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| Lpnet1-100 The Lost Planet Chapter 1: Accident with an Asteroid Chapter 2: Stranded in Space Chapter 3: Survival in Solitude Chapter 4: The Ancient Temple Chapter 5: A Virtual Reality Experience Chapter 6: The Crystal Records Chapter 7: The Knowledge of Tranqua Chapter 8: The Meta- Hydrovector Chapter 9: The Long, Hard Work Chapter 10: The Project Complete Chapter 11: The Crystal Fantasy Chapter 12: The Key of Vitreos |
The
Lost Planet
Chapter
20: Dealing with the AMV
September 8, 2088: During supper, we discussed our plans to erect a temple for Tranqua on Callisto. "You'll need a ship to get there," Nezmot said. "I was hoping you could help us with that." "Sure," she agreed, "but it'll cost us. Whether we buy or borrow, it'll cost us. I'm not sure a few precious gemstones would be enough." "Well," I said, "we'll keep it in mind. One way or another, that temple has to be built. I'm convinced it is the only way to help preserve the lost planet." "The lost planet,' she echoed thoughtfully. We completed our meal and Nezmot left us, to get some sleep. T'rwani and I sat in the lounge, sharing a vision of the lost planet Tranqua in silence. She fell asleep and I carried her to her room. I was not tired, and decided to go outside for a while. I secured the apartment, put on the suit', and went to the security console. I put on the helmet, shut off all unnecessary life-support systems in the temple, including the batheopath. A red light inside the apartment airlock made the occupants alert to the situation, so that they would know that it wasn't safe to go out without a pressure-suit. I turned the lights low and left through the airlock. I flew out across the cold stone for almost a kilometer, to one of my favorite spots. There I had cut a seat in the stone. It was a perfect place for simple mind-wandering observations. After 2 years on the asteroid, which I had come to refer to as Amplexa, I began to realize the extremity of my change from a mere space-pilot into an evolved form of 'spaceman'. I never thought I'd ever feel comfortable, on the outside, confined within a spacesuit. But the Tranquan suit was much more than a Terran spacesuit, much, much more. But it wasn't just the suit that made me comfortable in outer space, it was the whole experience. I sat there in my stone seat, wheeling about space, thinking back as my eyes admired the dimly lit, grey islands of stone all about in the dark, spatial void. It was just after the crash, when I had no choice but to wear the spacesuit for several days, while working on the airlock cave. At that time, I grew so fatigued; I feared I might do something stupid and accidental, such as leave the laser-torch on and burn a hole in the suit, which could have caused my sudden death. I was too anxious to complete the air-tight cave once I resolved to do it, and I had to remind myself not to go too fast even though I was working against a deadline. When I succeeded in completing the air-tight cave, removing the helmet and breathing the fresh air in the open space was one of the greatest relieves of my lifetime. But I never knew, at that point, where it would all lead. I secured a foothold, but felt led down about what seemed to be my inevitable fate. I touched the hands of death, but somehow survived, and learned the skills of a survivor. The first rule for survival was 'necessity is the mother of invention'. I had a desperate need to live and did what I had to. I worked long and hard and evolved, into what I began to realize as a true 21st century spaceman. The step into that reality was greatly supported by the Tranquan spacesuit. It wasn't as bulky and uncomfortable as the terran spacesuit; nor was the jetpak. Not only was it lighter and more comfortable, it was more durable, more versatile, and capable of much greater action and speed. The terran suit had saved my life, and I respected it for that, but the Tranquan suit was better in every way, more evolved. It was more of a 21st century spacesuit, and it fit so well amongst the asteroids, as if it were made for it. I called it stone-dancing. It was similar to island hopping, with an added extra dimension. Nezmot agreed to help us connect up with Callisto at breakfast in the lounge. "I'll even transport some artifacts," she said, "to make it all official." "Good deal," I said, "but