Regan's Reach 2: Orbital Envy (7 page)

"Thanks Regan," She didn't hesitate to switch to first names, "And its Leah, I realize you're the big wheel here but I
would
like to be on friendly terms." She stretched out a hand again and they shook warmly. She quickly continued, "Butch, he's not a bad guy, we were both just so keyed up about coming here. He knows he's put his foot in it and I just wanted to say, give him, us, a second chance. We feel like we've won the lottery coming here, truly, we don't want to blow it."

Regan couldn't help smiling, "So you're the diplomat?"

"You wouldn't say that if you knew me better," and she laughed infectiously, "but I am the smart one!"

"I think I'd like that Leah, to get to know you better. Walk with me."

They continued up the corridor, passing the compound and completing the full two point three kilometers end to end, chatting like old friends and only stopping on reaching the construction zone. Without thinking Regan called up a wall visual of the space beyond and suddenly, there in all its glory was the moon, off in the far distance but impressive nonetheless. Regan began explaining that the pipe would eventually extend a further seven hundred meters beyond that point, including the moonward flight decks, before realizing Leah was looking at her, mouth gaping.

"How did you do that?" she asked, breathless and turning back to take in the stunning view.

"Uh . . . it switches on for visitors automatically," she quickly replied. "Isn't that beautiful?"

[Regan?]

"What is it Ham?"

[Sorry to break up the love fest', but something's up, with the Russians. I think you should get to control]

[Damn, and I was just starting to enjoy myself]

Regan turned back to the Major, to catch a strange look on her face.

"Who were you talking to then, have you got an ear piece or something?"

"Between friends?" and she cocked her head, smiling conspiratorially, "Yeah, it's something like that. Look Leah, I'm really sorry to cut this short but some business has come up that I need to attend to. I'll walk back half way with you then I'm sure you'll find your way."

"No problem, it's been great already, thank you. I can tell this is going to be bomb!"

Regan smiled at the choice of words remembering Jared's construction, disturbingly effective under Ham's questionable tutelage. They started back soon chatting animatedly until Regan paused opposite The STEIN.

"I'll leave you here Leah, it's been fun and it's nice to say that. The USD Liaison will meet you as you continue down. We can talk another time."

"Thanks," she replied, "I'd like that." Regan just stood there smiling, so Leah turned and started back. She took a few steps then paused, swiveling back. Somehow thanks didn't express how grateful she was to be here. But Regan was gone. Leah stood there for a moment, the hairs on the back of her neck rising. Her eyes instinctively lifted to the ceiling window, and The STEIN, hanging there in space five hundred meters away.
Beam me up Scotty . . . Surely not?
A burst of excitement shot through her and she began to run, occasionally skipping like a child, drawing strange looks as she made her way down the wide corridor toward the familiar man she could see in uniform approaching through the other busy walkers.

Sitting in Control Regan and Ham reviewed the recordings from the little ADF. Not a real time feed it was sufficiently delayed to arouse concern.

"So, how long do you think they have?" Regan's eyes were glued to the Russian shuttle. It made her dizzy just thinking about what it would be like on board.

"The latest data seems to indicate the irregular thrusts are slowing but each one is like using your hand to keep a ball spinning except here in vacuum there's no resistance. The thrusts look significant but they're like tiny puffs. Still with each one the spin will get faster."

"Cut to the chase Ham . . . how long?"

"I would have said it should be over by now but clearly it isn't. If you watch carefully there is a counterthrust occasionally which slows the spin but it still doesn't look good. I guess they're trying to regain control."

"Have they requested assistance?"

"Not yet, what should we do?"

"We should be ready Ham but help won't be welcomed if they're more concerned with saving face. Where's the Tenzing?" She looked thoughtful.

"It's on the way up from Base Camp. Fully laden but there would be space for, maybe five if they're prepared to get familiar."

"Redirect it to the moon pronto and don't worry about giving away our speed, just get there. We can hold off and be ready if we're called upon. How long would it take?"

