Mission Titan

CH-3

BILL WATSON was an ex-Airforce. He had joined the Millitarie's Air division to serve as an onboard technician. Later on he became a Millitary Special Forces trained pilot, to be sent off for operations in the Middle East. After providing his service in the armed forces for more than 8 years, he was recruited by NASA, for their special program, ie. for a manned mission to Titan, which is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the Solar system. He was put in the mission, in liu of his great scientific skills, his high physical strength, along with the benefit of millitary standard training. He was thus made the Head astronaut or the Commander in Chief for the onboard crew. It had been 3 years since he has been in the program.

Although his professional career was a successful one, but unfortunately the same would be far from true for his personal life.

Just after he had received the offer for his recruitment in the program, his wife Ellen and his five-year old son Jack, were killed in a homicide murder, by someone related to his past. Though he was successful in punishing their killer, the incident had left a deep blow in his memory, which would follow him forever, until his last breath.

After passing through the security checks, he entered the complex. Once inside he looked at the large hall. It was a busy day at the center, hence there were many people moving around. Some of them were scientists or computer engineers, while others were staff workers or physical trainers. Filled with energy, as the mission was nearing finalisation, all of them were moving in their chairs, working on their tablets or setting up pieces in the hologramic projections. They all worked with extraordinary professionalism, without even giving a blink to their overworked eyes. Sometimes Bill, being himself a scientific professional, got amazed at the level of mental stamina and intellect these people carried. But he shouldn't be amazed. Because these were among the best scientists and quantum computing experts in the world, employed by the government for this very special mission.
He was just standing there gazing at the scene, when a voice caught his attention.

"Sir, I think you should hurry up for warm-up exercises, as the training schedule has been preponed, because of the.......... because of the meeting.......you know"

Bill turned to see the elderly figure of Kirsken, smiling, behind him.
Kirsken was the helper at the space centre. At the center, he did almost everything, from cleaning appliances, to setting up wires, to setting timetables for the working staff. He had once, even repaired a very sophisticated computer device, which had somehow malfunctioned. He was in his late sixties and was five-foot-eight. On his balding head, resided a thin layer of silver white hair and his face was rich with wrinkles, which betrayed his old age. The Titan mission center was one of the least 'robotised' of the NASA centers, because the government trusted human workers over the robos for such a risky mission. So, Kisken's presence in the centre was very badly needed, without which, it probably won't be able to funtion properly and Bill respected him a lot for his commitment, despite his old age

As Kirsken stood there, still smiling his most lively smile, Bill also smiled and spoke a murmuring "Thanks", and hurried up to the training room.
Inside the room were some specialist trainers, dietitians and other instructors. In the centre was the crew for the Mission Titan.

There were total of seven members in the crew, including Chief Bill Watson. Of the remaining crew, four were men and the other two were women. Among the women one was Katie Brown, who was also the youngest one, with a little more than a second decade on her dock. She was very sweet and had a good bond with Bill, like that of an elder brother. In return Bill also cared a lot for her. Sophia Davis, the other female member, was sitting beside Katie. She was British by nationality and was set to become the first European to set foot on a surface beyond that of Mars. In the men's compartment were Andy and Alex. These two were the experts in Aeronautical mechanics amd Nuclear technicalities. Next was Sameer Srivastava, who was sitting at the back. He was an Indian citizen and a very hard working and down to earth person. He was the specialist in quantum computing. Almost surprisingly, he also had a PhD in higher level medical sciences. So he was both the computer expert and the doctor of the crew.

In the end was Robert. He was the Sub-head of the crew and was also a great friend for Bill. Both of them had been friends since their school days, and had remained the same even in their adulthood. He was a great man and was very practical minded. Though Robert's behaviour had suddenly changed, since a while back, but still Bill respected and cared a lot for him, so as to do anything for him, even to give up his life, if need be.