Second generation, p.10
Second Generation, page 10
“Hey, I hear you’ll be going to Earth!” exclaimed Peter on the vid link. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Still hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Leo, truthfully. “And you’ve finally made it to the North Pole.”
“Thank heavens! We’re just relieved to be out of the rover. Jan’s busy helping us put up a larger hab.” He was referring to the protective habitat they’d be living in over the coming months, maybe longer. Hal’s hab was barely big enough to sleep all of them, so they needed expansion space for exercise and food cultivation. Drones from Tithonium would make regular supply drops, but the explorers would need some fresh food, or they’d be in danger of malnutrition.
“Has Hal found any more tunnels?” Leo knew he’d detected signs that suggested another six so far, all radiating out from the pole.
“He thinks there may be a seventh one at about eighty-five degrees longitude. Judging by the pattern emerging, I’d be surprised if there weren’t more. We’ll have our equipment set up soon enough so we can find out.”
“What do you mean, a ‘pattern?’” asked Leo, puzzled.
“When you draw them on a map of the pole they look like spokes of a wheel. Radial lines, regular spacing. You can see gaps where there should be other spokes.”
“How many?”
“Twelve.”
“Interesting,” said Leo, “Like a clock face.”
“I wonder if that’s significant?”
“It’s significant you think there are multiple tunnels, regularly spaced. That suggests a design. Not natural.”
“Plenty of life forms have evolved in a way that looks designed. But as far as I know, not tunnels in the ice.”
“I wonder if the tunnels are some kind of trail, left by a creature?” mused Leo.
“Hell of a big creature,” laughed Peter, then frowned. “Are you serious?”
Leo shrugged, “I don’t know. Bimpe’s the biologist, she’d have a better idea of what’s possible.”
“The evidence still points to it being made by a machine,” said Peter. “Though we’re all trying to keep an open mind. It’s the pile of shells that makes no sense.”
“None of it makes any sense,” exclaimed Leo, “All expeditions should be recorded. No one should have been there with any machines. Has Bimpe confirmed whether those shells belonged to insects or not yet.”
“She’s working on it. Not committing herself yet but says it seems likely. How’s the training going?”
“Just made my second trip to the Armstrong for zero G training. I’ve lost time to make up for, so I do triple sessions while I’m there.”
“Thrown up yet?”
“Strangely, no. Felt odd on my first trip, but I got the hang of it quick.”
“I hear you were conceived in space, maybe it makes a difference.”
Leo laughed, “I doubt it. Just lucky, I guess.”
“When do you go?”
“Soon,” answered Leo, trying to sound calm. Part of him was jumping with excitement. Part was terrified.
Space Elevator base, Pavonis Mons, Mars – Demetria Philippou
Demetria’s stomach was turning cartwheels. The Earth Mission crew were gathered in the lobby of the space elevator, waiting to be taken up. This time was not a training session. The ship had been packed with food and equipment. The onboard biome had been filled with crops to help feed them on the journey, though a separate chamber had been set aside for samples from Earth. A flight plan had been calculated and programmed into the ship AI, and the whole ship had been checked over, ready for flight.
There had already been one goodbye in Tithonium City. A throng of well wishers and friends had filled the Tech Dome before they got into the rover cars headed for Pavonis. Close family accompanied them. It had to be close family because it would have been impossible to fit every family member in the rovers.
The eleven crew members represented over two percent of the population of Mars. That population was still relatively small, so the proportion of people related to the crew was high. The Earth Mission Committee had agreed not to rule out multiple applicants from the same family, otherwise it would have been impossible to get the best people on board. This was the opposite of historic missions from Earth which originally forbade any related crew to avoid compromised priorities. They had asked how you would protect the rest of the crew if you put your own wife first? The Martians took a pragmatic view that any decision taken for one would affect all. In fact, they viewed it as an advantage having a relation on board to introduce some psychological stability. Now the families were saying goodbye.
