The Battle of Titan by Majumdar Sudipto

Author:Majumdar, Sudipto [Majumdar, Sudipto]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Sudipto Majumdar
Published: 2014-02-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Second Contact

It had been two days since the fateful first encounter with the aliens. A full report with all the video logs had been sent to mission control. They had heard back informally through the grapevine from mission controllers that there had been recriminations flying around after the whole incident had been analyzed.

Most of the recrimination had been directed at the Europeans for sending an unqualified and probably unbalanced politician, that too as the head of the mission. It had obviously been a political decision, and everybody knew that the politics of EU was more Machiavellian than any nation.

All three mission controls had individually and collectively endorsed the course of action Takamori and Cheng had wanted to take as the most sensible and prudent one. But for the unfortunate la Fontaine incident, they may have peacefully gone back a second time better prepared.

The incident however has occurred, and the next course of action had to be determined. A lot of expert opinion and recommendations had come in from mission control. It gave a lot of leeway to the team on Titan on how to execute, but there was the overriding directive that they had to try again to make contact. Exactly how had been left to the team on the ground.

So here they were two days later in exactly the same room where they had made the plans for their First Contact, minus one woman. Obnoxious and officious she may have been, but she still was a member of their team. There a somber mood in the room.

Takamori, who had now become the leader of the ESA-ISRO team opened the meeting with another round of condolence and prayer for the soul of Marie de la Fontaine. Then he started with the question that everyone was dreading to openly ask. How do we try to make the second contact and not expect to be killed?

“I think it is best if we start with speculation on Shaitan psychology. Dr. Sterner if you would please. I mean Dr. Mischa Sterner.” Takamori emphasized the first name with a smile. It was a regular joke in the camp getting the two Dr. Sterner mixed up resulting with hilarious outcomes.

Mischa started tentatively. It was hard to get back to business as usual after the events two days back. “I have had lots of opinions from earth xeno experts, some I agree with some not so much. I will try to put forwards a balanced opinion and not try to get my biases in.”

“We would actually like you to hear your opinions more than any other expert Dr. Sterner.” Takamori interrupted. “I am sure I am speaking for everyone in this room when I say that we value your opinion here on Titan more than any expert sitting on earth. If I am not mistaken you are earth’s leading expert anyway.”

Mischa was slightly flushed and flattered. She looked around the room at all the people gathered here with fondness, she was starting to like each and every one of them.

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