Earth's Knell The Second Landing

By JT Duxbury

Eight of the ten astronauts sent to colonize a planet revolving around a star fifty-five light years from Earth had perished. With just two to do the work of ten, the mission may be doomed. And, one of the remaining crewmembers has been injured from the cryogenic sleep, leaving Drake VanDam the last man standing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JT Duxbury
• Release date: Sep 22, 2009
• ISBN: 9781301501564

JT Duxbury

JT Duxbury's Personal Profile:Moving across the sci-fi community with his uncompromising debut story Earth's Knell, the mature Wisconsin native, JT Duxbury, has been defined as an engagingly original writer. His propulsive writing blends dreaming with a reality attitude and a sharp eye on what could be. Readers have compared him to a modern day 'Mark Twain'. His writing soars with a passion and intensity of a mature dreamer set to leave his mark on futurist fans in need of a fresh style.JT Duxbury was born and raised in west central Wisconsin and made his entrance into the arts, at age twenty-seven, as a country music singer and lead guitarist. While working as a part time musician, he earned an associates degree in industrial electronics and went on to become a proficient electronics technician, computer programer, and now an author.

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EARTH'S KNELL

THE SECOND LANDING

BY

JT DUXBURY

Copyright © by JT Duxbury 2006 - 2009. All rights reserved

Published by JT Duxbury at Smashwords

This book is available in print along with others by this author at http://stores.lulu.com/cdbooks

ISBN 978-1-4357-4571-1

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be

re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with

another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it

with. If you’are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased

for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your

own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

My many thanks to Barb Eckwright, for her sharp eye on my punctuations and spelling.

Chapter 1

EARTH DATE: September 3, 2108

Eight of the ten astronauts sent to colonize a planet revolving around a star fifty-five light years from earth had parishes. It happened so fast, just mere minutes apart; the carbon gas ratio in their cryogenic sleep chambers began to change. The computer onboard the Colony 1 starship knew this was a bad sign, but they were several years from their planet, and there was no other information to act on. There was nothing in the database to cause the computer to take corrective action. Cryogenic preservation of humans was a new technology; there was no long-term track record to base a decision on. Then there came a transmission from the Colony 6 spaceship. It had landed five years earlier on its new planet with two of the crew deceased. The records of the analysis of gas samples taken from the two Colony 6 fallen were something to work with. There was a pattern the computer recognized. Comparing the two casualties on the Colony 6 and the rapid change of carbon gas from Colony 1's eight failed crewmembers triggered the computer to execute its awakening algorithm on one of the two live astronauts.

***

Ensign Austin, can you open your eyes for me? Ensign Austin, it is time to wake up.

The Tri-mode computer with its human-like brain and DNA processors began to execute an emergency algorithm.

Tammy Austin turned her head slowly and winced. Daddy? Is that you? Hooooooo my head. Her eyes fluttered, opening slowly to a slit. She tried to raise her right arm but stopped when a piercing pain shot through her shoulder.

The computer spoke softly, I'm going to inject a medication into your intravenous line. It should awaken you fully and relieve any discomfort you may feel.

Mmm. Tammy tried to nod but stopped short again. She felt a warmth wave from her left arm through her body, and the pains diminish. Oh, that's much better . . . Still have a bit of a headache. Maybe pressure would be a better description.

Please wait a few minutes to see if it subsides, ma'am. If it does not, I will dispense an oral pain reliever.

Okay. Tammy whispered, with a dry taste in her mouth.

The latch to her cryo-tube lid clicked then opened.

Can you lift yourself up onto your elbows? The computer encouraged.

Tammy moaned again while she elevated the upper half of her body and slid her elbows back. When her eyes became accustomed to the light in the spaceship's cabin, she looked first left than right. 'Um, I'm the only one being woke up? What gives?

I detected a dangerous level of gas change in your body, ma'am. I thought it best to awaken you before you died.

I see. Good call. I wouldn't have enjoyed being dead. She smacked her lips.

The computer continued to supervise her recovery from the seventy-five year sleep. You can come to a full sitting position when you are ready ma'am.

