Ancient Birthright (59 page)

“Let’s grab an electric car and head for the communications section. I want to make a call,” Beldon walked to one of the vehicles parked at the charging stations.

“What are you thinking?” Saigg asked him.

“Since we saved the Vice President’s life, I was just wondering if he would be willing to lend us the resources of the military command that tracks space objects.” Beldon stopped next to one of the electric cars. “The U.S. has been using military resources for years to catalogue satellite orbits and try to predict orbital decay, so the military would know when something was falling to Earth and where. If we can get their help to identify which satellites are no longer operational and need removal, it would save a lot of time. They even keep track of many small objects, like tools and cover panels.”

Saigg nodded. “It would help the PTO crews to know ahead of time if an object is no longer functional. Now they have to get close enough to isolate any signals coming from a satellite to determine if it’s in use. It wastes a lot of fuel and time to go from object to object looking for obvious derelicts.”

“I was also thinking that when the
Universe Explorer
is ready to move into close Earth orbit, it will need a clear corridor so it doesn’t get hit by space debris,” Beldon said. “Rather than just grabbing random orbiting junk, we could develop a plan that will clear the necessary path first, and then work on cleaning up any other objects that have no further use.”

Beldon and Saigg climbed on the car and backed it off the charging station.

“Hey, Dad, where are you headed?” called a young voice.

Saigg looked over his shoulder and saw Dantee and Mandy coming their way.

“We’re on our way to the communications section to make a phone call to the Vice President.”

“Can we tag along?”

“Sure hop on.”

“We want to come, too,” called Tuuan as she and Josh ran up to the car.

Dantee moved to sit on Mandy’s lap, and Josh took her seat, and then helped Tuuan onto his lap. “We’re all set,” Josh said to Beldon, the driver.

Ten minutes later, they crowded around one of the computers connected to the Internet. Beldon used the private phone number the Vice President gave him when they dropped him off at Andrews AFB.

“Office of the President, how my I help you?” said a very pleasant female voice.

“Hello, this is Beldon Dumas calling. I would like to speak to Vice President Landers if he has a few minutes.”

“As of this morning, he’s President Landers. Can I tell him what you wish to speak to him about?”

“Tell him I’d like to talk about mutual assistance and to extend an invitation.”

“I see you have video call capabilities. Would you like to make this a video call?”

Beldon looked at Saigg. “Why not? We’ve already met, and he knows where we’re calling from.”

“Video is fine.”

The computer chimed and a video screen opened showing a view of the President’s secretary and a smaller window showing the picture captured by their camera.

The secretary’s startled eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of her face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think you would activate the video until the President was on, or I would have warned you that I wasn’t alone,” Beldon said. “This is Saigg Garuu, and his daughter Dantee, and his niece, Tuuan, and these two, are Mandy and Josh Metzler.”

“B—but, they’re not human!”

“They’re luzzon. Watch Discovery Network this weekend. The program will explain everything. Could we talk to the President now?”

Dantee tapped Beldon on the leg, and he moved his chair back so she could climb onto his lap to see the screen. Tuuan stepped up on the base of the chair behind Beldon and put her head on his shoulder.

The woman on the screen finally collected herself and called the President on the intercom.

“Sir, I have Beldon Dumas and friends on video call. Do you have time to speak to him?”

“Yes, patch his call to my computer,” the President answered.

A second later, the video changed, and they were looking at an image of the new President.

“Beldon and Saigg, it’s good to see you. What can I do for you?”

Beldon looked at Saigg to see if he wanted to take over the conversation. Saigg indicated that Beldon should proceed.

“Mr. President, congratulation on the promotion.”

“Please call me Joe.”

