The Future Begins

The future begins

“Commander Walters, this is mission control, you are 'Go' for approach Vitruvius-one.”

"We have begun the release of the grappling tether mission control.”

“John, Will they have enough time to grab the asteroid?”

“Sir, you can relax, they are right on target. Their approach should give them a half an hour or so to target and latch onto one of the twelve designated targets Mr. Bishop. They will only need three minutes once they have chosen a target. Excuse me a moment.”

“Certainly.“

“Ken, give me status of those anchors as they drop their shielding.”

“The anchor will be deployed and clear in 4 minutes.”

“Thank you, keep me informed as those reports come in.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“John, about how long do you estimate it will take to get it positioned and construction on it begin?”

“Give me a second, the crew is about to report.”

“Of course.”

“Mission control, Vitruvius-one, we've deployed tether and grapple with no hitch.”

“That's good news Commander. Alright, alright, everyone calm down. We've got a long way yet to go.  Advise you begin running targeting equipment drills Commander.”

“Sounds like a plan up here mission control, Vitruvius one initiating targeting computer and commencing anchoring drills.”

“Your team is exuberant to say the least John.”

“This is history in the making Mr. Bishop. It's our first attempt to utilize material not found on Earth.”

“There are more than three hundred people here and another thousand who work to support those ten men carving a new future for Earth space industries.”

“You don't think that's an over-glorification of this mission After all it's just a rock we plan to use as a platform to save fuel on future trips to Moon and Mars.”

“Yes it's a rock, Mr. Bishop.”

“Call me Dan John. All goes well we'll be working together for a long time.”

“Thank you, Dan.  And while we're moving a rock today, tomorrow we'll be building the transports we need to get us deep out there.”

“You asked me how long it will take before construction of the platform begins. Well, as you know we can't say for sure. A lot rests on how heavy that rock is and can we hold on to it.”

“Hold on a second.”

“What's that he's handing you John?”

“Part of your answer. The final survey has just been finished and our meteor is a definite whopper. Preliminaries were off by 25 percent.”

“Will we be able to move it? John?

“Just checking some numbers here and the load is inside our design parameters, but only just.”

“How close?”

“It’s within 97 percent of our design abilities.”

“Are you telling me we're only going to have a three percent margin of error.”

“Dan...Dan, Vitruvius-one was designed anticipating this. We're fine, but it's just going to be a big move.”

“Here comes your engineer again.”

“Ken, what have you got?”

“Sir the shields were successfully jettisoned away and all the anchors are cleared. They’re ready to be armed.”

“Thank you, Ken. Dan are you hungry?”

“Now?”

“Yeah. Ken, inform Wilson's trajectory crew I want them to keep a tight monitor on the meteors rotations. While I’m gone, you have command.”

“Yes Sir.”

“We'll be out for dinner, keep me informed. You can relax Dan, the crew will be executing their drills and they'll contact us if we're needed.”

“What about the anchoring John?”

“The time is now 7:45. The insertion isn't for another 3 hours, perfect time to get a bite.  Have you been to the G-Force Grille?”

“No, I haven't had time to settle in yet."

“Perfect, you’ll love the place. Simple, burgers and fries, even a great salad or two."



“Caesar Wrap, great choice. Let's sit over by the window. You get a nice view from here."

“What's that big rocket on the end being prepared for?"

“That's the first of the ESA material transports going into high earth orbit in 8 days.”

“So Dan tell me a little about yourself. The intro I received said you're with Martech Construction and to show you around. Your are assigned to monitor the mission but you seem a little shy on mission specifics.”

“Your right, and I'm sorry the intro wasn't clearer, but I an observer for my company. We have the contract for the platforms construction and I'll have a significant role in determining where on this rock the platform will be built. Earth Space Administration felt you could use some specialist.”

“So, the team of Astro-Geologist arriving in a few days are your people?”

“Yes, and once your people release our rock, MT-4723 into the Lagrangian point near the moon, we can begin to assemble and anchor our platform to the surface.”

“Hey, you got some of the orbit sauce on your beard.”

“Thanks, that's really good stuff.”

“Yeah. I though the survey probe you sent last year got all the data you needed to pick a spot.”

“Actually, it picked three. And when we get there we'll make a final selection based on other geological advantages.”

