The Moon and the Desert, page 18
“Thanks, Glenn, your signals are looking good. We do have a new update for you. I’ll squirt it to your tablet as a secured file. When you open it, it will automatically download and update your processor, and that will automatically update the interface chips.”
“Um, do you ever worry about my processor being hacked?”
“Do you ever worry about solving million-bit encryption? That doesn’t even take into account the quantum entanglement required to even talk to your processor. At this point, your tablet interface thinks it’s part of your body. Digital viruses are cleared by your brain the same way biological viruses are handled by your immune system. For that matter, there’s a few quantum links in that direction as well.”
“Ouch, thinking like that makes my brain hurt.”
“That’s just quantum physics, don’t try to understand it. Anyway, I think we can either get rid of those lags, or at least get them down to the nanosecond level. Let me talk to the guys in the lab and figure out what we can do about adding features to the heads-up display. Overall, the data you’re sending us looks great.” There was a pause on the comm, and sounds of clicking that were the audible reminder of the encrypted comm. “Last question. Any muscle twitches whenever you give the commands?”
“No, not really. I did at first, but it became fairly easy to direct the commands. I can readily switch back and forth—like if I want to press on the rudder pedal as opposed to simply commanding it. I haven’t had any trouble.”
“That’s good. It’s working the way it’s supposed to. I’ll send you that update and get to work on the display. Has anybody up there figured out what’s you’re doing yet?”
“Guenter, of course.”
“Of course, but besides him?”
“Nope. I’m only using one buggy so it’s not showing up anywhere else.”
“That’s good, then. Okay, I’ll get back to Guenter on the upgrades he wants, and I’ve already sent the file to your comm. Have fun experimenting.”
CHAPTER 20:
Visions . . .
Mars Exploration Consortium @TheRealMarsX
Mars Three crew inflated the guest quarters module today. It is the fifth permanent structure, making the facility the largest—and first permanent installation, on Mars. With the arrival of the replacement crew in two months, the facility and mission have been renamed ‘Marsbase One.’
O’Dour @TheOakTree
@TheRealMarsX, has anyone found my car . . . keys?
ChirpChat, February 2043
“What the hell?” Glenn called Marty as soon as he finished reading the latest communication from MarsX Mission Medical Command. “‘Marsbase One crew is in good health and good spirits as they prepare to welcome their replacements. More than two years on Mars does not seem to have adversely affected the health of any of the crew. Chief medical officer Yvette Barbier foresees no problems for the upcoming six-month return trip to Earth.’”
“And?” Marty prompted.
“She—or MMC—is leaving out a lot. Green—Steve, not Melissa—was suffering from scurvy until I pointed it out to them last month. Amit is showing signs of unacceptable bone loss. Taketani has a rash that won’t respond to topical steroids. It’s probably fungal. What in the world—or out of it—is going on up there? I think they’re going to need to be quarantined both here and on Earth. They are all showing odd titers for immunoglobins. IgG and IgM are low, and IgE is elevated. It’s amazing they’re not having hives, urticaria and asthma—I worry about exposure even to the replacement crew.”
“Shep, it’s the first time that any astronaut crew has been totally away for Earth this long. Six months out, more than two years on the surface. By the time they get home, it will be over three years. Moonbase and Heinlein Station are still working on thirteen-month maximum shifts. Do you really expect there to be no medical complications? Look, I know you’re just blowing off steam, but you’ve got to be careful. Don’t give anyone reason to question your professionalism.”
Despite being operated by Space Force, Moonbase had a sizeable civilian contingent as well. Normally, it was a close-knit community—very often, the astronauts and specialists trained together, or knew each other professionally.
So why does it feel as if I’m being shunned? Glenn asked himself.
The dining hall was run by a contract service, much as had military base dining facilities since the turn of the twentieth century. There was a mix of freshly cooked food, prepackaged food that simply needed reheating, and what would be considered “vending machine” food on Earth—mainly snacks and beverages. Residents held their wristcomms up to a reader, then selected food items or placed an order at the service window. There were sufficient tables and seating for groups of two to eight people at a time—but there didn’t seem to be any vacancies today. He’d approached one table of scientists from the bio and chem labs to see if he could squeeze in, but they’d quickly closed the gap as he approached.
In another corner were four people seated at a table for six. He’d noticed several glances his way, followed by whispers, and hard looks. Despite what might have been gossip at his expense, he’d walked over to join them, only to have everyone get up and depart before he reached the table. Guenter was seated alone at a table for two, and waved when he’d entered the dining hall, but he’d been called away. He shrugged—an odd-looking gesture in one-tenth gee—and gave a small wave of regret as he exited.
Yeah, I’m being shunned.
“It’s a hell of a thing, Nik. I trained with these folks. Some of us have been friends for years.”
“It’s different, now, Shep. Even if you weren’t the lone dissenter in MMC, you’re the Other to them.”
