by A J Britnell
“Good god John, this guy sure is determined.”
“Tell me about it – on the bright side, I think I lost a few pounds.”
“Huh.”
“So, what do you want me do now? I think Herman’s going to be able to fix the laser he’s working on, so I could go on to the next?”
Stefan thought through the time scale. “I don’t think we have time. Have you got the other canon with you?”
He patted the crate in the back of his buggy, “Sure.”
“Can you go and attach it to the Bug. We should have three operational by then to triangulate and having two in space might just improve the odds.”
Being back in the warren of tunnels was the last thing Haruka needed and the reek of melted plastic still hung in the air despite the reinstated air conditioning. She could make out distant shuffling, nervous to be left behind, she quickened her pace down the half-lit corridor.
By the time the security detail reached the command centre, Haruka had caught up and after a bit of persuasion they let her in. The atmosphere was different. The Operations Manager, Gregory Peterson wore a stern expression, “Sorry about this Haruka, would you follow me.”
A confused Haruka allowed herself to be escorted to a secure room without windows. Suddenly she felt uncomfortable. Peterson motioned towards a table in the centre of the room and they both took seats facing each other. As Haruka opened her mouth to protest, the door opened and Ms. Yakovitch marched in, followed by a short, stout man announced with some deference, as Mr. Crouch, the illusive General Manager. Peterson got to his feet and walked to the back of the room to allow Mr. Crouch to take position as interrogator.
He was the first to speak, “Miss O'Brian, what are you doing here?”
Haruka's mouth gaped while she tried to process the question - here at the hotel? - In this room? She decided the best course of action was to be direct.
“I came to speak to you. I think I know who's behind this,” she stated with confidence.
“Yes, I've been told you've been snooping around like some schoolgirl detective.”
His voice was sharp and spiteful and Haruka thought it suited him; he was totally repugnant. Leaning forward for emphasis, she continued, never taking her eyes from his piggy ones; the colour of stagnant pond water. “I've made a discovery!” Haruka plonked the uniform on the desk. Hoping for a gasp of acknowledgment, she soon realized it meant nothing to the group who remained stone faced. She shook her head and continued, “I don't think the couple you have in custody worked alone.”
Crouch interrupted, his face becoming redder, “Yes we have the third, he was brought in a moment ago.”
“No I mean, they had outside help, corporate help.”
“We realize that Miss O'Brian, that's why we have your Mr. Healey as well.”
Becoming infuriated, Haruka raked her fingers through her tangled hair, composing herself before continuing slowly and clearly, "We both agree that the three people you now have, didn't work alone.” The others nodded. “And this uniform is the evidence.” Haruka waved the garment for all to see, the Schaefer emblem clear but their faces still gave away their ignorance. “That young lad we found looks an awful lot like the Schaefer Space Logistics Technician you brought in.”
Mr. Crouch took the uniform in his chubby fingers, mulling over the girl's story. “It is possible,” he conceded finally. “You are suggesting that this uniform was worn by the terrorist to gain access to restricted areas?”
Haruka nodded, “They must have been working together-it's the only explanation.”
“We will find this operative and see what he has to say for himself.”
“Does that mean Healey can go?”
Crouch could not hide his disappointment when saying, “We didn't have any real evidence on him anyway. To be honest I'll be glad to see the back of the insufferable man.” And with that, Crouch lifted his immense bulk from the flimsy chair and waddled from the room without another word; his skinny assistant in tow.
Peterson reached over and patted Haruka's shoulder. “We are actually grateful you know,” he smiled, “at least all us normal people are.”
Haruka tilted her head and smirked. She was exhausted and rested her head on the cold table in defeat. “Does this mean it's all over and I can go home?”
Her childish manner amused Peterson, “Sorry, I'm afraid not. The meteor shower is on its way. Your friends have managed to fix one of the lasers but that still leaves us venerable.”
“What about Stefan and the tunnel?”
