ROUTINE REPORT

Previously unpublished.

Capt. P. H. Norland, Mishap Division, M. P. A., Ceres:

Reporting arrival on Titan, 11 October (Terran), for investigation of collision between Ring IV and MPA349. Local authorities claim to have all recovered remains of both rockets in a maintained orbit around Titan. (sgnd) L. J. Abbott.

Titan 1 to Ceres Central thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Callisto 4—Hannegan’s Rock—red CC 0932: 13/OCT/84.

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M. J. Flynn, Terran Weekly, New York, Terra:

Have found likely personality for third article on men of Major Planets Authority. He is L. J. Abbott, an investigating officer. Colorful occupation: checking crashes and catastrophes throughout the moon systems.

I made friends and wangled a trip into space on his current assignment, a freak collision between a freight rocket and the Ring IV, the first exploratory ship known to have returned from close-range observation of Saturn’s rings. Suggest opening article as follows:

Lewis Abbott is a stocky, blond, apparently stolid young man whose business is poking his nose into the damnedest places. As this is being written, he is engaged in aiming the inquisitive proboscis at a scattering of scrap metal in space near Saturn’s Titan. This scrap was formed by and of two fast rockets. Abbott wants to find out how and why.

What kind of job is that? Well, Abbott is a field investigator for the Mishaps Division of the Major Planets Authority. This is the complicated Triplan agency supported by your taxes and mine for the purpose of developing the planets and satellites beyond Mars.

“Of course,” Abbott is careful to explain, “it also oversees the minor bodies, and even has headquarters on Ceres.”

Occasionally, something slips out of its orbit, and young men like Abbott are sent to discover how to avoid a second slip—which at this distance from the pleasant air-envelope of Terra would most likely be astonishingly expensive in lives and money. Unlike some of the wilder spirits to be found out here, these investigating officers are little given to dramatics, drinking, or placing the slightest credence in whatever story you may try to hand them.

“The things human beings will repeat as the truth!” complains Abbott. “They’re enough to retire you to a planetoid station—but the real truths you sometimes dig up are crazier still!”

He went on to explain, over lunch, that he seldom encounters deliberate deception. Since all trans-Martian spacers are controlled by the Authority, and since the dogged pioneers who have pushed the fringe of civilization out here in the dim depths of the Solar System realize that safety precautions are their best insurance, Abbott gets complete co-operation.

“But the stories!” he exclaimed, pausing in his attempt to spice some pseudo-Terran flavoring into the locally manufactured synthetic potatoes. “Look out there, for instance!”

He gestured toward the transparent roof-dome of the restaurant in Pileup, Titan. Beyond a bleak landscape, broken by the scattered domes of the mine heads, the rings of Saturn were groping above the horizon made blue-black by Titan’s thin atmosphere.

“Less than a Terran week on Titan,” grumbled Abbott, “and a dozen otherwise sane men and women have bent my ear with stories about the ring light and the queerness it’s supposed to cause. Like those old Terran tales about the full moon—you know! And then there are the rumors about an extinct native civilization, the kind of yarn you get on every world, even a little planetoid like Hannegan’s Rock.”

I laughed dutifully, for that planetoid is, of course, as dead a pebble as ever felt the tread of a space boot. Like Achilles, Noair, and a few others, its only use is as a communications station.

Asked about his current assignment, the seemingly insolvable puzzle of a collision in space, the MPA man pointed to the extremely efficient organization backing him. The technical assistance at his call is fabulous, even in this age of expansion across the System.

MPA ships have already explored the volume of space indicated by scanty readings on a fragmentary last message from the freighter, hunting down sections of wreckage with sensitive detectors. Here on Titan, MPA laboratories and computing offices are available for routine work. The investigator’s responsibility is solely to determine the true cause of the mishap, so as to promote future safety.

Flynn: that should do for start. More to follow. (sgnd) Moreau.

Titan 1 to Terra NT thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Ganymede 3—Noair—Ceres Central—(relayed to Mars 24, 1735: 3/NOV/84.

Memo to: Capt. Norland—Above msg. copy supplied Mishap Div. as per standing request. Approved; Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

* * * *

L. J. Abbott, Pile-up, Titan:

What became of that report? (sgnd) Borland.

