In the shadow of the Earth #7
Posted 08-07-2012 at 11:19 AM by mojoey
I pulled myself through the tunnel, heading for Challenger. I was drained from the three hours spent talking and releasing a cubesat. Not as easy as it sounds. I found Brandon curled in a ball scribbling on a notepad.
"What are you doing?"
"Drawing."
"What might you be drawing?"
"Something." He said with a smirk. I shook my head and headed back through the tunnel.
"Firefly, this is L.A., how's everything holding up?"
"Fairly well. The duct tape on the hatch looks like it's holding." I replied.
"Glad to hear it. We got news for everyone, you guys get it before the media."
"Oh joy." Chirped Will.
"Enterprise docked with Constitution this morning. Looks like Adkinson is still OOC."
"I think we should have sent a get well card up with Enterprise. You know, it's the thought that counts."
"I think we can get the message to them. However, we've got some troubling news."
"Send it."
"Gagarin stopped transmitting this morning, during your EVA Pat. The folks at JPL have no idea what happened."
I shared a worrying look with Will.
The SLR Gagarin had landed in the Highlands about 18 months ago.
It was designed very much like the MSL Curiosity, and had about the same lifespan. It deciding to stop transmitting was a bad thing. Without it, our backup landing beacon would be toast.
"Ahh damn. I suppose we're on deck for the repair job?"
"Yep, we'll fit in a DA on EVA 4."
"Sounds good. Anything else?"
"Just about every world leader is giving you guys the thumbs up. You even got a shout out from the Dalai Lama himself."
"Hey hey, we're going places now!" Replied Brandon.
"Hush." I quipped.
"Other than that, it's all quiet on the fronts. Recommend you guys turn in. Big day tomorrow, it's LOI day."
"An excellent proposition." I said. I took my spot in the docking tunnel, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
***
"So, what are you going to do when this wraps up?"
"This?" I motioned at the buildings with a drink in my hand.
"Yeah. It's not gonna last forever. Both of us are gonna be retired to some golf course in Florida by then."
"Ah I dunno Matt. I'll probably leave after Four. I should go back to college and get my CS degree."
"Tear gas degree?" He said with a smile.
"Oh hell no. Comp Sci. Remember the CS chamber we went through in basic?"
"Unfortunately." Matt replied with a chuckle.
"Oh boy. Remember the genius who thought it was a good idea to shave beforehand?"
We both busted out laughing.
"I don't think anyone could ever match the howl he let out."
"That...was priceless."
***
"Uhh, ground, looks like half the trunk is gone, along with the high gain."
"Roger. We'd like to run some tests, to see what works, and what doesn't. How's that sound?"
"Sounds pretty good. However, as soon as we're done with that, I'd like to start working on the DOB and RE. I don't think she'll hold together much longer."
"We'll get working on those. Alright, do you know where the checklist is?"
"No, but I'll get looking for it."
***
"This is your office. You can do what you like with it, just don't tear down the walls."
"Sounds good sir."
"Please Patrick, call me Jack."
"Yes si- Jack."
***
"As of today, the United States has signed the peace treaty with Iran, ending the Hormuz conflict."
***
"All hands, abandon ship. I repeat, all hands abandon ship."
***
I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking uncontrollably. I shook my head, and rubbed my face. My hand brushed over the tiny scar on my cheek. It had become a regular feature of my face, and to be honest, I didn't mind. I wiped my nose and felt something wet. I pulled a tissue out of my chest pocket and blew my nose. In the dim light even I could make out blood on the tissue.
"Damn."
"What are you doing?"
"Drawing."
"What might you be drawing?"
"Something." He said with a smirk. I shook my head and headed back through the tunnel.
"Firefly, this is L.A., how's everything holding up?"
"Fairly well. The duct tape on the hatch looks like it's holding." I replied.
"Glad to hear it. We got news for everyone, you guys get it before the media."
"Oh joy." Chirped Will.
"Enterprise docked with Constitution this morning. Looks like Adkinson is still OOC."
"I think we should have sent a get well card up with Enterprise. You know, it's the thought that counts."
"I think we can get the message to them. However, we've got some troubling news."
"Send it."
"Gagarin stopped transmitting this morning, during your EVA Pat. The folks at JPL have no idea what happened."
I shared a worrying look with Will.
The SLR Gagarin had landed in the Highlands about 18 months ago.
It was designed very much like the MSL Curiosity, and had about the same lifespan. It deciding to stop transmitting was a bad thing. Without it, our backup landing beacon would be toast.
"Ahh damn. I suppose we're on deck for the repair job?"
"Yep, we'll fit in a DA on EVA 4."
"Sounds good. Anything else?"
"Just about every world leader is giving you guys the thumbs up. You even got a shout out from the Dalai Lama himself."
"Hey hey, we're going places now!" Replied Brandon.
"Hush." I quipped.
"Other than that, it's all quiet on the fronts. Recommend you guys turn in. Big day tomorrow, it's LOI day."
"An excellent proposition." I said. I took my spot in the docking tunnel, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
***
"So, what are you going to do when this wraps up?"
"This?" I motioned at the buildings with a drink in my hand.
"Yeah. It's not gonna last forever. Both of us are gonna be retired to some golf course in Florida by then."
"Ah I dunno Matt. I'll probably leave after Four. I should go back to college and get my CS degree."
"Tear gas degree?" He said with a smile.
"Oh hell no. Comp Sci. Remember the CS chamber we went through in basic?"
"Unfortunately." Matt replied with a chuckle.
"Oh boy. Remember the genius who thought it was a good idea to shave beforehand?"
We both busted out laughing.
"I don't think anyone could ever match the howl he let out."
"That...was priceless."
***
"Uhh, ground, looks like half the trunk is gone, along with the high gain."
"Roger. We'd like to run some tests, to see what works, and what doesn't. How's that sound?"
"Sounds pretty good. However, as soon as we're done with that, I'd like to start working on the DOB and RE. I don't think she'll hold together much longer."
"We'll get working on those. Alright, do you know where the checklist is?"
"No, but I'll get looking for it."
***
"This is your office. You can do what you like with it, just don't tear down the walls."
"Sounds good sir."
"Please Patrick, call me Jack."
"Yes si- Jack."
***
"As of today, the United States has signed the peace treaty with Iran, ending the Hormuz conflict."
***
"All hands, abandon ship. I repeat, all hands abandon ship."
***
I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking uncontrollably. I shook my head, and rubbed my face. My hand brushed over the tiny scar on my cheek. It had become a regular feature of my face, and to be honest, I didn't mind. I wiped my nose and felt something wet. I pulled a tissue out of my chest pocket and blew my nose. In the dim light even I could make out blood on the tissue.
"Damn."
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