This morning, the seats at the command console were facing the crew. All the senior officers were there. Commander Nireem sat in the center seat. Senior Navigator Gergin was to his right, and Senior Pilot Ecurben sat to his left. The other officers sat in the chairs facing them.
The Commander started. “First, I commend you all for getting our passengers situated. It's our first time flying with civilians. My impression is they weren’t well prepared.” He paused, looking around for reactions.
Heads nodded, endorsing his comment.
“This mission is the greatest challenge the Astronaut Corp has ever undertaken, and it will demand the best from all of us. So, let's start with the Navigation Report.”
Gergin stood and moved to one side to speak to both the Commander and the others present.
“Our destination is a planet designated 26q395-3. The information in the Astronomical Objects Database tells us its orbit is slightly elliptical and consistent with life-tolerant temperatures on the surface. Most unusual, spectral analysis suggests considerable water in its atmosphere. However, there is nothing about the planet's surface characteristics. We will need time to observe from orbit to pick a landing point.”
The most critical navigational issues deal with our approach to the destination. This planet's solar system contains a substantial asteroid belt. Unfortunately, we have little information on this region. We will have to pick our way through this obstacle. But that is not the most significant flight hazard we face.”
“I have spent substantial time studying alternative flight plans. Unfortunately, the extreme distance to 26q395 forces us to transit a K^Calbin region. Most of you know I prefer to stay in traditional space-time. But that alternative isn’t an option given the extreme distance to our destination.
You all know this involves considerable risk. We have never made a transit as long as this one. I will be working with our other navigators on contingency plans. If we encounter a problem, we must act decisively to avoid disaster.
I have run the calculations and found two workable access points. Both bring us out with sufficient distance for the deceleration phase of the flight. However, deciding which portal to use has to wait until we are closer. We are about 50 days from that. That concludes my report.”
Nireem nodded in his way of accepting a report and cleared his throat. “Any questions?”
“Eteppon, any flight systems issues?”
“No, sir. Everything is nominal.”
“Good. Now, let's turn to the subject of our passengers.” It was apparent the Commander thought they were the primary challenge they faced.
“I’ve read your DAP files but want to hear your impressions. This mission depends on their ability to cope once we land on 26q395-3.”
Enaida, the most senior of the mission medical specialists, rose to speak. “I have talked with our crew members responsible for the civilians in the four Passenger Modules.
The biggest concern is the travelers’ lack of preparation for what they will be facing. Several passengers have told us they had some survival training but just went through the motions. They seem to think this is more like an adventure vacation. They don’t take physical conditioning seriously. And surprisingly, I found several who were in abysmal shape when they arrived. Bottom line, many passengers may not be physically capable of doing much when we land.”
The Commander looked around. “Anyone? Anything to add? Is that your impression?”
Adnilla added, “I agree. One of my passengers even said he had an exemption from the guy in charge. He wouldn’t tell me who that was. He just said I would find out in due time.”
The word exemption got Nireem's attention, but his face revealed nothing.
“Have you met anyone experienced in survival skills?” The Commander asked.
Heads looked around, but there was no reply.
The Commander shook his head in disgust. “We must get these people fit and familiar with basic survival know-how. Here are my orders.” The Commander's stern tone left no doubt he was serious.
“First, I want to identify forty passengers who can operate in a hostile, unknown world on the day we land. They must be able to work on day one. They have to be more than physically fit. Who knows what we will confront.”
“Second, I want to add another workout day after each sleep mode cycle.”
“Third, I want you to make it clear to them that they will face a brutal survival test when we land. Be blunt!”
“Fourth, increase the exercise machine settings to simulate the stronger gravity we will experience.”
Then he asked, “Do we know what equipment, tools, clothing, and weapons they brought to help us survive on this planet?”
Again, there was no response.
“OK, I want to inventory everything they brought on board and everything the mission managers loaded on the descent craft. We have to know what we have and what we don’t have. Any questions?”
He smiled and added, “We must make up for the mess the Space Operations Directorate has made of this. It's not your fault. You are the best astronaut team ever assembled.”
“What should we do if someone refuses to exercise?” Adnilla asked.
“Explain to them they will probably die. We will not force anyone to do anything. Explain that when we land, gravity will crush them.”
Everyone sat in silence. Commander Nireem rose, signaling the end of the meeting.
Floating back to the Crew Galley, Nerrawin, the junior navigator, caught up with Gergin and asked if they could talk. He was almost fifteen years younger than Gergin and still had a boyish appearance.
“Sure, Nerrawin. What's on your mind.” They sat at a small table.
“I learned about the K^Calbin region in our navigation training course. First, the course explained how missions, venturing deeper into space, discovered data that conflicted with the standard space-time theory. The course covered how our scientists discovered the standard theory was incomplete. They figured out the universe has additional physical dimensions that are compressed near a massive planet or star. These extra dimensions provide a dark region that is called the K^Calbin. Regular space-time wraps these places. Finally, we learned light travels only in standard space-time. But they taught us little about navigation through the K^Calbin.”
Gergin nodded understandingly. “Most of our missions never require resorting to the K^Calbin. The truth is we have been trying to exploit the theory for decades. We have lost drones and spacecraft in the K^Calbin. Gradually, we have learned a little, and our spacecraft are now better equipped with instruments to help. However, most of the knowledge isn’t in the coursework.”
“You don’t seem to like the K^Calbin.”
“Our flight experience in these regions is minimal. Light doesn’t penetrate very far, so we can’t use the star field to navigate. When we enter, it's like going underwater. Near the surface, you can see pale light from above that fades away as you go deeper until everything is pitch black. It's the same with light from the entry portal. Then, when we get near an exit point, we can see a pinpoint of faint light that grows brighter as we get closer.”
“But… How do we navigate?” Nerrawin asked.
“That's the problem. We enter, traveling at high speed, and stay on that vector until the ship reaches the exit portal. The theory tells where the exit point will be in 3-dimensional space, and approximately how long we will be in the K^Calbin. While in it, we are flying blind. If nothing alters our entry vector, we are OK. But some of our spacecraft never returned, and we don’t know why. Communication is only possible very close to a portal.”
“But what would change our flight path?”
“Hopefully, nothing. But some meteorites have been encountered. The truth is we don’t know what we might encounter. Our radars don’t penetrate very far in there. They are essentially useless.”
Nerrawin didn’t know what to say. It seemed like the odds of success just got longer.
“Thanks, Gergin.,” dismayed by what he heard. He glided off to take routine star field measurements.