C.C. to Titan 1 thru: Noair, 0927: 15/NOV/84.

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Capt. P. H. Horland, Mishap Div., MPA, Ceres:

Preliminary text, Report 2551. Photos and charts accompanying by facsimile:

Mishap; Collision of space rockets Ring IV and MPA349 in space near Titan (Saturn 6).

Background: Vessels concerned were a freight and passenger rocket, scheduled Titan to Jupiter System, and an exploratory ship returning from close observation of the rings. Both were operated by the MPA.

Crews: Crews were checked from records at Pileup, Titan. (See accompanying facsimiles.) The crew of the MPA349 seems to have been irrelevant to the incident. Members of the ring expedition were F. W. Lawson, pilot and commander; H. Berger, rocket engineer supplied the MPA by the Solar Rocket Company; Dr. A. L. Cantacelli, physicist; and Dr. I. A. Tanarin, mathematician.

Accompanying by fax are copies of medical and psychological reports on the above scientists, obtained from Rainbow Plats, Mimas, the advance base on Saturn’s inner moon. All were normal at the time of take-off, with due allowance for the natural tension of a hazardous expedition. (Three previous jumps remain unreported to date.)

Condition of Mishap: On 14/SEP/84 (Terran), the MPA349 was heard by Titan 3, reporting in an incomplete transmission that she had been struck by an unidentified body of considerable mass, which had registered only briefly on her detectors. Operators at the Titanian station sought to maintain contact, but could obtain no further communication. Two search ships were dispatched to sweep the volume of space indicated by the automatic range and direction records. Collision, being so improbable, was not immediately suspected.

Recovery of Wreckage: The MPA349 was recovered in about a week, nearly complete, in two main sections. All automatic instruments and mechanical devices appear to have been functioning correctly. Most compartments were ruptured, and it is estimated that ninety percent of the ship was “dry” within ten minutes. Judging from the moderate degree of disruption, the vessel seems to have sustained a glancing impact, despite functioning of automatic avoidance devices. Since these were incapable of preventing actual collision, the Ring IV was evidently approaching Titan as a speed excessive for landing.

The Ring IV recovered in several sections, plus a considerable amount of scrap, over a period of about three weeks. We now have roughly three quarters of the ship. Tentative reconstruction (see fax charts) indicates that the impact was along the lower side, somewhat aft of the main control room, causing the rocket to split into several sections. Lower compartments aft of this point, the lower part of the main drive battery, and one of the bodies seem unlikely to be recovered.

Instruments: All automatic devices on the Ring IV at the time of the collision show evidence of having been inoperative due to tampering or sabotage. The pilot had the ship under manual control.

Conclusions: It seems clear that the cause of the mishap was the course and unprepared condition of the Ring IV which was to be expected in a much different location. No communication had been received from this rocket since its departure from Mimas. There is, as noted (see fax photos), some evidence of carelessness in connection with the automatic safety mechanisms; but the mental attitude on the part of the crew which permitted this situation will probably never be fully explained.

End Report 2551. Repeat: facsimiles accompanying by stellarfax. (sgnd) L. J. Abbott.

Titan 1 to Ceres Central thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Io 2—Hannegan’s Rock—red CC 1143: 18/NOV/84.

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L. J. Abbott, Pileup, Titan:

Expect definite report on 2551. Solid conclusion urgent. Tired of these queer stories from Saturn. Debunk if opportunity presents, (sgnd) Norland.

C.C. to Titan 1 thru: Hannegan’s Rock, 1808: 19/NOV/84.

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M. J. Flynn, Terran Weekly, New York, Terra:

Continuing article on L. J. Abbott, MPA investigator; previous installment sent 3/NOV/84.

There is, however, another side to the investigator’s job besides the directing of laboratory work and the correlation of results. Abbott spends much time examining the scene of the mishap, if at all feasible.

“Nothing like getting your data direct,” he likes to say.

In the present case, he went out into space to where the salvage ships had collected the remains of the ill-fated rockets. (Once put into an orbit around Titan, they could be kept on leash, so to speak, with little effort.) He spent several days going over the wreckage section by section. (Note to Flynn: see accompanying fax pix of Abbott and crew on section of MPA349.)