“That's gone better, some people have been found alive.”
Haruka raised her head but decided not to ask for details; she'd become numb to death after recent events.
Healey, as promised, was released from custody but to a frosty welcome. Haruka smirked, “Did you enjoy your time behind bars?”
Looking slightly disheveled, Healey saluted Haruka, acknowledging her contribution. “It was hell,” he joked, “nothing to eat but porridge.”
Haruka just glared at him, her hands on her hips, primed to launch into a vicious tirade. Fortuitously, Stefan and Claus came around the corner to save him. “Hey, welcome back buddy,” Claus greeted enthusiastically.
That was enough to set Haruka off, “Don't buddy him, if he hadn't been so shady they'd never have been suspicious of him in the first place,” she pulled up the handle of an aluminum suitcase and marched off with Healey and the others in pursuit. The banter continued all the way to the hanger where they pulled on spacesuits and fastened each other’s strapping without pausing for breath.
Trying to break the ice, Claus interjected, “Well I'm just pleased to see him if that's okay!”
Stefan just felt relieved, when he got the chance he patted his boss hard on the back. “Don’t listen to her. It's good to have you back on the team, though you had us all worried for a moment, thought you'd done a number on us.”
“Yes, so Haruka was telling me; seems I didn't have many supporters.”
Everyone looked a little guilty at that comment.
Stefan grimaced, “Well we'll have plenty of time to lay blame after this hellish day is over.”
Healey's ship was a short buggy ride away, set back behind a shallow crater. It dwarfed the Bug which diminished into the soil under its immense shadow.
“Christ Healey, you nearly landed on it!” Claus fumed.
“Sorry, there aren't many landing opportunities around here and you bagged the best one. They really should put a spaceport in here, it's really inconvenient,” Healey observed with his usual hubris.
As they drew nearer they could just make out the forms of John and EMO working to attach one of the laser cannons to a stanchion purpose built for add-ons; EMO stood motionless, attached to the cannon with a thick loom of wiring to help them configure the systems. The figures gave scale to the scene and they could fully appreciate the dimensions of this new addition. A twenty-metre long leviathan dominated the skyline. Glinting in the setting sun, its swollen orange belly hovered above them as they brought their vehicles to a halt beneath.
Stefan read the lettering: ADRIATIC.
“It’s a nod to the Caspian, you know - seas. Thought it could be a theme with the fleet,” Healey declared proudly. He had thought of everything.
“I can’t believe you got her finished; is it safe?”
“Of course it is, there were only some cosmetic details to finish anyway. We tested all the important bits months ago.”
Stefan looked sideways at his old friend hoping his staff showed as much mechanical attention to detail as Healey made to the aesthetics.
A few minutes later they were strapped into their respective craft; Stefan and Claus reunited with the Bug and Haruka alongside John boarded the Adriatic with Healey, mainly to keep an eye on him.
“You can fly her, if you wish,” Healey conceded trying to win back favour.
Haruka moved about the cabin analysing the banks of controls and turned to say, “Y
ou can’t just get in an unfamiliar ship and undertake complex maneuvers; it’s dangerous.”
Healey just chuckled, “My god, if I managed to get it here you’ll have no problem - I’ve only ever flown fighter jets and to be honest I’m a bit rusty.”
His expression of nonchalance exasperated her and so she pushed him away from the Captain’s seat and buckled herself in. Healey took the co-pilot chair watching her attentively while she familiarized herself with the craft. “What weapons do we have?”
“Two laser cannons, range of about one thousand metres.”
“Ooh that’s short.”
“They don’t exactly condone military warfare on a commercial ship, I had to sign a ton of disclaimers to get the license for these.”
“I’m just thinking it’ll be hard to lock in at that range. The ones around the perimeter have guidance systems that track the meteors from thousands of kilometers away.” Haruka glanced back and bit her lip. Healey turned away, oblivious to her concern.
