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Post by elizar on Jan 19, 2009 19:26:20 GMT -5
Christine looked at Zoe, but decided to ask after she came back. "There there Dylan." She said. "It isn't going to go any faster if you're going to bounce everywhere, you may just miss the launch if you continue this."
Low laughter was sounded around the cabin. Everyone was ready, and now it was just waiting for the countdown.
Harold cursed, but not in the radio. "Alright, thanks for the info." He said and turned off the link. He wasn't sure of just how much they would be able to gleam into the satellite, but it meant that he had to move forward. He went over to a terminal and tapped in few codes.
"It's time to load the equipment on board. We're not going to wait for one to pass the land, we're going to chase it to the ocean." Harold said. On the screen was the next target, a satellite that was exclusive to the CIA.
"Ursa, feed the kid the powered shakes." He said to her. "We're going to need all his energy. At least when over the ocean, no live eyes will be on the satellite."
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 19, 2009 19:53:09 GMT -5
"All right then." Rolf answered. "See you then."
Dylan settled with a sigh, leaning his head against his father. "What's Mommy doing?"
"She's making sure that nobody else can mess with the launch, kiddo." Jon answered. "Someday you'll be able to do much the same. But that's a long way off." He glanced to Christine. "So what is this crew like, who's going up on the shuttle?"
With helmets on, closed and locked, the humans started to brace for the takeoff as the liquid oxygen flow started from the tanks. Pilar's eyes were fixed on the LCD readouts and screen views before her as she and the ground team went through the prelaunch along with Picard. They couldn't see directly out front, but it was the next best thing. They were down to the last minute before launch...
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Post by elizar on Jan 19, 2009 20:14:42 GMT -5
"Humans, collected from those who arrived here, their kids, and some who came later during the education program." Christine said. "They're pretty level-headed, though some have felt the stress the last few weeks. From what I've heard, being near weightless isn't good for them in the long term. And those have been spending some time up there already."
Miles looked at the countdown clock inside the cabin. He knew that the clock was precise. He knew that the clock had a share on the best CPU inside the cabin. He knew that no matter what, even for how slow he felt it was, it was correct, even though one second felt like five.
"Well Rolph, we're going to use you sooner than I thought." Harold said. He planned out that he could fire three times today. At two telecommunications satellites, and the eye in the sky satellite. "I'll be glad when this is over." He said low to himself.
Ursa quickly mixed the shake together for the kid and brought the can over. At least now there was a semblance of a system now, the empty cans by the door where Ursa took them while giving him his next one. The shake itself was Egill's recipe. It was high energy drink which focused on replenishing magic stores in individuals. The kid was going to need that today, several times. He would be served more during the day.
"Here kid." She said as pushing the can over to him and taking the others by the doors. "By the sound of it, it could be over today, you may get home in a month or so." It had never been Harold's or Ursa's intentions to keep the kid for the duration. Only for the time they needed him.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 19, 2009 21:36:13 GMT -5
Kam Jung accepted the can guardedly, and retreated with it. He avoided eye contact with Ursa.
"That should work." Rolph said, "While the shuttle and crew are busy with the first one."
"I hear the alternate crew won't be ready for another few months." Jon said, then paused as he started to hear things from the direction of the launch pad. "Look, son, it's happening."
"Awesome!" Dylan stared at the shuttle as the launch fires intensified.
The rumble started through the flight deck area even before the last second. Slowly the shuttle and boosters began to rise from the pad, then they began their acceleration into the sky. To the observers, Picard seemed to ride on a bright flare and a column of white smoke as he ascended, prior to performing the "backflip" that would put him into a position anticipating the orbital burn. Over the next few minutes, he would jettison the boosters as he reached certain points of altitude, signal "negative return" and prepare to locate the malfunctioning satellite. Just getting into that position would take most of their time.
Pilar felt the elephant - or the whale - sitting on her. Even the centrifuge had not quite prepared her for this. Still, she kept up with her part of the job, almost feeling the air rush by and grow thinner, along with Picard, who everyone agreed had the best view of all of them.
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Post by elizar on Jan 20, 2009 1:55:06 GMT -5
((Should Carl be the ship carrying kid and laser?))
