Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (14 page)

An RF communication message blared in Gideon’s and Commander Steward’s flight helmet earphones.
“Earth ship Envoy One, this is Gliese Space Command. Two orbital escort fighters are on an intercept course. They’ll escort you to Canton Mie
. A
ny deviation from your vector will be considered hostile, and you’ll be attacked.”

“
This is Envoy One to Gliese Space Command. I copy your transmission. We will not deviate from our programmed approach vector,” Gideon transmitted as he looked at Commander Steward and smiled.

“
I think they’re a bit suspicious,” Gideon said over the pilot-to-copilot communication link and winked at Commander Steward.

A few minutes later, the two Gliese orbital fighters
intercepted Envoy One. The fighters were black with two parallel red stripes imprinted on the length of their wings. Their strobe lights were turned on and they took up escort positions on both sides of the VTOL. Gideon was sure Sergeant Tidwell was taking appropriate evasive actions, making sure the Gliese fighters wouldn’t collide with
Bernice
.

“
Prepare for atmospheric entry,” Gideon said over the ship’s intercom system after the VTOL AI indicated that entry into Gliese’s atmosphere would begin in thirty seconds. Dr. Harper and Dr. Jones checked their safety harnesses, remembering their stomachs churning during the landing on Phobos. They hoped this wouldn’t be another assault landing.

Marine Assault VTOL
Bernice
, Planet Gliese Orbit

1338
—February 21, 2372

Bernice
sat in a
geostationary
orbit over
Canton Mie
as
Sergeant Tidwell used his pilot’s holographic console to check the status of various ship systems and stealth integrity. Tidwell had positioned
Bernice
into its current orbital location after he watched Envoy One and its two Gliese escort fighters begin entry into the Gliese atmosphere.
Bernice
would stay in orbit until the S-TIC discovered and reported the location of Dr. Kastriva. Once the doctor was discovered,
Bernice
would land at one of the three pre-designated landing zones just outside the
Canton Mie
biosphere.

Envoy One VTOL, Canton Mie Landing Approach

1
345—February 21, 2372

Envoy One, still escorted by Gliese Space Command fighters, neared the gigantic biosphere that contained the city Canton Mie
.
Gideon noted the biosphere, colored a transparent sky blue, could now be seen on the horizon. Patches of ice and snow partially covered the planet’s natural ground colors of various shades of turquoise and gray. A few seconds later, Gideon was able to make out individual buildings in Canton Mie as the Envoy One VTOL continued to pilot itself to the city.

“
You are cleared to land at the Canton Mie space port,” Gideon and Commander Steward heard through their helmet speakers. “Land on the pad marked thirty-seven and remain in your ship until notified.” The transmission ended.

An audible tone and warning display popped up on the pilot
’s console, telling Gideon he’d take flight control in fifteen seconds. That meant he’d have to land the ship manually.  

Gideon readied himself as he took the controls and watched as their fighter escort streaked pas
t them. As they passed, he saw a large blast of flames exit their engines as they vertically climbed out of sight.

“
Landing pads are on our port side,” Commander Steward said.

“
Got them,” Gideon said, then saw four landing pads marked “22,” “37,” “48,” and “90.” They lay in a row adjacent to a large building.

“
Doctors, we’re on approach for landing. Make sure your harness is secure,” Commander Steward said over the ship’s intercom.

Gideon banked the VTOL and approached the landing pad. Using the controls like a seasoned pilot, he made adjustments to position the VTOL over the center of the pad, extended the landing gear, and gently lowered the ship to the surface. Troops of the Gliese
Communal Tribal Union (CTU)
immediately exited the adjacent building and surrounded the VTOL. The troops were dressed in
turquoise-and-gray
camouflaged environmental battle armor and armed with assault weapons. 

“
Envoy One, welcome to
Canton Mie
Space Port,”
Gideon and Commander Steward heard a masculine voice say over an RF transmission as both men began shutting down the VTOL systems. “
An environmental ramp is being deployed and will connect to your ship. Please stand by until the ramp is attached and operational,
” the voice continued.

“
Thank you,
Canton Mie
Space Port. We’ll stand by,” Gideon responded.

Seconds later an enclosed ramp
, resembling the same type of rectangular ramp atmospheric “airliners” used centuries ago, began extending itself to the VTOL until it attached to the starboard hatch.

“
We have an external connection to our hatch,” Gideon transmitted as he noted an indicator on his console.

“
Envoy One, this is Canton Mie
Space Port. Please exit as soon as possible. Thank you,” the male voice informed them again.

“
Understood, Canton Mie
Space Port,” Gideon replied and then selected the ship’s intercom system. “Doctors, please meet us at the starboard hatch air lock.”

A few minutes later they
all met at the air lock.

“
Is everyone ready?” Commander Stewart asked the team before he allowed Gideon to open the hatch. Everyone nodded and Gideon opened the hatch.

***

A well-dressed man, who looked to be in his sixties, stood in front of three armed CTU soldiers. Gideon noted the man’s long gray hair was tied into a ponytail, draped around his neck and hung over his left shoulder. His eyes were light blue, and he had a smile that screamed “politician”.

“
Welcome to Canton Mie
.
I’m Doctor Ervin Buru, director of the Communal Tribal Union Science Division,” the man said with a slight bow.

