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Where Ganymede is the Belt's breadbasket and nursery, and Ceres is sometimes thought of as its heart, everyone agrees that Tycho Station is its forge. One of Tycho Manufacturing's incredible feats of engineering, the mobile construction platform was home to more than 15,000 workers and their families. Until recently, it had been the construction site of the LDSS Nauvoo, a massive generation ship measuring more than two kilometers long and intended to carry thousands of Mormons over hundreds of years to a new home in the Tau Ceti system. That ship was gone now, hurled out to the edge of the solar system as part of a failed plan to save the Earth from a rogue asteroid.
That didn't mean the solar system was done with the Nauvoo, though, or with the people who built it.
First, you learn that your old coworker/mentor Tristan Seong has arrived on Tycho. What's more, he's accompanied by Tania Teg, a childhood friend and one of your only surviving connections to Eros. The third connection to your past comes in the form of a message on your hand terminal.
Miss Chakrabarti, it reads, I am Apostle Birch, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am writing to you in hopes that someone of your particular skills can help us locate some missing persons. Your name came up in connection with one of them, a Doctor Matteo Cerri, and you were recommended to us as a reliable contractor. If you would like to learn more, please come by my office here on the station. If you have any business associates who will be helping you, please bring them along as well.
Doctor Cerri had been one of your professors when you were a student at Ceres Mining and Tech University, though you haven't seen him since he was hired away to some project on Tycho Station. Considered an expert in the fields of biochemistry and neurophysiology, he was incredibly supportive of you and your academic interests.
The intersection of three different people from your past colliding on Tycho Station couldn't be an accident, and you knew Tristan and Tania to be very capable individuals. You have no trouble getting a hold of them and convincing them to come along.
Tristan reaches out to one of his Martian comrades, Ignacio, who in turn brings on one of his friends, another Martian named Yuri. Meanwhile, Tania tracks down an Earther friend of hers by the name of Kiziah. Each brings additional skills that just might come in handy.
It's clear that your group was expected, as you are ushered through the reception area of the Mormon offices almost as soon as you arrive, and into the office of Apostle Birch.
The room is large, well-lit and carpeted, with simulated wood paneling and bookshelves. The bookshelves hold what is probably the largest collection of real books any of you have seen. The air is slightly stuffy and smells of new carpet and cigar smoke. A large wooden veneer desk dominates one end of the room. There are some family pictures on the desk and the walls as well as a painting of Joseph Smith kneeling and holding the golden plates as an angelic being floats above. Another painting depicts the Mormon Temple on Earth at sunrise. A large black, leather-bound book, The Book of Mormon etched in gold on the front, sits in a prominent place on the desk. Several chairs are laid out in front of the desk (enough for all of you) and behind the desk an elderly man with thinning white hair sits on a large leather chair that seems a little too big for him. As you enter, he rises and gestures for you to sit.
"Welcome. Thank you for coming. I know it may seem unusual, but I’ve invited you here because we have need of your particular...err...talents. That, and Miss Chakrabarti has a personal interest in what I am about to tell you."
"Two very important scientists, Dr. Anna Bragenholm and Dr. Matteo Cerri, both of whom were working on the Nauvoo project, have gone missing. Dr. Bragenholm vanished about three months ago and Dr. Cerri just over three weeks ago. When Dr. Bragenholm went missing, we thought maybe it was of her own volition, but with Dr. Cerri's disappearance this is starting to look like a pattern; either someone wants to sabotage the Nauvoo project, or they wanted our scientists for some other purpose. We have, umm...concerns about Fred Johnson and the OPA. Some of our members are suspicious that they might be involved somehow, which is why we are turning to you for help. Either way, we want them back!"
Tania smiles to herself. She now could guess what the expression 'like a fish out of water' felt like.
The whole room... It felt like a pocket of air at the bottom of the ocean. Just not air she could breathe.
No, it's backwards, she thinks, it's the man in front of him who's swimming among them, the fish, with his pocket of air keeping him safe!