"I've done my research." Harold said. "They barely got enough time to fix the satellite. All the time goes into finding it first and align themselves to it."
"That's correct." Christine said, then turned to look at the launch. She had seen plenty of them, but doing it with others who hadn't gave her a sense of experience. But she couldn't help but to know that some of the gawkers outside of the airport were just waiting for something bad to happen.
Helen tried the best she could to focus on the lifesigns of the crew. Even though there was another doctor down on the planet doing the same, and under less pressure, she had the feel of responsibility.
Miles felt the pressure, and Lionel had been right, calling it a whale was more appropriate. But the feeling subsided after a moment. Now Picard had to climb for a moment before getting to the same orbit as the satellite, then the job was to find the bloody thing.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 20, 2009 17:43:00 GMT -5
Zoe had only seen two previous launches, while setting the older wards about the facility. "You're right, sweetie, it IS awesome." She held her breath as the assemblage of shuttle and boosters climbed into the sky and performed the initial "backflip" maneuver. In another minute, they disappeared into the sky, leaving only the stream of smoke and vapour behind. She let out her breath. "Thank Chrysler." She turned to Christine. "It's all up to them now."
<<< Yeah, why not? >>>
"Indeed. Now, where will we rendezvous?" Rolph-Carl asked. "Make sure you're completely clean before giving me the go-ahead."
Miles above the earth, Picard and the ground team worked together to establish an initial orbit before they went on their "bug hunt". With so many satellites up, it would be a task just to locate the right one. Pilar's voice entered his input, confirming and delivering instrument readings and relaying information. Lionel was keeping an eye on what the shuttle's onboard thrusters were doing, and monitoring his own view of the systems. Though they were expected to be up for only a short time, they were prepared for as many as six days up if necessary.
"Now," Picard sighed through his internal speakers. "Let's start looking through this haystack."
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Post by elizar on Jan 20, 2009 18:09:40 GMT -5
"Yes it is." Christine said. "Are you doing something later?" She asked. She didn't have anything scheduled today as today was supposed to be a vomit comet day, but getting the satellite fixed was of higher priority.
"At Pier 72." Harold said. He quickly got the others ready to move the equipment.
"It's going to be harder than with the others." Miles said. "The report said it just stopped functioning fully. No pings, but a visual. At least with the others, they could answer, but were broken in some way. I wonder what it will be this time." He sighed.
"Sounds more like software issue." Gates said. "It better not be, or else we will have to bring it down."
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 20, 2009 18:46:11 GMT -5
"Very well then." Rolph-Carl affirmed. "See you there." The ship set a discreet dogleg course, like he was just another little bit of routine marine traffic. "I'm looking forward to seeing this brat."
"Not that much, really." Zoe checked her onboard time. "So I guess we have some hours to kill."
Jon was looking around, starting to get into his surroundings. He was healthy and well-conformed from a physical standpoint, but not particularly "outdoorsy". "So what else is here?"
"Or someone REALLY broke it this time." Picard added sourly. "Though they'd have to be either telekinetic or a user to do anything like that -- UNLESS we're suddenly taking UFO theories seriously." He was making the preparatory maneuvers that would bring him into the satellite's orbit. "We should hopefully be seeing it in eight hours."
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Post by elizar on Jan 20, 2009 19:00:13 GMT -5
Just what the hell was that? Harold thought to himself. "Well, don't get used to him." He said. "If this is successful, he's going to be home in less than a month." He said. It was never his intention to keep him permanently away from his parents. But it hadn't been quite easy to find a volunteer. The boy wouldn't understand, and probably never.
"How about the other shuttles?" Christine asked. "They are in a creche nearby. Picard has to visit them from time to time, to be a good influence on them." She chuckled, remembering how he had risked himself for her honor and integrity.
"Too bad we didn't have a space for the lab." Miles said. "Or we would actually be doing the research we're supposed to have completed a month ago."
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 20, 2009 19:50:30 GMT -5
"How old are they now?" Zoe was guessing there would probably be a bit of an age spread between them. "The next oldest would be about twelve, wouldn't she?" She looked down to Dylan. "How'd you like to meet the shuttle kids?"
The boy's eyes lit up. "That would be great!"
