The Solar Sea (11 page)

Just before the final sail was hoisted from the lunar surface, Pilot located a bottle of champagne. He showed it around to the crew in C-and-C. It was an expensive vintage, bottled in France about ten years before. “This is a very special bottle, for a very special occasion.” He left C-and-C, suited up, and went into the final steerage room.

Using a set of hex wrenches, he disconnected the mast bearing to enlarge the hole. With a carefully planned push, he shoved the bottle through the hole, then replaced the bearing. He looked through the bearing and watched the bottle of champagne drift slowly away, in lunar orbit like the
Aristarchus
itself. He signaled the shuttles on the Moon. “We're ready to attach the final sail."

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Launching the Aristarchus

Captain Jonathan Jefferson sat behind the controls of the last of
Aristarchus'
shuttles still on the Moon. Behind him sat the last five crewmembers to board the new ship. The astronomer—Dr. Nagamine—sat next to him. Jefferson pulled the joystick back and the shuttle rumbled forward, then lifted off the runway. It felt good to hold a joystick again—to actually fly a spaceship after ten years of sitting behind a desk, working at a computer and designing nanobots.

He pushed the joystick ever so slightly forward and rolled the shuttle to starboard, taking a long, low path around the Moon. The shuttle had big, wrap-around windows that allowed an excellent view for all of the passengers. He pulled the joystick back again, causing the shuttle to rise slightly, presenting the full Earth to the passengers. He smiled when he heard a collective gasp from behind and next to him.

Dr. Nagamine heaved a deep sigh. “We astronomers spend so much time trying to get away from the Earth and its atmosphere, that we don't always appreciate its beauty. I'm going to miss it.” He looked over at Jefferson. “What about you?"

"I will ... eventually,” he said.

"Earth is our home, Captain.” Nagamine narrowed his eyes. “Surely you above all know how precious it is."

"It is precious,” said Jefferson, “but I don't see it as the only place we humans can consider home. In recent years, I've been feeling a kind of homesickness for Mars. I'll be glad to see it again. I'm looking forward to seeing the other planets we're going to encounter.” He moved the joystick again, causing the shuttle to roll back toward the Moon. “There's an old song about being born under a wandering star, about never being able to settle down. I think something of that is part of every person."

"Perhaps.... “The astronomer nodded to himself as the Earth moved away and behind the shuttle.

Jefferson took the shuttle low over the Moon again, as close as he could to the Martin-Intelsoft factory without violating their space. Taking the shuttle up again, he heard another collective gasp from the shuttle's passengers.

"I think you have found your wandering star,” said Dr. Nagamine.

As he'd planned, the
Aristarchus
rose over the Moon's horizon in all of its glory. Spinning slowly, the ship could be described any number of ways. The ship's doctor who grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado saw a gleaming windmill. Next to him sat a mechanic, whose children had just finished college, and who was starting her dream retirement among the stars. She saw a pinwheel much like her children used to play with. Jonathan Jefferson saw a giant sunflower, carefully sculpted by a master craftsman.

Jefferson pushed the joystick over to the side, causing the shuttle to spin. For a moment, the
Aristarchus
appeared to stop, then spin backward. “What's going on?” asked the mechanic.

"Just getting used to flying this thing,” said Jefferson. He adjusted the controls and the
Aristarchus
seemed to stop spinning again. He applied a slight bit of reverse thrust, so that the shuttle held position relative to the mother ship.

Looking around, Dr. Nagamine noticed the Moon now appeared to be spinning around the shuttle and the
Aristarchus.
“What's happened? Aren't we going aboard the ship?"

Without answering, the captain turned on the intercom so they could hear words being spoken by Pilot from the central core of
Aristarchus
.

"Since childhood, most of us have been taught that it was Copernicus who discovered that the sun was the center of our solar system,” said Pilot. “However, long before Copernicus was born—in 280 BC—a Greek astronomer called Aristarchus of Samos made long, careful observations of the motions of the planets. By watching the Earth's shadow on the Moon during a lunar eclipse, he deduced that the sun must be much larger than the Earth and much further away. He reasoned that it was ridiculous for so large a body as the Sun to orbit such a small a body as the Earth, so he put the Sun at the center of the solar system. History largely forgot Aristarchus of Samos because most of his writings were burned with the great library at Alexandria in Egypt. We do not forget. It's for that reason...."

