The Bridge, page 4
The center section was also the most expansive section of the shuttle. The Elixir's main entrance was located at this widest center section. The bottom of the shuttle tapered back down to approximately two-thirds of the Elixir's most expansive center part. It had three fins at its base and three nozzles between those.
It looks like an old movie prop of a flying saucer if you were to put your hands on the top center and stretch it upward into a point! Or, like a giant flying Vidalia onion, if you used the onion tails as the nose cone, thought Angela with a grin.
Once inside the Elixir, she realized the ship was extremely accommodating in seating. Angela was very impressed with the Elixir's design. It is a shuttle, after all!
The central landing platform inside the shuttle's main entrance opened onto four different walkways. The first walkway led straight up to the crew deck. Angela could hear the voices of the crew from where she stood. The next walkway went to the right and the left and appeared to run the entire circumference of the shuttle's interior. Angela noticed that it housed approximately thirty-six seats in a quick count. The last walkway led straight down to the bottommost decks of the shuttle. This section contained the cargo holds, propulsion and power systems, engines, data center, and other instrumentation.
Looking more closely, Angela saw that all seats on the main deck were outward facing and provided with windows! Though the Elixir had six sides, the seats were not directly built into the inside of the shuttle or to the floor. Instead, they were built into this metal suspended frame.
This center cage is like a roll cage! Angela thought. They had used roll cages in race cars early in history. She had read about them in early design school. This cage was connected to the interior of the outer walls of the shuttle but not to the bottom or top of the ship. The floor was connected to the cage itself but not to the seats.
Angela reassessed the shuttle's design. She observed the shuttle's exterior walls. The cage was built onto this wall. The seats and the floor were constructed separately and attached to this roll cage.
Walking about two feet in either direction, you could see that the seats began on both sides using the same layout. There were three seats, then a walkway. This walkway led you past six seats, then a walkway. Then you walked past another six seats. Then there was another walkway. Then you walked past the last three seats on that side of the shuttle. A final C-shaped walkway led you past the emergency escape door and to the shuttle's other side. The other side of the shuttle had the same layout of three seats, then six seats, then six more seats, with the last three seats leading back to the shuttle's main entrance door.
Angela felt Gideon's rock rubbing against her leg from inside her suit's cargo side pocket. It's for good luck, and the total weight of the shuttle won’t change, she told herself. Just slightly more dispersed than if she had left her rock in her sack in the special cubby as she had been instructed to, had she taken other things onboard.
You could take very little with you when you flew to the moon, Angela thought feeling guilty about her contraband rock. You always had to wear your suit and carry your helmet in the wheeled case as a precaution against an airlock breach. You were allowed to take only GenTrek–issued cotton under suits and underwear. These underwear and under suits could be changed and cleaned as needed. You still had to be wearing your spacesuit constantly, except at bedtime.
Like the dorm buildings, the separate dorm rooms would be sealed off automatically when a breach occurred. Angela knew that you were sealed in wherever you stood at the time of the breach with enough air for the duration of the lockdown.
They are building the DTC with modern technology. That is good! she thought. This will change soon if my project works out. Going to the moon is great until you realize how you have to live. We’re stuck in the twenty-third century!
Changing living conditions might even be my next project! Thank you! Thank you very much, thought Angela.
Sitting in her assigned seat, Angela smiled at Doctors Whitney and Sam. They had all been assigned seats on the far-right side of the center deck, near the emergency exit.
Angela glanced back to the walkway that went out straight across the shuttle. This walkway linked the main and emergency shuttle doors directly. It also had a ladder in its center.
This ladder had two large red lights attached to the cage at the top and bottom. It was also built directly into the center cage structure. Angela could see the bottom of a separate top ladder through the portal. It began where the center ladder ended and was probably connected to the crew deck cage. A third disconnected but perfectly aligned ladder led down below deck.
Angela was quite impressed with this design.
The central walkway had assigned storage compartments for the crew and passengers. That is where my rucksack is, thought Angela with a smile. She also noticed that unused seats could be turned over to create additional storage for the shuttle.
The Team Racer Camp, or the camp, would be staffed with ten telemetry and communications engineers, four development operations engineers, two astrophysicists, and one programmer and telemetry data analyst.
Seventeen of the best and the brightest in their given fields would work specifically for Team Racer, addressing its many needs as they occurred. They were stationed at the Mission Control desk at the GenTrek Space Center.
Project Icarus would be a coordinated effort with the GSC on Terra and the Operations Command Center on the moon.
Angela looked around her seat while waiting for lift-off. She wondered, Who isn’t here? She noticed that a number of team members were missing:
Alexander Rozanski was an employee of GenTrek. He was a lunar biochemical engineer, class four. He specialized in horticultural production in space. He was the botanical lead for Team Racer on Project Icarus. He was the lead on growing plants and controlling unwanted growth of anything inside the structure of the Titan spacecraft.
Peter Stanley was a computer engineering lead with a secondary lead role in robotics engineering, including drones and AI. His robotics programming experts were Paul Donaldson and Betty Meyers. All three were employees of GenTrek assigned to Project Icarus but not a direct part of Team Racer.