Feng and Katya had their arms around Bingwen. Bingwen was Feng’s brother and Katya’s partner. Katya was crying. Feng was trying to make them smile, though Demetria could tell he was close to tears as well. Debbie Starczewski embraced her son, Pawel, who looked awkward. Phoebe Grayson-Sharpe was hugging her brother, parents and grandparents. Trish beamed with pride through her tears. Sam looked shell-shocked.
Ursula had disappeared into the elevator car to pack the last crates of equipment. Verena and Lena were nowhere to be seen.
Hal made a video call to wish Leo, Georgia and Demetria bon voyage. “Don’t go talking to any strange Earthmen,” he smiled. “But if you do meet one ask them if they parked a ship on the north Pole of Mars for a while.”
“Has Bimpe any further news on the shells?” asked Georgia, going into work mode.
Bimpe joined the vid call and waved, “Hi Georgia. I’m working my way through the tests we agreed. So far, it looks like they were indeed beetle-like insects, likely born on Mars. I haven’t seen anything that would suggest they came from off-planet.”
“And I found this,” said Hal, sharing his screen to show them a photo of something that looked like two halves of a very long narrow egg. It divided lengthwise and it shimmered an iridescent blue green. A measuring stick lay beside it on the ice to show that it was about a metre long. At the edge of the view were piled up fragments of shells.
“What in heavens name…” murmured Leo.
“We found it under the shells,” said Hal. “We carefully cleared a path to the centre of the ice chamber and found this egg-shaped object in the centre. The perfect symmetry makes it looks manufactured, not natural, though we’re running tests to check.”
“Could the insects have hatched out of that?” asked Demetria.
“No ideas yet,” said Bimpe. “We’ll let you know more as soon as we’ve run tests.”
“Looks intriguing.”
Leo and the others turned at the sound of the familiar voice. “Nanna!” exclaimed Demetria, who hugged Verena tight. “You came!”
“I had a meeting to finish,” said Verena, unconvincingly. “Sorry, I’m late.”
Georgia smiled and embraced Verena, whispering something in her ear.
Verena nodded, then turned to Leo. She paused, looking as awkward as her son.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake give your mother a hug,” said Georgia, propelling him forward.
Verena held Leo silently.
Demetria realised the whole lobby had fallen quiet. She watched as the two continued to hold each other. Eventually Verena pulled back, brushing a stray lock of white hair from her face. She looked at each of them in turn, resting her eyes on Leo again, then said softly, “Komm zurück.”
The Armstrong, Mars Orbit – Leo Meier
It took three more days to ascend the elevator, send the car back, reel in the cable for re-use, and finish all the pre-flight checks. Leo had a bunk at the edge of the crew chamber, which induced the sensation of gravity by spinning. The chamber was a huge drum that turned on its axis. If he stood on one side, he could see his crewmates walking around on the ceiling above him. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, but it still made his head spin.
Beside his bunk was a study carrel. A bench with a small desk that swung across it to work from. There were straps around the desk to hold down his tablet and any other items in case they needed to switch the chamber rotation off. There were grab bars all around for when everything went into free fall. The sensation of gravity was about half that on Mars, but the plan was to spin it faster when in flight, bringing them up to their full Martian weight. Over the four months in flight, the chamber spin would be gradually increased so it felt closer to what their weight would be on Earth. None were looking forward to that.
They had a punishing exercise regime planned to build muscles in preparation for Earth. Just breathing would be harder. Fortunately, Katya, Chen and Demetria had finished fabricating the powered exoskeletons to help support the members of the landing party. They could be worn over EVA suits, if necessary, unless they were sure that the Earth atmosphere was breathable.
