Mayday

By Leo Myers

This is a story about what could happen in our near future as space exploration expands. A space organization is sending four astronauts to outer space in four different spacecrafts and in four different directions to go deep into space and to report back to Earth about their discoveries. The interesting fact is that each of the astronauts are convicted criminals and are to be executed; therefore, they volunteered to explore without any expectations of returning to Earth. However, there is an unusual development because one of the space travelers is a woman and she is with child.

In the meantime, an alien spaceship appears from behind the moon and enters Earth’s atmosphere to take all the gold and silver that is present on Earth. While our planet is involved in these space matters, it is noticed that the sun is getting smaller and the inhabitants of Earth begin to plan to leave Earth as it is getting colder due to the shrinking sun. The president of the United States is able to converse with the leaders of the various countries to resolve these issues with the code word “Mayday.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796039610

Book preview

Chapter One

DISCOVERY

Jeff (Dr. Jeffery Williams) was anxious to get to the observatory. He pulled a sandwich out of the refrigerator and put it in his backpack. The door of his home slammed behind him as he ran down the porch stairs, grabbed his blue Trek bike, with 21 gears, and peddled to work at a brisk pace. He looked up at the sky and again noticed that the sun did not seem the same as yesterday. It did not have that bright glow. It seemed to lack energy and fullness that had always been there.

When he arrived at work, he parked his bike in the bike rack and went inside the massive building. A few of his Co-workers were already there. John was looking through the eyepiece of the large telescope that reached outside the building.

What do you see? Jeff inquired.

Before John answered Jeff’s question, he said to everyone present, As each one of us goes about our daily routine, doing what we want, or what we must do, most of us are unaware of the bigger picture. We take our daily glance at the Sun, but spending more of our time looking at the moon and stars. As you know, but unknown to most of the people of the world, there is something happening in the Universe. Since we astronomers and scientist are studying the areas beyond our earth’s atmosphere, we know what is happening, and my observations this morning are confirmed.

John (Dr. John Hardy) then replied, turning to face Jeff, Unfortunately, I found the same thing.

You mean the Sun is still getting smaller? Jeff said, amongst the murmur of the people present.

Yes. The activity of the surface is diminishing. There are fewer explosions and fewer outbursts of hot gasses. At the present rate, I have calculated that the Sun will be half its size in about three years. John said with confidence. He continued, From my equation, the Sun’s energy output is decreasing and therefore the Sun is in fact shrinking at almost two feet per year, causing it to lose its overall mass. This loss of mass weakens the Sun’s its gravitational pull on the Earth, allowing the Earth to recede from the Sun a Because of solar mass loss the Earth’s distance from the Sun increases by about 1.6 cent the rate of about an inch per year.

If you don’t mind, I want to check your figures. Jeff sat down at John’s desk and began to review the paperwork.

As Jeff continued with his analysis of John’s work, John said, We have to tell those that should know.

Not only that, we should be prepared to explain the possible consequences of the sun getting much smaller within the next year, since the process is accelerating. Jeff responded.

John looked around the room and the staff nodded in agreement.

Well, get to work and have a basic summary on my desk at 3:00 today. Jeff and I will summarize your work and I will call the President and NAA, and NASA at four o’clock today.

What if you can’t get through to them, and what if they don’t believe you? a voice said from back at the office. It was Mary West. She was the newest member of the staff, having just graduated. She probably had the best feel of reality, since she had just stepped out of college life and into a work environment.

Good question, Mary. Jeff replied. I suggest that each of you should also include at least one paragraph as to how the public and the world should be notified.

That is a good idea. Okay, put your phones on ‘Do Not Disturb’, take only a half hour for lunch and we will see you at three. John ordered.

The staff immediately sensed the urgency of the matter and went to their desks, workstations, and offices. It was obvious that the staff worked as a team, there were no jokes, no horseplay, no Internet activity, and no video games or cell phones in use.

At five minutes till three, John said to Jeff, Let’s go and see what they came up with for us to review.

