Human Starpilots Read online

  Nilse nodded in thanks and rose to walk heavily away. When the doctor closed the door, the room darkened again, and the master shut down the readers. He unwrapped the pilot’s bracelet and cried silently, holding it in his hand.

  4 Brian

  The Federation Starpilot Academy housed students on the first floor, in small but comfortable rooms. When he walked in for the first time, Brian felt five years younger. He no longer had any stress about earning his living, but this relief came with the cost of learning everything all over again.

  They had a cafeteria all for themselves, with a dedicated cook, and a large common area with games and music. Both rooms were huge and could easily have accommodated a promotion two or three times larger.

  For the first two days, Emily had dragged Brian and Willfried to explore the huge building, learning to find their ways in it. She couldn’t wait to start and learn more while they were still unsettled by the travel. Ever since their initial training on Earth, she had been the one to jump first into anything new. Brian usually took a lot longer to accept novelties, but once started, would usually go deeper, while Emily would switch to the next challenge. If there were two floors above the ground, there were easily ten below, with corridors and connection everywhere.

  “How does it work?” wondered Wilfried aloud.

  “The towers capture warm air and send it down to the lowest floors. The heat down there allows us to work in the underground. Then, the air flows upward to cool the upper levels,” answered quietly Brian, drawing technical schemas.

  “This design is well known on Earth. Nothing extraordinary here?” said Emily.

  “You are both right and wrong. The design relies on classic patterns. But the way the shafts are built is very impressive. And the air flows naturally without fans or moving parts,” continued Brian, caressing the wall in awe.

  “How then?”

  “I don’t know. That’s the knowledge the Federation has promised.”

  On the third day, Leopold Auguste Sengare, Natalya Podorovski, and Li Bao Jiang, the three other students from Earth, had joined them with the afternoon shuttle, arriving at sundown at the academy. They were the last students joining the class. All others had arrived before.

  Leopold was tall, dark skinned, and always cheerful. He had been a good friend to Brian and had carried a lot of their group through the toughest physical training they had had on Earth. Having grown up near the Victoria Desert in Australia, he was used to the temperature on Adheek and didn’t break a sweat when he finally found his friends. Li Bao was a shy girl with dark hair and eyes, a medium build, and an extreme powerful intelligence. Tasha was twenty-two, a petite blonde slightly younger than the others but very skilled in engineering and mathematics. Underlying her doll-like beauty was a strong, purposeful woman. She had grown over the last year to become Brian’s little sister, and he hugged her affectionately.

  “So, Tasha, how was your trip down?”

  “Bad, very bad. Why didn’t you warn us? You only sent Enjoy the ride.” Brian had prepared a lot of answers on that one and was about to respond when Emily slapped him on the head.

  “You didn’t do it. You didn’t dare do it! I swear you will pay for it.” Emily couldn’t stop laughing, and the words bubbled out of her laugh. Li Bao and Leopold looked at each other.

  “Good news. The adults have finally arrived. Looks like I was right to be afraid of leaving you here with only Willfried to watch over you.” Leopold’s voice was deep and resonant.

  “Shouldn’t we go?” interjected Li Bao with her high-pitched voice. The others looked at her and then blushed.

  “You are so nice when you’re in trouble,” Li Bao continued. “I believe our ambassador waits for us.”

  They ran out of the academy and to the address they had been given. The scarlet buildings around them projected huge trapezoid shadows under the evening light. The small café was located in a nearby street, quite close to the academy, and they weren’t even sweating when they arrived, despite the evening heat.

  Ambassador Don Mariano Della Vega waited for them at the entrance, a small stair leading to the basement. He was an elegant, well-mannered middle-aged man. He had been the best from the Emergency Response Team in Geneva because of his strength for negotiation. He, along with his team, had discovered the Federation during the Lunar meetings and had led well the contact under the hated low lunar gravity. His appointment to Adheek had been the conclusion of a very successful career. Until, that is, he faced the most daunting challenge of his entire life.

