The Merchandise Guide
Novelisations: Italy
Compiled by Martin Willey

This is an abridged translation of the ending of Il distacco by Gianni Padoan. It's not based on a TV script, but it does take Simmonds arguments from the start of Earthbound, played with more credibility here, if not sympathetically. Remarkably Simmonds proposes blowing up more waste to control the moon's course, a plot element that would resurface in The Seance Spectre, with a realistic discussion of G forces that is way beyond what the TV series ever attempted. There is even a great few lines of philosophy between Bergman and Koenig, that anticipates Black Sun. There are more good technical details in the discussion of using damaged Eagle engines as a back-up energy source, and using hydroponics.

"Try again !" Koenig persisted.

"I'm doing it, but..."

In the chaos of shapeless lights and shadows that crossed the video, suddenly an image formed and disappeared so instantly that it was impossible to decipher it.

"Bring it back, Paul!"

Morrow frantically worked the tuner knobs. The image flashed for another moment, disappeared, returned...

"That's good, Paul! Try to hold her still!"

The deputy commander managed to capture the signal. The image remained still on the screen, at first blurry and indistinct, then very clear. Nobody expected to see something like this appear on the video.

It was a crown of ellipses similar to an atomic structure, but of exceptional complexity. It was the signal transmitted by Meta! And it increased in intensity and clarity. Its slow pulsations had an almost hypnotic effect.

"It looks like she's calling us," Helena murmured.

Koenig looked at her, perplexed; then he looked back at the screen.

"Yes, perhaps," he said. "Maybe our future is right there!"

The Future Of Alpha Is Decided

The entire management staff was gathered around the large round table in the meeting room. There were Morrow and Carter, Kano, who had replaced Ouma on the computer, and Sandra; there was Professor Bergman, sitting on the left of the commander, to whom he passed notes from time to time, to draw his attention to certain problems that emerged from the discussion, but he avoided intervening directly - if he could help it - since despite everything he still felt like a simple guest. There was Doctor Russell, very attentive, ready to grasp in everything that was said the possible medical implications, which concerned her most directly; there was Carter, the astronaut, and there was Simmonds. The lunar commissioner would have had no right to participate in the meeting, since on Alpha he was, for all intents and purposes, a mere visitor and his high rank had a meaning only in Earth's political circles; but he had been among the first to introduce himself, although no one had thought to invite him, and had taken his place on Koenig's right, as if not to make the others forget the prestige and powers that had been conferred on him by the World Commission for Space Activities.

Through the closed-circuit television systems, whose monitors formed an uninterrupted band on the walls, each department head kept in touch with his collaborators and consulted them continuously, asking for their opinion on a given issue or for yet another check of the data. It could be said that all three hundred and eleven who escaped the cosmic disaster truly participated in the discussion, each bringing the contribution of their own specific experience.

The stakes were enormous: everyone was aware of it. From that meeting, which had been going on for hours, a precise operational plan had to emerge on which their survival for the next few months, perhaps for the next few years, would depend.

No one could predict how long their dramatic adventure as castaways would last - in that mysterious and boundless ocean that was the outer space into which they had been thrown, on that enormous raft that was the Moon itself - until they would find the island of salvation: if they had ever found it!

They only knew, even if more through the human instinct of conservation than through precise logical considerations, that their chances of encountering another world that could welcome them would be greater, the longer they managed to resist; but they would not have resisted long enough if they had not organized themselves to create - ingeniously exploiting their resources and their technical means - everything they needed and which they would no longer receive from the ferry rockets sent from Earth.

They also knew that they had to make dramatic, very difficult choices, and that nevertheless they could not make mistakes, that they could not forget any detail, however negligible it might appear.

The various service heads had already presented a very detailed report for their sector of responsibility. They had reported on the damage sustained by the systems and exposed the program of necessary repairs, specifying the time and means required. They had also outlined what would be necessary to do, as far as they were concerned, to ensure a level of life as normal as possible for the base, even in those exceptional and unpredictable circumstances.

The electronic brain had recorded every word, analysed every hypothesis, checked every proposal based on the actual possibilities of implementation and the repercussions they would have had on other aspects of the program; he had translated the dramatic reality and the uncertain prospects of that sidereal shipwreck into dry mathematical formulas.

The general picture was already clear to everyone. It was now a question of merging the thousands of disparate pieces of information into a single whole, which took due account of the most diverse needs, and of making the decisive choices on intervention priorities. It was clear that there were not enough materials, tools or men to do everything: now the fundamental thing was to establish what needed to be done first, which jobs could be postponed, which needs had to be definitively set aside.

"The preliminary point" Commander Koenig authoritatively took over the reins of the discussion "whether or not there is the possibility of returning to Earth with our own means, or with those that we could prepare."

