tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45916214528829407462024-03-22T03:47:07.536+00:00Zen Masters of the ApocalypseAt the end of time they will come, and get themselves comfy for the show.Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-56608502047504455232012-05-13T14:49:00.003+01:002012-05-13T14:49:35.176+01:00Chapter 19 - January 2074<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020740125.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [248] [010] [+/- 11%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 32377585 [+/- 7%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 62009551681 [+/- 12%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 690 [+/- 9%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 2 [+/- 4%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
United Nations Orbital Command Headquarters, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General
Fuller’s secretary led Monique Abbot through to the General’s office. She
declined the offer of refreshments then took the offered seat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Minister Abbots. This is a surprise. We rarely
see you out here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I prefer to stay in New York, but I knew I would
find you here General. Even at this hour. And it is only an hour’s flight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller knew it was late, but he hadn’t realised
how late. He sent a message to his secretary to go and get a few hours sleep.
He returned his attention to the South African Security Council representative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s always a pleasure to see you. Now how can I
help you at this late hour?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I wanted to speak to you in person about the new
weapon control laws. “</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That grabbed his attention. “What new weapon
control laws?” His role wasn’t that of a lawmaker, he didn’t have a vote on the
Council, even for space matters. However it was customary for him to be
consulted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How much do you like your job General?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He wasn’t expecting that tangent. “What do you
mean Ms Abbots?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Relax General. I’m here for a conversation, I’m
not threatening you in any way. I’ve come to warn you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I think you had better explain what is going on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Of course General.” She offered a small smile. “Early
next month the Chinese are going to submit a new law. They want to restrict
weapons above a certain yield from privately owned ships. They of course have
Japanese and Indian support. The EU and the Americans will naturally vote
against. They see private enterprise as a counter-balance for the Asian
Alliance in space.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why are you telling me this?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Before the vote on this, there’ll be another
vote. As you know your command is due for renewal next year. We all think it
makes sense that our current commander remains in charge for the duration of
the alien visit.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You want me to toe the line to keep my job.”
Fuller felt some anger, but also more than a little surprise. Monique Abbots
had never seemed the type for this kind of play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She replied with a grin. “Yes I do General, but
not in the way that you think. General Po Ling will be visiting you in due
course. He will want to you to support their bill. He knows you support private
enterprise, however he’ll want your support. If he doesn’t get it, you’ll be
replaced.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You want me to go against my publically stated
opinion? Won’t that strike him as strange?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No it won’t. Not if you use the incoming aliens
as your justification. You don’t have to be ecstatic about it, in fact some
reluctance will help sell it. “</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I do think that private enterprise is the future.
While I don’t want them to start arming themselves, there’s no indications that
is happening. Beyond the light meteor upgrades the LMC have started. And after
that near-miss of theirs I can hardly blame them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That’s not something you need to worry about.
That law won’t pass.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How can you be so certain?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They have three votes. Two guaranteed against.
That leaves two floaters, myself and the Russians. My vote is against, they’ll
expect that, especially with South Africa’s known ties with private space corporations,
especially the LMC. So that makes the votes even, leaving the Russians.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They nearly always support the Chinese.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“True, nearly always. However they will support
themselves first. It is very much in their interests that this bill does not
pass.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well the point defences the LMC are buying are
being supplied by the Russians, and they are a marginally higher yield than the
proposed limit. That deal is worth a lot of money to the Russians. Not only
that, they want to market their mass driver technology. They see that as a
competitor to the space elevator. So they very much want to be seen as a friend
to private enterprise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She smiled again. “Of course there’s also been a
lot of backroom diplomacy. The end result is that the Chinese are in for a bit
of a surprise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And my continuing as Commander of the UNOC isn’t
such a sure thing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not if the Chinese think you can’t be relied on.
I know you’ve already been sniffing around their operations. If you’re not in
charge you’ll find that very difficult. On this the Russians don’t have a stake,
so will support their vote. At best abstain. The Europeans might even be
pressured into voting against for concessions elsewhere. So play along with
General Ling. Give him what he wants, Your term will be extended. We’ll then
spring our surprise. Anyway. Think about it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How will the Chinese react?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They won’t be happy, but what can they do?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That’s what worried Fuller.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With that she stood. “Thanks for your time
General.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Always a pleasure Minister.”</div>
<h2>
CNSA Resupply Vessel, en route to Mars</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The failure of the asteroid strike still haunted
Hui. She could accept that the LMC got lucky, but something nagged her about
it. The lack of censor in her record didn’t help. It seemed that she required
some punishment for her failure, if high command wouldn’t provide it then her
own mind would. In her off hours she studied the data of the attack. Over and
over again. Unfortunately all she had was some long range optical scans and the
Deep Space tracking records from the UNOC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The radar timeline showed what she expected. The
asteroid fragments don’t show up on the radar until they were less than two
hundred miles from the shipyard. Still something didn’t seem quite right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She’d stared at the same sequence a dozen times,
maybe more. Played it back in a full virtuality and on her rollscreen. A dozen
times, maybe more. Each time it seemed the same. Then it struck her. The
freighter started turning towards the incoming asteroid before it is detected
on the radar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Why would they do that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui turned to the optical scans. She compared the
scans from the time of the attack. Looking for any differences that might give
her a clue. She spotted something, but not what she expected. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The new scans showed two sleek craft approaching
the shipyard. Their silhouettes looked familiar. They looked like the Dark
Hawks the UNOC flew. Had the UNOC made a deal to base ships there? Or were they
paying some kind of visit. It seemed unusual, the UNOC rarely left Earth orbit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She examined the close-ups, the resolution was
frustratingly low, but detailed enough she could see some differences. She
accessed the flight records for the time the images were taken, only 24 hours
previously. Two shuttles being delivered. Apparently civilian models. The Dark
Wings were based on a civilian airframe the Russians exported. Apparently that
explained the delivery.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Two thoughts struck her as strange. The first that
the LMC had its own shuttle assembly plant, so why buy Russian models? That
makes little sense, the LMC and Russian shuttles shared no common technology.
The second that these apparently civilian shuttles had the same conformal
changes used by the Dark Wings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui assembled her data. She appended her
conclusion that the Luna Mining Corporation were buying armed shuttles, then
sent the report to CNSA high command.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-11624891546002912612012-05-08T13:35:00.002+01:002012-05-08T13:35:18.854+01:00Chapter 18 - December 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020731225.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [249] [008] [+/- 12%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 43170114 [+/- 8%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 85321413215 [+/- 13%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 724 [+/- 10%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 3 [+/- 5%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: Pass Sedna orbit</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Arabian Solar Farm offices, Bagdad</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The first day of meetings went well. Michael never
had reason to deal with the Islamic League before. They weren’t very active in
the space industry. The ores and minerals they did buy were usually supplied by
the Europeans. The ESA also handled the usual satellites that any nation needed
to function.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For the first half of the 21<sup>st</sup> century
the Arab and Islamic nations fought a series of wars, mostly against the
Americans. After successive defeats and with rapidly declining oil revenues
they began to consolidate. Iran was the last of the Islamic nations in the
Middle East to join the League. In 2055 after brief war with Turkey and Israel
they were soundly defeated and joined the League. From that moment the League
covered from Tunisia all the way to Pakistan in the east.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Islamic League grew ever more isolated as the
years passed. They focussed their efforts on becoming self sufficient, reducing
and eventually eliminating their reliance on other countries. Politically they evolved a system that blended democratic
representation with Islamic law. They built vast solar farms to provide power
for themselves and export to Europe for international currency. Their quest for
self sufficiency was a direct contrast to the rest of the world, but it seemed
to work for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Huge areas of desert were transformed into
farmland. They were able to grow enough food to feed their population. They no
longer interested themselves in other nations’ business. Israel remained a
point of contention, although with their alliance with Turkey had adopted a
more defensive posture. A low grade war of wars still existed, but actual
conflict ceased. So now the Islamic League looked inward, the rest of the world
liked it that way and left them to themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael Richards hoped that this isolated
independent power would provide what he needed. Jacob provided some
intelligence that indicated this could be the case. New factions, especially
amongst the business community, looked to expand their interests. This new
desire to expand could provide the opportunity Michael needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He met with Amir yesterday. Amir was a large
powerful man, both physically and financially. He led the principal
shareholders in the Arabian Solar Farms. Michael pitched the proposed trade
mission to Amir over a series of meetings. At first with the aides and finally
Amir himself. Michael was convinced that the businessman had some prior
knowledge of the alien contact. It certainly hadn’t come as a surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The business with the solar farms was purely for
investment. Michael’s initial pitch had stuck to that line, however, there was
a greater prize to be had. Samir had extensive political contacts and according
to Jacob was exactly the man who could provide the weapons they needed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael drank more of the sweet tea, placing the
glass on the table in front of him as he heard the door open. He immediately
stood as Samir entered the room. They shook hands with warm greetings. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It is good to see you again Mr Richards. Please,
come into my office.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael followed Amir into his office. They sat
opposite each other on luxuriant chairs. The office space was a large open
space, the full sized windows providing a rich view of the city below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Would like any refreshment Mr Richards?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No, I’m fine thank you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Straight to business then. I have discussed your
proposals with my advisors. They seem to think it is a solid proposition.
However. “ His voice lowered slightly. His aides discreetly left the office.
“We are aware that you require more from us than you have told us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded. “That is true. My intention was
certainly that our business relationship would develop into something greater.
I know it is not the custom to rush these things.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Samir smiled, his full beard failing to hide the
width of that smile. “Ordinarily it would be my pleasure to indulge a partnership that matured over time. You are
correct, that is how we prefer to do business. Time unfortunately for this
venture is not in abundance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So tell me Mr Richards, what exactly do you want
from us? And please be candid.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The proposals I put to you yesterday are an
important part. We do need financial investment to fund the trade. It is, as
you’ve guessed, only a part of what we need.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Our intelligence indicates that the Chinese
intend to try and prevent the trade with the aliens.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Before we go into that. Hasn’t the UN already
agreed to trade with the aliens? Wouldn’t that interfere with your plans?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ve already contacted the aliens directly. They
have agreed to deal with both parties. Besides, I don’t believe the Asian
Alliance will allow the UNOC to make the trade. “</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And how do you intend to complete the deal if the
Chinese and their friends are trying to stop it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael took a deep breath before replying. “We
will fight them. I’m hoping it won’t come to that, but we need to be prepared.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So now we come to it. You want us to provide the
weapons you need. Before we go into that, answer this question. You believe the Chinese could stop the UNOC mission.
Why won’t they stop you as easily?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That is a fair question. If the trade was to take
place on Earth or even close by then our task would be difficult, suicidal
even. In deep space their power isn’t so absolute. With your help we can match
the Chinese and complete the trade. A trade that will benefit the consortium
and mankind in general.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We also have an advantage over the UNOC.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What might that be?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re not part of the United Nations.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“But you are subject to its edicts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That is true, but we do not have committees
populated with our enemies. The danger for the UNOC are the politics within,
probably more so than the forces the Chinese are sending to Mars.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Samir considered this, then nodded in agreement.
“One more question. How do you plan on crewing the weapons? I can see how you
can arm your freighters, but creating combat crews will be very difficult. Only
a few countries operate combat ready vessels.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael had been discussing this very concern a
few days previously with Jacob Manning. They agreed to complete a full
conversion on three of the small freighters. The crews for these ships would
get full training. Jacob also secured the services of a European start up PMC.
They were specialists in space security, comprising of experts from various air
forces. These three ships would form the core of the fleet, a strike force
allowing them to take the initiative, if needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The rest of the freighters would be upgraded as
part of their maintenance cycles. Primarily this would be point defences and
training would be provided on their use, against meteors. New weapon packages
would be assembled in cargo pods, so they could easily be added when the time
came. Meanwhile a cadre of weapon specialists would be trained in secret and
deployed on the ships before they departed from Mars. It was far from the ideal
approach, but it offered the best chance for maintaining secrecy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The last piece of the puzzle was off the shelf
expert systems. A number of systems for target tracking and engagement were
easily available. They would need upgrading, Jacob already had a team working
on this. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael explained this plan to Samir. Samir considered
what he heard before replying. “That seems a reasonable plan. Expensive, but
relatively low key. However, I don’t think we can provide all that you need and
the bit we can is going to cost you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He stroked his beard. “You see, we maintain a
small annual growth of our armed forces. Nothing too dramatic, we don’t want to
make our neighbours nervous. So if we
start selling you large quantities of our inventory, we’d need to replace it
and that would cause notice.“</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He noticed that Michael seemed about to speak, so
raised his hand to forestall him. “Please let me finish. Now after studying the
problem with our defence ministry, they see a few options. Don’t worry, this
was done in complete secrecy. We can upgrade some of our older patrol boats and
surface to air systems. We can pretend they were scrapped when replaced with
the newer systems we buy from the Russians. We would expect not to be out of
pocket on these upgrades.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael’s turn to contemplate. It wasn’t as good
as he’d hoped, but neither was it as bad as he feared. “I’d like to see a list
of the inventory we would gain from that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Of course Mr Richards. First let us discuss
terms. Rather than a simple return on our investment, we want something more.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“More in what way?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We want to become full partners in this venture.
We want to benefit from the new technology from this deal. We also want to join
the consortium to help our businesses expand into space. Finally we also want
you to use your influence to help us enter the African markets. It’s time the
League entered the wider world again and you will help us do that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well that seems achievable, you are asking a lot,
especially as you are not able to provide everything we need.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I can help you with that. What if we increased
the financial investment? Some of it would be counted towards the cost of the
naval and air defence upgrades. I can also put you in touch with a useful
Russian contact. The Russians are past masters at selling weapons without
others knowing. I can assure you they will help make up the shortfall. For a
price of course.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Samir, I think we might have a deal.”</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-78659339811469430432012-05-07T12:37:00.002+01:002012-05-07T12:37:18.129+01:00Chapter 17 - November 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020731125.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [247] [009] [+/- 13%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 53962642 [+/- 9%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 116403895260 [+/- 14%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 753 [+/- 11%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 4 [+/- 6%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: Sedna</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Colony Base, the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“Are you certain?” Michael Richards asked. Jacob
sat opposite him, he looked tired, very tired. He’d spent the past week
investigating the near miss at the shipyard. A long sleepless week in which he
had determined that the event was not natural occurrence. It was a deliberate
attack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’m certain.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Thankfully the attack hadn’t caused any deaths
beyond those of the brave freighter crew. A few small chunks hit the station,
the holes quickly patched. The shipyard back up and running again in a few
hours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Two things indicate that the attack was
deliberate. First is the shroud that concealed the asteroid’s approach. We were
able to retrieve some of the material. It’s a radar absorbent smart material.
It’s able to adapt its temperature to the ambient temperature around it. It
also adapts its surface in a chameleon like fashion.” He paused. “If we hadn’t
been running the sparkle dust test at the right time...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded, they had been lucky. “Do you know
who made the shroud?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Unfortunately not. There’s nothing unique about
the technology, although it has been used in a novel way. It could have been
made in Europe, America, anywhere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“China?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“China, India, Japan. Hell even Indonesia has the
resources to make this stuff. It’s a standard stealth material, used on all
manner of vehicles. It wouldn’t hold up against military grade active sensors,
not at close range anyway. It didn’t need to. This was well planned and
executed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael felt weary himself. He took a moment to
compose his thoughts. It had to be China, nothing else would make sense.
Without proof nothing could be done. Even with proof what options were there?
The LMC might be one of the most powerful corporations in the world, but China
was the superpower. Not only that, it was the leader amongst an alliance of
super powers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You said there were two indications?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes, we were fortunate to find it. One of the asteroid
fragments that hit the shipyard has a groove along its length. The groove is
microscopic, but caught the light in a way that interested the repair crew. An
industrial forensics team examined it. It’s a micro-fracture. The straightness
of it indicates it was created by a tunnelling robot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob rubbed a hand across his face. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I ordered one of the tugs to examine further
fragments, some of the smaller ones captured by the Moon’s gravity. One of them
had the same groove. Somebody broke that asteroid apart.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Most likely to increase the probability of a hit.
It would also spread the damage across a wider area, although with an object
that massive, it would be overkill. Only I think something went wrong. They
didn’t get the spread they wanted. That and the quick action of the crew of
Mary’s Jest saved the station.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded. “Is there any way to trace who did this?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob shook his head. “Nothing concrete. But
coupled with the build-up of Asian Alliance military assets at L1 Station and
Mars, it has to be the Chinese and their friends.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why the sudden escalation?” As soon as he asked
the question he knew the answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They see us the weak point. “ Jacob replied. “To
take direct action against the UNOC would risk war. I don’t think they want
open conflict yet. Without our ships there will be no trade. What worries me is
that if they knew what you are planning they’ll escalate even further.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Further? You mean an overt assault?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why not? Who would stop them? The UNOC?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded again, this wasn’t good. “So what
do we do?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We need to prepare.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Prepare how?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ve had legal look into it. We should beef up
our physical security. Not just the bases, but our ships as well.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You want to arm our ships?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes. As I said, I’ve had legal look into it.
There are no laws against arming ships. There are restrictions on specific
weapons, but we would have trouble getting hold of those. We already have point
defences on the stations for meteor defence. We can use the same justification
for doing the same with the ships.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why would we need justification?” Michael asked.
The question was really to buy time for him to think. He ran a business and yes
that involved a certain amount of security work. Especially when working in
countries like South Africa where violence was commonplace. He wasn’t quite
ready to become commander in chief for a new space fleet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob could see the concern on his boss’ face. He
understood the dilemma. “We don’t want to warn the Alliance that we’re arming
against them. Defending our bases is one thing, but when we head to Mars the
Chinese will already be there, we may have to fight them. In fact I believe we’re
going to have to. Everything points to the Asian Alliance preparing to stop the
alien trade at any cost.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Christ.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Indeed. Not only do we need to arm, we need to do
it without the Chinese or their allies finding out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How do we do that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“I’m not sure. Yet. The meteor defence will get us
started, but we’ll only be able to get point defence systems like the DEWs. We
need to find allies who aren’t reliant on the Asian Alliance. I have a few
ideas where we can start.”</div>
<h2>
Gateway Station, Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller paced back and forth in his office,
or rather he drifted back and forth in his office. Since construction began on
Paladin he had spent more time than ever up here on the station. Slowly he got
used to the micro-gravity. Now he no longer stuck to the magnetized pathways,
he flew through the zero gravity like the rest of the crew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
On an impulse he’d called his daughters, invited
them up here. With his rank he had access to the VIP shuttles, they could fly up
in style. His ex-wife put a block for the youngest, stating it was too
dangerous. He argued, space travel is safer statistically than crossing the
street. She would have none of it. The oldest had better things to do than go
into space. It wasn’t cool enough for her to waste her time on. He’d been disappointed,
but at least the same VIP shuttle meant he could fly to the US and see his
youngest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He ceased his drifting and contemplated the
viewscreen. In the distance he could see Paladin hulking shape. It was still
far from completion, but the form was clearly that of a warship. Unlike the
sleek ships used by the world’s navies, she reminded him of the giant warships
from the 20<sup>th</sup> century. On the planet’s surface, all but the largest
carriers and amphibious assault ships were designed for low observability. Graceful
lines and low to the water, with Paladin’s large size, the tricks to defeat active
sensors wouldn’t work. Instead she would rely on firepower, armour and active
electronic defences for her security. Just like those ancient warships that
once ruled the seas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The bulk of her armour was obvious even at this
distance. Her weapons weren’t installed yet, but they would be soon. In a few
short months the ship would be combat ready. Fuller hoped she wouldn’t be
needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The problem he faced now was the crew. The UNOC
officers were progressing well through their training. Their basic familiarity
training now complete. The logistics and research teams next created exercise
programs to test their responses. Recently political pressure began mounting to
make the observers more integral to the mission. The pressure this time came
from the Americans and the Europeans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Offline his old friend Mike Davis had talked to
him about their concerns. They were concerned about the Chinese and Indians
subverting the mission, to force a confrontation with the aliens. They wanted
to make sure their officers had some say in the command process, to forestall
any subversion attempt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller resisted the pressure, the ship had to
remain under UNOC command. It did feel strange to have the Chinese, Indians and
Japanese fighting in his corner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Especially when you considered the latest
telemetry from the drone he sent to Mars. He scanned through the data again now.
It was a perfect match to the data being sent from the two Mars orbiters.
Somehow the Chinese had subverted the drone and now fed him false data. Fuller
needed to know what the Chinese were up to at Mars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He remembered the Russian mass driver experiments
out at their asteroid base. They should be able to launch a drone without and
exhaust trail for the Chinese to track. A drone’s mass should be low enough
that the mass driver would be able to send it to Mars as quick as an ion drive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
He connected to the Russian base, he would speak to
Dimitri. Dimitri owed him a favour from long ago, it was time to call that favour
in.</div>
<h2>
L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The failed attack on the shipyard sparked an
inquiry. Hui had been summoned to Beijing to discuss what had gone wrong. Eventually
the board determined that the LMC had been lucky. The operation proceeded as
planned, the intervention of the freighter had been unfortunate. A new attack
would be planned, along a different axis. No recording of failure had been
attached to Hui’s record, but she couldn’t help but feel that failure now
following her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She immersed herself in the ship systems. The ship
was much smaller than the Long March. This time she let the pilot do her job
and only observed as the resupply ship exited its construction bay. The
enormous bay dwarfed the vessel and it was an easy task for the pilot to leave
and head into deep space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui kept a close eye on the systems, but the crew knew
their tasks. She performed another check on the inventory. Originally the ship
was intended to transport the bulk of the weaponry to arm the Long March and
Mars Station. Another failure, this time with the robotic mines meant that the
Mars Station couldn’t mine its own water and metal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
So instead of weapons and ammunition, the first
resupply ship was laden with water, metal plating and perishables for the crew.
On the plus side they did have a dozen heavy rail guns in the cargo hold. They
also had two of the new combat shuttles, with crews and maintenance. Along with
twenty combat drones they would help expand the operational strike radius of
the Mars beachhead.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-17980417876957903102012-05-02T19:53:00.004+01:002012-05-02T19:53:42.687+01:00Chapter 16 - October 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020731025.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [246] [007] [+/- 14%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 64755171 [+/- 10%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 155256997817 [+/- 15%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 780 [+/- 12%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 6 [+/- 7%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
UNOC Research Facility, near Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“The aliens launched from their home world around
five thousand years ago. They have been travelling outward along the Orion spur
of the Sagittarius arm of our galaxy ever since.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A new package arrived from the aliens yesterday.
With their improving knowledge of the VM, the research team quickly integrated
the new data. Doctor Samir now conducted a show and tell, not just for General
Fuller, but the visiting representatives from the Security Council as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Behind Doctor Samir a map of the galaxy
highlighted an offshoot from one of the spiral arms. A short distance away from
the highlighted area the position of the Solar System was also highlighted. It
looked such a short distance on the projection. Fuller knew from the earlier
briefing on the same topic that short distance represented some four hundred
light years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They haven’t provided any details of their home
world. They seem to be shy in providing location data.” I would be too, thought
Fuller. “We have learned a little bit more about them. They remain in continued
contact with their home world. The transfers of information the refer to
indicate they have some form of faster than light communication.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Mike Davis, Fuller’s old friend from the
USAF, interrupted the briefing. “How certain are you of that? Are there any
details of how they manage it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“For the first question, we’ve inferred it from
other information they have provided. Some of them are scientific discussions
between the travellers and their planet. The nature of these conversations are
almost conversational, certainly not ones that could be conducted with signal
lag of years.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So there’s no actual evidence?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not as such, no. We will be trying to clarify
this with our next response. With the reduced signal lag, it’s becoming much
easier to add follow up queries.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The General nodded and Fuller silently agreed.
Even just within the Solar System, instantaneous communication would be an
immense boon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We have also learned that the aliens have
encountered three other species capable of space flight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This caused a slight stir amongst the audience. “Do
they where these other aliens are situated?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No. As I say, they seem to prefer to keep locational
data to themselves. In fact, one of the points they made clear in their early
communications, was they would keep information about us, especially our
location confidential. It seems they are very aware of the fear first contact
can engender.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller heard the barely audible snort from General
Po Ling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s partly this and the other measures they take
to try and ensure a smooth first contact that leads us to believe that they
have some method for communicating between ships and their home planet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ships? There are more than one of these alien
ships out there?” Po Ling did not seem happy at this thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Almost certainly.” Samir answered oblivious to
the General’s tone. “The history they have shared with us so far does indicate
that other ships travelled outward and inward along the spiral arm.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As I say, details on these other voyages are
scant.” With a tiny gesture the view focused on a smaller area of the spiral
arm. “However we have managed to piece together some information about this
ship’s travels. We’ve had to make some guesses to fill in the blanks, but they
seem reasonable based on the data we have.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They’ve been travelling outwards along the Orion
spur. Analysing the data we’ve collected on their ship we’ve established that
their best speed is just under twenty percent the speed of light.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Mike Davis whistled appreciatively.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“However, we don’t think their basic drive
technology is that different from our own.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That caused some surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What makes you think that?” A question from General
Falak Chandar , the Indian representative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Their shopping list. Helium-3 is by far the
biggest thing they have asked for. That indicates it’s a consumable. The only
use we can think of that would require large amounts would be as a fuel source.
Our fusion drives already achieve about eighty percent efficiency from the same
fuel. Looking at the quantities they’ve requested and the distances they’ve
travelled, they’re attaining better efficiency, but not by much.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Chander looked like he was about to ask
another question, but Samir spoke beat him to it. “What they do seem to have is
much better materials technology. They seem to be able to burn their drives for
longer time periods than we can. We think they can run them continuously for
years. It takes them probably about three years to reach maximum speed, burning
nearly half their fuel.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This time Chander managed to interrupt. “Why are
you so certain?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Three years is how long it’s taking them to
perform the braking manoeuvre to reach Mars.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“This is interesting information, but what does it
give us?” Mike Davis asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Two of the technologies they have offered us are
high energy resistant materials and autonomous repair agents,”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Fuller guessed what his old friend didn’t.
“With those we’d be capable of interstellar travel ourselves. Within a
reasonable time frame.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Samir nodded.</div>
<h2>
UNOC recon drone, approaching Mars</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The drone’s brain was relatively uncomplicated. It
lacked some of the enhanced features of the expert systems found in larger
ships and installations. It didn’t really need them, its task was simple. It
had to travel to the designated target, then sit silently gathering
information. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In an attempt to approach Mars stealthily it shut
down its ion drive when it reached the halfway point. As it coasted along it carefully didn’t
transmit any radiation at all. With its engine shut down, its heat signature
barely registered above the cold vacuum of space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unfortunately its subterfuge was in vain. The
bright track of its launch gave away its destination to watching sensors back
on Earth. A coded message travelled the distance weeks before the drone
arrived. Unable to use the active sensors that would give away its position, it
had no idea that an equally silent Chinese drone waited in high orbit and
drifted closer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The drone was American made. Not the best in their
arsenal, but the best they offered for export. The Americans recently developed
a new cyber defence. This new defence might have saved the drone from its fate,
but the Americans couldn’t risk sharing this technology with the UN.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
An intense microwave burst swept over its body. It
examined the new signal. A standard analysis indicated that while strong, this
beam was a tracking radar and not sufficiently powerful to detect it. The internal reaction to the sudden spike then
calmed and it resumed its silent watching and listening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It didn’t realise that the burst wasn’t really a
radar sweep. This signal actually contained a code. The burst overwrote its
secure memory. This memory held its self-check state used for checking its
system integrity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With the new technology this wouldn’t have been a
problem. The secure memory would be hard wired. Every chip grown uniquely for
each drone. The circuit created would be
so small even a nano-bot intrusion couldn’t alter it without breaking the
delicate wiring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Several milliseconds later the UNCO drone next executed
its self-diagnostics. It did this several times a second to ensure that its
systems had not been penetrated. This time it wasn’t the diagnostics routine
that started, but the violating code. The code opened a new communication
pathway, a line of sight laser link to the Chinese drone nearby. It didn’t know
that it had been enslaved to a new master.</div>
<h2>
LMC Shipyard, Luna orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Sparkle Dust was one of Jacob Manning’s pet
projects. Stealth in space was actually pretty difficult, especially for
vessels that had to provide life support. The heat generated was too difficult
to hide, especially against the cold background of space. Similarly all but the
weakest of drive systems emitted too much radiation to remain hidden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Robot drones and probes were another matter. With
their low power requirements they could conceal themselves easily in the cold
darkness. There engines would still give them away if used, but the lower mass
meant less powerful engines can be used. If the initial launch was masked in
some way they could be next to impossible to detect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The idea came to him while staring at a cloud. It
always amused him at how contrived that sounded but it was true. He’d been
staring out of the window while waiting for a meeting at the company
headquarters. A passenger shuttle flew through the clouds, disrupting the
vapour as it passed through. From that the idea was so simple it was almost
elegant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Except that it didn’t work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His original idea was to create clouds of dust
around sensitive targets. Early simulations showed that this wouldn’t detect
the smaller drones. They could still slip through a cloud, barely causing a
ripple. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The evolution of the idea came from one of the
engineers, himself now working on the alien project. Instead of dust he
suggested tiny robots. These robots with needed two simple components: a micro-scale
piezoelectric motor wrapped with a pressure switch. When touched the robot
would spark, consuming itself in the process, but in doing so creating a burst
of light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The amount of light was relatively small, but as
an object passed through the swarm the robots would spark in a pattern
revealing the shape of the object and its course. Sensitive optical sensors
could easily map the sparkle pattern.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The project reached the testing phase. Pure fluke
had put the test at the shipyard rather than the originally planned, and more
discrete asteroid base. At midday the swarm deployed into high Luna orbit. Soon
it moved in parallel with the shipyard’s own orbit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In his office Jacob observed the test from a
virtuality created in real time from the shipyard’s sensors and the satellites
launched for extra coverage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Everything started well.. The swarm barely
registered on the radar, a secret cloak to counter hidden drones. The test
drone launched from the shipyard, it would orbit once around the Moon and then enter
the swarm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob waited patiently for the orbit to complete.
