EDEN
TEN DAYS AFTER DISCOVERY
All of them had been awake and active for close to thirty-six hours now, and it showed in the state of their uniforms and the drawn look of their faces. They had spent the last week repairing the damage to EDEN and trying to gather as much information as they could about what had happened to them and to earth. All of them had data pads strewn in front of them, coffee pots and mugs spread all over the large table. Portable computer modules had been brought into the room to run dozens of different scenarios, all of which gave them the same result. Hundreds of high resolution photos were scattered across the table as well, ranging from photos of every country, to deep penetrating photos of the earth itself. Data pads full of results from every major sensor and radar scan that they could run were stacked sometimes six high on the table. Everyone was still trying to come to grips with the reality that had blindsided them all. Family, friends, anyone they had ever gone to school with, dated, grew up with, they were all long dead; husbands, wives, parents, children, siblings, all of them gone.
The information had been made known to EDENs crew of nearly eight thousand, and as they were still trying to recover from the effects of the comets passing and the near disaster that had occurred when the still as yet unidentified Raptor slammed into the control module, many of them had not yet stopped to consider the implications of what they had been told.
Admiral Wallace had brought in every division head on EDEN, and against his better judgment, had allowed Senator Graham and Kevin to attend the meeting they were now all gathered together again for.
Bill banged his well smoked pipe against his coffee mug and silenced the conversations that were going on around the room. Ok lets get started. Everyone grab a squat. He waited while the officers and civilian scientists all settled into the chairs around the table. More chairs had been brought in for those that had not been included in their first meeting, and Richard and Kevin now sat on either side of Anja, who did not appear happy about that arrangement in the least.
"I'll be honest", Wallace spoke. "I don't have a fucking clue where to begin, so lets start with our status here. Frank?"
Colonel Wilson leaned forward in his chair." EDEN is fully secure". He spoke. "Repairs are continuing on damage to section thirty-four, but the integrity field has been repaired, and all the personnel with quarters in the three destroyed sections have been relocated. Thankfully those three sections were mainly used for low end experiments and were mostly empty. Sixty-two casualties, including eight critical burn victims, all of whom will recover fully thanks to Commander Peterson's quick action getting them to the burn unit."
Julie sat next to Dan on the other side of the table and she watched as Kevin reached out to take Anja's hand and squeeze it. She smiled to herself when Anja withdrew her hand quickly and gave him a very dirty look. They had not seen her very often in the last week, and when they did she was treating a patient in the MED Center. She was intentionally avoiding them they knew, and even though they understood why, both of them were disappointed.
"If I may take a moment and interrupt Colonel?" Senator Graham spoke now." I want to be sure that it is noted in the official Command Logs that Commander Hunter disobeyed his orders to evacuate the damaged section of EDEN so that Admiral Wallace could shut down the reactor. In my opinion he put the entire station at risk with his actions."
Frank glared at Richard as he began typing into the data pad quickly. He finished within a minute and still looking at Richard he held it up." Marty you and Danny want to sign this?" He spoke tossing the pad down to Martin.
Martin grinned and touched the pad with his thumb before handing it to Dan who did the same with a smile. He handed it back to Martin who then tossed it back to Frank.
Frank looked at Richard. "The log is duly noted Senator." He spoke before flipping the datapad onto a pile of others behind him." I'll make sure it gets sent out with the rest of our four hundred and seventy-eight year old logs, just as soon as we find out where to send them."
William contained the laugh he wanted to let out before leaning forward in his chair. "I understand we are all under a lot of stress, but we need to work together. we've all seen Doctor Morrows hard figures and facts. What we need to do now is decide what to do."
"We need to find out where the government is functioning from." Richard spoke again. "And then we need to contact them."
"Infra-red scans have picked up dozens of hot spots Admiral." The CDO spoke now. His forehead was bandaged, blood still on the collar of his uniform. "We cant get an exact count, but there are what appear to be population centers in quite a few cities across the country and the world. Were picking up high altitude contrails from aircraft, but not in any great numbers and the consensus of my team is that commercial air traffic is not what it once was. There does seem to be an extensive rail system, much more than what we what we remember, especially within the cities. Our high resolution photos have determined that these cities are advanced, as they appear similar to what we knew in many ways, but the population does not appear to be what it once was. He finished his statement."
