Bleaker

the letter.
He excitedly opened it, thinking it was his orders. After all, they were waiting until three weeks before takeoff to announce the colonists.
But he knew when he read the opening line, “We regret to inform you…”
He felt as if he had been hit with a ton of bricks.
The final paragraph was a small consolation. It stated because of his achievements and contributions to the continuity of humanity he was assured a place on one of the ARCs. Tucker didn’t want to wait another twenty-five years, he wanted to go now.
There were private expeditions, some would probably face disaster before even leaving the atmosphere, but Tucker didn’t try to get on one of those, he had placed all his eggs in one basket with Genesis one and two. There wasn’t even time to apply for one of the private ones anymore.
He felt defeated. His entire life’s goal, all that he’d done, worked for, was to get on the next mission out, and it didn’t happen.
Tucker was about to quit it all, just go back to the farm, screw it, then the phone call came.
“Captain Freeman?” a British laced voice spoke on the other end. “My name is William Marshman, I am the director of the European Space Agency. We were just informed you didn’t make the cut for the Genesis twin ships.”
“Wow,” Tucker said. “I just got the letter. You guys are good.”
“We asked to be informed,” Marshman said. “You’re a vital part of the future.”
“Yeah, well, unfortunately not vital enough to be on the Genesis.”
“Their loss is our gain. I have a proposition for you.”
“I didn’t think the ESA was doing a Noah mission.”
“We’re not. It’s a government and civilian effort involving several countries. Are you interested in hearing what I have to say?”
“Does it involve me going through the Androski this cycle?”
“Without a doubt.”
Even though Marshman couldn’t see it Tucker grinned, and in the same breath turned on his professional side. “Mr. Marshman…I’m all ears.”

FOUR
Paradise, WV
Decades earlier, it been the training facility and launch site for Omni-4. The site had been chosen because it never experienced any of the natural disasters that plagued the nation. Even after all those years, the facility was untouched by nature’s fury and then became the site for the Genesis Mission.
Joshua Quinn was proud to be there. It was an honor to be on the same ground as the crew of the Omni-4. Their pictures graced the entrance hallway of the main building. He felt their presence, their bravery, and he took from that.
He was also proud to be not only part of the Genesis Mission, but commander of both of the vessels that would take colonists, crew, and supplies to the Noah, the second Earth.
It had been a long, hard journey to get that position and it was one he wasn’t going to take for granted.
He also didn’t take for granted Tom Waite.
Tom was a vat of knowledge and one of the most respected individuals that Quinn knew. Tom was a man in his forties when he led the Omni-4 mission and watched it take off. Now he was pushing retirement, but he was still a strong figure.
Tom was the head of it all. He once told Quinn that it felt very personal to him. Because he knew those who were on board the Omni. That was the day, two years earlier, when Quinn had arrived at Paradise, newly named as commander of the mission. Before he had a crew or even passengers. But he’d had one thing. A sealed silver case that Tom had been holding onto for decades. It was something that he handed over to Quinn to take care of personally. It was for the crew of the Omni-4, when, not if, Quinn met them on the new planet. Tom was certain they’d arrived, were safe, and were just never able to return home.
“So we’ll be moving the colonists into Buildings A and B,” Tom said as he and Quinn walked the main road of the complex. “They start arriving tomorrow for training.”
“You think three weeks is enough?” Quinn asked.
“We had Reyanne Harper trained in two. She had no experience. These colonists have a lot.” He handed Quinn a computer tablet. “Take a look.”
“I’m glad this wasn’t my decision,” Quinn said as he swiped through.
“I had very little influence, if you can believe it.”
“No, not really.” Quinn paused in swiping, then he moved his hand up and down. “He’s not here. Did he turn it down? I thought for sure he wanted to go.”
“Who?”
“Tucker Freeman.” Quinn handed the tablet back to Tom. “Or did I miss him?”
“You didn’t miss him. He’s not on here. He wasn’t selected.”
Quinn stopped walking. “Are you kidding me? He’s a good man, prime candidate. He’s a genius, no he’s an agricultural genius. These people really, some of them don’t even compare. What the hell, Tom? I got it when he wasn’t named crew. I figured you didn’t want him busy with that, but not a colonist? That makes absolutely no sense to me.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Tom replied. “But there are reasons. Freeman is a problem solver. He has this amazing mind. He will be guaranteed a place on the ARC. Yes, he would be a tremendous asset on Noah, but right now, Earth still needs him.”
With a disgruntled “hmm,” Quinn peered up to the sky and to the small planet that could be seen in the daylight. It looked like a huge, bright star. “On the ARC, huh? At the rate that thing is coming at us”—he looked at Tom—“is Earth going to be around in twenty-five years?”


FIVE
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Chofu City, Tokyo
Within three days of the phone call from Marshman, Tucker had traveled to Dallas via coach on a budget airline, only to board a private jet when he arrived. Although, with the constant earthquake activity in Texas, Tucker was surprised that was even a destination.
Dallas was the last of the remaining large metropolises still intact. Most of