by Bob Blanton
“Good, what else are you having them do?”
“Training: self-defense, basic weapons, first aid. Then I’m having them all cross-train in other disciplines, especially farming.”
“What are you teaching them about farming?”
“I don’t know. I have one of the agricultural engineers doing that. He tells me there is a lot to know.”
“What about the children?”
“Oh, they’re all doing the training too. And of course, going to school as well.”
“What a task-master you are. Even making little kids train that hard.”
“They love it, especially when they’re in a session with their parents and do better. Nothing like having your child lord it over you to motivate you to work harder.”
“Don’t I know,” Marc commiserated. “Catie has always been my best motivator.”
“Hah, I’m sure. And what are you doing?”
“Reviewing the draft of the revised Outer Space Treaty.”
“How is it?”
“Well, it hinges on your definition of outer space. The original treaty left that a little vague. Here, they’re making it clear that that means the void between planets. They’ve extended the provision for space stations to include private ones like Delphi Station.”
“That’s good, but what about planets and asteroids?”
“The original treaty said that celestial bodies shall only be used for peaceful purposes, so that has never really prohibited someone or some country from claiming a planet or asteroid. But now they’ve adapted it to the reality that we will occupy other solar systems along with other races. Now it says that the solar system is the providence of the first sentient species to develop within it or to settle it.”
“What about your recommendation on independence?”
“They’ve accepted that; they changed the number to one hundred thousand settlers and added ‘of any species’ to it.”
“And what about weapons?”
“They changed it to no weapons without the approval of the governing body of the solar system.”
“So that means that we can make the second planet an Earth colony.”
“That is their intent.”
“Good, so what’s your problem?”
“Deciding who goes,” Marc said.
“I thought that was my problem?”
“Oh, I’m happy to hand it off to you. I’m talking about which countries can add whom to the mission.”
“No thank you. I think that should remain your problem. But I’m willing to help. What are they offering?”
“China is offering to provide ten thousand colonists, all highly trained.”
“Nice of them,” Samantha said.
“Sure, and what do you think would happen when they were on the new planet?”
“I’m sure they would try to declare some form of Chinese control. That’s probably why the U.N. raised the number of inhabitants before a colony could declare independence to one hundred thousand.”
“Probably. Smart of them to see the problem. I don’t want the percentage of Chinese to be too high. I don’t think you can trust the Chinese government. They’re too insular and it’s too easy for them to hand pick their colonists.”
“Yep, they are always promoting a China first policy. What about the Russians?”
“Oh, they immediately matched the Chinese offer.”
“So, what do you want?”
“I’d rather see more like what you have. People who want to go for the adventure and to further humanity. People who are not thinking about national affiliation.”
“Then advertise a little and sort out the government agents from the volunteers,” Samantha said.
“I guess ADI can administer a test that is difficult to game.”
“I can, or MANDI can,” ADI interjected.
“Thank you, ADI.”
“Okay, how many do you want to send?” Samantha asked.
“With mods to the Sakira, she can carry four to six thousand colonists. That will work for the first year or so. We can bring them out as we build the infrastructure we need. Catie’s new cargo ship will be a big help. But eventually, we’ll have to design something that can carry a lot more people.”
“Why don’t you convert one of those space carriers?”
“I think we’ll want them as carriers,” Marc said. “We still have this issue of that other alien race heading toward the planet.”
“Okay, so you need to build something. I’m sure Catie would love to design it.”
“I’m not sure Catie will have time.”
“Why wouldn’t she have time?”
“You’ll see.”
“What do you mean, I’ll see?”
“I’ve discussed it with her mother and need to talk to Blake about it. I think Catie should be the next to know.”
“Interesting. Is she going to be happy?”
“I’m not sure. I think she’ll figure out it’s the best move, but you never know with teenagers.”
“I have to get ready to go,” Samantha said. “Are you coming with me to Delphi Station? You know the Roebuck will be in tomorrow, and you have to be there for the welcome home ceremony.”
“Sure. I can worry about interstellar affairs from anyplace,” Marc said. “I can only enjoy your company when I’m next to you.”
“Aren’t you becoming the romantic.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Marc followed Samantha around for the whole day. She had appropriated a section of the station that had not been built out yet. She had a forty-meter by two-hundred-meter area sectioned off for the training.
She went around checking on the trainers, asking how things were going, what could be done to improve the training, and if there were any new issues that she needed to address.
She stopped and talked to the trainees, checking on their progress, and asking if they had any input she should consider. She especially spent time with the children, offering advice and encouragement. She even participated in a few drills and exercises.
By the end of the day, Marc knew he was making the right choice.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Roebuck was under low acceleration at waypoint two as its recharged its capacitors for another jump.
“How’s our asteroid pitcher doing?” Blake asked, referring to the probe they were modifying to lob an asteroid at the alien starship.
