even if we can contact Earth, we may be on the moon for quite some time.”
The two climbed back up into the lunar lander and shut the hatch behind them. After a few moments, they had the small airlock pressurized and they opened the inner hatch to the inside of the lander. Helping each other out of their cumbersome spacesuits and stowing them away, the two crawled over to their acceleration couches and sat down. Due to the way the lander had fallen over, they were in a reclining position, but all the controls were still within easy reach.
“Anything on communications?” Jason asked still hoping that the interference would come to a stop on its own. They still had short-range communications from an internal antenna.
Greg pressed several buttons and flipped several switches, but all that came over the speakers was static. The same thing they had heard for the last twelve hours.
“No same as before,” Greg replied disappointed. “It looks like we’re going to have to take that trip to wherever this interference is coming from.”
Jason was silent for a moment. He could see the worry on Greg’s face. He knew that his best friend was thinking of his family back down on Earth.
“Don’t worry Greg, we’ll get out of this,” Jason said determinedly. “Once we find the probe that is broadcasting this interference and shut it down, we can arrange a rescue. We will also make sure whoever sent that probe is taken care of. I will personally make sure their company is put out of business.”
“Let’s just find that probe first,” replied Greg reaching forward and dimming the lights in the cabin.
“Mission Control should be picking up this interference,” Jason commented as he mentally went over the companies and even countries that might have sent the probe.
“Possibly,” Greg spoke in agreement. “But there is nothing they can do. The source of the problem is here on the moon.”
“We’ll break the rover out in the morning,” responded Jason knowing they both needed some sleep. “It shouldn’t take us to long to find the source of the signal.”
“I hope so,” replied Greg reaching into his pocket and taking out a photograph of his wife and baby. He looked at his family in the dim light. He swore to himself he would do whatever was necessary to make it back home to them.
Jason tried to relax knowing they would have a strenuous day coming if they succeeded in getting the rover out. Jason had been a military test pilot for six years before retiring and applying for the job of chief pilot for the new space company that Greg and he now worked for. His sister had been against him volunteering for this mission. She had said it was too dangerous, especially with a new space vehicle built by a private company. She had reminded him that if something happened on the moon, they couldn’t be recued.
His brother had been excited and had slapped Jason happily across the back when he found out that Jason had been chosen as chief pilot and mission commander. His sister had been very quiet and had gone into another room for a while. She eventually came back out and wished him good luck knowing this was what Jason had always wanted. However, Jason could tell from his sister’s demeanor that she really didn’t want him going to the moon.
Jason closed his eyes and tried to sleep. His sister had been right, and now Greg and he were stranded on the moon with no way home. Jason knew that his sister would be at Mission Control and would not leave until she heard something. Her husband was currently over seas working as a consultant for an oil company. He wasn’t due back for another month. Someway Jason had to find a way home. He couldn’t let his sister down.
-
Jason and Greg had risen early and were out working diligently on the hatch to the rover compartment. It hadn’t been designed to be opened from a nearly horizontal position. After a little work, they managed to get the hatch open and secured so they could
The two climbed back up into the lunar lander and shut the hatch behind them. After a few moments, they had the small airlock pressurized and they opened the inner hatch to the inside of the lander. Helping each other out of their cumbersome spacesuits and stowing them away, the two crawled over to their acceleration couches and sat down. Due to the way the lander had fallen over, they were in a reclining position, but all the controls were still within easy reach.
“Anything on communications?” Jason asked still hoping that the interference would come to a stop on its own. They still had short-range communications from an internal antenna.
Greg pressed several buttons and flipped several switches, but all that came over the speakers was static. The same thing they had heard for the last twelve hours.
“No same as before,” Greg replied disappointed. “It looks like we’re going to have to take that trip to wherever this interference is coming from.”
Jason was silent for a moment. He could see the worry on Greg’s face. He knew that his best friend was thinking of his family back down on Earth.
“Don’t worry Greg, we’ll get out of this,” Jason said determinedly. “Once we find the probe that is broadcasting this interference and shut it down, we can arrange a rescue. We will also make sure whoever sent that probe is taken care of. I will personally make sure their company is put out of business.”
“Let’s just find that probe first,” replied Greg reaching forward and dimming the lights in the cabin.
“Mission Control should be picking up this interference,” Jason commented as he mentally went over the companies and even countries that might have sent the probe.
“Possibly,” Greg spoke in agreement. “But there is nothing they can do. The source of the problem is here on the moon.”
“We’ll break the rover out in the morning,” responded Jason knowing they both needed some sleep. “It shouldn’t take us to long to find the source of the signal.”
“I hope so,” replied Greg reaching into his pocket and taking out a photograph of his wife and baby. He looked at his family in the dim light. He swore to himself he would do whatever was necessary to make it back home to them.
Jason tried to relax knowing they would have a strenuous day coming if they succeeded in getting the rover out. Jason had been a military test pilot for six years before retiring and applying for the job of chief pilot for the new space company that Greg and he now worked for. His sister had been against him volunteering for this mission. She had said it was too dangerous, especially with a new space vehicle built by a private company. She had reminded him that if something happened on the moon, they couldn’t be recued.
His brother had been excited and had slapped Jason happily across the back when he found out that Jason had been chosen as chief pilot and mission commander. His sister had been very quiet and had gone into another room for a while. She eventually came back out and wished him good luck knowing this was what Jason had always wanted. However, Jason could tell from his sister’s demeanor that she really didn’t want him going to the moon.
Jason closed his eyes and tried to sleep. His sister had been right, and now Greg and he were stranded on the moon with no way home. Jason knew that his sister would be at Mission Control and would not leave until she heard something. Her husband was currently over seas working as a consultant for an oil company. He wasn’t due back for another month. Someway Jason had to find a way home. He couldn’t let his sister down.
-
Jason and Greg had risen early and were out working diligently on the hatch to the rover compartment. It hadn’t been designed to be opened from a nearly horizontal position. After a little work, they managed to get the hatch open and secured so they could
Similar Books
