Space Station Crisis Read online

  June Scobee Rodgers Presents

  STAR CHALLENGERS #2

  SPACE STATION CRISIS

  Rebecca Moesta &

  Kevin J. Anderson

  SPACE STATION CRISIS

  Rebecca Moesta & Kevin J. Anderson

  The Star Challengers, a group of talented young people bound together by a common interest in the space program, return to the Challenger Center for their next mission. Mysterious Commander Zota once again sends them into the future, and this time they will work aboard the International Space Station Complex. They will live without gravity, orbiting high above the Earth—and defend humanity against a ruthless alien invasion!

  ***

  Praise for Star Challengers

  “The Star Challengers with their Commander Zota ‘boldly go into the future’ to bring great science fiction adventures to their readers…what a wonderful way to expand young imaginations.”

  —Leonard Nimoy

  “Space exploration is a great adventure that benefits all mankind. The Star Challengers books inspire young readers with that sense of adventure, introducing them to a universe of exciting possibilities.”

  —Buzz Aldrin

  “The Star Challengers adventure stories could help to inspire a whole new generation of young women to value science and seek careers in high-tech, engineering and space exploration. These teenage Star Challengers team up in their quest to find innovative solutions to help them solve problems using real out-of-this-World science.”

  —Dr. Sally Ride,

  Astronaut

  “In no other regime do reality and fiction seem to meet as commonly as in space. No wonder young (and old) people are inspired and excited when reading the Star Challengers series. It would be a great item to take along on one’s next interplanetary voyage.”

  —Norm Augustine,

  Retired Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation

  “There’s a reason why the best science fiction takes place in space. It’s the only true frontier left. Kids know this. So too does the Star Challengers series. Therein is the magical recipe to ensure a future in space for the rest of us.”

  —Neil deGrasse Tyson,

  Astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History

  “Challenger Center continues to be a champion for the future. Young readers will readily identify with the Star Challengers characters. The future needs them, and they will respond—in wonderful ways.”

  —Barbara Morgan,

  ASA’s First Educator Astronaut

  “I've traveled to space in the movies, but the Star Challengers books let everyone see the wonders of space in their imagination. They are packed with so much excitement, mystery and drama that I could see myself as a part of the Challenger Center mission team.”

  —Aramis Knight, actor, “Bean” in Ender’s Game

  “Ad astra! To the stars! By the way of good stories! Thank you for Star Challengers, Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson.”

  —Clay Morgan,

  Author of The Boy Who Spoke Dog

  “June Scobee Rodgers is a woman on a mission and that mission continues to expand. By nature June is an encourager and an inspiration. She has worked to bring renewed interest in science education and space travel through the Star Challengers series which will help feed young, curious minds with the possibilities that await them in the future. I can’t recommend these books more. Move over Avatar… here comes Commander Zota.”

  —Debbie Macomber,

  #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

  “Space may be the final frontier according to Star Trek, but if our message to the next generation is to reach for the stars, then the Star Challengers series is a great place to start. Our future survival will depend upon how our young students meet the challenge of combining science, engineering, mathematics & imagination.”

  —Lee Greenwood,

  Entertainer, Writer, Musician, Singer &

  Council Member for the National Endowment for the Arts

  “What if Earth’s future rested on the shoulders of five ordinary teens living in present times? And what if a visitor from the future accompanies them through time and space for the adventure of their lives? I was charmed by the premise of Star Challengers, a new and innovative series geared to teen readers especially drawn to science and space technology. Never a dull moment in these fast paced books with a winsome cast of inventive kids whose ideas and solutions help make a difference for our planet. Every reader can relate to their cause and challenges. All readers will be caught up in their all too human relationships with one another and humankind from tomorrow. I found the stories infused with nail biting adventure, romance and plausible science. Skip the vampires! Don’t miss this thought-provoking series presented by June Scobee Rodgers and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and written by award-winning, international bestselling authors Rebecca Moesta & Kevin J. Anderson.”

  —Lurlene McDaniel,

  Bestselling Young-Adult Author

  ***

  Smashwords Edition - November 2014

  WordFire Press

  www.wordfire.com

  ISBN: 978-1-61475-097-0

  Copyright © 2010 WordFire Inc and June Scobee Rodgers

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the copyright holder, except where permitted by law. This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover Art by John E. Kaufmann

  Logo Design by Matt Heerdt

  The Star Challengers series created by June Scobee Rodgers, Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson. All Rights Reserved. Challenger Center and the Challenger Center logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Challenger Center in the United States and/or other countries. Published under license.

  Book design by RuneWright LLC

  www.RuneWright.com

  Published by

  WordFire Press, an imprint of

  WordFire, Inc.

  PO Box 1840

  Monument CO 80132

  www.challenger.org

  (Challenger Centers For Space Science Education)

  www.wordfire.com

  (Explore the Universes of Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta)

  www.StarChallengers.com

  Electronic Version by Baen Books

  www.baen.com

  ***

  Dedication

  To the Challenger Center flight directors, teachers, and astronauts Everywhere who help launch young people toward discovery and achievement.

