Banished! 2: Water, ho!

The colonists of each rocket ship had each voted to name their ship. For now, they were simply calling the planet New Earth, at least until they could send delegates to a common committee that would decide upon all the preliminary things needing to be quickly done, including writing a constitution and naming the planet.

The ships were less than a mile apart as they began their descent, entering the atmosphere of their assigned planet. The ships’ thrusters automatically fired and lowered crafts. No interference was required from the ship crews. They watched lights and gauges, glad that no red conditions appeared on the consoles. They had not been trained on the ship’s operations, just left to figure out what they could on their own. Luckily, a considerable number of them had been involved in their creation, construction, and testing, before being found in the “wrong” political party brought about job terminations. That had been one of the earliest banishments.

“Captain,” the Chief Engineer of the ship Eriksson said to a tall, portly man next to him, “We should be entering the water within two minutes.”

“Okay, Mr. Edwards,” the captain said. “Guess you can stop calling me that now that we’re here. I don’t think we’ll be flying this crate again. Call me Matt from now on. I won’t be a candidate for anything else. I didn’t ask to do this.”

“I understand, Sir. Things are going to get hectic for a while. I’m Carson.”

They felt the spaceship descend into the water, looked out as huge bubbles of air rose past a porthole window. The water would be boiling, since the rockets still fired. They would shut off soon, then gyroscopes would control the ship coming horizontal.

Then they would find out if it really would float, as they’d been assured.

Everyone onboard the ship knew what to expect. As lower sections lifted to level, those strapped into wall-mounted bunks also shifted to the new plane. The opposite walls became their ceilings.

Everyone watched anxiously for leaks, for water to rush in and drown them all. With great relief, everyone stayed dry.

An explosion of cheering erupted and echoed down the newly-made hallways. They’d actually arrived, with everyone still in one piece.

“Lieutenant Johnson,” the man who was still Captain for a little while longer called to his communications officer. She looked over at him.

“Yes, Captain?” She was a slim black woman who had helped design the system that would allow the three ships to stay in constant contact.

“Check with the Abdallah and the Balboa to ensure they are staying afloat and that their present conditions are viable.”

“Yes, Captain.” She walked on unsteady legs to the radios in their new positions on the wall. It was like walking in a Fun House, with what had been ceilings extending into the distance and walls becoming floors. She was young and quickly adapted.

The Captain watched her, hoping he would be so lucky to adjust as well. She spoke in a low voice and was quick with her questions, then had to wait several seconds for their responses. Finally, she pushed several buttons then turned back to the Captain.

“They are both fine, Sir. No water has entered either ship.”

The Captain let air escape between his lips in relief.

He turned to his Chief Engineer.

“Okay, Carson. Let’s take a look outside. Anyone else want to look, come on.”

Lieutenant Johnson smiled at him. “Yeah, I’m going, too. We’ve been cooped up too long.”

Several more lifted their hands into the air.

Together, they headed for the airlock. It was time to let in some fresh air.