He allowed himself to be distracted by a report about UNOC security
preparations for their trade mission. His distraction lasted only a moment. A
sudden bright flare snatched his attention. He looked at the light, cascading
data showed it was the same position as the sparkle dust swarm. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His first thought was that the test had failed,
that there was some fault.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Seconds passed and the flare began to assume a
definite form. At first he thought that it looked like a crumpled heat shield.
Then he realised the shape was moving.
Amazed, but not yet alarmed, Jacob watched the shape. It didn’t seem able to
hold its structure. Almost like a sheet in the rain. When he realised the shape
was heading for the shipyard he felt alarmed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
New vague shapes appeared in his view from behind the
fading shroud. The sparkle swarm had burned most of it substance, only a few
remained to provide brief glimpses of these new objects. The system lacked the
data to identify the new targets. Their speed was high. Their course uncertain,
but it calculated a high probability that the shipyard would be hit within
minutes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Only now did the shipyard’s command crew realised
the threat. They broadcasted emergency
messages to all nearby traffic. They initiated the collision alarm protocol. Bright
spots flickered into life across the station’s surface as the point defence
systems powered up. As they activated strobes of laser and maser targeting
systems began sweeping the volume around the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It looked impressive. In the virtuality it was if
the shipyard itself had come to life and now celebrated with a spectacular
light show. The reality was that these point defences were designed to handle
minor meteor threats. The computer now identified the incoming objects as
massive asteroid fragments. It also asserted that they were rocky, rather than
metallic. That provided no comfort. A million tons of anything would smash the
station to pieces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The data construct representing the shipyard
pulsed with the strident alarms. Images from the internal camera feeds showed
the shipyard crew and workers rushing to shelters. Their movements hurried, but
disciplined. Regular safety and evacuation drills honing their reactions.
Throughout the station internal blast partitions and emergency seals cut the
passageways into separate sections. If there was a hull breach then the station
would not lose all of its atmosphere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob looked at the first rock. It was by far the
largest of the fragments. Half a mile in width. A hull breach would be least of
their problems.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The only nearby ship was the “Mary’s Jest”, one of
Pa Jackman’s fleet. It was heading to the station for a refit before its
transfer to the UNOC. Its main drive blossomed with fierce heat as the ship
changed course. The ship’s navigation computer transmitted its new flight path.
The pilot was trying to intercept the plummeting mountain. Jacon scanned the
course details, checking the impact estimates. The time estimates were close.
Too close.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The ship’s drive unleashed furious energies,
almost blinding to look at. The output was way beyond certified safety limits.
It picked up speed, but it turned too slowly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The computer announced some good news. The cluster
was tightly grouped. The suicidal charge of Mary’s Jest might be enough, if it
could turn in time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He focussed on the freighter. From its shape he recognised
it as a water tanker. The tanks would be empty, but even empty they would be
pressurised with inert gas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Maybe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
There wasn’t enough time to follow command
protocol. He cast a voice message to the ship’s captain to warn him what he was
about to do. He seized control over the
nearest DEW turret. His own command profile granted him instant access. Overriding
its safety controls he targeted one of the giant bulk tanks on the far side of
the ship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The ship’s captain tersely acknowledged his
message as Jacob fired the particle beam.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The energy lanced into the tank, taking an
agonising second to cut through the reinforced skin. It burned a small hole,
through which the inert gas erupted. The gas pushed the ship sideways, forcing
it into the lead rock’s path.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The ship smashed into the tumbling rock. There was
no explosion. The ship’s front crumpled as it collided, disappearing into a
cloud of debris . The engines kept pushing the dying ship into the surface
which rippled under the impact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The rock’s spin increased. Jacob monitored the
path of the rocks. No change. The first rock spun into the rock behind it. A
new collision with a vast explosion of fragments. Both rocks slowed
imperceptibly. The computer noted the tiny differential. The remaining rocks smashed
into the two in front. The computer adjusted the predicted paths. It was
working. The big chunks would fly past the shipyard. Smaller fragments would
reach the shipyard, but most of them would be vaporised by the DEWs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob scanned the new chaos of debris, searching
for an escape pod. Hoping he would find it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">He
didn’t.</span><br />Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-77728587053128148502012-04-29T14:01:00.001+01:002012-04-29T14:01:03.278+01:00Chapter 15 - September 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730925.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [248] [006] [+/- 15%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 75547699 [+/- 11%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 201880720885 [+/- 16%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 813 [+/- 14%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 8 [+/- 8%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Shuttle Shenfeng, beyond Luna orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Hui adjusted the attitude of the shuttle. Unable to
use the fusion drive for fear of detection, she had to use the compressed gas
thrusters. These provided enough thrust for manoeuvring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This was one of new combat shuttles fresh from the
assembly lines planetside. As with all pilots she experienced a thrill when
flying any new craft. This new model was based on the same transport shuttle
she’d flown countless times between L1 Station and Earth. Although it did lack
the extended range of the specially modified Zheng Fe. That meant that it already
felt familiar to her as she sat in the pilot’s chair and first powered up the
systems.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The shuttle might have felt the same at first, but
this craft had teeth. In conformal weapons pod beneath the wings and fuselage
multi-role missiles awaited her command. The targeting systems integrated with
her implants, anything she could perceive with her own senses, or those of the
shuttle or any networked sensor could be used to target the missiles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Under the nose a fixed line rail gun could spit
hardened projectiles at a velocity it would take her fusion drive a year to
reach. Above and below the fuselage, behind the cockpit DEW pods provided point
defences against incoming missiles as well as additional light strike
capability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The shuttle’s skin also differed from the old
model. The state of the art stealth covering gave the ship an insectoid look.
Black and menacing. The absorbent skin could soak up the energies of most
active scanners. Augmenting this passive system an active electronic warfare
and stealth system provided additional counter measures aginst detection.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The first of its kind, and now was flying it on
its first combat mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui thought back
to the days of briefings. They had become almost routine on her visit to
Earth. From early in the morning until late at night she provided endless status
reports to a variety of officers and officials from high command. The constant
reviews and adjustments for logistics and plans began to numb her, making that
final meeting all the more surprising.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In this meeting the attendants were brass heavy.
Not only General Po Ling, but the Head of the Air Force, and even the Defence
Minister all waited for her. This meeting changed the whole complexion of the
mission. A new phase in the operation would begin. This change brought her
here, on course to a commercially worthless lump of rock, drifting through
interplanetary space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The High Command and Ruling Committee decided that
a more active campaign to prevent the trade was needed. This new campaign would
need to be covert. Open conflict with the UN wasn’t a desired outcome, they
said. Not yet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They determined the weak spot as the Luna Mining
Corporation. Their shipyard enabled directly and indirectly the trade mission
as well as threatening the Asian Alliance’s expansion into space. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The plan they described was simple. Knock one of
the smaller rock asteroids into a Luna intercept course. Split the massive rock
into smaller fragments, then watch as they smashed into the LMC shipyard. Even
partial damage would slow the LMC production hampering theirs, and the UN’s
plans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
While it looked simple in the presentation with
its elegant graphics, the actual implementation was another matter. The first
part of the plan had already been started before Hui had been briefed. A robot
drone intercepted the asteroid. Microscopic robots then tunnelled into the rock.
The robots had two objectives. The first to create a shaft to the centre of the
asteroid, down which an explosive charge would be placed. The secondary
objective created tiny hairline fissures throughout the asteroid, when the
charge exploded they would guide the force ensuring fragmentation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Moving the asteroid into a new orbit proved more
problematic. The usual methods of attaching fusion drives or detonating a large
nearby explosion were far too noticeable. Deep space tracking systems would
spot the activity and the LMC would have plenty of warning and so be able to
prevent or minimise the attack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Thankfully the Russians provided the solution,
although they weren’t aware of it. The Mig-Sukhoi corporation’s experiments
with mass drivers provided a stealthy mechanism for accelerating the asteroid
into a new course. According to the data stolen by the cyber-espionage teams
the system had never been tested on an object so large. It was really designed
for launching cargo pods at high velocities. Simulations had shown that the
technology could be adapted to make a smaller velocity change to a much larger
object. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui adjusted the shuttle’s course again. The
journey here had taken four days, they drifted along unable to use the
shuttle’s main drive. The initial burn masked by an old Indian freighter
following a parallel course.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The mission also operated under full electronic emission
controls, so no communications with home where allowed. Silently they drifted
through the dark, now they now reached their target. The asteroid was dark,
reflecting little of the Sun’s light. Even with her enhanced vision it was
difficult to see. Only the slowly spinning bulk as it obscured the stars behind
it gave any visual indication of its presence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She checked the electronic threat indicators. Only
the deep space tracking radar showed on the board. Out here the strength of the
radar is too low to detect the shuttle. Even the huge lump of rock would barely
register at this range. Using just the compressed gas jets she manoeuvred the
shuttle above the asteroid. Once in position she sent a message to the marine
engineering squad assembled in the cargo bay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re in position. You are go to deploy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She opened the cargo bay door. Without active
sensors her enhanced view lacked the clarity she was used to. It didn’t feel
right not having that extra awareness. Beside her the co-pilot focused on the
volume of space around them. The shuttle’s computer did the same without pause,
but an extra pair of eyes watching for danger provided some reassurance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The engineers drifted out of the shuttle, tiny
against the indistinct form of the asteroid. The first dropped towards the
asteroid. He would access the robot drone directly, make sure that the
tunnelling was progressing on schedule.
Once he completed the checks he would return to the shuttle, collect the
explosive charge then drop it down the tunnel. His final task would be to
hammer magnetized blocks across the surface of the asteroid. Along with the low
latent magnetic field this would provide something for the accelerator to grip
to and push the asteroid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The rest of the team unfurled what looked like a
large black cloth. It wasn’t really cloth, but a smart material designed to
absorb radar energy. Once fully unfurled it stretched over a mile in each
direction. Small magnetised blocks attached along its outside edge would allow
it to be accelerated in front of the asteroid. It would then shroud the
asteroid from detection until it was too close to the target for LMC to react.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Once the shroud was in place they pulled the
accelerator from the shuttle. It had been modified heavily from the original
Russian design. Long strips slotted together forming a cage that enclosed the
asteroid in a tunnel. The acceleration cage took twelve long hours to
construct. Adding the impulse units along the tunnel’s length took another
four. Exhausted the team returned to the shuttle. Four fusion generators would
provide the energy required to launch the three objects.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui nudged the shuttle behind the asteroid, out of
the enclosing cage. First the accelerator launched the shroud. In sequence from
back to front the impulse units activated pushing against the magnetised
blocks. The shroud then quickly accelerated into space. All parameters looked
nominal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Next the asteroid was propulsed through the cage.
Three of the fusion generators drained their energy output within minutes. Over
a million tons of asteroid slowly gained momentum. The velocity change was tiny,
but it should be enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
She waited an hour then flew the shuttle into the
cage. The propulsers triggered a final time and launched the shuttle stealthily
back towards Earth orbit. As the shuttle
passed the asteroid the timer on the cage activated the nano-bots that
immediately began eating into the framework, reducing the complex apparatus to
dust.</div>
<h2>
LMC Shipyard, Luna orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The first vessel from the upgraded shipyard nosed
its way slowly out of the construction bay. The assembled construction crew
watched in silence as the fledgling ship crept from its nest. Michael Richards
watched from amongst the crowd, his customary place on the podium now occupied
by one of the security team. Everyone on the station, except those needed for
the actual launch crowded together to watch the event.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d originally intended to present a speech to
the team. Once he’d arrived, flanked by Jacob and his security team he changed
his mind. This was a major milestone for the company, and he wanted to
celebrate that. Being here with the workers that had pushed themselves with
double shifts made him realise the celebration should be for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A loud cheer shattered the quiet, heralding the
vessel’s exit from the shipyard. This ship would take its first voyage to the Stellar
Collector Corporation’s asteroid mining base. This new freighter would be the
first of Pa Jackman’s new fleet. His old ships, as they are replaced will then
be transferred to the UNOC. It wasn’t one of the new mega-freighters, the vast
bulk of one still under construction could be seen in shadow behind the station
on the giant viewscreens. Even so, this new freighter still represented a
significant upgrade for the old man. Within the next two weeks another vessel
would leave this station and join its sister ship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As the cheers died down Michael turned to the
workers near him. He refrained from the rough back slapping, but he did take
their hands, shaking them vigorously, a large smile spread across his face. He
worked his way through the throng, his facial recognition system providing
names for every person he greeted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The company rule for no alcohol allowed on active
shifts had been relaxed for this occasion. He’d brought pouches of champagne
for everyone, these were now handed out and the cheers resumed. He didn’t
manage to greet everyone personally, but he covered most of the two hundred
people present. Another happy roar resounded as he announced that the day’s
shifts would be cancelled. A day off for everyone.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-74087620092267386632012-04-24T20:09:00.002+01:002012-04-24T20:09:22.727+01:00Chapter 14 - August 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730825.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [246] [007] [+/- 16%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 86340228 [+/- 12%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 256275064465 [+/- 17%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 842 [+/- 15%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 10 [+/- 9%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The familiar sight of the station slowly grew
larger in her visual sensors. It wasn’t yet visible with the naked eye, but the
spark of its electronic life provided a beacon. It felt good to be back. Hui
enjoyed the relative solitude of the shuttle’s journey from Mars, the small
crew kept to themselves for most of the journey. Although even she looked
forward to stretching her legs in something larger than the shuttle’s cargo
bay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The view of station differed greatly from when she
had left, nearly six months ago. The bay in which the Long March had been
constructed was now partially filled with the first resupply ship. She examined
a close-up of the new ship. In less than three months this vessel would launch,
carrying much needed supplies and munitions to the fledgling Mars station. It
would also carry the first Chinese armed shuttles, themselves being rushed into
production. Once again Hui would be on the bridge, returning to Mars once
again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She had two more such journeys to make. The
thought wearied her. At first it seemed like a pleasant diversion, but even her
desire for solitude had its limits. Such thoughts had been banished by a
surprise communication from General Po Long. In a formal statement he informed
her that the honour of recommending the name of the new vessel would be hers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The very thought filler her with pride. The CNSA
could choose to ignore her recommendation, although that had never happened.
Hui had spent much of her off hours on the flight back trying to think of a
suitable name. The task proved more difficult than she thought. Her first
instinct had been something to honour her brother. She’d chided herself for
that, for this great enterprise something monumental was needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She’d have to decide soon. CNSA command expected
her planet-side in two days time. She anticipated several days of endless
briefings. At least she would be able to visit her family. The thought of that
warmed her more than the honour of naming the ship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Only a small course correction was required for
the final approach. In her augmented view the shuttle lay centred on the
approach vector. She nodded to herself in satisfaction. Despite the vast
computing power available to her, there was always a satisfaction in doing
things for herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Closer now
she could see the second ship, this one on the other side of the station. This
ship was smaller, uglier than the re-supply vessel. She recognized its form as
a deep space transport. This class modelled on the same lines as the NASA/ESA
light freighters. The Chinese version was superior, with both increased cargo
capacity and more powerful engines. She remembered these squat vessels with
some fondness. Her first tour in space had been as a navigation officer on one
of these ships.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The new course also brought the vast solar sail
into view. The sail seemed still, yet she could see that it was being shaped by
pressure from the solar wind. Its primary purpose was hiding the construction
happening here at the station. It effectively blocked the view of the station
both from Earth and the Moon. It was however, a real experiment as well. Solar
Sails had been used on a few planetary probes, mostly to the outer Solar System.
They provided a cheap method of propulsion, but so far only for low mass probes
and long range drones. This new experiment intended to see if the sails could
be scaled up for larger masses, where speed wasn’t of the essence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The massive sail did have one drawback. It
completely obscured the view of Earth from the station. A view she often liked
to contemplate. Her implants could compensate for the blocked view, but it
didn’t feel the same. It also shrouded the station itself in shadow, giving it
a menacing, more angular look. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Just a trick of the light. She shrugged then responded
to L1 Station’s traffic control. She slipped easily into the familiar routine. Altered
view or not, it felt good to be home again.</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg </h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael realised that his reaction to Rachel’s near-miss
wasn’t helping. He wished he could moderate this feeling. In all his life he’d
never felt this irrational. The time since Rachel returning home hadn’t gone
well. An understatement if ever there was one. Throughout their marriage they
argued only rarely, that changed since the explosion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His irritation from the latest argument disturbed
his focus as he delved into the datascape. This datascape lacked the elegance
of the alien virtual machine, but was complex enough in its own right. Unlike
the alien VM, this was a complexity he understood . This was his finances, the
data for his personal and corporate wealth, all modelled for the past, present
and future. For once, it was not giving him the answers he wanted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Since the success of the combined intervention in
Kenya, both Rachel and he wanted to apply the same model here in South Africa.
Negotiations progressed slowly with key politicians and business leaders throughout
the country. In recent months, the assistance of Monica Abbots, herself well
respected throughout the political body helped to advance this agenda.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The LMC would be the major partner in this
venture, along with several other major corporations. With Rachel’s own
contacts and that of the government they had been working together with a planned
convergence sometime within the next five years. A key difference from the
Kenya operation was the lack of United Nations support. South Africa had
problems, none of them serious enough for the UN to intervene directly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They’d tried the African Union, but lacked the
resources to help as well. They were already stretched by peace enforcement
operations across Central Africa. At least they would offer some political
support, if nothing substantial. South Africa would have to solve this problem
alone, with corporate help. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The plan, after surviving many fits and starts,
slowly came together. A single bomb blast changed everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The change wasn’t Rachel, she remained keen to go
back to her work. Not just fundraising as Michael would have preferred, but
street aid as well. That was too much for him, he insisted that it wasn’t safe.
He was right, but he also knew he was wrong. She tried to be reasonable with
him. She would take extra security with her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d dismissed the idea. Increasing her security
detail would help, but wouldn’t guarantee her safety. She responded that was
always the case. But why take the risk again? He’d let the anger get the better
of him. Would he give up his work because of a threat? He knew he wouldn’t and
he knew he was being unreasonable expecting that from Rachel. Besides, on this
occasion it had been corrupt police who had been the attackers. He continued
the argument, trying to force her with the force of will. Open warfare between
his private security forces and the police would not help the cause at all. Not
unless his forces were part of a wider solution. On this point she conceded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
There, for now, they had left the argument, but it
would soon boil into life again. Was there a way of bringing real safety to the
streets of the townships?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Boots on the ground were not a problem, in theory
anyway. Over the past two years he and Jacob worked closely with a European
PMC, they’d drawn up a plan for a country wide intervention. They had the
forces to do it. Alongside a purge of most of the corrupt officers in the
police should help stabilise the situation on the streets. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
There was even a plan to bring some of the gangs
into the solution. Some of the gangs existed to provide protection for their
communities. With training and assistance they could be a valuable asset.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The real problem showed in the data that flowed
around him. The alien contact provided a golden opportunity to be sure, but it
was a costly venture. The rewards for which would be in the long term. In the
short term he was haemorrhaging money. To attempt this social intervention at
the same time would be financial suicide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Rachel would understand, he knew she would. She
would also go back to her projects, to stop that would destroy their marriage.
That thought wiped the irritation from his mind. There would be a way. He just
needed to think.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The solution was simple, dangerously so. He needed
to spread the risks he was taking. He needed to encourage others to invest.
That would reduce his own costs. Unfortunately implementing such a strategy wouldn’t
be so simple. Adding investors to the intervention simply wouldn’t work. There
were too many delicate sensibilities involved. To get where they were now had
taken a tremendous amount of negotiation. Adding someone knew to mix could
break the fragile alliance. He also knew all too well the government couldn’t
afford to spend more on the project.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
The alien venture though. That had more potential. It
wouldn’t require too much funding. The difficulty here was maintaining secrecy.
He expanded the model as he included new data. There was much to consider.</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Colony Base, the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Jacob Manning relaxed in his access pod, the relief
immediate. His limbs still ached from the recent visit to Earth. Everyday he
spent an hour a day in the gym. He exercised not just to remain in fit
condition, but to counter-balance the debilitating effects of spending most of
his time in low gravity. Unlike the early astronauts they also had chemical and
nano-bot supplements that helped combat the bone and tissue degradation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He really should try and spend more time on Earth
as well. Supplements and gym time were no substitute for actually living in
full gravity. These days it seemed that it took an emergency or meeting a
contact that could only be done in person to get him away from the Moon base.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He liked to be busy, but the past few months
proved difficult. There was no easy time in sight either. The recent security
scares and expanded operations stretched Jacob and his team to the limit.
Various private military contractors helped carry the load for some of the low
level work. But there are some things only he could do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
One of those things had necessitated his trip to
Earth. On the face of it an overnight visit to one of the cruise liners that sailed
in international waters. These floating palaces provided the ultimate luxury
for the very wealthy. Or even just the well connected. Thanks to loopholes in maritime law any vice
could be indulged safely, without fear of interruption or embarrassment on these
vessels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A promising communication from one of his contacts
enticed him to one of these ships as it sailed around the South China Sea.
Concealed amongst a multitude of businessmen and rich playboys he met with his
contact. The contact was a low grade officer in the Indian air force. She was
bitter from many years of being overlooked for promotion and now just sought
funds for her retirement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The intelligence she had to pass along was a huge
mass of data, covering the Indian shuttle ferry missions to L1 station. The
high price Jacob paid for this information was already paying dividends. It formed
the piece of the puzzle he needed to clarify that itching feeling he’d
experienced for the past few weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It was here, in his private datascape that he
assembled the puzzle. He was not alone, he had some help. An expert system of
his own devising, one he constantly tweaked and improved provided substantial
data analysis. Like the network used to house the alien VM this expert system
lived on its own network. It had no external connections. This private space
was designed for one purpose, to aid Jacob as he planned. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The musings and scenarios contained in this system
could never be allowed to go public. The only way to ensure that was to prevent
any external access. While that made the system more secure, it did have its
downside. The information flow he took for granted with any other system was
not available here. Any new data had to be vetted and then inputted manually,
or at least via a separate secure system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob designed the expert system for one purpose,
to look for connections. A simple task that even after a century of data mining
had not been perfected. He’d started with a commercial indexing system and over
the years built it into a companion. A rapid companion that existed only to
hunt for information and the links between things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now he lay amongst the data, letting the
information surround him. The system went to work, stringing tenous connections
at first. These solidified as the sytem became more certain of its
suppositions. He used his own skills to tweak at those connections, or to add
new ones. Their efforts combined a more comprehensive picture emerged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The first piece of the puzzle had been the
accelerated launch schedule of the Long March mission. Even after the launch
there had been increased traffic to and from L1 station. Something major was
happening out there. Contacts at the UNOC fed other interesting titbits about
the Chinese and their allies. Rumours and hints, frustratingly nothing concrete.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Digging further into the UNOC didn’t reveal much
else. If they knew what the Chinese were up then they were keeping it quiet. These
investigations did lead him to Paladin. While he lacked specifics he discovered
that it was the Plan B if the alien contact went south. For his investigation
it proved a dead end, while the Asian Alliance were involved in the project,
there was something else going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He followed a new trail. This time with the
Security Council. This proved a trickier approach. The contact he had made had
dried up. Again all he could glean where hints and rumours. They made it clear
that the Chinese and their allies were very much against the planned trade with
the aliens. The question now was, what would they do about it? How would they
react if they learned that the LMC planned their own trade?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He pulled back to the data he had. Since their
arrival at Mars they had just sat in orbit. The orbiters already at Mars
detected little activity. Only a single shuttle left the ship and headed back
to Earth. What were the Chinese up to?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The shuttle manifests provided some clarity. The
shipping logs formed a long list of the usual supplies for running a space
station. Some of the cargos less so. Jacob now had evidence that the Chinese
were stockpiling sophisticated weapon systems at L1 station, maybe Mars itself.
Even more concerning is that the manifests also indicated that the Chinese were
building another long-range vessel. Was that destined for Mars too?</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-56582099596548814392012-04-22T17:29:00.000+01:002012-04-22T17:29:01.457+01:00Chapter 13 - July 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730725.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [245] [008] [+/- 17%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 97132756 [+/- 12%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 318440028556 [+/- 17%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 870 [+/- 16%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 12 [+/- 10%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg </h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael Richards engulfed himself in a datascape unlike
any he had ever experienced before. The complexity of it dwarfed even the
international financial models he used. The richness of it beat any game or
simulation he had ever seen. Including some experimental simulations. This was
the VM from the aliens in all its glory. Their response to his contact arrived
and expanded the core VM, into this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It is that VM that he now immersed himself in, or
at least it was a static replication of it. The research team had baked out a
simulation of the virtual machine. This was more a snapshot of the VM, than the
adaptive entity that excited the researchers so much. Michael had insisted on
precautions, and in fairness to the team, they had agreed. Letting the VM loose
on an open network, even a secured one was too much of a risk. At least until
they had more of an understanding of what they were dealing with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael didn’t really comprehend what he was
experiencing. The data formed shapes much too complex to grasp. Occasionally he
glimpsed small pieces of it that made sense, but most of it remained a confused
jumble. He spent a lot of time within virtualities, he was familiar with many
datascapes, but this. This was something new.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Through the UN’s natural language interface the
data became more comprehensible. However, it also seemed to lose layers of
nuance in the translation. This interface did provide him with the salient
facts of the new message. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The aliens would trade with him. They didn’t
mention whether that trade would be shared with the UN. He’d try and find out
with his next reply. They’d also learned that the aliens wanted to learn more
about human social structures. Specifically political decision making processes.
Although it appeared that the aliens had some difficulty understanding the
concept. Or at least they had trouble articulating it. Michael believed his
trade offer had sparked this new interest in the aliens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d tasked the team with finding a way to
interact with the data directly. To try and access the hidden meaning and by
doing that gain a greater understanding of the aliens. He sought some advantage
over the UN in their dealing with the aliens, at the very least it made sense
to try and understand who you are dealing with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael’s ego wasn’t so great that he thought he
would unlock the puzzle himself. He’d already ordered Jacob to move two of the
more imaginative data jockeys from his team to the research team. Maybe a more
intuitive approach would compliment the researchers’ analytical methods. With
all his projects he liked to get a taste for it. To see the shape of it in the
datascape. In its own way the data around him formed a beautiful pattern. He
delved deeper, allowing himself to be swallowed by the datascape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A shrill alarm cut through his reverie. He checked
the source of the call, St Mary’s. He paused the simulation, allowing it to
fade from his focus so he could take the call.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Mr Richards?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Speaking.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Mr Richards, this is the duty Sister at St Mary’s.
I run the ward your wife is on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes.” He knew this. “Is there news?” Please God,
let there be good news. He didn’t attempt to disguise the tremor in his voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Mr Richards, we’d like you to come in to the
hospital. Your wife is awake.”</div>
<h2>
United Nations Security Council, New York</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Another long day of briefings and meetings at the
Security Council. The day wasn’t finished yet and already General Fuller felt
tired. Perhaps weary would be a better description. A headache shrouded his
thoughts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The latest communication from the aliens caused
quite a stir. Never had they been so direct with their questions. They wanted
to know how human society fit together. What was the chain of command for human
decision making. They’d even requested details on specific human organisations.
It was the questions about the United Nations and its role in controlling the
human race that caused the most uproar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As usual it was the Chinese and Indians making the
most noise. Here, they claimed, was proof that the aliens sought a human
weakness that they could exploit. For once Fuller thought that they might have
a point. The details of some of the questions couldn’t have been drawn from the
information they had sent to the aliens in previous communications. So where were
they getting the extra information from?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The debate lasted all morning and carried on through
lunch. It delayed the meeting that was about to start. Everyone was spooked,
even those, like Fuller, who advocated continued contact. Eventually a
consensus was reached. They would continue contact. The response would include
details available from any sanitised press release. In other words, they would
present a version of the truth of human geo-politics, if not the reality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now Fuller had another meeting to attend. Paladin
up in orbit was coming together. The problems over the past two months had been
ironed out. It had taken a lot of effort, but the project was just about back
on schedule. However, one thorny, political problem remained.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The world’s nuclear arsenal had been reduced
considerably through successive arms reduction treaties. While the actual
numbers had been reduced, research had continued. Several advances had made individual weapons much more powerful. New
technologies like accelerated plasma and enhanced fusion reactions created
weapons of terrible power.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The nuclear club increased in number quickly
during the first half of the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Many small nations
invested in the capability to have their own nuclear inventory. Those numbers reduced
again, slowly by treaty. Now these weapons once again identified an exclusive
club. The irony of this was that fusion power is relatively ubiquitous.
