Olympus Bound: Gaia Book 2 by Zoë Routh

Author:Zoë Routh [Routh, Zoë]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inner Compass Australia Pty Ltd
Published: 2024-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty-Two

“The Moon is declared an extra-terrestrial asset for humanity. The Lunar Commission will henceforth administrate all access to and extraction of lunar resources.”

—Lunar Commission Minutes from 26 January

Once she finished the call with Maja, Xanthe hailed Colonel Jin.

“Commander Waters. It is late.” Eyes narrow, face puckered.

“Apologies, Colonel, but we have great news. The satellite repair was successful. We have contact with Earth.”

The Colonel was stunned. Xanthe noticed his face was actually quite handsome when he wasn’t scowling.

“That is . . . that is very good,” he said. He rubbed a hand through his hair. The relief shed tension in his body. “Thank you. Please tell the crew, thank you.”

“Of course.” She shared the news about the Minerva and the addition of Max and Dave to the Olympus base. He seemed almost jovial at this.

“You must bring them to Red Star. Bring them all to Red Star. We owe you a dinner, Commander.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you, Colonel.”

Xanthe paused for what was next. “Colonel, there is also some disturbing news.”

His face tightened, on high alert. She told him about the taikonauts.

It was as if a crankshaft pulled the tension back into every fibre of his body. He said nothing as he processed the information.

Struggling to control his breathing, he said, “Thank you for telling me, Commander. I will need to prepare my staff before we upload the messages.”

“I am so sorry, Colonel.”

He gave her a curt nod.

“Let’s talk again in a day or two once we process all the messages.”

“Yes. Let us do that,” he said.

Xanthe could see his mind was already whirling ahead to his next steps. And the news he needed to share.

They ended the transmission, and Xanthe felt her heart go out to him. She’d had two team members added to her crew. And he had lost all of his Earthside colleagues. Who was going to relieve him here on the Moon?

Just as her chance to return home seemed more certain, the Colonel looked as if he might be stranded indefinitely.

Yes, she would need to call him soon.

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