The Oort Federation: To the Stars

Denver-Phoenix Complex

DENVER—PHOENIX COMPLEXAll seven original Phoenix Labs team members occupied chairs around the elegant, polished oak table in the Denver Complex conference room. Dr. Jackson Fredricks sat at one end of the table. Approaching sixty, his thinning longish blond hair and goatee framed a serious long face that belied his self-view as a father figure to his younger colleagues. Although he had personally supervised the uploading of the other people at the table, he had yet to upload himself. It wasn’t that he feared it, he told himself. He just wasn’t ready yet.

Daphne, Kimberly, and Dale occupied chairs to Fredrick’s right, along with holoimages of their uploads, who appeared to be sitting in chairs at the table. Drs. Sally Nguyen and Brad Kominsky sat at Frederick’s left along with holoimages of their uploads. Brad, big and ruddy like a Minnesota logger, and Sally, svelte Vietnamese over thirty centimeters shorter and half his mass, had stepped into the limelight as a committed couple right after the post-Asterian-conflict briefing. More than anyone, they were responsible for developing the MERT Portals and Drive.

Thorpe and Braxton occupied the other table end as holoimages, along with eMax, who was curled up on the table’s edge, purring quietly. Max himself was under the table, mingling with the legs of the flesh-and-blood participants.

Addressing the group, Thorpe said, “You people, the eleven of you, my friends, have taken us from a frightened and confused Icicle,” Thorpe and Braxton looked at each other and grinned, “to the very pinnacle of human achievement. You stopped the Asterian onslaught, you banished death as the inevitable consequence of human life, and you now orchestrate humanity’s expansion into the universe.” He looked around the table. “You guys…no one else.” Thorpe smiled broadly, projecting his warmth and appreciation over the entire group.

Braxton took over. “We have some challenges. I know you will rise to the occasion on the science and engineering side of things. Sally and eSally, Brad and eBrad—I am confident you will find a way to incorporate the Asterian Mini Black Hole (MBH) drive into our MERT Drive starships like you did with the Oort portal technology.

“Jackson, you are working with Daphne and Dale and their uploads to reverse the upload process. It boggles the mind.” Braxton pointed at them with a crooked grin.

“Kimberly, you cemented our relationship with John Butler so that we kept the Russians and Chinese at bay while the Federation grew to the power it is today. I understand that John has asked you to carry on with President Fulton. I hate to think of where we might be without you.” Braxton turned to Thorpe.

“So, what are the challenges going forward? And I’m not even talking about the Asterians and what we need to do about them.” Thorpe asked. “Science and engineering aside, it’s all political. Guo Qiáng, the scientist who developed China’s upload capability, now heads a nascent Chinese government. Academician Sergii Anatoly Borisovich has received funding from somewhere and is moving ahead with his portal research. This duo poses a significant threat, not only to our financial well-being but also to the security of the entire Solar System.”

Braxton spoke up. “It may be John’s job, but he will need us to accomplish it. You’re going to be a busy girl, Kimberly.” He smiled warmly at her and eKim.

Kimberly crinkled her nose at Braxton, and, to everyone’s surprise, eKim followed suit.