Busy Skies: The Council Dissolution Read online

  “This military base is really a sight to behold”, said Dr. Quill. “Did you know that this entire facility was designed by the father of the architect which designed the Antarctica research facility? One might notice some resemblance in design and material choices.”

  Carlo and Lee just then noticed the caves that were visible from where they sat. “Dr. Quill? Do you know what's going on in these caves?” - asked Lee. “Or I have a better one”, said Carlo, “why do you know so much about this place?”

  “I used to work here very briefly”, said Dr. Quill, “and yes, I know what's going on here. But this is a story for another time, let's discuss how we are going to handle the meeting.”

  “This is how we stand. Do you remember how councilor Krueger treated Dr. Winson after her presentation? The next day, Kent and councilor Krueger made sure that I was removed from the Rock project. It seems that councilor Krueger is very ambitious and wants to proceed with the project at a higher pace”. Both Carlo and Lee were surprised upon hearing this, however they just nodded their heads as Dr. Quill continued. “I can understand the ambition, and if they can do it better and faster, by all means, be my guests. However, what I cannot understand is why are they getting rid of the best people for the job”.

  “What do you mean Dr. Quill?”, asked Carlo.

  Dr. Quill replied, “we have a head start, our own sensor array and my team was far more equipped and successful so far, to continue that job. I’m suspecting that councilor Krueger is hiding something.”

  Once again, Carlo and Lee were surprised and intrigued by that remark, but then, Lee asked; “Dr. Quill? Our original plan was to come here and convince commander Hewitt that the experiments on the Antarctica research facility are dangerous and that more caution is advised. But now, the accident took place, you said that we are removed from the project, so I don't understand what we can do now?

  “While the councilor might not listen to us, he will listen to commander Hewitt”, replied Dr. Quill. “Despite yesterday’s disaster, there is still much we can do. A lot of our research was classified and the public is not aware of it. Commander Hewitt can help with this. Also, the question of the Rock and everything we now know about it should be discussed by everyone on the Council, and even it should be brought closer to the public. We have a completely new strand of life. We are not sure where it came from, but we know that it can grow, that it can react and that probably means a sort of intelligence. This should not be handled by one councilor and his ambitious lackeys. We have a lot of data with huge potential interest in this. We need to know where it came from, does it present a real danger, what do we as a species want to do? Do we decide to destroy it? Does the councilor?”

  * * *

  Several hours later, in commander Hewitt's office, there were only Dr. Quill and commander Hewitt in the room. Dr. Quill repeated the same reasoning and questions he previously discussed with Lee and Carlo, while commander Hewitt was patiently and carefully listening.

  “So you see commander Hewitt”, said Dr. Quill, “we have come here to talk to you, present you all the information and the latest research that we know about the rock. We hope that we can reason with you, so you could use your influence and make the necessary moves so that all the information hiding stops, and that we address this question”.

  “Dr. Quill”, started commander Hewitt, “I am aware of your latest research, you remember that we were making inspections not so long ago. I am wondering what makes you think that I would listen to you? “

  “Because I know you are a reasonable person”, responded Dr. Quill. “I know that you are not agreeing with all the secrecy that has been going on at the Antarctica research facility, and I know this because you do have a scientific background.”

  “So what do you think I should do?” - asked commander Hewitt, to which Dr. Quill replied. “I think that you should talk to the councilor, and in fact, the entire Council, and make a case for the Rock. We are way past inspecting it, guessing that it might be alive or not, guessing whether it can grow, sense, react, and so on. We know the way, way more about it, and we are at the decision point that is too big for several people.”

  At that point, commander Hewitt stood up, placed his hand behind his back, and started walking around the room.

  “You know Dr. Quill”, he said, “we might know a bit more about the Rock than you think. The recent events at the Antarctica research facility have shown the danger and the power of the rock, what it can cause, and how it can influence life on this planet. What if it was bigger? What if it doesn't care about us?”

  Dr. Quill kept quiet and didn’t change his facial expression as he was expecting commander Hewitt to continue, as he did.

  “I have been instructed to brief you in full, and I would like to mention that what you are about to find out is classified beyond any existing classification levels we currently have”.

  Dr. Quill was surprised at this sentence and his expression was screaming with curiosity and confusion.

  “A few hours ago”, continued commander Hewitt, “I had a call from councilor Krueger. Unfortunately, a lot of scientists died yesterday and you and your group seem to be the only ones alive with full knowledge and a deep understanding of the Rock. Also, we have managed to obtain all the data from yesterday’s experiment for future analysis. So, the Council instructed councilor Krueger that you and your team should continue your research on the military research base on the dark side of the Moon”.

  At this point, Dr. Quill was not sure where this was leading to and briefly interrupted commander Hewitt.

  “The Moon?” - he asked. “Why would the Council want me and my team on the Moon, and what does it have to do with the Rock? It has nothing to do with my work so far.”

