Operation Starshot (The Earthburst Saga Book 3) by Craig A. Falconer

Author:Craig A. Falconer [Falconer, Craig A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

34

As we set off for Phil’s lab, he and Clive are the only workers from the bunker who come with us.

The other three stay where we found them, in the bunker’s entry bay.

The best course of action is definitely keeping a lid on things until we know the next big move, and having thousands of people wandering around up here when they realize there’s no need to stay down there is the last thing we need.

Learning they have plenty of supplies and that morale hasn’t been too bad has satisfied Driver on this point, too. She previously shared some understandable concerns, very firmly, about there being children down there. Now that we know they’re doing okay, some of the urgency on that front has abated.

And for everyone’s long-term safety, we need space and time to work up here — especially with what Phil has just told us about the Moon.

I’m sure countless teams in our ERF bunkers and on the Vita are currently sweating over the implications of Zola already having an “operable drilling system in place” on the lunar surface. Phil’s comments about the only hold up being a need to ensure excavations could begin safely are particularly chilling.

“Planetarily catastrophic” was the kind of phrase I thought we’d relegated to the past when we successfully intervened at Site B. The prospect of something similarly dangerous occurring at a Site C, and particularly one that’s so distant, hardly bears thinking about.

When we reach the communications desk, a new message from Zola has arrived.

Without any fanfare or buildup, I hurry over and hit play.

“So far so good, Ray,” the maniac begins. “I am glad to see Carlo well. And Carlo, my friend… your questions will be answered when you are safely by my side and ready to embark on the journey you were born to make. Follow the map at the end of this message and you will come to an area of our launch facility. A station supply craft is waiting. Everything you need is there. Ray’s work with the Escape Pod was far more complex than launching this craft. He should be able to launch quickly.”

Each supply craft that serves the Beacon can launch with or without any passengers, depending on the nature and amount of the supplies being transported. I was fortunate enough to be taken to the station in a far more comfortable spaceplane, but that required a skilled pilot.

For Carlo in particular, launching a supply craft would be anything but a pleasant experience.

“And if you pay particularly close attention to one part of this final message, Carlo, please make it this part,” Zola goes on. “I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure you depart within the next two days. We remain in a stand-off with some very dark forces. Events are underway that mean I cannot guarantee your safety in the compound for any longer than that. Two hours would be preferable. There will be space for your things, but please gather them in haste.

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.