Henry Gallant Saga 2: Lieutenant Henry Gallant (13 page)

Gallant checked the reactor compartment pressure readings over the course of the past history. They were now near the normal range, but the engine room was still showing a lack of pressure control. In fact, all the connected compartments were exhibiting this reaction. The radiation was critically dangerous on its own, but, worse, the differential pressure had threatened the valve seals to the point of rupturing a plasma discharge valve to the reactor core. This could have been a disaster. They were all fortunate Chief Howard had acted quickly and returned things to a safe state.

“The best we could do is seal it off to minimize radiation leakage and additional damage to the ship.”
“And the number two fusion reactor?”

“I think that’s salvageable. I have a report here detailing the parts and repair issues. Given replacement uranium fuel elements and tritium injectors, which we may be able to manufacture with the help of the colonists we can restore criticality. I’ve made extensive scans of Elysium’s geological formation and evaluated the mineralogical deposits as best I could from orbit, and there are considerable elements we need in and around the large volcano north of the town Hallo. I can’t be sure of the quality without a proper exploration of the deposits, however. Also we are going to need more deuterium and tritium. We can set up an extraction facility outside Hallo on the shoreline and mine the ocean separating out the heavy water components.”

“That’s something.”

“Yeah, but we need more dark matter and a new plasma containment bottle. Collecting sufficient WIMPs without proper facilities will take great effort.”

“That’s true, but we have no choice if we’re ever to see Earth again. I think we’ll need the mining operation to be on the side of the volcano. A second operation will be a foundry and fabrication facility not too far from the mining operation but close enough to Hallo to get workers and supplies. The heavy water extraction facility on the shoreline will be the third facility. Altogether that entails considerable manpower, equipment, and organization.”

“Tell me about Elysium,” asked Howard.

“Well, Chief, it’s a beautiful world. Not a bad place to be marooned on, except for the possibility of more Titans in the future.”

“Yes, sir, but what about the force field?”

“Yeah. . . . What about the force field?”

Olympus Mons was the largest volcano in the Solar System; it emerged on Mars, rising to a height of twenty kilometers, almost three times as tall as Mount Everest. Elysium created a challenger twice as large, formed from many thousands of fluid basaltic lava flows pouring out from volcanic vents over a long time. Its profile was shaped like a tent with a gradual craggy upward slope of five degrees. The people of Hallo appropriately named it after a fictional land of giants—Brobdingnag.

Upon returning to Elysium, Gallant decided to follow up Chief Howard’s recommendation to evaluate geological deposits and survey possible heavy metals mining sites around Brobdingnag. Since Wolfe was dragging his feet about allowing more UP personnel to land, the task fell to him.

He borrowed a single-seat hovercraft to explore the island from Junior, of all people. The flyer looked more like an old dilapidated motorcycle than something capable of flying several hundred kilometers at an altitude of three kilometers. Junior’s “generosity” included beige trousers and a blue short-sleeved polo shirt, along with the assurance he wouldn’t be followed, which made Gallant smile. He felt sure Junior would have a tracking device hidden onboard. He packed a few sandwiches and a couple hand-operated prospecting tools into the small trunk compartment.

He had his doubts about the machine’s flight worthiness, but, as an experienced fighter pilot, he wasn’t about to show any timidity in front of Junior.

Rather than wholly trusting Junior’s recommendation, Gallant took a short hop on the tiny “put-put” vehicle to Alaina’s residence. When she answered the door, wearing white shorts and a blue halter top, he asked her if she could suggest someone to be his guide for a day’s exploration of the large volcano.

To his surprise, she took the question as a personal invitation. She said, “I’d be delighted to take an outing.” Before he could respond, she hopped on to the back of his flyer and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

“Let’s go,” she said, in her cavalier way.

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea.” He hesitated.

“Really? Why not?”

Realizing this situation was one of his own doing, he yielded. Gunning the reluctant throttle, he took off in the flyer with Aliana clinging to him.

