Solar Warden

Encounter Part 7

A month later Samuel was meeting the others at a hangar. His training was successful done. There were the two pilots Owens and Taylor, the biologists Watkins, Marc Newman, Maxima Kelsey, Thomas Ryan and John Caine waiting. As Samuel decided to take the full risk option, somehow he competed with Newman and Kelsey in the training. They were in the body condition similar like him. Also Kelsey seemed to be interesting for him, which he tried to not show too much. The same was it for Kelsey, because it could have effects on her carrier.

Watkins had a better condition and could compete with the pilots. Also the shooting went ok for Samuel.

Nevertheless, he was now member of the team and had a military grade of a Lieutenant.

"So we are complete. This is our team for the upcoming mission. We are now transferring to our preparation base and then to our operation ship when it arrives. Let's go," Ryan finished and led into the hanger. It was dark outside and not much lighting. The hangar lights went on as they opened the doors.

"There it is the TR-3CS the shuttle version of our TR-3C fighters. For all which don't know it yet. This is an anti-gravity powered spaceplane. So we have artificial gravity on our flight to the Moon." Ryan told and walked to the open back ramp of the shuttle. Then he stepped up the ramp for the airlock. The shuttle was triangular and over 25-meter long.

"So here is an airlock this means with pressure suits we could also operate in space. But it also can clean us from most of the biological danger we might encounter. So our standard operation suits will work well here," Ryan explained.

Both doors of the airlock were open. The inner cabin had ten seats and two stretchers that could be used for multiple needs. There was a toilet and some locker for equipment. In the middle another door led to the cockpit. Taylor went to the front where they started the preflight checks as Owens arrived, after closing the backdoors.

Ryan showed the others around. There was not much to show but the locker near the cockpit door were filled with food and drinks. The weapons locker was empty. And there were some emergency suits. On each side of the cabin above the beds were also a bigger screen. Ryan explained, it will show all needed tactical information, the cockpit view or any other useful sensor feeds. Also every seat had a smaller display in the back. The cabin itself had no windows.

"Preflight check done. We are ready to depart," Lieutenant Taylor informed as she opened the hangar doors with the integrated remote control.

"OK, team. Get to your seats. Using the belts is optional. It will be a smooth flight." Ryan informed and also went for his seat. He was the last one.

"We are ready Lieutenant Taylor," he said as he looked at the front display showing the cockpit view where the hangar doors were opening.

The spaceplane started to hover. Then the landing gears went in. They were a mixture from skids and wheels. Slowly they floated out of the hangar and as they were far enough away they accelerated up into the dark sky. Inside there was not much to feel about that maneuver which looked a bit like a catapult start into the sky. Also the changed angle to the horizontal was not noticeable.