Although most fusion generators came as sealed units, and built with many
safety measures, it wasn’t difficult to turn one into a weapon. The UN agency
directed with monitoring these generators was huge, it made the Orbital Command
look small. Only constant surveillance prevented these being turned into
weapons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Paladin would form the main defence if the aliens
proved to be hostile. That meant it needed to be armed with the best weapons humanity
possessed. The UN had no stockpile of these weapons itself, they would have to
come from the members assembled in this room. All of the nuclear powers were
present: the European Union, United States, Brazil, Israel, Russia, India, the
Islamic League and Korea. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Each member provided an assessment of their
inventory. Unsurprisingly these assessments lacked full disclosure. Individual
nations wanted to make sure they had a reserve stockpile, whether for against
their enemies on Earth, or as a last resort if the aliens did reach Earth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Paladin’s requirements were limited, s and some
country’s weapons were easier to integrate than others. If it was up to him, he
would take the weapons from those countries. Those countries wouldn’t be happy
with providing the bulk of the weapons, making themselves disproportionately
weaker. That made Fuller’s job more difficult. Ahead lay
what was sure to be a vigorous discussion over who would provide what. Paladin
would get its weapons, Fuller would make sure of that, but it would take some
careful negotiation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
One new piece of intelligence did colour his
thoughts. Production on these weapons was universally kept to a minimum. Most
effort lay in maintaining existing systems and research. India and China
however had several indications that they were resuming production of some of
these systems. The Japanese in contradiction to its own constitution also appeared
to be assisting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Interestingly, China and India’s assessments of
their arsenals were the more honest out of all the represented nations. Hopefully
that indicated they were willing to make a deal. He did wonder if the new
weapons were intended to make up those they would lose to Paladin, or if they
were needed for another purpose.</div>
<h2>
St Mary’s Hospital, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“Honey it’s ok, I can manage.” The firmness in
Rachel’s voice betraying her frustration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You woke up less than a week ago. I think it’s
too soon...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The doctor said I was fine to go home...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As long as you rested.” Michael continued to pack
his wife’s belongings. His voice rose rising his own annoyance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I will rest.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Attending a charity dinner is not resting.”
Michael revealed the source of his anger. Rachel had only been awake a week and
they were already arguing. He knew it was his own fault, she didn’t like to be
coddled, or told what to do. Normally that’s what he liked about her. But after
watching her look so fragile for those terrible weeks, he wasn’t about to back
down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ll be fine.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It doesn’t matter anyway, the dinner has been
cancelled.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Cancelled! How dare you..”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I cancelled it two weeks ago, while you were still
in a coma.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The silence remained between them. He continued
packing with short angry motions. She faced away from him, slowly dressing,
each movement painful. Her saw her pain and moderated his tone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I don’t want to fight with you Rach. You don’t
know what I went through. You nearly died. The thought of losing you. It was
too much.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael’s pain matched her own and Rachel saw
that. She stood and tried to step towards him. She stumbled, instinctively he
caught her, stopping her fall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I just want you to be all right. “ He tried to
mask the tears in his voice. It seemed silly to him, why the emotion now? She
held him and it felt good, safe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“All right. If it’s cancelled I can’t go anyway.”
Accepting. “But I will be going back to work soon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That would be an argument for another day, for now
he was happy that she was coming home.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-92192589120002918192012-04-21T20:01:00.005+01:002012-04-21T20:01:47.841+01:00Chapter 12 - June 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730625.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [247] [005] [+/- 18%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 107925285 [+/- 13%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 388375613158 [+/- 18%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 899 [+/- 18%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 15 [+/- 13%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: Massive energy output detected</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Skywatcher 4, High Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Every second of every day the satellite’s computer
re-orientated its optical scanner. It followed a simple, well defined process. First, aim at the next portion of the
sky in the sequence. Second, grab an
extended exposure and store it as a fractal image. Next it performs a simple
comparison of the image with the last one it stored from the same angle. If it
finds any differences then flag them. Finally it sends the latest image along
with any flags to the server. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It was one of a cluster of twelve satellites, all
built for the same purpose. The Skywatcher project is a UN sponsored effort to
continuously monitor the heavens. Its mission to look for nova, the last gasp
of dying stars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This particular section of the sky had been
recorded every twelve minutes for two years. No anomalies had been discovered
in this section so far. Until now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
The computer, built specially for this task, scanned
the image. It detected a large bright object. An object it hadn’t seen before.
An object so bright it would be a supernova on a scale never seen before. The
computer didn’t get excited, it flagged the change and then piped the image to
its controlling server.</div>
<h2>
CNSA vessel Long March, Mars orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Her vision augmented by her implants, Hui could see
Mars below through the skin of the orbiting ship. Compared to the same view of
Earth, it looked barren, lifeless. There was no movement in its thin
atmosphere, no clouds of life bringing water. The planet’s ruddy surface lacked
Earth’s emerald and sapphire variation. Only the tiniest splash of white at the
poles broke up the dullness of it. It was the most wondrous thing she had ever
seen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As the ship settled in Mars orbit, Hui ordered the
launch of three recon drones. Already in orbit sat two different orbiters. These
both acted as small motherships for robotic explorers on the surface. They
collected the data from the surface and beamed it back to Earth. Unfortunately
for her mission, both orbiters had short range radar systems to detect any dangerous
debris. These could send details on the Chinese operations here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Two of the recon drones quickly intercepted the
orbitors. A high energy maser, fired from the Long March blinded their radars. The drones then deployed micro-cyber drones. These
tiny robots attached themselves to each orbitor, cut microscopic holes through
the shell and connected to the radar. By the time the problem with the
telemetry was noticed back on Earth, the micro-drones attached themselves to
the satellites and hardwired a fake input for the radar. The operators back on
Earth would see what Hui wanted them to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now it was safe for the Long March to continue its
mission. Hui initiated the release protocols. She watched as the station module,
attended by several tugs, separated from the ship. Slowly the module was towed
into position. Over the next few hours, smaller modules were attached to the
core, the basic structure of the new station quickly taking shape. The three individual shuttle hangers were the
last major structures to be added before the two shield disks unfolded and
positioned above and below the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Once the disks were in place the long process of
attaching and activating the point defence batteries could begin. Hui turned
her attention from the construction datascape and focused on the recon probes
launched when they first arrived. Two of them continued to shadow the orbiters.
The micro-done overrides should prove adequate, but in case they didn’t the
drones could quickly engage and destroy the orbiters. If that happened, the
deception would be over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The third drone followed a different course. This one
headed on a wide arc towards the outer Solar System. A new positional track on
the incoming alien vessel arrived from command Earth-side. Once fed into the
drone it to adjusted its course. In a combat situation Hui doubted that the
drone would provide much benefit against the aliens. That wasn’t its mission.
At the moment they had little information about the alien ship, or its
capabilities. The recon drone would help change that. She hoped so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
After two long days Mars station was now
habitable. The crew now transferred to the station from the ship. Her shuttle
was now being prepared for the journey home. She would have preferred to stay
here, in orbit above the red planet. Through her implants, what had once been a
quiet cul-de-sac of dataflow had now transformed into a major hub. The ship and
the station flowed with data, filling the volume around them. New slender, hidden
threads stretched to the deployed drones. It looked like spring had come to the
Mars winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Reluctantly she handed command over to Major Himani.
He would supervise the preparations. She had to return to Earth, make sure the
first re-supply mission was ready in time and then lead that mission back here
to Mars.</div>
<h2>
St Mary’s Hospital, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael Richards watched his wife, still lying unconscious
on the bed. The chair he sat in was uncomfortable, but he didn’t notice. He cradled
her hand gently. It hurt him to see her lying there. He’d never believed in
God, but now he found himself praying. The clinical part of his mind knew it
was a wasted effort. Another, less logical place clutched at the chance, the miniscule
chance that his prayers would have some effect. Right now, anything that didn’t
make him feel useless was welcome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The austere surroundings might belie the fact, but
this was one of the finest hospitals in South Africa. The place was an anachronism
in this time with nuns as nurses and doctors doubling as priests. Their belief
in an ancient religion didn’t preclude them from using the latest technology in
healing the sick.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His wife’s doctor, an old priest from Rome itself,
assured him that everything that could be done, was being done. Smart drugs and
nano-bots had been injected into his wife’s system. They would boost the
natural healing, repairing the terrible damage from the inside. On the outside
plastic skin and tissue foam had been used to seal and patch her wounds. Already
the cuts and bruises that marred her beautiful skin were starting to fade. Although
she still remained unconscious.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The doctor told him not to worry. She was better off
in the state she was currently in. There she would feel no pain and her body could
devote all its energies to healing. He had said that even she wasn’t in a coma,
they would likely have induced one as part of her treatment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Confident as he sounded, when Michael asked when
she would awake, the Doctor had no answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael tried to keep himself busy, to occupy his
worried mind with work. He had plenty to keep him busy. Monica Abbot kept her
word. The LMC research team now possessed all the data the UNOC had. She
assured him that would continue to be the case. He took the time to review the
data. He noticed how limited with the truth the UN had been with their responses
to the aliens. It was obvious that the UN were trying to conceal human
capabilities from the aliens. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His research team quickly set up their own quarantined
network and ran the VM. As with the UN team they had been amazed at the workings
of the VM. How could something so adaptable be delivered so simply?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
On his instruction the team contacted the aliens
themselves. They were less restrained with the accuracy of their responses.
Michael hoped that would gain some leverage over the UN if it became a bidding
war. The message now sent, they had to wait for the reply.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The consortium stalled in its expansion. The
business with refusing to sell the options on production had gone to plan.
Slowly and as the prices rose they agreed to small sales with the UNOC. They’d
allowed the Schaeffer Brothers to take the lion’s share of the deals, providing
them with the funds they desperately needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unfortunately his approaches to the NASA and ESA
shipyard hadn’t proceeded as well. They’d rebuffed his deal, politely, but a refusal
nonetheless. They explained that their order book was full from the business
with the UN. They didn’t have the capacity to do anything further. It wasn’t a
big problem, but it did slow things down a little.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A further upset came from another attempted
penetration of his company’s networks. This time it was targeted at the
shipyard. The cyber-mercs had thwarted the attack. They had even traced the
attacks to some individuals in Russia and Indonesia. Arrangements had already
been made to discourage those individuals from further attempts. There were
plenty of other hackers for hire though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The level of sophistication of the attacks worried
Michael. Jacob Manning had reported that the techniques and programs used were
new. Hackers only revealed their new toys when the stakes were high. That meant
a major player. Almost certainly the Chinese, although frustratingly no proof
of this. Michael agreed to continue funding the extra security for the
networks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
With the ordinary daily business as well, Michael had
never been so busy. Nor had he ever felt less interested in it. It took a huge
effort to focus on these concerns. But every evening he was back here, in this
small white room. Only the most urgent communications were permitted to disturb
his vigil. Helpless he just stared at the still form of his wife and prayed
that she would return to him.</div>
<h2>
UNOC Research Facility, near Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“I hope you’ve got some good news for me Doctor
Samir.” General Fuller did make an effort to keep the frustration from his
voice. His attempt wasn’t completely successful, luckily Samir didn’t seem to
notice. Before flying here to the research centre he had scanned the latest
intelligence reports from the CNSA operations at L1 Station. A giant sheet had
been constructed next to the station. The sail made from wafer thin woven
metallic threads stretched over a thousand square miles. When asked the CNSA
official had informed Fuller that it was experiment in solar sail propulsion.
They had anchored it to the station with delicate sensors to calculate the
thrust generated by the solar radiation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This, on the face of it seemed a reasonable enough
explanation. It was just a coincidence that the sail obscured any activity at
the station, from both Earth and the Moon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller also received news that the Long March reached
Mars and was now in orbit. He used UNOC authority to access the feeds from the
Russian and ESA orbiters. Their local radar feeds showed the Long March sitting
in high orbit. There was some tug activity, but nothing substantial. Why the
Chinese fly all the way to Mars and then sit there doing nothing? Something
didn’t feel right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
On that feeling, Fuller ordered the launch of a
probe. He even authorised the use of an expensive chemical booster to give the
probe extra acceleration before the weaker ion drive took over. The extra thrust
would mean the probe would arrive at Mars two weeks earlier. It couldn’t arrive
soon enough for Fuller’s wish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another data package arrived from the aliens. It
had arrived soon after the enormous energy signature of the alien ship’s
braking manoeuvre. The energy output was incredible, it could even be seen with
the naked eye. A new star now visible in the heavens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Neither good nor bad General.” Samir’s reply
brought the General back to the present. “But most definitely interesting.” As
he often did after receiving new data, Samir wore an enthusiastic smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ok Doctor. What have we learned?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Since learning that the aliens were actually
travelled here, we wondered how they were doing it. They don’t appear to have
faster than light travel, so how could they survive long enough the travel between
the stars?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I remember. You theorised something about
generation ships. Successive generations of aliens living and dying between the
stars? ”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes General. Although it seems our guess was way
off the mark. It’s much better than that.” It seemed impossible, but his smile
grew broader. “According to their latest data package, they have the technology
to translate their intellect into their computers. They have no physical body.
Do you know what that means?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That they don’t have to worry about life support?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Exactly, that reduces the ships mass
considerably. Their ship just needs engines and a network. They could support a
population of millions for little extra energy expenditure. But much more than
that, they’re practically immortal.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Immortal?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Think about it General. It’s the body’s decay
into old age that causes death. It’s the physical break down of the brain that
results in the loss of mental faculties. Imagine having a body that can be
repaired as good as new. Their ship is that body. It might break and wear down,
but as long as the network is maintained the aliens continue to exist. And the
ship can be repaired. That must be why they want the items they asked for. They’re
materials for renewing the ship.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller thought about it for a moment. Technology
like that would be worth a fortune. “So the aliens download their minds to
their computers?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“In essence - Yes. Of course their computers are
much more sophisticated than ours. I’d give anything to see how they physically
operate. But even looking at the VM which runs on our technology, the
processing capability is simply amazing. On more advanced hardware, especially hardware
that could reconfigure itself. Well the possibilities are endless!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And the minds that are stored? Are they really
the aliens? Or just some simulated likeness?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That I cannot answer. A question for the philosophers
really.” Another smile. “To my mind, anything that can be replicated in every
detail is as real as the original.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So the aliens run the ship from inside their own
network?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re not sure. Although it does look like they
have created their own independent virtual machines for specific purposes.
These probably do most of the work, the aliens are more like travellers,
although we they decide how the ship operates.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“These virtual machines, are they AI’s?”
Artificial Intelligence had been the holy grail of computing for more than a
century. Computers had become more capable, smart even, but none had
demonstrated any indication of self-awareness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s difficult to say, they’re certainly more sophisticated
than the VM used for communication. They’ve indicated that there is a demarcation
between the alien minds and the VM’s that they create.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Demarcation how?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The minds are more complex, more detailed. We don’t
know why.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“But you have a theory?” This time Fuller smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We think it is the replication process. Somehow
the process records the physical structure of their brain as well as the
software, or the mental processes if you like. Quite why they can’t replicate
that artificially we don’t know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ok. What about their decision making process? Command structure? Do we know anything about
that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No General. We still don’t know much about their
social structure. Although they have started asking about that. When they ask
us about something, it seems to indicate what they are going to tell us about
themselves in the next package.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They did ask something strange though.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Strange? In what way?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They’ve asked if humans are a unified race. It
was a specific question as well. That in itself is very unusual. Usually they
provide scenarios and use our responses to glean information about us. Rarely
have they been this specific.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Doctor was right, that did seem a bit out of
place. Fuller wondered what had sparked that particular question. “Thanks
Doctor. Can you compile a briefing package? I need to brief the Council this
afternoon on the latest contact.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Sure thing General.”</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-26361390697519693212012-04-18T21:10:00.005+01:002012-04-18T21:10:58.728+01:00Chapter 11 - May 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730525.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [247] [005] [+/- 18%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 107925285 [+/- 14%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 466081818271 [+/- 19%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 922 [+/- 20%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 18 [+/- 14%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Impala Deep Mining Offices, Hopetown</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“We’re already closing three of the mines. It’s
costing too much to get anything up. We’re picking scraps from the workings, a
few small veins. We just can’t compete with you boys in orbit.” Jack Kruger
spoke with resignation in his voice. His face lined prematurely from worry, but
his body still tall and trim. He preferred to work closer to the mine. “I’ve
not seen you a long time Michael. The first time I see you in years and you try
to convince me to keep working the mines. Are you trying to put me out of
business?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Of course not Jack, you should know me better
than that.” Impala Deep Mining was one of the few remaining mining concerns in
South Africa. Or at least one of the few that still dug into the South African rock.
Times were hard for the planet side mining operations, old workings running
dry. For many minerals and ores it was cheaper and easier to extract them from
asteroids.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why else would you ask me that? It’s the only
reason that makes sense.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The price of chromium, platinum and many other
metals is rising.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So? A small blip on a downward trend. It would
need to climb much higher for those mines to still be viable.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It is going to climb much higher.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jack sat back in his chair, sipped at the hot
coffee. It was dark and unsweetened, the opposite of how Michael drank his. His
first thought was that this was a joke, but Michael wasn’t the joking type. “How
can you know that? What’s going on?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How secure is this office?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well we have it swept weekly, just yesterday in
fact. Why? What do you know?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I need your word Jack. This has to stay just
between us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What kind of shit is that Michael? How long have
you known me? I knew your father before you were born.” He snorted. “I should
have listened to him all those years ago. Diversified when I had the chance. I
guess its too late now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Maybe not.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Stop being mysterious Michael. What the hell is
going on?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Have you been hearing any rumours recently Jack?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Rumours? Nothing specific. Nothing that relates
to my business...” He looked thoughtful. “Wait a minute. The UNOC. There was
something about them trying to buy some metals. Setting up their own strategic
reserve or some such.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Indeed they are, they’ve not had any success
buying anything yet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why? You holding out on them?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Me. And a few others.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How many others?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Enough, for now at any rate.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So how does this affect me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As you’ve already seen the price for the
resources are going up. This is just the beginning. The UNOC are actually
planning to buy a lot more than the options they’re sniffing for at the
moment.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How do you know this?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ll get to that. First how much does the price
need to increase to make it worth keeping those mines operational?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jack took a moment to calculate. “If the price
doubled, that would do it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael smiled. “I made it a seventy-five percent
increase.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jack smiled in return. “The price would need to
sustain for several months to make it worthwhile.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No, it just has to stay high long enough for you
to sell the stock.” Michael transmitted a list of quantities to Jack. “Take a
glance at those. Can you meet those quotas in a year’s time?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jack took a few seconds to answer. “It’ll be
tight, but achievable. We’ll need to rehire a lot of workers. There’ll need to
be overtime, but the lads won’t mind the extra wages. The big problem will be
keeping the mines running for that long.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Actually, the biggest problem is going to be keeping
it secret.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jack looked surprised at that. “What the hell is
going on Michael?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“It all started with a radio signal...”</div>
<h2>
CNSA vessel Long March, en route to Mars</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Signal lag to Mars now reached ten minutes. The red
planet now apppeared larger on the view screen than the blue orb of her home
planet. The lag made proper conversation impossible, so here Hui sat in her small
cabin recording a message to her family. Today was always a difficult day, even
more so now she was millions of miles from home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She started her message with a recording of the
view screen, showing the enhanced images of their destination. Next she recorded
a brief greeting. The usual “hello” and “how are you?”, small talk to preface the
real reason for today’s message.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her brother had been a fighter pilot, he served in
the brief border skirmish against Vietnam only five years ago. He had been a
pilot in the air force for six years. This was his first combat posting. Hui
remembered how he had been her idol and how he always teased her that she just
followed in her footsteps. It was both a joke and true. Much as she loved her
mother and father, he was the bright spark in her life. The person she relied
on when times were tough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That fateful evening he lead a combat air patrol
near the border. His flight formed the second line of defence against any
Vietnamese incursion. Swarms of drones formed the primary buffer. Everyone, from
the lowliest private to the highest dressed Generals had expected a quick, easy
campaign. The Vietnamese had been foolish to try and secure their claims in the
South China Sea. Everyone assumed the Vietnamese were bluffing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Vietnamese attack came when the sky darkened.
Their own drones surged across the border. Unfortunately the drones were
Japanese built and the Chinese cyber teams new their workings. They neutralised
the drones within minutes of them entering their airspace. The follow on wave
of manned fighter bombers didn’t know that their escorts had been subverted.
Only two made it through the Chinese drone cloud. Both planes were damaged they
detected the fighter patrol and in desperation, they engaged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Chinese only suffered one casualty in that
short engagement. Her brother. He managed to evade the first missile only to
have the second clip his wing. His plane plummeted in a flat spin. He followed
his training and tried to eject, but the primary release mechanism failed. He
tried the second, it fired, too late as his plane smashed into the ground.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui, just a raw recruit then, heard the news after
landing the transport plane at the same airbase her brother was based in. She’d
hoped to surprise him when he returned from his mission. The surprise was hers
as the base commander called her into his office.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Soon after she transferred to space command. Her
application was rejected several times before she was finally interviewed. After
the interview she was invited to complete the tests. Even with her grief,
perhaps because of it she’d excelled at the tests and had been admitted. She’d
then discovered the freedom she now only felt when in space. Even now on this
terrible day, she still felt that peace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui was now deeper into space than she, or most
pilots for that matter, had ever been. It felt almost magical, even with her
implants there was a comforting loneliness out here. Once beyond the pulsing
rainbow glow of the ship, it’s crew and systems, space was dark. She imagined
it was almost as dark as in the old days, before enhanced reality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She gazed out beyond the ship. Slender tendrils of
data travelled ahead of them. These were the links between the handful of
orbiters around Mars and their command stations back in Earth orbit. She could
also see two even thinner lines stretching weakly into the outer solar system.
She guessed they linked to the planetary observatories around Jupiter and
Saturn. One day she might see them up close for herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
It was nice. It was comforting, but she knew it was
just delaying the inevitable. She switched on the recording and began to speak
to her parents. She didn’t notice the tear until it fell from her face.</div>
<h2>
United Nations Orbital Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller worried as the prices kept rising
and the companies steadfastly refused to sell. The price didn’t shoot up, there
was no panic, but it kept creeping higher. His worry was that this was some
deliberate plan, that they knew something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Relief finally came near the end of May, just as
the Russian summer began its humid campaign. Summer seemed to start a little
earlier each year. And with each cycle it became hotter and wetter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Finance Director had informed him that the
Schaeffer Brothers had finally agreed to sell options of their production for
the coming year. It was a small step, but at least some forward progress. The
prices continued to rise and the other companies were still holding out. Already
the budget for the mission was strained. That meant another session with the
council to increase the funding. He didn’t relish the prospect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That small relief proved to be the high point of
the month. Production on Paladin had stalled. The reinforcement structures added
to the interior of the ship had been discovered to have microscopic defects, Nearly
half of the struts would need to be cut out and replaced. They should have been
checked before construction, they had been overlooked in the rush. He shouldn’t
have shouted at the supervisor, maybe he was more tired than he thought. At
least the defective struts could be smelted and recycled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
To compound the problem the armour plating
production had been slower than expected. Some of that armour had to be put in
place before the new weapon systems and hanger decking could be added. The
whole process had slowed to a crawl, putting construction two weeks behind
schedule already.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Repeated calls to the manufacturers had yielded
little except empty promises so far. Fuller
decided he would visit the plants in person, and get to the bottom of the
delays. It would mean another week of travel, missing his weekend with his
daughter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller held the latest piece of good news in his
hand. He looked at the long range false colour image of L1 Station. The image clearly
showed the station itself in crisp detail. Alongside a freighter could be seen,
just a metal skeleton gleaming in the dark. The schematic matched the type the
Chinese had promised for the trade mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
On the far side of the station he could see the silhouette
of another vessel. This ship appeared further along in production. The bulge of
the huge engines visible at the back of the ship. A patchwork of hull plating
covered the ship. It was also large, not as big as the Long March, or the LMC
mega-freighters. It was still larger than the freighter being constructed for
the UNOC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Examining this new vessel Fuller could see the
enlarged fuel tanks. Those and the oversized engines indicated this ship was intended
for a long range mission. Fuller did not like the thought of the Chinese and
their allies amassing whatever around Mars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
It was time to find out what the Asian Alliance are
planning.</div>
<h2>
Hope Township, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Rachel Richards loved being here on the street. She
knew that her wealth and connections were the most important work for the
various charities she worked with. Here she could see the results of that
effort. Here she could see the difference she made. Rachel realised that
Michael didn’t like her visiting these dangerous streets, but she couldn’t not
come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Government did try to help the poor ensnared
in the shanty towns that festered in and around the cities. As bad as it
looked, she knew that it was actually better here than in other parts of
Africa. The reasons for the poverty were many. Lack of economic opportunity was
the most significant problem. Africa lacked the growth the rest of the world
had seen, especially since the mining industry had slipped into decline.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Poverty brought desperation with it, that soon
fuelled a crime epidemic. The criminals formed gangs for protection, at first from
each other and then from the police. These days the police were more likely to
be working with the gangs. The gangs had the money and the influence. A
succession of governments had tried to battle the corruption and the violence,
with only limited success. Rachel understood her history, what South Africa and
other African nations faced was the same as the terrible civil strife suffered
in Central and South America in the early 21<sup>st</sup> Century.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Only Africa didn’t have a powerful neighbour that
cared enough to eventually step in. It took two decades of war to restore
order. Here the only external help came from the UN and companies like those
owned by her husband. Over the past few decades the UN had increased its
strength around the world, but here their power was limited. The UN forces,
well trained and well equipped were a limited resource and really designed for
quick interventions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A few years ago a bold experiment had managed to
turn the tide in Kenya. A partnership had been formed between the newly elected
government, big business and one of the large PMC’s. The United Nations hadn’t
supported the idea at first. Private Military Corporations already served
alongside most national forces, but never for a major peacekeeping operation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Despite the naysayers the experiment had worked.
Kenya was now one of the more prosperous nations in Africa. The economy was
growing. Crime now reduced to a level that could be managed by the new police
force. The people now had some hope and just as importantly, a restored faith
in their government.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Rachel wanted to see the same process happen here.
Michael had promised to provide the business backing. She now just needed to
convince the government to summon the political will to make it happen. That
was proving an uphill battle. While money talks, once in the pocket of the gangs,
it proved difficult to break free.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A disturbance in front of Rachel pulled her from
her thoughts. She looked about, she might make light of it with Michael, but
she knew he was right about the danger she put herself in with these visits.
Today she was helping to hand out food and clothing parcels. Her foundation
teamed up with many local charities, between them covering a wide range of
issues. From helping prevent malnutrition in families as they were today, to
rehabilitation and drug recovery programmes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She scanned the crowd around her. The black
carapace armoured soldiers stood out from the threadbare rags of the locals.
The large security team that followed her everywhere provided benefits beyond keeping
her safe. They helped with crowd control and for the short time she was in the
township provided some measure of safety for the locals. Even the gangs new
they were not to be messed with lightly. Although it had taken a few bloody
lessons for them to learn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
No matter what the situation a handful of these
bodyguards always remained close to her person. She saw them close in, their
presence reassuring her. The disturbance kept moving nearer. Above the crowd
she suddenly saw helmets, black like her guards, but battered, dull. The crowd
parted before them, as they became revealed she could see the uniforms of the
Police. She could see shotguns and assault rifles gripped tightly in their
gloved hands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her guards responded quickly, those nearby moving
tight in around her. The others that had been helping hand out the care
packages moved to intercept the advancing officers. Sian Moltern beat them to
it. A small determined lady, she marched up to the lead officer demanding to
know what they were doing. He didn’t break his stride, smashing her to the
ground with the butt of his shotgun then stepping over her moaning body.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
An armoured hand touched her shoulder. “We’re
leaving Mrs Roberts.” Rachel didn’t argue. She could hear the screams of the
crowd growing as the police forced their way through. A single shot rang out.
Followed by another. Her guards lead through the rear entrance. She expected to
see more police here, if this was a raid, surely they would cover all the
exits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The bodyguards pushed her towards her car. She
didn’t hear the explosion, all she saw was a bright flash of light and then
only darkness.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-71018933502816582742012-04-15T19:56:00.002+01:002012-04-15T19:56:30.107+01:00Chapter 10 - April 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730425.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [246] [008] [+/- 19%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 107925285 [+/- 15%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 543788023385 [+/- 20%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 953 [+/- 25%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 21 [+/- 14%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
It took a few seconds for the security locks to
complete their redundancy checks. Michael Richards waited patiently for all the
security locks to engage before he started the meeting. Jacob Manning had
assured him that the communication is as secure as it could be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The consortium now comprised of three companies.
Euromin agreed to join the effort a week ago, they were another of the few
small mining independents. They also added two small freighters to the fleet.
