Pegasus In Space Part 26

Oh my G.o.d! Peter! Rhyssa's voice shrieked in Peter's head. Rhyssa's voice shrieked in Peter's head. Fire in the sky! Fire in the sky!

"The computers have initiated TLI-3," Lieutenant Liu reported.

The computers! Peter shouted to Johnny. Johnny responded with a moment of sheer terror that he rapidly brought under control but it was too much for Peter. Peter shouted to Johnny. Johnny responded with a moment of sheer terror that he rapidly brought under control but it was too much for Peter.

Later, no one could quite remember what happened. Rhyssa felt a sudden wrench in her contact with Peter and collapsed against Dave. In Geneva, at the site of the newly commissioned CERN gestalt generators, Professor Gadriel swore as his latest set of circuits burned out, while in the background the generators keened in agony.

Commander Sakai dropped back to his seat in horror as the TDRs relayed the growing fireball in the sky when Limo-34's Limo-34's fuel tanks exploded. fuel tanks exploded.

With the image still burning in his mind, Commander Sakai punched up the admiral's office.

"Sir, this is Commander Sakai," he said, trying to keep his voice even. "There's been a terrible accident."

10.

Lance was updating the flight manifests when Colonel Watari found him. The colonel looked more solemn than usual.

"What's up?" Lance asked with no preamble.

The colonel's eyes sparked with anger for a moment and then faded. "Word just in from Padrugoi. Limo-34's Limo-34's fuel tanks exploded when they started TLI-3. No survivors. They didn't even have time to make it to escape pods." fuel tanks exploded when they started TLI-3. No survivors. They didn't even have time to make it to escape pods."

Lance opened his mouth, tried to speak, and shook his head wordlessly, denying what he had just been told.

"Not that it helps," Colonel Watari offered, "but it was probably instantaneous. They never felt a thing."

From behind him a voice drawled, "Oh, I wouldn't quite say that. I've one h.e.l.luva hangover."

"Johnny?" Lance shouted, instantly on his feet, his face lit with a huge grin at the welcome sight of a rumpled general, looking very much alive if slightly gray in the face. He started to rush toward the general but stopped himself, adding phlegmatically, "I shoulda known they couldn't kill you."

"They nearly did," Johnny replied with a sour grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "And the way this headache feels . . ."

It had been Rhyssa's terrified shout that had warned them. And Peter's frantic reaction that had saved them. In the instant Peter and Johnny had realized that the computers had been sabotaged, Peter recognized that his fatigue and tingling cheeks were signs of oxygen starvation. He had slapped the emergency shutdown on the ship's computers, jettisoned the engines and fuel tanks, and-Johnny still didn't quite know how-'ported Limo-34 Limo-34 to the safest place he could visualize in that horrible moment: 200 meters away from to the safest place he could visualize in that horrible moment: 200 meters away from Apollo 12. Apollo 12. And 400 million meters from the fireball. And 400 million meters from the fireball.

Then Peter had collapsed, leaving Johnny to power up MPU Two-the one computer that hadn't been sabotaged and so had been consistently overridden by the faulty ones-and to teleport himself into First Base.

Johnny shook off the pain of his oxygen-starved headache and pointed to Watari. "You've got to get rescue vehicles over to the Apollo 12 Apollo 12 site, like ten minutes ago." site, like ten minutes ago."

"What?" Colonel Watari recovered from his shock but his dislike for anyone ordering him about in his own office showed in the frown on his face. "What's there? How'd you get here? What's going on?"

"In the order of your questions, Colonel, the Limo-34 Limo-34 or what's left of it, Minus the aft end. I 'ported me here. We were sabotaged." or what's left of it, Minus the aft end. I 'ported me here. We were sabotaged."

"How? Who? What?" Lance babbled with delayed relief.

Johnny waved him off. "Later. There's not much oxygen left and what's there is mostly stale. If you please, Colonel Watari?" He flicked his hand at the control panels.

Even at the breakneck speed with which the First Base commandant organized the rescue party, it was still over twenty minutes before the c.u.mbersome airlock bus was on its way and those in the cab on the lower deck of the facility could see the wreck. On the ground below it, a figure in an EMU waved urgently for more speed.

Is that Peter? Lance asked Johnny, who was clenching and unclenching his hands on the oh-my-G.o.d bar in the bus. This part of Ocea.n.u.s Procellarum was relatively smooth as Lance asked Johnny, who was clenching and unclenching his hands on the oh-my-G.o.d bar in the bus. This part of Ocea.n.u.s Procellarum was relatively smooth as mares mares went, so Johnny's grasp was more nerves than need. They were all in EMUs, for Johnny wanted to investigate the Limo almost as much as Watari did. went, so Johnny's grasp was more nerves than need. They were all in EMUs, for Johnny wanted to investigate the Limo almost as much as Watari did.

