Deep Space

Chapter 8

On the video screens of Sol3a the image of Gabrielle Mayern, leader of the Planetary Council, was watched with anticipation and concern. The audience all knew that tens of thousands of years of exploitation and abuse had killed the planet and that nothing could be done to save it as a habitable place for the human species.

Although mankind had spread throughout the Sol system and far beyond, its legendary home was a derelict husk of a world that could no longer sustain a population. Those of Sol3a had failed to reduce the demands on their planet and had sought a new home elsewhere in the Sol system. The other worlds in the Sol system were facing their own problems and could not or would not help. All that was left to the women of Sol3a was a simple choice, migrate or die. Mayern carried their last hopes to find a new home.

The view screen on the wall of the cabin blinked into life. A camera beside it was trained on Mayern as she sat staring at it. "Women of Sol3a," the screen announced, "this is a world telecast information flash from Council Leader Mayern."

The red lamp on the camera began to flash and Mayern began speaking. "I am speaking to you from the shuttle Aries as it returns towards our home, a home that is, as we all know, dying. From here in space, poised between our dying world and the worlds that our fore-mothers colonised, it is clear that we must make choices, hard choices. But it is also clear that there are those who value our contribution to the galaxy and those who would help us as we face the extinction of our home.

"As you know I have tried to negotiate for a new home within our solar system. It saddens me to tell you that in that endeavour I and the rest of the Council have failed. It seemed that those whose worlds we had helped to colonise should be the first to help us, but not so. Who can say today if things should have been different? Not all the worlds of Sol have seen things the same way as we have and now all those worlds have turned their backs and declined to help. They would leave us at the mercy of our decaying planet.

"Fortunately there are those who are prepared to face up to their treaty obligations. The Forgwin system had pledged to stand by Sol3a and now will help to deliver us. I am returning from discussions with their Council. They have agreed to help us to relocate to one of the moons of Forgwin5. This will be our new home. Ships from the Forgwin system will be landing on Sol3a shortly. As you know the Science Councillors forecast that we have only a matter of days before the crust of our home begins to collapse. The rescue ships will allow us to evacuate before the final collapse of our planet. The peoples of Forgwin may be other species but they have shown more humanity than the rest of human kind.

"Join me in praising the generosity of the Forgwin system. Join me in our new home."

Mayern sat back. The red light on the camera went out. The voice of the view screen announcer continued. "That was Council Leader Gabrielle Mayern broadcasting from the shuttle Aries, en-route from Sol3b. Regional centres for evacuation have already been designated and embarkation will begin within the next 12 hours. You are reminded to follow the community evacuation plan communicated to you by your regional authorities. We understand that there is only a 48 hours evacuation window. Please follow all instructions given to you by your regional authorities and the evacuation crews. Thank you."

Gabrielle reached out and turned the screen off. It was done. She had saved the peoples of Sol3a. It proved that there was some honour in the galaxy.

"Would you like a drink, Council Leader?" The only crew on the Aries were the two flight attendants, the flight, return and docking were all automated. "We will be docking with the Orbiter in about three hours."

"Oh, yes, thank you. Just some water," she replied. The flight attendant padded off across the Aries' empty passenger cabin to the galley. Her velcro slippers held her to the floor in spite of the weightless conditions. She opened the door to the galley carefully. Her colleague was standing just inside, sipping coffee through a straw from a sealed container. "Some water for Council Leader Mayern," she said.