Michael wasn’t worried about transport capacity, he’d already authorised the
construction of two new mega-freighters. With the three he already had in
service, plus the fleet of smaller freighters they had sufficient transport
capacity to ship all of the trade resources to Mars. The problem was the time
taken to ship the resources to Mars would take those ships out of action. This
would disrupt the regular delivery services, which would harm the expanding
space economy and their combined interests. So, more freighters would need to
constructed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Frank Bowman stood only five feet tall, with a
round face and rapidly retreating hairline. He was the owner of Euromin, one of
the few European space concerns. He had good contacts with the EU politicians
and the ESA itself. That made him a more useful partner than the scale of his
operations implied. He had reported the
UNOC’s approaches to purchase freighters. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael took the information and offered them a
deal. They would sell their old freighters to the UN, then for the same price
the LMC would replace them with their own. The two independents would gain
newer, better ships without cost to themselves. The deal would lose the LMC
some up front profit, but a greater share of the private transport fleet would
become LMC built. That meant they’d need parts, repairs, upgrades and
servicing, all provided by the LMC. Everyone agreed it was a good deal all
round.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It did however inspire Michael to present a new
opportunity to the consortium and that was the reason for this meeting. Certain
the security was in place, he began the meeting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thanks for meeting on such short notice. As you
already know I’m meeting with the Schaeffer brothers this afternoon. If that
goes well we’ll have secured over sixty percent of the space based extraction
facilities. We’d also control nearly ninety percent of the private transport
capacity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Pa Jackman was quick to interrupt. “The brothers
are the most independent of us. They’ve never worked nicely with others. What
makes you so sure they’ll join us?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Partly for the deal I’m about to explain you. Mostly
because they need our help. Thanks to my sources I happen to know that the
brothers are in some financial trouble. As you know, the brothers might run the
business, but it’s the sister that runs the finances. She made a very unwise
investment in a new Indonesian data centre, the usual offshore data hosting. It
seemed like a solid investment, unfortunately for her it was a setup.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael paused a moment before continuing. “It’s
all a play for the asteroid they’re mining. It’s one of the few stable orbit
asteroids between here and Mars. It’s only a short distance to Mars, but the
Chinese want it as a support base for their Mars operations. It will be just a
small emergency base, but as we know they don’t like to share territory. I’m
going to offer them a way out of their predicament and the opportunity for some
revenge.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Both Pa and Frank nodded in acknowledgement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So, onto today’s main agenda. I also hear that
the UNOC are due to be starting to purchase the goods, or at least options on
them this month.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Your people hear a lot.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That they do Frank. I still wish they’d hear
more.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ain’t that the truth.” Pa Jackman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael continued. “This presents us with an
opening for a little extra profit. They will need to approach all three of us
and the Schaeffer Brothers for most of the items on the alien shopping list.
They’re going to want to do this quietly, they won’t want the price to increase
too quickly and upset the market.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So we hold off, say no deal and wait for the UN
to offer a better choice?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Exactly Frank. Although we’re going to be hard
pressed to supply our own run, the UN’s mission and regular demand. We’re going
to have to increase our production.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Even doubling our production isn’t going to be
enough.” Pa Jackman again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That’s true, but it would come close. We also
need to start buying up options from the other companies. If we can get in
early we can then sell them again once the price goes up. And we should look at
the few remaining planet-side mines.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That’ll be expensive. Most of them have closed
because they cost so much to work. They just can’t compete.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes it will, but with the price increases it
should work. Besides I still own some of those mines.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I see, an opportunity for you to shift some dead
weight. All right, it doesn’t hurt me any. Agreed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And you Frank?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“It doesn’t harm me either and some extra profit is never
a bad thing. I’m in.”</div>
<h2>
CNSA Vessel Long March, en route to Mars</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Hui Zhong shut down the connection to CNSA Command.
She’d filed her daily report, all systems were nominal, everything on track. In
return General Ling had updated her on the Earth-side of her mission.
Construction of the first re-supply ship had begun, along with the freighter
for the UNOC. The first re-supply would transport the conventional weapons
system to augment the few she already had. The third would carry the nuclear
arsenal and the General himself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now she had a few minutes on a private connection
with her family. When the connection finally established she saw her mother and
father snap into view. The sterile background for official communications
melted into the warmer view of her parents living room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Hi mum. Hi dad.” Her words took several seconds
to reach her home back on the blue globe behind the ship. Within the next few
weeks as the communications lag increased and became minutes all conversations
except priority mission messages would become recorded. She would have to make
the most of these last few direct conversations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She could see the moment of discomfort on their
faces as they adjusted to the new virtual environment. It lasted as long as it
took for the signal to reach Earth and back again. She saw their faces light up
with joy. As always, seeing their happiness inspired her own. “Hello
sweetheart. It’s good to see you. Are you well? Is it too cold up there?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not in the ship, only outside.” Her mother always
asked the same question. She knew space was cold, so she worried. “It’s
actually kept quite cosy. Anyway, I have some big news. Since I last spoke to
you I have become the furthest travelling Chinese woman in history.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her mother smiled with pride. “That’s great!”. Her
father’s pride was less effusive, but just as real. “Good job, your brother
would be so proud.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui would like to think that was true, it probably
was, but he would have masked it with some mockery. He didn’t like to show
obvious affection, but whenever she needed him, he was there for her. Not any
more though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How’s the food?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Everything comes from a packet. It’s warm and
filling, but not as good as your cooking mum.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well, the next time you are home, I’ll cook you
something special. Prawns and soup, your favourite. When are you coming home?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ve told you mum. We’ll arrive in six weeks
time, I’ll need to spend a couple of weeks helping with setting up the base
then I’ll fly home in the shuttle.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The shuttle? It’s a long journey for a shuttle
isn’t it?” Her father was always the one to ask the practical questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s been specially adapted for the trip. I’ll be
fine. I’m actually looking forward to some quiet time alone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Alone? You’ll be flying alone?” Her mother was always
quick to worry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ll be fine. I can’t spare a pilot to fly back
with me. The ship can fly itself if it needs to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“But what if something happens to you? Who will
help you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ll be fine mom. I’ll be flying alone, but the
shuttle crew will be there as well. There’s always a flight technician and a
navigation officer as well. They just won’t be in the cockpit, so most of the
time I’ll be alone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Ok dear. We miss you. Did you hear about Mei-Mei?”
Her mother started to tell her the local news. Hui let the cadence of the gossip
wash over her, driving the stress of command away.</div>
<h2>
United Nations Orbital Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
It felt good being back in full gravity again. The
ESA had delivered the freighter hull to Gateway Station. Most of Fuller’s time for
the past few weeks had been spent reviewing and approving the plans for
Paladin. It was a rush job, everyone was aware of the fact, especially Fuller.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As much as possible the ship’s system would be
made from existing parts. This would
help keep things easy. Hopefully reducing complications from any unknowns. The
primary weapons would be rail guns and DEWs provided by various nations’ navies
and air forces. Smaller point defence systems also came from the same sources.
They had no idea what they would be up against they’d need most powerful
weapons available. All of the major nuclear capable powers had agreed to
provide some of their inventory for the mission. Although not without a few
conditions. These would even include some of the latest fusion warheads. Paladin
once it launched would have more firepower than all of the weaponry used in all
the wars of the 20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> centuries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Assembly on new lightweight armours, commonly used
on latest main battle tanks was being rushed through production. This would be
applied over the ship’s hull, providing additional protection. For further
reinforcement additional structural support was being added and ceramic foam
pumped between the armoured layers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d received an offer from the Geneva research
team to help automate the whole ship. Even with a minimal crew, life support
systems would take up a considerable proportion of the ship’s mass. The offer
was tempting, but so far nothing concrete had come from the Geneva labs
projects. Even with the new data from the alien signal. It just wasn’t worth
the risk to try something so radical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The crew for Paladin had started the simulation
training at the main base, just outside Moscow. The thirty crew all came from
the UNOC. The Security Council members would also provide advisors, part of the
conditions for supplying the nuclear weapons. They would not form part of the
crew, or the chain of command, but Fuller insisted that they complete the
simulator training.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
One deck was being converted into hanger space so Paladin
would also carry a small squadron of Dark Hawks. The same launch cradles used
on the station would be retroffited to the ship. These would be supplemented by
combat and recon drones. The crew would be taken from the Gateway squadron, so
replacements were also being fast tracked through the programme to make up the
numbers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Progress had also been made on acquiring transport
vessels as well. Three of the private businesses had agreed to sell their
freighters. So the UNOC now had five new freighters, adding another sixty
thousand tons to their lift capacity. They were older models to be sure, but
the engineers who checked the vessels declared them to be well maintained. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Progress on purchasing the trade resources hadn’t
gone so well. Fuller had ordered his finance teams to start the purchase plan. The
plan was to make the purchases in small amounts, to try and limit the increase
in price the increased demand would cause. Except for a few of the smaller independents,
all had refused to sell options on their production. Not just for this year,
but for the next two years as well. Not only that, the prices of several key
resources had already started to climb. They’d tried purchasing from the open
market, they’d managed to secure small amounts, but also pushed the prices up
further. They would keep trying, but Fuller had to now consider other options.
He also now worried what was going on, this wasn’t expected behaviour, had word
of the mission leaked?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
One option would be to secure the resources
directly, get the Council to authorise seizing the goods. That wouldn’t go down
well with the public and risked exposure of the alien contact. He was surprised
that it had remained a secret for this long. The UN web security teams had worked
overtime suppressing feeds, that in itself just added to the speculation. The
Chinese and their allies had helped these efforts with their own teams. That
had muddied the waters. So now it was all an Asian conspiracy. Distraction
enough from the real story, he doubted it would last long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Although it did make Fuller wonder what it is the
Chinese and Indians were really trying to hide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The other option was the strategic reserves. Every
nation maintained a stockpile of important resources for their industries. Some
stored more than others, but if his data was correct it would provide a large
proportion of what was needed for the trade. Accessing these reserves would
have to remain a final option. News would quickly get out, causing panic in the
markets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
All this activity kept the General busy. He didn’t
mind, he liked to be busy, but it did keep him up in orbit more than he would
like. At least here on the surface he could visit his daughter in person.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-5218057953723251622012-04-12T20:54:00.004+01:002012-04-12T20:55:31.160+01:00Chapter 9 – March 2073<br />
<h2>
Deep Space Automated Tracking System</h2>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Updating target track: UKX7834-101 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Timestamp: 0020730325.23.59</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating destination vector... [244] [008] [+/- 21%]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating velocity... 107925285 [+/- 16%] km/h</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating distance... 621494228499 [+/- 21%] km</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating time to intercept... 982 [+/- 30%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Calculating signal lag... 24 [+/- 15%] days</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EZRead POI: </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Priority override...HIGH</div>
<h2>
Gateway Station, Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The station hadn’t seen this much activity since it
was first built. The plans for the Paladin warship, the first of its kind,
still hadn’t been finished. To meet the deadline preparations for its
construction had already begun. Through the observation screen in his office, Fuller
watched dozens of pods scurry about. At this distance they looked tiny, the
detail of their form only resolving when his rested upon them and his focus
zoomed in automatically. This great frenzy of effort in welding together the
massive gantries between which the new ship would be built.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It looked like a cheap and badly co-ordinated
fireworks show. The reality was the opposite of both. To jump start
construction the Europeans had agreed to provide one of their new large
freighter hulls. For a price naturally. They now rushed, working double shifts
to complete the hull. Once space worthy it would be towed from the Luna
shipyards to the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller ordered the ring of Guardian defence pods
expanded to include the new construction site. He also diverted regular shuttle
traffic around the station. That precaution would only prevent casual
investigation and as it turned out, not even that. Already the news feeds were
buzzing with the news of secret construction up here at the station. The press
office leaked a story about an experimental ship being developed for exploring
the outer planets. People seemed to be buying it for now, but Fuller doubted
the cover would last for long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Far beyond the partially assembled gantries he watched
the flare of a shuttle’s engines as it arched into high orbit. Fuller accessed
the station’s network, retrieving the shuttle’s details. It was another Indian
shuttle. The manifest appeared as classified, at this rate both the Indians and
Chinese would use their undisclosed cargo quote long before the year ended.
Traffic to and from L1 station increased sharply over the past few weeks. Data
transfer also rose. It was all secure traffic, although everyone tried to
secure their communications, so he couldn’t read too much into that. They definitely
seemed like they were pushing to launch their ship soon. Not for the last time
Fuller worried about what the Asian Alliance planned. And not for the last time
he wished he had the Long March as part of his trade mission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With an effort he returned to more pressing
concerns. The negotiations with the ESA and NASA ended well, although they took
an odd turn. They refused to transfer the existing small freighters they
operated. Their claim that they required all of them to maintain their current
operations didn’t ring true. On the plus side they had offered to build eight
of their newer, larger cargo ships. The same class the Paladin would be built
from.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The new ships would cost the UNOC of course. Again
the Europeans and Americans provided favourable terms, they agreed to lease the
ships and provide crews. All in all it was good progress in so short a time,
but it would only provide about a third of the total lift capacity the mission
needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Sometimes he wished he was still with USAF. Sure
he it had its political component. Often the military found themselves caught
between congress and the President, but that paled compared to the multitude of
nation states he now found himself dealing with. Still one look outside at the
station he commanded would dispel those thoughts. None of the national forces
compared to the command he now held. Enabling the United Nations to fulfil its
mission of keeping the world stable felt right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A few days ago Fuller visited Beijing and spoke
with the Chinese. Then he flew to Delhi and spoke with the Indian Space
Ministry. Both reiterated their promises, each would provide a large freighter. Unfortunately,
no matter how hard he pushed they wouldn’t budge in increasing that promise.
That disappointment was tempered by a surprise communication from the Japanese.
The Japanese formed the other major power in the Asian Alliance. They would
supply two more freighters. Unfortunately they were small vessels, similar to
the ones in use by the ESA and NASA. Still it brought them another step closer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d also travelled to New York and battled with
the Security Council. Fuller pushed for them to lift the restrictions on using
privately owned transport vessels. He had argued in vain, even the Americans
and Europeans wouldn’t back him on this. They did allow a small concession. He
could now purchase vessels from the corporations. He’d already ordered the
financial team to investigate any ships for sale, or having new ships built.
His concern here was that it would probably be possible to only by one or two
vessels without raising too much interest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His last port of call had been the Russians. Again
it had been a meeting of mixed results. Although no matter what the business it
was always fun to catch up with old friends. They talked until late in the
night. His only escape from the drinking session was a quick call to ex-wife to
arrange a visit with his daughter later today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It wasn’t a surprise when the Russians said they
couldn’t help directly. They didn’t
build freighters. They were the market leader for shuttles, atmospheric capable
ones in particular. The load capacity of a shuttle just wasn’t adequate to use for
long range transport. They did however raise a novel suggestion for the mass
driver system they had prototyped out at one of the near Earth asteroids.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Originally the Russians had wanted to deploy the
system for use on Earth, but with the near completion of the space elevator had
been buried in red tape. Naturally the elevator project had overrun its
schedule by several months since then, much to Russians ire. They did however
continue with their prototype.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They were convinced that the system could launch
standard cargo pods of around twenty tons to Mars orbit. Fuller checked their
simulation data and it seemed feasible. It would actually be more economical
than using freighters, but much slower. A freighter could use its engines all
the way there. Journey time would be about three months, with the mass drivers
it would take twice as long, although without the fuel expenditure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller asked the Russian team to continue their
research and keep him updated. It occurred to him that it could make an
effective heavy weapon, if they needed it. Anyway, the thought of sixty
thousand cargo containers catapulting their way through space and arriving in
Mars orbit unsettled him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With that thought his attention was caught by the
reminder tone in his head. All too easily time slipped away. This interruption was
one he didn’t mind at all. He returned to his seat and activated the immersion
inputs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He didn’t like full immersion, it didn’t feel
right. He would avoid using it where possible. All too often these days it was
the only way he could see his daughter Mary. She was his first daughter from
his second wife. The other daughter was now all grown up had no time for her
father. Virtual or otherwise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His office blended into his daughter’s virtual
play room as the input overrode his biological senses. Mary’s birthday was
coming soon. She’d be eight, he made a mental note to not forget. At least the
virtual secretary was good for something. It would even help him pick a
suitable gift.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
In the virtual world he hugged his daughter as she
excitedly jumped up at him with a cry of “Daddy!”. He thanked the stars that
the bitterness between him and his ex had not washed onto her as well. The
implants provided the tactile response, it felt like was really holding his
daughter. He could even smell her scent. It was almost real. Real or not, it was
much better than not seeing her at all.</div>
<h2>
Jenkins Bar, Al Paso</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Even fifty years ago the bar would have been
considered old fashioned, out of touch. Now, in this modern, more sterile age
it was an anachronism. Small and dimly lit, even with the few people in the bar it
felt cramped, claustrophobic. Some would have disagreed, they would have said
it was cosy, homey even. It even sold draught beer, a rarity now except for a
few micro-breweries and hobbyists.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael Richards wondered how it managed to stay
open. Even now the evening crowd consisted of him, the giant opposite him and
two other customers. They both leaned against the far end of the bar. He
suspected that it might have something to do with his friend currently draining
the grimy pint glass in one mighty swallow. Michael drank a more moderate
mouthful. It didn’t pay to try matching Pa Jackman drink for drink. He’d made
that mistake only once. The morning after and Rachel’s lack of sympathy enough
to reinforce the lesson.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And another toast to the lovely Chinese lass!”
With that and a chink of glasses being touched he finished the pint. Then
immediately slammed the empty glass on
the bar and ordered another. Michael shook his head, declining the implied
offer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I hear she’s been promoted. She’s now the mission
commander for that big rocket their building.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“She is? Good for her. She saved me and my boy up
there. And she did me a good turn.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“To Commander Zhong.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“To Commander Zhong. Bless her little commie
heart.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They both leaned back in the high stools, drank
some more. Michael first met Pa Jackman
over thirty years ago. Pa Jackman had been a close friend of Michael’s father.
He seemed the same now as he did then. His face might have a few new lines, but
his physical presence still filled a room. He remembered how small he had felt,
it was like being in the presence of a giant from the stories his mother would
act out for him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What you grinning at?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Come to think of it, he still felt small compared
to him even now. “Just remembering the good old days.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“To the good old days!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The good old days!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another drink and collision of glass. Pa reached
into his jacket, a battered old leather inherited from his father. You didn’t
see many real leather jackets these days, not on American streets at any rate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Pa Jackman’s father formed Stellar Collectors
before Michael had been born. It remained a small family concern, never
reaching the heights of the Luna Mining Corporation. That didn’t matter to the
Jackmans they loved the life. Michael often thought that they’d never tried to
grow beyond that stage. Michael had asked Pa a few times, but the question was
deflected. They’d surveyed one of the near Earth asteroids and struck abundant
veins of rare earth metals. Others had been found since, but the find was
easily worked by a small crew. And demand kept high enough by a growing and
ever more prosperous population to stay profitable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The whole family lived on the mining base. Michael
sometimes wished that he could so the same, to wake up in the morning every day
to sunrise against the studded velvet background would be simply amazing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You should come planet side more often. It’s good
to catch up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I come here more often than I’d like. If it
wasn’t for these yearly tax interviews I wouldn’t come down here at all.” He
sighed, the sound seemed hollow compared to his usual booming vigour. Michael
understood the frustration. The Texas state government had instigated these
annual tax reviews ten years ago. Every year Pa had to attend a meeting to go
over his tax returns in person. “Gravity no longer suits me. It hurts a little
more each time I come back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A sudden pang, memories of his own father flared
within him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Now don’t give me that look boy. I ain’t dying.
But I’m not comfortable in full G.” He beamed a broad grin. “Besides it gives
you an excuse to see the old homestead. It’s been too long since you last
visited. There’s been some changes since you last visited. It’s ain’t far, less
than a day’s flight.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Sounds good. “ Michael thought for a few seconds.
Now was as good a time as any. “I have something I want to discuss with you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Are you getting all serious on me? I thought we
were just having a quiet drink?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well we are having a drink. I need to put a
consortium together.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Must be something big if you can’t do it alone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You have no idea.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“All right then tell me all about it. But only of
you finish that drink and start another.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Deal.” Once the next round was served Pa took
another long pull of his beer. Then pulled a cigar from the inside pocket of
his jacket. He took his time lighting it and exhaled a thick cloud in Michael’s
direction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I can’t believe you just lit that. How much is
the fine these days.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ten grand. And worth every cent. No-one here is
going to say anything though. So, what is this big thing you want to talk
about?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Aliens.” The look on Pa’s face was worth the
visit alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Aliens?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes. Aliens. They’ve sent a message. The UNOC
have verified it as genuine.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“If its real why isn’t all over the feeds?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“They’re suppressing it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“While that doesn’t surprise me, why?” Another
large swallow and puff of smoke. “And how do you know it’s real?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ve got an inside source. Of course I’ve already
had it verified independently.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So what does this have to me? Or my company?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The aliens are looking to trade. They want almost
a quarter of a million tons of resources. Metals, minerals, carbon nano-tubes
and fuel. In exchange they’re willing to provide new technology. The UN are
putting a trade mission. I want to beat them to it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You’re really serious.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded and drank some more of his beer. “I
am. I can’t fill the list alone and I’ll need more ships.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“All right then youngster.” His voice modulated
into his business voice. “Tell me more. But I’m gonna need more than just your
word that this is for real.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Michael started to lay out his plan.</div>
<h2>
Long March vessel, L1 Station</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Hui slipped into the ship’s interface. It felt
comfortable, familiar, like an old friend. This was really the chief pilot’s
job, however she had pulled rank. The fact she was the more experienced pilot
was little comfort to him. For this, the maiden voyage, she wanted direct
control of the helm. She realised the younger pilot felt slighted by her
decision, but he’d have plenty of time to pilot the ship on the three month
journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She felt the implants connect to the ship’s systems.
Although the inputs were exactly the same as in the simulator, it felt
different, more solid. More real. She knew this was just her primitive brain
colouring the software, but she didn’t mind. It felt good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When connected to the shuttle’s systems, it felt
very different. There it was like the shuttle was an extension of her being. In
this massive vessel she became part of it. She forced her will to suppress the
perception. The last thing she needed now was to become subsumed by the ship.
Implant subsumation was rare these days. Not since the net and connected
implants became regulated and safety limits set. There was still the odd hacker
who thought their brain could handle all the inputs in the world. They never
got to try a second time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The ship systems were so large and complex that
the connections equalled that of a major city network. The amount of
information flowing enough to drown the unwary. For this reason the ship’s
controls had been segmented into areas of responsibility. This reduced the flow
of data to a level manageable by the individuals. As Mission Commander she
should be connected to the central hub, for now this honour had been delegated
to Major Himani, her second in command.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For now she happily bathed in the pilot’s nexus.
In the virtual space she was surrounded by data, all of it warm and welcoming. She
had insisted and piloting the Long March out of the shipyard and out of Earth
space. Then and only then would the disgruntled pilot would get his turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“T-minus 5 minutes and counting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The flight controller’s voice pulsed a soothing
green thread from its source to the ship’s data net. The launch countdown had
been smooth so far. Only one delay caused by a malfunctioning pump in the
engine coolant had interrupted the sequence. The pump was swiftly replaced and the
countdown resumed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui took a moment to think of her parents. She
could imagine how proud they would be of her at this moment. Just thinking of
them caused emotion to swell within her. She wished her brother could be here
to see her. He always teased her about following in his footsteps, well not
this time, she thought with sadness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Docking clamps released. Life support switched.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She watched the checklist, like the voice it
pulsed a soothing green. The core systems continuously ran automated tests,
constantly looking for errors. In the virtual space near her own, she could see
other pods, the other bridge crew running their own checks and tests.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Engine warm up complete. Coolant pressure remains
nominal.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She ran through her own checks. Streams of data cascaded
around her. She modified the visualizers to match her preferences. The pilot’s
own settings seemed too harsh for her tastes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ignition chamber shielding active. Magnetic
accelerators charged.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Long March was the biggest ship ever launched
in space. Due to the rush in preparing the launch it actually massed
significantly lower than originally planned. This meant the journey would take
nearly three weeks shorter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She was still worried about the mission. Or the
lack of weaponry in particular. The army and the navy had both provided various
point defence systems. The navy rail guns and DEWs were already built with
networking for use on warships, so they should integrate with the Long March’s
systems easily. The army air defence systems were small standalone units,
lacking the same network integration of the naval versions. These wouldn’t
integrate as easily, but they would probably do well as defence platforms for
the Mars base itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Po Ling had managed to secure more than
she initially feared. He managed to procure several of the latest combat and
recon drones. These not only provided extra eyes and firepower, but extended
the reach of the Chinese forces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She still wished she had more though. The weaponry
should be sufficient for one or two engagement, but any extended battles would
quickly exhaust their munitions. Her mission was so reliant on the planned
resupply missions it kept her awake at night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“T minus 60 seconds. Command control switched to
Long March.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Major Himani acknowledge receipt of ship’s control
and ordered Commander Hui to prepare the vessel to leave the dock. She
activated the manoeuvring thrusters, their power miniscule compared to main
engines. They couldn’t fire the main engines until an hours travel away from
the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Good luck Long March you are cleared to launch.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui aligned the thrusters and delicately edged the
vast ship out of it’s dock. Streams of data streamed in front of her, every
scrap of information about the ship’s movement not even a glance away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We are clear of the dock.” She reported. The
thrusters would pulse the ship on its course for an hour. Then she would
initiate the first main engine burn. That burn would push her, two hundred crew
and one hundred and fifty thousand tons of mass to Mars.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-64863287701482433142012-04-09T20:39:00.005+01:002012-04-09T20:39:55.892+01:00Chapter 8 - February 2073<br />
<h2>
United Nations Orbital Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller watched his second in command,
Colonel Vadim Sokolov as he left the office. Fuller had been ordered by the
Security Council to take personal charge of the contact mission. It was to take
absolute priority. So now the Colonel had to manage the day to day running of
Orbital Command itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The contact mission itself had two components. The
trade mission and the defence mission. The defence mission already earned the
nickname of Plan B. Hardly an original name, but Fuller hoped it would remain
the second option. A working party of defence experts from around the world were
already assembling. They would take the original report Fuller had presented to
the Security Council and work it into a plan. He didn’t envy them the long
nights needed to get that plan together in time. However he did have a few late
nights of his own to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller’s immediate priority was the trade mission. A reply to the aliens had already been tight beamed
to their ship. Everyone now eagerly awaited their next data package. Despite
Fuller’s objections they hadn’t completed the technology assessment honestly.
As a concession to the Asian Alliance, more ambiguous responses had been
provided in an attempt to conceal some of the human weapons capability. Plan B
and its sudden generous funding was another major concession.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Yet another concession prevented the use of the
private corporations in either mission. This
would make Fuller’s task problematic.
For the trade mission to succeed they had to accumulate the needed resources
and then ship them to Mars, before the alien craft arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The first problem was buying the resources. The
amounts they needed amounted to a significant proportion of the current annual
output. This would force the prices of key resources up, resulting in economic repercussions
around the world. Somebody was also bound to notice the UNOC suddenly buying
large quantities of industrial resources. Fuller had already passed along this
particular problem to the accounting division. There the number crunchers and
their expert system would assemble a purchase plan to minimize the ripple
effects. The Intelligence Division would also try to come up with a plausible
cover story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He also asked them to look into ways the
corporations could be encouraged to increase production. Increased prices was
one thing, but resource shortages would be much more disruptive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another big problem was the available lift
capacity. Like any military campaign, without logistics you had no campaign.
Without adequate transports they couldn’t deliver the goods for the trade. The
bulk of the available transport fleet was owned by the corporations and the Security
Council restrictions meant he couldn’t just hire some of these vessels. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The ESA and NASA had a small transport fleet of
six small freighters, used to ferry supplies to the Luna base and other orbital
stations. They were small though capable of carrying five thousand tons of
cargo each. To transport everything they would need at least fifty of these
small ships. The Russians also had a couple of similar sized ships.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It really frustrated him. Fuller knew that three
of the LMC’s mega-freighters could transport everything in one go. Even better
the Long March vessel being built out at L1 Station could probably carry the
lot. Naturally the Chinese and Indians refused to provide their new ship for
this use. Even though everybody knew its destination was Mars. Not for the
first time Fuller wondered what the Asian Alliance was planning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
There was some good news. The Chinese and Indians
had both promised to provide freighters, construction would begin immediately.
These were expected to be ready in a little over six months time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller had heard some rumours that the Europeans
and the Americans were planning to expand their Luna shipyard. The expansion a
bid to compete in the heavy lift market against their neighbours the LMC. He
had a meeting with the European production manager later that morning to discuss
how they could help with the mission. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He sighed. Another option could be to transport in
multiple trips. It would burn a lot more fuel and require more support. The thought
of leaving all that raw material in Mars orbit, with only the Chinese and their
allies nearby was not a comforting one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
After some consideration, he composed a message to
his own production facilities. They couldn’t build freighters, but they could
produce many useful, if smaller machines.</div>
<h2>
Richards’ Home, outside Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The bloated sun sat low and lazy on the horizon. Michael
watched it creep slowly from view. He loved Rachel a lot, but sometimes he
wished he didn’t have to go to these events. He knew it was selfish of him, occasionally
it would just be nice to not dress up and just have a quiet night with just the
two of them. He wondered if he gave her a cheque for a million dollars whether
she’d agree to them not going to the reception. He quickly dismissed the idea,
she’d accept the cheque and then make him go anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He smiled at the thought, Rachel could be forceful
when she wanted to be. In fairness his work was just as much to blame.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Monique Abbots had already messaged him to say she
was looking forward to continuing their discussions. She also said that she hoped
that he would provide the investment they were looking for in the radio
telescope renovations. Her message also indicated that the renovations had UN
approval both as a cultural investment and as part of the SETI program. He’d
smiled, enjoying the irony in the cover story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The crux of the matter was that she expected a
decision. And that decision would need to be delivered at the dinner, later
that evening. Michael always discussed any major decisions, business or otherwise
with his wife. They continued their discussion while dressing for the function.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Honey have you decided what you want to do?”
