Peter implemented the suggestions of Maurice in starting several smaller undertakings with goals to coincide with aspects of Project Epsilon. He was able to increase the number of workers under his command as they could concentrate on their own assignments and never realize it had anything to do a larger mission.

Climbing down the metal rungs of a ladder bolted into the steel wall, Peter entered the bunker under the city. The main entrance of the bunker was a massive hole similar to a giant well.

His salvage crews were everywhere, either floating with an antigravity packs or clinging to the metal walls like spiders with their magnetic adhesion gear. The green flashes of molecular separators appeared here and there as his people sliced out components, deconstructed sections of metal walls, or simply retrieved the electrical wiring inside the structure.

Everything removed was catalogued, tagged, and sent upward in transport slings. The webbed nets stretched between a pair of micro thrusters could carry up to a thousand pounds each, and they were always dispatched at full capacity as no time could be wasted with unnecessary trips.

Peter let go of the ladder when he reached the uppermost level of the bunker. He hadn't used either the antigravity pack or magnetic adhesion gear because the equipment was needed by the work crews more than it was by him to perform an inspection of the job site.

Leaving the entry behind, Peter went deeper into the bunker. Holding up his data map, he activated the palm sized circle of technology. A translucent image of bright blue lines hovered over his handheld device and formed an image of the bunker. Peter reached in with the tips of his fingers and was able to turn, enlarge, reduce, or manipulate the image because sensors in the data map responded to his movements and adjusted the hologram accordingly.

Following the proper hallway, Peter reached the cryostorage facility. Originally used for preserving all the food the bunker needed, they'd been out of use since the last of the provisions had been consumed. Peter knew if the bunkers hadn't been abandoned for the larger domes with nutrient manufacturing capabilities, the city's population would've starved long ago.

As Peter examined the storage units, he suddenly got an idea. Pulling out his data pad, he typed in a few notes. If it worked, his plan could save the cities a great deal of time, equipment, and effort to finish the spaceships. He'd need to examine things in greater detail to be certain his idea could be done, and he wanted to check in with Maurice and get his opinion before moving forward. Excitement washed through Peter's veins as he considered the idea in greater detail. He might actually be able to complete the project in time.

                                                                                         ***

"How is your friend, the one who knows?" Peter asked. He was secured in his quarters with the door firmly locked.

"He was reasonable enough," Maurice answered. "He agreed to keep quiet. His brother, however, wasn't so easily convinced. He's of the mindset people have a right to know everything the government knows without any secrets held back."

"Such dissemination of information would only be possible if the people were trained to handle emergency or disastrous information," Peter stated. "The most common reaction by an untrained civilian would be panic."

"I tried to explain it to him, but he was adamant in his position," Maurice informed Peter. "Keeping the secret is important, but I couldn't bring myself to have him killed, so I had him placed under medical sedation in an isolation wing of the hospital unit. The cover story is a highly contagious medical condition."

"During the inspection of the vault this morning, I got an idea," Peter explained. "It could help the ship construction, but it might also assist with your problem."

"What is it?" Maurice asked with eagerness.

"The cryostorage units previously used for nutrients could be adapted for a cryogenic chamber aboard the ships," Peter told him. "Your troublemaker could be placed in stasis and awakened after we reach orbit."

"It sounds good," Maurice agreed.

"Additionally," Peter went on. "If cryogenic chambers are used on the ships, it would vastly cut down the demand on environmental support systems, nutrient production, medical facilities, living accommodations, water filtration systems, and everything else a full city ship would require. The only living occupants the ships would need to support would be the crew to pilot and maintain the vessel. Everyone else goes into cryo before the trip starts and wakes up at the destination."

"Fantastic!" Maurice exclaimed. "The requirements for each ship could be reduced by almost two thirds, making it much easier to get them assembled and ready to go. This might actually allow us to finish ahead of schedule. I'll be sure and pass the idea to the other cities."

"Good," Peter agreed. "We'll divide up the number of cities and each contact a portion of them in order to get the word out faster."

"How would we go about getting the population into the cryochambers?" Maurice questioned. "They'd notice people disappearing if we did it slowly over time, but if we had them all get in line, they'd either figure it out or start asking questions we don't want asked."

"We can bring them in for medical exams, sedate them, and then put them into cryohibernation," Peter offered. "If the process is fast enough, no one will be able to know what's going on before everyone is in storage, ready for departure. They'll all wake up on their new world and won't have time to panic and hinder the project moving forward."

"We could also do a door to door immunization against a new type of germ," Maurice said. "Sedate the people in their homes, and once the city is pacified, go back and collect them for transport to the cryostorage facilities."

"It's very neat," Peter commended. He sat forward, staring intently at the screen. "I just got another idea. What do you think about putting practically everyone in stasis right now? The only people left awake would be the workers. We could then inform them of the situation and start working completely in the open without fear of a citywide panic."

"I like it," Maurice agreed. "I'll have to run it pass the Tribunal of my city, but is sounds like the perfect way to control the situation, keep the public informed, and accelerate progress. Talk to your Tribunal and tell me what they have to say on the matter."

