Launch (22 page)

The following Monday morning, David received a
videophone conference call from Albert Masters and Jack Benton. David knew the
outcome of the call would be critical: if Al opposed the new starship, it would
never fly.

Al said, “Good morning, David. Once again, I
would like to thank you for solving NASA’s budget problems. Your speech was a
masterstroke.

“I’m wondering about the timetables you
mentioned. You may remember that we planned to spend about 525 years in the
exploration phase for Bedford and another 525 years in the preparation phase.
The times mentioned in your speech seemed to cut the time to begin settlement
in half.”

David said, “I think we should enhance the
search phase to include exploration and initial preparation of any potentially
habitable planets. That would keep us from wasting time and resources on
planets that appeared to be inhabitable initially but turned out to be
unsatisfactory after further exploration. We can advance future settlements by
thousands and even millions of years, and maybe even save lives when Earth is
nearing the end of habitability.”

Al and Jack looked at each other. Al said,
“That makes a lot of sense. Planning will be more of a challenge, but we can
deal with that a lot faster than we can fly to a star. We should stick to near
stars first so we can get faster feedback and perfect our planning process.

“Now what’s this about you sponsoring a return
to Bedford?”

“I’ve started the design and construction of a
starship. It should be ready for testing in February. It will have housing and
equipment and supplies for a dozen couples for two years with everything they
need to become self-sufficient. Two dozen police robots will provide security
and labor. The starship will be armed. After it drops off the settlers, it will
take up a stationary orbit in space above the settlement for communications
relay and security. I would like NASA to begin recruiting and training the
first settlers for a possible March launch.”

“Question, David,” Jack Benton said. “Didn’t
you know you were supposed to slow below light speed before you landed on
Earth?”

Al laughed. “What about that, David? Weren’t
you supposed to be on vacation?”

“It’s what I wanted to do,” David said. “I’ve
been thinking about space exploration since I was a teenager, since before
Origin
or Quad Fusion Thunder. It’s a part of me.”

“Where do you suggest we go from here?” Al
asked.

“We need to fast-track launch of an in-depth
exploration of Bedford and Lee to parallel settlement. We also need to
fast-track design and preparation of everything settlers will need. And
speaking of fast, we need to do research into faster-than-light physics: find
out what happens to something that exceeds light speed and whether or not human
beings can survive.”

Al said, “What do you think Jack? Is there
anything else you need to know?”

“Yes. David, can you share your design plans
with us for the starship you’re building?”

“Sure,” David answered. “Make the plans
available to NASA, Elf.”

Elf said, “Yes, sir.”

David said, “I need all the help I can get. For
example: how do you design a diaper for cows and bulls for the weightless part
of the flight?

Al and Jack laughed. Jack said, “A lot of that
has been studied already. You take calves with proven fertility and frozen
semen rather than cows and bulls. Give them low residue diets just before zero
g.
”

“Great! As you can see, I do need help.”

“Jack and his department can help,” Al said.
“Maybe you can meet your March goal.”

“I’m sure of it,” Jack said. “I’ve got people
who’ve been dreaming of a challenge like this.”

“Let’s do it,” Al said. “You and Jack work out
how you want to coordinate the design work on the new starship and plans for
the support you’ll need. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

After Al and Jack said goodbye, David felt he
had dodged a bullet.

▼

Dr. Albert Masters told Jack, “That went well.
We need to keep General Archer on board. As he has so ably demonstrated, his
continued support is vital to the future of NASA.”

The first available appointment with Lauren
Dobson’s office was on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Claire and David
explained their case, and Khyla Sims, one of Ms. Dobson’s assistants, said, “I
wish you had come to us earlier. We’re heavily booked, and we may not be able
to take your case.”

Claire was alarmed. “Isn’t there something that
can be done? We’ll be happy to pay extra, whatever’s needed.”

The attorney shook her head. “I’m sorry. Ms.
Dobson’s a public attorney. We’re paid by a government fund and don’t accept
fees.”

David frowned. “Where does the government get
the money to do that?”

