Breaking Interstellar: Android Lives Matter Read online

  Chapter Three: Bag and Tag

  The next morning, four well-rested astronauts exit the airlock, turn on their external lights, and head towards the separated module that contains the ‘bag and tag’ equipment; and some rather powerful rockets. At nearly 50-feet-in-length and 43-feet-in-diameter, the module is an imposing piece of spacecraft, that blocks out the stars as they approach.

  “This view is so surreal!” Adam exclaims euphorically. “I mean, I realize that velocity is a relative term, but we’re traveling 50,000-mph! While, those pieces of our ship, and that asteroid out there, appear to be motionless? Just hanging there in the void, without any visible support or momentum!” He ponders, adding. “It feels as if it’s all animated somehow. Like we’re part of a computer simulation. Or even experiencing an alternate universe, where motion and depth are nothing more than convoluted illusions.”

  Ling, joins in after a good laugh. “Wow Adam, what a deep thought! You didn’t by chance eat those shrooms I was saving, did you?” Another laugh, before adding. “But I guess it would seem a little more believable, if everything WAS dangling from a string. At least then, our minds could see that SOMETHING was holding everything in place. It’s just so spooky out here!” She relates hauntingly, shivering in her heated space suit. “But, I do love it so!”

  “Okay everybody, we’re almost there. Stay focused on the mission, so we can all go home safely.” Jax instructs firmly, as they reach their first goal of the day.

  As the astronauts arrive at the staging platform inside the module, Jax finds the primary control-panel and starts flipping switches. A series of lights come on, illuminating the entire top surface of the module. Kara maneuvers to her spot on the platform next to Jax, and the other two astronauts settle in behind them, each securing a tether to the rail-system so they won’t be tossed into the void, when the module maneuvers.

  After a few minutes of initializing different systems, Jax is ready to start. “Is everybody tethered and ready for action?” He asks, and after hearing acknowledgments from all three, he activates the thrusters. Slowly, the massive piece of spaceship moves towards Baker.

  It’s a slow process getting the massive module moving, but once started, there’s a palpable sensation of having a tiger by the tail. Like a train in motion, this piece of equipment can’t stop on a dime, so Jax takes his sweet time making the transit to the big rock. As they get closer, he relinquishes control to a maneuvering computer that will park them at predetermined coordinates behind Baker. “Okay, we’re here!” Jax, exclaims exhaustedly. “Wow, I feel like a dollar steak; all nerves! This module doesn’t handle anything like the one yesterday! It has way more mass for sure…. Is everyone ready?”

  “Ready.” The rock-hounds, all chime in at once.

  “Alrighty then, here we go.” Jax unhooks a hand-sized-box for remote-controlling certain aspects of the operation. “Release your tethers, and follow me.” He instructs, and the group moves away using their MMU’s to an out of the way position. “Keep your fingers crossed, because here goes something!” He turns a dial on the box, lifts a cover guarding a button, and pushes it. All along the top-ring of the module, a series of tiny smoke-puffs propagate, creating circular-clouds of smoke, as 50-explosive-bolts detonate around the rim. This action releases the clamp system that held the massive payload in place. Then, under the payload, powerful solenoids extend, pushing the payload out into space.

  Resembling a 40-foot-wide, 10-foot-thick hockey puck, the payload clears the module, while thrusters stabilize it in just the right place behind Baker. Then, Jax instructs the module to move away autonomously to a point in space just ahead of the boulder, while they remain behind it with the payload.

  “So far so good. Now, things get tricky. Stay frosty and we’ll get through it.” Lifting another cover on the box, Jax depresses a different button. At the bottom of the freshly-released payload, another puff of smoke emerges, and a 30-foot-long; 3-foot-diameter solid-fuel rocket engine is released unfired, and allowed to float away. The rocket reaches the end of a 500-foot-long tether and stabilizes itself with the help of tiny thrusters along its sides.

  Seeing that the rocket is in the desired position, Jax warns of impending action. “Okay everyone; here goes the big-inflation in three…. two…. one.” He pushes another button on the box, and the rocket ignites with a blinding flash. Visors, dim automatically to maximum. The beefy rocket strains for a moment, and then slowly makes progress as it pulls on the bottom of the payload with the long tether.

  Moving at about 3-feet-per-second, the rocket strains for freedom, causing the payload to extend from its accordion-like storage position. Powerful thrusters on the edge of the payload, fire in the opposite direction. This allows a counter-balancing force against that of the rocket, so the payload won’t be dragged, but rather made to extend. After about 35-seconds, the payload is transformed into a bag-system for transporting Baker. It becomes yet another object in their immediate area, to block out a wide swath of stars!

  With the bag fully extended to 150-feet, the rocket runs out of fuel, releasing itself from the tether. With its only job in the universe completed, it will drift forever and a day, among the other asteroids in the belt. It’s not the first time, nor the last, that humans will leave their trash in outer space.

