Solar Express (43 page)

I thought you might be interested.

Oh … by the way, I received a very nice message from Dr. Mehlin.

If Emma responded to the last line, that might also tell Alayna something else.

After checking all the COFAR monitors, she headed off to make sure the aeroponics system was operating as optimally as possible.

Less than two hours later, when she returned from her at least daily check of the aeroponics system, a longer time than she'd anticipated because she'd had to replace two of the sprayers, and locating the spares had taken more time, because they hadn't been stored where the system indicated, Alayna discovered another message—from Emma.

Alayna—

We've been tracking 2114 FQ5. Same results. Details attached.

Would appreciate your updated information when available.

Dr. Mehlin can be very thoughtful.

The line about Mehlin was suggestive, but not conclusive in any way, but the very terseness of Emma's response confirmed Alayna's feelings about the alien artifact. The more worried the older astronomer became, the less voluble she was. The data definitely suggested that the artifact was speeding up more than could be accounted for by solar gravitation.

In turn, that meant Alayna needed to reply to Chris immediately.

Chris—

COFAR is still not in position to confirm the increase in inbound speed that you've reported. I've checked with one other astronomy facility, and that facility's observations tend to confirm what you've reported.

Your observation about the effect of gravity is largely correct, in observed practice. Although gravitational attraction between two bodies is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them, the sun's mass is so much greater than that of any small bodies in the solar system that, for practical purposes, the speed of attraction to the sun is effectively equal for such bodies and the result of the sun's mass. In effect, all small bodies should move with equal acceleration under gravity toward the sun, but that obviously isn't the case with regard to the artifact, which is why it just might deserve the name of Solar Express, unless the calculations of at least three reliable sources are all wrong.

This brings up another question, one which I should have asked earlier. Have you had to accelerate in order to maintain position? That would be helpful to know.

Whether you have or not, that still leaves us, and you, in particular, with three possibilities. (1) All our calculations are wrong. (2) The artifact has some form of yet undetected propulsion. (3) The artifact is far more massive than its size indicates. The third possibility seems unlikely because if the artifact has as much mass as would affect its inbound speed, it would also have enough surface gravity to attract your ship and squash you flat. At the same time, I'm dubious about two facilities and your AI all making miscalculations of the magnitude represented by the increased inbound velocity over what it “should” be. At this point, all the possibilities seem impossible. What makes them “impossible”? In the first case, it seems unlikely that speed calculations could be so misconstrued, but it has happened. In the second case, it is certainly possible, at least theoretically, that an alien technology might develop a propulsion system undetectable to us, but the odds seem long that such a technology would still be operable after thousands of years in only a fragment of the original sphere or craft when there is no sign of heat or energy as far insystem as you now are. In the third case, the only way the artifact could be that massive is if some technology restricted the effect of gravity around the artifact, and if that were the case, then the effect of that mass would seem to be nullified.

In short, at this point, I don't have any answers. I do have a very strong feeling that it would be far better to make plans to depart the area of the artifact much sooner than whatever date you had originally anticipated. Right now, I can't justify that through calculations, but I will as soon as I can after the twenty-first of the month.

As for your quotation, I would agree. Human beings talk about sharing knowledge while doing their best to hide it or get it first. Open space for the Sinese seems to mean open to them and open to others on their terms, but from what I've read of history that wasn't much different when the British Empire ruled Earth's oceans.

I don't have a quote this time, and I want to get this off.

Please take care.

Alayna immediately dispatched the message. She sat looking at the COFAR monitors, her thoughts on the impossibility that her discovery had become … and on the fact that so few, so far, seemed to know, or care, about what it might represent.

 

56

ASTRONEWS

17 N
OVEMBER
2114

On 24 March 2114, two observatories reported within minutes of each other an object tentatively identified as a comet [C/X/2114 FT2 COFAR-SMOA]. The first report came from the Combined Farside Array at Daedalus Crater on the far side of the Moon, the second from the Sinese Main Optical Array. At first, there was nothing to distinguish Comet COFAR/SMOA from any other long-period comet with a high inclination, typical of comets originating in the Oort Cloud. Then, by the beginning of April, several observers discovered that the object's albedo varied dramatically, suggesting that the object rotated and had two sides with different characteristics. By mid-April, the comet brightened as it passed the orbit of Jupiter, but not as much as might have been expected, and early spectrographic analysis suggested the presence of silicon and silver, rather than the ice and dust composing most comets.

By September, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Comet COFAR/SMOA as a minor body [2114 FQ5], most probably an ice-covered heavy silica-based asteroid in a cometary orbit. More observations determined that 2114 FQ5 was far smaller than initially assumed, less than two kilometers at its greatest dimension, with one side having an albedo of point nine nine, and the other comparatively dark side still with an albedo of point five four.

Reports indicate that sometime on 1 November 2114, Noram Space Service launched a modified fusionjet on a trajectory aimed at a rendezvous with the so-called asteroid. Within several days of that, likely on November third, the Sinese Federation launched an uncrewed modified longliner. Observations made by the DOA facility in Victoria have verified that two smaller objects are positioned close to 2114 FQ5. Those observations also indicate that one half of the object has a shimmering surface containing silver and silicates.

Unverified reports suggest that 2114 FQ5 may be an artifact that has been orbiting the sun since approximately 12,900
B.C.
More than a score of amateur observers have also noted that the object is moving toward the sun significantly faster than can be accounted for. Neither DOEA authorities nor the Sinese Space Ministry have replied to requests for information or comments.