“If a public attorney wins a case,” Ms. Sims
said, “the loser pays the U.S. Legal Fund for court costs, the public
attorney’s fee, and the judgment. If a public attorney loses a case, the
attorney is paid by the fund, which then charges the client based on their
ability to pay. That way everybody has access to legal representation.

“I’ll give Ms. Dobson my research and a summary
of your case. If she decides not to accept it, we’ll let you know promptly so
you can find an attorney in time. There are many very good for-fee attorneys
and other public attorneys who don’t have such long waiting times.”

▼

Claire answered Khyla Sims’ call the next
morning. “Ms. Dobson will take your case. She said it has issues she would like
to pursue.”

▼

David challenged Claire to a dogfight in the
maneuvering control simulators. As before, they took off their communications
devices in the bedroom.

After they were soundproofed in the simulators,
he said, “You can accompany me on a test flight in February. That way, it won’t
look suspicious when you go with me after the trial.

“We can launch with full fuel and supplies and
be in space each day while the judges are actively considering our case. If
they decide against us, we’ll ask NASA to launch the settlers, join the two
ships, and keep going to Bedford.”

“Okay,” Claire said. “But how will we know when
they are considering our case and what the decision is?”

“We’ll ask Elf. It’s normal for people to be concerned
about their cases.”

“What if the settlers don’t launch?” she asked.

“Then we’ll go it alone. I’ve ordered Bec
Corporation to start building the next tractor as soon as the one they’re
building now is delivered. It can bring the settlers a few months later. If we
leave, Bec will continue to build a continuous stream of tractors and housing
units, so every few months we’ll have a new batch of settlers for company on
Bedford.”

 “Can they force us to come back?” she asked.

“We’re building the new ship with our money.
Legally, it’s ours. If anybody tries to stop us, we shut off communications and
continue acceleration
.
I don’t think we could be stopped without deadly
force. I can’t imagine this society would allow that.”

“It sounds like a good plan, David, but I hope
we don’t have to go.”

“Me, too.”

“What’re we going to call the new starship?”

“I don’t know. A lot of good names have been
taken,” he said. “Any ideas?”

“It’ll be flying to Bedford. How about
Michael
?”

“Starship
Michael
it is.”

▼

On January 5
^th
, one of Ms. Dobson’s
senior legal assistants interviewed Claire and David extensively. “Dr. Archer,”
RandiLeigh Jones asked, “do you still plan to return to medicine?”

Claire shook her head. “Our PLC interview was
only five days after we returned to Earth, and I still had my twenty-first
century mindset. Since then, I’ve learned there’s no shortage of doctors. I
plan to become a full-time mother until after my children are grown.”

“General Archer,” Ms. Jones asked, “other than
your duties as an Air Force pilot, have you ever been in an altercation?”

“Yes,” David answered.

“What were the circumstances?”

“When I was in elementary school, bullies were punching
a smaller kid on the school playground, and I stepped in. After a few punches,
the bullies ran away. At another time, Claire was being assaulted. I stopped
her assailant before the police arrived.”

“What were the consequences?”

“I was suspended from elementary school for three
days. The man that assaulted Claire was sentenced to life in prison without
parole on another charge.”

“If you had it to do over again, would you do
the same?”

“Yes.”

▼

The interview with Lauren Dobson on January 24
^th
was short. She said she intended to introduce their military decorations in her
filing and during the hearing.

“Do you think that’s wise?” Claire asked. “This
is a peaceful society, and the story about how David got his Air Force Cross
may be considered gory.”

“I think your medals reflect courage and
strength of character and it’s best to address potentially negative issues head
on.”

On January 29, 2554, Ms. Dobson filed a motion
to dismiss the appeal on the grounds of unlawful discrimination by Bernice
Moore and Jason Kim. A hearing on the motion was scheduled for Tuesday,
February 18, 2554.

▼

Michael
’s
tractor section
was ready for
inspection and test flights on Monday, February 10
^th
.

