Breaking Interstellar: Android Lives Matter

by Michael Tobin

  Chapter One: Asteroid hunters

  Between the orbital paths of Mars and Jupiter, an asteroid belt orbits the sun. While this region of space is sometimes depicted as being a crowded neighborhood, it’s actually very-thinly populated. It’s estimated that the total mass of all the asteroid material, would only add up to about 4-percent that of our moon. Many spacecraft have traversed this region of space without even one unplanned asteroid encounter. The three main types of asteroids are based mostly on their composition. Carbonaceous types are the most abundant, followed by silicate, and then the rarer, metallic asteroids. In the year 2203, it’s the latter of these types that’s of the most interest to humanity.

  A large mass of mostly iron and nickel, slowly tumbles along on its orbital path around our star, Sol. It manages to orbit about once every seven-years. The large boulder has been tumbling through space for billions of years, completing about one full roll upon its axis every ten-minutes or so. It gradually gains mass, whenever a rock or dust particle falls into its miniscule gravity-well. It has many small moons trailing in close formation. Some, are bowling-ball-sized, while many others are the size of ping-pong balls.

  Up close, the slightly oblong-shape resembles a huge Idaho potato. It has a fuzzy, bumpy appearance, as it collects dust and tiny rocks along its lonely path. At roughly 75-feet-in-diameter, and 97-feet-long, it would tip the scales at a little over 88,000-tons if it were resting in an earthly cornfield. But out here in deep space it’s weightless, except for the huge inertial-energy it wields due to its tremendous velocity of nearly 50,000-mph. It speeds through space, obeying orbital mechanics that strongly resist any change in motion.

  Matching its trajectory perfectly, the private mining-spacecraft ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’ and her eight-member crew, maintain a respectful distance during the tedious process of analyzing the big metallic boulder. This is the 7th rock they’ve considered in the past three months, and morale onboard the Revenge suggests that they need to find a qualifying asteroid; and damn soon. Because the hunt can’t last indefinitely. Supplies, dwindle rapidly....

  With the asteroids, graceful and slow rotation, the ship didn’t have to maneuver very much while its scanning and mapping lasers gradually finish the survey. The spacecraft’s computers rapidly and efficiently, chew through the data, compiling a detailed recommendation.

  It’s essential that this process is completed with the highest degree of accuracy possible. The extra time it takes to compile accurate data, will more than pay for itself in the area of mission survivability. It’s only been a year since the Heisenberg and all hands were lost, after a hurried surface-scan of an asteroid, failed to reveal a group of fault lines running throughout the huge mass.

  A combination of complacency and misplaced braking-rockets used for halting rotational-inertia, caused the big chunk of mostly metal, to break apart violently. Some say unpredictably, but the point is moot. All hands died a miserable death, when one relatively tiny but jagged piece, hit and sliced the ship in half without even slowing down; spilling its squirming and screaming contents into the merciless hard-vacuum of space.

  Captain Braxton Crane of the Revenge, is going to make sure that he and his crew don’t meet with the same fate. So, they wait.... patiently. Actually, waiting is not a very difficult thing for space-faring people. With most missions consisting of very long periods of mind-crushing boredom, a person gets used to it and adjusts accordingly. And this crew has a special ace up their sleeve that gives them extra strength. They’re about to find and relocate their very last space rock. Their 6-year contract with Sohn Space Systems, is entering into the final months. This contract requires finding and causing, 12 sufficiently-sized metallic asteroids to be relocated into Martian orbit for processing. A substantial bonus is offered for anything over a dozen; and this rock will give them a ‘bakers-dozen’, if it proves useful.

  With the compensation that he and his crew are to receive back on Earth, they can all retire gracefully wherever their little heart’s desire. And at 41; at least 5-years-older than any of his crew, Braxton dearly looks forward to being free from the grindstone. He has yet to complete a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, so he dreams of the day when there’ll be enough time.

  Harper Williams, the ships first officer and chief navigator, leans back farther in his chair than what might be considered safe under other circumstances. He loosens his seat-belt so he could let his legs hover over the edge of the navigation console where he spends most of his waking day. He rubs both eyes simultaneously, and shakes his head vigorously for a moment, in a failed attempt to regain some tiny bit of focus.