"She's almost here at the pipe so if we steam on by we could be there in a couple of hours without drawing attention. What about the shuttle, it's heading away from us and we don't even know if anyone's alive there?"

I'll take an Interceptor,
if
they ask for help. We don't want the Russians accusing us of interfering at the moment. Sub me if you hear anything, I'm going for a shower and I guess this is as good a time as any to try the new suit."

Down at the earthward rim As Regan tried her suit Leah Morgan was herself just exiting the bathroom after a luxurious twenty minute soak. Towel wrapped around her she was a tantalizing prospect for Butch but he knew better. For him at least, Leah Morgan was a No Go Zone. He mused on that ruefully but still couldn't keep his eyes off her as she moved about the generous room.

"So what's your room like Butch?" she asked.

"Just like this. More than I expected actually. Everything works which is a change. No mini bar or anything to eat or drink, but Peter, he's the liaison guy; he said he'd explain our options after we'd cleaned up. He let me look in on his own place as we passed. It's like a small apartment. When I commented that I was surprised, you know what he said? He said, of course this is an apartment, this is my home, like it was permanent or something." Butch sounded shocked.

"Well perhaps it is . . ." Leah looked thoughtful, "his long term home I mean. This place is huge and getting bigger by the day. Regan said there are even children here. Her son and her brother's children, and they're gearing up for more. This is going to be a community."

"She has a son? Huh, the big guy's I guess." Butch paused, thinking, "Sex with an alien, wonder what that's like?"

"Well, as you were saying today, you've always been Butch, maybe you'd like it, and he seems like a nice guy." She kept a poker face until he made a grab for her towel.

"Morgan if you spread that crap I'll eject you into vacuum." he groaned and covered his face with his hands. "What the fuck was I thinking?" She laughed and headed back to the bathroom to put on the ship suit provided. He continued talking, calling through the door. "So, what was she like?"

"I like her, and you will too if you can just keep that massive ego under control. She's self made Butch, not some Bimbo. Don't be such a chauvinist and you'll get on fine."

"Pick up any good intel?"

She came back into the room and glared at him. "No, and I'm not here for that. You should drop that thinking too, quick smart or you'll be on the first shuttle out of here. We're here to learn yes, and build good relations. But I am
not
a spy . . . are you?"

"Shit no, but I am military, I'm naturally interested, what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing I guess, but sometimes our interest seems less like a partner and more like a predator. We're in space Butch; it's really cold out there. It's not about who's in the lead here it's about who's prepared to work beside you." She paused, "Butch, think about it, we need them more than they need us. Be nice."

A loud buzz sounded from somewhere and they looked around. Leah spoke first. "Halloo?"

"Leah, it's Regan, something's come up and I thought you and hotshot might like to be involved. It's a real space rescue, what do you say?"

Butch raised his eyebrows and nodded enthusiastically.

"Do we want to be involved? Wow, has hotshot always been butch? Of course we would. What do we do?" She felt a sharp thump and rubbed her shoulder furiously.

"Head down to the USD flight deck and I'll pick you up from there in fifteen minutes. I'll tell you about all the excitement then."

"It's a date Regan." She turned back to Butch excitedly. He just looked at her. She spread her arms questioningly . . . "What?"

He stood and headed for the door. "Come on, we don't want to miss your date now do we?"

Although they'd seen an interceptor before on screen, to be walking up to one was intimidating. Sections of the top of The STEIN, the two interceptors, each a huge curved wing spanning twenty six meters tip to tip and twelve meters from nose to tail, had undeniable presence. The intimidating aspect of their look came partly from the shape, but mostly from the featureless, windowless surface. Matt black, looking like segments cut out of a sphere, which they were, the interceptors were unsettling. Not much more could be said. Adding to their unease was the view from a distance; it appeared to be floating above the surface of the deck. A section of the rear wall irised open as they approached and they stepped up nervously, like schoolchildren on their first school trip. Butch bounced on the floor, amazed there was no movement with their added weight. They stepped into a wide cockpit area seating four in a row. At eight meters side to side and around four meters front to back the space still seemed generous. They could see doors either side and out of one to the left stepped Regan, coffee in hand. Behind her they could see a small galley. Leah's eyes widened. Regan's suit was different. Still mostly black and skin tight but belted at the waste with attachments. The collar was higher and curving panels at the sides in silver grey seemed to accentuate her figure.

