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ā Plash Mount
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NASA was as excited about the upcoming launch as the away team. Hunter wanted a full report as soon as the team touched down, then regular reports every three hours. "You have no idea of the magnitude of the news here at home," he gushed. "It's on the news every day. They've started a cable channel just for the Letanya. Why, there was a baby girl born right here in Houston yesterday and the parents named her Letanyaācan you believe it?"
Kate had trouble understanding all the hoopla. They were just doing their jobs.
Greta took over the preparation of the shuttle and crew. Kate and Allyson stood by like mother hens, nervously looking for loopholes in their planning. Greta rolled her eyes at her team when the commanders weren't looking.
All too soon, they were ready to go. They had food and water for a week, though the mission was to last just three days. Beth inserted a subcutaneous tracking module the size of a match into the upper arms of each of them. It would allow the Letanya to pinpoint their positions at all times.
Each woman carried a U.T. and a spare radio in the pockets of their overalls for triple redundancy. The rest of the gear had been loaded and double-checked.
Kate handed each woman a small phase pistol, to be used only in emergencies, she warned them. To ensure that the pistols did not fall into the hands of the natives, they included a unique design. A small square halfway down the grip on both sides accepted the middle finger of a user, whether using the phaser left-handed or right. A scanner read the fingerprint. If it didn't match the assigned user, the phaser remained inert. If a member of the away team needed to switch weapons for some reason, she would have to hold the gun, then punch in a five-digit code at the base of the grip to reprogram the scanner.
The team got dressed in their bulky spacesuits. The backpacks wouldn't be neededājust a spare oxygen bottle was carried in case the pod's system failed. That meant, of course, the women couldn't urinate in the suits.
"Be sure and pee before you go, gals, 'cause we aren't stopping at a gas station on the way," joked Greta.
Beth packed her medical kit behind her seat. Kate and Ally helped the team into the pod. Greta in front, Jorja behind her, and Beth taking up the rear seat. The commanders helped strap them in and connect their hoses to the ship's air-conditioning and oxygen supplies. When they were ready for the helmets, Kate paused to grip Greta's shoulder. With a nod of her head, Kate indicated the other pod, sitting on the other side of the chamber. "Be very careful. Don't make us come down there and get you, OK?"
Greta nodded, the bravado scared out of her as the launch approached. "Don't worry, sir. We'll make America proud of us."
Kate nodded, then eased the helmet over the woman's head. Once all were locked down and gave the thumbs up, Kate and Ally lowered the long canopy. They left the launch chamber, dogging down the door carefully behind them.
Making their way forward, they lowered themselves into the bridge chairs and checked the radio. "Letanya calling Eagle One, can you read me?"
"Roger, Letanya. Loud and clear."
"Prepare for launch sequence."
Kate checked the board. Everything seemed clear. She looked over at Ally. She nodded. Kate pressed the button to launch countdown.
Inside the pod, the women sat rigid. The experience reminded Beth of waiting for the roller coaster ride to start. Only this one had no rails or safety nets. The air whooshed out of the chamber. The bay door slid open noiselessly beneath them. They were too confined to peek at the planet below. They hung there, over nothingness, held only by the launch grappler.
"Ten, nine, eightā¦"
Greta ran through her procedures, trying to ignore her fear. This is my big test, she told herself. Don't blow it.
"Pod released." The away team felt the sickening lurch as the grappler pushed the pod clear of the ship, then released it.
With the pod now free and hurtling toward the planet, the away team braced for the critical descent, while Kate and Ally monitored their trajectory from the Letanya, hearts pounding with anticipation.