The Mars Story #3 | Last dinner
The last crew's dinner in front of several months of hibernation was very quiet. Perhaps it was the cause of regular meditation that preceded dinner, or also the awareness that all preparatory actions and procedures had already been mastered and the systems checked.
Besides, the crew could rely on a board computer during artificial sleep, which was to drive the spaceship during this trip and to replace the crew commander Anne Holloway.
Anne was the most experienced crew member, she spent most of the time in the universe and most of them as commanding officer.
"Albert, why did they give you the name Albert?" asked Anne immediately after the main dish.
"Since I have the highest degree of artificial intelligence so far developed, they have given me the name of one of the greatest brains of the last century, of course," Albert replied.
"After Einstein? I understand that. I just do not know if he had such a sense of humour as you do, "said Charlotte Adams, acting on the physician's mission as well as a specialist in logistics.
"Yes, of course, after Albert Einstein. A sense of humour is an integral part of my program. Of course, there must be a taxable situation, and we may agree."
Each member of the crew had several applications. General knowledge of all disciplines was all and then every few specializations so that substitutability was covered to the maximum extent if the crew of a team member had come or had to divide the team.
Just before the dessert that everyone was looking forward to, Albert spoke with a report.
"Crew, there is a leak of contaminated gas in the main deck, it’s necessary to move towards the exit chambers. Immediately!"
The crew picked up without words and quickly passed through a few doors to the room where the exit chambers were located. Anne discussed the details of the leak during her journey with Albert.
"Albert, what's our danger? Can you find out where gas escapes?".
"It's going out of the lab's gas distributions, it's probably a pipe failure."
"But I checked all the pointers just before dinner, and they were all right," replied Bradley Stone, the mechanical engineer of the mission.
"Can it be a false report?" Anne tried to find possible variants that were not so drastic.
"Unfortunately, it seems to be really contaminated air in most parts of the ship, the leak was too big," Albert said. "There are protective masks, but if there is a radiation escape, the crew might be hurt anyways," Bradley said. “We must do something”.
"Someone has to go physically check the pipes, but the one has to take a protective suit," Anne considered the possibilities.
"I'll go, I know the pipeline, I am sure I know where the leak could occur," Bradley suggested.
"I agree, go quickly and prevent the contamination from spreading," Anne said. "Albert, I want damages to be evaluated, now."
"Working on it, Commander."
Mechanical Engineer Bradley Stone
Bradley walked through the ship and, when he came across the lab, he examined all parts of the pipeline. "It's okay, Commander, I did not notice any leakage or damage."
"Check the control lights at the entrance."
"They're all right too, I've been looking twice."
"Albert, what are the analysis of air and the possibility of damage?"
"The air is alright, damage could be in one third of the ship since someone did not provide a replacement oxygen supply."
"Yes, I did not, I wanted to do it after dinner," Bradley said.
"Mr Stone, you should have got them checked before dinner," Anne said. "Albert, how do you think the air is all right? What about the gas leakage?"
"It was a control exercise. Before hibernation of the crew, I needed to create at least one. From any moment that could be a potential risk. By this time, you did a great job and did not give me an opportunity to do an exercise. You've all gone through the exercises very well, the reaction was exemplary. You can get back and eat your dessert. And then prepare for the hibernation."
The crew has already been immersed in an artificial sleep. Anne Holloway was the last to carry out the latest checks and verification of the functionality of the hibernation cubicles as mission commander. When she went to one of them, she thought of Albert's another surprises and exercises before leaving the spaceship and heading for Mars. I hope they won't be any more