Chapter 2: Chapter 2
“But, of course, once the population balances out…?” He sounded hopeful. Did he think if the population decreased to a more manageable number, Terra would be able to once again feed her children? His expression became grim. “Unless there’s a possibility we’ll develop a taste for our fellow man?”
“That’s a valid point.” I couldn’t help the gruff tone of my voice. I was sixty years old, and I had another good sixty years to look forward to. I was going to do my damnedest to make sure it didn’t happen on my watch. “However, it’s not one we need to be concerned about just now.”
“The press is making a big thing about these missions, you know,” the general said.
“That’s exactly what we want.” I studied the specs. “They think we’re testing a new method of propulsion, and if the major does his job right, that’s what they’ll keep thinking.”
Multiple MRs, mission reconnaissance ships—were being built around the world—but only two were ready to take off. My friend, Colonel Sam Johnston, was taking the MRVto Venus, while I was helming the MRMto Mars.
“What are the odds that the MRVwill be successful, Doctor?”
“I wouldn’t bet on this one, even if I were a betting man,” I told him. “For one thing, Venus is much too close to the sun. For another, there’s that blanket of clouds.”
“Is there any hope that under the cloud layer there might be something we can work with?”
“There’s always hope, General.” I didn’t say whoever had come up with this bright idea must have read one too many of those pulp science-fiction magazines of the early twentieth century. Certainly we had terraformers who were working on the moon, but at least there they were able to set up their equipment. Dealing with clouds that rained sulfuric acid or with winds so fierce they would scour the flesh off bones, though?
I felt nauseous and just hoped Sam and his crew made it back in one piece.
“In that case our biggest hope is the Argos.” Banks pulled a tablet from his own briefcase. His tablet had layer upon layer of security, and required six different passwords in obscure languages that changed from day to day, as well as his thumbprint and an eyeball scan before the screen opened up. He selected an innocuous icon and tapped on the specs finally revealed.
The launch of the MRMand, to a lesser extent, the MRV, was to give the world hope that the scientific community, aligned with the military, was doing something. But there was a third ship, whose mission was so highly classified her name wasn’t listed on the rosters. Even the men I’d be journeying with were unaware of the Argos
“Considering what she carries,” I mused, “she really should have been called Noah’s Ark.”
The planet’s leaders had recruited as many scientists, skilled craftsmen, agrarians, and people who knew the front end of an animal from its tail as there was room to hold. Embryos of all domesticated breeds, which had been stored cryogenically decades ago, were transferred to the Argos, along with human embryos, as a safeguard.
“I’m not thrilled with the selection of her crew.” Banks shut down his tablet and returned it to his briefcase.
“You never struck me as chauvinistic, General.” Every nation on Terra had leaped at the chance to be represented in the Argos’screw, although this was also something of which the media and the populace was unaware.
“No, no, not that. I have no objection to all those civilians. I just feel a larger contingent of soldiers should have been required. A company isn’t enough.”
“This is a peaceful mission.”
“We don’t know what’s out there.”
“This is true.” The Argos’s destination was simply “out there,” and it would be foolish of us to think we were the only intelligent life in the wide universe, especially considering what we’d found in Roswell. “We don’t have much choice.”
“That’s why you and your crew will be armed.”
“What?”
“Weren’t you informed?”
“Obviously not.”
“Do you object?”
“Of course not,” I growled. “These are good men, and I’ll do whatever needs to be done to make sure they return home safe and sound.”
“I wish I understood how the eggheads plan to accomplish this thing with the Argos.”
“I’ll have you know I’man egghead, Banks.”
“Sorry. You were one of us for so long…”
I’d retired from the Air Force five years earlier, but I still worked in the space program. I waved aside the general’s words, pleased I’d successfully diverted his attention.
“I have to bring my crew in now and brief them on what we’ll really be doing on Mars.” I forwarded copies to the general’s tablet for him to give to Major Reiner when he felt the time was right and placed my tablet into my briefcase. I’d be taking it with me to study during any down time on the MRM
“Of course. Good luck, Doctor. I’ll see you in about three weeks, and I hope to God you’ll have good news for us.”
“So do I. Goodbye.”
We shook hands, and he walked out, his briefcase with its important information clutched tightly in his fist.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone