Chapter 3: The Moon Base
Morgan never bugged Rogers that much and when it was all said and done it took a little over thirty six hours for the shuttle to reach the orbit of the moon. Despite how nervous the crew was as they got back into their space suits, Rogers was a cool as a cucumber as he made this landing several times before. Using just thrusters, he navigated the shuttle towards the moon and made a perfect touchdown on the lunar landing bay. The shuffle softly touched down and there were already three astronauts out there to anchor the ship down to make sure it didn't float away.
"There we go," Rogers called out, "Thank you for flying with us. Please make sure all trays and chairs are left in the upright position."
The crew all put their helmets on, grabbed the stuff they were going to take to the station and slowly floated over to the cargo bay to make their first spacewalk. Once the ship was secure and everyone was ready, the bay doors opened and for the first time Morgan was in space outside the ship, something that felt totally amazing. He floated out of the cargo bay and down towards the other space walkers that were waiting to escort them into the station. It took fifteen minutes to cover ten meters from the ship to the main airlock to the station. Morgan took a look at the space station and again he was amazed. It looked a lot bigger than the pictures would have suggested. He could see why NASA had to send monthly supply ships there as it probably took a crapload of oxygen to keep everyone in there alive. When all seven of them made it the airlock, they were greeted by someone who was on the other side. He waved and smiled at his new guests.
"Greetings space travelers," He started. "My name is Commander Jack Gordon, and I am in command of this station. Before I open the airlock, I need to remind everyone that you all signed a non-disclosure agreement before accepting this mission. Do you remember that?"
All the astronauts nodded to confirm.
"What the hell is he babbling about?" Morgan asked.
"I can't tell you," Rogers said with a smile. "It's a surprise."
"Whatever you see or feel inside this station is strictly classified. You are not allowed to divulge anything you experience here without permission from both NASA and the Department of National Defense."
"Wait a minute," Morgan interrupted. "The defense department?"
"That's right," Rogers answered. "Do you think NASA could afford all this on their own the way the Congress has been slashing their budget?"
"I see your point." Morgan answered. "So this is a joint venture. Basically NASA does all the grunt work and you guys get to use the results like a private, third party investor."
"Something like that Dr. Taylor," Gordon answered. "Brace yourselves."
"Brace ourselves?" Jessica repeated. "For what?"
"You'll see." Rogers said as he grabbed a bar behind him."
The door leading out the ship was closed behind them and then without warning, all the astronauts except Rogers and the two who escorted them in all fell to the floor with a hard thud. When the room decompressed, not only did the room fill with oxygen but gravity was restored as well. They were no longer floating like they had for the last few days, at least not as much as they didn't when they traveled from the ship to the docking port.
"Welcome to Lunar One." Rogers said as he offered a hand to help Morgan back to his feet.
"Holy shit!" Morgan said as he got back to his feet. "We have full gravity on the moon! How the hell is that possible?"
"Don't look at me." Rogers said as he shrugged. "I'm just the pilot, I don't understand how any of this stuff works."
When the airlock to the other side opened, Morgan got another shock as there were a lot more than seven other people inside the station. There were at least twenty people in the hanger waiting to greet them and most of them were wearing what looked like a military uniform. Something out of Star Trek as they each of them had an insignia as well as a rank sewn onto them. As Morgan walked into the hanger, he also discovered that the stations appearances were a lot more deceiving than he first imagined. Lunar One was at least four times larger than advertised, but most of the facility was hidden below the lunar surface. All five of the new scientists were stunned as they strolled inside. Gordon hadn't been kidding about keeping secrets; there was no way Congress, the American people, or even any other country around the world had any idea what was really going on at this moon base.
"This is why you don't allow international visitors." Morgan said, "You're afraid of espionage."
"That's correct, Dr. Taylor." Gordon confirmed.
"I'm sure you're also afraid China would try to nuke this place off the face of the moon if they knew what kind of operation you had here." Morgan said, putting down his luggage before taking off his helmet. "You are aware that the United States signed the UN pact that promised not to weaponize space, right?"
"We are not weaponizing space." Gordon answered. "All weapons here are for defensive purposes only."
"Who exactly are you afraid is going to attack?" Jason asked. "Ze Germans?"
"Not exactly." Rogers answered.
"Aliens?" Morgan then guessed.
"What makes you so sure?" Gordon asked.
"I have a feeling that's where a lot of this tech comes from." Morgan said. "I don't care what you say; artificial gravity didn't come without a little help."
"You would be correct." Gordon said, impressed with how quickly Morgan was putting things together. "I have a feeling you're going to fit in just fine here, Dr. Taylor."
"I bet," Morgan said, as he started to remove the rest of his space suit. "I take it that's why you spread that rubbish about the moon base being too far away to broadcast live to the world, so that they'll never accidentally see what you have going on over here?"
"There will be plenty of time for questions later." Gordon said as he waved an arm and several men, likely guards came walking over. "These men are going to show you to your quarters. Contrary to what you were told, you will be all getting your own rooms. It's the same size as a private cot you'd get on a naval ship but it's a place where you have some alone time whenever you need it."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Morgan joked. "I thought for a moment I was gong to have to fight Jason for the top bunk."
"This way please." One of the guards called out.
"Try to settle down." Rogers said, as he grabbed Morgan by the arm. "These guys will only put up with so much banter."
"Or what?" Morgan replied. "We get shoved out the airlock?"
"No," Rogers answered. "But this place does have a brig."
"Of course it does," Morgan said as he walked further behind the guard leading him to his room.
"You'll be staying here, Dr. Taylor." The guard said as he motioned to the small room. "You'll be stationed with the other scientists that are in your field."
"Who?" Morgan asked.
"He's referring to me." A soft voice replied.
Morgan turned around and laid eyes on a very beautiful woman who was dressed in a similar uniform. She held out her hand. "I'm Lt. Samantha Jordan."
"Morgan Taylor." Morgan said as he shook her hand. "Lt. Jordan, that means you're military?"
"Yes, a lot of the scientists up here are military." Jordan said as she watched Morgan enter his room and drop his two suitcases unto the bed. "NASA brings people up whenever we are in need of another pair of eyes to help us with something we're struggling with."
"So I'm here because you need my help?" Morgan asked.
"Pretty much," Lt. Jordan replied. "I was expecting Dr. Davis to be here."
"He had his appendix removed," Morgan said with a grin. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
"Given Dr. Davis' deep reputation for mistrusting the government, I have a feeling a lot of people up here are happy you're here instead." Jordan said with as smile. "It would be hard to get any work done here if he didn't trust anyone."
Given what Jordan had just said, Morgan began to suspect that Davis might not have had an episode of appendicitis after all. He shrugged it off and started to open one of his bags. "Dumb luck, I guess."
"Well I'm pleased to meet you Dr. Taylor." Lt. Jordan said as she kept standing at attention at the door. "I've read all your papers and I am very excited to be working with you at the station."
"Please," Morgan interrupted, "You can call me Morgan."
"Yes, Sir." Jordan replied.
Morgan sighed. "You guys run a pretty tight ship up here, don't you?"
"Yes, Sir." She confirmed.
"This should be fun." Morgan said as he couldn't believe what he had gotten himself into.
For the first time since heleft the planet, he had started to regret taking Davis' place. Morgan didn't want to work forthe military, but it looked like he would have to play along for the timebeing. He would have to get used to the situation and resist the urge to rebelagainst the powers that be. He figured it would be best to gather as muchinformation about the real Lunar One before making a decision about what hewould do with it. For the time being, he was their guest and Morgan chose to beon his best behavior... for now.
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