The Triple Helix
Chapter 2
John
Captain John Finley strapped himself into the left seat of the flight deck and began his preflight check. To his right appeared a holographic projection of Tyson, acting as his co-pilot. As he called out points on the checklist, Tyson’s imagine responded appropriately.
John reached above and slightly behind his head to flip the rotating beacon switch. Looking over his shoulder, he saw another projection of Tyson walking among the passengers reminding them to strap in and configure their lowgrav vest. The lesser AI images could appear anywhere they were needed on and in the vicinity of the shuttle.
The holographic projections were an experiment by the AI community to simplify the interaction between their electronic intelligence and the human world. Roughly 18 petaFLOPS of computing power was needed to appear sentient. The Council of Ten, however (The ten original supercomputer AI’s) had access to much more stack memory and complex processes than these lesser AI's.
“Pressure is coming up,” said Captain Finley as he flipped a switch that started the life support systems.
In the main cabin, he could hear the other version of Tyson informing the passengers that they may experience some slight ear discomfort as the cabin pressure rose. He explained that it would soon be slightly more than one atmosphere.
“If you yawn or hold your nose and blow, that should equalize the pressure and alleviate any discomfort in your inner ear.”
Completing the pre-taxi checklist, John tuned in the ATIS (Automated, Terminal Information Service) and checked the automated voice against the information displayed on his HUD.
He slipped a tiny boom microphone over his head and adjusted the earpiece then hit a button to activate the clearance delivery frequency.
“Hobby clearance this is IP (Interplanetary) Shuttle Tyson with you, we have information Charley, and we are ready to pick up our clearance.”
After a brief pause, he heard the clearance controller respond.
“Roger, Tyson, we understand a human is piloting today. You are cleared to Space Dock One via Galveston one departure, mid gulf two. Climb and maintain flight level six five zero. Expect further clearance two zero minutes after departure. Departure quantum frequency one two four point seven. Squawk seven four seven four.”
John read back his clearance for confirmation, then set the transponder code to 7474. He tuned the standby frequency to Hobby Ground Control and pressed the button to make it active.
“Hobby Ground this is IP Shuttle Tyson at the NanoLabs ramp we are ready to taxi.”
A sultry southern female voice responded.
“Roger Tyson, taxi to intersect Taxiway Alfa One. You will be departing runway one seven today I will leave you in the run-up area. I understand a human pilot at the controls. Would you like remote take off and departure or will you be flying manual?” the controller asked.
“No, Ma’am we would like to take off and depart in full manual control.”
“Very well sir, expect that,” said the ground controller.
The advent of maglev surfaces and remote ground control eliminated the tragic occurrences of runway incursions by human-operated aircraft. Rarely were humans allowed to do aircraft ground operations and never at high volume spaceports such as Houston Hobby.
Captain Finley pressed a button embedded in the right-hand joystick and selected Maglev-Manual. Using the joystick control, he lifted the Tyson above the tarmac and maneuvered it toward the taxiway. When they intersected the taxiway, the automated ground controller took over and guided space-shuttle to the runway.
From her front seat position, Lydia saw Captain Finley and Tyson began the procedures to start up the Fusion Impulse drives and configure the space shuttle's hull for atmospheric flight.
Outside her window, she watched the hull morph into small stubby canards near the front of the spacecraft, and long sloping delta wings with substantial bulging cambers that formed the high lift surfaces needed for takeoff.
The Tyson was undoubtedly capable of VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) flight, but because of noise abatement regulations near populated areas, it was usually configured to fly like an airplane when a runway was available.
When they stopped near the end of their assigned runway, Lydia heard Captain Finley talking with the tower controllers.
“Hobby Tower, Tyson with you, ready for departure runway one seven.”
“Roger Tyson, cleared for takeoff runway one seven, fly runway heading, limit speed to two five zero knots, climb and maintain flight level six five zero.”
Lydia listened to Captain Finley repeat his takeoff clearance and looked out her window as the spacecraft floated out to line up on the runway.
“All, systems checked and ready for launch Captain,” said Tyson's projection.
Captain Finley reached up and switched on the intercom.
“Good morning! Captain Finley speaking. We are about to depart Houston for Space Dock One and the starship Cosmos. Barring any unexpected delays, we will arrive at our destination in about one hour and twenty-five minutes. Our route is south over the Gulf of Mexico, and into the mid-Atlantic where we will lift into low orbit. For those of you who have never been into orbit, expect a short period of rapid acceleration followed by low gravity. Tyson will remind you to store any loose objects before our orbital phase of the flight begins, so please sit back and enjoy your ride.”