It was an ongoing topic from early therapy sessions. Humans naturally feared or distrusted anything that was too obviously different than their experience. Animators and model makers had discovered what was called the Uncanny Valley—clearly cartoonish characters were accepted, and as the illustration became more realistic, people reacted to it accordingly. However, there was a point at which the imitation of a human became close to, but not quite realistic. A “valley” appeared in the curve of steadily increasing attraction because the simulation was uncanny, inhuman, or unrealistic.
Nik warned that Shep’s bionics could trigger an Uncanny Valley reaction in some, although they’d both thought that the positive publicity he’d received courtesy of Jen had mostly eliminated negative reactions. It was possible they were wrong. It was also possible this was the rejection of someone perceived as an outsider who was criticizing too much.
“I know, Nik, but this is new. It wasn’t like this when I first got here.”
“Then they’re reacting to you. How’s your attitude?”
“A quarter million miles, give or take a thousand.”
“Attitude, not altitude. Damn flyboy jokes.”
“Same thing. I’m a quarter million miles from friends and family.”
“Uh huh, and how is she?”
“How would I know? She’s at HI-SLOPE undergoing isolation phase.”
“So, did you talk to her before the phase started?”
“No.”
“Have you heard from her?”
“Yeah, she commed me at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.”
“And did you answer the phone?”
“I texted her back.”
“You idiot! You texted her back? Dammit, Shep, what’s wrong with you?”
“I . . . I’m . . . it’s too soon. I was an idiot, but I can’t take it back.”
“So, call her, text her—send her flowers and a Valentine’s Day card! It’s only two days away.”
“I can’t. She’s in strict isolation with her training group for another month.”
“Send a card. Not an email, not a text, a real-life physical Valentine’s Day card. Even deep space missions have communication from home. I bet you could even get your buddy Professor Johannsen to deliver it.”
“Um, but I still need to get a card and figure out what to say.”
“You won’t have to say anything. Sending the card will be the message.”
“Still, quarter million miles, remember? How am I going to find a card on a paperless base . . . in space . . . and get it to Mauna Kea?”
“Good grief, Shep, you’re hopeless. You go on the internet, search Valentine’s Day cards, pick the one you like, they’ll print it in Waimea, or more likely in Kona or Hilo, and they’ll stick it on a drone and deliver it.”
“Eleven thousand feet up the side of Mauna Kea?”
“Okay, so they put it in a pizza delivery autocar. It’ll just cost a bit more. Do it, Shep.”
“I—I’ll think about it.”
“Hopeless idiot. I’m not entirely sure what she sees in you, and it’s for sure you’re better off with her than without her, you jerk. FIX this! I have spoken.”
“Yes, Nik,” Glenn replied sheepishly.
Living in space caused many problems. Aside from vacuum and radiation, the biggest issue was gravity. The initial space stations were in free-fall—zero gee. They now all had rotating living quarters to simulate gravity, but that didn’t change the fact that the Moon—at one-sixth gee—and Mars—at just over one-third gee—simply were not the conditions under which humans had evolved.
Normally, gravity pulled blood and other fluids to the legs and extremities. Not so in low gravity, and pressure issues in the brain, eyes, and around the heart led to neurological and cardiovascular problems. It was also difficult to maintain bone and muscle strength without devoting a significant amount of each waking cycle to exercise. Moonbase personnel had a rigorous physical program and regular medical checkups. The first two Mars missions weren’t long enough to test extended duration exposure to zero point three seven gees. The data Glenn saw suggested either that the Mars Three—sorry, Marsbase One—crew had slacked off on their exercise, or that Mars gravity was still not sufficient to maintain Earth-like physical health.
That wasn’t what really worried Shepard, though. He was concerned that three years’ isolation would adversely affect the immune health of the crew. History was filled with stories of visitors from distant lands infecting indigenous populations with diseases they’d never previously encountered. Science fiction writers and futurists had predicted that distant star colonies could experience immunological drift, especially if one colony developed resistance and became carriers of pathogens that other colonies had not experienced in years, decades, or even centuries. The data that he was tasked with analyzing suggested that there had been immunological drift in the Mars personnel in under three years. Partially because they had remained in closed, sterile environments the whole time.
The components of the immune system primarily responsible for antibody production—IgG and IgM—appeared to be reduced, while the immunoglobin mediating allergic response—IgE—was elevated. More importantly, there was also reduction in B and T type white blood cells. Immunodeficiencies heightened the risk of opportunistic infections in which normally benign pathogens could become life-threatening.
Something needed to be done if it was true. He didn’t shy away from pulling Rick Morykwas out of the Dragonfly wreckage. He didn’t back down from rescuing that mother and children from their overturned car. For that matter, he didn’t back down from returning to Moonbase, even though he was not entirely trusted up here.
It didn’t matter whether or not his own health was on the line—the health and safety of others was more important. He’d taken an oath to heal the sick and treat the injured. He’d also taken an oath to serve his country and fellow man. He’d renewed one, and still felt himself bound to the other even if Command didn’t agree. Glenn held himself accountable to both of those oaths.
Glenn Shepard never backed down from a challenge, and it was doubly important that he not back down from this one. There was a job to do, and he was the person to do it.
