Moonbase Crisis: Star Challengers Book 1 (5 page)
Read Moonbase Crisis: Star Challengers Book 1 Online
Authors: Rebecca Moesta,Kevin J. Anderson,June Scobee Rodgers
“Hey!” Dyl objected.
“We’re still waiting for answers,” Fox said.
Being carefully vague, the cadets explained that they had been invited into a special training program, during which they had somehow found themselves here at the base.
Major Fox shook his head once more when they were finished. “So, again, that really doesn’t explain a thing.”
“No,” Chief Ansari said wryly, “but we’ll leave it at that for now. Regardless of how they may have gotten here,
we
certainly have no way to return them to Earth. Our orders were not to ask too many questions. Besides, our visitors were sent here to work.” She grinned. “And we can use the help. We might as well get started.”
***
Six
JJ could barely contain her excitement as Chief Ansari and Major Fox took the cadets on a tour of Moonbase Magellan.
“Not how I expected an actual lunar base to look,” King mused, looking around.
Dyl nodded. “I kinda thought it would be bigger. Maybe I just watch too many movies.”
“It’s not a resort complex. Everything here has to be self-contained, and construction occurs under difficult conditions,” Chief Ansari pointed out. “The original proposal for this base would have put it entirely belowground, to protect the researchers here from dangers on the surface. Unfortunately, the excavation would have been far too expensive, so these prefabricated modules were brought here instead. Over the years, our funding and staff have continued to shrink as interest wanes on Earth.”
JJ’s eyes were sparkling as Ansari pointed out the features of the Main Control Center. “How could anybody lose interest in a place like this? There’s so much to see and explore and learn.”
Ansari gave her a wry, somewhat sad smile. “You don’t have to convince me, Cadet Wren. I’ve already devoted my career to the space program—a decision that my friends and professors said was a waste of my skills.” She shook her head. “I’m glad I didn’t listen.”
JJ was perplexed to hear this, but the chief changed subjects, leading them to a projected chart of the facility layout. Moonbase Magellan was made up of five primary modules, and Chief Ansari explained each one.
The MCC bubble was the primary nerve center for operations in the base. The Equipment and Storage Module, through which they had entered, was indeed like the moonbase’s garage, where suits and equipment were stored. Though there were other access airlocks, the one in the ESM was the preferred exit point, since the lunar vehicles could connect directly to the airlock and allow personnel to enter them without needing to suit up.
The agricultural or “ag” bubble was a large greenhouse with a transparent ceiling of crystal plates where crops were grown and biological experiments were performed. The base’s biomedical officer, Dr. Cynthia Romero, worked among the plants and research animals there.
The observatory, also known as the astro bubble, was separate from the main base complex, partway across the crater floor next to a large curved sheet of hexagonal mirrors, which was the light-gathering surface of the optical telescope; a radio telescope filled one of the small craters nearby. Moonbase Magellan’s fourth crewmember, Dr. Arthur Wu, spent most of his time alone in the astro bubble.
The fifth and final module, the habitation or “hab” bubble, contained the crew quarters, sickbay, eating area, and gym.
The scope of the base amazed JJ. “Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” She glanced pointedly at Song-Ye, who shrugged.
“Sure, why not?”
“Right. So we’ve all accepted reality, now?” King asked in a quiet voice.
JJ pursed her lips. “Thing is, in our reality, there
is
no moonbase. We’re not even close. Something like this has got to be way in the future. Unless … what year was this base built?”
Major Fox shot her a hard look. “I thought we were past all of the silly questions.”
Ansari glanced at Fox, then answered, “Moonbase Magellan was established in 2082. We have had successful operations for decades, but now there’s talk of decommissioning it.”
“So … how old does that make the base, then?” Dyl asked.
“Cadets these days.” Fox shook his head in disgust. “Can you really not add or subtract without a calculator? It’s been thirty-eight years, of course.”
“That means it’s 2120,” King said under his breath.
“You have
got
to be kidding me,” Song-Ye muttered. JJ grinned.
“Sounds about right,” Dyl whispered back.
Chief Ansari gestured for them to follow her again as she shoved them around the hab bubble. “This is where you’ll be sleeping. As you can see, there are plenty of sleep modules, since the base was designed for a larger crew. Make yourselves comfortable while Major Fox and I go check in with Earth. Maybe we’ll get further instructions.”
“Or answers,” Fox said.
The compact sleep quarters were like oversized cabinets. JJ had expected to be more crowded, with several bunks to a room, but the modules were individual. Considering the long assignments on Moonbase Magellan, giving the crew a bit of personal privacy was probably a good idea. Eight of the identical rooms stood empty; each contained a bunk and had a small porthole that looked out onto the bleak but intriguing cratered surface.
JJ chose at random. “I’ll take this one.”
