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Captain Collier and the Moon
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264 pages3 hours
Summary
Commerce Drives Innovation - There is earnest research and speculation within our civilization that the moon may be hollow. This book does not debate the issue, but presents a fictional story of the moon orbiting our earth planet.
Adnon Collier, a Dora inter trader, constructed a massive container ship to house his extensive collection of interstellar alien transports, yachts, and battleships. Intentionally shaped to aid the biosphere of a blue-water world, Adnon’s moon ship resembles a naturally-occurring planetary body in space. Aboard this massive container are hotels and services to help a fleeing civilization. The Lucien, bowing to an ancient prophecy that becomes reality, flee the volcanic destruction of their homeworld. This moon is one avenue of escape for a people struggling to save their lives.
Adnon Collier is neither a saint nor sinner, but he will get involved. The Dora are an honorable people, and that honor will be testing along the path to the new world.
A story written for all ages.
Publisher: Lulu.comReleased: Sep 26, 2018ISBN: 9780359117765Format: book
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Captain Collier and the Moon - Scott C. Anderson
Captain Collier and the Moon
By Scott C. Anderson
This is a book of fiction. Characters, places, names, theories, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, alive or dead, along with their events or locations is purely coincidental.
Disclaimer: These stories are written in a conversational style.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.
Second Edition
© 2018 by Scott C. Anderson. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-359-11776-5
Commerce Drives Innovation
Nancy Pelmonteer stood on her balcony and waited by the phone. She stared into space as the sun had been lowering on the horizon for the last twenty minutes. The cool evening air and muffled noise from the city offered little comfort to the older woman. Living on the thirty-fourth floor offered an unobstructed view of the City of Corain. Neither this city nor the Lucien homeworld were the origins of her birth, but she had enjoyed her life here for the past fifty-two years.
Considered the matriarch of her clan, Nancy desperately sought passage for her extended family of one hundred and eleven. Safe within the Corain city limits, Nancy was well aware that the world she had known would come to an end within the next five months. Cautious and careful of deception, Nancy worked hard to save her family.
Within the 6765 Solar System, the Lucien homeworld would not challenge or defy an ancient prophecy. Slated for destruction before the years’ end, the blue-water world was in the process of releasing a magma chamber powerful enough to end all life on this planet. Theories and solutions were many, but success eluded the private and governmental agencies in solving this end-of-life situation.
This would be Nancy’s third, and hopefully be her last, attempt to schedule a reservation for her family. The nearby floors of vacant apartments, as well as the entire neighborhood, seemed too quiet and too empty. Standing on her lonely balcony with her phone within easy reach, Nancy waited for the call.
The phone rang once, and then twice. Nancy spoke into the air to answer the call. Hello. This is Nancy Pelmonteer.
A nearby piece of artwork within her living room changed to an image of an old friend with a worried expression.
Hagis Tomey knew that his friend would be anxious. The security official had been a good friend and contact. He spoke slowly to be understood. Nancy, I’ve got your party aboard the moon; everyone. Will this work for you?
You’re kidding.
At first, Nancy didn’t believe what she was hearing. The massive container ship known as The Moon
was everyone’s first choice, but reservations were rare and hard to come by. She asked, All one hundred and eleven?
Yes. A request has been made that, of your family, the four engineers, nine mechanics, and three designers all work aboard ship and guarantee a minimum of one year of service. This service will trade for safe passage of all one-hundred and eleven. And, Richard and I will be going, so that will be one hundred and thirteen.
Hagis wanted to sound confident, but knew she would check the details.
Who can I talk to? Sorry. Thank you Hagis. Thank you. Who can I talk to about this?
Adnon Collier. Here is his number.
Hagis transmitted the contact information. The mention of Adnon Collier’s name hushed the normally talkative woman.
Hearing the name, Nancy understood that if Hagis were also going, he must have performed some sort of miracle to pull this off. She received the data on her phone and saved the contact. Did he say when I should call?
This time Nancy didn’t want to sound anxious.
Today, if you can. He’s booking fast and he can pick who he wants.
Thank you Hagis. Thank you.
Understandably anxious, Nancy closed the video call and watched the man’s image disappear. For the moment, she returned to the bank of windows overlooking the balcony and the city. The reflection of the woman appeared calm. Nancy took another deep breath to quiet her nerves.