To watch the cool analyst transform himself into a spaceman, a man of action venturing into the airless void in a comparatively flimsy spacesuit, is not as unlikely an experience as it may sound. The spaceman in him is not far submerged, as was apparent from the scrupulous care with which he checked his equipment before leaving the airlock.

“Knew a fellow on Luna who forgot spare batteries for his heating unit,” Abbott commented when this was brought to his attention. “Funny guy—always wondering if someday his home town would put up a statue of him. No need to now—he’s the statue, standing stiff as an iceberg on the third terrace outside the Archimedes ringwall.”

Observing his methodical progress among the jumbled, sluggishly revolving parts that were once powerful rockets was illuminating in itself. The job at hand was to fine-comb the nose section of the Ring IV.

Abbott’s assistants had towed a tank of air over from one of the salvage ships. They found an emergency hatch on the wreckage, aft of the observation dome, and chose to burn through this rather than to attempt to find a clear passage on the ripped and fused “inside” edge of the section. They worked with tools powered from their own ship and with auxiliary airtubes attached to the big tank of compressed air.

“It’s open,” reported one of the techs at last.

“Switch over to suit tanks,” ordered Abbott “Let’s go!”

He pulled himself into the hatch head first, and led the way hand-hold by hand-hold into the airless passageway beyond. One of his helpers bore a powerful light attached to the line from the MPA ship.

The dead corridor led “forward” a short way to the control room. Here was discovered the body of the pilot, Lawson, strapped in at the controls. One of Abbott’s men shoved himself across the compartment and went to work with an unwieldy space camera.

To the inexperienced eye, little had been ruined by the terrific impact. Some of the dials had been jammed. The glass of all of them had been shattered and now floated about the chamber whenever the men’s clumsy spaceboots kicked it up.

Abbott leaned over the banks of controls and studied the settings painstakingly. Then he went over the rest of the compartment, calling for a photo when some detail aroused his interest.

“Got a cleared passage out here,” reported an assistant over his helmet radio.

The group followed Abbott out, groping for handrails and knocking loose occasional gear that had drifted to the bulkheads. Abbott forced open an airtight door, and we tumbled out into space—where the lower section of the nose should have been.

Abbott waited until everyone had hold of some part of the wreck, then retreated inside. He spent about two hours more in detailed examination.

“Well, that will do here,” he announced at last. “You and I might as well go back to our ship while a relief crew floats more equipment across to another section.”

Aboard the MPA ship, Abbott used his rest period to jot down notes.

“Something wrong here,” he muttered, frowning at what he had scribbled.

The answer was obvious.

“No, more than that,” he protested. “Any accident is wrong, yes; but the manner of this is suspicious.”

He was worried over the pilot’s having had the rocket under manual control.

“In the first place, he had no business travelling at such speed so close to Titan if he was in control.”

Abbott had a chart of the curves on which the rocket might logically have been anticipated after circling the ringed planet. None intersected orbits as far out as Titan’s. Nor had the crew been near enough to have used manual control in preparation for landing. But, since they kept a human watch in the control room, why had the approach of the MPA349 not been detected?

This gives a hint of the problems Lewis Abbott deals with as routine.

Flynn: more to follow, (sgnd) Moreau.

Titan 1 to Terra NY thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Europa 2—Noair—Ceres Central—(cleared thru Pallas for relay 1453-20NOV84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—This message copy supplied Mishap Div. as per standing request. Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

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C. Moreau, Pileup, Titan:

Editorial board favors playing up mystery of outer planets. Include background and suitable tall tales told out there. Can you find anything odd on this wreck? Something inexplicable or sensational? (sgnd) Michael J. Flynn.

Terra NY to Titan 1 thru: Luna 1—Achilles—Ceres Central (relayed to Noair 0625-24NOV84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—And again! Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

* * * *

L. J. Abbott, Pileup, Titan:

Must remind you loosen up with end of report. Political situation has bearing. Lots of money in those ring expeditions. No results. Authority fighting for necessary appropriations but needs reasonable explanations, (sgnd) Norland.

C.C. to Titan 1 thru: Hannegan’s Rock 1700-26NOV84.

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M, J. Flynn, Terran Weekly, New York, Terra:

Have unofficial copies of documents found in latest, supplementary search for wreckage of ring ship. Would smell promising through a spacesuit. Trying to build on them. (sgnd) Moreau.

