Chapter Twenty-One
Going Down
NASA Kennedy Space Center — Mission Control
Int. NASA Kennedy Space Center — Mission Control — Day
NASA controllers wait in silence.
Eyes fix on the inactive overhead monitors.
Endurance II orbits appear as a figure eight to compensate for the earth’s flattened representation.
Matt sighs as he addresses a senior operator at her terminal.
Matt
It’s been twelve hours since Commander Schuster’s last transmission. Let’s go over it again.
Operator
(reading from keyed notes)
Okay. Twelve eighteen, Eastern Standard Time. Fifth orbit directly above the Solomon Islands. We had no warning. Transmissions seemed normal, all systems check out.
Matt
Replay the digital images of the last ten minutes to the master screen.
The operator wheels to another flat console, presses a series of touch-sensitive buttons.
The screen ahead goes blank.
She rewinds the images.
A flash of Earth lights the large room.
It’s as though they’re travelling on the shuttle, looking down.
Matt
(whispering)
That’s one hell of a hurricane down there. Could it affect them?
Operator
(shrugging)
The meteorological department have named the Hurricane Duchess. And the word is, this hurricane came out of nowhere. It could only affect them if they’re out of orbit.
They watch as the image rolls over and over, then settles back to normal.
Matt
(gasping)
What the hell!
The image goes blank.
Schuster’s final words play over the intercom.
Operator
We have to assume Endurance went down where the last message was received.
Matt
We’ve scanned the area. No trace of them.
High-resolution images snap onto the overhead screen. The colossal swirl of Hurricane Duchess moves across the earth.
The operator further enhances the images.
Endurance’s anterior profile comes into view.
Then, the hurricane vanishes, like it was snatched away.
Endurance hits the ocean.
Matt
There!
She rattles off coordinates.
Operator
(instantly)
And get this. Mad Water Delta, near Cactus Loop. Australia.
He picks up the safe telephone with a direct line to the White House, waits.
Matt
(on telephone)
Kate, we’ve located Endurance II. I need access to a SEAL team and a chopper. You need to inform the Australian authorities we’ll be conducting a rescue mission in their space.
Kate
Matt, this needs State approval. I’ll connect with DOD now to get a plan moving. How long have I got?
Matt
Hours. One more thing. I need Amy for this. Let her know, get her to my office soon as.
Kate
On it.
End of Chapter Twenty-One