"My initial estimates have been refined somewhat," Doctor Morrow spoke up. "But the original figures are accurate. Taking into account what our instruments here have been telling us of the damage for the last seven days, my staff and I concur that the worlds population has been cut in half if not more. The infra-red scans confirm this as well."
"Good Marcus!" Richard Graham exclaimed.
"we've been trying to raise EDEN Ground Command for the last thirty-nine hours, ever since we got the main transmitter back online, but were getting nothing." Frank spoke.
"Doctor Morrow, do you know how long would this atmospheric fire have lasted for?" Bill asked, turning to the nerdy doctor.
Morrow shrugged his slim shoulders. "Its impossible to tell, but given the depth of the burn scoring on the Earths crust, we estimate at least two to five years."He replied. "Anything on the surface would not have lasted more than a few days. Only men and women in deep bunkers and caves would have had a chance."
"So its not unreasonable to assume that any surviving government officials would have deduced that EDEN was also destroyed and they would not have tried to contact us?" Bill said.
Morrow nodded. "Its very likely Admiral. There is no way they could have contacted us regardless. The fire and heat would have disrupted any type of communications they may have attempted, and given the fact that EDEN was a newly commissioned base when the comet came, it stands to reason that any survivors who knew of our existence would come to the conclusion that the comet destroyed EDEN as well."
"The communications we have been able to pick up suggest we need to proceed with extreme caution." Julie spoke now leaning forward. "The Raptor crash took out our most powerful receiver, but all of our secondary receivers are getting the same thing. There appears to be a conflict occurring in the Midwest part of the United States, as we are picking up a lot of traffic between military units. Nothing we have ever heard of, but they are using military call signs and speak with military precision. We are also picking up some low band transmissions that indicate unfriendly activity spread across a wide area. we've picked up the terms slavery and elves numerous times."
"Elves, " Bill asked shocked. "You mean like in children books?"
Julie shrugged. "Nothing concrete Admiral, but those terms were used in the same sentences quite a few times. Maybe its a code of some sort."
"I don't like the fact that slavery is being thrown around like it is". Bill spoke.
Martin nodded. "That fact alone screams that we should be careful". He spoke. "If we are over four hundred and fifty years into the future, we have no idea what type of climate is persistent on Earth right now. We cant just dial up who we think is in charge and say Hi were from EDEN, and were back!"
"Why not?" Richard spoke." I am a Senator of the United States, and I'm quite sure...."
"Excuse me Senator, but did you miss the part where we came four hundred and seventy-eight years into the future? "Martin asked. "We don't even know if the United States still exists anymore."
"Nonsense!" Richard answered." All we need to do is contact whoever is in charge and let them know who we are. I can do the rest."
"What are you suggesting Marty?" Admiral Wallace asked.
"Let me take a team down sir."Martin told him. "we've determined through high resolution photos that EDEN Ground Command is still there, and still intact. Ill take a team there, and we can try and determine the current scope of what we are dealing with. At the very least we can get the needed equipment to repair our long range receiver. One Raptor and nine of my team would be sufficient. I can be back in three days time, four at the most."
"How would you do it?" William asked.
"Hard drop right into the base perimeter; we travel light, get what information we can and have Tina and Ben come in to extract us." Martin replied.
Admiral Wallace nodded." Thats what well do". He said.
"Admiral I protest!"Richard began. "I don't believe this is the best course of action."
Wallace looked at him. "you're not being asked for your opinion Senator". He turned back to Martin." How soon before you can depart?"
"I'd like to go in fresh sir. We can be loaded and flying in three hours and sleep on the flight in."
"Then let's make it happen."
EDEN
WEST LANDING PAD
Martin looked at Anja as she walked up the ramp of the Raptor carrying two duffel bags of medical equipment. He stepped in front of her.
"What are you doing?" He asked her.
