STOWAWAYS
Matt Phillips
Copyright © 2019 Matt Phillips.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.
ISBN-13: 9781671471092
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019919812
Printed by Amazon POD, in the United States of America.
First printing, 2019.
10401 Windsor View Dr
Potomac, MD 20854
www.campdaddymd.com/stowaways
This book is dedicated to my three indomitable sons, Dylan, Ethan, and Noah. Always reach for the stars!
And to my wife, Grace, who has kept me grounded through life’s journey.
And finally, to my father, the first writer I ever knew.
Asteroids
* * *
Daniel braced for impact but it was too late. He flew, headlong into one of the computer consoles, crashing into it with a smack. Someone else crashed into him from behind and they both collapsed onto the floor. For a moment, the only sound was the buffeting of the spacecraft as it absorbed asteroid after asteroid.
Then the alarms began.
Daniel craned his neck to see the displays around the room. There were flashing red alarms on three-dimensional displays hovering at every work station around the spaceship's small bridge. He quickly wrestled himself out from underneath the other stunned crew member, glancing at her only long enough to make sure she was alive.
"Status report!" Daniel nearly shouted as he got to his feet. The ship shook again but this time Daniel held tight to his chair, and pulled himself into it, fastening the harness across his front.
"Good news, bad news, Captain," Leandro said quickly. A three-dimensional display of their ship rotated above Leandro's console. "We managed to miss the largest asteroid by twelve meters but over a dozen of the smaller ones have impacted our port side. We have lost all propulsion."
"The hull has been breached on decks five and six, port side. All personnel are accounted for at their emergency stations," another crewman said, his voice thick with worry.
"The damage has been contained. But primary life support has failed," another crew member, a girl Daniel remembered from school, shouted over the increasing din of alarm bells and sirens. "Secondary life support systems are stable."
"Deploy damage control probes," Daniel ordered. The damage was significant -- far worse than anything they had experienced in training. The one thing he needed was the one thing he could not have: time to think.
"The probes are deployed, Captain."
Daniel watched the three-dimensional star schooner image rotate in front of him. The ship was three colors: red, where the most serious damage had occurred, yellow, where the damage was more moderate, and green, where damage was minimal. There was an awful lot of red -- too much. They had to get their ship to a repair facility fast.
"How far to the nearest space station?" he asked.
"Cherokee Station is seven minutes away," the ship's navigator said seconds later. An image of a large, oddly shaped, space station appeared above Daniel's console, replacing the image of the damaged ship.
"Adjust course for Cherokee Station," Daniel decided immediately.
"Control thrusters are off-line," Leandro said. "We cannot maneuver."
"That eliminates Cherokee Station," Daniel said swiping at the image. It disappeared and the ship's damage status reappeared. "Reset the control thrusters!"
"You don't think I tried that? Twice...no response," Leandro said with just a hint of anger. He did not need Daniel doing his job.
Daniel let the attitude slide. They had been friends since the third grade and this was not the time to argue. "Well, we can't dock anywhere if we can't maneuver."
"I know that!"
"Okay, send a damage control drone out to survey propulsion and thrusters," Daniel said trying to display the leadership that he knew had been the reason he was selected for this particular job. "Navigator, I need emergency landing options."
"Yes, sir," the navigator answered. He looked down at his console searching the solar system for landing spots.
"Drone images coming in now," Leandro said.
All eyes looked at the main display at the front of the ship's bridge. The images were anything but good news. Their star schooner was powered by two large main engines. Half of one engine was missing entirely. The engine that remained was smashed beyond recognition.
"That's not good," Daniel said quietly. Then, trying to be more commanding, he said: "Don't worry about the mains, we just need to know if the maneuvering thrusters are intact."
The live video feed from the drones stayed on the screen. In a dizzying flurry, the unmanned surveyor drone spun, flew, and dipped until it was repositioned elsewhere along the damaged star schooner.
"Secondary life support is down to seventy-five percent," a much older man reported. Daniel looked directly at the man who had made the report. His name was Harry. Daniel somehow knew that, even though he did not recognize the man.
I must have hit my head on that console, Daniel said to himself.
He turned back to the image as the drone focused on the maneuvering thrusters.
"Rear maneuvering thrusters all look to be intact," Harry said. The drone buzzed around again and then stopped, hovering in front of the damaged ship. The images beamed onto the star schooner's large screen made the damage look even worse than the blinking red, yellow, and green image above Daniel's console.
"The forward thrusters appear fine as well," Harry said ignoring the other damage.
"Then why aren't the thrusters responding to the controls?" Leandro asked.
"The problem appears to be at the primary relay box," Harry reported. With all that was happening around them, Harry's demeanor was unshaken, as if he was completely unaffected by the emergency. Daniel admired that about him.
