NEBULAR Collection 1 - The Triton Base: Episodes 1 - 5 Read online

  The Triton Base

  Nebular Collection 1 (Episodes 1-5)

  Written by Thomas Rabenstein

  Issue: 2016-12-23

  URL: www.scifi-world.de

  © 2015 SciFi-World Medien Verlag

  Contributors

  Cover by Arndt Drechsler

  Michael Köckritz – Chief translator and coordinator (English)

  The following team has contributed to this issue:

  Norman Riger, Kevin Breen, Tim Anderson,

  Tom Norris, Elmer Margritz,

  Ben Stegner (Test Reading)

  Intro

  NEBULAR, takes us into the year 2113 – a time when nationalistic interests and blind patriotism are things of the past. The scourge of international wars is no longer a threat. By combining resources and knowledge, Humanity has almost conquered disease and poverty. United as the Solar Union, Humanity faces the challenges of the last unknown realm – space!

  Thriving colonies on the Moon and Mars are part of everyday life. Around ten billion people live on Earth while two hundred and fifty million have settled in the Moon and Mars colonies. Scientific outposts are being established and operated on the moons of the gigantic outer planets. Human explorers have already encountered the ice deserts on Jupiter’s moon Europa, the dust storms on Mars and the primeval hydrocarbon oceans on Titan.

  Prospectors search for crucial natural resources in the asteroid belts and manned spaceships fly not only between the planets but also to the outer edges of the solar system to further the reach of exploration. Humanity’s most distant outpost is on Neptune’s moon Triton, an ice-cold world, where scientists and private mining companies are braving the harsh conditions.

  About 2000 men and women of the Solar Union are part of the contingent, accepting a life of solitude, far away from home. They are exploring the outer regions of the solar system to find much needed raw materials for Earth and her colonies. Astrophysicists utilize the unique local undisturbed gravitational conditions on Triton, aligning the large antenna arrays of the new SETI project onto nearby stars. However, Humanity has not yet found alien life forms.

  Establishing contact with fellow alien civilizations is one of the greatest remaining objectives of these times. Unconsciously, most Humans hope these foreign cultures will be similar and that Humanity will be able to learn from these beings in a peaceful exchange of information. However, so far the SETI installation on Triton has been unsuccessful to intercept signals from an intelligent origin. It is as if alien civilizations don’t want to communicate with Humanity – but that doesn’t mean these aliens don’t exist … and haven’t been listening … and watching Humanity all along!

  1 - The Triton Base

  Written by Thomas Rabenstein

  Ouch

  The soft songs of birds gently filled the air, their volume gradually increasing to a rousing ‘good morning’ concert while in steadily brightening red splendor, the sun rose slowly over the horizon. The smell of fir and the splashing of water from a mountain creek filled the air, adding counterpoints to the birds’ concert.

  Bill Davis turned on his side, slowly opening his eyes, in the light of the rising sun. The first sunrays gently warmed his face; they grew warmer by the second. A perfect illusion!

  Still tired and lazy, he gradually straightened and threw a short, hopeful glance to the other side of the bed. He was alone – yet, again. Sheets and cushions were in disarray and the scent of perfume still lingered in the air. Vanilla!

  He remembered and was painfully aware of exactly where he was. The picturesque view from the window was a total fabrication. Sometimes Bill Davis hated the psychologists’ methods of ensuring everyone’s mental health, but he always enjoyed waking up like this.

  He soon stood up, stretched and took a deep breath, inhaling the cabin air.

  Of course! They had added fir scent to the air! Incredible! he thought.

  Bill Davis got out of bed and for a second looked at the peaceful, mountainous landscape. Then he snapped his fingers. On command, the birdsong stopped in mid-note and the sun disappeared behind the horizon.

  »Outside view!«

  Instantly the control reacted. Darkened mountains, meadows, and trees faded and changed to a different, nevertheless still spectacular, view. Neptune!

  The picture on the oversized display was unbelievably realistic – it was as if you were looking directly into space.

  Bill Davis stepped toward the projection and stretched out his hand.

  Blue, majestic and unfathomable, Neptune occupied nearly the entire display.

  Davis stood there for a moment, concentrating on the picture, letting his imagination fly into space.

  Dressed in only a robe, without a space suit, he thought amused. I wouldn’t survive out here for a second.

  Davis would have given everything to be on Earth this very moment. If not Earth, then at least Luna Town where he could spend the entire day watching the blue planet with its oceans and continents.

  However, the reality of his position hindered such leisure. He lived on a remote outpost of the Solar Union, possibly the coldest, most desolate place in the known universe. Davis studied the Blue Eye of Neptune, a tremendous hurricane hovering close above the equator in the giant’s atmosphere.

  Fascinating! That hurricane has remained stable for many decades. A cyclone that will last almost to infinity!

  He quickly turned away from the breathtaking view. He had to go to work!

  He approached the hygiene-cell and stepped on something hard which stung his right foot. With a loud curse, he raised his leg and limped back to bed. As soon as he sat on the bed, the wake-up program began the bird singing again.

