Story Reader / Main Story / 28 Polaris Bond / Story
Welcome, Mr. Korolev, Miss Schwartz, Miss Valentina, and Mr. Landau...
A large robot is blocking the airlock door. A few colorful ribbons are hanging from its mechanical arms. The ribbons don't float in the air because of the simulated gravity on the space station.
Alright, alright!
Korolev pats the large robot, telling it and the researchers around it to settle down.
You're all making such a big fuss. It's not my first time here...
It's been 877 days since the Director last visited the space station!
Miss Valentina, I believe it's been a while since you last visited as well.
Hmm...
Anyway, let's move this big guy out of the way, or we can't get the equipment in through the door later.
Korolev gives the big machine another heavy pat. He doesn't seem worried about damaging it at all.
Quick!
Please wait!
The big, bulky robot suddenly looks solemnly at Korolev.
Mr. Korolev, please hand over the strong alcohol you are carrying.
What...
Laughter erupts around Korolev.
You...
Korolev reaches into his pocket with an embarrassed smile on his face.
You really carried that bottle of liquor up here?
This was a gift from Dr. Landau! I've kept it safe for over a year!
According to the International Space Station's current regulations, no liquid with an alcohol concentration above 2% is allowed in any chamber of the station.
It's just a bottle of vodka!
According to the regulations, vodka is also not allowed. Drunkards are far more destructive than the alcohol itself.
Mr. Korolev, why don't you let it keep the alcohol for you?
Schwartz, who is standing next to Korolev, says with a subtle smirk.
Can't I have a little special treatment?
No, Mr. Korolev.
Alright, I'll bring you another bottle when I get back.
Laughter erupts again in the cramped airlock chamber.
Hmph...
Korolev hands the bottle of vodka over to the "Big Guy" reluctantly. Having achieved its goal, the robot leaves with the bottle.
It was just a joke...
I mean, I was one of the people who drafted these regulations. Do you think I would break the law I helped create?
Oh? Your sense of humor has improved.
The researchers in front of Korolev suddenly step aside to let a middle-aged Asian military officer walk by.
Oh, Commander Huihan.
Korolev immediately steps forward and extends his arm to greet the officer.
Hello, Mr. Korolev.
Miss Schwartz and Miss Valentina. You must be Dr. Landau?
Huihan glances at the person behind Korolev. Landau nods in response.
Hi, Commander Huihan.
We brought the equipment with us. It's all back there. You can go ahead and assemble it to prepare for the EVA later.
Korolev waves at the researchers who have come to greet them. The researchers followed him to deal with the scientific equipment.
Shall we walk as we talk?
Sure.
Schwartz, Valentina, and Landau follow Korolev and Huihan into the vast chambers of the International Space Station.
Did the researchers give you any trouble?
Not at all.
They usually stay in the Arcadia experiment module or are working at the Node on Dawnlight. I barely ever see them.
Korolev notices a few soldiers walking down the corridor while they walk down the hall. One of them is dressed in an Arctic Route Union uniform. He gives Huihan a salute. Behind him are several soldiers in Transatlantic Economic Community uniforms.
Huihan nods back to the men, returning the salute, and keeps walking with Korolev's group as if nothing has happened.
Hmm...
Mr. Korolev, you're here this time for a meeting and to update the components of the module for Vanguard, right?
Yes. We're also trying to integrate the orbital astronomical array system into um... another project.
Korolev suddenly remembers he should keep Project Gestalt confidential, but figured the Commander probably already knows about it. Still, he avoided mentioning the name "Project Gestalt".
Got it.
Huihan responds casually, with the tone of a militant.
So that's why Dr. Landau is also here.
The module for Vanguard is the control center for the astronomical array system. It is under the Council's jurisdiction. I'll hand the control over to you and Miss Schwartz shortly.
Is there anything else you need my help with?
That would be all, Commander Huihan.
I'll also need your help with Dawnlight.
Just doing what I'm supposed to. Don't worry about it.
Huihan says while he checks his watch and stands upright.
The meeting is about to start. I'll have my crew get ready.
Alright, thank you.
Mr. Korolev, I'll need you to attend the meeting a bit later...
Ah, about that...
Korolev waves his hand dismissively.
I'll pass. Let Schwartz and Valentina go.
Mr. Korolev?
