Read Online Star One: Tycho City Survival by Raymond L. Weil - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Raymond L. Weil
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told him. It was too early to tell how
this would affect all of them. “My sister Jean is at Stanford, attending
college. We all have family on Earth.” He turned until he was facing Mase. “How
is this going to affect them?”
“We don’t know
yet,” replied Mase, understanding Anthony’s concern. He had the same worry. “We
will know more once we get the information back from Star One’s computers.”
The two stood
outside for several more minutes discussing the neutron star and what it might
mean to Farside, Tycho City, and their families on Earth. Both knew the
following months could be very difficult for everyone.
-
Several hours
later, Mase was back in his office. Pierre LaRann had confirmed his worst
fears. The neutron star was coming toward them at a velocity of over three
hundred and sixty miles per second. It was going to intersect the solar system just
outside the orbit of Uranus if the analysis from Star One’s computer core was
accurate. At that range, the entire solar system would be adversely affected. Earth
would probably become uninhabitable and experience a major shift in its orbit.
Mase leaned
back in his chair and thought about what he had to do next. It was difficult to
think clearly as the enormity of this discovery weighed on him, knowing what
its possible ramifications could be. This discovery was overwhelming, and he
felt as if there was a big emptiness growing inside of him. It was as if part
of his world had just vanished.
Mase knew that
the next thing he needed to do was to contact Commander Larson on Star One and
explain to him that he was sending him an important packet of information on
the next shuttle. Steve should receive the information within twenty-four hours.
Mase didn’t want to risk sending the information over a com channel as it might
raise some suspicions. It might also be picked up from Earth.
However, he would
ask Steve to look over the data they had sent Star One’s computer earlier. It
wasn’t nearly as extensive as what LaRann was putting together now. At least it
would give Steve an idea of what they were facing. With Steve’s help, the two
of them could then decide on what their next steps needed to be.
Mase looked
over at the far wall of his office at several large paintings. One showed the
desolate lunar landscape in Tycho Crater with the central massif towering above
the ground. The other showed a lunar shuttle blasting off into orbit. He
recalled his earlier days on the Moon, when they were building Tycho City. They had lived in small, crowded shelters out on the surface. They had
accomplished so much, and now they might lose everything.
The door to
his office opened, and Linda stepped through. “I have Commander Larson on line
one, Sir.”
Linda wondered
just what had happened at Farside. Mase had been unusually quiet since he’d
returned. Linda had a bad feeling that Mase was extremely upset about
something. He just wasn’t acting right, so she knew something was definitely
wrong.
“Thank you,
Linda,” replied Mase, trying his best to keep his voice calm. He didn’t want to
worry Linda, at least not yet. He waited until Linda stepped back out and then,
reaching down, he pressed the button on the com panel on his desk.
“Hello,
Steve,” Mase spoke as he gathered his thoughts. This was going to be a
difficult conversation. A second passed and then Steve replied. Star One was
37,000 miles from the Moon and the communications delay was slight. “I got your
message and it sounded serious. Does this have anything to do with the data
that Farside ran through our computer core a few hours ago?”
“Yes, it does.
I need you to change your com system to encryption Beta One so I can explain
what’s going on.”
Mase and Steve
had set up several secure lines of communication in the event that they ever
needed to communicate without anyone being able to overhear. This prevented
their watchdogs on Earth, such as Senator Farley who was constantly a
this would affect all of them. “My sister Jean is at Stanford, attending
college. We all have family on Earth.” He turned until he was facing Mase. “How
is this going to affect them?”
“We don’t know
yet,” replied Mase, understanding Anthony’s concern. He had the same worry. “We
will know more once we get the information back from Star One’s computers.”
The two stood
outside for several more minutes discussing the neutron star and what it might
mean to Farside, Tycho City, and their families on Earth. Both knew the
following months could be very difficult for everyone.
-
Several hours
later, Mase was back in his office. Pierre LaRann had confirmed his worst
fears. The neutron star was coming toward them at a velocity of over three
hundred and sixty miles per second. It was going to intersect the solar system just
outside the orbit of Uranus if the analysis from Star One’s computer core was
accurate. At that range, the entire solar system would be adversely affected. Earth
would probably become uninhabitable and experience a major shift in its orbit.
Mase leaned
back in his chair and thought about what he had to do next. It was difficult to
think clearly as the enormity of this discovery weighed on him, knowing what
its possible ramifications could be. This discovery was overwhelming, and he
felt as if there was a big emptiness growing inside of him. It was as if part
of his world had just vanished.
Mase knew that
the next thing he needed to do was to contact Commander Larson on Star One and
explain to him that he was sending him an important packet of information on
the next shuttle. Steve should receive the information within twenty-four hours.
Mase didn’t want to risk sending the information over a com channel as it might
raise some suspicions. It might also be picked up from Earth.
However, he would
ask Steve to look over the data they had sent Star One’s computer earlier. It
wasn’t nearly as extensive as what LaRann was putting together now. At least it
would give Steve an idea of what they were facing. With Steve’s help, the two
of them could then decide on what their next steps needed to be.
Mase looked
over at the far wall of his office at several large paintings. One showed the
desolate lunar landscape in Tycho Crater with the central massif towering above
the ground. The other showed a lunar shuttle blasting off into orbit. He
recalled his earlier days on the Moon, when they were building Tycho City. They had lived in small, crowded shelters out on the surface. They had
accomplished so much, and now they might lose everything.
The door to
his office opened, and Linda stepped through. “I have Commander Larson on line
one, Sir.”
Linda wondered
just what had happened at Farside. Mase had been unusually quiet since he’d
returned. Linda had a bad feeling that Mase was extremely upset about
something. He just wasn’t acting right, so she knew something was definitely
wrong.
“Thank you,
Linda,” replied Mase, trying his best to keep his voice calm. He didn’t want to
worry Linda, at least not yet. He waited until Linda stepped back out and then,
reaching down, he pressed the button on the com panel on his desk.
“Hello,
Steve,” Mase spoke as he gathered his thoughts. This was going to be a
difficult conversation. A second passed and then Steve replied. Star One was
37,000 miles from the Moon and the communications delay was slight. “I got your
message and it sounded serious. Does this have anything to do with the data
that Farside ran through our computer core a few hours ago?”
“Yes, it does.
I need you to change your com system to encryption Beta One so I can explain
what’s going on.”
Mase and Steve
had set up several secure lines of communication in the event that they ever
needed to communicate without anyone being able to overhear. This prevented
their watchdogs on Earth, such as Senator Farley who was constantly a
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