The video feed coming from the drone changed again. This time, the drone moved slowly along the hull until it stopped near a dark gray box. It was clear that the box had been hit by something, whether an asteroid or some other debris, Daniel could not be sure. It didn't really matter, he concluded. The box was barely attached to the ship and looked like it would break off at any moment.
"That doesn't look good," Leandro said.
"Can we reroute the maneuver controls through a different relay?" Daniel asked.
"The alternate relay boxes were even more badly damaged," Harry reported.
"So... What? We just tumble out into deep space and wait to be rescued?" Leandro said annoyed.
"I think it's worse than that," the navigator said. With a flick of his wrist, he moved the navigation chart from his console to the main screen. "The collisions from the asteroids knocked us way off course. In about two hours we will impact the sun!"
"Are you sure?" Daniel rose from his seat to stare at the chart.
"Technically, we will burn up long before we ever impact the sun," Harry corrected. "At our current course and speed we will be caught in the sun's gravity in one hour, 37 minutes, and 28 seconds. At that point we will be too close to the sun to break free -- even if we had our main engines. After that, it will take several more minutes before we begin to melt."
"Melt?" Leandro asked.
"I am not about to melt," Daniel said defiantly. "Options, Nav?"
"There is an unmanned mining station on Callisto that can dock a ship of this size," the ship’s navigator sent an image of Saturn's third moon to Daniel. "If we can get maneuvering
thrusters online, I think we can get the ship down there without the main engines."
The ship groaned and bounced as if to emphasize his point.
"Okay, Harry, how do we do that?"
"My analysis of the video image is on the main screen," Harry said. All eyes focused on the still image. "The cable was completely severed from the relay box as you can see here."
Harry highlighted the empty connector where the control cable should have been.
"There are several identical cables around the ship that we can use as a suitable substitute." Other annotations appeared on top of the picture, listing cables that could be used as a replacement.
"I recommend the main engine relay cable," Harry continued. "It is behind access panel 12B on the bridge."
Leandro and Daniel checked the panel labels until they found 12B.
"I've got it," Leandro shouted. He opened the panel easily and searched the cables behind the wall. "I see the one we need. Give me a minute to get it pulled out."
"Regrettably, the damage control drones will not be able to make this connection," Harry said, almost as an afterthought.
"What?!" Leandro had his arm deep into the access panel. He twisted awkwardly to look at Harry.
"They were not designed to replace parts," Harry said matter-of-factly. "The drones can remount the relay box with DC magnets, but they simply do not have the dexterity to reconnect cables." There was a long silence before Harry spoke again. "Someone will have to go out there."
"We have another hull breach!" someone called. Another alarm blared. "Deck 4, frame 78, crew quarters. No one was in there," she said, her voice relieved.
"Okay," Daniel said. "Leandro and I will suit up and be back in a few minutes."
"I said someone will have to go out there. Both primary and secondary airlocks were compromised by the impact of the asteroids," Harry replied. "There is only one remaining external suit, located in the emergency airlock on deck two."
Leandro and Daniel looked at each other.
"I'll go," Daniel said first.
"No sir," Leandro said, pulling the replacement cable through the access panel. "You need to stay on the bridge. I will go." He headed toward the door.
"My ship," Daniel said, standing in front of Leandro. "My decision."
Leandro stood eye-to-eye with Daniel for a moment.
"Yes, sir," he said finally. "Don't waste any time out there."
"I'll be back in a sec," Daniel said with a smile. He grabbed the cable from his friend's hand and rushed out the door.
◆◆◆
Minutes later, Daniel floated free of the emergency airlock into space.
"Okay, I am exiting the ship," Daniel reported over the communications system to his team in the bridge. A small drone was already at the airlock when he exited; it followed him as he maneuvered along the outside of the ship.
"We have a visual on you," Leandro said, watching from his console.
"The relay junction is centered on the top of the ship, at frame 34," Harry said, businesslike as always. "It will be approximately ten meters behind the forward antennas...or rather, behind the antenna pedestals. The antennas have been sheared off I believe."
Daniel's suit had a small backpack built into it, with thrusters that allowed him to maneuver. An asteroid, the size of his fist, zipped past his helmet. He flinched and spun uncontrollably in space.
"There are still a lot of asteroids out here," he reported. He used the small thrusters to steady himself and move further up the ship's fuselage.
"Another reason to hurry up and get back in here," Leandro said. The survey drone stayed focused on Daniel as he moved along.
"I'm going as fast as I can," Daniel answered.
"Daniel, how do you think you did on Dr. Camberly's test?" Leandro asked over the comm system.
"I don't know." Why is he asking me that now?
It took about five minutes to get to the junction box. Two drones had already clamped the relay box back in place with a large emergency magnet. Harry directed them to stay nearby in case they could be of help.
"Okay, I have located the relay box," Daniel said as the thrusters steadied him above the box. There was a low, steady beeping sound that Daniel did not recognize. It was different than the alarms that had been going off on the bridge. He shook his left arm and they stopped.