  The café was a very cozy and classy place. They seated themselves around a large round table in a nicely decorated alcove. It was quiet, and the Earth students felt much better in this comfortable setting. There was a buffet with assorted dishes and drinks from the planet for the students to “learn more about their new environment.” The walls and ceiling were entirely covered by discrete 3-D holograms, which changed minute by minute. Plants replaced animals, which replaced intricate arabesques, and so on.

  A few minutes after their arrival, they were joined by the aide from the ambassador, Mathias Huckendorf. He was a quiet techno geek, tall and slender, with an intense glare. They had met him a few times before he had left with the ambassador, but he had talked very little to them at that time.

  “So, what is the situation?” asked Don Mariano.

  “We are forty students on our first year. The teachers have been clear that laggards will stop after the first three months if they don’t show enough progress and don’t adapt to the new environment.” Emily’s voice was tiny and not as assured as she usually was. Brian looked at her and smiled. She was the only one among them who would reach the next phase of their training. He was certain of it. She was so eager to learn each new topic and absorbed all knowledge thrown at her so easily. She was probably the only one unconvinced.

  Don Mariano nodded and continued, “I have had the same information. What about the rest of you?”

  “I am going to be hard pressed,” explained Brian. “Based on the introductions we have had, I am not sure I can reach the next phase.” The others were in similar situation. And they all looked down, not picking on Brian’s admission of weakness.

  The ambassador sighed. “This will not do.” His voice lashed out at them shaking them out of their misery. “I know you are all very competitive. But this time, the competition is not between you. We have chosen all of you because you have different strengths. You will win together, or you will lose.” There was absolute certainty in his voice.

  Behind them, Mathias added quietly. “We are all here to help some of you become pilots. Maybe not all of you but only a few. Maybe not even you but the next group.”

  “This is more complex, sir,” said Willfried. “Before we reached Adheek, we competed with others, but we all knew the rules of the game. Now we face students from many worlds and we face the academy itself. And no one knows the rules here.” In fact, reflected Brian, no one really knew how to behave at all. The talks between planetary groups were limited, and in the large building, the spare and hushed conversations rang loudly. Even Willfried, the gossip master, had had trouble finding new connections. “So, everyone is really isolated there,” completed Leopold in a whisper.

  “Then, working together will make you stronger. It is not because every planet is separated that you need to accept it. The Federation connects everyone through trade. It shares information. But not a lot more. Not religion, culture, vision. Connect with other students if you can. Find out the rules of the game and win through.”

  “And if we can’t?” said Emily in her smallest voice.

  “Everything we learn is a bonus for our planet. Even in failure, we can build the knowledge we need.” Don Mariano’s voice was subdued. They had all been taught the cost of failure and they all knew Earth had a limited time to correct the climate degradation. No one knew if they had time for another group of student to try becoming starpilots. Quiet fell on them. In the silence tha
t followed, Mathias poured all of them a dark brown liquid.

  “You should try it. It is called Zopol. You have also noddles in the buffet, called Lomal.” His introduction broke the spell and they moved to test different foods. “What is your program? What do you need to learn?” he continued while they reseated themselves.

  “Every day of the week except on Fiveday and Tenday, we will alternate physical training with theoretical courses on physics, engineering, and flight, mainly.” The weeks followed the Federation standard calendar and were ten days long, with forty weeks in a year. Adheek had a more complex lunar calendar based on its two moons, but the academy was a Federation institute and outside Adheek’s jurisdiction. “We will also face regular exams. We will manipulate the 3-D readers and the data crunchers daily, and we need to get faster in this. All will be combined in star navigation, and it seems it will be one of the most difficult courses in this first year,” answered Tasha with a smile.

  “When is the first of your exams?” said Mathias.

  “We will have a few here and there. Every week, a teacher will tutor us in a one-to-one review of our achievements and difficulties. From what we heard, those sessions often will end with extra assignments and special exams. And we will have a first series of exams twenty-five weeks from now.” They had all spent days learning how the academy worked, based on the few documentaries they could find on the data banks.

