The Universe - or Nothing | Page 2

until they are gone. The characteristic behavior of the system is
overshoot and collapse."
Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the Greenhouse
Crisis Foundation, in Biosphere Politics: A New Consciousness for a New Century
(Crown Publishers, New York 1991) reports how industrialized and developed nations
exploit the sea beds of the world for their rich deposits of industrial minerals and metals.
He notes that the struggle between rich and poor nations and multinational corporations
over minerals in the vast oceanic seabed is likely to be heated in the years to come,
especially as reserves of land-based minerals approach exhaustion.
News media reported in October 2000 that the People's Republic of China announced
plans to explore Earth's moon for useful substances. On October 15, 2003 the PRC
launched into Earth orbit its first manned rocket.
In a speech on January 14, 2004 the President of the United States of America unveiled a
new vision for space exploration. He called on the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) to "...gain a new foothold on the moon and to prepare for new
journeys to worlds beyond our own."
"We do not know where this journey will end," said the President, "yet we know this:
Human beings are headed into the cosmos." White House Press Release, January 14,
2004.
##
The Future
The Interstellar Mining and Teleport System
The System consists of two terminals, each of which includes an integral, fully robotized
capability to conduct internal command-and-control, self-maintenance and repair, and
logistical, teleportation, communications and other functions and operations essential to
its unique mission. The terminal positioned in orbit above Alpha Centauri is designated

the Extractor and the terminal positioned along the Solar System's rim is designated the
Collector.
The Extractor selects and draws pre-designated elements, minerals and other usable
substances from the Alpha Centauri star system, and collects, accumulates, converts and
channels the matter into its spunnel transmission subsystem for direct interstellar transfer
to the Collector.
The Collector receives the product, converts it into its original form, identifies, classifies,
quantifies and records constituents and mass; refines and ejects the raw product for
transport to and storage along the solar rim or at a location that Authority determines to
be more suitable.
The Extractor and Collector terminals are constructed four million kilometers beyond
Planet Pluto. During the System's research, development, test, evaluation, engineering,
construction, launch and voyage phases, the terminals are spunnel-linked and tested both
as separate machines with their support systems, and as the integrated master scheme.
During construction the System is linked to Planet Pluto, employing mass attractors,
orbital dynamics controls and stabilizers, and other means, as appropriate.
The System Authority possesses and Commands a Self-Defense Force under Powers
delegated by the President of the United Inner Planetary System (UIPS).
At launch, disengage the Extractor fleet from the Solar System's gravitational and other
constraints employing Planet Pluto's outbound orbital momentum plus augmentation
thrusters in a manner that the Extractor fleet retains its integrity in transit to destination,
and on station in perpetuity.
Position the Extractor in orbit above Alpha Centauri at a location commensurate with
data provided previously by drone scouts. Authority, at all times, maintains surveillance
and exercises control over operations and support systems, and analyses of the Extractor's
functions, structures and equipment.
The Collector is positioned along the solar rim, or elsewhere, as determined by Authority.
The Collector is fixed to the Extractor's product launch nodes, functions and operations,
and to the Extractor's orbital dynamics at destination.
The Extractor, operating at destination, analyzes, selects, and draws substance from
proximate asteroids, comets, satellites, planetoids, space debris, swarms, star surfaces,
subsurface and other accessible bodies and strata, reduces the substance to teleportable
constituents (the product), loads the product into launch hoppers and dispatches it to the
Collector.
Critical to the program's success is timing the Extractor's launch. Piggy-backed to Planet
Pluto during construction, the Extractor uses the planet's orbital momentum for launch.
The launch window is precise and short-lived along Planet Pluto's outbound orbit; there is
only one launch opportunity in centuries for the Extractor.

Disengaged from Pluto, the Extractor fleet accelerates along its course to optimum
velocity through integrated thrust of augmented thrusters or other more advanced
propulsion systems that are or become available in time to accomplish the Objective.
##
The Terminals and their command and control, supporting research and development
schemes and projects, facilities, spunnel teleport and other logistics and communications
networks, surface and space stations and outposts is formally designated The Interstellar
Mining and Transport System. Authority acknowledges that the mission, launch and
assets acquisition processes intrigued the whimsical fancy of the solar community during
pre-program definition studies and the System was nicknamed "Slingshot".

THE UNIVERSE -- or nothing
Chapter ONE
The recon-patroller's leg and torso-pads fine-tuned their tensions as Lieutenant Pete
O'Hare shifted position.