David flew one of their taxis with manual flight
controls over the Mojave Desert with Claire in a front passenger seat looking
over his shoulder. A gleaming tower in the distance grew into what resembled a
shining skyscraper as they approached.

The most prominent feature was two dozen pairs
of massive, noise-canceling engines mounted around the top. To defend the
settlers from attack, a laser cannon in a swivel mount between each engine pair
drew power from both engines. Each of the 24 cannons could independently swivel
to target more than half of the space around the ship: simultaneous fire from at
least 13 laser cannons could target any point around the ship.

David hovered close to top of the ship and
circled it while he carefully inspected the engines and cannons. Then he
inspected the rest of the ship as he spiraled down around it to land.

The inspection ended with Claire and David at the
shirtsleeve command console where visual images of everything on the monitors were
razor sharp.

David said, “We could have brought back much
more data with this system.”

“But would our data storage have been able to
hold it all?”

“The new data storage could handle it.” He
grinned. “Maybe we should do it all over again.”

She said, “Have a nice trip.”

▼

David finished
Michael
’s test flights in
time for Claire to fly it on the day before the hearing. She enjoyed flying the
powerful new ship, but the thought of leaving Earth again made her sad.

Claire and David met with Lauren Dobson briefly
before the hearing. She told them that eight depositions supporting their
license had been entered into the record. Five were from experts in the field
of child welfare. Three were from other members of the Malibu Parent Licensing
Committee.

Claire asked, “How many depositions have been
entered supporting the appeal?”

Ms. Dobson said, “One from Bernice Moore, and
one from Jason Kim.”

▼

The courtroom was small and resembled a 21
^st
-century
courtroom. The only occupants were Bernice Moore, Jason Kim, their attorney, Claire,
David, Lauren Dobson, and a police robot standing off to the side of the
courtroom.

Three judges entered and took their seats.
Chief Judge Jessica DeMille called the hearing to order and called the case of
Moore and Kim vs. the Malibu Parent Licensing Committee.

Both attorneys made opening statements, and then
Moore and Kims’ attorney called Bernice Moore to the witness stand. Jason Kim
was escorted to a witness waiting room so he would not hear or be influenced by
Bernice’s testimony.

In response to her attorney’s questions, Ms.
Moore testified that she did not believe Claire and David were capable of being
good parents: they came from a brutal culture and could not rise above what was
so deeply ingrained in their characters. And she did not believe that Doctor
Archer would be willing to give up a career in medicine to be there for her
child.

Lauren Dobson cross-examined. “Ms. Moore, do
you have any information about Doctor Claire Archer and General David Archer
other than the fact that they are 21st century Americans?”

“Certainly. I learned about them in history
class in school, I’ve seen several movies about them, and I watched a two-hour
special on TV about them last year.”

“What do you know about them?” Lauren asked.

“They are brave and rich celebrities who are
undoubtedly typical of the brutal society from which they came. Both were
officers in military service sworn to defend America with violence. David
Archer has a history of violence. He’s a killer of men and animals. They can’t
throw off everything they’ve been taught like a snake sheds its skin.”

Lauren said, “We ask the court to note that what
Ms. Moore said is her opinion and some of it is in dispute here. Her opinion is
important overall, however, because it reveals her state of mind.”

Judge Jessica DeMille said, “So noted.”

Then Lauren asked Bernice, “Despite what they
said before the Malibu Parent Licensing Committee?”

“Yes,” Bernice answered. “People naturally want
to present their best case when being questioned by authority. We expect them
to dissemble.”

“During the PLC’s deliberations about the
Archers’ application, you said, ‘We’re not here to mollycoddle celebrities.’
What did you mean by that?” Lauren asked.

“I meant we weren’t there to give them a
license just because they’re celebrities. Just because they’re famous and rich
and have achieved great things doesn’t mean they would be good parents. The
fact that they came from culture where violence was common and all but
worshiped is more relevant.”

“You said David Archer killed animals. When did
he do that?”

“I watched a movie that said he hunted deer
with a bow when he was a teenager.”

“Did the movie say why he hunted deer?”