Rachel’s voice was distorted as she applied her make-up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I really wish I had more information to go on.
Every expert I have spoken to me assures me the contact is genuine. I can’t shake
the feeling that it is a setup.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Could it be you don’t want to believe it’s true,
it is pretty Earth shattering. I’m not sure I believe it myself. It seems like
too extreme an idea for a setup, surely they would come up with something a bit
more plausible? Besides, what would they have to gain?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well we would have to invest a lot in this
project. Even with our resources we couldn’t do it alone. We’d need to involve
the other independents.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So you and the others could be exposed? Would
that exposure be great enough to risk the company?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“On its own? Probably not. If it is part of a larger conspiracy it
could leave us vulnerable to some other move.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And I suppose the secrecy makes it difficult to
spread the risk?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes it does. There’s a few things we can do to
spread the financial risk. I’ve already got the accountants working on these.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I still think there would be easier ways to trick
you. Something like this would require a lot of setting up. Something would
could go wrong too easily. And as your experts tell you, it’s not something
that could be faked that easily.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I guess you’re right. As usual.” He hoped she
heard the smile in his voice.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It sounds like you’ve already made your decision.
I think you really want me to find reasons why you shouldn’t, so you can shoot
me down.” He heard the smile in her voice. “Anyway I need something much more
important. Zip me up” Rachel back walked into the bedroom. The back of her pale
yellow dress hung open, revealing the tanned skin beneath. She looked stunning
as always and Michael couldn’t resist a kiss as he did as she commanded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I guess I have. The risk is great, but the
opportunity even greater. Plus I can’t help but be excited to be a part of such
a historical event. I’d still like more data on what technology they are going
to provide. Even the tantalizing glimpse they have provided indicates that some
fields will be advanced twenty or even fifty years from our current position.
And that’s a lot of profit for the company.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She looked at him. “Monique is right. These advances
shouldn’t benefit just the few. Even if you’re one of the few.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I agree. I’m not going to deny myself first mover
advantage. And I won’t do the same for my partners. But the benefits should be
available to all. It does require somebody to make those benefits available
though.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Rachel kissed him again. “I’m sure you will
darling. So what’s the next step.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“We go to dinner.”</div>
<h2>
China National Space Agency HQ, Beijing</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Hui Zhong reported to the Mission Director’s
office, less than an hour after landing at Beijing airport in her shuttle. The
agency hadn’t said why she was needed back on the mainland so urgently. At
least the urgency meant that she was allowed to fly her shuttle from the
station. The first real flight she had piloted in months. She had really
enjoyed those few hours in the cockpit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unlike her previous visit she didn’t have to wait
upon arrival at the Mission Director’s office. The secretary lead her straight
in. She recognized General Po Ling instantly. He led the Chinese space operation
and represented China on the Security Council. That made him one of the most
important people in China, if not the world. She wondered why somebody so
important would need to see her. She snapped a perfect salute, first at the
General and then at the Director. The General’s salute was slower, more casual.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Director seemed ill at ease in the General’s
presence and she thought she heard a slight stammer in his voice as he invited
her to sit. “Good afternoon Commander. A pleasure to see you again. Can I offer
you some refreshment?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes, Director. Some tea would be nice.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The secretary immediately left the room. The
General seated himself behind the desk, the Director pushed from his customary
seat to the periphery of the desk. His discomfort increased visibly as he
positioned a chair. Hui sat on the chair opposite Po Ling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Commander.” The General started. “We’ve brought you
here for an urgent briefing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The secretary returned, placed the small cup of
dark tea in front of Hui. With the same minimal fuss as with she arrived, she closed
the door behind her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Everything we are about to discuss in this office
is not be repeated to anybody not designated by my authority. Not even your XO,
although he will be cleared within the next week. Or replaced if the situation
warrants it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yes sir.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Good. Several months ago an alien message was
received.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui wasn’t sure she heard correctly. Then a vague
memory of some vague news reports surfaced. She had assumed they were the
result of some prank or marketing trick.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Po Ling must have sensed her doubt. “Yes
Commander. Real aliens. It is not enough we have the Western powers to deal
with, now we have another group of capitalists heading to our Solar System.” He
shook his head in disgust.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The fools at the United Nations, despite our
advice have been in contact with the aliens. Less than three weeks ago the
Security Council agreed to trade with these aliens. Their ship will arrive in
Mars orbit in less than three years time. Your current mission has now changed
in light of this.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui nodded, still not sure what to say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The Long March vessel must be ready to launch
next month.” Hui cursed in her mind and started to process what that meant. The
launch schedule would be compressed from three months to just one. That would
not be easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The General continued. “The Long March will fulfil
its mission to establish a forward base at Mars. The base will not be used to
prepare for the Jupiter mission, that mission is now on hold.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Sir...” </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui’s interruption was immediately cut off by the
General. “The Mars station will prepare for combat operations. Your priorities
are as follows. First stop any direct contact with the aliens, from any source.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Any source sir?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Any source. No human agency is to be allowed to
physically interact with the alien craft. There will no trade. The second
priority is to engage the aliens if they prove hostile. We will continue
efforts to control the situation at the UN. If that fails you will be our
strategic reserve.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Pride and concern conflicted inside her. She
concentrated on the immediate problem. “Sir. What assets will we have? We won’t
have time to assemble much firepower before we launch. Even less time to
integrate it into the ships systems.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Long March will launch before the end of next
month and begin preparations. You will command the flight and then return to
Earth. Immediately upon launch construction will begin on the first re-supply
mission. This first re-supply will provide extensive weaponry for the
operation. Not just weapon systems to integrated onto the Long March, but independent
platforms as well.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What independent platforms General?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Armed shuttles and new drones. Unfortunately they
won’t be ready for several months. The final supply mission will be constructed
when the second launches. As part of the cover at the UN we need to construct
long range freighters for their trade effort. We do not want to tip them off
too early with what we are doing. This final resupply will include nuclear weapons.
I will be accompanying you on that final mission to authorise the release of
those weapons if needed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He offered a terse smile. “Don’t worry Commander,
you still command the vessel and the mission.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui doubted that, but he outranked her by at least
a mile. “Sir, the first mission will need some offensive capability. The aliens
– “ She found it hard to believe she was having this conversation. “ – may not be arriving for three years, but
the UN or any of the national space agencies or the corporations could arrive
at any time. To secure the Mars region we will need some firepower.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The General nodded. “I agree, but we lack suitable
inventory to equip the vessel and maintain orbital defences. You already have a
full cyber warfare suite onboard. I’ll requisition some point defence systems
from the army and navy. I know it’s not ideal, but they will add some short
range capability to the ship.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thank you General. We’ll also need to increase
the workload and a faster delivery schedule to get the ship ready on time. It’s
going to be very difficult to motivate the crew into working double shifts,
especially if I can’t tell the crew the reason why.” She paused and thought for
a moment. “What if I imposed a communications blackout? I’d have to quarantine the
shuttle crews as they are travelling to and from Earth, but the rest could be
told.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ll consider it, but it does sound like a
practical solution. Would additional manpower help?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not with the construction. The engineering teams
are all highly trained and have worked together for months now. New people could
disturb that harmony.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The General nodded his agreement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“However additional shuttles and crews to increase
the deliveries would help progress.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ll get that done. You are also authorised to promise
an extra months pay for the crew. That should help with their motivation. The
Director has a briefing package for you to study at your leisure. If you need
anything contact the Director, he will arrange what you need.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Po Ling stood. “Unless you have any questions I must
go and brief the President”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui had plenty of questions, but none worth of
delaying the General. “Nothing at this time General.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well thank you Commander. And you Director. I’ll
provide updates to you both as we get more intelligence.”</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-86670226160159009992012-04-08T20:14:00.004+01:002012-04-08T20:14:47.304+01:00Chapter 7 - January 2073<br />
<h2>
L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The piercing shriek of the alarm tore through the
simulation and dragged Hui from the pure virtuality of the simulation back into
normal reality. The sudden transformation of her frame of reference
disorientated her. Her neural implants immediately dampened their inputs to
protect her mind from information overload. Hui recognized the noise as a fire
alarm and stumbled from the simulator pod to the nearest terminal. Without her
implants she would need to access the station’s data net the old fashioned way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her shaking fingers stabbed at the touch screen as
she thought. With the under-pressurised atmosphere used in space stations, the
oxygen content formed a greater proportion of the air than was found on Earth.
This increased oxygen level made fires on the station a greater threat than
they would normally pose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her eyes struggled to focus on the screen in front
of her, she was grateful the nausea in her stomach seemed to be subsiding. The
implants slowly bloomed back into life and as she located the alarm with the
terminal, her the enhanced reality flooded her mind once again. With the
station’s data feed once again part of her conscious mind she felt whole,
immediately more in control.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The fire started in one of the assembly bays. The
bays were used to assemble components for the Long March vessel. They reduced
the amount of work that the engineers had to do in vacuum. One of the welding
units had shorted and sparked causing a minor flash explosion. Normally that
wouldn’t be a catastrophe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The expert system that monitored and controlled
the station’s automation triggered its standard fire suppression protocol. In less
than a second the bay was sealed off and inert gas pumped into the atmosphere.
This forced the oxygen out of the bay’s atmosphere and prevented the fire from
burning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As soon as the alarm sounded the dozen engineers
followed their training and sealed the emergency hoods over their faces. These
thin hoods provided several minutes of breathable air while the atmosphere was
cycled to suppress any combustion and then made the air breathable again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unknown to the expert system there was a fault in
the atmosphere cycling in this section. Within seconds the system identified
the problem and Hui could see the sequence of events, unfortunately too late
for the men and women in the bay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Instead of the inert argon, the flow regulator had
seized, that microscopic failure allowed pure oxygen into the pulse chamber.
The pulse chamber designed in such a way to replace the oxygen with the argon
in the quickest time possible. The fault pumped extra oxygen in to the bay. The
sudden introduction of the oxygen caused the fire to flare once again. The
flare took less than a second, but reached such a temperature that it triggered
an escalation in the fire suppression protocol.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When the inert suppression failed then the next
stage vented the section completely. This duly dragged the sudden flames into
space where they instantly dispersed into the endless vacuum. The fire had
reached the melting point of the emergency hoods, the sudden cold from empty
space flash froze these masks to the faces of the engineers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Protocol dictated that the area kept sealed for an
hour to prevent re-ignitions. Hui overrode the lockdown, allowing the marine
damage control teams to enter and attempt to rescue the engineers. It was too
late, the hoods had fused to their faces. The melted hood solidified to a crust
that resisted the cutting tools the marines wielded. By the time others arrived
with laser cutters it was too late.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui then strode to her office. By the time she
arrived and sat down, the expert system compiled the report. She checked it
through, affixed her identification and authorised its release to the agency. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Another terrible duty awaited her, one she had never
had to perform before. She, like her parents, had been on the receiving end
when her brother had been shot down over Vietnam. The flare of that loss still
felt keenly after all these years. Now it would be her duty to inform the
families of their loss.</div>
<h2>
United Nations Security Council, New York</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
What had begun as lively discussion quickly
degenerated into shouted argument. The UNOC research team had verified the list
of items the aliens wanted to trade. They had also made progress on what the
aliens offered. There was another process embedded in the VM. When followed
this process analysed human technological development and then provided options
for what technologies would benefit humans the most.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When entering an honest appraisal the VM outputted
a wide range of technologies, mostly significant, if incremental improvements
to existing human technology. The list included nanotech, communications, life
support technology, and self healing materials. These all excited the research
team. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Fuller found it significant that the list
lacked any technologies that had use for weapon systems He wondered what that
said about the aliens, or was it more a reflection of what they thought of us?
Another anomaly was the lack of biological technology. The life support systems
hinted at better chemical processes, but nothing directly biological. Maybe
they just lacked enough information to judge human biological needs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The researchers had tried to game the assessment,
to see if they could influence the output. After days of trying their success
was limited. The VM seemed to be able to cut through the deceptions. Instead of
feeling disappointed with this result the researchers grew ever more excited
with each new revelation of the VM’s prowess.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unfortunately the Security Council, or at least
certain members had not seen it in the same positive light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It is clearly a trick.!” General Po Ling
gesticulated angrily. “As I predicted these aliens seek to pry our secrets from
us and use them against us. They form a clear and present danger to our world
and we would be foolish to help their agenda in any way.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Chinese and Indians as always formed a united
front. Although not directly represented on the Security Council, many other
Asian nations, those that benefitted from the Asian Alliance backed the stance.
Fuller wondered at the reason for this stance, did they truly believe the
aliens represented a threat?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The opposition came from their old rivals, the
Americans and the Europeans. For many years they acquiesced to the Asian rise
in geo-political dominance. Although not defeated, their voice on the international
stage became much diminished. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For the Europeans it was a similar story. Once fragmented
they slowly coalesced into a single entity. They become stronger for the unity,
but their influence focused on their immediate borders, Russia, the Islamic
League and to some extent the African Union.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now these old western powers had glimpsed an
opportunity. Whether it was to bolster their own influence, or for the benefit
of all mankind as they claimed, remained to be seen. But for once they had
taken a stand, shaken the status quo and now the Council seemed paralysed by
this clash.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Russian delegate had spoken little. For
decades they played a delicate game. They were caught between the Asian giants
and a powerful Europe. Both ancient enemies, now they benefitted by being a
conduit between these great markets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The final delegate on the council was the South
African Minister, Minister Monique Abbot. Officially she represented only the
nation of South Africa. Everyone also understood that she acted for the African
Union on the Council. The African Union wasn’t a single entity in the same ways
as the European Union. The African nations maintained their individual
sovereignty, although acted together on many matters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Along with the Russian representative she attempted
to mediate between the two sides. As with the Russians this stance was
primarily driven by necessity. The African nations depended on both the Indians
and Europeans for much of their business.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The argument, lively as it was, remained a
stalemate. The United Nations constitution stated that if the Security Council
could not agree then the matter would have to be passed to the General
Assembly. Secretly that’s what Fuller wanted to happen, but the Council did
seem united on that single point. They wanted this contact kept secret. Only by
keeping it secret could they maintain any semblance of control. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
So with neither side willing to compromise and not
wanting to hand responsibility to the General Assembly they would all be stuck
here until a deal was struck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
It was going to be another long night.</div>
<h2>
South African Foreign Ministry, Pretoria</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The call from the Foreign Ministry came as a
surprise to Michael Richards. He’d been invited for a private discussion about
sponsoring the rebuild of the aging radio telescope array. Decades before the
array had been the pride of the scientific community in Africa. Now it was
obsolete. Micro-satellites could do the same job of scanning the heavens at a
much lower cost. It made no sense for the cash strapped South African
government to invest money into this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He’d politely declined, or tried to. The official
had just as politely insisted. Eventually Michael had agreed to the meeting.
The more he thought about it, the less sense the meeting made. Not only was the
project pointless, why was the meeting taking place at the Foreign Ministry?
The Foreign Ministry had no jurisdiction over the project.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As always he arrived punctually and an old secretary
ushered into a finely furnished office. Some of the furniture looked like it
had been made in colonial times. The collection must have been worth a fortune.
Michael knew, he had some similar pieces in his own office. Other pieces he had
donated to the museum in Johannesburg. The opulence provided a stark contrast
to the run down township less than three miles away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael surprise showed as the elegant women rose
from behind the desk to greet him.
Michael had met Monique Abbots a few times over the years, always at top
level functions. He didn’t know her well, but he knew her reputation. She was
known as a straight dealer, educated and intelligent. For many years she
represented South Africa ably at the United Nations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thank you
for joining me, Mr Richards. Let me apologise for the subterfuge, but I wanted
a private conversation with you. And for reasons you’ll soon appreciate, I
couldn’t just ask you over the net.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With a small gesture her aides discreetly left the
room. She indicated one of two plush seats situated in one corner of the room.
She crossed the room to a rich walnut drinks cabinet. “Can I offer you a
drink?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Just a sparkling water. Thanks.” He replied while
making himself comfortable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She filled two tall glasses, after adding ice, she handed one glass to Michael and sat
down opposite him. She casually adjusted the hem of her dress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I know
you’re a busy man Mr Richards, my time is also limited so I’ll get straight to business.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As you already know we have received first
contact from an alien ship. The first message arrive back in September and the
ship that sent it is currently on route to our solar system. That ship will
arrive in Mars orbit in three years time. Last week the Security Council sat in
closed session to determine humanity’s response to this contact.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I thought this was all a hoax, that’s what being
reported on the news feeds?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You know better than that Mr Richards. Your Head
of Security has already informed you of the basic facts. He hasn’t been made
aware of the events in that meeting. It is unlikely that she will be able to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She paused for a moment, to let that point settle.
Michael waited without comment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The Council, after prolonged discussion agreed to
respond to the aliens and to trade with the aliens for new technology.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Why are you telling me this Ms Abbot?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You’ve always been a friend to our country Mr
Richards. I don’t mean just to this government, but to the people as well. You
provide employment to thousands. You maintain your company headquarters here
and your wife devotes much of her time to charity work in the townships.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“However it is not just the ties to our country
that makes you the person to tell these things. It is your wider ties with
Africa as well. Unlike the Europeans we
have never quite managed to unite. We lack the strength to oppose the will of
either the Americans or the Chinese.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What does this have to do with the alien
contact?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The Security Council is suppressing the contact.
This is probably the most significant event in human history. If the message is
true, and I believe it is, then this can benefit the whole of mankind.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And the UN isn’t working to this goal?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I think General Fuller is trying to do just that.
But his voice, even as the Commander of Orbital Command is a lone one.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So why not back him up?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She sighed. “We simply cannot afford to go against
the Chinese and their allies. At best we can maintain a neutral stance. The
Americans and Europeans are pushing to take advantage of the situation, but
along with the Asian Alliance they’re keeping the lid of secrecy on the
contact. “</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Our feeling is that by restricting access the
contact will only benefit a few. The Europeans are backing the Americans, but I
think they can be persuaded to back a more open approach.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And the Chinese? Indians? And the rest of the
Asian Alliance?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We can’t stop their interference inside the UN
and it troubles us that they’re the only power with a significant heavy lift
planned to Mars.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Well that may be true right now, but most vessels
could reach Mars with some modifications and preparation.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Ms Abbot smiled. “We were hoping you would feel
that way. What we need is an independent group that can act in the wider
interest, that isn’t under the direct control of the United Nations, or a
hostile government. ” </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As soon as the Security Council gets wind that
the LMC is trying to interfere with the contact, they will do everything to
stop us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“With that we can help you. Assuming you can at
least show some discretion with your operations.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s difficult to keep secrets in space.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yet the Chinese and their allies seem to manage
it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael wondered what she meant by that comment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She handed Michael a small object. “This data pack
contains all of the information the UN has on the contact so far. You will see
that many of the items they want for trade fall within your company’s sphere of
operations.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She sipped her water. “There is also data on how
we are communicating with the aliens. Our initial reply to them was tight
beamed. They replied in kind, only the original message was broadcast. “</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You want me to contact the aliens myself?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That’s one option. Our goal is to make sure that
this contact benefits everybody.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What’s to stop me taking advantage of this
contact for myself?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Nothing, although I doubt even your corporation
has the resources to do that alone. That’s where we can help.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She stood and offered her hand. As Michael shook
it she said. “We’ll meet again in a few weeks for your decision Mr Richards.
Take the time to study the data and see what you can plan. I’ll look forward to
meeting with you again.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With that the aides returned and Ms Abbot was
swept from the room.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-1663468899273110302012-04-07T20:50:00.003+01:002012-04-07T20:50:41.647+01:00Chapter 6 - December 2072<br />
<h2>
UNOC Research Facility, near Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Two months of frustrated waiting passed before the
alien reply finally arrived. General Fullers had to use all of his self control
to not harass the research team. After another two days they completed the
integration of the new data. As soon as he received word that they had started
extracting new information he jumped into a hover transport and sped to the
research facility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The team had not been idle during their wait as
Doctor Samir eagerly explained while leading the General through the lab.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The extra time examining the core VM has proved fruitful.
We’ve learnt enough about its structure to be able to add our own interfaces.
Perhaps graft is a more accurate term. Here General, take a look at this.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Samir lead Fuller to a new terminal situated near
the cluster used to run the virtual machine. The new terminal looked the same
as any common terminal used throughout the world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What am I looking at Doctor?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“This, General, is a standard library terminal.
We’ve disconnected it from the data net, all we really need it for is the
natural voice input module all such terminals have built in. It took many
attempts, but we’ve finally connected it to the VM.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You mean you can speak to it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The large happy smile brightened the scientist’s
weary face. “Exactly.” The smile faltered a little. “At the moment it only
really works for input. We can translate our queries easily enough, but parsing
the response is trickier. The data
language uses layered structures and connected patterns that combine simple
precepts into more complicated meanings.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller just nodded, understanding wasn’t relevant.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re more familiar with the system it uses to
represent information, but it’s hardly conversation. The amount of information
the system can represent with a small amount of data makes the VR data streams
we use look clumsy in comparison. Not
only is this VM processing and assimilating data in a way we’ve never imagined,
it also represents data in its own unique way. The computer geeks are going
crazy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He looked embarrassed for a moment, surrounded by
geeks, he even looked one himself. With a cough he continued. “Anyway, as you
know another signal arrived yesterday. The length of the message indicated that
this package contained far more information than the previous message.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How much more information?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s difficult to say, there’s no real
correlation between the package size and the data it contains. The package isn’t
just information, it contains new states and processes for the original VM.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Hazard a guess Doctor.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“If you want an ass number General” Someone stifled
a chuckle. “I’d say about two thousand times as much data. In real terms its
probably an netpedia’s worth.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ve created two versions of the VM. One version
is the original version, unchanged by our input. The other is the state after
we sent the response package back in September. And then – “ Samir’s face lit
up with enthusiasm again. “And then something wondrous happened. In both
versions the VM transformed, for each the method of transformation was
different. We recorded the full state transition in minute detail. From second
to second the changes were different but the end result was the same. Both VMs
ended up with the same configuration.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The new package must contain the data to restore
the original state of the VM that sent the message in the first place. We
tested that hypothesis and created a new version of the VM and entered
different answers into it. The new state differed greatly, so we integrated the
new signal, expecting it to overwrite the changes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It didn’t. Somehow the VM integrated the new data
and assimilated the new information and adapted it to its own different
understanding. It seems the VM is a lot smarter than we originally thought. The
possibilities are remarkable!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’m sure they are Doctor. Now have we learned
anything new about the aliens themselves?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Oh yes General. They’ve provided various pieces
of information about themselves. They describe themselves as travellers. They
explore star systems and make contact with beings they encounter. This
confirmed our supposition they have communicated with other species before. The
VM they use is too sophisticated to have never been used before.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Do they say where they are from?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not in great detail. They’ve travelled outwards
along the Orion arm. As far as we can tell from the navigation data, which only
gives vague information about their course, they’ve travelled eight hundred
light years in about five thousand years.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The ship has been travelling for five thousand
years? How is that possible?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We don’t know. They’re aliens, who knows how long
they live?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Even for a machine to last for that long is
difficult to believe.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Some of the team think it could be a generation
ship.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He then answered the General’s next question,
before Fuller spoke it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“A generation ship is a small contained world. It
travels slowly, much slower than the speed of light. It could take centuries to
travel from one star to the next. During its long journey new generations are
born on the ship and then die there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So the aliens on the ship won’t be the same
aliens that left their home planet?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We really don’t know, but if it is a generation
ship then no, they’ll be the descendants. We haven’t managed to derive much
from the VM about the aliens themselves, so we really don’t know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller sighed, with each tiny piece of the puzzle
they placed, the puzzle just gets bigger.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Does the message say what they want?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It does. They seek information about us...”
That’ll make certain members of the Security Council happy Fuller thought
wryly. “... and they seek to trade. There is a list of materials they want,
we’ve not identified them all, but most appear to be metals and other refined resources
like carbon nano-tubes. They also want a large quantity of Helium-3, we assume
that they’re using it as fuel like we do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Would our fusion drives be powerful enough for a
ship to travel that distance?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“With enough fuel they could. It depends on the
mass of the ship, but the engines are reasonably scalable.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“However, it does seem odd. “ The Doctor
continued. “All of the elements we’ve identified so far are fairly plentiful in
space. They could easily extract these for themselves. So why trade?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Any theories?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Samir smiled. “There’s an abundance of theories,
just no evidence to back them up. “ He shrugged. “Maybe it’s a cultural thing. Or
maybe it’s an efficient mechanism for establishing contact with new species.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That made some kind of sense. “What are they
offering in trade?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“For information about ourselves they will provide
information about themselves. For the physical materials they’re offering
technology.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What information do they want?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ve not established the details yet, but it
seems to be historical and cultural information. We think they want to learn
who we are as a people, what makes us tick.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Any indications they want more sensitive
information? Like our military capabilities?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Not that we’ve seen. We hardly scratched the
surface yet though.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What about the technology? What are they offering?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“They don’t say, or if they do we’ve not made sense
yet. The only other part of the message
we’ve established with confidence is that they are due to arrive in Mars orbit
in three years time.”</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Colony Base, The Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael Richards read the reports while sat at his
desk. It always felt a little strange when seated in low gravity. More
comfortable, but unusual. He could have done that back on Earth, but his last
visit had been a couple of months ago and he liked to visit in person when he
could. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The shipyard orbiting several thousand miles above
his head had just finished the latest upgrades. He started with the latest
progress report for this key facility. He immersed himself in the data flow. He
saw that the recent work had effectively doubled its production capacity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The huge construction bays could now accommodate
two mega-freighter hulls. Except for the Long March vessel out at L1 station,
these were the biggest space faring vessels in operation. At half a mile long
they transported up to one hundred tons of cargo. Cargo like refined ores and
minerals, essential feeding the industry both on Earth and up here in orbital
space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The expansion also allowed the shipyard to build
smaller freighters used to transport consumables like food and water between
the various facilities. The LMC also used them extensively for transporting
processed Helium-3. These ships were dwarfed by the mega-freighters, although
they still formed the bulk of the transport capacity in space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
New production lines also increased capacity for
the tugs and shuttles. The tugs were small, short range craft used to move
goods around facilities in orbit. The shuttles provided passenger and light
goods transport. Unlike the Russian and EU/US shuttles, they weren’t built for
atmospheric flight. The LMC still produced atmospheric shuttles back at the
factory in Nairobi. This factory wasn’t being expanded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
According to his best economic modellers space
based industry was expected to continue its meteoric growth. Michael still
worried about the space elevator, that would cut into the shuttle ferrying
business. Once beyond orbit the LMC transport fleet still reigned supreme and
that wasn’t likely to change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
After reviewing the shipyard upgrades Michael
switched his focus to Project Green. The illusion of data around him morphed
with new input. He dived through the sub-chapters, checking the individual
projects. The lack of progress frustrated him. The research team followed every
avenue, it seemed that every effort to maintain life in low orbit encountered
some new problem. At least the vat grown meat tasted good. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The final report wasn’t fed via the company
datastream, but delivered in person by Jacob Manning. Jacob sat in the sleek
chair opposite Michael, drinking chilled water from a LMC branded sealed pouch.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael disengaged from the data net and warmly greeted
his friend. “Jacob, how are you doing?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’m well Mr Richards, thank you for asking.
You’re keeping me busy and that keeps me out of trouble.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael smiled, more at the dry delivery than the
oft repeated line. “So you have something you wanted to talk about? Something
you didn’t want to say on the net? You do know we have the tightest security
money can buy?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As the constant hack attacks can attest to.
