They Know Too Much Out Here in the Black
A Gholgoth Story
A Gholgoth Story
As a general rule, the complexities of space travel necessitate that one nation cannot explore the cosmos alone. For the longest time the Confederate States of Anagonia attempted to circumvent this rule. Combining the resources gained from all of its sovereign-states, and pooling in the charitable resources of its outlying province-nations, Anagonia appeared to be close to breaking the magical barrier between international dependence and self-sufficiency. It was at the cusp of one of its most critical moments, and one of its most horrific national tragedies, that the Confederacy finally admitted that it could not undertake this greatest risk and venture alone. At the cost of three space shuttles, a catastrophically deorbited space station, countless dozen astronauts and cosmonauts lives, and the tears of a heartbroken nation, did Anagonia reached out to Gholgoth for help.
Gholgoth was quick to answer.
The Commonwealth of Milenka was the first nation to answer the call. While the Confederacy recovered from the catastrophic loss of the majority of its space corps, Milenkan space assets were quick to fill the void. The Skybound Republic of Havensky would become the second nation to respond, providing ample logistical and personnel resources. In a few months time, the three nations would form a “Space Cooperative” that would be open to nations within the Gothic Realm and, at least in the beginning, intent on furthering the scientific interests of each member-nation within the Cooperative. Yet it was not until the Cooperative was mid-way into constructing its Inter-Gothic Space Station that it saw further nations invest in the initiative.
With the inclusion of the Most Serene Republic of The Master M, the newly-dubbed Gothic Space Cooperative gained the immeasurable asset of extra-solar mining and resource extraction assets and technologies. Construction on the Inter-Gothic Space Station would continue to be a fluid process, as more nations would contribute modules, but with the addition of the four members of the GSC the space station took on more prominent logistical and tactical value. It would, slowly, become the orbital staging point from which Gothic influence would reach the stars. A lunar mining base was soon established, providing an essential refueling point that opened the way to Mars and the asteroid belt - should the technology be so refined to allow it.
As Anagonia fully rebounded from the tragedy that brought it into cooperation with its neighbors, so too did its technological prowess. Before the tragedy, the space station that would later meet its demise was home to some of the brightest minds in the Confederacy. There, in orbit, they had begun developing a fusion drive derived from Anagonian fuel-cell technology. It had been close to completion before it had all been lost in atmospheric reentry - until it wasn’t. By chance a fishermen had found the remains of a backup server that had almost completely survived reentry and impact. Within a few months of the discovery, Anagonia had completed the first fusion drive, enabling travel between the asteroid belt and Luna to take not years, but months, even weeks.
With the introduction of the fusion drive and its apparent benefit to the Gothic Space Cooperative, the Imperial Union of Jagada formally joined the ranks. Plans were formed and finalized utilizing the latest and most advanced Jagadian modular construction techniques and within a short time, the GSC set its eyes on the asteroid belt. As prospective targets for outposts were analyzed, six more nations added their resources to the fold; the Pudite Empire, the Stratocracy of Remus, the Zenyvind Outpost, the Eridani Imperium, the Ancient Empire of Kylarnatia, and a final mysterious financial benefactor. With resources spanning into practical endlessness, with scientific and technological capabilities practically pushing the boundaries of improbable, the newly combined nations of the Gothic Space Cooperative pushed for and completed the first outpost on Ceres originating from the Ghothic Realm.
As the GSC expanded in influence, so too did the Ghothic desire to reach farther.Under the guise of utmost secrecy, plans were drafted from a outer-system outpost in the Jupiter sphere of influence. Out of all the possible candidates listed, only one specific moon of Jupiter was ultimately selected as the best possible location for what was to come. The brightest military and scientific minds were selected and screened, missions were planned and organized under alternative names and motives, and soon enough efforts were fully underway to finish construction on the Cooperative Military Research Outpost on the surface of Ganymede.
Little did the Ghothic Lords realize that someone had been observing their every step, and was keenly interested in what was taking place on Ganymede.
PROLOGUE
Outpost Scoperta
0800 Hours Local GSC Time
Moon of Ganymede, orbiting Planet Jupiter
There was something majestic about being about to observe the gas giant from up close. As long as he could remember, Richard Jordan had fantasized this very moment; standing at the near-edge of the third floor to the living quarters in the commons room, sipping coffee, basked in the light reflected off Jupiter in its half-crescent arch in the empty skies of Ganymede. Not particular these sets of circumstances, he reflected as he finished a thought, but something very close. The angry clouds of Jupiter swirled clearly in the distance, a cesspool of chaos turned orderly in the perception of beauty.