“I’ve found one; now I’ve got a Fox giving it and the probe some velocity before the probe jumps,” Catie replied.
“Why did it take so long to find an asteroid?”
“I wanted one that would be as dark as possible, something they would have been unlikely to notice, and one that wouldn’t necessarily have come from this system.”
“Which probe are you using?”
“The one that was covering the rear. I figure they’ve sent all the messages they’re planning to, and if they’re using a narrow-beam laser for communication, we’re not going to be able to intercept it anyway, at least not from as close as we want to be right now.”
“Okay, so how long?”
“I’ll be ready to launch it in an hour. Once it jumps, the probe will accelerate off at ninety degrees and travel a few hundred kilometers before it jumps out. That way, they won’t pick it up on their scans if they notice the asteroid before it’s ready to jump.”
“How fast is the asteroid going to be traveling?”
“One hundred kilometers per second,” Catie said.
“How is that going to hit that ship then?”
“I have it coming almost straight at them, only 0.2 degrees off their course. To them, it’s essentially standing still.”
“Call me when you’re ready.”
“Aye-aye.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“The probe will be ready to jump in one minute,” Catie announced.
Blake and Liz both moved over to Catie’s station on the bridge.
“Let the show begin,” Blake said.
�
��Here it goes.”
They started watching the feed from the probe that was leading the alien starship.
“They should see it in a few seconds,” Catie said.
Two minutes later, a plasma blast erupted from the starship and vaporized the asteroid.
“It was fifteen hundred meters away when they blasted it,” Catie announced.
“Power?”
“Twelve gigajoules.”
“That was cutting it pretty close,” Liz said.
“Well, a plasma cannon only has a two- or three-kilometer range in space because the beam spreads out pretty fast. I suspect that was the optimal distance. I would have used a missile and taken it out farther away.”
“So either they’re very confident in their plasma cannon, don’t have any missiles, or they are a little incompetent,” Blake said.
“Why incompetent?”
“Maybe they didn’t have missiles loaded in their launchers?” Blake said. “If not, they wouldn’t have had time to load them.”
“That would be incompetent,” Liz said. “Any bets on which one it is?”
“I think arrogant,” Catie said.
“Same thing as incompetent,” Blake replied.
◆ ◆ ◆
The next day the DSS Roebuck made it back to Earth, docking at Delphi Station. Samantha had set up a big, welcome home event. She may have resigned as foreign minister, but she still viewed herself as the chief publicist for Delphi Nation.
The reception was in the main ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel on Delphi Station. The press had been invited to interview them and get video of their arrival. The event was being carried live on all the major world networks.
“Are you guys ready for this?” Blake asked as he, Liz, and Catie prepared to make their entrance. They were all wearing the civilian versions of the starship officers’ uniforms. The five Paraxean scientists were with them, so between them, they represented the key leadership of the mission.
“Hey, you’re the captain,” Catie said. “We just have to stand around and look pretty.”
“You wish.”
They entered the ballroom to a roaring cheer. It seemed like flashbulbs were going off every millisecond. “I think Sam outdid herself,” Catie whispered over the Comm.
“You think!” Liz hissed back.
There was the expected horde of reporters and behind them, the locals and tourists who had come up to see the return of Earth’s first interstellar mission. What was unusual was the high percentage of teenagers in the crowd.
Marc was there to welcome them as President of Delphi Nation. He gave a short speech, then turned the podium over to Blake.
Blake gave an elegant speech thanking the key members of the mission, going over the facts of the planets.
“The boring stuff,” Catie thought.
“I’ll now open it up for questions,” Blake announced.
“Catie, why didn’t you lead the mission?” one of the reporters asked.
“Uh, . . . The complexities of the mission required an experienced captain,” Catie said. “Captain McCormack was instrumental in the mission’s success.”
“But you’ve led other missions; surely Captain McCormack was more of a figurehead.”
“I can assure you that’s not true,” Catie said. “Where are these questions coming from?”
“Catie, before you went on this mission, you led the mission to establish the space station in the asteroid belt. What was that like?”
“We can address questions like that at a later time,” Catie said.
Samantha rushed up to cut off any further questions. “Our interstellar explorers are tired. They’ll be happy to reply to any questions you submit. For now, on behalf of His Excellency, President McCormack, I want to extend the thanks of Delphi and of Earth for their brave efforts. Now, we’ll let them get some rest.”
As Samantha ushered everyone toward the exit, screams of “Sign my book!” . . . “Princess Catie, please sign my book!” were heard from the teenagers who were now pushing up against the security team that was struggling to hold them back.
When they realized that Catie would be exiting the room without stopping for them, they started to throw their books over the security team. “Please sign my book. My name’s in it!”
Catie bent down and picked one up. The cover was a picture of her at the reception held after they had returned from the Paraxean battle. The title was The Behind The Scenes Story of Princess Catie.
