Chapter Sixteen

 

“Sanchez bought into the myth about a city on Titan under the methane ocean. His obsession about that city drove him to kidnap Mona and Cindy so he could get me to go looking for it.” Cramer spoke to Witherspoon, Floyd, Mona, Cindy, Lila, and Ganzer in Ganzer’s lab.

“I found some information in that regard among the extensive writings you brought back from Sirius,” Ganzer said.

“About the legendary city?” Cramer asked.

“Yes. Lila still retained the memory of the Sirius aliens’ language, and she read about their history.”

“But we saw no evidence of a space-faring race while we were there,” Mona said.

“It is in their history, though. Listen to their writings about that period of time. Lila.”

She brought up the writings on the large computer screen already translated into English. The screen covered the wall in their meeting room. She read. “We detected a sun system some eight light years away that has several planets. We called on all our resources to send several expeditions to study one planet of great interest in this system. The ringed planet had a multitude of moons, one of which supported an atmosphere. It was this moon we decided to explore. There was another planet in this system which had a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere with primitive life. We wanted to remain hidden from this planet and not interfere with its development. Establishing a base beneath the heavy cloud cover of the ringed planet’s moon would serve to conceal our presence.

“We found the moon’s surface conditions harsh but manageable. We had a choice of sites on which to build. Areas in the north are covered with ice. Hydrocarbon regions abound in the equator region. Over the South Pole is a methane cloud and storms occur there. A number of lakes composed of liquid methane containing icebergs of ammonia stretch across the middle section of the planet.

“Under the icy regions are mineral deposits in some areas and organic seas under other areas. We can use the minerals and construct our city in that area. Just south of the large impact crater is our target area for building our city. The city will not be large, but we will use processors to make our oxygen atmosphere.

“The canopy enclosing the city must be fabricated from transparent plasti-steel, a substance we will have to transport from our home planet.”

Lila indicated a gap in the alien’s building log which she couldn’t decipher. Then she continued at a later time frame in their historical record, “The city is nearing completion. The canopy is in place, and the processors are generating the necessary oxygen for maintaining the city’s atmosphere. Although the conditions here are harsh, there are times when a parting of the heavy atmosphere allows us to see the great ringed planet, but only on rare occasions. Our food devices are functioning; our water supply is maintained.

“There is another gap in their history here, then a last report of problems they were encountering.” Lila prepared to continue.

“How do we know this is Titan they’re describing aside from the striking similarity of the surface conditions?” Cramer asked.

“There is a stellar map and location of the sun’s position in their sky. A computer program confirms they were talking about our sun,” Ganzer answered.

“This is fantastic. Bits and pieces of the myth are now making sense. I wonder how the myth got started.”

“That remains a mystery,” Ganzer said. “Without extensive research into the antiquity of these legends, we may never know. Read the last entry, Lila.”

“Storms, geologic activity, and technical difficulties are plaguing our city, endangering our operation, and threatening to shut down crucial systems. Our archivist will be leaving on the next ship home to preserve in writing our history here. The rest of us will try to repair the city’s processors and maintain our base.”

“Apparently, the aliens from the home planet were unable to send more ships. The history indicated the home system fell on hard times because of the radiation hazards from the planet’s orbit through their own system. They had to scrap their space program, using supplies and technology from that just to survive themselves,” Ganzer said.

“It’s sad, their history both past and what we observed of their present existence. They are a brave people, struggling to stay alive under such adverse conditions. What we saw there regarding their planet’s precarious placement amongst Sirius, Sirius B, and Sirius C saddened me.” Cramer reread the last paragraph again from the wall projection and sighed.

“Well put, Joe,” Mona said.

“I feel humbled at their treatment of me and that they saved my life.” He saw tears in Witherspoon’s eyes, an expression of one who felt helpless at repaying them for the saving of his life. Then he saw the big man’s expression change. “What would it take for an expedition to find that city?”

“Money, technology, pilots, explorers, and a lot of luck. Sanchez’s motive was that he hoped to find something that would line his pockets and make him famous,” Cramer said.

“If I can get some help to foot the bill, I would like to mount an expedition. If we can find the city, we could tell Keldahl. I don’t think he paid much attention to the old annals of his people,” Witherspoon said.

“I think you’re right. He would appreciate a verification of their history. He didn’t feel it worth mentioning to us,” Cramer said.

“It sounds to me like you want to go on the mission, Joe,” Mona said.