Turning around, Richard took in the large commons area. There was around twenty other scientists here, all from various Cooperative nations, relaxing on the provided furniture or reading from a good book - or one of many other various recreational activities, the commons room had plenty of things to do from gaming consoles to computers linked to an inter-outpost web. It was two stories tall, with the top floor being almost entirely devoted to book reading and recreational study. Several scientists passed by his vision up there, having such a book in hand or busily dressing for a shift on duty after enjoying said book. The bottom floor was mostly couches, chairs, flat-panel televisions, gaming consoles, and a large kitchen and dining area. There were around two more of these common areas in the living quarters, this one being the largest.
The area Richard stood was the observation area, a wide-open space of the commons with a protective space-rated glass panels spanning up to the second story. It gave the illusion of vulnerability due to how clear one could view the outside, but that was simply an illusion. Like most of the entire building, it was of Jagadian design. Tiny cameras on the outside projected an image on the interior, giving the illusion of a vast and combined pane of glass that stretched to the ceiling. It provided normalcy for the crew stationed here, a way to feel something from home and to see their new home from a different perspective. It could, also, be turned off to reveal the solid wall itself. Such was the advance of preliminary holographic projection technology, it seemed.
Richard allowed himself a few more minutes to admire the outside world, the world that required a self-contained EVA suit to experience up close, a dangerous world of radiation and death. Ganymede was unforgiving in that respect, a vast space of lunar-like surface intermixed with mountainous uprisings and the occasional meteorite impact. All of this, though, could easily be forgotten as the visage of the inner-solar systems protector loomed beyond the horizon. Jupiter was an awe-inspiring planet, probably the very reason life was allowed to evolve in the first place. To Richard, this moment, and this ability to gaze upon it, meant everything to him and made the pains of this assignment worth it.
After his mandatory four-year military service term, Richard had used the military-provided education subsidies to enter college and continue his childhood fascination of astrophysics. Taking classes primarily exploring the mechanics of the cosmos, and garnering a PhD in quantum physics, Richard Jordan slowly became one of the most important minds in the modern history of Anagonia. He never saw it that way, of course, he was too humble for that, too shy and reclusive. His colleagues would always beg to differ.
The very reason they were able to be on Ganymede was due to his major contributions to space travel. Before the Gothic Space Cooperative, the Confederate Aeronautics and Space Administration had been limited to using standard rocket-propelled launchers and, primarily, space shuttles. They had been heavily invested in a project to redesign the standard propellant engines, make them more efficient with fuel and provide more thrust. That dream nearly died with the destruction of Space Station Apollo, the research focal point for the station. All involved in the research project had died when it reentered the atmosphere by a catastrophic accident. The information, however, had managed to be salvaged.
Richard had at the time been a research consultant for CASA. He had been called along with several other colleagues to decipher and recover the data from the salvage discovered, and to attempt through any means necessary to continue the project at all costs. It hadn’t been a “do or die” situation, more of a sense to make the lives lost matter somehow. The nation was in mourning and they needed some hope, the families did, their friends did, and Richard also. He had lost his father up there, his lifelong hero. As much as anyone else at the time, Richard had needed closure, and he was more than committed to continue his father's efforts.
It had taken a few months, during which time the Gothic Space Cooperative had been announced and established, but with the recovered data Richard and his team had successfully deduced how to apply it to a new drive. The old one, whatever data had been saved, had been a total loss. The mechanics on how to operate it, however, were partially recovered, along with the proof-of-concept science to back it. Utilizing the technology of the time - hydrogen fuel-cells - the team had designed a fusion-based fuel-cell engine that could theoretically propel a craft faster and more efficiently than conventionally propelled engines. Designs became test-beds, and test-beds were put into the first space shuttle engine prototype. Soon enough the announcement of the Jordan-Goston Fusion Drive was announced a success.
The design was eventually enlarged to fit on larger space ship designs, and eventually the GSC was able to bridge the gap between Luna and the asteroid belt. From that point on it was only a matter of commitment on the nations backing it. Once that was established, Ganymede had been the next logical step. But the reason Richard Jordan was here was not simply because of his contribution to the creation of the Jordan-Goston Drive. He hadn’t stopped there. In the years between Luna and Ganymede, Richard had been hypothesizing about the possibility of a faster-than-light drive. Communications between peers and himself had been commonplace, and eventually they all agreed that in some fashion it was probable. With the construction of Ganymede Station underway, the idea that the station could serve the purpose as the test-bed for this probable drive was established. CASA had concurred and had assigned Richard as Head of Operations for Anagonian Involvement, the “Hoi” as he was sometimes jokingly called.