  Turning his head towards his captain, he comments. “Well now cap, I gotta tell ya, that’s one hell of a story! It’s a good thing you didn’t give me a razor blade with it, or it might have been the last one I only heard the half of.” He admits, exhaustedly. “Jeez, when I asked about your thoughts concerning the nature of the universe, I expected a smart-ass comment about how it was bigger than my momma’s huge ass, or colder than…. well, something other than the encyclopedia Britannica…. Jeez, I’ve been in space too long! Is that really how you plan to start your dissertation?.... Interesting.” He pulls his cap down over his eyes, making snoring sounds.

  From across the spacious bridge, at the science console, Braxton replies sarcastically. “Why, thanks Harp. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume that statement was a heavily veiled compliment that only a true friend could appreciate.” He says optimistically, continuing. “The best part of the story, the part I forgot to tell you? Is that some, or perhaps even all of it, may or may not be totally accurate. I mean, after a while of living in space, the old gray-matter tends to get a bit mushy.” He informs humorously, tapping a finger on the side of his head. “But yeah, actually I think it’s a fine way to start. I mean, where better to start a space story than at the beginning?” He asks while noticing a developing situation on his console. “Hey Harp, don’t look now, but we’re starting to drift towards big Baker.” Meaning the bakers-dozen asteroid. “Well, maybe you should look.” He orders firmly.

  Regaining his lost focus, Harper quickly grabs the edge of his navigation console and pulls closer for a more detailed examination. “Yeah cap, sorry. I didn’t expect old Baker-boy could reach out and touch us at this distance. Wow, with gravity like that, he ought to be solid nickel-iron…. Jeez, if I don’t adjust our position quickly, we might just run into him in about 5-years.” Harper jokes, realizing he balances on the boarder of insubordination. “Sorry cap, I know you want this last mission run by the book. My bad.” He apologizes.

  With educated guesswork, honed by many years of doing the same thing, Harper inputs new coordinates into the maneuvering computer and executes the command. He attempts to back their ship away from the asteroid ever so slightly, so as to maintain the threshold of safety that the captain demands. Nothing happens.... the drifting continues.

  “Uh cap, I’m not getting any response from the thrusters. We better wake up Coop.” He requests desperately for the need of Cooper Beaufort; the ship’s chief engineer.

  “Well, let’s reboot the thruster-control computers first.” Braxton instructs. “It won’t take long to find out if we really need to bother poor old Coop. She just finished with a double shift not too long ago.”

  “Aye Aye, captain.” Harper tightens his seat belt and pushes himself toward another part of the console. His chair moves smoothly sideways, as it glides on a rail system. After finding the correct set of display screens, he enters commands into one of them. Then swiveling his seat back to Braxton, he leans back with his hands behind his head. “She’s rebooting, cap. It’ll take a few minutes as she runs through some testing protocols.”

  Two decks below the bridge, Cooper tosses and turns in her cocoon-like sleeping bag that’s anchored to the mattress of her regular bed. Bad dreams. She often had bad dreams for a few sleep cycles, after the ships engines idled down. She couldn’t get used to weight
lessness as fast as some of her shipmates. The spacecraft traverses the great distance between Mars and the asteroid belt, with an acceleration of almost 65-percent of one g, which allows for a somewhat normal slumber. But, while working the asteroid recovery, they enjoy no gravity whatsoever.

  During the transit, and at a calculated halfway-point, the ship is turned around so its engines can decelerate the vehicle for the second-half of the journey. This provides artificial gravity during much of the entire voyage. While a full g would be preferable, the Ion-drive engines in their utility category vessel would have to be much more powerful to obtain it, and the journey much farther. The spacecraft’s Ion-engines require prodigious amounts of electrical current to operate, so a small fusion-reactor in the main engines module fuses helium-3 with deuterium for the energy needs of the entire vessel.

  This artificially induced gravity is the only possible way that humans can stay healthy on these long space voyages. Stay weightless for too long and the body deteriorates, as bone and muscle-mass slowly enter into an entropic phase of disorder. And, forces higher than one g are not acceptable either. Who could feel comfortable weighing 50-percent-heavier all day.

  Restlessly tossing and turning, Cooper glides in and out of REM sleep. Now, dreaming she’s home planting flowers under a clear blue sky, when she notices something dark; stealthily snaking its way down through some trees a few feet behind her. A delicate looking, dark gray funnel, is spinning as it dangles down from quickly gathering clouds.

