*****
Kevin Summers had settled into the navigation room behind the bridge. It included the ship’s weather station, as well as weather satellite displays, moving map GPS navigation plots, and the chart table that Kevin had become familiar with the night before. It also lacked windows, so he wasn’t constantly reminded that sunlight was totally absent today. The Sedulity’s navigator, Lieutenant Lampros, had college degrees in meteorology and computer science. The young Greek officer spoke excellent English and was happy to show off the high tech weather and navigation gear to Kevin. He also had a pretty good grasp on the global threat posed by the current weather phenomena and was eager for Kevin’s assistance in recording and interpreting the raw data.
“We usually have a full suite of automated meteorological instrumentation,” he explained. “But the damage we sustained last night took out many of the integrated measurement systems. The main anemometer was torn away, for example. So I had to install a portable one on top of the bridge wing this morning. It’s giving us a pretty good reading on wind speed and direction, but unfortunately, it’s not calibrated with the ship’s speedometer and navigational heading. The primary system would have compensated for the direction and speed of the ship and adjusted the registered wind speed and direction accordingly. Now we will have to do it the old fashioned way, with manual calculations, or type the raw data into the computer.”
Kevin nodded understanding and said, “At least you still have the ability to take those readings. The Sedulity has the only weather station this close to the point of impact and there will be a lot of climatologists and other scientists eager to get this data, even if it’s raw. Have you seen any trends yet?”
“Yes indeed,” Lieutenant Lampros said as he pulled up graphs on a desktop computer. “Take the wind for example. Before the asteroid strike we were passing through the doldrums at the equator. Wind was negligible with an occasional variable breeze of one to three knots. That was the reading right before the blast wave hit us.” He pointed to a flat line on the left side of the chart. It was followed by a single spike that went off the top of the screen. “At the moment the blast wave hit the ship the anemometer registered a wind speed of 200 knots, its maximum range of measure, for a split second before being torn off the top of the ship. This spike indicates the blast wave was moving more than three times that speed.” He tapped the computer screen for emphasis.
“As you can see from the subsequent flat line, I didn’t have any wind speed data for several hours after that, until I was able to locate and attach another anemometer. The one we’re using now was part of a portable weather station carried in one of the lifeboats. The first new reading I got was just over four hours ago and it registered a wind speed of 12 knots from directly astern. Since the Sedulity has been traveling at a steady 5 knots towards the impact zone, we add the two to come up with a 17 knot wind at sea level blowing towards the location of the phenomena. Since then I’ve seen a steady increase in wind speed. As you can see on this chart, the readings have more than doubled to a current speed of 35 knots, equating to a true wind speed of 40 knots,” Lampros said with a hint of awe in his voice.
“That’s a disturbing trend,” Kevin commented.
“Yes, it is,” Lampros concurred. “We are already experiencing steady gale force winds and if the trend continues, well, they could reach hurricane force later today. Do you think that will happen, Mr. Summers?” The Lieutenant sounded concerned, but not frightened.
“It’s hard to say,” Kevin replied. “I had hoped that the ocean would have cooled the impact crater enough by now that it wouldn’t still be spewing out a solid column of steam, but that’s not the case. As long as the crater is creating super-heated steam like this, it will keep drawing cool air in to replace the hot air going up in the column of steam. Also, the closer we get to the impact zone, the stronger that wind will become. It’s sucking air from every point on the compass into that single, giant column of steam. If we were approaching from the north or east, we would still have following winds like this. And from the speed of the clouds spreading out above us, the steam must be rising at hundreds of miles per hour. The closer we get to the point of impact, the faster the winds feeding that column will become, rushing in from 360 degrees to replace the air going up in what looks to be at least a ten mile wide column of superheated steam.”
“Dear lord,” Lampros said. “I hadn’t looked at it like that. This is so different from any type of weather I’ve ever studied or seen. We should discuss this with the captain before we get too much closer to that monster. I want to record as much data as possible, of course, but not if it means putting the Sedulity in any more danger.”
“Agreed,” Kevin said. His own scientific curiosity was tempered by the fact that his wife and daughter were aboard the ship too. Getting precise meteorological data might be crucial for planners around the world, but his own world was still sound asleep in a stateroom down the hall. Protecting them was his first priority. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt to confirm his alarming theory with other measurements. “Let’s get the full picture before sounding an alarm, shall we? How much rainfall are you recording?”
“Truly astounding figures,” Lampros said in a tone of amazement. “It’s been coming down like cats and dogs, as you Americans say. I wasn’t sure if I could trust the measurements at first. I even set a mug outside while I was setting up the anemometer on deck to double check the automated rainfall monitor. It was correct. We’ve been getting about six inches per hour since last night. No slacking off at all. If anything, it’s increasing as we approach the impact zone.”
Kevin nodded with a worried look on his face. “What’s the barometer telling you?”
“That’s been worrying me too, but I didn’t connect it to the fact we’re getting closer and closer to the point of impact. With all the rain coming down, it was natural for the barometer to fall. It’s been dropping steadily since last night,” Lampros said. “Down to twenty-seven bars now. Hurricane weather. I should think the low pressure conforms to your theory, though. Do you think it will rise when we turn away from the impact zone? That would be real confirmation, wouldn’t it?”
