The Mars Frontier Box Set, page 28
part #1 of Mars Frontier Series
"It won't matter by then. Once the weapon test has begun, then nothing can stop it. And we'll have grabbed a march on the others," replied Bailey.
"Agreed sir," said Molloy. "If you can keep Pyke occupied for the first few days then I'm sure Paige and I can get the weapon assembled and ready for the first test firing. By then it's going to be far too late for anyone to object. If the information leaks, then it will demonstrate to the Russians and Chinese that we won't be walked over on Mars any more than we have been on Earth. We'll be able to defend ourselves from any threats."
Bailey was less confident. "Remember, this is an experimental weapon only. If successful, we can then scale up for a planetary defense capability. There is no intention to make it an offensive weapon."
Molloy held Bailey's stare. "Of course not, sir. But we are planning for every eventuality. Surely we've learned to be ready for the unexpected. Who knows if the next challenge will come from Earth or space?"
"I sometimes think you know more than you're sharing with me, Charlie." Bailey had had suspicions for a while that he wasn't completely in the loop. Although Molloy reported directly to him, there had been the odd occasion when Molloy seemed to be receiving direction from elsewhere. Maybe it was simply Molloy's arrogance. Bailey had learned to trust his instincts and there was something he couldn't get to the bottom of.
Molloy shrugged innocently. "I doubt that very much, sir. We're reporting everything we do directly to you."
Paige look confused by the discussion. "So, we're all agreed that we can get the particle beam ready within the next seven days. We will need some help to unload the test equipment. It is bulky and I don't think the two of us can handle it, especially during the time we acclimatize to Martian gravity."
"I'd forgotten about that," conceded Bailey. "Okay, leave that with me. I may need to get Mancuso's help. He was loadmaster for the previous Expedition. "I'll send my recommendations to Stockton. In the meantime, you're dismissed."
Once he was alone again, Bailey stared at the now open door. The weapons test troubled him. Not just the secrecy surrounding it but the fact that this was a quasi-military operation. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt that the military was interfering with space exploration and that wasn't something he'd signed up for. If it wasn't for the fact that the Russians and Chinese were following a similar path, he would have put up a stronger argument against the tests. All he could do now was keep a close eye on the testing schedule.
***
Jackson Pyke was on Lexington's flight deck staring out at Mars. Every day was bringing him closer to his sister. He hadn't seen Georgia since saying goodbye to her twenty-eight months earlier, three days before she had departed for Mars. Since then, he had avidly followed her progress and been in awe when he first saw the images of her be one of the first set foot on a new planet. Although they had regularly spoken via video messages, it wasn't the same thing. He could feel the emotions building inside of him and hoped that he could hold it all together when he got to see her. She meant more to him than Mars ever could.
"Hey Jackson, can you see your sister yet?" joked Paige as she floated up behind him to take in the view.
"You’re hilarious, Paige. I was admiring the planet and imagining what it would be like finally to escape this rocket. Don't you find it claustrophobic after three months?"
She nodded, "there are some people I would like to get a break from. With twenty people you're going to find some are more annoying than others." She winked at him to let him know she wasn't being serious.
Even though Paige was ten years older, Jackson had a crush on her. He wasn't sure if it was her bright blue eyes, radiant smile or confident aloofness. There was just something about her that attracted him to her. Twice during training, he had invited her out for drinks and each time she had refused. He felt a pang of jealousy each time he saw the way she spoke to Captain Bailey. Yet he couldn't help the way he felt. All he could do was try to hide it from her.
"Have you packed up your science labs ready for tomorrow?" he asked, knowing full well that she had but keen to keep her on the flight deck as long as possible.
"Yes, that was finished first thing this morning. I've triple checked that everything is secure as I don't know how rough the landing will be. To be honest, entry and landing are the only parts that truly scare me. It's what has kept me awake for the past few nights."
"I know what you mean," Jackson lied. The thrill seeker in him couldn't wait to hurtle through the Martian atmosphere before the rockets slowed them for landing. But he could still be sympathetic. "It is the most dangerous part of the mission, but the ship seems to have held up well so far and there have been more successful landings than failures."
Paige grimaced. "I'm not sure you're helping, Jackson. I assume you're totally prepared for arriving on Mars. All of your equipment is on Argonaut."
"Yes, I'm keen to get some work done, finally. There's only so much remote research that I can do. It will be great to get out on the planet rather than analyze satellite imagery and thermal imagery. I may even need your assistance with testing soil specimens."
"Good luck with that. My time for the next two years is already fully accounted for. I may let you use some of my equipment if you ask nicely but otherwise, you're on your own. I'm sure your sponsors have ensured you are fully equipped anyway. They'll want to see a quick return on their investment."
"That's true. They're hoping I find the elements that create the next gold rush. Mars offers huge potential for minerals that are becoming scarce and therefore expensive. I'm focused on finding deposits of gold, platinum and titanium but if I can discover any viable deposits of rare elements, then I will be equally rewarded."
"And I guess you're also keen to meet up with your sister again. You must have missed her."