  Commander Hewitt pushed a button on the table and a hologram of the Solar system appeared. Then it zoomed out showing a group of stars, where one of them was our Sun, and it was placed in the middle.

  “Dr. Quill, how good are you with astronomy?” - asked commander Hewitt.

  “I'm a biologist”, he replied. “Therefore, let's say not too much. However, in my teens I was relatively active in the school’s astronomy club”

  “Are you familiar with GJ-273?” - asked commander Hewitt.

  “I’m afraid not commander”, replied Dr. Quill.

  “Star GJ-273 is also known as Luyten's star”, explained the commander. “It is a red dwarf, located in the Canis Minor constellation, some 12.36 light-years away”.

  Then he pushed several buttons and the floating hologram zoomed into an unknown solar system. Dr. Quill briefly forgot their entire conversation and realized where commander Hewitt is leading him up.

  “You've found its origin?” - he asked with a smile, as he stood up, and commander Hewitt continued. “Luyten B is an exoplanet circling this star, and it is particularly interesting since it is within the habitable zone. It is a bit closer to its star, so it has a year that lasts for 19 days, the average temperature is -20 degrees Celsius and it is 35% bigger than Earth. However, it has been calculated that its gravity is about three times that of ours, and the planet seems to be very active, meaning that there are places of high heat. The pressure, temperature, and general conditions are perfect for silicon-based life. Conditions that are very, very similar…”

  Dr. Quill interrupted commander Hewitt and finished the sentence, “similar to that one can found beneath the ice on the South pole”.

  “Exactly, Dr. Quill”, said commander Hewitt. “The research on the origin of the Rock is taking place, as we speak at the military base on the dark side of the Moon. We have some of the best telescopes there, and also, we have started developing rockets so we can visit that planet and intercept any potential threats.”

  At that moment, the holo display showed an image of two very vague dots near the Luyten B planet. Then, these dots were zoomed out and their trajectory is shown. The animation followed the line and ended up on Earth.

  Quill, dead
serious, looked at commander Hewitt and asked, “what is this?”

  Commander Hewitt replied, “at the moment, we have reason to believe that the Rock is here for terraformation, or better said, luytenformation. Those are ships that originate from the Luyten B star, and they should arrive here in about 80 years at their current pace. We believe that the Rock has the capability to change our climate and create conditions similar to its origin. We still don't know how the Rock got here, but our friends at the Lunar observatory believe that it was intentionally guided on the Earth’s trajectory.”

  Quill was speechless, and commander Hewitt was done with his explanations. Dr. Quill leaned on the table for a brief moment, looking at the shelf full of books. He thought for a while, as if this whole story doesn’t make sense to him, but he kept quiet and didn't want to challenge it. Finally, he placed his hands in his pockets, and walked to the edge of the office.

  At some point, as all of this was sinking in, he turned to face commander Hewitt and asked. “So, you're developing a weapon? - That's what it has been all about. You want to intercept those two ships because you think they are here to colonize Earth?”

  “Dr. Quill“, started commander Hewitt, “I don't think about that. I follow the orders of the council and my job is to protect Earth. People like you, which are much smarter and informed are the ones who deliver information to me, and the Council directs my work. I don't question it”.

  “So this is extraterrestrial life that has ships. This is another species capable of complex thought, is self-aware, conscious, and intelligent. We assume that they are coming our way to take our planet?” - asked Dr. Quill.

  “In fact, Dr. Quill”, responded commander Hewitt, “I just explained to you my modus operandi, and I do not have answers for you. The only thing that I have been asked to do is to find you, and your team, and ask you to join the Lunar observatory 9. There, you can talk to military scientists and they can explain everything”.

  “And the Council is aware of this?” - asked Dr. Quill.

  “This morning, councilor Krueger informed me that the council has permitted him to brief you on this.” - said commander Hewitt.

  “I just cannot believe that such a huge and breathtaking discovery is classified. Also, I’m having a hard time understanding the idea of terraformation, due to the biology of the Rock, and the atmosphere of the discovered exoplanet. The conditions don’t seem ideal. Hum, I never thought that our first actions toward a new species are going to be hostile.” - said Dr. Quill.

  “Actually, not hostile”, said commander Hewitt disagreeing. “We are making several rockets that feature a new kind of propulsion which could allow us to intercept them in 40 years. This would give us time to prepare for further actions. And also, given what we know about the Rock, its ability to act, react, and grow, there are good reasons to prepare for the worst. Wasn't our own history much different?”

  Chapter 20

  The following morning, councilor Frost had a very pleasant ride down to Earth, to the middle of the Sahara desert. Approaching the military base there, her pilot had to identify the vehicle and upon registering, the base was now aware of the visit. During the final approach, councilor Frost made a call to commander Hewitt and announced her visit, also, she asked for discretion.

