The Final Act: Book III: The Settlement Chronicals Read online

  THE FINAL ACT

  Book III: Settlement Chronicals

  By: W. J. Rydrych

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in any form or by any mechanical or electrical means including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, in whole or in part in any form, and in any case without the written permission of the author and publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Parts of this work were previously published, in whole or in part, under the title Settlement 2127, © 2015 by W. J. Rydrych

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  BOOK III: THE FINAL ACT

  Book 1II: Prologue

  Chapter 1: Preparation for War

  Chapter 2: Survivors

  Chapter 3: Moon Base, Alpha 2

  Chapter 4: Kraa Alliance

  Chapter 5: Battle for Alpha 2

  Chapter 6: Storm’s End

  Chapter 7: Moving On

  Chapter 8: Contact

  Chapter 9: Beta 3

  Chapter 10: Blockade

  Chapter 11: Stalemate

  Chapter 12: Cloudy Future

  Chapter 13: Armageddon

  Book III: Epilogue

  PROLOGUE - BOOK III

  Since dispatch of the last mission Earth had entered a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity; to the more adventurous a 'monumental' dullness had settled over the Earth. In 2168, when word of the Gath invasion of Alpha 2 reached Earth, 50 Earth years had elapsed since launch of the first colonization expedition, and 28 Earth years since dispatch of the relief mission; and during those years stories of the new frontier of space fell on fertile ground.

  Alpha 2 created a new 'genre' of heroes and villains populated with real-life personalities. The Kraa, personification of evil, Barco the Torgai shaman, who became a cult figure at the center of a 'pseudo-religion', Eric Moffa, a super hero whose exploits were legion, and Jeff Armstrong, who was more of the Torgai than human culture, became the idol of the young, the rebel against convention. During those years the generations that had grown up were unlike any before.

  By 2170 Earth had explored its own solar system and found it wanting. Robot operated mining operations on some of the larger asteroids provided much of the supply of rare metals exhausted on Earth, but at enormous expense. Only the installations on Earth's moon were self-sustaining.

  But in the sky above Earth things were different. In addition to smaller satellites, both manned and unmanned, now three large space stations orbited Earth with thousands of occupants, and another with additional thousands of occupants orbited the sun beyond Mars. The 'Near-Earth' Station, where the ships for the first two expeditions had been built and launched, continued in its low orbit; but now its mission had changed, and it had become what it was originally intended for; a development and science center funded partially by tourism.

  The second major satellite in Earth orbit, the massive Apollo Station, had only recently become operational. Located in geostationary orbit above Earth’s equator it was serviced by the newly completed space elevator anchored at the transshipment center at Isabella Island in the Galapagos, and secured at the other end by a massive counterweight station far above; the third major satellite orbiting Earth. In the future the Apollo Station would become the hub for space craft manufacturing and traffic between Earth and colonies or expeditions of exploration both within and outside the solar system. In addition, because of the presence of the space elevator it also served as a transshipment center for freight to and from installations and colonies throughout the solar system; and for Alpha 2 as well.

  The space elevator counterweight, a major space station in its own right, in addition to its manufacturing role, served as the terminus for freight from the Ceres station. The Ceres Station, in solar orbit far out in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, was a city in its own right. Privately owned by the Space Consortium, the international corporations that maintained a monopoly on space commerce, parts were leased by various governments, and the Alpha Foundation as well, as a base for missions to and from the small scientific colonies on the moons of the further out gas planets, including the small colony on Saturn's moon Titan, and in addition often served as a staging area for flights to Alpha 2.

  However, the primary purpose of the Ceres Station was supporting the many mining operations in the asteroid belt. Up to now mining the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter had been largely limited to the rarest minerals, such as the ‘rare earths’, but now, with completion of the space elevator, which would result in a significant transportation cost reduction, less valuable metals could also be economically mined. Further, mineral rich asteroids were being redirected to near Earth by towing to a conduit of the low energy Interplanetary Transport Network, and attachment of small solar powered engines and tracking systems to redirect them at various Lagrange points. While generations would pass before arrival, eventually they would begin arriving in a steady stream near Earth where they could be transported to the space elevator or its replacement. Major corporations such as the Omega Mining Consortium, thought in terms of centuries as well as years and decades.

  Other orbital stations provided special functions. For example, the space elevator 'counterweight station', that terminated the space elevator cables far above, in addition to serving as a terminus for freight from the Ceres Station, housed the staff and equipment to manufacture and extrude the carbon nanotube cables for attachment at Isabella Island, while other stations were dedicated to functions such as disposal of toxic waste and certain manufacturing processes deemed unsuitable for use on Earth. There were even a few small stations dedicated to residential use by the super-rich.

  More and more Earth was becoming a residential, business, light manufacturing, and governmental center, with heavy manufacturing and pollution-causing activities relegated to off-world locations.