  Adam, gives a long whistle, as the rocket breaks away. “So long little Hercules; thank you! Hey guys, I want a dozen of THOSE for my birthday!”

  Kara chimes in. “Hell yeah! We can light em with that lil ole laser I’m taking home with me!” She jokes, with an infectious laugh.

  Jax, doesn’t waste time getting them back on task. “Okay you two pyromaniacs, stay focused and keep the goal in sight.” He scolds lightly. “Kara, you come with me to the far side of the bag. Adam and Ling, find the cable-ends on this side and hang tight until we’re all ready.” He mentions the large-diameter-cables that are still coiled inside containers on the edge of the now opened bag.

  After a few minutes, all four astronauts have their respective cable-ends. Jax makes a point to instruct once again, even though he knew this wasn’t their first rodeo. “Okay everyone, take your cable and CAREFULLY move along the side of Baker. Meet me at the module; and please don’t get tangled up with the rocket-pods!” He imparts great emphasis, because during this process, his shipmates will be out of his visual range as they pass alongside of the asteroid. So, he wouldn’t be able to quickly assist anyone that snags and tears their space suit on a jagged piece of whatever. This rapid decompression in space, requires fast actions by shipmates to patch a tear if possible, or have their shipmate die in the most horrific fashion imaginable.

  “Copy that Jax.” From all involved, and using the powerful thrusters on their MMU’s the astronauts move toward the module in front of Baker; pulling the cables as they go. Soon they are all successfully past the big rock, and see their goal about 200-feet in front of them. As they reach the module, they attach the cable-ends and double-check the security of the connections.

  Jax, is pleased that the operation is going so smoothly. “Good work everyone! Now, let’s get back on the platform and secure our tethers.” The astronauts carefully take their positions and wait for him to make the next move.

  Seeing that the thick cables are not tangled, and are placed satisfactorily along the sides of their rock, Jax gradually introduces power into the module thrusters. Slowly, the slack is taken out of the cables. With Baker, between them and the huge Bouligand-type spiraling-fiber bag, he increases power again on the thrusters. The large cables continue to unravel from their containers. As the remaining slack is taken up, the oversized bag opens to its widest dimensions, moving to gobble-up the big rock. Much like the cavernous maw of a ravenous whale shark, it slowly swallows its prey.

  Soon, Baker is completely captured by the bag that will be its main support for the long, 6-year-journey to Martian orbit. The bag is constructed out of hybrid nano-carbon fibers, which are woven into spiraling structures for ex
tra strength. These spiraling-fibers are designed from studying and mimicking the internal spiraling-fiber construction of the peacock mantis shrimp’s clubs. Those impossibly strong clubs take a literal beating, as the tiny but ferocious shrimp uses them to smash its way through life. Humans analyzed and duplicated these structures; creating materials that can withstand the incredible tensile-strength needed to transport an asteroid. Also, many other critical uses were also discovered for this spiraling-fiber design of Mother Nature’s. From one of the tiniest and most ferocious creatures on Earth, some of the biggest boons to humanity are developed.

  Satisfied with the job they’re doing thus far, Jax relaxes a bit and begins the next phase of the operation. He’s glad they don’t have to use the ‘harpoon-technique’ anymore for towing asteroids. Dragging an asteroid by a cable that’s attached to a drilling-harpoon, is a much simpler process, but it proved to be too unstable of a way to relocate them. Quite often, the asteroid being towed, would develop a harmonic-oscillation that eventually causes either the harpoon to break free, or the towing vehicle to break apart. Either way, meant lost time and money, not to mention the danger involved with a runaway monster, that must be relocated before it falls too far into the inner solar system. The ‘bag and tag’ method, had won favor ten years prior; and the success rate for relocating the big boulders has increased dramatically ever since.

  However, Sohn Space System scientist are on the verge of perfecting a ‘carrot and stick’ approach to asteroid mining. It will be completely automated; using a powerful electromagnet just in front of the metal rock to pull it along, utilizing mutual-attraction. While this is a very simplistic description of Doctor Sohn’s new asteroid mining technique, it’s actually a complicated endeavor, that won’t see fruition for another 7-years, or so.

  “Okay gang, so far so good. Next, we unpack the ring structure and connect the four cables.” Moving the huge 25-foot-diameter metal ring into position, keeps them busy for an hour. The ring also contains electrical power, and all the necessary monitoring and location transmitters needed for keeping tabs on Baker during his long journey. With that task completed, the crew pays out yet another cable from the module and connects it to the ring. Then, after moving the module to a point in space about a quarter-mile in front of Baker, there is now a long tow cable that leads back to the ring, which holds the four cables, which supports the bag, that contains the big rock, that humanity needs for making starships and whatnot....