"Will do," Peter assured him. "I'll contact you again tomorrow."

"Until then," Maurice said in closing before the communication channel was disconnected.

Peter shut off the device and unlocked the door to his room. He had to speak with the Tribunal immediately.

                                                                                    ***

The information displayed on Peter's computer showed the progress of the medical teams in sedating the city's population. Having gained the support of the Tribunal, Peter had set his people to work immediately. He'd also had a brief conversation with Maurice and learned similar progress was being made in city five as well. The other domes were implementing identical operations, so progress was commencing on all fronts.

"What's the situation?" Peter inquired of a woman in a blue uniform with the nametag Cathy.

"Nearly complete," Cathy reported. She brushed some of her blonde hair away from her face so it wouldn't interfere with her ability to read the data pad in her hand. "We've sedated most of the city in only three hours. Only my people and those you designated for the work teams haven't been prepared for stasis."

"Very efficient work," Peter congratulated.

"Might I inquire as to the reason for putting the entire city in stasis?" Cathy asked. "The Tribunal gave the orders, but what's the purpose behind them?"

A large crowd of workers had been accumulating in the plaza outside the medical center, and Peter had kept a wary eye on them. He knew he couldn't avoid answering them any longer. It was time for the full and unfiltered truth to be told.

"If you'll come outside, I'll explain everything to everyone all at once," Peter suggested.

"Alright," Cathy agreed. She set down her data pad and followed Peter outside to meet the crowd.

Confused shouts for information blasted Peter's ears the moment he left the medical building and entered the plaza with the assembled workers. The questions overlapped and made it impossible for him to tell one from another. Answering them would have to wait until he could get some semblance of order from the crowd. Peter held up his hands and waited for the people to quiet down.

"I will be answering questions after I make an announcement," Peter assured them. "I'm sure you are all aware by now of our sedating the majority of the city's population. It was required for several reasons. Firstly, we have some rather upsetting news to tell you, and we didn't want large, uncontrollable crowds starting a panic."

Peter took a steadying breath, forcing calm into his voice before proceeding.

"The toxin clouds outside have mutated," Peter announced. "They have become corrosive and are eating away at the dome."

He was forced to stop as the crowd erupted again in a flurry of questions. Many were demanding to know if the population had been put to sleep to allow them a peaceful death when the dome failed. Peter had to crush the line of thought fast before it took root.

"No one is going to die if we all remain calm," Peter said. He kept his voice moderated to avoid shouting, but the firmness in his tone indicated his conviction. "We've had a plan in motion for some time to evacuate the population to another world. Placing the majority of the people in cryostasis for the journey will limit the drain on the ship's resources and allow the vessel to be completed sooner as we won't need extensive environmental and habitation support systems."

More questions cut off his ability to speak, but Peter raised his hand and patiently waited for the people to settle down enough for him to continue.

"I understand your concerns," Peter went on. He was an island of calm in a sea of turbulence. "Believe me, I share them, but this seemed to be the best way. A citywide panic wouldn't have done anything but ruin our chances of completing the escape ship in time. When they wake up, they'll be in a new world, free of the toxic clouds threatening us today. Now that all of you are aware of the situation, we can proceed with ship construction unhindered by either mindless fear or the need for secrecy. We are fighting for the future of mankind, and the lives of everyone in this city are depending on us and our efforts."

Peter took a step toward the crowd and extended his open hands out to them.

"I intend to save the people of this city and make a better future for them on another world," he declared boldly. "Will you help me accomplish this?"

Cathy, leader of the medical teams, was the first one to take a step forward. She smiled warmly and gave a nod of approval. Her vote of confidence in Peter encouraged others to follow her example. Two members of the maintenance crew stepped forward to join Cathy at the front of the group, then three more behind them. Individually and in groups, the crowd slowly advanced until all were standing together in unified agreement.

"Thank you," Peter said with heartfelt gratitude. "Let's get to work."

As the work teams were dispersing to their individual assignments, an alarm began sounding throughout the dome, and the overhead lights flashed urgent red. Peter rushed to the nearest information terminal and pressed his hand against the scanner plate to identify himself and request access. The screen of the terminal lit up with an image of the dome and a dark section marred the upper surface. The dome had been breached.

"Seal off sections nine J through five T," Peter ordered, and the computer acknowledged the instructions. The image of the dome changed as partitions came down to close off affected areas and prevent the spread of the deadly gasses chewing their way into the environment of the dome. The alert shut off, and the lights returned to their standard white.

Peter turned to the people still lingering in the plaza. Their earlier concern had been replaced with outright fear. They needed to know there was hope, no matter how slight.

"It's alright people," he told them. "We have additional layers of defense. The outer sections of the city were already empty as our medical teams have been evacuating people after putting them in stasis. The escape ship is in the center of the dome, so we have plenty of space remaining if we have to put up a few more barriers between us and the outside world before launch. We still have time to finish the ship, but let's get moving."

Everyone set about their work with the intensity and focused purpose of those fighting desperately to live. The dire reality of the situation drove them forward with renewed energy and an unshakeable resolve; Peter knew they would need it to finish in time.