John seated himself behind Haruka, listening to their conversation and interjected, “EMO can manage the guidance, it’s already configured with the system, we’ll link it in with all three and let it work out the math.”
“Okay,” Haruka said, “I’ll leave you in charge of monitoring. You okay with that?”
“Sure,” John replied and beckoned Marcus over to assist since computers were more his expertise.
Haruka looked sideways at her co-pilot, “Okay let’s get this thing off the ground.” She twisted her mouthpiece and glanced overhead to find her call-sign on the radio display.
“This is EV002 Adriatic to Lunar Flight Control –Tower comms check”
“This is LFC Tower; EV002 received, we see you at perimeter zone C, confirm.” The voice floated through the airwaves with a Southern American twang.
Healey tapped his mouthpiece to interject, “Hey Mikey – what’s the weather like?”
A well-rehearsed snappy response returned, “Non-existent, just how we like it!” and the two men laughed in unison. Haruka just threw him a look before returning to the transmission.
“That is confirmed, initiating launch prep with a requested ascent slot.”
“LFC Tower; EV002 check, launch clearance on your ready, give me your mark.”
Haruka switched to internal comms, “So Healey, what’s our launch prep sequence on this rig?”
“Well we’re rapid response so expect to be flight ready in about three minutes.”
“EV002; we expect launch go at 4 minutes with a mark in 10 seconds,” Haruka winked at Healey, “let her warm up!”
There was a pause before the sing-song voice returned, “LFC Tower; EV002: Lunar ascent mark four minutes.”
Haruka returned to internal comms, “Do we have propellant pressures in the green?”
“Seeing ninety percent ascent readiness – all good,” Healey confirmed.
“Okay, ASC motors primed-all good to go. Fuel feeds online,” Haruka moved her hands around the cockpit like a maestro on a familiar piano. “Internal power and guidance checks please?”
Healey glanced to his right, “All nominal, flight is confirmed, guidance auto on here.”
“Checking motor gimbal response for ASC…. We have good travel on all six copy.”
Healey nodded, “Confirm. Seeing TCJ thrust control jets on green.”
Haruka began to relax ever so slightly and let out a deep breath, “All control modes to auto, abort readiness primed- we’re looking good though.”
She switched channels, “EV002, LFC Tower; LA in 1 minute confirmed- stand by.”
“LFC Tower to EV002, copy standing by, clear in 55 seconds.”
Haruka spoke to her crew, “Master arm on, go in…. thirty seconds.” Flicking back over she announced her takeoff, “This is EV002 Adriatic, from Zone C, we are go in nine, eight, seven, six, five…. ignition, flight go.” The engines throttled up to extreme purr, rumbling through the vehicle’s frame and wafted plumes of grey dust over the cockpit.
“EV002 to Tower; we are airbourne and all systems nominal.”
“EV002, we see you clear, proceed to nine thousand metres.”
“Copy that. Thanks, Tower.” Haruka switched back to internal and beamed at her co-pilot, “The Adriatic has wings!” she chanted, referring to Armstrong’s ascent from Tranquility all those years before.
Haruka tested the responsiveness of the controls; pitching and rolling the ship with a turn of the thrusters and once satisfied she accelerated away from the moon’s weak hold and waited at the perimeter for the Bug.
An insignificant puff of grey dust erupted and then rippled away as the tiny object launched into orbit to meet its partner. The Bug could fit easily into the hold of the Adriatic and appeared a mere satellite to the untrained eye, like the many that orbited the moon. EMO connected to the Adriatic’s navigation computer and the two ships began their maneuvers to the optimal positions.
Haruka confirmed the transmission, “Received…hey we’re tracking incoming, have you got the co-ordinates?”
“Yeah, we’re not going to make that one, we’re not in position,” Stefan responded, his voice calm.
Both ships continued on their flight plan while watching the approach of the meteor on their instruments.
“I could probably hit it,” Healey insisted.