“I suppose it would,” Kevin said. “Let’s go speak to the captain. He asked me to go down to the theater when he addresses the passengers in a few minutes, but he should know about this first. It might influence whatever he plans to say.”
*****
Emily woke up before Amanda, but quickly remedied the situation. “Mamma? Mamma? Wake up. Where’s Daddy?” Emily said as she nudged her mother.
Amanda opened her eyes and, as so many others did on that day, hoped she had only had a bad dream. Reality hit hard when she recognized her surroundings as the stateroom of the deceased staff captain. There was very little light. It must still be nighttime.
“Go back to sleep, baby,” she said softly. “Daddy got up early to work.”
“But I’m not sleepy anymore and I’m hungry,” Emily said firmly. “Is the sky still falling? It’s raining really hard outside.”
Amanda sat up and looked towards the balcony. Sheets of rain pounded on the sliding glass doors, but not much else was visible beyond. She glanced at her watch on the bedside table and was shocked to see it was 9:00 in the morning. Why was it still so dark outside?
“Okay, honey. Let’s get up and find you something to eat.”
Once dressed, Amanda led Emily to the door connecting with the staff captain’s dayroom. Professor Farnsworth and his wife had spent the night on the convertible couch there and might have some information on what was happening, including why it was so dark. She knocked and waited until Judith Farnsworth opened the door.
“Oh there you are,” the elderly woman said. “Come in. I was just making some oatmeal and tea. Would you like some?”
“Yes, please,” Emily said before Amanda could do more than smile. As soon as the little girl was occupied with her oatmeal the two women sat down on what was once again a
couch.
“Why is it still so dark?” Amanda asked.
“My husband says it’s caused by the heavy cloud cover. He said that clouds five miles thick can block as much sunlight as two hundred feet of water. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I’ve heard that it gets pitch black below two hundred feet in the ocean.”
Amanda was about to reply when there was a knock at the door to the corridor. Judith rose to answer it and they were both surprised to see Lydia standing there dressed in a yellow rain slicker and black waders.
“Bad morning, ladies,” Lydia said with a poor attempt at good cheer. “Pardon my appearance. I was caught off guard last night and don’t want it to happen again.”
“Brilliant!” Judith exclaimed with a genuine smile and ushered Lydia into the room. “You look like you are ready for anything today.”
“I think we all should be,” Lydia said in a serious voice. “The world has changed overnight and none of us know what to expect next.”
“Do you think there will be another asteroid?” Amanda asked with more than a hint of fear.
“Who knows?” Lydia replied. “I didn’t think there would be one yesterday. Do these things come in pairs? Or triplets? I don’t know, but I won’t be caught flatfooted again.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Judith said. “None of us know what to expect in this situation. It’s unprecedented.”
“Exactly,” Lydia said. “I wanted to check on you before I head down to see what I can do to help the rest of the passengers. From what I’ve seen of the damage to the ship, they must be truly discouraged.”
“What can we do to help?” Amanda asked. She said it with sincerity, but her eyes quickly shifted to Emily who had stopped eating her oatmeal to watch the exchange. Amanda’s eyes fell when she realized that her daughter was the only person on the ship that she owed her true allegiance to.
“I’m sure there are many things we can do to help,” Lydia replied, without noticing Amanda’s plight. “There are hundreds of injured passengers and crew in the medical center. There must be many others in need of comfort all over the ship. Any of us who were lucky enough to come through this in one piece, without losing a loved one, can make a difference to those less fortunate.”
Judith did recognize Amanda’s predicament and saw an easy solution to it. “Mandy,” she said, “if you want to go help the captain’s wife on this worthy mission, I’ll be happy to entertain Miss Emily. I’m much too old to be running around the ship, but I’m great at hosting tea parties for little girls.” She winked at Amanda and turned to smile at Emily.
“Yes,” Amanda said, after a brief hesitation. She trusted Judith to watch Emily, even after such a brief acquaintance, and especially so close to assistance from Kevin and the crew on the bridge. “Of course I’ll go with you, Lydia. I don’t have that type of rain gear though. Will I need it?”
“Probably not,” Lydia replied with a smile. “But if you want some, I think you’ll find an identical pair in the closet next door.”
Amanda looked confused for a moment, then realized that Lydia was referring to the late Staff Captain Stevens’ gear. She suppressed a shudder before saying, “Are you sure it’s okay for me to wear his clothes? I mean, I’m not even part of the crew.”
“It’s quite alright, dear,” Lydia said. “He was a charming man who would like nothing better than to have a beautiful woman inside his slicker. Besides, your figure will do it more justice than his ever did.” It was a weak attempt at humor, but even Amanda smiled. After a moment of explanation to her daughter, Amanda and Lydia went back into Staff Captain Stevens’ stateroom to get Mandy geared up.
*****
Captain Krystos entered the theater to thunderous applause. Whether it was from gratitude for saving their lives, or simply the hope of good news and being released from their sequestration was a moot point. What was important was that the vast majority of passengers gathered there were eager to hear what he had to say and openly displayed confidence in his command.
