Impact (eBook)

Mark D. Owen (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2021 | 1. Auflage
342 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-0983-5940-9 (ISBN)

Infos

'We've found something here, something game-changing...' The explosion at the International Space Station (ISS) forever changed the direction of inventor Tamarind Chase's life. His life mission was to mine asteroids, but when the accident triggers an expanding debris field it strands the scientists at Moonbase Verity including the friend that once saved his life. He must find a way to rescue them and empower the secret they have discovered. 'Impact' is the first book in The Pan Nationals series about a group of leaders trained to solve intractable world problems. But what happens when the problems come from beyond our world?

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"e;We've found something here, something game-changing..."e;The explosion at the International Space Station (ISS) forever changed the direction of inventor Tamarind Chase's life. His life mission was to mine asteroids, but when the accident triggers an expanding debris field it strands the scientists at Moonbase Verity including the friend that once saved his life. He must find a way to rescue them and empower the secret they have discovered. "e;Impact"e; is the first book in The Pan Nationals series about a group of leaders trained to solve intractable world problems. But what happens when the problems come from beyond our world?

Textauszug

Chapter 1:

Conflict

“Conflict begins with miscommunication and often ends with calamity.” —Journal of Kohlrabi Trust

Commander Choi disregarded the Japanese astronaut’s hand signals motioning him to slow his approach from the cupola windows on dock 7 of the International Space Station (ISS). After a thousand simulations, today he would become the first North Korean pilot to dock at the ISS. Uttering a racial slur under his breath, he mocked their waving arms. His decision to come in hot to make them a little scared caused them to motion him away frantically. Realizing his mistake too late, he heard the scream of his copilot as he fired his reverse thrusters. White hands gripped the throttle as his eyes opened wide with fear, then regret and resignation. The jolting impact against his restraints and the deafening crunch of metal told him he was still alive. He looked over at his copilot to see a bulkhead truss had pierced his suit, and he was writhing in pain. “I’m sorry,” he said in Korean, the last words on the recording before the explosion ended all their lives, leaving the ISS module ripped and contorted.

***

Dr. Kohlrabi Trust awoke with a start, sure that something was wrong, sat up in his bed, and listened to the quiet hum of the air scrubbers and creaks in the ducting on Moonbase Verity space station. Nothing sounded out of the ordinary. Turning on the light panel beside his bed, he looked slowly around the room. Nothing seemed out of place. He walked across the floor out into his office near the top of the dome and peered down the two flights of stairs to the main galley; a whiff of olive cooking oil and garlic spices from the evening meal was still present.

He swiped his hand across his holodesk, activating the displays in the room. Images on the wall from the central domes and access ports were all devoid of action except for a few scientists playing a card game in the lounge. The system monitors showing air pressure, temperature, and dozens of other parameters were all nominal, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

He tapped his news feed, looking for alerts from any of the fourteen countries represented on Moonbase Verity. An urgent symbol rotated by the NASA feed labeled Crash at ISS.

That must be it, he thought. Tapping the symbol, he was given direct access to the video feed from the North Korean ship’s cockpit as it crashed only moments earlier. He watched the different views, the frantic Japanese signals, the smug expression on Commander Choi’s face changing to alarm, fear, regret, and finally, resignation. He wrote his observations carefully in his Journal. Finally, he sat up straight, looked up toward the ceiling, and breathed in and out in a practiced Zen breathing technique, the beginning of his morning meditation routine.

He arose and dressed, consciously aware of the unpleasant tasks of the day. As the governor coordinating the work of fourteen countries represented at Moonbase Verity, he managed the scientific and facility priorities, encouraging peaceful respect among the elite scientists. He loved the math and science, he enjoyed coaching people, but he hated the petty rivalries and jealousies, which always tagged along with those who excelled.

Two of the leaders from different research teams entered Kohlrabi’s two by three meter office and took a seat across from his desk. All space was a premium on the Moonbase, with 224 people living and working under sixteen domes. In the crowded conditions, tempers flared.

“Dr. Nakahara, tell me what this is about.” Kohlrabi requested details to slow emotions enough to work toward a solution.

“Thank you. As you know, the Japanese labs are developing robots for tasks in space. We loaned one to the French team. Now I found out they dismantled it, apparently to copy our design,” the Japanese engineer began quietly in fluent English but ended loudly with an overtly strong accusation. Theft of intellectual property was the most severe crime at the base, next to murder, which so far had been avoided.