Peter would also be advising remote teams on procedures for collecting test data and bio-organisms robotically speaking. Project Icarus was only a test voyage, so no actual sample collection from the solar system would be taking place on this voyage. The groundwork had to be set up and tested to simulate a real journey. Peter, Paul, and Betty were not present on the Elixir, but all were accounted for on the moon.
Chloe Asturias was an employee at GenTrek assigned to Team Racer for Project Icarus, a solar systems ship engineer class five, specializing in deep space mechanics and systems calibration and repair. She was not present either.
Benjamin Corker and Roger Halpren were employees at GenTrek. Both were assigned to Team Racer for Project Icarus as construction leads, class five, specializing in craft design and navigation systems. They would be doing the refitting of the Titan shuttle for Project Icarus. They would also assist in installing the PPC QC system and all associated hardware and software. Benjamin assisted Angela in teaching the Icarus training course and the certification test processing this past year. He is supposed to be my helping hand on this project! Where is he? Angela wondered. Roger Halpren isn’t here either.
Where is everyone? worried Angela.
Whitney Leonard, consulting on behavioral science for Project Icarus, is present.
Dr. Samantha Whitfield, consulting on interstellar medicine for Team Racer on Project Icarus, is present. She is also lead in onboard medical systems installation and repair.
Peter Grant is an employee at GenTrek and cost and feasibility accountant lead for Team Racer, Project Icarus. He is consulting on costs, issuing design modification approvals, and making the final presentation of Project Icarus to the shareholders. He is not present but wasn’t supposed to be.
Angela thought his presence on the team was a bit ironic, given his fear of space travel. He would not be making his presentation on Project Icarus until the last hour before the launch of the Titan shuttle on the moon. It would be recorded and broadcasted from the GenTrek Space Center on Terra.
He is still a crucial part of Project Icarus. We will need his clearance for any last-minute changes.
Geoff Harrison is an employee at GenTrek, assigned to Team Racer for Project Icarus. He is an SSct pilot class five. He specializes in space cartography and satellite radio link telemetry systems.
Geoff will be working closely with our MP since all onboard systems have a security component. Geoff isn’t present! He and Reggie had remotely installed the first PPC QC system at the LRS.
Reginald Tyndale is an employee at GenTrek assigned to Team Racer for Project Icarus. SSe class five, specializing in mechanical repair and parts fabrication. He is the friendliest in the employee group, thought Angela. “Call me Reggie,” Angela remembered him saying at the beginning of remote installation a few years ago. Reggie isn’t here either!
Nothing builds knowledge like an actual installation of anything, contemplated Angela. I can’t wait until an AI handles all ship security systems. Take the Terrene aspect right out of the security equation.
Tracy Horner is our GMP-appointed chief of security for Team Racer and Project Icarus. He will be the official MP focusing on anti-espionage, access control systems, SSc vessel life support systems, and SSc vessel security systems repair and maintenance. Tracy is present, thank goodness!
Angela tried to relax in her seat and prepare for the impending launch.
Since the Unification of Countries in centuries past, many changes had occurred. The Global Military Policemen were stationed everywhere. The GMP formed the world's most significant security force in Terrene history. It replaced independent government security agencies around the globe with a single neutral security force.
But history was a bore to Angela. So was politics.
Terrene had become the proper term for identification since humans were examples of terrene beings. In space training camp, you learned how to identify yourself correctly. You stated your name, company, job title, and rank if you had one. Then you would say, “Terrene.”
Timekeeping conventions had also changed. Dates followed by BC for “Before Christ” and AD for “After Christ” in centuries past had been updated with BCE for “Before Common Era” or CE for “Common Era.” This change dated as far back as the late twenty-first century.
With the Unification of Countries, countries around the globe had merged into a single global government and population of Terra. This occurred on the first day in 2348 CE. So, the proper terminology for that date in verbal reference became 1/1/1 UE for Unification Era.
Soon, timekeeping would inevitably change again due to reaching out and physically claiming the Terrene Solar System. Angela had seen news updates recently.
No matter what place in the solar system you were in, timekeeping would remain the same. The date would be the same if you were on Jupiter's moons or reading telemetry data time stamped off a submariner drone deep in the seas of Neptune or Uranus.
Then military time would remain in use along with the Solar System Positioning coordinates or Global SSPc markers for that person, place, or thing the entry was about. Everything would be monitored by the GMP Security Proximity System.
We are all equal and interconnected, thought Angela feeling secure.
Angela, Whitney, and Sam were suddenly distracted by a cheerful voice from their seats’ left-side aisle.
“Excuse me. You are Angela Becker, the inventor. Correct?” confirmed a young man in an orange GenTrek pilot's spacesuit.
Judging by Whitney and Dr. Sam's reaction, he was repeating himself. Angela realized he had been standing near her seat, and she had been too deep in thought to notice!
“Yes, Angela Becker reporting for duty,” she replied. That sounded stupid!
“I’m Ping! Ping Lo, GenTrek SSc pilot, first class, Terrene. I’m new, so I might as well stick to the script, right?” joked Ping as he shook hands with the women.
“I will be taking you for a quick tour of the shuttle if you like, Angela. We have about an hour before take-off.”
