A science fiction short story about the real “Twilight Zone” when viewed from Moon satellite in 4615 C.E.; a description of the “Twilight Zone” upon Earth, where select Earthlings first rediscovered those coordinates in the same time progression. The “Twilight Zone” coordinates with the Moon’s first satellite — termed Moon One — and with an extraterrestrial description of the real “Twilight Zone.”
“Easterners on Earth were accustomed to sit upon...”
“Fifteen hundred years have passed by since the last major battle occurred on Earth.” The gentleman displaying outward signs of gentle behaviour, interrupted politely and with unsaid apology.
One single speck upon wide, undisturbed plains altered a continuation formation of hard silt-like soil, which formed a near total pattern of the surface area of this planet, the alternate satellite of Earth’s moon. Additionally, the speck upon the surface of the moon’s satellite was none other than a mammoth human made construction named Moon One, Advanced Space Research Laboratory.
“We were discussing our ancestors’ behaviour patterns...”
“With which we are not familiar now, in the year 4615,” the gentleman added in final tones.
The small group of two dozen people were gearing up to vacate the moon’s first satellite based Advanced Space Research Laboratory for their observation tenure had come to an temporary halt, at least for many amongst the outer-space personnel group.
Their interplanetary formation upon the first man made satellite formed an initial part of an observation-cum-study term upon the satellite, extending for the usual six months term.
The small group of astronauts, physicians, cosmonauts and scientists were stationed upon Moon One more by choice of select screening by senior members of Earth Forward Space Research Laboratories rather than personal choice. However, by the end of the first day upon Moon’s advanced space-city colony — a temporary halt — while on their way to the satellite station, they had become thoroughly accustomed to the scheduled routine and allotted itinerary.
They now revelled in talking shop rather than concentrate upon the immediate and important matter at hand: observing Earth and in its relation, outer-space trajectories which were likely to intercept Earth for the coming six Earth months. This period of six months time also formed their fixed observation time limit upon the satellite.
The lady observed quietly, a month after their arrival upon Moon’s satellite. “I have gathered adequate proof of our deviated observation. Ample evidence.”
Her comment was heard at a time when they were thoroughly assured by computer-radar derivations that Earth was classified as Temporarily Safe from colliding meteors and rock-rain showers for the immediate future. This fact was also backed by their personal verification of examined data.
“Do you mean the Twilight Zone?” He asked her in direct tones, aware her reputation as a space research scientist would elevate her “discovery” of a hitherto unknown zone upon Earth. These coordinates somehow seemed to escape the attention of even highly calculated and extraordinary scrutiny, applied for more than fourteen hundred years upon Earth in progression. Generation after generation of studies performed by humans however, brought in no further knowledge of the “Twilight Zone,” other than what was once considered to be: a vivid imagination in the minds of humans and nothing else whatsoever.
“Yes.”
“Surely you are not planning to rediscover it, rather those places and landing coordinates yet again, soon as we step back upon Earth!” Her companion lady scientist exclaimed.
There was an absence of a rational answer inside the silent confines of Moon One Advanced Space Research Lab, built and now located on the primary and man-made satellite of Earth’s moon. As a matter of fact, the outer space personnel had no inkling to any sort of answers to the latter’s question. Neither did the former scientist lady provide them with any rational answer.
The Moon’s primary satellite was never discovered. Rather, it had been created by humans in around 3200 C.E., mainly marked by the culmination of a colossal effort with application of interplanetary space cars collecting stellar and space debris. Mankind was constant in their endeavours to make the satellite resemble a planet-like spherical shape until now, measuring one-half of the total surface area of Earth’s first and only natural moon, it remained in regular, steady orbit. It circled the Moon at a distance of a quarter of a light year and away from Earth’s direction, revolving in the heavenly fields in consonance with other heavenly bodies of their solar system, comprising fifteen planets in all in the year 4615 C.E.
The single speck — another milestone in Earth’s technological progress towards the heavenly skies and named Moon One Forward Space Research Laboratory — located upon those wide plains now forming semi-natural imported soil and which comprised the major portion of the topsoil of the satellite, was an only indication of marked human habitation. It resembled one large prototype of a space lab and was almost similar to those formations in which several hundreds of colonies from Earth had settled upon the Moon, earlier during the century.
The crew now occupying its internal dimensions were however, translocated directly from Earth, bypassing all manned flight decks on the Moon. It was ensured that presence or even selection of space personnel now posted to Moon stations, was not necessary for this particular flight or for the six-month observation tenure. As a matter of fact, not a single person amongst them belonged to Moon stations. Forward space research labs and Advanced space research labs were “advised” by Earth Command through World Council of those decisions. Members of Earth Command formed the primary governance of world’s order and included Earth, Mars, Pluto and Jupiter space city stations.
There existed other matters at hand, which required further scrutiny, and Earth Command was particularly specific in its advice for this single journey. World Council enforced this advice through Earth-forward space research labs and finally, the advanced space research labs coordinated all such interplanetary activities!