A very long time ago, a private and mysterious interstellar ship had been constructed in the shape of a naturally-occurring moon. The massive and hollow structure was currently positioned within the 6765 Solar System and isolated enough to avoid any of the nearby heavy planetary gravity or magnetic fields. Sir Adnon Penticoll Collier, a retired inter trader from a race known as the Dora, lived an easy life aboard his mystery ship.
Throughout his one-hundred and fifty-one years, Adnon had resisted the designation of Weapons Collector, and instead referred to himself as a Heavy Shipping or Admiralty Collector. His collection consisted of planet-bound and interstellar ships, weapons technology, and advancements in the fields that supported life in the isolation of space. His days near the Lucien homeworld, considered safe within the 6765 Solar System, were slowly coming to an end.
Adnon’s lifelong project had been this constructed moon sitting in the empty sector of deep space near the trade lanes of the Lucien homeworld. Everyone knew, as everyone had been endlessly told, that the homeworld would destroy itself at the end of this year. Scientists and scholars, most of whom Adnon knew well, checked and confirmed their overlapping findings. A failure within the crust of the planet, rare and unstoppable, would seal the fate of the civilization living on the centuries-old blue-water world.
Green and prosperous, Lucien was the exiled home of Adnon Collier and his mate, the Lady Solonge Rickstadt Hambrose. The Lady Solonge tolerated many people, but she loved Adnon. Their two dogs, Simone and Jatzie, were their closest friends. The permanent move to the constructed moon would be their last, as this was a retirement move.
Adnon’s vast collection was now too big to easily transport without the massive container ship. Living quarters aboard ship had been upgraded and the flight from the Lucien homeworld would be their final relocation. Or, at least that was the plan.
The moon, at over two-thousand, one-hundred and fifty-nine miles in diameter, was recommended and redesigned by architect Henry Cole and his wife, Nakita Cole. Solonge and the Coles were inseparable and Henry and Nakita wanted to ensure that the warehouse was complete for shipment to its new permanent location within the Palla Solar System.
The avid collector also constructed room for passenger accommodations. The Cole’s design incorporated a system of modular apartments that could be easily removed and relocated to the planet’s surface, if desired. These residential areas were now complete, and the additional sections increased the temporary hotel capabilities of the new structure.
The moon-sized ship was hollow and covered in natural materials that could withstand the basic elements of a hostile interstellar environment. Adnon Collier’s massive garage in space was a masterpiece in design and function.
During this process, Rennie Sehn and her family, were also able to book passage aboard the moon. Rennie had been chosen as the Flight Administrator for the move from Lucien. Rennie Sehn was a good woman and a trusted friend of both Adnon and Solonge.
As the days counted down, Nancy Pelmonteer and her extended family were packed and ready to board the crowded shuttle to the artificial moon. Nancy wasn’t the oldest in her family, or of the passengers aboard the shuttle, but she felt her years.
Before takeoff, Nancy decided to close the observation window screen near her seat. Instead of embracing the melancholy feelings of loss, she concentrated on the interactions with her children, nieces and nephews, and the distractions of her entire extended family.
The sense of loss within the shuttle was obvious, though optimism competed for attention. Luckily, the shuttle ride from Lucien was neither long nor tedious. The artificial moon had been parked between the third and fourth planets from its sun. The still and quiet of space travel never ceased to amaze Nancy, as the experienced woman felt that Lucien should have been her last world of residence.
The approach to the massive container took everyone by surprise. They fully expected to see a ship in the shape of a planetary body, but the simple details were remarkable. The surface was covered with a barren landscape of sand, dirt, rocks, mountains, and craters. Looking out of place, the massive rectangular garage door opened to allow entry of the three crowded shuttles, as this was an exodus and not a holiday.
Once past the threshold of the outer garage door, the three shuttles slowed to a stop. The massive airlock was a dark and lonely room filled with mystery. The outer door closed and pressure sealed, allowing the inner airlock door to open. Nancy slid her shade open in order to see the interior of the moon ship.
Within the vastness of the interior, substantial support structures maintained the vehicles on permanent display. Parked in an orderly fashion, Adnon Collier’s immense collection filled only a fraction of the open interior. The collection included ships as long as two miles and as small as a single occupant yacht. The various vehicles were clustered alongside large and small transports, yachts, skyboats, and saucers.