Should be, Johnny replied. Johnny replied. Peter had his EMU with him, checked and sealed by Silversmith. I didn't say he could go for a moonwalk but I won't fault him. The ambience in the crew compartment would be pretty dense for his innate sensitivity. Thank G.o.d for it. The EMU has its own oxygen and G.o.d knows one less inside leaves more for the others to breathe. Can't this thing go faster? Peter had his EMU with him, checked and sealed by Silversmith. I didn't say he could go for a moonwalk but I won't fault him. The ambience in the crew compartment would be pretty dense for his innate sensitivity. Thank G.o.d for it. The EMU has its own oxygen and G.o.d knows one less inside leaves more for the others to breathe. Can't this thing go faster?

My G.o.d! And you landed that!

They were close enough to see details now as the disturbed moon dust was finally settling to the surface around the crash site. Watari and the driver in the cab of the airlock bus echoed Lance's exclamation of disbelief. The nose of the broken shuttle perched drunkenly on its forward landing skid, the rear cargo section resting on the lunar soil. The gold Mylar skin had peeled back for several meters, lifted from the metal hull by the heat of the exploding fuel tanks.

"A good landing is one you walk away from, believe me," Johnny said sardonically. "Peter's being outside suggests that there weren't any more b.o.o.by traps. You see, someone had epoxied the escape pod clamps so even if there'd been time to get to them, we wouldn't've escaped." His expression turned grimmer.

"My G.o.d! Who'd perpetrate such a crime?" Watari asked. To him, s.p.a.ce travel and everything a.s.sociated with it were sacrosanct. "Admiral Coetzer will be overjoyed to learn that you're safe. I should have reported immediately."

"No, you shouldn't," Johnny said with such vigor that Watari stared at him. "Because we're not going to tell him just yet."

"Not even how you miraculously got here?"

That really puzzled Watari but Johnny wasn't about to enlighten him. He shook his head again.

Watari spluttered in outrage. "For G.o.d's sake, why not?"

"Because, as I said, Colonel, someone tried to sabotage us," Johnny replied. "And the sooner they find out they've failed, the sooner they'll try again."

"Sabotage?"

"Yes, Colonel, sabotage." Johnny's tone was almost kindly as he repeated his verdict.

The bus was almost to the airlock, Peter moving out of its way cautiously in the Moon's gravity.

He could be the one, Peter said, alarmed by Johnny's candor. Peter said, alarmed by Johnny's candor.

Naw. Lives by the book, this one, Johnny replied.

Too right, Lance said supportively.

Watching anxiously as the bus airlock closed very gently on the Limo's single undamaged hatch, Peter could hear the amus.e.m.e.nt in the Australian's tone. He had previously mentioned to Peter that Watari's persnickety notions were irritating but he ran a tight Base.

Watari's narrowed eyes were examining the crumpled Limo, noticing the heat-peeled Mylar skin at the end of the cargo compartment and the buckled condition of the other portside airlock.

"Sabotage. No doubt about it. Very well. Irregularities," and now he winced at the proximity of the Limo to the hallowed ground of the Apollo 12 site on one side, and the Surveyor landing monument on the other. "Irregularities to save lives are another matter entirely. I will expect a full report when we return to First Base." He tapped his headset. "First Base, I want a security squad out here on the double."

"On the double, Colonel," was the instant reply. Peter recognized Major Cyberal's baritone voice.

Watari was completing the checks on his EMU suit so that he could exit the cab and examine the wreck firsthand. He gave crisp commands to Cyberal.

"Limo's pa.s.sengers and crew are to be accorded all privileges but to be housed separately until this investigation is concluded. No contact with any Base personnel."

"Quarters are available in DiMaggio Block, sir. Security as ordered, sir."

"Oversee the transfer from the bus at that entry yourself, Major."

"Yes, sir, over and out."

"What about the personnel driving the airlock bus, Colonel?" Johnny asked.

The colonel turned himself so his helmeted face was visible to the general. Lance could see Watari's profile, his lips parted to show his teeth, demonstrating dislike of the general's implied criticism.

"The airlock is, of necessity, separated from the transport vehicle, General," Watari said, his body stiff with resentment.

"Just making sure there is no contact," Johnny replied blandly.

"Lieutenant Marr is in charge of the operation and has been party to all orders. Have you not, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir, I have, sir," was the crisp reply in a female voice. "The airlock is now positioned and cycling through to the Limo, sir. We will have secure transport in forty seconds!"

