She took her samples, the fish, and some of the fluid that had spilled onto the surface, and she set them at her desk in various containers. She knelt to them, her eyes level to the containers.
This was it. This was the breakthrough that NASA had hoped for, and now she had definitive proof of life on another world sitting in a box right in front of her.
She stared at them, studied them superficially, watching these creatures she knew nothing about. They had already changed her life and filled her with a sense of wonder. “What other surprises would they have? How would the news of today’s events be taken back home?” she thought.
Then she realized… she had to get the word out. There were so many people to tell. They didn’t even know about this yet. Nobody but her and the men in that room were aware of the life-changing news. The desire to tell someone, anyone, overwhelmed her. She was hitting the comm-link button on her suit while trying to think of what to say.
“Hab One, Dr. Aman, come in Hab One!” Mara called in a frantic voice.
A few seconds later Dr. Aman was on the comm. “Hab One, Dr. Aman here.”
“Hab One, we’ve got some good news at the drill chamber. Break out the champagne… We’re through the ice, and we found life! I can confirm indigenous life forms on Europa!”
CHAPTER 2
Sol 7; Mission time - 20:17
Hanson squeezed himself into the tight corner of the conference room as Commander Stenner raised his champagne glass. Even though the Commander was in the Copernicus orbiter high above, he was leading the party from the monitor at the center of the wall. Everyone followed his lead, and Hanson found his seat as the Commander began the toast.
“Dr. Parrish, the eyes of the world have been turned on you, and you have rewarded them with the most stunning news, perhaps the most exciting in humanity’s history,” he said. “You have helped determine that we are not alone, and that life is likely ubiquitous throughout the heavens. Yours will be a name that will go down with the greats in your field.”
The Commander paused to take a breath. “Congratulations and a warm thank you to all in the room that helped to make this happen. I also want to be sure to include the crew of the mining rig Zephyr, their parent company Astromine, and everyone back home that helped to get us here. Thank you again,” he said, and he lifted the slim and elegant glass and took a full sip from its narrow opening.
Everyone followed and sampled the small amount of champagne the had been given. Hanson noticed that he had a small plastic cup to drink from while the scientists were given true champagne glasses. He was slightly amused at the fact as he turned the cup up to the ceiling for a sip.
“Mara, do you have anything you’d like to say?” Stenner asked once the drinks had been taken.
Mara raised her glass apprehensively. “I would also like to thank the crew of the Copernicus mission, the crew of the Zephyr, Captain Johan, Hanson, and everyone back home,” she said. Then she took a shallow sip of her drink while everyone followed again.
There was a silent pause as the guests sampled their drinks. It was a moment for reflection. After a few seconds Hanson felt he needed to say something.
“To Mara,” he said, raising his cup to her. He felt a bit disingenuous as he made the toast, considering it a matter of being polite. He noticed everyone in the room had congratulated her again. He was amused with the NASA crew. He couldn’t remember his mining team ever throwing a party like this after a successful mission.
The self-congratulatory nature of the scientists irritated him. “It was the mining crew that had drilled the hole,” he thought to himself. “And they had done it with little input from Mara.” He glanced at his captain, Johan, to confirm that they were thinking the same thing. Johan’s squinted eyes and half-smile seemed to confirm it. Hanson took another drink, figuring he would need it to get through the party.
He enjoyed every drop of the champagne. It was quite a luxury for the two men from the Zephyr. They were used to being far from home, and a drink such as this was a rarity.
Dr. Aman interrupted them. “Stenner, I want to ask you what they are saying back home?” he asked. “Give us some of the headlines.”
The commander ended his sip of champagne, quickly turning it upright. “I’m not sure I could describe it,” he answered. “It’s awe-inspiring, truly. Humanity owes you and the rest of the crew a tremendous debt for your sacrifices. This may change things. Help put things in perspective. All because of the bravery of people like you and Dr. Parrish.”
“Thanks,” Mara began to say, but she was cut off.
“Imagine what we might find when we get below the ice. We can’t wait to see it,” Stenner added.
“It won’t be easy getting the sub down there,” Mara said.
“Let our miner friends from Astromine worry about that, Mara,” Commander Stenner told her. “We need you to do your research. The world is watching more intensely than ever. I’m sure you don’t understand. You are on every channel in every country. It’s bigger than you can imagine,” Stenner said.
“Look, that reminds me,” he added. “There’s something I need to ask you. NASA wants you to do a promo… an educational piece. You need to record something. Make it several minutes long. It needs to be something to show people what you are doing and what your work is like. Tell them about our mission and all that you’ve found. Explain it to them in layman’s terms. They would prefer to interview you, but of course the delay is too long to do that. You are going to have to record it. Send it to me and I’ll link it back to Earth for them, ok?”
Hanson watched as Mara nodded unenthusiastically. He was surprised someone getting most of the credit for the discovery of extraterrestrial life was taking it so lightly.