"And this is the fundamental choice" approved Sandra Benes. "If we were to agree that we have sufficient chances of success in this direction, we would have to dedicate all our resources to this objective, even at the cost of sacrificing other programs aimed at improving our chances of survival."

"And this is certainly the purpose to which we must dedicate every means at our disposal!" Simmonds intervened, forcefully. "Return to Earth! We cannot set ourselves any other goal."

"To the extent that we agree that we actually have the ability to do so," Morrow reminded him. "We cannot afford failure. If we were to realize that we had wasted even just a part of our resources in an attempt that proved useless, we would no longer have the possibility of trying again in other directions."

"We must make our choices now, definitively" Helena reiterates "and have the courage to insist on that path to the end, whatever happens."

"I'm of the same opinion too," Koenig commented. "In our position, we can also make mistakes, but if so we will not have to regret having made a mistake."

"I don't see how these premises, which I fully agree with" Simmonds continued "make the primary objective, which is to return to Earth, less important."

"No less important" Sandra insisted "since certainly in all of us returning to Earth is the greatest desire; but they make it less current."

"If we want something, but we know we can't get it" added Kano, philosophically "it's better to give it up immediately and ask ourselves what the most we can get in return."

"In the abstract I understand and agree with your logical approach to the problem" the commissioner reiterates "but only in the abstract. You seem to take it for granted that the means we have at our disposal are not adequate for the undertaking..."

"Probably so," Morrow replied. "Indeed, and certainly so."

"And this is what I cannot admit," the other stated obstinately. "For the construction of the Alpha lunar base, all the world's countries did not skimp on capital and resources. The base has been equipped with everything that the most advanced science and technology have been able to devise and, thanks to this, a level of progress that even precedes that of the Earth itself by decades. The most famous scientists, the most capable engineers, the most brilliant inventors united their minds to make Alpha a city of the future, the frontier was the reality of today and the science fiction of tomorrow."

"All this is true" admitted Koenig "but it does not mean that our possibilities are unlimited."

"Of course, they have limits!" the commissioner exploded. "But those limits are much further than you all seem to think! And, personally, I have the impression that you give up too easily when faced with what seems impossible."

"Commissioner," the deputy commander tried to reason with him "you know like any of us that the explosion of the atomic deposits launched the Moon adrift in space. We are absolutely unable to change her course by adapting it to our will."

"This is the first point to be explored further" Simmonds persisted. "I am not a scientist: I am a politician, but precisely for this reason I am used to reasoning with common sense. What threw us out of orbit? We know it: an unexpected and uncontrolled atomic explosion, which acted on the satellite like a rocket of enormous power. Good: let's exploit the same phenomenon to our advantage. We cause a second explosion, of the same power or even greater if necessary, but an explosion determined, controlled, regulated by us. Let's rekindle the same rocket that dragged us out of our natural orbit and use it to go back!"

"Are you suggesting triggering a new chain reaction in the nuclear depot area?" Paul Morrow couldn't believe what he heard.

"Exactly this! The nuclear waste deposits on the other side of the Moon make all the energy available to us, even to make a spaceship like the Moon itself move through space at our pleasure!"

"Do you realize what the consequences could be of a new explosion of that magnitude?"

"You are the scientists, the technicians" Simmonds shrugged his shoulders, spitefully. "You are here precisely based on your experience, in the sectors of your expertise. It is your task, not mine, to calculate how a response can change our course with an acceptable margin of danger."

"Kano" the commander turned to the operator of the computer "can the computer provide us with an analysis of the commissioner's proposal?"

"He has already done it" a mocking smile could be seen on the Nigerian's lips.

One of the monitors surrounding the room - the one connected to the writing terminal of the central computer - had turned on and the square letters of the answer were scrolling on its fluorescent screen:

"There is a lack of data on modifications to the lunar geological structure resulting from the first explosion. Calculation of probabilities based on the size and number of cracks recorded in the lunar crust predicts complete disintegration of the satellite under the effect of forces equivalent to three thousandths of the power of the previous explosion. Taking into account the competing factors, the margin of safety equal to 0.0000007. Conclusion: unattainable proposal."

"And I think that's enough to put an end to the discussion," Morrow commented.

"I am always convinced that more accurate calculations and predictions can establish the power of a controlled explosion adequate for our purpose, but sufficiently safe" Simmonds did not want to give up.

"Let's face it" Professor Bergman intervened "but there is something else that the common sense of a politician can ignore, but each of us cannot underestimate. The force that took us out of orbit is in fact an acceleration that increased the our speed and, consequently, the gravitational forces to which we are subjected. In fact, from the normal thrust of three "G", we have gone to an almost double thrust, unbearable in normal conditions, but still within the limits of the compensation that our antigravity systems are able to ensure. A new explosion, that is, a new ignition of that hypothetical rocket that is the nuclear depots, would lead to a new acceleration and a further increase in the "G" forces to which we are subjected. Antigravity systems can compensate for a thrust of seven "Gs". I leave the conclusions to you, Commissioner."