  At first glance, the funnel looks comically pitiful, as it attempts to vacuum up a few tiny leaves that had fallen on the grass behind her. She giggles at such a silly thing, and returns to planting flowers. Moments later, when something starts to tickle the back of her leg, she turns to swat at it. But the spindly funnel is no longer comical, or pitiful looking; it has rapidly become thick and ferocious!

  Now, it’s an angry, black vortex of seething intensity; no longer satisfied with just picking up tiny leaves. It moves closer, making horrific sucking sounds as it undulates back and forth, nipping at her heels, reaching out to grab. She tries to run; but cannot. She tries to scream; but no sound comes from her mouth. Desperately trying to escape, her wriggling body is sucked up off the ground and captured by the demonic entity. As her body is dragged into the dark sky, she frantically claws at empty space as she’s pulled feet first, into the spinning maelstrom.

  Rapidly ascending toward the boiling mass of dark anger, she watches helplessly as her yard and neighborhood, grow smaller and smaller. So cold! .... So cold! .... The ravenous vortex pulls her into the rarefied air of the tempest. Can’t breathe! .... Can’t breathe! …. She wakes suddenly, arms and legs all twisted in her blankets. Drenched in a cold sweat, she gasps for air, cursing and afraid.... Bad dreams! .... Bad dreams! .... made worse by weightlessness.

  Turning back to his navigation console, Harper checks the progress; all rebooted and waiting. “Hey cap, she’s ready for another go.”

  Braxton releases his seat belt, floats over. “Ok Harp, let’s see what happens this time.”

  With the desired coordinates already entered, Harper tries the thrusters one more time…. “Damn! Nothing again cap. This is getting serious. I knew I should have called in sick this morning!” He half jokes.

  “Okay, okay, calm yourself Harp. Let’s just think this thing through. The thrusters were working an hour ago, when we made our final parking maneuvers. And, just as you were trying to engage them, I noticed an unusually fast pressure-drop in the propellant lines. I’ve got a bad feeling that one of the thrusters may be damaged, or even missing. Try it again, and keep an eye on the pressure gage.”

  “Here goes….” Harper activates the thrusters once again. “Well I’ll be; just like you said. I’ve never seen the pressure drop like that before. Almost as if it’s venting directly into space without the usual resistance from the nozzle. Say, that’s a good eye, cap! I should’ve noticed. Sorry, my bad.” He apologizes, wishing he were someplace else. Like on a sandy beach back on Earth. Complacency, a mere nuisance at best; a deadly foe at worst.

  “Hey, no problem Harp. That’s why I’m making the big bucks.” Braxton chuckles, adding. “You would’ve noticed it too, if I wasn’t micro-managing over your shoulder. Besides, I’ve got a bird’s eye view of the entire console from up here.” He informs, while floating above his first officer’s head. Braxton always made an effort to verbally recognize crew member’s performances in a positive way, if at all possible. Good crew morale is a captain’s best friend during these long voyages. “Ok Harp, run as many diagnostics as you can, on any systems or sub-systems involved with the thrusters. I’ll go break the bad news to Coop and Toby.”

  Toby Sullivan is Cooper’s partner in crime, and also the ships assistant mechanical engineer. They always work together; no matter what. Returning to the science console, Braxton pushes Cooper’s button. “Knock-knock, Coop.” He enters her quarters via an intercom. “Hey Coop, wake up please.” And before the third attempt, she awakens yet again from her nightmares, acknowledging. “Go ahead captain, I’m awake.” She twists in her cocoon, facing the comm-panel in the dark cabin.

  “Yeah…. Hey, listen Coop, I’m really sorry to wake you like this, but we have a serious situation with our maneuvering thrusters. I need you to come up to the bridge as soon as possible. I’m calling Toby up here, too.”

  “Aye Aye, captain. I’m on my way.” She replies tiredly.

  “Thanks Coop.” And then after a duplicate call to Toby is completed, he floats back over to the navigation console. “Anything yet, Harp?”

  “No luck yet, cap. So far, there’s no faults showing on any of the related systems, and the tests are good. I haven’t the foggiest idea.” He admits. “It looks like it’s going to be Coop and Toby to the rescue once again. Aren’t you glad we have those two onboard? I mean, I would rather die, than go out on an EVA.” He refers to ‘extra vehicular activity’. “Remember how during training, I completely froze at the airlock hatch? …. Reverse claustrophobia, the instructor called it. I was mortified.”

  “How can I forget? I think the hatch-frame still has indentations from your kung-Fu panic-grip.” The captain jokes, with a hardy laugh.