  »Shut it off, I said!«

  With a pain-distorted face, he pulled a small hair pin out of his foot and held it up to the light.

  »Damn, Caroline!« he cursed again. »Why can’t we wake up together at least once?«

  A silent humming terminated the wake-up program. A voice-mail reception was announced.

  »Play it back!« Davis commanded. Immediately, he heard the voice of the station commander.

  »Bill, I got your message. I’ll meet you at 0800 hours in Star Hall. Be on time!«

  Davis jumped and asked, »What time is it?«

  The service computer reacted promptly.

  »It is oh-seven-thirty-five hours, Sir. Today is 17 May 2113.«

  Davis didn’t wait for the end of the announcement. He jumped into the wet cell, took a shower, dried himself under the hot air blower and put on his uniform. He didn’t want to keep Donald Day waiting.

  A hero

  Both men waved at each other and stopped exactly in the center of Star Hall, directly underneath the apex of the fifty meter high, armored glass dome and greeted each other with a firm handshake.

  Planet Commander Donald Day, forty-two years old, was Triton Base’s highest authority. The commander, nicknamed Double Dee by the crew, as always made a controlled, sovereign and calm impression. The Australian had been in charge of the Triton Base for nearly two years; his leadership abilities had quickly earned him the entire crew’s respect.

  Donald Day was born in 2071 in Sydney. When he was thirty, he received his officer’s commission from Fleet Academy and was selected as Best of Class. His award, a gold ring, still graced his left hand.

  Bill Davis, the leader of the Triton Hawks, a scout squadron of the Space Fleet, stood before Day. Bill Davis, like Donald Day, wore the ochre-colored uniform of Neptune base with the insignia of the Outer Ring Command on the left lower sleeve. Thirty-one years old, he was under the direc
t command of Donald Day.

  Bill Davis, with 1.86 meters, nearly as tall as Donald Day, was considered a daredevil, sometimes uncontrolled and impulsive, but yet, everyone knew he always considered the safety and lives of each crew member paramount. Four years ago a spectacular flying maneuver, still spoken of daily within the fleet, had earned Davis the nickname ‘The Rock’. Davis had intercepted a stray asteroid and destroyed it thirty seconds before it collided with space station Jupiter III.

  Major Bill ‘Rock’ Davis had saved two hundred lives that day. ‘Rock’ still wore a good-luck charm pendant, made from one of the sharp fragments of that asteroid.

  Donald Day immediately saw that Davis had something to tell him and nodded, inviting him to speak what was on his mind.

  »We are more than four billion kilometers from Earth, more than thirty astronomic units! Can anyone even conceive that distance?«

  Donald Day glanced at Star Hall’s apex, where Neptune’s blue disc shimmered behind the externally mirrored glass.

  »Of course I can imagine that,« Donald Day smiled, as he answered. »You mention it at least once a week. I’ve already taken care of that situation.«

  Bill Davis puckered his lips for a moment and smiled.

  »Really? Well then …?«

  The commander understood quite well that Davis was trying to find a way to start this conversation but didn’t see the need to make it any easier for him; instead, the commander just joked, »Are you trying to tell me you’re space mad, losing your memory?«

  »Sir, as my superior you know my psychological profile. I’m immune to space madness. Actually, I’ve meant to talk to you about something else for the last few days.«

  Day didn’t have any objections; he always made time to talk with his personnel. Day’s work schedule was due to start in fifteen minutes.

  »OK, Rock, what’s so important that you need to talk to me here just before we go to work?«

  The Triton Hawks leader seemed embarrassed for a moment, but Davis could not be put off; as usual he went right to the heart of the matter.

  »I want you to trust me more.«

  Donald Day was irritated for a second but immediately regained his self-control.

  »I trust you … you know that.«

  Davis nodded sharply.

  »I believe you, regarding the scout squadron. There is, however, another problem for which I haven’t found a solution yet.«

  Donald Day looked at him, expecting an explanation.

  »Don, why are we here?« Davis continued.

  Donald Day turned around.

  »Are you questioning our mission?«

  The leader of the Triton Hawks shook his head.

  »No, I don’t question the mission. I understand why our scientists and the mining corporations are here. However, I’ve been asking myself for quite some time why the Solar Union has stationed military out here. There’s nothing to defend or guard, except for a few ice cold moons, where we could freeze our asses off at any moment. Why the hell are we here? If it’s just to maintain public order, this could be done much better by the Union Police; after all, it’s their job.«

  Donald Day moved a little bit closer and answered in a whisper.

  »I know the last fourteen months haven’t been that eventful. There hasn’t been much for your crew to do and this corner of the solar system isn’t exactly Lunar Town or even the Mars colony …«

  »No, you don’t understand,« Davis interrupted his commander, »there are rumors, the admiralty is working on a top secret project, affecting Triton Base directly. I’m seriously pondering about the Ryan.«

  Donald Day frowned.

  »The Ryan? The explorer ship?«

  Bill Davis nodded.

