Space Corps - Explorer (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

introduction of the fuel.”
    Card nodded.
    “Activate main power generators.”
    Slowly, the lights across the ship came to life and lit the halls and hull of the Explorer. One by one, the monitors on the bridge turned on and began to transmit information.
    “Activate back-up power generators.”
    “It’s done,” Card said.
    Ashley couldn’t hide her pride and fear. “Activate primary engines.”
    A rumble came from the back of the ship. In a matter of moments, it dulled to a quiet pulse.
    “That’s it,” Reynolds said. “The Explorer has officially taken its first breath.”
    “Comm.,” Ashley said, “contact Central Command. We’re ready to begin testing. Ask them to send the rest of the crew.”

Chapter 6
    A Change of Plans
     
    For a month, Admiral Ashley and her crew made their way toward Mars. In just another two weeks, they were hoping to land on the surface. Things went smoothly, and everyone on the Explorer was glowing with excitement.
    The crew had almost forgotten that they were trying to beat the Chinese Space Agency’s ship to the planet. When they remembered, it was under dire circumstances.
    The communications officer to Ashley’s right, Elizabeth Card, focused on the screen in front of her. Several lights flashed on her monitor that told her that she had received a transmission. She worked quickly to accept it and prepare it for her commanding officer.
    “Admiral,” Card said, “there’s something you need to hear.”
    Ashley could hear the stress in the officer’s voice. “Play it on monitor one.”
    At the front of the command bridge, there were two large monitors. One on the left of the viewport, and one on the right. On her command, Card began playing the message on the monitor to her left.
    On the monitor flashed the symbol of the US Space Corps. After several seconds, the symbol faded away and showed a video of the President of the United States sitting next to the Chinese Ambassador.
    The President cleared his throat and nodded to the ambassador before he began. “Admiral, I trust this message will find you well. We have read all your daily status reports with great pleasure. Sadly, this is not a message of glad tidings. At roughly seven this morning, the Chinese Space Agency received a distress signal from their ship, the Fu Zing. We don’t know what has happened to them, but we do know that something caused a lot of damage to their vessel.
    “More importantly, we know there are survivors from whatever happened. We don’t know their status. We know that if they don’t get help soon, they will not survive. The Chinese government says they have no rescue capabilities and cannot provide another ship for relief. The survivors don’t have long.
    “You know as well as I do that the Chinese wouldn’t ask for help unless they really needed it. Therefore, when their ambassador approached me, I knew I couldn’t turn them down with you and your crew so close to the area of the incident.
    “Your mission has changed. You are to locate the Fu Zing and provide help to the survivors as best you can. As soon as you are able, you are to report to us with what you find. The flight path for the Martian lander will be transmitted at the end of this message. Good luck, Admiral.”
    Commander Ryan Gibbs rose to his feet, held in place by magnetic boots to the metal floor.
    “Admiral, if I may, I’d like to take the Protector out to investigate the ship.”
    “And why is that, Commander?”
    “Well, sir, the Protector can get there a bit faster than the Explorer. And, until we know what we’re dealing with, I feel it would be in our best interests to keep the Explorer from harm.”
    Ashley looked back and forth between the Commander and the screen that still bore the image of the President.
    “While I understand that, you realize that they were more than likely struck by a stray asteroid? There would be very little danger involved if that’s the case.”
    Chief Engineer Thomas Reynolds