The Blue People of Cloud Planet Read Online Free Page A
Author: Brian Wolfenden
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Fantasy, Exploration, Space Exploration
3A.’
‘Command astronauts - prepare to disembark ROL-1.’
They clutched their small flight bags and the command seats were retracted and lowered into the air lock. After checks by Zec-1 that pressures were equalised, doors opened and the seats were lowered into the elevator.
Olivia and Scott then left their seats after receiving final instructions from Zec-1 and the flight controller. The seats were retracted into the air lock and both doors above them were closed and sealed. Once confirmed, the flight controller now activated the lift carrying the two astronauts and it descended 50 metres to the floor of the maintenance module of Moon Base.
When the doors opened, a lunar flight attendant made a smart salute to Olivia and Scott and welcomed them back to the base. They made their way through to the reception module where the receptionist handed them envelopes.
‘Where are we training next?’ thought Olivia.
But when they opened them they found an invitation to attend the main conference room at 10 am lunar time the next day to be briefed on ‘Project Omega’.
Training over!
Chapter 5
The General
‘I particularly remember this day because Moon Base was rife with speculation about this meeting and nobody knew the agenda. They do not even know who is chairing this gathering. I include the detailed transcripts of this discussion because of their vital importance to Project Omega and my story.’
By 09:55 am lunar time, five pairs of astronauts were assembled in the main conference room of the Research module. Olivia looked around her, surprised that only 10 remained from over 50 who had started training three months ago.
She was not surprised to see Alison and Steve in the same room and there were Jane and Tom and Melanie and Angus, but she could not name the fifth couple, only recognising their faces from earlier training sessions.
Scott was staring upwards and Olivia followed his gaze to the lunar sky so perfectly framed in the hexagonal sectors of the module roof. But what held their attention was the lovely sight of Earth, with day and night so clearly defined, and the wonderful blues and whites as sea and cloud gave glimpses of the huge land mass of Africa.
Suddenly the conference room door hissed open and the ten astronauts stood smartly to attention and saluted as, to their astonishment, no less than General Patrick L. McFarland entered the room.
‘This must be some serious mission.’ Scott whispered knowing that this was the supremo of space travel and exploration.
‘The General is Commander-in-Chief of the World Space Exploration Council based here at the McFarland Research Centre at Moon Base. He was the first man to have set foot on Mars with, as it happens, Scott’s grandfather Ralph. He also pioneered the establishment of the first Moon Base now named after him. Now in his sixties, the General is an imposing, strong-featured man, still lean and fit, and with a striking head of hair.’
‘At ease, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for your prompt attendance here this morning.’ He was always extremely polite with all personnel at the Moon Base and commanded huge respect with the way that he managed people. However, look out if he raised his voice slightly or lifted an eyebrow – you were probably in trouble.
Then, surprisingly, he took off his uniform jacket, put it on the back of a chair and joined the stunned astronauts at the round table.
‘Please feel free to remove your coats and make yourself comfortable.’ This was unheard of in the presence of the General and none of the teams moved until Scott led by example and removed his.
‘Today and tomorrow,’ he continued, ‘there will be no status in this room and everyone will be entitled to say exactly what they think without prejudicing their rank or position on this Moon Base.’
‘So what is going down,
‘Command astronauts - prepare to disembark ROL-1.’
They clutched their small flight bags and the command seats were retracted and lowered into the air lock. After checks by Zec-1 that pressures were equalised, doors opened and the seats were lowered into the elevator.
Olivia and Scott then left their seats after receiving final instructions from Zec-1 and the flight controller. The seats were retracted into the air lock and both doors above them were closed and sealed. Once confirmed, the flight controller now activated the lift carrying the two astronauts and it descended 50 metres to the floor of the maintenance module of Moon Base.
When the doors opened, a lunar flight attendant made a smart salute to Olivia and Scott and welcomed them back to the base. They made their way through to the reception module where the receptionist handed them envelopes.
‘Where are we training next?’ thought Olivia.
But when they opened them they found an invitation to attend the main conference room at 10 am lunar time the next day to be briefed on ‘Project Omega’.
Training over!
Chapter 5
The General
‘I particularly remember this day because Moon Base was rife with speculation about this meeting and nobody knew the agenda. They do not even know who is chairing this gathering. I include the detailed transcripts of this discussion because of their vital importance to Project Omega and my story.’
By 09:55 am lunar time, five pairs of astronauts were assembled in the main conference room of the Research module. Olivia looked around her, surprised that only 10 remained from over 50 who had started training three months ago.
She was not surprised to see Alison and Steve in the same room and there were Jane and Tom and Melanie and Angus, but she could not name the fifth couple, only recognising their faces from earlier training sessions.
Scott was staring upwards and Olivia followed his gaze to the lunar sky so perfectly framed in the hexagonal sectors of the module roof. But what held their attention was the lovely sight of Earth, with day and night so clearly defined, and the wonderful blues and whites as sea and cloud gave glimpses of the huge land mass of Africa.
Suddenly the conference room door hissed open and the ten astronauts stood smartly to attention and saluted as, to their astonishment, no less than General Patrick L. McFarland entered the room.
‘This must be some serious mission.’ Scott whispered knowing that this was the supremo of space travel and exploration.
‘The General is Commander-in-Chief of the World Space Exploration Council based here at the McFarland Research Centre at Moon Base. He was the first man to have set foot on Mars with, as it happens, Scott’s grandfather Ralph. He also pioneered the establishment of the first Moon Base now named after him. Now in his sixties, the General is an imposing, strong-featured man, still lean and fit, and with a striking head of hair.’
‘At ease, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for your prompt attendance here this morning.’ He was always extremely polite with all personnel at the Moon Base and commanded huge respect with the way that he managed people. However, look out if he raised his voice slightly or lifted an eyebrow – you were probably in trouble.
Then, surprisingly, he took off his uniform jacket, put it on the back of a chair and joined the stunned astronauts at the round table.
‘Please feel free to remove your coats and make yourself comfortable.’ This was unheard of in the presence of the General and none of the teams moved until Scott led by example and removed his.
‘Today and tomorrow,’ he continued, ‘there will be no status in this room and everyone will be entitled to say exactly what they think without prejudicing their rank or position on this Moon Base.’
‘So what is going down,
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