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This story is set in the time frame of the Argonaut and the early Colony days when contact with Earth is lost. It is based on a role play with [mention]Nainur[/mention]. Much of the concept and the dialog is due to him. Any mistakes or errors, however, are solely my responsibility.
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Chapter 1, The Archers arrive on Newhome, 05/21/2022
By @GreyLord and @Nainur
The engine of the ship colonization vessel Destiny thundered in the early morning air of the planet Newhome near the colony town of Kennedy. It would be landing at the designated spaceport several kilometers outside of Kennedy in minutes. Destiny was the third colonization vessel to land on Newhome. Its arrival was some three months after the arrival of the first colony ship, Earth's Hope.
It was a time of excitement for the colonists. Each new arrival expanded their security with additional personnel, equipment, and supplies from Earth. A primary goal was to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. The colony plan called for that to happen early in the third year after the landing of Earth's Hope. Thirty of the transport ships would have arrived, each carrying one thousand twenty-four new colonists. By the third year, the Colony should be able to manufacture anything that Earth could manufacture.
Our story will be about two passengers on the Destiny, Jordan and Maddie Archer. Jordan was a mechanical engineer by training with a minor in civil engineering. He was a specialist in using automated machinery for the milling of wood and metal devices. Jordan had taken a five-year degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), acquiring knowledge of geology, mining, and forestry in addition to his engineering major. He had aimed for the stars from his earliest recollection and applied for a birth on a colony ship even before starting engineering school. The Earth Space Force (ESP) took an early interest in Jordan Archer and guided him in his academic development and summer employment that extended his education.
In his fourth year at MIT, he met Maddie, a junior computer science major. They fell In love, and Maddie also applied to become a colonist. Unknown to either Jordan or Maddie, Dr. Fred Kennedy, a senior ESP official, had carefully orchestrated their meeting. They were married during Jordan's fifth year at MIT and Maddie's senior year.
Newhome was forty-eight light-years from Earth, and it took the Destiny over six years accelerating and decelerating at a force exceeding one Earth gravity force, g, to reach Newhome. This time was in Destiny's time frame. To an observer on Newhome or on Earth, the trip required forty-nine and a half years because the Destiny traveled at near light speed for most of the trip. The colonist spent those forty-nine and a half years in suspended animation, encased in sleep pods. Had they been awake, they would have observed six years passing by because of relativistic time compression.
Jordan first became aware that machines massaged him and moved his arms and legs. He was tingling all over and was very thirsty. It took him a minute or two to form a coherent sound asking, "Water?"
He was immediately scooped up to a seated position, the table he had been lying on reconfigured to a seat. Machines presented a small tube to his lips. After putting a suction on the tube, it gave him cool water. After a few swallows, the tube withdrew, and a voice told him he could have more in a few minutes.
His next thought was of Maddie. He asked, “Where is Maddie?”
The voice said, "On the table to your right. Turn your head, and you can see her." He did.
“Maddie, are you alright?" he asked.
“Yes, Jordan, I'm fine. They will help me stand up in a few minutes, and I will come to you. You sound like you are okay. Are you?"
“Now that I know you are good, I am good too.”
The ship's robots, or bots as they were called, continued helping the Archers regain their equilibrium and get dressed. The bots fed the Archers their first meal, a high energy jello-like concoction. Then the bots escorted them to a hatch where a lift lowered them to the ground. A delegation of Colonists awaited them. The spokesperson for the Colonists said, "You must be Jordan and Maddie Archer. Welcome to Newhome. We have a ride that will take you to your quarters. Your partner, Magnus Johansson, will guide you and answer any questions that you might have."
Magnus was a burly man, some 180 cm in height, with black hair and a full bushy black beard. He greeted the Archers profusely and shepherded them to a waiting vehicle. “I am happy that you are safely on Newhome. You will find that there are some things that you will have to get used to here. Our day is longer than a day on Earth, 25.61 Earth hours. We have found it convenient to keep a twenty-four-hour day by making the Newhome hour a little longer. The Newhome month and year is also longer than their Earth counterparts. A month here is thirty-three days, and twelve of these months make a year almost exactly. We only need a leap year every twenty years.
“But enough of these dry statistics. When we get to your quarters, there will be a computer tablet for each of you with all of that kind of information. You can read there about the natives. It also has a lot of written material, such as the reports written by Lou and Buzz Harriman, the first arrivals here from Earth. And, there are some forms and contracts to sign for you to take possession of your quarters, the workshop and store, and for our business arrangements.
“Do you have any questions you would like to ask me?"
Jordan responded, “You said, natives. I thought we were coming to an uninhabited planet. What does this mean for us?"
Magnus answered, “We are still trying to figure that out. They are human, which is a complication. Again, you can read about that on your tablets.”
Jordan continued, "Do we need to do anything to get our equipment and supplies offloaded and brought to the workshop?"
Magnus said, “No, the Colony Artificial Intelligence verified that everything arrived with the Destiny AI. Robots will handle the offloading and moving of your stuff. Your personal things should get to your quarters within a few hours.
“You will tire quickly for the next few days. That is just an effect of the suspended animation. But you have been in a higher acceleration than Newhome's gravity field, so it should not take you long to feel really good. Just take it easy for the next few days."
“Ah, we are pulling into Kennedy now. It's in a state of continual construction. Its name, you might have guessed, comes from the old NASA facility in Florida, USA, although some thought it might have been named for Dr. Fred Kennedy, the President of the University of Newhome. I expect that the name does come from Cape Kennedy."
