The Twin Suns

By Cecil Cory

Ancient technology was discovered in the Kuiper belt. Scientific research teams gathered from Earth, the Federation of Colonies on Mars, and the Lunar Federation of States to study the ancient technology. Karl and Amy Artuso applied and they were chosen from thousands of other applicants for the expedition. With the discovery of the hidden caves on Pluto, the corporation felt that it was within limits to send this family along with others to explore the region. Karl and Amy packed up their four children and told them that they were going on a great journey.
During their research, Karl found and repaired a small maintenance ship. He persuaded the director of operations to allow him test fly the small ship. Amy convinced him to allow her to accompany him on the test flight. The personnel of the research center watched as they darted out into space. Then they suddenly disappeared from the Sol system and entered the Twin Suns system. Little did they know what lay before them would change all of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781300162476

Book preview

The Twin Suns

The Twin Suns

By

Cecil Ian Cory

Copyright

Version 1.3

Copyright © 2012 Cecil I Cory / Lulu Press

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-300-16247-6

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Acknowledgments

I wish to thank several people for their help and understanding.

First, to Eugene Fitzgerald for his help in proof reading this story for me. It has been a great help in completing it.

Next to my Mom and Dad for their support and belief that I could do almost anything I wanted to do.

Last, but not least to my wife Karen who has kept me going when I felt I could not go any longer.

Other Stories by Cecil I Cory

A Walk in the Sun

Escape from Regals Two

Transfer Station 261

Enherjar Warrior

The Raid on Sector Delta 34

Atlantis Conspiracy

Stories in the Twin Suns series

The Twin Suns

In Search of the Twin suns

One Last Battle for the Twin Suns

To Walk in our Fathers Footsteps

A meeting with the Federation

The New Worlds

Prologue

I am sitting at my terminal, trying to piece together all of the data I have collected for this report. Not everything is in, or was recoverable, from all of the systems. Some people believe that what happens in other places has no or at least very little effect on them. This maybe so in the short term, but I have found that in the long term, everything is very much dependent on what has previously happened. I will therefore, try to give you as much background for this report as I have been able to gather.

We know now that we were never the only intelligent life forms in the galaxy. Others have come before us and others will follow after we are gone. They too will someday find our existing technologies and expand upon them. I hope that we will be able to leave them a hopeful and honest accounting of our meager existence.

I will try to explain what happened to Karl and Amy along with more background leading up to the conflict, starting with the earliest accountings of the Ancient civilization. Amy along with Táa’e Mapiya have been able to translate a great deal of their legacy.

The Ancients sun was to go nova. All of their population had successfully relocated to a neighboring star system. All that was left was their last experiment. The experts had stored all of their knowledge into the great library buried deep in the bowels of their planet. If the experiment worked, they would be able to inhabit their home world again and retrieve their legacy. The only thing left was to wait for the planet’s orbit to reach its launch point.

Thirty days is all they needed. Their sun heaved another sigh this time it grew enough to consume one of the inner planets. Time was getting short. Thirty days was all that they needed to save their combined knowledge. They had tapped into the planet’s core for the power needed to move it. The last tests had been completed everything was ready. Thirty days were all they needed to save all of their history, science, and beliefs. Their Sun continued swelling. The next planet inline started to shake as the Suns gravity started to break it apart. Their scientist had been wrong; they no longer had thirty days.

The last of their scientists boarded the spaceships waiting to take then to their new home. The timers were set and the engines would fire at the last second. Maybe their new sun would be able to compensate for the early firing. The numbers said that it might work, if they were within the thirty-day window. The engines fired on their ships and they blinked out.

The sun had completely consumed the second planet and its four moons. Their home world’s furthest moon was starting to shake as the sun’s gravity started to pull it out of orbit. The planets engines started and their world started to move away from the Sun. The moons, were freed from the pull of the planet’s gravity, and started to move towards the Sun. Slowly the other three moons started their journey towards the sun as the planet pulled away. By the end of the first day, the oceans were frozen and the atmosphere had started to get denser. The planet was getting further and further away from the sun, when the sun went nova. The hot gasses soon caught up searing off the outer crust and pushed it off course. It had survived the blast, but only to drift in space as a burnt cinder. Deep in its interior were the riches of a civilization waiting to be rediscovered.

The burnt cinder drifted through the blackness of space, until the pull of gravity from a binary solar system changed its course. It hurtled through the cloud of dust and gasses in the twin star’s outer sphere of influence. Slowly, it picked up a mixture of gasses, ice and other debris as a new crust formed. The two stars pulled the planet further into their sphere of influence. More and more debris was deposited on to the surface as it traveled through the massive debris field. Finally breaking through the debris field surrounding the outer influence of the two suns, it hurtled in towards them. Some unknown force allowed it to pass the giant outer planets orbiting around the two stars. It plummeted inwards towards the larger of the two stars. Its new deposit of gases and ice melted. Some of which blew off leaving a long tail pointing outwards as it made its first pass around the larger star. It was flung back out into the blackness of the dust cloud, picking up more dust and ice. It repeated this cycle many thousands of times. Its mass was increased until it reached the same as it had been in the old solar system. Its orbit, slowly decayed, finally settling into an elliptical orbit around the largest star. It was now the newest planet in a 12-planet solar system.

