“I’m sure everybody listening to this is aware of the process called terraforming. It’s a process that tries to convert the environment of a world to make it more friendly for human colonization. That sounds good. They’re experimenting with it on Selika. Unfortunately, in changing the atmosphere, we are killing off most, and probably all, of the life-forms.”
His image was replaced by pictures of birds and lizards and whalelike creatures. And animals that might almost have been Scottish terriers and cats and monkeys and other creatures that resembled nothing Priscilla had seen before except that they all had eyes, and they all somehow looked wistful. There were even some plants, shrubbery that moved as she watched. She was reminded of the occasional pleas that asked viewers to assist animals currently maintained in shelters or discarded by their owners.
“These are all being killed off, in your name, by large international corporations, led by Kosmik, Inc., and aided and abetted by the World Space Authority. If we allow this process to continue, our grandchildren will look back at us and hold us in contempt for standing around and permitting it to happen. Even the people who want to move out to Selika, to colonize it, will find it sterile and repulsive. It won’t be the Eden they’re being promised.
“There’s no justification for what I’ve done. I’m aware of that, and I’ve had to live with it. But I saw no other way to draw attention to this problem than by doing something that would get public notice. Petitions go nowhere. Postings on the Internet accomplish nothing. Appeals to the people who run Kosmik have been turned aside. So I took a chance. It went terribly wrong, and Joshua Miller paid with his life. I will now pay with mine. But I beg you, those of you with any sense of decency, make your voices heard. Stop the terraforming. Whatever it takes, get it stopped.”
He was replaced by Marilyn Jakovik, who switched to news of a murder trial. Mom turned it off. “What do you think?” she asked.
Priscilla shook her head. “Incredible,” she said.
Her mother’s eyes had fastened on her. “Who did you say you’re working for now?”
* * *
NEWSDESK
VICE PRESIDENT: WE NEED INTERSTELLAR FLIGHT
“Confining Ourselves to This Planet Endangers the Species.”
KORMANOV ARGUES FOR EXTENDED INTERSTELLAR EXPLORATION
“To Do Any Less Is to Forget Who We Are.”
MAGLEVS KILLING DEER
Wildlife Protection Agency Appeals to Congress
Magnetics May Be Reducing Reproduction
MANITOBA ENGLISH TEACHER FIGHTS OFF BEAR
Distracts Animal from Children; Wounds Not Life-Threatening
TORNADOES HIT DAKOTAS
No Fatalities, Several Towns Wrecked
MALKAVIA INSERTING IMPLANTS INTO DISSIDENTS
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN NAU TOPS 150
Finland Leads the Way at 161
CANCER RESURGENCE IN EAST ASIA
Doctors Baffled
GOLD PARTY DEBATE TONIGHT
LIFE GUARD SOCIETY: TERRAFORMING KILLS EVERYTHING
Martin Pleads for Total Ban
Decries Use of Violence
Bomb on Gremlin “Inexcusable”
SOCIAL SKILLS HIT NEW BOTTOM
Virtual Reality Comes with a Price
Parents Urged to Take Control
STAR PILOT BOMBER COMMITS SUICIDE
Posts Attack on Terraforming
Chapter 17
WHEN SHE CHECKED into the Starlight, a message from Broderick was waiting. “Priscilla,” it said, “you are assigned to the Venture. Depart tomorrow 0900 for Amity Station. You’ll be carrying supplies. No passengers. Pick up Dr. Monika Wolf at the station and bring her home with you. You have time to complete the flight and get back for your graduation ceremony. But do a quick turnaround. Congratulations again. Call me if you need anything.”
Amity was the Selika station, located in the 107 Piscium system, just over twenty-four light-years out. Selika, of course, was the world that was igniting so much controversy. The hope was that it would be ready for human colonists in another six to eight years.
Priscilla called Ops. “What will I be hauling?” she asked.
One of the comm officers was on the other end. “Basic supplies, Priscilla,” he said. “Food and water. Some hardware. And”—he paused—“hold on a second. It says here superalgae. It’s contained in specially modified kelp. Whatever all that means.”
“Okay,” she said. “Thanks.”
She went online and did a search. The problem on Selika was that the atmospheric oxygen level was only about 16 percent. Earth-based life likes it at 21 percent. So it had become necessary to increase the content. They were doing it by placing the kelp in the oceans. The superalgae grew fast and began producing oxygen immediately. The kelp has large broad leaves that serve as bladders, which protect the superalgae. It also has leaves that do photosynthesis and thereby support the metabolism.
Well, okay. She’d take their word that it actually worked.
She called Broderick. “How’s the security on the Venture? Are we sure there won’t be a bomb on board?”
“Yes, Priscilla.” He let her see that he was being patient with her. “No need to worry. We’ve put very good security in place. We are certainly not going to permit a second incident. And we’ll go over the ship again before you leave.” He smiled. Nothing to worry about.
* * *
SHE WASN’T ESPECIALLY sleepy, so she went down to look at the Venture. A security station had been set up. They wouldn’t even let her on board without a second call to the Kosmik watch officer.
The ship had been connected to feeder lines, and the kelp-algae mix was being pumped into storage tanks belowdecks.
She stood at the dock for several minutes, admiring the vehicle, its smooth silver hull, the pair of slotted wings that would allow her to maneuver in an atmosphere if necessary, the sleek bridge wraparound, the arrow-shaped prow. And, most of all, the twin engines, mounted on either side of the hull. Dream come true.
She went inside and checked out the passenger cabin. It was about the same size as the one on the Copperhead, but it was more luxurious, with leather chairs and walnut bulkheads. Not bad. It had four individual cabins, a washroom, and a workout area.
And, finally, she went onto the bridge. She’d been saving it for last. Or pretending it wasn’t all that big a deal. She wasn’t sure which. Lights were moving out in the dome. A work crew. The bridge was dark save for a single lamp on the control panel. She sat down in the pilot’s seat.
“Lily,” she said, addressing the AI, “hello.” The ship remained silent. “You’re not activated yet, are you?”
She listened to the low hum of the life-support system.
Top of the world.
* * *
WHEN SHE ARRIVED next morning, they were loading food and equipment. She went inside, picked a sleeping cabin, and stored her bags. She came back out and found Broderick entering through the air lock as the last of the techs left. Two security guards were with him, carrying what she presumed were bomb detectors. “All right, gentlemen,” he said, “it’s all yours.”