Although the cyber mercs we hired seems to have helped. We’ve not had any
penetrations since the last attack in September. There’s been the usual
attempts. Anyway, due to the source of this information I didn’t want to risk
discussing this on anything that could be recorded. And until the quantum
entanglement communications systems become a reality, that means anything that
can be transmitted.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Quantum entanglement formed the holy grail of the
communications industry. Secure, impossible to intercept and in theory, even possible
of faster than light communication it would be worth billions to whoever
managed to get it working. The system had been demonstrated in labs, but the experiments
never seemed to scale into anything useful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ok, so what’s so secret we can’t trust the
system?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That UN thing, with the so-called alien message
you asked me to look into.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded. “I remember.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It took
some doing, but I’ve managed to develop a source with someone who has high
level access in the Security Council.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It seems that the cranks on the net are right after
all and the official statements just a smoke-screen. The message is genuine and
it’s so simple to prove that it’s amazing the UN have managed to keep it
suppressed for so long.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob stared into the distance for a moment. “I’ve
sent you a list of a few reputable scientists who can confirm the veracity of
the message. Along with the pertinent bullet points.” Michael scanned the list,
he noticed a few well known names on that list from internationally renowned
organisations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I recognise some of these names. How have they
managed to keep this quiet with these people speaking out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob shrugged. “The usual. They just dismiss the
story with their own experts. They put pressure on the major news feeds to keep
the story as a joke item. Any feeds that report the item seriously start
getting attacked. Usual kid hacker stuff that could be anyone, but effective
enough against the commercial sites. Most academic organisations rely on UN
funding, so they won’t do anything to jeopardise that.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Did you find out anything about the message
itself?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I did. The first message was just a general hello
and some sort of program.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The message is a computer program?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Yeah, some sort of virtual machine that processes
the data between the aliens and the UN.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“You said the first message, there have been
others?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“One other that I could find out about. These
aliens come in peace apparently and want to trade.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Trade? Trade for what? And what are they
offering?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’m still chasing the details, but they’re
wanting a lot of processed resources, ores and construction materials like
carbon nano-tubes. High tech raw materials. In exchange they’re offering
information and new technology.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What information? And what sort of technology?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I don’t know and from what I hear the UN doesn’t
know either. There’s a closed session next week, I hear that will be when they
decide what the official response will be.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael sat back, thought for a few moments. Jacob
waited patiently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“These people on the list. Do you think any of
them would be willing to work on this privately? When I say privately I mean in
all senses."</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s possible. I’ll investigate and check out any
that seem trustworthy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Something this big is going to change the world
and we cannot be caught napping when it finally does break. Get on it and tell
the research division I want a black project set up for this. They can plunder
anyone they want, except from Project Green. You’ll handle the security?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Of course.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“And keep digging at the UN. I want to know what
they know. And soon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
For now he had to turn his attention to something
more important, a Christmas present for his wife.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-78657500100671707212012-04-02T16:09:00.001+01:002012-04-02T16:09:25.651+01:00Chapter 5 - November 2072<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">United Nations Space Command HQ, Moscow</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">General Fuller sank himself into the datastream, letting the information flow through his consciousness. His idea to let the various air forces and space agencies compile different responses to a possible alien attack had born fruit. In some cases withered and bitter fruit, but fruit nonetheless. The UNSC’s planning and logistics expert system, nicknamed Colossus had compiled the reports into an adaptive simulation. Clever as Colossus was, there was no data on the enemy at all, so the simulation focused only on the human side of the equation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not surprisingly the air forces kept their top of line inventory out of their planning briefs, but did manage to include some of what they know about their rivals. Blending the data, full of deceit actually provided the system with enough information to fill in the gaps. For the most part.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Naturally the most reliable data was the UNSC forces and dispositions. Colossus plugged into that information as part of its regular duties. In terms of operational footprint they were also the most developed, so he started there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The UNSC’s primary offensive platform was the Dark Wing shuttles, their range enabled them to cover all space up to and beyond the Luna orbit. The weaponry on the shuttles are reasonably light, twin rail guns, two directed energy weapons and eight conformal missiles. Adequate against their intended targets of rogue freighters and shuttles, but would no doubt find themselves lacking against more substantial targets. Officially they were the only offensive platform in Earth orbit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller snorted at that thought. Colossus ignored the input, it had worked with the General many times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Defensively the UNSC also deployed the Guardian platforms. These are small point defence drones stationed around Gateway Station. Equipped with micro DEW’s their purpose was identifying and destroying small incoming threats like meteorites and missiles. Theoretically they could handle incoming projectiles as well, but the latest rail gun projectiles travel far too quickly for them to engage. While the Guardians typically floated freely in space like tiny satellites, they could also be attached to larger vessels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller manipulated the datastream drawing the focus from his own forces and onto the United States. His own familiarity with the USAF showed how frugal the Americans had been with revealing their own space capabilities. They have a number of platforms capable of hitting targets in space, primarily in low orbit, but only a few could reach higher targets. However he remembered a project during his time there for small weapon packs that could be quickly equipped to their and most likely European shuttles as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Colossus took note of this supposition, reshaped the form of the data as a consequence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller trawled through the assembled reports adding his own thoughts to the data. The Russians didn’t mention their increased production capability. The Chinese and Indians didn’t include their Mars mission. Everyone undercounted their nuclear capability.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He spent the morning drifting through the data, he absorbed the various recommendations. His real problem was that they were all very defensive in nature. At best they all formed a last line of defence at Earth itself. If there really was an attack, and he still thought that unlikely, if they allowed the attacker to sit in orbit they had already lost the advantage of the high ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seemed strange, that should be immediately obvious, yet none of the reports considered more than a taken defence in depth. Even the Russians, famous for the same strategy on Earth. Was this an indication of limited strategic thinking now the UNSC was responsible for space security? Or did the various agencies have their own response plans in mind that they weren’t willing to share?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thought seemed odd and the second unlikely. And serious space armament effort would quickly be noticed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another glaring omission was the lack of involvement of the various private enterprises. Collectively and individually in the case of the Luna Mining Corporation they represented the bulk of the space lift capability. Although this omission was more understandable. The major space powers distanced themselves from the commercial activities of even their own companies. Or so it seemed on the surface. Space politics could be even more convoluted than back on the surface.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It had been lazy of him to try and off-load the plan preparation. He’d wanted to devote more time to the message, but so far nothing new had been heard from the aliens. They’d given him something to start with, but he would need to put a lot more effort into it himself before he could present it to the Security Council in a week’s time.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Australian Finance Ministry,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sydney</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Those cheap bastards!” The driver was the recipient, but not the cause of Michael Richards’ fury. “Those United-Fucking-Nations bastards!” The driver took it in his stride and kept his concentration on the road ahead. It was a short journey to the airport and he would be free of the tirade by then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael tried to calm himself, anger would do him any good and abstractly he knew it had nothing to do with the driver. He might work for the government, but he had nothing to do with their idiotic choices. He didn’t swear often, he didn’t even like to swear. Sometimes he just had to vent. At least Rachel wasn’t here to reprimand him about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of time and money had been invested into his bid to become the Australian government’s official partner in the space elevator project. Michael had identified this project early on as being vital to the company’s future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The project was run by the United Nations and they were partnered with most of the world governments for feasibility financing. Once operational it would drive the cost of moving goods to and from orbit by a huge margin. The Luna Mining Corporation would take a big hit and rather than suffer from it, he wanted to be a part of it. Michael always tried to take advantage of an opportunity, not be harmed by it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next round of funding was intended to expand the project from the initial test platform. According to Michael’s sources the first station should be operational within the year. Already a dozen sites along the equator had been earmarked for new ground stations. The stations would be connected by specially engineered cables to orbiting platforms. People and goods could be lifted into space and dropped back down again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a simple idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A simple idea that had taken years of research and billions of dollars to made the idea workable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the past two years Michael had been working with his contacts in the government refining their bid. Now at the last minute they had changed their minds. Officially they gave no reason, they just said they were going with a more politically friendly company. Unofficially he had heard that it was pressure from the Chinese via the United Nations that made the LMC unsuitable. Only terrestrial investment was welcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was a golden opportunity, now lost. He forced himself to calm down. It doesn’t matter what was wasted, he had to think clearly. He needed a new solution, something that could compete with the new space elevator. Shuttles could never be competitive enough, not with the energy needed to fly into orbit. He considered whether they could switch the serving only businesses already in space, cut out the Earth market completely. Maybe in thirty years time, he guessed. The reality was that just wasn’t feasible yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He had time yet, it would take a few years before the elevator becomes fully operational. As they reached the airport he was already considering new possibilities.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life for Hui changed dramatically after her promotion. She no longer seemed to have any time of her own. Her aide and second in command Major Himani seemed to delight in finding more and more paperwork to devote her time to. With his attention to detail and clockwork efficiency, he was the complete opposite of what most in the Chinese military had come to expect from the Indians. It was considered that the Indians were good fighters, but poorly led and equipped. That might have been true a decade ago, things had changed since then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She had few friends before, it seemed she had none at all now. Where once she’d be offered a lazy salute as she walked by, now everyone immediately snapped to attention at the sight of her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sleep now became a rare and precious thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lists and reports filled her waking hours in an endless stream. Dull as this seemed to her, she had already identified some issues and solved them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ship’s inventory for consumables had assumed a six month period for the first resupply and as a cost cutting measure provided little leeway. She’d extended that to nine months and added three months extra supplies. She still didn’t trust the optimistic projections of the recycling systems and food growth. The extra mass would lengthen the initial journey, but only by a few days and the extra expense approved without any argument. Another indication that this was no normal project.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That morning had been spent checking yet more lists. She was sure that the Major could have signed off on most of them, but she forced her way through them anyway. Diligence had been one of her strengths as a pilot and proved to be an equal asset as a commander.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall the project was on schedule, but every day a new problem would arise that would require her input. This morning’s crisis had been the human waste systems. To save space a new design for solid waste was being engineered. This system wasn’t fully tested, so she ordered it installed on the station. It had failed spectacularly, in only a few hours. The system lacked the required pressure to move the waste and it quickly backed up. The engineers now literally covered in their own mess identified the problem quickly and a solution found. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Station Commander wasn’t happy about the incident. It was her mission, but his station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hui let his rage wash over her. Her decision was the right one, but she could understand why shit spewing into the low gravity toilets would get him angry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankfully she found an escape for herself, if only for a short time. She was required to inspect progress on the construction itself and had taken that to mean an external visual inspection as well as the normal report-based review. Of course she couldn’t use her shuttle for such a task, tempting as that might be, but she could use one of the tugs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So every few days here she was, cocooned inside one of the construction tugs. Safe from the ever present Major if only for a short while. Sometimes the rules on communication security could work in her favour, it was hardly her fault if the tugs were not equipped with full level security communications now was it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tugs were strictly one person machines. An armoured capsule equipped with remotely controlled tentacles used for large scale construction and repair of the ships and station itself. It wasn’t flying in the same sense as piloting the shuttle. It was out in space though and alone with her thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They didn’t have full drive systems either, just small gas powered thrusters. These were designed for precision manoeuvring, not speed, so only moved the tug slowly relative to the ship and station. With each visit she could see the ship grow larger and slowly take form. Already the main structure was in place, now the forward section was being pieced together. Space suited figures clambered over its surface, the bright flash of welding as they sewed the skin together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She found further solace in the simulator. Although promoted to Mission Commander, she was still one of the few qualified pilots on the mission. To maintain her skills she was required to spend at least six hours a week in the simulator. Not that she minded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The timer in her head beeped. Another progress meeting due to start in less than an hour. With a sigh, she entered the commands to send the tug back to the station.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">United Nations Security Council, New York</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again General Fuller found himself stood before the Security Council. And once again the meeting was being held in closed session. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The UN rarely did anything secretly, not at this level at least. Its major strength was its openness. Knowing that the council was preparing to discuss what they could do to interfere with your plans tended to act as a brake on most nation’s ambitions. These days you needed a lot of backup in the Council and General Assembly to push anything too unpopular through. This held true even for the major powers. On more than a few occasions they wished they still had the veto powers they once had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That didn’t mean the UN lacked operational secrecy, but the top level decision making usually took place in the open, for all to see. The signal had changed that. He had attended more closed sessions in the past few months than he had in the whole of the previous year. He wondered how long this could last before the nations not on the council heard whispers of what was going on and started to tear at this veil of secrecy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The contact stories had died down in the news feeds as nothing new appeared to happen, but the reports could still be accessed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Putting those thoughts aside he commenced the briefing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“As instructed by this council, Space Command has prepared a report with strategies for defending the human race against alien invasion. The full details are contained in the briefing packages already sent to you individually. In this briefing, I’ll cover the top line items and then answer any questions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He activated the projection screen, it displayed a map of the Solar System. “To successfully counter any alien invasion we need to operate three lines of defence. The first is intelligence. To battle an enemy, we need to know them. At the moment we have little information to work with, we need a lot more.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He advanced the presentation, a dotted line showed a possible course entering the system. Several similar lines moved out from Earth orbit to cluster around the invader.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The first line of defence is acquiring this invaluable information. We propose continuing to track the signal source. Once its course is established we launch a variety of probes to intercept the aliens and report any data they can. At this stage we can’t know what information will prove the most useful, so we need to cover as many bases as we can. That means a lot of probes. We also recommend that some are equipped for cyber-warfare.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nods all around the table. Recon should be the first movement in any battle plan. Fuller took the pause to move the display to the next step. A thicker line moved from Earth to Mars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The second and primary line of defence is a forward operation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this we need to build and equip a warship with the most powerful weapons at our disposal. Up to and including nuclear weapons. A vessel like the Long March would be an ideal platform. “ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sharp hiss from General Po Ling as he heard this, Fuller ignored it and continued. “This vessel would have to have as much survivability as we can build into it as well as throw as much firepower as we can provide.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The objective for this vessel would be to engage the hostile aliens at a distance from Earth. Ideally this is where we would win the battle. As with the recon drones this vessel should be equipped for cyber as well as conventional weapons. And the crew commanding this vessel would need to be able to authorise the use of any nuclear option without the undue time delays in having to communicate with Earth before release.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sudden chatter in the room was clear indication of how unpopular this option was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The final line of defence is Earth itself. If we have to battle the aliens here we are already at a disadvantage. We can attempt to offset that by fortifying the Luna bases and some of the asteroid bases. There’s a range of specific weapons platforms we can built or alter. For example the mag-lev launchers for the cargo-pods on some of the mining bases could be adopted to fire projectiles. Accuracy at any decent range would be limited, but flinging high velocity clumps of material would be hazardous for any nearby vessel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Beyond that we would need to arm any ship we can get our hands on. If it has an engine we arm it and have it ready to fight. Another option would be to armour a freighter as much as possible and just ram the alien ship. It lacks finesse, but against what is likely to be a technologically superior opponent the only chance we have is throw every bit of firepower we can scrape together at it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He paused for a moment, looked each delegate in the eye. They had to realise how dangerous this course of action would be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“As I’ve already mentioned, full details for all these proposals can be found in the briefing packages I have provided. These also include some very provisional budget estimates. Of course if we move forward with any of them we would need to refine these further.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He saw some faces baulk as they looked at the figures in the budgets. Defending the Earth would not be cheap. The questions started and Fuller steeled himself for a long night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As he expected the discussion carried on late into the night. The lack of the alien response since the last message and the high cost seemed to have dampened their enthusiasm. With a majority vote the matter would be kept secret until the next review meeting and some small budgets made available for further research and planning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">None of the proposals were approved.</span></div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-48521502707414162012012-03-29T20:52:00.002+01:002012-03-29T20:52:24.910+01:00Chapter 4 - October 2072<br />
<h2>
United Nations Space Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller looked up before the door to his
office opened, warned in advance by an urgent message from his secretary. There
wasn’t many people who could arrive unannounced and proceed straight through
without appointment. Unfortunately General Po Ling wasn’t one of those he
wanted to see right now, his arrival surely wouldn’t herald good news.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He rose from behind his desk and courteously greeted
the Chinese General. Po Ling and his Indian counterpart argued strenuously against
sending the message back to the aliens, but in the final vote they were
outnumbered. Fuller would be willing to bet that they wished they still had
veto powers. Those powers had been eroded and finally removed from all
permanent members after the Taiwan conflict. In most issues they could usually
count on enough votes to force their agenda through, but on this occasion they
failed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That wouldn’t stop them manoeuvring though.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Good afternoon General. Please sit. What can I do
for you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They both sat, facing across the table, like adversaries
across a chess board. The United States might have lost that power play before
Fuller’s time, but now the United Nations was involved in the same, if a little
less visible struggle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Ling got straight to business. “General
Fuller, you got your way. You have transmitted the message back to these
aliens. You have put this planet and everyone on it at risk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“General, you’re over dramatising, there is no
evidence...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
With a harsh tone Ling interrupted Fuller. “No you
do not know. With your greed for new technology you have invited this threat upon
us.” He calmed himself and sat back in his chair. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller took the pause to counterattack. “And you
cannot be certain that they do have hostile intent. If they are hostile
ignoring them will not stop their attack. By replying to them we gain the
opportunity to learn more about them. Maybe discovering something vital if we
do have to fight them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We should not be answering their questions making
it easier for them to find out what our weaknesses are!” He visibly made an
effort and calmed himself. “I did not come here to fight with you. The decision
is made, but there is still time for prudent action. We don’t know when these
aliens will arrive, but the signal still originates outside of our solar system
and the velocity is clearly subliminal?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That’s correct.” Fuller matched Ling and relaxed
his tone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So we still have time. I have come to make a deal
General Fuller. If you will listen?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller nodded that he would.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“While you have the votes for the moment, we can
continue to resist every step of this program. We can make things very
difficult. But – “ Here he raised his hand to forestall Fuller’s rejoinder. “ -
we do not have to follow this path. I’m sure you would agree that it would be
prudent to have a back-up plan?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“A back-up plan?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Indeed. We should prepare in case these aliens
are not as friendly as you seem think. We will be presenting a resolution to
the Security Council to put things in motion and we expect your support.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller thought for a moment, the Security Council
would no doubt see this as a sensible course of action. “Any preparations would have to come under the
control of Space Command.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The Chinese General smiled and nodded in response.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Then I think we can help each other. Can I offer
you a drink General?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“That would be most kind.” Ling smiled, he had got
what he wanted.</div>
<h2>
China National Space Agency HQ, Beijing</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The large briefing room seemed desolate with just
the three of them. Hui sat next to the Mission Director, a small audience that
watched the young officer present the mission briefing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“This will be the first manned mission to Mars
since the joint US and ESA mission in 2051. That visit was only transient, a final
statement from waning imperialist powers. There have been several automated
missions since then. All part of the continuing search for microbial life. As
we all know there have been repeated hints, but never anything conclusive.
Maybe the Russian mission to Titan will have better luck at discovering the
first non-terrestrial life.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It was a wasted jibe, he coughed to cover the
silence and hurriedly continued.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“While publically we have announced that this
mission is to establish a permanent base in Mars orbit and begin exploitation
operations, it does consist of a second concealed element. We are indeed
setting up a permanent presence at Mars. This base will be the launch point for
further operations not just at Mars, but in the asteroid belt and ultimately to
Jupiter as well.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The primary mission is to leapfrog the private
commercial interests that have come to dominate the Earth-Moon sphere. As well as mineral resources we are looking
for a more economical source of Helium-3 to break our reliance on the Luna
Mining Corporation. These enterprises have established themselves in a strong economic
position. We need a bold move with a view to the long game to regain our
dominance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As you know we have partnered with India and
Japan to ensure that this mission is a success. It is imperative that this
Asian Alliance mission ends with success.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Stage 1 of the mission is the Long March vessel,
this will transport the orbital station to Mars. This is the largest space craft
ever built. It will transport the orbital station to Mars and while the base
becomes operation resupply missions will be prepared.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Two follow up missions will carry mining and ore
processing robots to start operations on Mars and nearby asteroids. Once
operational additional privately funded Asian corporations will join the
operation, until then the mission will be under CNSA command. The resupply
missions will also bring additional fuel and materials to outfit the Long March
vessel for the ultimate goal, the trip to Jupiter.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Once add Jupiter additional surveys of the moons
will be undertaken while Hydrogen and Helium skim mining operations will be started.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The officer paused the briefing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The mission director took the pause to turn to Hui
and say. “This isn’t part of the mission briefing, but the real goal of this
mission isn’t just to win economic advantage. We are establishing permanent
human colonies, first on Mars, then in the outer system. This mission is the
first very long step for our people.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui digested that for a moment. It was a bold
plan. The world population had already topped ten billion people. And was still
rising. Most of those people lived on the Asian continent. A solution needed to
be found. Could this really work? She would certainly try.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Mission Commander Zhong, do you have any
questions?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Hui had many questions and a long day stretched
ahead of them.</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“Doctor Stevens, what’s the current status of
Project Green?” Michael Richards didn’t like conducting meetings with
telepresence, it always felt strange. It seemed to so real and surreal at the
same time. He did have the option of dialling back the simulation, make the session
more a form of video chat. That too had its flaws, with full immersion he
bathed in the shared data, was able to absorb it almost subliminally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Project Green was to be his legacy. His father had
gambled and won with Helium-3, for Michael it would be biomass. Operations in space
developed daily, dwindling resources on earth forcing expansion into space in
search of profit. The United Nations earned a good income from the orbital
tariffs, so happily supported this growth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This effort required considerable support and
resources of its own. Some resources like metals and water were relatively easy
and even cheaper to obtain in space. Many other companies, as well as the Luna
Mining Corporation made their fortunes extracting and selling these. With his father’s foresight, the LMC also
dominated the fuel market with their Helium-3 extraction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
However some resources still had to be transported
from Earth, such as food. Transporting anything from the surface was expensive,
the space elevator when completed would reduce that cost. Even so, it seemed
like such a waste to Michael and also a golden opportunity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Early experiments with hydroponics had been
modestly successful, but over time the crops had failed. There were various
reasons why, the big problem was low gravity. The plants would grow normally to
start with, but as soon as they gained any size it was discovered that the
plant’s growth became stunted. Some of the government agencies like NASA and
ESA still maintained farms, although the food grown wasn’t good quality, it did
provide some assistance in life support for larger structures.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The LMC simply through economies of scale dominated
this part of the industry as well, but the profit margins were low. The rapidly
increasing Earth population continued to push food scarcity and prices up. If
someone was able to establish a way of producing food away from Earth then that
would change the game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
So Michael Richards had started Project Green.
This was an umbrella project that investigated a myriad of different approaches
to creating food. He had invested heavily in espionage missions to aid these
efforts. Unfortunately much of the research on Earth wasn’t applicable to what
would be useable in space. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He returned his attention to Doctor Steven’s
report.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As expected the hydroponics results have been
limited at best. There are some genetic strains of various crop plants that
might prove more successful.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Creating soil from the regolith is working as
expected and provides a cheaper growth base than the hydroponics. However the
plants still suffer from issues with the low gravity. Some smaller plants like
vegetables can be grown with some success, although not as well as back on
Earth.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As you know, growing the plants isn’t the
problem. The quality of the plants and sustained growing are the key issues. The
larger, or more complex the plant, the more significant the problem. It’s not
just a structural problem, the plants aren’t just feeble they lose much of
their taste and nutritional value.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Genetic alteration of crop plants has provided
some promising initial results, but complications arise. Making the plants more
suitable for growth seems to make the plants less palatable for consumption.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We need to make this work Doctor, what else can
we try?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“There is, we’re approaching the problem from two
different directions. The first is to try maintaining the plants somehow, so
the plant is restored as it grows. We’re testing nano-machines to rebuild the
cell damage from the low gravity. The other
method is to use engineered bacteria to do the same thing. Bacteria
doesn’t seem to suffer from the same problems that larger organisms do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael viewed the data streaming into his
awareness. The early tests looked promising, but so had many other experiments.
He found it very frustrating, there had to be a solution.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The other approach I think is more promising, in
the short term at least. Simpler organisms such as bacteria and algae handle
the low gravity better than the macro-organisms. So a recombination approach
might work, the difficulty here is making the gloop palatable.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This approach had been tried before in the early
days of the Moon colonisation, but had proved unpopular. He then asked about the
final strand in their research bow. “And the vat grown meat?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Surprisingly this has been the most successful
part of the project so far. The meat is grown from engineered cells in special
vats to stimulate growth. The meat is maintained with micro-probes and actually
tastes quite nice. Of course the problem is here is the cost. With the reduced
land being used for meat production on Earth, meat is becoming a luxury item,
so maybe it will eventually become an affordable alternative. Mass production
will drive the price down as well, but we’ll continue to look into ways to make
the process more economical.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thank you for your time Doctor. Keep up the good
work. Please make sure to submit the accounts for approval before the end of
the week.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thank you Mr Richards.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Michael closed down the tele-presence, the software
shut the simulation input slowly, over a few seconds so that the real-world
inputs didn’t overload his system. He checked his calendar for the next item on
his to do list.</div>
<h2>
Shuttle Zheng He, approaching L1 Station</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
It felt good to be back in the cockpit of her
shuttle. The cramped space felt familiar, safe. During the two weeks of endless
briefings the shuttle had been upgraded. It no longer had the cargo pod and the
passenger pod had been reduced in size. The shuttle’s engines had been
replaced, additional fuel tanks and life support had been installed. The shuttle
was now equipped for long range, able to travel comfortably between Earth and
Mars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
After the first mission she would have to journey
back to Earth for the follow-on missions. In the coming year she would visit
Mars twice, the first person to visit the red planet more than once.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As she followed the course back to L1 Station
there was little she needed to do. Only the occasional minor course correction were
needed, although she periodically checked the flight path against the
navigation waypoints to be certain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In the long silence she had time to mull over all
the information she had received. She was eager to take charge of the mission,
but there were problems to be solved. Or solution opportunities as one of her
tutors used say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
The most obvious risk was the length of the supply
line. Even L1 Station was reliant on supply runs from Earth. The scientists were
working hard on minimizing that requirement for this mission, but if anything
went wrong...</div>
<h2>
Gateway Station, Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The view of Earth filled the sky. Fuller relaxed,
just taking a moment for himself as he gazed onto the cloud wrapped blue world
below. It was a fine view and one of the real perks of his visits to the
station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This month’s inspection of the ready squadron here
on the station was an improvement on the last one. He was pleased to see that
the Russians had made good on their word. The airframe upgrades were being
delivered at a faster pace. The new birds weren’t being delivered any quicker, but
that wasn’t unexpected. The squadron’s readiness rating had improved and that
was the main thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
October had nearly ended, but still there was no
reply from the aliens. It worrying him, but without any prior timeframe there
was no way of knowing whether there was delay, or if he worried for no reason..</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Really he had more pressing concerns. A week ago the
Chinese made their move. They submitted their resolution for preparing a plan
if the aliens proved to be hostile. The support for the resolution wasn’t
enthusiastic, but was voted through without incident. Fuller had played his
part, recommending that having a back-up plan was a sensible plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He now needed to put that plan together. He didn’t
want to weaken the research effort by putting his own team on the job. He did,
however have to take it seriously. Maybe he could enlist some help from the
other space agencies and air forces. Make it a theoretical challenge, get some
extra help without widening the need to know circle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
He’d find a solution, but for now he enjoyed the
view. It was spectacular.</div>
<h2>
Richards’ Home, outside Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Rachel fused over Michael’s tie as they both
dressed. She was already dressed in her favourite cocktail dress, he loved
seeing her in that dress so put up with the fussing with good grace. Although he
felt hungry, he resisted the temptation to nibble. Experience taught him that staying
hungry helped him through these functions. He preferred to eat earlier in the
evening, but it was a small sacrifice to make for Rachel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She finally finished straightening his tie, and then
went to check her face one last time. An incoming message buzzed inside his
head, demanding attention. Waiting for Rachel to finish he scanned the message
list. The latest was from Jacob Manning, head of security up at the LMC Moon
base. Jacob wasn’t one for idle messages
and whatever he wanted to say he hadn’t included any details in the terse
message.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Honey, will you be long?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Twenty minutes, I promise!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her timing was usually pretty accurate. He would call
Jacob now, see what’s going on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No worries, I’m just going to make a quick call.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He went into his office and activated the comm link.
Through his implant he watched the datastream establish a connection, then
change colour as the secure systems were engaged. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob stepped into view, still in the office from the
look of the background. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t think he’d ever
seen Jacob not look ready when he answered a call.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Good evening Jacob. What’s up?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Hello Mr Richards.” No matter how many times
Michael told him to call him by his first name, Jacob always deemed that too
familiar. Especially when discussing work business.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have
a couple of items for you that probably shouldn’t go through the internal mail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The first was that thing at the UN you wanted me
to look into. I haven’t found anything definite yet, but there’s something
going on. There’s a lot of activity and it’s not been talked about. Not even by
people who normally like to show off. That’s suspicious in itself. I’m also
hearing that the UNSC has been contacting some high level planners at the major
air forces. Again it’s been kept hush hush, but I’ll try digging a little
deeper.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The other item is something I’ve stumbled into.