CHAPTER 21:
. . . and Portents
Gavin T @TaketaniDoc
Marsbase Two crew is on the ground at Marsbase! This is a historic moment as we prepare to hand over Marsbase. Previous missions were transients; but Marsbase crew are *residents*!
—Gavin Taketani, Ph.D., Marsbase One Commander
USSF Office of Scientific Integration
@OSIGenBoatright
US Space Force announces a new division organized within OSI named ‘Moon, Mars and Beyond.’ MoMaB will provide infrastructure support for Moonbase, Heinlein Station and now Marsbase. We are here to assist civilian exploration and colonization missions by NASA, MarsX, and allied international space programs. The high frontier has a new home at Space Force OSI!
ChirpChat, May 2043
“Somewhat as a voice in the wilderness, I would like to pass on a few thoughts . . .”
That wasn’t the exact wording Glenn used in his most recent report to MarsX Mission Medical Command, but he’d paraphrased it. That phrase was a legend within the NASA community; in 1961, engineer John Houbolt jumped chain of command and wrote the phrase in a letter to NASA associate administrator Robert Seamans detailing a plan to deliver astronauts to the Moon via a controversial method. The concept, lunar orbit rendezvous, became the actual method used by the Apollo program. If Houbolt’s letter had not got the attention it deserved, the Apollo program likely would not have achieved success. The man—and phrase—were a legend, and Glenn wondered whether or not he would have to do something similar in order to call attention to his concerns.
Thus, it came as a surprise when he received a call from NASA medical division regarding the readings from Percheron. “Hey Glenn, I want you to take a look at something. We’re starting to see an increased incidence of headaches, blurriness of vision, and dizziness among the Percheron crew.”
“Juan, thanks for sending this. I’ve been concentrating mostly on the Marsbase crew—and that’s been doubled for the past month. I haven’t really looked at Percheron, but I’ll go over this and get back with you. Who’s been affected?”
“It’s the female crew for the most part. Captain LeBlanc is the one who’s first complained, but several others as well—navigator Katou, hydroponics engineer Takeda.”
“All female?”
“So far. Bialik, the ship’s medic, reported a few other crewmembers affected showing the headaches, but mostly it’s the women. It’s got us scratching our heads down here. Doc Shelhamer suggested we look for something hormonal, thinking that if it was air quality, it should be affecting everybody equally.”
“That’s true, but there’s always some differential sensitivity. I’ve got a model here that I can run it through and see what I come up with.”
“A model? What kind of model?”
“It’s actually a metabolic model that was designed to monitor my health up here in the Moonbase environment. Since my blood volume and oxygen needs have been so severely altered, the guys back at the bionic shop put together a model to try to figure out my oxygen requirements in a spacesuit. It’s a really good closed environment model, so I’ll see if I can tweak some of the genetic and hormonal factors. That should give us a model of oh-two and cee-oh-two flux in Percheron among the crewmembers. It might be just as simple as turning up the oxygen and checking the carbon dioxide scrubbers. You know how much trouble that was for Apollo and Mir.”
“That was actually the first thing we thought of. Takeda has been running diagnostics of the air system every six hours since the reports started coming in. Also, it’s not all bottled air, the hydroponic plant provides about half of the breathable air, scrubs it, and supplements the food. In fact, carbon dioxide imbalances would affect the algae tanks right away. Since there’s been no change, we’re not entirely sure where this could be coming from.”
“Well, it is a new ship. This is the maiden voyage and you built it to be used for multiple trips back and forth. Six months out, three months at Mars, six months back, then wait for a year in Earth orbit. You know what they say about complex systems; ‘the more they fancy up the plumbing, the easier it is to gum up the works.’”
“Don’t go quoting Scotty on me, Glenn. I’m the one who’s been monitoring this the whole time while you’ve been sitting on your ass up there.”
“‘Smile when you say that, pardner . . .’ There’s not a whole lot of sitting being done up here, yet no one seems to be paying any attention to the reports I’m sending.”
“Oh, I can assure you that they are paying attention, Glenn. This is . . . well . . . It’s not that they’re ignoring you, but I’m not entirely sure they’re ready to face what you’re trying to tell them. Either all of the models are wrong, or the crew has been slacking off on their conditioning. I’ve seen the telemetry, and it certainly doesn’t look like anybody slacking off.”
“Which leads to a question of whether the data is being falsified.”
“Hey!”
“Easy, Juan, I’m not saying it is. It’s just the next thing on a long list of possibilities to check.”
“Yeah, well, nobody’s going to be ready to accept that, either. Just keep the thought to yourself right now and keep your eyes open for further development. You’re doing good work and some of us are paying attention. You need to know that.”
“Yeah, I do, thanks. As I’ve said before, I feel like I’m shouting into the wind.”
“Oh, gee, thanks, I had almost managed to forget about that one.”
“What, my last report?”
“Yes, that one. It caused a bit of a stir among the NASA liaison team. A few execs were not entirely amused. Of course, that’s because they are well aware of what happened the last time someone used the phrase in a report and made certain other individuals look like fools.”