  »The ship has maintained an orbit around Neptune for quite some time and the crew hasn’t even received shore leave on Triton. There have been no periodic station-keeping signals, either; instead the ship is routinely transmitting a short coded-signal. The Triton base personnel are questioning this strategy. Even I’ve done some research on the ship.«

  The commander knew his squadron leader. Bill Davis was highly intelligent and not the man who just accepted things without questioning.

  »And what did you find out about the Ryan?« the commander asked calmly.

  »The explorer ship belongs to the most modern units of the Union Fleet. It is unarmed but equipped with the latest technology.«

  Davis made a short pause before he continued, »Rumors say that Karl Jörgmundson, the head of the new SETI-project, is on board. Speculations even go so far that the Swedish scientist seems to have specialized knowledge about extraterrestrial cultures.«

  Donald Day turned around and signaled Davis to follow him. On their way to the control central he said casually, »Karl Jörgmundson is on the Ryan, but this is Top Secret information. Please do us both a favor and curb your quest for knowledge a bit. I don’t want officers of the Union Intelligence Service suddenly appearing on my base, asking unpleasant questions. I will inform you about the Ryan’s mission in due time. At this point in time, there is no reason to be concerned. Is that enough for the moment?«

  Davis swallowed his reply and stopped asking any further questions. Suddenly, the major felt that he had gone too far in his search.

  If the Ryan had been deployed on a secret mission in the Neptune system then, Donald Day had indeed received appropriate orders and information. He could therefore not give out any details about the mission without violating his orders.

  I’m not getting anywhere with this strategy, Davis thought.

  »Yes Don, of course,« Davis replied while the commander punched him playfully in the side. »Come on Bill, I want you to join me for watch change. Let’s see what’s happened during the last shift.«

  Silently both men continued their walk to the control central.

  Overview

  The Triton Base was synchronized to Earth’s Greenwich Mean Time and basic concepts like day and night were no longer used.

  All important positions and functions of the base were maintained on a 24-hour basis. Personnel worked in three shift-cycles, known only as the eight-hour cycle: an eight-hour work shift, eight hours standby time and an eight hours sleep period.

  Section A of the Triton Base, expanding far below the moon’s surface, was the largest compound of the installation. Section A included research labs, technological centers, and training rooms, as well as rest and relaxation sections for the crews.

  Cultivated underground parks with different climate zones were part of this section and contained flora and fauna of different continents from Earth. Early psychologists had recognized the positive influence green plants and colorful flowers had on all personnel. The so-called green zones were fully integrated into the base’s life support system. Additional space was added to satisfy the spare time activities of two thousand crew members, making life and work on Triton somewhat more tolerable.

  Some of the domes of the Triton Base, for example, the big Star Hall, belonged to Section B and reached above the moon’s surface.

  The Star Hall, a masterpiece of engineering, was made of ten centimeters armored glass with integrated ultra-fine reinforcement wire. The dome was fifteen meters high with a base diameter of a hundred meters. It had become a well-frequented meeting place for the crews. The hall provided a magnificent view of Neptune, the center of this small system with its many moons.

  A huge landing platform of around six hundred meters in diameter, surrounded by several flat storage buildings and a control tower, made up the small spaceport, called Section C. A couple of hundred meters away, connected with an underground rapid transport system, were the hangars of the Space Fleet. Protected by a layer of rock twenty meters thick, fifteen modern Hawk units stood by ready for different missions.

  The Interference Radio Spectrometer or IRS stood about five hundred kilometers north of the base, exactly at the pole of the small moon; its central installation had a diameter of ten kilometers.
This facility contained Humanity’s best radio technology to receive signals across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The IRS was supported by an independently powered giant neuronal based computer system. The engineers and technicians of this computer could claim to have at their fingertips the utmost computing capacity of the whole solar system.

  The IRS – the most powerful and largest astronomic radio and antenna ever built by Humans – was designed exclusively for the new SETI Project.

  The scientists and the operators of the installation listened to nearby stars and scanned the radio wave spectrum for signals of intelligent origin – so far without success.

  Two similar, though considerably smaller, facilities were located on Luna and Mars. These facilities could be interconnected with the IRS, creating a network with Triton’s powerful computer. A complete scan of a single target star still took 72 hours, despite ultra-fast computation algorithms and processing power. Excluding the conflicting radiation from the high number of nearby suns, even in the favorable position of Triton, continually presented an enormous challenge for the SETI scientists of the Triton Base.

  There were ten private organizations, competing in ore mining endeavors on the small Neptune moons. The companies searched mainly for rare metals and other natural resources, which could easily be mined and transported to Earth. Gigantic cubical containers, called space rafts, were filled with ore and sent to Earth using the sling-shot principle, using Neptune’s gravitational field as the acceleration force. When the containers arrived in Earth’s proximity, after a journey of several months, they were unloaded by special freighters. These ships, already in Earth’s orbit, would either process the ore themselves or redirect it to space-based industrial sites. There were four massive space-based industrial sites in orbit in the Earth-Moon system.

  The day-to-day business on the Triton Base had many aspects that commanded attention. Scientists, private corporations, and the military shared the small Neptune moon and each went about their own daily work.