Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (4 page)

USECC, Mount Mitchell

1300
—February 10, 2372

All
naval and marine officers, assigned to Mission Origin View, sat in a smaller conference room. Admiral Frank was there, accompanied by Dr. Seth Harper and Dr. Heli Jones. Both doctors and the admiral gave more in-depth mission details. Then the officers were allowed to ask questions.

“
Doctor Harper, how exactly did you come up with this theory that if we go far enough into space, we can look back in time?” communications officer Ensign Matthew Young asked.

“
That’s a great question. If you think back to your physics classes, you’ll probably remember your professor telling you that the stars we see today are not actually the same stars that are in the sky. What we see is actually how the stars looked billions of years ago because the time for the light to get to the Earth takes light-years. We’ve concluded that if we can go billions of light-years away from Earth in a relatively short period of time, we’ll be able to look back at Earth as it was billions of years ago,” Dr. Harper explained.

“
All right, so we’re going to be sent light-years away from Earth, further than any starship has ever traveled. Since we’re going to be so far away from Earth—and I assume there isn’t a way to rescue us if we run into trouble—are there any precautions that have been taken to ensure a safe trip there and back?” navigation officer Lieutenant Temani LaPalm asked.

Dr. Harper replied,
“There’re no absolutes in this mission because nothing like this has ever been attempted. I know this doesn’t inspire confidence in what we’re about to do, but let me assure you that we’ve taken every known precaution into account and have made the
Stephen Hawking
as safe as possible. At the moment we’re not exactly sure how far we’ll have to go to get to our initial observation point, but we’ve estimated it to be four point five billion light-years away.”

“Admiral, why’s the
Stephen Hawking
designated as a civilian Scientific Research Ship and commanded by the United States Navy?” Mary asked.

“
The main reason is for security, Captain,” Admiral Frank said. “Although this is a scientific mission, classified military technology will be used, and weapons are available for defense.”

“
Thank you, sir,” Mary said.

“
Sir, why are marines assigned to this mission?” Captain
Neubauer
asked.

Admiral Frank answered,
“The marine contingent will, of course, enforce ship security during the mission and will also be used, if necessary, to assist Doctors Harper and Jones in looking for and acquiring three other scientists who’ll also accompany the mission. These scientists are on three different colonized planets that the
Stephen Hawking
will stop at on its way to its destination. As of yet, the governments of these planets haven’t responded to our request of allowing these scientists to become a part of this mission. We do hope that their approval will be received before the
Stephen Hawking
departs.”

Gideon
listened to the answer, and read more into the admiral’s response. The marines would probably have to extract the scientists from the planets using force. Gideon, though excited by the prospect, also felt apprehensive in having to kidnap someone.

“
Thank you, sir,”
Neubauer
said.

“
Also, Captain
Neubauer
, you need three more enlisted marines for your contingency. I know you’ve selected three marines you’ve worked with before; I suggest you let Lieutenant Klaxton select three men that he’s worked with,” Admiral Frank said.

“
Very well, sir.” Neubauer said. “I’ll provide you with the names of the marines Lieutenant Klaxton selects right after the briefing.”

Oklahoma Spaceport, US Navy Orbital Shuttle Area

0400
—February 13, 2372

The crew of the
SRS
Stephen Hawking
wore their white jumpsuits with no insignia when their suborbital transport from Mount Mitchell landed at Oklahoma Spaceport. The passengers, carrying their individual duffel bags strapped over their shoulder, exited the transport down its rear cargo ramp.

A
navy orbital shuttle, which would take them to their transport to Mars, was parked by their suborbital transport, waiting for them to board.

“
Hey, Lieutenant Klaxton!” someone yelled as Gideon and the rest of the crew were being herded to the orbital shuttle.

Gideon looked behind him and saw three men running
toward him. They were also dressed in white jumpsuits and carrying duffel bags. As the three neared, Gideon recognized the men and stopped. They were his team.

“
What’s up, LT?” Corporal Gault asked when he, Sergeant Manelly, and Sergeant Kindle caught up with Gideon.

“
Have you guys been briefed on anything?” Gideon asked.

“
All we know is that we’re being assigned as a marine contingent aboard a starship sir,” Sergeant Manelly said.

“
I’ll give you a full briefing and introduce you to our CO and starship captain as soon as I can. I specifically requested you ‘jarheads,’ so don’t make me regret it!” Gideon said with a smile.

The three men smiled back.

“Move it, marines!” Captain
Neubauer yelled from the ramp of the orbital shuttle as the rest of the group boarded.

“
That’s our new CO,” Gideon said as the four men ran to board the shuttle.

Destroyer USS
Kathryn Sullivan
, Earth Orbit

0930
—February 13, 2372

“
Briefing in the ammo locker in ten minutes!” Gideon yelled into the small crew bay, where the enlisted marines had been assigned during their trip to Mars.

The six
marines had just stowed their gear and were going to change into their new green marine starship uniforms.

“
And keep your white jumpsuits on. We’ll be wearing these until otherwise notified,” Gideon added with a smile and left.

The
marines let a few choice words fly and put their new green starship uniforms away along with their new ATCCS.  

“
Can’t wear my newfangled uniform, haven’t really been told why I’m here, and I don’t really know where I’m going,” Corporal Gault grumbled as he put his uniform away.

