Tomorrow's Paradise World: Colonize (10 page)

Chapter Ten: Research, Development and Training

There was plenty of space in the unfinished colony for everyone. They all settled in the temporary modules surrounding the Hangar. Many of them remained unoccupied. The large
Luminous
and the thirty-one other ships had landed in the incomplete hangar that was no longer being built for the mothership. For at least the next seven years, the temporary modules surrounding the hangar would be their homes. The offices in the hangar building would be their common work area, most of the time. Taerg was the only one with his whole family on the base. It was decided that they would modify four of the abundant modules, so that they were connected. It was almost like a house. They were happy that they now had four restrooms with running water and automatic lights for each room.

It was approved by the grand council that all who used to be villagers would be given a personal video mission recorder. They were encouraged to get familiar with all of its various operations and to review each day before going to sleep, every night.

Initially, the moon's gravity gave them the sensation of being light on their feet. Also, their work now, would generally not be physically challenging, as with everyday village life. So, Victor stressed that they would need to exercise regularly, in the artificial gravity of the
Luminous
. Victor adjusted the gravity there to be equal to the gravity of the planet. There was a vote and everyone agreed they would schedule one hour, three times a week, exercising to keep themselves physically fit. Victor decided he would do this too, but at a different time than anyone else. He would reset the gravity for himself at one hundred thirty percent the gravity of the planet below. This would strengthen his body greatly. He would be more muscular, by the end of the seven years. Taerg joined him in this endeavor. At first, by the end of the hour Victor was completely exhausted. In time, he became accustomed to the session. So, he increased the gravity another ten percent.  He enjoyed these exercising sessions with his friend Taerg. He would always try to challenge Taerg in some feat of strength or endurance. However, Taerg always won. After all, he was younger with a lifetime spent on a planet with strong gravity. His muscles were larger and densely solid.

As for the testing process, it was progressing well. It was not long before they could see who excelled where. Some people were more particular with procedures and objects than others. These individuals were selected for the research and development division and the device construction division. For these divisions they needed to be among other qualities, very meticulous. The first tests conducted were for everyone. They were all tested to see if they were qualified to be a pilot. Each ship had a pilot simulator program, so the procedure did not take too long. It was easy to see who had the natural instinctive gift of piloting and who did not. Those who failed this were to be placed in one of the other two groups, once their testing for those were completed. Even those who passed were not automatically placed in the pilot programs. Everyone had to be tested for all three divisions. The one they especially excelled in, would be their division. Only a limited number of people would be accepted as pilots or co-pilots. There were one hundred and twenty-seven who passed the pilot simulator tests. However, only thirty-two pilots were needed and thirty-two co-pilots. So, the top thirty-two were chosen to be pilots and the next thirty-two in line were their co-pilots. The rest had to work in the other divisions.

Victor, for curiosity sake, took the pilot simulator test and passed. A lot of the simulations were designed to test his natural ability, nevertheless his experience and know how definitely helped him through. Of course, Victor knew he could not be a pilot. He had other duties that especially involved research and development. However, it was nice to know that he would have been selected as a pilot. He was twenty third in the rankings.

Taerg’s score was unbelievable. There were seventeen people who were already seasoned pilots. That was their job. They all passed with flying colours. They were shocked to see that Taerg did as well. His ranking was fifth. This was outstandingly remarkable. Everyone had to admit that an individual with so little experience, placing so high in the rankings was a significant phenomenon. Eventually, it could mean that after seven years’ experience, he would excel above them all.

Victor was very pleased with this. If his people had a little more respect for Taerg’s people, then they would be even more motivated to protect them. If anyone could earn their respect, it would be Taerg. Earn it, he certainly would.

It took significantly longer to divide the rest up into the two remaining divisions. Victor focused in on finding those who were not only meticulous and very particular but also who were creative, determined thinkers. If they did not know the answer to something, they would do everything in their power to find it. These were the sort that would be suitable for the research and development division.

After three months of testing, Victor had finished all the placements for the two remaining divisions. There were one hundred of the brightest, creative but particular and meticulous that Victor could find among the whole group. They were chosen to be in the research and development division and could now finally get working. Lieutenant Julia Dixon was one of them. Many villagers were accepted into this division. The remaining two hundred twenty-six individuals were assigned to the device construction division. When the time came, all of these would be needed to construct the devices. In the meantime, they needed to learn how to build devices. Victor and a few others could show them how to do that. As for the components necessary for building the instruments, all that they would need to do such building was aboard the
Luminous
. At the outset, the
Luminous
was the ship that carried all the equipment for Victor and his research while they colonized the moon. This is why he chose this particular vessel, when they made their getaway from the
Venture
. They had equipped him well with not only the components to complete his research, but also whatever else that would be needed for many decades to come. After all of this eventually ran out, he was provided with the technical manuals and equipment to make all the components from scratch. It was decided by the overall committee that all of the supplied components and equipment would have to be relocated to the office section of the hanger immediately. This would be their first task before actually dividing into the divisions.