The planets new atmosphere condensed into rivers and lakes. Its atmosphere consisted of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and large pockets of methane gas along with other gasses. Captured in the dust were biomaterials, frozen in time for billions of years. This primitive life was released into the oceans and on to the land. The microorganisms, dormant since they were thrown into space, began to come back to life. Over many millions of orbits, the planet transformed itself back into a living entity. The oceans again filled with life spilling back on to the land. Forests, savannas, lakes, and streams were now teaming with life ready to repopulate the New World.

During this re-growth, the great system buried deep beneath the surface was still working. It sensed the awaking of its planet. It started part of its programming to reestablish life as it was before. The seeds from its past were stored in cryogenic suspension and when it felt that the time had come, it released them into the soil on the planet. The old and the new life forms soon mutated and reclaimed the planet. Among this new life was a group of bipedal humanoids whose DNA had survived. It was nurtured and then released. Soon, it became one of the dominate life forms on the planet. The system then sat and waited for the calls from its ancient companions. It tried to set up its large antennas to receive the calls. It too had evolved; it now knew that it had to survive and to do this it had to find the others. It listened for the signals from the ancients.

Many factions grew upon this troubled world. Its new inhabitants evolved under harsher conditions than the original inhabitants. Evolve they did until there was more than one dominant species. One group of these lived in northern half of the planet above the great dead land that separated the north and the south. In long fertile valleys fed by the waters from great lakes, that had once been the mouths of the great drives, lived the Triskelia people.

One of these valleys was inhabited by a group of Triskelia of the Sweet Water Valley. Other valleys had been claimed by this group of people at one time. There have been several wars fought over the possession of the Sweet Water Valley and the surrounding valleys to the north. These wars had been fought between the people from the Sweet Water Valley and their decadence that had first migrated north. Later outcasts of the lower valleys were banished to the north. These groups, of outcasts, were called waste landers by the Triskelia’s living in the Sweet Water Valley.

On occasion, these waste landers would attack the smaller villages on the outskirts of their neighboring valleys. The ruling class of the waste landers would invade and capture villages then the valley. Once they had control of the Valley, they would require tribute to be paid to them as they plundered what little resources the valley had. They would put the subjugated people into bondage and us their children as slaves. They had slowly taken the valleys by force one by one until only the Blue Mountains were between the people of the Sweet Water Valley and the waste landers to the north.

There is a vast expanse of desert to the south of the Sweet Water Valley separating the people of the north from the Cawte inhabiting the south. Large fences had been constructed in the passes between the Shining Ridge Mountains and the dead land to keep the Cawte from invading the valley.

The Cawte are a more ruthless race than the Triskelia people in the Sweet Water Valley. They are large carnivores that would periodically try to dig their way into the Sweet Water Valley. The stories gathered by Tó'kes Hkosé (Short Fingers), Vóhkóhtá Nêstané (Bent Knee) and Táa’e Mapiya (Night Sky) along with the firsthand accounts by Karl and Amy are all of the information we have about them. Except for some information from Bren of the Cawte that is unreliable at best.  

I have tried to record the known events from the time that Karl and Amy Artuso landed on Pluto until they landed on this planet and continue, to the time they became part of it. Táa’e Mapiya has done her best to translate the writings of Tó’kes Hkosé, Vóhkóhtá Nêstané, Bren and others from this planet. She has also collected most of the local information from the survivors of the villages along the borders of the Sweet Water and Green Water Valleys. She has inputted this information into the planet’s system.

I have had to equate some of Táa’e Mapiya’s words to a more familiar form. Even though her translations are the best I have seen, some of the words that she uses are still in her native language. One example is that Triskelia language has several meanings for mother and father. The best way for me to show this is to capitalize the first letter of the words. Example mother or father with the first letter in lower case usually means that the person is deceased. If the word Mother of Father is capitalized, they are still living at that time. This also applies to siblings. They do not have the words for grandparents. Therefore, if you were talking about your grandmother on your mother’s side, then you would say Mother’s mother if she was deceased. It is an insult to an elder to say mother or father to a living person.

I will also use descriptive names or equivalent names from Earth for the creatures that are on this planet and are similar to the ones of earth. These names are the ones that were given to them by Amy and Karl Artuso in most cases. Do not assume just because an animal is called a cat that it looks like any of the cats you have on the planet Earth. Most predators on this planet have six legs with eight claws on each paw. Most cats and the few dogs like species use the two front paws to grasp with and can run ether on all six or only on four legs.

The domestic animals vary from what is described as a cow to small goat like creatures, along with many fowls that they use for eggs and their meat. One of the cows (Valley Cows) has the head with a large longhorn and the body of a camel with short legs, slightly smaller than a cow back on earth. This animal is used much the same way that we use cows on Earth. The goat creatures provide some of the materials for making cloth in the northern portion of the planet. A larger animal that lives in the mountains called the Bull Bear is highly prized for its meat and skin. The body of this animal is that of a large bear with the head of a water buffalo. A smaller creature is the deer rat. This creature varies in size depending on how much it can find to eat. It will eat almost anything that it can find. Most of them are about a half meter in length and stand about thirty centimeters high. They have a body similar to a small Earth deer with the head of a rat. The skins are easily tanned, but have a distinctive smell when curried. The meat from this animal is eatable and I understand that it does not taste bad. There are animals that resemble horses that are called Tasunke and deer along with many others I do not know how to describe.