“So, what were you doing before you were assigned down here Dan.”

“One second John. Waitress, Miss could I get another coffee and a piece of the coconut... Moon Pie?”

“Why yes, cutie, and anything else? What about you Mr. Braddock.”

“Thanks Mattie I will, I'll have a slice of the Apple Walnut cake, and another cup if you would?”

“Be right back gentlemen.”

“I take it John, you come here a lot. It is a nice place.”
“Yeah, the people are great and the food....what can I say, it's out of this world?”

“Ha Ha, I agree John. Thanks for the dinner. That a page? Command...?”

“Yep, Kens letting me know we are 45 minutes out for latch on and there may be a problem.”

“He's a good man. What's the problem?”

“He's declared a yellow alert, but that's all he says and yes he's very good. He's been with me now, four 4 years, a M.I.T. grad. Come on let's head back. You can tell me more about you and how the platform will work on the way. Hey Mattie, can you box that order for us? We gotta go.”



“It's about to get real busy Dan. Would you like to sit in the Observation booth instead of the floor?”

“I'll stick with you if you don't mind.”

“Ok Dan, let's go put that rock in a stable orbit and make this happen.”


“Ok Ken, what's happened?”

‘Five minutes ago, Vitruvius-one reported an anomalous pull on the tether. Ok where are we and what's our status?”

“We're twenty-five minutes out, the crew is ready but, Carpenter, the Pilot also reports an increase of approach speed. Ground control is tracking but has no explanation yet.”

“Who's over there?”

“Martin Rowley.”

“Get him on the line.”

“John I've got Martin on line three.”

“Talk to me Martin, What's your best theory?”

“Sir, we're thinking that the asteroid has an area of magnetic influence which has gone undetected.”

“Dan, was the probe you guys sent last year affected like this in any way?”

“No we didn't experience this but the probe was neither this close or orbited over the area being approached by Vitruvius-one now.”

“Your saying Martin we have an anomalous magnetic pull on the ship. Can we adjust for it and how do we do it?”

“We're not sure yet if we can Mr. Braddock.”

“Is the crew in danger?”

“We're working out an adjustment angle and trajectory they will need to take now in ordered to prevent a kind of jack knifing of the tow-craft after latching on or worse.”

“Send your data.”

“What have you got Ken?”

“John I'm estimating Vitruvius-one needs to change orbit in the next ten minutes before she's caught in what we believe will be an inescapable spiral descent."

“You here that Martin?”

“Sir it would help if we knew more about the material make-up of the asteroid.”

“Dan, can you offer them some insight.”

“Maybe I can. One of the reasons this rock was chosen was in part to a large deposits of what we believe is Bismuth.”

“The Element?

“Yes John, if that's true it may be the reason the probe never encountered this field.”

“It has electronic properties?”

“We'll yes, Martin and there are a few others, but the one that may fit here is it's magnetic deadening, or shielding ability. The probe may have coincidently orbited around the axis of such a band on the surface thereby avoiding any pull and surveying of this field.”

“We've pulled the orbital data Mr. Braddock and plotting a new course for Vitruvius-one now.”

“Good work Martin.”

“Transmit it to the crew Ken.”

“Yes Sir. Vitruvius-one,  Mission Control.”

“Vitruvius-one here.”

“Commander, a new flight plan is being uploaded to you as we speak. You are instructed to adjust course accordingly. Mission control over.”

“Mission Control Vitruvius-One, have received data Control and beginning course change. Thanks Guys.”

“And the crowd goes wild.”

“Let them Ken, Let them.”

“Ok people we still have to grab this rock, so let's do it. Vitruvius-One, Control here. Did that work?”

“We are actively restraining the pendulum motion now but we are otherwise Ok.”

“Good Commander, We are also a 'Go' here. OK, gentlemen, let's put our hand on this rock shall we.”

“The anchors are in Mission Control and holding...  Beginning the breaking maneuvers. We now have Asteroid MT-4723 under tow Mission Control. Where do you want it?"

“It's all yours Dan.”

“John this has been some experience. Thank you, Great job Ken, Great Job everyone!”

“Now my work begins. I'll get some good sleep tonight. John, Ken, I'll see you in the morning.”



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