An alarm echoed through the mission center hall. The screen lighted with that usual alarm color, red.
'What's the status of Joe and Paul?'
'W-We have lost contact sir.'
'What!? What are the casualties?'
'Except the CCA (Communications Carrier Assembly), Joe isn't facing much serious or high prioritized issues.'
'What about Paul?'
'Sir, we didn't confirm his situation yet, but his CCA has been confirmed as damaged.'
The extreme white hall with plain parallel walls, not much fancied either, was full of sweat and the air of terror almost suffocated them.
'Contact the moonbase and send all possible unmanned probes and an oxygen generator system towards that ravine. Good thing we can still locate the fallen buggy. It doesn't seem to be suffering from any detrimental causalities.'
'Yes, sir we are connected to moonbase'
'Yes, this is moonbase.' Came from the other end.
One of the men looked behind the chief, signalling him what to tell.
'Brief them of the current situation.'
'Yes sir.'
**********************************
The spacesuit that Joe came across looked exactly the same as his EMU. But something was different about it. The aurora that gave out from the suit dreaded Joe as he kneeled down to look through the EVA(Extravehicular Visor Assembly) covered bubble to see it empty. Joe's countenance half surprised and half terrified, reluctantly opened the helmet and pushed his mild pressured gloved hand through the neck opening to find only air.
'This isn't Paul's suit. Of course it isn't. Paul wouldn't get enough time to get out of the suit and lock the helmet. First of all as soon as he gets out he should freeze to death and his body should be lying dead somewhere near the suit but it isn't. And the lack of oxygen should also be taken into account. Ebullism, hypocapnia, hypoxia should also be noted down. Even though 15 seconds is enough to live out of the suit, he couldn't have gone far, since it is tough to walk on a moon, jumping will his half time. ' Joe said to himself running through the possibilities, and randomly searching the ground near the suit for more clues.
Then Joe flipped the empty EMU over, ran his fingers along the PLSS (Primary Life Support Subsystem) to find it good as new. But no matter how he thought over it, he couldn't think of any possible reasons why an empty spacesuit was floored on the middle of nowhere, in the bitter cold ravine covered with death's cloak and aurora.
Finally something clicked Joe, 'Oh shit! The buggy! How could I've forget that?' Joe scolded himself, half glad and half unhappy. 'There are always two spare spacesuits in the buggy! It must have come loose from its place and fell down here....Hang on! That means that the buggy must have goon through this track.....If i keep on going straight i might come face to face with the buggy.' Joe said as he moved his helmet sideways if the buggy, by chance was near him....but no chance.
Time was getting drained by death from the endless space, he didn't have much time. About ten minutes has passed since he last checked his oxygen meter. He just got up by the knee and looked up at the starry sky, filled with billions of hopes.
I bet Collins(one of his mates in moonbase) and the rest will take an hour to charge up their buggy, then two hours to reach at this crash site and another hour or so to pick me and Paul up. Well, i guess that's enough. But it isn't enough for Paul. I don't know of his location or situation. What if his temperature regulator is busted?or what if his bladder layer is damaged somehow and he isn't getting proper pressure? Or what if he is running on his back up oxygen tank? Then he will have 80 minutes to go. Dammit! Stay Calm...stay calm...I need to think this out goddamit! Joe ordered himself, his cold sweat piercing his skin. He clicked the meter on his right arm, to see only 7 hours and 35minutes of oxygen left. It's no use thinking over it...I have to find Paul quick. He brought out a small glassed yellow bulb from his spacesuit zip pocket and place it beneath his feet, by balancing it on small piece of rock as he thought. He needed to do that as he might lose his path as he moves on to find Paul and the buggy.
If only I could use my light flare to inform Paul about my situation, but it would be useless if he is unconscious. And again I will need it when help arrives to indicate of my current location. But that's not all, there's a chance that Paul is near or on the buugy right now, so if i go straight I might meet up with him. It's all or nothing. Joe thought as he picked up the mysterious empty spacesuit, placing it on his armpits while moving on.
As he moved on he thought about his dream of going to unfold all the mysteries in this apparently infinite space. Even though that feeling warmed him up a bit, it wasn't powerful enough to kill the rising death from its grave.
*******************************
'Sir, the oxygen generator system and some probes have been dispatched from the moonbase.'
'What about Collins and the rest of the crew in the moonbase?' The Chief rested his elbow on the desk.
'We have just updated that Collins and Harvey are preparing the buggy, which will take another 30 minutes. Ulquira, Steven and Henry are preparing in moonbase, for treatments for any causalities of Paul and Joe.'
'Have you been able to be on Paul yet?'
'Sir, we are on it.'
The hall's huge polished wooden doors flew open as Edward(One of the supervising commanders) and his worker, Price, stepped in and walked down the white linoleum polished edged stairs towards the chief's desk in the mission control center hall.
'What's up Ed?' The Chief said as he stepped in.
'I have news for you, Tony (he was the chief).' Said Edward, Price standing right behind him.
'Split it. Distractions must be avoided. You are let in only since you are the one of the commanders and since this is an emergency case. We must prepare for the worst case scenario. So better spare us with time.'
'You might not want to say that after you hear me.'
The air of suspense bounced around the hall. Even time seemed to wait for Edward.
'We have just confirmed in the other branch, that Paul's visor has been slightly cracked and he's running on his backup oxygen tank. His main oxygen tank of the suit's PLSS has been damaged.'
