The Final Countdown

1. The Prototype.


A gentle melody brought Celine Dilwali back to awareness. She rubbed her eyes with her snow white hands, which starkly contrasted the dark skin of the rest of her body. She had enjoyed a sound sleep. The Venusian gravity had been tough on her at first, after living on Mars for years, but now that she had gotten used to it, the physical conditions here made her feel much better.

She looked outside through the virtual window projected on the wall. The sight was a monotone grey and depressing, as always. Nothing but endless clouds storming around the station and the rain of sulphuric acid torturing it. Grim as the view was, Celine felt she needed the artificial window and refused to project pleasant sceneries instead, like most others here aboard the Morning Glory did. She felt she would slowly choke here in this hermetically sealed floating fortress if she didn't at least create an illusion of being connected to the world outside.

Celine got into a metallic blue cabin and locked it tightly. She pressed a button and refreshing hot water washed over her body. The dehumidifier automatically switched on with a soft humming sound. Every drop of water was being filtered and recycled.

Celine was enjoying it. She was one of the few people aboard privileged to be admitted daily showers. “What's for breakfast today?” she asked.

“Today, the breakfast with strawberry taste has been scheduled for you,” answered a polite, female synthetic voice from the wall.

“God please, no..” Celine moaned.

“This menu offers you the optimal mix of nutrients, fibers, vitamins and minerals,” the voice defended, “do you wish to deviate from your scheduled food program this time?”

“Oh, never bloody mind,” Celine snapped.

Half an hour later Celine walked into her laboratory in her working coat. "Good morning, hun!" cheered her assistent and beloved Antonio Bruzzo.

"Hi darling! Up working early again, eh?"

Antonio was studying glass tubes filled with liquids and documenting them. "Yes.. you should have a look at our prototype! It's looking great. I reckon it's ready for testing. 'The nose' will be satisfied."

Celine laughed hard. "Are you calling him like that too, now? You watch your mouth, boy, or he'll send you off to Titan!"

"Oh, he wouldn't," Antonio grinned, "He needs us far too badly!"

Celine walked up to a blue virtual screen on the wall and after a few touches her log file appeared and relaxing music filled the background.

A tune announced the news reports. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is the news of friday, 8th of november 2457, three o'clock interplanetary standard time. The construction of the Emissary space ship on the Saturn wharfs, Titan, has been further delayed because of new technical issues. The construction is a total of two years behind on schedule by now. According to the original planning, the ship should have started its journey to Delta Pavonis II five months ago. It should have been the first manned interstellar flight in history. Scientists have discovered chemical signatures on the planet that indicate a possibility of alien life."

Celine opened a drawer and took out a cage with a mouse in it.

“In Hong Kong, negotiations on mutual disarmament have been continued. Emperor Hu Wong of the Heavenly Empire has threatened with new sanctions in case the meteor program is continued. Valencia Marez, the new president of the federation of Mars, did not want to respond publicly while the negotiations are still open. "At this moment it is in the best interest of the negotiations to abstain from comments," she announced in an interview."

Celine, visibly annoyed, walked back to her virtual screen, still holding the mouse. With a touch of the wall she ended the news report and music started again. “Same old story as ever. It's about time to land the first strike and blow Wong and his Heavenly Empire into the heavens.”

“You can't be serious!” Antonio replied. “Are you for real? Can you imagine the meteor plan being actually carried out?”

“Sooner or later it'll happen anyway, better for us to strike first." Celine replied. She quickly changed the subject. “In any case, our prototype is looking great! We're ready for the test!”

“I told you so! Shall we try the compressor?”

“Yes,” Celine said with a glint in her eye. “Start it up, babe!”

Celine was still holding the mouse in her peculiarly white hands. It was squaking nervously.

Antonio gave her an insecure look. "Shouldn't we anesthesize it first?"

Celine looked back in suprise. "What, anesthesize a mouse? Look hun, I know we haven't lived on Venus for long yet. But I think you're well aware that all our medicins have to be transported here from outside the planet. You know how difficult that is. We cannot afford to be wasteful with our supplies, even when it concerns human beings. Much less can we waste precious medicin on a simple mouse. I thought you understood!"

Antonio looked at his feet and shuffled uncomfortably. "You're right, I'm sorry."

Antonio meddled with a system of buttons near a device built into the wall. Celine removed a plastic cap and let the mouse slide inside. The mouse struggled and wiggled but got stuck between two irons.