“Who gave you this piece of junk?” she yelled in his ear after they had climbed to two thousand meters and had traveled nineteen kilometers.

“Junior,” he yelled back, adjusting the throttle and altering the fuel mixed for the tenth time on the effete flyer.

“Junior?” she repeated, bewildered.

“Cyrus Wolfe Jr.”

She giggled. “You’d better not let Cy hear you call him that. He definitely wouldn’t like it.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Yeah, and his father is always President Wolfe, or Mr. President, or Mr. Wolfe—never anything less formal.”

They flew over the island’s lone town, Hallo. The colony was a combination of somewhat primitive and advanced technology and styles. The town had developed its own agricultural food sources by identifying edible plants and animals indigenous to the planet. There were acres of farmland spread below, with nearby corrals of various mammals. Despite Hallo being a small town, the residents had constructed a minor industrial base and trading center for normal commerce, thus containing all the necessary ingredients for survival. The community as a whole did not appear different than one found on Earth.

Gallant found the strange mix of the rural agricultural society of Elysium and the transplanted UP mining population had produced a rugged individualism that was best exemplified in Alaina. The colonists had even acquired Titan technology before severing access. Several small lakes and creeks surrounded the farmlands. The forests and grazing lands farther out were filled with animals raising their young in a natural habitat. And something else bothered him. It was not what he could see, but rather what he didn’t see. He saw plenty of children in the town, but there didn’t seem to be many children running freely about, playing on the outskirts of town.

He wondered why.

The flyer engine sputtered and gasped, causing Alaina to say, “Really, if I’d known Junior had stuck you with this worthless clunker, I’d have suggested taking mine. However, since we’re over halfway to the volcano, I guess we’ll have to stick it out.”

They flew for two hundred kilometers until they reached the volcano, surrounded by dense jungle with numerous lakes and rivers.

They landed on a plateau midrange on the volcano. They stretched their legs and began prospecting using the basic handheld equipment Gallant had loaded on the flyer. They explored the geological formations and mapped out several deposits of heavy metals. He took samples and analyzed dill readings.

The day was simply delectable. For several hours they climbed the jagged rock face and steep mountains until Gallant had sighted, tested, and sampled many of locations. He was gratified to find substantial agreement with their long range analysis. The area was rich in the heavy metals they needed.

Exhausted from their exertions and having worked up a good appetite, Gallant suggested they fly a short distance away and find a spot to break for lunch before continuing the exploration on the other side of the volcano.

Alaina pointed out a convenient landing area at the base of the volcano near a large pond away from the jungle. They set down the flier and sat on a grassy knoll overlooking the water. Gallant was glad he had thought to include a packed lunch for his journey and could offer to share it with Alaina. They sat on the ground on a large sheet of material, meant as a vehicle covering. Alaina supplemented Gallant’s meager sandwiches by harvesting fruits and berries from the nearby trees and bushes, creating a picnic atmosphere for the pair.

Nearby, huge leafy trees cast their reflection on the still pond water only to be intermittently interrupted by ripples from waterfowl swimming leisurely across. Fascinated, Gallant and Alaina spent a leisurely lunchtime under this idyllic, picturesque setting as they found numerous topics to chat about, with equal give and take, but, before long, humor and a good-natured banter developed.

Everywhere he looked, he saw vivid colors with textures and aromas in stark contrast to his Spartan space existence. The variety of the numerous species of animals was astounding. Small mammals scurried about, and fowl flew overhead. Their beauty and friendly manner added to the quiet atmosphere. Gallant enjoyed his conversation with Alaina, and their secluded location made the occasion special.

The natural environment of the wild animals was revealed. More than half of the feral animals were fearless enough to approach them. Alaina shared interesting facts about each animal’s habits, backgrounds, and lifespan.

“Kauai is the largest island of this chain. It has many native species of mammals, and mammalian predators and herbivores have been introduced from other islands. The native species are vulnerable to attack. Add the warm tropical climate, lack of competitors and predators, and this archipelago provides an ideal habitat for all introduced mammals to become well established. The native flora and fauna were evident,” she said.