Richard took another sip of his still-warm coffee. The cup felt almost surreal in his hands, his mind having drifted so far back into reflection. Pieces had fallen into place, inspiration for today. It had all summed up to today. The drive had been constructed, the science was sound, and from what his team had theorized it would revolutionize space-travel forever.
Turning around, Richard saw one of his old colleagues from the fusion drive experiments approach him. Both Richard and the colleague wore similar apparel; a traditional lab coat with professional buttoned shirts and smooth slacks with a modest belt. Also as per tradition, they both had pocket protectors with pens. The only distinction between the approaching colleague and Richard was name-tags, with Richards having his position engraved on it. The approaching colleagues read, simply, Megan Milly, Lead Theorist.
“Megan!” Richard announced as the woman approached closer, his posture relaxed as she stopped close to him. They both shared an embrace, friendly and professional from many years of acquaintanceship. “Are you as excited about today as I am?”
“Of course! Having another device named after our esteemed director, who wouldn’t be?”
It was a stated jest, though Richard did feel a pin of regret. It stabbed at him briefly, self-reflection evident on his features. Megan noted immediately and slapped Richards shoulder playfully.
“Don’t go getting all sob-story on us, Richy! I was just kidding.” After seeing his expression change for the better, Megan smiled. “Of course I’m excited. Of course. All of us are! We’re all here, together again, doing the miracle again. Remember how David said it was impossible? Hah!”
Renowned Anagonian Physicist David Sternum had been a vocal opponent to the development of the Jordan-Goston Drive. He had claimed that applying fuel-cell technology to a fusion system was not only dangerous, but would lead to a critical mass event likely destroying half of Anagonia. It had taken a few months to quiet down the fears he had ushered in from the public. Needless to say, he was never invited to Ganymede.
“Yep!” Richard replied, a gentle guffaw emitting from him. “Almost made half the population go crazy too, I remember. Dad was made proud though, we finished his work.”
The two shared a somber nod at that sentiment. Frank Jordan had been on Space Station Apollo when it was destroyed in the atmosphere. If it hadn’t of been for that fisherman, his prodigy wouldn’t have been able to finish his fathers work. Richard had made sure to provide all that fisherman would have ever needed, and more, after discovering his identity.
“Well I’m sure Patricia would be proud of you too,” Megan remarked concerning Richards deceased mother, which elicited a small smile from Richard.
“Yeah, Mom was something. Anyway, did Dean say we were ready?” Richard asked.
“Not yet,” Megan replied. “We’ve heard reports of an unscheduled shuttle coming in. Security wanted us to hold off for now, just in case. Dean wasn’t happy about it.”
Dean Goston was the second mind behind the Jordan-Goston Drive. He was in charge of scheduling tests for the team, and although Jordan technically outranked him, he enjoyed being bossed around every so often and never complained about it. It became tradition for the group to have Dean give the final yay or nay on things. Jordan wasn’t about to ruin that over silly ranks; their time in the military was long over - all of them.
Then again this news about an unscheduled shuttle…
“Ops said anything about it?” He asked after a momentary silence.
“Yes, actually,” Megan said. She turned serious. “That’s why I’m here. They want you in the HQ. Wanted to see if you recognized the shuttle design.”
Richard looked confused for a moment. “There’s only one, though. The Buran 2. It can only get here from an Explorer-class. And I know for a fact that out of the three in service by the GSC, none are scheduled here.”
Megan looked at him, silent for a moment. She tugged on his arm, “Then we best tell Ops then. Come on.”
Richard, being pulled along, asked, “How much time do we have?”
“A day, they said. But come on, hurry,” she replied, not stopping.
Faces turned to watch their Head of Operations being dragged along by one of his Lead Theorists. Some expressions turned humerous, entertained by thoughts best left unsaid. Others were concerned, knowing the dynamic between the two and understanding something serious must be afoot. Overall the atmosphere in the commons was momentarily disrupted by the incident, resuming only a few moments thereafter to normal. Those better concerned by the display decided to follow along for the sake of curiosity - at a distance, of course.