Stef called them together on the bridge, in front of a comms station linked to Mars Mission Control. “Stefanie van Rhoon, Captain of the Armstrong reporting,” said Stef. She took Leo by surprise. She was being formal and business-like. Not a side she revealed often. “I have with me my ten crewmates. Leo Meier, Earth technical adviser and Landing Party Leader.” Leo tried to look equally business-like in front of the camera as she called the role. He realised this was being recorded and likely viewed by most of Mars. “Feng Huynh, chief engineer. His nephew, Chen Huynh, crew technician. Georgia Philippou, Biologist, and her daughter Demetria Philippou, Medic. Ursula Johannasdottir, AI technician. Samaira Ferreira, meteorologist. Katya den Arend, my co-pilot. Pawel Starczewski, engineer. Phoebe Grayson-Sharpe, mathematician and physicist.”
“Well done, Captain van Rhoon,” smiled Sam Grayson, from his desk at the Tech Dome, the newly established Mission Control. “You haven’t mislaid anyone yet.”
“I’ve counted them all on. I intend to count them all off again when we return,” replied Stef. “Katya, please would you prepare the launch sequence?”
Katya took her seat at the control screens and brought the flight plan up. “Ready,” she confirmed.
“Counting you down,” said Sam. “Five, four, three, two, one.”
“Engaged,” announced Katya.
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Leo had been warned there would be no dramatic acceleration. What he did see was the comforting red globe of Mars starting to drift slowly away to his left, as the Armstrong pulled out of orbit. He had wondered if he would feel some sadness to be leaving Mars. He didn’t. He realised he was grinning widely, though there was a mix of emotions showing on the faces beside him. Georgia, Demetria and Samaira stood with Phoebe, looking wistfully at Mars. Katya and Stef were deep in concentration at their screens. Pawel stood to one side, scratching at the junction between his arm and the bionic exoskeleton, frowning. Feng put his arm around Chen’s shoulders, smiling at the great adventure ahead of them, while Ursula pressed her forehead against the porthole. The wild woman looked uncharacteristically forlorn, and Leo felt a lurch of sympathy. The surprise arrival of Verena had thrown him, just as her parting words had: ‘come back.’
He realised that his sister Lena had not come to say goodbye to them, or to her partner, Ursula.
Leo’s eyes wandered back across the red planet, looking for the long scar of Valles Marineras, where Tithonium City huddled in one of its many chasms. It had been his home since birth. He should feel sorry to be leaving. He didn’t. Then he let his eyes drift away, to the dark void scattered with stars. Now he felt something stir in his heart and it was not sorrow.
“The Armstrong is now moving away from Mars orbit,” confirmed Stef. “We are on our way to Earth.”
Sam Grayson permitted himself a smile of relief, then a more serious look settled on him. “Godspeed.”
9
The Perils of Spaceflight
Regeneration 4 – Earth
They flew across the surface of the verdant world. Dense forests covered much of the land, emanating clouds of steam that lingered over the canopies. Great green lungs that breathed in oxygen and exhaled water vapour laced with carbon dioxide. Strange four-legged creatures meandered in herds across the grassy plains beyond.
Look! There, emerging from the trees. Creatures on two legs. They look a little like the watchers. Each carries something. Tools? Weapons? They fan out, seeking the stragglers in the herd. Gradually they close in, working together, exchanging signals with their upper limbs.
Hunters.
Now one of the hunters darts forward throwing something at an isolated youngster at the back of the herd. It strikes. The young creature stumbles. Another hunter runs forward and throws. The youngster is on its knees now. Finally the other hunters close in, stabbing at the fallen youngster.
But they hunters do not eat their catch there and then. They cut it up so each has a limb or a body part to carry. The watchers follow the hunters. Follow them to the edge of a clear blue pool. Reed covered constructions can just be seen, peppered around the treeline at the edge of the pool. More two-legged creatures emerge.
The body parts are cut up again, shared between all. But still they do not eat straight away. They set fires. They cook the meat. They share the meat among them, beginning with their youngest.
Cooking.
Tool using.
Co-operative intelligence.
In a few thousand years they may start to farm. They may group together in cities. They may look around their world and start to ask more questions. Invent more sophisticated tools. Travel greater distances.
The watchers fly on, heading south.