Song-Ye gave her an incredulous look. “Are you crazy? We can’t
stay
here!” She pushed up the sleeve of her blue uniform and looked at her wristwatch. “It’s already past one. What happens in a few hours when Winston shows up and I’m not there? My parents will file a police report and have the National Guard out looking for me if I don’t come home tonight! They’ll probably arrest Mr. Zota.”
Dyl looked uncomfortable. “Mom is expecting us back, JJ. Everybody’s going to be worried about us.”
“We’re all in the same situation,” King said. “But that doesn’t help us get home. It’s pretty clear that Chief Ansari and Major Fox don’t know what to do with us.”
“Okay, what’s the plan, then?” JJ asked. “This could take a lot longer than an hour or two. It might even take days. Do you expect us just to stay awake until we find a way to get back?”
Song-Ye hesitated. “Maybe we’re already asleep and dreaming.”
“We wouldn’t all have the same dream,” JJ said.
“Then maybe this is just
my
dream,” Song-Ye countered. With a grimace of annoyance, she took out her cell phone, slid it open, and hit speed dial. She moved away and put the phone to her ear. “I’m calling my father, to see if he can get us out of here.”
King looked at her. “Is it working?”
Song-Ye shook her head, glaring at the small screen, which unhelpfully stated
No Signal.
“Nothing.”
“The limo doesn’t have a big enough gas tank to get to the Moon, anyway,” Dyl said.
JJ said, “Can’t blame you for trying, though.”
“This is a problem,” Dyl said. “We couldn’t have been transported to the Moon
by accident.
Commander Zota has to have a plan, doesn’t he?”
JJ wasn’t big on worrying, or on talking things around and around. This was an adventure, something she would have
chosen
to do if anyone had asked. Couldn’t everyone just accept the situation and get with the program? “Guys, stop worrying so much and pay attention to the amazing thing that’s going on here. We’re on the Moon! We’ve got a chance to do something incredible, something none of us ever expected to do. Relax and enjoy it.”
“How can I relax,” Song-Ye asked, “when I know how upset my parents are going to be?”
Dyl said quietly to JJ, “Shouldn’t we at least try to contact someone—Commander Zota maybe? I mean, I’ve got a lot of questions for him, don’t you? We’re kinda stuck here, and that’s not exactly a comforting thought.”
“If you have any ideas, I’m all ears.” JJ waved her hand around the room. “Can’t send a text message, no cell phone reception—we don’t even know if there
are
cell phones anymore, come to think of it, or even if the Internet still exists. Zota didn’t answer our suit helmet radios.” She didn’t add that if this really was 2120, everyone they knew was probably dead. No, she couldn’t think like that.
King cautiously cleared his throat. “Until we understand more about what we’re doing here, maybe we shouldn’t tell them we’re from the past.”
“If that’s really what’s going on,” Song-Ye said.
“Why not tell them—because it makes us sound crazy?” JJ said. “As if showing up on the Moon without a spaceship isn’t crazy enough already?”
“Or because we might create a time paradox. I’ve seen it a million times. King’s right, we’d better be careful.” Dyl went over to sit at the small, metal-topped table the crew used for eating their meals. He sank into the chair, deep in thought. “If this were an episode of
Star Trek,
we’d find a way to use the comm console in the MCC to get a message to Mr. Zota.”
Everyone looked expectantly at him. “And?” King said. “Then what?”
Dyl thought for a moment. “What I
want
is for someone who knows what’s going on to explain it to us. But in an episode of
Star Trek,
we’d have to use our own ingenuity to solve our problems, find a way to reverse whatever happened, and get back to Earth and our time.”
“Sure, sounds simple enough.” King’s tone was light. “So, as I understand it, the plan is to … use our wits?”
JJ smiled. “I’m in, since that’s what I was planning to do anyway. All we have to do is be brilliant. You know—act natural.”
“Maybe we should do a twelfth-order diagnostic of the fleem hyperducts,” Dyl said.
Song-Ye gave him a withering glare. “This isn’t some stupid TV show, Junior.”
Dylan pretended to turn on an imaginary recorder and speak into it. “Hypothesis: Reluctant time traveler Song-Ye Park is no ordinary human. She is an android whose programming is incomplete. Therefore she lacks humor and imagination.” He turned off the imaginary recorder.
“lt’d explain a lot,” JJ chuckled, while Song-Ye fumed at Dyl. “Then again, your hypothesis may need some work. Meanwhile, we’re on a moonbase. I say we jump in with both feet and try to figure out what Commander Zota has planned for us.”
***
Seven
Though Major Fox was still suspicious of the young newcomers at Moonbase Magellan, he saw advantages to having them there. “We have our orders, and you have the proper clearance. I shan’t look a gift horse in the mouth. There’s always work to be done on the moonbase and not enough personnel to accomplish it. I could use some assistance outside. The new solar-power array isn’t going to install itself.”
