Fractured Earth Saga 1: Apocalypse Orphan Read Online Free PDF Page A

Disrupter creates a polarity wave. My calculations show we can use this wave to move any celestial body with a magnetic field. I can reverse the planet’s polarity and break it free of its orbit. Using the Meson Field Disrupter, I can steer it wherever I want it to go.”
    “So why not use this wave to stop Nomad?” several researchers asked in unison as they began to grasp the concept.
    “That was my initial thought, but I believe Nomad is moving too fast,” said Dr. Mason. “By the time we deploy satellites around it and initialize the anti-matter wave, it will be too close to Earth for us to control. My concern is that our deep-range scans show micro-fractures along Nomad’s x-axis. My device could split Nomad into several smaller comets that would impact different areas on the planet and cause even greater devastation instead of just hitting the South Pole. The only way to confirm whether these fractures exist is to send a shuttle mission to survey and map the comet. That will confirm whether OPM deployment would work. If this is going to happen, the mission needs to commence immediately—within the next few hours.”
    “We’ll need to send an ace pilot who is fully aware of the mission’s risks,” Charlie interjected. “I have two pilots on the ISS with shuttle clearance. Commander Joshua Randle just landed to replace Commander Orlando Wolf.
    “Isn’t Commander Wolf the fellow who discovered Nomad? Perfect!" Dr. Mason gushed.
    “Why is he perfect?” Charlie asked.
    “He’s already on the ISS, his replacement has taken over his duties, and he’s the best, isn’t he? If I’m not mistaken, he’s multi-lingual and can communicate complex data to our international scientists in their own languages so they can double-check my theories and confirm my calculations.” A dreamy look came over Dr. Mason’s face for an instant, and then she was back to business.
    “I agree. Commander Wolf is an excellent choice,” Charlie said. “The problem I have is that the ISS needs to have one command person assigned at all times, so we don’t have the manpower to fly a full shuttle mission. Protocol requires that two pilots be on board the shuttle for extended space travel.”
    “It won’t require a full crew…and you have already violated protocol once by allowing Commander Wolf to reposition the WISE. The shuttle Commander Randle used to reach the ISS is equipped with my latest artificial intelligence programming. Only one human is required to initiate its neural network.”
    “Relocating the WISE was an urgent priority. We are short on qualified pilots presently,” Charlie replied, looking embarrassed at being called out. “But if you are certain your AI will give Commander Wolf the support he needs, I’ll make it happen.”
    “Believe me, my AI will support Commander Wolf better than any human crew possibly could,” Dr. Mason said with another dreamy smile that caught Charlie’s attention and provoked a curious frown.
    “Excuse me,” another researcher interrupted. “Why not just move the earth? Wouldn’t that be a better solution?”
    “The earth is too large and we can’t construct a sufficient number of emitters in time,” Dr. Mason replied. “Another risk is that we might alter the earth’s axis or send it careening into the sun. Remember, this science is experimental, and if it does go awry, I want it as far away from us as possible. If we had the time, we might be able to accomplish it safely, but not in one month—our time has run out.”
    Charlie was intrigued by the idea of moving a planet. He thumbed through the documents and studied the schematics, marveling at the complexity of the data Dr. Mason had compiled in just a few weeks. He glanced up at the woman who stood at the podium, admiring her beauty and brains, and then asked, “Since we can’t move Earth, what planet do you propose to move, and where do you plan to put it?”
    Not a planet, actually,” Dr. Mason replied. “I