Anja met his eyes, finding that very hard to do given the emotions she had running through her." I'm coming with you". She answered." You need medical support, and since my primary duties have been placed on the back burner it seems, I'm available. I'm Hard Drop qualified and I graduated from BUD/S. I'm a fully qualified SEAL operator and you know that Martin."
"You haven't been on a Team mission since you graduated Anja." Martin told her." You arent as sharp as the rest of us. And you arent a genome."
"No I'm not a genome, but Ive stayed current in all my Quals". She answered quickly." I asked the Admiral for permission, but he said you had to approve it. I..... I don't want to stay here Martin. "Her voice was almost pleading him.
Martin sensed there was something about her desire to accompany them, and he also sensed she was being very honest with him. He smiled and held out his hand for her duffel bags. "Welcome aboard". He spoke. "You might want to say goodbye to your fan club though". He spoke motioning back into the bay.
Anja turned to see Kevin running up to the Raptor. She sighed heavily as he nearly skidded to a halt in front of her.
"What do you want Kevin?" Anja asked.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"What does it look like?" Anja said." I'm leaving."
"My father wanted to speak with you. He's waiting in the lounge."
"Good for him." Anja said. "I have things to do."
Kevin stepped closer to her and took her arm tightly". He did not give you permission to go with these these people."
Anja pulled her arm away quickly". don't touch me! "She hissed at him." I'm a Naval Officer and I have a job to do!"
"You work for my father!" Kevin snapped right back.
"I work for Admiral Wallace now". Anja spoke. "And he gave me permission to be on this mission."
"You requested to go on this crazy trip?" Kevin asked aghast.
Anja turned her head slowly and looked into the rear of the Raptor. Her eyes quickly found where Julie and Danny were stowing their gear, and both of them chose that moment to turn and make eye contact with her. She glanced at Martin then, who was staring at her with those beautiful dark eyes. She held his gaze for several moments before turning back to Kevin. "This is where I am needed." She told him.
"Listen to me Anja, my father will be very upset about this! Hell.."
Martin stepped up to them. "Are you coming with us pretty boy?" Martin asked.
Kevin looked at him arrogantly. "Certainly not, and we are having a discussion here, do you mind?"
Martin grinned. "Yes I do as a matter of fact! Unless you plan on coming with us, I need your ass off my ship! "Martin activated the ramp controls and pulled Anja back into the interior of the Raptor gently by the back of her shirt as the ramp started to come up.
Anja looked at him. "Thank you." She spoke softly.
Martin nodded." No problem. Why don't you get?" His eyes widened and Anja turned to see what he was looking at and they saw Kevin leap up onto the ramp and nearly have his head taken off as it closed behind him.
"Kevin what are you doing?" Anja barked at him.
"I'm coming with you! What does it look like?" Kevin replied looking back as he heard the ramp lock into place.
"You cant be serious!" Anja exclaimed. She turned to Martin and saw the pissed off look on his face. "We cant take him Martin."
"Ben has already started pre-flight". Martin replied looking at her." And I want to get airborne. Danny would you find twinkle toes here a seat, and make sure he doesn't puke on my clean deck! Well figure out what to do with him later."
Dan came up to them with a small smile and took Kevin by the arm." Right this way twinkle toes". He spoke pulling him along after a quick look at Anja.
Anja turned to Martin, a look of disgust on her face. "I'm not going to baby sit him Martin". She said. "He stays on the ship and out of my way."
Martin looked at her intently. "You you seem different Anja." He spoke softly, stepping closer to her.
Anja held her breath for a long moment, not looking at him. His musky mint smell filled her nostrils. Were all different now. She spoke quickly knowing Martin could probably still smell Danny and Julie all over her.
Martin smiled in a knowing way, and Anja felt herself blush slightly. "I don't plan on having you baby sit him. you're part of my team now. "He told her. "Well figure out what to do with him on the way."
Anja's face became serious." Martin Im sorry Im sorry about Yuri."
Martins face changed quickly, becoming unreadable. He nodded slowly. "Yeah well losing women seems to be one of my more prominent traits." He forced a small smile. "Grab a seat."
Anja turned and moved into the interior of the Raptor