“Walk on the Moon?” Dyl asked, his expression dubious. “That’s kind of dangerous, isn’t it? Commander Zota didn’t—”
JJ’s heart pounded with excitement, but she tried to act professional. “If you need us on a job outside, Major, we’d be happy to help.” To her brother she added in a low voice. “Find your spirit of adventure, Dyl. Look how well you’re walking already. This is a perfect chance to test how much better you can move here on the Moon.” Her mind boggled at the very thought of treading on the lunar surface, leaving footprints just like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did. In JJ’s time, only twelve men had walked on the Moon! And now she and her friends were here, boldly going where … where, only a handful of people had gone before.
“You don’t have to twist my arm to do a moonwalk,” King said, “even if we do have to go through all the work of putting our suits back on.” He started humming “Walking on the Moon.”
Fox spoke over the humming, as he led them back to the ESM to gather their suits and equipment. “With only four crew for some time now, important secondary projects have been put on hold. However, your unexpected arrival has doubled our complement. The classified message instructed us to put you to work—and we certainly have plenty to do.”
JJ turned to the others. “We’re here for a reason. We can’t waste a chance like this.”
In a low voice, King said, “I’ve learned not to second-guess a lucky break.”
“This isn’t exactly luck,” Major Fox said in his dry British accent. “I shall expect each of you to pull your own weight.”
“No problem with the weight,” Dyl spoke up. “Especially since here we only weigh a sixth of what we’re used to.”
The others groaned or chuckled, but Major Fox was all business. He pressed his thin lips together and inspected the four new arrivals. “Apparently, you are all eminently qualified?”
“Commander Zota thought so,” JJ evaded. “And we’re fast learners.”
She wished she had better explanations, but the situation was still confusing … not that she was complaining. It still hadn’t entirely sunk in that they were actually on
the Moon,
not in some elaborate simulation.
Back on Earth, these bulky spacesuits had seemed so real because they
were
real, and now the four teens would wear them outside. As far as she knew, even this far in the future, they were the youngest people ever to set foot on the Moon.
Remembering Commander Zota’s instruction, and accepting assistance from Major Fox, the four newest crewmembers at Moonbase Magellan went through the complex steps of donning their spacesuits once more, following the steps on the checklists. Major Fox told them they would likely be inside those suits for six or seven hours to complete the day’s work. This time Song-Ye didn’t complain about the diaper.
They sealed their helmets, and soon all the systems lights glowed green. JJ’s suit radio tested properly, and air flowed, producing a metallic taste as she breathed it inside her helmet.
Eager to explore, JJ hurried to the airlock door and grabbed the wheel on the inner hatch to open it. Fox spoke over the suit radio, stopping her. “Not so quickly, Cadet Wren. Speed is the enemy of caution. That airlock is the final barrier of protection between these habitable modules and the harsh external environment.”
JJ felt a flash of irritation. Something about the man’s words struck her as condescending.
Dyl instantly came to her defense. “Believe me, Major, my sister knows how important airlocks are. She’s a space
nut
and can tell you about every mission from the 1950s through the Space Shuttle program. I’m pretty familiar with how airlocks work myself.”
JJ suppressed a chuckle. Her brother’s love of science fiction didn’t give him actual experience with airlocks, but he understood the concept. Knowing that her brother couldn’t see her smile through the tinted faceplate, she thanked him with a clumsy thumbs-up signal.
Fox, who seemed a bit confused by Dyl’s outburst, herded them all into the large airlock chamber and turned to the control panel. “We must of course seal the inner door before we can open the outer one.”
He secured the inner hatch with a loud
clunk.
Dyl stood well away from the doors of the airlock. Song-Ye impatiently reached out to release the outer hatch, but Fox stopped her. “This chamber is still filled with air, Cadet.”
“What’s the difference?” Song-Ye asked. “The inner hatch is already sealed.”
“If you open that hatch now, we’ll all be expelled with the outrush of atmosphere.”
“It would waste the moonbase’s air too,” JJ added. Fox tapped a gauge on the wall that showed the air pressure dropping. “We’re currently draining the air into reservoir tanks. Just be patient a bit longer.”
“I can see why a person wouldn’t want to come back inside just for a short bathroom break,” King said. “Getting in and out is kind of a pain.”
“It’ll be worth the trouble just to be out there,” JJ whispered, more to herself than the others, but the voice pickup transmitted her words.
“Don’t I know it,” King agreed, chuckling.
Finally, when the lights on the external door panel turned green, Major Fox grasped the hatch wheel with both gloved hands and released the outer hatch. The last faint traces of air escaped into the black starry void.
JJ looked out upon the lunar surface.
Moon, sweet Moon.
She had dreamed about this for years.
I’m really here.
Through her helmet visor, she stared out into the velvety black sky studded with an inconceivable number of bright stars. No blue skies on the Moon because there was no atmosphere. A band of the Milky Way that looked like a misty river arced overhead from horizon to horizon. Before them lay a blisteringly bare tan landscape dotted with ancient craters.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Fox announced, “Welcome to the Moon.”
***