“
Thank you, Director. I’m Commander Nebo Steward, United States Navy, SRS
Stephen Hawking
executive officer. This is Doctor Seth Harper, physicist and expedition lead scientist; Doctor Heli Jones, astrophysicist; and
Doctor
Gideon Klaxton, computer scientist,” Commander Steward said as they returned the director’s bow.

“
Captain Bowser, commander of SRS
Stephen Hawking
doesn’t feel well today and sends her regards,” Commander Steward lied.

Director Buru frowned
. “I’m sorry to hear that, Commander. When you get back to your ship, please tell the captain I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to speak.”

“
Certainly, Director,” Commander Steward responded with a smile.

“
Please follow me, and we’ll begin our discussion about your expedition. I’m eager to hear about it,” Director Buru said as he motioned with a hand for the envoy team to accompany him.

The envoy team followed Director Buru
while trailed by the military escort. The envoy team and their escort entered the space port building and walked through several corridors. People wearing gray jumpsuits immediately parted and stood against the walls of the corridors once they recognized Director Buru and allowed his party to pass. As the envoy team passed, the people touched their forehead with the fingers of their right hands and bowed. Nothing was said, and the party continued. Gideon had heard of such nations and colonized worlds demanding their citizens show such respect, but this was the first time he had witnessed it. It was as if the people were acknowledging a deity.

Minutes later the envoy team entered a large corridor several stories high. A four
-lane roadway stretched down the corridor, and on it several vehicles zoomed by. One vehicle, with an unarmed soldier standing beside it, was parked in front of them. The vehicle looked like a standard diplomatic-motored vehicle shaped like the traditional, yet ancient, stretched limousine.  

Director Buru walked toward the parked vehicle and said,
“We have a vehicle that’ll take us to the Communal Tribal Union Science Division building.”

As they arrived at the
vehicle, the unarmed soldier, using a remote-controlled device mounted on his forearm, opened the passenger-entry double doors. The envoy team entered, accompanied by Director Buru and one armed soldier.

The passenger compartment was spacious and enclosed by dark
-shaded windows. Seconds later the limousine began moving.

“
Commander Steward, I’m very pleased the United States offered the Communal Tribal Union an opportunity to participate in the proposed expedition, and we’ll discuss it in detail during our meeting,” Director Buru said as their vehicle began to pick up speed. “I am, however, curious why there’re military personnel commanding a scientific research vessel.”

“
Basically, Director, the SRS
Stephen Hawking
is minimally armed to defend itself,” Commander Steward said. “During the planning of the expedition, it was decided to arm the vessel to defend itself since it would pass through hostile space systems and eventually go further than man has gone before. Our current State Department has mandated that any armed ship must be commanded by a military crew. I hope you understand our desire to protect our interest.”

“
I completely understand, Commander,” Director Buru answered with a nod. “I realize our nations are currently at odds with one other, and I hope that our participation in this expedition will improve our relations.”

“
It would definitely be a step in the right direction by both nations,” Commander Steward agreed with a smile.

Gideon sat listening to the conversation between Commander Steward and Director Buru and couldn
’t help thinking that Commander Steward should someday go into politics.

The drive from the spaceport into the biosphere took the envoy team
through a gigantic blast door used to seal the biosphere from the tunnel leading to the spaceport in case of an emergency. Once in the biosphere, Gideon noted pairs of armored soldiers carrying weapons stationed on the corner of certain blocks of the city.

Citizens walked up and down the streets
, dressed in the same gray jumpsuits, and all had anxious looks on their faces. No one was smiling. Also along the way, Gideon memorized everything he saw. It may come in handy if he and the team had to get back to the spaceport on their own.

Science Division Building, Canton Mie Biosphere

1405
—
February 21, 2372

The
limousine arrived at the Communal Tribal Union Science Division building. The building was gray with twenty-five cylindrical stories, each story smaller than the one below it. The building was cone shaped with its large round base and its point aiming toward the top of the biosphere.   

A soldier
awaiting their arrival opened the limousine door after it stopped, and the envoy team and their escort exited. As the team was escorted into the building, more passing citizens stopped and gave Directory Buru and his trailing party the same touch of the forehead and bow. The envoy team and their escort walked up steps that circled the building and were led to an entrance.

The entrance double doors parted inward
ly as they neared. Once inside, Gideon noted everything as they walked: doors to rooms, other entrances, soldiers, elevators, and so forth. A few minutes later the envoy team was led to a counter flanked by soldiers. Behind the counter stood a lady wearing the same gray jumpsuit but with a few chevrons of rank on her collar. As they neared, she gave the same performed hand-to-head-and-bow salute to Director Buru.

She addressed Buru.
“Director, the conference room you requested is set up, and your staff is waiting there for you.”

“
Thank you, Attendant Leeward,” Director Buru said. “I’ll proceed to the conference room. Please process our guests.”

“
Yes, Director Buru,” she said.

“
I’ll see you and your team momentarily, Commander Steward,” Buru said as he faced the commander, then walked away.

“
Of course, Director,” Commander Steward responded.

Attendant Leeward used an old
-fashioned keyboard to enter some commands into her computer station. As she typed, Gideon saw several data-processing devices behind her and a bundle of fiber-optic cables running up from beneath the floor to several computer network devices. He decided it was a great spot to deploy the S-TIC.