An orientation meeting was breaking up in the auditorium of the Space Directorate's Training Center. The group selected for the New Dawn Mission walked out of the faceted glass building in groups of two or three.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” Salguodir muttered. That had been his reaction to all the training sessions he had attended.
The session covered how carefully the scientists had selected the planet they would colonize. They had rejected many candidates, and it was clear the scientists were very pleased with their choice. However, their presentation was mostly about how much the colonists would like their new planet – more sales message than anything else.
The scientist giving the talk described the selected destination as similar to Tridon but slightly larger. They talked about the atmosphere, which they believed was almost identical to Tridon's. The travelers learned the temperatures would also be similar to those they had experienced. There was a brief mention of more distinct seasons. Few noticed the occasional qualifications, noting they had inferred it from the planet's orbit and spectral analysis of the reflected light.
Salguodir walked with his assistant back to their office. His build was unusual. He stood a little taller than most, with powerful arms and shoulders extending from his barrel chest. He had an intimidating physique. Even the manner in which his arms moved with his bouncing stride was threatening, and that was intentional. It was part of who he was.
Salguodir was a mid-level Mamlaka responsible for ensuring his assigned food plants met their planned production quotas – what some might call an enforcer. He knew almost nothing about the production of food.
His assistant had accompanied Salguodir to the training session because his boss liked his company.
“How did you get assigned to the New Dawn Mission?” he asked.
Salguodir smiled. “I got my boss to get me on the list. Everyone was talking about how this mission was the Supreme Authority's top priority. Fortunately, my boss had a friend who owed him a favor. The friend hacked the list of those approved. So I never had to go through their qualifying process. I knew this was a good career move -- and it opened the way for your promotion.”
“I appreciate the promotion, but you could be away for a long time.”
“I figure maybe three years. Then they will want the leader to return to celebrate this bold move, and I intend to be that leader.”
“Do you know who they are sending to run the colony?”
“No, but I can fix that,” Salguodir replied confidently.
His assistant knew Salguodir had no scruples and acted impulsively to get his way. But, from the presentation at the meeting they had just left, he doubted the New Dawn Mission would go as smoothly as Salguodir thought.
The assistant was curious about the training the colonists had received. So he asked, “How did you find the training?”
“What training? There were a lot of physical exercise sessions, but I lift weights and work out in the gym all the time. Hitting the big bag works out my frustrations. Their exercises were all dumb stuff like carrying logs and chopping wood. I stopped going.”
“Was there anything about living in the new colony?” the assistant pressed.
“Not much. The trainers had an obsession with cooking. They were worried no one knew about food. We have a good system providing prepared food for millions. I don’t see why we can’t set up something similar.”
“But doesn’t that require a lot of special equipment? It's highly automated and computer-controlled. You’re familiar with the food plants.”
“Yes, but they could find a way to do it on a smaller scale. Just train a small group and bring smaller equipment,” Salguodir said, expressing his disgust.
“So, what did their cooking class teach?”
“They started describing things that might be food. But it was apparent they didn’t have any practical experience. They talked in generalities. Then, a couple of Amilikut women jumped in, explaining what they did. They described preparing raw meat and cooking it in a pot over an open fire. It was disgusting. They described how they removed guts and stuff like that.”
“What would you prefer?’
“We make food from plants. I like our simple food packets. Just add water and drink.”
“With all due respect, I don’t think surviving on a different planet is as simple as you think. Do the experts know what lives on this planet?”
“The trainers never said anything about specific plants. Instead, they had this survival class where they demonstrated how to build fires without using an electronic lighter. Why? I am sure there will be plenty of those pocket igniters. I am not doing that kind of grunt work. Besides, the ship will have a food supply, and there will be plenty of Amilikut to do that crap!”
“Sounds like the class wasn’t appropriate for a Mamlaka.”
“Absolutely! We give orders and don’t get dirty,” Salguodir scoffed.
The assistant found his boss's words arrogant and simple-minded, but he didn’t reveal his thoughts. Instead, he asked, “How did they decide who should go? Were there set criteria?”
“From the scuttlebutt, they changed the criteria several times. First, the group was to be between 18 and 28. Then, they decided to raise the age. Worse, they decided to include Amilikut. “
“Were there any skill criteria?” the assistant asked.
“They didn’t want entertainers, executives, and professors not in the sciences. Instead, they favored nurses, engineers, and mechanics. In addition, the selection committee accepted some people with hobbies like pottery and woodworking and a few police and soldiers. Finally, they selected Amilikut, hunting guides who worked in the wildlife preserves. But I think they took too many Amilikut!’
“What do you have to do to prepare for the launch?” the assistant asked, glad his boss would leave soon.
“We have an orientation about life on the spacecraft—background on the crew and the accommodations. We can bring a flight bag-- travel stuff and a few personal items we want to take. They provide the outfits we wear in space and have loaded extra clothing and tools for when we land.”
“On the flight, you just sit and watch the stars fly by?”
“They say there is more to it. I guess sleeping is a little complicated, but the crew will be there to wait on us.”
“What personal items will you take?”
Salguodir broke out in a toothy grin and said, “Well… I have a pistol, a nasty knife, and my videos for those cold, lonely nights.”
The assistant shook his head, smiling. “I know the kind of videos you like.”
It was common knowledge that Salguodir liked young girls, and there were rumors he had forced himself on some. No one filed charges, but then, for Amilikut, that was problematic at best.