Oceanus: Living In Isolation

To Gordon

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my family for putting up with and supporting me during the many months it took to write and edit Oceanus.

A special thank you to Kathleen Wolter for her wonderful insights during the editing process.

contents

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

JAN. 4, 10:30 AM

JAN. 6, 2:00 PM

JAN. 10, 10:30 AM

JAN. 10, 11:00 AM

FEB. 15, 9:30 AM

FEB. 15, 10:00 AM

FEB. 15, 10:15 AM

FEB. 15, 10:30 AM

MARCH 31, 7:00 AM

APRIL 7, 8:30 AM

APRIL 7, 11:00 AM

APRIL 10, 10:00 AM

APRIL 22, 11:30 AM

APRIL 24, 8: 00 AM

APRIL 25, 7:00 AM

MAY 5, 10:15 AM

MAY 12, 3:00 PM

MAY 14, 9:00 AM

MAY 14, 7:30 PM

MAY 14, 10:15 PM

MAY 15, 6:30 AM

MAY 15, 11:30 AM

MAY 15, 1:52 PM

MAY 15, 1:59 PM

MAY 15, 2:15 PM

MAY 15, 6:00 PM

MAY 15, 6:10 PM

MAY 20, 11:00 AM

MAY 20, 1:00 PM

MAY 20, 1:10 PM

MAY 20, 1:20 PM

JUNE 2, 4:00 PM

JUNE 2, 9:00 PM

JUNE 3, 3:10 AM

JUNE 3, 6:00 AM

JUNE 3, 7:30 AM

JUNE 4, 3:45 PM

JUNE 4, 4:30 PM : OCEANUS

JUNE 4, 4:30 PM : SEABASE

JUNE 4, 4:40 PM

JUNE 4, 4:50 PM

JUNE 4, 5:30 PM

JUNE 4, 5:35 PM

JUNE 4, 6:00 PM

JUNE 4, 6:10 PM

JUNE 4, 7:30 PM

JUNE 4, 8:15 PM

JUNE 4, 9:00 PM

JUNE 4, 9:30 PM

ATTACK

DECEMBER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jan. 4, 10:30 am

Before we begin our tour, David asked me to say a few words, Telsa stood on the deck that overlooked an empty sea dock as the newly arrived committee entered. They gathered near her, some walking to the railing to view the dock. It was a large empty room except a small forklift parked in the corner.

Ten years ago, I started this project with a team of dreamers. We dreamed of living, sleeping and going to the bathroom under the sea. Telsa heard a couple of chuckles in the crowd. She smiled and continued, "Under the ocean is the last frontier on planet Earth. We dreamed of making an independent, self-sufficient community. We dreamed of a champion community for humanity, and we would make great discoveries to share with the world.

Now, after ten long years, I stand before you. After the threat of being shutdown then being resurrected by the American people, I stand before you. And through much innovation, ingenuity and sweat to achieve such a great dream, I stand before you and have the honor of introducing you to Oceanus." Telsa lifted her hand as she presented Oceanus, the undersea habitat that would eventually house 3000 people.

The small crowd clapped, and her supervisor David took over. If you walk this way, we'll leave sea dock and begin our tour in central control. Just like the other habitats, central ops will be where the day-to-day decision making takes place.

Well done, Telsa's shoulders tensed when she heard the whisper in her ear. She turned and faced Cyrus. Telsa smiled weakly. She and Cyrus were in competition for the Oceanus commander position.

She, with David and another engineer, were the last original team members left from the project's inception. They were the only ones left to see Oceanus from conception to reality. Her baby, Oceanus, was a marine biologist's dream. Cyrus was new to the project.

Central control is where the inhabitants will oversee Oceanus' operations. You'll also find senior staff offices and a couple of conference rooms in this dome. She could hear David talking to the committee who was the political and financial force behind Project Habitat.

Telsa studied her map. Oceanus consisted of eight domes, one in the center and seven surrounding. The center dome, Spirant, was the life support to Oceanus. Spirant, a complex integrated system, supplied the inhabitants with water, oxygen, and power.