We can't attend such an important meeting in your place!
...
This is something you must go through, you understand?
Korolev pats Schwartz's shoulder with the same force he used on the mechanical "Big Guy" earlier.
Let your old man take another look at my children, yeah? You go and attend the meeting for me.
You should know very well what attitude Section 2 and the council should have.
If you have any questions, just ask Commander Huihan. You know him.
Mr. Korolev, are you sure about this?
Of course. I'm usually very serious, except when I'm joking.
But...
Huihan's gaze turns from hesitant to serious once more and he nods in earnest.
We're just a bunch of rocket and spaceship tinkerers. Sometimes we are more straightforward, but you're a soldier, so just do what you need to do.
Got it.
Well then, Miss Schwartz and Miss Valentina, please follow me.
Schwartz looks at Korolev with doubt and surprise but quickly nods and takes Valentina's hand as if moved by something.
Let's go. We'll go together.
Mr. Korolev...
Go on, what are you being afraid of? You're my student, and Schwartz is Leibowitz's student. Who would dare bully you?
Korolev laughs and pushes Valentina and Schwartz ahead.
Valentina goes silent, but as they turn around the corner of the space station cabin, she looks back at her mentor in confusion.
What?
What about it? Thought you were the only way with successors?
Can they handle that kind of meeting?
What's the big deal? The soldiers still address me as Mr. Korolev with respect. One day, they'll call them ladies.
They won't disappoint you.
The young folks run the world and there isn't anything we can do about that...
Hey.
Korolev pats Landau on the back.
Are you thinking about Villier?
Kind of...
I think he's a good student.
But he is too stubborn and... a bit extreme.
That doesn't matter, Igor.
He's your student and you treat him like your son.
I don't. Don't say that.
What's the phrase they say in Kowloong... "Once a teacher, always a father"? Right?
Hmph...
Alright, no more jokes.
Let's not stand here. Come on, Vanguard's main control room is just up ahead.
Integrating this array of 37 space telescopes into your Gestalt is no easy task.
It's fine. We'll deal with it up here. Get your people to help outside. Villier and Luwei are waiting to connect on the ground.
Technically, this machine isn't a Gestalt yet. It's still a prototype.
Calling it "this machine" is so cold.
You created it with your own hands, so it is your child! I have 37 children... Oh, plus Dawnlight, so 38. Treat them well!
This meeting, called the "International Space Station and Spaceport Starship Docking and Usage Regulation Negotiation", was originally scheduled to take place on the ground.
However, due to conflicting opinions, the Science Council had to mediate even the meeting location...
This meeting is intended to eliminate barriers and limitations between us for our future and for outer space.
And, well, what place is better than outer space, right?
Dominik and the Science Council seem to have "convinced" everyone, so the meeting is held 460km above the ground on the International Space Station.
However, the idea of "boundary-free" is just an idea for now...
We have objections to Article 32, Section A, Subsection F of this regulation.
Any spacecraft operating beyond the Karman line but within 50km must declare their call sign to show that they come in peace.
What is the space standard? How did it come about? We can't just blindly accept this Karman line standard.
Also, the standard for space boundaries should have been changed in last century's war conventions.
Modern weapons can already strike from the upper thermosphere!
The Karman line is now the bottom line, and we believe that during peacetime, starships and spacecraft in space should voluntarily exchange call signs.
Soldiers live by orders, but every soldier here is defending their interests without compromise and the peace and unity they believe in.
Schwartz and Valentina, sitting at the head of the table, feel like they are sitting on pins and needles. This is their first time seeing military disagreements and debate.
Almost every speaker is looking directly at Commander Huihan because they are on the International Space Station, which should have no barriers or boundaries.
This Air Force Colonel from Kowloong shows no favoritism. He is sitting at the front, carefully listening to everyone's opinions.
Commander Huihan... are you going to say something?
The steadfast Kowloong general doesn't answer her. He only nods.
Well, our military reach has expanded from the troposphere to the orbital heights of starship operations, but we still don't have a comprehensive way to regulate outer space!
We won't achieve anything if we keep arguing like this.
The Arctic Route Union officer who saluted Huihan in the space station hallway says after standing up.
Don't forget that we came here for peace!
That's right, and we have the power to prevent many unnecessary conflicts.
A soldier in Kowloong uniform stands up to declare his stance.