In a slow, single motion, Tammy sat up swinging her right leg over the sleeping pad.

The computer rotated its cameras back and forth as though in glee. Very good, ma'am.

She looked at the swiveling cameras from the corner of her eye. Goofy machine. She thought. You can dispense with the 'ma'am' stuff. Call me Tammy.

As you wish, Tammy. You may stand if you feel stable. I am rotating the cabin at twenty-five percent gravity, so you may feel like you are going to take flight. Please be careful.

Careful, right. Wonder how the others are? She thought, as she slid onto the deck. Once stable on her feet she sank to a knee-bend then straightened slowly and smiled. Yes. That feels better.

I am going to begin to increase the gravity, Tammy. Please speak out if you begin to feel discomfort.

She nodded and did a second deep knee bend. Do I smell hot chocolate?

Yes. My records show that you prefer chocolate to coffee, so I have prepared a hot beverage for you. It is in food dispenser one. You may get it when you are ready.

Thanks. She began to move toward the galley. Wanna give me the reason why you woke me up early, again? And just how early is it?

We are about three weeks to touchdown. Do you want a complete medical analyses or the short version?

Somewhere in between, I guess.

Very well. Using the intravenous needle in your arm as a sensor, I can measure and compare the carbon fourteen to carbon twelve gas ratio in your body. When that ratio begins to change, it tells me your body is dying. The ratio began to change and I began to wake you up. I made this logic decision thanks to new information in a recent transmission from the Colony 6 ship.

New information? You mean you didn't know to do this before? Tammy removed her hot chocolate from the dispenser; the aroma made its way to her nose. Oh yummy. She mumbled after her first sip.

The computer continued with its explanation. Well, the depleting ratio was considered bad, but just how bad was unknown for humans. Cryogenic preservation of humans was a new technology when the mission began. It was hurriedly developed for this assignment. I had no long-term track record to base a decision upon. Then there is the matter of cabin fever. Humans can become mentally unstable if they are subjected to long periods of being awake in space flight, so I was not allowed to awaken anyone prior to six months before touch-down.

Tammy took a second sip of her drink. So who died on the Colony 6?

The commander and his wife.

I'm sorry to hear that. She tossed her head back for a moment in thought, I didn't know his wife, but Commander Royal was very nice as I recall. That is sad. He worked super hard for all of us.

***

Twelve years before Tammy's ship and five others were launched from Earth's moon two asteroids had been discovered speeding toward earth. The larger of the two planetoids was over five miles across. Under a cloak of secrecy, an Anthony Harris the discoverer of the asteroids along with Commander James Royal of the United States Navy, had led a team of Navy and civilian personnel on an eleven year project building six Colony spaceships. Harris and Commander Royal were also instrumental in choosing and training the ship's crews. And Commander Royal became the skipper of the Colony 6 vessel.

***

Tammy's drink had cooled to a more comfortable temperature, and she drank deeply, her body craving liquids. Wonder how the rest of the Colony 6 crew is doing? she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Do you want a complete briefing now? the computer asked.

She shook her head, No. Just a quick word, and swirled her cup to mix the settled chocolate at the bottom.

They landed safely, and seven crew-members are alive and well. The last message said that Ensign Samantha Yarhouse was pregnant. In real time, the child is four years of age by now. I am receiving a constant data stream from Colony 6, so I can give you a blow by blow of the progress when you want it.

She's pregnant? Oh that's wonderful news. Sammy and Richard seemed so perfect for each other. Anyway, they have a kid. That's the zap . . . good! They were so in love . . . Think I'll have another cup of chocolate on that news. Oh, wait a minute, you said seven of the crew are still alive?

More hot chocolate coming right up, Tammy. Yes just seven. It seemed that a local male inhabitant abducted one of the female crew members and in the process killed her.

"Wow, a local inhabitant? Man I hope we don't have those kinds of problems. She retrieved her second cup of brew from the galley as her mind drifted back to the training center in Woodland, California, and the first time she had met Richard. Skinny as a rail. He obviously hadn't eaten regularly. Medium height, beautiful brown wavy hair and a quirky little upturn in his lips, as if he had a perpetual smile on his face. Sammy had fallen in love with him on the spot.