Fifty years had elapsed since the space lab commenced a formal, bleak existence upon the Moon’s satellite landscapes, and this batch of outer space personnel was acutely aware of the fact. Other particular actions familiar only to select Earth Humans led to their direct interference upon Satellite Two, as the comparatively new, humanly-created satellite was termed. Their immediately silent yet necessary “interference” was precipitated by important reasons.
* * *
“Six months is a pretty long duration.” The gentleman made an informal beginning to a string of conversation, of which he was assured much prior to this day, earlier upon Earth. It would ensure that other members of the outer space personnel group would join in without hesitation. They had earlier agreed — unanimously — to dwell upon other matters of importance while awaiting return flight to Earth stations. They were also anticipating an interplanetary rocket ship to dock upon Moon One towards the end of their six month term, a flight procedure additional to the stationing of their primary interplanetary rocket ship, which safely brought them upon Moon One soils.
The second rocket ship, now on its way across chartered space routes and engaged in auto-evaluation while approaching Moon One, computer-ensured each of its internal mechanisms robotically as being fit. It was assisted in the task by its central computers, which were activated from Earth Stations and with a back up from Mars stations’ remote sensory equipment.
“You’re right. It really is a long passage of time. I was counting each second!”
The exit chamber, termed as the internal atmospheric regulating chamber and forming the rear-end portion of the mammoth space lab upon Moon One, did not appear to be crowded even while housing a crew numbering two dozen humans. A few hundred people were capable of seating themselves inside comfortably, and with ease.
“We have determined no immediate danger to Earth at present, have we?” The gentleman asked a routine question which required no immediate answers.
He and the remaining twenty-three members knew for sure that this particular observatory had systemically recorded every known trajectory, each unknown path of meteor showers during every moment through the past six months. Advanced computers located at strategic point within the lab also recorded all such probable trajectiles. Earth was therefore termed safe for the present, even from the not so vague and distant factor of colliding meteors which were headed directly into its orbital path.
Ever since the commencement of Earth’s first and inexplicable meteorite storms, beginning roughly two centuries ago, Earth’s technologies were made to deviate into abrupt changes from usual and accepted advancement. They progressed upwards into the skies instead, reaching out to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto, inhabiting those planets. Then, the scientists decided to create a “first satellite’ by moulding it through a time progression of one and half centuries. During this total time period, they also allowed nature’s inevitable presence and assistance by allowing the satellite to resemble in all aspects the familiar sight in the heavenly skies: a planet.
Only, this particular satellite-planet appeared totally circular at the upper and lower ends also, for it had been created by the efforts of humans and therefore its upper and lower ends were not flat like the other planets’.
They said that the North and South Pole ends would automatically break off and form blunt ends with the passage of time. Such an occurrence was destined to begin only the when the satellite would commence to rotate on it’s own axis. At least, that is what the scientists responsible for developing the satellite stated during initial phases, about fifty years after the project was “underway.”
* * *
However, the primary functions of observational teams regularly dispatched to Earth’s moon satellite happened to be far from the usual methods of performing ordinary duties. A gap describing barely one month of Earth time, was required to progress before anticipated trajectiles were likely to change course from their regular trajectories and possibly travel towards Earth. This trajectory also included previously uncharted paths of immeasurable rocks. No more than one Earth month ever elapsed between one observation group’s departure from the satellite and the next group’s arrival. It was also considered safe by present standards to assume that within this stipulated one Earth month time, the probabilities of meteors or meteoric showers colliding with Earth were totally negligible.
Of course the next and alternate space personnel observational team was pre-scheduled to land upon Satellite Two within a predetermined and comparatively safe time limit. Perhaps two different space ships carrying observational crew — one from Satellite Two and heading back to Earth and the other, on dispatch from Earth to the former — might even intercept close, alternate flight paths; within few dozen feet deviation at the maximum.
During such occurrences, flight personnel and space passengers deemed it customary to exchange “space greetings,” which were not limited only to viewing computer screens in public display. They did agree back upon Earth that waving out to colleagues through windows of interplanetary rockets was an unusual experience in exchanging greetings. The stars outside seemed to appear closer!
Spaceships inevitably followed direct, uninterrupted flight paths to Earth during return journeys. For forward and outbound journeys from Earth stations to Satellite Two or other space stations elsewhere within the solar system, there existed one compulsory halt at Moon Central Space Lab. This was meant primarily for refreshment, plentiful human company and a good, healthy bath with application of imported Earth-water. This procedure would be followed by a six-month tenure on Satellite Two for the observational crew.
Scanning the limitless boundaries of their solar system for approaching meteors, rocks and space debris - particularly the ones which were most likely to intercept Earth head-on, perhaps with greater chances of direct collision.
To be continued...
Copyright © 2003 by Deep Bora
