“What do we have that could help? Hello? Copy. What do we have?” There was a bit of panic in James’ voice. He was about to press the button again when Rodger stopped him.
“James I think I know what we need to do. It’ll be a bit tricky but it just might work.” He explained his plan to the group.
“Let him have the controls Peter. JoAnna you take Rodger’s station and Peter will take yours. Alright let’s give them what we’ve got.”
Marian was still studying the report of what the computer said the missiles were. “Joshua come take a look at this. You seemed to understand the components and compounds of the last missile.”
After a few moments he finally answers, “Yeah, this one is definitely made by the same person as the last. Everything is exactly the same except that each of these missiles is designed to blow the Earth apart. If we miss even one...”
“Hold on coming into range,” Rodger interrupted.
“Fire at will John and Julie. Whenever Rodger has you lined up.”
Joshua knelt down and held onto Marian’s chair and the console. They watched as John and Julie fired on the missile. One of them missed and the other caused a blasting explosion that caused Rodger to pull the ship up and away from to avoid an impact.
“If we miss one of those Marian it’ll destroy the planet. I’m not even sure if the force field could hold these off without at least being damaged.”
James exchanged looks with Marian. “Bring her round Rodger. We’ve more to go.”
Rodger was quick and precise. He once explained that it was like a video game he’d once played even though it had some major differences. He soon had them in position again. When John and Julie would fire the whole ship would shake. The gravity simulators kept the crew mostly stationary.
The first five missiles were taken down in somewhat ease. “James there are at least four more.”
“Earth’s force field is coming online but still not fast enough.”
“The weapons we were using need to cool down. I recommend we try the lazers.”
Everyone seemed to have something to say all at once. Marian watched as James took everything in stride.
“Bring the lazers online JoAnna. Peter see if we can’t find a back up plan if those don’t follow through. Marian and Joshua see if these things have some kind of flaw we can use. Daniel, Anna, and Rose get yourselves in a couple of AstroStars and be ready for my command. Make sure they are the ones carrying weapons, you’ll need them. Carol keep trying to reach Earth let me know when you do. Julie and John stay where you are and be ready to take aim. Rodger get us to the next missile.”
Leaving the main bridge the three headed to the second deck. It was on the left/port side of the ship below the engines. The decks were on either side of the under sections of the AstroShip. They reached it from a transport. The ship was set up with several of these, where with a voice command one could tell the computer which transport to be placed on. It made for quick easy and instant travel from one section of the ship to the other. It had one slight side effect. There was an overwhelming tingling left in the legs for a few minutes. According to the scientist, the tingling in the legs was meant to keep the person stationary for a moment while the computer performs a quick scan. They didn’t say what the scan was for but Rodger was ‘kind’ enough to explain it to them later. Apparently because the techknowledge was new no one was sure how it would perform or how a human body would react. So far there had been no casualties but that didn’t mean there were never going to be any.
Once they had reached the hanger they each equipped themselves and climbed into three of the dozen or so AstroStars. “James do you copy? We are ready to launch on your word.”
“I copy you Daniel hold your place.”
They hadn’t really been given too many courses on how to deal with a crisis, or what to do when you're in a jam, or which is the best way to command a crew. Everything they did felt almost like a dream at this point because it seemed so far ahead of them, albeit a realistic intense dream. This just might have been one of those moments where James’ future self was smiling when he’d come to tell King ShaHarn about being apart of a group of people that would help save the Earth one day. Then again maybe it wasn’t.
John and Julie fired on the missile missing it several times. The lazers shot differently than the weapons they had been using before. They couldn’t seem to get them aligned properly. James grit his teeth. If the lazers weren’t going to work he’d have to hope the AstroStars could do the job. The lazer beam dented the missile sending it slightly off course but not stopping it.
“Alright Daniel take off..
"Copy were taking off in one two three formation. We can reach the nearest target in four minutes."
"No Daniel it will take too long there are four of them and four of us. We are working on a backup plan for us meanwhile take the three nearest this location. Make all haste to get as far away as you can just in case things don't go exactly as I hope."
"Yes sir, good luck sir."
