Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space (The Henry Gallant Saga) (10 page)

Dr. Lawrence stepped forward and said, “Very well, I’ll make arrangements for that. Now let’s move on to the next workshop,”

As the group started to leave, Elizabeth asked, “Dr. Lawrence, would you mind if I continued on with the evaluation team?”

“Not at all,” said Dr. Lawrence as he led them down the corridor to the next workgroup.

“That was a very impressive presentation,” Kelsey said to Elizabeth, as she accompanied the
Repulse
group.

“Thank you. It was a team effort. Our leader is an expert in the field. I was chosen to give the presentation because I ran the final series of successful experiments,” she said.

“Oh, and have you been working on them for very long?” asked Red, slowing his pace such that the two of them fell behind the others.

“Yes, indeed. The team started this work over a year ago. My experiments were the final step that I completed this last month,” she said.

Curious, Gallant stopped and asked, “Have you been on Ganymede long?”

“I was born on Ganymede. My grandparents were some of the original pioneers to settle the main colony at the capital city of Kendra. Many of the settlers, here on the Jupiter frontier, are second and third generation. For us, living in an artificial environment carved out of rock is a natural way of life.”

Red inserted himself between Gallant and Elizabeth, and said, “We should walk a little faster to catch-up with the others.” As they did so, he asked, “So your education as a physicist was a product of Ganymede?”

“You shouldn't be surprised by that,” she responded. “All the required course work is available through computer simulations and AI instruction. And this laboratory provides all the experimental experience any scientist could hope for. I think it’s just as stimulating as Earth’s MIT.”

“I’m sure that's the case,” replied Red as the two had, again, separated several steps from the others. Gallant and the rest of the
Repulse
team bunch together at the second workshop.

Dr. Lawrence waved his arms, as if to gather them all together and began, “This experiment is called MASS. The device is small enough to be taken aboard your ship. It produces a space-time distortion that creates an intense gravity-well for a very short period of time. You release it at a given location and any ship passing by would find its course altered due to the change in the curvature of local space-time.”

“Could you elaborate?” asked Jackson.

“It works by creating a massive energy implosion. The energy is generated inward toward a tiny central point. Since energy is equal to mass,” said Dr. Lawrence and then he added with a wink and a whisper, "times the speed of light squared, of course. This imploding concentration of energy can be thought of as the creation of a spontaneous massive object. The massive object will produce a gravity-well in the space-time fabric. For all practical purposes, we can construe this as a change in curvature in the local geometry of space-time. Any questions?”

There was silence as the group contemplated the complex concepts. Neumann fidgeted enough to attract Jackson’s attention who said, “Go head, Neumann.”

“Would that act as a kind of ‘speed bump’ to passing ships and missiles?” asked Neumann.

“Exactly!”

“Well then, could we lay a string of these devices, like mines, in front of an enemy’s path?” asked Neumann.

“You’re right. Setting them off in front of an attacking force would send their missiles haywire, as well as disorganize their fleet. Is that possible Dr. Lawrence?” asked Jackson.

“Not only possible, but I will get this workshop team building MASS devices immediately,” said Dr. Lawrence.

Lawrence’s comm pin emitted a buzzing sound. He listened privately to a message and then addressed the group, “We have a slight delay before the last presentation. Feel free to wander about and meet some of the laboratory team members. Please, let’s all meet again, at Section E-12 at 1700.”

Elizabeth Bolton moved next to Gallant and said, “Since we have some free time, would you like a tour of the surface dome. It has a marvelous view.”

“Thank you. I think I would enjoy that,” said Gallant.

“Mind if I come too?” asked Red, popping up next to the couple.

“Oh, …, you’re welcome too,” said Elizabeth, as she hooked arms with Gallant and guided him along the corridor to the elevators.

When they emerged from the elevator Elizabeth, took them to a glass domed viewing compartment. There, they were greeted by a celestial view of Jupiter, several of its moons, and a million dots of pinpoint starlight - trimmed by the Ganymede rugged mountainous landscape.

“I suppose space flight makes you immune to something like this, but I’ve always been humbled by it,” said Elizabeth.

