Alpha One - Chris Burton [56]
The huge explosions ripped through the gas cloud like a backdraft fire escaping from a burning building. The force of the explosions created a huge fireball which headed directly towards the Alpha Fleet. The impact rocked the fleet, but shields held and, within minutes of starting, the fracas was over and so was the Partacian threat.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Steve’s Test
Steve Costello woke early, dressed and jogged to the park. He had a lot on his mind this morning and wanted to clear his head before the day’s events unfolded.
It was the third Tuesday in November. A day unremarkable for most, but for Steve it was important. It was make or break time. Geometric mathematics was compulsory in year four and, at this level, was complex. The simple arithmetic models of differential geometry, curvature and flat space were challenged and disproven in the current millennia, in favor of a series of theorems relating to four dimensional properties. This was the basis on which the universe existed and in which humans’ understanding created the possibility of interstellar travel and the development of the stellar drive.
Alpha graduates were required to understand the complexities of the various theorems. In today’s world, their practicality was evident everywhere.
This was unfortunate as, like many complex issues, if you didn’t comprehend the basics then there was little point trying to move on to the advanced theorems. Steve never really comprehended the basics, and that was why he was in trouble. His tutor had made it clear he needed to get his grades up to average quickly. The assessment today was part of an agreement laid down by his tutor to ensure he caught up.
He took the ‘voluntary’ two week flight grounding following the last Top Gun event and studied hard in this subject, as well as the other four for which his grades was classed as unsatisfactory. He felt ready to take the assessment. He had received a great deal of help and advice to this point, had taken additional math tutorials. He also studied with Jake on two or three occasions, but it was down to Steve. If he failed, he could be in serious trouble.
By the time Steve returned from his run, the weather turned and it was raining heavily. Not just a downpour, but warm and muggy Monsoon-type conditions. This was typical for mid-November with flash floods commonplace and Flood Warning systems at high alert. The Global warming predictions of the early 21st century proved correct and temperatures rose around the globe. In England, the average temperature in November was 15 degrees Celsius, some eight degrees more than one might have expected perhaps 200 years ago when the first projections were made. The Earth shield systems helped suppress the Sun’s powerful rays, but there was no escaping the fact the planet was slowly dying.
Steve didn’t care too much for climate change. The planet’s stability was just fine right now, and would be for another million years. Not a problem for him and any of his offspring, should he live long enough to have any. In any case, he would probably be resettled on Titan by the time he got into all that stuff. The rain was a nuisance, but when it dried, the humidity would reduce. He could not help thinking the rain today was sent to test him even more.
No question he had a bad few months. What the hell was Carla up to and why was the Academy picking on him so much? Bastards, he thought. All I have to do is graduate and then I’ll be flying jump ships full time. He needed to get this assessment right.
Jake joined him at the front of Steve’s apartment block at 8.30 a.m. and they walked towards the Academy main entrance. The downpour finally stopped.
“So, are you ready?” Jake asked.
“I guess so. Not much choice, have I?”
“Just stick to what you know. The Hargreaves theory, stellar mechanics and folding space theory. You’ll be fine. How long does it go on for?”
“About three hours. Less if I can’t answer the