The Second Ark by Theodore R. Wade Jr

Author:Theodore R. Wade, Jr. [Theodore R. Wade, Jr.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Xlibris
Published: 2009-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

~17~

First Mission Loss

Lieutenant Commander Jill Burton addresses the ops commander, “Chief, I’ve got something being reeled in, but the volume appears to be larger in diameter than the flitter should be. The mass checks out OK. I will have it docked and in direct view in another two minutes.”

After about three minutes, Lieutenant Commander Burton speaks again with a sigh of relief, “Chief, we’ve got ‘em. The flitter is pretty much a debris field, but the crew is still inside. I am getting medical telemetry that suggests that they are alive but probably suffering injuries. Medical has a team standing by with gurneys ready to transport them to the hospital emergency room. Doctors are standing by.”

“Commander, launch two probes as soon as possible. Program them to descend, following the same route and rate of descent as the flitter. Configure the first probe to operate two cameras—one on the descent path, the second on the following probe. Keep the second probe only close enough to the first to keep it in view. Make sure that all action is transmitted back to the spaceship and recorded for later analysis. Use all the technical capacity at your command from video to radar and scan metal detection and magnetic anomalies.”

The probes follow the exact descent procedure of the flitter with the intention of descending all the way to a planet, landing in the area where the flitter should have landed. When the second probe reached 5,380 meters, it suddenly stops transmitting information, and all responses to commands suddenly stop. The following probe captures the demise of the second probe immediately, and the ops chief orders a halt and return to the spaceship. The captain orders immediate analysis and makes a universal announcement throughout the ship that a flitter has been lost with three injuries on board. The captain calls for a Command staff meeting at 1300 hours in the Command conference room and turns the bridge over to his assistant and leaves the Command deck.

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