Nancy’s shuttle, a corporate cargo ship converted to ferry passengers, would be kept in storage and used to disembark at their final destination. The nondescript little ship carried over four thousand passengers and a massive amount of valuable historical treasures. The berth for the shuttle was near the leading edge of the massive central support structure. Safe within its berth, the pressure door opened to a covered walkway with limited gravity. A stable atmosphere was provided, but lower gravity allowed for ease of movement and storage of the collection.
Nancy and her extended family would occupy a block of apartments within the recently-installed passenger accommodations. The rooms were stark, but families were kept together, and Nancy found her single apartment more than adequate. The nearby bank of elevators offered a status board with the condition of the massive container ship, including a graphic of the last three shuttles that had lifted from the Lucien homeworld.
The display located on each side of the bank of elevators indicated that the moon ship was in motion and at a slow pace to allow the three shuttles time to catch up. Once settled in, Nancy would forever remember the first time that she actually met Adnon Collier in the flesh.
The next day would be Nancy’s formal meeting. She spent her first day ensuring that she, and her family and friends, were settled.
Within a large room near the bridge, the large man, ornately dressed, was standing in front of his orchestra. Seventy-three instruments of various sizes and designs were held within individual holding fields. The entertainment program paired each instrument with an accomplished musician. Some artists were still alive, while some were alive through history.
The result filled the large circular room with physical instruments playing music with the deep feelings of both loneliness and joy. Images were projected on the walls of the circular studio that allowed Adnon to immerse himself with the orchestrated images of the free and open galaxy.
The big man knew that Nancy was near and turned briefly to acknowledge her presence. Nodding and indicating a comfortable couch, Adnon continued with his direction. The dream-like music never wavered and the images turned from landscapes in deep green to a drifting planet and starfield. Images appeared to follow the deep rhythmic sound as the volume increased to a crescendo, and then faded to a leisurely conclusion.
The images dimmed until Nancy and her host were in total darkness. Adnon then spoke to his onboard systems. The room filled with the real-time projection of the never-ending starfield and the last three approaching transports.
The handmade instruments continued to float within holding fields as boxes and cases began to unfasten and open. The entertainment holding fields moved each instrument into its storage container, with several pieces disassembling for ease of packing.
Adnon turned to focus his attention on his guest. His voice was strong and confident, perfect for a captain or ship owner. I’m glad you were able to book passage with us. Please call me Adnon. I’ve heard a great many things about you.
Nancy felt flattered that a man of his stature would take notice of her and her extended family. Confident and anxious, she wanted to give a good first impression. Adnon, I wasn’t sure we would make it out alive. I am also glad we are aboard this ship. This is a ship, isn’t it?
Adnon’s smile was genuine. It’s been called many things. My extensive collections are aboard, as are my family and a long list of good people that will leave this solar system for a new home.
Adnon stepped towards a nearby couch. This is our route.
The external images faded as an animated map of the route from the 6765 Solar System to the Palla Solar System populated the wall. The graphics were simple and easy to read, and the estimated time was twenty-one days.
Is that estimate correct?
Nancy didn’t want to offend her host. Several other transports were scheduled to pass by worlds half as far, but taking ten times the travel time.
Adnon couldn’t be insulted. Many people enjoy telling me how wrong I am about my acquisitions of technology. I have tried to share my findings, but it’s always the same argument and disbelief.
You’d think they would listen, with all of this going on.
Nancy couldn’t help but notice the seismic readings presented on a graph to her right. Internally, her homeworld was beginning to tear itself apart.
People in power enjoy a lot of satisfaction knowing that they are absolutely right, all of the time. It must be comforting. Please excuse my sarcasm, but it is something I enjoy.
Nancy had to laugh. Pure and simple honesty was a rare commodity these days. Adnon was just what the frazzled woman wanted and needed. She answered, Someday I hope I can take a joke or make an observation without worrying about what tomorrow would bring. Thanks for a good laugh; I needed that.
Come with me.
Adnon indicated an old door with a new beginning.
The Voyage
Nancy and Adnon stepped onto the broad walkway that encircled the interior of his ship. The structure was so big that an all-directional elevator system allowed swift and easy movement within the massive structure. Adnon indicated an awaiting elevator car, and Nancy stepped in and sat on the padded bench that encircled the interior of the car.