  After a few minutes, the bridge doors slide open and the dynamic-duo float into the compartment looking frazzled. “Hey guys, what’s up?” Cooper, inquires irritably.

  With a sheepish look, Braxton reports. “Hey ladies. Sorry again for dragging you out of the rack, but it looks as though Harper broke the ships maneuvering thrusters.” He laughs, patting his first officer on the back.

  “Ouch!” Harper responds hurtfully. “Hey cap, as long as your hand is back there, do you mind pulling that knife out?”

  Cooper just floats there, looking like death warmed over. She isn’t moved by the humorousness. But, Toby’s face brightens with a grin of appreciation, in the way her captain always tries to stay upbeat in the face of uncertainty.

  Cooper maneuvers over to the navigation console, asking Harper to try the thrusters once again. After seeing the unusual pressure drop, she immediately confirms the captain’s assessment of what the problem might be. It didn’t lift her spirits to know that she and Toby were destined to have an unscheduled EVA.

  “Well, either the thruster is damaged, or we’re not alone out here, and something stole it. Either way, the damn things busted, so let’s get going Toby. Our drift is only increasing.” As she and Toby turn to leave, she notices Harpers face had turned several shades lighter than his usual dark features. He didn’t like the thought of not being alone out here, she figured. After all, they are nearly 85-million-miles from any help.

  Gathering tools and an extra thruster-assembly from the ships supply, Cooper and Toby enter the staging area where the space suits and other EVA equipment are located. Two other crew members, Adam Miller and Ling Tao are already there, preparing the suits and other equipment the two women will use. They’ll also assist with the arduous task of donn
ing the specialized suits. In zero-g, even the slightest of tasks can become overwhelming. An extra set of hands is always welcome.

  Adam notices Coopers lackluster appearance when the two female engineers enter the compartment. “Damn Coop, you look like hell. Are feeling okay for this? I don’t mind going out in your place, if Toby will have me.” He says, offering a seductive grin and wink in Toby’s direction, hoping for approval. Toby winks back, and is about to answer....

  Before she can reply, Cooper responds. “I’m fine Adam. Thanks anyway. It’s just a few hours of decent sleep I need. How’s the equipment looking? Did you finish the overhaul of that McCandless Maneuvering Unit you were working on yesterday?” She asks, about the bulky thruster/backpack assembly that astronauts use for mobility while on EVA.

  “Yeah, that MMU and all the other gear is good to go. Ling helped me finish the calibrations on your life-support systems.” With an infectious smile, Ling looks over at Cooper and Adam as she’s helping Toby into her space suit. She’s a lovely Asian-American, with a penchant towards perfection.

  “Thanks Ling.” Cooper knows she’s in good hands. “I don’t know what we would do without you and Adam.”

  “My pleasure Coop.” Ling responds with pride. “Come see me when you get back. I have the perfect ancient remedy for your sleep disorder. Guaranteed to work, or no money back,” She quips, in an effort to lighten Cooper’s spirits. It seems to help, because Cooper’s face breaks into a smile for the first time since waking from her nightmares.

  With the space suits donned, and all necessary tooling attached to their harnesses, Cooper and Toby enter the airlock, sealing the hatch behind them.

  “Well Toby, let’s just hope we’ll be alone out there. I left my ray-gun back in my quarters.” Cooper jokes, trying to spool herself up for the mission.

  Toby, is glad to see Cooper’s good nature finally shining through. “I didn’t forget mine!” She pats a bulging pocket on her space suit. They both have a good laugh, and Cooper pushes a sequence of buttons on the exterior hatch control panel. With a rush of air around them, hidden pumps begin evacuating air from the chamber back into the ship. Waste not, want not…. “Ready Toby?” Cooper inquires.

  “Ready Coop.” Then with another series of numbers, they watch as the hatch unlocks and slides into the outer-steel-wall of the spacecraft. The temperature drops by several-hundred-degrees, as Mother Nature’s cold-heart quickly claims any heat from within. There’s nothing in the distance but a face full of stars, shining like a tapestry of illuminated jewels. As with every EVA, the hardened astronauts experience feelings of vertigo, as they face the endless immensity.

