The Mars Frontier Box Set, page 53
part #1 of Mars Frontier Series
Georgia knew that her friend would not let the matter go easily. As one of the base's physicians, Megan had the ability to declare that any member of the crew, including the base commander, was medically unfit to carry on their duties. It was the ultimate threat and Georgia wasn't sure Megan would use it. "Look Megan, I do understand that my health is important," she said. "I will submit to your examination, but it needs to wait until the current situation at the base has stabilized. Four weeks maximum and I'll let you do whatever you need to. Is that okay?"
"No, but do I have a choice?"
Before Georgia could answer, there was a knock on the door. It opened to reveal Jackson looking tired and disheveled. He'd obviously been up all night and was fidgety from too much caffeine.
"Sorry sis, I thought you were alone," he said. He smiled warmly at Megan. "Good morning, doctor. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Megan shook her head and replied. "Only your stubborn sister's health. Although it doesn't seem important to her."
"It never does. Georgia, I need you to come with me now. I have something I need to show you. I think you're going to be very happy."
Georgia beamed. She could see that Jackson was finding it almost impossible to contain his enthusiasm. He was like a child with a new toy. Which meant only one thing. He'd found the evidence for precious metals that they were all looking for.
***
"How sure can you be?" Georgia asked once they'd returned to Jackson's lab. She was doing her best to contain the exhilaration flowing through her. She wanted to see the facts for herself. Could she really be this lucky so soon?
Before Jackson could reply, Mancuso burst into the room followed closely by Megan and Dunn. Each of them had eager expressions on their faces, knowing that this could be a momentous moment for the future of Alpha Base as well as human colonization.
"I hope you don't mind the interruption," said Mancuso. "Megan told us that Jackson may have some exciting news for us."
"Relax," replied Georgia. "Jackson was about to provide me with the details."
Jackson took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his unkempt hair. He felt slightly daunted by the four pairs of eyes staring intently at him. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone waited to hear his news. "I've run all the tests that I can, some of them twice. I would appreciate someone verifying my work as I've been up all night. " he said. "However, my results show that two of the samples returned by one of my drones contain excessive concentrations of magnesium and titanium. The percentage content ratio of each of these minerals strongly indicates that there are large deposits present in that location."
"Sufficient for mining purposes?" asked Georgia.
Jackson shrugged. "There's no way to be absolutely sure from such small samples. We could simply have chanced upon a small deposit left by a meteor strike. It requires a more detailed survey of the area. I need to analyze drill samples at different depths to at least fifty feet. Remember, these samples are from only just below the surface. If I can get to the area, I'll need four or five days to carry out the necessary tests."
"So, it sounds as if it's too early to celebrate," Megan said with more than a hint of disappointment.
"I wouldn't crack open the champagne just yet, Megan. There are many reasons why the results have come back as they have. And, assuming I've not made any mistakes, there is much work ahead of me to be able to determine the potential quantities of these metals. However, I am cautiously optimistic from what I've seen so far."
Georgia felt deflated. She'd been sure that Jackson's initial enthusiasm was due to absolute proof. Now he was telling them all to rein in their excitement. It was an unexpected roller-coaster of emotions and she was currently lost for anything positive to say.
Fortunately, Joe Mancuso was harder to disappoint. "Which area are you talking about?" he asked. "Do I need to give you a ride in Lexington?"
Jackson pulled up a map of Hellas Planitia on his computer screen. "The survey area is roughly three hundred and eighty miles north of Alpha Base," he said pointing at the screen. "Still within the confines of the Hellas crater. That means I can drive an MEV there in less than two days. I would suggest that's more efficient, and safer, than using our main spaceship. I can load all the necessary supplies and equipment onto the MEV's trailer."
Georgia nodded in agreement. "Joe, I've already agreed that he can take an MEV, on the condition that he takes someone with him. Jackson, have you decided who you would like to accompany you?"
"Not yet. Who is going to want to spend a week with me looking at rocks?"
"That's why I think I should go with you," said Georgia.
There were surprised looks from everyone in the room, except from Jackson who simply smiled.
"Is that wise?" said Dunn. "I thought you were continuing to supervise completion of the base. I don't want to question your decisions, but I would have thought your place is here, as base commander."
Georgia smiled. "We've not worked together for very long, Dunn. So you may not be aware that I like to be closely involved in the action. You and Mancuso have been doing a fantastic job to coordinate all the activity around the base over the past few weeks. And, as my doctor has reminded me, I should be delegating more to the pair of you. I am confident that you can carry on without me for a week or so. And you have plenty of expertise to fall back on, if necessary."
"Thank you for your faith in us," replied Dunn. "We'll do our best not to let you down."
Georgia cringed inwardly at Dunn's formality. She was still trying far too hard to impress everyone. "While I'm away, can you also try to relax. You're not stationed on a military base now. We're adventurers. Although we're faced with dangers every day, it doesn't mean we can't inject a little fun into our daily lives. I've never been one for deferring to rank. I know what everyone here is capable of and that really is all I need to know to let you get on with your job."
