IGNITION

Chapter Eleven

Three days later Major Hadrick carefully settled himself into a well known seat, absently buckling in as he watched a display in front of him. On it was the rockets position and course and as he’d been told, it was well ahead of them and above. This would be the capsules closest approach for the next month and a half. A two man transport was approaching it carefully at the moment, a critical message having finally wormed its way through channels to the people who really needed the information. Ebola, in fact almost any biological agent was pretty much dead in space but if any was aboard... He checked his watch, they’d be in sunlight in a few minutes and that had already sterilized the outside perfectly. It was the inside that mattered. The inside, and a cargo that the station now critically needed.

Aboard the spacecraft Mioko Takamada had woken days ago to find herself floating in a cloud of her own making. With a groan of embarrassment she had pulled herself towards the rear where towels were stored. ‘In orbit’ her mind told her as she worked to clean the mess. It felt great. Now days later she was just bored, bored and worried as messages had finally gotten too her. Message as to what had happed at home, what had happened to the crew and what her new responsibility was. While she waited her craft was investigated, then bathed with intense ultraviolet lamps by the work shuttle. Space no longer felt great.

Several hours later the Japanese woman found herself facing a very impressive looking American military man. Ready to face any questions he might have, she was surprise by his first one.

“So Mrs Takamada, how does it feel to be a hero” Hadrick asked. Mioko looked away, her face darkening. ‘So unlike a hero’ he told himself, she embarrassed so easily.

In counter Mioko asked only one question, how was her husband. Dead had been the answer, probably killed by the same men she’d turned to floating ash. Had they not been so eager to ready the ship for launch she would be with her husband with Hadrick and his men involved in a bloody battle and Earth under threat of extinction.

 A small comfort to a newly made widow.

“When can I go home?” she asked softly.

“Not for a long time. Commands out, until this things certain kill any ship trying to re-enter earths atmosphere. I’m sorry. Children?”

“No. We planned” she whispered. “Late next Winter, a Fall child. Now.. Nothing.”

 “I’m sorry. All I can say is welcome. You’ll be transported to Luna Colony within the week, it’s the only place right now that has available space. Things are tight up here so we’ll be going with you. Right now I’ve got to help unload your ship, those supplies are needed badly. I think you ought to go to that room they gave you. Get some sleep.”

Two days later people started dying on Shikoku. In three China admitted it had its own cases while six days after her first flight Mioko Takamada stepped foot on the moon.