Tammy giggled when she pictured her well-endowed, gorgeous, Latino friend whisper, I don't know what it is about him, . . . but I think I'm in lust.

Tammy strolled slowly back to her station continuing to muse at the news of Sammy and Richard. Several minutes later her thoughts rolled back to the present. I suppose you'll be waking the commander in a few days, right? she said, setting the empty cup on her station's desk.

The computer didn't answer immediately, but shifted its cameras nervously, No, Tammy.

She sensed something was wrong, 'Umm, why?

He has . . . passed on.

Fear gripped Tammy's entire body. A tingling sensation rolled down her arms as her skin broke out in goose bumps. In a low steady tone she said, I'm not sure I'm ready to hear this . . . She took a deep breath. Let's go to the bottom line. Is there anyone else alive on this ship?

Yes there is.

She took a second deep breath, and then looked up as though in prayer. After a long minute she said, How many others?

The computer paused again, More hot chocolate?

I'm waiting, she demanded.

Please prepare for bad news, Tammy.

She looked up, glaring at the cameras. Her nostrils pulsated.

You've only been awake a short time. Please take the mild sedative in medical dispenser six. I must insist, you are still quite fragile.

She shot from her seat and grabbed her hip as a piercing pain speared from her left shoulder to her right thigh. Oh, ouch. She sat back down abruptly. Another pain bounced from her buttocks to the top of her head. Ooooooh. My god! She gripped the armrests and eased back into the seat, remaining motionless with her eyes wide, fixed on the bulkhead. Without moving anything but her lips she said, I've—never had such a feeling of rage as that. Something's wrong with me.

The computer waited for a moment than said, Mixed emotions are normal when one is first awakened. Please take the sedative and give it a few moments to work, then I will tell you what you want to know.

Still staring, Tammy nodded slowly. With a straight back she rose and moved to the dispensers in the galley, drew a bottle of water from the cooler, took the pill, and returned to her station carrying the water with her.

I am glad to see you have some water. I will want you to drink eight of those small bottles in the next twenty-four hours to rehydrate yourself. In five minutes, I will begin to brief you.

She laid her head back on her seat's headrest and nodded. With a sigh she said, I've learned my lesson. I'll do everything you say, as you say it. That was painful.

I am sorry for your discomfort. Would you like some soft music in the background?

I'm not much for elevator music. Can you tell me what that humming is I hear every once in a while?

Sure. I'm decelerating the ship. I need to be down to thirty-six-thousand miles an hour by tomorrow at this time. From there, we will just glide into an orbit around the planet.

'Hum, can we see the planet yet?

Yes. Do you want the nose camera displayed?

Ah huh, that would be nice.

The large screen above the ship's control console came to life displaying a planet that looked much like earth, with two barely visible satellites, and a vivid star field in the background.

Oh, how pretty, she smiled, What are those two things that look like bubbles?

The information from the advance probe dictates that they are twin moons. They are in the same orbit around the planet and ninety degrees apart.

I think I'm getting a buzz from that pill. She smiled again and closed her eyes for a moment. I always had doubts in my mind about ever seeing this side of the long sleep, but staying on earth was a death warrant too. Six of one as they say.

Yes . . . as they say.

When the five minutes had ticked off the computer said, I think I can begin to brief you now.

Okay. She sat up slowly and braced herself against the back of the seat. I'm ready.

Very well, Ensign Drake VanDam is still alive.

She waited a few beats, and then began to turn her head quickly, but she remembered the pain from earlier fast movements and slowed suddenly. That's all? The others are all dead?

I am sorry, Tammy. But, if any two of the crew are best suited to carry out this mission, it is you two. You are the survival experts, and I have everyone else's knowledge in my database. There are only three people in the crew whom I would have trusted to complete this mission by themselves, the commander, you or Ensign VanDame. Were it any of the others who had survived without one of you three, I would have turned and headed for the Colony 6 planet.

I guess . . . that's a compliment. Thanks. Tammy winced as she thought of the awesome tasks to come.

Compliment okay, but it is also a fact.