Rose giggled at Anna over the intercom. It sounded a bit garbled but it helped to slightly lessen the tense mood.
Streaking off the AstroShip into the dark starry sky was breathtaking. If they only had the time to take it all in. For now they'd have to see what could be done about not letting their planet get blown up before they'd even had a chance to start their mission.
"Earth Force field coming online but still not up to full power."
"How long until they're full power JoAnna?"
"Fifteen minutes."
"Too long. Rodger get us to that last missile."
The ship was ruffled by the blast of one of the missiles being blown apart.
"Report. What happened?"
"One missile down three more to go." Daniel's voice came over the system.
"Approaching target in five, four, three, two, and..." There was silence for a moment as Anna fired her weapons. "Miss. Going back around."
"Rose how is it going out there?"
"Fine James. Nearly there."
""Fast guys I want you in and out of there. Don't get caught in the impact. Those AstroStars aren't equipped for that. How are we coming Rodger?"
"Not good James. Even if we get to the missile before it reaches the force field we will still be firing on it with the lazers. It doesn't calculate well."
"We've come this far. We can't give up. Any back up plans yet?"
"No. Well, wait. If we load the... Never mind. JoAnna bring those missiles back online. Joshua and I have a little fiddling around to do. This will make a mess so better wait until the last possible moment."
The two left before James could ask them what they were going to do.
"James?"
"Go ahead JoAnna do as she says. Can the force field absorb any of the blast?"
"Brilliant. I should have thought of that before!" Rodger exploded from his seat.
JoAnna got excited as well. "Each time the force field reaches a new strength level it makes a pass all the way around the globe. If we coordinate our fire with that cycle..."
"It might just be enough to protect the planet from any impact. At least most of it."
"Let's give that a go. Comes as close to a back up plan as I can think of. JoAnna try to reach Earth and tell them what we're' planning." He spoke into the intercom, "Marian how is it going down there."
Marian and Joshua were transported to the weapon loading. Actually there wasn't a direct transport into the weapons loading. Someone had been afraid it might interfere with the weapons launching or something like that. The closest one was about a hundred feet away. As soon as their tingling legs would allow them they ran the rest of the way.
"Are you thinking we can cool the missile launching system down faster by hand?"
"That is what I'm hoping Joshua. If that doesn't work we're in trouble."
"Why don't we just launch another AstroStar?"
"We could but that would be suicide. That's why James said we'd take care of this one. If we use a AstroStar they are equipped to handle gun and lazer fire. The impact from the missiles is too strong there won't be time to get in as close as is necessary and be able to escape the blast. With the others there was a better chance. With this one it will ricochet off the force field, as weak as it is it will still keep back some of blast. There is just no way the AstroStar can be fast enough to escape."
"Right so how are we going to cool off these missiles?"
"They have a venting system that conduites from over there. If we pipe the cool air into it we might just get it cooled off fast enough to get another blast out of it. You get up there and unbolt it as best you can. I'll work on the one on top of the launch. If you take it off about there we might be able to swing the pipes down this way and clamp on and elbow."
"You remembered all that from the diagrams?"
"No. Just go! We don't have time!"
Gritting her teeth Marian put all her weight into working the bolts off. That was when James came over the intercom. She didn't stop to answer him. The launch was still quite warm and she was sweating. By the time she'd removed the last of the bolts Joshua was bringing the pipe down toward the launch. It was going to reach but he'd had to loosen and move the elbow from above before it would swing in the direction they needed.
Marian climbed down off the launch and searched through and closet of odds and ends. It was originally designed for use in making repairs. She finally found what she wanted or at least something that would make do.
The intercom buzzed again and Marian could hear something of James’ voice. She pressed the button. "Give us a few. We're almost there." She tossed the pipe up to Joshua who seemed to have little trouble getting it to connect.
"There is a little bit of space in which the air is escaping."
"Here." She tossed up a few rags.
Joshua grinned. "It'll have to do."
"Okay James. It is cooling down now. Give us to the count of five then you should be able to load and launch. Just know that you're only getting one launch out of this. Joshua and I are going to stick around down here out of harms way and clean up the mess you're about to cause."
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