EVAC: IGNITION

by A J Britnell

  All the Apollo landing sites had gained ‘Lunar Heritage Status’ which meant any development of the area had to be sympathetic to the surroundings and not visible from Earth. An architect from Spain, who took his inspiration from the work of Ceaser Manrique, designed the complex. Manrique was both an architect and designer and was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Spanish Island of Lanzarote where he was successful in blending the volcanic caves with modern design, creating magical spaces.

  The complex spread over a square mile, mainly underground. Above ground the building was hidden beneath, what looked like natural rock, but it was actually a man-made structure coated in the Moon’s regolith and sculpted to resemble a rocky ridge.

  They arrived at the north entrance and again waited for an airlock door to open before passing into the main vehicle hanger.

  After going through another security checkpoint and disrobing their suits the EVAC team regrouped at the reception desk. The hospitality area was bright and domed and Haruka looked up to a circular window, to frame the starry sky. She touched the bumpy surface of the walls, Moon rock painted white and grey in alternating panels, split with natural chunks of basalt and lava rock. It was quite beautiful, she thought. The floor glistened; rectangular slabs of polished stone spread out from a central mosaic star and lead the eye to the huge tinted window that overlooked the Apollo landing site. Dotted around the room were coffee tables and chairs for visitors to enjoy the view, a small group, probably a family, smiled and joked together in the corner.

  “Can I help you Madam?” A tall lady with a professional smile stood behind a sweeping desk. Haruka turned but just stood open mouthed at the sight of a panoramic photo of a moonscape, complete with waxing Earth, drifting above the woman’s head.

  Haruka filled in the compulsory arm length form and collected her key-card.

  After locating the boys, who were at the other end of the counter she wandered about dreamily, taking in the refined furnishings until a young bell boy appeared with a luggage trolley and politely asked them to follow him to their suites.

  It felt very peculiar, strolling along a hotel corridor in low gravity; being one-sixth of the Earths, Haruka felt as light as a feather as she skipped down the corridor behind Marcus and John. Tension ebbed away from her tight muscles and she allowed herself a little smile, determined to enjoy this unexpected holiday by experiencing everything this place had to offer.

  Each suite benefitted from a spectacular view through a floor to ceiling, quadruple, glazed window. Haruka put her nose to the glass and tilted her head to view the construction. Outside, a concrete canopy overshadowed the window and within it she could spy a shutter ready to be deployed. She imagined the whole complex could be incased in meteor proof blast doors, returning the man-made structure to the impregnable rock it emulated.

  Elegant but simple furniture adorned the oval rooms. Spherical shapes and curved lines were a recurring theme throughout the hotel to reflect the celestial bodies and to recreate natural lava tunnels that crisscrossed the terrain. The walls were rendered in Lunar concrete and painted in a subtle blue palette, accenting the Earth’s hues. Interspersed around the room were vertical panels of embossed white ceramic, featuring geometric designs. Textured carpet flowed throughout the apartment and Haruka noted that the slippers she had been given at reception, had a plastic sole with hooks that would grip to the carpet’s fibres. She pulled them on and took a stroll, creating a crunching noise with each step. It was quite absurd but practical as bouncing through life soon became tiring not to mention a little dangerous depending on the activity.

  Haruka continued to explore. There were only a few well-chosen accessories; a tasteful landscape or abstract painting that blended in seamlessly with the delicately patterned soft furnishings. The wardrobes had also been hidden behind more panels to complete the minimalist scheme.

  They omitted anything Earthly; no pot plants or peony printed curtains nor photographs of famous cityscapes could be seen anywhere, it had to be a purely Lunar experience.

  After unpacking, the group returned to the reception area, where they could gain access via tunnels to the hotel’s facilities. The complex curved in a crescent around the Apollo craft and from the southernmost points, a transparent tunnel stretched around in a loop, hugging the monument within its perimeter. It was closed; disappointing Herman, but the hotel offered many activities to refresh weary space travelers. So, they went their separate ways; the boys to the bar and Haruka to the long-awaited spa.

