Trappist-1_The Tree of Life

by Todd Fries

  Lori stepped into the conversation.

  “We also need oxygen. We don’t know what gases make up that atmosphere. I think we have a few more hurdles to overcome before we get too excited.”

  He answered.

  “Agreed. I think our next step is to find a good landing zone and test the conditions below. That’s the only way to get our answers.”

  Nickolas pointed to a target near the southern coast, just on the edge of a large body of water. From this position they could sample both the sea and inland lake. If they needed to explore deeper into the country, they could use SM1 as their overland transport. There was no reason why they couldn’t do a complete survey.

  Once confirmed, SM1 started descending into the atmosphere. There was no fireball or back-breaking g-forces. The vehicle simply glided into the stratosphere and then gently penetrated the denser regions of gas, much like a hot air balloon slowing dropping toward Earth. As details started to emerge, they recognized a complex and geologically active landscape filled with mountains, valleys, rivers and streams and flatlands that extended across great distances.

  The Antarctica comparison wasn’t far off. He had seen photos of Lake Vida in Victoria Valley Antarctica and that snowless terrain looked more like Mars than Earth. This wasn’t much different and with the absence of craters, one might believe they were looking at some desolate region on Earth and not some exoplanet, trillions of miles away.

  None the less as they dropped lower and lower, their landing site became clear. An open plateau nested between the lake and the Sea and was more like a thin strip of land, acting as a barrier between the two competing waterways.

  Once in position, they’d have easy access to both, while still in reach of inland areas that were as different as the desert southwest was to the plains of Nebraska. It was a potpourri of geographic diversity and the dream of every geologist. It was fortunate that both Nickolas and he had some knowledge of Geology. This would come in handy once they reached the surface and would tell them a lot about the nature of this planet.

  As they settled onto the gritty surface, they experienced the real gravity of this world for the first time. They felt a bit lighter on the ground, just enough to give the impression of having a boundless supply of energy, allowing for that “spring” in the step and that urge to skip instead of walk, just as they all did in their youth. Since their muscles were acclimated to Earth’s gravity, the amount of effort required to run, jump or walk was less than what they had been used to just hours before.

  It was a bit humorous to watch them jumping up and down and testing their new legs on this foreign body. It was similar to landing on a trampoline and while the effect would only last a few short months, they reveled in their new found strength. Eventually their bodies would adjust to the stress and when they reached a state of equilibrium, it would feel no different than being on Earth.

  The time ahead would be interesting to say the least, but the next step was a monumental one and he could only think of one man for the job. Nickolas Roshenko.

  “Are you going to do us the honor?”

  Nickolas looked at him in confusion.

  “Honor?”

  “Yes. You’ve got the world record for being the first to step onto new planets. Would you like to maintain your advantage?”

  Nickolas smiled as he continued to address him.

  “It was your vision that got us here and I think you should be the first to step outside and sample the air. After all, this is the hope of the future.”

  He turned to address the rest of the group.

  “Does anyone have any objections?”

  There was no answer and so turning to the spacesuit, he picked up the supple outer garment, which only moments before had been rock solid since its return to Earth, but now was ready for use. It had been theorized that the suit remained in status on Earth or whenever the ship was in an inhospitable environment. So just seeing it activated was a good sign. It meant that a human could survive outside. The question remained. How much technological support would they need on the surface? Proxima b, was habitable, but required the use of CO2 filters in order to breath. What might this world be like?

  Handing it to Nickolas, they watched as he donned the suit and when he placed the hood over his head, he looked like a fish with gills. Lori chuckled at the sight.

  “You look like an alien.”

  Major Brooks responded.

  “True. We are the aliens.”

  There was a moment of silence as the idea took root in their mind. They truly were on another world, in a distant star system and if there were any intelligent beings out there, they would have perceived humans as the outer space creatures and they’d be correct. When they finally understood their place in this whole situation, it was clear that they were the invaders and for the first time they felt humbled by the experience. This was beyond anything mankind had achieved to date and they were on the brink of history.

  _________ . ________

  Nickolas mounted the stairs to the upper deck and sealed himself in the corridor. Then, accessing the control panel on the wall, he opened the front hatch, only to reveal a burgundy twilight that hadn’t changed in millennia. This was his third time stepping out onto a new planet and it was just as humbling as the first time. If it was his destiny to be the first at so much, he had fulfilled it many times over. He could hear himself breathing as he pressed his feet into the soil beneath and then, like a tourist surveying his surroundings, he gazed at this new and exciting world.

  Above him hung Trappist-1, appearing many times larger than the Sun when viewed from Earth, but more like a giant red moon than a blinding ball of light. And set in the sky were three planetary sisters, Trappist 1b, c and d circling close to their star and farther in the distance, just coming out from behind Trappist-1, was either planet 1f, g or h. It was a startling sight and his neck ached from looking directly upward.

