viewpoint as me and you would still argue with me just for the sheer pleasure of it. John Roberts has to show how superior he is to everyone. I’m sick of it and sick of you! You’re nothing but a spoiled brat! Mortino was right putting you in the reserves. You don't deserve to be an officer.”
Julie’s words hit John like an ice pick in his heart and he didn’t like it. He wanted to wrap his hands around her throat and squeeze as tight as possible to silence her. How dare she make such a statement. But he didn’t want to give her the satisfaction by showing any sign of her words affecting him. He just continued to look out the window.
Julie took a few seconds to calm down. She didn’t want her emotions to get the better of her again. If she was going to tell John to rise above his deficiencies she was going to have to rise above her own. But damn it if it wasn’t hard for her. She couldn’t go on putting up with his behavior.
“Look, we need to start working together if we’re going to succeed. We’re never going to be friends, but that shouldn’t stop us from running an effective command. I’m willing to work with you, but you have to meet me halfway. You have to stop making these decisions without thinking how it’s going to affect the rest of us. Millions of people’s lives could be on the line.”
Damn it. She was right. John did not want to admit it, but for the first time Julie was right and he was completely wrong. It was an epiphany John did not welcome.
Julie could see John had shut himself off from her and that this conversation wasn’t going to go much further. For all she knew he hadn't listened to a word she said. If that was the case it was a shame. If John was unwilling to accept criticism then he had already failed as a ship commander.
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