  The Gagarin Bar oozed style. The walls were adorned in Russian space propaganda posters. Primary colours and geometric shapes cut the room up into private booths. The lighting was tasked, spotlighting moody sculptures of the famous Russian cosmonaut and comrades. John and Marcus choose the remaining booth in the centre of the room. Different coloured glass bowls with flickering candles sat upon each table casting kaleidoscope patterns across the domed ceiling. John threw his jacket on the couch and ventured off for the bar while Marcus scouted the crowds for female companionship. By the time John returned with the drinks, Marcus was already in conversation with an attractive black lady dressed in a red jumpsuit. He had to prise her away from her friends and was now encouraging her to join them at the private booth with a wave of charming compliments. She seemed to be falling for it, as they all did and too embarrassed to watch, John decided to keep his distance and ensconced himself at the bar within the safety of some business men.

  “How do you say cheers in Russian?”

  The barman reached behind the optics for his favoured Vodka and recited in an authentic accent, “Budem zdorovi! comrade,” clinking the bottle to John’s overfilled glass. John watched the liquid crawl up the sides of his cleverly designed tumbler and chased the droplets around the rim with his tongue.

  Enjoying the privacy, Haruka bounced down the spiral staircase to the Lava Rooms; a maze of ancient lava tubes, deep underground the complex. It was a warren of dimly lit caves, each offering a different spa treatment. There was hardly anyone there and those that were sat in quiet contemplation in fluffy bathrobes waiting for their next experience. Haruka stood for a while reading the treatment list when a technician approached her. “How can I help you today, madam?”

  “Well I’m not too sure, I haven’t been to a spa before.” The young lady did not look surprised and simply took her by the hand and led her away to a changing room. It smelt gorgeous. Fragrant oils filled the chamber along with soothing piped music. Haruka undressed to her underwear and pulled the robe over her shoulders just as there was a light tap at the door.

  “Are you decent?”

  “Yes, come on in,” Haruka replied hesitantly.

  The therapist arranged Haruka on the couch, covering her loosely with a soft cotton sheet. “Would you like a massage or something more adventurous?” She lifted the bottom of the sheet to reveal Haruka’s legs, “Or maybe we should start with a wax!”

  “I’m all yours!” Haruka conceded and the transformation began.

  They arranged to meet early the next morning and enjoy a light breakfast in the ‘Stellar Lounge’ before exploring further. Haruka felt wonderfully relaxed; the previous evenings treatments had left her smooth and pink. She nibbled delicately at her Eggs Benedict while anticipating the mud wrap she had booked for later that day.

  “Have you enjoyed your pampering session, Haruka?” John enquired after they had sat in silence for far too long. Haruka’s glassy expression unnerved him.

  Haruka’s eyes eventually settled on John, “Hmm, what was that?”

  “I was asking about your evening......”

  She reached for her thick, orange juice and stirred the ice cubes with a bendy straw. “Isn’t it wonderful here? I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed- we should have visited years ago.” Slurping loudly, she drained the glass and smacked her lips.

  John and Marcus exchanged confused looks and John bravely commented on the new and improved Flight Officer Haruka
O’Brian. “This is a completely different side of you Haruka, I always thought you were a bit stuck up but I can see now that you’re just as down to earth as the rest of us.”

  She returned the slur with a sneer. "And what did you boys get up to?”

  “Well, Casanova here had a great time,” John reported.

  Haruka tutted, “Marcus, you’re going to get a reputation!”

  “He already has; that’s why he had to leave Earth,” he added trying not to sound jealous.

  Marcus sat back in his chair and slid a hand over his perfectly oiled head, “Well I can’t help being irresistible to the ladies.”

  They both shook their heads.

  “So, what about you John, find anyone special?”

  “Trawling for love isn’t really my style.”

  “No, he just got plastered with Demetri.”