Lydia felt her body sink into the plush seat as Capt. Finley advanced the engine throttles. She looked outside and judged their increasing speed by the way the runway lights rushed by the window.
The spacecraft’s shadow started to shrink as Capt. Finley rotated the nose into the air, and they lifted off the ground. Looking out at the ever-widening horizon, Lydia saw the sprawl of southwest Houston and the hot Texas sun glinting off the water on the marshes to the South.
“Shuttle Tyson, contact departure, good day,” she heard the Tower controller say.
“Going to departure, IP Shuttle Tyson, you have a great day too,” she heard John respond.
John selected the departure frequency and switched it to active status on the communications panel.
“Houston departure, IP Shuttle Tyson with you passing three thousand two hundred for flight level six five zero.”
“Roger, Tyson, satellite contact has you one eight miles south of Hobby, delete speed restriction after clearing the continent.”
”Roger that,” replied John, “IP Shuttle Tyson, up to flight level six five zero…”
The shuttle gained altitude, and by the time she saw Galveston Island pass under them, she thought they had achieved enough height to make out Matagorda Island through the summer haze in the Southwest. Her body pressed again into the seat as Capt. Finley advanced the throttles even more.
From her window, she saw the shuttle surfaces change to a supersonic profile.
She took her e-reader out of her handbag and decided to use the spare time to catch up on the novel she was reading.
Lydia listened to the cockpit dialog as the Houston Departure controller handed them off to Global Control and cleared them up to eighty-thousand feet.
Deciding she couldn’t keep her mind on her book, she put it down and laid her head against the window. Soon the steady hum of the fusion thrusters and the gentle rocking of the spacecraft buffetting in the atmosphere had her nodding off.
Awakened by the sound of a voice calling her name she looked up to see Dr. Tyson’s hologram.
“Yes,” she asked?
“Please stow any loose objects, indicating her e-book reader, in the compartment under your seat? We are about to enter the orbital portion of our flight.”
“Yes, of course,” she answered.
Capt. Finley was talking to the global controllers while she stowed her handbag and e-reader in the compartment below her seat.
“Tyson, you are cleared into the mid-Atlantic launch zone, contact Orbital Control on quantum channel one two seven point four.”
“Roger that, Global control, Tyson going to Orbit Control, have a good day sir.”
Tyson’s hologram moved among the passengers reminding a few to stow loose objects and tighten their seat-belts.
Lydia checked her belt once more and looked outside.
From this altitude, she could see the curvature of the earth and noticed things below seemed much brighter than those above.
Yes, there was undoubtedly a fading from blue sky to the blackness of open space above them. Lydia even made out a few stars above the bright horizon.
“Orbit Control, IP Shuttle Tyson here, ready for launch to orbit level alpha one six,” said John.
“Roger Tyson, satellite contact has you in the mid-Atlantic launch zone, you are cleared to climb and maintain Orbit Alpha One Six, accelerate to escape velocity at your discretion, advise when you have achieved orbit.”
For this part of the flight, John checked his navigation entries and turned the shuttle over to his co-pilot.
Although not impossible, it was safer for the autopilot to control the spacecraft during the high G portion of the flight.
The last item on his check-list confirmed that the passenger compartment was secured.
John opened the intercom and said, “Okay, people here we go, if you experience any discomfort, just bear with it, it should be over within three minutes.”
Turning to Tyson’s hologram, he grinned.
“four…three…two…one…earth below us...!” he sang the tune of Peter Schilling's Major Tom.
Tyson’s projection went through the motions of advancing the throttles to full thrust. His image pulled back on the yoke, and the nose of the spacecraft began to pitch up sharply.
Lydia felt her body sink into her seat, trying to raise her arm was almost impossible.
She could tell from her window that the spacecraft was now in an almost vertical position and the outer hull had morphed into smaller and smaller control surfaces.
The leading edges began to glow from the frictional heat of the rushing air molecules.
As they rose higher, the hull changed into the form of a cylindrical vessel without wings.
The passengers endured the discomfort of several G’s, while the projection of Tyson moved among them offering words of encouragement.
He said, “If you look above your heads, you can see I've set the hull to transparent, and shortly the moon will rise over the earth.”
All eyes looked upward to see the earth slowly coming into view as the shuttle began to roll over onto its back.
Lydia had the sensation of riding a roller coaster reaching the top before the breath-taking plunge.
“What you are feeling now,” said Tyson, “is what is called free fall.”
“You are now effectively weightless.”
The shuttle began its orbital roll and John took over the controls maneuvering it using the positional thrusters.
“Orbital Control, this is IP Shuttle Tyson, established in orbital position alpha one six.”
