Regenesis

“Three...two...one...launch primary probe capsule!” Captain Otto punched the small launch button with his thumb, at the same time watching the large screen that projected a view of the launch site. The capsule burst from one of the small hatches, and bulleted toward the planet Glacies. They hoped that Glacies would be a livable planet, not necessarily a pleasant place, but a place where they could survive and flourish. It was an icy planet, with huge blizzards that could be seen from space, swirling across the surface.

“How are we looking, Captain?” Otto did not take his gaze from the screen as he answered Commander Ken Haft’s question. “So far so good, but I can’t be sure. The probe’s heat shields might not be strong enough. They have burned up before. The atmosphere of Glacies is pretty thick, and it slows the probe down considerably.” Commander Haft began watching the screen, and nodded.

“Well, all we can do is hope and pray the God wants us to get this probe down there.”

“Heat level is steady,” Chimed Lieutenant Luke Grass, a technical engineer, who worked with the probes. More engineers called out their readings, each being positive. Otto nodded his head, satisfied. “Speed is also good, I think this one’s goin’ in!” Commander Haft walked to the huge window that wrapped around almost the whole control center. He spotted the probe just as it was entering the atmosphere, and saw a small streak of fire rip through the outer layer.

“We’re through! That’s one more planet virtually explored.” Lieutenant Grass whooped, throwing up his arms.

* * *

“The report is negative, Ken. There is no way to find sustenance on Glacies. There is no vegetation of any kind. The only thing down there is snow, ice, and rock, not to mention the fact that it is always below 20 degrees Celsius. There is just no way that we can form any kind settlement down there. I’m sorry Ken.” Berg Wild put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, and smiled bracingly at him. “So we can’t settle on Glacies. So what? There are more planets out there. A few we find quite promising. Otto has found a place called he calls Ferlith, which looks cold, but hospitable. At least we know there are trees on it.” Ken sighed, and rolled his eyes at his incorrigible friend.

“I know that we can settle on another planet. But how long is it going to take us? There aren’t an infinite number of Exploration Probes on board. We weren’t supposed to go so far, or try this many planets. The heat shields are also an issue. I just can’t think that God let us leave Earth, just for this...” Ken’s voice trailed off, and he blinked multiple times. He squared his shoulders, and lifted his head with a smile. “Ah well. Let’s head for Ferlith. It sounds nice enough.”

As he finished speaking, a young engineer entered the room. He saluted, and thrust his boots together.

“Commander, Captain Otto requests that you come to the control deck. He seemed excited, sir.” Ken and Berg looked at each other, both of them puzzled.

“What’s up Otto? What is it that’s got you so perked up?” Berg said as he entered the room behind Commander Haft. He walked over to Otto’s desk and leaned over his shoulder. Berg gazed sagely at Otto’s screen, and then nodded.

“Alright Otto, put it up on the briefing screen. Ken, this something you need to see.” Ken walked to the huge screen, as Otto loaded his info onto it. A rotating planet appeared, similar in appearance to Earth. Something that immediately struck Ken was the color of the land - it was not a deep Earthish green, but a pale grayish verdant, as if it were an old washed-out photo. Ken read the text accompanying it out loud.

“A large planet, with a climate similar to Earth. Massive life reading, many small islands, with one huge continent. Land mass 22.9 percent, with quite a bit of frozen tundra. Hmm...” There were more words, but Ken didn’t bother reading them. Luke Grass exhaled slowly, staring at the screen. Ken stood still for a long while, his eyes closed. Suddenly he whipped around, a look of determination on his face, as he barked at his captain. “Captain Otto!” Otto looked up expectantly, an apprehensive smile on his face. “Yes, sir?”

“Set a course for that system. More specifically, that planet.” Otto saluted nervously, then allowed himself a weak, but full smile as he punched in the wanted coordinates. Commander Haft marched to the door, with Berg Wild on his heels. As he came to it, Ken wheeled, and looked stern, and he looked at everyone in the room.

“Otto, that planet’s name is now Terre Verte. If I were any of you, I’d be thanking God right now, for giving us a home. Commander Haft felt Berg’s hand on his shoulder as the door to the room closed, silence reigning within.

* * *

“Look everyone, there’s Terre Verte, hopefully, our new home away from home. I hope you all live to see it. It might take a while to get news back about it.” Berg smiled at an old man next to him, lying in a bed. He was in the hospital room, which possessed a window so that the patients had something to look at, while lying supine. Berg enjoyed being there, and visited with many of the patients regularly. He had been in college when the war started, trying to get a degree as a medic, when he was drafted into the military. He eventually joined the FFF, and helped carry out the stealing of the SS Freedom. A soldier came into the room, asking for him, and he left after giving smiles to all the invalids.

