Zoren peeped at a large drive unit sitting within a construction frame. Engineers were fixing some finished parts to it, while others were discussing a drawing of another part and measuring a space where it was to be fitted.
‘Is that one of the engines?’ he asked.
‘Yes. It will take about another four years to finish all the parts required. Then we can see if it works. Why don’t we go over and have a look.’
Zoren edged nervously over to the frame.
‘Hi, Zoren,’ one of the engineers said.
Zoren smiled back.
‘It looks very complicated,’ Zoren remarked.
‘That it is,’ his father replied, ‘and all we’ve got to go by are these plans.’ He picked up a large book of fabric sheets, which was one metre square. On each page was a detailed drawing of a part, all dimensioned and with various exploded views and illustrations. ‘This is one of two thousand, three hundred and twenty-four books…’
*****
‘… so we have work to do.’ Gulco paused. ‘Zoren, have you been listening to me?’
‘Yes… Yes. Work to do,’ Zoren replied, catching just the last few words Gulco had spoken.
Gulco shook his head, before he said, ‘We’ll need to use eight of the ten consoles for the test today.’
They walked over to the workstations, which were arranged in a compact semi-circle. A young woman was already sitting at one of the workstations.
‘Morning, Zoren,’ she said.
‘Hi, Zuki,’ he replied.
Zuki was his sister-in-law and was the same age as Zoren.
Zoren stared up at the drive sitting inside the test chamber behind a large glass wall. He felt very proudly. Many thousands of hours had gone into its construction; his father’s lifetime had been spent on it and Zoren himself had worked on it for three years.
Gulco was now awkwardly cradling four cylindrical rods against his chest with his only arm and hand. He wandered over to Zoren’s workstation and unceremoniously dropped them onto the desk alongside it, before going back to his workstation to retrieve another four and wandered over to Zuki, who took them from him. He then pulled two cloths from his pocket, which had a sequence of numbers printed on them and handed one to each of them, before saying,
‘This is the order we need to run the programmes in. Zoren, you’ll take one to four and, Zuki, five to eight.’
Zoren sat at his workstation and, after studying the cloth, inserted the first of the cylinders, which contained a computer program, into console one. The monitor illuminated and a string of text scrolled down the screen. He repeated the same for the other three consoles.
Meanwhile, Gulco had moved over to a master control console, where he sat down in his seat.
‘All done here,’ Zoren said over to Gulco.
‘Here too,’ Zuki added.
‘All right people, get to your stations,’ Gulco said. ‘This is a trial run. Initiate programme one.’
‘Confirmed,’ Zoren replied. ‘Checks completed. Running! Ten seconds to completion.’
Zoren watched the monitor closely.
‘I have a success indicator.’
‘Ok, go on two,’ Gulco said.
Zoren ran through each of his programmes, moving from console to console as he went. He then handed over to Zuki.
‘Ok, go on five,’ Gulco said.
‘Confirmed,’ Zuki replied. ‘Checks completed. Running! Thirty seconds to completion.’
Zoren watched Zuki’s monitors, as the programmes executed. Suddenly one of the screens froze.
‘I may have a problem,’ she called out to Gulco.
Gulco studied his monitor. ‘I’m currently showing a run on programme five.’
The screen was still frozen. They waited for a minute.
Gulco got up from his seat and went over to Zuki. He viewed the monitor.
‘That damn console’s crashed again,’ he said, thumping his fist down on top of the monitor. ‘Bloody computers! They’re a load of crap. How are we supposed to run anything on these? Re-start it!’ Gulco said to Zuki.
Zuki pulled the programme from the slot, waited a few seconds, and then re-inserted it.
‘I’m surprised this space station functions at,’ Gulco said. ‘Damn computers are useless; give me a person any day. They won’t let you down.’
‘Yes, but people do make mistakes,’ Zoren commented.
‘And they arrive late,’ Zuki added, with a cheeky smile.