  But humankind was looking for more, much more. New generations had grown up believing Earth's destiny lay outside its own solar system; the 'manifest destiny' cry of the 22nd century. And, with Alpha 2 Earth fancied itself to be beginning its first steps to a galactic empire.

  Even before word of the Gath invasion of Alpha 2 reached Earth the second step toward establishment of this galactic empire was in the implementation stage, a colonization mission to a habitable planet detected orbiting the primary star of the binary Sirius system. This planned mission to Sirius was large and well equipped compared to previous expeditions, and major advances in space technology had occurred in recent years with fallout from the Aberi archives. The result was a plan for immense, self-sustaining vehicles that could move ever outward, first to Sirius, with future generations colonizing even more distant systems. The day of multi-generational flights had arrived.

  When news of the Gath invasion reached Earth that was the environment that existed; a people preparing to move outward into space. The attack on their colonists was viewed not only as an affront, but recognized for what it was; if not a threat to Earth itself, at least a threat to its goal of expansion. But even if there had been no threat to Earth the mood on Earth would not allow abandonment of the colonists, a mood kept at a boiling point by the continued receipt of messages from the remnants of the colonists who had taken refuge on the islands of the Protean Archipelago. Even after these messages ceased the thirst for revenge lived on.

  With the knowledge the Gath could be a threat the need to develop planetary defenses was evident to all, but
the upswell of political pressure also called for relief of Alpha 2, to which was added the not inconsiderable influence of the Alpha Foundation. Development of defenses was one thing, and in that area work was started immediately. But sending a relief mission to Alpha Centauri was something else. Such a mission meant conflict with an alien, intelligent species, with the probable result of total war between the two worlds. The Earth force would be far from home, while the aliens would be near their homeworld. Further, the numbers and technology level of their opponent was unknown.

  But the prevailing opinion was war would, in any case, be inevitable now that each knew of the other's presence, would better be fought far from Earth, and retaking Alpha 2 was the only opportunity to acquire a base in the alien's solar system.

  The choice was clear; reroute the Sirius mission to Alpha Centauri. If successful, and circumstances allowed, then proceed on to Sirius.

  Even though the Sirius mission was well underway, with ships under construction, there were still many new issues to address. Changing from a mission of colonization to a mission of both colonization and war was not a simple thing. Ships under construction required redesign, additional ships had to be built, armament had to be designed and built, and the selection criteria for mission members changed. Not only the goals, but the scope of the mission had to be altered.

  But now Earth was not without help. In 2160 data from the Aberi archives had begun to arrive on Earth, and by the time news of the Gath invasion arrived in 2170 copies of much of the archive was available worldwide; and as a result considerable progress had been achieved deciphering the contents of many of the documents. Technologies were becoming available centuries earlier than they would otherwise have been.

  In the area of engines and fuel the archives had been a boon. Of particular note was development of smaller more efficient space drives capable of using both normal and dark matter. It also provided methods for harvesting these materials from interstellar space, freeing starships from the need for carrying the large fuel supplies of the earlier flights. Now, given sufficient time, fuel for both deceleration and subsequent acceleration phases could be collected during free-flight, cutting the massive fuel requirements of the earlier expeditions by more than two-thirds. This new designs, coupled with new manufacturing methods, allowed a mission to be self-sustaining.

  In a short time the organization and structure of the armada was proposed and adopted. Special attack ships similar to those of the Gath would be developed and transported to Alpha Centauri in massive mother-ships, and special shuttles for landing troops and supplies would be similarly transported.

  Unfortunately, woefully little was known of the Gath, and it was critical that their capabilities be understood. As the Gath had concealed themselves in the asteroid belt beyond Alpha 2, so we would conceal monitoring ships in the asteroid belt beyond Beta 3. They were confident small ships could reach the asteroid belt undetected, and once in place stay hidden. Fortunately appropriate ships could be adapted on short notice from those used for missions to the distant outer planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn and beyond. Two of these ships were outfitted with monitoring systems, and by late 2169 were dispatched to Alpha Centauri, where they would lay hidden, collecting data, and transmitting that data both to Earth and the approaching armada.

  But more was needed; keeping the Gath in the dark as to their plans until the last possible moment was critical. It would be futile to attempt to mask armada launch, or the flight itself; all could be detected with the instruments presumed available to the Gath. Deception was called for; make the Gath believe their home planet of Beta 3 itself was threatened, and at the last possible moment redirect the mission to Alpha 2.

  CHAPTER 1: Preparation for War

  (Earth Year 2172; Alpha Year 41): Both were lost in their own thoughts, apprehensive about the scheduled meeting as they waited for Admiral Lundblad and his staff to arrive. Captain Thomas Sixkiller sat at the long conference table watching Faud Honecker as he stood silently by the picture windows. He was glad Faud had to give the report, and not him. Only days before the final report of the review committee headed by Captain Honecker had been submitted for review by Admiral Lundblad, who had now ordered this briefing for his staff.

