The Sentinel by T.M. Haviland

Author:T.M. Haviland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Space PressWorks

Nineteen

IMTEC Launch Facility

Inside the Earth-to-Space Transporter, the ground maintenance crew completed their final inspections of all systems, exited the main hatch and sealed it. Every seat was filled with someone who was heading to Mars for a year.

Gabriele looked over at Rachel. “This is about the time all the old-timers like me nod off until we hit space.”

“You’re not old, and I know you’re joking,” replied Rachel, looking at her nervously.

Gabriele laughed. “Unfortunately, for your first ride to space you got stuck in this vertical transporter. We’re carrying a lot of cargo to Mars lately. Gear for Orion, the new base. It’s old school, but you need big heavy thrusters to lift heavy payloads out of the atmosphere. It’s a real adrenaline rush, and a bit bumpy, like you probably learned in your training, but it’s also the fastest way to space. We’ll be out of the atmosphere quicker than you can ride a big wave into shore.”

“I don’t know about that,” replied Rachel, half smiling, feeling her stomach tense up. She watched the countdown: 9, 8, 7. The primary engines roared to life, rattling the cabin like an earthquake. She closed her eyes and sucked air in through her nose and then pushed it slowly out of her mouth. 3, 2, 1, 0. The thrusters ignited, the force punching her back into her chair. The shuttle shook hard as it ripped through the Earth’s thick atmosphere. Two minutes later, the noise subsided and the shaking smoothed out. The pressure feels like three Nicks piled on top of me, she thought.

Rachel opened her eyes and looked to the right. They were exiting the upper atmosphere and now speeding up towards the space station. One minute later, all noise stopped. The pressure was gone. Her arms could float free.

“Quite a ride, huh?” said Gabriele, rotating her seat forward 90 degrees.

Rachel grimaced. “That was much rougher than training.”

“It’s kind of hard to simulate that many Gs.” Gabriele pointed out of the portal. “That’s an Earth-to-Mars transporter, our home for the next thirty-six days.”

Rachel turned and gazed out. “It’s massive.”

A docking breezeway in front of the EMT extended outwards. The shuttle decelerated to a crawl and then crept forward, slowly rotating into position, like docking a passenger ferry along a pier. The breezeway connector latched onto the side of the shuttle and pulled tight, forming an air lock over the main door as the G simulator slowly ramped up.

Inside her assigned room, Rachel finished unpacking her things and then, without hesitating, she laid down on her bunk, exhausted. Her eyelids grew heavy. Thoughts in her head washed around in a haze. Her breathing slowed.

Two hours later, after what felt like only a moment, Rachel heard someone at her door. She slowly opened her eyes, looked around, and then sat up. “Just a moment.” She stood slowly, took two steps, and then opened the door to her room. “Gabi.” she rubbed her face. “Sorry, Commander.”

Gabriele smiled. “How are you doing? I am sure the excitement of it all is starting to settle in.

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