Stealth Journeys with the Steam Mapper

Chapter 3: Recalling a Promising Journey's Start

On deck, Stef recalled the trip's departure from the western coast of the United States several months ago.   The excitement of meeting and working with world class scientists aboard such a fine vessel was a dream come true.   The sights and smells and sounds early in the voyage, all indicated a true adventure awaited.   Stef could almost imagine big sails unfurling from the crossbeams on the tall masts of a sailing ship, such as the HMS Bounty; no, make that the HMS Challenger.   

Thinking back to the beginning of the expedition, it was amazing of all that had transpired.   It was never planned to be an ordinary expedition, but it became extraordinary in ways that no one could have planned.

The trip started with warm sunny skies, and coastline waters brimming with all sorts of sea life to observe and enjoy.   Despite time spent preparing equipment and cleaning decks, the upbeat atmosphere seemed more like a Caribbean cruise on a cool day, than hard work.   Stef thought, "This is the adventurous career I've imagined an oceanographer could have.   I have a new, simpatico friend to share in these adventures.   Lucky me."

The long voyage was to have as its final destination a tour of the Seasteading Institute's new facility on the Tuamotu Archipelago's atoll known as Makemo in French Polynesia.   Built with secret funding, the controversial site of synthetic islands was a scientific wonder.    A project of Blue Frontiers, it had faced many studies on the impacts of the project on many fronts.   Concerns abounded about legal and economic ramifications, as well as its environmental impact on the region.

The cooperation of the Tuamotos was a matter of survival.   The low-lying island inhabitants were faced with massive flooding issues brought on by climate change.   The technology put to use in building artificial islands on their lagoon would give them a community of linked together platforms, a new location on the open seas for their nation.

The success of this Tahitian lagoon in providing sustainable living, is leading to the creation of a host of other new "countries", to also one day have their nations living independently on modular floating units.   The positive aspects, in addition to providing life rafts for coastal displaced people, would be creating habitats that would be designed to keep coral reefs healthy, and to fill the need for coastal marine labs that could replace some of the work done by the incredibly expensive ocean-going research labs.

The French Polynesians were leery at first.   The French had in the past, engaged in nuclear testing on 193 occasions, which had harmed the environment and human health.   Foreigners had created wealth at their expense by harvesting their pearls, marketing their coconuts for expensive products and using cheap labor for foreign-owned tourist attractions.

The idea of training the local population to lead the way in Polynesian science, and the assurances that the goal was high tech science and not a plan to go touristy on the locals, was a big concern.    A firm promise with the local government to never allow this "environmental prototype city of tomorrow" to become EPCOT or a "Living Seas" attraction was needed to seal the deal.   The sustainable development specialists of Te Ora Naho, a federation of environmental groups in the region insisted on it.   French Polynesia was spread over an area of the western Pacific that covered a region nearly the size of Europe.

Seeing the progress on the neighboring construction of new floating island chains, and visiting the Makemo Sea Labs was to be the icing on the cake for the scientists, who would work long hours during the beginning of the Antarctic summer.   Everyone wondered aloud on how the sea lab was faring.   They wondered how it survived the tsunami last October.    Rumors were floated around.   But it was hush-hush.

The site must be in good shape now to allow visiting scientists.   Taking part supposedly required security clearance by the Seasteading Institute team.   Who knows what would keep a scientist from being able to tour the facilities?    Everyone aboard seemed to think they had already cleared that hurdle.   The visit was very much anticipated, and a safe choice of conversation to break the ice with strangers sharing the voyage.