  “So, the three months’ evaluation we have heard about is not linked directly to exams,” concluded the ambassador. They nodded in unison. “This means you have to succeed on each exam, not only at the end.”

  “You know, we have been granted access to the CoreDataSphere, the CDS,” added Mathias. “The Sphere is also nicknamed the DataDump, and you have heard about it. It’s the sum of data published from every planet of the Federation and of all news related to the Federation itself and to space activities. It is updated with every ship passing through the system.” The students knew about it but hadn’t been granted an access yet to it. “It is quite complex to manipulate, but I have trained continuously on it for the last quarter,” he continued. “I can find anything you need in it if you give me enough time and a precise question.”

  Li Bao took the point. “I will liaise with you on that. We will need it.” She pondered it for a while and then added. “This is one of the most advanced pieces of technology from the Federation and you master it in a couple months?

  “It is a huge catalog so the issue was finding my way in it more than anything else. Yet, I agree with you. In first analysis, this is more advanced than our technology but not by far. And they use piece of technology like the radiation control nano-technology they demonstrated that is way beyond this”.

  Don Mariano hushed them. “Dear all, we know there are discrepancies in the Federation technologies. Let’s not dig into it but focus on the first months”.

  “And before we finish talking about the DataDump, I can also send data back to Earth via the diplomatic data load. Data is limited, to avoid saturation, but you can send video and audio messages. Even traditional messages if you wish. Send them to me, and I’ll take care of sending them along.” Mathias sat smugly, smiling at them.

  “What about the teachers? Who are they?” probed the ambassador.

  Willfried continued on the evaluation. “There is a group of dedicated teachers resident in the academy and also a few others, external trainers like Althal, the pilot who flew us down. She’ll give some courses when she’s on-planet.”

  Emily interjected at that time. “Some teaches seem a bit stuffy. Set in their absolute ways determined by the Core Federation Academy.” She took a haughty air and a strange accent. “In that, Althal should bring a small part of fresh air inside.”

  “Yes, but she has another role. I am sure of it but I don’t understand what it is.” Wilfried continued stubbornly before reviewing what they knew of each teacher.

  “Well,” the ambassador said, “we have a first baseline of information. We have high stakes, but we discover a lot day after day as we go. So let’s be efficient. First, we gather as much information as we can. Second, Mathias supports us on all questions and information research. You ask first and think later. Last, Emily, I’ll ask you to take the lead and organize daily revision with the whole group. You stick together, you learn together, and you will succeed.”

  They answered in unison, “yes, sir.” Brian thought that for a renowned diplomat, the ambassador had missed an opportunity as drill sergeant.

  “Now, let’s eat and share impressions on the food. Not a word anymore on work until you are back.” This proceeded in a giant blind test of everything that was laid before them. For the first time, it wasn’t too bad, but the tastes were very strange.

  “Everywhere, there is a metallic tinge,” complained Leopold after a while.

  “Same as of you. Textures are good. Noddles are soft, the crust around the fish is well done, but the meat balls on the side are weird,” added Li Bao.

  “That might be because there are based on proteins from vegetables?” said Don Mariano, smiling broadly at the surprised faces around the table. “They cannot sustain large meat production with the constant heat. This is called Pallo and you will eat a lot of it. Now, to the soft side. Let me introduce to Myirt, the local delicacy.” He rose and brought back a large pie, with a very thin crust and small yellow fruit caramelized. This time, the metallic tinge wasn’t there replaced by a nice acidity. In a few minutes, the pie disappeared. Everyone enjoyed a second serving and a last drink. The evening slowly got them out of the Earth and the cultures they had come from and into the experience of living on Adheek. It was a good time together, and they came back to the academy singing merrily in the streets.

  5 The aliens blog – 2134 AD

  From your favorite alien hunter Mat, always at your side.

  Dear readers! You want the latest news on our visitors; I have it all.

