Frontier: Book One - The Space Cadets Read Online Free PDF

s going to take about an hour to an
hour-and-a-half depending on traffic.”
    The Space Elevator was tethered in
the waters just south of Hawaii, at the geosynchronous orbit
distance. Because of this, it always stayed above the same spot,
which it would do even if there was no tether. Anything other than
geosynchronous orbit and the Elevator wouldn ’ t work, as the end of the cable would be moving
independently around the Earth. It would eventually get wrapped
around it like yarn in a ball.
    Similarly, the Academy ’ s space station was in geosynchronous orbit, so it
wouldn ’ t appear to be above any particular
country. It maintained its UN-mandated neutrality by orbiting above
a point in the mid-Atlantic ocean, halfway between the Brazilian
coast and the African country of Gabon.
    The nervous anxiety of the last
few hours was catching up on them now. Soo-Kyung was already fast
asleep, and Aisha realized that it wouldn ’ t be a bad idea to take a nap. Who knew what awaited
them in the Academy? She ’ d certainly want
to be awake to see it.

Chapter
5
Arrival
    There are many reasons why we
fight in wars. Sometimes it is to defend our homes and our
families. Sometimes it is to ensure that our way of life can
continue. Sometimes it is to go to the bully and smash them in the
mouth before they can hurt someone who is defenseless. With great
power comes great responsibility, and we have been blessed with
great power. The trick is in exercising our responsibility
appropriately.
    This applies not just on the
national level, but on the personal level. In everything you do, my
dear daughter, you will exercise that responsibility. Be sure that
you are wise in all things. And if you can’t be, find someone who
is, and support them with all your might...
     
    The lights suddenly coming
on woke Aisha from her reverie. Their transport had docked with the
space station, and passengers had already begun disembarkation. She
nudged Soo-Kyung, who woke instantly.
    “ We ’ re
here.”
    Still weightless, they pulled
themselves out the airlock into a long corridor. It was
featureless, but for the occasional blinking LED animation showing
them the direction they should float.
    “ As if there was any other way,”
said the English boy snidely as he drifted past Aisha.
    “ It ’ s to
ensure we keep moving,” said Soo-Kyung, “so we don ’ t linger and block the corridor. Not to tell us the
direction. That ’ s why it ’ s animated. Moving. Us. Like the lights.”
    The boy looked
at her, hostility in his eyes. Then, realizing she was right, he
defiantly acknowledged her. “ Well, duh. Of course
that ’ s what it
means. You really feel you have to say it out, little
girl? ”
    Even weightless, he loomed over
her. Soo-Kyung, her face as blank as could be, just looked him in
the eye, saying nothing. He held her gaze for a moment, smirked and
continued floating down the corridor.
    He was first to reach the airlock,
and Aisha couldn ’ t help but smile as he
struggled to open it. “It ’ s pressure
locked,” the attendant said matter-of-factly. “It won ’ t open until we close the other end.”
    The boy blushed ear to ear, and
instantly glanced towards Soo-Kyung. Instead of making him squirm
further, she kept her neutral face.
    She was smart ,
that ’ s for sure. Aisha saw right through
her. By ignoring his predicament, Soo-Kyung placed the boy much
further beneath her than if she had rubbed his face in it. She
could tell that he saw it too. When he glanced in Aisha ’ s direction, she saw menace.
    We ’ ll
have to watch that one.
    What was it Mark Twain had said?
“Never argue with a stupid person, because they ’ ll bring you down to their level, and then beat you
with experience.”
    She smiled, recognizing the
wisdom. She ’ d have to share that with
Soo-Kyung later.
    Finally everyone had disembarked,
and the door on the transport side was closed. Then the door to the
station opened effortlessly, and they glided