Back to the Moon-ARC

“Understood, Mercy I. Be advised that the engineers don’t recommend adding any more.”

“Uh-huh.” Tony sat down and began working his gloves. He watched the countdown clock continue getting closer to the aerocapture. “Bill, I suggest you get to the main hatch and stand by.”

“Well, I’m ahead of you, Tony. I’m already on my way,” Bill said.

“Should we start trying to cycle the hatch?” Hui asked. Tony hadn’t bothered to ask where she had put the pistol. He didn’t care. He didn’t need the thing any longer.

“Good idea. Let me finish with this glove. You got the patch kit ready?”

“Here.” Hui held up the kit.

“Great.” Tony put the hatch on cycle, but the icon went red and didn’t open.

The ship was beginning to have a noticeable vibration. Tony gripped the console to shore himself up.

“Hey, do you guys feel that?”

“What?” Hui gripped the console’s edge with her glove. From the look in her eyes, Tony knew the answer before she said it. “Yes. What is that?”

“I can feel it out here, Tony,” Bill answered. “Ignore it and keep focusing on the job at hand.”

“Roger that, Bill,” Tony replied. Bill was right. They had to focus and get Bill inside the cabin before it was too late.

The ship had penetrated far enough into the exosphere to begin experiencing turbulence. The exosphere of Earth extended out as far as ten thousand kilometers. The Orion was traveling over fifteen kilometers per second. It would take the ship less than ten minutes to travel into the denser portions of the thermosphere, where the real turbulence would start. They had less than five to seven minutes, depending on the computer model used, to get Stetson inside.

Chapter 30

“Come on, dammit!” Tony watched the hatch icon still showing red. The countdown clock gave them three minutes left. The NASA engineers at mission control didn’t like cutting it so close. Tony liked it even less. He could just imagine how much Stetson liked it. “Bill, hang on out there.”

The vibration of the ship had continued to grow to the point where it was no longer a subtle thing that could barely be felt with a tight grip. Tony was pretty sure he could see things starting to vibrate.

“What’s taking us so long in there, Tony? Not to be antsy or anything, but Earth is looking really big!”

“Just be ready!”

“Roger that!”

“Hui, be ready with that patch kit. As soon as the hatch icon goes green, you start patching the holes!” Tony hit the hatch-cycle routine again. It went red. “Come on!”

“Yes, Tony. I will.” Hui held the kit at the ready, looking like a lioness ready to pounce on a gazelle. Tony thought that the Chinese had made a good decision in picking her as their first Moon mission commander.

“God, if you can hear me, now would be a good time to help us out!” Tony hit the hatch icon again. For the millisecond it took for the electrons to travel from the screen to the central processor of the computer, the processor to understand and process the signal, and send a response, Tony held his breath for what seemed like an eternity.

“Green light! Go, Hui! Go!” Tony shouted, not quite gleefully but close enough, as Orion’s main hatch started to cycle open. Tony yanked on the handle and pulled the latch until he could see space outside. Hui pushed herself up to the apex of the cabin, and Tony turned to help his captain. “Bill, get your butt in here!” He held a handhold as close to the hatch door as he could manage. The door slid open, and as soon as it did, Bill’s hand poked through.

“Grab my hand, Tony!”

“Got it! Come on, Bill!” Tony grabbed at Bill’s arm and pulled as best he could. The ship lurched very gently, but just enough to give them concern. “We’re getting close!”

“Hui, how’s it look?” Bill asked as he crawled his way through the hatch. He reached back, disconnected the tether, and pulled the rope inside.

“I’ve got one hole patched.”

“I’m in, Tony. You can let go now. And cycle the hatch!” It was clear that the Orion had gotten its captain back.

“Roger that!” Tony pushed to the console and tapped the hatch icon until it cycled shut. Bill tugged the handle just to help it along. The icon went from red to orange to green, and then Bill tugged at it again. It was closed and sealed. He was inside. And, by God, it was good!

“Hot damn,” Bill shouted. “Houston, this is Stetson. All members of the Mercy I crew are inside, present, and accounted for.”

“Great news, Mercy I. We recommend you cycle the repressurization as soon as possible so the patch sealant will cure quicker. And y’all need to buckle up.”

“Understood, mission control.”

“You heard the man, Tony. Get us some air in here.” Bill looked up at Hui. “You need any help?”

“Done!”

“Awesome. Now get down and get buckled in.”