“Joe, we wanted to ask your help with something, and we wanted to extend an invitation to you and the other presidential candidates. We’re in the process of collecting as much space debris as possible to use for fuel to move the
Universe Explorer
from an orbit of the Moon to a position close to Earth. We were wondering if we could get the cooperation of the military to send us the coordinates and orbital specifics of as much space junk as possible. We need to clear a corridor for the
Universe Explorer
to approach Earth, so that it’s not damaged by space debris. If NORAD or NASA has immediate problems with specific objects we could make it a priority to collect those items first. It would also be helpful if NASA could assist the
Universe Explorer
’s navigator with determining an orbit that will have the least interference with planned satellite activity.” Beldon watched the President contemplate his request.

“Let me call the Joint Chiefs and make sure it’s okay with them.” Joe pressed a button on his phone. “Get me the Joint Chiefs and patch them into this call.”

A few seconds later, the computer screen display began dividing into smaller video windows.

“Gentlemen, we are on a conference call with Beldon Dumas, Saigg Garuu, and associates. They have asked if the military could assist them in removing a large quantity of space debris to clear a corridor for the
Universe Explorer
to move into close Earth orbit.” Joe paused. “Beldon, what do you propose to do with the objects you collect?”

“The larger pieces will be reduced in size and the aluminum extracted. Other materials that could be helpful will be recycled for use on the
Universe Explorer
or here at the Moon base. Aluminum is one of the elements necessary for the
Universe Explorer
’s engines,” Beldon explained. “The recycle system on the
Universe Explorer
is a marvel. It can reduce anything back to its basic elements for reuse.”

“Thoughts, gentlemen?” the President asked.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs looked to the General who controlled the Space Surveillance Network. “My only reservation is the amount of data we have. Can their systems handle it?”

“
Jerrod
has already plotted the orbits of every object larger than a half an inch,” Dantee said. “We just need to know what is still useable and should be left in orbit and what we can remove.”

Beldon realized the people on the other end of the call did not know with whom they were talking. “Sorry, I didn’t make introductions before. This is Dantee Garuu, Saigg’s daughter and one of our spaceship pilots. Hanging over my left shoulder is Tuuan, Saigg’s niece. Behind me are Mandy and Josh Metzler. They’re training with Dantee and Tuuan to become PTO pilots.”

“I don’t see Reedn there, Saigg?” said the reinstated, General Norwell.

“He’s on a shuttle run to the
Universe Explorer
. He’s delivering the supplies we’ll need this weekend,” Saigg said. “Harold Metzler is sending up several large screen video displays that we will use to view the Discovery program, but we’ll talk more about this weekend after we’ve settled the question about the military’s help.”

“Any objections to having The Space Surveillance Network and their database people work with the
Universe Explorer
?” the President asked the Joint Chiefs.

The Chairman polled the group and received the go ahead from everyone. “I’ll contact SSN immediately and have them provide any assistance that will not compromise national security. I’ll have them call this videophone listing and pass on contact information.”

“It’s a ‘go’ with the military,” the President said.

“Great. Dantee and Tuuan can contact SSN tomorrow before their next mission and agree on which objects to collect. Now for this weekend and the Discovery Network program, we would like to invite you and the other presidential candidates to join us to view the program. Our wives will be with us, if you’d like to bring your wives along that’s fine. The Russian crew from
Nauka 7
will be there along with several of the scientists from the International Space Station. Once the program has aired, and Earth’s population has a chance to digest its meaning, we will invite the heads of state from other countries to visit with us.”

“Wait a minute; I thought all the personnel on the ISS were killed in the laser attack,” the President said.

“Saigg, Dantee and Tuuan along with Colonel Bitman and personnel from NRAO rescued the eight scientists who’d managed to get to the one undamaged module of the ISS,” Beldon explained. “They had to take them to the
Universe Explorer
for treatment. They would never have survived the delay to bring them back to Earth and transport them to facilities that could have treated them.”

The group crowding the computer watched the screen for the President’s response.

“You saved eight. There were eleven people on the station when it was destroyed, so the three bodies we’ve seen floating near the ISS are all the causalities. I know it was a terrible tragedy, but to find out that so many survived when we thought everyone was lost is a relief.”

“The damage was so extensive, we didn’t take the time to search the other modules,” Saigg added.

