The Curse of Europa Read Free Page A

retorts.
Hicks continues more seriously now, “Okay – you guys know what to do…”
“Commander… mark four minutes and thirty seconds to NFPS engine shutdown,” Tucker announces while rubbing his completely bald black head.
Hicks: “Okay, super! Stand by on 4:30.”
Turk: “Computer says 4:47.”
Tucker: “Acknowledged, 17 second over burn.”
Hicks: “Acknowledge.”
Tucker: “Okay… Mark 4:30… now.”
Female computer voice: “Auto shutdown of propulsion system in T-minus four minutes and twenty eight seconds.”
Hicks: “Why is there an alarm indicator on reactor two?”
Tucker: “Hold on… checking…”
Tucker: “High pressure in RCS system… The computer should compensate in a few seconds.”
Hicks: “Yes, okay. It’s nominal now.”
Computer Voice: “Auto shutdown of propulsion system in T-minus four minutes.”
The crew continues to monitor all systems and sensors to ensure a clean shutdown of the engines while the computer counts down. A dirty shutdown can cause the reactor to overheat and become damaged, possibly preventing a re-ignition.
     
The computer voice can be heard again “Auto shutdown of propulsion system imminent. Shutting down in 10 seconds……. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”
As the computer finishes the countdown everyone can instantly feel the artificial gravity that was pulling them down into their seats subside, as if being pulled upwards. Their arms are suddenly light and they get that feeling you get when driving fast over a small hill – but it doesn’t go away… They are now weightless at zero-G for the remainder of the visit.
As the Nuclear Fission reactor is shut down there is also an eerie silence that comes across the crew as the constant hum and vibrations from the engines subside. All of a sudden, the constant rumbling sound that became white noise a few hours into the trip was gone and now it is as if they have super hearing. All the computer equipment’s discrete beeps, chirps, and chimes can now be heard all throughout the ship. They can hear switches being flipped and the hull of the ship creaking. Everyone can hear Dr. Swygart crumpling a food wrapper he missed as he plucks it out of the air while it floats by his bald head.
“Okay, reactor shutdown complete,” announces Tucker. “Reactors 1 and 2 report clean shutdown. Mains are idle.”
“Turk, how’s the trajectory look?” Hicks asks.
Turk replies, “Not bad… computer suggests transient attitude trim of 005, 358, and 002.”
“Okay Turk, do it”.
The ships maneuvering thrusters are fired in short blasts to put the ship in a near perfect approach to a smooth orbital insertion of Europa.
Turk says, “Trim adjustment complete.”
“Great job everyone. Now we coast to the finish line,” Hicks announces.
Turk turns to look at Juliana, smiles, then raises his eyebrows when their eyes meet, as if he were saying “almost there…” She gives him a return smile and a wink. This wasn’t the time for chit chat as they all had jobs to do and systems to monitor.
     
Hicks makes a formal radio broadcast as they near the orbital insertion point as he knows their transmissions are being broadcast live back home to all countries watching them make history; just like the first Moon landing and the first Mars landing missions. There are video cameras all over the command deck and externally to view the approach and orbit. If something goes wrong, as many have come to expect with Europa missions, then it will be captured in all its glory on full panoramic 3D video and audio, all computer commands are logged and instantly sent to Cygnus Command, all communications, every bit of data possible is being captured.
The orbital insertion goes perfect though, and the crew immediately prepares for the landing mission. As they orbit the frozen moon, which resembles a cracked egg, several of the other moons are clearly visible and Jupiter is starting to rise over the horizon of Europa, creating a spectacular view that