Apparently the Asian Alliance mission to Mars isn’t all that it seems. I have a
source that claims that it’s something pretty big and directly aimed at us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“In what way aimed at us?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That she didn’t know, but I’ll do some checking
around and see what I can find.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Ok, keep me informed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Will do Mr Richards. And enjoy the party.”</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-53757395277491429032012-03-28T17:05:00.001+01:002012-03-30T12:36:45.821+01:00Chapter 3 - September 2072<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Richards’ Home,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside Johannesburg</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even this early in the morning, the sunlight was bright as it flooded into the large, open plan kitchen. Rachel had already left, she had a war meeting before the real event , a meeting with the Mayor to push forward zoning changes to allow new and better housing to be built in the township. Michael really didn’t like her heading outside the safe zone, but she insisted that was the only way to make real progress. At least she was sensible enough to agree to the security detail that he provided. She was idealistic, but at least saw the truth of threat she tempted with her activities. Popular as she was with the local poor families, there were still the criminal gangs and even more criminal politicians who would happily see her out of the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The heavy security also had additional benefits. Namely protecting the street projects she regularly visit better than the often corrupt and underfunded police could. Michael also worked his influence behind the scenes. It was difficult to break the cycle of corruption, but he did what he could. A similar process of corporate sponsorship and political binding had worked well in Kenya. The UN intervention force had now deemed it safe to leave. The country could now claw its way towards prosperity. Michael and Rachel both felt a similar model could work here in South Africa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael sat alone in the kitchen, he chewed some toast and drank fresh orange juice as he skimmed through his messages on the wall screen. The implants required too much focus to be used first thing in the morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A message from his friend Pa Jackman was a highlight in amongst the various spam and scam messages. The detection filters were updated daily, but some always managed to slip through. Senior was out of the hospital and back in orbit. The Chinese shuttle pilot had not only rescued them, she also applied a corrective burn to the drifting freighter. It would travel slowly, but by November it would drift back into range of the Earth’s gravity well and enter an extended orbit. This single act saved Senior a small fortune and meant he’d be able to board the vessel with a salvage team and hopefully make repairs and get the old girl running again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was good news. Michael composed a quick message to wish him well and to promise to call when he was on Earth again for drinks. It would be fun to catch up with the old man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He then skipped through some more junk mail before something caught his eye. At first glance he thought it was a joke, something about aliens communicating via some radio message. Now that he thought about it he seemed to recall hearing something on the news about it. He also remembered that the UNSC and pretty much every official space agency in the world had stated that it wasn’t genuine alien contact and most likely a prank of some kind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glancing again at the message he could see that the sender was one of his research staff. He shook his head, they should know better than to send him crap like this. He started composing a sarcastic reply when he noticed the comment beneath the forwarded link. It simply stated – “The numbers don’t add up.”</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui Zhong grunted with the effort of squeezing her spare first uniform into the travel case. If she hadn’t picked up a few gifts for her parents then it would have fitted easily. The thought of a surprise trip to the mainland had inspired her to get something for the two important people in her life. After all, she had seen them only four months ago and she wasn’t due for her next leave for at least another two months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She just wished her brother... She stopped that thought almost before it started and concentrated on her packing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The pleasure at seeing her parents again so soon was tainted with a slightly bitter taste. The sudden orders, commanding her presence at CNSA headquarters back on Earth worried her. Maybe she was to be reprimanded for assisting the freighter pilot? She had overstepped her bounds by initiating the course adjustment. Thinking back it was a foolish thing to do, but the old man in charge of the ship seemed grateful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The China National Space Agency was officially a civilian agency, but as with many things in China, the distinction often becomes a little blurred. The CNSA was in fact more of a hybrid, outwardly it seemed civilian and most of its work was scientific research, exploration or assisting the limited Chinese commercial enterprises in space. The bulk of the staff, like her, transferred from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>military and even while at the CNSA were still subject to its discipline.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No matter how many times she turned the orders over in her mind, she could think of no reason why they would need to speak to her in person. Anything routine could surely be handled over the comms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So she fretted as she packed. She couldn’t even fly herself to Earth. The technicians already booked her shuttle into a maintenance cycle, taking advantage of her few days away to get additional work done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She continued to worry as she sat in the unfamiliar passenger pod and the shuttle departed for Earth orbit.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">UNSC Research Facility, near Moscow</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">General Fuller stepped from the hover-jet onto the baking roof of the research building. The building itself was dull grey, flat and very large. Similar buildings could be seen on the other side of the runway. In some of those buildings recruits trained to become the next UNSC pilots, or commandos. In others shuttle craft were being maintained or tested for active duty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was no need to have travelled all the way out here, the lead scientist could easily have briefed him over the secure comm-link. The scientist’s excitement at what they had discovered was infectious. So Fuller ordered immediate transportation and here he was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The team had made a significant breakthrough, he knew that already. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking into the central lab, seemingly a chaotic mess of computers and screens he could see if shining from all of their faces as well. The air stank of unwashed clothes and bodies, they’d been putting in the hours, but in this moment, all that fatigue was magically lifted away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The General gave silent thanks that his own office was equipped with a shower and washroom and tried to breath through his mouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lead researcher bounded up to the General, the grin threatening to split his face in two. Fuller took stock of the team. There was a dozen staff, mostly civilians, but a few uniforms stood out. Their wearer’s at least had tried to smooth the creases and present some semblance of order. He saw they were all gathered around a small cluster of computers. The physical presence of the machines seemed odd in this networked world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Well don’t keep me in suspense Doctor.” Fuller kept his tone light, despite the impatience he felt. “What have you discovered?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If he didn’t know better he would have thought the doctor high with the speed he spoke. “It’s simply amazing. Not what we expected at all. Here come see.” With that he lead Fuller through the small crowd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Firstly it isn’t a message. Not in the conventional sense.” He gestured to one of the screens, on it Fuller could see a complex flow diagram. “When we decompressed the signal we tried to parse the message, but it didn’t make any sense. It was a frustrating few days I can tell you. We had to separate the signal onto a closed network which limited the processing capability we could bring to bear. It was like working in the past.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Fortunately the tech guys – “ He waved at three individuals who were dressed more casually than even the scientists and sported more facial hair. “ – scrounged all the spare equipment they could lay their hands on. We discerned a pattern, but we couldn’t figure out what the pattern meant.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That smile beamed brightly again. “Last night we noticed there was repetition in the data. One of the processing jobs also discovered that the pattern was repeated at different levels. It was a fractal pattern."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You’re losing me Doctor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A fractal pattern repeats itself at different scales. So if we took a small chunk of data we would see a pattern emerge, take another larger chunk of data and the pattern would emerge again, but on a higher level.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was this that made us realise we actually had two separate portions of data. The first lacked these fractal patterns that the other part had.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“That’s not the exciting bit though!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller couldn’t help but smile, it was like watching his son on Christmas morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The first part contained no repetition, but the second contain numerous repetitions. Those repetitions were of the parts in the first section. Do you see what this means?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Sorry Doctor, I don’t.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The first part is the key. It is the Rosetta Stone for the second part, which is the real message. It is the vocabulary we need to understand. So we focused on the first part, trying to assign meanings to the distinct elements. Some were easy to understand as they took their form from the original Arecibo message. This gave us something to work from. Then we discovered that others seemed to be mathematical symbols and concepts.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He paused, wiped his hand down his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was then Professor Morgan made the crucial leap. She was the one that realised that the message isn’t a message. Well it is, but not in the normal way we would understand it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller frowned. “I’m not following, what do you mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Ordinarily a message is the presentation of some information. It’s limited in its form. You can send a different message to try and make the recipient understand, but what if the communication is at such a distance that back and forth communication is impractical. This is where these aliens, or whoever is the source have been very clever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The first part isn’t a dictionary for a written language. It is the building blocks for a processing system, a programming language if you will. But one that does more than just describe operations. It is also acts as repository of information. So the system represents both data and processing in one elegant solution.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“For example this symbol here represents humanity, one of the numeric symbols can be used to indicate a single human, or a group.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The second part is even more exciting. If the first part is a programming language, the second is the program itself. But more than that. General, are you familiar with the concept of a virtual machine?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I can’t say that I am.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A virtual machine is a computer, but one that doesn’t require hardware to run. It’s like an emulation of a computer that can be run on another computer.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now it made sense. “So this second part of the signal is actually an alien computer?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Yes General.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sudden alarm bells went off in Fuller’s mind. “Have you run this computer?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Don’t worry General, we’ve made sure any testing has occurred on isolated machines and closed networks. There are no pathways for the code to travel. We’re also running the VM in secure partitioned space within the host computer. There are additional layers of security to prevent any contamination to other systems and no physical or wireless links it can use to travel.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“So what have we learnt from it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“So far, very little. We believe this is the core program that allows us to communicate with each other. We’ve shaken hands so to speak, this should allow us to let them now we are ready to start talking.”</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">China National Space Agency HQ, Beijing</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui Zhong sat outside the Director’s office. On arrival at the CNSA headquarters she had been ordered to attend the Mission Director, up on the top floor. She had arrived in plenty of time, politely declined the offer of a drink from the prim, but radiantly beautiful secretary and now she waited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout the journey here she had turned recent events over in her mind. The only error she could think of was overstepping her authority in helping the stricken freighter. Her duty had been to rescue the crew, not aid their operations. Even that didn’t seem to deserve personal attention from the Director himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least it meant she could visit her parents after the meeting. No matter how severe the dressing down she was about to endure, the thought of seeing her parents lifted her spirit. She stopped picking at the hem of her skirt, and sat up straighter. She continued to wait, but with more resolve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she was about to give in to the dry mouth and request a glass of water when the door opened. The Mission Director stepped through. He was short, but powerfully built. His stocky frame filled the dark green uniform that he wore. Even transferred to this officially civilian agency, he still wore his air force uniform with pride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui snapped to her feet, she wasn’t sure if she should salute or not. Quickly she decided that showing the proper respect was always the better course. The salute earned her a smile and after a terse nod to the secretary, she was invited into the office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The office itself was a splendid, open room. What appeared to be rare art adorned the walls and his desk was a dark, rich wood, obviously ancient and valued. He sat in a chair that almost swallowed him. The comic sight almost overcame her nervousness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His voice belied his physical presence and was almost musical. “Please sit senior pilot.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She did as ordered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Have you been offered tea? Or coffee?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m fine, thanks you sir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“To business then. Firstly I would like to thank you for coming so quickly. I have been reading the reports of your recent missions. I’ve paid particular attention to your performance.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui kept her face flat, expressionless, trying not to give anything away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In reading your latest performance review and in light of recent events, I have come to a decision. I have already spoken to your immediate superior and he agrees with my proposed course of action.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here it comes, she thought and prepared to take the dressing down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s not common knowledge yet, but the current mission commander has failed his latest medical assessment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately he has to be grounded from space operations with immediate effect.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This of course leaves us with the hard job of finding a replacement and quickly. This cannot be allowed to delay the mission launch. We would like you to be the Mission Commander for the Mars mission. “ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You have the necessary skills. You are already a senior officer on the mission, so you’re already familiar with many aspects of the flight. You are the person we need for the job. Do you accept?” He stretched his hand across the desk, offering it to her. That same large smile spread across his round face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui was stunned, this was not at all what she expected. She hesitated for only a moment before placing her smaller hand in his. “I would be honoured sir.” She stammered slightly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Excellent. Now you have much preparation to do before assuming your new duties. Not least of which is acquiring your new uniform.” There was a discrete tone inside her head of an incoming data packet. “Your orders have been updated, you have three days leave to prepare and then you return her to begin your briefing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Thank you sir.” She couldn’t wait to tell her parents, they would be so proud.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">United Nations Security Council, New York</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">General Fuller glanced at the briefing notes on his roll-screen before continuing. “The Space Command research team have examined the virtual machine received from the aliens in more detail. They have established that the machine provides a common mechanism for communications between us and the aliens.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It has a process that we follow, like a software wizard, that it uses to refine the principals it uses for communication. Remarkably it does this not just by adding to its stored data, but also by transforming the transformation pathways by which it uses that data.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Are you saying this thing rewrites itself?” An interruption from Eva Mendes, the EU representative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Exactly. The team found that the virtual machine followed a set flow each time it is run, until that process is completed. As an aside, the research team in Geneva might want to look at the data we’ve collated, it might be useful for them.” A few knowing glances around the table. Even as UNSC commander he didn’t know the details of what the Geneva team’s research, but he did know that their remit included exotic processing methods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What is the purpose of this process?” This time the question came from his old friend Mike Davis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The first stage rebuilds the original Arecibo message, this time using its own symbols. We believe this helps clarify some of the base assumptions the aliens have made when putting this package together. From just this stage we have identified common methods for some basic mathematics, the elements and some details about the Solar System. I am told that it is exceedingly elegant.” The infectious enthusiasm from the research team had definitely rubbed off on him. “But that is nothing compared to what comes next.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The bulk of the machine is an intelligence test of sorts. No, that’s not quite correct.” He paused for a moment. “It tries to determine what our understanding of the universe is. That and how we perceive our place in it. Some of the questions hint at differences to our standard models. We’re being very careful about how much to read it into this. It may be that they’re just questions to see how we respond, rather than trying to see if we have the same level of understanding that they do. But it has certainly got our scientists very excited.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“As you’ll see from my official report I’ve recommended that we induct some relevant experts in various fields such as particle physics, cosmology and theoretical mathematics to provide independent analysis.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Indian representative asked a question this time. “What can we infer about the aliens from this system?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller took a moment to think about that. He had asked the same question of his team and while there were as many theories as team members, no-one was certain enough to commit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“At the moment we can’t say with any certainty what, if anything, this represents about the aliens themselves. It does seem to show that they have communicated with new species before, or at least have given it a great deal of thought.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Their tests if you will also show a preference for using spatial thinking like geometry to describe complex subjects. Of course, it could be that this is an easier method of sharing information as it less culturally centric.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What happens when the process is completed?” This time the interruption came from the Chinese Air Force General.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The virtual machine appears to package up any changes to itself and then expects that to be transmitted to its source. From our initial inspections it looks like the machine will incorporate further data packages from the source. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We assume that these will expand the knowledgebase it works from, as does our interaction with it. It is likely that new processes and methods can be added. The system appears to be very flexible. Obviously we haven’t been able to test this yet. We need clearance from this council before sending any response.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fuller let that hang in the air for a moment, it was Eva Mendes who took the bait. “What is your opinion on this General?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I think we should reply. In my report you’ll see the a full breakdown of the data we would input to generate the package.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Chinese representative interrupted again. “Doesn’t some of this information reveal any technological weaknesses we have compared to them?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Indirectly it does. However, while I certainly wouldn’t want to assume the aliens are benign, we can’t assume they are hostile either. So far they haven’t demonstrated any hostile intent. Of course that could be a ruse, but the situation works both ways. The more information we receive from them helps us. Even if they are presenting some facade, the little bits we have gleaned have already sparked some eager discussion in a few scientific fields.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“If they do have hostile intent then not replying is not likely to change that. My recommendation is that we send the reply.”</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael enjoyed the meal. He didn’t enjoy the company as much. Usually the commercial director handled the dealings with the UNSC bureaucrats. Every now and again though, it was useful to take a personal interest, fluff their feeling of importance a little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Discussion over lunch concerned the upcoming tariff changes for orbital cargoes. Once again the import duty was going up, annoying but not unexpected. He let the man opposite him rattle off the justifications, trying to not let the sound of his voice spoil the fine wine they drank.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He had to hand it to the UNSC. They were careful to squeeze as much as they could from orbital traffic, but never too much. They generated enough income to be the only self-sustaining agency within the United Nations and to allow expansion of their assets. Despite the increases they made sure that resource imports were still competitive with the dwindling Earth based resources.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the meal concluded and pleasantries were exchanged over the concluding coffees Michael remembered the odd message he had received earlier in the month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“So how about this alien message?” He asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I can’t discuss that.” A curt response, but an interesting one. If it had been a derisory laugh or comment that would have been the end of the matter, but now his interest was piqued.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Hui Zhong’s family home, near Beijing</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hui disembarked from the train a stop earlier than the one closest to her family home. She wanted the extra time to help sort her jumbled mind from its confusion. She already visited the tailor, her new uniforms would be finished in two days. Such quick service would cost extra, but she didn’t mind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her mood oscillated between a feeling of pride and nagging doubt. The pride was a swelling that made her feel two metres tall! Then a stab of doubt would worm its way into her mind. The mantle of command came with being an officer, but as a pilot she rarely had to exercise that command. She was the focal point of a well oiled team that required little control from her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The doubt questioned her ability to command the mission. The paramount importance of the mission weighed that doubt with leaden dread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her parents must have been waiting for her. She couldn’t see her father, he no doubt was resting in his favourite chair watching some documentary on the wall-screen. Her mother was there though, small and demure at the gate to the well tended garden. The sight of her dispelled the cloud of doubt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As her mother called out in greeting, the door opened and her father walked unsteadily into the sunshine. Both in their seventies, they had witnessed the rise and current triumph of modern China They had witnessed the early spurts of growth in the economy. A clever blending of capitalist strengths and party stability created a powerhouse. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The re-unification of Korea, with agreement that the North would unite with the South and as part of the deal, the American forces left the peninsula.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next step was the conquest of Taiwan. This was less subtle.The American’s weakened forces in Japan and the Pacific able to do little to stem the Chinese wave. The world complained, but the deed was done and no country on Earth dared challenge China’s new found dominance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From that moment the Chinese nation dedicated their efforts to making deals and soothing the rampant fears of their neighbours. It took thirty years, but the strategy worked. The Asian Alliance now boasted China, India and Japan as its leading members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three of world’s six greatest economies, all working together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Europeans and the Americans shrank in their influence, they were not weak, but lacking the strength and influence they once wielded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only mar on this great march of progress was the commercial enterprises in space. Here the alliance had lost ground, with foreign business and the United Nations swallowing the lion’s share.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And now as she quickened her pace to greet her parents, she knew she would be the one to help break their hold. To be the one to lead this next great step of China’s long march.</span></div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-6837421196126216642012-03-25T21:10:00.003+01:002012-03-25T21:10:40.535+01:00Chapter 2 - August 2072<br />
<h2>
BBC World News Feed</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<b>Aliens make
contact?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The net is buzzing with the news of the first
alien contact. Two weeks ago a signal was received all over the world. Reports
have been confirmed from commercial vessels in space, communication satellites
and even ham radio operators. The message appears to be a reply to a radio
message beamed from the Arecibo Radio Telescope a hundred years ago. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When contacted for comment on the message’s
authenticity both the European Space Agency and the United Nations Space
Command declined to comment, both stating that they do not comment on practical
jokes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
These official denials just seemed to have fuelled
the story, with many commentators on the net accusing the official agencies of
a cover up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<i>Activate to
discover more on this story.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<h2>
United Nations Space Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller tried to force his concentration back
to the squadron readiness report displayed on the roll screen in front of him.
In Earth orbit, based on Gateway Station, the UNSC squadron of Dark Hawks were
held in constant readiness. Officially and by treaty they formed the only
active military combat unit in space. Fuller had his doubts about that, it
wasn’t hard to arm a shuttle. Or any other space vessel for that matter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His focus drifted from the report again. The
Security Council had spent almost a week in deliberation, then had finally
agreed to reply to the message. The reply had been beamed from the orbital
radio telescope and now it was a matter of waiting. At least Fuller had managed
to tight beam the response, the alien signal might have been broadcast for
everyone to hear, but the reply would be more discrete.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The council had also ordered a blanket cover for
the message which was already all over the net and even the more respected news
feeds. The UNSC and associated government space agencies were instructed to refuse
all comment when asked. Meanwhile a separate team would assemble evidence to establish
the message as a fake and the Security Council’s cyber defence teams were
already patrolling the net and removing any realistic evidence proving the
message real.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Pissing in the wind was an expression that seemed
appropriate. Proving the message was genuine wasn’t difficult, the message
itself wasn’t hard to read. This wasn’t crop circles, but real science. Simple
science at that. Even the layman could comprehend the concept of triangulation.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Although, maybe the banality of it would be enough
to keep the story buried. Like most people, even Fuller had expected first
contact to be something more dramatic. Maybe that would be enough to confuse the
story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Still, that wasn’t his problem right now. His research
team would continue to investigate the signal until a reply was received. Everyone
was hoping the reply would bring more useful data, maybe even some clarity for
who they were dealing with. In the meantime he still had his regular job to
perform. He would continue to make sure that his forces were ready to maintain
the strict orbital protocols to prevent any possible re-occurrence of the
orbital cascade disaster.</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Colony Base, The Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
“You didn’t have to travel out here sir.” LMC’s
Chief of Security greeted Michael Richards as he stepped out of the shuttle. “But as always it’s good to see you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“For something this serious there’s no choice.
Besides, “ Michael couldn’t help but grin as they shook hands, despite the
seriousness of the reason for his visit. “I don’t need a reason to come here. I
think the low G suits me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael really did enjoy visiting his operations
here on the luna surface. It was the linchpin of his empire, but it was more
than that. The low gravity and amazing views made this visits such a joy, even
in these circumstances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It was a pity that Rachel didn’t share his joy,
she had made the effort, but low gravity disagreed with her. Every time she
left Earth she was space sick. She had tried a wide variety medications, even
hypnotherapy, but nothing helped.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The administration offices of the facility were
tiny compared to the engineering and mining sections. This was as it should be,
especially with many of the administrative functions being automated by expert
systems.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael
took his time on the short walk, taking a moment to greet each of the staff
individually. His implant flashed pertinent personal information for the few he
didn’t recognise. His staff appreciated this little courtesy and he felt it
right he should at least give them a little of his precious time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Entering his office, much smaller than the one in
Johannesburg, he activated the privacy field. The privacy field created
magnetic and sub-acoustic distortions, defeating any surveillance devices that
might be lurking. Security swept this office and all areas regularly for devices,
but it never paid to be too careful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“So what happened?” Michael asked as Jacob closed
the door. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob Manning was British born, ex EU special
forces. His small wiry frame belied the many commendations of bravery he had
received. They had met seven years ago when Jacob had led the security team
protecting an EU delegation visiting South Africa for trade negotiations. They
had immediately become friends, unusual in their respective lines of work. When
Jacob had left the forces a year later, Michael immediately offered him a job,
as Chief of Security here at the Moon base.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As well his combat experience he also brought
extensive knowledge of cyber security and intelligence gathering. A rare
combination of skills that often proved valuable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob took a seat opposite Michael. “The attack
occurred just before midnight last night. Simple data probes at first, teasing
our external network connections, hunting for weaknesses. In less than a second
they found a point of entry. The press relations network. It had the usual
firewalls and port guardians, but there was a combinatorial flaw in one of the
firewalls. A problem with certain media sharing and this specific firewall. We’ve
already spoken to the software developers and they’ve patched the problem. The
fix is being applied as we speak.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael nodded, Jacob paused, marshalling his
thoughts before continuing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Once they found a point of entry they surged the
attack on all fronts, crude stuff, data bombs and access queries flooding all
of the external connections. It was a smokescreen to keep us busy, while the
more sophisticated attack wormed its way into the company network.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How far did they get?” The important question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Luckily not too far. They got into the internal
data sites, open information on work policy, human resources, that kind of stuff.
The back-up cut offs kicked in when they tried accessing the restricted data.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael leaned forward. “And Project Green?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob shook his head. “As I say, we got lucky.
They didn’t mask the data probes with the secure wrapper, as soon as they tried
to push into the restricted partitions, the system smelled a rat and severed
all of the external connections.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s worrying that they found a way in at all,
but it could have been far worse.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael agreed, but they might not get so lucky
next time. “So what can we do?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re already paying for the best commercial
cyber security packages available. They’re responded well, but there’s always a
flaw somewhere. There’s some experimental monitoring systems being worked on,
which might help, but they’re pretty much untested. In my opinion, that would
be too much of a risk.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Another option is to hire some lone guns to sit
on the network, provide some close eyes on, maintain more of an active presence
that can react if it needs to.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Lone guns? You mean hackers?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob nodded. “Yes, the security companies provide
a similar service, but they rarely have the same level of talent as the
so-called cyber mercs. They’re expensive, but the good ones are experienced on
both sides of the fence.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Do you know any good ones?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I have leads on a few. It’s not cheap though,
probably fifty grand each per week. It would need to be cash, but I’m sure
accounting can filter the funds through something appropriate.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What about the source, do we know who?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Nothing definite. The main suspects are the same
– the Chinese. But the actual operation was likely to be Russian Mob, or other
freelancers. Declaring war on them would be like trying to fight the whole net.
We need something more specific.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Can the lone guns provide that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Maybe, but I doubt they could guarantee it. If
they did, I’d say they were full of bullshit and not hire them.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Michael adjusted his posture in the high backed seat
while he pondered. “All right, we can’t take the risk. Project Green must
remain secure, at all costs. Setup a black fund with three million and get some
outside help. Keep pressuring the security companies to up their game. Also get
some of these lone guns to run infiltrations on our network, see if there are
any other holes that need patching.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Jacob stood up. “I’ll make the arrangements.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Michael joined him. “In the meantime, I’m going to take
a quick tour of engineering and mining before catching the shuttle back. I’d
like to be earth-side before tomorrow, you know how Rachel doesn’t like me to
be off-planet for too long.”</div>
<h2>
Gateway Station, Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Squadron Leader Miles Noland escorted General
Fuller through the hangers of Gateway Station. After actually reading the
readiness report he was disturbed to see that the squadron readiness was only
seventy-five percent, a full ten percent below the operational norm. As the
only operational squadron of armed shuttles it was vital to maintain adequate
readiness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The squadron’s role was to keep Earth orbit and
nearby space clear. They were mandated by UN treaty to provide rescue services
and armed intervention, if necessary, for any orbital treaty violations by
nations or corporations. The squadron had been operational for eight years, so
far no armed intervention had been necessary. Routine customs checks to enforce
the rigid UN import and export tariffs however, were common place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They moved past the new shuttles, each hanging
from their launch cradles, partitioned by blast shielding. Each was painted a
dark blue, so dark it was almost black.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In the last year the new Dark Hawk shuttles had
replaced the older White Star shuttles. The White Stars had been civilian
passenger craft, barely capable of reaching high orbit with rudimentary weapons
strapped to them. The new Dark Hawk’s were a significant step forward in capability.
They could perform heavy lift operations from the surface to the Moon if
necessary. They could also transport a platoon of armoured commandos if needed.
While still based on a civilian shuttle airframe, the weapons systems were better
integrated, making them a much more effective platform.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Of course, as with any new system there were
teething problems. This became apparent with the squadron’s reduced state of
preparedness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another improvement was basing the squadron on
Gateway Station instead of the airfield outside Moscow where the training and
reserve squadron was based. The station was originally built as a cargo
transfer facility by the United States as part of their effort in the Moon
colonisation missions. The UN took over and swiftly expanded the station, as
well as being the operational base for the UNSC, it housed the primary cargo
and passenger transfer terminal for Earth orbit. That would soon change with
the completion of the Space Elevator project and then the base would be solely
used by the UNSC.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He brought his mind back to the matter at hand.
“So what is the situation here Squadron Leader? What’s causing the operational
readiness hiccups?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“It’s the new birds General. The weapon mountings
are experiencing vibration damage when in atmospheric flight. It also looks
like high stress manoeuvres are also causing other problems.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller had read the reports. Part of his
concentration was distracted by moving in the zero-gravity. He’d been working
with space operations for thirty years, but he was never comfortable floating
through the air. He always felt clumsy when he moved. The passenger sections of
the station used magnetic flooring to keep people grounded. Here in the hangers,
it wasn’t used, the technicians preferred the advantages zero gravity provided
for their work. He faced the other officer. “What is the solution?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re already working with the Russian manufacturer.
The Mig-Sukhoi plant is making the required airframe repairs. They’re currently
taking two weeks to make the fixes, half the squadron have been completed, so
there’s still twelve birds to do. And the training and reserve squadron back on
the surface.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The deliveries for the new birds are also slower
than the original schedule.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Noland paused for a moment, as if unsure whether
to say what was on his mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The plant should be building a new bird every
three months, that includes the extra work for the extra problems we’ve encountered.
We know they’ve expanded the plant, the time to build the new birds should have
gone down, but instead it has doubled.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I’ll speak with legal team, get them to chase the
Russians. If necessary I follow up in person with the Russian representative.” Fuller
would, but the results would be likely be unspectacular. The UNSC was very
reliant on the Russians, the bulk of its budget was spent there, which did help
smooth things, but sometimes things took longer than planned, especially in
Russia. It was interesting about the reduced pace, he would investigate further,
see what the Russians were doing with that spare capacity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“How about the patrol schedule?” Fuller asked and
was immediately interrupted by the shriek of an alarm over the PA system. The
alarm also buzzed within their skulls through their implants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They both adopted the flat stare of people
accessing their implants as they both called up and reviewed the emergency situation
report. An old cargo vessel from the Stellar Collector Corporation was drifting
along an escape orbit. The main drive and life support had failed, cause
unknown. The three crew members had made it to their pressure suits and had
twelve hours of air. The main drive had failed in the middle of a course
correction burn that should have pushed the craft towards Earth orbit. The burn
had failed, so the ship would pass by Earth and then continue into
interplanetary space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller checked the vectors, the vessel was fifteen
hours flight away, even at maximum burn for one of the shuttles. The moon was
on the wrong side of the planet for any of the people there to be able to help
in time. That left L1 Station. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Damn it! He’d been pushing to have a detachment of
UNSC shuttles stationed at L1 for years. It was a superb strategic position. The
Chinese and their allies always stonewalled the request and he’d failed to get enough
traction to force it through the Security council.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
Activating the comms implant, he voiced a message to
the command deck. “Patch me with L1 station command. Let’s see if the Chinese
can help.”</div>
<h2>
L1 Station, between Earth and the Moon</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Hui Zhong relaxed, stretched on her bed in her
quarters when the emergency call came in over the comms. Her quarters were
small, tiny compared to the extravagant spaces she had been shown when she
visited Gateway Station. Here at L1 space was at more of a premium and while
the space allotted to her was small, it was sufficient for her needs. A bed,
small desk and chair, a few uniforms and even fewer personal items didn’t need
much space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Above the bed, on a plain shelf was a holo-projection
of her parents, smiling at her from her last leave on Earth. Leave was only
short and infrequent, so she cherished the memories of the rare visits. She was
doing vital work, but that didn’t mean she missed her family. Her parents were
old fashioned, they still use actual text emails for their communications. That
quirk just made her love them even more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The alarm buzzed discreetly inside her skull. She
immediately accessed the emergency orders. A rescue mission was needed, a
freighter with three trapped crew. Once again the cost-cutting of the greedy
corporations had caused a problem. That wouldn’t prevent her doing her duty.
