Descent by Erik Schubach

Author:Erik Schubach [Schubach, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Erik Schubach
Published: 2018-08-28T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5 – On Orbit

I checked my tool pack and the relay assembly again to make sure they were secured and took my seat in the pilot's seat. Alright then. I was about to pilot us manually on what amounted to a controlled explosion into orbit to chase down a city that was hours away from becoming a fireball in the sky. I had a makeshift EVA suit and zero experience in zero gravity. What could go wrong?

I patty-caked the air at Flower who was checking to make sure I was strapped in securely, again, “I got this, lady. Go...” I kissed her on the optical port and said, “Love you. Tell the boys.”

She made a sad two-toned noise, then I smiled hugely when she stopped beside Glitch, then mimicked me and put her optical port against his and then trundled out of the tumbril and sealed the door.

Sai said, “Awww,” as she watched the scene through my com visor.

I smirked and mumbled, “Stow it kitty cat.”

She giggled, and Anna Germaine said, “We're in the launch window now. This is no time to be puttering about with niceties and...”

Vash interrupted her with a countdown in a mechanical staccato, “Twenty, nineteen, eighteen...”

I blurted, “For the love of crystal you lot!” Then slammed the grip forward that was labeled in bright red letters, “This one first, not the orange one!”

Ok, so I labeled things, even if my chances were slim, I didn't want to blow up on the spot. The air breathers and the plasma drives wound up, and then the world was tunneling around me as I was pushed back in my seat.

This thing may be space rated, but it certainly wasn't designed for ballistic launches, most Prime tumbrils used the free gravity assist of the gravitation wakes our system provided to get to orbit before firing their reaction engines and thrusters to maneuver. And it certainly didn't have the power reserves for an inertial dampening system.

I don't know who was screaming louder, Glitch, me, or Sai as the g-forces pressed me back in my seat and the straps holding Glitch to the cabin floor groaned in protest. My voice cracked as I warbled out in a high pitch, “New Terra, this is Fixit, goin' ballistic!”

I pushed my arm forward, it was like I had a hundred pound weight attached to it as I hit the big giant red button labeled, “Hit me second.” I could hear the turbopumps spinning up that would release the reactionary fuel and keep the tank pressurized.

Vash was saying with a tinge of concern, “You gotta do it now, Fixie.”

I was grumping, “I know, I know,” as I heard the air breathers cycle off. I knew the plasma drives would lose most of their efficiency in a few seconds and I had to ignite the rocket thrusters before that happened.

My arm shook with the effort as I moved it forward, I grasped the orange lever labeled 'Boom!' and said to my co-pilot, “Hang on boy, here goes.

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.