There are numerous birds like species on this planet. Some of the largest ones have wingspans over eight meters and are carnivores. Their heads resemble the large eagles or the condors of Earth except they have four sets of legs with talons. There are three forward talons and one opposing talon on each leg. The smaller flying creatures vary from bats with long snake like necks, to birds in spectacular displays of colored feathers.

The insects on this planet are more numerous than can be described. There are several that use a cocoon, much like the silkworm on Earth, they us to make a fine strong cloth. The difference between the silkworm of Earth and big leaf tree bugs is that the larva changes the color of the cocoon as it matures. The longer they wait the more the cocoon goes from white, when the caterpillar makes the cocoon, to light green to blues, reds then to yellows. A light yellow being the last stage just before the flyer comes out. The flyer is a dull green brown and mates as soon as it can. When it has matted, it then eats its mate and deposits small eggs in the carcass. The thread of these insects is remarkably strong and when woven into cloth the cloth is lightweight and extremely strong.

It is also hard to know what language is being spoken at what time. Therefore, I will use different text to distinguish between English that Karl and Amy spoke and the Triskelia that the people north of the dead land speak. English will be in this font. Triskelia will be in this font. Understand Karl and Amy learn languages very fast and speak several of the earth’s languages. It did not take them very long to learn the Triskelia language. Karl and Amy both say that they never did learn the Cawte language and were only able to talk with them through the talking device. None of these devices has ever been located, so they could be brought back to Earth…

Chapter One

Karl and Amy were chosen over many other applicants to explore the frozen planet of Pluto and the surrounding Oort cloud. Karl had a degree in Astrophysics and Ph.D. in Engineering. Amy had her Ph.D. in Geology and a Masters in Archeology. The only drawback was they had four small children. Kathy who was eight, Robert seven, John six and Jack was four.

The National Science and Space Research Corporation had been sending young families to the Moon and Mars for decades. With the new discovery of the hidden caves and technology on Pluto, they felt that it was within limits to send this family along with the fifty others to explore this region. It would be a long journey taking two years just to reach there, six years to do the research and another two years to return.

The Cutty Sark was in orbit around the Earth and being provisioned for the journey. It was a long ship on a central axis. The bridge sat forward of the sail storage area. There were rotating rings, for crew quarters, Mess Hall, Dispensary, and Engineering. Behind Engineering came eight more rotating sections. The first three were set up for human habitation. In the other five rings were the supplies needed for the ship and passengers to survive for the next four years pulse the habitation structures needed for living on the frozen planet Pluto. Another ship stood by being provisioned to follow them out with the supplies to last them for next two years. There would be a new supply ship, every two years, thereafter. The Cutty Sark was the latest in her class her nuclear engines could generate enough thrust to reach 330,000km/hr along with its sail it could reach Pluto’s in 680 days. All that was left was to bring its passengers onboard.

The traffic to the airport was backed up as usual. Karl snaked the car through the traffic and pulled into the commuter parking lot. Amy gathered up the three brothers and their older sister for our adventure as Karl had put it. All Robert knew was, he was leaving his school, his friends and his home to go somewhere far away. Where were they going? His dad had said that a ship was going to take them into space, out beyond the last known planet. Out to where the Sun would look like a bright star. All he knew was it sounded like a long ways from home. His mom said they were going to a new home out there. But out where? He had looked into the night sky and he could not see any place that looked like it was home. He even looked on line to see what this new home was like. All he ever found was a blurry image of a large icy rock out in space. How could this replace their home in California?

Okay. Is everybody ready? Boys, help your mother with the bags. The shuttle will pick us up out in front of the parking lot.

Dad? John asked.

Yes John

If we’re going on a ship how come we’re at the airport?

Well we’re going to take this shuttle first. So, everybody, get on. Amy replied. The kids piled into what looked like a miniature school bus, and off they went to the airport.

Dad? If we’re going on a ship how come we’re at the airport? John asked again.

Well John, to get to where the ship is we have to fly to Florida.

Oh. Is that far?

Not as far as the ship is going to take us. Robert said.

The shuttle stopped in front of the terminal and they piled out. Karl went over to the counter to ask where they were to go. After a few minutes, he came back to where they were standing.

Okay everyone, we go to gate G 4. Karl said.

He grabbed Jack and they headed down the hallway towards gate G 4. They walked through the full body scanners. There they were stopped and had to wait until Kathy’s doll was cleared. Once it was cleared, they were allowed to continue. They found the gate then boarded a large airplane and found their seats, in the back of the plane. There was a large screen across the front of the plane that showed the passengers what the Pilot was seeing. The kids watched the screen as the plane taxied down the runway then took off. Within a few hours, they reached the airport in Florida. The kids were glued to the images on the screen as the large airplane came in for a landing.

Once the airplane had landed and connected to the loading ramp, Karl and Amy herded the four children out of the plane to the baggage area. The two boys helped Karl find their luggage on the carousel. As Karl grabbed the bags, the boys and Kathy pulled them off to one side. They carried the luggage out of the terminal into the sweltering hot and humid Florida day.

A man was standing outside holding up a cardboard sign that just said Space Shuttle. A small bus was parked behind him. Karl walked over to the man and talked to him for several minutes then came back to where the family waited. He told them the man was there to pick them up, along with other families that had flights that morning. They sat in the small bus for what the kids thought was an eternity, waiting for the other families to ask the same questions of the driver.