"Always Real Soon Now." Picard snorted across the private channel. "As soon as they can pry the money away and promise each congressman and senator that there'll be something in it for his district."
"I understand." Rolph-Carl laughed. "I should be there in ninety minutes if the damn Coasties don't give me grief."
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Post by elizar on Jan 20, 2009 20:00:16 GMT -5
"We'll be ready for you by then." Harold said. It would be cutting it close, but he had no doubts about it.
Ursa had gone to Kam again with another blend for him. "Drink up." She said in a more chipper tone than usual as she pushed the can inside.
"And what would that be?" Miles asked. "Most of this science stuff isn't about profit but knowledge." He said. "Practicality is still a long way."
"Follow me." Christine said smiling. While she wasn't envious of the puddle of a gene pool in the kid, she was envious of that he had a normal family. At least more normal than hers. She sighed as heading to the creche. She took a deep breath -
- And scented something familiar. She quickly looked around from the source of the scent, but didn't see him. Maybe it is just someone who was at the bar, not Dick. She thought to herself. No way he has the guts to go here to bother me.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 20, 2009 21:22:28 GMT -5
Kam warily accepted the can, but began to consume it. His appetite was sharp for his age, as he was going through a growth spurt.
"Just be ready to move out fast." Rolph-Carl warned them.
"Oh, it's about Congressthing So-and-So trying to land the contract for this particular tiny little grommet for his business buddy in their district, and Senator Whatsername trying to get the booster repair contracts for her state, and before you know it, it's spread all around so that getting everything together is a needless ordeal." Picard snorted. "You guys have a name for it, right? Pork barrel politics?"
Zoe sensed a fleeting unease coming over Christine, and wondered what it was. But they continued onward towards the creche.
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Post by elizar on Jan 21, 2009 1:22:34 GMT -5
"Got that." Harold said. There was something about Rolph, where he didn't quite trust him for anything. But he needed to be at sea, and Rolph was the only one that seemed to be the one he could bring him there instead of the police.
"It may be a surprise for you, but I never majored in political science." Miles said.
"Still," Gates said. "They're useful. But we need to be careful of picking the best, not the cheapest. We can never have an accident up here."
Christine had quickly recovered and went inside the large building. "Hey Phoebe." She said to an airbus. "I got here couple of non-tourists and their kid who haven't really gotten their chance to look around while off duty."
"As long as they don't look at them like some animals." Phoebe said. "I've had enough of politicians making surprise visits to look at 'the future' along with pokes and prods." She hadn't cared quite if the Arrows could hear her. It was maybe even better if they did, because it would also get them into check.
"Don't worry." Christine said. "I'm certain they will not. I'll make sure of that."
Phoebe chuckled. "Come on in." She said and left the gate open for them. "This was a good timing there Christine. They've just gotten out of class at the moment."
((Won't be around until late tonight here, probably after dinner in Canada))
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 21, 2009 18:29:55 GMT -5
"I just happen to be an omnivorous reader. Have to do SOMETHING on that long, slow journey to the gantry." Picard had a smirking tone in his voice. "Now, where is that naughty satellite... ah. We're on the right track now."
Rolph-Carl set a course for the pier in question, doing all the proper things as he came into port, accepting the guidance of the harbor pilots, who took him right to the pier so specified, then waiting until the pilot boat went on his way before giving Harold the all-clear.
The sound of children's voices reached Zoe, Jon and their son, and they gently held him back. "Wait for them to come to you." they told him. They smiled to Phoebe. "Good morning."
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Post by elizar on Jan 21, 2009 19:24:21 GMT -5
"And our ETA?" Miles asked.
"I had hoped not to need to see you again so soon." Harold said as he came to the dock, the motioned his crew to load the machine and cargo. "But time has been cut short. I didn't manage to predict that course of action."
"Morning." Phoebe smiled back. "The kids are used to attention. But be careful nonetheless."
"Don't worry." Christine smiled.
An eight year old female inquisitive shuttle peeked inside as hearing some unfamiliar voices.
"Hey Gloria." Christine said. "These are some friends of mine." Christine indicated the trio Arrows.
"I haven't seen anything like you before." Gloria said, and looked at Dylan with inquisitive eyes.
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