The Inner Circle (40 page)

In the blink of an eye, every single one of the dozens of computers again linked up to the real readings from the space probe, which now displaying the correct readings. With Armour content that everything was running properly, he abandoned this computer and walked over to the communications section of the room. He typed a few commands into this computer to locate the proper frequency to the probe's radio. When that was ready, he sent the first of several communications he expected to make over the next few years to Neil Peterson.

"Armour here. Do you read me, Neil? Over."

The probe had already traveled thousands of miles, which caused a short delay in the transmission of the radio waves to their destination. After twenty or thirty seconds, a voice came back loud and clear.

"I read you James. Good to hear your voice. Over."

"Good to hear your voice as well. The probe sure gave us quite a fright on the launch. We began to wonder if we’d ever hear from you again. Over," Armour transmitted.

Armour found the delayed pauses in communication quite annoying, though he knew that in the coming years, the delays would grow longer and longer, eventually reaching hours between each transmission.

"It gave me a fright as well. There was a problem with the main thrusters so I was forced to divert power from the nuke launcher. I guess my role on board here just got a bit more important. Over."

"More important? I'd say completely crucial. You will have to fly the probe even closer to the comet now than originally expected and set the nuke off manually. I hope you're up for a greater challenge. Over."

"I am a bit disappointed. I was looking forward to living those few extra seconds to see the nukes shoot toward the comet and explode. Now I'll be incinerated even quicker. Over."

Armour marveled at the doomed astronaut's sense of humor and sarcastic tone of voice. Being a former astronaut himself, Armour did not understand how a man who was sent on a mission to die could still view his ill-fated situation as comical.

"You sure have a better outlook on this than I would," Armour answered. "I suppose you noticed that I had to change the probe's coordinates and begin Phase Two earlier than expected. We had to avoid any methodical investigations by NASA workers into the unexplained power surge to the thrusters. Over."

"I figured that. I wasn't very surprised when the probe's power shut down and the computer changed course soon after breaking free of the Earth's atmosphere. You think anyone has an idea about what's going on? Over."

"None whatsoever. Even though things haven't been going completely as planned, we couldn't have hoped for them to fall into place better they have. Over."

"That's good. And a part of me is glad that my goal in this mission has now changed. Knowing that I'm responsible for the outcome of the mission gives me a much greater incentive to survive until its conclusion, even if I'll be in terrible shape by the end. Over."

"No, I suppose your health won't be too good," Armour said, trying to hide the major fear they all felt about the mission now. Although the 'Inner Circle' thought that Peterson should be able to survive the next four and a half years, there was no way to tell what kind of physical toll the mission would take on his body. "I have to go now, talking for too long is a risk we should try to limit. I'll be back to communicate with you in a few months or so. Over."

Armour felt that transmitting with the probe should be ninety-nine percent secure, but that last one percent was enough to keep him cautious.

"Okay. I just have one small favor to ask. Could you check in on my daughter from time to time? Just to make sure she’s okay? Over."

"I would be honored. Good luck. Over and out."

Armour ended the communication by turning off the radio. He walked back over to the main computer system and unplugged the laptop, watching as all of the computer systems returned to their blank readings. Once the laptop was securely back in his briefcase, he shut the whole system down again, watching as all of the power shut off, listening to the return of silence.

He left mission control, locking the door behind him. Walking back down the empty halls, Armour silently prayed that Peterson would survive to the end of this perilous journey. The easy part was now over; from here on out, things would start to get difficult.

-
         
Kevin

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COMET CLEMENT SERIES

BOOK ONE – THE INNER CIRCLE

BOOK TWO – INTERCEPTION

BOOK THREE – THE NEW SPACE RACE

BOOK FOUR – THE THREE ARKS

BOOK FIVE – EVACUATION EARTH

BOOK SIX – THE FINAL DAYS

BOOK SEVEN – IMPACT coming soon…

KEEPER OF THE WATER TRILOGY

DRINKING LIFE – part one

RECRUITS – part two

Part three coming Winter 2012…

FLEA’S FIVE CHRISTMASES

THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE – FLEA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS

THE RUDOLPH CHALLENGE – FLEA’S SECOND CHRISTMAS

THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE – FLEA’S THIRD CHRISTMAS

THE FROSTIE CHALLENGE – FLEA’S FOURTH CHRISTMAS

THE SOUTH POLE CHALLENGE – FLEA’S FIFTH AND FINAL CHRISTMAS

LIFE, INC. – If you could find out the exact moment of your death, would you? If you had the chance to see a deceased loved one for one last day – at the price of one year of your life – would you? These are the questions that Life, Inc. wants to know…