  “Glad to hear it – well the girl bit anyway. I’m sure Eileen will be too.”

  John pretended not to understand the comment and continued wiping up the egg yolk from his plate with a leftover piece of bread.

  “Anyway, we'd better get on with the assignment before we all get too used to the finer things in life - don’t you agree boys?”

  John nodded, “Where would you like to start?”

  “I want to see the landing site,” Marcus interjected, desperate not to miss out on his childhood dream.

  John held Marcus’s elbow, “I’m sure Haruka has already decided on the itinerary, Marcus- we aren’t here on vacation!” John was looking very smart, clean shaven and smelt of moderately priced aftershave.

  “That’s okay, we have to start somewhere and I must admit I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself.”

  Marcus beamed.

  “We've got a meeting set up with.... Mr. Crouch, the Executive Manager in the morning so as long as we get appraisal done in time we should be able to see the sites too.”

  “Let’s make it our first stop then,” John said, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin.

  Haruka slid her chair beneath the table, “Right, let’s get changed into our brand-new uniforms and we’ll meet back at reception.”

  The Magnificent Desolation was the most technologically advanced hotel in the solar system, or so its brochure read. Everyone who visited The Moon obviously wanted to see the Eagle Lander Unit, look upon the footprints of Aldrin and Armstrong and witness the Stars and Stripes, permanently unfurled in a windless sky. Unfortunately, tourists were destructive creatures, desperate to touch everything with their sweaty corrosive fingers and bacteria ridden breath. Most of these factors had little effect in a vacuum but the authorities wouldn’t allow anything to disturb the powdery surface and wipe away the first imprints of man; which seemed a little quaint considering the later infestation of man at the Moon’s poles.

  To satisfy both parties the architects designed an arcing, glass tunnel to skirt around the attraction, providing 360 degrees of visibility, just a few metres away. Visitors wandered at their leisure beneath the stars, safely encapsulated behind fifty centimetres of toughened glass. It wasn’t standard glass of course, Lacecell again came into play.

  Healey’s chemists engineered a membrane within the glass that reacted to micro-meteor strikes. In an instant, the unique chemical structure reorganised its crystals into a jagged barrier, slowing the invading particle to a halt before it penetrated the final layer. Sensors around the tunnel picked up the tiniest vibrations and initialised further precautions; each section of the tunnel could be isolated by steel shutters that slid down from the curved ceiling, keeping the area airtight in the unlikely event of a breech.

  For larger meteors, something more military was needed; tall pylons were erected around the perimeter fitted with particle beam lasers and a highly sensitive early warning system.

  Unfortunately, there were limitations to the technology and tennis ball sized meteors tended to slip through the net and on a few occasions, penetrated the glass barrier. Fortunately, though, micro-meteors often preceded the showers giving the management team enough time to take preventative action, which normally meant bringing down all shutters and evacuating vulnerable locations.

  All in all, The Magnificent Desolation’s safety record remained unblemished and the management were proud of their accomplishments. It was a balancing act between safety and aesthetics and the five-star resort excelled in hospitality by offering only the best products and service.

  Outside the entrance to the Apollo tunnel, a large group huddled together, listening intently to a skinny woman in a creaseless uniform explain the safety protocol.

  This was the first tour of the day and the tunnel would remain open for several hours, allowing visitors to wander at their leisure - in an anti-clockwise direction.

  The group nodded in all the right places during the briefing and was finally allowed to enter the tunnel. A door as thick as your arm slid back to reveal the arc of glass and the group filed through. Hanging at the back of the group was the crew of the Caspian. Back in business mode, the team came equipped with electronic notepads and various devices to record data.

  The imposing woman tapped Haruka on the shoulder, “Miss O’Brian?”

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  “That was to be my next question. Mr. Crouch, the manager, has asked me to help you in any way with your assessment, although he wanted to remind you that the highest authorities have given us their professional seal of approval.” She spoke slowly and deliberately without relaxing her corporate smile.