  Pushing off from the frame of the hatch, the two women float into an impossibly huge void. Using the tiny but powerful thrusters on their MMU’s, they travel about 50-feet-away and stabilize their position. Turning and looking back, they gaze in wonder at the beauty of their fragile home, as it hangs magically suspended by invisible fingers of dark matter. All around them, the immensely wide swath of the Milky Way is the only proof it’s not a dream. It frames in their ship with billions of stars that are each just the tiniest of delicate specks of light. The scene, reminds Toby of glowing powdered-sugar, except each particle of powder is a far-off star. The feeling of vertigo takes a few minutes to dissipate, as the two women acclimate themselves to their unusual surroundings.

  The ship is almost 300-feet-in-length, and 43-feet-in-diameter. The top 3-levels are used for mission-control (the bridge), living quarters, and storing of necessary equipment. The other 250-feet is divided into 3-modules. All of which contain fuel, equipment for capturing asteroids, and a main engines module that also contains a small fusion-reactor for generating the electricity requirements of the voyage.

  The vessel is a work of technological art. Constructed in space, its only function is to retrieve asteroids, and was never intended to enter any atmospheric environments. A series of maneuvering thrusters placed strategically along the length of the ship, are vital links in any successful mission. Without the ability to micro-manage the ships attitude in space, any journey into the void would be much too dangerous.

  “Hey Coop, let’s go and say hello to the boys on the bridge.” Toby suggests, using their personal communications system. Turning on the lights that are positioned on each side of their helmets, and with some carefully executed thruster discharges from their MMU’s; they slowly and silently maneuver towards the top-end of the spacecraft.

  As both astronauts gracefully travel along the smooth metal surface of their home away from home, they each run a gloved hand along the large logo that’s stenciled on its side. Doctor Sohn designed the beautiful starburst emblem. It’s the universal insignia of his dream, and scientific empire. The two astronauts feel that it’s good luck to pay it homage; and they can use all the good luck they can find, while working in such a wickedly-hard-vacuum.

  At the top of the spacecraft is a 12-foot-wide, domed cupola. It has a round, 6-foot diameter central view port that’s surrounded by 8 narrow and curved ports that form a circle around the larger central portal. There’s a robust framework that separates each panel of transparent material. They are the only actual windows on the entire vessel.

  The designers of the spacecraft determined that the 10-inch-thick, bullet-proof, Hybrid-Plexiglas panels are as resistant to micro-meteor impacts as steel. So, for the benefit of the crewmember’s sanity, it was decided by Doctor Sohn to have a cupola installed in all the asteroid hunting ships. His hope is that if a person can see outside once in a while, they might be able to better resist the corrosive mental deterioration that can occur during long space voyages.

  The cupola is where the crew spends most of their free time. The bridge of the spaceship is by far the largest habitable compartment in the vessel, and allows plenty of space at the large view-port for meditation, or whatever. Even though the view is just a black backdrop, illuminated with seemingly unmoving dots of light and glowing dust. It always amazes the astronauts when they think about how far away those points of light actually are. That, they never seem to get closer, even though the spacecraft is traveling towards them at 50,000-mph. It’s a good demonstration of just how much space, there really is in outer space. Even traveling towards those stars at the speed of light, wouldn’t produce a noticeable closing-rate in a lifetime.

  Hovering directly over the cupola, Cooper and Toby spy on their shipmates for a minute before announcing their presence. Switching to the main channel, Toby transmits. “Don’t look now boys, but you’re being spied upon by two very sexy, alien females.” She jokes, using the hottest sultriness she could muster. “Take us to your leader!” She adds with a devilish laugh.

  Turning in unison, Braxton and Harper look toward the cupola. Harper is looking a little bit better than the last time Cooper saw him. Braxton, with a wide grin on his face asks. “Hey ladies; how’s the weather out there?” He jokingly inquires.

  “Oh, it’s fine boss! A bit nippy, but fine just the same!” Toby exclaims with a chuckle.

  Braxton continues with his jovial mood. “My, what a lovely pair of hood ornaments you two make! Now, I’m guessing by your presence at the view-port, and with all that cheerful levity, you two have already found and repaired our little problem?” He smartassingly surmises.

  “Not exactly cap.” Cooper informs professionally. “We just decided to start troubleshooting at the top of the ship first, and we just couldn’t help but to look in on you two. You know, make sure you weren’t sleeping.” She answers jokingly, adding. “Also, could one of you be a dear and pull the circuit-breakers for the maneuvering thrusters? It wouldn’t do for Toby or me to get a kisser-full of propellant, whilst we’re up-close and personal with the nozzles.... Thanks boys!”

