The Short Ascension of Europa

Prologue
 

There was no doubt about it, the science could not be wronged. After countless calculations & simulations, even the most optimistic Homo Pan Spiritous had to acknowledge that massive intervention on their behalf would have to take place. A solemn feeling could clearly be felt at the conference on the planet Barrens.

"We will have to intervene or Europa will slowly evaporate, for one of a better word, within the next 10 000 years", explained Natasha Nquthu (Apparitio) to a stunned audience. She went on "The magnetic fields of Jupiter, albeit extremely strong, will have little influence. To put it simply, Europa will not have enough mass to prevent the water from dispersing into space. Needless to say, all life will be exterminated within 200 years."

"Two hundred years?" was echoed throughout the hallway by hundreds of horrified delegates.

After waiting until the audience had settled, Nquthu continued "Yes, it will be that short. The environment on Europa is extremely volatile. Sudden loss of water will significantly reduce the oxygen content. Although primitive organisms may survive much longer, the higher & more complicated life forms, especially the semi-sentient specie currently there, will die out."

President Donga (Apparitio) was as stunned as everyone else. In a very Presidential manner he stated "It is very clear what will soon take place, so I thus say it’s very clear what we must do. Europa, & above all every single life form on it, must be saved. This has always been our mission ever since we evolved & took it upon ourselves to be the guardian of those that need help. This situation is truly, more than ever before, one such case if not the case for our never ending mission."

Turning to Professor Nquthu the President asked "What do you propose to do?"

"We will have to introduce powerful magnetic fields that will surround Europa. Just like Earth had the Van Allen Belt, among other magnetic fields, so too a similar array of magnetic fields & belts are needed to surround Europa. But there will need to be more. For the moment the moon’s icecap, which covers the entire surface, currently ensures that its water cannot escape. Thus a further magnetic belt will have to ensure that, when the icecap finally melts in a few years time, the water won’t evaporate into space".

A sceptical Mark Fulton (Homo Pan Intelligibilis) debated more than asked, "And how do you reckon that will be achieved?"

"Either one of two ways. The simplest method will require a network of satellites to surround Europa. Each will be interconnected although individual satellites will be responsible for their respective grid. This will ensure localised control over each particular area" replied Nquthu.

"Impossible", protested Fulton, "these satellites will have to be in place for almost 100 million years. The cost will be astronomical to say the least. Then there’s the problem of who will maintain them if we’re not around. Why can’t we move another moon of Jupiter to cover Europa. This was done successfully with Earth & it’s Moon until the Glorious Passing."

"It won’t work. We don’t need a shield from the Sun in this case. What we need  is extra gravity. Unfortunately, the major increase in gravity that's required is dangerous for the life forms on Europa. Instead, we need a dome to keep things in: one along the lines which Nquthu has just explained" argued Sasha  Thinta (Homo Terra Omega)

Before anyone could say another word, Nquthu continued, "As I said, there’s a second method. By placing such equipment into the molten core of Europa we gain two things. First is a constant power supply that will be more than enough for our needs. The next is the  production of machinery that will be maintenance free. Fundamentally, however, it’ll put out the necessary  fields in what I would call ‘a natural way’. Thus as long as the core of the moon remains active, in other words alive, so too will the thousands of life forms on Europa. It’s then up to mother nature & evolution to do the rest."
 

This creative work is the property of David Mark Atwell.
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