  Haruka straightened her back and replied with a similarly simpering smile, “Thank you…. Miss?”

  “Ms. Yakovitch. I am Mr. Crouch’s personal assistant.”

  “Thank you again, Ms. Yakovitch, but I think we have everything in hand and let me add that it never hurts to have a second opinion?”

  “I think you’ll find it’s at least the tenth opinion. I also feel I should inform you that Schaefer Logistics have also sent a representative.”

  Haruka tilted her head.

  “I thought it would be beneficial to have you visit us at the same time, hence the rush. I always think it prudent to consult with competitors before committing to a formal contract – I’m sure you understand.” Ms. Yakovitch enjoyed the uncomfortable silence while Haruka considered the new information.

  Appreciating that this was probably their new company’s only opportunity to gain a contract, Haruka swallowed and beckoned the young spokeswoman to sit on a bench in the centre of the corridor. “Of course not, this is business after all. Let me first start by saying what a magnificent structure this is and as such, deserves a thorough safety check,” Haruka raised her hand when the woman tried to interject. “From what I have read, every possible safety procedure has been applied and we are not here to find fault with your facility, but we must consider unforeseen factors that can and will happen.” Haruka held the woman’s gaze as she paused dramatically, “The EVAC Rapid Response Team could be here within minutes. We are professionals who have gained thousands of hours in space, undertaking mechanical and electrical repairs. We have also witnessed numerous space phenomena that can compromise instruments and disable systems. We are offering you twenty-four-hour assistance for a small retainer.”

  As the Assistant Manager, Ms. Yakovitch held sway within the company and she admitted that Haruka’s pitch was quite persuasive. She smiled warmly this time, “May I ask what you think you can offer us above your competition?”

  “Well, I don’t like to criticise.”

  “I’ll assure you, Schaefer won’t have a social conscience,” Yakovitch added with a hiccupping laugh.

  “Well in that case, our main benefits are of course our location; we are only thirty minutes by air, the fact that we are all experienced pilots and engineers and don’t forget we have the backing of the most powerful rescue organisation on Earth. As I understand, Schaefer have only Earth orbit experience, with satellites and such, and they do not have a base on the Moon.” Haruka leant
forward to whisper, “You did hear about the fiasco with the space station?”

  “Yes, I did hear something mentioned. Didn’t Healey interfere with a rescue already assigned to Schaefer?”

  When Haruka thought back to that day it occurred to her that the ethics were a bit cloudy for both organisations, so she quickly sidestepped.

  “It was a complicated situation - communications were poor, but at the end of the day EVAC took charge of a job that Schaefer couldn’t handle and we were successful in avoiding potential disaster.” Haruka took a deep breath, hoping she had said enough. Her pulse was racing and she dabbed at a bead of sweat, building on her top lip with her sleeve as Yakovitch entered something into her notepad.

  “Continue with your report on the complex. I’ll be pleased to go over your findings at dinner before your meeting tomorrow.” With that she stood and spun on her stiletto heel. Haruka admired the woman’s devotion to fashion; it must have taken months to master that accomplished catwalk stride in weak gravity. Fully aware of the eyes upon her, Yakovitch turned back with equal flair and said, “Remember you only have until fourteen-hundred hours in the tunnel as we will be going into a safety lockdown; a meteor shower’s on its way.”

  Haruka swallowed and waited for the woman to disappear from view, “Right, we’d better get on with it then.” she picked up her bags and continued along the tunnel. John and Marcus followed obediently behind, feeling immensely proud of their First Officer.

  Ahead of the EVAC team, the tourists congregated in two small groups; one admiring the lander unit, the other on the opposite side of the tunnel taking in the beauty of a near-half Earth, high above. The hotel would become busier in the next two weeks; as the Moon waned towards New. A New Moon viewing a Full Earth was an incredible spectacle at any time but this month would be even more memorable as they would witness a rare perigee event and pay generously for the privilege of observing the Super-earth.