  The astronauts move away from the module, and when at a safe distance, Jax activates yet another set of electromagnetic solenoids. From the module, a third payload emerges and is connected to the tow cable. This payload contains a rack with hundreds of powerful solid-fuel-rockets, packed away inside a beehive-like structure. They’ll provide a secondary impetus for easing Baker out of his long-held orbital path. This is after the Queen Ann’s Revenge, induces the initial de-orbital force. Persuading the massive rock to start falling towards the sun, on a trajectory that will allow it to be captured by the Martian gravity after a 6-year journey. During this journey, un-manned spacecraft will periodically rendezvous with the asteroid to replace the rocket-packs; this will help to ensure a timely and safe delivery of the metallic boulder to the Martian chop-shops.

  Now the ships module is empty, and the astronaut’s main job has been completed successfully. Soon, they’ll be leaving for home, and a well-deserved rest. Their money-rock is now bagged and tagged; the ‘tag’ being the incredibly large corporate logo for Sohn Space Systems, that depicts a beautiful starburst insignia. It’s stenciled across the exterior of the bag, like a badge of honor; as if somebody might get confused as to whose asteroid belonged to whom, out here in the endless void of space.... After practically racing the now empty module back to its anchorage at the back end of the spacecraft, the astronauts rejoin the main engines module with it. Now, their home away from home is back to a viable configuration, and life is good once again. Each crew member is in 7th heaven, as they all gather in the mess hall for a very well-deserved meal.

  The captain is there to greet them. “Great job everyone! I’m lucky to have a crew like you folks!” Braxton exclaims with genuine pride, as he floats about the compartment, friendlily shaking hands with all. “Baker may have been the 6th-rock we considered during this time out, but he gave us no problems at all, and the equipment didn’t let us down either!” He praises, adding. “Aside from one EVA, Coop and Toby can’t believe they didn’t have to suit up for one thing or another.” He reports proudly. “And it’s hard to believe that this is our last apple-bob into the adventure-zone! In two days, we’ll be on our way home! So, enjoy the break and meet me on the bridge when you’re done. We have a communiqué from our beloved employer, Doctor Maxwell Sohn.” The very mention of their enigmatic benefactor peaks their interest, and they all look forward to the viewing.

  A half-hour later, the gang floats up to the bridge; laughing and jockeying for position in the narrow passageway. Toby is first to cross the finish-line, just a few feet ahead of her crewmates. Looking back, she sees them all tangled in a mass of twisted arms and legs; each struggling competitively to see who’ll come in second. Cooper breaks free from the weightless game of twister, by ramming poor Harper’s shoulder into the door frame, and pushing off from his crumpled body and into the bridge. Harper cries out from the impact, with no regard for his masculinity whatsoever.

  Soon, they’re all massed at the only spot on the ship that always grabs their attention; the cupola. Outside the ship, at a distance of about 500-feet, their hard-won-prize hangs suspended in space. Strong lights bath the large object, in all its glorious splendor. Below them at the science console, Braxton waits patiently while his juvenile-acting crew expend their child-like energies, before settling down.

  “Okay gang, I asked you all to join me here so I could show you the video we received from Doctor Max. We don’t hear from him often, so I thought you might be interested.”

  It takes nearly 18-minutes for electromagnetic-radiation to travel the great distance from Earth to the Revenge, using 23rd-century technology. So, live two-way communication is quite impossible, using current laws of physics. On a monitor above the science console, a man of about 50, with pleasant facial features and an unruly mop of graying hair, appears.

  “Greetings my deep-space faring friends! I hope you’re doing well, and enjoying a successful last venture into the great beyond. I look forward to seeing you all back here on planet earth soon. I imagine that it’s been a very long six-years, but rest assured, it will all be worth the great sacrifices that you have bravely endured.” The doctor promises enthusiastically, adding. “After reviewing the data that Captain Crane has sent me, concerning the asteroid you’ve lovingly nicknamed ‘Baker’, I’ve decided to double the bonus you all look forward to receiving. That boulder is spectacular in every way! And, the effort is more than appreciated! Besides, it’s not often that one of my crews manage to bring home an extra rock, before their contract expires. I’m very proud of you all! Now, I won’t take up any more of your time. I look forward to seeing you all safely back home soon. Take care my friends, and I’ll do the same.” Then, after a wide smile.... “Chow!” .... the transmission ends.

  The room explodes with hoots, hollers and loud whistles, as the ecstatic crew goes ballistic! The bonus was supposed to be 10-million-dollars-each; so now that it’s to be doubled, their lovely space-cake has a golden cherry on top also! Braxton allows them to blow off steam for a respectful amount of time, before bringing them back down to earth. “Ok everyone, please calm down…. Calm down everyone…. and for god’s sake Toby, soak up those tears!” He instinctually blurts out, for safeties sake.