“Mara, people are going to want a video of your creatures,” Stenner continued. “Show them what you’ve seen. People are… stunned you could say. Your name is on the cover of newspapers, tv’s, magazines will be out soon. Let people know what you are doing. Show them what we are about, what you are about. You’re a hero now, Mara. Enjoy this time.”
“Commander Stenner?” Dr. Aman interrupted. “Can you record a video for back home to send to my family? I want them to see everyone while we are here together.”
“Of course. You want everyone in the recording?” Stenner asked.
“Absolutely. I want my family to see this and to know this crew. I want them to see what I am doing and who I am doing it with — what we are part of here.”
“Very well,” Stenner responded.
Dr. Aman composed himself in front of the party and turned to the camera to begin. The doctor pulled his lab coat tightly against his neck and smoothed out a few wrinkles on his shoulders, cleared his throat, then took a position next to Mara.
Hanson watched the doctor compose himself for the camera, expecting he would not be included in the video.
“Ready when you are, Aman,” Stenner told him.
“It is ready?” he verified. He waited for a nod from Stenner.
“Hi all, I am here with Dr. Mara Parrish, and this is Reese and Hanson, and Dr. Julian, our geologist, and Captain Johan of the mining rig Zephyr.”
“You have probably already heard, but this morning we uncovered the existence of the first confirmed extra-terrestrial creatures in human history. We are having a celebration for everyone involved. I wanted all of you to see this and see what we are doing here. These are historic discoveries that we are making, and it will shape the future of humanity.”
Dr. Aman paused and looked around the room, making sure his audience was attentive before he began again.
“I want those of you at home to know why we are doing this. We have come a long way, and this is truly a ground-breaking mission. We have not even been under the ice and into the ocean below, yet we have proof of life here. There is likely so much more to find. I cannot wait to see all of
you again and tell you about it. I love you all, and I hope to hear from you tonight before the party is over. We will be up late, so if you get this in the next hour or so try to send something back. Good night.”
The message would be sent to the orbiter for transmission to Earth. It would take at least a half an hour for the message to get there, and it would be at least an hour before they heard anything back. Dr. Aman hoped if anyone was there to receive the message that it would be returned before the party was over.
The party continued and sips of champagne were toasted over the best NASA rations. Hanson had nearly finished his drink, saving the last sip for the end of the party.
“How soon until the sub goes under?” someone asked while drinks were turning toward the ceiling.
“Tomorrow,” Reese answered. “I’ve checked the systems; we’re all go. The sub fired right up. Tested all the motors, diagnostics, cables, connections. It’s all good. Can’t wait!”
“So, what else do you hope to find now that we caught your little fish already?” Hanson asked the scientists, leaning back in his chair. “You know, I used to go ice-fishing with my Dad and Uncle in Minnesota. I want to know if you think we’re going to pull up any winners.” He smiled broadly, knowing he was provoking them.
The group fell silent. Mara’s eyes focused on him and her lips tensed. Hanson turned just far enough to see the reaction he was getting from his captain, Johan. He saw that he had his attention, and the captain appeared as anxious to hear the scientists as he was. A smirk was making its way into the corner of his mouth.
Mara leaned forward and answered for her crew in a soft and intent tone. “Well, I’ll tell you this… There’s an entire ecosystem under there that we don’t know anything about. Those fish survive on something. They must eat something… So, there will be a food chain. There may be predator fish. There will be a nutrient cycle; birth, life, death, decay, and rebirth. Who knows how developed these creatures are, or what conditions they are adapted to? We expect volcanic vents, temperature extremes, harsh and hazardous conditions that we can’t even imagine on Earth. And these creatures that we’ve found — they’ve learned to survive in those conditions. They’re adapted to it. It could be something incredible, unimaginable; and I promise we’re only going to see the tip of the iceberg. So, I don’t know at all what we are going to find under there, but I expect it will shock you.”
Hanson was silent for a moment. A smile crept across his face. “I still just see a fish,” he jabbed, taking a small bite from his plate. “You’re going to have to explain to me why this isn’t the world’s longest and most expensive fishing expedition,” he muttered as he chewed his food, continuing to amuse himself and his captain.
Mara smiled dryly and leaned forward. “I guess it is,” she answered, “And you’ve come a long way to collect rocks then, haven’t you?
Hanson swallowed his food and looked her in her eyes. He could see the passion on Mara’s face for her work. He noticed that her crew was attempting to hide smirks of their own, and he smiled tepidly and returned his attention to his plate of food with a twist of his neck.
A chime came in suddenly from the wall monitor. It was an incoming communication. “Hab One, this is Copernicus. Stenner here. Tell Aman his message has been transmitted. I’ll let you know if we get anything back before you turn in.”
Stenner’s message had arrived at a good time, breaking the tension that had formed in the room.
“How are they holding up?” Mara asked the doctor.
Dr. Aman had a wife and two children in India. He had desperately not wanted to be named for the mission by his government, but the duty and honor were forced upon him. He would be a cultural and national icon upon return, a true hero for India and its people. Although his wife and kids had begged him to stay, Dr. Aman had calculated that even in the worst-case scenario, a deadly disaster of some kind, his family would be better off with him on the mission. In his mind and heart, it was a sacrifice worth making for the long-term security it would offer them.
