Solutions: The Dilemma of Hopelessness - James Gerard (novel books to read txt) 📗

period of time.”

 

Doctor Collins looked to Charles, “True.”  He then turned to Senator Richards.  “As far as we know, no one has ever made inquiries as to his whereabouts.  And if I may add, as far as testing another individual for the mission, that will take a considerable amount of time.”

 

“What about the other subjects in the basement?" asked Senator Richards.

 

“From the ones down there now, I seriously doubt we could find a suitable volunteer.”

 

“Senator Richards, you can always check Timothy’s history yourself,” suggested Charles.

 

“I have talked with Doctor Johnson,” she said, “and with Timothy.”

 

“You have?” asked Charles.

 

“I had a conference with the two of them,” she said as her rigid countenance returned.  “If you want Timothy for this mission, then take him.”

 

Charles stared intently at her.  He strongly felt she had tipped off her devious intentions.  The questions concerning Timothy, no doubt, were mere feelers as to his own sincerity—they must have been, he concluded.  Doubts wrestled with logic in his mind:  But when did she meet with them, Did she meet with them, Have the weeks of anxiety wrapped my reasoning in a false blanket of confidence?  Charles felt she was definitely hiding something that he could not perceive just yet.  After all, he believed, she only cared about fulfilling her self-interests.  He had definitely peaked more than just passing curiosity concerning Timothy.

 

“Charles,” Senator Richards said, “do you understand that Timothy will be the representative on this mission?”

 

“Oh…I apologize.  Yes I do.”

 

“Now, Doctor Montgomery,” Senator Richards continued, “your associates at NASA claim to have confirmed the message can only have been sent by extraterrestrial beings.  Do you concur?”

 

“I do.”

 

“But the Observer was destroyed was it not?”

 

“That was only an educated conclusion at the time the accident was investigated,” replied Doctor Montgomery.

 

“I am aware of that,” she snapped.  “But I want to be positively sure that it was not.  Do you understand?”

 

“Well, according to the conclusion of the investigative board…”

 

“I am familiar with that investigation’s conclusion,” snapped Senator Richards.  “Have any fragments of its remains been discovered?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then how can they have been certain it is the Mars Observer?”

 

“Out of all the scenarios investigated….”

 

“Doctor Montgomery!”

 

“The conclusion has been updated to this: It did malfunction.  It did not explode.  It had enough momentum to break away from Mars’ and the sun’s gravitational pull.  If it had not, its orbit would have certainly brought if back close enough to us to be detected.  As far as how it arrived at its current position, it either traveled to the point itself, or it was guided there.”

 

“Guided?”

 

“Even….”

 

“Doctor Montgomery,” Charles blurted out, “you can speed up this proceeding if you just tell the truth.”

 

“What are you talking about Charles?” asked Senator Richard.

 

“Either you tell her,” said Charles, “or I will.”

 

Senator Richards looked to Doctor Montgomery.  “Do you have something to tell me?”

 

“Well…we know for certain the Observer was not destroyed.”

 

“Are you telling me that the conclusion as to its demise had been fabricated?”

 

“Yes, but we…they did it because….”

 

“Stop,” shouted Senator Richards.  “I do not want to know.  Well,” she sighed, “I guess it would be pointless to ask if NASA is sure of its current position.”

 

“Oddly enough, whoever of whatever helped verify this by using the Space Station Horizon.  They, it….”

 

“Please,” Senator Richards screamed as she grasped her head.  “That does not necessarily mean it is the Observer.  Now, if you are capable of exercising brevity, please do so.”

 

“I apologize,” said Doctor Montgomery.  “We received satellite images of Mars corresponding to the ones transmitted by it before…before it was taken.”

 

“Taken?  Never mind.”  Senator Richards sighed, and then laughed.  “Is there a possibility that one of our enemies is manipulating the data as a distraction?”