  Poor Toby, overcome with emotion, can’t help herself. Cooper pulls a tissue from her pocket, soaking up the tiny droplets as they float past, before they can short-circuit anything meaningful. “Don’t mind him Toby, you cry all you want. I have your back.” Cooper offers compassionately, while turning to Br
axton and defiantly sticking out her tongue.

  “I’m sorry, Toby.” Braxton regrets sincerely, as he floats over and gives her a hug. “You know how I get when safety is an issue. Forgive me?” He begs genuinely, as he gazes into her teary, yet beautiful emerald-eyes.

  With a watery glance, she looks at him blinkingly and smiles. “Oh, you big dummy! Of course, I forgive you! Besides, we’re rich now! Richer than astronauts! Or at least a lot richer than they used to be!” She screams out, returning his hug with enthusiasm.

  After the affection-fest, he reminds them that they’re not spending the money yet. “We still have a job to complete safely, before the sand is running between our toes, people… Harp, please move us to the towing coordinates in front of Baker.” He floats back to the science console, retrieves a tiny bag full of numbered-disks and gives it a good shake. “You all know the drill, my friends. The lowest two numbers, win the job of attaching our tow-line to Baker’s rocket-pack.” Braxton reaches into the bag and takes a disk, as do the rest of the crew, minus Harper of course. After a quick review; Adam and Braxton are the lucky, or unlucky ones that get the job at hand. “Harp, you have the con.” Braxton delegates, as he relinquishes control of the Revenge to his grateful first officer.

  As Mr. Williams competently maneuvers the ship into position about 600-feet in front of Baker’s rocket-pack, Braxton and Adam suit up with help from Ling, Cooper and Toby. Because they’re taking the bare-minimum of equipment, they’re ready to open the airlock in record time. They exit the ship and make their way to the aft end, where they navigate through a forest of engine nozzles before finding the compartment that houses the tow cable.

  Adam opens the panel, pulls out the lead end of the cable and connects it to his harness. Then, he and Braxton tow the line by use of their work-horse MMU’s to Bakers rocket-pack. They attach the cable to the front side of the pack and after a quick visual inspection, the two astronauts return to the safety and comfort of the ship.

  Back on the bridge once again, Braxton relieves Harper of command, requesting of him to fire up the main engines and begin a minimal thrust that will take up the slack in the tow line. After a while, the slack is gone, and thrust is gradually increased to full power. Baker sinks into the deepest part of the bag; but it still takes about 30-minutes of straining against his immense inertial energies, before the big spacecraft starts making any real headway. Very slowly, and inch-by-inch, the rate of the boulders departure from its ancient orbital path, begins to increase. It’s now falling towards the sun, but will be captured into Martian orbit instead.

  Baker continues to follow the spacecraft, as its inertial-energies are disrupted by the ships main engines. For the next 48-hours the powerful spacecraft gives Baker a head start on its long 6-year-journey. With the desired initial velocity attained, Braxton and Adam suit up once again and unhook the tow line from the rocket-pack. They carefully stow it back into its storage compartment, and return once again to the ship. Harper maneuvers the vessel to a point in space about a hundred-yards off to the side, with the cupola pointing towards the action to come …. Braxton tosses a key, asking Toby to do the honors and ignite the solid-fuel rocket motors on the asteroids towing package.

  With an infectious smile, she energetically floats over to the science console and locates the money-button. She eases open a spring-loaded cover, inserts the key and turns it. With the button now armed, she reaches and takes a deep breath. Looking around at all her crewmates, she sees they’re ready for the show to begin, so she pushes the button real good; and shoves off from the science console. She quickly joins her shipmates at the large cupola; watching in awe as more than a hundred solid-fuel rocket motors ignite in the massive rocket-pack. A gigantic bubble of flame and smoke, emerge from the rockets; putting tremendous pressure on all the support cables involved.

  In just a little over 60-seconds, the rocket-pack dramatically increases Baker’s departure from orbit, that had been initiated by the large spacecraft. The rocket motors constantly add more speed to the boulder with each passing second, until their fuel is exhausted. This change in Bakers ancient orbital path, will be increased further by Sol’s gravitational authority, and also by the next automated spacecraft that pays it a lonely visit in the near future. Satisfied that no more needs to be done, Braxton requests of Mr. Williams, to lay in a course that will take them back to Mars. For the next 50-days, the crew will enjoy mind-numbing boredom, mixed with just the right amount of daydreaming of future retirement.