"I am so proud of what she has achieved so far. I never expected she would be commanding the outpost for two years. She's never sought glory or leadership, but she's stepped up to the mark when her country needed her. She's always just been my big sister"
"Haha. I can imagine you were a handful."
"I've had my moments," he conceded. "I'm different now. I know what I want and how to focus on what's important to me." He looked towards Paige, but she was now distracted by the view and didn't notice.
Just my luck, he said to himself. Although he understood deep down that Paige only had eyes for the captain, he would not give up. That wasn't his style. He watched her for another couple of moments, noticing how the edges of her mouth curled up in a smile and her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, before dragging himself away, back to his cabin to get some rest prior to the landing.
Chapter 4
"Well, this is our last night of peace, Meg. It all changes as of tomorrow when Lexington arrives." Georgia sat back in her chair and took a long sip of hot chocolate from her favorite mug. It was now just the two of them sitting in the common room after dinner. Mancuso and Rashid had disappeared for the evening, probably to their quarters to message family.
Megan sat with a glass of orange juice. "I know you're not keen on change, Georgia. I don't think I am. But we have to accept that the base needs to expand. We're all tired. We've struggled for two years with being seriously under manned. As chief physician, I've seen the emotional and physical impact on everyone, including you. If we were on Earth, we'd all be hospitalized. On top of that, most of our external equipment has been damaged or destroyed by the harsh Martian climate and needs replacing or repairing. We can't go on much longer and the Lexington cannot arrive soon enough."
Georgia sighed. "I know all that. And without the supplies being delivered tomorrow, we'd be on Endeavour heading back to Earth too. Our survival is so precarious at the moment. It's unsettling. Yet we've made this our home. I feel territorial and don't want to share it with newcomers who may not have the same motivations as we do. I'm sure I'll be okay after a few days and I get to know Captain Bailey and his crew."
"It could have been far worse," Megan said dryly. "If the Hornet hadn't developed issues shortly before it was set to leave Earth orbit then we would be expecting forty people. How would you have coped then?"
"Good point. I'll let you know in another two years when the next colonists arrive."
"You intend to stay for good then?"
"Yes, I thought you would have guessed that by now. I have bigger visions for Mars, although I need to clear them with General Stockton. I was hoping maybe you would consider staying permanently."
Megan shook her head. "No. I agreed to stay on an extra deployment to help you out, but my place is back on Earth. I'll be on board the next transit ship in two years. Four years will be more than enough time for me."
"We'll see," laughed Georgia. "I'll make a Martian out of you yet."
"I thought you'd be excited for the Lexington to arrive. Surely you want to see Jackson again."
"Yes, it’s hard not to think about anything else. We have a lot of catching up to do. There's so much he doesn't know about my time here. I either couldn't find the right time to share the news and security concerns prevented me from sharing too much information."
"Wow! You do have a lot to talk about. And no doubt he has his own adventures to share with you."
"Quite possibly. But probably not as big as mine. I've felt guilty and a coward at not sharing what's happened to me. But how do I tell him that an advanced extraterrestrial civilization saved me? It all sounds so far-fetched."
"How do you think Jackson will take the news?"
"I've played the conversation in my head so many times, trying to figure the best approach. I know he'll accept whatever I say with sympathy. I don't know how he'll take the fact that we're not alone in the Universe. It's something we didn't discuss. I'd never given alien life any serious consideration until I bumped into them."
"Do you still think about the Sentinels?" asked Megan.
"Every day! They changed me forever. Not only did they save my life, but they gave me the briefest glimpse behind the curtain. The possibilities are endless, and the knowledge is driving me mad. I sometimes wish I'd not met the Sentinels, or think they should have left me to die. Not knowing the truth of their existence would be so much easier. Instead, I have a burning need to find them again. And the only way to do that is to prove that mankind is ready to be part of the Confederacy."
Megan could see the anguish in Georgia's eyes as she spoke. "I understand some of what you feel. I know I could save more lives if only I had access to the advanced medical equipment that must be available. It's frustrating but if I turned that emotion into an obsession, I wouldn't be able to do my job properly. You need to be realistic and careful that you're not consumed by your desire. I don't want you to grow old and die disappointed. So much of humanity's destiny is entirely outside your control."
"I'm not obsessed, Megan. Dedicated would be a better description. It's the memories that drive me. The events that took place feel like they happened only yesterday. Sending Jim away with the Sentinels is still raw. At the time I was sure it was the right thing to do, but I relive those moments every night before I go to sleep. When I look up at the stars, I wonder if Jim is out there and if he blames me for sending him to some distant point out there."
"We've been over this countless times. You saved Jim's life, Georgia. How could he resent you for that? If you hadn't allowed the Sentinels to take him, then he would have died. There was absolutely nothing I could do for him. His injuries were far too severe. None of it was your fault."
"A sign would be nice. To show that he survived or that we're on the right path as a species.”
“You can’t go on wondering whether the choices you made were the correct ones. We have twenty new people arriving tomorrow, all with their own ambitions and dreams. Your time is better spent focusing on them.”
“I don’t know any of them. Will any of the new arrivals align with my ideals and make this planet a better place?"
