Solar Warden

Icarus Part 11

Samuel was with the others in the back of the TR-3CS and following the approach over the monitor. They went into the right hangar. Then on the left a bigger door opened where they glided in. After touching down a lift brought them a level higher and the shuttle went to a docking position. Samuel could not tell if they rolled there on wheels. But as smooth as it was he guessed they used the anti-gravity gliding of the shuttle. Eventually they were anchored and the back of the airlock showed they could exit without the suits which they were wearing. Owens and Taylor joined them and they went into the ship. Surprisingly Ryan was already there.

"Seems it was a short briefing," Taylor noted.

"Yes, but there was not much more to say. Now I show you our lockers and rooms. Then we make a tour through the ship. Departure is tomorrow so we have quite some time," Ryan replied.

Everybody knew from the schematics they got, the internal structure. Also on some points of the ship there were maps of the current level on the wall. Still it was necessary to get common with the interior.

On the next day there was a preflight briefing of the whole crew in a cinema like room with also such a big screen. The Captain was in front of the screen. There were seats for over 300 people.

"Good morning crew. Everybody should know now about our next mission. Here on the screen you see our upcoming travel again. This mission may have an encounter with an alien race that could even be hostile. Therefore, our first stop will be the star system S 102, where we do our sneak into foreign system testing. So our approach into S 103 stays as stealthy as it could be. From there we will then plan our further operations. Our journey to S 102 will take one and a half week. So we have enough time for further refinements and the new ones to get common with our systems and proceedings." The captain finished his speech.

"Sir, do we have more information about the alien race?" Samuel asked.

"Well, I guess all of you had the common introduction. We have an archive everyone can access. That means all have access to the special classified information we have. So you can read it and make your own thoughts. Surly this information is still classified for Earth. You won't be allowed to talk to others on Earth about it and our operation," the Captain replied.

"Why all this secrecy. Would it not be wise to inform the people about this?" Samuel wants to know.

"Well, you are not from the special forces. But most of us coming from there and conducted CIA operation. So it's common to us talking about secrets can cost lives. We were drilled to it. As of the Solar Warden project is known to the public to some point as conspiracy theory. The politics made the decision to keep it like it is. There might be some whistle blowers which have to deal with the punishment for that and also this secret cannot be kept forever. But there are reasons for it and we will sure have to talk about them at a later time. Then it will be thought over again if the situation has changed. The main fear of the politics is economically instability or even power loss. The Military sees it quite different. On the one side it may restrict the resources we could get. Otherwise speaking openly about it will also lowering security. This may also make it more easily for aliens to spy on us, which technology we possess or even terrorist and countries give access to technologies they should not have. More is there not to say. I think we have now to focus on the importance of our mission. What possibilities we have, to gather information without getting caught doing it," Captain Fisher replied.

"Do we also conduct landing on planets in the S 102 system?" Ryan asked.

"Of course while we go there we refine the sneak inapproach and finally if there is a suitable planet we land there and also takeprobes. So you can prepare your teams for that. We will send all teams if it ispossible. Remember we are only 210 people some have here more duties because ofthat. Until we get the full crew the ship is built for, some time will pass.Still we are a lot more as the minimum needed to operate this ship. However asinexperienced in interstellar space travel we still are, we have to prepare forthe unexpected as good as we can. Now we make our preflight checks. Then startand travel to S102. Normal training and preparation shifts will now take place.The team leaders will be informed in a further briefing. All back to your duty.Dismissed," the Captain was done with the briefing.