  Moving forward, he stopped to examine his sensor. Oxygen levels were good. In fact a little high when compared to Earth. Pressure was holding at about 18 pounds per square inch and there were reasonable levels of Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide. A human could breathe without assistance. He pulled his helmet off and felt the warmth of the breeze across his face. The air smelled humid and he closed his eyes, taking in a few deep breaths. This was perfect in comparison to Proxima b. Jacob was correct. This had to be the ultimate next step for mankind.

  His next objective was the lake in front of him. The water appeared calm, with just a few ripples across the surface. Bending down, he filled a small vial and sealed it and then marched toward the Sea for the same purpose. When he reached the other shore, he found that the water to be crystal clear and he could see all the way to the bottom. Once again he filled a vial, shook it and sealed it. Finally, he collected a few ounces of soil and rock and made his way back to SM1. No use taking too many chances on the first excursion. They needed to analyze these samples and then make a determination as to the suitability of the environment for developing an ecosystem.

  If this was sterile ground as he found on Proxima b, then anything they transplanted might grow unhindered in this new and pristine world. All they needed was a little help and some loving care and things would flourish. It was inevitable. The tools and supplies inside were designed to cultivate a farm on this distant outpost in the middle of a vast sea of stars, and by the work of their hands they would toil in the dirt and benefit from their labors. This wasn’t going to be easy, but with a bit of luck and some help from the Lord, anything was possible.

  Once again he re-entered the vessel. After sealing the outer hatch, he was greeted with thunderous applause from his friends. The smiles were broad and the hope of a new beginning was written all over their faces. This had been an astounding day.

  SURVEY

  Jillian and Nickolas were selected to perform a brief survey of the area and to collect additional samples from points of interest along the way. Gearing up for their trek, they
assembled several backpacks filled with food, water and empty sample containers. This included several cameras as well as note books and writing materials.

  The objective was to hike along the lake shore and then move up into the hills surrounding base camp. Normally they might be concerned about returning before nightfall, but with Trappist locked directly above them, the amount of light would never change. The real issue was getting lost and if they moved beyond their visual reference point of SM1, they risked disorientation and confusion.

  A compass wouldn’t work here and GPS was out of the question. Also the sun never moved, so by using hand written notes, they’d carefully document their journey over this unexplored terrain. The idea was to collect various rock and soil samples from different locations so that Jillian might compare surface characteristics on a wider scale. Locating the best possible site for planting their first crops was of prime importance, so understanding soil conditions, water sources and other factors were critical to taking those first steps.

  As they stepped out onto the surface, Jillian marveled at the rose colored sky. It was like watching the perpetual colors of a sunset, yet these never changed. The reds, purples and violets seemed to coalesce into a beautiful flower as thin clouds created patterns in the sky, reflecting the light from Trappist-1.

  She had brought along a hat to shade her eyes, but the star was so dim that she removed it, realizing it wouldn’t be needed in this eternal twilight. Even the ground below was inoffensive to the eyes, given their reflected properties were only as strong as the sun that illuminated this valley and everything that lay beyond.

  Working their way along the lake, they collected more water samples, before moving inland toward some low rising hills in the distance. Stopping along the way, she dug into the soil at several locations, testing the consistency and moisture content, trying to determine how much water would be needed to keep this land irrigated.

  Flowing between the hills was a small river that wound its way through the plain and meandered through the flat areas below the hills.

  Nickolas pointed.

  “I wonder. What’s the source of that river? Since, in theory, it doesn’t rain, where does all that water originate?”

  Jillian looked up from a kneeling position as she crumbled some dirt into a small piece of cloth and then squeezing as hard as possible, she showed him traces of water that soaked through the rag.

  “The moisture content of this soil is a mystery. We’ve been here several days and we’ve seen no rain. Yes this soil is moist. The nearest source of water is that small river and that’s several hundred yards away. It should have no impact at this distance.”

  Nickolas responded.

  “If it doesn’t rain here, then where does the water come from and how can we have any rivers without precipitation?”

  “If I were to guess, I’d say we have underground springs beneath the lake. This is probably what keeps it stable and any excess flows out into the rivers which eventually wind their way to the sea.”

  Nickolas looked out over the scene before him.

  “Interesting. So do you think these same springs keep the soil wet?”

  “I don’t think so. There has to be another process at work, but I don’t know what it is. At least not yet. Regardless, the conditions for planting are phenomenal. I couldn’t imagine a better location.”

  Jillian stood up and sealed another container. Once back at the ship, they would analyze their findings and attempt to draw conclusions based on the evidence. Carefully marking the location and time of collection, she applied a label to the vial and dropped it into her sack.

  Nickolas took a deep breath and smiled. Jillian looked over and questioned him.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “I’m so glad we don’t have to make our own sodium hydroxide. That would have been a constant chore, replacing those Co2 filters and limiting our time outdoors. I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to sustain that long term.”