With this realization, Tania's breathing settles. She looks to her friend Pryia and smiles, waiting for her to speak.
Taking a seat, Tristan takes in the artwork with mild interest until the older Mormon starts speaking, focusing the Martian ex-soldier's attention on the proposal.
"Forgive me, sir, but...sabotage the Nauvoo project? Last I heard the ship was sailing on through the solar system after it missed Eros. Why would anyone need to kidnap your scientists to hamper the project--much less the man who launched it in the first place?"
Walking into the room, Kiziah walks straight over to the book shelfs. Very lightly slider her hand over the books and the wooden shelves. Stays mostly quiet as people sit and they start talking.
When it starts to feel awkward she sits down and crosses her legs on the chair, a blessing of gravity or spin. Listening through what they have to say.
Nodding to Tristan's question Kiziah also adds in, "What, exactly, did they work on? Scientist is a big vague, for something as massive as your generational ship suggests"
"Also, any notes? Last people they saw... um.. Could we gain access to their quarters too? Would be interesting to see what was left."
Realizing she rambled for a bit, she gestures to the rest of the group with a grin.
Yuri walks into the room and takes it all in. He smiles as Kiziah goes to look at the book, but turns his attention back to the man behind the desk.
After listening to his proposal, he listens as others ask their questions and waits for the man to answer them before he speaks.
Priya's quiet for a few minutes, her head spinning with everything that was happening. Missing scientists, Tania and Tristan being here, helping the Mormons, it was all so much.
Tania's smile brings her back to reality, and she returns it, so grateful that her friend answered her call for assistance, even after so many years.
Still, some of the confusion lingered. "Doctor Cerri's expertise lay in biochemistry and neurophysiology. Why is he so important to the Nauvoo project? And what did Dr. Bragenholm do?"
Ignacio comes in slightly late. He had little love for the Mormon church, but money was tight and recent tensions with his bishop back on Mars had done nothing to improve the situation.
He quietly enters, giving Yuri a firm handshake and a warm smile before taking a seat next to Tristan, briefly laying a hand on the man’s shoulder and saying softly, ”Been quite some time. Catch up once we’ve finished here?”
He then turns to the man at the desk, catching the end of the briefing.
"Forgive me, sir, but...sabotage the Nauvoo project? Last I heard the ship was sailing on through the solar system after it missed Eros. Why would anyone need to kidnap your scientists to hamper the project--much less the man who launched it in the first place?"
"The work is not yet done, Mr. Seong, and while Mr. Johnson has promised to launch an expedition to recover the Nauvoo before it is lost forever, he has already stolen it once."
"What, exactly, did they work on? Scientist is a big vague, for something as massive as your generational ship suggests"
"Also, any notes? Last people they saw... um.. Could we gain access to their quarters too? Would be interesting to see what was left."
"Dr. Bragenholm is an environmental control and life support specialist engineer, and has been working on the Nauvoo project for the last five years. She is responsible for the design of much of the ship's environmental systems. She was last seen leaving her offices three months ago, around 5:30pm."
"Dr. Cerri has been with us for about three years, and he worked with the ECLSS team to make sure the passengers onboard would be safe and healthy during the voyage. He was last seen leaving his station at the project's offices around 6:30pm, a little over three weeks ago."
"Give me some time, and I will be able to get you access to Dr. Bragenholm's quarters. She had no family on the station and mostly kept to herself, so you won't be disturbing anyone. You will need to speak with Dr. Cerri's wife to investigate his personal quarters, though I don't think she will object."
Apostle Birch brings up his hand terminal for a moment, before flicking a couple files to the group. "Our security team prepared dossiers that should be helpful to you. You also might try speaking with their colleagues."
Tania listens intently. She thinks on how, if it were an enngine failure, she would work out a diagnosis.
Tentatively, she looks at Pryia and suggests: "We could try and see what was their usual path of travel between work and home. Perhaps we can identify more precisely where they could have been lifted, then use security footage to get a better view of the spot..."