“I’m too old now. The dangers involved require a younger person, and I’m sure Olympus Mons Mining has some young fellows who are very capable.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, Dad, your old company wants you back in the worse way.”

“Yeah, but not for something like this.” Cramer waved his hand at Cindy’s reminder.

“First, I must see if I can get support from Olympus Mons Mining, Jovian Satellites Incorporated, Asteroid Minerals Unlimited, and a few others. Then Dr. Ganzer must tell us what technology is needed and what we already have. I really want to do this for the people of Sirius,” Witherspoon said.

He exerted his influence to enlist help from companies for the Titan mission based on the medical advances brought back from Sirius being snatched up and made available to patients. Ganzer poured over the technical requirements for landing on Titan, carefully checking the info about its surface. Cramer, Cindy, Mona, and Floyd headed for Olympus Mons Mining headquarters near the base of the Martian volcano. The four of them separately went into Branson’s office.

“Joe, glad to see you,” he said, rising from behind his desk, extending his hand.

Cramer took it, noting Branson had slimmed down during the several years since he saw the executive on Iapetus. Cramer reflected with sadness what years did to them as he noted Branson’s gray hair.

“I want to thank you for pairing me up with Mona Watson those many years ago. I confess, you knew what you were doing.”

“Yes, I’ve heard how well she’s done since then. I’m sorry for what happened to you, getting shanghaied to Sirius.”

“Well, it was quite a voyage, and I’m glad things turned out the way they did, with the exception of poor Hendricks dying.”

“I wouldn’t have forgiven Witherspoon that fast, at least to start with,” Branson said.

“So, do you have a mining mission for me, maybe one where I could work with Floyd and Mona? Don’t forget I’m becoming a member of the Over the Hill Gang.”

“As a matter of fact I do. You and Mona are needed for a mission, and Floyd to a lesser extent.”

“Don’t keep me guessing. What is it?”

Branson turned around and picked up a glossy booklet. He handed it to Cramer. He looked at the cover and saw one word: Titan.

“You can’t be serious.” He handed it back to Branson who refused, shoving it toward Cramer.

“It’s unanimous. Everybody in the supporting mining companies—Witherspoon, Dr. Ganzer—all think you and Watson are the ones for going down to the surface of Titan.”

Cramer frowned. “Since when was the selection of persons for a mission governed by a democracy?”

“Since now. Since always, in a way. This time more persons than me are casting a deciding vote.”

“Well, all of you together can have nine votes total. I get ten votes, and I cast no. I’m over sixty years old, I think. I’m not sure how old I am after the screwed-up time scale during the star voyage. At any rate I just don’t have the reflexes anymore. Someone like Mona would be much better.”

“That’s what makes you good. You expect nothing short of perfection from yourself or anybody else,” Branson said.

“I’m not going unless you do, Joe,” a female voice said from behind him. Cramer knew the voice.

“Mona, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but it takes stamina, rapid reflexes, total concentration and the ability to make snap decisions.”

“You just described yourself.” She had the hint of a smile. He turned away and gave a negative nod. He heard the door open behind him again.

“Dad, I want you to do it for your alien friend, for all those who gave their vote of confidence in you. It will take a while before all the spacecraft, landers, and equipment can be assembled. During that time we can be together. We’ve a lot of catching up to do.”

“There’s not a job out there you can’t do, Joe,” Floyd said.

“This isn’t fair. You’re all ganging up on me.” Cramer felt the figurative wall pressing his back.

“Good, then it's settled.” Branson handed duplicate Titan folders to Mona and Floyd. Cramer mentally conceded his loss and kept his folder.

~ * ~

The time Cramer and Cindy spent together passed all too fast on Earth. He still didn’t like the idea of dropping to Titan. Ganzer headed up the mission and supplied some new technology for the conditions on Titan. He also supplied another crew person to go along with Cramer and Mona—Lila. It increased their chances of success since she knew the alien’s language and had phenomenal memory capacity and MindX ability.

He and Mona spent a month pouring over details about their landing craft, conditions on Titan and details of the surface around the large crater where they would search for the city. Floyd would remain in a geosynchronous orbit above the crater and monitor their communications. Any changes in the upper atmospheric conditions would be his job to detect. Tracking of the landing craft and its position relative to the crater would be provided from Floyd’s vantage point, supplementing the data from the landing craft. Lila assisted Cramer and Mona with mission details and lander operation. Lila herself would be wired into the lander’s control system via MindX link. Mona would have her own link chair.