  Two months have now gone by since first contact.

  First, we have no scientific evidence that there is a link with the tsunamis and landslides that have redoubled this year. Different issues should not be mixed together, even if this year has been particularly the worst in the century. The video report for the Joint University Weather Effort is attached to this blog. Most especially, we would have lost two more pacific isles to the global ice melting even if the ships had not come. They had already been evacuated five years.

  Second, we have news on the alien front. One of our groups has been able to infiltrate the Epidemic Rescue Center (ERC) of the European Confederation. As some of you know, the ERC, like many other entities around the world, has been tasked with the analysis of the DNA from our visitors.

  They were able to extract and send on a partial report. Our visitors have less than 2 percent deviation with us.

  Focus on DNA deviation: you can follow this link to a very good video explanation. But in short, no convergent evolution can be that close. What is convergent evolution theory? Basically, under the same environment and conditions, similar beings could emerge from the Darwin model: developed hands to manipulate tools, vertical station. Similar, yes! But no statistical model leads to less than 2 percent deviation.

  What does it mean? They are, as they were telling us, really our cousins. But, how can we have cousins in space?

  As I write this blog, our governments have launched exploration program to find relics in the solar system. Space agencies have received emergency funding to activate their mothballed programs.

  What can we infer from this? Our governments seem to believe that far back in the past, men left Earth to colonize other planets and that those who remained lost all technology. We found nothing on Earth in the last centuries of explorations. But some relics might still be hidden in the asteroid belt.

  It seems farfetched to you? It certainly is. Basically, this is unbelievable. And our cousins come right at the worst time, when climate is reaching its most unstable behavior.

&nb
sp; Do you find it too much to be true? We do. So, ask the truth of your governments and join Mat’s Pressure Lobby.

  If you have information, please comment! The truth should not be stopped.

  Your servant, Mat

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  6 Brian

  As soon as they reached the academy, their bracelets reconnected to the local links and exploded with assignments. During the evening, the academy had kicked off the courses. They hurried to their rooms to find their readers updated with new readings, videos, and exercises.

  The next morning, they gathered in the main hall at 8:00 local time. Nerm waited for them in the center and counted them slowly. Once all were arrived, he motioned them to follow him. He passed round double doors, very common in the building, and went down one floor to a massive amphitheater which could hold easily a hundred students. They filled in, chatting excitedly, to be greeted by the stern figure of Dean Reinkel.

  “Dear all, please sit down.”

  It took a few minutes for all to find their places. Brian was next to Emily and a tall student, older than he. Yet, he didn’t pay too much attention as the dean activated 3D representations all over the room. They were showing an atom and the array of electrons around.

  “Yes, I have studied it on Earth,” he murmured to Emily.

  “Brian!” Her voice was stern and annoyed. “The bracelets have been activated. Prepare your recorders and your 3d answers.” Brian had been surprised, during his training, to discover that the Federation used a similar dimensional technology in its daily life.

  Ashamed by the stern reminder, he hurried to set up his holographic tools. He brought up multiples camera to capture both the representation Reinkel had launched and the teacher himself. He also readied an open work area. For this, he used both mental commands relayed to his bracelet and quick moves from his hands, opening sessions, turning and orienting them to his needs. From the corner of his eyes, he could see other around the amphitheater do the same. Some used murmured commands; some had produced a small keyboard for the commands. Most had eyes unfocused, suggesting forms of mental commands. Suddenly, he realized he had missed the first words from the Dean. “…This vision is known to all of you. This is why we start our revision here. You have been prepared on your home worlds before coming so none of those concepts should be new. Yet, they are a common foundation for all so we are going to review them in the next months to ensure we all speak the same technical language with the same minimum proficiency. Now…” Then he turned and started a general revision on the fundamentals of physics that left Brian out of breath. The rhythm that followed in the next day was intense. Every two hours, they would have a short break and change topic. Most of the time, they stayed in the amphitheater. They all struggled to keep up with all the different matters they were going through.