  The two maintenance engineers move away from the cupola to inspect four thruster-arrays that are positioned evenly around the spacecraft just aft of the cupola. All four arrays check out good after a through visual inspection. Cooper didn’t want t
o waste any time opening panels and performing electrical checks, until they’ve looked at the remaining thrusters first.

  “Okay ladies, Harper found and pulled the circuit breakers.” Braxton informs “Good luck, and stay safe out there.”

  “Thanks cap. I’ll get back with you soon.” Cooper responds. After seeing all in good shape at the top of the ship, the young women move along the hull. Along the way, they inspect set after set as they approach the aft-end of the vessel. After traveling almost two-thirds of that distance, they come upon what appears to be an incomplete set of nozzles. Moving in for a closer inspection, Cooper sees the source of their troubles. One of the nozzles is mangled and scorched. It’s a classic sign of a micro-meteoroid impact. She sees a tiny blackened hole on one side of the damaged thruster, and an enlarged exit hole on the other.

  When this thruster became inoperative, many of the others also went inactive as a safety measure until the bad thruster could be isolated and repaired. This prevents an instability problem from becoming even more serious. However, in a dire emergency, the thrusters can be operated manually. But, on such a large vessel as this, it’s difficult to guess which combination of 64-thrusters is needed, to maintain control of the ships attitude. There are 12-thruster-control computers onboard that are dedicated to calculating which sequence of propellant discharges are necessary for accurate maneuvering.

  “Cooper to Captain Crane; we’ve found a damaged thruster at location 42-alpha-tango. It looks like a micro-meteoroid smashed it up pretty good. Give us some time to figure out if the mounting-brackets are still intact; over.” She finishes her initial report.

  “Good work, ladies!” Braxton praises. “You can relax and take your time now. The scan of Baker has just completed, so it’s fine if we continue drifting a bit longer while you take care of business. Harp is analyzing the data from the scan now. We should know soon, if this is our last rock or not.”

  “That’s good news cap. Keeping my fingers crossed.” She says hopefully, even though doing so in her bulky space gloves could never happen. “I’ll get back to you when I know more; Cooper out.”

  Working in a space suit is one of the most physically and psychologically demanding jobs in the universe. One reason for this is because an astronaut’s field of vision is extremely limited. Also, maneuvering can be a real challenge; tools not tethered, can and do escape into the endless void of space from fat fingered gloves. Also, there’s always a feeling that someone, or something, is watching you from the darkness beyond. Waiting …. Calculating …. Scheming …. While space is vast and open, it can also seem claustrophobic, and absurdly menacing too.

  If the environmental systems in the suit malfunctions, there’s a good chance you won’t have time to reach the safety of the airlock. A million-things can go wrong, but a person worries about two-million-things. Many view the space suit as being humanity’s smallest spacecraft; claustrophobic at best; terminally confining at worst. However, these two space-hardened princesses are far beyond any intimidation-factor imposed by a mere ludicrous-vacuum, or near absolute-zero-temps just beyond their visors.

  Cooper and Toby get busy maneuvering in just the right way, so as to inspect the damaged thrusters mounting-brackets. Toby notices a problem on her side and gets Coopers attention. “Hey Coop, one of the mounting-brackets on my side is broken-off and missing from the thruster. But, the good news is that the side of the ship, and the rest of the array looks unscathed.” She reports, asking. “How’s your side?”

  After a few moments, Cooper completes her inspection, and reports. “Well, my side looks good, Toby. We might just get lucky this time, being that the rock didn’t puncture the ship I mean. Let’s disconnect the nozzle, so we can access the mounting-brackets.”

  With incredible finesse, honed by years of working together in space, the two women remove the damaged nozzle and propellant line. After cannibalizing a bracket from the thruster system that they brought from ship’s supply, Toby holds it in place while Cooper welds it securely to the array.

  Then they install the new nozzle among its three other friends, and Toby secures the propellant line, applying just the right amount of torque to the fitting. “That should do it Coop. I think we’re ready for an operational check.” She says confidently, before continuing in a cheerful tone. “Hey Coop, we make a damn fine team, you and me; don’t you think?”

  “We sure do Toby. We sure do….” Cooper says, sincerely. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She finishes the statement with heartfelt genuineness, as the seasoned-duo moves off a hundred-feet from the ship and reports in. “Hey cap, are you awake?” Cooper inquires boldly, shocking him from his near slumber. “We’re ready for an operational check of the thrusters, whenever you are.”