"Girl I've got to have me one of those!" She blurted it out without thinking and Regan laughed.

"Got to say, I like it too. You never know Leah, stick around long enough and I might find one for you."

[Oh please, what was it you said to me? Get . . . a . . . room!]

Butch stepped forward and extended his hand. "Thanks for having me on this trip, whatever it is. I wouldn't have blamed you for leaving me. I was a jackass and I know it."

She took his hand and smiled. "Thanks, and in the interests of international friendship I'd like us to start off on a new foot. Don't take this the wrong way, but as a Kiwi, I'm sorry, I just can't call you Butch. If it's OK with you I'd like to make it Rod. I can live with that. Think of it as a term of endearment."

He smiled. "That'll make you just like my mom."

"Hmm, not quite the association I was looking for but until we find something better, Rod it is. Well, let's get going, I'll fill you in as we move, take a seat guys."

Leah held back but Rod made straight for one of the centre seats.

Regan pulled him up. "Ahhh, Rod, that's my seat."

He stopped quickly and then moved for the other centre position.

"And that's Leah's Rod, sorry, I should have said, perhaps take the one on the left, that's nearer the toilet. It can be handy."

Leah couldn't help smiling as she took her seat and Regan joined her. Rod slipped chastened into his. Regan then shuffled her feet up under her and settled in.

"Take it away Ham."

The screen lit up in front of them, dazzling in its clarity and they smoothly, without any perceptible g force or sound slipped out of the flight deck, through the field bubble on the edge of the USD inner ring and out into space. Earth hung there, beautiful in the distance. The passengers both gasped at its suddenness and as Ham swung them in a curving arc away from the planet the path gave them for the second time a view of the pipe, Hillary Station, but this time in brilliant wall to wall clarity.

"Ho-ly fuck." Rod almost fell forward from his seat. Leah was spellbound, gripping the arms, tingling down her arms and back. It was spectacular and all the more as the moon came into view, their destination clear.

"You're not flying this thing," Rod observed.

"No, for that we have the best Pilot in the game, I'd like to introduce you to Ham. You know computers and software are my game; well when I started working on AI's to fly the ADF's I never envisaged meeting Ham. Ham flies the interceptors and sorts out most other things around Hillary. I'll say this once and hope you don't need to find out the hard way. Ham is my partner. He is not just an AI; he is a mind beyond your imagination, a great friend and a terrible enemy. From now on you can address him any time you like if you need anything and I encourage you to do so. Ham, It's my pleasure to formally introduce Leah and Rod. I know you will make them welcome."

[Just one correction, I think I'm a great enemy] He took over smoothly. "Welcome to you both. This mission, should you decide to accept it haha, involves the rescue of two Russian Cosmonauts who have found themselves stuck in a high speed blender. We hope to get there while there are still chunky bits worth saving."

Leah stole a glance at Rod. He was sitting wide eyed and disbelieving.

Regan interrupted with a sigh. "To give you the Readers Digest version, we've been following the Russian moon expedition out of general interest and noticed a day ago they have problems with the shuttle. It seems to have developed faults with its thrusters, problems which put it into an irregular spin and have it currently sailing out happily toward Mars, but not really in a happy way. They didn't ask for help so we haven't mentioned we noticed. We quietly redirected a Sherpa to hold position off surface in case things deteriorated further. They did. Finally a call came through today for assistance. The Sherpa has already picked up the ground party and they're crammed in like sardines on the way back to Hillary as we speak. We're headed to intercept the shuttle. Nothing has been heard from them for thirty six hours and although the spin has stabilized, they're weightless, and I'm guessing you'd gag on the air in there. If whatever happened hasn't killed them I guess they could have drowned in vomit. That about sums it up . . . any questions?"