  As the ship accelerates away from Baker, on a much more direct-trajectory to Mars, the crew can feel the artificial gravity coming back into their lives, as the array of Ion engines pour thrust into space at almost 200-miles-per-second. Now, while the spacecraft doesn’t attain this velocity, the healthy amount of thrust is enough to cause an ever-increasing acceleration. For the first few days of the journey, the increasing force is minuscule, almost more of a burden than having nothing at all. There isn’t enough force to keep one solidly on the floor, and not enough weightlessness to allow for floating around either. They enjoy the comic relief, as they watch each other crawling from place to place, like helpless babies. Harper somehow manages to clunk his poor head several times, while showing off some of his world famous acrobatic moves in the weak gravity. Towards the end of the third day, the dead-weight-inertia of the ship has been overcome, so the engines can work more efficiently at acceleration.

  Soon, the crew is experiencing 65-percent-g, and life returns to semi-normal. A real shower can now be enjoyed, and it never felt so good! Their captain makes good on his promise, cooking the crew a culinary delight, as they travel ever closer to Mars.... and retirement. About halfway to their goal, Harper reduces power on the engines and all the artificial gravity they’ve been enjoying, goes away as acceleration stops. He turns the ship 180-degrees, so it’s traveling backwards towards Mars, and he brings the engines back to full power. This action produces the same floor-crawling effect as when they first departed from Baker, with the perceived gravity taking hold more and more as they decelerate towards Marian space.

  They contact Mars orbital authority for clearance and trajectory coordinates. This will allow safe navigation of the relatively busy space-lanes around Mars. The tiny red planet has become a very active place, since Doctor Sohn first focused his immense resources to the furthering of humanity’s conquest of space. Harper once again turns the ship around, after sufficient deceleration has been achieved. They are now within 10,000-miles of the red planet, and the crew is back to being weightless, yet again. Most spend their time gazing out the cupola, as the beautiful red planet, grows large.

  After another day, the Revenge is passing the Martian asteroid processing facility which orbits the planet at an altitude of 2,000-miles. All crew members are on the bridge with their faces plastered to the cupola, as the awesome red planet looms close. Kara can hardly contain her enthusiasm. “Oh, my god! I can’t believe we’re actually here! Somebody pinch me!” She yells jokingly, not thinking anybody was listening.

  While not one to miss an opportunity for poetic payback, Harper reaches in, planting a healthy one on the side of her ribs. “Ouch! .... Goddamn it Harper!” She curses venomously, kicking out instinctively, sending him flying into poor Adam and Jax.

  “Damn, that was a good one Harp!” She admits painfully, rubbing the spot and wishing she had noticed him next to her, before opening her big mouth. “And look! Mars is still there! I’m not dreaming!” she finishes, with a hardy laugh.

  Then, in a not so fake soprano-screech, Harper responds painfully. “Ohoooooo! You’re not dreaming, Kara! …. Nice kung-Fu kick, by the way…. You got me in the nards! Ohoooooo!” His excruciating distress is practically believable, as he moans loudly, covering his nether region.

  “You wish! …. Why, if I got you there, you’d be grateful for the contact.” Kara retorts mercilessly, as she turns back to the cupola.

  They come closer to the processing factory. She notic
es something, being towed into the oversized spiral door. Before she can fully analyze the situation, Braxton floats in next to her, and she immediately forgets what she’s thinking about.

  “Hey there, good looking.” Kara hears Braxton’s words, but he was gazing out at the factory when he spoke! She’s confused, until he continues. “Kara, do you see that silver object being towed into the factory?” He asks, pointingly.

  She squints her eyes for effect. “Well, yes I do, cap. It looks vaguely familiar. Do you know something I don’t?” She inquires, even though she has something completely different on her devious mind.... She prepares to pounce.

  “Of course I do, pretty lady! That’s all part of being the captain.” He chuckles lightly, adding. “I just got off the comm with Nate Johnson, the head of receiving over there at the asteroid processing facility. He told me that the object being towed in right now, is the very first rock we captured six-years-ago! It’s finally just made it here! I can’t believe our timing! I mean the odds are” …. Before he can finish his sentence, Kara pounces! She plants a hot kiss on his lips, leaving him in shock! Before he can catch his breath, and recover, she turns towards her shipmates.

  “Hey Cooper, Toby.... everyone!” she yells out, while pointing out the cupola. “That’s our very first rock, being towed into the facility there! Can you believe it? The captain was just trying to estimate the odds for us being here at this precise moment in time, but his calculations went haywire somehow.” Turning back to Braxton, she inquires. “You were saying, captain? Before you were so hotly interrupted?” She sends him the sexiest wink she has in her arsenal.

  Braxton was never one to stammer, but he stammers now. Rolling his eyes upward, giving the look of a person who’s heavily calculating, he attempts to answer the question.... “Well I…. uh, let’s see…. well…. Ok, um let’s see…. divide by pi…. carry the infinity…. I calculate that the odds are …. astronomical!” His face turns red from embarrassment, as the group roles in laughter. Kara glides closer, kissing him again, but for much longer this time, as everybody else is still focused on that very first rock that helped make them all very rich. Very rich indeed!