Red said, “When we fly, we’re synced-in with our AI. We’re forced to watch indicators and sensors. And we're faced with endless distractions. So you’re wrong, to think we can’t appreciate this stunning planetary portrait.”

“Oh,” Elizabeth said, looking pleased.

“Tell me more about growing up in this environment, Beth?” asked Red moving closer to Elizabeth. He took her arm and gently steered her to a secluded corner of the towering dome compartment.

A few minutes later, Gallant stood in the center of the domed compartment under the mosaic sky, bewildered about how he had wound up alone.

At 1700 hours, the
Repulse
group reassembled at Section E12.

Dr. Lawrence smiled at the assembly like a Cheshire cat. “I’ve saved the best for last. We call it a Faser cannon. It combines nuclear fission and lasers. As you know, LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Our FASER stands for Fission Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation."

"To elaborate, a laser works by pulsing light through a crystal in such a way that the crystal releases a flood of identical electromagnetic waves all at once. Our experiment succeeded in pulsing light through a block of crystalline Uranium-235 to create a pulse of coherent photo-fission – all the Uranium-235 atoms fission simultaneously and produce an energy beam of immense highly focused power.”

“We have prepared a demonstration for your benefit,” said Dr. Lawrence. "If you will look at this screen, we have set up our Faser gun to target a small nearby meteorite."

Then, he asked the workshop team leader, “Are you ready?”

The man nodded.

“Fire.”

The Faser cannon lit up in a powerful display and a beam of energy projected at a nearby meteorite. It withered into dust instantly.

The
Repulse
team was very impressed. However, the Faser cannon was enormous and Lawrence was reluctant to speculate how long it would take to reduce it to fit it into a battle cruiser. Nevertheless, they all agreed it could make an excellent defensive weapon for the Ganymede Research Laboratory.

Gallant was uncertain about its ability to also protect Jupiter Station in orbit over Ganymede, but he was impressed at the possibility.

After the tour, Dr. Lawrence invited Jackson and her team to stay for dinner.

Jackson accepted eagerly. She had heard rumors that some real delicacies might be available for just such a special occasion. They weren’t disappointed. They were escorted into a large compartment with a long table prepared for a celebration.

Gallant ran his fingers through his tangled brown hair and smiled as he took his seat near the center of the table. Elizabeth Bolton sat on his left. Her blonde hair was pulled back. She was wearing a blue jump suit that highlighted her figure. Kelsey sat on his right; she looked pretty despite her pressure flight suit.

He felt fortunate to have this particular seat. The combination of two striking women had a growing intoxicating effect on him when the dinner began.

The dinner started with a real salad including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and dressing. It was a treat, all of the
Repulse
members relished.

Dr. Lawrence explained, “Since we’re so far from the sun, we use the moon’s geothermal energy for power instead of solar arrays. This allows us to have our own hydroponic garden to grow food and keep the harsh environment of space under control.”

But more fulsome gratitude came forth with 'ohs' and 'ahs' when the main course was served. Broiled salmon, asparagus, potatoes, and carrots were delivered with a few rare bottles of wine.

“We have a fish farm, as well,” said Dr. Lawrence, beaming with pride. “We're very fortunate to reside on a satellite like Ganymede. It has a thin oxygen atmosphere and an iron-rich liquid core. But best of all, its surface is composed of nearly equally amounts of silicate rock and ice-water. An actual saltwater ocean exists 150 miles below the surface, sandwiched between layers of ice and rock.”

He looked over his attentive audience and continued, “We discovered colonies of giant tube worms, crustaceans, and other assorted creatures clustered around undersea volcanic features known as black smokers. These creatures thrive despite getting no sunlight. They exist on a food chain formed from bacterium using chemosynthesis - our own personal extraterrestrial habitats, so to speak. Of course, we don’t eat any of these creatures. We just study them. But we've extracted the water, purified it, and created farms for our imported Earth fish.”

Having survived on mostly synthetic meals for so long, the
Repulse
team lavished appreciation and praise on their hosts throughout the meal.

