Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space Page 38

CHAPTER 20

  SURPRISE IN THE ASTEROIDS

  The asteroids Ceres and Pallas were originally thought to be fragments of a planet that had once occupied the orbit around the sun between Mars and Jupiter. This conjecture was overturned when scientists concluded that the asteroid belt was fashioned from material that had never formed a planet at all. Individual asteroids were composed of either a carbonaceous, silicate, or metal-rich rocky core covered by an icy mantle. Over the eons, the ice melted from internal heating, bombarding radiation, and meteorite collisions. Over time, the melting and refreezing of the ice produced deep canyons and crevasses in the surface mountains. Occasionally, icy comets passed through the asteroid belt contributing to its abundance.

  The four largest asteroids, Ceres, Vista, Pallas, and Hygiea make up about half the mass of the belt. Ceres’s 950-kilometer diameter makes it the belt's only dwarf planet. While collisions between large asteroids occur frequently, the remaining bodies range down in size to as small as dust particles. In general, the belt is thinly distributed, but there are enough clusters of obstructions to produce radar shadows for ships to hide behind.

  These shadows, along with solar flares and meteorite showers obscured Gallant’s passage. As the Eagle thrashed along magnificently, they remained vigilant against the possibility that at any minute they could be subject to an asteroid collision or an attack from alien ships.

  Gallant congratulated himself on getting this far. He appreciated Kelsey’s course calculations through the areas of highest meteor density. Their existence was turning into a rhythm of alternating six-hour watch cycles, followed by six hours of equipment repair or whatever sleep they could squeeze in.

  Gallant's mind began to run back through his recent calculations of the ship's position and course. He was satisfied with their progress through the debris field, but he was concerned about the constant adjustments to the life support system.

  He didn’t recognize it at first, but for some time, Gallant had not been troubled by headaches due to the neural interface. On the other hand, the low oxygen and high carbon dioxide atmosphere were giving him a distinct migraine. He also found it a horrible nuisance when he had to gasp for breath. He resorted to rubbing his forehead, trying to erase the annoyance. But his biggest headache was the fuel gauge and food supply. Shaking his head, he tried to figure out how he could squeeze his resources a little further. With that thought in mind, he smiled to himself and continued working out what was needed next.

  Each day when he woke, he smoothed his sadly crumpled uniform and performed isometric exercises while lying in the tiny sleeping compartment. He stretched out as much as was practical to relieve his stiff muscles. While the limited space was a source of irritation, it did not dampen his spirits.

  Absentmindedly, he tapped his finger on a cup of synthetic coffee and took a few sips along with a bite of the food substance for breakfast. He forced himself to keep his train of thought focused as he piloted the Eagle. A piece of the information that he was mentally evaluating pleased him. He asked, "What are the chances of us stopping at one of the mining colonies somewhere in the belt to get some additional fuel and supplies?"

  Kelsey didn't reply right away. She looked up, lost in thought. Finally, she said, "Even if we found a convenient mining facility to stop at, the odds are they wouldn't have any fuel or resources to spare. Besides, prolonging our transit will increase the chances of running into a Titan scout ship."

  She examined their flight trajectory against the AI system’s colony information. She said, "Unfortunately, this sector is very sparsely settled. There is one mining colony, however, on the far side of Ceres that has some possibilities. It's very small, but it’s right along our route. It wouldn't cause much of a delay."

  Gallant looked at what she had suggested. “Perhaps we’ll look in as we pass.”

  Kelsey said, "Our options are limited.”

  Then, distracted, he said, "Kelsey, look at the pattern of Titan ships scouting the area. There is a distinct concentration as we approach Ceres. Even though we've been keeping our radar profile very small, it is possible that the Titans have caught a whiff of us and are sending extra ships to look. However, I can't see that a lone fighter limping through the asteroid belt would be worth their time."

  Kelsey said, "Something strange is going on. Perhaps, they are looking for our convoys to disrupt our commerce. However, it seems to me that they should be concentrating on Jupiter."