  Inside the mostly automated facility, powerful molecular-disrupters chew away at the large metallic object. Breaking it down into its basic chemical-elements and sorting them into different categories, by use of powerful centrifugation and electromagnetic manipulation. Undesired elements are packaged, and shot back into space, via a mini magnetic rail-gun. Fortunately, the unwanted material is a tiny percentage of the haul. Most of the matter is iron and nickel molecules, but there are plenty of other elements too. Elements such as cobalt, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum, gold, platinum, silver, and an assortment of others that are all very useful materials used in the construction of Doctor Sohn’s starships, and scientific empire.

  After the tedious process of separating the many elements, the iron-molecules are melted and mixed with chromium and other ingredients to form stainless steel. This steel is then processed back into micron-sized particles, so they can be digested by oversized, industrial-strength metallic-element printer systems. These printers, will lay down and fuse metallic particles together by use of a modified selective-laser melting process. After about 20 days, this process will form a plate of stainless steel that’s 20-feet-long, 12-feet-wide, and one-inch-thick.

  There are hundreds; and soon to be thousands of these types of molecular printers in Martian orbit. They will also be able to print very exotically-shaped outer-skin sections for the demanding dimensions of the starships. They work tirelessly, to provide building materials for the growing infrastructural needs of the red planet, Sohn Space Systems, and humanity’s ultimate goal; traveling to favorable worlds, and setting up baby making factories. Also, other types of steel are created and formed into load bearing structures that will be the starships skeleton on which the stainless-steel plates will be attached. Any material not used for the starships, will go into building the next generation of processing facilities and infrastructures on the Martian surface. Very little goes to waste out on the frontier.

  Queen Ann’s Revenge, continues past the asteroid processing facility, approaching the space station that they and the other mining astronauts call home while at Mars. After obtaining authorization to dock, Captain Crane and First Officer Williams, maneuver the Revenge into a honey-comb shaped parking bay, where electromagnetic-clamps hold her securely in place against the airlock. There are at least a dozen nearly identical ships docked nearby, and also a few of the older ‘harpoon-class’ spacecraft that hadn’t yet been converted into steel-plating.

  Having already prepared the ship for arrival, and after Cooper links the ships electrical system with that of the space station, the crew needs only to initiate an automated shutdown of the diminutive fusion-reactor, that had dutifully kept them warm and alive for the past six years. After receiving confirmation that the internal electrical system had been successfully powered down, they’re ready to turn out the last light in their home of 6-years. With mixed emotions; they all say goodbye to the good ship ‘Queen Ann’s Revenge’, and disembark for the last time.

  “Now don’t look back, Toby.” Cooper advises, as they float weightlessly along a pressurized corridor that’ll take them to the stations internal transport system. “Our future is ahead, not behind.” She says kindly, while Toby forces herself to not look back. She seems to brighten, as they get farther from the ship.

  At the end of the corridor is an elevator that will take them to the main, rotating section of the station. At about 1,500-feet-in-diameter, the rotating outer-ring, produces a full g of centrifugal force on the occupants. As the elevator moves away from the ships docking area at the hub of the station, the crew begins to feel the force, wash through their bodies. The journey to the outer ring takes about a half-hour; which is a good thing, because all eight, need time to adapt. They haven’t felt a full g, since the last time they visited the station, six-months earlier. Some, of them become nauseated when they finally arrive at the rotating section of the station.

  The elevator doors open and they exit on shaky legs, as their muscles have begun to atrophy from just a short time without full gravity. The first order of business, is to visit the medical department and have a general exam performed. After the doctors find their physical and mental states to be satisfactory, they’re each injected with a small dose of adrenaline, that’ll ease their transition back to full-g. Following the doctor’s advice, they decide to take it easy and get a bite of food at the mess hall, before registering for their staterooms.

  As they enter the compartment, the sight of all the food at the counter, almost overwhelms their senses. It’s been a very long time since they’ve seen such culinary delights. “Hey captain, have you ever seen such good-looking food?” Ling asks, as they approach the food counter.

  “It does look incredible, Ling. I only wish I could’ve prepared you all, something half this nice.” He says graciously, adding.... “Oh, and by the way Ling. Along with the rest of you,” Braxton says firmly, “now that we’re officially done with this contract, I just want to remind you, that I am no longer your captain…. In fact, I’m nobody’s captain, anymore. Okay?” He says firmly, hoping for favorable response.

  “Copy that, captain.” Cooper says defiantly, in a jocular tone.

  “Whatever you say, captain.” Jax blurts out, comically.

  “Did you say something, captain?” Adam queries, jokingly.... These are some of the smart-ass comments bantered about, as they all have a good laugh while grabbing food trays and utensils. Then, Kara turns to Braxton, whispering with a sensual smile. “You’ll always be my captain…. Mr. Crane!” She winks seductively....