what about your position with the AMV?" "I don't think it'll do any harm," she admitted. "In fact, it's really all in the line of my job. I am assigned to locate deposits of valuable stone, and that is what I am doing. It's just a bit on the exotic side." She laughed shortly, and went on. "The scienteks on Mars are going to work, for sure. Did you realize the most of them never accepted the theory of a 5th terrestrial planet? The only one that did accept it is bound for glory now." "Whoever it is," I said, "will want to visit the Tranquan temple on Callisto." "You really intend to build a temple?" "Yes, Captain," I said, and pressed the point. "You see, I believe that a temple is the only way to safeguard the knowledge of Tranqua." "Are you planning to send the crystal-records there?" "No, not at this time. The crystal-records stay here. But the temple on Callisto will act as a receptacle of the knowledge. If it is passed on, the passing will occur there." "I see," she said. "There's one catch. I don't see how I can avoid going to Mars first. Not that I foresee it making a difference. I'm sure that I can pass it off to a Jupiter-bound vessel." "Hell," I said with sudden doubt, "I forgot about that rigid code of honor the space- program puts in its officers. If it were me, with this kind of hot merchandise, I'd find a way of getting it straight to Jupiter." "I'm sorry, Querzo," she said, "but that would be impossible. My orders are to return directly to Mars, after the exploratory is complete." "But you've got the AMV100," I argued. "You expect too much," she said, with uncertainty. "My orders are to make excursions in the asteroid-belt, not to the Moons of Jupiter." At that point, T'rwani entered with the food. As she set the tray down on the table and passed the food to us, I could sense her agitation. She sat down beside me and almost spilled the coffee. "I do not think," she said, "it would be wise to take the artifacts to Mars. There, they would be lost." Nezmot didn't know what to say and just drank her coffee with the thought. "I agree with T'rwani," I said. "I'm sorry, but if you're planning to take the artifacts to Mars, then we can't do business. On this point, there must be no mistake." At that, we ate in silence, for a few minutes. Finally, Nezmot spoke. "Now just a minute," she said, "don't tell me I can't bring some evidence back to support this 'theory' about a 5th terrestrial planet. Querzo, you've got to give me something, or they'll think I made the whole thing up during an episode of puzzlexia or something." I thought about that for a minute. "She's right, T'rwani," I admitted. "We've got to give her a couple of artifacts, to substantiate the claim and secure Amplexa." T'rwani nodded reluctantly, and said, "I will find something for Mars, after breakfast." Nevertheless, Nezmot was somewhat disappointed by our attitude toward Mars, unable to feel the emotion that we felt from our experiences with the Tranquan crystal- records. I, myself, was somewhat bitter. I had been stupid to place so much trust in the good Captain, when it was obvious now that her loyalties went to her station with Mars. "I can see," she said, "that you are disappointed, Mr. Querzo. But you must realize the position I am in. Since you have been lost in the ring of stones, the argument over mining rites in the belt has worsened." "Huh?" I was taken off guard. "I'd forgotten the state of affairs. Are you saying there may be a war?" "Unfortunately," Nezmot affirmed. "Europa thinks Mars is being selfish. I suppose it can look that way from the frontier. Mars is simply more capable of proper mining operations. Europa has nothing compared to the AMV." "So Mars can just take it all," I said, "and force the Jovian colonies to pay for it?" "I don't make the rules," Nezmot said, in defense. "But if I don't play by them, I lose my stand with the AMV. I'm sorry, Mr. Querzo. What would you do?" |
Chapter 14: The Asteroid Miners Chapter 15: T’rwani and Tranqua Chapter 16: The Europan Pirates Chapter 17: A Clone for a Companion Chapter 18: A Skirmish in Space Chapter 19: The Story of Tranqua Chapter 20: Dealing with the AMV Chapter 21: The Tranquan Transverser Chapter 22: The Trouble with Martians Chapter 23: The Martian Consulate, Zykura Chapter 24: Hexnot, Mars Chapter 25: The Final Cataclysm |
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