Georgia noticed that Mancuso and Megan struggled to keep straight faces, but Dunn looked embarrassed at having been called out. She didn't feel guilty about the outburst; the uptight commander had been getting on her nerves for several weeks.
"Jackson, I'll ask Professor Kozlovsky to review your analysis," she continued. "Anna may not have a geology background but she understands the principles associated with correct analysis and research. I believe she wants something to do and this exercise should be ideal. She'll be able to verify that you've not made any obvious errors. In the meantime, get some rest because you look like shit. And you've got plenty of work ahead of you."
***
Before Georgia was able to settle down for the evening, she unexpectedly received a video message from Libby Selznick, the NASA Administrator. Looking at her wall clock, Georgia calculated it must be approaching nine P.M. in Houston. Intrigues by why Selznick was contacting her so late in the day, she opened the message.
Libby Selznick was sitting in her office looking immaculately dressed as she always did. Next to her was a military man that Georgia didn't recognize. "Good evening, Commander Pyke," began the administrator with a warm smile. "I wanted you to be the first to know that Colonel Eugene Byrne has been appointed as General Stockton's replacement, with immediate effect. The colonel comes with very impressive credentials and has been selected by the White House. He's not worked directly for NASA before but has been involved in some very significant government projects over the years. I'll let him explain more about himself."
Georgia was surprised by the haste with which General Stockton had been replaced. It seemed almost as if he was now an embarrassment to be swept under the carpet and forgotten about. She hoped that was not the case; he was a great man and had made a massive impact on the Mars program. This new colonel looked like a typical military man. Regulation hair, intense blue eyes that stared unblinking into the camera and an impeccable dress uniform. Even before he had spoken, she knew he would be difficult to work with.
"Hello, Commander Pyke. I understand that you had a very strong working relationship with General Stockton. That is, until he chose to keep you out of the loop on the particle beam development. He may have had good reasons to do so and I intend to discover the reasons for his actions. I don't expect there will be any significant changes under my tenure although I will be introducing more rigorous controls and reporting structures to prevent what I perceive as relaxed processes that have gradually found their way into the program.
"As Administrator Selznick has said, the White House has brought me in to correct the wrongs that have plagued the program. My last ten years has involved working with the air force's hypersonic fighter project. I've more than proved my ability to bring failing projects back into line with the right people and strong chains of command. I trust that you will respect my decision and act upon my orders with unquestioning obedience."
Georgia could see that Libby Selznick appeared decidedly uncomfortable by the colonel's confident tirade. She knew it was highly unlikely that the administrator had had any say in his selection. And it was clear that the colonel intended taking no prisoners. Georgia wondered what the extent of his remit would be. It was likely to be extensive if he had White House support. It spelled bad news for her; she'd never been good at following orders.
She felt it only appropriate that she respond to the message. "Colonel Byrne. May I be one of the first to welcome you onto the program. You have some very large boots to fill. General Stockton has cast a large shadow across the project for many years and I'm sure you would agree it would not be the success it is if it wasn't for him. I'm happy to hear that don't intend to make any significant changes. I've always said, 'if it's not broke why fix it' and I'm confident you have enough experience to appreciate that's a good motto to follow. I'm sure we'll learn to work well together, and I am more than happy to share my plans with you so that we can pro-actively create a thriving and sustainable Mars colony."
She left it there, feeling she'd done enough to let the colonel know where she stood. She was mildly interested what his reaction would be, but her gut told her that Colonel Byrne was going to be a thorn in her side for the foreseeable future.
Chapter 13
The sun was rising slowly over the distant horizon as the MEV, containing Jackson and Georgia, pulled slowly away from Alpha Base early the following morning. Georgia, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned forward to look out of the side window and was able to see most of Alpha Base's crew standing by the large window in the control room, watching her departure. She knew that everyone realized the importance of the next few days; it hadn't escaped anyone's attention that there was a lot of pressure from Earth for the Martian base to prove its viability. Georgia was sure the pressure would only act as a catalyst to bring the crew closer together.
She turned to glance across at Jackson who was sitting in the driver's seat. The navigation computer was currently driving the MEV, leaving him as another passenger. He was staring out of his window at the distant supply ships that towered over the plain. "We have an audience," she said. "There's a lot of hope pinned to your broad shoulders, little brother."
Jackson, as ever, was laid back. "I've tried not to set expectations too high. You're the one that's made everyone excited. I really don't know what we'll find when we arrive at the site."
Georgia smiled. "I have a positive feeling about this. We're due some good luck and I'm sure this is it."
"I hope you're not disappointed. While your enthusiasm is encouraging, I'd rather reserve judgment for now. One of has to remain impartial."