“I’m going to kill Sophia,” Catie hissed.
◆ ◆ ◆
Finally, they managed to get out of the ballroom and back to Marc’s cabin.
“What was that all about?” Liz asked.
“This book!” Catie said, showing the book to everyone.
“How did she manage to publish this without any of us knowing about it?” Samantha asked.
“I knew,” ADI said.
“And why didn’t you tell us?”
“Sophia asked me not to. And since it doesn’t impact state security, I complied,” ADI said.
“Great, what’s in the book?” Marc asked, looking at Catie, who was skimming it.
“Everything!” Catie said.
“Oh no!”
“Captain, I’m sorry to inform you that Catie’s mother has just exited the elevator and is coming this way with, I think the phrase you use is, steam coming out her ears,” ADI said.
“Has she read the book?”
“She is carrying a copy,” ADI replied.
“Oh no!” Catie gasped. “Damn, these cabins don’t have a back door!”
“We can hide in my room,” Samantha said. She and Catie quickly exited the community room and went into Samantha’s bedroom.
“ADI, is there a way to get out of this cabin?”
“The door you entered through,” ADI replied.
“I know that, but another way. There must be an access panel to the utility areas above or below.”
“Of course there is. The access panel to the utility space is above the vanity in the bathroom. You have to slide the recessed locks to open it.”
“Catie, are you crazy, we’ll be okay in here,” Samantha said.
“You can stay here, I’m getting as far away from here as I can,” Catie said. “Mommy will be screaming any second.”
“She already knows most of the stuff, doesn’t she?”
“Not about the kidnapping!”
“Oh no! Get up there and unlock that panel!” Samantha knew just enough about the incident where Catie had been kidnapped by a Moroccan crime boss when she was twelve to know that she did not want to be there when Linda arrived.
They were just replacing the panel when they heard Linda scream, “Marc, how could you?! She was only twelve!”
“Move!” Catie hissed as she replaced the panel.
“Why the hurry, we’re safe.”
“Daddy might rat us out! Now go!”
The space they were in was about four feet tall. There were beams they could walk on, and if they avoided the beam above them, they had about three feet to crouch down and scamper away.
“Why in the world did you tell Sophia about the kidnapping?” Samantha asked.
“I thought she already knew,” Catie said. “I think she figured it out when we were in Morocco. We stayed with Ayyour Dahmani, and a few things he said probably made her curious. When we were on the Sakira, she asked how I felt during it, acting like she already knew everything. I assumed her father had said something or maybe Liz. Anyway, she probably pulled the same trick with Liz.”
“You’ve got to admire her sneakiness.”
“She’s going to find out what sneaky is all about when I get a chance.”
They had to maneuver over a few pipes and conduits before they could continue, being careful to stay on the ceiling beams.
“What is all this stuff?”
“Those big pipes up there are the sewer lines for the cabins above us. Then you can see the waterlines a
nd all the electrical conduits. These big pipes down here are the air-conditioning vents, supply and return air,” Catie explained.
“So, there’s a space like this between every floor?”
“Yes. They all need utilities.”
“I guess so,” Samantha said as she kept scampering along in front of Catie. “I feel like a teenager hiding from my parents.”
“I am a teenager hiding from my parents.”
“Do you think it will do any good?”
“Mommy always blows up big, but then it’s over. She’ll still be mad, but not furious.”
“You don’t feel a little remorse sacrificing your father?”
“Daddy’s used to it. He just lets her blow off steam. It just washes over him. When she’s done screaming, he lets her pound on his chest for a bit, then it gets better.”
“What happens when he’s not around?”
“It takes a lot longer for her to blow off all that steam. That’s why I don’t mind leaving him behind.”
“Oh, so you caught some of that after the divorce.”
“Yeah, sometimes.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Oh, it wasn’t that bad. She never pounded on my chest,” Catie said with a laugh. “But my ears would ring for hours afterward.”
“What are you ladies doing up here?” a man asked. He was on a beam two meters to their left.
“Hi, Benny. I’m just showing Sam the infrastructure up here. Where did you come up? We’d rather not have to crawl all the way back.”
“I used the utility closet next to lift eight,” Benny said. “It’s just about fifty meters that way. Can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.”
“See you around,” Benny said. He shook his head as he scooted along on a small shuttle that was attached to the beam he was on.
◆ ◆ ◆
“ADI, where is Sophia?” Catie asked after she and Samantha finally made it to Marc’s office, where they planned to hide out until Linda calmed down.
“I do not know,” ADI said.
“Don’t know or can’t tell?”
“I do not know. She left Delphi City yesterday on a flight to Wellington. One might assume she is still there.”
“Where is her Comm?”
“It appears to be switched off.”
“I didn’t know you could switch them off,” Samantha said.
“You can put them in airplane mode,” Catie said. “Blocks the ability to track them.”