 

“Right,” said Charles.  “An enemy ship shadowed its path after launch, and then knocked out its communications.  And then, whoever, whatever, somehow survived all this time, placing it in its current position, and sent us the message to distract us.  Impossible considering we had the capabilities to have detected what would have been one enormous vehicle considering the propulsion systems they used at the time, let alone detecting the launch of any and all space vehicles.  The message is not a ruse.  It is genuine.”

 

The senator jotted something in the margins of her report then looked at Charles, “These are points that need clarification.”

 

“Come on,” said Charles.  “Between the stretch of Defender and Guidance type satellites, the ISS, and Horizon, the odds are nil that any enemy of ours is manipulating the facts involved.”

 

“You said yourself to ask any questions concerning any of my doubts,” Senator Richards calmly said.

 

“Doubts yes, but matters clearly detailed in the report, no.”

 

Charles opted to sit quiet, listened as she continued to probe Doctor Montgomery’s mind with a succession of futile questions.  Maybe after all, he reasoned, it was just the frustration that followed him to this underground fortress that gnawed at his mind and shadowed his judgment in a shroud of paranoia.  Or, it really was a strategy, a scheme to undermine the objective of his proposal.

 

“Doctor Montgomery, from what Charles has proposed can the launch be disguised in such a way as to avoid suspicion?” asked Senator Richards.

 

“Well, with the current movement of the citizens to safe havens and the ones marked for elimination just about finished, we can certainly keep it secret from any of them.”

 

“But there could be those who witness the launch?  And how do we explain the construction of the ship to those involved with the actual construction?”

 

“Threatening their lives should suffice,” said Doctor Montgomery.

 

“It is in the report,” Charles calmly said, but felt inwardly annoyed at suspicious questions.

 

“Yes it is,” responded Senator Richards.  “And possible spying from enemy stations and or satellites?”

 

“Launch commands will originate from Horizon.  And the current treaty gives us the right to establish a temporary claim on that corridor of space for test purposes.  That will keep any enemy vehicles from intruding, discovering that the intended course is more than just a random one.”

 

“What assurances are there,” she looked through her notes, “that Timothy will be able to operate and maintain the vehicle for such a long period of time?”

 

“Charles has recommended that Timothy be sent to the ISS as soon as the solution is approved.  That way he will have ample time to acclimate himself to working and living in a weightless environment and learn how to operate and maintain the systems that will be on board.”

 

“Are you certain he will be able to handle such complexed systems?” asked Senator Richards.

 

“All systems and subsystems are highly automated.”

 

“The engineers can account for possible failures?”

 

“Absolutely.  Remember, the vehicle itself will be comprised mostly of advanced technologies.”

 

“Ten years is a considerable time period.”

 

“Not really.  The only anticipated problems concern the gradual wear and decomposition of various components.”

 

“Do they pose a threat to the mission?”

 

“No.”

 

“Exposure to radiation?” she asked.

 

“The ship will provide adequate protection from the various forms of radiation in space.”

 

“And in the event meteorites or meteoroids threaten the vehicle?”

 

“We will equip the vehicle with old-style transmitting antennas to emit radio waves for the detection of such hazards.   The system should provide adequate time for the global network to initiate evasive maneuvers.”

 

“He will not control the maneuvers?” asked Senator Richards.

 

“No, the tracking and guidance systems are automated,” replied Doctor Montgomery.

 

“And in the event the exterior is compromised, thus posing a threat to the vehicle?”

 

“We will include a repair rover to….”

 

“No,” Charles shouted.  He stood up.  “Timothy is not to go outside under any circumstances.  If something goes wrong out there and he is unable to reenter the vehicle, the mission is over at that moment.”

 

Doctor Montgomery countered, “It may be necessary.  Though the odds are minimal that the vehicle will encounter a catastrophic threat, it is probable nonetheless.”

 

“Has any space vehicle or probe ever been substantially disabled by any object?” asked Charles.

 

“No,” said Doctor Montgomery, but directed the answer to Senator Richards.