Sitting between two lovely women while enjoying a unique feast, should have made Gallant unreservedly pleased. He wasn’t - because seated on Elizabeth’s left was Red and seated on Kelsey’s right was Neumann. These competitive fighter pilots were intent on monopolizing the women’s conversation.

Gallant observed Elizabeth casting an admiring eye on Red.

“Have you ever dated a midshipman before?” Red asked, as he took hold of her hand.

“No, but I’ve always admired men in uniform,” Elizabeth murmured.

“Tell me more,” encouraged Red.

“Oh, you men aren’t all that mysterious,” she continued, playfully.

That was bad enough, but on the other flank Gallant heard Neumann say to Kelsey, “Someday you must let me take sailing on the ocean. It’s one of the true pleasures unique to Earth.”

“It sounds wonderful,” she said. “Sailing, I mean.”

“It’s a family tradition. I practically grew up on my family’s yacht. My dad feels that sailing develops a sense of adventure. I find it exciting,” said Neumann.

Gallant concentrated on his salmon until he found an opening in the conversation. Then he asked, “Kelsey, you were raised on farm. What do you think of hydroponics and fish farms in space?”

Kelsey looked at him and dove right into a detailed dialogue on the life affirming aspects of growing living things.

Soon Gallant and Kelsey were sipping their drinks together.

Kelsey began telling him a story, and as an expansive laugh escaped her lips, she covered her mouth with her hands. While the story was engaging, it was her unrestrained joy in telling it that made it so appealing.

What’s she thinking?
Gallant wondered.

However, there was no doubt what Neumann was thinking. Neumann’s sour expression, said it all.

All in all, the team returned to
Repulse
very satisfied.

And it looked like Caine might get a few surprises for the aliens.

The huge warship clawed her way around Jupiter, surveying its large retinue of moons. On the gas giant’s surface, blustering storms swirled, forming a mosaic of vague images, any one of which could have hung majestically in an art gallery. Raucous winds swept along, singing their own songs, as yet unheard across the vacuum of space.

As
Repulse
traveled through Jupiter’s thin rings, micrometeorites disintegrated against her hull. In the distance, small craft and merchantmen dotted the horizon. Three flights of Eagle fighters were soaring nearby in a lattice formation.

Nearing the end of JOOD watch, Gallant stood on the bridge of the
Repulse
. Usually, Gallant savored the grandeur of sunlight illuminating the writhing planetary oceans, but today he was distracted by Kelsey’s delicate silhouette standing between him and the wall-height display.

Refocusing his attention on the current series of radar sweeps, he ordered, “Flights one, two and three, reform into formation bravo.” Then he added to the helmsman, “Hard to port, come to course 180, azimuth up 10 degrees, speed 0.001c, at time 11:55.” He felt the ship respond, even while the fighters repositioned around her.

“Kelsey,” he bawled, over the din on the bridge. A wave of his hand beckoned her aft.

Balancing herself against the motion of the deck, she made her way to him. She had examined the status board and was prepared to relieve him as JOOD. He said to her, “Conducting mobile radar sweeps around Jupiter and the moons. Our speed is 0.001c, two hundred thousand miles from the planet. There are two merchantmen and several shuttles as listed on the contact board, no maintenance or repair operations. I have the conn. The captain has the deck.”

“No long range sweeps?” she asked.

“That evolution has been left for your watch section,” he smiled, knowing she would be pleased to perform the complex scans facing the outer planets.

“Good,” she said. “I relieve you.” Her eager face showed she couldn’t wait to Conn the ship for the upcoming maneuvers.

“I stand relieved,” he said.

Loudly enough that the whole bridge could hear, she said, “This is Midshipman Mitchel. I am the Junior Officer of the Deck. I have the conn.”

“Very well,” said Caine.

“Request permission to remain on the bridge to observe, sir?” asked Gallant, hoping to gain some experience on the long range radar sweep.

“Permission granted, but stay out of the way,” said Captain Caine.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” Gallant moved to the starboard wing. He relished the few additional minutes available to him. He let his mind wonder as the bridge crew busily set up for the next maneuver.

Captain Caine ordered, “Midshipman Mitchel, prepare for long range sweeps.”