Everyone in the room looks over at Commander Huihan, hoping their leader will give them direction.
Folks.
Huihan waves his hand to signal to the officers to sit down.
Don't expect a single meeting to bring about peace and cooperation. That's impossible.
I understand that every one of you is holding onto unwavering beliefs, and you are sincerely hoping to contribute to this meeting of peace.
So... with that in mind, I suggest we listen to the opinions of the Science Council.
All the officers turn their heads to look at Schwartz and Valentina, who are sitting at the head of the table.
They exchange a nervous look. Schwartz nods, takes out some documents from her briefcase, and begins to speak.
I... I'm Clara Schwartz... Executive Director of R&D Section 2 of the Science Council.
She clenches gently onto the document in her hand, but her voice is flowing smoothly.
We believe that the use of the International Space Station and its affiliated spaceports should be based on the principles of equality, peace, and respect.
Currently, the military forces of various countries, along with their aerospace military operation and navigation units already in use...
These "starships"—though still in their infancy—have already proven our capability to conquer the stars.
Please remember, without the Science Council's cutting-edge research in material science and energy theory, these starships would have still been nothing but ideas on paper.
The unwavering philosophy of the Science Council is that we cannot find our place in the far reaches of deep space and the future with dignity by relying on the strength of a few.
We insist on sharing our research results with the world to promote progress and speed up the development of all of humanity. We also hope the world will respect and use the results of the research to achieve peace.
Schwartz hears some whispers in the room during her speech.
What I have here is data on the in-orbit objects within the average altitude range of each commonly used orbit inside the graveyard orbit.
From the "Spacer" telescope mirror array built by the Science Council to the current International Space Station you are in, and to the higher satellite orbits and geostationary orbits, we have already created a true "net" around this planet.
Now we are using this to stand by our cradle and looking back at it.
Schwartz hands the documents to Valentina, who gets up and walks to the Arctic Route Union officer who stood up earlier to stop the quarrel. Valentina puts the paper documents into the projector next to him.
As space strategies, starships, spaceports, and orbital satellites are gradually deployed, their numbers will only increase.
In the foreseeable future, our activities in the space between Earth and the moon will become even busier.
That being said, if we continue to doubt one another's intentions and refuse to take down barriers, conflict will be inevitable.
I believe no one here wants to see the war that caused the "Great Depression" again, and if war does happen, it will reach deep space. It will easily drag humanity into a bottomless abyss.
Schwartz shows everyone another document, but this time she doesn't hand it to Valentina.
I believe you can all see this document without the projection.
On the A4 paper are two astronauts in ancient spacesuits shaking hands in front of what appears to be a tiny door.
You must have seen this photo in your textbooks.
Over a hundred years ago, when humanity took its first step toward the stars, pioneers from nations at war set a model for peace in space.
From the moment humans first gazed at the stars from their cradle, humans made a wish to go beyond this cradle together.
Now that we can turn around to look back at our cradle, what excuses do we have to not tear down the barriers between us?
Schwartz is speaking in a small voice, but her words resonate in the serene space.
Science Council will continue to pave the way for humanity to reach the stars through the work of Section 2, and we will continue to share our achievements with you. This is our promise and commitment.
Science Council does not control any armed forces. We cannot force you to abide by any rules or agreements. We may very well be bookworms in an ivory tower in your eyes.
But we sincerely hope that when humanity steps into the next era among the stars, everyone can proudly say that we wrote the first footnote in the name of human civilization.
Schwartz nods, indicating to Huihan that she has finished speaking. She sits back down and the room is immediately filled with murmurs.
In the corner of the photo Schwartz was just holding up is the blue planet in a porthole. The planet is soaked in sweat and has turned deep blue. It is the color of the blue ocean as seen from Earth.
A tall, thin figure and a short, slightly plump figure are busy working by the sealed full-length window. They look somewhat lonely.
The tall man's ten fingers are flying all over his keyboard, weaving a symphony of formulas and codes.
The short and slightly plump man is buried amidst a forest of dense wires and cables. Every now and then, he would cut down a grove and plant a shrub.
They're a father and his son, as much as they're a teacher and his student.
Only when humanity truly leaves the quietly anchored planet in the sun's warm harbor will they share the same name in history, just as they now call those truly venerable people of the past era—
Pioneers.