  “Okay ladies. Wow, that was fast! Standby, while I get Harp on it. Now, get to a safe distance.” Braxton advises, even though Cooper had already told him that they were ready. Then, after a minute, he announces. “Here we go ladies, in four…. three…. two…. one….” The radio goes silent for a few moments before he comes back with some bad news. “Uh Houston; we still have a problem …. Do you read, Coop?” He asks expectantly, after she doesn’t answer right away.

  “Roger that, cap.” She finally answers, and for dramatic effect, wait’s even a few more seconds, before adding. “Hey, here’s an idea.” She offers, trying unsuccessfully to not sound sarcastic. “Have Mr. Williams, push in the circuit breakers and try it again.”

  With an embarrassed voice, Harper joins the conversation. “Uh, sorry Coop; my bad.” A few moments pass before he comes back on the radio. “Okay ladies, here goes attempt number two.” He forgoes the countdown and pushes the button. The replaced maneuvering thruster comes to life dramatically! With a short silent blast, it emits a stream of pressurized gas molecules out into space, where they dissipate quickly into the void.

  “Yes!” Both women exclaim in unison.

  “Looks like we got it, cap.” Cooper reports triumphantly, adding. “Hey listen cap, we’re giving the ship another visual inspection before you guys do any maneuvering. There may be other damage. I’ll get back to you in about a half-hour.”

  “Okay Coop. That’s good news, and good work. You two be careful out there. We’ll standby for further word; Braxton out.”

  The women stay close to each other as they gracefully float back and forth along the length of the ship, examining every square-inch for impact sites. After about thirty-minutes and not finding anything out of the ordinary, Cooper calls in. “Okay captain, we’re finished with the inspection. Everything looks good out here. Let’s correct that drifting issue, and see if all the thrusters are performing as advertised. Toby and I are well-away from the ship now, so go ahead and let’s see what she can do.”

  With a series of mighty blasts from what seems like a random firing of thrusters along the length of the spacecraft, the maneuvering computers play the big ship like a well-tuned flute; albeit a silent one. The vessel stabilizes, slowly moving away from the asteroid. Everything looks satisfactory, so the two women begin their journey back to the airlock with the feeling of a job well done. “Hey captain; permission to come aboard.” Cooper inquires; following a naval tradition that usually sounds more like a statement than a question.

  “Permission granted times ten, young lady. When you and Toby get situated, meet me in the mess hall. I’m going to nuke you ladies something delicious. I hope you like mystery meat, with a tube of veggies.” Braxton jokes, adding. “Oh, and please bring me that damaged thruster. It’s been a while since I’ve seen what a micro-meteoroid can do.”

  For the next hour, all eight crew members gather in the mess hall, enjoying the food that was graciously prepared by their captain. It’s actually pretty tasty fare, that was prepared back on Earth, then flash-frozen. Braxton microwaves it just right. It was all they could really have in the weightless environment. However, he promised to create an actual culinary-delight for them when they got pseudo-gravity back during
the return trip to Mars.

  The main topic of discussion while they eat, is what everybody plans to do when they return to Earth. The consensus seems to be taking a year for just doing nothing but relaxing on a warm beach; and swimming until their hands are all wrinkled like prunes. Life onboard a spacecraft, is a life without any real volume of water to play in. Every drop they use, must be processed, purified, and reused. Taking a long, luxurious ‘Hollywood shower’ is not an option. The women keep their hair no longer than four inches, just so they don’t use too much water while washing it. And during these weightless times, wet-wipes take the place of any showers at all. The life of these astronauts is only glamorous during blast-off and re-entry. In between, it’s just life in a tin-can, without any real luxuries. All, while traveling through an environment that will kill without mercy, after just one seemingly tiny mistake. Second chances in space, are rare....

  As the meal wraps up, Cooper inquires of Braxton about the scan-data of Baker. She knows, as do all the others, that they can’t just keep looking for likely candidates indefinitely. Asteroid Baker is their best and last hope for the bonus. Otherwise this trip into the void will be just so much frustration …. without the payoff!