I’m right behind you. This should be an interesting meeting.

Both men walked into the conference room. The only person there was Mary (Mary West). She had efficiently placed her report in front of John’s chair. Jeff instinctively picked up the report and began to read. John went over to speak to Mary and compliment her on having completed the assignment first. John returned to his chair at the head of the long table, as the other employees began to enter into the room. Jeff continued to read Mary’s report. Mary looked around the room as the others entered and noticed them as they gave their reports to John. Jeff kept reading.

The conference room grew quiet as John spoke.

I know each of you put your best efforts into these reports. I can only guess at what must be going through your minds as a result of your research. Since today is Thursday, go ahead and take the rest of the day off, plus tomorrow and return to work Monday morning.

There was a general sigh of relief from all the employees. They smiled and grinned at each other. John stood up.

There is one condition though. Do Not, I repeat, Do Not; speak to anyone about what is going on, not even to your spouse, lover, parent, or child. Give Jeff and I an opportunity to review your results and arrive at the best approach to reveal and convince others of what we all know to be true. Monday, we will advise you of what the President, Ken Thomas over at NAA, and NASA has decided and what strategy will be in place to notify the public and the world. So, you each will most likely have different duties next week. Now, get out of here. Everyone applauded as John gathered up the reports and began to leave the room.

Jeff, please meet me in my office and bring your notes. John stated.

Sure boss, I am right behind you. He said without hesitation.

As the other employees gathered their personal belongings, each quickly left the building in a serious, but joyful mood. Serious because of what they knew and joyful for the long weekend. John and Jeff stepped into John’s office. John took the reports, separated them into two stacks.

Okay, Jeff, you read this stack. I will read these, then we will switch.

Each started reading the various reports, with Jeff finishing up Mary’s report. Both John and Jeff jotted down notes as they finished their absorption of the various thoughts as put forth by the employees. Jeff spoke first.

John, it appears that there is a common thread running throughout all these reports.

Yes, I agree. First, we need to contact the Whitehouse. There is a consensus that it would be a waste of time and energy to call the military or other scientist. I do believe that it should be a conference call to include Jim White, Chief Executive Officer of NASA and Ken Thomas, the current Director of the National Aerospace Association, in case the President wants to keep a lid on the situation. I personally would feel better if someone with ‘universal’ experience was included, he said with a smile.

Jeff, in one of those reports, I think it was Mary’s, included the President’s phone number. John asked.

Yep, here it is. I have both Jim White’s and Ken Thomas’s number also. Let me dial the operator and set up the conference call. Jeff said as he reached for the phone.

One last thing. John said, Don’t you agree that our studies confirm that Venus is becoming more like Earth?

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Jeff responded, Yes, since water now exists there, more green plants have developed, and it is the second planet from the Sun, Venus can be considered habitable, plus it is much closer to Earth, being only 24 million miles away.

Chapter Two

THE APPROACH

‘Bleep.’

Sarah Sapp heard the sound before she saw the indicator on her deep space radar screen.

Hey, Bill (Bill Swanson), look at your screen. She said to her co-worker as they both heard the same sound again.

‘Bleep’.

It appears that the object has moved from behind the moon and is heading for Earth, he responded to her, as he adjusted his chair closer to the radar screen, with his right hand on the phone as it set in its cradle. He quickly glanced at the speed dials and knew his first call would be to the Air Force.

I have a feeling that this is a space craft that has deliberately approached Earth while using the Moon as a shield. She stated confidently.

How in the world can you draw that conclusion? Bill asked as they both heard a louder ‘Bleep’.

"I have my radar set on a wider scale than yours and I would have noticed something before

Reviews for Mayday

[kindleifier · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm afraid I can't get into this. In the opening chapters I felt I was drowning in a sea of lists and adjectives, and I found myself speed-reading to get through the verbiage. The central character, not to mention the other characters I have found so far, comes over as unlikable. Sorry Mr Lynn, I prefer my satire à la Terry Pratchett with characters that I care about.