‘So computers are prefect then,’ Gulco said. ‘I don’t think so. This one’s far from perfect.’
The monitor had frozen again.
‘Ok, Zuki, move all your programmes up one console. This one’s going out the damn airlock later,’ he said in frustration.
Zuki inserted her programmes in the consoles and they went through the entire process once more.
‘Good, success at last,’ Gulco said with some relief. ‘I think I could have done it manually in half the time. Right, listen up everybody! We’re going for a power run to check all the parts are functioning correctly. If anyone sees or hears anything they think could be a potential problem, I want to know about it immediately. Understood?’
Everyone acknowledged Gulco.
‘Zoren, switch control mode to live operation. Go on my mark,’ Gulco said. ‘Everyone, back to your station. This is a live firing and you all know what to do.’
Engineers rushed to their consoles, which were positioned in front of the large glass wall of the test chamber. Their monitors illuminated to show various sensors reading on them.
Zoren’s two hearts started to race as he readied himself.
This is it then. I hope this works.
‘Ready!’ he shouted.
‘Execute!’ Gulco instructed.
Zoren started programme one.
‘Running one.’
The sound of two small motors starting could be heard coming from inside the test chamber.
‘We have success. Running two.’
Zoren moved across to console two, checked the monitor and then glanced up to see a large fan inside the main housing of the drive unit starting to rotate. The noise from the small motors increased as the fan gathered speed.
‘Two successful! Running three.’
The fan was now spinning quickly.
‘Success on three. Running four.’
The fuel injectors started to open and a pulse of light leapt from the rear of the drive.
‘Four successful!’
Zoren looked over to Zuki.
‘Running five,’ Zuki said.
Abruptly the beast awoke and a ball of flame spat from the rear of the drive. Then with a roar, flames leapt out from the rear of the drive.
‘Five successful! Running six,’ she said. ‘Drive now operating at minimum power level.’
There was a cheer, which rang out around the room.
‘Ok, people, let’s focus,’ Gulco said. ‘I want a full check on all systems.’
Engineers stationed at the consoles around the test chamber, studied their readings.
‘Fuel injector readings are within the published specification,’ an engineer reported back.
‘Stabilisers too,’ another shouted.
‘What about the primary and secondary fans?’ Gulco asked.
‘Sorry, Gulco, my system has crashed over here. Re-starting! I need thirty seconds to re-check.’
Gulco shook his head.
‘See what I mean. Can’t trust these damn computers. If you have to, do it manually.’
Zoren smiled to himself, but was feeling uneasy. The drive was running steady, but thirty seconds passed very slowly.
‘Checks done. Primary and secondary fans are operating well below maximum temperature,’ the engineer now reported.
‘Go on programme six,’ Gulco said to Zuki, who nodded in acknowledgement back to him.
‘Running six!’ she said.
Zoren could hear the noise from the drive slowly inc
rease in pitch and volume. A large column of flame was now being expelled from the rear of the drive.
‘Six successful,’ Zuki reported.
‘Status everyone!’ Gulco shouted above the noise of the drive, so everyone could hear him.
The engineers all signalled that everything was all right.
‘Run seven,’ Gulco said to Zuki.
‘Running!’
Zoren held his breath for a moment as the drive stuttered, then the power steadily increased. He could no longer hear Gulco.
Zuki indicated to Gulco that programme seven had been successful. Gulco was about to give the signal to start programme eight, when one of the engineers started to wave his hands frantically. The noise of the drive chanced and there was the sound of scrapping metal. Instantly Gulco signally to Zoren to terminate the test.
Zoren hit the stop button.
The flames ceased abruptly, but the scrapping noise within the drive continued to get louder, while the primary fan decelerated. Then there was a loud bang. Part of the casing fractured and the whole drive shook violently. The fan started to break up. Fragments flew from the rear of the drive striking the far wall and the window.
Zoren thought it was never going to end. He flinched, when with a final bang, the fan shuddered to a stop. There was a stunned silence within the room.
