“Sir, I have just learned of some terrible news.” Sie paused for a moment trying to get the courage to continue. “The Americans are on their way to the moon.”
“What? How can that be? You said there was no way for them to get to the moon,” Kuang yelled into the phone.
“I am sorry, sir. I failed you. Somehow they put together a rocket at the space station.” Sie rubbed his forehead.
“I knew the Americans were up to something. I knew we should have fueled our rocket. How long until we are able to launch?”
Sie looked at the clock on his wall. “We should be ready to launch in twenty-eight hours.”
“Can we beat them?”
Sie had to give an honest answer. “Sir, knowing their boost and current speed, we have a fifty-fifty chance.”
“I would fire you now if I didn’t need your expertise on the laser. I am greatly disappointed in you.”
Even though Sie spoke on the phone, he still bowed his head. “I am truly sorry, sir.”
Kuang abruptly hung up, saying nothing further. Sie calmly hung up the phone and put his head in his hands.
His career was over.
PRESIDENT BILL EDWARDS tightly squeezed the pen in his right hand as he stood at the podium in the East Room of the White House. The booster had successfully fired and both men were well on their way to the moon. He was furious his orders to stop were ignored, given the mission was doomed to fail. Information could leak out indicting the White House; he had no choice but to distance the government from any association with the operation. He hated having to denounce Peter and Viktor but they put him in a position where he had no alternative. He had to do what was best for the nation.
He looked over the room to observe who was present, not surprised to find the room packed. He elected not to mention the Soyuz was in deep space, but instead give the impression it was still in orbit. He took one last look at his notes before beginning.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I called this emergency press conference to address a situation currently taking place in space. As everyone in this room knows, America is one of the proud partners of the International Space Station, and along with other nations, supports its operation and maintenance. An unidentified spacecraft has docked at the space station, doing so without official clearance. Two men emerged from the ship and threatened the ISS crew with a bomb. For the well being and safety of the crew, they were instructed to follow the orders of these hijackers. These men apparently went to the station with the objective of stealing one of the Soyuz spacecrafts, which is one of the station’s life boats. They were successful in doing this and are now orbiting the earth. We are unsure what their purpose or motives are. The space station and the crew are currently safe and unharmed.
“We are treating these men as terrorists and are unsure what country they are affiliated with. No public demands have been made and we continue to monitor the situation closely. This is all that is known at this time.
“I want to state that the United States denounces this action. We will work with our partners of the space station to bring this intrusion to an end and apprehend these terrorists.
“I will now take a few questions.”
Many hands quickly rose. Bill pointed to Joe with the Washington Post.
“Sir, a rocket was observed launching from Cape Canaveral on Thursday. Could that be the rocket flown to the space station? If not, why did we launch a rocket against UN sanctions?”
Right away Bill was forced to denounce SpaceQuest’s launch, which he was hoping to avoid. “Joe, that rocket was launched by a commercial company without government approval. We’re currently investigating why that rocket was fired off. At this time we doubt that rocket has anything to do with the situation going on at the Space Station. Next question.” He quickly pointed to the next reporter.
“Sir, has there been any damage to the space station and has the crew been hurt in any way?”
“It’s our understanding that there has been no damage to the station. However, as mentioned, they stole one of the Soyuz spacecrafts. The crew was not harmed and all are safe. Next?” Bill looked to his left and pointed to a lady up front.
“Thank you, sir. Why would they steal a Soyuz? What could they possibly look to gain in doing so?”
“We are trying to determine that at this moment. Next.”
“Do they have the bomb with them, and/or any weapons that could threaten the world while in orbit?”
“The bomb was always in the spacecraft they arrived in. It is still there and has been defused. It is no longer a threat to the station or the crew. Some equipment was transferred from their spacecraft to the Soyuz; however, this equipment was observed as being non-threatening.” Hands were still raised all around. Bill pointed to an unfamiliar face in front of him. “Yes?”
“Sir, you say there have been no demands or threats made by these terrorists while they have been in orbit. Have they been in communication with Mission Control? Is there any chance they hijacked the Soyuz to ultimately use as a threat to crash into the space station if future demands are not met?”
This question was concerning if one did not know the plan, and Bill wanted to put all at ease. “Russia’s mission control is trying to establish communication as we speak. We do not see the Soyuz being used as a weapon. If that was their ultimate goal, they could have used their own spacecraft as a threat. However, if the crew is in any potential danger we will immediately evacuate them from the station. Next?”
“Sir, how can they all be evacuated if they only have one Soyuz left at the station?”
The president was stumped—how was he going to answer that question? Lie. “NASA has assured me they can all be evacuated. Next?”
“Sir, do we have some way of intercepting them?”
“We are looking into that at this moment. Whatever the course of action taken, we want to insure the safety of the world. That is all the questions for now, thank you.” Bill hustled down the steps as questions continued to be yelled out. Ignoring them, he dodged behind the curtain. Harry met him there, clipboard clutched to his chest and headset obscuring one ear. Bill wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I hope that works.”
By Harry’s expression he had something he wanted to say.
“What is it?” asked the president.
“Sir, we just learned from Intelligence that China recently fueled their rocket. It looks like it wasn’t fueled after all.” Harry grimaced.
“What! Why wasn’t I told before I started this press conference?” Irritation rolled through him. Harry flinched at his tone. Crap—I could have been reelected on the patriotism of what Jack’s men are up to. Though this was good news and it meant the men had a chance of beating China, if he’d known his intelligence reports were wrong he would have waited until the men were clearly on their way to the moon before talking to the press. He would not have been so vocal in condemning them, or using the word terrorists.
Bill sighed and shook his head. Even if he just sealed his fate of being re-elected, he knew this was not about him. The mission was about America and all those men and women who worked to get men on the moon. He slapped Harry on the shoulder. “Let’s hope they beat those damn Chinese!”
31
TROUBLE
“I wonder if China has launched?” asked Peter as he sat comfortably in his jumpsuit, having adjusted to the tight quarters after a day of flight.
“We far enough. Let’s find out. It time to radio in to Mission Control,” said Viktor. “I sure they not be happy we steal their baby.”
Peter smiled. He leaned down and turned on the radio, quickly finding the transmission to Russia’s mission control. Peter would be the point man in talking, establishing English as the language spoken.