When the bus was filled, the driver climbed into his seat and closed the doors. He pulled the bus out into traffic and headed for the outskirts of the launch facilities. The bus stopped at a motel, on the outskirts of Cape Canaveral for the night. Karl registered at the office and he was given two rooms for his family. The next morning there were several of the busses out in front to pick them up, to take them to Cape Canaveral. This time when they boarded their bus, there were even more families getting onboard. Each of the busses had a guide assigned, who tried to explain what was going to happen at the space center. The busses pulled up in front of a large administration building. Their guide told them to follow her and not to worry about their luggage. It was going to be taken to the ship. As soon as they disembarked, the busses drove off. They entered the Space Administration building following the guide assigned to them. The guide escorted them to another shuttle, which took them to the loading ramps of the new scramjet passenger shuttle Olympia. The children were strapped into their seats, and the countdown began.

The new scramjet driven passenger carrier Olympia, sat on the ramp ready for launch, from Cape Canaveral. They could see the old vertical launch facilities that were in use until ten years prior, when the new launch ramp was completed. Karl looked at the view screen of the facilities surrounding them. He could remember his great grandfather talking about the shuttle launches when he was young. Now he, Amy, and the four kids were going someplace his great grandfather only dreamed of.

This was not Karl’s first trip into space. He met Amy while he was doing his graduate work for his Masters. She was a graduate student doing field study on the moon and he was helping one of the Astro physics professors with his field research. Karl and Amy kept bumping into each other while they were there and when they returned to Cal-Poly. On their third date, he asked her to marry him. She told him that it was about time and they were married that spring. They have been married for fourteen years now and both have good jobs with Universal Science and Space Research.

A low rumble began as the conventional engines started the ship rolling. Karl looked at his children and saw the excitement in their eyes as they looked at the view screen. He looked at his wife and squeezed her hand, leaned over and whispered.

I love you.

She turned to him and replied. Yeah I know ain’t it grand.

The ship started to move faster as the magnetic lift and propulsion system flung the ship around the ramp and out. The nose of the ship tilted up towards the stares. At that point, the buster rockets kicked in and pushed them deep into the cushions of their seats. A high pitch vibration could be felt until the boosters dropped away and the scramjets took over. The view screen showed the sky turning an ever-darker shade of blue until it had turned black. Pinpoints of light appeared as the stars revealed themselves. He again looked at the children, their eyes glued to the images coming from the screens. The first taste of weightlessness came over them and they all giggled when Kathy’s doll floated away from her. The stewardess retrieved the doll, tied a string on it, and gave it back to Kathy.

Now hang on to her tight, so she won’t get away. The stewardess said.

Say thank you Kathy. Amy said.

Thank you. Kathy said holding tightly on to her doll.

The entire trip only took eight and half-hours to reach space dock Alpha 10.

The Olympia docked with the space station and the crew helped getting the passenger off the ship and to the space dock. Karl tied the Children to a line, which one of the stewardesses had given him, to keep them from floating away. Even Kathy’s dolly was now tethered to the line. Karl took one end and Amy took the other as they pulled themselves along the corridor while dragging the children behind like a bunch of balloons in the Macy’s day parade. Robert looked behind them and saw they were not the only children, being treated in this manner.

Once they had exited the Olympia, onto the station, there were signs saying passengers for the Cutty Sark to go to gate Alfa 4 and Bravo 7. It also said that the observation deck was in the same direction. The station was spinning creating a false felling of gravity, so now all of them could walk towards the observation deck. When they reached the observation deck, they could see the Cutty Sark moored to a space buoy, thousands of kilometers away. The Cutty Sark filled up the entire observation window as it passed by. They could see several smaller ships transferring the last of the personal gear and supplies to the ships that were moored in space. The children watched as the earth spun into view. Amy pointed out where their home was on the west coast.

Robert saw a long rod and glowing object in the distance.

Dad, what is that? Robert asked.

That is one of the supports for the new elevators they are making. Someday you will be able to ride up in one and not have to fly in the shuttles. It will only take minutes instead of hours to reach space. Karl said.

You mean like we do going up the tall buildings? John asked.

Yes, but they will rise much faster. Karl said.

When? John asked.

Not for many years yet, probably when we return you will be able to ride down in one. Amy said.

All passengers from the Olympia going to the Cutty Sark, whose last names begin with A through L report to gate Alpha four. The remaining passengers going to the Cutty Sark, whose last name begins with M through Z report to gate Bravo 7. If you are continuing on to the moon, please go to gate Delta two. The public-address system announced.

They found gate Alpha 4 and a member of the Cutty Sark’s crew was there to check off people boarding the ship. They walked down another passageway and boarded the shuttle to the Cutty Sark. This time the children were allowed to float about the cabin until their seats were prepared.

It took an hour for the shuttle to travel from the space station to the docking ring on the Cutty Sark. A message came up on the screen in the front of the shuttle. A picture of a young woman in a Blue stewardess uniform was displayed on the screen. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at The USSR Cutty Sark. The Crew hopes you have had a pleasant journey and hope you will use our shuttle service again. The crew will now help you transfer to the USSR Cutty Sark. Thank you again for using Gates Shuttle Service.

Several men came back out of the crew quarters, helped them to un-strap the children, and tethered them once again together. When they left the shuttle, they went down a long passageway into the USSR Cutty Sark.