“
Welcome to the Marine Corps!” A bellow, sounding as if it had come from a boot camp drill instructor, echoed from the far side of the bay. “You ain’t been in the corps long enough to even know what not to know. So just keep your mouth shut until you have something worth my hearing!” Gunnery Sergeant Michael Xia made the remarks as he stood akimbo while staring at Gault.

Gunny Xia
was a tall, thin, hard-bodied marine whose stance oozed experience and confidence. Only his short gray hair and slightly wrinkled face gave away his age.

“
Sure, Gunny. I was only venting and-”

“
No one cares, Gault!” Xia shouted. “Everyone to the ammo locker on the double!”

***

The marine ammo locker, located in the lower aft decks of the USS
Kathryn Sullivan,
was far away from the ship’s engines and defensive weapons. The locker contained the usual marine combat equipment aboard every destroyer. The regular marine contingent commander aboard the
Kathryn Sullivan
had been told to keep his people away from the locker for two hours.

Gideon was standing by Captain Neubauer
when their six marines walked into the ammo locker.

“
Close the hatch and have a seat wherever you can find one,” Captain Neubauer said.

The last
marine who entered closed the locker hatch as the other marines sat on crates or just sat on the deck.

“
As you all know by now, we’ve been told that we’re special and that we’re on some type of historic mission to find out how life originated on Earth. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t give a flip!” Neubauer said and paused as his marines chuckled at his comment.

“
We’re marines! We’re already special, and all we need to know is who to kill and when to stop killing ‘em! So don’t let the squids and the overpaid scientists convince you that you’re something that you’re not,” Neubauer added.

Again
, more chuckles.

“
Enough of the hogwash. Here’s the setup. As you’ve already figured out, Lieutenant Klaxton is your executive officer. We have two missions: first, to provide security aboard the
Stephen Hawking;
and second, to deploy off ship as ordered by Captain Bowser. For deployments, we’ll have a black ops team commanded by myself, and a green ops team commanded by Lieutenant Klaxton. The black ops team will include Gunnery Sergeant Xia, Sergeant Reuben Mucha, and Sergeant John Tidwell. Green ops team will be Sergeant Manelly, Sergeant Kindle, and Corporal Gault. Questions?” Captain Neubauer asked and waited.  

“
Sir, what equipment will we be issued aboard the
Stephen Hawking?”
Sergeant Mucha asked. Mucha sat on a crate marked FISSION GRANADES. His head was shaved in a way that left three stripes of short brown hair: one stripe on top from his forehead to the back of the neck and one stripe on each side. The cut had replaced the traditional Mohawk a century ago and was usually sported by marines who had at one time been seriously wounded in battle. He was average size, weight, and height.

“
We’re told that we’ll have the standard issue of warship weapons, ammo, combat armor, and combat pressure suits. Also, we’ll have the newest model of marine assault orbital VTOL along with a standard naval orbital VTOL,” Neubauer said and then looked at Sergeant Tidwell. “Tidwell that should make your day. You think you can learn to pilot the new assault VTOL in a couple of days? After all, you’ve been flying assault aircraft since you were transferred to Marine Recon Black Ops.”

“
Yes, sir, no problem,” Tidwell said. “VTOLs are like riding a bicycle these days. Learn to fly one, and you can fly ‘em all.”

Tidwell’s s
hort height was well suited for the small pilot compartment of some assault craft. His head was shaved like many assault pilots to keep his head cool during long suborbital missions while wearing a flight helmet.

“
Any other questions?” Neubauer asked.

The
marines remained quiet.

“
Okay then. Stay in your quarters unless Gunny Xia, myself, or Lieutenant Klaxon tells you otherwise. We’ll arrive in Mars orbit tomorrow. I’ll brief you again then. Dismissed!”

The
marines stood, Gault opened the hatch, and the men headed for their quarters.

“
Gunny Xia, there’ll be a briefing with Captain Bowser and the scientists at fourteen hundred hours. I want you to accompany me and the lieutenant,” Neubauer said as Xia was walking out of the ammo locker.

“
Yes, sir,” Xia replied.

Destroyer USS
Kathryn Sullivan
, Outbound to Mars

1400
—February 13, 2372

D
r. Harper, Dr. Jones, and Captain Bowser were seated in a small conference room aboard the
Kathryn Sullivan
when Captain Neubauer, Lieutenant Klaxton, and Gunnery Sergeant Xia entered. The marines stood at attention until Captain Bowser told them to have a seat.

“
Okay, we’re all here,” Dr. Harper said. “As you know, we requested three other scientists accompany us on this mission. All are on colony planets whose governments aren’t friendly with the United States, and as of this moment none of our requests have been answered. We’d like to go ahead and make tentative plans to acquire these scientists if our requests are turned down or never answered.”

“
Why are these scientists so important to this mission?” Gideon asked.

“
We need experts in specific scientific fields for this mission, and we’ve been ordered to acquire the scientists who are the best in these fields. Doctor Aaron Kastriva is the utmost authority in quantum physics, Doctor Rachel Bailey is the best cosmic biologist, and Doctor Vashni Qasim designed the first quantum artificial intelligent computer system,” Dr. Harper said, hesitated for a second, and continued. “Also, these scientists will validate our findings. Their governments are more likely to believe what we find if they’re there when we discover the origin of life on Earth.”

“
So, we’ve been ordered to abduct these scientists if necessary?” Captain Neubauer asked.

“
Well…yes, we have, captain,” Mary said with a hint of regret. “Admiral Frank ordered that these scientists accompany us at all costs.”