Deep Space Journey - 15. DSJ Chapter 15

The following day more headlines – “United Nations Security Council, vote to establish Space Committee” was the main headlines. “The world’s six main Government Space agencies, are to work on Cooperation within the space region around Earth, after heated deliberations in the Security Council, a few days ago. The space agencies of China, India, Japan, Russia, plus NASA in the USA and the European Space Agency, are set to begin discussions on plans for establishing space bases in the near future” the article stated.

Meanwhile in the meeting room, within the United Nations, the representatives of the four Space Agencies, and diplomats from those countries, were in discussions, on how to run the committee or organisation, and where it should be based.

With two of the countries being in Europe, two in Asia, one in the Subcontinent, and the last one being in North America, it seemed obvious that it should be central for all 6 countries, but not everyone was happy with this suggestion and demanded that it remain within the United Nations in New York.

It was one of the Executives of the ESA who finally ruled out the United Nations, “Gentlemen, may I remind you, that the motion within the Security Council that was agreed on by all five Security Council Permanent members, was for representatives of the six leading Space agencies to form a committee, so this means that the United Nations is to have no part in this committee, at all” the Swiss ESA representative said with a smile.

After a few minutes of arguing, it was agreed that by following the words of the proposal that was accepted by the Security Council, the UN has no say in what takes place in this new committee, as no details were given on how it is done, only that it is done by the representatives of the six space agencies.

With that matter finalised, and with the diplomates being asked to leave the meeting, deliberations continued to naming the committee and setting down some rules and protocols. After three long days of discussions, they had finally reached agreement on six key matters, and a letter was sent to the United Nations Security Council, while the representatives boarded a plane bound for Europe.

“Chairman of the United Nations Security Council. Sir, after much deliberation, six key matters have been agreed by all six representatives of the Committee who are looking into the future of Space Travel and Colonisation. 1; the headquarters for this committee is to be established in Zurich, Switzerland, 2; the committee will consist of three members from each of the Space Agencies, with membership to be for a term of two or four years.

3; Funding for the operation of this committee will come equally from the six main Space agencies, 4; there will be no government or diplomatic interference, 5; the committee will set out to re-establish and repair relations with the United Republic of Planets, and 6; from this point on, the committee will be known as the International Space Federation”.

A copy of this letter was sent to the URP Embassy in Switzerland, so it would be forward on to the High Council, in hope that relations can be repaired with the URP. When Quinn received a copy of the letter, he called Ganymede, to speak to the Chancellor about this matter. “Your Excellency, I have some news from Earth, that I felt you needed to know about as soon as possible…” Quinn stated, and he read out the whole letter to the Chancellor.

“Well that is a nice change of attitude, especially when five of the space agencies have government representation on the Security Council,” Chancellor Dennison said, “Yes sir it does, I suggest that we have a High Council meeting to discuss this matter some more” Quinn replied, “Let's just wait and see what happens, once they have set up their headquarters and started getting into more heavier discussions” the Chancellor suggested, “Very well sir, I will keep you and the High council posted on any further developments,” Quinn said.

“The Regent is here, and would like to speak to you, while you are on Video,” the Chancellor said and he stepped away from the camera, to make way for Natihya and the two boys, and for the next twenty minutes, they chatted about what was happening on Sahndrol, on Ganymede and on Scorpion.

“Our eldest son has been putting all of his extra studies and training into practice since we arrived back at Sahndrol, he has been assisting me with a lot of the decision making, and he quite often surprises me and others on business matters” Natihya stated to Quinn, “I am very proud of you Maenyl, you will be a diplomat and Imperial advisor before you are a teenager at this rate, keep up the good work son,” Quinn said as they concluded their chat, said goodbye and signed off.

For the next few months, Quinn kept very busy, trying not to think of his family being so far away, even thou he had a video call from them every week. When the supply ship arrived with all of the supplies for building the new Luna Base, Quinn was surprised to see from the plans, that additions had been made, to allow for accommodating 24 VIP guests and 48 regular guests, and accommodation for 132 operational staff, for keeping the Luna base going, plus additional recreation and general living spaces, for the permanent crew members that will be stationed there, as well as a large administration centre for the International Space Federation.

Once a copy of the new plans had been copied, Quinn had it sent to the URP Embassy in Switzerland, asking them to deliver it to the ISF Headquarters in Zurich, and just a week later the Embassy received a response from the ISF. “With the ESA electing to transfer ownership of the new Luna base to the International Space Federation, we wish to thank you for your kind gift, we look forward to seeing the finished complex, we also wish to thank you for the additional space that you have planned, for an administration, guest quarters, and additional living and recreation space. Please find a copy of the items that all 6 members of the ISF have agreed on so far, not including the 6 original items”.

“International Space Federation consists of 6 permanent members, those being in Alphabetical order – China, European Space Agency, India, Japan, NASA and Russia, it has been agreed that the 132 administration and support staff will be equally divided between the 6 space agencies, as will the 264 Space Research and Exploration positions.

The ISF will have an Executive Director, to manage the day to day operations of the ISF, with a term of two years, with no option for a second term, on a rotation from each Space agency, with the ESA having the first Executive Director, plus the Executive council, consists of three members from each agency.

After nearly four months of been separated from his family, Quinn decided to take a trip back to Ganymede, and he asked his good friend and assistant – Lucas to take over with running things at the Space Station, as the final touches are being made to the nearly completed Luna base on the moon.

Along with a crew of five, Quinn took one of the recently adopted shuttles, which has accommodation for a crew of eight and can travel just as fast and as long as all the other ships of the Sahndrol Empire, and set off for Ganymede, the Capital of the URP, where he hoped that he might be able to convince his wife and sons to travel part of the way so, they could spend some time together as a family.

He had not bothered to let the Chancellor know that he was coming back to Ganymede, or let his family know either, as, at the last family video call, he had informed them that he would be travelling for a week, to attend a number of meetings with the Ambassadors on Earth.

A little lie that he felt was acceptable, considering that he was missing his family so much. The journey to Ganymede, was the same as previous journeys he had made between Jupiter and Earth, Quinn tried to keep himself busy as much as possible, and as they finally approached the Space Port at Ganymede, he was at the helm of the space shuttle, “URP Space Shuttle Dunedin to Space Port Control, over” he said into his microphone.

“Space Shuttle Dunedin, we do not have you scheduled for arrival at this time, who is the Chief pilot and how many crew and passengers to you carry, over” came a reply, Space Shuttle Dunedin to Space Port Control, this is Lord Qjiinn Lenegan speaking, I am the chief pilot, and I have only five other crew members onboard, over” Quinn replied, using his Drol name.

“Yes sir, you have immediate clearance to land, shall I inform he Chancellor of your arrival, over” came a fast response, “No don’t bother His Excellency just yet, I need to rest after a long three-day journey, thank you, over and out” Quinn responded. “Space Port Control to Shuttle, the Chancellor already knows I will meet you in the executive chambers right away please” can an unexpected voice of the Chancellor. “Yes sir, as you wish your Excellency, over” Quinn replied.

Twenty minutes later, Quinn entered the High Council Chamber, to see the Chancellor and the High Council all gathered, and he took his usual seat at the table, “Your Excellency, fellow members of the High Council, I have come here today for one reason only, and that is to be closer to Sahndrol, in hope that I can be with my family again soon, as I miss them very much” Quinn announced.