  Captain Faud Honecker watched the activity outside. Several kilometers distant the huge cradles on which the mothership construction was underway looked, because of their size, as if they were much nearer. Looking like specks moving between the station and the cradles were dozens of shuttle craft carrying personnel and materials to the work sites, with others hovering near or attached to the cradles themselves.

  These cradles were a new innovation designed to shorten the mission time; in addition to serving as a base for construction of the motherships. Outfitted with rocket engines before launch they would also serve as a ‘first stage’ to allow rapid acceleration for the initial hours of the flight before being detached; cutting nearly 6 months from the flight time to Alpha 2.

  From where Faud stood the cables supporting the space elevator could be seen in the distance as they glinted in the sun before disappearing into the clouds far far below; the smooth appearing strands interrupted by several ascending and descending crawlers. Opposite the station a number of freight crawlers had stopped and waited to be detached for unloading, with others waiting their turn to either be detached, or to move on upward to the ‘counterweight’ station far above.

  The concept of the space elevator had fascinated Faud ever since he first heard such a thing was possible by a ‘futurist’ lecturer while at the space academy. While only completed months before, and only trial runs were underway, the elevator provided the capability of reducing the enormous cost of transporting supplies and passengers to and from the Apollo station, or for transshipment to other stations or satellites. While dreamed of for generations, ever since proposed in the 20th century, only with the knowledge derived from the Aberi archives had fabrication of the hybrid nanotube cables become possible; knowledge of how to obtain the needed strength and a process for continuous extrusion from the 'counterweight' station far above.

  Once detached and unloaded near the stationary Apollo Station the crawlers would be attached to a different cable for return to the ground station at Isabella Island, loaded with inbound freight from the Ceres Station if available, or the empty crawler sent upward to the counterweight station before reattachment to another cable for its descent; either loaded with materials manufactured at the station itself or, if not needed, unloaded. Other crawlers waited their turn to either be detached and unloaded, or to pass through with their load to the counterweight station far above.

  While only used for freight during this initial stage, once the ‘delicate dance’ required to balance the total system to accurately maintain its center of balance near the Apollo Station was perfected, it would also be used for passengers as well.

  Faud felt the tension as he waited for the meeting to begin. At the sound of voices as a group of people entered the conference room he looked around, and walked over to the conference table to take a seat. The group was headed by Admiral Lundblad, accompanied by about a dozen members of his staff, including Captain Honecker's commanding officer, Vice Admiral Collins. Also in the group was Rocco Petri, vice president of the American Confederation.

  Senior Captain Faud Honecker, one of the bright young captains assigned to Fleet Centauri, was considered a 'comer' in the space force. Because of the time involved until the fleet would actively be in combat at Alpha Centauri a group of young officers were the candidates for fleet command positions during the assault, most in higher ranks being too old upon arrival for consideration. Both Captain Honecker and Captain Sixkiller were among that group.

  Captain Honecker was somewhat of an anomaly. With the competition for command positions it was rare to make captain and obtain command of a major interplanetary ship before age 40, and few senior captains, which went with command of a major interstellar ship, reached that position before th
e age of 50. Honecker had reached the rank of senior captain while still in his late 30s. Now just turned 40, Faud, was a dark, slim, intense man of medium height, whose Palestinian heritage had driven him to seek achievement in a world where most Palestinians were still a homeless people; and was also one of the youngest of the brain trust, as the group of ‘fast-tracked’ command candidates was referred to.

  Nothing had been easy for Faud Honecker. Denied access to higher education in his homeland he had immigrated to the European Federation at the age of 14, where he supported himself, and largely through self-education passed the entrance exams for the University. There his innate ability, coupled with hard work, brought him to the attention of his professors, one of whom had used his influence to obtain his admittance to the space academy.

  Once commissioned as a spaceforce officer Faud had thrown himself into his work, rising to command of his own ship by the time he was in his late twenties. From there he had been given increasingly challenging assignments, and risen to senior captain by the time he was 38; the youngest senior captain in the history of the space fleet. He had never married; the space fleet was his life.

  In his new assignment with Fleet Centauri for only slightly over six months, Faud had before had few direct dealings with the mission commander, Admiral Lundblad, but knew him well by reputation’; a reputation as a difficult man to work with. Up until now his only contacts had been during the bi-monthly briefings, and there Admiral Lundblad's reputation was borne out. He could be opinionated and abrasive.

  Admiral Sven-Olav Lundblad was a tall, slender, austere, seldom smiling disciplinarian, with little patience for those who weren't on top of their jobs. His thin, graying hair still retained most of its original blond, Scandinavian look, and his cold, light-blue eyes could unnerve anyone who didn't know him well. Just over 60 years of age, he had been the natural candidate to head the initial phase of the project, and was designated as the mission commander during the flight to Alpha Centauri. Since his age at the time of planned arrival would be over 70, the question of command of the final phase of the mission was left open.