Just then, a small, green object drifted past the shuttle and smashed into the front of the
Aristarchus
sending up thousands of bright green stars and golden champagne globules. It was the bottle that Pilot had ejected through the sail bearing, sent on several orbits around the Moon to wind up in the ship's path.

"We christen thee
Aristarchus,"
finished Pilot. The impact of the champagne bottle was little more than a light thud, but the crystalline shards reflecting the sunlight provided a dazzling show. He floated in the central core of the ship, looking through the great window of the pilot's berth. Six others floated in the core with him, admiring the view from the great window. All applauded at the end of his speech. Others aboard the ship watched the champagne bottle strike from other forward windows. Leaning forward, Pilot saw the final shuttle, appearing motionless in front of the ship. He thought he could make out the forms of Jonathan Jefferson and Kurata Nagamine in the front seats. He gave them a thumbs up and thought he saw one in return from the captain.

"Permission to dock?” came Jefferson's voice from the console in front of Pilot.

"Permission granted,” said Pilot. “Welcome to your new home.” He looked behind, to the crewmembers with him. “Look sharp, the captain's coming aboard. To your duty stations."

The men and women behind him moved forward and shook the pilot's hand, then made their way to the decks below and the welcome tug of simulated gravity. With some regret, Pilot made his way below decks behind them.

Captain Jefferson climbed down the ladder into the command and control center of the
Aristarchus
and surveyed the deck. Lisa Henry sat at the communications station. Nebraska John O'Connell was at his post, watching the external sensors. Dr. Garcia, the ship's physician came in behind the captain and took his post at the ship's life support station. He'd been aboard before, but upon inspecting the ship's supplies, realized that there were a few essentials they needed before leaving Earth.

In the center of C-and-C sat Natalie Freeman, checking the ship's status on her own console. She looked up and saw Jefferson. “Captain on deck,” she said from long habit. Even though she knew that most of the people aboard the ship were not military personnel, she was still a bit disconcerted when no one stood at attention.

"As you were,” said Jefferson, out of similar habit.

Pilot climbed down the ladder and moved to his station at the front of the deck. He brought up a plot of the Earth/Moon system on the large display above his console. Over the top of the plot, he displayed the position of the
Aristarchus
. “I'd say a short burst from thrusters to give us some impulse in the right direction and we'll be on our way."

Jefferson stepped past Natalie Freeman and looked up at Pilot's display. Quietly, he asked a couple of questions, then looked over to the astrosciences station. “Mr. O'Connell, what's the status of lunar traffic?"

O'Connell turned around and checked the displays. “One shuttle has just departed the General Nanotech plant. Based on Pilot's orbital projection, it's well clear of our course."

"Ms. Henry,” called the captain. “Send a general notice to the lunar facilities with our projected course."

"Will do,” she said.

Jefferson smiled at Pilot. “You may fire your thrusters."

Pilot typed in a short command sequence on his computer console, then pushed one final button. There was a gentle nudge, nothing too auspicious. “We are on a hyperbolic orbit that will take us out of the Earth/Moon system in about two days. Then it's sit back and enjoy the six-month cruise to Mars."

Applause and cheers broke out. Neb stood and gave Pilot a high five while Jefferson, still getting used to the sloped deck, stepped to the command center and shook Natalie Freeman's hand. The captains heard more cheers echoing from the corridors as word spread through the ship.

"Very good, Pilot,” said Jefferson. He turned around and looked at the command crew. “Well done, everyone.” There were several murmured acknowledgments as everyone settled back into their seats. Dr. Garcia chewed his lip, looking worried that he'd forgotten something. Lisa Henry sat facing the pilot's console, watching the slow-moving image of the
Aristarchus
as it moved along the projected course. Neb O'Connell was tense, waiting for something to happen. After a few moments, he turned back to his console to check the sensory data.

