Project Phoenix ( Andy Weir Project Hail Mary sequel Fan Fic)

Project Phoenix Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Project Phoenix

Alan Kunanmar sat at the conference table in one of the new office buildings of Cairo. It was on the 30th floor and had a nice view to the west where the three big pyramids could be seen. He felt weird, only very privileged people were able to be in buildings this high and with this view. His laptop was open on the table with a few applications open displaying the contents of the messages received from the Rau Research network.

The door opened and an old man came in carrying a suitcase and leaning on a walking cane. He smiled cheerfully but said nothing. He walked to a chair opposite Alan and sat heavily.

"I hope you got some sleep." Steve said suddenly, "where did they fly you in from?"

"Nowhere, I live in Cairo." Alan said defensively. "You were flown in?"

"Ah, yes." Dr Hatch said merrily, "Where are my manners? I am getting old and I get cranky when I don't get enough sleep. And especially if they get me up in the middle of the night and get me into a plane. My name is Dr. Steve Hatch."

"Alan Kunanmar. Wait a minute. You are THE Dr Steve Hatch? The one who designed and built the Project Hail Mary Beetles?"

"Wow. I am surprised someone your age knows about them. Yes, that is me. Or rather that was me about 30 years ago. Now I am just an old man in retirement. Or so I thought. Do you know what this is about?"

"Yes, Actually I do. The beetles are back."

Alan let the information sink into Dr Hatch's mind. His lips widened and his eyes became watery. He almost had lost faith and was not expecting to hear this news while he was alive.

"Tell me more, I want to know everything!" Dr Hatch was ecstatic.

"Actually we are supposed to wait for one more person. I wonder who it is?"

"Really? You know who I am but you can't guess who will be the next person coming through that door? Oh, you are in for a big surprise then." Dr Hatch chuckled.

Only moments later the door opened again and a woman came in. She was wearing a dark grey pant suit with a white shirt and black low heel shoes. She had straight white hair cut at shoulder lenth and was wearing black rimmed glasses. Eva Strat had a presence that was difficult to match.

"Dr. Hatch!" She said cheerfully. "I am glad to see that the years have been kind to you. How long has it been? 20 years?"

"Yes." Dr. Hatch got up to meet her. "Since the trial! It's been a long 20 years. I see they let you out, they must be desperate, aren't they?"

"Don't know how much yet, just got out this morning. I have a lot of catching up to do." She hugged Dr. Hatch and then turn to Alan. "You must be Dr. Alan Kunanmar. I am Eva Strat."

"Not a Dr. unfortunately. But Yes, I am Alan Kunanmar. I can't believe I am in the presence of two legends!"

"Legend? Well, 20 years in Jail would disagree with that statement." She then proceeded to sit at the head of the table and took out her notebook and a pen. "Ok, Catch me up. What do you know?"

Alan Kunanmar cleared his throat and turn his computer around so that Strat and Hatch could see.

"Yesterday I found this received communication on the Tau Research satellite network. It is the first one we have received and we have been getting one every hour since. This 'I am alive message' just states that Beetle George is within reach of our communications. From the tracking so far we estimate that it is somewhere near Saturn's orbit."