Haruka wasn’t convinced, “Not from this angle and definitely not with one cannon.”
Healey conceded and turned to the window as a glow of pale light waved through the cabin; the dust tail passed by at an astonishing speed. They followed its trajectory.
Stefan was the first to speak, “It’s okay, it hit 100km away.”
“Thank god for that!” Haruka expressed, the tension increasing with every second.
A stream of data was received on the screen ahead of her, EMO had taken control of navigation and they found their ship pointing out to space like cavalry on a lonely hill.
Claus patched through, “Adriatic, this is Bug, incoming shower expected in eight point two minutes - mark.”
“Received, standing by.”
“EMO’s picked out two possible impact threats, they are thirty-four seconds apart and co-ordinates are locked and shots programmed.”
“Received, Claus. What if we miss?”
“Don’t!”
The countdown began, the pilots oversaw the ships positions in space; they couldn’t move an inch, while the navigators monitored the weapon deployment. It felt wrong trusting the computer with all systems, they could probably manage the vectors themselves but coordinating all four cannons was impossible.
Claus returned to the comms, “Adriatic, are you good to go in twenty seconds - mark?”
“Received Bug, good for go in ten, nine.…”
“three, two…deploy.” Haruka let her hands float over the controls.
Instantly four pulses of intense light shot into space and found their target; shattering the meteor into harmless fragments, but there was no time to celebrate, the next countdown had begun.
“That’s a hit, Adriatic- repeat: hit. Initiating count for second incoming - confirm, cannon primed.”
“Confirmed, reset and ready.”
Debris showered the ships, a gentle tapping like rain on a tin roof.
The second target was rapidly approaching. It was a metre wide, oval rock with a concave centre that made it almost disappear from view, part through its rotation. At the exact moment of convergence, the meteor turned and two of the beams carried on without contact, endless into the blackness of space.
The meteor was still there, the impact only chipped off a small portion of rock and the meteor tumbled on. Data computed a decrease in speed and so their initial projections were useless; the cannons would need to be re configured.
Healey spoke to the team, “How long have we got?”
“Not long enough!”, Stefan replied, “Do you think you could manage it manually?”
Healey scrambled to the cont
rols, “I can give it a go!” He pulled up the data and worked the joystick to bring the object into his guidance grid. Stefan did the same; together they might be able to at least push it off course. Muscle memory took over the two men as they used their combat experience to feel the controls and trust their instincts. Short bursts were agreed; 10 seconds were needed to re- charge the cannons so they alternated firing.
The meteor hurtled towards them, shrugging off the pummeling rays as it spun wildly. They had two minutes. Gradually it’s surface began to chip away; glowing red caverns cracked open and the pressures within, released.
EMO recomputed, “Speed reduced to 5km per second.”
“Is that enough?” Stefan asked.
It was out of range now, they just had to wait.
A few seconds later EMO came back to them with the data, “Expected impact area: Mare Imbrium.”
There was audible relief across the airwaves.
Chapter Fifteen
When they arrived back at the Magnificent Desolation, calm had been restored; the guests had been allowed back to their quarters and the maintenance crew resumed repairs without fear of further attack. Haruka and Stefan were eager to speak to Peterson and his team, hoping they could shed light on the mysterious saboteurs.
Peterson welcomed the EVAC crew into his modest, cubical of an office and offered them a well anticipated coffee. “Well we’ve searched everywhere but we can’t find the Schaefer man.”
“What? Well I didn’t imagine him; I was nearly knocked over by him in the access tunnel.”
John nodded, “I was there too but I didn’t get a good look at him.”
“No I believe you; we’ve checked the records and he signed in at 08:00… a Douglas Baxter.”
Haruka’s frustration exhausted her, “What about security footage?”
Peterson swiveled the monitor, “Take a look - with that hat on it’s nearly impossible to get a clear view and he seems very aware of the camera set up. Once the virus took hold all security systems were compromised so we can’t follow his movements.”