The President sat back in his chair. “Let me know where and when you want to pick us up. I wouldn’t miss this for tickets to the Super Bowl. I’ll call the other candidates tonight and extend your invitation. I just won’t mention that the showing will be a few miles beyond their comfort zone.”

“I know Reedn wanted to invite the two alert pilots, who assisted us on our flight from New Mexico. Will Andrews AFB work as a pickup point?” Beldon asked.

“I’ll contact the pilots and make sure their schedules are clear,” the Joint Chief’s Chairman said. “Does your invitation extend to the Joint Chiefs? I, for one, would like to join you and get to know the people from the
Universe Explorer
.”

“Of course, It includes you,” Beldon said. “Dantee will be picking up Colonel Bitman and several of his people from NRAO, so Reedn can make the flight to Andrews. Joe, I know you generally travel with a full team of Secret Service security, but if you could limit it to a reasonable number, it would be helpful.”

“I’ll bring the two who were with me at NRAO. They’ve already seen the luzzons and won’t be alarmed. I may need to include a couple more agents to keep everyone happy, but that should be enough.”

“We’ll pick you and the others up at Andrews AFB just before dawn tomorrow,” Beldon said. “Would you contact Andrews and let them know we’re coming? That way you’ll have time to tour the Moon base and get your questions answered. Plan on an overnight trip. We will return you to Andrews after the second broadcast the following day.”

Ending the call, Beldon turned to Saigg. “Do you see any problems with getting everything ready?”

“No, but I do have a question. What’s a Super Bowl ticket?”

Beldon chuckled. “It’ll be easier to show you than to try to explain.,” He worked the keyboard and mouse of the computer looking for an online recording of a Super Bowl game. “I wonder if I should have told them that the viewing will be in the Ptero’s growthbay on the
Universe Explorer
.”

Chapter-71

Reedn’s shuttle flight returned from the
Universe Explorer
with Renna and the four little clutch mates as well as Nadya, Striker, Becca and baby John Jamz.

“Okay everyone, we’re parked. You’re cleared to leave the ship,” Reedn called.

Several hours later, six additional PTOs arrived with catch clamshells already installed.

The following morning, Reedn entered
Jerrod
’s cabin. “Hello,
Jerrod
. How are your systems today?”

“Hello, Reedn. All my systems are working at optimum levels. We have ninety-nine point three percent of a full fuel load available. If we leave in the next five minutes, we should make our scheduled arrival at Andrews AFB as planned. Are you traveling alone today?”

“Beldon, Cindy, and Soleene are traveling with us and should be aboard within a few minutes. Beldon felt the guests he’d invited would be more comfortable with a human family greeting them since they‘ve had limited contact with the souls from the
Universe Explorer
.”

“I’ll prepare couches and a crib for their arrival.”

“Thanks,
Jerrod
.” Reedn climbed into the pilots couch as it grew in front of the cockpit section of the cabin.

Beldon carried Soleene into the cabin and placed the sleeping child in the waiting crib. He placed her on her stomach and her legs automatically drew up and pushed her diaper-clad butt in the air. Cindy followed Beldon to the crib and spread a soft baby blanket over the sleeping infant.

“I think we’re ready,
Jerrod
,” Reedn said as he watched the couple prepare the baby.

A little over an hour later, Reedn called Andrews’ Approach Control, “Andrews Approach, this is Black Sheep One with you at flight level five zero, request clearance for a straight down approach.”

“Roger, Black Sheep One. You are cleared for approach and landing at the same location you used on your last visit. Your passengers have arrived and are in route to that location.”

“Thank you, Andrews, we will be landing in four minutes.” Reedn turned toward Beldon. “You guys ready?”

Beldon took Cindy’s hand. “Let’s do it.”

Jerrod
silently touched down in front of the remote hangar where they’d last landed.
Jerrod
’s dull, silver-black hull was almost invisible in the predawn darkness. The taxiway and apron lights in their landing area were off to make it even harder for anyone to witness the landing.