The buildings of Kennedy were not fancy but were first-rate construction. Having intelligent bots for labor did have a lot of advantages. Although there was very little traffic, the streets were broad and had spacious sidewalks. The Colonists were building Kennedy for the future. With the arrival of the Destiny, the Colony's population would be just over three thousand. The Colonists were establishing farms and ranches, some at a considerable distance from Kennedy.
“For now, the only standalone dwelling in Kennedy belongs to Admiral Houston, the Colony governor," Magnus informed the Archers. "Your quarters are above average by being on the ground floor and having a private garden for your enjoyment. The architecture of the building gives you privacy in your garden. The construction damps out vibrations very well, so you will have quiet in your quarters. I have taken the liberty of stocking a few days' food supply for you in the kitchen so you won't feel pressured to go shopping for the next few days."
Maddie said, “Thank you, Magnus. That was very kind of you.”
“Here we are," Magnus said as the vehicle pulled to the curb in front of a welcoming-looking three-story building. "Good locks, like good fences, make good neighbors, paraphrasing Robert Frost. The doorknobs will recognize your hand and fingerprints."
They walked up to the front door, and Jordan turned the doorknob, opening the building for them. Magnus informed them, "This building faces south. Your apartment is on the east side of the building, giving you the morning sun.”
Maddie led the way to the apartment door and tried her hand at opening it. The door opened smoothly to her touch, and they walked into the apartment. The promised tablets were waiting on a table with a stack of papers. Magnus said, "I suggest that we get the paperwork out of the way, and I can leave you on your own. You may want to use the cafeteria for dinner tonight instead of cooking. Just tell the apartment AI what you want, and it will arrange transportation or whatever you might need. And it can connect you to anyone else in the Colony.”
“Jordan, Maddie, it has been a pleasure to meet you. Unless you need me for something further at the moment, I will leave you to get reacquainted. After all, it has been more than six years since you have seen each other.
After Magnus left, Jordan and Maddie embraced. Jordan said, "Maddie, it doesn't feel like six years. It feels like yesterday that I was telling you goodbye as we crawled into the sleep pods. It would be good to take a short walk around outside. But only if you are up to it."
“You are right. It feels like a night's sleep. But yes, I would love to take a walk with you. Jordan, I don't know why, but Magnus gives me the creeps. Let's be careful around him, okay? AI, how far is it to the cafeteria? Can we walk there?"
The apartment AI responded, "It should be an easy walk for you. I'll show you the Kennedy map on the wall monitor. You see where we are?" They saw the pointer on the monitor indicating their building. "And here is the cafeteria. Tell me, and I will send transportation if you tire, which is possible since you are just out of the sleep pods."
Maddie asked, “How would we tell you when we are not in the apartment? And, by-the-way, what is your name/”
The AI responded, "You have embedded communications links in your bodies now. I will hear you anywhere in Kennedy. No one has given me a name, Maddie."
“Then can I name you, Jeeves?”
“Why yes, Maddie. That is a very appropriate name from old Earth British fiction by P. G. Wodehouse. Thank you very much. I am Jeeves.”
Jordan said, “Thank you, Jeeves. Ready, Maddie?”
Arm in arm, they slowly walked up the street, breathing the different air of Newhome. At the cafeteria, they received friendly smiles but were left alone. Everyone knew they needed time to acclimate to Newhome. Leaving the diner, Maddie said, "I do feel tired, but I think we should walk back to our apartment. Are you up to it, Jordan?"
“Yes, I am.” They strolled back and entered their new home again without incident.
“I’m ready for a shower,” said Maddie. “Look, our trunks are here. I can even get a pair of my sweats to sleep in.”
“You go right ahead. I will be right behind you." Jordan helped Maddie open a couple of trunks until she found the sweatsuit she wanted. Then she was off the to the bathroom. When she came out, she looked and smelled terrific. Jordan hugged her and led her to their bed.
“Would you hand me my tablet? I will read while you take your shower.”
Jordan retrieved Maddie's tablet for her and went into the bathroom. He saw that he had a choice of a shower or a tub bath. He thought, "I'm essentially clean already. Soaking in a hot tub will feel good."
Half an hour later, he emerged to find Maddie engrossed in her tablet as he climbed into bed beside her. “Jordan, you need to read these reports from Lou Harriman. You won’t believe the things that happened to her. And the practices of the natives are astounding! The men actually practice tying up their women. And the women seem to like it!"
Maddie was excited about Lou's exploits, "Lou was captured by a tribe but won them over. She calls them Bandits."
“Maddie, as tired as you are, you are practically bouncing. Is it the fact that we will have human neighbors that we did not expect that has you so excited? Or is it the thought of the men tying up their women? You do continue to surprise me."
“That's my job as your wife, isn't it? But yes, the thought of you tying me up is strangely exciting. You know I have always loved having your hands on my body." Maddie put the tablet on the bedside table and told Jeeves to turn out the lights. They turned to each other and held each other tightly. "We are both much too tired for sex tonight. Sometimes soon, I would like for you to tie me. The thought of your hands on me with me completely helpless is very exciting, and I want to try it. Does it bother you that I think that?"
"No, Maddie. I think that would be exciting to try too. What is Lou doing now.”
“She is working to organize the natives. She wants to preserve as much of their culture as possible. History is against her, unfortunately. Goodnight, love."
“Goodnight, dear.”