Telsa watched the committee members nod at the communications room but moved out to the hallway without any other acknowledgement. She wanted to explain the importance of this dome. I'd like to point out that communications are essential to Oceanus. Transportation takes at least a half-hour to get to civilization, and that's with special equipment to survive the outside environment. Without communications, we're on our own.

They responded by giving nods, but made fleeting glances before filing out the door, ready to move on. She agreed. It was a dull dome. She smiled to herself. She knew what it could do and appreciated its presence.

The living quarter's domes gained some interest. Telsa heard, wow, it's small and I see why you insisted on windows David.

That was Telsa's idea. We want our inhabitants to be mentally and physically fit. That's why we have the windows and a gym in the rec center, which we will see later in the tour, David said.

Telsa observed Cyrus laughing with one of the committee members. She took a deep breath. She wished she had that ease of casual conversation. She understood the importance of it, but she had a hard time with chitchat. It seemed like a waste of time, yet, from what she'd seen, that's how you made deals.

Tables, chairs, and long counters made up the buffet-style mess hall, nothing special about it. The first few months, the inhabitants will eat food brought from the outside, then they will become self-sustaining from the fishery and aqua farming. Let's move to the rec...

I'll take it from here David, Cyrus interrupted. I have a wonderful idea to make this experience even more breathtaking.

Telsa rolled her eyes. She knew Cyrus wanted to make a grand entrance. The recreation center was the best way. Cyrus had nothing to do with creating or designing of the project. He was late in the game, but he was sprinting to the finish line.

Let's have some fun. Cyrus flashed his pearly whites. I suggest everyone cover their eyes. Don't look at anything but your feet. I will slowly bring you into the most rewarding spot in the rec room.

Telsa helped to lead the group into the rec room. She saw it already. She felt it was the second most beautiful room in Oceanus. She was the one who brought Cyrus to the spot in the rec room where, if you keep your eyes staring straight ahead, your immediate and peripheral vision is nothing but an oceanic view. With imagination, you felt you were under the sea and not in an artificial living environment.

The group lined up and Cyrus stood just behind them and said, OK, everyone ready?

The group responded with a resounding, yes.

Open your eyes.

Although there was good visibility today, Telsa thought a group of people wouldn't perceive the feeling of being under the ocean, and yet she heard gasps of awe. It helped that a school of fish swam by just as they opened their eyes. They walked closer to the window and spent the next few minutes taking in the scenery. The Oceanus team placed sculptures of a dolphin and mermaid swimming together. As you can see, Cyrus said, we have a wonderful view of an artificial reef out there.

Telsa walked over to David as Cyrus showed the group how they would have exercise equipment facing the ocean view.

He likes to dazzle them, she said.

Yup, David responded, his dazzling brought in money to support the project.

Yeah, Telsa groaned, perhaps you can use him in one of the other habitats?

David smirked, Cyrus feels the call of the ocean, and you know, his blue eyes and all.

Telsa smiled. She knew Cyrus liked to talk about his blue eyes. It meant he was of the sea, and the sea called him. She rolled her eyes.

Seriously though, David continued, his education is in Marine Science.

Telsa shook her head a little. Yeah, too bad. Cyrus had become popular with the committee members. They were the ones to decide who commands Oceanus. Telsa was afraid that money talks and Cyrus brings in the money. His fund-raising efforts paid off much of the debt accrued by Project Habitat without Congress having to tax anyone.

The tour continued to the fishery. The plan called for farmed fish to be in raised in enclosures outside Oceanus. Portholes allowed views of the enclosure, but the area was vast. Cameras throughout the enclosures helped the fish farmers watch the entire enclosure from their desk. The fish would arrive next week, so there was nothing to see.

The tour moved on to the undersea farming section. Telsa was quite proud of this section. When you first walk in, the smell of newly turned dirt filled the air. The committee walked past long tables filled with dirt waiting for planting.

Walking through another set of doors halfway down the dome was the animal husbandry area. The inhabitants would drink fresh goat's milk and fresh chicken eggs. Everything would be used, including the manure which will help enrich the soil in the nursery. Four large open dirt pens separated farming and breeding animals. It also allowed for rotating animals for cleaning.