Crew Chamber, The Armstrong – Leo Meier
“Okay, whose’ is this?” demanded Stef, pointing at an unwelcome brown object floating across the centre of the crew chamber. It lurked with menace at the zero-gravity axis, threatening to drop.
Some gawked. Some wrinkled their noses as the stench rapidly overwhelmed them in the confined space. A head appeared at the airlock door, aligned with the axis of rotation. It belonged to Pawel.
“Emptying the sanitation tank is fiddly,” he complained, defensively. Leo noticed he’d taken his bionic prosthetic off again.
“Thank you for doing the maintenance work that all of us should be sharing,” said Stef, evenly. “Please would you recover the escapee?”
Pawel glowered, then pushed out into empty space with an open bag. He overshot and knocked the ‘escapee’ off course so it was captured by the rotation of the chamber. It started descending towards the curved floor.
Accelerating.
Leo flinched, Samaira screeched and dived for cover beneath her desk. Demetria stepped calmly forward with an empty cup and captured the identified flying object deftly before it left skid marks on Samaira’s desk.
“I’ll help,” Demetria said, pushing off from the floor to join him at the airlock with the recaptured stool.
Pawel nodded his thanks without looking at her. Stef gave a wry smile.
A few minutes later Demetria returned with half a dozen cups and started placing them around the circumference of the crew chamber, “I washed the other cup and put it into recycling. Then I printed off some more so we can use them for recapturing other rogue deposits.”
“That kind of thing doesn’t phase you, does it,” observed Leo.
“I’m a medic,” said Demetria, matter of fact.
“You are all still new to space travel,” said Stef. “There will be more for you to learn. You will learn it the hard way. Please take your example from Demetria and be ready to roll up your sleeves.”
“I think I’d rather roll my sleeves down, just in case,” said Leo.
“On our flight from Earth to Mars we were hit by a meteorite,” said Stef. “Just hope we don’t have that problem.”
“I think I’d prefer a meteorite,” said Samaira, “At least that would hit the outside of the ship.”
“It was less than a centimetre across, no wider than my finger,” said Stef, “But it was travelling at thousands of kilometres an hour. It punched through half a metre of hull and shielding. We were lucky to have Markus to go spacewalk and patch the hole.”
Samaira made a small gulping motion. Leo raised his eyebrows. He’d heard about this from Sam, who had raised the alarm when it happened all those years ago. They now knew that tiny stone was a precursor for the showers of much larger meteorites that followed, and Goliath after them. This time, Sam, Trish and Leo had checked the heavens for any sign of meteorite showers and found nothing. That did not mean there wouldn’t be any. Hunting through the enormity of space for objects smaller than a rover was impossible. But at least they didn’t see anything as big as Goliath.
They were only two days into their flight.
As Stef said, they still had much to learn.
“The egg is defying all examination,” said Hal on the vid link with Leo and Georgia.
Leo looked forward to the catch-up sessions with the North Pole team. Georgia joined him for them now. He thought her presence might be awkward, but the scientific focus seemed to distract them both.
“We’ve tried taking samples, but we broke two scalpel blades and a drill bit,” added Bimpe. “Jan tried using the powered claws of his walker suit, but they just slipped off.”
“I haven’t seen anything like it,” said Jan. “Too light to be metallic, too thin to be mineral, too hard to be organic. It must be a compound, but we can’t break off or dissolve a piece for analysis.”
“Does that mean its manmade?” asked Leo.
“I prefer the word fabricated,” said Georgia. “Some Earth animals were known to make things. And there are plenty of naturally occurring compounds, but that doesn’t look like any I know of.”
“I’m going to rig up one of my mining lasers,” said Jan, “try to cut it and see if what it reveals.”
“In the meantime, we’re mapping the other tunnels,” said Hal. “Peter has drones out with ground radar.”
“We’ve found eleven now,” said Peter. “Just like Hal suspected, they’re regularly arranged around the pole, all radiating from it.” Looking at the pattern there ought to be one more, but we haven’t been able to trace it yet.”