“I believe it said to help feed the people at
the ranch where he grew up.”

“Do you eat meat, Ms. Moore?”

“I eat manufactured meat, not killed meat.”

“Did manufactured meat exist in the
twenty-first century?” Lauren asked.

“If I remember correctly, it was invented about
the year twenty-sixty.”

 “While Cougar Flight was in space?” Lauren
asked.

“Yes,” Bernice replied. “They had been gone
about ten years by then.”

“Did you ask Elf to do any special research
into the backgrounds of Claire and David Archer before their PLC hearing?”

“No. I felt I knew enough about them.”

“Yet, did you not say to the other members of
the Malibu PLC during discussion of their application, ‘We just don’t have
enough information to be able to make a sound judgment?’”

“Yes. That was in reference to their family
backgrounds and histories. Elf has always been able to give us details about
the family histories of our applicants.”

“Is it fair to say that you did not feel you
had enough information to vote
for
their application, but you’re certain
you have enough information to vote
against
their application and file
an appeal?”

Bernice said, “All of the information I have
relative to them being good parents is negative. Twenty-first-century America
was a brutal culture with a high rate of violent crime. It had the death penalty
and the highest incarceration rate in the world: with only about 5% of the
world’s population, it had more than 20% of the world’s prisoners. It used its
military might to attack smaller nations and try to bend them to its will. Its
entertainment was saturated with violence and glorification of violence.”

Lauren asked, “Did you inquire about the
psychological fitness profiles prepared by NASA for Claire and David Archer?”

“No, but if I may point out, the requirements
to fly a spaceship and the requirements to be a good parent are two different
things.”

“Do you know about Doctor Claire Archer’s
Distinguished Flying Cross?”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“It’s a medal awarded for
heroism or
extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight,”
Lauren said. “We included the official citation for Doctor
Archer’s DFC in our filing. Display the citation, Elf.”

The citation appeared on the court’s display
screens. Lauren said, “This citation states that Doctor Archer risked her life
to be lowered from a hovering helicopter at night in turbulence to a train
wreck surrounded by fire. It also says she was burned as she worked through the
night in freezing weather to provide medical care for injured people. Is this a
satisfactory explanation, Ms. Moore?”

“Yes.”

“Does that sound like the behavior of a brutal
person?”

“No.”

“Does that sound like the behavior of a person
who cares enough about others to risk her life to help them?”

Bernice hesitated, and then said, “Yes.”

“Did you know about General Archer’s medals?”

“I know he has some,” Bernice answered.

Lauren told Elf to display the citation for
David’s Distinguished Flying Cross. “This citation states that then Lieutenant
David Archer was assigned to provide fighter escort protection for Air Force
One with the President on board. When a missile was fired at the plane,
Lieutenant Archer put his plane and his life between the missile and President.
He led the missile away and caused it to crash with no damage to any person or
property. Is this a satisfactory explanation?”

Bernice said, “Yes, that’s satisfactory.”

“Does that behavior by David Archer sound like
the behavior of a killer, Ms. Moore?”

“No.”

Lauren addressed the court. “To avoid confusion
with numbers, it should be noted here that David Archer shot down two enemy airplanes
on missions before the mission I will be discussing. His United States Air
Force records credit him with shooting down a total of nineteen enemy
airplanes.”

The chief judge nodded and said, “So noted.”

Lauren asked for David’s Air Force Cross
citation to be displayed. Then she said, “This citation states that Captain
Archer was assigned to combat air patrol over Africa. His flight was part of an
effort, sanctioned by the United Nations, to try to prevent genocide. Captain
Archer placed his life at extreme risk to destroy sixteen fighter-bombers
heavily laden with bombs on their way to kill and maim men, women, and children
in a refugee camp. He also shot down a seventeenth fighter plane that attacked
him with missiles and cannon fire.

“Do you wish to read the citation, Ms. Moore,
or is this a satisfactory explanation?”

“Does that mean he shot down seventeen
airplanes in one day?” Bernice asked.

“Yes. On one flight, in one day.”

