Moon 3D by D.W. Patterson

Author:D.W. Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, hard science fiction
Publisher: Future Chron Publishing
Published: 2024-05-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

At first the others were shocked at what the company had done. But Harlan explained that they had enough supplies and power to overnight without too much of a risk.

“We should be alright,” he said, “and it will be a first for a commercial crew. It will further show that this site we're building can become a permanent home in a few years.”

“Well, that's all well and good Harlan but we're still taking a chance. What happens if we have an emergency of some kind?” said Jackson.

“That's right, it could be a simple health problem that needs a medic right away, delay could be life threatening,” said Marie.

“Well, I didn't say there wouldn't be challenges,” said Harlan, “but in the case of a medical emergency, we've all had some training, and Joan and I even more, so we have a good chance of meeting such an occurrence.”

“Harlan's right,” said Joan, “so I suggest we maintain the same attitude we've had so far and look at this as a challenge. A challenge that we are all trained to meet.”

The others agreed, though all were a bit apprehensive, including Harlan and Joan.

It wasn't only the fifteen days of lunar night, which wasn't as dark as an Earth night because of reflected Earth light, they faced, it was also knowing that just beyond the relatively thin cocoon of the inflatable hab there was an airless desert with temperatures over negative two-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. If the hab breached for any reason, say a micro-meteorite, would it make much difference if one died of vacuum exposure or the cold?

Jackson didn't think so, in fact, he thought he should have his head examined for agreeing to stay in the first place.

Harlan had seemed so passionate. I got caught up. It's the last time I listen to anyone, especially someone who sounds so committed. Committed is the right word though.

Jackson had agreed to check the food stores, although there probably wasn't much need since they were intended to supply fourteen people for the two week period. Jackson looked at all the freeze-dried packages and thought it would be the water supply and not the food supply that would be critical. He decided he would do something to insure enough water, at least for one.

After a long day, they had all reported back from their assigned duty and sat in the break room watching an outside camera. The Sun was almost completely gone and just like that it was the lunar night. No atmosphere meant the transition between day and night was almost instantaneous.

“Okay people, roughly fourteen Earth days and eighteen Earth hours before we will see the Sun again. I intend to get a good night's sleep,” said Joan.

The five wandered off to their cabins for their first rest.

At first they all kept similar hours but after an Earth week they were drifting into different schedules. Harlan hadn't seen Jackson for two days and Marie was leaving for bed just as he was arriving but Joan was there.

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