"Lieutenant Liu," Johnny said, leaning over the bus's comunit. He paused until Xiang came on-line. "Inform the pa.s.sengers that they can now debark into the airlock. They are to bring all personal effects with them. You will secure the ship and await the arrival of a security team."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you require an EMU, Lieutenant?" Colonel Watari asked.

"No, sir. I'm currently wearing mine."

"Peter, did you hear all that?" Johnny asked, turning his attention to the EMU-suited figure standing to the port of the bus.

"Loud and clear," Peter said, watching with interest as he saw the slight movement of the bus airlock connection, indicating that people were disembarking the wreck. From where he stood on the ground, he could see heads on the upper level of the bus and guessed the relief of those breathing fresher air.

Xiang Liu had more or less ordered him to get into his EMU, saying that it would save air for someone else. With Sergeant Bat Singh and Corporal Ahn, they had examined the one remaining airlock with great attention to the possibility of additional sabotage. But they'd found none, so Peter, almost overwhelmed by the thick emotions of those so recently delivered from death, had gratefully disembarked.

His first steps on the Moon were therefore not as ecstatic as he had antic.i.p.ated. Sheer relief dominated his mind. And fatigue. He had kept linked to Johnny and had been amused by Watari's reactions. The colonel's efficient organization of rescue had given Peter a boost but it seemed to him as if the lumbering airlock bus had taken forever to bring fresh air and rescue to the Limo. Briefly, he wondered if if he shouldn't really have stayed behind with the others. He'd caught no resentment in anyone's mind but then no one had wasted any effort not involved in breathing. A wisp ofrelief did reach him, that there'd be one less in the cabin using what oxygen was left. In fact, they were relieved that he'd been able to get out of the airlock. Then, too, no one else could fit into his EMU so it was silly of him not to use it. he shouldn't really have stayed behind with the others. He'd caught no resentment in anyone's mind but then no one had wasted any effort not involved in breathing. A wisp ofrelief did reach him, that there'd be one less in the cabin using what oxygen was left. In fact, they were relieved that he'd been able to get out of the airlock. Then, too, no one else could fit into his EMU so it was silly of him not to use it.

Watching the airbus loading up, Peter now roused himself to wonder where he should 'port his baggage, still onboard the Limo. Maybe to that table in the colonel's office so his things could be inspected, too, he thought wryly. He felt very queer all over. Probably the bad air or just plain funk with relief in arriving safely-or at all.

"Ready to disengage, Lieutenant." Peter heard a crisp female voice on his helmet comm. "Colonel, all pa.s.sengers aboard or accounted for."

"Very well. Proceed to the Base and disembark the pa.s.sengers at DiMaggio Block. No communications with anyone at this point in time," Watari ordered.

"Yes, sir."

D'you want to go in the bus, Pete? Johnny asked. Johnny asked.

And be incommunicado in DiMaggio? Peter was amused that baseball idols were being immortalized on First Base. But then, the Moon facility had been built by joint American and j.a.panese engineers, both countries being baseball enthusiasts. Peter was amused that baseball idols were being immortalized on First Base. But then, the Moon facility had been built by joint American and j.a.panese engineers, both countries being baseball enthusiasts.

You're the engineer Johnny was teasing, Peter knew, to keep his flagging energy going. Johnny was teasing, Peter knew, to keep his flagging energy going.

Hang on a mo, Pete, Lance added. Lance added. I'm in my I'm in my EMU. I can take you back. You're quartered in Clemens Block next to me anyhow. I'll just requisition one of those lunar rovers coming in. I doubt Watari'll want me to help investigate that wreck. EMU. I can take you back. You're quartered in Clemens Block next to me anyhow. I'll just requisition one of those lunar rovers coming in. I doubt Watari'll want me to help investigate that wreck.

Too right, mate, Johnny said, imitating Lance. Johnny said, imitating Lance. Certainly Watari likes to run his own look-sees. I think you should get a message back to Padrugoi. Very discreet. Certainly Watari likes to run his own look-sees. I think you should get a message back to Padrugoi. Very discreet.

Watari has all messages recorded, Lance said. Lance said. At least the official ones. At least the official ones.

