(Based on characters in The Lightning in the Collied Night)
March 6, 2054
“6 Gs … 8 Gs… 10 Gs—G force approaching danger level, Lai!” Aileen exclaimed as Chronos 2 accelerated toward the event horizon of the black hole fronting the Wagamese Wormhole. At that instant, the master alarm blared and bathed the cockpit in flashes of red. “Should I abort?”
“N—n—no!” Lai struggled to shout as the ship shook around her. I sure as hell am not quitting now! The young physicist also realized that the spaceship was already caught in the gravitational well of the black hole, and attempting to abort now would either burn out the ship’s engines, leaving her marooned in space, or tear the ship apart. The words To infinity and beyond! popped into her mind. She couldn’t remember where she’d heard that—it was probably many years ago, when she was a child.
“Acknowledged. 13 Gs… 15 Gs… 20 Gs—G force at a critical level! Are you all right, Lai?”
Lai tried to respond, but she couldn’t make her mouth and tongue move against the crushing gravitational force. Then Aileen’s voice started to fade. Lai barely heard the ship’s AI pilot say “twenty-five,” then for Lai there was only silence, and darkness.
“Lai, there’s something wrong,” Aileen reported. “The ship has veered away from the event horizon. G force is up to 28!” Silence. “Lai, can you hear me? Please respond, if you can!”
Detecting that the ship was out of control and rapidly accelerating away from the black hole, Aileen engaged reverse thrust on its boosters to slow it down and fired its maneuvering thrusters to stabilize it. However, Aileen discovered that only one of the ship’s three booster rockets was operational, and over half of its thrusters were out. But eventually, Aileen was able to bring the sleek white spaceship under control.
“Lai, the boosters and thrusters are banjaxed, but I was able to adapt and now we’re sucking diesel,” the AI said in its Irish brogue. Still no response. Aileen checked Lai’s biometric telemetry and detected a slow and faint heartbeat, labored breathing, and minimal synaptic activity. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Aileen exclaimed. “CapCom, this is Chronos 2.” Aileen knew that the Prometheus base wouldn’t receive her transmission for over 90 minutes due to the one billion miles between the black hole and Earth, but their situation needed to be reported nonetheless. “Wormhole injection failed—cause unknown. Dr. Shen is unconscious and appears to be seriously injured. I’ve stabilized the ship and am setting course back to Earth.” Aileen detected that the Quantum Drive, at least, was still operational. “Be aware that the ship’s boosters and maneuvering thrusters are in rag order. That will likely make our landing less than grand. I’ll send status reports every 30 minutes and open direct communication when in range. Chronos 2, out.”
Aileen turned the spaceship around toward Earth and cleared the black hole, then engaged the Quantum Drive at maximum velocity—21.3 percent of light speed. “Hang on, Lai. I’ll get you home as quickly as I can.”
* * *
In the cramped Flight Control room of the underground Prometheus base, Flight Director Haruto Hirano, Project Director Katherine Etter, Chief Engineer Meira Friedman, and physicist Kapono Ailana waited impatiently for the next update from Aileen.
“Based on Aileen’s last report, I estimate that Chronos 2 should be only about one million kilometers from Earth now,” Haruto explained. “That’s close enough for direct communications, I think.”
“Go for it, Haruto,” Katherine replied, and Haruto switched to the spacecraft’s channel.
“Chronos 2, this is CapCom. Please respond.”
After a few seconds’ delay due to the distance, Aileen’s voice came through the CapCom loudspeaker. “CapCom, this is Chronos 2. We’re 974,655 kilometers from Earth. I’ll be reversing Quantum Drive shortly and preparing to enter Earth orbit.”
“That’s great news, Aileen,” Haruto replied. “How is Lai doing?”
“Not grand, I’m afraid. She’s still unconscious, and there’s been no change in her biometrics. I’m plotting a minimal orbit so we can attempt to land as soon as possible.”
Attempt to land? “Will you be able to set down at the Prometheus landing site?” Haruto asked. “We’ll have the ambulance standing by.” There was a concrete landing pad, a mobile gantry concealed by a faux grain silo, and a large semi-trailer with a crane a short distance from the Prometheus base. The project’s ambulance was parked in a three-car garage near the elevator entrance to the base.
“I’m doubtful of that, Haruto. Only one booster is functional, and 60.7 percent of the ship’s maneuvering thrusters are out. I’m not programmed to land the ship under those conditions. In addition, I estimate there’s only a seven percent probability that I’ll be able to achieve orbit.”
Kapono’s eyes opened wide in shock; then his heart sank as he realized that Aileen’s assessment was realistic. He leaned toward the microphone on the main control console. “Aileen, there’s no other option. Just… do the best you can.”
“I’ll do that, Kapono. If I can make orbit, I should be able to land close to the base. There’s a field 1.2 kilometers southwest of the base entrance that’s flat and uninhabited. However, it will most likely not be a controlled landing. I’ll endeavor to position the main hatch topside if we can’t land normally.”
“Acknowledged, Aileen. Let us know when you’re slowing for orbit,” Haruto replied, then he turned to Katherine. “I know the area Aileen mentioned. There’s a dirt road into it that the ambulance can use.”
“Excellent, thanks, Haruto.” Katherine pulled her hPhone out of a pocket in her ultramarine blue Prometheus uniform. “Sirai, please tell Dr. Åhrberg that there’s a medical emergency on Chronos 2, and ask her to come to Flight Control as soon as she can.” Alma Åhrberg was the biotech specialist for Prometheus and also served as the team’s chief medical officer.
“No worries… done,” Sirai replied.
Katherine turned to her team members. “Meira, you’ll take the engineers in my car. Kapono, I’ll ride with you, and we’ll bring any equipment Meira can’t fit into my car. Alma will be in the ambulance; I’ll ask Major Goebel to drive. Haruto, you have CapCom. Any questions?”
“Where are you thinking of taking Lai?” Kapono asked.
“The closest hospital is Lawrence Memorial, but Alma will make that call.”
Kapono nodded, “Of course.”
Katherine put her hand on Kapono’s shoulder. “I know you’re worried. I am, too.” I NEVER should have agreed to let Lai go on this mission without a backup ship! What the hell was I thinking?!
She stood up and looked at her team. “We must have hope, and faith, that Aileen will land that ship safely, and in time.” She managed a faint smile. “If anyone feels like saying a prayer… now would be a good time.”
(Photo courtesy Reno Gazette Journal)