"We can upgrade antigravity systems."

"Theoretically. In fact the antigravity system requires an enormous amount of energy, which increases by the square. To compensate for the increase of just one degree of gravitational force, beyond the six for which our systems were designed, double the energy is needed; for two more "Gs", quadruple. To compensate for a gravitational push of nine "Gs", as would be needed in our case, we would have to have eight times more energy. We have already verified that our nuclear generators barely produce the energy we need even now, in our changed conditions. How can we obtain such a greater quantity of energy?"

"Couldn't nuclear waste deposits be transformed into atomic piles?" Simmonds ventured.

"It could; but I believe that none of us can say how, with the means, materials and time we have available."

"Apart from the fact" Sandra pointed out "that if the deposits were transformed into atomic piles, they could no longer be exploited as nuclear rockets. So?"

Simmonds was silent for a moment. He did not intend to give in and was desperately looking for other arguments to support his thesis.

"The increase in "G" forces would not be decisive" he objected "I agree that the anti-gravity shield would not be any more useful, but we would still have all the protection we need from our space suits. They resisted accelerations of thirteen "Gs", like those that occurred at the moment of launch in the first space ventures... I'm talking about thirty years ago and, in this meantime, the pressure suits have been greatly improved! They will certainly be functional at a force of only eight or nine "G's"

"The human organism" Helena intervened "can resist much greater accelerations, but only for very short periods. For more prolonged periods, abnormal pressure conditions fatally lead to serious dysfunctions of the circulatory system and the respiratory system. After a week, you would only have to choose: either death by asphyxiation, or death by embolism. As for trying to return to Earth with our Eagles... There are twelve of them left in perfect working order, more than enough to take on board all the base personnel."

"But how far would they take us?"

"Yes, their autonomy is limited in a guided flight; but their atomic engines are sufficient to impart an adequate escape velocity to take us into inertial flight along a transfer trajectory towards Earth. It would take much longer for an inertial flight than for a continuously powered flight, however..."

"Much longer.." Carter sneered, imitating him.

"What does time matter?" Simmonds bristled.

"We have our whole lives ahead of us. What does it matter when, if one day we manage to land on our planet?"

"If you're serious, on that day we will surely all be long dead" replied the astronaut.

"We are men, commissioner, not machines; and men need air, water and food to live. The air and water would be provided by the fuel cells of the air conditioners; but the food? Food for how many days? And, if we had enough of it to provide us with food for an indefinite period..."

"Which isn't," Sandra pointed out.

"But if we had it" Carter completed "what spaceship would be big enough to carry it, what engine powerful enough to make the spaceship move?"

"We're making completely useless assumptions anyway," Morrow remembered. "We are somewhere in space that we cannot even locate precisely and we have no idea where the Earth is. It can be in any direction all around us, and for all we know, even many light years away"

"Our ancestors" Bergman smiled "had a very useful saying: "looking for a needle in the haystack". But they certainly don't think of a haystack as vast as the entire universe!"

"Okay, damn it!" Simmonds snapped. "We don't know where we are, we don't know where the Earth is! But then let's start with this, let's do everything we can to at least know where we are going!"

"Commissioner Simmonds" the commander intervened again, annoyed "we did not meet to discuss philosophy. We have to make decisions: concrete decisions! I won't be rude to ask you to leave if you want to know what we're talking about in here and what choices we'll make; but I am forced to order you to remain silent, unless you are able to say things of greater sense."

Simmonds turned red with anger. He fell back against the back of the chair, with his legs stretched out under the table and his face dark, but he didn't say anything more.

"Let's resume our work" Koenig turned a determined look to the others, after a pause. "From what has already emerged, none of us believes that our return to Earth is possible, nor do we intend to commit ourselves to this objective."

"Indeed," Morrow nodded. "It would be senseless."

"However, the decision is extremely serious and I prefer that each of you express your opinion explicitly. You, Paul?"

"I already said it" repeats the deputy commander. "That would be senseless."

"Carter?"

"I don't see any possibility," declared the astronaut.

"Sandra?"

"We can invest our resources for results that are certainly less desirable, but certainly more achievable" the girl replied "As Paul said before, we cannot afford failure."

"Kano?"

"The computer has already answered for me. Any attempt to return to earth is impossible."

"Helena?" the commander turned to Dr. Russell.

"As a doctor, I can't comment," she said.

"And you, Victor?

The scientist seemed surprised to be asked.

"John, I actually don't know what we are truly capable of deciding" he finally replied "There is something that I like to define as "cosmic order", which is far above our will and our abilities. Whatever we might decide, it will always be subordinated to an unpredictable element: the place that, in the cosmic order, has been assigned to us. It could be here, in this galaxy they ended up in, in another galaxy, in other distant and unknown regions of space, or even in another dimension. It could even be on Earth, our Earth! But, what may be our place in the cosmic order, and where we will end up."

