A Calm Mind Read online

  George Eliot

  Aboard the Jenny

  “It is good to be home.”

  “Yes, Lucinda, it is good to be home.”

  “Helm, please confirm position.”

  “Captain, we are geosynchronous over Q'eqchi'. NASA and the Chinese have confirmed our position.”

  “Thank you, Ragnar, maintain position. Corb, we have made three trips to Farmore in under a year. This last mission was the shortest round-trip flight time, but the crew needs some R&R. How long before we ship out again?”

  “Lucinda, please assemble everyone in the galley.”

  Surprised by the request, Lucinda took the command in-stride and ordered the Jenny’s crew to assemble in the galley. NT was the last to arrive and when he did, Corb’s de-brief began.

  “As you all know Lucinda, Janish, and I rotate duty shifts while in the slip-stream. Our new ability to control the slip-stream has increased the speed within the fabric by eighty-seven percent. I believe we can increase the speed in the fabric by an additional factor of two.”

  “I knew it! I thought we were traveling faster. Wait, that sounds a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Why are you telling us this now?”

  “Nick, everyone, the future missions will be longer, and we will be visiting multiple worlds. Worlds much farther from Earth. Consequently, we are going to make changes in the crew.”

  Everyone stood still, in stunned silence, waiting for the next surprise. Looking around, Corb continued.

  “We are going to stand-down for thirty days. When we depart, six weeks from today, we may not return for more than a year. A year in Earth time. I want you to carefully consider what I am saying to you. When the Jenny leaves Earth she will not return for more than a year and could be as long as three or four years.”

  “Corb, what are you not telling us?”

  “Cassandra, he is declaring to us it will be a five-year mission to go where no man has gone before.”

  “Where no person has gone before, Nick. They changed it and became politically correct.

  “Cassandra, our next mission will be long and difficult. We are going to visit several new worlds. Some will be friendly. Other worlds will be dangerous if not handled cautiously. I want you all to think hard about not seeing Earth for several years. We will meet at Q'eqchi' one month from today. Also, while you are away from the compound, if you go anywhere, you will have a security escort. No exceptions. Your knowledge of the Jenny, the Marissa, and the planets K’an, and Kripkeni is classified. No exceptions, everyone gets a security detail when you leave the compound. Janish, would you please?”

  “We’ve all read the debrief materials. Earth’s planetary strife has abated. The North Koreans are still pissed off about their nuclear arsenal being destroyed. Of course, the Russians want more control. Overall, Earth is calm. Both the governments and various corporations are looking to exploit the new interstellar trade.”

  “Thank you, Janish. Davinder, Jan, did you get all that?”

  “Yes, Corb, we heard every word. The crew’s quarters are ready, we look forward to your arrival. Welcome back, everyone.”

  When the cheers and applause died down, he continued the de-brief.

  “Davinder, Jan, what is your alert status?”

  “As you requested, we have locked down Q'eqchi' and the transport tunnel to the warehouse in Virginia. Whenever you are ready, we look forward to a nice dinner and to hear the stories from your mission.”

  “Thank you, Jan. Janish, please cut the comms.”

  Janish lifted a tablet, pressed a few buttons, then nodded confirmation of the request.

  “There is one other item to discuss before we head to the compound. You will notice everyone will look older. Which is, of course, normal with the passage of time. However, we are older too but the effect on us has been slowed by the consequences of the slip-stream.”

  Several immediate nods of understanding were scattered in the crew along with a few looks of puzzlement.

  “Einstein was correct: Time is an Illusion. Well, not really. But time is alterable. Traveling faster than light, in the fabric of the slip-stream, slows time. Nick?”

  “Right oh. It works like this… When we are in the slip-stream time, our relative time, slows down. It never stops but it slows down to almost stopped. It can never stop, and it will never reverse, but it does slow down. Because it slows down while we are in the slip-stream, there is an effect on our metabolisms. We don’t feel it, but we age more slowly. Some of us almost stop aging.”

  “I wondered why I was unable to calculate the arrival time in my head. Where did you get the formula to calculate the time dilation?”

  “Lucinda, you need to keep him around. That NT, he is a smart one.”

  Everyone chuckled at Nick’s comment in response to be interrupted by NT. NT just waited for more information.

  “Taknish showed Janish and me how to access the formula. Computer, display the file titled Time Displacement One on the monitor in the galley.”

  A short, but complex formula appeared on the large monitor.

  “About that… Time displacement… Do you think there are going to be long-term effects?”

  The de-brief was picked up by Janish.

  “Cass, we think there are no adverse effects on humans by slowing down time. Are you going to live longer? No one is sure. Next time we are on planet K’an, I am going to ask Tarmish for more information.

  However, there is one confirmed problem. Because we do not age at a normal rate, people on Earth will notice. Your pictures are everywhere, they will notice we are not aging at a normal rate. Your families will notice your appearance will not have changed much. Corb?”

  “People, being greedy, will want to know if we found the Fountain of Youth. Consequently, there is a plan to leak the confirmation of the Time Dilation theory. When it is leaked, the theory’s proof, will downplay the effects of time dilation and minimize the results. Anything else before we head down and get some Bar. B. Que?”

