Chapter 15

Meanwhile on the Arc

Abby is in the Chancellor's office she has just finished watching the videos and reading up on Jaha's notes on the exodus project. She is shocked to find out that they are like a boat without enough life rafts. It was a problem they were meant to have years to figure out. Her generation was never meant to be the generation returning to earth and yet here they are with a problem that can't be fixed before the oxygen runs out. Abby now begins to understand the full extent of the problems with the oxygen system and the exodus mission. She knows that the only way her people will survive is if they can go to earth, but at the moment not all of them will be able to go. She needs to speak to Sinclair; he is a level-headed man and she is sure there is another option that they are overlooking. As she is pondering the situation there is a rapid know on the door.

"Come in!" Abby stands from her desk and a guard enters.

"Chancellor griffin, your presence is required urgently in the command center" Abby nods and follows the guard to the command center. As she enters, she is handed a tablet,

"What is going on?" Abbey addresses Kane,

"Chancellor Griffin, some of the delinquent's wristbands are going dark, we believe they've started the experience the effects of earth radiation," Kane says seeming troubled. Abby looks through the stats of the children whose wristbands have gone dark and notices there isn't a dramatic decline before they go dark that they seem completely healthy until that point.

"No, I don't believe this is radiation we are seeing, the kids were registering as completely healthy before their bracelets went dark. With radiation, we would see a slow decline before death. "

"So, what do you propose it is Chancellor?" Kane says his voice sounding tight from underlying anger. Abby looks through the system and says,

"It could be any number of things, a glitch with the wristbands that's caused them to short circuit, or these ten children met a sudden death or simply they are taking the wristbands off" Kane looks confused,

"Why would they take the wristbands off?" Abby contemplates the possible reasonings,

"Well, it could be as simple as we told them not to" Abby hands the tablet back to Callie and squeezes her friend's shoulder,

"Callie, can you continue to monitor them and let me know if any more wristbands go dark? Kane, can you call the other councilors to a meeting in 1 hour? I want to brief them on my speech before addressing the entire Arc. Kane nods and leaves to do as she asks. Abby turns to Sinclair,

"Sinclair, may I speak with you a moment?" Sinclair nods and motions for her to step into a separate office to speak privately,

"What can I help you with Chancellor?" he smiles at her to let her know he's glad she is in charge.

"I've been reviewing the exodus mission and the obvious failing regarding transportation..." Sinclair look morose,

"Yes, it is a difficult problem that seems to have no good alternatives to the current plan."

"That's why I'm speaking with you, I know my Jake I know he would have tried to find a way to ensure that most people can make it to earth so no matter how crazy or hair-brained it might be I want to know the options, I'm not willing to cull people or to leave anyone behind to suffocate unless necessary!" Abby and Sinclair run through several different ideas, some with merit and others without until Sinclair mentions the last idea Jake had.

"Jake's last theory was that if we split the arc into its original stations there would be a higher number of survivors, also it would mean that everyone has the same equal chance of surviving the descent. It may not be the most elegant but if we start preparations now we could maximize the number of people who would survive by running a series of calculations and placing them in those stations." Abby thinks about it and decides this seems the most logical course of action but without figures, it would be impossible to get the other councilors to agree.

"Did Jake run any predictive algorithms to determine the validity of this maneuver?"

"Yes, he did I think I have them somewhere, I can get them for you?"

"Yes Sinclair, that would be great gather everything you can I'm going to need as much as possible if I'm going to convince the other councilors to change the exodus plans. Before you go there was one more thing...has...a... has Clarke contacted you at all I know you mention you might be able to get a long-range radio for her?

"I put the radio in her pack but I've not had any contact from her, it could be that the signals are not strong enough or where they landed has too much tree or cloud coverage." Abby nods,

"Is there anything we can do to boost the signal on our end? Sinclair shakes his head sadly,

"I'm afraid not Abby, everything I could do I have done, bar sending someone else down with a better radio I'm not sure we will be able to make contact." Abby is disheartened she would have loved to speak to Clarke to know she is doing ok, beyond what the bracelet says. Abby is about to leave when she turns suddenly,

"That is it, we could send one person down to help establish communications! It could be under the guise of preparing the exodus mission, the only issue is being able to find someone willing to go and who would be trustworthy too." Sinclair instantly has an idea,

"I know of someone who could help us, a young engineer Raven Reyes. I believe her boyfriend is one of the 100 so she would be willing to go, and she is very loyal." Abby nods,

"Set up a meeting with Raven, I believe there's an old escape pod that may work if we can fix it up a bit." Sinclair nods and leaves to do as Abby has asked.