Asteroid Crisis by Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta

Author:Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta [Anderson, Kevin J. & Moesta, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WordFire Press
Published: 2014-01-19T05:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Everyone aboard the ISSC remained on edge after the near-miss with the Kylarn. The aliens could come back at any time—and this time they might not be content just to snoop around.

After a long day of work aboard the space station, the Star Challengers were ready for a few hours of rest. The Stationmaster had found sleep stations for them, which proved to be no simple task. With the significant increase in the ISSC’s security and construction crew—not to mention the crowding caused by removing three modules for the asteroid missions—personnel had to sleep in shifts. On their previous visit, the friends had been given private cubicles for sleeping, but back then, the station had been half-empty. Now the orbiting complex was on an emergency footing and fully crewed.

Song-Ye looked skeptically at the sleep unit—about the size of a small shower stall—she would share with two other people on rotating shifts.

JJ tried to reassure her. “It’ll be cozy—just like camping.”

“My parents have never taken me camping,” Song-Ye said, and JJ wasn’t surprised.

After slipping into the sleeping bag that was attached to the wall, and drawing the small cubicle door shut, JJ found herself drifting as she tried to go to sleep. Soon, they would finish gathering the information Commander Zota wanted, and then they could use their pingers to return home.…

JJ awoke when the next shift came in and needed to sleep. She heard someone rapping on the compartment barrier, and JJ groaned, slid it open to see a lean, brown-haired woman. “Snooze time’s over, kid. I don’t know what your daily duties are, but I need a nap if I’m going to be functional for my next rotation.”

With a yawn, JJ pulled herself out and drifted into the public area of Hab Module 1. Her friends emerged from sleep cubicles, also rubbing their eyes. “Rise and shine,” Dyl said, nudging Song-Ye. Tony’s curly hair stuck out in all directions, and he looked like a scarecrow.

Together, they hauled themselves through the connected modules to Central. Colonel Fox was in charge while the Stationmaster caught a few hours of sleep. Over the past several hours, the third-shift orbital construction crew had finished installing the spacedrive engines on the three modules that would travel to the asteroids.

At their arrival, Fox showed a hint of a smile beneath his mustache, though his eyes remained intense and alert. “Timing is critical, Cadets, but there is reason to be optimistic. Food supplies are loaded, life-support tanks charged. For those of us on the mission crew, it will be an austere couple of months there and back again, but if the alternative is to let the Earth get pounded”—he shrugged as he drifted—“we can put up with a bit of discomfort.”

Captain Bronsky’s voice came over the intercom, indicating his excitement. “Ready to test propulsion system number one, Colonel Fox. Fuel tanks full.”

Fox responded, “Hold up, Captain. I’m sending a couple of the Cadets down your way. Put ’em to work.”

“Understood,” Bronsky replied. He sounded a little annoyed at the delay.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.