Salvador Mercer - Lunar Discovery

“And you’re asking them to abort their own mission,” Mrs. Brown added.

“We are not going to leave our crew up there to die,” Marge practically shouted, frustration in her voice. “You two need to make this happen.”

Rock took a long look at the observation room high above them and could only make out a mass of dark shapes, Secret Service most likely. They needed a push now. Rock grabbed one of his technical manuals lying on his desk and hurled it at the observation window.

“What the hell are you doing?” Mr. Smith asked, stepping back and into Tom.

The response was immediate as figures moved, and four agents closed in on Rock’s console.

“We’re elevating the matter,” Rock said looking at Mr. Smith and sighing when he finally saw the vice president enter the room.

Gordust Space Station

Low Moon Orbit

In the near future, Day 48

“Ah, copy, Vostonchny, please confirm the mission parameters one more time,” Yuri said, rolling his recorders again. If they were going to order him to do this, then he damn well wanted it recorded, just in case.

Vostonchny completed its repetition and then signed out.

“What the hell was that about?” Olga asked.

“It seems we are now a search and rescue mission,” Yuri said, keying the internal mike on.

“Search for what? We know where the Americans are,” she said.

“All right, Olya, just rescue, then,” Yuri cleared his throat. “Nikolai, prepare for orbital insertion burn in five minutes.”

“Insertion?” Nikolai asked, obvious confusion in his voice.

“Yes, Olya, insertion. We are going to orbit closer.”

“ Bozhe moi ,” Olga said, her face surprised.

“My feelings exactly,” Yuri said, clicking on the diagnostic system check and strapping his seat belt tighter.

Apollo Lander

Lunar Surface, Marianas Plain

In the near future, Day 48

Julie had returned without incident to see that there was no sign of the Russian bodies. She got out after swapping one of the mini oxygen bottles attached to her waist from the rover and moved to the rear. She had purposely drove a few feet past the lander so that its intense overhead lighting array would illuminate the rear of the rover.

She saw the Chinese astronaut sitting, breathing heavily. His helmet and one glove was off. Craig came down the stairs of the lander and stood next to her.

“He’s really alive. Such a shame, too.”

Julie turned to see him better, but his face was in shadow and the visor didn’t help. “You think I should have just left him?”

“No.” His voice sounded artificial as it was bounced over the rover and back on the mini low gain array. “I think you should have never went there in the first place. Ah, what does it matter?”

Julie ignored the pessimism. “I see that you either managed to get an extra six percent transferred over or you understated our fuel load.”

“I transferred what was still liquid at the bottom in the secondary reserve tank. It appears they keep another hull over the reserve just in case, so that wasn’t frozen or ejected when the top of the tank was breached, not that six percent will make a difference.”

“But you transferred it, anyway.” Julie made a statement and not a question.

“I guess it’s just the training they instill in you,” Craig answered back. “What are we going to do with our friend there? Have you talked to him yet?”

“Of course not. I don’t speak Chinese, and I have no idea what com frequency he’s using.”

“Let’s get him inside the lander and see if we can talk to him, then,” Craig said, motioning to the man inside the rover and then his own helmet. The man nodded and started to suit up again. “Best to tell the man to his face that he’s still going to die.”

“ Blackjack , this is Houston. Do you copy, over?”

“Houston, this is Blackjack . We are transferring our guest to the Apollo lander, over,” Julie said, switching her com mike control to voice activation so she would be hands-free to help Craig with the Chinese astronaut.

“Roger, Blackjack , acknowledge your return with one Chinese foreign national. Standby, over.”

“Standing by,” Julie said, moving to the rover where Craig had opened the door after the man inside had depressurized his compartment. Seems he was coherent enough to understand the correct button to push.

The two of them grabbed the man by an arm, each lopping the large suited limbs over their own shoulders. Julie was still amazed at how light the man was. One sixth earth’s gravity made for an easy move of the man over to the stairs of the lander where Craig went up first and then grabbed the man’s outstretched hands, arms completely overhead, and Julie pushed on the man’s butt, avoiding his legs, and in one fell swing, he was pulled inside the lander.

Julie started up the stairs when the call came in. “Julie, this is Richard Crandon, do you copy?”

“Roger, Rock, what brings you to the mike?” Julie asked.

“Julie, are Craig’s ears on?”

“Rock, Craig here. I’m listening, go ahead.”

“I’ve got Marjorie Jones here. She’s going to explain a little idea we’ve worked out for you.”

Julie just cleared the lip of the door and saw the Chinese man still suited on his back, his legs sprawled in unnatural angles, and Craig’s face, now clearly visible in the enhanced lighting of the lander, had a look of utter shock on it.

“Let us have it, Houston,” Julie said, pulling herself inside and securing the door.

Gordust Space Station

Low Moon Orbit

In the near future, Day 48

“Burn successful, orbital adjustment to perigee in three minutes,” Nikolai said, his voice tense.

“Keep an eye out on visual for the Apollo . It should be in front of us and down about twenty degrees,” Yuri said, scanning his own FLIR and seeing nothing.

After what seemed like several minutes, Olga’s voice excitedly shouted, “I’ve got them, forward and thirteen degrees and climbing.”

“ Da , I see them now, though they’re not climbing, we’re still descending. Nikolai, ready the braking burn when we’re less than five hundred meters.”

“I’m ready, Commander, burn on your orders,” Nikolai’s voice came back.

“Ivan, we only have one shot at this or we auger into the surface. Are you at the air lock?” Yuri asked.

“Yes, Commander,” Ivan’s voice came back. “I’m fully prepped for EVA on your orders. I’ll get them if you can get me within ten meters.”

“I’ll get you close enough to kiss them, just keep an eye on your timer. You’ll have just under three minutes,” Yuri said.

“Roger, Yuri, I’ll be ready,” Ivan said.

The Apollo had long ago stopped its burn as it had taken off and shot into an orbit that was nearly half the orbit of the Gordust . The craft didn’t have the fuel to go any higher, and the orbital delta speed was not enough to maintain the orbit. As soon as it looped to its zenith, the moon’s gravity would reach up and grab the craft, bringing it down again until it impacted on the moon’s other side.

“We’re coming in too hot, Yuri. Start breaking at seven hundred meters,” Olga said, monitoring the radar and showing the closing speed to be far outside the norm.

Yuri looked at her quickly and then back to the FLIR. “We’ve only got one shot at this Olga, maintain course and speed.”

“You’ve said that already. I get it, but we’re not going to do anyone any good if we all impact on the moon together or splat one another in orbit,” Olga said, panic starting to creep into her voice.