Read Online Vessel by Andrew J. Morgan - Free Book Online
Authors: Andrew J. Morgan
Tags: Science-Fiction, SciFi
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the response came. 'Note down your findings and get them sent over to me right away. And keep digging — when we find out what's going on here, this story will go straight to press, front page.'
'Will do.'
* * *
'I want you to meet Robert Gardner,' Bales said, introducing a smart, keen-eyed gentleman to a nervous Sally Fisher.
'Hi ma'am,' Gardner said in a strong, Virginian accent, holding out a hand. Sally hesitated, took it, and they shook.
'Robert here will be piloting you to the International Space Station. He's a superb astronaut, and we're very lucky to have him.'
Gardner grinned, straight white teeth beaming underneath tanned cheeks. 'You're too kind, John. I'm just thankful you brought me along for the ride.'
Bales ushered the pair into the corridor and they wandered along, Bales taking the lead.
'What do you think of Kazakhstan?' Bales asked Sally.
'It's ok ay,' Sally said. When they'd arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, it was deserted; now it was full of staff busying themselves in preparation for tomorrow's launch.
Bales led them into a large room at the end of the corridor, a space similar to the Mission Control room in Korolyov — except instead of three large screens, there was a single window. A huge window. Outside, a wide expanse of dusty-grey desert filled the view, impossibly blue skies resting atop a horizon that seemed to stretch to infinity. In the middle of the window, at the end of a narrow road, a tube, flared at the bottom, pinched at the top, stood tall.
'It's a beauty, isn't it?' Gardner grinned, hands on hips, taught arms flexing under his navy blue polo shirt. Sally nodded, not wanting to be rude. To her, the rocket seemed spindly and delicate, an ugly thing.
'Please, take a seat,' Bales offered, gesturing to an empty row of chairs. They sat, and Bales took out his touch pad.
'Gardner has been fully briefed in his role to transport you to the ISS. He will also serve to assist you in your duties and protect you if —'
'Wait,' Sally said, sitting up in her chair, ' protect me?'
Bales looked to Gardner and back to Sally. 'We haven't had any kind of communication with the crew of the ISS for weeks now. Chances are the solar storm disabled the antennae array and that everything else is fine, but we need to be certain that you remain unharmed. The ISS can be a lonely, claustrophobic place, and it may have had an adverse effect on some of the crew. It's just a precaution — there's no need to worry.'
Sally relaxed a fraction, but nevertheless she found it hard to continue concentrating on what Bales was saying , her mind conjuring up all sorts of dire scenarios that involved her inevitable death.
'The current crew are a good crew, but they are not the right crew for this mission. You, Sally, are the right crew for this mission. The ISS is endowed with some of the world's best research facilities, and your primary focus — your only focus — is to make contact with UV One.'
Sally felt a million miles out of her depth, an imposter in a world that did not belong to her, or her to it. She swallowed the lump back down her throat and nodded.
'I know this seems complicated, but you'll do just great. There's no need to rush i nto anything — in fact we want you to take your time, plan your methodology and do things slowly. You'll be returning to us in seven weeks. That'll give you plenty of time, and it'll probably be over before you know it.' He slapped his knees and stood. 'Well,' he said, his tune cheerful, 'I suggest you get plenty of rest this evening. I'll send someone to fetch you at zero eight hundred hours tomorrow morning.' He gave a nod and left the room.
Sally looked at Gardner, who was staring out the window at Soyuz.
'Ha ve you been to space before?' she asked him. He looked back at her, all teeth.
'Yes ma'am, I have.'
'Please, call me Sally. How many times?'
'Twice : TMA Four and TMA Eight.'
'What's it like?'
'Space? It's incredible, like nothing you've
'Will do.'
* * *
'I want you to meet Robert Gardner,' Bales said, introducing a smart, keen-eyed gentleman to a nervous Sally Fisher.
'Hi ma'am,' Gardner said in a strong, Virginian accent, holding out a hand. Sally hesitated, took it, and they shook.
'Robert here will be piloting you to the International Space Station. He's a superb astronaut, and we're very lucky to have him.'
Gardner grinned, straight white teeth beaming underneath tanned cheeks. 'You're too kind, John. I'm just thankful you brought me along for the ride.'
Bales ushered the pair into the corridor and they wandered along, Bales taking the lead.
'What do you think of Kazakhstan?' Bales asked Sally.
'It's ok ay,' Sally said. When they'd arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, it was deserted; now it was full of staff busying themselves in preparation for tomorrow's launch.
Bales led them into a large room at the end of the corridor, a space similar to the Mission Control room in Korolyov — except instead of three large screens, there was a single window. A huge window. Outside, a wide expanse of dusty-grey desert filled the view, impossibly blue skies resting atop a horizon that seemed to stretch to infinity. In the middle of the window, at the end of a narrow road, a tube, flared at the bottom, pinched at the top, stood tall.
'It's a beauty, isn't it?' Gardner grinned, hands on hips, taught arms flexing under his navy blue polo shirt. Sally nodded, not wanting to be rude. To her, the rocket seemed spindly and delicate, an ugly thing.
'Please, take a seat,' Bales offered, gesturing to an empty row of chairs. They sat, and Bales took out his touch pad.
'Gardner has been fully briefed in his role to transport you to the ISS. He will also serve to assist you in your duties and protect you if —'
'Wait,' Sally said, sitting up in her chair, ' protect me?'
Bales looked to Gardner and back to Sally. 'We haven't had any kind of communication with the crew of the ISS for weeks now. Chances are the solar storm disabled the antennae array and that everything else is fine, but we need to be certain that you remain unharmed. The ISS can be a lonely, claustrophobic place, and it may have had an adverse effect on some of the crew. It's just a precaution — there's no need to worry.'
Sally relaxed a fraction, but nevertheless she found it hard to continue concentrating on what Bales was saying , her mind conjuring up all sorts of dire scenarios that involved her inevitable death.
'The current crew are a good crew, but they are not the right crew for this mission. You, Sally, are the right crew for this mission. The ISS is endowed with some of the world's best research facilities, and your primary focus — your only focus — is to make contact with UV One.'
Sally felt a million miles out of her depth, an imposter in a world that did not belong to her, or her to it. She swallowed the lump back down her throat and nodded.
'I know this seems complicated, but you'll do just great. There's no need to rush i nto anything — in fact we want you to take your time, plan your methodology and do things slowly. You'll be returning to us in seven weeks. That'll give you plenty of time, and it'll probably be over before you know it.' He slapped his knees and stood. 'Well,' he said, his tune cheerful, 'I suggest you get plenty of rest this evening. I'll send someone to fetch you at zero eight hundred hours tomorrow morning.' He gave a nod and left the room.
Sally looked at Gardner, who was staring out the window at Soyuz.
'Ha ve you been to space before?' she asked him. He looked back at her, all teeth.
'Yes ma'am, I have.'
'Please, call me Sally. How many times?'
'Twice : TMA Four and TMA Eight.'
'What's it like?'
'Space? It's incredible, like nothing you've
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