The Commander had set Mission Day 458 for his second passenger briefing. The previous talk had shared the news about Tridon's fate and his role in establishing the colony. He knew there were Mamlaka who expected to be in charge, but none had the experience to cope with the challenge ahead. The Planners’ poor preparation for this mission was proof of that.
Today, the passengers would start viewing their new home from orbit. But Nireem had thought carefully about what he would say for several weeks, and today, he would announce a new policy. He knew it would anger many. But he believed this change was best for everyone.
When the Senior Medical Specialist in each passenger lounge messaged their group was assembled and ready, he toggled the switch that replaced the static New Dawn Mission emblem with a live camera shot of him gazing across his audience. Then, he paused briefly before speaking.
“Good Morning. After spending more than a year crossing our galaxy, we have arrived at our destination, planet 26q395-3. We have been in orbit around our new planet home for several days, and I can unequivocally say I have never seen such a spectacular and inviting planet in all my life.
After I speak to you, the front screen in your lounges will display a live view of our new home. We are traveling around the planet's axis of rotation, moving in the direction of rotation but faster. It takes about four hours to complete one circuit.
You will see cloud cover over an incredible landscape – vast bodies of water, coastlines and islands, dense jungles and forests, high mountains, and broad plains.
The officers are now studying each area and determining the most attractive landing zone. That process will take a few more days. Where we land is critical to our success.
This planet appears ideal for supporting a variety of life. We are searching for signs of an advanced, intelligent lifeform, but thus far, we have found nothing.
Planet 26q395-3 is a suitable identifier for some astronomy database but not for those who plan to live there. So, as you gaze at your new home, think of a name for it. We will collect all of your suggestions and then pick one by a vote.
Now for our landing plans. First, we will finish choosing the most favorable location to land. We are taking the time to learn as much as possible about prospective landing sites.
A few weeks after our departure, I started the process of selecting an advance team for each descent vehicle. After months of observation, I picked men and women for this role because they are the most physically fit and have critical skills for coping with whatever confronts us. They will be the first off and handle a variety of initial tasks. We have been meeting regularly to prepare.
The landing itself will be difficult and risky. Our reentry through the atmosphere will be longer than anything done before. The forces each of us will have to endure will be greater than those experienced in the past. The gravitational force is stronger here, and we must adjust to it.
Now, I will be direct. Many of you have not aggressively pushed your physical conditioning. It was suggested we leave the weakest behind. But I have decided that everyone who left Tridon on this mission will reach the surface. That includes those we lost during the collision. Therefore, I urge everyone to exercise harder than ever to get as strong as possible. Your life depends on it.
Finally, one last point. Our success will depend on everyone working together and helping each other. Therefore, I have decided we will no longer recognize class distinctions. Everyone has the same social standing. I know these class differences existed for centuries on Tridon, but this is a new world, a new time, and unique circumstances—we are building our society from the ground up.
I’ve covered a lot this morning. Now look at your new home. And don’t forget to suggest a name.”
The screens switched to the view of the planet below. Everyone was surprised by how close it appeared. Reactions of amazement came from the passengers. The movement and the changing vista grabbed their attention. Their new home had been only a tiny disk with no features for so long. Now, it was real.
Enaida was in the back of her passenger lounge. She thought there would be a riot when she heard the Commander's closing words about class distinctions. But the image on the screen took her breath away. She now understood Gergin's excitement about what he saw from orbit. But the beauty made her feel it was too good to be true. They watched as small groups talked excitedly about the picture of the surface rotating before them.
In her passenger lounge, Aterga remembered the patterns of lights she had seen watching Tridon from orbit after sunset. She wondered if she would see tiny patches of light here. Even a primitive form of intelligent life must have some light at night. But when the ship started to pass over to the dark side, she saw just what the reflected moonlight revealed. That was when she realized there was a moon circling their new home. That was new. Tridon didn’t have a moon.
If the Commander intended the view from orbit to soften the impact of his closing words, he succeeded. But, of course, there were some who couldn’t believe what they had heard. And no stunning view of the planet's surface could overcome their feelings. When the ship passed over to the side cloaked in darkness, the passengers started to remember his words.
The reaction to those last words depended upon a passenger's class. The Amiikut had little response because they had lived isolated from the feeling of importance the others enjoyed.
On the other hand, the Mamlaka were clumping together to vent their outrage. They had been unhappy about being left out of the landing decisions. They expected to be the ones who would pick the new name for their planet. How could the Commander even suggest the idea of a vote? You can’t let ordinary people decide anything important.
Enaida turned to her assistant and asked, “What do you think the Mamlaka will do?”
“I don’t think there is much they can do now. They want to be in control, but they can do little before landing.”
“We should watch them closely. Do you think the Laka would try to hurt the Commander?”
“Maybe stage an accident and then step in to take his place. Let's move around and try to hear what people are saying.”
“I’ll go to the left,” Enada replied, pushing away.
The women could control the volume in their eyepiece microphones and easily overhear conversations if there wasn’t too much ambient noise. In addition, the microphones were directional and could be oriented to specific groups.
They each worked their way around listening. Unfortunately, most of what they heard was either speculation about where they would land or angry criticism of the Commander's decision to do away with the three Tridon classes.
Enaida recognized a Mamlaka traveler and moved slowly toward a group around him. She tried to appear available for questions, moving without any purpose. Then, turning her head slightly, she heard, “Second landing ship.”
Two Amilikut women were seated conveniently close to the group she was watching. She glided to them and sat down. They were absorbed in conversation about the view from orbit. Enaida again turned her head to aim her microphone. “Switch them in at the last” was all she could make out.
Rising, Enada moved across the lounge toward another animated conversation. Then, with her microphone suitably oriented, she picked up, “..is gone … accept our role.” The phrase ‘is gone’ flashed in her mind, and she realized the barrel-chested man speaking was Salguodir. That's what she would expect from him. He solved all problems with brute force.
She pretended to be bored, looking around the large compartment as if trying to find something to do. Then, as her microphone slowly panned past Salguodir's group, she heard, “Our guys will ...” From past observations, she recalled his recruiting conversations. Then, her assistant floated to her and twisted into an adjacent seat.
“Guess what I heard?” She said in a hushed voice.
“Well, share it, friend!”
“They have a plan. I noticed a passenger who was moving from group to group, and he told them, ‘The old man approved it.’”
“What, old man?”
“I don’t know. But there is definitely some plan for them to take control.”
“I overheard some similar talk, but I don’t know if it's related. Make sure what you hear is in your DAP notes. Then, the Commander can decide what to do. Keep watching.”
The Assistant Medical Specialist caught another suspicious phrase, “..it after the Commander...” That fit with what Enaida heard. She didn’t know what they would do but believed it involved the second descent vehicle.