Commander Koenig thought about those words for a long time. He understood that they had a much deeper meaning than their apparent inevitability might lead one to believe.

"I think you're right, Victor: as always" he added. "Yes, we don't have to worry about what our fate will be, or how we can influence it. We must be ready to face all the adventures we are facing: to overcome obstacles as they arise; to challenge the dangers that will certainly not be lacking on our sidereal road. We must be ready to modify our plans and desires from time to time as circumstances require."

"John" the professor gave him a quiet, knowing smile "you are using so many words to say what can be said much more completely with just two words: we must live."

Helena was already nodding. "Living, in all the particular meanings that this can have in our destiny as space castaways."

"Live, and in the meantime survive" underlined the commander. "Organize ourselves to survive, for as long as possible, in the best way possible."

"But to always live is to survive" Bergman smiled at him again, with the philosophy that came from his boundless knowledge of him.

"It is true. So, we have made our basic choice, and it seems to me that we all agree: first of all, live!"

"The various life-sustaining systems remained intact in the explosion," Morrow recalled. "We have air, water, heat, gravity. They are fundamental elements and, for each of them, we have no serious reasons for concern at the moment."

"The biggest problem" Kano intervened, consulting the card just processed by the computer "is energy. The production of our nuclear generators is barely sufficient. But in any case we must strengthen our workshops, put other works in progress, improve the equipment. This requires a greater amount of energy."

"How much energy do we currently consume out of what we produce?" asked Helena.

"Eighty-two percent," Kano replied.

"Eighteen percent remains a good reserve margin" comments Morrow.

"My biggest concern" the doctor completes "is what would happen if one of our four nuclear generators for any reason were to stop working. Seventy-five percent of energy, out of a minimum requirement of eighty-two percent, means having to give up some essential services for a certain period of time: lighting, for example, or the life-sustaining systems of the Medical Center."

"I share Helena's concern" says Professor Bergman. "We need a much greater potential reserve of energy. An auxiliary generator, to be activated to replace another that may fail or even to meet any extraordinary energy needs."

"We need it", Koenig replies, darkly "but we don't have it.

"We can build it. From Carter's report" continued the scientist "it appears that three Eagles were so seriously damaged on the ramps that they could not be recovered. They are three atomic engines that we can use as parts of a generator."

"Are they sufficient?" objected Morrow,

"No. According to my calculations, at least five engines like those are needed to mount a generator with adequate power. My proposal is to sacrifice two more Eagles. There would still be ten left, which I consider largely sufficient for the reconnaissance activities we will have to carry out."

"I oppose it in the most formal and categorical way!" cried Simmonds, who had managed to stay quiet up until that point. "The Eagles must absolutely not be broken. They will undoubtedly need it for..."

Koenig deliberately ignored his protest.

"Carter" he turned to the leader of the squadron "do you think you can still carry out the exploratory tasks entrusted to you, with just ten Eagles?"

"For normal missions, even four or five may be enough" stated the astronaut "Of course the situation could be different in an emergency."

"For example?"

"John, how can I know what might happen to us? In any case, between two fewer Eagles and one more nuclear generator, I choose the generator."

"Victor, can you prepare a detailed project for converting the engines into a nuclear generator?"

"Yes. It shouldn't take more than a couple of days."

"Well !" Paul Morrow rubbed his hands, in a banal but instinctive gesture of satisfaction. "Even energy is no longer a problem."

"It shouldn't be soon enough" the professor pointed out, with his reassuring and calm smile.

"So, the biggest problem remains nourishment" summarized the commander "Our food reserves are sufficient at most for a month. With severe rationing, we will be able to have enough to eat for a couple of months."

"Enough to have the first harvest of lunar agricultural crops," Sandra said. "It was already foreseen that, in a more or less near future, the lunar base would have to become self-sufficient for its agricultural needs and the plan for the construction of hydroponic tanks was already ready. We can grow all types of cereals and legumes, and even some vegetables and fruit, not in the ground, but in tanks of water enriched with radioactive salts."

"But what about proteins? fat?" objected Helena "The human body also needs those substances."

"Our chemical laboratories will take care of those. I can't imagine" the commander smiled at her "whether a steak obtained synthetically from hydrocarbon derivatives will be very tasty; but I know that organic chemistry has been able to manufacture food proteins for twenty years, and I know that our laboratories can be adapted to produce them in sufficient quantities."

They all remained silent for a long time, trying to remember if something had been omitted or underestimated.

"Well, now we all know what we have to do." The commander stood up, passing over his collaborators a look that was at the same time encouraging and inciting. "Let's not waste any more time and let's start doing it!"

...and the Alphans begin their dramatic odyssey into infinite space