She feels uncomfortable speaking in front of stranger, and her mind shifts her attention towards the Mormon and their motive. It felt strange to her to see a group so traditionally opposed to the progress of science now, in many ways, on the cutting edge of it.
Nodding "One additional things I would be curious about is the ships that left around the time of their disappearance. Might give us a clue on what ship they might have left on. That is if they are not still somewhere on station."
She jumps out of the chair and goes back to looking at the books. Letting others get the details and dossiers. I am sure it will all get on my datapad anyway.. Wonder what these books say
Tristan opens the first few documents and scans them quietly for a minute. "Before I agree to anything--what is our timetable on this? If you suspect Johnson's people should we expect trouble on that front? And not to be crass, but I haven't heard a number mentioned yet regarding our compensation."
”Did Bragenholm and Cerri have any enemies you know of besides the OPA? Best to know all the angles.”
As the man named Tristan speaks, Yuri cannot help but nod at the questions he asks. Glancing down at his hand terminal he too scans the documents. While still reading he listens for the elder's answers.
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Dr. Bragenholm is 32 years old and has the tall and slender build of a person born outside a gravity well (in her case, on Luna). Her face is also long and narrow with prominent cheekbones, deep-set blue eyes, and long, straw-colored hair that she usually wears back in a pony-tail.
She is single with no family. Her parents and younger sister were killed when a rogue asteroid struck the transport they were traveling on 14 years ago. Anna was away at college at the time.
She was a bit of a loner and tended to keep to herself. She is known to be a devout Mormon and attends services regularly, though she rarely attends social activities.
Dr. Cerri is 47 years old, from Earth, and has a short and squat build even for an Earther. He has jagged short hair that he dyes neon blue, dark brown eyes with bushy eyebrows, and a square, cleft jaw. He often has a few days of stubble.
He is married to Fiona Tan and they have two children, Alexa and Cesare (17 and 13). All of them live on board Tycho Station.
Apostle Birch considers Tristan and Ignacio's questions for several seconds before answering. "I don't know of any enemies they may have had. Dr. Bragenholm wasn't close to anyone, as far as I am aware, but she wasn't antagonistic to anyone either. With regards to Mr. Johnson and his people, I would suggest you be prepared for anything. They've been...um, difficult to predict."
"Your questions about a timetable and compensation are very reasonable. We hope that you find and, if possible, rescue them as quickly as possible, since they have already been missing for some time. We will be as patient as we can be, assuming you continue to make progress in your investigation. I'm afraid I don't know the exact amount you will be paid, but I believe it is several thousand dollars. It should be in the message Miss Chakrabarti was sent."
Tristan is quiet a moment longer as he scans the last of the documents, then he nods and stands. "Well I suppose we should get started then. Thank you Apostle Birch, we'll be in touch as soon as we know something."
Getting up with the others, Yuri walks over to where Kiziah is examining the book and whispers to her.
"Time to go."
He heads out with a final nod to the Apostle.
Tania nods and smiles to Apostle Birch as they leave. "We'll find them," she says, then immediately regrets it.
Once outside, she asks: "Do we start with the wife?"
Apostle Birch opens the door and walks the group of you outside the Mormon offices. "Thank you all, so much. Please keep us appraised of your progress, and if there is any assistance you may need from the Church. Go with God."
Priya nods to the Apostle, a thousand thoughts running through her mind all at once. "Right." She says. "I like Tania's idea of checking the security footage," Smiling for a moment at her friend, despite the circumstances. "we might have an idea of where they were snatched from. We happen to see him deviate from the norm, sneak off early in a different direction, it might give us something to ask Mrs. Cerri."
Ignacio stands up, saying to the apostle, ”Then may the Lord walk by your side. Good day.”
As they get outside, Ignacio offers his hand to Tristan for a shake, ”Good to see you again, Tristan. It’s been too long.”