Captain Anderson probably thought that Victor would not be able to accomplish his research here stranded in this part of the Nyloth star system, but he did not know Victor Marcus. He was not aware that Victor had already done most of his research, before he even left Homeworld. He was ignorant of the fact that so many of the colonists were willing to help defend the inhabitants of Paradise. He was completely uninformed regarding what was happening here. He would not realize these things until after he arrived with his fleet of warships. Then in the ensuing events, he would have a moment of clarity, it would be right there, staring at him and his angry face. His obliviousness, would be instrument of his demise.

Victor decided in his research to upscale the parameters concerning the strength of the shielding and the way the shields would be employed. He wanted to make sure that not even one ship of their little fleet, would be destroyed.

Instead of making a shielding device that would operate for each ship independently, he would design them to cover a much larger area. To include a whole group of ships. Each craft already had their individual shields, which would continue to function along with the group’s shields providing an extra layer to the shielding. It was decided that three squadrons would be suitable. Two squadrons of ten and one of twelve. Each ship would have a shielding device that could function for their entire squadron. All squadron ships could be controlled by this device. The squadron leader would be its master. When one device was depleted down to fifty percent another ship’s device would automatically take over. Thereby, continuously providing shielding for the whole squadron, allowing for that one device to recover. Theoretically, unless they flew into the sun, their shields would always hold. As long as they stayed within the squadron’s shielded area which was large enough for them to move around comfortably without bumping into each other, they were safe. The controlling shielding device would keep them there anyway. Additionally, because so many ships were in the group, the shots fired into their shields could be absorbed and harnessed to create power for the ship’s functions including regenerating the shields. The shields would also be multilayered with each layer having its own unique properties. The pulse device would be designed to be very powerful, completely disabling the enemy ships within range and all electronics on board, permanently. Trapping them in this area of space, leaving them stranded and unable to return to Homeworld. All electronics would have to be rebuilt in order for the ship to function again.

For both devices, Victor had already done most of the research. Just some upscaling, a little tweak here and there. All done for this new situation, and then they would function properly. The real challenge, was to make them work in conjunction with each other. How could the pulse device do its job without disabling their ships too? Presently it was a mystery. Victor knew this would be a very difficult problem to overcome. He knew it probably would largely be his focus, for most of what was left of the estimated seven years. At this point, he did not have the faintest idea how to overcome this problem. No matter how deeply he thought about it, the solution would not present itself. He hated coming face to face with his own limitations. Especially, when it involved his intellect. The truth though, was that no imperfect person could know everything. He knew, this time he needed to rely not just on his own mind, but on the one hundred creative minds of the research and development division.

In the past, when it came to his research, he was not very open to the ideas of others. They usually seemed foolish and even childlike to him. Village life had taught him that this was a fault in his personality. For this reason, he was determined from now on to hear people out concerning their opinions and ideas. He knew that humility would be the critical element in achieving the desired success with the great challenge before them. Finding the solution, was the heavy weight that rested upon the shoulders of the entire research and development team.

He voiced his concerns to Taerg, but he of course did not know how to help. He just told him that if anyone could do it, it would be him. However, with this one thing Victor did not feel so confident. He knew the answer would eventually come from someone, but he was not sure it would be from him. These two devices were not compatible. One needed electronics to function and the other destroyed electronics.

It took three years before the answer came. He was right, it did not come from him. Many from the research and development division tried so hard to figure this out, to no avail. The answer came from this woman that was a villager chosen by the grand council. Her name was Ylil Dleif, a beautiful young woman that was always studying. Her long hair was always tied up, to keep it out of her way. Every once in a while a strand would escape and fall down over her eyebrow. She always had her nose in a data pad, usually examining something that Victor himself had written or had recorded audio-visually. Victor noticed that she could speak his language with only a very slight accent. This was remarkable. She would always politely smile at him as he walked by or if she was asking him a question. She also had a pleased but interested expression when he made his reply to her inquiry. She had a certain sparkle in her eye. What was that, excitement? She really enjoyed her work. Of all the people in the division, she impressed Victor the most. She was very detailed with her creative ideas. She thoroughly thought things out in advance, before presenting her ideas. This caused him to think of the way he was when he was younger. The freshness of it all. The excitement of learning new things for a good cause. Like Victor, she was not afraid to speak in a crowd and this is exactly where her idea was born.

They were having their weekly division meeting with everyone. Victor had a small working model of a shield device assembled. It had been constructed for this meeting. Also for the testing of future research and development ideas. After Victor and a few other division members reported their progress Victor said, “It looks like we are finished.” He reached over and turned the device off. “If anyone has anything left to say, now would be the time since we are all still here.” He looked over the audience. One person stood up. It was Ylil and she had an expression of shock on her face.”

“Turn it back on,” she said.

“What? Why?”

“Just do it.” Victor obligingly did so.

“Now turn it off.”

“Whatever you say,” he said as he turned it off again.

“I have the answer,” she said.

“How could you suddenly have the answer, from watching me turn the device on and off?”

“It was not from when you turned it on, but from when you turned it off.”

“How so?”

She bravely walked up in front of them all and switched on the device again. “Now watch the shield display when I turn it off.” She switched it off. Everyone was silent. “Don’t you see,” she said with a little impatience in the tone of her voice. While she pointed out what was very obvious to her she continued, “the shield display is indicating that they are still on.” There was the sound of people gasping in realization. Victor was one of them.