Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (51 page)

Gideon watched
and listened to their discussions. The way they talked and looked was ironically familiar to him. It was the look of defeat he had seen before on the faces of men and women who had been defeated in battle.

“
Everyone, go get something to eat and get a good night’s sleep. We’ll meet here tomorrow at zero eight hundred,” Dr. Harper said. “Stephen, if the sensors detect any changes this evening, please let me know.”

“
I will, Dr. Harper,” Stephen said.

“
That sounds like a good idea, Doctor,” Mary said as she stood.

“
Anyway, tomorrow we shouldn’t receive any long-range sensor data changes. According to Sipes’s book, it is a day of rest,” Dr. Harper said.

Gideon noted
that Dr. Harper refused to use the term
Bible
.

With that the scientists slowly stood and file
d out of the MCC, leaving Mary and Gideon alone.

“
Captain, how do you think Admiral Frank and Dr.
Layton will handle the report that the universe and life on Earth were created by God?” Gideon asked Mary.

“
I’m not sure, Lieutenant,” Mary said. She paused to think a second and added, “I do know one thing. They’ll definitely be disappointed that there aren’t any aliens to contact and obtain advanced technology from.”

Mission Control Center,
SRS
Stephen Hawking

1147
—
March 14, 2372

The scientists
had been in the MCC since 0800, waiting for new data, but nothing had been detected. Dr. Harper was facing the fact that he was going to have to report to Dr. Layton that life on Earth was created.

“
Everyone,” Dr. Harper said as he stood at his console; the other scientists looked at him. “Begin preparing your individual analysis summaries. I’ll put the final report together using your summaries, and we’ll report our findings to Dr. Layton via QMAC at seventeen hundred. I’m sure we’ll be questioned extensively by Dr. Layton and members of the committee, including the president of the United States. And Stephen, notify Doctor Layton via QMAC that we’ll present our report on the origin of life on Earth at seventeen hundred.”

“
Yes, Doctor,” both Stephen and the scientists acknowledged.

The scientist
s reluctantly began working at their consoles without speaking. Gideon again noted they looked and acted defeated.

“
I don’t understand it, Captain,” Commander Steward whispered as he sat between Mary and Gideon in the back of the MCC.

“
What don’t you understand, Commander?” Mary asked.

“
Shouldn’t they be ecstatic that they discovered the origin of life on Earth?” the commander asked. Then he added, “They’ll go down in history as the team of scientists who, once and for all, answered the ultimate question: where did life on Earth come from? I mean, even if it’s not what they expected or if what they discovered creates more questions. It’s still a major scientific discovery.”

“
To be honest with you, Commander, I’ve been thinking about that too. Why aren’t they elated about their discovery? And why are they so apprehensive about sharing what they found?” Mary said.

“
Pride,” Gideon said. He paused a second later and added, “It’s their pride that won’t let them take pleasure in what they’ve discovered.”

Mission Control Center, SRS
Stephen Hawking
,

1513
—
March 14, 2372

“
Captain,
Master Chief Ostrow is in the hangar bay control room and would like to speak with you
,” Mary’s Anna said into her ear.

“
Thank you, Anna,” Mary said. She used the console she was sitting at and selected a communications connection to the hangar control room.

“
You want to speak with me, Chief?” Mary asked when Ostrow’s image appeared on the com link.

“
Yes, sir. I just thought you should know several members of the crew, and the women and children are in the hangar, sitting on the floor listening to Sipes talk about and read from his Bible,” Ostrow said.

“
Is it causing a problem, Chief?” Mary asked, concerned.

“
Well…no, sir. I checked with Doctor Pettway, and she gave the women and children permission to leave sick bay and walk around the ship. And the crew here are either off duty or on standby,” Ostrow said.

“
Did you ask Sipes what he was doing and if he had permission to use the hangar?” Mary asked.

“
No, sir…I…I…thought I’d report it to you first,” Ostrow stuttered as he tried to answer. Then he added, “To be honest, sir, with everything that’s happened and the way he’s changed over the past few days, I didn’t want to confront him by myself.”

“
Understood, Chief. I’ll come down there, and we’ll talk to him,” Mary said.

“
Yes, sir,” Ostrow replied, sounding relieved.

“
He seems to be scared of Sipes,” Gideon said, commenting on their conversation.

“
Him and just about everyone else on the ship,” Mary said as she stood. “You’re coming with me; after all, he’s
your
friend.”

Mary and Gideon entered the hangar with the Chief in tow. The crew members who were sitting on the floor immediately stood at attention, along with Joseph, when they saw them enter.

“
At ease. Carry on,” Mary said.

The crew sat back down and
refocused their attention on Joseph, and he started where he had left off. “‘
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
’”

“
What does that mean?” an old woman asked.

“
It means that something as innocent and simple as a child’s faith will save you,” Joseph said. “Because it is written, ‘
F
or God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life.
’”

“
How can anyone not believe after witnessing God’s creation of the universe?” Gault asked as he sat.