Gulco trudged over to the window. He was twisting the inuple cap on the stump of his left arm in a to-and-fro motion trying to remove an itch caused by nervous perspiration.
‘What happened?’ he said to the engineer who had signalled the problem.
‘The injectors… It was in injectors,’ the engineer replied in a dejected voice. ‘They couldn’t provide enough fuel at full power. The fan overheated. The result you saw.’
‘Damn! That’s at least two years’ work in pieces in there,’ Gulco said angrily. ‘Get in there and clean that damn mess up. Zuki, get me the injector plans.’
Zuki brought over the injector plans and laid the book onto a large work-bench.
Gulco marched over. He hit the work-bench top with his fist and then said,
‘Bring me the data from the test. Zoren, your father made the injectors and you finished them. If you caused this failure, I’m going to have you cleaning the corridors for the rest of your sorry life.’
‘I followed the plans, like my father,’ Zoren said agitated, ‘and Zuki has checked them.’
‘You’re both as bad as each other,’ Gulco said in a condescending voice. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if you both got it wrong. Come here and see what you can make of these readings.’
Zoren approached the work-bench. He glanced over the plans and then at the readings from the test.
‘This doesn’t look right,’ Zoren said. ‘Based on these readings, the drive was never going to work. Look at the size of the injectors, they’re far too small.’
‘What do mean they’re too small?’
‘The inlet ports would have to be at least fifty percent larger if they were going to supply enough fuel. The plans are wrong.’
‘The plans can’t be wrong-’
Zoren interrupted him, ‘Well they are!’
‘Shut up, Zoren!’ Gulco said. ‘If everything was made exactly to the specification provided to us, then it should have worked.’
Zuki said quietly, ‘Whoever designed it could have made a mistake.’
‘It’s a bloody big mistake. Look at the state of that drive,’ Gulco said, and then shouting at the engineer added, ‘Are you sure these test results are correct?’
‘Well, unless the computer’s screwed up, then yes, Gulco,’ he replied.
Zoren knew that Gulco was now wondering about the computer results.
‘I don’t trust these damn machines, never have,’ Gulco shouted. ‘Zoren, I need to know what size you think the fuel injectors need to be. Two bloody years’ of work were destroyed today. Now get back to work!’
Chapter Two
At the end of the working day, all the engineers felt a sense of failure and there was concern that there could be more design errors in the shuttle’s plans. Unusually everyone left engineering quietly, whereas normally they would have been chatting about their work or the evening ahead. Zoren was feeling disheartened and needed to try and relax before returning home, so he went to the large flight-deck simulator of the shuttle, to take his mind off the events of the day, for a while.
…Keep the nose up, he thought, while sitting at the controls of the shuttle. Wait! There’s that alarm again. Damn! I’m coming in to fast. I’ve got to try and come in slower.
There was a purposeful knock on the door of the simulator, just as he was about to land the shuttle. Distracted he lost control and the shuttle struck the ground. The simulator froze.
I’m going to land this damn thing one day.
‘Who is it?’ Zoren shouted in a frustrated voice.
‘It’s me,’ the voice replied.
Zoren recognised his wife’s voice.
Sabri, what’s she doing here?
He got up from the pilot’s seat and opened the simulator door. He noticed she was wearing a long red evening dress.
‘Thought I’d find you in here,’ she said, looking annoyed. ‘You know we’re supposed to be meeting Supora and Valon tonight.’
‘Oh bugger! I forgot,’ Zoren replied.
‘Zoren, I told you this morning. Don’t you listen to anything I say? Come on, or we’ll be late.’
‘But I need to change,’ Zoren said, glancing down at his slightly soiled boiler suit.
‘Change? No way! We’re not going to be late, Zoren. You’ll have to go as you are.’
‘Look, I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Zoren said and quickly switched off the simulator before leaving.
Oh dear, she’s definitely not happy with me tonight. How did I forget?
