Russian PM not joking – extraterrestrials live among us according to MIB documentary

The Panthers – Ions game took the attention of everyone who did not need to be a part of the frantic loading of the final items. Smitty was a master loadmaster, and this wasn’t his first time, but he had to fight the pressure everyone else was putting on him to move faster. His patience seemed inexhaustible as he explained over and over, “If I hurry to load, and we have to make an extra trip, it’s going to make things take a lot longer.”

Skip heard shouting and assumed the game was over. He clapped Smitty on the shoulder and went to see how the miners were doing. He found Mark and Mal congratulating the victorious Ions. Mark asked, “How is it going?”

“They’re nearly done loading the last crane now. It should lift off within the hour. We should start shuttling the remaining personnel to Valerio. How many are going to stay behind for the ceremony?”

“We’ll keep about 20 here. Everyone else can watch from Valerio.”

“Do you have enough to do between now and lunch?”

Mal offered, “We need to tour the facility and ensure everyone is where they should be. The mine’s been sealed, we’ll be sealing the outpost at the ceremony. We will do a final double-check that we’re ready. Do you want to come along?”

“I think I’d best stay with my crew. I’ve enjoyed seeing how the outpost operates, but between getting the miners to Valerio and the remaining packing, they’re going to need all the help they can get.

Skip walked back to the loading bay to see that people were frustrated, but behaving. Smitty had a reputation as a perfectionist, but Skip knew he could absolutely trust that everything would make it to Valerio and back to Earth in one piece. It was why he chose him for this last run, even though he knew it might raise the tempers just a bit among the load crew.

Skip breathed a sigh of relief when Smitty said, “OK, seal her and send her up.” The crew practically jumped into their places on the crane to begin the lift-off sequence.

Skip walked over and gave Smitty his hand. “Nice job, Smitty. Almost home.”

“Yes, Sir,” Smitty replied. “Almost home. All I have to do is find someplace on Valerio for all this.”

Skip chuckled, “I’m sure you will. Are you going up on the crane?”

“Yes, I’ll need to be there to get this stuff in.”

“You better go, then, they look impatient.”

Smitty nodded and went to his place on the crane. The crane began to roll toward the lock. Skip went to check on the shuttles.

Three flights had already gone. The shuttle was on its way back for the next load. Skip watched with the passengers while it descended through Titan’s atmosphere and landed on the pad outside. The gangplank rolled out and sealed against the door of the shuttle and pressurized. When the light glowed green the passengers took their trip luggage and went aboard. Skip stayed while the gangplank depressurized and disconnected. The shuttle lifted smoothly up, disturbing the dust and the air across the landing pad. It remained level as it rose to a height several feet above the outpost, then tilted back and climbed nose-first like a traditional rocket. When he could no longer see it, Skip went to the dining room.

Lunch had the feel of a last meal. It was over quickly. Nobody really felt like talking. When everything was incinerated (because, of course, there was no longer provision for cooking or cleaning) the remaining miners went with Skip and the shuttle crew to the main hall and took their seats.

When Valerio signaled that everyone was ready in orbit, Mark took the podium.

“First, my congratulations to the Ions in their win this morning. They are the ultimate champions of Titan in arena soccer.” The room erupted in cheers for a few moments. It appeared the entire Ion team was still on Titan. “In honor of this achievement, I’d like to present the team with this trophy.” He held up a nice looking trophy of a soccer ball atop a wooden stand. There was a brass plaque at the bottom.

The captain of the Ions came forward and shook Mark’s hand. He took the trophy and read, “Ions – the ultimate champions of Titan Arena Soccer.” Then he hoisted it above his head while the team cheered again. Mark had them all come forward so he could place ribbons around their necks. They preened for a few minutes and then sat down, still laughing.

Mark continued, “I’ve asked the Captain of the Valerio to make some remarks on this important occasion.

Mark took his seat while Skip took his place at the podium. Skip removed some paper from his pocket and placed it in front of him. “I’ve been in space for 30 years,” he began. “Since I first shipped out as a junior Purser on a passenger liner, it’s been both my greatest dream and my worst nightmare.

“Dream, because it’s space. Our ability to jump into the void between the planets is a fantastic achievement. To see the Earth recede to a tiny blue marble in the aft port, to see another planet grow in the viewport, to walk on dust for the first time of any man, those are powerful things to be able to do, and powerful memories for me.

