In the Beginning

Chapter Backstory 0

Scene Observatory

In The Beginning

Chuck entered the catalog properties of Fast Star #5 into the telescope's tracking system.

The machine whirred and slewed the antenna around to center the fifth star of the fast group into view.

It was slightly out of position, so the astronomer set the system to correct for the error in proper motion listed in the catalog.  After a couple of burps and chirps from the tracking gimbals, the star was dead on the cross hairs of the finder.

"Computer, how much error from the last catalog update do we have?"

A disembodied voice came out of the wall, "Zero point zero one four three arc-seconds Right-Ascension and zero point zero zero eight seven arc-seconds Declination, sir."

"Computer, append the catalog with that... and a question: how soon will Fast #5 be within fifty light-years of our system?"

"Thirteen thousand two hundred fifty three years... plus or minus five years, sir."

"Computer, when is Fast #5 expected to go nova 1A?"

"Thirteen thousand three hundred twenty one years... plus or minus five years, sir."

"Computer, and how close will we be at that time?"

"Forty-one light-years, sir."

"Computer, how much would we need to deflect Fast #5 to put it two-hundred light-years away from our system at the nova event?"

"Sir, there are two minimal solutions to that problem.  ‘A’, to prevent Fast #5 from ever passing within two-hundred light-years.  And ‘B’, to allow Fast #5 to pass through our system first and be two-hundred light-years away before the event.  Which would you like, sir?"

"Computer, give me both."

"Solution 'A' would require a deflection of thirty-six degrees at present... increasing a degree for every hundred years of delay."

"Solution 'B' would require a deflection of minus seven degrees at present... increasing a half degree for every hundred years of delay."

"Computer, is there enough material available in Fast #5's planetesimal debris disk for both solutions?"

"Negative, sir.  Only solution 'B' would be feasible for the next two-thousand years, sir."

"So, then, there is really only one available solution for us."

The computer was silent.

At the Presidio

"The Governor said, "Seven degrees, nine or ten degrees by the time we get there... if we go."

"If we go?  The alternative isn't an option."

"There are always options.  I'm just thinking of the opposition.  'Why can't we postpone for a few decades?'  They have other projects they want to proffer."

"But, sir, if fast #5 goes 1A within a hundred light-years, it cooks everything on the surface.  Within fifty light-years, we lose our atmosphere."

"Oh, I know we have to do it, but we just can't afford the budget hit right now."

"Sir, these projects always generate more economic activity than they cost."

"Chuck, this is not logical, this is politics.  Politics has never used logic successfully."

"There's another problem, sir."

"What... something more important than the survival of our species?"

"Maybe.  We haven't been through this part of the Milky Way before.  We don't know of any indigenous natural species that may reside in systems where we would have to redirect Fast #5."

"Well, we'll have to address that.  The first part of the solution will be to pick a target site."

"But, Fast #5 is called fast because of its speed.  About one fifth light speed.  We don't have the technology to look out to a thousand light-years with enough clarity to detect life signals."

"So, there's a chance we could throw it from one species to another?"

"Exactly.  We don't have the right to choose who lives... or who burns."

"Is there a chance we could put it someplace where it wouldn't make any difference?"

"Possibly.  There is a nebula about 10 degrees farther off axis that wouldn't have had a chance for life to form yet.  Too much stellar birth activity."

"Is there enough material in Fast #5’s disk to go the extra ten degrees?"

"Yes, just barely.  We would have to be prudent though.  The mission has to be able to escape, too."

"I suppose that is another imperative for a speedy decision to mount the mission."

Chuck just nodded.

"And Fast #5 has confirmed debris to mount the redirected mission?"

"We won't know the exact state to the debris disk until we get there.  But, only special circumstances could have depleted the disk.  We haven't seen it happen in more than one percent of the systems similar to Fast #5 though."

"That has to be confirmed before we spend a hundred trillion dollars and fifth thousand lives to move a star off course."

Chuck looked at the Governor and said, "Politics isn't an exact science."

The Governor’s eyebrows raised.  "I don't suppose you have a candidate in mind to direct the mission."

Chuck just smiled at the Governor.

"A ten-thousand year mission?  Longer than you've been alive.  It might be the biggest part of your life.  You actually want to do it?"

"This will be only the third time our species has done this.  I wouldn't mind if I was on the same page of history as Gabriel and Nemons."

"One hell of an ego trip."

"Look, I'm sure there are many others as qualified as I.  But, I want to go.  The ship wouldn't have to be manned fully until we get there.  We could make up all the specialists and distinctive species we need on the trip out.  Fast #5 can't have habitable planets so we'd just stay on the ship for the duration."

"And if the mission is a failure?"

"We’d have thirteen thousand years.  That's a good life.  As long as most."



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