Dr. Leblanc could hardly restrain himself. Raising his hand to quiet them both, Kohlrabi asked softly, “Pierre, please tell us how you are using the robot and why you dismantled it.”

“Merci. We are adapting household appliances for use in lower gravity environments like the Moonbase or on space vessels. The Japanese robot enables reliability testing, taking coffee out of the espresso machine, loading the dishwasher, etc. However, humans tend to lift things faster in the moon’s gravity and hit the appliance’s frame. Our minds take some time to overcome the information learned on Earth. The robot was so precise we introduced some randomness into the tests by printing some of its structural elements out of a flexible polymer. The flexibility introduced randomness. We dismantled and measured parts to 3D print these polymer components. While I can see how Dr. Nakahara could misunderstand our intent, we cannot allow such flagrant accusations to continue.” The two leaders sneered at each other menacingly.

“Do you acknowledge, Dr. Leblanc, that dismantling another’s tools without their permission is a violation of our agreement signed by all fourteen countries?” Kohlrabi looked at him until he shrugged, raised his hands, and nodded his head at least partially up and down. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, I should have asked for permission.” Dr. Leblanc stated flatly.

“Dr. Nakahara, your accusation of IP theft is a direct violation of the same agreement, which specifically states that all concerns or accusations will be brought first to the governor before being voiced publicly or to the perceived offending party. Do you also agree you violated these stipulations?” Kohlrabi’s face was impassive and stern.

“Governor Trust, I had no intention...” Dr. Nakahara’s face contorted in contrition, as only the Japanese can, genuinely surprised he had done something wrong.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Based on my authority as governor of Moonbase Verity, both of you will be charged with a violation of the treaty and returned to Earth on the next transport ship.” The two sat stunned at this announcement. Kohlrabi waited silently for some time for the impact of such a decision to be thoroughly contemplated. Each was a team leader, and such an outcome would damage their research, reputations, and countries.

Dr. Leblanc spoke first, “Dr. Trust, governor, if there is any other way to make this right, I, we, would be glad to consider it.” Dr. Nakahara nodded his head rapidly, and then bowed his head low, almost to the table.

Kohlrabi waited a moment before replying while shaking his head. “You damaged trust within this facility and openly accused an esteemed colleague of a crime, breaking the treaty I am tasked with enforcing to maintain the fragile peace we enjoy here. What could you possibly propose to make this right?”

Dr. Leblanc, thinking fast, proposed, “How about if I pay for the materials for another entire robot. I will delete all related photos and records. I will request that Dr. Nakahara help us solve the randomizing problem, and we will sit together at dinner and show everyone we are now cooperating?” The Japanese engineer nodded affirmation to each proposal, and they looked expectantly at Kohlrabi.

The governor continued to shake his head. “Friendly cooperation was the right way to begin and would be useful now, but it is insufficient. I think I must make an example to maintain justice, order, and peace.” He stood to signal that the meeting was done.

Both researchers spoke simultaneously, uttering accusations and pointing at each other. The governor waited a moment and then slapped the table loudly and again signaled the meeting was complete. No one moved for a long, pregnant moment, but slowly their shoulders rounded, their understanding of their predicament sinking in.

Finally, Dr. Nakahara stood and motioned for Kohlrabi to please sit down. “I responded arrogantly and with unjustified indignation without sufficient information. I will stand at dinner tonight and apologize to all teams for violating the agreement and accusing my respected colleague unjustly. Only one of us needs to pay for my offense; I will resign and take the next transport to Earth.” The contrition on his face was total, looking like he would cry in humiliation. He sat back down slowly, shoulders slumped, head bowed.

The humble apology seemed to break the scientist’s resolve; the lines on his face visibly softened. The Frenchman stood and put his hand on the other man’s shoulder and spoke facing Kohlrabi. “No, he’s right; only one of us should pay for my mistake. I will apologize to everyone and resign.” Then turning to the engineer, “Nakahara-san, please forgive me.”

Still standing, Kohlrabi did not delay this time, not wanting to keep them in their pain any longer than necessary. “If you proceed as proposed with friendly cooperation and publicly apologize to each other at dinner tonight, I will suspend your sentence indefinitely.”

The two men shook hands with each other and began walking toward the door. Kohlrabi said, “Dr....

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.6.2021
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction
• ISBN-10: 1-0983-5940-2 / 1098359402
• ISBN-13: 978-1-0983-5940-9 / 9781098359409