“Roger, Tyson, contact Space Dock One control on quantum channel one two six point four.”
“One two six point four,” replied John and switched to that frequency.
“Space Dock One,” he said, “Tyson is with you, inbound for landing at the Cosmos shuttle bay.”
“Roger Tyson,” he heard, “this is Space Dock Control, traffic two zero minutes ahead of you landing the same location, you will be number two to land. Continue inbound.”
John looked over at Tyson’s hologram and asked, “Is that the Sagan ahead of us?”
Tyson’s image tapped its implant and referring to his HUD. ”Yes, sir. Sagan informs me that he is five minutes out from the space dock and beginning to decelerate.”
John brought up a list of approaches on the instrument panel and selected the one that said, “IPPS Space Dock One.” IPPS stood for, Interplanetary Positioning System, and was the solar system equivalent of the GPS (Global Positioning System). The technology was still being used to navigate Earth, Lunar, Martian and a few Jovian moons, albeit with many modifications.
When the approach chart loaded in the display, a series of amber squares appeared on the shuttle’s view screen. These squares grew progressively larger and disappeared to the sides of the viewscreen as Tyson “flew” through them. When one square disappeared, another would form around the small dot of light in the distance that was Space Dock One.
To fly this approach, John tweaked a joystick to keep a green crosshair centered in an amber circle in the center of the moving squares. The visual effect was like flying through a long tunnel.
He reduced the engine throttles and monitored the temperature gauges. Once the engines stabilized at the appropriate settings, he shut them off and began his deceleration checklist.
Lydia watched a tiny point of light, that initially looked like a star, in the forward canopy. It was, in fact, the space dock. She experienced a slight tug on her seat-belt as the forward thrusters came online to slow them to their approach speed.
As the space shuttle slowed, the Space Dock Controller contacted them, “Tyson, additional traffic is a lunar tug maneuvering a barge for landing at Space Dock cargo bay three, he should be no factor, contact Cosmos Controller on quantum channel one two eight point seven, good afternoon.”
“Roger that,” replied John, “thanks for your help, going to Cosmos Control,” and he changed frequencies.
John heard the Cosmos controller clearing the Sagan to land on the left side of the dual shuttle bay.
After waiting for the chatter to end, he keyed his mike and said, “Cosmos Control, Tyson is with you, niner five miles out and closing for landing at the Cosmos shuttle bay.”
“Roger Capt. Finley, good to have you back, you are number two, behind Sagan. Check gear down, cleared to land in the Cosmos shuttle bay. Maneuver to parking on the right side, use caution, maintenance bots are working near shuttle bay blast doors.”
“Roger cleared to land right side of the shuttle bay, IP Shuttle Tyson,” repeated Capt. Finley.
They continued to slow, and Lydia watched in awe as the distinct profile of the massive space dock began to take shape.
Surrounded by the superstructure of the space dock, she saw the starship. Of course, she had seen numerous desktop models, but the massive size of the spacecraft was impressive.
The cylindrical central core came into view as John maneuvered the shuttle for landing. Each ring was attached to this cylinder by three enormous streamlined spokes and spun around the center to produce artificial gravity by the centrifugal force on the inside of their rims.
The stern of the starship was defined by a substantial stationary ring that housed the “Alcubierre/Fulton Warp Drives.” A large portion of the “drive” ring was without its cowlings, exposing massive pipes and wiring bundles.
Many maintenance robots and men clothed in protective spacesuits and riding thruster platforms were coming and going near the openings.
Lydia watched through the cockpit window as John skillfully brought the Tyson in line with the shuttle bay doors. A faint blue florescent line appeared on the nose of the shuttlecraft as it pierced the protective force field that served as an airlock for the pressurized shuttle bay.
Captain Finley positioned the shuttlecraft at the direction of a lineman who was floating around in the shuttle bay using a lowgrav vest.
Lydia saw the lineman cross his arms above his head and clench his fist.
The throttles retarded and a switch activated the coils in the landing gear. The magnetism attached the spacecraft to the Shuttle bay floor with a loud “thunk.”
in my first attempt at
Science Fiction
Read Chapter One here
Such a great blog post. I liked this writing. Sci-fi is a interesting genre. Upvoted & Followed Hope u can check my latest too.
Another thumbs up!
Moving on to the next chapter!
Sounds like Capt. Finley knows what he's doing....glad to know he got them to destination safely!
Well, he is an accomplished pilot you know! Thanks for reading!
I just learned about your love affair!
You have been resteemed by @resteemy, courtesy of @beekerst!
Want to increase your following? Read more about me here