  “Well, the computers are still chewing, but preliminary results look promising.” He reports optimistically, continuing. “There are some stress fractures under the regolith at one end, but even if that end breaks off, we’ll still have a rock that’s in the top five that we’ve ever sent back to Mars. Jax and Kara will start working their magic on it tomorrow. Hopefully, the rough patch we had today will be all we see.” He says with a hopeful tone. “Now, young lady, you had better be off to the rack. I hope you can get some good sleep finally.” He says genuinely, and pats her on the shoulder sympathetically. Cooper thanks him for his kind sentiment, and pays respects to her shipmates before heading off to see if Ling’s ancient herbal remedy is as good as advertised. She didn’t need more bad dreams this trip....

  Jax Krauss, and Kara Johansson, are the ships main ‘rock-handlers’. Their first job is to analyze the scan-data and determine if the asteroid qualifies for Sohn Space Systems stringent requirements. Harper had already given it a thumbs-up, but Jax and Kara must verify his findings. If it qualifies, the next step is figuring out exactly where to place the rocket-pods that will put the brakes on its rotational inertia, and hopefully stop the big boulder from rolling.

  At the science console, Jax and Kara are winding up their analysis of the data. All major parameters of study, indicate that this object is their best-ever. Being comprised of almost solid metal, of which the majority is iron, this boulder is most likely a core-fragment from a failed planetesimal that was violently smashed apart during the chaotic formation of the solar system. Although it has a significant fracture running through one end, they consider themselves extremely fortunate with this catch.

  The oblong boulder, floats holographically in front of their faces. Red dots on the image, show the computers recommendations for where to place the braking-rockets. As the two rock-hounds examine the locations on the three-dimensional image, Kara is first to notice a small problem with one of the placement coordinates. Turning the floating image with her fingertips, and zooming in on the area of concern, she says. “Well, I certainly don’t like the topography at these locations, Jax. The surface seems too rough, and they’re very close to the fault-lines where we’ll lose the ends of the potato. What do you think?”

  Jax takes a moment to study her concern. “Yeah, I see your point Kara. But, I’m thinking a high-intensity laser blast, should melt off any unruly protuberances. And, the proximity to the fault lines, won’t be a problem. Good eye though.” He praises, while at the same time noticing Kara’s eyes light up with excitement. He quickly adds. “Now, I know how you love wielding that laser Kara, so please don’t forget what happened the last time out.” He warns carefully, then moves on, before she can form a defensive posture. “Okay, so let’s just review the data one more time.” He scrolls away from Kara’s image, and after several minutes of review, he calls out to Braxton.

  “Captain; we’re ready to go tame Baker.” He confidently informs his boss, who is lazily floating a few yards away, listening to their plan of attack. “It’ll be about an hour, before Kara and I are suited up and ready to separate the ships modules. We’ll give you a heads-up when we’re in position.”

  From his comfortable vantage point, Braxton acknowledges. “Sounds good Jax. Please be careful. And Kara, don’t get too crazy with the laser this time. I know how easy it is to get carried away with it.” He says with a mental grimace, knowing that to lock horns with Kara.... captain or not.... is akin to entering a world of pain.

  With a defiant gaze, that could cut with the best of lasers, Kara puts the record straight. “My dear captain, I’m as accurate with that laser, as a brain surgeon is with her scalpel.” She retorts scathingly, adding. “What you see as ‘getting carried away’, I see as necessary energy-output to get the job done. Can I be blamed if the trigger sticks sometimes?” She jokingly asks, but Braxton remembers seeing that ugly scorch-mark emblazoned across the side of his ship from their last adventure.

  “No, you can’t be blamed I guess.” He feigns apology, instantly sorry he had mentioned it. “But, just the same, Kara, please careful. This is our last mission before retirement and I just want everyone to live, so they can enjoy it is all. You know I love you, don’t you?” He asks shyly, with just the right amount of forcefulness. He’s closer to Kara, than any of the other female crew members, but had never made a serious advance, in the interest of professional harmony. It’s a painful thing when he riles her with a thoughtless phrase. Of course, he always realizes too late, after his lack of social graces has already failed. He quietly wonders if he’ll ever learn how to approach her in a proper fashion.

  “Yeah, I know cap, and I love you too.” She quips flippantly. Then, pulling on her partner, “Let’s get going Jax, before this turns into a love-fest. Cap isn’t sure whether to command, or get mushy.” She jokes sexfully, sending a seductive wink and smile in Braxton’s direction. It’s the type of wink that can cause a man to forget to breath, while his heart skips a beat! As she and Jax float to the door of the bridge and disappear down the passageway, she knows the captain’s heart, now belongs to her.