"There we go.. " said Antonio. "pressure increasing to half a kilonewton.." The mouse now positively panicked, squeaking sharply and wriggling about wildly. Antonio looked away. “Up to a full kilonewton now.” A small pool of blood started to form inside the machine. The mouse stopped struggling and was silent. “two. three.. all right, I'll increase to maximum pressure.”

The hydraulic presses squaked and the mouse was crushed flat. Blood and other bodily fluids were gushing out of it in little squirts. “Up to fifty kilonewton now.. that's the biting force of a Tyrannosaur.”

“That'll do, let's have a look at the results” Celine said. Antonio turned a switch and the irons that had pressed the mouse together slowly parted again. The mouse seemed to inflate back into its old form again. Antonio turned off the machine and Celine opened it and took out her prototype, the dead mouse. She inspected it closely from all sides and applied pressure at difference points. "Tissue damage, torn skin.. but it looks promising. Could you prepare a sulfuric acid bath for me?"Antonio nodded, put on protective gloves and started preparations.

Shortly after they were looking at the remains of the dead mouse, as it was floating in a tub of boiling sulfuric acid. It had dissolved nearly completely, leaving only the skeleton. The bones were a dark brown instead of white, nearly black.

"It's incredible!" Celine exclaimed. "Look at that, the skeleton is nearly completely intact! Not a single major bone has fractured!" She gave Antonio a kiss.



2. A New Mission.


Celine strolled through a long hallway, softly illuminated by a series of green LED lights placed at regular intervals on the floor. She wore a comfortable white bodysuit that fitted her tightly. There was a cool breeze in the hall, caused by the air refreshment system. She halted when she arrived at a heavy double door blocking the way. The same synthetic voice that had spoken to her under the shower announced: "Welcome, Celine Dilwali. You are requested to enter the waiting room."

A much smaller door, easily missed at first sight, opened besides. She entered it, into a dimly lit room. Two heavily muscled soldiers approached her, one of them carrying a scanner. The door closed behind her without a sound. "The usual routine, lieutenant. Please remove all clothes."

"Of course," Celine answered. Although she wasn't prude, this routine still made her feel uncomfortable. Reluctantly she undressed. She still hadn't entirely gotten used to the rigorously controlled life aboard the fortress.

Fortunately the soldiers here acted with professional formality. One soldier thoroughly scanned her clothes, while the other pointed at a white screen near the wall. "Please take place behind the screen, lieutenant." Celine obediently did as she was told. An x-ray scan appeared on the screen. The soldier screened the picture from top to bottom. After a short while, though still too long to Celine's liking, he nodded. "Thank you, lieutenant."

The other handed her back her clothing. While she quickly started to dress up, the soldier asked her: "what is this item you're carrying, lieutenant?" In his hand he held the dark mouse skeleton from the experiment.

"Confidential," answered Celine. "It's a request from general Popov."

The soldier eyed her suspiciously. "That is correct, Carl," a heavy, rasping voice from the wall said. Carl shrugged and handed it back to her.

The other soldier loudly declared: "Body check OK!". Then both retreated from the room through the back door. As soon as they were gone, the door to the hallway opened again. Celine got back into the hall and the board computer announced: "you have been granted permission to enter."

The heavy doors slid open, revealing a bright light that hurt her eyes. She went in and general Popov greeted her from behind his fake wooden desk.

"Welcome, miss Dilwali. Please take a seat," he said with his heavy voice. His face bore a scar, along the bridge of his nose. His room contrasted starkly to the sterile order in the rest of the military complex. The floor was covered with all sorts of junk. Toy models, paperwork covered with incomprehensible scribbles, books and even a few real plants.

"Your research is progressing nicely, isn't it?" asked Popov. "Could you please show me the prototype?"

With a proud smile Celine gave him the skeleton. Popov inspected it in fascination.

"Absolutely beautiful.. and it was able to resist a force of fifty kilonewtons? The biting force of a Tyrannosaur, I believe?"

Celine felt her ears redden. Had they been overheard on during the experiment? "Yes, general."

The general smiled innocently. "In case you weren't aware, everything you do is registered and recorded. Except in this room." The general fiddled with the mouse in his hands. His right hand had been amputated and replaced with a robotic arm. "Our conversation here is strictly confidential and whatever is said must remain between us. I hope you hear me well."

The general gave her an intense stare.

"Of course, general," Celine answered.