  Commander Hewitt expressed surprise by this unannounced visit, however, he is a man with long experience in dealing with councilors so he was very cooperative.

  From the air, the base was not an impressive sight. It was a round shape wall partially covered by sand. There were no walls, there were no roads, plants, or anything, except a tower in the center with a ring that was a port for hars. Circling the tower were many orderly organized and very clean mirrors pointing to the tower, while those mirrors were surrounded by a round glass structure. As the har was approaching, councilor Frost noticed that those glass structures were the roof of the underground facility. Several service robots were cleaning out the sand from those, while the others were busy maintaining the windows. It was then clear that this facility is also a solar farm. She has never visited before, but she was not disappointed. A classical military approach to efficiency.

  Once they landed, through the window councilor Frost saw the main entrance opening and a squad of military officials that were ready to receive her. Her pilot, Benedict York, was also her protection, and he was never leaving her site.

  “Welcome councilor Frost. We are very excited about your visit here”, said one of the military officers. “Commander Hewitt rescheduled his day for your sudden visit so he will be at your full disposal. While we are walking toward the meeting room, would you like a brief tour of the facility?”

  “Thank you very much, however, this will not be necessary at the moment. I would like to speak with commander Hewitt, while later on, I will perform an inspection of selected activities”, replied the councilor.

  “Very well councilor Frost, please follow me”, said the officer.

  Councilor Frost and her driver started walking toward the elevator where a military official led them. While on their way down to the lower decks, councilor Frost shared small talk comments and questions about the underground facility, while the officer guiding them was proudly answering. The elevator had glass windows and almost all sectors could be seen. Once the elevator reached the main hallway, they boarded a small monorail roofless chart that was taking them towards commander Hewitt's office.

  “Usually, it is a 10 to 15-minute walk, so we have two monorail carts on each side that connect the facility end to end”. - explained their host, while councilor Frost was managing to keep a poker face. She is here to find out as much as she can about what's happening here and she was not letting any information to be extracted from her visit, her gestures, movement, and behavior. She acted as she has been there hundreds of times and that she is a bit bored with this.

  Finally, they needed to take another elevator to the upper deck which led them directly to the office of commander Hewitt. He was sitting at his desk, and from behind the glass wall, he saw councilor Frost coming. He stood up to meet her.

  “Please stay here, both of you”, said councilor Frost and entered the office, where she found commander Hewitt moving toward her to greet her. “You are indeed a man who is hard to find within this maze”, said councilor Frost.

  “Welcome councilor, well that is the nature of the job”, commander Hewitt replied kindly and forced a smile.

  “Good“, said councilor Frost, tucking her hair behind her left ear and acknowledging commander Hewitt once again, “well done indeed."

  “So”, started Hewitt, “to what do we owe the pleasure of this unannounced visit?”

  “I think, commander Hewitt, that you have been following the news”, replied the councilor. “I don't need to mention the security and safety crisis that we are facing. As you might know, councilor Krueger and I were appointed to investigate this shitstorm so I am here to assess the situation with you, to personally inspect the activities you have been taking and the plan for future actions. So, I suggest, let's cut the pleasantry bullshit, the cat and mouse game of diplomacy, and let's get down to work.”

  Commander Hewitt was a bit startled by this answer, however, being a military man he appreciated this, so he replied, “councilor Frost, in my many years of service I haven't heard a more straightforward answer and would be delighted to cut the crap and get down to business.”

  “Good”, said councilor Frost. “So, what do you have for me? I want to know everything. What happened at the Antarctica research facility, who is responsible, what are our next actions, did we track down all the surviving scientists, and so on. Also, later I want to inspect your research department.”

  “Well councilor Frost, you will be pleased to learn that the lead scientist of the Antarctica research facility is on the premises”, said commander Hewitt.

  * * *

  Commander Hewitt briefed councilor Frost on the Saharan base activities, their ongoing research on n
ew propulsion systems, and so on. Also, he explained the danger of the Rock and what actually happened there. Councilor Frost was absorbing all the information carefully making mental notes. She was learning a lot about what’s going on at the military facility, and how councilor Krueger is involved. For the whole time she was giving away strong signals that she is fully involved in all what’s councilor Krueger was pushing here, and that she has previous knowledge about most of the things that commander Hewitt was talking about. Her Councilor Frost was keeping her poker face which actually paid off and she was getting all the information she wanted, as commander Hewitt was under the impression that she and the entire Council were aware of this.

  Meanwhile, commander Hewitt was impressed about councilor Frost’s involvement, and the fact how calmly she took all the information. However he saw right through her and he realized she is keeping a poker face. Nonetheless, he didn’t give it much thought and he just wanted to impress her with their progress. Councilors aren’t usually deeply involved in operational tasks, and she is probably pretending to be in the loop so she doesn’t come out as foolish, thought the commander.