NANOWRIMO IDEA # 9
CETUS-1
Can any person or nation claim to own an unexplored planet 12 light-years from Earth? In 2035, the Starshot
Program sent ultra-fast light-driven
nanocrafts to assess the potential
for human settlements on 20 exoplanets within 50 light years of Earth. Traveling
at 2/5 the speed of light, Starshot 1 was sent to explore Alpha Centuri. Starshot 2 focused on the four known planets
in the Tau Ceti constellation of Cetus, “The Sea Monster” or “Whale.” In 2114
data from the exploration of Tau Cet-e indicated that humans could live on the
surface in the same way they had survived living in shielded structures on Mars
for 75 years.
In 2127, the American
Federation Starship Cetus 1 left on its 75-year voyage to place a team of explorers,
scientists, and Marines on Cet-e. Four years before their
arrival in the Tau Ceti system, the ship’s Commander Mary Elizabeth Teal was awakened
by the onboard computer to the news that a team of from the Euro-Russian Pact
Space Agency are traveling to Cet-e in newer and faster starship.
According to the first reports, the Pact team was
in orbit around Cet-e and may be on the ground. Little more was known given how
long it takes to communicate and how secretive the Pact Agency could be when it
came to the Federation. Commander Teal is
instructed to continue with her mission, but to be aware that the Euro-Russian Pact
team may, according to Earth law, claim the planet as theirs and deny her the right
to land. If that happens, Commander Teal has permission land and contest (fight)
any claim of eminent domain or to fly to the mission alternative, the smaller
planet Cet-g.
Believing the decision
is not hers to make alone, Teal had the ship’s computer break protocol and
awaken Ian MacDonald, the chief engineer, the ship’s physician Oliver Green, the
leader of the science team, Dr. Susan Maude along with head planetary explorer,
Mr. N. Keith Mallory, and Marine Captain Walter Johnson. Together they will
decide the fate of the Cetus-1.
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