  “Are the rumors true?”

  “What Rumors, Chief?”

  “That we are going to turn the Jenny into a combat vessel?”

  “Yes and no. No, not a combat vessel. Yes, we are going to get more armor and guns. The Jenny is going to be fitted with new plasma lasers and rail guns.”

  “The new weapons and armor are needed because the new planets are hostile to visitors?”

  “Ragnar, they are not hostile if we follow their first contact protocols. For one of the planets, the protocol is to engage in a one-on-one space battle. The Ch’en challenged us but they had no intention of destroying the Jenny. The new planets are different. If we make a mistake they will fire on us. Good question. Anyone else?”

  NT was shaking his head and smirking. Corb was staring, unblinking, at NT, awaiting a response.

  “You primed the Chief with the question. You made a point of emphasizing a long trip next time out. You dangled the ‘we are aging more slowly’ enticement. Do you think the next mission is going to be dangerous? Are we going to die in space?”

  Only the hum of the Jenny’s engines and the air handling fans could be heard. Everyone waited for Corb’s response. After a long silent pause, he made the most of his six-foot-three frame, slipped on his trademark smile, and with a twinkle of his crystal blue eyes, responded.

  “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  Chapter Three

  Wonderment and Awe.

  “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”

  Seneca

  Aboard the Marissa

  “Captain Turner, the second off-load is complete. We are still here which means the hydrogen did not explode. The helium remains contained. The tanks are being removed and will be placed in storage on the space platform. I presume we will not be headed back to harvest more of Jupiter’s atmosphere anytime soon?”

  When the captain ignored the obvious question, the first officer continued his update.
/>   “The cargo transports have departed the surface and are en route to the Marissa.”

  “Thank you, Brando. You have the conn, I will be in my quarters.”

  Everyone on the Marissa retained their nicknames or call-signs. First Officer, Brandon Evans is called Brando. Justin Nguyen, Navigation Officer, is referred to as Eggy. Himari Tanaka, the System’s Officer, had a nickname but she refused to let the rest of the crew know what it was or how she was given such a smarmy name. The crew refused to use Captain Joshua Turner’s nickname in deference to his position as captain of the Marissa. The nickname ‘Turder’ was not a play on his surname. The nickname was the result of some sketchy Mexican food prior to an unfortunate g-force experience.

  Captain Turner activated the computer console in his quarters. The console is a computer interface that is integrated with the clear, glass-like, desktop. The engineers spent weeks reconfiguring the consoles to look and feel like something with which humans were comfortable seeing and interacting. The first thing he noticed was the in-bound message sorting rules he created did not know what to do with two, one-off, emails.

  Opening the first email was a small surprise to the captain. It read: Contact Q'eqchi' Command at earliest convenience.

  Not signed, the email’s source address was a long string of nonsensical letters and numbers. “Q'eqchi' Command” was a simple code directing the recipient to contact Colonel Davinder Khatter privately.

  Dragging the email to the trash folder, Joshua tapped on the second email, forcing it to open for reading. What he saw in the second email also surprised the captain.

  It is encrypted. Why is it encrypted on a secure network?

  Dragging the email and dropping it on a specific red, octagonal, icon, caused the entire desktop to go blank. A dialog box appeared with the question: Confirm secure interface?

  This should be interesting.

  Turner pressed the ‘confirm’ button.

  The dialog box dissipated, the encrypted email reappeared. Following what resembled an old teletype machine, readable letters started to appear, and words began to emerge. Starting on the top left and continuing row by row, the long string of encrypted letters was decrypted. The encrypted string of letters and numbers was nine rows. Decrypted the message was two short sentences: Not heading to Earth. Wait for the Jenny at known coordinates.

  What coordinates? That must be why I am to contact Davinder.

  Swiping quickly right invoked the trash process dialog. Confirming the classified message was to be destroyed, Turner waited for the confirmation of message destruction. When the message was confirmed destroyed, the normal console reappeared. He pressed the spinning green icon that opened the dark-mass communication device.

  The communication device on the Marissa sent a request to a similar communication device at the selected destination.

  There is one of these on the Marissa. One on the Jenny and one at Q'eqchi'. Why did they send me email? Why not just open the request? Oh! Yeah. I get it. They wanted me to be alone. This should be interesting.

  Looking at the digital clocks projected on the wall opposite his desk, Joshua realized the middle clock indicated oh-four-eleven EDT. Just past four o’clock in the morning on the east coast of the United States.

  I am going to wake up Davinder. I am not waiting, this seems important.

  Turner pressed the icon that represented the Q'eqchi' compound. The Marissa began the request by opening the micro-wormhole. Using the alien technology, the communication protocols traverse a micro-wormhole. When the communication channel is terminated, the micro-wormhole collapses.

  It required about twenty-seven microseconds to establish the connection. The crisp looking Marine type, on duty at four o’clock in the morning, was all business.

  “Captain Turner, please stand by. Colonel Khatter will be with you in a moment.”

  The screen became a conference room with empty chairs. It took Colonel Khatter six minutes to take a seat opposite the camera.