As Berg walked through the large workshop room, he was hailed and saluted by many, having helped do nearly every job aboard the Freedom. He came to one of the smaller work rooms, and entered, saluting as he did so.

“Ah, Colonel Wild!” An aged mechanic exclaimed. “I’m glad you are here. I was just showing the Commander the problems with this probe droid.” Ken moved aside to make room for Berg, never taking his gaze from the sample hull that was sitting in the middle of the room. “Dr. Martin Kryat here has been explaining to me at great length the workings of the pod.” He rolled his eyes at Berg, and snorted slightly. Dr. Kryat did not even notice their amusement, so immersed in his work was he. “You see, the droid itself is sound," he said, "but it was never meant to withstand extreme heat. The problem is with the hull of this pod. The heat shields on the outside are not strong enough to withstand the temperature, and begin to melt while in the air. The heat then enters the pod and explodes the droid, which in turn ruins the pod, which in turn cost us more pods and resources. I need to find a way to strengthen these shields more, but I don’t think I have the knowledge or the materials to do it. I have managed to minimally increase the strength, but not enough to change anything.” Ken saluted him as he left, and issued his orders. “Keep up the good work. All this will end soon.”

* * *

“Three...two...one...launch primary probe capsule!” Captain Otto punched the small launch button with his thumb, at the same time watching the large screen that projected a view of the launch site. Again they all saw the probe fly from the ship, and head toward the planet. Again the engineers called out their information. Commander Haft stood silent, watching the screen.

“Heat level is a little high,” Lieutenant Grass said anxiously. Otto held steady, not moving. Suddenly, a small flash of light showed up on the screen. Otto fell back into his chair, his hopes dashed.

“We’ve lost all communication. What’s going on?” Grass cried.

“It blew up,” Otto said angrily. “Got burned up.” Silence reigned in the room, and even across the whole ship, for the control room speakers were being broadcasted throughout the whole ship. Otto looked at Ken, waiting for orders. Haft’s face was stern, and a look of determination was on his face. “Launch another probe!” He yelled. Otto stared at him, a puzzled look on his face.

“Did you hear what I said? Launch that probe, Captain!” Otto regained his composure and again jammed the launch button. The probe rocketed toward Terre Verte, but again only to burst into flame.

“Launch again!” Ken yelled loudly. Otto paused, not sure what to do. Berg then interrupted. “Captain, do not fire the pod.” Everyone looked at him in amazement, even Ken, hardly believing that a colonel would counter the commander.

“Look, Ken, I know that you want to get onto Terre Verte, but this is madness. Wasting three probes on one planet? Are you out of your mind? Think about what you are doing.” Ken was angry, and he glared at his friend.

“We need to get on that planet!” Ken nearly yelled. “Who know how long we might drift in space, Berg, just waiting-” Ken’s voice was cut off by the entrance of Dr. Kryat, who was waving his arms excitedly.

“I have it! I found a way to enhance the shields. this should stand up against almost any sort of heat. We have already equipped a probe with the new shields.”

Ken, his anger gone, looked for Berg, but he had stormed off while Kryat was speaking. Suddenly disappointed for his confrontation with Berg, he said, “Well...Dr. Kryat, which pod did you enhance?”

"You see, Commander, the pod that was best suited to the refitting technique was one of the original ISR models, the 50V-200 series. The ones that have been constructed since in transit have a characteristic weakness of graphite in their composition...

Ken cut him off promptly. "What number was it, Kryat?"

“Launch probe number 213, Otto” The launch cycle started again, and everyone waited, breathless, as the probe flew through the atmosphere.

“Heat level steady,” Lieutenant Grass said. All eyes were riveted to the screen. Nothing. No flash.

“It’s through!” Grass nearly screamed. Suddenly the whole deck erupted with shouts and laughter, everyone joyful at the prospect of a new home. Commander Haft quieted the room, and then spoke.

“Don’t celebrate too soon. The planet might not be inhabitable. Let’s take a moment to thank God for this, and to ask for His favor.” Everyone bowed their heads, and thanked God for his miraculous grace. Otto looked around at the rest of the room before bowing his head deeply. The silence was broken by Berg reentering the room.

“Guess what everyone? A new baby was just born. His name is Emmanuel.”

Grass looked at him quizzically, raising one of his eyebrows. “Emmanuel? What does that mean again?”

Berg smiled as he gave Commander Haft his answer. “It means, “God is with us”. And with us He is.”