An abundance of insects also swarmed around him, occasionally nipping at him. He slapped his neck when one such creature dared to bite him.

“Ouch,” he said.

She laughed. “Elysium’s version of mosquitoes.”

“Mosquitoes? Nonsense. They’re vampire bats.”

“Ha,” she said. “You needn’t worry about dangerous animals, fish, or fowl; at least not this far from the jungle during daylight. In the jungle at night, however, is another story. There are deadly serious large panther-like mammals. They would make a nice meal of you”—she laughed again—“if they caught you.”

She had a pleasant smile when she laughed. Curious, he asked her about her personal relationships.

“I don’t have a serious relationship—though Cy wouldn’t agree with that. His expectation for a relationship is quite different than mine. He likes to hear the sound of his own voice. I think he’s the most troublesome man I’ve ever met.”

He longed to question her further, but he feared to touch on prohibited ground.

She said, “Tell me about your family and your background. There is much I would like to know.”

“As an orphan, I grew up in my grandmother’s care on terra-formed Mars. She was the center of my life until I went to the Space Academy.”

“And is she the only woman in your life today?”

“My grandmother passed away while I was at the academy,” he said, and then added, “There was one other woman. Someone who I thought was special.”

“And she’s not so special anymore?”

“She made another choice.”

“Hmm.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking anything in particular,” she said. “But perhaps love is a sore subject with you.”

“My personal situation is still unresolved.”

“She has not married then?”

“To my amazement she will be, at the end of this voyage. Her fiancé is my current commanding officer.”

“There’s a twist. If she let you go for someone else, she’s not right for you. Move on. Did you love her so much?”

“Yes. Yes, I did.” He gazed off to the horizon, daydreaming.

“Won’t you tell me what happened, or do you consider it none of the business of an insufferable snoop such as me?”

A moment of silence passed. Then he added, “It’s my unhappy story.”

“Tell me more about this woman,” she urged.

He played with his coin-shaped music box. “Kelsey was my first love. We served together and shared many dangers. There was a time I thought . . . It’s over now. I can no longer love her, and yet I can’t seem to give her up.”

Alaina looked at him with a thoughtful stare so as not to miss any shade of his meaning.

“Is your life merely the consequence of other people’s choices?” she asked.

“No, but it is limited by the free choice of others.”

“You have a great deal to learn about romance.”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“How delightful.”

“Delightful?”

“We've found something we can investigate.”

“Oh?” said Gallant, wondering if she was offering to help him explore romance—personally.

She’s so impulsive. I never know when she’s serious.

“Well it’s nice to know I’ve a friend,” he said.

“Yes, I know and I feel it too,” she said, and then added, “For those who enjoy straying from the trodden path, adventures can be fun.”

“I suppose,” he said.

“Nevertheless, I doubt if romance is much different here than back on Earth.”

“This colony has been outside the norm of Earth for quite a long time,” he said, looking at his chronometer. "Speaking of investigating, perhaps we should get back to our exploration expedition. I still need to examine the other side of the volcano before we head back.”

“Okay,” she said wistfully.

They flew to the other side of the volcano and completed their survey, logging their findings into the onboard computer and sending the data back to the Hummingbird for AI analysis. They preserved a printed summary along with the samples into a secure waterproof container that fit into a satchel on the flyer.

As the sun set, Gallant decided they had accomplished all they could for one day and prepared to return to Hallo. They took off and flew over the jungle near a large lake.

As they left the volcano behind, the flyer engine acted erratically and stalled causing the flyer to plummet toward the valley floor.

“Hang on,” said Gallant as he struggled with the controls.

Alaina’s hands tore into his chest as he managed to slow their descent. He accomplished a semi-controlled landing on the lake surface.

Alaina, who had been clinging precariously to Gallant during the many gyrations, let go of him as the flier struck the water. Alaina collided feet first with the lake but quickly submerged, dozens of meters away from Gallant. He too slammed into the water as the machine went down. The surface was like cement at that speed.