Adnon then gave instructions to the vehicle using a language that Nancy didn’t understand. The car moved out slowly, and then quickly increased speed.
In order to enhance the gravity systems, the moon-sized structure would rotate while under power. The dead center of the moon contained the warehouses and the massive collection of alien shipping. The lack or lower amount of gravity at the center of the ship allowed for easy storage of large bulky items.
Traveling along the guided rail system, the captain’s destination would be one of the observation points dotted throughout the ship. The elevator car came to a stop at one such observation point. The few courtesy lights on this platform allowed the observer to see their way across the broad expanse of decking. Furniture was placed facing out and into the void.
Nancy remembered that before she left the shuttle, she had had a personal locater installed under her skin, just above her heart. The barely-noticeable device was powered by the internal workings of her human body. From that time of installation her medical condition and location would be forever tracked. She believed that Adnon should have the same implant.
The captain stepped further onto the decking and paused near the railing. A nearby control panel lit up at the detection of the man’s presence. Adnon again spoke in a cryptic and instructional manner. A moment later, movement could be seen.
Nancy Pelmonteer stood in a rare form of amazement. The vast open interior of the moon-sized world illuminated in stages. The structured labyrinth of the spherical warehouse and docking area were assisted by the varying degrees of gravity generated by this massive ship. Medium grey and transparent plating were used to support and frame the storage structures of the collection.
The left side of the sphere center contained a solid structure consisting of the main warehouse, repair station, and passenger hotel accommodations. The right was dedicated to a multitier parking garage consisting of docks, berths, and both open and closed storage.
The largest battleship in the collection was over two miles long, eleven stories tall, and gold or polished brass in color. By design, accent lighting illuminated the collection and highlighted specific offworld vehicles.
What do you think?
Adnon was obviously proud of his collection, but he didn’t give Nancy a chance to answer. He pointed and indicated, The large one is Colar. The red is a Tan Dynasty Imperial Salon, the black is a Qell destroyer, and the one behind it is a Ponas saucer. The beige one next to it, the one that looks like slabs of stone, that’s a Heras, and, well, there’s plenty of time to show you the rest.
This is amazing. The Lucien have nothing like this. How did you keep this secret?
Nancy was visibly shaken, and noticeably excited.
Secret?
Adnon sounded disappointed. Our people, the Dora, have wonderful traits, but many Lucien lack vision. They don’t need me, so they don’t care. If I tried to hide this from the Lucien, then I would have been guilty of attempting to keep it a secret. No. This was all hidden in plain sight.
A soft chime sounded from a nearby control panel. A popup screen was provided with information concerning the three approaching transports. Adnon once again sounded disappointed.
Nancy met the man’s gaze. We have to go?
You’re getting better at this by the minute.
Captain Tommy Ayala, young but seasoned, didn’t appreciate being forced into a difficult situation. His massive cargo bus had been commandeered by his own government. Tommy would have preferred to make a run and take his own chances, rather than to work with the politicians of his world.
Tommy’s passengers consisted mostly of parents and children. His passengers were the poor and middle class of Lucien. Had Tommy listened to his senses, he would be very far from here and on his own. His small crew were in agreement, but unfortunately, he and his small crew had principles. Tommy and his band of friends simply couldn’t leave these people behind.
Of the three ships, the twin military transports were overfilled, underpowered, and trailing the cargo bus. These three ships were late for the convoy that would take their people to an uninhabited blue-water world in the ThreeThreeTwo Solar System. Forced to redirect to this disguised container ship, the officers and crew of the two military transports could not choose their benefactor.
Light Admiral Steven Colain had only heard of Adnon Collier and the Lady Solonge, and had not met them in person. The Light Admiral and his family were aboard the HS1799. The second military transport was piloted by Light Admiral William Toller aboard HS2163. The two ships had been decommissioned almost four years ago, and then recently pressed into service. Normal maintenance and upgrades for any offworld ship was a priority, but not so for those thrown aside.
Adnon watched as the two military ships lagged behind the sleek cargo bus. Nancy could tell that her host had no intention of leaving these ships behind. After all, the Lucien homeworld would not be intact for long.
Adnon gave his verbal confirmation, which activated his massive garage door. A popup screen then provided details of Adnon’s crew. Sonia Peele, a loyal crewmember
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