Ganzer and Cindy orbited high above Titan. The lander rested in the docking port of Ganzer’s ship. Floyd orbited far below them over the crater and just above the top cloud layer.

“Be careful Dad, Mona, Lila.” Cindy hugged all three of them.

“I have two ladies who will be taking good care of me,” Cramer said.

“When this is over, I want you to go with me to this lake in south central Ohio. The name of it is Burr Oak Lake. It’s peaceful just to sit on the shore. Best done in warm weather of course. Maybe we can talk Mona into going with us,” Cindy said.

He noted tears in her eyes. Her tears could be in anticipation of the Ohio trip or she feared he wouldn’t be returning. He didn’t want to know which.

As their craft separated from Ganzer’s ship and began a slow, shallow downward orbit toward Titan, Cramer’s uneasiness about the mission returned. He couldn’t put his finger on why he felt that way. The hazards on the surface didn’t equal the Jupiter mission. Titan’s surface pressure exceeded Earth’s by sixty percent. The gravity on Titan amounted to one seventh of Earth, making a man just a little lighter than he would be on Earth’s moon.

The exotic surface conditions on Titan remained a concern. Lakes of methane with floating ammonia icebergs, a shore of frozen hydrocarbon tar or complex polymers didn’t offer the ideal beach like the Ohio lake Cindy mentioned.

As usual, Dr. Ganzer did a marvelous job of providing efficient equipment design. He installed sensors that detected the various compounds of Titan. The monitors displayed cloud patterns, various colors imaging ammonia, methane, ethane, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, and a mosaic of overlays to show the atmospheric structure. Separate monitors provided for ground details. One monitor stood by itself with white noise, but if any fabricated structure or metallic ship, vehicle, or plasti-steel dome appeared, then that monitor would spring to life, a real attention getter.

They took a pole-to-pole descending orbit, the best chance of setting down just south of the crater. Cramer objected to that option because of having to move through that ominous white cloud of methane over the South Pole. On the first pass Lila, her MindX established, drifted above the South Pole cloud. The lander still jostled, Cramer swaying from side to side in his seat. It reminded him of an airship ride on Earth through turbulence. That always unnerved him more than any space mission upset. His monitor showed a blaze of methane, blanking out other gases. Soon it disappeared, replaced by ethane, ammonia, nitrogen, and a few other gases in addition to methane.

Their lander slipped into the night side—a contrast noted on their monitors as they automatically switched to infrared. Cramer watched as Floyd’s signal beacon temporarily blacked out, then a relay satellite forwarded his radio beam. In visible light through a portal, the great ringed mother planet with its sundry bands disappeared slowly behind the limb of Titan.

Cramer enjoyed the view of Saturn and the sun again as the lander dipped lower. The crater’s image came and went quickly on their monitors as Lila summoned the ship to continue its downward path. Ahead lay the methane cloud, this time above them.

The ship shook, Cramer remembering another airship flight from Nome via Kotsubu to Anchorage, Alaska. On that occasion a fastened seat belt saved him from being thrown into the aisle. Another passenger laughed at him. Neither Mona nor Lila laughed at his unsettled expression here. His nerves just couldn’t take it anymore.

He exhaled, relieved as that part of the flight passed. Sunlight dispersed now as they approached the night side again, dipping into the thick haze of Titan. They could still hear Floyd’s signal. He started giving them orbital miles until the crater’s appearance. The lander showed by its altimeter their distance from Titan’s surface. Its reading fluctuated considerably, revealing the great moon’s uneven surface. The repulsion drive handled the surface irregularities efficiently. When they reentered the day side again, the visual mode revealed an astounding view. Below a thick rippling cloud cover, they saw all the way to the surface.

Small lakes spotted the surface with floating ammonia icebergs and polymer scum here and there. Lake beds and methane channels snaked across the surface. The crater loomed ahead with its central peak higher than they expected. The peak approached as the north side of the crater rim rolled below them.

“Brace for a glancing impact,” Lila said.

“The peak appears to be some frozen material sticking above the rocky structure,” Mona said.

It came rushing toward them, Cramer squirming upward in his seat, as if he could make the ship lift above it. The “glancing blow” activated their crash webbing, preventing them from bashing their face into a console in front of them. Just as fast the webbing returned to its retracted position. He saw thin fragments of ice flying in all directions out the forward port as the ship veered off course, following the impact. Lila struggled to maintain control as the ship almost didn’t clear the southern rim of the crater.