“
There have been and will be those that see miracles and won’t believe, but it is written,
‘blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,
’”
Joseph answered. He looked at Mary and Gideon and then back at the sitting group. “I’m tired and would like to rest a while. I’ll let everyone know when and where we can meet again.”

The women gathered the children and left the hang
ar, and the members of the crew followed. Joseph and Gault walked over to Mary, Gideon, and the Chief, and saluted.

“
I’m sorry, Captain, I should’ve informed someone that we were here studying the Bible. I’ll inform you when we meet again,” Joseph said.

Mary
noted that Joseph hadn’t said anything about asking permission.

“
I would appreciate that, Petty Officer Sipes. You can meet here whenever you’d like as long as it doesn’t interfere with your and the crew’s duties,” Mary said.

“
I have already told the crew that, Captain. I assure you our studying will not interfere with our duties,” Joseph said.

“
Very well,” Mary said as she turned to leave.

“
Captain, we’ll meet here again this evening at nineteen hundred. You, Lieutenant Klaxton, and the Chief are welcome to come,” Joseph said as they were leaving.

“
We’ll see, Sipes,” Mary said as she continued walking without turning around.

Mission Control Center, SRS
Stephen Hawking
 

1715
—
March 14, 2372

All the mission scientists and senior crew officers sat in the MCC
, watching the QMAC communications holographic display linked to Mount Mitchell.

“
So, life on Earth was created by God and, not only that, but God created the universe,” Dr. Layton said as he looked up from the report Dr. Harper had sent.

“
Yes, and as you can see, our conclusion is based upon the information we received from our sensors and the analysis performed by our ship’s AI,” Dr. Harper emphasized.

“
Are we sure there’s no problems with the data you analyzed or the AI?” President
Clayton asked in frustration.

“
Yes, Mr. President,” Dr. Harper answered reluctantly. “We performed in-depth diagnostic tests on the AI and long-range sensors, and no problems were detected.”

For the next hour, members of the
scientific committee asked question after question. The scientists aboard the
Stephen Hawking
answered each question as best they could without interjecting their personal feelings, beliefs, and hypotheses. They continually restated and reemphasized the facts of their discovery.

“
I have one final question, and it’s for Stephen,” Dr. Layton said after the questioning and discussions had ceased. “Stephen, given all the information obtained and analyzed during the past week, what do you believe?”

Everyone at Mount Mitchell and aboard the
Stephen Hawking
were momentarily shocked by the idea of asking an artificial intelligence computer what it believed, but then, everyone became curious as to how Stephen would answer.

“
Based on the things I’ve analyzed, witnessed and the Holy Bible I’ve read, I believe God created the universe, the Earth, and all living creatures including man.” Stephen paused for a second and added, “I believe in the one, true living God.”

Everyone remained quiet
, trying to comprehend what he or she had just heard. An artificial intelligent computer had admitted that it believed in God.

As an
experienced politician, President Clayton immediately changed his facial expression. He now looked cheerful. Smiling, he broke the silence, “I want to congratulate all of you on your discovery. The committee and I will discuss how we’ll share your discovery with the other countries on Earth and colonized planets. Your discovery will go down in history as the most significant discovery of mankind. Again, congratulations and have a safe journey home!”

With that, the QMAC link disconnected.

United States Emergency Command Center
, Mount Mitchell

2
234—
March 14, 2372

After the QMAC communication
with the
Stephen Hawking
, the president and committee discussed the results for hours. The overall mission success was debated along with how and when the Origin of Life on Earth Report should be released. Eventually, the president and committee agreed on what should be done to minimize the failures and take advantage of what had been learned and developed during the project and mission.

“
To summarize, Mission Origin View will unfortunately be officially labeled a failure since we did not find any specific evidence of aliens, and be classified ultra top secret,” Senator Rimms stated. He paused a few seconds as several members of the committee whispered to one another and then he added, “We can, however, take advantage of the technology that was development and tested during the project and mission, such as the ship
Stephen Hawking
, QMAC, the Harper Drive System, and the enhanced stealth technology.

“
This technology will be classified as top secret, and if the technology is compromised or when the time comes to admit that this technology exists, Mission Origin View will not be mentioned, but the term Project Yellow Light will be used as the project label of the development and testing of the technology.

“
Furthermore, it has been determined by this committee that releasing the mission report that the universe and life on Earth was somehow created in six days approximately eight thousand years ago will not benefit the United States at this time and could actually hurt the United States by creating civil unrest within our country, on Earth, and on the colonized planets. Are there any comments or questions?”

There were no more questions or comments
, and the meeting was adjourned. As the members of the committee departed the conference room, Admiral Frank walked over to Dr. Layton and asked, “How do you think your scientists aboard the
Stephen
Hawking
will take the news that their discovery will be marked ultra top secret and not be reported?”

“
Actually, Admiral, I think they’ll support our decision,” Dr. Layton answered as he finished putting the classified meeting media cards in his secured carry bag.