“The children are fine,” he answered. “I send them a message every day. It is hard to believe, but Ganesh is driving. His uncle taught him.”
“That’s great”, said Mara. “And Dalhia?”
“She is more beautiful every time I get a message from her,” he said. He was beaming as he described her. “She is becoming a lovely young woman.”
Mara smiled as she listened to him describe his children. “How long is it now, before we get back?” she asked. She knew that Dr. Aman was always the person to ask when it came to the number of days remaining on the mission.
Dr. Aman pushed some of the food around on his plate as he was doing the math. It took him a second to find the number he was looking for. Then he answered, “Two years, seven months, fourteen days — give or take.”
There was a collective hush from the scientists.
Hanson raised his brow. He felt an urge to give the NASA crew some much-needed perspective. “It’s not that bad out here,” he said. “Been out a little longer than that, you know.”
Heads turned. “How long have you been off-planet?” Mara asked pointedly.
Hanson smiled and closed his eyes as he worked the math, just as the doctor had. “Let’s see… It’s been… uh… twelve years, eight months — give or take.” He opened his eyes and scanned the room. He always got a reaction when he told anyone how long he’d been away from Earth.
Everyone was silent. He suddenly had their undivided attention. He could tell it was difficult for the scientists to consider a mission that long. For most of them this short journey had already been too long.
“You have no intention of returning? Family?” someone asked him.
“I’ve got my family right here,” he said, referring to his crew. “It’s all the family you need.”
“What about radiation sickness, bone density, other health concerns?” Dr. Aman asked.
“Ahhh, I eat a rounded diet. We all do. We get regular shipments, deliveries. We eat plenty of fruit and plant extracts, vitamins, supplements… The drill outposts are radiation-shielded. We don’t spend much time outside the dome. We work nearly one hundred percent from inside. It’s all set up that way from the start. And we get regular exercise too. That part’s mandatory. Besides, it’s not like we ruff-necks want to waste away you know; grow old too fast,” he said, sending an elbow into his older friend Johan next to him. His captain returned a half-hearted laugh at his comment.
“I take good care of myself, and the work keeps us healthy and strong.” He turned and looked at Mara. “Not bad for a rock collector, eh?” he said, and he took the last swish of the champagne from his cup he had been saving.
The room waited for Mara’s reaction, but he could see she was ignoring his attempts to aggravate her further.
“You don’t have anyone back home? Family or friends?” Dr. Aman asked.
Hanson placed his cup down hard onto the table and sighed. He was always asked this question when this topic would come up. He had been expecting it.
He answered with a terse “No,” and nodded his head back and forth forcibly. He picked up his small plastic plate and walked to the sink.
Johan rose to follow him, sensing a chance to leave the party.
Hanson began to walk out of the room but turned to the NASA crew as he left. “We’ve got a lot to do tomorrow. Good night,” he said, and he walked down the corridor to the airlock. When he arrived he turned for his captain.
Captain Johan was still getting up onto his old legs. Hanson waited for him before putting on his suit. Johan rose slowly from the chair and then turned toward the scientists.
“Hanson’s been doing this a long time,” he said. “I’ve watched over him since he was young. He wants to captain his own rig and crew someday, and he’s been working hard to get it,” he told them. He lowered his head and tipped h
is finger to his forehead in a salute. “Excuse us, but we miner types don’t spend much time pattin’ ourselves on the back when there’s work to do,” he said. He winked and sauntered off to the airlock on his old knees.
Sol 7; Mission time - 21:14
Reese turned to Mara as Johan left the table. They shared an amused expression. It was Reese who got up to help the two men out of the airlock.
“Twelve years”, Mara said looking into her glass of champagne, as if it contained the clues as to why someone would stay off-planet for that long.
“Maybe he is a wanted man,” Dr. Aman joked with her, taking the last swish of his drink. He stood and walked the short distance to the mess hall. He tossed his plastic plate in with a hollow clink and set the glass gently inside. Then he sat back down at the table and stared at the screen, waiting for a return message from Earth.
“You know, we’re at least forty-five minutes before you hear anything,” Mara reminded him.
“I know. I just hope to get something before bed.”
“Well, I won’t be here to see it,” Mara told him.
“You are going to bed?” he asked. “Stay, Mara… It’s a party. Take some pressure off.”
She inhaled deeply. She didn’t have the willpower to stay in the mess hall with the crew.
Dr. Aman must have sensed her reticence. “We have dessert coming,” he said to her. “It was sent on the mission just for this occasion. I picked it out myself.”
Mara didn’t say anything.
“Stay and enjoy it with us,” he insisted. “It’s not every day we discover life on another world.”
Mara shook her head and said goodnight, then slowly walked to her bunk room. Her thoughts were already going to a troubling place. She was irritated with Hanson, and his dismissive attitude toward her work. She wasn’t sure why it had bothered her, but here she was letting it get to her as she walked to her bunk room.
Diamond Moon Page 3