Natalie Freeman stood up from the command seat. She indicated that the captain should sit. “You have the bridge,” she said.

"And you?” asked Jefferson, genuinely curious.

"I just want to check on a couple members of the crew."

Natalie Freeman left C-and-C and made her way toward the crew cabins. She came to Myra Lee's door and knocked. Just as she was about to knock again, she heard a muffled, “Come in,” from the other side of the door.

Inside, Natalie found Myra curled up on her bed. Her skin had a vaguely greenish tinge. Most of her baggage was scattered around the room, still packed.

"How are you doing, Myra?” Natalie pulled up a chair and sat by the biologist's side.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was seasick."

"You probably are motion sick.” Natalie unbuttoned one of the pockets on her coveralls and removed a pill. “Here. This will help."

Myra took the pill and swallowed it down without water.

"It's not easy to get used to this simulated gravity,” said Natalie. “I've spent my whole adult life on ships. Even in the worst storms, it's easier to tell which way is ‘down’ than it is in this can."

"That's true.” Myra sat up tentatively on the bed. “I feel like I'm in a giant fast-moving Ferris wheel."

"Well, that's more or less what you
are
on,” said Natalie with a motherly smile. “Are you sorry you came along on this trip? I'm afraid there's no turning back now."

"Bad time to ask.” Myra quickly covered her mouth as she burped. “But I am beginning to wonder what I'm going to do for six months. It seemed like an exciting adventure just a few days ago. All of a sudden, I realize just how long it'll be before we get to Mars. After that, it's another year to Jupiter."

"In some ways, you've got it easy,” said Natalie. “You've got the whale song translation project to keep you occupied en route."

Myra looked around the room. “Yeah, and I've got some unpacking to do. What about you?"

Natalie stood and stepped over to an empty bookshelf. She ran her finger along the top, then looked at it. “I have work that will keep me occupied. After all, I'm a Navy captain on assignment for the president. There's a lot of paperwork that goes with that."

"What kind of paperwork?"

"Progress reports, crew status, things like that.” She returned to the chair by the bedside. “Of course the president is concerned about security interests."

Myra sat up straighter. “You mean the president's taking this business of intelligent life at Saturn seriously?"

Natalie inclined her head, neither confirming nor denying Myra's statement, just noting it. “Aren't you taking it seriously?"

"Well, yes...” said Myra, reclining again, “but I can take something seriously and still be skeptical."

Natalie raised an eyebrow. “If you're skeptical, why did you agree to come along on this mission?"

Myra laughed lightly and shook her head. “You of all people should ask! Did you seriously consider turning away from this mission when you were asked to join?"

"I have to admit, I was concerned when I saw how young Pilot was.” Natalie shot a furtive glance toward the door. She remembered seeing his picture for the first time while sitting in the president's office and wondering how he could be old enough to have invented a spaceship. It was like seeing a reflection of her childhood fantasies. Her uncle had offered her an appointment to Annapolis. What if he'd given her the facilities to build her own spaceship? “I really thought he'd be older,” she whispered conspiratorially.

"His age gave me pause, too,” admitted Myra. “I also hated to leave the whales behind, but you know what? I really hope Joyce Harmer is right and the whales are indeed talking to someone at Saturn."

"Why's that?"

"If all the speculation is true—and I'm not saying it is—then it doesn't take much of a leap to say the people at Saturn know the whales’ normal language."

Natalie sat back, considered that, and finally nodded, not certain she agreed, but accepting the scientist's belief. “Keep me posted on what you learn."

"Of course,” said Myra.

With that, Natalie stood, patted the biologist on the shoulder, and told her to get some rest.

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Underway

The first two days of the
Aristarchus
mission were busy for the entire crew. There was a near-constant barrage of radio chatter from people wishing the ship well on its voyage. Lisa Henry spent her first few hours doing little more than fielding messages. Myra Lee began to feel better and came to C-and-C after Lisa had been on watch for about eight hours and took over. Though she wasn't completely happy about it, she was willing to tolerate the communications responsibilities in exchange for the time she'd spend doing science later.