  After almost dropping his food tray, Braxton realizes that it wasn’t just the asteroids that were captured out in deep space; his heart was captured there also! Finding two tables at a large view port, they eat and watch the red planet go past every 93-seconds. If not for the viewport,
a person would never even know that they’re traveling in a circle; no discomfort or equilibrium imbalance, whatsoever.

  Not only does the beautiful Martian-jewel go past the window often, but also the many new facilities being constructed in higher orbits, as they reflect glints of weak starlight that illuminates the structures in a ghostly manner. All the recent construction projects are just the beginning of what’s to come. There’s even a new space station being built. But, as of that day, it’s only a partial-skeleton of what it will become. In about 20-years, it will be completed. Dwarfing the old station, by nearly two-times.

  Beyond the partially completed space station, the skeletal frameworks of what will someday become four starships, is illuminated by a giant array of lights that brightens the area like so many tiny suns. So many lights, that there are no shadows among the workers that toil around the clock, attaching steel plates here, or connecting frameworks there.

  The partially constructed starships are surrounded by gigantic scaffolding that also contain the worker’s quarters, mess hall, operations control, supplies, and other necessary pressurized compartments. There is no gravity to be found at the starship construction zone, so the workers accomplish their tasks in ten-day rotational schedules, that allows them to return to the main space station periodically, to regenerate their bodies and minds.

  “Does anyone actually know how Doctor Sohn finances all this stuff?” Adam puts the question out there, during a lull in the conversation.

  Cooper puts in her two-cents-worth. “Well, from what I understand…. at 17-years-old, he became the sole-inheritor of a vast, old-money-fortune, that grew from precious metals mining in South America over the past 200-years. Having been educated at UC Berkeley, he became heavily involved with environmental groups. He battled his board of directors to close down the mines and restore the environment, as best they could.” She sips her tea... continuing. “It took him years to convince the board that greater profits could be achieved by investing in space technologies. Soon after his space-ventures began, he had an epiphany about how to expand humanity’s existence to other worlds, and the rest is history in the making.”

  She informs, adding. “Any of the rocks we’ve captured, will provide several-billion-dollars in precious and semi-precious metals. He can’t dump a fraction of that on the world market, without destroying the value. So, he’s packing tons of pure gold, platinum, and other rare metals into his starships for future use out there.” She says, pointing upward. “Besides, Earth can’t possibly use that much gold, or other metals in a million years, and gold is one of the rarest and most beautiful metals in the entire known-universe. It has special properties that transcend most other metals. So, it’s his belief that it will have great value, not only to humans but also to any intelligent life-forms we might need to bargain with. A financial head-start if you will. That, plus he holds fundraisers twice a year.” She gets a few chuckles, from those listening.

  Harper, who was falling asleep during her explanation, has one final head-bob before pseudo-gravity wins the day. Before he can react in a meaningful way, his head drops faster than his weakened neck muscles can stop it, and his face falls into his food tray! The poor fellow! He jerks back hard…. almost falling out of his chair. His face, looking like a Picasso masterpiece gone horribly wrong. Mashed potatoes are plugging one nostril, a chunk of some kind of meat is lodged in the other, his forehead smeared with thick gravy.

  Laughing so hard at poor Harpers misfortune, they almost pee themselves! Wiping tears from her face, Cooper can hardly speak. “Oh my god, Harper!.... Really? I’ve never bored anybody so badly that they fell into their food!” Still almost hysterical, she adds insult to injury. “Hey, are you going to eat that piece of meatloaf stuck up your nose, or just suck it in? “Wow!”…. Gravity; one…. Harper; zero!” Still laughing hard, she hands him a bunch of clean napkins. He wipes his face with one hand, rubs his neck from the whiplash with the other. He’s completely humiliated.... Mortified, beyond recognition!

  Harper responds with a sticky face. “Okay, okay, so how long before I live this one down? Oh, never mind. I already know the answer.” He quickly realizes that they’ll all have copies of the security video, before they leave for Earth. The humiliation factor goes off the scale....

  Not one to let his former first officer be humiliated without some support, Braxton speaks up. “Now don’t let it get you down, Harp,” he encourages, trying not to laugh, “just keep thinking about how you’re going to spend all those millions when we get home.” Suddenly, a smile crosses Harpers sticky face, and his mood improves dramatically, as he remembers that he’s now wealthy beyond the fortunes of most human beings. Gravy-faced, or not....

  The next morning, they board a transport, settling in for a relaxing trip back to Earth. Kara and Braxton sit next to each other, looking frazzled in a satisfied way.... Life, will never be same for them after the all-nighter they just pulled. They’ll be happily married via video, long before reaching Earth. The journey promises to be two-months of low gravity and boring food, but they don’t care. Just knowing that this is the final leg of what seemed like an impossibly long journey 6-years earlier, helps enormously. Braxton’s data pad chirps, a video file had just arrived. It’s from Doctor Sohn; congratulating them on a successful completion of their contract, and he also has an offer of further employment, if they ever get bored with retirement.

