Resources: Freedom Is Reborn Read online

  Ben, "I didn't expect it to be that quick. Besides, the security issue, will we be getting any new features with the 5G?"

  "The short answer is yes! There will be some new features and benefits from the 5G." Said Ben, "5G is constructed differently than 4G. The first and probably biggest difference is that 5G works off of multiple frequencies and thus can do multiple things at once. 5G picks the appropriate frequency for the type of communication that you are doing. For example, data uses a higher frequency for speed but voice uses a lower frequency, and text messages are even slower. The benefit is we will see fewer delays in voice and data."

  Theo, "I have noticed that some of the large habitat files transferred very slowly. I am looking forward to any improvement."

  "Well it all sounds good to me," said Ben, "I going to log off now, I have another meeting coming up. Good work Jim, I look forward to the updates."

  "Well Theo, do you have any other questions?"

  "No Jim, I don't have any questions. If I don't talk to you later, I will when I get up there," Theo said before he disconnected.

  After running the update through some additional tests, I initiated the cell system upgrade and scheduled the others to start an hour after.

  Chane’s Office, FBI Headquarters, Washington DC

  "Good morning Agent Chane," said the new secretary, as she brought a cup of coffee into my office. "You sure are in early today."

  "Yes, I wanted to get an early start on the week. Thank you for the cup of coffee. I would like to be undisturbed for the next couple of hours."

  "I will make sure that you are undisturbed sir," replied the secretary as she exited close my door.

  Staring at, but not seeing, the file on the computer, my mind wandered into my dissatisfaction with this case. Was I doing the right thing? Why did it seem so wrong? Where does this leave me?

  For some time now, I have been able to see that citizen's rights have been slowly eroding away. There didn't seem to be an end to the government invading people's rights and privacy. During the fiasco of the Trump years, the media gave up entirely on pretending to have an objective point of view. The executive order just seems to be another one of those things that intrude upon individual rights and even assigns responsibilities that are unconstitutional. Can I even continue with this, and be able to look at myself in the mirror? When will, I have a personal life?

  Sipping the coffee, the floodgates of my memories slipped out, especially of JJ. There was an ache in my heart for our budding relationship that was cut short. I missed the way she made my coffee, and how she helped me to focus on my work. Her laugh always seemed to release some of my tension. Without her here, everything just feels so empty.

  The phone buzzing brought me out of my reverie. It was my secretary trying to get my attention. Sighing I pressed the button. "Yes, what do you need?"

  Sec, "Sorry to interrupt but there is a deliveryman here with the package that requires your signature. He won't let me sign for it, can I have him come in with the package?"

  "Yes send him in." As the deliveryman entered, I was wondering what the package could be. After signing for the package, I sat down to open it. The box only contained a cell phone and a short note.

  As I read the note, my heart began to pound.

  Therron,

  I need to talk to you.

  This may seem rather cloak and dagger; I am only able to contact you through a secure means. Hence the reason for sending you the cell phone. Just press the icon labeled JJ and it will connect directly to me.

  I hope to hear from you soon,

  Love,

  JJ

  PS – Please don't tell anyone about the cell phone.

  So many questions were running through my mind after reading the note. Is she in trouble? Is she in danger? Is she being held against her wishes? Why did she need a secure way of talking to me? I guess the only way to find out is to call her.

  Reaching for the phone, I contacted my secretary, "Please continue holding my calls and absolutely don't interrupt me for the next 30 minutes."

  "Okay," She replied.

  Determined to find out what this was all about, I turned on the cell phone. It seemed to take a moment longer than usual to connect, but it eventually came up. The only item on the screen was an icon labeled JJ. Needing to know, I pressed the image to connect.

  After a couple of rings, she answered the phone, "Hello."

  "Hello JJ. I was surprised to get your letter and the phone. I still don't understand what this is all about."

  "I know, I left rather abruptly, and our last conversation didn't end on a good note. I just couldn't do it any longer! I couldn't be a part of the government's intrusiveness anymore. The only thing that made me stay, as long as I did, was you. I enjoyed our daily interactions and wanted more. That is why I accepted the date with you. Regrettably the decisions, I made required me to leave abruptly, and for that, I do apologize." I could hear her voice break as she talked.

  "What did I do wrong? I thought things are going good between us? We can fix it as soon as I finish this investigation. We work together good, and I do want a relationship with you. There is an emptiness since you left."

  JJ, "I can't come back, the case you're working on now was the last straw. The president and the government have gone too far, and I can't be part of that anymore."

  "Isn't there anything, I can do?" Knowing that I was losing her.

  "I joined a group of people who are working to keep the Aerospace community alive. The reason I left abruptly was to catch a shuttle into space. As I left the earth, I could feel the weight being lifted off my shoulders and a sense of new beginnings. The only thing I regret is not asking you to come with me," said JJ as she began to cry. "I would still like you to join me, can you do that?"

  "I can't, at least not while I am involved in this case."

  Crying JJ responded, "Damn your sense of honor and responsibility! Can't you just put that aside for once and do what is right?"