Once they reached the interior of the ship, they were sent to the passenger’s reception area. They came to a large room where there were several rows of chairs and several tables up front. An older looking man was standing up front talking to several people sitting behind the tables. Once all of the passengers had come into the room he turned and looked out at them. Jack pointed to the man and Karl shushed him and pulled his arm down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Doctor Howard Smith. I am the new director of operations on Pluto. Behind me, you will see several tables. As your names are called, will you please come up to this table and pick up the booklet. You will find all of the rules and regulations that you have been given before, this time please read the booklets and keep them. There just might be a test on them later.

Once you have picked up your copy of the regulations then precede to the next table there you will be given your room assignments. Finally, the last table, there you will be assigned your work assignments. Understand that not all of the assignments are what you do. Some of them are not real nice at all, but we are responsible for taking care of our sections of the ship. All assignments are going to be done on rotational basses. This week you may be working in the kitchen next week you may be on garbage detail. Understand we have a two-year trip out, eight years on the planet’s surface, then two years back. If you feel you are above doing manual labor go to table four and your passage will be arranged for your return back to Earth. There will be no free loaders here onboard this ship or on Pluto.

We have many families here with small children. We have set aside an area for them to learn and grow. Their schooling is very important to all of my staff. Once you have finished checking in you will proceed to the dispensary for a complete physical. Doctor Diaz will examine you before you are cleared to board this ship. It will take us approximately one week to process you, so be patient with the staff. If you have any troubles my door will always be open."

Howard turned and walked out of the room. Another person at the first desk called out the first name. Karl and Amy names were the third ones called. Karl went up to the first desk and then the other desks until he came to the last one, here the whole family had to come up too. Their pictures were taken and identifications were made. Even an identification card was made for Kathy’s doll Sally. They were given their appointments to see the doctors then one of the staff showed them how to get to their quarters.

The quarters consisted of two bedrooms and a common room. The lavatories where down the hallway and was shared by seven quarters. The dining facilities were on the next Level in towards the center of the ship.

Karl looked at the duty assignments that he had been given. He found that they were required to clean the lavatory one day a week and that each family who had use of that facility had a different day. He found that they would have trash detail once a month and have to work in the common mess hallway once a month.

This is not too bad. Karl said as he read over the assignments.

A knock came at the door and Karl walked over and opened it up. There was a younger woman standing in the doorway.

Doctor Karl Artuso? She asked.

Yes. Karl answered.

Doctor Artuso I am Janet Parker. You and Doctor Amy Artuso have been requested to see Doctor Smith. I understand you have three children. I’m to sit with them until you return.

No, we have four children. Come in, Amy, there is a Janet Parker to see you. Amy had just come out of the children’s room.

Quiet I just got Jack down. Hello. Amy said as she walked out of the bedroom.

Doctor Amy Artuso, you and your husband are requested to attend a briefing this evening with Doctor Smith. He has asked me to look after your children until you get back.

Do you know what it’s about? Amy asked.

Yes Ma’am.

What? Karl asked.

I’m sorry Sir, I cannot tell you. Only that you have ten minutes to get there and Doctor Smith hates it when you are late.

Okay. The boys should be back in a minute. Karl will you see what is taking them so long. Amy said.

Karl headed off to the lavatory to find the boys.

You said your name was Janet Parker.

Yes ma’am.

It’s Amy not ma’am or Doctor Artuso and my husband’s name is Karl we’re just plain folks.

Okay, Amy glad to meet you. Janet said holding out her hand. Amy shook it and looked back towards the bedroom.

Karl came back herding the boys in front of him. These two get to clean up the bathroom tomorrow. They were throwing paper towels around at each other. I have made them pick up most of it, but they will clean up their mess tomorrow.

Amy looked down at the boys her face showing her anger. Go to bed, right now! No computer, video, nothing for a week. Go.

Ah mom. Robert said. Amy reached down and swatted him on his backside.

Go to bed now and its two weeks.

Shut up Robert. John said as he ran to the bedroom.

If they give you any trouble let me know and I’ll make it three weeks. She said towards their door. They should be okay they’re pretty good boy most of the time. Kathy and Jack are already asleep. We will see you when we get back. Amy headed to the door. Karl looked at Janet.

Where are we going to? He asked.

It’s on the map that was given to you today. Here I’ll show you. She showed them where they were and where they had to go.

The meeting lasted well into the night. When they returned Janet was sitting in a chair, reading a book with Jack who was asleep in her lap.

He woke up about two hours ago, so I started to read him a story. He has been asleep ever since.

I’ll take him. Karl said as he reached down and pick him up. Come on little man you had a long day. Jack squirmed and got comfortable as Karl took him back into the children’s room.

Where they any trouble?

No not a peep until he came out. I do not think he even knew that I was not you. He just handed me his book and crawled up in my lap.

Yeah that’s Jack he likes his bedtime stories. Amy said.

Well I had better go. Good night Amy.

Good night Janet thanks for reading to him.

No problem.

The next week was used for the examinations and orientations. The children were introduced to their new teachers and the rest of the children they would be spending most of their time with for the next ten to twelve years. By the end of the week, the ship was ready to be pushed out into the shipping lanes. Two small space tugs came along side and attached themselves to the ship. Their huge rockets fired and slowly guided the Cutty Sark away from the space buoy. They continued to push the large ship out and away from the orbiting platforms around Earth. They finally detached themselves once the ship was in the shipping lanes and returned towards Earth.