  Braxton and his friends gather in a tight group, making a reply video, thanking the good doctor for his offer, but politely not taking it. They explain about their plans to move to Belize and open a submarine-based sightseeing company. They’ll call it ‘Blue Hole Delight’, and offer submarine rides into the world-famous geological anomaly.

  On their outward journey from Mars, they look down at the planet as they pass over Olympus Mons, the largest and tallest volcano in the solar system. It’s one of the few places on Mars that supports large groups of workers, in sealed-off lava tubes. Sealed and pressurized, the tubes are perfect natural barriers against the intense solar radiations that constantly scorch the planet’s surface. Plus, the inhabitants don’t have to wear space suits all the time.

  Life is almost normal for the volcano dwellers; except that they must either rotate back to the space station for a dose of gravity every month, or endure visits to a centrifugal machine on the surface of the planet. This machine puts gravitational loads on their bodies for about an hour every day, ensuring that the low gravity of about 38-percent-g, will not entropy their bodies too much. Most, opt for the machine, as the elevator ride to space, takes 10-days round trip.

  Also, many green plants for both food and fun, grow abundantly with assistance from artificial lighting. Everything grows kind of spindly, but what the hay. The ‘mole people’ of Mars, perform an invaluable service to the human race, by processing tons of Martian polar ice, into oxygen and hydrogen every day. But, everyone realizes that colonizing Mars is only a stepping stone to the stars, and not a viable substitute for true, earth-like conditions.

  Their transport passes near one of the three space elevators that protrude up from the Martian equator, just south of Olympus Mons. They are connected tightly to the planet by use of an extremely strong and light-weight cable that employs the Bouligand-type spiraling-fiber design. The same as used in the asteroid bagging system. The cables rise into the Martian sky, extending about 1,000-miles into space, where it’s counter-weighted with a metallic asteroid in geostationary orbit. The elevator system is capable of supporting 50-tons of cargo and people, in a capsule-like conveyance.

  Through the middle of the capsule, the cable travels tightly against hundreds of heavy-duty motorized rollers, using friction to climb and descend from space. It’s 200-miles straight up to the first transfer station, with other stations higher up. It’s the main transport system for delivery of the vast amounts of liquid-oxygen, or LOX for short, that’s required by both humans and propulsion systems. There really is no other way to achieve such a
lofty goal, in an economical fashion.

  The explosive hydrogen that’s produced at Olympus Mons, is condensed into liquid form and accelerated off the planet by use of an electromagnetic rail-gun. Utilizing the volcanoes sloping sides as a natural ramp, they ascend into space too rapidly for a human to endure. This process safely transports tons of hydrogen fuel into space, at a fraction of the cost for using and maintaining standard rockets.

  After achieving proper orbit, the fuel supplies are stored at an automated holding facility; far away from any human habitats. Then, by way of even more automation, the hydrogen transport vessels re-enter the Martian atmosphere, landing back at their base at Olympus Mons for reuse over and over again. Without this fuel supply, humans could never hope to reach for the stars, and the worlds that we need so badly.

  As the transport travels farther from Mars, the constant acceleration begins to feel noticeable as a pseudo gravitational force. Hauntingly familiar; the first day is floor crawling, the second day is gingerly moving from place to place, the third day is similar to Martian surface gravity and by the fourth day, they have 65-percent-g.

  Gathered in the transports lounge area, the small group of freshly retired astronauts enjoy a comradeship free of any duties, or hierarchical obligations. In a major way; they’re all free to roll in their own crapulence. Especially once back on terra-firma! .... Each, hope their efforts and contributions to Doctor Sohn’s mad-hatter plan for human expansion, was not in vain. They’re headed back to a hot world, that’s depleted of natural resources, and always at war, or on the brink. Overcrowding and starvation has become a normal occurrence for much of humanity. The global climate grows hot....

  However, these eight brave astronauts have ‘earned the right’ to live among the few (haves), while the many (have not’s) struggle to make ends meet. It’s been survival of the fittest since we crawled out of the primordial goo, and it’ll be that way until the uncompromising end.

  Humanity’s ‘good old days’ will have to redevelop, and resume, out among the stars…. ‘Or not’…. It will all depend on the species survival skills, and determination to find greener pastures…. To nurture the ability for pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps.

  The desire for survival is very strong in the human spirit, and humanity is quickly learning that their best chance for long term survival, will be accomplished far beyond Mother Earths over-taxed bosom.

  The transport continues to streak through space, as a tiny blue marble off in the great distance, grows slightly larger with each passing day....