"Good. How long do you expect it will take before our soldiers can be treated with the new bone reinforcement technique?"

Celine considered the question. "I expect to apply the technique succesfully on a human test subject within six months. Then it will probably take another six months before we can apply it on a large scale."

"Excellent. Do you judge that Antonio would be capable of taking over the responsibility of this project?"

"Absolutely. The major challenges have been overcome, now that we have achieved a positive result on a mouse. From here it is largely a matter of routine." Celine said, beaming with pride.

"Very good, very good.. I summoned you here with an offer to take on a new mission. The authorities on Mars are looking for a genetic engineer with broad medical and chemical skills, to take part in the extrastellar expedition to Delta Pavonis. And they selected you as a candidate for this job. I have to congratulate you, because this is an honour that only befalls the absolute cream of the crop. However, I also need to add that I do not expect you to take on the offer. I hope you realise it is a madman's quest. The probability of a fatal accident along the way is currently estimated at twenty percent. And even if the ship does make it safely, it will be impossible to ever return to the solar system. Colonists aboard will be forced to settle down on Delta Pavonis two, no matter how hostile the planet turns out to be. The basic parameters for human settlement are known to be met, but beyond that we know absolutely nothing about the place. So again, I do not.."

Celine now became so impatient that she dared to interrupt the general. "I will go."

The general was suddenly silent, taken aback by her brisk reply. Then he asked: "Are you saying you are actually considering it?"

"Yes, I am completely serious. This is something I have always dreamed of. I want to do it. I want to take part in the new frontier."

"I strongly urge you to take your time and consider this carefully", said the general. "Communication with home base will be practically impossible. And once you're in, there is no way back. This is no game, Celine."

"I know. And I have already made up my mind. I know what I am choosing, sir."

"Please consider that Antonio would not be allowed to join you if you decide to go. He has not been selected and you would have to leave him behind forever. If this affects you emotionally, you will have to remain here. Each of the colonists must function at full capacity, mentally as well as physically."

Celine laughed briefly, but quickly regained her posture. "Antonio? I am not worried about him." The general frowned at her. "You know," she added with a polite smile, "with all the soldiers bound to their oath, there just aren't that many attractive men available on Venus."

"I see," the general answered. "I see." He threw her back her mouse and she plucked it from the air with catlike agility.


3. The Decision


It was in a dimly lit room in Bejing, Earth, where the decision was made that would irrevocably and dramatically change the life of Joost van der Meer. The only light came from a flickering fluorescent tube. The place was pervaded by a stench of cigarettes and also of something else, a nasty, sickly sweet odour that was hard to identify.

A man in an impressive, but old-fashioned green military outfit with several rows of medals was sat at a soiled metal table, browsing an enormous pile of paperwork.

At the opposite end of the table a young man, all dressed in leather. He smoked cigarettes with trembling fingers, never looking away from the man across.

The third person in the room was harder to see, but she was the only one who made a sound. She was softly sobbing, huddled in a dark corner of the room. She was strapped and a rag covered her eyes. Neither of the men payed her any attention.

The man in the uniform ran his fingers along a passage, growled approvingly and ran along it again. He nodded and spat on the ground.

The woman uttered a restrained groan. Suddenly the uniformed man seemed to notice her. He looked back in her direction, shouting: "Your whimpers are deafening! Be quiet, you stupid cow!"

With a single swift move he pulled a revolver and shot twice. A bloodstain explosively appeared on the wall behind her. She gave a final scream and fell unto the floor. The man put back his revolver and returned to his paperwork as if nothing had happened.

The young man opposite him extinguished his cigarette and asked: "Do you think she had no more useful information for us, my lord?"

The man adressed as lord said: "She was getting on my nerves. We'll get them eventually, no matter what." He made a gesture at the last sheet he'd been reading and said: "Rat, I think this is the one we're looking for. He's efficient. Manipulative. Fanatic. A highly skilled technician. And best of all, he's from a backward, insignificant province. He's probably not even in the files of the Martian security."

The Rat nodded with a proper lack of enthusiasm.

"But we need to be sure," the lord continued. "It's an exceptionally hazardous job. We must be certain of his unconditional loyalty. We'll subject him to a test procedure, code 267." He glanced darkly at the Rat and continued: "As a side benefit, that'll ensure he doesn't get homesick."

The Rat answered, in a flat voice: "I admire your sense of humor, my lord."

The lord shoved him the pile of paper. "You know what to do. See to it at once. Dismissed!"