Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 13: Space Weed

"Preparing for entry," Sloan reported, "retro thrusters engaged."

Holloway tapped at the shuttle bay console. "Sloan, you're coming in too fast."

"Increasing reverse thrust."

Roger snickered in the background. The captain turned, glaring at him.

"Shut up, Ronnie. This is no time for jokes!"

"Captain, just let him be a kid while he can."

"Whatever, Holloway."

Sloan sighed. "Velocity minimal. Entering hangar."

The old ship glided in, towed by a shuttle. Then, it lowered, gently parking in a corner of the hangar.

"Successful landing."

The shuttlebay doors closed, the room filling with atmosphere. The eager crew made their way to the ship.

Sloan stepped out of the small beaten craft, dressed in his NASA uniform. His eyes widened. "Artificial gravity?"

Zarra smirked. "Colonists found some alien technology about sixty years ago. We reverse-engineered it. Everything here is human-built."

"Nice."

"It's an honor meeting you Commander Sloan."

"Thanks."

"Let's escort you to the infirmary."

"What about quarantine?"

"You won't need it. The ship is already accustomed to the known pathogens on Kotara; however, you're not immune to the ship's environment. Sparky has already prepared a vaccine."

"When can I get a room?"

"We'll have one in about four hours."

* * *

"Woah! Is that a fifty-two-star U.S. flag?"

"Yes, Roger."

"Nice. We have a seventy-seven-star flag on the bridge."

"The United States still exists?"

"Yes. . . . Why wouldn't it? The planet still has nations."

"Why seventy-seven stars? Did we annex other nations?"

"No. There's fifty-six states on Earth, four colonies on Proxima Centauri, six on Mars, one on Titan and the rest are on other planets or moons."

"So it's become an interplanetary nation?"

"Yep."

"What about other countries? Do they have colonies as well?"

"Yes, but only a few. The America is the leader. I know Canada, Britain, Germany, Russia, France, Japan, Brazil, and China have multiple colonies. Also Greece, Israel, Georgia, Armenia, Romania, Italy and other European countries have just one I think; basically any developed allied nation that survived World War III."

Sloan grimaced. "Was the war nuclear?"

"No. Cyber and conventional, mostly conventional. Humanity isn't stupid enough to use nukes."

"How long did it last?"

"I don't know. History isn't my subject. Three or six years, ten at most. It varies from source to source."