Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company by Homer Hickam

Author:Homer Hickam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2014-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

All right, gents, buckle up and prepare for the ride of yer lives!” Riley announced from the cockpit after going through the prelaunch puter checks. She placed the jumpcar in full manual override mode. Tiger sat beside her in the copilot’s seat. “You ready, Tiger?”

“I’m always ready,” the fuser pilot said. “Let’s go!”

“Colonel, you and your bully boys strapped in?”

The Colonel was in the passenger compartment with the sheriff and two deputies, all dressed in biolastic sheaths, helmets, coveralls, and armored plate. The sheriff was looking more than a little stressed, his face a greenish tinge. “Strapped in,” the Colonel replied. “Let’s go, Riley. Don’t miss our window.”

“Hang on! This is going to be bumpy all the way! On my mark—five-four-three-two-one . . .”

The engines on the Hilliard thundered, but Riley waited until all the instrument lights turned green before pushing the throttles forward. The jumpcar slowly rose from the pad, its nose pointed at the impossibly distant stars.

“You’re going too slow,” Tiger said, his gloved hand moving to the throttles.

“Belay that,” Riley warned. “I know what I’m doing. Jumpcar engines ain’t like your fusers. These new ones need a little coddling until I can get them up to speed.”

Riley kept her eye on the thrust gauges, then pushed the throttles steadily forward until they were pegged to the red.

“Now you’ve pushed them too far!” Tiger shouted over the engine roars.

“Keep quiet, bucko. These babies are designed to go fifteen percent into the red without coming apart!”

The jumpcar rattled and shrieked as if it was about to come apart at the seams. The engines kept screaming. The puter raised an urgent alarm. Engines one, two, three over redline. Initiating throttle back.

“Negative. Override,” Riley said.

Throttle back canceled. Would you like assistance?

“No, thank you.”

Destination has not been specified.

“Low lunar orbit.”

Destination specified is not possible.

“Yes it is. Extrapolate into your artificial intelligence program.”

Extrapolating.

Riley kept her eye on the propellant gauges and the velocity vectors. When she judged it right, she hit the directional jets to lower the nose five degrees.

Nose over, the puter reported. Present course not understood. Recommend vertical recovery.

Riley pushed the nose over another five degrees. “Maintenance program, please.”

Maintenance.

“On my mark, detach engine number two propellant lines and release engine number two clamps.”

Engine number two is actively working. Release not authorized.

“This is a red-level security override. Security code is Goforbroke2023.”

Although she knew it was her imagination, Riley thought the puter seemed resigned. Maintenance procedures initiated. Waiting for mark.

As the fuselage of the jumpcar groaned, Riley kept her eyes glued to the control monitors. “Counting down to mark—five-four-three-two-one-mark!”

Instantly, there was a horrific scraping noise as the engine slid out of the tail, falling and spinning away. The jumpcar began to shake even more violently. “Puter, initiate mass calculations to compensate controls for lost engine.”

Mass calculations accomplished. Controls compensated. Recommend return to Moontown.

“Time to orbit.”

Orbit not possible.

“Maintenance program. Keep security override in place.”

Maintenance. Security override noted.

“On my mark, detach engine number three propellant lines and release engine number three holding clamps.”

Maintenance procedures initiated. Waiting for your mark.

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