  “Captain Turner, thank you for responding so quickly.”

  “My apologies, colonel, I know it is oh-dark-thirty there, but the messages seemed urgent.”

  “Good you figured out the emails were connected. I am transmitting the coordinates now.”

  Colonel Khatter pressed an icon on a tablet and instantly a green icon began flashing on Turner’s console. Reaching over, he dragged the icon to the private folder. Double tapped the folder causing it to open. He then double tapped the file and it opened. A quick glance confirmed he understood the instructions and the coordinates.

  “Receipt confirmed. It indicates where, but it does not say when. Is there anything more you can tell me?”

  “Sorry, captain, your orders are to proceed to that star system, position the Marissa below and ninety-degrees to the elliptical plane, two light-years from the center of the system. Wait there until the Jenny arrives.”

  “Confirmed, head to designation and await arrival of the Jenny. Colonel did the Jenny make it home?”

  “Yes, captain, the Jenny is here. They are preparing to depart in three weeks.”

  “Stand by, colonel.”

  “No, captain, there is no need to do the math. You will be waiting on the Jenny but not as long as you think.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Something is up with the Jenny. They will need our help. Be cool, follow orders.

  “How long before your cargo is unloaded?”

  “The unload is complete Colonel. The tanks are being off-loaded now. It will take about a week to complete the loading.”

  “Confirmed, ten days to departure?”

  “Ten days to departure, confirmed. Colonel is there anything else you can tell me?”

  “No, captain, not at this time. The captain of the Jenny will contact you when they reach the slip-stream.”

  He didn’t say Lucinda or Captain Raitt. Did she lose her command?

  “Confirmed, will receive additional orders while en route.”

  “Captain, we will see you in a few months. Do not be late or I will come out there and kick your ass myself.”

  What? Davinder swearing and making a threat to ensure we are on time? This can’t be good. Something is worrying him, and he is showing his worry to me.

  “Davinder, I will bring them all home.”

  “I know you will Joshua. Q'eqchi' out.”

  The micro-wormhole collapsed, terminating the connection. Turner’s console returned to normal. Reaching over and pressing the blue icon that looked like a microphone, a dialog box appeared. In the dialog box were several options. Turner chose one he had never used. He pressed ‘Ship-wide Communications’.

  “All hands, this is the captain, muster in the galley in fifteen minutes. Repeat, all hands to the galley in fifteen minutes for a briefing.”

  Closing the ship-wide communications, Turner pressed the often-used icon labeled ‘Bridge’.

  “Bridge this is Captain Turner. Confirm there are no Ch’en aboard then seal the gantries and close the bay doors.”

  “Aye, captain.”

  Turner pressed the close key and the console returned to the image of a desktop.

  What do I tell them? They were expecting to go home. There is something I am missing.

  “That is all I know. We are ordered to rendezvous with the Jenny in that star system. I am to receive further instructions en route. Any questions?”

  “Are we going to trade the cargo with whoever lives in that star system?”

  “Sergeant, I do not know.”

  “Will we head home when the Jenny arrives?”

  “Corporal, I do not know.”

  “How long will it take us to get there?”

  “Good question, corporal. Eggy?”

  Eggy pressed a few buttons on his tablet then looked up with a face oozing disappointment.

  “About two months.”

  Several of the assembled marines erupted with a unified chorus of complaint.

  “TWO
MONTHS!”

  Groans and overt signs of disgust and angst spread through the crew.

  “Enough!”

  Everyone became silent again.

  “You all volunteered, and you will perform your duties. When I know more you will know more. Now, are there any questions? No? Good. Dismissed.”

  “Wait!”

  Everyone turned to look at Himari. The crew was shocked she spoke at all, more so that she yelled. Everyone stopped and stared at the now red-faced Himari.

  “Major Tanaka is there something you want to say?”

  “Yes, thank you, Captain. I know why we are going to the Kripkeni star system.”

  Himari was looking down, thinking hard about what to say and what not to say.

  I need to tell them something. They need information. Even soldiers need to know the purpose of their mission.

  She eventually continued.

  “I was briefed before we left Earth. We are going to trade the cargo we are about to load for advanced technology. Apparently, the crew of the Jenny was successful in negotiating a deal. The captain has been unaware for security reasons. I am sorry Captain.”

  “No need to be sorry, Major, orders are orders. Any more questions? No. Good. First Officer, Chief, get that cargo loaded. Let’s get the hell out of here. Himari, Brando, Eggy, you are with me. Chief, you have the con, we will be in my quarters.”

  “They are going to retrofit the Jenny with armor and cannons. Lasers or plasma cannons.”

  “Himari, are you sure?”

  “Yes, Captain. There is a race of beings that will challenge you to a fight for privilege. The privilege is to trade.”

  “You have to win to trade?”

  “Yes, Captain. You have to defeat them in combat to approach their inner planets.”

  The meeting became silent, everyone focused on the pensive Himari and the implications of a space battle.

  Chapter Four

  Fly right by the danger zone.

  “No pressure, no diamonds.”

  Thomas Carlyle

  Aboard the Jenny