"First, locate what remains of the original cable," Harry instructed. "Approximately one meter to starboard."
"Got it."
Daniel used the thruster to move laterally until he was over the cable. The severed end hung in front of him. He reached out with a gloved hand and twisted the connection removing it from the ship. He let it go and it drifted slowly away.
"Old cable is removed," Daniel said.
"We have about twenty minutes until we miss the window for Callisto," the navigator said over the comms circuit.
"No problem," Daniel said. He pulled the replacement cable from a large pocket on the front of his suit. The new cable snapped into place with a quick twist. "One end is connected."
The survey drone zipped in close to the connection as Daniel moved sideways to the damaged relay box.
"Visually, the connection appears to be adequate for signal flow," Harry said before the drone backed away again.
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Thanks."
He looked over the relay box again. "Are you sure this relay box will work?"
"I will not know until you connect the cable," Harry said with barely perceptible impatience.
"Okay, okay," Daniel said. The low, steady beeping sound began again. He shook his arm again and it stopped. Then he connected the other end of the cable to the relay box. "Cable is connected."
"Stand by for diagnostic check," Harry said.
Daniel took a deep breath. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
"Can you remind your brother to take his violin to school today?" It was his mother.
"Mom!" Daniel whined. He squeezed his eyes together, waiting to hear from Harry.
"What's the status of maneuvering thrusters," Daniel asked again impatiently.
"What are you talking about?" Mom replied.
Daniel opened one eye. It was still dark in his room. He pushed his face into his pillow, willing the dream back. It was too late.
Breakfast with Harry
Daniel Parker pulled a shirt over his head and yanked it into place around his mid-section. He trotted down the stairs of the two-story house. As he walked, dim lights came on just ahead of him: in the hall, on the steps, and in the living room. The lights turned off again as he passed by.
"Good morning, Daniel," a voice said softly.
"Good morning Harry," he replied as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Daniel's voice was gravelly from a night of deep sleep. He cleared his throat and rubbed his hand through his short hair. He passed through the living room and into the dining room. "Is the new ESA selection list out yet?"
"I'm afraid my answer is the same as yesterday," Harry said. "The Earth Space Alliance class of 2085, will be announced approximately eight months from now."
"Okay, then show me the ESA list for the class of 2084 again." Daniel sat down at a table that looked to be made of wood. In front of him, the table's wood grain texture disappeared and a small display began to glow on the table, images of mostly young men and women appeared on the table, along with biographical details about each new member of the ESA.
"Weather and music, please," Daniel requested as he began to swipe through the pictures one by one, carefully examining the education and experience of each person.
"It looks like a nice day today in Magellan," Harry commented, as popular music began playing in the background. "A high of 78 degrees, with an offshore breeze--"
"I am so sick of this song," Daniel interrupted. It changed immediately.
"You listened to that song 247 times in the last three weeks, most recently three times yesterday between 4:15 p.m. and 4:52 p.m.," Harry responded. "
When did you become sick of it?"
"I guess during the 248th time," Daniel replied with a roll of his eyes. "Do we have any pancakes?"
"Technically, no," Harry said. "But KAS-7 has all of the ingredients for pancakes. It will take about seven minutes to make buttermilk pancakes. Is that okay?"
Daniel mumbled his approval as he used his hand to swipe at the display on the table. Daniel zoomed in on the image of one of the new astronauts, studying the man's confident smile. Daniel flicked his wrist and the entire display moved from the tabletop and appeared to hover in the air directly in front of Daniel. The table returned to its wood grain texture.
"I did not understand your response," Harry said. "It will take about seven minutes for KAS to make pancakes. Is that okay?"
"Yes," he said with a groan. Harry could be incredibly annoying. He swiped in the air, rearranging displays so the information sheet moved in front of the picture.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, please."
A click and a whirr were the only indications that anything was happening. But inside the Kitchen Automation System - Upgrade 7, (KAS-7 or just KAS for short) many things were happening all at once: a griddle was heating to the appropriate temperature for their exact elevation (48.6 feet above sea level), flour, baking powder, and other ingredients were being poured into a mixing bowl, eggs were cracked, milk was poured, and a whisk began whirring as it moved into the bowl of ingredients. A precise amount of pancake batter was poured onto the hot griddle a full minute later.
Daniel opened a video on his display and the familiar ESA logo glowed in the center of the screen, along with the countdown timer until his video would begin. The obligatory advertisement came on first. This one was about a new kitchen robot specifically for making breakfasts. Daniel did not bother to think about how his breakfast was made. But he had seen the commercial often enough to know: "The KAS series equipment did not just change kitchens, it replaced them." Blah, blah, blah. The KAS computer brain held millions of recipes, which could be accessed through the house's computer system or more easily through Harry.
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