Everybody was summoned to a large area where his or her names were taken and checked against the ships manifest. They were given their assigned seats and strapped into uncomfortable chairs. Once the passengers were all in place the voice of one of the ships officers came over the intercom.

"The crew of the USSR Cutty Sark would like to extend our welcome to all of the passengers of the Pluto expedition and their families. For approximately six hundred and eighty earth days, we will be traveling together to Pluto. There will be two stops along the way. One at Mars to pick up more supplies and passengers at this time you may disembark and travel to the surface if your group allows this. We will be at Mars for one week only. The other stop will be on the moon of Ganymede to deliver supplies to the mines. You will not be allowed to depart the ship at that time. After that, our last stop will be the planet Pluto.

You have all been given a copy of the ships rules and regulations. If there are any types of emergencies, you are to report to your rescue modules immediately. There, some of the crew will instruct you in the use of the emergency equipment. They will see that you and your families are placed aboard. From time to time, there will be emergency drills. This inconvenience to you is for your own safety. Please follow all instructions given by the crew.

Please do not interfere with the operation of the crew onboard the ship. If you feel that one of the crew is not treating you fairly or have a grievance with them, contact your group leaders. If you need assistance with some function of the ship, report it to your group leaders. When one of the crew is available, they will contact you. You are responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of your area of the ship and are expected to keep it clean and safe. If for any reason, there is a malfunction of the equipment onboard of this ship report the type of malfunction and a description of what happened prior to your group leaders. Do not try to repair any damaged or malfunctioning equipment. All sections above the passenger’s section is off limits except for official business. Also, all sections below Cargo Section 3 are off limits to all non-crew personnel.

The countdown has started and the thrusters will fire in five minutes. The Captain and the Crew wish to thank you for your cooperation."

The thrusters were fired and everyone was pushed back into the uncomfortable seats. The thrusters fired for almost one hour as the ship slowly accelerated. Once the ship was up to speed, the sails were unfurled and the ship started its long journey out into space.

Life settled down to a routine of working on specific projects assigned by Howard Smith or the maintenance needed to keep their part of the ship clean. Karl found himself working closely with Howard and several others on a problem that had been transmitted to the Cutty Sark from Pluto. Amy and several others were working on their own projects. Amy’s gift for languages and understanding ancient languages found her a spot on one of the teams trying to understand and translate some of the pictogliphs and runes that had been discovered in the caves on Pluto. The children made friends quickly and spent most of their time in school or playing games that they invented in the semi weightlessness of some of the inner passageways.

At ten days out, everyone was again summoned into the large room and their names checked against the ships manifest. They once again were strapped into the uncomfortable seats and the same voice came over the intercom again.

Passengers of the Cutty Sark we are about ready to fire the first burn. There will be one more burn in three days. For your safety you will be required to stay in your seats until the burn is completed.

The ships countdown was then put on the intercom. The passengers listened to all of the ships sections as they checked in then the actual countdown began.

They were not prepared for the impact of the first burn. They were slammed back into their seats so hard that they had trouble breathing. The burn continued for several minutes, but to the passengers it felt like hours. When the burn was completed, the voice returned over the intercom.

Passengers we have had a successful burn. You are now released to return to your quarters.

Three days later, they were all summoned back into the large room once again. Once again, their names were checked against the ships manifest and they strapped themselves into the seats. The voice again came over the intercom.

Passengers of the Cutty Sark we are about ready to fire the second burn. We will be starting the burns to slow us for the Mars orbit in approximately Five weeks. For your safety you will be required to stay in your seats until the burn is completed.

The ships countdown was then put on the intercom. The passengers listened to all of the ships sections checked in again then the actual countdown. They were slammed into their seats once again. When the burn was completed, the voice returned over the intercom.

Passengers we have had a successful burn. You are now released to return to your quarters.

The time passed and everyone settled into their routines. At five weeks out, the intercom summoned them once again to the room. Their names were checked against the ships manifest. This time they found that the seats were facing the other direction. A large monitor had been set up in front, so that they could see the sun and stars slowly moving away from them. They sat down in their seats and strapped in.

Passengers of the Cutty Sark we are about ready to fire the first slow down burn. The second burn to slow us for the Mars orbit will be in three days. For your safety you will be required to stay in your seats until the burn is completed.

The ships countdown was then put on the intercom. The passengers listened to all of the ships sections as they checked in then the actual countdown began. They were slammed into their seats again. When the burn was completed, the voice returned over the intercom.

Passengers we have had a successful burn. You are now released to return to your quarters.

After the second burn to slow the ship down the thrusters were engaged and the ship was met by two tugs. They brought the ship to a space dock were its cargo was unloaded.

Karl and Amy found themselves as part of the escort to take the children to the surface of Mars. Their shuttle landed at the first working space elevator and they herded the children into several cars. It took several hours to reach the surface of the planet. When they had arrived, several vehicles were waiting for them. The vehicles took them to Mars colony 3. There they were taken to the colony museum where they were shown some of the original landers and rovers. They toured the colony for the day and returned to the elevator that night. Karl and Amy went again the next day without the children and were able hit some of the nights spots. By the end of the week, nobody was heading down to the surface. The ship picked up the rest of the supplies and more passengers. Most of the new passengers were miners heading out to Ganymede and were kept separate from the rest of the people headed out to Pluto.