For the captain this demonstration of confidence was almost painful. His feelings of guilt for sending so many passengers to their deaths at the muster stations felt like a burden he would never be able to shrug off, especially in front of those who had undoubtedly lost friends and family due to his orders. Nonetheless, he had a duty to perform. He was here to explain some new realities. By the time he was done there might not be as many hands clapping.
Kevin and Professor Farnsworth followed the captain onto the main stage to join Mr. Cohen and Lieutenant Reiner. The applause lasted longer than it did for most of the professional productions performed on that stage, but the stakes were obviously higher than at a regular variety show. The volume on the television had been turned down, but the live video of catastrophes in progress continued to be displayed on the screen deployed from the ceiling above the stage. Captain Krystos had decided that it would be a fitting backdrop for the message he had come to deliver.
The ship was rocking noticeably now, as a result of the mounting wind generated swells that were hitting the stern and overtaking the slow moving ship. The stabilizers prevented any significant side-to-side rolling, but had no effect on longitudinal rocking. The passengers in the theater, sitting in forward facing seats, must feel as if they were indeed sitting in rocking chairs. Captain Krystos hoped that the sensation would have a calming effect on the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, passengers and crew of the Sedulity, it is with a heavy heart that I come to speak to you today. We can all see what is happening to our world,” he gestured at the projection screen that was showing a muted rerun of the destruction in Panama. “Everyone in this room, and anyone else alive on this ship, should feel blessed to have lived to see this darkest of days. Millions of other people across this ocean, and more than a thousand who were with us aboard this ship yesterday, were not so fortunate. Their lives have ended, but our new lives are just beginning.” He paused to let that statement sink in.
“This is not the same ship, or even the same world, that you remember from yesterday. Both have taken a beating, but are not beaten, at least not into submission. The Sedulity is still afloat and the world beyond has not ended, however, much of what we took for granted has. The impact event last night, an asteroid striking the ocean very close to us, will reshape the world we knew in ways that none of us can predict. Many of those changes will seem cruel and unfair, especially for those who don’t survive them.” He pointed again at the TV images, which happened to be showing another cruise ship being destroyed in the Panama Canal.
“For those of us who have survived the impact, this dark day marks a new beginning. We, the survivors aboard the Sedulity, will have to chart a new course into an unfamiliar world. We will do so with hope for the future and grief for what has been lost, but we will go on. We will do what we must do to survive and, by the grace of God, thrive in whatever the future holds in store for us.” He paused and there was another spontaneous round of applause.
“Now wake up!” Captain Krystos barked. His outburst silenced the crowd instantly. “Enough of the pep talk. It’s all true, but it won’t come on a silver platter from room service. We’re all in this together, as a team. The Sedulity has suffered serious damage, but I am confident that the crew and I can bring her into port safely. I’m counting on the surviving passengers to cooperate in our common goal of survival. This is no longer a pleasure cruise. My crew will provide you with food, water, and other basics, but we will not have time to cater to your every desire. Half of my crew are either missing, dead, or seriously injured. The other half will be working overtime to make vital repairs to this ship and provide the necessities for your survival. They will also be feeling the same emotions of loss and distress as you are.” The captain paused again and saw that his point was getting across.
“We will all be under extreme stress in the coming hours and days. I will not tolerate any violence, disrespect, or demeaning behavior from or towards anyone aboard this
ship. That goes for passengers and crew alike. Do not take your grief, anger, or discomfort out upon anyone else aboard the Sedulity. Now, more than ever, we must show compassion and focus on cooperation to promote our common goal of survival. I hope I am making myself clear on this point. We must work as a team for as long as we remain together aboard the Sedulity.” The captain was pleased to see most of the passengers nodding.
“Now I will tell you a bit more about the condition of the ship and my intentions. We have suffered many fatalities and we have many injured who require proper hospitalization, so we are setting course for the port of Darwin on the west coast of Australia. That is the closest coastal city with a suitable port that we know to have survived the tsunamis. The Australian Navy has invited us there to re-provision and make emergency repairs.” There was another round of applause in the theater. Everyone was happy to learn of a safe destination.
“In the meantime we will have to do as best we can to keep the ship functional and living conditions tolerable. Many of the balcony staterooms have been damaged, and we have concerns about contamination by particles from the asteroid that are falling with the rain. Weather conditions have deteriorated due to all of the vaporized sea water blown into the atmosphere by the asteroid strike. In fact, the cloud cover is so dense in this region that it is dark as night outside this morning. We expect the rest our voyage to Australia to be rough, with continuous heavy rain. Therefore, all open deck space is off limits until further notice, including the Resort Deck, Sports Deck, and Sky Deck. Additionally, with the exception of a few outside accommodations that have fully intact windows remaining, all balcony staterooms and suites are off-limits to passengers until such time as repairs can be made.” This caused an uproar among many in the audience. The vast majority of these passengers had been staying in rooms with balconies.
Sedulity 2: Aftershock (Sedulity Saga) Page 7