Titan 1 to Terra NY thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Ganymede 3—Noair—Ceres Central (relayed to Pallas 1745-13DEC84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—Above message copy supplied Mishap Div. as per standing request. Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

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C. Moreau, Pileup, Titan:

Your break extremely timely. Skip the purple prose. Send material by facsimile immediately. We will “interpret” at this end. (sgnd) Michael J. Flynn.

Terra NY to Titan 1 thru: Luna 8—Mars 17—Achilles—Ceres Central (cleared to Noair 0815-16DEC84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—Pretty soon we charge you piece by piece! Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

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M. J. Flynn, Terran Weekly, New York, Terra;

These are pix (see accompanying facsimiles) of the remains of Ring IV and of certain documents found in one of the sections. Note that number one clearly shows, over shoulder of pilot, that the ship was under manual control, which is rare in open space and not always necessary in landing.

Numbers two and three show the body of Cantacelli where it was found in the last-discovered part of the rocket. The blanket over the body was discovered tightly fastened as shown, apparently to restrain the man from leaving his bunk.

Abbott affects to believe that this was a safety measure to avoid injury in the collision. Anyone with average intelligence can easily imagine a more likely and unpleasant explanation. Old-timers on Titan have their tales of ring-light.

Pic number four shows the salvaged scrap of what was a private log or diary. The decipherable parts read as follows: “…spoke to Lawson again today about the instruments. He said he thought they were all right. He will find out!

“Cantacelli is showing signs I do not like. I suspect he may have been affected somehow by the long periods he and I spent observing the rings. That is all poppycock, of course; I have felt no ill effects. More than likely, he was not sufficiently rugged mentally to stand the strain of the flight…

“I am sure I am right about the instruments, both the astrogation and the safety devices. Lawson will not listen. Says they must be all right. I intend to keep an eye on them. I am taking data and plotting it up.”

Pic number five shows another page in this diary:

“…yet Lawson will not listen to reason. He even made one or two unfriendly remarks. I suppose he is disturbed because we had to confine Cantacelli to his bunk, poor fellow. I wonder a little about Lawson, too. He at least admits now that he cannot tell with accuracy where we are, but he thinks we are off course.

“I could have told him that. In fact, if I had not fixed those bloody astrogation instruments, we would be farther off.

“Things today are no better, nor likely to be, it seems. I will wait one more day….

“Lawson is very suspicious. He refuses to leave the controls at all now, but I will yet find a way to get at those devilish ‘safety’ contrivances. They are guiding us all to our doom, but they have me to reckon with. They know it; I catch them watching me. But the first time Lawson dozes, I shall get to them!”

End description of facsimiles. Note to M. J.: Be careful with this; give me time to get clear. Abbott doesn’t know I have these prints and I think he has orders to smother this. (sgnd) Moreau.

Titan 1 to Terra NY thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Callisto 4—Hannegan’s Rock—Ceres Central—(uncleared by 2400-19DEC84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—Note that we have not been able to contact a “suitable relay” for this message. Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

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Capt. P. H. Norland, Mishap Div., MPA, Ceres:

See accompanying facsimiles of photographs and log books, found in lower section of Ring IV. The implication is obvious.

The investigating officer has consulted several psychiatrists on Titan as to possible hypnotic effect of the rings observed at close range, especially upon men under unnatural strain. Opinions are divided between that and the effects of wide-spread legend of mysterious forces added to the anxiety of the flight.

The investigating officer therefore recommends that a member of any future expedition be a medical officer trained in psychiatry; and that all automatic safety devices be so installed as to be tamper-proof, (sgnd) L. J. Abbott.

Titan 1 to Ceres Central thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Io 2—Hannegan’s Rock—r’c’d CC 1645-20DEC84.

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L. J. Abbott, Pileup, Titan:

May be no future expedition if unable to convince Triplan Assembly previous efforts were well-directed. Require informative repeat informative report from you. We are taking beating in Terran press now. Am discarding your last submission. Photos not too good anyway. Merry Christmas. (sgnd) Norland.

C.C. to Titan 1 thru: Hannegan’s Rock 1730-22DEC84.

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C. Moreau, Pileup, Titan:

Where is promised hot material? (sgnd) Michael J. Flynn.

