“Thank you for calling back. I know you are a busy man, but we need to discuss some important matters. We are still having some problems with the launch console calibrations to coordinate them with the main ship. We have added a team of experts to our crew to assist with the launch and hope to solve the problem very soon. How are you coming along with that?”
“Russia does not have the same problems as you do. Our spaceship is different from yours. We have a lot of experience with land-based launches, as we run the International Space Station. Our main problem is dealing with the kinds of weapons Mr. Ivanov wants on board. I cannot explain more, but we are still having discussions with the government here. Sometimes our government is helpful, and other times it is not, just like in your country. I hope you understand what I am saying.”
Tom did understand. The Russian leaders wanted to bring nuclear weapons on board. It could be a disaster for them, or for us, or for a new planet. There was no guarantee those kinds of weapons could survive a launch. Of course, one could make them while on the mission, but it was safer not to launch with them.
“Yuri, I understand the situation now. Is Ivanov still planning to join you on the trip? Or is he planning something else?”
“As of now, he is not coming with us. However, he did make us take twenty different DNA samples of himself so that they will be cloned as soon as we begin doing so. We also have a lot of Putin’s samples. It seems the earthquake in California, and the volcanoes around the world, have made Ivanov change his mind about what he wants to do. He seems to be meeting a lot with the military leaders right now and not really focusing on the Oligarch so much.”
Leave it to Ivanov to take advantage of a wounded person, Tom thought to himself. Ivanov must know that we had to shut down many of our nuclear weapons due to the earthquake. He could be preparing the military to attack Ukraine or just about any country in the world. So, Ivanov wants to be on Earth and the spaceship at the same time. How many clones of Ivanov were there supposed to be?
This was becoming more dangerous by the minute. He decided that he would need to let the president know what was happening.
“Yuri, thank you for all the information you have provided. I did not realize that you are facing a different situation than myself. I will be in contact with you again soon.”
When Tom got off the connection with Yuri, he contacted the president. The president was not glad to hear the news that the Russian military was on the move.
“There is nothing the United Nations or NATO can do for us. The Security Council would veto any plan since Russian is on the council. NATO is too busy trying to save lives after the flooding in Europe. I doubt the leaders of other countries are going to listen to me right now. They are all trying to take care of their own people. War is the last thing this world needs right now. We need peace to come together and help each other. Unfortunately, it looks like Ivanov sees himself as ruler of the world. I will have to notify the Pentagon. One thing we have over the Russians is superior submarines. They have been staying on the bottom of the ocean due to the flooding and currents. We have several in the Black Sea. I will call Ivanov right now and see if I can put an end to his grandiose plans. I don’t know if he will listen to me, but the world will end a lot sooner if he does not. And I hope my men can get your console ready soon.”
“Good luck talking to Ivanov, sir. Don’t worry about the consoles.”
Tom spent the rest of the day with Sam and Jose visiting various departments and meeting people, seeing what was happening on the ship. He liked to keep the morale on a high note. One of their stops was the cafeteria where they had stopped for lunch.
Chef Luis was in a jovial mood. Sam asked him why he was so happy.
“I have found a way to make some of my favorite desserts using the bioengineering process. Now we can have fantastic tiramisu and chocolate mousse. There seems to be no limit to what we can accomplish here. My staff and I are looking forward to preparing food every day for a thousand people.”
Luis projected a very positive attitude. However, Tom seemed to have some doubts about why Luis was in such a good mood. After all, Luis had probably made thousands of new desserts before. Tom felt satisfied that he’d provided Luis such a great opportunity and had found someone who fit the bill for the ship who would be enthusiastic about the challenges that lay ahead. He’d seen how glad Sam and Jose were that he was developing new foods all the time. It would get awful boring to eat only a few things for a hundred years. However, it still seemed like there was something going on that he did not know about.
While Tom was thinking to himself, Luis interrupted his thoughts.
“Tomorrow morning, please come and try our new bioengineered pancakes with bananas and syrup. It tastes a little bit different than normal pancakes, but I think you will like them.”
“I can’t wait to try them, Luis,” said Jose. “This chocolate mousse tastes great.”
After they finished lunch, all three of them continued on their rounds.
Tom watched Sam and Jose join several classmates in a game of soccer momentarily against Ronaldo and Messi in the entertainment center. It brought joy to Tom to see them be able to take things in stride. After about a half hour, they visited the medical center to see their moms and Sally. They decided to have dinner together to catch up on the events of the day on the ship.
After dinner, as Tom prepared to get some sleep, he anticipated that once he talked to Bob again, he wouldn’t be able to prevent himself from swearing under his breath. He couldn’t wait to see Bob’s expression when he told him the president was now being asked to intervene.
Chapter 45 – Speechless
Tom Burns, The Imagine, Rocky Mountains, CO
The following morning, Tom decided to pay a visit to Dr. Sato to see how she was getting along with the new doctors and if she had all the necessary equipment on board.
When he arrived, Dr. Sato saw him and suddenly closed the door behind her. She approached Tom.
Tom asked, “How is your leg coming along? You seem to be walking much better.”
Dr. Sato assured him that she was improving by the minute.
Tom said, “Do you have everything you need now? How are Dr. Kintain and the others? Are they all comfortable?”
“I’m sure that his advances helped me heal much faster. He’s also brilliant, so our team is lucky to have him.”
“Good, glad to hear. Do you need my help with anything? I trust you one hundred per cent. You will do a fantastic job, and if there is anything I need to know, I am sure you will tell me about it, right?”
Dr. Sato looked directly at Tom. She had been the whole time. She hesitated briefly before answering, “Dr. Kintain and the rest of my medical team are all doing great and are forming great teams, bonding together and appreciating the medical challenges that we face. I can’t tell you how much your trust in me, in us, matters. I have worked with some of the most esteemed people back in Chicago, and I am fortunate to continue to be working with some of the greatest minds of our times here. I will certainly notify you if anything develops on board that you should know about. I know that we still have many decisions to make with the committee about medical procedures and policies, but in the meantime our scientific research has hit no glitches. Your help has been much appreciated.”