 

“Answer to me,” Charles commanded.  He felt the issue of the rover concerned more than its intended purpose.”

 

“Look,” said Doctor Montgomery, “all he will have to do is manipulate the robotic arm to remove prefabricated replacement panels, and operate the welder.  It is a simple procedure requiring minimal training.”

 

“Still, there are risks?  For instance, what if Timothy decides to take the rover for a joyride?” asked Charles.

 

Doctor Montgomery laughed.  “The rover is equipped to read the ship’s materials.  If it tries to go beyond a distance of a hundred and fifty feet from the exterior, the computer will automatically fire the thrusters and return it to the exterior of the ship.”

 

“But it can also be switched to manual control,” countered Charles.  “If he does that, somehow wander out of the ship’s range, the thrusters will not automatically return him.”

 

“That will not happen.”

 

Charles clenched his fists.  “Then remove the manual control.”

 

“Can’t.  The manual system is too integrated with the computer system.  If we tamper with it, the rover may not operate effectively,” said Doctor Montgomery.  “Look Charles, we just won’t tell him about it.  That’s the best we can do.”

 

“What about the power supply?” countered Charles.  “What if the rover’s power is depleted while he is out there and is unable to return to the airlock?”

 

“Its batteries are designed to provide power for twelve hours at one-hundred percent power level,” said Doctor Montgomery.  “It is highly unlikely that he will be out there for that long of a period.  Besides, you do want to cover all possibilities?”

 

“What if the vehicle is plummeted by a shower of micrometeoroids or a splinter or debris from the asteroid?”

 

“The computer will lock the rover to the surface then initiate a course change to avoid such possibilities.  And in the event it happens too quickly, the computer will maneuver the rover to a safe position using the ship as a shield.”

 

“If for some reason it is unable to completely avoid the danger, suffers multiple damage?”

 

“With proper training any repairs can be carried out in a rapid manner.  And besides, the computer will only allow him to leave the vehicle if absolutely necessary; there will be no joyriding.”

 

“Then I want him to be armed in the event he meets someone unexpectedly along the way,” said Charles.

 

“I take your concern to mean that some contact of yours has informed you about our enemy’s suspicious activities?” Senator Richards asked.

 

“I am aware that members of the Chinese space agency have met, and that diplomats from the Middle East were in attendance,” answered Charles.

 

“Who are your contacts?” she asked.

 

“Would you name yours?”

 

“I have good reasons to stay informed about circumstances affecting national security,” she answered.  “And your reason to maintain contacts?”

 

“You have never been concerned about that before.  Why now?”

 

“Somehow you have been able to slip information in and out of this facility.  I find that to be…peculiar.”

 

Oh yes, she certainly had something planned other than what the solution prescribed, thought Charles.  “As with you, I have used certain developments to shape this solution,” he said.

 

Senator Richards looked to the report and sighed.  “These developments have led me to suspect that they too have been contacted and are currently preparing solutions.”  She looked to Doctor Montgomery, “We need to arm him.”

 

“A large caliber pistol should do the job,” he said.

 

“No, not a pistol…missiles.  Tell me doctor,” she said, “is there a way to arm the ship with nuclear weapons?”

 

Doctor Montgomery raised his eyebrows.  “Yes.”

 

“Can they be concealed?”

 

“I see no problem with that.  We can attach a launching system to the aft module.”

 

“But I do not want him in control of the decision to fire the missiles,” she said.

 

“No problem.  The firing commands can be tied to the detection system.”

 

“Hmm.  Wait.  Such a system could fire at the extraterrestrials’ ship could it not?”

 

“Very unlikely,” said Doctor Montgomery.  “Whoever is responsible for the message certainly has technologies far advanced from our own.  It is highly improbable that the materials they use are the same as ours.  And since the ones used in the other space programs are virtually the same as we use, the system can be programmed to look for these commonalities.”

 

“It does appear we have competition on this mission—add the missiles.”  She