  "I don't know; I feel the same way you do, but it's one thing to feel that way and another to betray my oath of office. I don't want to say no because I don't want to lose you."

  "Then don't say no, take a day or two to decide what you want. They have a job for you if you decide to join us. You would be in charge of all the communities' security and law enforcement."

  "JJ, I don't know what the right thing to do is. I will think about it and let you know. Just remember, I do care about you and miss you a lot. I have to go now."

  "I know it isn't fair to you Therron. I love you, goodbye." She started to cry again and disconnected the phone before I had time to say anything else. My heart had started beating just a little faster when she told me she loved me.

  Leaning forward, I put my head in my hands and cried. At first, all I could focus on was the words, I love you. Over and over again. I knew right then that, I loved her too!

  Admitting to myself that I loved her, gave me a clear focus and I began to work on how to resolve the issue. It would not be easy, but I would find a way to uphold my duty and be with JJ.

  Hanger, Spaceport America NM

  "Okay you slackers, we have cargo lifters to get loaded and launched," I yelled. "I want the first lifter off the ground in two hours. Don't tell me you guys cannot handle loading and an itty-bitty cargo container. I could finish the job myself in less time."

  I watched with satisfaction as the workers stepped up their pace. Thank God, we only have a few more launches before we're done. Damn the passenger flight is landing, and we need to get them to the second lifter. It looks like that lifter is almost finished being configured for passengers.

  ******

  Theo's son Jamie arriving at Spaceport America

  Travel by airplane with all the transfers and everything had seemed to take forever. Our altitude had been declining for the last hour in preparation for landing. I was starting to get excited that I was going into space. With the family business, I had always t
hought that I would be living on the ocean.

  "At least it is finally starting to get exciting," I said, to the passenger next to him as he looked out the window of the plane.

  The passenger chuckled, "Once we land it will be several hours before we take lift off. I can assure you it is going to be very boring while we wait."

  "Why so long?"

  "Well, with spacecraft you have to know the weight of what you are loading. So once we land the staff is going to weight each of us and any belongings that we are carrying on. The computers will then assign us a specific seat for the flight. While that is going on the luggage that you brought will also be weighed and loaded onto the ship. Only then will we be able to board," replied the passenger. "Also getting to the right location in space we have to launch within a specific time frame, or as NASA would say launch window. If I remember correctly that comes up only every 90 minutes."

  Just then, I felt the landing gear coming down and locking with a thump. Looking out the window, I could feel and see the ailerons on the wing coming down to provide additional lift. Suddenly there was a runway speeding by underneath the plane, and we touched down with a bump. To me, it has always been a little disconcerting when I feel the thump of the wheels, landing on the runway and the nose dive when the engines reversed thrust to slow down. Maybe it's the vibrations that bother me the most.

  The stewardess came on the cabin speaker, "Please wait until we have come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign is turned off before you leave your seat. Thank you for flying Specialty Airlines".

  Once we were off the plane, I noticed the signs were a bit different than regular airports. The departures and arrivals were odd in that it only had a few listings. Departures had Denver, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Moon Base and Orbital construction with arrival signs much the same.

  Another sign directed us to the passenger staging area for spaceflight departures. The flight check-in was similar although different than going through regular airport security. A poster on the wall read somewhat cryptically.

  Passengers for security and safety reasons will go through the following procedures.

  Scanned and weighed.

  Change into space garb, and stow your personal belongings for travel.

  Once checked in you are confined to the staging area until your lifter departs.

  If you have any questions, please see one of the support staff before you proceed.

  The body scanning booth looks like any other airport that I have seen. After I went through the scanner, it spits out a card with my name and picture on one side and a room number AM5 on the other. The door for each of the rooms had the designations in large letters with a description below. AM5 had stenciled below it Adult Male 5.

  Upon entering the room, a voice requested that I insert the card into the slot. Once inserted, six drawers opened on the wall labeled communication devices , safety suit, gloves, boots, undergarments, and personal belongings. Except for the communicator, everything was a muted yellow color.

  Speaker, "If you have a personal cell phone or any other communications device, please place it on the drawer labeled communication devices. All of your personal information will be transferred to the new device. The communicator will provide you with the information needed for safety and communications in a space environment.

  Please get dressed as rapidly as possible with the garments provided. When you are done, please place your cell phone and belongings in the drawer marked belongings and exit by the door marked Staging Area."

  As directed I dressed quickly and opened the door to exit the room, and the communicator started beeping. I had forgotten it in my hurry to leave, so I picked it up and exited the room. It was strange to see the staging area filling with people all dressed in yellow but then I saw a few dressed in orange and white jumpsuits, moving between people. As I watched a young lady in a different color jumpsuit came up to me. She had some sort of rank on the shoulder, and a name tag above her left the pocket.

  "Hello, I am specialist Kathy Barnes, Mr. Truman. I have been looking for you and would appreciate it if you would come with me."