“Nightmare, because everything is so far. You all remember coming out here, so you know about the long weeks that still face us on our return trip to Earth. It takes forever to get anywhere. It takes forever to get back. The excitement isn’t in the voyage in between the space ports, it’s in the arrivals and the departures.

“And, because it takes so long, we don’t go to many new places. We don’t have many firsts. In all my 30 years I’ve only visited 10 combined tourist spots and mining outposts. So the excitement of being in a totally new place ebbs, the excitement of arriving and departing ebbs, and there’s only the monotonous travel in the space between.

“Ultimately, this causes people to ask why we bother. With the romance gone, all that remains is the economics. It becomes just a job that has to turn a profit. Just as the opportunity to do something grand was my dream, the thought of doing just a job was my nightmare.

“But this isn’t the first time we’ve pulled back from the void to the safe confines of earth. In 1969 we stepped on another planet for the first time. Within a decade people were asking why we wasted the money going there again. We stopped for over half a century. Then, with the invention of the impulse engine, we reached out again. The impulse engine was named for an obscure entertainment that was popular in the late 20th century.” At this remark there were boos and catcalls from the audience. It had been a century since the show first premiered, but those in space were almost all ‘Trekkies.’ Skip smiled to let them know it was humor and wait for their noise to die down.

“Star Trek helped fuel our desire to see the stars, but it also made us impatient for these long trips to be faster. We need to “boldly go” to new places more often to keep the Earthers interested. And right now, we’re closing this outpost because they’re not interested.

“But I have hope. It was hard just to get to Luna, but once the impulse engine was created we blasted right past Luna on our way to Titan. Then we hit the next wall and withdrew. Maybe the next innovation will be a way to leave our planetary system behind and visit a neighboring star. Maybe when that happens we won’t hit a wall until we’ve reached the edge of our galaxy. Maybe then our place in space will be too well established to pull back. Maybe then we’ll have thousands of planets with people on them, people staring into that void between galaxies and saying, “Someday, we’ll go there.”

“I’ve been asked many times on this trip whether I think mankind will ever return to Titan. I think we will. And I think that when we do, we’ll be glad that you were such good stewards of this outpost. I think we’ll be glad for the shape you’ve left it in. And I think we’ll be glad that there were once men who, with only impulse power to drive them, were willing to make the trip all this way to establish a mining outpost here, paving the way for the journeys they will be beginning.

“Because of your service to humanity, I am proud to have spent these last few days with you. I am proud to be in command of your voyage home. And I salute you and the human spirit you stand for.”

With that, Skip stood back from the podium and saluted the audience, both those in the room and those watching from Valerio. Then he took his seat and Mark stood.

“Thank you, Captain. Gentlemen, lower the flags.”

Seven people stood and went around the room and lowered the flag of the International Mining Company, and of the six participating countries: the United States, Great Britain, India, China, Russia, and Brazil. After each flag was lowered, it was folded after the tradition of its country. Those bearing the flags came forward and put them into a monument mounted on the wall behind Mark. Mark then enclosed the space with glass and turned to read the inscription carved into the granite.

“To all who come here, greetings. Be it known that in the year 2093 this outpost has been retired and all its personnel have returned to Earth. We have been proud to serve here, and we are proud to welcome you here. In the name of the International Mining Company, and of the peoples of its member nations, and of all the people of Earth, we bid you a safe and happy stay. May all the joy we have found in this place be yours.” Mark turned back to the audience. “Below are the names of every member of this team.” There was a polite applause.

Mark said, “XO?”

Mal stood to her feet and replied, “Sir!”

“Are the quarters secure?”

“Aye!”

“Are the common areas secure?”

“Aye!”

“Are the hallways secure?”

“Aye!”

“Are all remaining personnel in this room?”

“Aye!”

“Very well, secure lighting to emergency power.”

Mal went to a console and operated the controls there. “Lighting secured, Sir.”

“Secure external ports to standby.”

“External ports on standby, Sir.”

“Secure power systems to standby.”

“Power systems on standby, Sir.”

“Secure communications to maintenance.”

“Communications in maintenance mode, Sir.”

“Secure life support to standby.”

“Life support on standby, sir.”

“XO, I declare this facility retired. You may stand down.”

Mal returned to her seat. Mark said, “We have about 30 minutes before we need to be out of here and on that shuttle. You may come to the plaque or sit and say your goodbyes. As soon as you’re ready, move to the waiting area. In about 15 minutes, we’ll usher you there.