A noted astronomer, who requested anonymity, noted that it is “almost certain” that the object is an alien artifact of some sort …

 

57

R
ECON
T
HREE

18 N
OVEMBER
2114

By midday on Saturday, Tavoian was even more frustrated and concerned. The second Sinese vessel had avoided Recon three and its ISVs, even while it disgorged independent monitors that seemed to swarm everywhere. More worrying was the manned space tug/sled that carried space-suited figures and equipment to various parts of the artifact, particularly to the partly open hexagonal chambers with extruded protrusions. He hadn't seen any signs that the Sinese had found or explored the side chambers and passageway to the “drive” chamber, unless they had found an entry on the far side, which was certainly possible. All of this he had dutifully reported to the colonel, including the fact that the Sinese had made no attempt to contact him, as if carrying on a charade that they believed Recon three was an uncrewed mission like their longliner was. Following his own orders, in turn, he had not attempted communications with the Sinese, although he had attempted, unsuccessfully, to intercept their communications.

He had continued to use the ISVs, the spy-eyes, and the rovers to investigate passageways, concentrating on those bordering the hull, but after two more days had little to show for those efforts, except a few assorted frozen atmosphere crystals that were similar to the earlier crystals analyzed and a handful of what analysis revealed to be circumstellar dust. The first ISV was doing more laser studies of the barely discolored circles on the hull, for comparison, if nothing else, and he had just dispatched the second ISV to look into a passageway that had reflected sunlight slightly differently, at least to his eyes, when another message from the colonel arrived. The key point was simple:

The increased speed of the artifact toward the sun requires more rapid completion of investigatory tasks and discovery of replicable technology, materials, or insights into the advanced technology represented by the artifact.

In short, produce some results.

Tavoian's problem was that he really didn't know what else he could do besides what he was already doing. He was looking into every passageway and hexagon into which he could send the rovers or the spy-eyes. He was sampling all the loose material he could find. He was using the laser to investigate material composition and possible properties, and he had the ship's AI watching the artifact continuously. But the fact remained. There were at least ten thousand of the hexagonal chambers, most of which were the smaller ones, and while the majority of those that his remotes had investigated were sealed, there was always the possibility that one with something of value in some way might not be. So he kept sending the remotes out.

You might as well find out now just how you're coming.
“How far inside Earth's orbit are we now?”

RECON THREE IS INSIDE THE EARTH'S ORBIT BY THIRTY-SIX MILLION KAYS.

It didn't feel like he and Recon three were hurtling toward the sun, but he didn't doubt the fact that it was happening, and that he was slowly, but inexorably, running out of time.

While he was thinking over what else he might be able to do, since he wasn't getting much in the way of useful suggestions from the colonel or his advisers, another message arrived from Alayna. He immediately noticed that it had been delayed almost eighteen hours. When he finished reading it, he thought he knew why it had been delayed—because more than a few people had looked at it—and why it had finally been sent on—because the colonel was hoping something that she had said might inspire Tavoian.

He read the message again, slowly.

While what she had sent made sense, it also pointed out the quiet impossibility of the situation and the artifact itself. She'd outlined the options clearly. Either human calculations were wrong, or the seemingly inert alien technology was incredibly advanced, advanced enough to have an impact in a way that was undetectable except by its effect. He also realized something else, after the first day or so, the ship's AI had not had to use the drive to keep position.
But what did that mean? That the artifact was carrying them along as it increased its speed?
How was that possible without being detected?

It might not be that undetectable if we could only get into those sealed chambers.
But what if they were like all the ones he had been able to investigate?

Almost absently, and because he was out of ideas, he asked the ship's AI, “Is there anything new or different about the artifact?”

THERE IS. THE ARTIFACT'S OUTER HULL NO LONGER REFLECTS ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FOR WAVELENGTHS SHORTER THAN 370 NANOMETERS.

“When did this happen?”

AT 0947 UTC.

“Display the hull optically. Maximum resolution.” Tavoian studied the image. Although it was probably his imagination, somehow the hull appeared duller. “That either means the hull isn't receiving UV or it's suddenly absorbing it. Have the Sinese done something to screen the object?”

THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN THE ARTIFACT AND THE SUN WITHIN RANGE OF RECON THREE'S DETECTION CAPABILITIES.

“Is the artifact radiating energy, other than by reflection, in any fashion?”

NEGATIVE.

“Is there any possible external reason for the change in the reflectivity of the hull?”

NONE HAS BEEN DETECTED.

“Has the artifact changed in any other way?”

NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN DETECTED, EXCEPT FOR THE PRESENCE OF INVESTIGATORY REMOTES AND SINESE PERSONNEL.

Somehow Tavoian didn't think that the Sinese had anything to do with the change in reflectivity.

While he watched the monitors, and waited for the return of both ISVs and the results of their latest investigations, he decided to reply to the colonel's last message … and if he didn't come up with more ideas after that, then he'd write a long message to Alayna … and answer her question. She might have an idea about why the artifact's hull suddenly had stopped reflecting UV and shorter wavelengths. She also seemed to be more helpful than all of Donovan Base.

That's not true.

Not totally, anyway, but it was still how he felt at the moment.

 

58

D
AEDALUS
B
ASE

21 N
OVEMBER
2114

Despite it being lunar day, on Tuesday, Alayna rose early to take advantage of a half hour block of unbooked time on the main optical array. The position of the sun was such that she could finally focus the main telescope on the alien artifact and have Marcel make the necessary observations and measurements.

When she saw the first image, with the three objects around a bigger disc, she frowned for a moment, until she recalled Chris's mention of the arrival of the second Sinese ship in his last message, the one that had also mentioned that he had not had to accelerate his ship to keep station on the artifact. And that brought up the question of how and why the artifact could apparently carry the ships with it as it accelerated—when it apparently didn't have a mass sufficient to do that—under any form of astrophysics she knew.