  "Just call me Jamie, my father would be called Mr. Truman. Is it okay if I call you Kathy?" All the while thinking she did look cute in her outfit.

  Kathy, "I prefer to be called Kathy, so that is fine. If you would follow me, I do have a treat for you." As we worked our way across the room.

  As we neared the door, Kathy mumbled something into her communicator. I thought it sounded like "open says me plus one" and the door swung open for us.

  Kathy must have caught my confusion out of the corner of her eye, "I see you are a little bit confused with the door opening. Everything around here is keyed off of the communicators and a person's voice. For fun, I like to shock people by using that old phrase from "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, "Open Says Me." We were asked to give you the VIP treatment by your father."

  "What does that mean?" I asked as we continued down the hall.

  "Not much, I get a show you around Spaceport America and the cargo staging areas. Since we had an opening, you will also get to ride with the crew on the lifter." Kathy stated.

  It was a fascinating and pleasant tour. By the end of it, I was quite taken with Kathy. She seemed so knowledgeable and personable.

  "I really enjoyed giving you the tour, however, is now time that we board the bus for the lifter," Kathy said as we exited the hangar and boarded a small bus.

  It was a short ride out to the lifter. Looking ahead I thought we were almost at the lifter, but we kept going and it kept getting bigger and bigger. When we pulled up, it was towering over us, and it made me dizzy to look up at it.

  "Wow, I never imagined that it would be this big!"

  Kathy replied, "Everyone has that response the first time. The launch vehicle is 452 feet tall. The majority of that is the booster stage." And after we exited the bus, it sped off, and Kathy brought me to a tower that ran up the side of the ship. "This is the elevator we use for the crew to enter the ship. It takes us right up to the crew compartment without going through the passenger compartment. It’s a little cramped for two people but I think we can fit."

  It was definitely tight, but I didn't mind. The elevator ride to the top was over much too soon, and I found myself wishing it would've lasted longer.

  Kathy, "You're in for a treat today Jamie, they are attempting to launch three vehicles during one launch window. If you would take your seat, I will get you strapped in and turn on the monitor so you can watch the first ship launch." She proceeded to buckle me in and turned on the screen, then she buckled herself into the seat next to mine. A few moments later the rest of the crew arrived and buckled in.

  As I watched the screen, I saw the vehicles and gantries pull away from other lifters that were ready to launch. As we launched, I saw smoke billow around the lifter and then flames as we started to move into the air. The gantry was not far enough away and was blown over, and I watched in horror as it rolled into the third ship waiting to launch. A second later we were out of sight of the spaceport and couldn't see anything.

  "Katie, did you see it? The gantry was blown over, and it rolled into the cargo lifter." I forced out as my vision dimmed and I blacked out from the G forces.

  ******

  Supervisor’s Office

  I looked up as alarms started going off. Thinking the worst, I brought up the launch data feeds on my communicator, and it showed that launch vehicle three countdown halted. Switching to video, I could see the damaged ship and gantry.

  Loudspeakers, "Cargo supervisor, please report to the launch pad 3 for damage assessment." I Jumped into my IDV (Individual Drone Vehicle), and flew quickly to the launch pad.

  I flew once around the lifter to get an idea of the damage. The gantry had rolled and wrapped itself around the base of the lifter making it hard to see the extent of the damage. It was hard to believe that the lifter hadn't tipped over. As I landed, I could see that one of the
engine exhaust nozzles had a chunk taken out of it. It definitely was not going to launch anytime soon.

  The launch pad supervisor was already working on having the fuel removed from the lifter, which would take some time but there didn't seem to be any danger of fire. Getting out my communicator, I contacted the control tower.

  "Launch control, one of the rocket engine nozzles has a chunk taken out of it, so we are no-go for launch. We will not be able to move the lifter until the gantry has been cut away. The launch pad crew is in the process of securing the lifter and removing the fuel."

  Launch control, "Roger, that. It sounds like you have the issue under control. Launch Control out."

  Entering my IDV, "Destination - hangar 18." Thinking, time to call space control and relay the bad news, as I pressed the button on my phone for space control.

  Space control, "What can we do for you cargo supervisor?"

  "Get Jim, there has been an accident, and the third lifter will not be launched today!" A few moments later they had Jim on the phone. "I thought that you would want to know that lifter three will not launch today. When lifter one and two launched the combined exhaust blew the gantry into lifter three and damaged the rocket nozzle. We are not going to be able to get the bird off the ground anytime soon."

  Jim, "I take it that the other two lifters weren't damaged and are on their way? What about the passenger lifter?"

  "They went as planned, so should arrive on time."

  Jim, "Can you move the cargo to another lifter?

  "Yes, but the other lifters are assigned launches in the next couple of days. Using those would bump one of the other cargo back until we could lift it."

  Thinking Jim replied, "I have an answer to our problem. When the cargo and passenger lifters arrive, we will get them unloaded as quickly as possible. I will then have the launch crew here go over both lifters to see if they are able to make one more trip. Provided at least one of them checks out you should have another lifter in a couple days."