'What's the status of Joe and Paul?'
'W-We have lost contact sir.'
'What!? What are the casualties?'
'Except the CCA (Communications Carrier Assembly), Joe isn't facing much serious or high prioritized issues.'
'What about Paul?'
'Sir, we didn't confirm his situation yet, but his CCA has been confirmed as damaged.'
The extreme white hall with plain parallel walls, not much fancied either, was full of sweat and the air of terror almost suffocated them.
'Contact the moonbase and send all possible unmanned probes and an oxygen generator system towards that ravine. Good thing we can still locate the fallen buggy. It doesn't seem to be suffering from any detrimental causalities.'
'Yes, sir we are connected to moonbase'
'Yes, this is moonbase.' Came from the other end.
One of the men looked behind the chief, signalling him what to tell.
'Brief them of the current situation.'
'Yes sir.'
**********************************
The spacesuit that Joe came across looked exactly the same as his EMU. But something was different about it. The aurora that gave out from the suit dreaded Joe as he kneeled down to look through the EVA(Extravehicular Visor Assembly) covered bubble to see it empty. Joe's countenance half surprised and half terrified, reluctantly opened the helmet and pushed his mild pressured gloved hand through the neck opening to find only air.
'This isn't Paul's suit. Of course it isn't. Paul wouldn't get enough time to get out of the suit and lock the helmet. First of all as soon as he gets out he should freeze to death and his body should be lying dead somewhere near the suit but it isn't. And the lack of oxygen should also be taken into account. Ebullism, hypocapnia, hypoxia should also be noted down. Even though 15 seconds is enough to live out of the suit, he couldn't have gone far, since it is tough to walk on a moon, jumping will his half time. ' Joe said to himself running through the possibilities, and randomly searching the ground near the suit for more clues.
Then Joe flipped the empty EMU over, ran his fingers along the PLSS (Primary Life Support Subsystem) to find it good as new. But no matter how he thought over it, he couldn't think of any possible reasons why an empty spacesuit was floored on the middle of nowhere, in the bitter cold ravine covered with death's cloak and aurora.
Finally something clicked Joe, 'Oh shit! The buggy! How could I've forget that?' Joe scolded himself, half glad and half unhappy. 'There are always two spare spacesuits in the buggy! It must have come loose from its place and fell down here....Hang on! That means that the buggy must have goon through this track.....If i keep on going straight i might come face to face with the buggy.' Joe said as he moved his helmet sideways if the buggy, by chance was near him....but no chance.
Time was getting drained by death from the endless space, he didn't have much time. About ten minutes has passed since he last checked his oxygen meter. He just got up by the knee and looked up at the starry sky, filled with billions of hopes.
I bet Collins(one of his mates in moonbase) and the rest will take an hour to charge up their buggy, then two hours to reach at this crash site and another hour or so to pick me and Paul up. Well, i guess that's enough. But it isn't enough for Paul. I don't know of his location or situation. What if his temperature regulator is busted?or what if his bladder layer is damaged somehow and he isn't getting proper pressure? Or what if he is running on his back up oxygen tank? Then he will have 80 minutes to go. Dammit! Stay Calm...stay calm...I need to think this out goddamit! Joe ordered himself, his cold sweat piercing his skin. He clicked the meter on his right arm, to see only 7 hours and 35minutes of oxygen left. It's no use thinking over it...I have to find Paul quick. He brought out a small glassed yellow bulb from his spacesuit zip pocket and place it beneath his feet, by balancing it on small piece of rock as he thought. He needed to do that as he might lose his path as he moves on to find Paul and the buggy.
If only I could use my light flare to inform Paul about my situation, but it would be useless if he is unconscious. And again I will need it when help arrives to indicate of my current location. But that's not all, there's a chance that Paul is near or on the buugy right now, so if i go straight I might meet up with him. It's all or nothing. Joe thought as he picked up the mysterious empty spacesuit, placing it on his armpits while moving on.
As he moved on he thought about his dream of going to unfold all the mysteries in this apparently infinite space. Even though that feeling warmed him up a bit, it wasn't powerful enough to kill the rising death from its grave.
*******************************
'Sir, the oxygen generator system and some probes have been dispatched from the moonbase.'
'What about Collins and the rest of the crew in the moonbase?' The Chief rested his elbow on the desk.
'We have just updated that Collins and Harvey are preparing the buggy, which will take another 30 minutes. Ulquira, Steven and Henry are preparing in moonbase, for treatments for any causalities of Paul and Joe.'
'Have you been able to be on Paul yet?'
'Sir, we are on it.'
The hall's huge polished wooden doors flew open as Edward(One of the supervising commanders) and his worker, Price, stepped in and walked down the white linoleum polished edged stairs towards the chief's desk in the mission control center hall.
'What's up Ed?' The Chief said as he stepped in.
'I have news for you, Tony (he was the chief).' Said Edward, Price standing right behind him.
'Split it. Distractions must be avoided. You are let in only since you are the one of the commanders and since this is an emergency case. We must prepare for the worst case scenario. So better spare us with time.'
'You might not want to say that after you hear me.'
The air of suspense bounced around the hall. Even time seemed to wait for Edward.
'We have just confirmed in the other branch, that Paul's visor has been slightly cracked and he's running on his backup oxygen tank. His main oxygen tank of the suit's PLSS has been damaged.'
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