***

The Colony Project ships had been manned with a crew of ten . . . the commander and wife, an MD, a veterinarian, a doctor of biology, a doctor of botany, a building trades technician, an electronics technician, and finally a male and female chosen from the 'grassroots of society'. Tammy and Drake were the 'grassroots' contingent of the Colony 1's crew, and prior to lift-off were given two years of intense training in the art of survival using the Navy Seal's Hand Book.

***

Hum, Tammy whispered, Drake and I get to play Adam and Eve I guess.

I do not know what you mean, the computer said.

Never mind, I'm just talking nonsense.

***

The six Colony spaceships had been equipped with as many modern tools and laboratory equipment as would fit on the two-hundred foot vessels, along with fertilized human and animal embryos for introduction on the new planets. Four genetically altered female Guernsey calves were also onboard in cryogenic hibernation. They would be raised to adulthood and used as surrogate mothers for the first of the embryos.

***

What other information would you like now, Tammy?

Just a thumbs up or down on earth. I'll wait 'til Drake's awake for the 'Full Monty'.

You are going to disrobe? The computer twirled its lenses.

No, she laughed. That's just an expression from my childhood meaning everything . . . Disrobe, 'gees. Who programmed you?

Very well . . . Thumbs down on earth. There were two-thousand people at Moon Base Armstrong, alive and thriving. According to the latest report, the atmosphere on earth is slowly returning to normal. Re-population should begin soon. Information coming from earth is about seventy-five years old.

She bowed her head. How bad on earth?

No survivors.

Oh, man. She gasped. Anthony, his family and Louise. They worked so hard to try to save as much as they could. That's horrible. She placed her head back, closed her eyes and moaned.

***

Anthony Harris, an astrophysicist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Louise Goddard, Anthony's boss, were the first to learn of the two gigantic boulders that would deliver a deathblow to earth. With their heroic efforts, a plan was set into motion to save a remnant of humanity and with the Colony Project, forever eliminate the possibility of humans ever becoming extinct. Anthony, who first spotted the incoming projectiles, had been given the dubious honor of naming the largest of the two asteroids, Earth's Knell+1.

***

You will begin to feel sleepy soon from the medication, Tammy. Perhaps you should lie down for a while.

Yeah. Supporting herself with the seat's armrests, she began to stand. I'll go to the head and then take a nap. Hope I wake up again.

Chapter 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025, New York City, New York

A cab came to a screeching halt outside of the Liberty Arms Apartment building on Riverside Drive. The cabby frantically reached for the radio's volume knob. Tom Austin, the passenger in the back seat, scrambled in place trying to recover from the forward thrust of the sudden stop.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you crazy bastard! Where the hell'd you get your drivers license? Tom scolded.

The driver was too involved in the emotive tone of the radio commentator's voice to pay attention to his passenger.

The cabby listened intently as the announcer said, The United Aeronautic Space Administration has confirmed that there are two gigantic asteroids speeding toward earth. They further report that the impacts will occur in mid to late 2028. The date is indefinite because there are numerous forces acting on the objects which could affect their arrival date. A spokesperson for the UASA said that the size of the smallest space rock is in excess of a mile across, and the second one is over five miles. We have by satellite link, Doctor Steven Louis, of the University of California at Berkley. Doctor, please tell us what will happen to earth if the asteroids hit.

Boy, you go for the throat, don't you. Well, first off, it's not if, but when. So with that, the physics is quite clear . . . after the impact, or I should say impacts . . . about twenty-five to fifty megatons of ash, dirt, water and all manner of debris will be thrown into Earth's upper atmosphere. That debris will go into low orbit and block the sun's rays. This is popularly known as Nuclear Winter. In all honesty . . . we don't really know how long the winter will last, we think two years. Who or what will survive depends on how well they have prepared. There will also be tsunami, or tidal waves, earthquakes and fault lines breaking away.

Like the San Andreas Fault in California? The interviewer asked.

Yes, quite possible.

So what must we do to avoid our personal demise, Doctor?