“That sounds like a lot. Has the number been
verified?”

“Yes,” Lauren said. “General Archer was
originally recommended for the Medal of Honor, and the information has been
redundantly verified. We can ask for a recess if you wish to review the
documentation.”

“That won’t be necessary. I accept your
explanation. Why didn’t he get the Medal of Honor?”

“From what I understand, he was not injured and
his plane was not damaged.”

“He must have been an excellent pilot.”

Lauren asked, “Under the circumstances that
David Archer faced, can you think of any way that he could have stopped the
slaughter of children without destroying the fighter bombers?”

Bernice was thoughtful before she shook her
head. “No, but I’m not an expert.”

“Isn’t part of your job, your duty, to protect
children, Ms. Moore?”

Bernice Moore straightened in the witness
chair. With a determined expression, she said, Absolutely, and I take my duty
very seriously.”

 “Ms. Moore, if it was absolutely necessary and
there was no reasonable alternative, would you kill to save a child’s life?”
Lauren asked.

Bernice appeared to be taken aback, and she did
not answer.

After a minute, Lauren addressed Judge DeMille,
“We ask that the record show that the witness is mute. We have no further questions
for this witness.”

Bernice Moore appeared to be shaken as she left
the witness stand. After she was escorted from the courtroom, Jason Kim’s
attorney called him back into the courtroom and called him as a witness.

Kim’s testimony was similar to Bernice Moore’s,
and Lauren cross examined. At the end, he said, “I don’t think I would know how
to kill anybody.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney rested their case.

Lauren called Claire to the witness stand and
asked questions that allowed her to explain that she loved children and wanted
a family. Then Lauren asked, “Would you be willing to give up the practice of
medicine to be a mother?”

“Yes, I plan to do that. Since I’ve been back
on Earth, I’ve learned I’m not needed as a physician here as much as I was in
the twenty-first century. My children will need me. I intend to be there for
them and be the best mother I can be.”

“Children?” Lauren asked.

“Yes. I would like to have at least three.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney had no questions for Claire.

Lauren called David as a witness. Her questions
led him to explain why he wanted a family. Then she asked, “Why did you want to
be a fighter pilot?”

“I love to fly,” David answered, “and flying
fighters is the most challenging. It also gave me the opportunity to serve my
country.”

“Did you ever expect to be rich?” Lauren said.

He shook his head, “I hoped I’d be able to live
and retire with an adequate income. But I never expected to be rich.”

Lauren asked, “So you thought serving your
country would be a sacrifice?”

He shook his head. “No. I made enough money,
and it was satisfying to know I was doing a job for my country that needed to
be done.”

“Why did you want to be an astronaut?”

“It was another way I could fly and serve my
country.”

“Was it better than flying fighters?” Lauren
asked.

“Yes, in one way,” he answered.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“I don’t like killing. Astronauts aren’t
required to do that.”

After a pause, Lauren said, “Your witness.”

The attorney for Bernice Moore, Jason Kim,
stood up behind his table and said, “General Archer, do you intend to hunt deer
or other animals?”

“No, I do not.”

▼

At the end of Lauren Dobson’s closing argument,
she said, “Elements of the preamble to the Constitution apply directly to this
case: ‘Justice is the absence of injustice.’ And ‘The government of the United
States shall eliminate and prevent crime and injustice.’

“The evidence presented to this court clearly
shows that the plaintiffs’ actions constitute prejudice and discrimination.
They assumed that because Doctor Claire Archer and General David Archer came
from a violent culture that they were also violent. And once the plaintiffs had
made their false assumptions, they refused to consider other evidence.

“On behalf of justice, I ask that the appeal of
Ms. Moore and Mr. Kim be denied.”

▼

Claire flew
Michael
for the second time
on the day after the hearing. The seat in her maneuvering control compartment
had been adjusted so she could sit comfortably. She accelerated at a steady one
g
toward the planet Bedford while David relaxed in his maneuvering
control compartment. His eyes were closed, he had been quiet for some time, and
she believed he was asleep.