Her duty was clear, any nearby agency was required to assist in any mayday call.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The habitat modules were spun on their axis to
provide the illusion of gravity. She ran against the spin towards the shuttle
bays. After scrambling down the access ladder she was once again in zero gravity
and nimbly propelled herself along the walls, using the handily placed rungs to
guide her movement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She quickly reached the shuttle, there she found
the technicians bustling to prep the shuttle for launch. At the rear three
black clad marines loaded the cutting equipment they might need into the cargo
pod. They trained continuously to board space vessels either as a hostile
mission, or for rescues, their training and experience would be essential.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Within minutes they had launched. The course to
the drifting freighter was locked into the navigation system. Normally they
would conserve fuel by burning fuel only for course corrections and the initial
boost. This time they would burn all the way to the target, the timing would still
be tight. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
At the time of the incident the crew had made it
into their suits, that would give them twelve hours of air. Over an hour had
already passed since then, even at full burn it would take ten hours to reach
the stricken ship. That left them less than an hour to gain entry and rescue
the crew when they arrived. </div>
<h2>
LMC Transport, Approaching Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael Richards was catnapping on the shuttle ride,
trying to regain his energy before landing back in Johannesburg. There was a
company event that evening, he was due to give a speech, the press would be
there and wanted to be at his sharpest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The pilots’ voice over the intercom startled him
from his dreams. “Sorry to disturb you sir. I thought you would want to hear
this.” Michael dragged himself upright, he had known Jeff for many years, he
wouldn’t disturb him without good reason.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Wiping the sleep from his eyes he asked “What’s up
Jeff?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Some flash traffic on the net. One of Stella’s
freighters is in trouble.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fully awake now. The space exploitation industry
was worth many billions, but it was a small family, for the commercial
participants anyway. Stella was the nickname for the Stellar Collecters. They were a small business, mineral extraction from
one of the metal rich Near Earth Orbit asteroids. They only had the one freighter,
the other was in dry dock at the EU/US Moon Shipyard. That meant it was Pa
Jackman, Senior to his family in charge of the vessel. A man he had met many
times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“What’s the problem?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Major systems failure, they’re dead in the water.
“</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Where? Can we help?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“No sir. It’s on the far side of planet on a
divergent course. The Chinese are the nearest and they’ve already launched a
shuttle. They should rendezvous before we hit atmosphere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Thanks Jeff. Let me know if you hear anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Will do sir.”</div>
<h2>
American News Network, Offbeat section</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<b>The aliens
are coming!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Researchers at the American UFO Institute have
announced the conclusive proof of contact from an alien race. In a presentation
the owner of the information feed showed us some grainy images [<b><i>Activate
to view images</i></b>] and played a digital signal that they claim originates
from outside our Solar System.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
When contacted for their comment officials from
NASA and the US Air Force both declined to comment. They both stated that they
could not comment on imagined UFO activity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<b><i>Activate to view the alien message.</i></b></div>
<h2>
Shuttle Zheng He, Leaving Earth orbit</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
The drifting freighter was now in visual range,
without needing magnification. Hui voiced a crisp instruction to the Marine
officer to prepare for contact. Her co-pilot scanned the immediate area,
looking for debris that might cause a hazard to their approach.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She took her time examining the vessel. She could
see no damage, no obvious cause for its distress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The braking manoeuvre had started four hours earlier
and their speed now matched that of the freighter. At the same relative speed, it was now easier
to manoeuvre closer. She opened a communications channel to the freighter,
trying to establish a connection. There was no response, even the automated
system were silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She locked onto the frequency of the suit’s
emergency channel, tried again. Still no response.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She checked her sensors, the ship was cold. No
heat traces. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui informed the marines of the lack of response,
they were still within the time envelope for the mission, the trapped cxrew
should still have air. She hoped there would still be time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
While the marines depressurised the cargo pod Hui
brought the shuttle in closer. The side airlock on the crew module looked clear,
she spun the shuttle so the rear faced the airlock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The marines, insect like in their shiny carapace
suits pushed themselves into space, then clamped themselves to the freighter
hull as they landed. They cycled the airlock, with no pressure inside the ship,
the cycle passed quickly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In less than a minute the marines were inside the
ship. They moved as quickly as they could in their bulky suits to the flight deck.
It took another two minutes to reach the flight deck. There they found the
three suited bodies, the life support panels showed dangerous levels of CO<sub>2</sub>
in suits’ atmosphere. Deftly the marines attached replacement air breathers,
pumping oxygen into the suits, flushing the poisonous gas out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“They still have pulses.” The marine officer
reported, causing an outbreak of smiles back on the shuttle. Hui sent a report
on the net to Gateway and L1. The crew would need medical treatment, but they’d
be all right. She’s saved the greedy foreign devils and she enjoyed the small
feeling of pride within her.</div>
<h2>
United Nations Space Command HQ, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Even in Moscow the summer was sweltering. Each year
it seemed to get worse. Not for the first time Fuller was grateful for the air
conditioning in his office. Near the end of the month a reply had finally been
received from the aliens. The techs had recorded the message, and where busy analysing
it now. So far they had no idea what the message contained, but their best
guess was that it was some kind of computer program.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In the meantime the general focused on other pressing
matters. He followed up with the Dark Hawk production issues. The Mig-Sukoi
contact provided no clear answers, so he called on a friend at the Russian
Defence Ministry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Over strong coffee he learned that the Russian Air
Force was expanding its orbital capabilities. It was being done quietly in
response to Chinese expansion in the same arena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That information didn’t help with the production
problems, but his friend was able to apply some pressure. The project mnager
reluctantly agreed to speed up the upgrades and see what he could do about the
new builds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This intelligence meant there was a new problem to
worry about. The last thing he needed was the Russians and the Chinese facing
off on his turf. He worked late into the night pouring over intelligence
reports, trying to find some concrete evidence. He would need something solid
to before going to the Security Council.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Really he was waiting. Waiting to learn what the
new message contained.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-67548123201062215082012-03-24T18:13:00.003+00:002012-03-24T18:15:47.969+00:00Chapter 1 – July 2072<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2>
United Nations Space Command Headquarters, Moscow</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General David Fuller flattened the roll-screen on
the desk in front of him. He had the same cranial implants as most people these
days, but he liked the tactile feel of the paper-thin screen. He could feel it
respond as he touched it to activate the briefing notes he had hastily compiled
only minutes before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He filled a glass of iced water from the pitcher
in front of him and watched various uniformed aides bustle about, preparing for
the imminent arrival of the various Security Council representatives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Outwardly he presented his usual face of calm
authority, inwardly though, he felt anything other than calm. In all of his ten
years as commander of the UNSC he had never had to brief anyone on anything as
earth shattering as this. Even his briefing of the President of the United
States as a Colonel in the Air Force on the low Earth orbit cascade event twenty
years ago, paled in comparison. With another sip of water he glanced at the
clock, the time was approaching one in the morning, the representatives would
arrive soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The first to arrive was Mike Davis, an old comrade
from his days in the air force. They had both been colonels back then, at the
tail end of his twenty year service. Mike had stayed with the air force,
continuing to serve his country. Like David, he was a general now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Times had changed since then of course, from the
fledging agency reliant on assistance from the various national space agencies ,
air forces and corporations, the UNSC had grown into the dominant force that
regulated space travel, in Earth orbit at any rate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Mike spoke a quick greeting to his aide, before
walking up to David who rose to shake his friend’s hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Quite something eh David?” His opening statement
had the usual wry tone of understatement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“I never thought we would see the day. All these
years of searching and nothing. And now this...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Fuller was interrupted by the arrival of
the other delegates, every permanent member of the Security Council had sent an
official. Mike nodded and returned to his seat next to the European Union
representative. She was a striking woman called Eve Mendes, she had been the EU’s
representative to the UNSC almost as long as David had been its commander. They
conferred briefly in hushed towns while everyone else took their places. Within
moments they were all seated and their aides retreated out of view. A few
helped themselves to water, all waiting for the general to begin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He took a calming breath, cleared his throat and
began. “Six hours ago an orbital radio telescope received a signal. From our
initial analysis the signal appears to have three repeating components. Each
repeats the same sequence three times before the next is received. The overall
message is repeated, again three times before the signal ends.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“ The first part is an exact duplicate of the
radio message transmitted from the Arecibo telescope back in the 20<sup>th</sup>
century. We believe this is intended to get our attention and to clearly
identify the signal as not being natural in origin.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The second
component of the message follows the same pattern as the original Arecibo
message, but the content is changed. Different.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Different how?” The precise English was spoken by
the Chinese delegate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’re still analysing the data and not everything
in the message has been changed, but here’s what we have extracted so far.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller stabbed at the roll screen before him and a
discrete projector, blended into the ceiling blossomed into light. A clear
image representing the original message was displayed on the cream wall beside
him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Looking at the original message, we can see it was comprised of seven segments.”
He touched the pad again, the top row of some spaced dots in the message became
highlighted. “The first section are the numbers one to ten, represented in
binary format. This part of the message is unchanged.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another stab with his finger and the next portion
becomes highlighted. “This next section shows the numbers one, six, seven,
eight and fifteen. Again, these are represented in binary.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“We’ll have to take your word for that General.” A
light hearted interruption from the South African representative. “It just
looks like a bunch of dots to me!” Some polite chuckles in response around the
table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller offered a brief smile and dived straight
back in. “It’s here that we see the first change in the message. In the second
message the numbers are one, six, twelve and fourteen. In the original message
the numbers represented hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorous –
the elements found in DNA. In the new message, assuming the same atomic number
classification we use, the numbers represent hydrogen, carbon, magnesium and
silicon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another interruption, this time from the Indian
representative, him and Eva from the EU were the only civilians in the room.
“Why would we have to assume that the atomic numbers would follow the same
pattern?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He doesn’t know, Fuller thought to himself in
surprise. Even though this was the first briefing on the contact he had assumed
that all of the representative governments already knew, after all the message
had been sent in the clear, anybody could have received it. The Chinese
delegate whispered quickly into the Indian’s ear, who paled slightly in
surprise, before motioning for Fuller to continue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“The next part is unchanged in the new message, in
the original it describes the molecular formula for the nucleotide in DNA. We
believe that whoever reconstructed the message, didn’t understand this section,
or it has no relevance to them, so left it as is.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He paused for a moment, drank some more chilled water
before continuing. “Here in this next section the original message shows a
crude representation of the double helix. The vertical bar between the helix
shows a rather inaccurate count of the nucleotides. This central bar is
unchanged in the new message, again we think that the sender didn’t understand
that part of the original message.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“However, they did change the double helix. The
representation is crude, but the image appears to be intersecting six sided
polygons. Our research team haven’t come to any conclusions about this yet,
although one did remark that the structure was reminiscent of some plant cells.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Next we have a picture of a human in the middle,
the dots on either side are binary representations of the average human height
on the left and the population of Earth on the right. The number was just over
four billion back then, less than half the current world population. Again,
both numbers are unchanged in the new message, but the figure is different. It
looks like a flattened sphere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Another pause, everyone sat rapt, watching him. He
presses the control to move the highlight and continued.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Below that we have the representation of the
solar system, with the sun as the largest block to the left and nine planets in
a line to the right. Earth is lifted to signify that is our home planet. Back
then the ninth planet was Pluto, it was still considered a planet. We now know Hades,
discovered in 2043 as the ninth planet in the solar system.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“This diagram of the solar system has been altered
in the new message, it shows ten planets and it is the fourth planet that is
highlighted. We don’t know at this stage whether this represents their home
system, or if it represents our solar system in some way.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Finally we have an image representing the radio
telescope the message was transmitted from. This also has been changed, it now
shows a disk or flattened sphere, similar to the picture that replaced the
human image. We’re not sure if there’s any connection.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“As I stated at the beginning, we received the
message only a few hours ago, so there’s still a lot of investigation to do and
no real analysis has been performed yet. I’ve taken the interim measure of
declaring this a code black issue, so only UNSC personnel and Security Council
members can access the data.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“That being said, the message was broadcast in the
clear and could have been received by any number of civilians or agencies. This
won’t remain a secret for long.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
General Mike Davis leaned forward. “Earlier you
mentioned the message had three parts, the first the original message, the
second the new message. What is the third”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller turned off the projection. “We don’t know.
Our best guess at the moment is that it is a formula of some kind. The crypto guys
and some math geeks are digging into it now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Eve Mendes then asked. “How do we know the signal
is genuine? It doesn’t seem that difficult to put this message together.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Fuller nods in reply, it was the first question he
asked the techs that had brought this to him only a few short hours ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“While we don’t have exact numbers yet, we do know
that the signal originates outside the solar system. How far we don’t know and
ideally we need the signal to repeat to get a better triangulation. However,
the early indications are that the source is some distance outside the solar
system, but not by much and that it is moving towards us.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Shuttle Zheng He, L1 Station</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Senior Pilot Hui Zhong adjusted the approach vector
of the shuttle, aligning it on the path to the L1 station. This station was the
pride of the Indo-Chinese space effort, first built over thirty years ago to
support the international effort to colonise the Moon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The station itself was constructed in the first Lagrange
point, an area in space that due to the gravitational forces of the Earth and
the Moon allowed any station positioned there to remain in a stable position.
This means it doesn’t require any expensive constant course vectoring. That
made it the ideal spot to support the early moon missions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Much had changed since then, the international
partnership soon frayed thanks to commercial concerns. The Moon was now the possession
of the Americans, the Europeans and their corporate lackeys. They lacked the
honour of the businesses that supported China’s growth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now the station was once again the fulcrum for
their next great effort. L1 was the launch point for the next great march, the
journey to Mars and then to Jupiter. And she was proud to be part of that
effort, the effort that would be break the frustrating corporate dominance in
space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The narrow view slits in front of her offered poor
visibility. The cranial implants gathered sensor data directly from the
shuttle, allowing her to view the space around her from a myriad of views and
wavelengths. It was a glorious view.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She loved it out here in the black. There wasn’t a
feeling like it. The paradox of the darkness of space, studded with the dense
blankets of stars always inspired a feeling of wonder within her. Many found the
dead silence, broken only by the occasional transmission oppressive, but she
basked in it. Only out here did she find the solitude she craved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Her young co-pilot, having flown with her many
times on the regular supply runs from Earth to the station, knew well to keep
himself to himself. He kept the chatter to a minimum, speaking only if some business needed to be
conducted. She was pleased that he allowed her to enjoy the peace of the
journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
They were already two hours from Earth orbit,
having been cleared for transit by Gateway station and were now less than three
hours from L1 station. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
She scanned the space around her, no other traffic
for thousands of kilometres in every direction. The location of the station
ahead was clearly highlighted in the view from her implants. The nearest object
was the navigation buoy positioned ten thousand kilometres from the station.
The radio beacon pulsed an energetic gold, providing clear guidance for the approach
to the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The time passed quickly, an hour out from the
station they passed the silent watchers, an array of passive sensors unmarked
on any UNSC charts. This was the stations first line of defence, a tripwire for
any stealthy approach to the station. Technically this was a violation of the
orbital treaties, that didn’t bother her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
As they approached the station, a light winked
into view positioned on the station itself, over the comms the clear voice of
the flight command entered her mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Shuttle Zheng He. Approaching clearance point.
Vector in the green. Transmit confirmation.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui concentrated, triggering the personal
clearance system, an implant that combined her heart signature with her DNA
fingerprint, transformed by the code of the day she thought of when activating
the implant. The unique code was transmitted along the secure channel,
identifying her as the senior pilot on this shuttle. Pressing a control on the
panel in front of her did the same for the ship. It was one of the few actions
that couldn’t be controlled through her implants. Her co-pilot also transmitted
his personal identification. The command deck on the station winked green in
acknowledgement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Continue on course. Prepare for docking handshake
in one-five minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Hui checked the time display in her head, setting
an announcement due one minute before the docking initiation. The station was
now clearly visible to the shuttles sensors. It lacked the sterile, clean
symmetry of Gateway Station. Even at this distance it looked battered and old. It
was a jumble of gantries and modules, almost haphazardly thrown together. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
L1 station was currently home to nearly three
hundred engineers and military personnel. Most of them were Chinese, although a
growing number were Indian. Even a few Japanese has recently transferred to the
station. The reason for this combined effort lay beside the station.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
A vast vessel, still under construction shadowed
the station. Named “The Long March” in memory of the great revolution and the
ancient rockets that first launched China into space. This was the ship that
would take them to Mars and then on to Jupiter. And Hui would be the chief
pilot for this great ship, the largest space vessel ever construction. It
dwarfed even the new mega-freighters of the Luna Mining Company.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The light from the command deck bloomed again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
“Initiate docking handshake.” Travelling with the
voice communication a red datastream stretched from the station to the shuttle.
Hui activated the docking system, allowing the incoming transmission connect
with the shuttle’s systems. The datastream turned green as the connection was made
and verified.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
From this point on the approach was completely
automated and Hui could only watch as the shuttle was brought into the great
hope for her country and people.</div>
<h2>
Luna Mining Corporation Headquarters, Johannesburg</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Michael Richards stood at the sidelines and watched
the well dressed crowd. More accurately, he watched his wife, Rachel, work the
crowd. In her late forties she had managed to maintain the figure and looks
that made her such a success as fashion model all those years ago. He knew that
many considered his marriage to be one of convenience. Him, as one of the
richest men in the world and her one of the most desirable, even now. She was also
rich in her own right, but her wealth was dwarfed by his corporate fortune.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The truth was an even bigger cliché, although in a
good way. They fell in love and married quickly and neither regretted it.
Business occupied most of his time, for her it was the quest against poverty
and injustice. He didn’t follow the same passion, but for her he was happy to
put the resources of his empire to support her. Besides the company had a
history of philanthropic deeds.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It might be his building, but tonight was her
evening.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He enjoyed watching her mingle, admired her
natural charm and grace. She really turned it on for these fundraisers. Here in
the global headquarters of his business, a business worth more than most
national economies, it was easy to forget the squalor that existed a few scant
miles away. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Unlike most mega-corporations, his was still a family
owned business. He was the chairman and majority shareholder. The company wasn’t
called the Luna Mining Corporation at the start. It was the Australian Mineral Company and was
founded by his great-grandfather nearly a century ago. The business had started
in mining in the Australian outback, then in his grandfather’s time as the
Australian mines started to run dry they diversified into Africa. By the time
his father took over the business even the African reserves were becoming
harder and harder to access. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His father, Peter Richards had taken the biggest
gamble in the history of the company and sought new fortunes in a new arena –
in space. In the early 21<sup>st</sup> century
the commercialization of space had begun in earnest, but was still centred
around communications. A few bold pioneers ventured to some of the near-Earth
asteroids and proved the feasibility of extracting mineral resources and
bringing them back to an every hungry Earth.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Peter Richards has seen these first efforts and
joined them with his own. He saw a wider opportunity, there was money to be made
not only in extracting resources for the factories on Earth, but in providing supplies
for the expanding space industry. He gambled the company’s fortune on
establishing a small colony on the Moon. Itself only recent colonised by an
international coalition of space agencies.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Once on the Moon the colony started to process
Helium-3, as well as water and rare minerals. Water and the minerals were
immediately profitable. Many back on Earth considered the processing of
Helium-3 as folly. After all, Helium-3 could be created on Earth quite cheaply.
At the time fusion power was limited to huge complex ground based reactors,
then smaller reactors became a reality and fusion drives became the de facto
propulsion system for space ships. The demand for Helium-3 surged dramatically
and Peter’s gamble paid off. Since then the company dominated the Helium-3
market and were able to sell it at a low enough price to discourage
competition.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The company, now called the Luna Mining
Corporation still maintained its ties with the African continent. The early
promises of AI and robotics have failed to deliver. Manual labour was still
needed out in space, robots were only suitable for some of the work needed. The
corporation, unlike many had a fair reputation in Africa. Africa also still had
the advantage of minimal employment safety law that made European, American and
even Asian workers too expensive to use for such dangerous work. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Compared to other companies they paid a reasonable
wage and treated their workers fairly. They also invested heavily in the governments
of the nations they dealt with, helping improve the local infrastructure and
stability. That relationship continued to pay dividends and was one of the
reasons Michael was happy to support his wife’s endeavours.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now it was Michael’s turn at the helm, his father
having died within the last few years ago. Some new form of cancer the doctor’s
hadn’t seen before. It was chalked up as one of the dangers of spending extended
periods of time in space, in poorly shielded vessels. Of course, safety was
much improved now from those lessons learned, but too late to save his father.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Already Michael was looking to build on his father’s
legacy and he had steered the company through the aftermath of the low-Earth
orbit cascade event. Coming out the other side stronger, having consolidated
the assets of some of the other independents who hadn’t survived so well.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Movement in front of him brought him out of his reverie,
the crowd was arraying themselves in front of the podium. His wife was already
on the low stage, beckoning him to join her. It was speech time, he put on his
best smile and made his way to the stage.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
“Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. Thank you all
for coming tonight in support of this vital cause. It always fills me with great
hope when seeing the wonderful generosity you all show at these gatherings ...”</div>
<h2>
United Nations Security Council, New York</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
General Fuller left the Security Council meeting
frustrated. Despite his protestations they had ordered that the alien contact remain
secret from the general public. He knew that this was futile. He told him them
in no uncertain terms that this would be a wasted effort. The signal had been
sent for all to hear, already radio hams and research facilities across the
globe were investigating the signal. It was already available on the net for
anyone to download. It would not be long before some were able to verify it was
authentic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
In the few days since receiving the signal, there
had been only one major breakthrough. The third and final part of the signal
had been deciphered. One of the computer technicians had made the breakthrough.
It was a complex algorithm, a method for compressing data. Burst transmissions
had been used for over century to transmit large quantities of data in a short
burst. This new system did the same, but with a level of compression previously
unimagined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
On its own it represented a leap forward for
communications, what other technologies could they learn from further contact?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
It also contained a response, a message to be sent
to confirm that the signal had been received and understood. The Security Council
was now deliberating whether to send the response, but General Fuller,
commander of the UNSC, would not be part of those discussions.</div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-61422378570918269872012-03-23T14:46:00.001+00:002012-03-23T14:46:30.998+00:00Prologue<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the 16<sup>th</sup> of November in 1974 a message was beamed from the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. The message was sent towards the M13 globular star cluster and isn’t due to arrive at its destination for 25,000 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the 29<sup>th</sup> of July 2072 the same message is received back on Earth.</span></div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-78935650794244168572012-03-23T14:45:00.001+00:002012-03-23T14:45:23.054+00:00Start of a new projectRather then the follow on to the previous novel, I'm putting that on hold and going for a straight up sci-fi tale. Currently the working title is First Contact, which is clearly unoriginal, so any suggestions would be welcome.Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-32985184848991695962012-03-21T14:14:00.003+00:002012-03-21T14:21:32.654+00:00And it is printed :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5QKEjzW2bsKiklADAu5HAUjJwqScuOee0ihh2HtiFy0fnUSYqq9ZTByCpjIadZxqH6o8hf1mJcooes0bfQ-auRDbA89sgsvAdfBLzVQCZqP2DojRL5wooVaD-0seBMOYhp0WxJX8bYI/s1600/Bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5QKEjzW2bsKiklADAu5HAUjJwqScuOee0ihh2HtiFy0fnUSYqq9ZTByCpjIadZxqH6o8hf1mJcooes0bfQ-auRDbA89sgsvAdfBLzVQCZqP2DojRL5wooVaD-0seBMOYhp0WxJX8bYI/s320/Bookcover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Thanks to my good friend Dave I now have a printed copy of the book and I'm rather pleased with it :-)Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-62323069793128647602012-02-15T13:34:00.001+00:002012-02-15T13:34:20.327+00:00First edit pass doneIt's been a while since my last post, but I haven't been totally lazy! I have just finished the first edit pass. I'm sure I haven't been brutal enough, but I do think that I have improved the quality of the text. And it has a totally different ending.<br />
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I won't be publishing the new version, but if anyone wants a read and to maybe provide feedback, feel free to drop me a line and I'll send you a copy.Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-80850821255549379282011-11-28T13:53:00.001+00:002011-11-28T13:54:17.751+00:00And done!So that's it, the first draft is done. I know have to go through and rewrite big chunks of it, but I'm fairly happy with it as a first draft.<br />
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And I managed to hit the National Novel Writing Month target of over 50,000 words in less than 30 days.<br />
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Go me :-)Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4591621452882940746.post-89512353519887272522011-11-28T13:52:00.001+00:002011-11-28T13:52:42.697+00:00Chapter 37 - Hidden purpose<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">War is coming. It’s not the war that everyone is expecting. It is not the clash of Good versus Evil portrayed in the Bible, it is both simpler and more complicated than that. Through Lazarus’ eyes I have seen Heaven and it is magnificent. Glorious and terrible, it is a hive where the hive is the queen. Everyone is subsumed for the common purpose. They stand together, they sing praise together and they will fight together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hate it already.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Lazarus’ soul was dragged into Hell I also saw the nature of Hell. It is a direct contrast to Heaven, where Heaven is unity, Hell is about self. Individualism reigns supreme here. There is a common interest, but only that which is imposed by stronger beings or through the conflict with a common enemy. It is a chaotic jumble, more fun than Heaven certainly, but not what I want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the moment the war is a low key, almost a guerrilla war in nature. In this, the forces of Hell have the advantage as the battles are smaller and more individual in nature. Here they can use their individual strengths and talents to greater effect. When the final battle begins however, I see that is likely to change. Heaven’s might is vast and its armies are much better coordinated. In a stand up fight Hell will be hard pressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the Apocalypse comes we will all have to choose a side, and that pisses me off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every soul that has ever been created has been sucked into this war. The same is true for every soul that will be born. They have two choices and I like neither of those choices. Don’t get me wrong, I care little for those billions of souls, but I care what choice I have. The choice is mine to make, but only having two unpalatable options is no choice at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few short months ago I gave myself up for a final battle of my own, a glorious and bloody last stand the end result was my death. I had grown bored and looked forward to oblivion. To no longer exist that is what I desired, not this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That had been denied me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It doesn’t just piss me off, it offends me. What makes us what we are, is the blending of these two extremes, to join a side you lose that mix, you become one or the other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fuck that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has to be another way, a third way. And by following this way I might get the true death I yearn for. Only the utter destruction of my soul will do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is also another aspect that appeals to me. I have quite enjoyed this little challenge, how much more a challenge will finding this third way be? It’s exciting just to think of it. This isn’t just a case of picking a side and making sure they win. I have to make sure they both win, or both lose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How am I going to achieve this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have no idea, but with the consumption of Lazarus’ miracle I have bought myself time. I will need to learn much. More immediately I need to decide what to do about the Friar and his compatriots who are waiting for me. He will no doubt be very upset that I did not destroy the miracle, but I did do what he wanted in killing Lazarus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have two choices, the first try is to and escape. They will be expecting that. I am more powerful and immortal, but as Lazarus discovered, not invulnerable. I have not tested this new strength, I need time to investigate them. I also need time to form a plan. Being hunted across the world by the Vatican and its minions will hamper my movements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A head on contest now will likely leave me wounded and trapped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second option is to offer myself to them. They won’t believe that I have converted, but they might believe something else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My eyes snap open. I am still standing by the body of Lazarus, I can see that time is catching up with him. Already his corpse looks sunken and desiccated, if I touch it, I think it will collapse into dust. Strangely there is a sweet smell emanating from it, and filling the cool chapel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Friar looks furious, the other brothers are tense and I can sense them gathering their will. The soldiers are all carefully aiming their weapons at me. Everyone is tense, ready to act at the Friars order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deliberately I pull my awareness into the confines of my body. I’m not stupid, I take inspiration from Lazarus and coil defences around my mind. I calmly raise my hands, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>careful to make no sudden movements and sit back down into the chair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before the Friar can say a word, I speak first. An excited rush of words and it is a rush. I’m feeling a high greater than any drug I have ever tried. The first time is always the best and today has been a day of many firsts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“That was fucking amazing!” I really am riding this wave, I feel great. I have a mission and I have power beyond anything I have ever imagined. The task I have set myself will ring throughout the ages, but I must be careful. The Friar and his people will not be with me on this, but I need them for a little while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Wow. If you need me to do that again, just fucking ask. Who’s got a smoke? I fucked him good and proper!” I look Friar Francis straight in the eye. “After that performance, surely I deserve a smoke? No tricks, I promise.” I try to put him at ease with a smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I mean it, and he knows it. He might not be able to read me anymore, but he knows I mean what I say. And you know what? That shield of his doesn’t look that solid anymore. Now is not the time for that, but sometime soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hammond approaches me, he holds a packet of cigarettes in one, giant hand. He is unafraid. Of them all, he shows no fear. He towers above me, hands me the packet and lights the cigarette. He is actually grinning, I can see right through him, only that huge rock that seems mightier than before is hidden in his mind. I grin back at him, exhaling the smoke over Lazarus’ body. Hammond, a bear of a man, probably too trusting for his own good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m all yours Friar.” I say. “Just let me know what you want and I’ll work with you. Just don’t me go to Mass, I’m not a believer. I probably never will be, but the job does have its perks. What do you say?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He nods carefully, still not speaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s allright” i tell him. “All I ask for now, is some better accommodations. I’m not going back to that cell, that’s all I ask. Deal?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He’s still unsure, I can tell. Hammond claps me on the shoulder, he laughs “We’ll make a believer of you yet!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Friar nods again, “Deal.” He says, then turns round and tells the others to get prepared, we need to move out. To Hammond he say “He’s your responsibility, keep an eye on him.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we make preparations and I have some of my own to do. There’s a war coming, and I need to be ready.</span></div>Michael Brookeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06461765207627940905noreply@blogger.com0