Terra NY to Titan 1 thru: Luna 1—Mars 24—Achilles—Ceres Central (cleared thru Noair 2358-23DEC84).

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C. Moreau, Titan 1:

Regret inconvenience caused you. No record such message, will attempt to trace, (sgnd) Chief Opr., Ceres Central, 0722-25DEC84.

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C. Moreau, Titan 1:

Regret inconvenience caused you. No such message in files. Will trace, (sgnd) Opr. A, Pallas Relay Dept., 0950-26DEC84. (Thru Ceres Central.)

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C. Moreau, Titan 1:

Regret inconvenience caused you. No record of such message. Will circulate tracer through Martian network. (sgnd) Chief Opr., Mars 24, 1708-29DEC84. (Thru Pallas.)

* * * *

Capt. P. H. Norland, Mishap Div., MPA, Ceres:

What do you expect me to say? (sgnd) L. J. Abbott.

Titan 1 to Ceres Central thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Europa 1—Noair—r’c’d CC 1500-30DEC84.

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L. J. Abbott, Pileup, Titan:

Expect your experienced, informed opinion, of course. You are observer in the field, in best position to evaluate data. Policy of MPA is to rely upon judgment of field men and promote those who know how to use it.

Will expect final draft immediately. Also, you are instructed to tie up any loose ends repeat loose ends. Note accompanying facsimiles of intercepted messages and documents, (sgnd) Norland.

C.C. to Titan 1 ***Priority*** thru: Hannegan’s Rock, 1630-30DEC84.

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M. J. Flynn, Terran Weekly. New York, Terra:

Don’t go big for mystery angle. Reported documents unfortunately no longer in my possession. Not much to it anyway. Recommend you rewrite article as brief personality sketch, (sgnd) Moreau.

Titan 1 to Terra NY thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Io 3—Noair—Ceres Central (relayed to Pallas 2145-31DEC84).

Memo to: Capt. Norland—I do believe this got through okay; I picked a sober operator. Happy New Year! Approved: Y. S. Chang, Ceres Central Relay Dept.

* * * *

Capt. P. H. Norland, Mishap Div., MPA, Ceres:

Revised repeat revised conclusion, Report 2551:

Exact quotation of written material found aboard the Ring IV is considered inadvisable for security reasons; but members of the crew apparently frequently discussed condition of safety devices and astrogation instruments. Most comments were unfavorable. The pilot believed that faulty instruments had set him off his curve. Other severe criticisms were recorded.

Examination indicates that the devices were, indeed, not functioning. The most reasonable conclusion is that the failure of the expedition and the resulting mishap were partially due to an attempt to economize in equipment and personnel. A larger crew might not have been too fatigued to make repairs.

The investigating officer therefore recommends that the next expedition be expanded at least to include a medical officer, and carry equipment neither limited by false economy nor so installed as to be subject to maladjustment.

End Report 2551— Attention called to accompanying facsimile of handwritten personal message, (sgnd) L. J. Abbott.

Titan 1 to Ceres Central thru: Ju-Sat Relay—Io 3—Hannegan’s Rock—r’c’d CC 1620-2JAN85.

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L. J. Abbott, Pileup, Titan:

Item A: Report approved; good job! MPA pleased with effect on situation.

Item B: Nonsense! Too good a man to resign!

Item C: Alternative application more reasonable. Research assignment approved. (Reminder: there will be no change in confidential classification of your position.)

Appropriations having been authorized for fifth ring expedition, you will proceed to Rainbow Flats, Mimas (Saturn 1), and take charge thereof, (sgnd) Norland.

C.C. to Titan 1 thru: Noair 1130-18JAN85.

* * * *

Opr., Ceres Central:

Msg. C.C. 1130-18JAN85: Request verification of all after “Rainbow Flats, Mimas (Saturn l). (sgnd) Opr. D, Titan 1 (Thru Ju-Sat Relay).

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Opr. D, Titan 1:

Message C.C. to Titan 1, 1130-18JAN85. All after “Rainbow Flats, Mimas (Saturn 1).—Correction: and take complete repeat complete charge thereof, (sgnd) Norland, (sgnd) Opr. A, Ceres Central. (Thru Hannegan’s Rock.)