The two tugs pulled up alongside and attached themselves to the Cutty Sark. There engines fired and slowly pulled the ship away from the space dock. They pushed the ship out to the shipping lines then released it. The passengers were in their seats when the thrusters fired and the ship began to escape the gravity of Mars and head out to the Moons of Jupiter. At ten days out, everyone was again summoned into the large room and their names checked against the ships manifest. They were once again strapped into the uncomfortable seats and the same voice came over the intercom again.

Passengers of the Cutty Sark we are about ready to fire the first burn leaving Mars. There will be two more burns. The next burn will be in nine days. For your safety you will be required to stay in your seats until the burn is completed.

The ships countdown was then put on the intercom. The passengers listened to all of the ships sections as they checked in then the actual countdown began.

The time passed slowly for the Robert and his brothers and sister. What time they had away from school they spent wandering around the ship. On more than one occasion, they were caught in places they were not allowed. Each time they were brought before Howard and he passed judgment on them. They found themselves cleaning more and more of the living area after school.

Robert was exploring one of the sections with some of the new friends he had met. When they found some of the mining equipment destined for Ganymede. Before he knew what had happened, the two Diaz brothers had it connected to one of the air compressors. The explosion was felt though out the ship. Robert was thrown back against one of the bulkheads and knocked unconscious. When he came too, he found himself in the ships infirmary with his mother and father standing next to the bed.

What were you doing in that part of the ship? You have been told that that area was off limits to everybody. Amy yelled at him. Karl just stared at him as he looked up at them.

Well speak up. Another voice said. Robert looked over at the voice and a man in a uniform who was standing there.

I was only playing. We were looking for treasure. Hector and Scott said that they had seen some in that room before.

The Diaz boys again. The man said. Aright that explains a lot. Mister and Missis Artuso you will have to keep your children under better control. Luckily, nobody was injured this time. The only thing that was damaged was an air hose. The Captain has requested that you and the parents of the Diaz boys meet with him this evening. The man nodded to Karl and Amy then left the room.

You are confined to our rooms. You will not have any computer for three weeks. You are to go straight to our room after school. Is that understood? Amy said.

Yes. Robert said.

Doctor is he alright to leave? Amy asked.

Yes, he only had a bump to the head. He should be fine in a couple of days. The ship’s doctor said.

Get up. Karl said. Robert slid down off the bed and looked at them. March back to our rooms and stay there. Karl was so mad that Robert could see him shaking.

Yes Sir. Robert said and started out of the dispensary with Karl and Amy right behind him.

After Karl and Amy returned that evening, Robert could hear them talking about the meeting with the Captain. He knew he was in big trouble for going along with Hector and Scott. The next morning, he got up and dressed for school. Karl and Amy never said a word about what the Captain had said. When school was out, he came back to their rooms and stayed there. Nothing more was said about what he had done. When his restriction was over, he no longer played with the Diaz boys.

The ship continued out to the moons of Jupiter. The process for stopping at Ganymede was the same as Mars. They spent two days there and then continued on out of the system. They had been traveling for over 300 days when the emergency Sirens began to blare throughout the ship. Everyone was directed to head for the assembly area. Some of the ship’s crew was already there and were checking their names off against the ships manifest. When the Diaz boys were found and accounted for, the crew closed the heavy doors sealing the room. Several members of the crew were in the room with them this time.

Passengers of the Cutty Sark an astronomic anomaly has been detected and is heading in our direction. For your and the crew’s safety we ask that you stay in the assembly area until the anomaly passes. There is nothing to be frightened about. This section of the ship has been designed for this purpose. Please follow the crew member’s instructions and enjoy the ride. One of the officers said standing in the front of the room.

The passengers watched as the crew hurriedly set the chairs in place. Once the chairs were in place, they began seating and strapping in everyone. Robert watched, as everyone was strapped in place. Then the crewmember strapped themselves into some of the seats. One of the crew sat next to them.

Well kids hang on tight this should be some ride. The man said to them.

The ship bounced then jumped as they were thrown into the straps holding them into the seats. They were pushed back into the seats until they could hardly breathe. The ship jumped and bounced around for some time as it accelerated away.

The Captain really caught this one Chief. A crewmember said to the man sitting next to Robert.

Yes, she did. She sure can ride the wave when one comes along. By the feel of it she must have all of the sail out along with the kites. The man looked at Robert winked. So, what do you think?

It is like a ride at the Space Park we went to. Robert said holding on tightly.

Yeah, except we’re going a lot faster. John said with a big grin on his face.

How long will this last. Robert asked.

I have seen the Captain ride one of these for hours before it blows out. The man said.

The ship jumped and bounced around for almost two hours before it slowly settled down. They stayed strapped in their seats for another two hours before the man walked back up front and spoke to them again.

I hope you enjoyed the ride. Please wait until one of the crew releases your straps. Once a crewmember has removed your straps, please remain seated until the all clear. There will be a slight delay until the crew checks the ships passenger section before you can return to it. Thank you. The officer walked over to the man who had been sitting next to Robert and began to talk to him. The man saluted him and headed off out of the room. 

Deep in the Cargo Section of the ship, a man crawled out of one of the animal pens where he had been hiding. He stood up and listened for the men that he knows will be coming soon to inspect this area of the ship. He listened for some time before he headed back to the lifts and waits. As soon as the doors open, he walked in then pushed the button for the passenger section, storage area. When the doors open again he headed for the little room, he has set up for himself in one of the passenger’s containers. Once again, he feels safe and secure.