As Skip had hoped, the formal event marking the end of their time on Titan provided a bit of a catharsis. Some sat quietly weeping. Some walked to the monument and looked at the flags or looked for their own name. Then, several took a stone they had with them and placed it on the floor at the foot of the monument. Skip later found that each one was a special stone the individual had found in the mine. It had been meant to be a souvenir, but they had all decided that it was best to leave them on Titan, where they were found. Each had its owner’s name inscribed.

Well before anyone had to encourage anyone to leave, they were all gathered in the waiting room and moving onto the shuttle. Skip went right before Mal and Mark, who were the last to board the shuttle and take their seats.

The gangplank pulled away and the engines pulsed to life. The shuttle rose. Skip was looking out the window. Suddenly he chuckled and tapped Mark on the shoulder. “I see that your preacher was doing more than just walking on the surface of Titan.”

“What?” Mark asked. Skip pointed out the window. There, in the dirt outside the outpost, several rocks had been neatly arranged to spell out, “GOD BLESS TITAN!”

Mark nodded. “Yes,” he said. “If there is a God, may He bless Titan.”

The shuttle rotated, and lifted itself to the waiting Valerio.

That’s all, folks.

Thanks for that.

I also noticed that I turned the seal expert from a woman to a man. I’ve corrected that one.

That’s all? That’s mighty fine!

Thank you for the compliment. I toyed with spending time with the passengers and crew of Valerio on the way back, but it just seemed to be such a good end point. I didn't want to tell past the end of the tale.

What do you think about the person who wanted to stay? I went back and forth about what to allow to happen there, but finally realized I'd have to change the ending I'd envisioned. I suppose that's a cheap reason to make that choice.

" I get pretty messed up if I drink in space."

Not a real sailor.

I think technically it's perfect.

I especially like the fact that Skip was perfectly willing to let Lem stay, if he was sure that it was his well thought out decision.

Still, I can't help but wonder about the inspirational power of a seemingly mad act.

I can see Lem inspiring a return to Titan.

Compare to "Walk Barefoot on the Glass" by Joseph Green (Analog March 1974)

Of course there would also be a bit of symmetry. At the beginning of the space age, we left LEM bases on earth's moon, why not a leave a Lem at the base on one of Saturn's moons at the end?

"I have, however, been to the Maritime Institute in Baltimore many times. The stuff on the walls there is extremely interesting. I hear they have a motion simulator for training the bridge crew. Wouldn't it be great to take a ride in that?"

It was.

Well, actually, I didn't take a ride in it. I was in it though, while port images were being portrayed on the surrounding screens. It's a room-sized flight simulator.

You can move around in it, and it can move around while you're moving around in it. The whole room is supported by large hydraulic cylinders that can be operated under computer control to simulate the wave action as one approaches a port for docking.

Wind is a factor in that training, and can be programmed in to the simulation. It's a serious business, and they approach the necessary training with a serious attitude, as well as impressive equipment.

If you're going to stop around again, at least one other site should get your interest. The U.S. Customs House in nearby Baltimore. It has an interesting history, having survived, somewhat, the Great Baltimore Fire, and it also has a very interesting room.

It's called the Call Room, and displayed around the room is a mural painted by Francis David Millet. His mural was a tribute to transportation, specifically ocean-going transportation, and the display shows ancient sailing vessels on up to (then) modern times.

There's even a portrayal of the Titanic, which never actually reached these shores. But its likeness is above the door of the Call Room.

For further irony, Francis David Millet was one of those who perished aboard the Titanic.

I was stopped in my tracks to see the Titanic in that image. It's a very recognizable symbol.

Misread ...

Hey Darks.. Over here. Someone needs coffee...

Things being misread occurs often in close proximity to my apparent location in space/time.
As for giving someone the coffee to remedy that, it doesn’t work but rather makes it worse.

Dragons are so spiky, they make a perfect toy for a cat with an itch.

I wish I could claim I intended that LEM/Lem thing. Thanks for noticing. If I ever do anything else with this story I'll have to credit you. I doubt people would return to Titan to rescue a lunatic. They might return to rescue that broken crane. But it would be interesting to envision a story where there are messages coming from the supposedly abandoned Titan and the people of Earth are desperately trying to figure out how to get Valerio out of mothballs to get out there and find out why. Sort of a "Footfall" but without the elephants. Hmmmm.

BTW: If anyone is interested in a much shorter short story about beetles, let me know.

Oh, that was *you*. I thought I was really out of whack yesterday.

Awww....

Caption: “Why me?”

Yup, that was me.
Lurking.

“I wuvs yu my scaly pillow fing!”