They headed to the back of the dome. Telsa's eyes sparkled and she smiled broadly as she entered the room. It was her favorite research project and to her, the most beautiful view. And here ladies and gentlemen, we will end our tour with our large scale seaweed farm with several varieties of rare seaweed.

Recently, deeper in the depths off the coast of the Hawaiian islands, scientists found this extraordinary seaweed. They were living with little light and had properties that change human body chemistry. Chefs considered it a delicacy, probably because of the rarity. Its intended use was to feed the inhabitants and for research in medicines. The committee talked about cutting it from the project to save money. Telsa had convinced them it was an opportunity to help alleviate strained food supplies on the Earth's surface as well as a chance to make Oceanus self-sufficient. With an ever-growing population, she said, "and limited reserve of food, this will be a gold mine for the human survival of this planet."

The group wandered the room examining equipment and surveyed the setup for the seaweed through portholes until David announced, Thank you for coming. If you have any questions please feel free to ask Telsa or Cyrus or myself.

With that, the committee bestowed their thanks and admiration of the tour. They expressed their enthusiasm for the opening of Oceanus. Telsa was overcome with a sense of taking on the world. She had hope for the coming days when she would be working, learning and living in Oceanus.



The image on the television showed the members of the Project Habitat committee coming out of Oceanus. Jacobs stood and watched the scene, his arms crossed and his breath deep and steady. He recognized some of his friends on the screen, friends who understood his cause.

A soldier came up behind him and cleared his throat, Sir, we have confirmation of the appointment to commander on Oceanus. You were right sir. We needn't worry.

No, Jacobs thought, no we needn't, everything was going according to the plan. God's plan.

Jan. 6, 2:00 pm

Telsa, David grumbled, You are passionate. You are bright. And you are young. He put an emphasis on young. So, I'm going to put you in second command.

Young? I've been a Marine Science researcher and project manager for 15 years, Telsa shot back. She didn't feel young.

And Cyrus, 30, David replied.

So seniority wins, even though that seniority did not come from the Oceanus project, Telsa sighed and sat back in her chair.

Experience wins, he said.

Telsa had worked with Cyrus in the past. They agreed on most principles, however they differed on motivations. Her goal was research. His was fame. She stayed up many late nights and gave up a personal life to study the layout of Oceanus. Then again, she thought, Oceanus was her personal life and the time she spent on it probably equaled Cyrus's 30 years.

OK, fine, Telsa leaned forward, but I still get to pick my team.

Your team? David smirked and lifted his eyebrows in feigned shock, You know the committee picks all inhabitants.

Oh come-on David, you know Cyrus will surround himself with yea-sayers.

A committee, Telsa, he reminded her, a committee.

David, let's face it, the committee will let him pick the heads of each department. Allow me to pick some - heck I can pick them all, she said with a smile.

No.

She sighed, leaned back and stared out the window. This is not how she saw Oceanus's great beginnings. She didn't expect it to have a leader who prefers chasing fame and glory to uncovering the true mysteries of the sea that can help humanity.

She bit the inside of her lip, then made a sideways glance at David who was reading paperwork. He looked tired. When she had first met him, he was a runner and fit, but now she could tell he was not running and had put on a few pounds. She thought she could see some gray hairs, but he had sandy blond hair so she wasn't sure. How could she reach him?

She faced him. You know, she said slowly, if you put it to a vote, most people who worked on this project will vote for me to be the commander.

Without looking up, David responded a bit annoyed, This is not a democracy Telsa.

No, it's a dictatorship. Do you want that for the colonies? She sat up again and put her arm on his desk. She was talking about the potential end use of the habitats. Scientists had found a life-bearing planet in a nearby solar system. Earth wanted to have their first space colony.

That's why you're there, to balance everyone out, David said not lifting his head.

"David, if you allow Cyrus to surround himself with his cronies, it will be difficult to do my job. Who knows, if he has everyone eating out of his hand it could make your job difficult."

This time, he did look up. He dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair. He was quiet as he stared at her. He knew Cyrus liked to surround himself with people who would do almost anything to please him. He was a giant in marine discovery and research fields. He had fame for going to new depths in the sea and discovering new deep-sea species. And yet David knew there were many scientists who didn't like Cyrus's grandstanding and felt he was more of a puffed