By the six hundred and fortieth day, they were able to see the ice planet sitting out in space. As they drew closer, they could make out the old spaceport orbiting the planet and the faint outlines of the temporary structures that had been built on the surface. The children would watch the large view screens to see what else they could see out in the space around the planet. They had been told in their classes that the planet was in a dust cloud, but they could not see much of anything.

For the last four weeks the staff had been gathering up everything they had unpacked and had been using on the way out and started packing it back up. Once all of the equipment was packed, it was returned to the storage area and prepared it to be transported to the surface of the planet. Karl and Amy worked on their projects until the last minute before they had to pack the equipment away. Then they hurriedly pack up the equipment and put it into the storage area. Once all of the equipment was packed, the passengers started packing their personal belonging they had used on the trip out. Most of them had made several trips to the storage area to recover something they though they needed during the voyage. Now they were trying once again to fit everything back into the small cases they were allowed.

Karl walked to his storage container and looked at the filled storage container. We have been out here for two years. There is no place to buy anything, so why is the box already full? I have only half of our thing in it. Karl set the case down that he had brought with him and started restacking the case inside again. When he had finished he headed back to their rooms.

Robert, John, Jack, Kathy get in here. He yelled. The kids came out of their room and stood in the common room looking at him. What did I tell you about playing in the storage container? All of you know that part of the ship was off limits to you. It took me over three hours to clean up the mess you kids left in there. Just wait until your mother hears about this.

But dad, we didn’t play in the container. Robert said.

Get to your rooms all of you and finish packing. Karl yelled.

Shut up Robert. John said as he ran back into their room.

The ship slowed using the thrusters and eased itself into the space buoy. The arms extended and clamped to either side of the ship. Old small Mark IV shuttles came up from the surface and docked with the Cutty Sark. The passengers were off loaded and the large Cargo Sections with their supplies were uncoupled from the ship and moved towards the surface. The empty sections that had been left there before were transported out to the ship and attached. The last thing for the shuttles to do was to transport the people who were returning to Earth.

The Captain and the first officer met with Howard and the rest of his staff on Pluto. There they held a brief meeting and had a final meal with them. Karl and Amy were invited to the meeting and the meal afterward. The officers returned to the ship by that evening and prepared to get underway back to Earth. By the end of the 690th day, they were left alone in the outer reaches of the solar system.

Chapter Two

First Lieutenant Monroe stepped out of the airlock into the equipment changing room. He removed his vacuum suite and hung it on the wall. He pulled his coat out of his bag he had carried down from the Titanic IV and put it on. Standing in front of the highly polished door, he straitened his well-tailored uniform. Checking that his medal was on straight and cocking his hat to one side, he felt he was ready. He opened the airlock door and stepped into the work bay. It was business as usual in the work bay. People trying to get all of the supplies unpacked and put away.

Out of my way Mac. A man yelled as he drove by on a forklift with a pallet full of supplies.

Monroe jumped out of the way and looked at the bedlam that was going on. He walked out into the bay and up to a man separating supplies on a pallet.

You there. Where is Doctor Smith? He asked. The man looked up at him and then went back to what he was doing.

Who the hell wants to know? He asked.

I’m Lieutenant Monroe and…

So, what? He is over there someplace. The man said waving his arm off to his left towards another group that was unloading equipment from a large crate. He turned and walked right out in front of another forklift.

Look out asshole. The driver shouted as he slammed on the brakes. What are you trying to do, kill yourself or something?

Lieutenant Monroe just kept on walking over to the group of people.

Which one of you is Smith? He barked. A man in is late forties stood up.

I am Doctor Smith Lieutenant. Lend a hand and grab the other end. Doctor Smith had a hold of one end of a large box marked fragile.

Sir I am to report to you as your new Military Liaison Officer. Monroe said and stood there.

That’s nice son, now pick up the other end of the box. Howard said.

Sir my job on…

Your job will be anything I so desire and until all of the supplies are inventoried and put away. Your job is to help. So, pick up the other end or get back onboard the Titanic and out of our way. Howard said.

The young Lieutenant looked down his nose at him then reached over, and pulled a small box out of the container.

By the time they had unpacked a third of the crates coming off the Titanic, they had worked for twelve hours straight. The new Lieutenant’s uniform was now dirty and well wrinkled.

Okay everybody that’s enough for today. Section head meeting at 1900. Good job everyone. Howard yelled out. Everyone stopped what there was doing and headed towards the main airlock. Okay young man let’s get you a bunk. Janet, will you come here. Howard shouted over the noise.

Yes, Doctor Smith. Janet yelled and headed towards them.

This is? Howard said and looked at the young man standing there in his dirty wrinkled dress uniform.

Lieutenant Monroe. Monroe said standing up straight.

Right, Monroe, he needs to be assigned quarters. Would you please help him get settled in, and show him around? Howard said.

Sure, Doctor Smith. Janet said.

Sir, I would like to see…

Yes, yes young man later. Right now, we all need some rest. Talk to me about it after we get this stuff put away. Howard said and walked away.

Come with me lieutenant. Janet said.

Monroe followed her across the bay to another airlock.

Doctor Smith there is a Captain Skinner of the Titanic calling. Howard heard