"Georgia, everyone on board Lexington wants to turn Mars into a habitable human colony. Otherwise they wouldn't be coming. Some will even intend to settle here, like you. Give them the benefit of the doubt and allow them time to adjust. You must let them decide their own opinions of Mars before you can tell them your own thoughts and intentions. Isn’t the concept of trust a key pillar of your plans?”
She shrugged in submission. “You’re right, Megan. It is. How can I expect people to trust in me when I don’t demonstrate that trait? You’re a wise doctor and the best friend I could hope for. My nerves have made me impatient. Thank you for showing me my flaws.”
“It’s not a flaw, Georgia. You’re overworked and exhausted. As your doctor, I prescribe some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
Georgia didn’t argue. She was feeling very weary and overwhelmed. She wished Megan a good night before ambling back to her quarters for a sound sleep.
Chapter 5
Georgia and the remaining members of Expedition Two convened in the control room at ten o'clock the following morning. There was a buzz of excitement that they had not felt for a long time, together with a subtle sense of anxiety that the status quo was shifting. It reminded Georgia of the first day of training when she was waiting to meet who would join her on Expedition Two. Any negativity she'd been feeling was pushed to one side for the day. It was time to celebrate the arrival of new friends. And, of course, her brother.
Earlier that morning, the four of them had started the day together in the gym. It had been a relaxed work out with plenty of banter as the crew unconsciously bonded together to prepare for the day ahead. Each of them temporarily forgot the stresses and strains of the previous two arduous years as they shared their positive experiences of life on Mars. Long hot showers followed exercise before finding the cleanest clothes to wear. None of them had been this tidy in months, even the impeccable Rashid Qadir.
Joe Mancuso had spent the past ten minutes in communication with Lexington's pilot. "Entry burns went like clockwork. Lexington entered the upper atmosphere eleven minutes ago and is tracking perfectly, with the supply ships following in an orderly procession. Flight surfaces are starting to experience drag, but no more than expected. This should be some show Captain Bailey puts on for us."
Georgia looked out of the large viewing window and knew that he was right. The sun had risen above the horizon three hours earlier and was high in the sky, enabling a perfect view of the ships as they arrived. She picked up a pair of binoculars that were resting on the console next to her and focused in on the landing platform they had built for Lexington, only a short distance from where Endeavour had stood about three miles from Alpha Base. The ground had been leveled and smoothed over to ensure Lexington had an ideal place to land with no debris that might fly up and damage one of the rocket engines.
Tracking the binoculars up and to her left, Georgia noticed that the sky was remarkably clear. There were no signs of any dust storms that plagued Mars on a regular basis. This should make it easier to spot Lexington, she thought.
Within twenty seconds she saw the first signs of Lexington as it came into view. At first all she could see was a vapor trail but then she caught the odd flash as the sun reflected off the gleaming metal of the spacecraft. Several seconds later, Georgia could see that Lexington was performing standard maneuvers to slow its speed, ready for landing. The ship was like a silver bullet, racing across the orange sky. She remembered her own feelings during her own landing on Endeavour and wondered if everyone on board was as nervous as she had been.
For a moment it appeared as if Lexington's pilot would overshoot the landing pad. At the last minute, however, the ship's nose pitched up to slow its horizontal speed and Lexington executed a flawless landing, throwing up a large plume of dust and exhaust smoke as it majestically settled onto the Martian surface. Despite the distance to Lexington, Georgia could feel the vibrations through her feet and the large viewing window shook in its mounts.
"I'm not sure I could ever tire of watching that," said Mancuso. "How amazing is it that mankind can launch a rocket, send it millions of miles across the solar system and land it with pinpoint accuracy and within three seconds of its scheduled time. My train to work was never that punctual, and it was only a thirty-minute journey."
The comms channel suddenly burst to life with Captain Bailey's exuberant voice. "Good morning Alpha Base. I hope we put on a good show for you all. It's not every day you have spaceships landing on your doorstep"
"Hi Mac, it was spectacular," replied Georgia. "Welcome to Mars. You made that look very easy. I can't tell you how glad we all are to have you here with us."
"The feeling's mutual. We'll commence our post flight checks and will be ready for collection around midday."
"Roger that. In the meantime, we'll sit back and enjoy the rest of the show. I would highly recommend that you take some time out to watch the arrival of your supply ships."
Georgia flicked the radio off and returned to the viewing window just in time to see the first of the supply ships come into land less than five miles away to the east. She stayed by the window and watched as the remaining three supply ships landed at regular five-minute intervals, all without a hitch. Unfortunately, the final two landings were hidden by the large cloud of dust created by the earlier landings.
"That was too easy," said Megan. "It's a testament to the reliable and safe system we've developed. I'll have fewer fears when I return to Earth."
Megan's remark didn't go unnoticed by Georgia. She was more than up for the challenge to convince Megan to stay.
***
Because only one of the two Mobile Extravehicular Vehicles, or MEVs, was operational, they hitched a trailer to it to ferry some of Lexington's astronauts back to Alpha Base. Even then, three trips were going to be required, with Mancuso acting as the driver. Georgia felt it appropriate she should also go out to greet Captain Bailey and welcome him formally.
