One Trillion Dollars!!!

In recent recent years, space launch costs have come down due in nows all part of entry of newish players in the space launch industry such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.  Reduction of launch costs are setting the stage for increased direct space economic development.  Indirect economic growth will be enabled on the ground enabled by enhanced space capabilities and connectivity.  Prognosticators predict growth of space into a trillion dollar opportunity within the next decade or two.  As worldwide internet satellite constellations become reality, even more indirect economic opportunities will become feasible on the ground across the globe.

Sleigh Ride (microstory)

Xalenr, chief engineer for Lightning squadron, looked at the schematics for the latest cloaking device.  "I hope this works" he muttered to no one in particular. 

His job only seemed to be getting harder.  Maybe it was time to retire.  

It used to be easy.  

First it was the Soviets shooting off their “Sputnik.”  Then the Americans with their Vanguard and Explorer satellites.  And then the dog and the chimp and myriad other satellites, space stations, and interplanetary probes.  

Interplanetary probes were problematic for sure, but they were infrequent, so the chance of running into one was almost nil.  Almost.               

Xalenr shouted to one of his underlings "get me the data logger and the pyrometer, I need to do some lab testing." Lately, he was worried he was falling behind about their thermal spectrum invisibility capabilities.

In the earlier days, he could get away with just rudimentary collision avoidance system to avoid crashing into the human satellites.  But then he quickly needed better and better camouflage systems to avoid human increasingly improved sensors.  He didn't need the heat from Higher HQ that he was responsible for some interstellar incident.  They were there to help the humans, for Nrawerld’s sake.  "Go ahead, blow yourselves up for all I care" he again muttered to no one in particular.  His cruisers were always particularly fast, so he had only needed to add slight modifications over the past 50 human years.  But the humans' detection systems were getting much better, a constant headache to keep ahead of.  

Cruiser Captain Yaweld missed home. She was proud of her mission out at this distant planet, but home was home.  This would be here last cycle, then a new crew would rotate in to replace her and her crew.  Just in time for the Nraweld holiday, Yulwerld.  Their mission was simple, well in theory, was to keep the humans from blowing the planet up and secondly to keep from being detected.  The Nrawerld High Command wanted to keep a few "fallback" planets in place to regroup in case their home world was invaded by the Grerinshen Empire.  It wouldn’t do to have the place wrecked by the natives.

Captain Yaweld saw it on her visor.  "US Space Force" she sounded out as her visor automatically translated the script on the ship 2km on her 9 o'clock.  The ship seemed to be heading her way.  She commanded Ensign Valenr to change heading to the right a few degrees. 

Immediately, the other craft changed course for an intercept.  "Shit, they can see us" Yaweld shouted.  "Full speed, heading 9 degrees, evasive maneuvers if you need to, Ensign Valenr."  

The other craft seemed to be able to keep up with them, something they hadn't anticipated.  "Chief Wateld, we'll try the repulsor beam" Captain Yaweld shouted at the weapons officer.  Wateld, punched the dials at her station.  Nothing.  “hmm, it seems immune to the repulsor” she responded.  Suddenly, a beam of lightning shot out of the human craft and hit the Nrawerld cruiser.  “we’ve taken damage to our port side thruster, Captain!” Ensign Valenr shouted.  The cruiser started a long descent to the ground.  They landed somewhere in the Australian outback.  “send a distress signal, Ensign Valenr.”  Captain Yaweld told.  “Also send information on the human craft to HQ for further analysis. 

On the Nrawerld mothership, Admiral Nikenr grimaced.  “please ready a rescue party. Send Lightning squadron with Thunder running an interference mission.  I will lead Thunder personally.”  Crew on the bridge looked at each other knowingly.  It wasn’t good to get on his shit list.  These humans were now on it.  “also, tell the chief to put the Special Package on my cruiser.  He will know which one.”    

He stepped onboard his personal cruiser, wearing his crimson red space suit.  “I’ll rendezvous with squadron Thunder at following coordinates in the next 10 minutes.”  He sent coordinates to Squadron Thunder.   Admiral Nikenr looked at his battery of dials.  He always loved to pilot himself.  Especially for dangerous missions.  He was addicted to the danger.   

The next morning, USSF Technical Sergeant Johnson went into the hangar where their new craft had been taken for post mission maintenance.  He looked in surprise as the whole craft had been turned to blackest carbon.  He picked up a phone and dialed “we have a problem.”

At the post mission “hotwash”, Admiral Nikenr and his team reviewed the mission footage.  He began to laugh in his distinctive deep laugh “Ho Ho Ho!” 

copyright 2009