Peter listened, wondering if this was the time to suggest that maybe they wouldn't need need official channels back to Padrugoi. Only how, exactly, were they to explain what had happened? When Peter himself wasn't sure. And they were days earlier than the normal five days to First Base. But, getting a quiet word back to Madlyn who could then privately rea.s.sure Rhyssa, was an option. He hated to think of Rhyssa, Dorotea, and Amariyah thinking him burnt to a crisp. If only he could get Madlyn's attention. Most of the brunette's mental ruminations dwelt on Commander Dash Sakai. He could visualize Madlyn, chin on her hand, a dreamy smile on her face. Was visualization the key to sending or was it touch? official channels back to Padrugoi. Only how, exactly, were they to explain what had happened? When Peter himself wasn't sure. And they were days earlier than the normal five days to First Base. But, getting a quiet word back to Madlyn who could then privately rea.s.sure Rhyssa, was an option. He hated to think of Rhyssa, Dorotea, and Amariyah thinking him burnt to a crisp. If only he could get Madlyn's attention. Most of the brunette's mental ruminations dwelt on Commander Dash Sakai. He could visualize Madlyn, chin on her hand, a dreamy smile on her face. Was visualization the key to sending or was it touch?

Not now, he told himself wearily. I can barely 'port to Lance and Johnny. I'm tired, he admitted, recognizing the difference between the adrenaline high of being safely on the Moon on the Moon as opposed to being strong with physical vigor. He might not have limits to his telepathy and teleportation but he did have a finite measure of energy. All the odd sensations that he was experiencing were fatigue, that's all. as opposed to being strong with physical vigor. He might not have limits to his telepathy and teleportation but he did have a finite measure of energy. All the odd sensations that he was experiencing were fatigue, that's all.

Suddenly a s.p.a.ce-suited figure bounced up to him. "I've borrowed that rover," Lance said, and pointed in the appropriate direction.

That was when Peter noticed that the airlock bus was backing away from the Limo and that there were men-the security squad probably-swarming about the wreck. The hatch opened again and Lieutenant Liu stood there, saluting to the two men waiting to get aboard.

"This way, Pete," Lance said, touching his arm. With relief, Peter drifted beside Lance and didn't object when Lance gave him a little kinetic push on the way. So what did you tap into to get here so precipitously? Watari's dying to know. So what did you tap into to get here so precipitously? Watari's dying to know.

So am I, Peter said ruefully. Peter said ruefully.

Did you really 'port all the way from your TLI-3 burn? Lance was impressed. Lance was impressed.

Peter nodded his helmet. With the boost we got from-somewhere. With the boost we got from-somewhere. He wasn't sure if he should confide in Lance, though it went against his grain to prevaricate to someone he knew so well. But he was so security conscious right now, after such a near thing. Lance would surely understand the reticence when the time came that Peter could mention the CERN a.s.sistance. He wasn't sure if he should confide in Lance, though it went against his grain to prevaricate to someone he knew so well. But he was so security conscious right now, after such a near thing. Lance would surely understand the reticence when the time came that Peter could mention the CERN a.s.sistance.

Peter stumbled, aware that there was little to stumble over on this smooth mare. mare. Lance put his hand under Peter's arm, reducing the effort Peter had to make. Lance put his hand under Peter's arm, reducing the effort Peter had to make.

I think my last meal just ran out, Peter said. Peter said.

We're nearly there, Lance encouraged him and half shoved him into the lunar rover. Once Peter was strapped in, he let fatigue wash over him. Lance encouraged him and half shoved him into the lunar rover. Once Peter was strapped in, he let fatigue wash over him.

Thing is, you made it. Well done. Now to find out who.

And why, Peter added. Peter added.

"Hold on now, Reidinger," Lance said out loud, aware that there'd be someone monitoring them.

Peter let himself relax, safe and secure in Lance's company. He barely took in Lance's explanation of the geography of First Base as he was driven to the nearest airlock. Then they were being cycled through it, Lance helping him from the rover, encountering the three-quarters Earth gravity that First Base maintained within the dome; unsuiting in the ready-room, Lance getting the sergeant to take charge of their EMUs; getting Peter's Base ID, room a.s.signment, and ration-card-all the necessary bureaucratic details required by security.

Not much longer, Pete, Lance said. "If you're hungry, Reidinger, I can show you where the mess is." Lance said. "If you're hungry, Reidinger, I can show you where the mess is."

"If it's all the same, Lance, I'd rather get to my quarters."

"Right ch'ar," Lance replied amiably, and indicated they should hang a right as they came to a five-way junction of corridors, the widest one being the main route to the Control Intelligence Center offices in Akahiro Block. Babe Ruth Block was in that direction as well. Despite his fatigue, Peter noticed the steel doors that would seal off sections in each corridor. He saw the alcoves containing gla.s.sed cabinets of emergency oxygen masks. He thought in pa.s.sing that this was just the place for someone to follow the book.

They turned up one of the narrower hallways down to a Y junction where Lance took the right again.

"Clemens Block-where us transient specialists are housed. But the tucker's good. Did you bring in the new cooks?"

"We did."

"Good! One needs a change in the hand that stirs the chowder."

The hallway was lined with doors and Lance stopped at the fourth one on the left.