Georgia kept any other thoughts she had to herself. She knew that Jackson had a point and there was little point debating what they might find in two days. Instead, she looked out of the front window at what lay ahead. Barren rock and sand as far as the eye could see. From satellite imagery, as well as from the vantage point at the top of the cliff, she knew that the landscape didn't change for the first two hundred miles. The relatively flat surface was covered with small rocks and boulders which would be quick and easy to traverse, allowing the MEV to maintain a steady thirty miles per hour. Then the terrain altered dramatically with the ground turning into a large series of regular undulations that looked like ripples. Imagery had revealed that these undulations were ten to twenty feet high and up to five hundred feet wide, but it had yet to be determined how solid the ground was. Ground Control had speculated that that the undulations were likely to have collected large deposits of dust and sand that could potentially bog down the MEV if it carried too much speed into a sand dune.
With not much to worry about for the next two days, Georgia say back in her chair and opened a romance novel to read on her small computer pad, letting Jackson monitor the data on the nav computer. She couldn't remember the last time she'd found time to read any fiction and was thankful that she finally would have some time to herself.
***
One hour after the MEV had departed Alpha Base, Mancuso received a priority video message from Ground Control. He raised an eyebrow as soon as he saw it was marked confidential and sent by the newly appointed head of the Mars Colonization Program, Colonel Byrne. Mancuso immediately called Commander Dunn to the control room to see what the colonel had to say.
The colonel was in General Stockton's former office, sitting next to a senior looking official who neither Mancuso nor Dunn recognized. While the colonel was in his army uniform, the stranger was sitting stiffly in a suit.
"Gentlemen," began Byrne, his steely blue eyes staring through the screen as if he could actually see Mancuso and Dunn. "The actions of General Zhang, one month ago caught us with our pant down. Some people had become complacent with the program, believing that each country would behave ethically and independently of one another. That naive and short-sighted type of behavior is something I will not tolerate under my tenure.
"During the past few days, I have engaged the services of Mr Kyle Buckley, sitting to my left, to review opportunities to extend our reach on Mars as well as better protect our interests there. Mr Buckley is the best strategic analyst I know, having worked with him on several projects before I joined NASA. He now works as an independent consultant and he formerly spent twenty-five years working for the FBI. Already, he's suggested a very interesting possibility that I want you to consider."
Buckley nervously cleared his throat and began. "The remit the colonel gave me was to review the assets currently on Mars, or in orbit around the planet, in order to improve the safety of you and your fellow astronauts, and to increase efficiency. I understand there is a strict window of opportunity to prove the reliability and viability of Alpha Base following a series of unfortunate incidents.
"The first question I had for the colonel was whether I was restricted to American assets only. He has allowed me to extend my research to the destroyed Russian base, Derzost, as well as their orbiting spaceship, Moskva. What I have to share with you next is highly confidential, for obvious reasons. The destruction of Derzost is likely to be a fatal blow to the Russians who do not have the resources to fund another mission in the near term. Definitely not in time to launch in two years. Although Derzost is of no use to us, there may be some equipment that could be re-purposed for our own good.
"My preliminary analysis has determined that there is a landing craft close to Derzost. Recent satellite imagery shows little if any damage to that craft which makes me believe it could be salvageable." Buckley paused for dramatic effect, allowing Colonel Byrne to continue the narrative.
"I'm surprised no one considered this sooner," he said. "If we're able to utilize the landing craft we could complete smaller hops around the planet far easier. The two day journey Commander Pyke is now on could be completed in under one hour. It would be a game changer in our exploration of Mars and allow for the speedier search for minerals.
"We've not spoken to the Russians about this possibility, and I have no intent to either. The laws of salvage in space or other planets have not been written but it would be impossible for Russia to stop us from taking their craft. So, while the commander and her brother are away searching for the holy grail, I want us to work together to formulate a recovery mission using the Lexington and a select group of your crew. Only include people you can absolutely trust. For now, there's no need to share this with Commander Pyke. We'll send you the schematics for the Russian craft once we've obtained them, together with instructions in English on how to pilot it. I trust that you will both handle this matter discretely and report only to me with any thoughts or questions you may have. Send me your initial views, together with a list of the resources you may require by this time tomorrow. Thank you for your time."
"What the fuck was that all about?", Mancuso exclaimed, as the screen went blank.
Dunn looked equally dumbfounded. "It sounds like a desperate move. Recovering Russian technology is not what I expected to be doing."
"The colonel's ordering us to steal a spaceship! What makes him think that's the right thing to do? He wants to turn us into space pirates. I can see why he waited for Georgia to leave before he told us his plan."
"What do we do?" asked Dunn.
"I don't know. While I can see the merits of acquiring the landing craft, I'd feel better if the orders weren't secret. Has the colonel learned nothing from the recent disaster? I feel like we need to bring Doctor Betts in on this one. She often has a clearer perspective on tricky matters, and I trust her judgment."
***
"Hey, sleepy head. Time for lunch."
Georgia started at the sound of Jackson's voice as she briefly tried to remember where she was. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
Jackson smiled as he passed her a protein bar. "Almost two hours. It was a shame to wake you. You looked so peaceful there."
