“That was nearly three minutes ago,” he said.
“Well, unless we can raise them again … we proceed as planned. Like they said, they’re on schedule and will have time to clear out before—”
“Robins Nest, this is Saber! Severe malfunction! Detonators not responding. I repeat, not responding. Timer won’t set, and—” The broadcast broke into static.
“Saber, this is Robins Nest. Do you copy?” Evans asked.
Static continued to blare over the speakers as Evans and the director stood by.
Evans brought up the external video feed of the space elevator and directed it to the wall display. Moments after the display focused on the cylindrical shaft jutting up into space from the moon’s surface, an enormous explosion severed the shaft at its midway point.
“Oh, my God,” Evans gasped.
All they could do was watch in horror. The top portion of the shaft tilted to the side as debris from the explosion shot out in all directions.
“Director, I—” Evans said, not finding the words to express the shock of what they just witnessed.
“Yes, I know. But right now, we need to be someplace else. There can be no trace of our presence in this sector.”
“Director, can’t we—”
“That’s an order, Perry. Get us out of here, now,” the director said before walking out of the communication center.
Mission conclusion: failed.
Comments: Operatives lost in unexpected explosion during implementation phase. Bodies unrecoverable due to zero atmosphere.
10
Vibrations rose up through the hull and nearly shook Jaxon from the pilot’s chair. As he snapped to attention, he wiped the sleep from his eyes, pushing away the memories from his past.
Having already disabled the proximity sensors and alarms on the ship, he was unaware of the attack. Now, it was too late.
He brought up the ship’s sensors and noticed several approaching ships, coming from both the moon base and the space station. He checked his ETA to moon base: sixteen minutes. At the speed of the advancing ships, he knew that he’d never make it. He cursed at himself repeatedly for his extravagant exit from Taloo Station.
After assessing all of his options, it became apparent what his next move would be.
“It’s time to play possum once again,” he said aloud.
Jaxon activated the defense shields and reconfirmed the autopilot’s program. With everything still good for a moon base destination, he stepped away from the control panel to headed for the belly of the ship.
Having passed through only the main corridor of the ship when he first boarded, Jaxon was unsure if the Bradbury was properly equipped.
In nearly every ship manufactured in the past ten years, at least one escape vessel was included. But only as an added option. He found it odd that even with the advancement of space travel in the last quarter century, escape pods weren’t mandatory.
As Jaxon rushed along, he hoped that the buyer of this particular vessel picked up at least the minimalist form of escape.
As he reached the back of the ship, he found a ship’s ladder leading down. Quickly descending into the darkness, Jaxon found himself standing in the cargo hold. It was too dark to see much, but he could just make out a faint glow on the side wall. The control panel. A quick tap on the touch screen and the ship’s systems were at his fingertips. A few more taps and the overhead lights brought him from the darkness.
Being able to see clearly now, Jaxon moved ahead, dismissing the various crates and cargo bins lashed to the side walls. At the forward end of the long cargo bay, he found what he was looking for, and silently thanked whoever it was that was looking out for him. It was an escape pod.
Wasting no time, Jaxon analyzed the locking mechanism and access panel then initiated activation protocols. Within moments, the pod’s lights flickered to life.
Ignoring the continued warning shots exploding just outside the hull, Jaxon gripped the grab bar at
“Well, unless we can raise them again … we proceed as planned. Like they said, they’re on schedule and will have time to clear out before—”
“Robins Nest, this is Saber! Severe malfunction! Detonators not responding. I repeat, not responding. Timer won’t set, and—” The broadcast broke into static.
“Saber, this is Robins Nest. Do you copy?” Evans asked.
Static continued to blare over the speakers as Evans and the director stood by.
Evans brought up the external video feed of the space elevator and directed it to the wall display. Moments after the display focused on the cylindrical shaft jutting up into space from the moon’s surface, an enormous explosion severed the shaft at its midway point.
“Oh, my God,” Evans gasped.
All they could do was watch in horror. The top portion of the shaft tilted to the side as debris from the explosion shot out in all directions.
“Director, I—” Evans said, not finding the words to express the shock of what they just witnessed.
“Yes, I know. But right now, we need to be someplace else. There can be no trace of our presence in this sector.”
“Director, can’t we—”
“That’s an order, Perry. Get us out of here, now,” the director said before walking out of the communication center.
Mission conclusion: failed.
Comments: Operatives lost in unexpected explosion during implementation phase. Bodies unrecoverable due to zero atmosphere.
10
Vibrations rose up through the hull and nearly shook Jaxon from the pilot’s chair. As he snapped to attention, he wiped the sleep from his eyes, pushing away the memories from his past.
Having already disabled the proximity sensors and alarms on the ship, he was unaware of the attack. Now, it was too late.
He brought up the ship’s sensors and noticed several approaching ships, coming from both the moon base and the space station. He checked his ETA to moon base: sixteen minutes. At the speed of the advancing ships, he knew that he’d never make it. He cursed at himself repeatedly for his extravagant exit from Taloo Station.
After assessing all of his options, it became apparent what his next move would be.
“It’s time to play possum once again,” he said aloud.
Jaxon activated the defense shields and reconfirmed the autopilot’s program. With everything still good for a moon base destination, he stepped away from the control panel to headed for the belly of the ship.
Having passed through only the main corridor of the ship when he first boarded, Jaxon was unsure if the Bradbury was properly equipped.
In nearly every ship manufactured in the past ten years, at least one escape vessel was included. But only as an added option. He found it odd that even with the advancement of space travel in the last quarter century, escape pods weren’t mandatory.
As Jaxon rushed along, he hoped that the buyer of this particular vessel picked up at least the minimalist form of escape.
As he reached the back of the ship, he found a ship’s ladder leading down. Quickly descending into the darkness, Jaxon found himself standing in the cargo hold. It was too dark to see much, but he could just make out a faint glow on the side wall. The control panel. A quick tap on the touch screen and the ship’s systems were at his fingertips. A few more taps and the overhead lights brought him from the darkness.
Being able to see clearly now, Jaxon moved ahead, dismissing the various crates and cargo bins lashed to the side walls. At the forward end of the long cargo bay, he found what he was looking for, and silently thanked whoever it was that was looking out for him. It was an escape pod.
Wasting no time, Jaxon analyzed the locking mechanism and access panel then initiated activation protocols. Within moments, the pod’s lights flickered to life.
Ignoring the continued warning shots exploding just outside the hull, Jaxon gripped the grab bar at
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