Read Online The Commander by CJ Williams - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: CJ Williams
Tags: Science-Fiction, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Genetic engineering, post apocalyptic, alien invasion, Hard Science Fiction, first contact
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the world that takes things like that into consideration. When can we have it?”
“It will take quite some time to complete the design and fabrication. Can you give me an hour, perhaps?”
Day 180—Population 176
“Well.” Annie gave Luke a big grin. “This is the big day.”
“I know. And I’m scared to death,” he admitted.
They were sitting in his office in the Baggs airport terminal building. In just two hours, the shuttle buses would arrive from Reno with almost one hundred and fifty new recruits. That would practically double the moon’s population in one stroke.
The passenger list covered a broad spectrum of skill sets. It included medical personnel, laborers, teachers, architects, previous restaurant owners, and much more. It had been six months since Sam’s departure.
“You worry too much.”
“That’s because I keep thinking of things to worry about.”
“Too late now,” she said. “There’s going to be another hundred and fifty next week, and then again every week after that. I thought you’d be bringing in new groups every day, the way you’ve been going on about how far we’re behind schedule.”
“If things go smoothly, we’ll get to that point soon enough. Tonight, I just want everyone to board the aircraft without anyone going ballistic.”
The Boeing 737 look-alike shuttle would arrive just before the buses. The onboard AI, named Ashley , performed flawlessly. In fact, early on she was quite affronted when Luke insisted on several test flights back and forth to Earth.
Luke worried about dynamic stress on her wings but his concern proved unfounded. She tried to describe the molecular structure that gave her body such strength but it was way over Luke’s head.
“I’m a history major,” he finally told her. “Aerodynamics is a bit beyond me. But I’m convinced you won’t break.”
Luke recruited a team of four flight attendants whose role was crucial. On the Boeing look-alike, they had to keep the passengers’ minds at ease from takeoff to arrival at Moonbase. If anyone totally freaked out Luke would return them to Earth.
Annie made several suggestions about dealing with troublemakers but Roth prevailed against her more ruthless solutions. “There are plenty of alien abduction stories out there,” he told her. “If anyone goes off the deep end, we’ll send them home and they’ll just be one more.”
After building the faux-Boeing 737, George went a step further and created a Gulfstream-looking shuttle. Luke had flown the faux-Gulfstream, Winifred , on multiple occasions during recruitment trips of smaller groups. In particular, it had played a role in recruiting the last medical team he’d hired. Still, a close examination by someone knowledgeable in aviation would reveal the charade; they were spaceships after all, not aluminum aircraft.
Luke’s policy was that the Boeing lookalike would only fly in at night. And the aircraft would never be left alone on the flight line. Luke didn’t want to tempt anyone’s curiosity by leaving an actual spaceship, no matter what it looked like, unattended at the desolate airport.
He remained paranoid about security. Other than Luke and Annie, only the flight attendants were allowed to make return trips to Earth, and then it was just to turn around and come back with the passengers.
The most important clause in everyone’s employment contract was that they signed up for one year. The recruiting agencies stressed that during the first year, no one was allowed to return home. The one thing they couldn’t afford at this stage was to let the American public know that a space-faring culture was forming right in their very midst.
Annie pointed out the office window where the sun was disappearing behind the horizon. “Here come our ladies.”
The Boeing-like shuttle was on final approach. To outward appearances Ashley looked exactly like the popular B-737 airliner. She was adept at simulating a touchdown, hovering just a
“It will take quite some time to complete the design and fabrication. Can you give me an hour, perhaps?”
Day 180—Population 176
“Well.” Annie gave Luke a big grin. “This is the big day.”
“I know. And I’m scared to death,” he admitted.
They were sitting in his office in the Baggs airport terminal building. In just two hours, the shuttle buses would arrive from Reno with almost one hundred and fifty new recruits. That would practically double the moon’s population in one stroke.
The passenger list covered a broad spectrum of skill sets. It included medical personnel, laborers, teachers, architects, previous restaurant owners, and much more. It had been six months since Sam’s departure.
“You worry too much.”
“That’s because I keep thinking of things to worry about.”
“Too late now,” she said. “There’s going to be another hundred and fifty next week, and then again every week after that. I thought you’d be bringing in new groups every day, the way you’ve been going on about how far we’re behind schedule.”
“If things go smoothly, we’ll get to that point soon enough. Tonight, I just want everyone to board the aircraft without anyone going ballistic.”
The Boeing 737 look-alike shuttle would arrive just before the buses. The onboard AI, named Ashley , performed flawlessly. In fact, early on she was quite affronted when Luke insisted on several test flights back and forth to Earth.
Luke worried about dynamic stress on her wings but his concern proved unfounded. She tried to describe the molecular structure that gave her body such strength but it was way over Luke’s head.
“I’m a history major,” he finally told her. “Aerodynamics is a bit beyond me. But I’m convinced you won’t break.”
Luke recruited a team of four flight attendants whose role was crucial. On the Boeing look-alike, they had to keep the passengers’ minds at ease from takeoff to arrival at Moonbase. If anyone totally freaked out Luke would return them to Earth.
Annie made several suggestions about dealing with troublemakers but Roth prevailed against her more ruthless solutions. “There are plenty of alien abduction stories out there,” he told her. “If anyone goes off the deep end, we’ll send them home and they’ll just be one more.”
After building the faux-Boeing 737, George went a step further and created a Gulfstream-looking shuttle. Luke had flown the faux-Gulfstream, Winifred , on multiple occasions during recruitment trips of smaller groups. In particular, it had played a role in recruiting the last medical team he’d hired. Still, a close examination by someone knowledgeable in aviation would reveal the charade; they were spaceships after all, not aluminum aircraft.
Luke’s policy was that the Boeing lookalike would only fly in at night. And the aircraft would never be left alone on the flight line. Luke didn’t want to tempt anyone’s curiosity by leaving an actual spaceship, no matter what it looked like, unattended at the desolate airport.
He remained paranoid about security. Other than Luke and Annie, only the flight attendants were allowed to make return trips to Earth, and then it was just to turn around and come back with the passengers.
The most important clause in everyone’s employment contract was that they signed up for one year. The recruiting agencies stressed that during the first year, no one was allowed to return home. The one thing they couldn’t afford at this stage was to let the American public know that a space-faring culture was forming right in their very midst.
Annie pointed out the office window where the sun was disappearing behind the horizon. “Here come our ladies.”
The Boeing-like shuttle was on final approach. To outward appearances Ashley looked exactly like the popular B-737 airliner. She was adept at simulating a touchdown, hovering just a
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