I think a bomb shelter such as those constructed by US civilians back in the late fifties early sixties would go a long way toward that endeavor. Depends on where you live . . . The higher the better, or at least six to seven-hundred miles away from the coastlines, and as far away from the point of impact as you can get. You would need to stock the shelter with enough canned and processed non-perishable foods, medical supplies, riffles and hand weapons along with ammunition, warm clothing . . . very warm clothing, and things you could use to make purchases in a barter-type economy. I should think jewelry, precious stones, drugs and metals will serve as barter . . . and liquors of course.

Thank you, Doctor. Would you stay online for us? I have many more questions I want to ask, but I must pause for a late breaking story. And for that we switch to Keena Dove of our affiliate station, KNUT in San Francisco, California, Keena?

Thank you John. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been brought to the attention of this reporter that the government of the United States was first made aware of the asteroids some ten years ago. This unconfirmed report states that an astrophysicist who works for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena California, reported the very incident that led to the change in course of the asteroid Nineteen Ninety Seven XF11. The trajectory change was caused by a massive piece of space rock colliding with Nineteen Ninety Seven XF11 from an explosion in outer space which was observed and photographed by the astrophysicist sometime in 2016.

Tom Austin blurted, What in the hell are you listening to? Is that one of those Orson Wells pranks again? My god, have they no shame?

The cab driver turned his head. I not speak so good Englas, Sir. I tink this not yoke. You get out. I go home. No owe money. Just get out.

Placing his hand up, Tom said, Oh all right, all right. I'm just about home anyway. Good luck.

Tom opened the door and jumped to the curb, just as the cab sped away with the rear door still open. Jesus God, idiot. Slow down.

The air was brisk. Tom held his coat collar closed around his neck and walked leaning forward. Crazy people. Asteroids. Probably some new marketing gimmick for a love potion laced chewing gum called Hard as a Rock, or Faster Than a Speeding Asteroid.

Speaking into his wrist phone, he said, Activate AM radio, tune to WNBC.

The broadcast continued, We may also see some volcanoes that have been dormant for millions of years come to life. And worse yet, some of those volcanoes may be sitting on sulfuric acid deposits. If that happens . . .

Tom spoke into his phone again. Deactivate, I don't wanna hear anymore of that BS.

As Tom rounded the corner of 139th Street and Broadway, he could hear his wife's voice in the distance calling him. When he looked up he saw her standing on the second floor gallery with a window opened. A gust of cold wind brushed across his face causing him to shiver. Smiling at his wife he waved and stepped up the pace. She looks worried; maybe there's something to all this. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he said, Go inside, I'll be there in a minute. You'll catch your death. We're getting too old for this damned weather. We should have moved out by Tammy. Dora's too sick though.

The apartment door was ajar, Tom's wife, Dora, stood before him. Her frail aged body shivered while she hummed nervously. This posture was one he had seen only a few times since the couple had married some forty-five years ago. The posture always meant big trouble. Like the time their adopted daughter, Tammy, had runaway. And like the first time they had been turned down for adoption because of their ages.

Have you heard the news? Dora said, her eyes widened, waiting for his response.

I think so. The cab driver slammed on his brakes when the report came on the radio. Then he threw me out of the cab . . . said he was going home . . . didn't even charge me the sixty bucks I owed him.

Dora began to pace. I put in a call to Tammy. All I got was her voice mail. Next time I called, a recording said that all the circuits were busy. She stopped and stared, fear etched on her face. What are we going to do?

At our age? Not much. Tom reached for her shoulder. If it's true, I have no idea what we'll do. I guess this is one for the experts and God. He stepped back, and held her at arm length. Meanwhile, let's try to stay calm. Maybe you could double up on that anxiety medicine for a few days, just until you get used to the idea. The doctor said you should avoid getting excited.

She scoffed. How in the hell do you get used to the idea of being flattened by a very large rock. Hello? I don't think so. She turned quickly and began to walk toward the patio doors and gallery. Why would all the phone circuits be busy? I've never heard of that.

Everyone tryin' to call everyone else, just like you tried to call Tammy right away. Can you imagine? What maybe a couple billion people all tryin' to call someone at the same time?

Dora turned to him and sighed, Hum, I suppose. She turned again and continued to