  “I agree. It would have been difficult to determine saturation rates and our margin for error would have been small. One minute you could be working outdoors and in the next find yourself dead. You’d never know exactly when your filter had to be replaced, so there would have been a lot of inefficiency in our design. We’d have to throw out the filter material before it reached its limit, causing us to manufacture that much more just to keep up.”

  Upon hearing those words, Nickolas had a new appreciation for this planet and its atmosphere.

  As they slowly moved up the side of the hill, they started to encounter large boulders that littered the incline amongst smaller, broken pieces of sedimentary rock. Typically, sedimentary rocks formed through the deposition of sediment, especially that transported by water, such a rivers and lakes, but the wind was also capable of depositing layers which over time created things like limestone and shale back on Earth.

  Nickolas carefully chipped away at some of the rock and placed them into zip-lock bags for analysis. Mark and he both shared a love for geology and Nickolas already had some theories about the types of rocks he found scattered about the hill. For all around him were bits of majorite, hematite and magnetite. He even found bits of marble and other common stones.

  When they finally reached the crest of the hill, they were rewarded with a view that revealed a range of escarpments that rivaled those of the Grand Canyon on Earth. It was a wonder to behold and he marveled at the geologic complexity of this planet and its diverse landscapes.

  Using a set of high powered binoculars, he could see a vast desert far to the West and to the East, an ocean that extended to the horizon and in between, a flat plateau that offered fertile lands for planting crops.

  The wind pulled at their clothing and the air was so fresh and clear that he could see unhindered all the way to the skyline in all directions. There were no clouds on the horizon, no haze or smog and the pink sky extended all around them until it finally met a purple colored ocean and a violet tinted lake. It was like a beautiful water color painting of a crimson shaded sunset, only this never ended or changed, just like a piece of artwork on a wall.

  What he would give to see this same scene 100 years from now, with a living ecosystem in place, including plants and shrubs, cactus and flowers. It would be a place of unimaginable beauty, but he also appreciated being able to see it before man changed it forever.

  Working their way back, they completed a large circle and ended near a small peninsula that jutted out into the sea. At the very tip, they found a small hill and when they stopped, Jillian pulled out a small shovel and started to dig a hole.

  “What are you doing?”

  She didn’t look up, but continued to press into the soil with her spade.

  “I’m planting the first tree on our new world. It’s to be our representation of the ‘Tree of Life’ and someday it will bloom and grow on this small hill, even after we’ve gone.”

  Nickolas was puzzled.

  “But how? Doesn’t it need 15Ea?”

  Jillian remained silent while pulling a metal post connected to a narrow cylinder of some sort. Then she unwrapped a small seeding and carefully transplanted the tree into the freshly dug hole. When she completed the task, she inserted the post into the ground and tapped it gently into the roots. When she finished, she stood and admired her work.

  “I created a deep root feeding system. It’s able to run using the little bit of light that reaches the surface. This single canister contains enough concentrated 15Ea to feed this tree for many years to come. If all goes well, it will grow and mature into a beautiful representation of our journey.”

  Nickolas was moved by her gesture.

  “That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see it. Perhaps someday they’ll be forests full of trees and this will be our oldest and most important landmark. It’s really a memorial to all of those who didn’t make it this far, or sacrificed their lives to that we might stake a claim on this new world. With a little bit of luck an
d a lot of work, we can make this into a new home, complete in every way.”

  Jillian looked out over the sea and wondered at the future yet to come. Someday men would build ships and navigate these waters, seeking our new destinations as they conquered their world. Eventually there would be roads and tracks and mankind would develop efficient trade routes, ensuring survival on a new and hostile world.

  But first, they had to lead the way and as they completed their trek and returned to SM1, they knew the odds were good. The best was yet to come.

  DISCOVERIES

  The next several days were the most important and the most demanding. The samples collected by Nickolas and Jillian were a treasure trove of new data. After witnessing what they brought back, they all wanted to run outside and explore, but there were certain tasks that had to be completed. Each had a job to do; measurements to be taken, observations recorded and all within the space of a few days.

  They had limited supplies, so a detailed analysis was required before confirming this body as their new home. If this planet wasn’t habitable, they’d have to access their options and then explore the other worlds in this system. If Trappist 1e wasn’t the answer, then perhaps one of the other orbs held the key.

  It was agreed that on the third day, they’d meet to discuss their findings and if everything checked out, stay until their supplies ran out, or if they were successful in harvesting enough food to prolong their journey, continue until they ran out of 15Ea. Eventually they’d have to go back home to re-supply, but until that time, they’d make every effort to create a self-sustaining environment. It was all about proving theories and establishing a base line for future study.

  After watching the ship in motion, Mark was now convinced that he had enough data on the fusion reactor, to make a rudimentary duplicate using existing terrestrial materials. It wouldn’t be near as efficient as SM1, but could pave the way for future developments at Area 51. Eventually a ship might be built by man, capable of reaching the nearest stars.