“That would be great! What an unexpected treat!” said Angela as she stood up. Waving back at Whitney and Dr. Sam, she turned and followed Ping.
“We can begin with the crew deck. Watch your head as you cross the portal. Never step through it if that red light is flashing!” Ping pointed to the light near the portal that was not currently lit up.
“During lift-off, the crew seats are in an upright position relative to the ship, like your seat is at present. After lift-off occurs and we have reached the upper atmosphere, the crew deck rolls back ninety degrees and faces outward toward the nose of the ship. You will see that light flashing red, indicating NOT to cross the portal until the change is completed,” instructed Ping.
Angela nodded.
“You will not be aware of the crew deck changes in zero gravity. You will see the stars traveling downward in your viewing pane,” Ping explained.
Angela nodded.
After walking up the ladder and through the portal, Ping waited for Angela upstairs.
Angela climbed into the massive control deck of the shuttle and stared at its transparent viewing area. A similar but smaller cage shaped like a chocolate-candy kiss with all the seating and instrumentation built into its perimeter filled this deck.
Crew workstations were all positioned closest to this cage's left or right side in the floor layout. There were three rows of six workstations on this deck.
There were two left-side workstations opposite two right-side workstations in each line. The two center workstations were reserved for officers and stood about three feet ahead and between the other four in that floor line. These workstations were surrounded by instrumentation and interactive viewing panels installed within this cage.
“The crew deck can be changed ninety degrees on the captain's command when the Elixir is flying,” said Ping informatively.
“Everyone, can I have your attention please,” said Ping cheerfully.
“I would like you to meet THE Angela Becker! She is the inventor, chief engineer, and implementation lead of the PPC QC system! Also, consultant and technical lead for Team Racer and Project Icarus. She is a brilliant yet humble person,” Ping announced to the applause of the flight crew of the shuttle.
“Thank you! No need for applause! I have to say this shuttle is amazing! This is my first shuttle flight and my first trip to the moon,” said Angela excitedly.
“The Elixir is not your regular shuttle. Like your innovative technology, this is a prototype shuttle upgrade that might occur after we collect enough flight data on performance,” said Ping.
“Good to know. If possible, I will have to try and get updated schematics,” said Angela.
“Hello! I am Douglas Henning, consulting for GenTrek and lead design engineer for Project Elixir. Pleased to meet you, Dr. Becker!” he said while stepping up to shake Angela's hand at last. Angela looked into his beautiful large brown eyes. His light auburn hair was thick and healthy looking. Angela appreciated his sensible haircut. To her, it indicated a sensible man who was not given to extravagance and ego. He had been waiting on the crew deck, having been told about the tour Angela would receive. Focus Angela, she scolded herself.
“The new shuttle design is mine! I hope you enjoy your ride,” said Douglas. “Please call me Doug!”
“OK, Doug. This shuttle design is a great improvement to the one in the schematics I have,” said Angela.
“Thank you! Oh, I must get down to my seat! I wanted to try and get a glance of the lowest deck before buckling into my seat,” said Doug. He started to leave the crew deck, stopped, and turned toward Angela.
“I flew on the crew deck on the maiden voyage of the Elixir. I will be seated on the main deck with the other passengers for this flight. Maybe my seat will be next to yours?” said Doug optimistically.
“Chat with you later,” said Doug as he went down the steps.
Angela shook the other crew members’ hands one by one.
“Glad to be here,” she repeated earnestly with every new hand.
“Team Racer, my team, seems to have a few missing members. Would any of you know them or know if they were scheduled to be on this flight?” Angela read her list of names:
“Alexander Rozanski is our biochemical lead. Benjamin Corker and Roger Halpren are our spacecraft design experts. Stanley Croft is our team's lead in lunar construction. Reggie Tyndale is our SSe and machinist. Also missing is Chloe Asturias, SSe and bio systems lead.” Angela paused and looked at the crew for answers.
“Yes, I flew them out yesterday at 0700 hours,” said Second Officer Jacques Lambert as he spun his chair around to face Angela and Ping.
“But Chloe's name doesn’t sound familiar,” said Jacques without concern.
“She's aboard today's flight,” Ping said while reviewing the paperwork he was holding.
“Well, we shall see after lift-off! For now, I must get you into your seat,” said Ping as he handed Angela a gold pin in the shape of the Elixir. “Courtesy of GenTrek and awarded only to the selected few! It also acts as an extra transponder if you press on the E in the center of the shuttle.”
“Wow! Thank you so much, Ping. Now I can fly the shuttle too?” asked Angela teasingly. She quickly put her golden shuttle pin away in her spacesuit belt storage pocket for later.
Putting an arm loosely behind Angela's back, Ping gently led Angela back to the portal and down the ladder. Time was limited before the final countdown.
“I can’t believe I’ve met Angela Becker,” said Ping with astonishment as he followed her belowdecks. “You are such a legend in so many different scientific fields! You may have changed the experience of space travel permanently!” Angela beamed with pride.
“I’m sorry but we are out of time,” Ping informed Angela. “We still have the next forty-eight hours to arrange a walk-through of the new shuttle.”