Looking up to Yuri who pulls her out of her book focus. ”Ah yes. Thanks. I love these things.” gesturing towards the books.
Hearing Tania ”Yes Family might have more info. We should check in with the wife. Their homes might have some signs. My vote is talk to Cerri’s family first. Check out his living situation. Then check on Bragenholm’s home. Not sure if we can convince the Tyco security to let us look though security tapes.. But we can sure try!” She stands as tall as she can, and tries to press down any wrinkles in her work outfit.
”So. Cerri’s home?
"Cerri's home!" repeats the lanky Belter and she starts walking, hoping the others will come along.
For a moment, she wonders how she might feel should they stay there and leave her walking on her own. What would her path then become, she wonders.
With a small hop in the low gravity Kiziah starts to follow Tania. "Hey! How have you been? Any good pranks I should know about?"
She has a bit of a bouncy jaunt alongside Tania.
Yuri follows the others, but move so he is beside Ignacio.
"What do you think Father? Can the Mormon be trusted? "
"Well, the Good Shepherd expects us to be honest, but the Mormons do deviate from the tenets of the church." He shakes his head slightly as he says, "Dispensing with the scripture, their bureaucracy is a slippery thing. It's hard to say, really. For now, I say we do what we can to find those scientists. Prepare for the worst, and God willing, hope for the best."
Dr Cerri's quarters are easy enough to find, and you arrive in no time. You press the call button next to the door and wait for several seconds. Eventually a woman appears on the screen, looking out at you with tired eyes and hair barely contained by a ponytail. "Yes, hello?"
With a small hop in the low gravity Kiziah starts to follow Tania. "Hey! How have you been? Any good pranks I should know about?"
She has a bit of a bouncy jaunt alongside Tania.
"Kiziah, so nice to see you! When Pryia told me we would meet again, I felt like a new page was being offered. So let's forget about the OLD pranks and focus on the NEW pranks this new venture offers us! I, for one, would like to know why the Mormons are still invested in this. Do they have other cards we don't know of? I'm surprised they're come to look for their scientists. Their job is over, no? But the Mormons have always surprised me. That long-haul ship, for example! And now it is gone! That's one prank all right!"
When they reach the door, Tanya slips to the back of the group. She preferred others to handle... well people.
Priya steps forward, somewhat hesitantly. "Hello, Mrs. Cerri? My name is Priya Chakrabarti, I was one of your husband's students at Ceres Mining & Tech. I just heard about his disappearance, and I was hoping we could come in and ask you a few questions."
”Good to see you again, Tristan. It’s been too long.”
Tristan gives the priest a grin and a nod. "It's a pleasant surprise to cross paths with you were, Walker. I'd be more than happy to grab that drink later."
Tristan listens thoughtfully to his new co-workers' conversation around him. "I find it curious," he says softly after a few minutes. "That Dr. Bragenholm vanish three months ago. A curiously long time to wait, if you suspect dirty dealing from Fred Johnson. It might be worth doing some independent verification on what Bragenholm and Cerri's specializations are."
When the doorbell is rung Tristan assumes a mild expression and waits, though he frowns inwardly at Priya's phrasing. Clearing his throat a bit, he steps a little closer so the door camera can see him better. "Most of us weren't students of his, Mrs. Cerri. We were hired by the Church to help find Matteo. We're very sorry to impose upon you like this without any notice, but may we come in?"
A look of confused suspicion passes over Fiona Tan's face, followed by recognition. "You're Priya? Matteo would talk about you all the time, back when we lived on Ceres. Of course you can c--" She interrupts herself when her mind catches up to Tristan's addendum, and the look of suspicion returns.
"You're with the Church?" she asks, and makes no move to open the door for you.
Tania’s ears perk up as the wife’s mood darken at the mention of the church.
She thinks to herself: Could they have welcomed their disappearance..?
