Liftoff
Planet Earth shakes underneath the huge thrusters of the rocket ship. Within the cramped forward flight deck, which towers a mind-boggling 500 feet above ground zero, Commander Olivia Newman reviews a hologram screen in front of her. To the common layman, it would be gibberish but to her trained eye, it makes sense. All systems display a green check mark. Only seconds remain before she and her primarily rookie crew will be slammed back in their reclined seats, hot breath taken away as adrenalin-infused blood rushes to support internal organs.
“Quantum One, you are cleared for liftoff.” Mission control communicates the final confirmation.
Olivia glances at her assistant command pilot, Nick Johansen. His gloved fingers clutch the arms of the seat slightly harder, but the reassuring look he sends his commanding officer helps to maintain her unwavering composure. They’ve done this before on three prior lunar missions.
“Copy that.” Nick’s voice shakes from the force of the incredible power coursing through his body. He braces for departure.
Behind him, three additional astronauts sit in the mid module of the massive rocket. Systems engineer Devon McDonald, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Dorfmeyer, and mission specialist, Veronica Cortez, anxiously await with pounding hearts. This is their first launch. What little saliva they had in their mouths is long gone as they listen to the countdown coming through their headsets. The months of rigorous training they completed are about to be tested.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Liftoff!”
Incredible g-force sucks them back with relentless power, as if they just received a punch to the solar plexus. Intense pressure inside their spacesuit helmets increases to maximum levels. Additional oxygen flows in to supplement deep inhalations. Biometric readings flash on the inside of helmet visors, assuring the crew their hearts are somehow still beating. Far below, inside mission control’s sprawling headquarters, hundreds of analysts monitor every last piece of data, the launch stages progressing like well-rehearsed scenes of a play.
This one hundredth mission, occurring in the present year of 2200, will transport the crew to low-Earth orbit. From there, the rocket transitions to a nuclear propulsion system. This provides necessary speed and power for the second and final stage of their journey, culminating in a parachute-assisted landing near the Mars International Village of Space Scientists, IVOSS, for short. The community is run by Earth’s most advanced space programs who have formed a peaceful coalition on the red planet with one goal in mind. Expanding exploration of the universe. At least this is what the press releases claim.
“Congratulations, Quantum One. Reporting a successful launch. Please prepare for transition to direct fusion drive propulsion.” Cheers are heard from mission control. The crew breathes a little easier as the g-force diminishes to a more tolerable level.
Commander Olivia smiles at Nick before responding to mission HQ.
“Thanks, Houston. Reporting all systems optimal. Preparing for DDP.” She switches to crew only comms.
“Veronica, Devon, Susan-how are you doing back there? Any strange sensations in your pants?”
“Not yet, Commander, but I came close to it.” Devon laughs and so do the others. “Somehow, those launch simulators don’t do justice to the real thing. That was nothing short of fucking amazing. Pardon the language, Commander.”
“Yes, we still get pumped over it, too. Each and every time. And I told you all. You can speak freely around me. The occasional swear word is fine.” Nick smiles at Olivia’s reminder. They share a special bond. Both graduated from the United States Naval Academy and were selected at the same time for NASA’s Planetary Mission Program. Either one would have been an excellent choice to commandeer the latest journey. As fate would have it, Olivia was selected. It hasn’t affected their professional or even personal relationship in the least. They fit together. Plain and simple. Nick is recently divorced. Olivia is still looking for Mr. Right. Now that Nick is single again, well, that changes everything. Maybe it’s time to move forward.
Dr. Dorfmeyer reaches for the crucifix around her neck, temporarily forgetting it’s covered by the spacesuit. She is an attractive, thirty year-old family practitioner and holds a PhD in reproductive studies. Her very supportive husband, Gary, has agreed to work remotely so he can watch their two preschool kids while Susan follows her dream of traveling to Mars. Pangs of guilt hit when she dwells on how long they will be separated from each other. The memory of her kids’ anguished pleas to stay closer to home fill her head, bringing a sharp sting to her eyes. Little Zoe had flung her small arms around Susan’s neck, sniveling into her chest the morning she departed for training camp. Her older brother, James, tried to be brave but his lower lip trembled when she kissed him goodbye. Susan had almost capitulated but the allure of co-managing the ever-challenging healthcare needs of an interplanetary mission was too much. Her childhood dreams are being realized.
Thanks to her persistence in the application process, the doctor has been selected to help manage the health of her crewmates, along with fellow colonized citizens of IVOSS. The mission length was not entirely clarified when she interviewed. Although the return trip duration to Earth has been shortened to one month, she expects she’ll remain away from her family for at least a year. It will all be worth it, she reminds herself. Still, it’s going to be the hardest thing she’s ever done.
Systems engineer, Devon, thinks about his fiancé Nicole, for a few seconds. Sometimes he wonders if getting engaged was the right thing to do. He decided to propose three months ago, even though they’d only been dating around a year. Nicole said yes, but there was a slight hesitation before she answered. He senses she is still withholding some type of information from him. Devon figures it’s just his overactive brain planting unwarranted seeds of doubt. His mom and dad love Nicole. She has a steady job in fashion design. Plus, he’s not getting any younger. Nicole satisfies him sexually. All the one-night stands were great when he was in college but there’s more to life than a quick lay with a hot girl. Sex can be just as hot, hell, even hotter, when you’re familiar with your partner. Devon chuckles at the memory of their last night together when they made love on the hood of his Camaro.
Sweet night that was.
He jerks himself back to the present, scanning several instrument panels.
Veronica Cortez, mission specialist, brings her vast amount of geological knowledge to IVOSS. She is currently considered one of the leading experts in regolith management and hydroponic plant growth. She’ll be bringing some innovative ideas to increase crop production. She goes by V, and prides herself on being the only girl in her family to pursue a higher education. Her mom, a divorcee, worked two jobs after her husband left, when V was only ten years old. V knows she wouldn’t be where she is today if it wasn’t through the efforts of the one woman who always has her back. It was hard not having a father around, but her mom made sure V had a home to return to. After school. After a night shift slinging burgers. After her loss of virginity to a classmate who decided to move on to another girl a week later. Life could suck sometimes.
“My door will always be open to you, V. You’re my whole world. No matter how bad things get, just remember, you can come home if necessary. I’ll do my best to turn things around.”
V had gotten her grades up and applied to several colleges. Slowly but surely her fortune improved, largely fueled by the supportive encouragement of her mom. When she received her college degree both of them cried. V knew she wasn’t done making her mom proud.
