Quest for the Conestoga (Colony Ship Conestoga Book 1) by John Thornton Page A
Authors: John Thornton
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missions are essential,” John replied. “But your involvement is totally up to you.”
“Which ship should we chose?” Cammarry asked bluntly.
“Alas, that is an immense decision. I hesitate to direct you one way or the other,” John said. He stroked his chin and looked at the ceiling. “However, I do notice one striking difference between the seven colony ships.”
“What is that?” Cammarry asked.
“The planet. See here in the report on the Colony Ship Conestoga,” John quoted off the display. “Received from unlabeled AI as having made planet fall. This would be at least a century prior to when the ship was scheduled to arrive. No human messages from Conestoga. Trajectory plotted and robotic FTL contact estimated at greater than 90%.” John turned and looked at Jerome and then at Cammarry.
“A planet?” Jerome asked. “The report is dubious, and how do we know anything about it?”
“Indeed, how do you know anything about any of these seven old colony ships? What I am pointing out, and this is entirely your decision, but I am pointing out that only the Conestoga has the potential for you to set up the teleportation system on an actual planet. None of the other colony ships have that potential.”
“Why is that important?” Cammarry asked.
“A planet has had millions or billions of years to evolve and sustain biological systems. I admit there is no direct evidence of a planetary biosphere in this very limited report, but I think there are hints. Why would the crew of the Conestoga ‘make planet fall’ unless it was a place where they could survive? If it were like Mercury, or Saturn, or any of the other solar bodies in their current status in our system, a colony ship crew would pass them by. But if the planet were like Earth before the Great Event, they might very well cut short their sojourn and make planet fall. I know that is all supposition on just a few words, but I think the planet must have a biological ecosystem. Additionally, the Conestoga has a high percentage chance of contact.”
“So you would suggest we volunteer and make our request for the Conestoga?” Jerome asked.
“The destination of your quest is entirely up to you. I am just pointing out what seems to be a unique feature of only one of the ships,” John answered. “The decision is all yours. But remember, these colony ships are over a hundred years old. The biological habitats they have will all be artificially created, not naturally occurring. Like our apparently now ill-fated dome, every mechanical system will eventually fail. A natural biosphere is designed to last for millennia upon millennia. To be simplistic, a planet is designed, if you want to use that term, to last far longer than the best system humans have ever designed.”
“The Earth did not outlast us,” Cammarry said.
“You are so right,” John concurred. “Had humans not worked so hard to destroy the Earth, it would still be a near paradise for us. We and the Earth’s old biosphere evolved together to benefit each other. Tragically, humans forgot that lesson, and here were are today. Just one-hundred and twenty days left here at the dome.”
“So you believe going to the Conestoga is a good choice?” Cammarry asked.
“Good choice? I will not say that. This quest looks to be fraught with dangers, many we cannot imagine. You two are the adventurers. I am just a teacher. It does seem remarkable that teleportation and faster-than-light travel are feasible now. Brink and his teams must be so very pleased. Technological breakthroughs are amazing, but from what little I grasp of the situation, much falls on you adventurers. Oh and the things you will see. Oh the places you will go! Imagine a planet which has not been ruined by radiation, toxins, and degradation. Now that would be
“Which ship should we chose?” Cammarry asked bluntly.
“Alas, that is an immense decision. I hesitate to direct you one way or the other,” John said. He stroked his chin and looked at the ceiling. “However, I do notice one striking difference between the seven colony ships.”
“What is that?” Cammarry asked.
“The planet. See here in the report on the Colony Ship Conestoga,” John quoted off the display. “Received from unlabeled AI as having made planet fall. This would be at least a century prior to when the ship was scheduled to arrive. No human messages from Conestoga. Trajectory plotted and robotic FTL contact estimated at greater than 90%.” John turned and looked at Jerome and then at Cammarry.
“A planet?” Jerome asked. “The report is dubious, and how do we know anything about it?”
“Indeed, how do you know anything about any of these seven old colony ships? What I am pointing out, and this is entirely your decision, but I am pointing out that only the Conestoga has the potential for you to set up the teleportation system on an actual planet. None of the other colony ships have that potential.”
“Why is that important?” Cammarry asked.
“A planet has had millions or billions of years to evolve and sustain biological systems. I admit there is no direct evidence of a planetary biosphere in this very limited report, but I think there are hints. Why would the crew of the Conestoga ‘make planet fall’ unless it was a place where they could survive? If it were like Mercury, or Saturn, or any of the other solar bodies in their current status in our system, a colony ship crew would pass them by. But if the planet were like Earth before the Great Event, they might very well cut short their sojourn and make planet fall. I know that is all supposition on just a few words, but I think the planet must have a biological ecosystem. Additionally, the Conestoga has a high percentage chance of contact.”
“So you would suggest we volunteer and make our request for the Conestoga?” Jerome asked.
“The destination of your quest is entirely up to you. I am just pointing out what seems to be a unique feature of only one of the ships,” John answered. “The decision is all yours. But remember, these colony ships are over a hundred years old. The biological habitats they have will all be artificially created, not naturally occurring. Like our apparently now ill-fated dome, every mechanical system will eventually fail. A natural biosphere is designed to last for millennia upon millennia. To be simplistic, a planet is designed, if you want to use that term, to last far longer than the best system humans have ever designed.”
“The Earth did not outlast us,” Cammarry said.
“You are so right,” John concurred. “Had humans not worked so hard to destroy the Earth, it would still be a near paradise for us. We and the Earth’s old biosphere evolved together to benefit each other. Tragically, humans forgot that lesson, and here were are today. Just one-hundred and twenty days left here at the dome.”
“So you believe going to the Conestoga is a good choice?” Cammarry asked.
“Good choice? I will not say that. This quest looks to be fraught with dangers, many we cannot imagine. You two are the adventurers. I am just a teacher. It does seem remarkable that teleportation and faster-than-light travel are feasible now. Brink and his teams must be so very pleased. Technological breakthroughs are amazing, but from what little I grasp of the situation, much falls on you adventurers. Oh and the things you will see. Oh the places you will go! Imagine a planet which has not been ruined by radiation, toxins, and degradation. Now that would be
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