If there was one skill central to being an officer in the Martian Navy, it was looking confident, acting like you were exactly where you needed to be doing exactly what needed doing. That aura of confidence helped keep up morale, and kept your soldiers focused on the task ahead of them. Tristan had never commanded a unit in a combat action, but the principle was the same.
"We're investigators, ma'am, but we are not with the Church. You have my word that nothing you tell us will be relayed to them, if that's your wish. We want to help."
Ignacio gives a slight nod, ” I am with a church, just not the one that employs us. I’ve taken the seal of confession many times, and I have never broken it. Whatever you might know is safe with us.”
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Priya shoots a glare at Tristan, but it softens when he bails them out of his information reveal. She makes a mental note to get further information on how Fiona Tan feels about the church, and the couple's enemies. "What they say is the truth. I'm here for your husband, I don't care about the church - Xiya depelésh mi wanya bi . There aren't many Earthers who are good to Beltalowda like he is, sasa ke? Most just want what we can do for 'em, but he always pushed us to be what we want to be. Nobody gonna take a man like him away from da Belte."
Having nothing to add to the conversation, Yuri stays quiet and turns to see if their group has attracted any attention from others.
Tristan's reassurances of the group's independence does the trick, and after a moment's hesitation she opens the door. "Please, come in."
The interior of the home is surprisingly roomy, even with seven people in it. All around you see the signs of an apparently happy family, interrupted. A photo frame by the door moves through a series of photos of Doctor Cerri. Most are from what are obviously the interiors of stations or ships, but one sticks out, especially to the non-Earthers among you: Doctor Cerri on the bank of an actual river under an open sky, holding up what looks to be a real fish in his hands. To Priya, this is clearly an old photo; he looks much younger than you remember him from your days as his student.
"I'm sorry for the poor welcome," Fiona says to you from the galley. "It's...it's been a rough month for us. Would any of you like something to drink? I have some peppermint tea around here somewhere."
Tania looks around unapologetically. She’d never been in a scientist’s house and was curious of the differences.
In many ways, she felt she was like a scientist, except perhaps that her system was a closed one, with set answers. Yet, she was also a philosopher of sorts, and saw in the machine room for exploration beyond its boundaries. And navigation through the solar system...
The image on the wall, the river, and the fish, stops her musing, thankfully. Without thinking, she blurts out: ”A real river! Dhat is amazing! When was dhat? Did you take dhat picture?”
Fiona comes out to see which picture Tania is looking at, then smiles. "This must be around thirty years old, from back when we still lived on Earth. Matteo and his brothers would go fishing on the Platte every summer, until his work took us up the well."
Laughing at Tania, "Oh so true. This seems like an interesting group. Wonder how the Mormons decided to lump us together. Bit of an odd bunch, to say the least. Maybe they are just desperate! Leave it to Mormons to not be as pissed as I would be if my big fancy ship ran away." She gestures with her hand like a ship flies away looking at it wishfully.
---In room
As the group talks to the wife, Kizia walks to the side and stands next to Yuri. Keeping an eye on the room.
Looking around the room, Kizia ties to spot anything unusualy or out of place.
"The Platte? Wait! Every summer! Wow, that must have been nice..." Tania replies, pushing away thoughts about gravity's effect on Belters' bones.
Yuri thanks Fiona for the cuppa and asks,
"So what was it your husband was working on for the Mormons? Had he been acting strangely at all over the last few days before his abduction? Anything out of the ordinary happen here? Strangers wandering by or odd messages left on your terminal?"
He takes a sip while waiting for the woman to respond.
"You're welcome. I know Matteo worked with the environmental systems team, but I don't know exactly what he spent his workday on. Something to do with 'long-term survivability.' And no, nothing like that. He sent me a message to tell me he was on his way home, like usual, but never made it."
Tania peels herself from the picture and turns to Yuri and the others as they ask their questions, realizing her dream of visiting earth one day and the million questions that go with it should wait.
"Can you give us the timestamp of the message? Sounds like he didn't have a standard office, kinda worked everywhere he needed to?"