‘It’s about time you acted like an adult, Zoren. You’ll be a father next year.’
‘I know.’
‘Well this sort of thing will have to stop. I’ll need you at home, not enjoying yourself playing on that computer simulator.’
They entered the main corridor on deck three of the space station. As they sauntered along, Zoren brushed his boiler suit with his hand to try to remove some of the surface grime. He tried to be optimistic about his appearance, but there was always another patch of dirt, which he needed to try to remove in some way with his hand.
They arrived at Supora and Valon’s home. Zoren quickly brushed a few more patched and then asked Sabri, ‘Do I look all right?’
‘Erm… It would have been nice if you could have made an effort.’
‘Look, I said I’m sorry. I forgot! It hasn’t been a good day at work. I needed to unwind, take my mind off things.’
Sabri shook her head slowly and then pressed a button adjacent to the door. A few seconds later it was opened.
Zoren could smell a blend of freshly cooked vegetables slow filtering through the open doorway.
‘Sabri, Zoren, come in,’ Supora greeted them.
Seeing Supora in her smart cream coloured top and black skirt, made Zoren feel even more conscious of his own appearance.
‘Valon is just finishing off in the eating room. He’ll be about ten minutes,’ Supora commented. ‘The children are in their bedroom. Asnica, Doine!’ she called out, ‘Zoren and Supora are here.’
Asnica peeked out from the doorway to look at them.
‘Hello, Asnica. Where’s your sister?’ Sabri asked her.
‘She’s playing with her toy bricks,’ Asnica replied.
‘Please, take a seat,’ Supora said, pointing to a cloth covered bench. ‘I’ll only be a few moments. Valon needs a bit of help with shredding the karnlip.’
Through the open door to the girl’s bedroom, Zoren noticed that Doine was sitting on the floor building what looked like a stone house. Asnica sat down alongside her.
Supora went over to the large tinted window to look out at Linud, which was d
ominating the view.
‘Hi, Valon,’ Zoren said, popping his head in through the doorway of the eating room. ‘Hope she’s not working you too hard.’
Valon was cutting some vegetables with a shredding machine. ‘Hi, Zoren. I won’t be long.’
‘Can I help?’
‘No, I’m fine, just got the karnlip to do now.’
Zoren decided to go over to where Sabri was standing. He stared out at Linud and said,
‘Appears to be a very stormy down there today, especially on the southern continent.’
‘That’s odd,’ Sabri said. ‘Zoren, can you see what looks like a smiley face in the cloud formations over there?’ she said pointing. ‘See those two dark-grey cloud formations, they’re the eyes and below you can see a nose. The bottom of the largest southern continent is the mouth.’
‘Oh yes,’ Zoren replied. ‘It does look like a face, why?’
‘Well, it must have been earlier this year, but I remember seeing the same face in the clouds.’
‘Are you sure?’ Zoren replied.
‘I remember it made me smile at the time,’ Sabri added.
‘There must be a similar pattern of weather today.’
‘I suppose so,’ Sabri remarked. ‘It’s just looks the same.’
Supora entered the room. ‘Drink anyone?’
‘Yes, please!’ Sabri said, turning towards her.
Strange that cloud formation being almost identical to what Sabri had seen before, Zoren thought.
‘Zoren?’ Supora asked.
‘What? Oh sorry! Yes please,’ he replied.
‘I have something new for you to try,’ Supora said, sounding excited. ‘Valon has been brewing this for the last ninety days. It’s from the root of the karnlip plant.’
‘Really?’ Sabri said. ‘We normally recycle them for plant feed.’
Supora got a tall red bottle and four very short glasses from a small dio-plastic cabinet. She squeezed out the red liquid into them and then handed them a glass.
Zoren could smell the pleasant, fragrant aroma of freshly cut karnlip flowers.
‘Here’s to your first baby,’ Supora said, glancing to Sabri and then Zoren. She raised her glass.
Aurora Saga 2 Immortality for Life Page 2