Read Online Evacuation (The Seamus Chronicles Book 2) by K. D. McAdams - Free Book Online
Authors: K. D. McAdams
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Liam I can understand missing the morning meeting. He has trouble remembering to get dressed every day. Dad, on the other hand, should be here. The man loves routine. Not only that, he loves routine that lets him check in on everyone else. When Dad doesn’t do something every day, he usually doesn’t do it at all. I bet he’s out rounding Liam up and making sure he gets here.
“We spoke with the McMurdo team again yesterday. They have a cellular biologist and a medical doctor on the staff. Paddrick believes, and I agree, that these resources could be vital to determining if we are truly faced with the sore loser virus.” Mom looks around the table and seems to be gathering herself. “Paddrick will be learning to fly a C-130 transport in the coming days and plans to make a bid to rescue them from Antarctica in the next week.”
“We’ve seen a lot of pilots come through this airfield. You don’t go from piloting a single engine Cessna to taking a C-130 to Antarctica in the course of a few months. That is insane,” Jane says, shaking her head at what she seems to consider reckless behavior.
“I would guess the same is true about the timeline for building a space craft capable of faster-than-light travel and evacuating the planet.” Mom is not pleased with Jane’s misplaced concern. “Paddrick is placing the well-being of those in Antarctica and those of us here well ahead of his own. Rather than question his sanity, I think we should be grateful for his courage.”
“Of course you are right. I apologize for my comments. While this is all surreal, some of the choices we are faced with still catch me off guard,” Jane says, and looks down, repentant.
“Next up is a destination,” Mom continues. “It dawned on me last night that we need to go somewhere. Fallout shelters, submarines and floating around in space are not options because we cannot store enough water and oxygen. Where?” She is now alternating looks between Cassandra and me.
“I think that there are a number of different options,” Cassandra says, but she doesn’t know anything other than trying to be the one with all the answers. “The team here at Ames has identified at least seven suns similar to ours with something like 42 planets orbiting in the habitable zones across all seven.” Even though that was not her area of work, she is still very proud to be a part of ‘The Ames Team.’
“And when will you have chosen the one or ones we need to get to?” Mom is un-phased and unimpressed with Cassandra’s answer.
“Right now we are working on identifying the craft and determining its capabilities,” Cassandra says, fidgeting with her laptop.
“Sweetheart, you need to learn to say ‘I don’t know’ when you can’t answer a question.” Mom is condescending and not trying to hide it. “I want to make sure that we are not getting on a spaceship to race to the middle of nowhere at light speed.”
“Fine. We’ll work on it,” Cassandra says, glowering at me. I bet she thinks that I planted this seed in Mom’s head and convinced her to make it a big deal. The truth is that I didn’t, but I should remember that I have that option if I can’t get something done.
“Good. Next item is Action,” Mom says. “I know we have all been busy reading, thinking and planning. When are we going to see some action?”
“For us it’s tomorrow.” William speaks up with confidence. “We need the rest of the day to finish documenting the processes we’ll use. Tomorrow we’ll go through some limited testing and then get down to work.” Grace and Sofie are nodding.
“Okay.” Mom has typed a note into her laptop. “Leave the planet team?”
“I don’t know.” It’s my turn to speak up, and take a jab at Cassandra. “My best guess right now is about a week before you see anything physically here at Ames.” Jane and Cassandra look at me like I have two heads. I have no idea where I came up with that timeline or
Liam I can understand missing the morning meeting. He has trouble remembering to get dressed every day. Dad, on the other hand, should be here. The man loves routine. Not only that, he loves routine that lets him check in on everyone else. When Dad doesn’t do something every day, he usually doesn’t do it at all. I bet he’s out rounding Liam up and making sure he gets here.
“We spoke with the McMurdo team again yesterday. They have a cellular biologist and a medical doctor on the staff. Paddrick believes, and I agree, that these resources could be vital to determining if we are truly faced with the sore loser virus.” Mom looks around the table and seems to be gathering herself. “Paddrick will be learning to fly a C-130 transport in the coming days and plans to make a bid to rescue them from Antarctica in the next week.”
“We’ve seen a lot of pilots come through this airfield. You don’t go from piloting a single engine Cessna to taking a C-130 to Antarctica in the course of a few months. That is insane,” Jane says, shaking her head at what she seems to consider reckless behavior.
“I would guess the same is true about the timeline for building a space craft capable of faster-than-light travel and evacuating the planet.” Mom is not pleased with Jane’s misplaced concern. “Paddrick is placing the well-being of those in Antarctica and those of us here well ahead of his own. Rather than question his sanity, I think we should be grateful for his courage.”
“Of course you are right. I apologize for my comments. While this is all surreal, some of the choices we are faced with still catch me off guard,” Jane says, and looks down, repentant.
“Next up is a destination,” Mom continues. “It dawned on me last night that we need to go somewhere. Fallout shelters, submarines and floating around in space are not options because we cannot store enough water and oxygen. Where?” She is now alternating looks between Cassandra and me.
“I think that there are a number of different options,” Cassandra says, but she doesn’t know anything other than trying to be the one with all the answers. “The team here at Ames has identified at least seven suns similar to ours with something like 42 planets orbiting in the habitable zones across all seven.” Even though that was not her area of work, she is still very proud to be a part of ‘The Ames Team.’
“And when will you have chosen the one or ones we need to get to?” Mom is un-phased and unimpressed with Cassandra’s answer.
“Right now we are working on identifying the craft and determining its capabilities,” Cassandra says, fidgeting with her laptop.
“Sweetheart, you need to learn to say ‘I don’t know’ when you can’t answer a question.” Mom is condescending and not trying to hide it. “I want to make sure that we are not getting on a spaceship to race to the middle of nowhere at light speed.”
“Fine. We’ll work on it,” Cassandra says, glowering at me. I bet she thinks that I planted this seed in Mom’s head and convinced her to make it a big deal. The truth is that I didn’t, but I should remember that I have that option if I can’t get something done.
“Good. Next item is Action,” Mom says. “I know we have all been busy reading, thinking and planning. When are we going to see some action?”
“For us it’s tomorrow.” William speaks up with confidence. “We need the rest of the day to finish documenting the processes we’ll use. Tomorrow we’ll go through some limited testing and then get down to work.” Grace and Sofie are nodding.
“Okay.” Mom has typed a note into her laptop. “Leave the planet team?”
“I don’t know.” It’s my turn to speak up, and take a jab at Cassandra. “My best guess right now is about a week before you see anything physically here at Ames.” Jane and Cassandra look at me like I have two heads. I have no idea where I came up with that timeline or
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