  ***

  Acknowledgments

  We are grateful to the countless people who have given their support to the Star Challengers project. In particular, we would like to thank:

  Pam Petersen, Dan Barstow, and Bill Readdy of the Challenger Centers for Space Science Education; Loren Coleman, Randall Bills, and Brent Evans at Catalyst Game Labs; John Silbersack at Trident Media Group; Diane Jones and Louis Moesta at WordFire, Inc.; Mary Thomson for her twinkle-fingered transcriptions and useful additions; Cherie Buchheim and first-reader Debra Ray for their lifelong-space-geek insights; Alan & Rebecca Lickiss and Sarah & Dan Hoyt for their problem-solving assistance yea
rs ago when this project was in its infancy; Rose & Bill Narva; Don Rodgers for cheering us on; Louise Moesta, Jonathan & Jessica Cowan, Tim Jones, and Sarah & Joe Thompson for smoothing the road, so Kevin & Rebecca could stay on track; June’s grandchildren who encouraged and offered their suggestions; Kevin & Rebecca’s grandson for giving us a glimpse of the generation to come; space artist Bob McCall (deceased) and astronaut entrepreneur Richard Garriott, who helped create the Challenger Center design; Allen Steele for recognizing that June, Rebecca, and Kevin absolutely had to work together; the CLC flight directors and teachers around the world who inspire students to aim for the stars; Susan Weikel Morrison; Dr. Harry Kloor; our technical advisers and brainstormers astronaut/MD Scott Parazynski, Colonel Richard Scobee, and Dr. Edward B. Tomme.

  ***

  One

  The sky was calling JJ.

  She needed to get her feet off the ground and be surrounded by nothing but air—while going very, very fast. With razor focus, she worked her way through the preflight checklist while standing next to the compact Piper Arrow. All the while, her Uncle Buzz watched her like a hawk.

  “Take your time,” he cautioned. “The sky’s not going anywhere.” He’d been her flight instructor long enough that JJ knew if she didn’t do a good job following the checklist, she wouldn’t be going anywhere either.

  When she finished the checklist, forcing herself to pay attention to every detail, he smiled and said, “Good job, flygirl. Got your pubs bag?” She nodded and held up the small heavy bag that held her approach plates, charts, and logbook. “Then let’s see how you do getting this baby off the ground.”

  JJ—short for “Jenny June”—Wren climbed into the Arrow’s cockpit, feeling a little bit nervous and a whole lot excited. Today would be her first time piloting a plane in weather under IFR—instrument flight rules. She’d have to trust her instruments when she couldn’t see where she was flying. Uncle Buzz had chosen an overcast day specifically so that she could practice using her instruments. It was an entirely different experience.

  Up until now, she had been learning on her uncle’s crop duster, which had an open cockpit. But she could only fly the crop duster under visual flight rules, keeping her eyes open and watching where she was going. This would be a big step for her. Though she had flown in the single-engine Piper a few times, this was her first time as the actual pilot. The responsibility and the freedom were thrilling.

  Uncle Buzz folded his tall frame into the copilot’s seat to her right. JJ casually tossed the pubs bag onto the back seat, buckled herself in, and put on her headset. When Uncle Buzz gave her the thumbs-up sign, she signaled the tower. “Tower, this is Arrow November nine zero five zero kilo, ready for takeoff, runway one-seven right, IFR round-robin.” She tried to sound serious, professional, and older than her actual fourteen years. Uncle Buzz had taught her the code, how to talk like a real pilot.

  Air Traffic Control, or ATC, responded, “Arrow November nine zero five zero kilo, you are cleared for takeoff. Fly heading one-eight-zero, climb to twenty-five hundred, and contact departure.” That vector would take them around the approaching storm. JJ wasn’t worried (if anything, Uncle Buzz thought she didn’t worry enough). Biting her lower lip in concentration, she lined up the small plane on the runway, confirming with the compass that it matched the runway heading, then gradually pushed up the throttle.

  “Okay, now that we’re moving,” her uncle said, “how’s your engine?”

  JJ checked the gauges. “Pressure green, temperature green.” She loved feeling the thrum of the plane as she accelerated down the runway. “Airspeed alive,” she said when the indicator started showing her speed.

  Uncle Buzz gave her another thumbs-up. When they were going fast enough, JJ slowly pulled back on the yoke—the control that looked a little like a steering wheel. With just a slight wobble, the Arrow’s wheels lifted off the ground. JJ’s heart seemed to lift off at the same time as the lightweight plane. As the little craft climbed toward the clouds on the heading that ATC had given her, JJ reminded herself of all of the times she had practiced this in a simulator.

  Now it was real.

  “Bring your nose down just a little, for your best angle of climb,” Uncle Buzz said.

  JJ did, and she had just started feeling relaxed—even giddy—when a gust hit the plane, but she adjusted easily and flew through the mild turbulence. She could handle this. The Arrow hit more rough air when they reached the clouds, but again JJ held the aircraft steady on its heading. She liked this! JJ imagined she was having a little competition with the weather, and she was determined to win.

  Piloting this plane reminded her of the Challenger Center simulations—which had turned out to be quite real. She couldn’t just learn things halfway. She was going to be a pilot, and a good one. The mysterious Commander Zota had convinced JJ and her friends that lives would depend on them in the future.

  She was reveling in the flight when a downdraft slammed them like a giant invisible flyswatter. For a few seconds, it felt as if the plane dropped out from beneath her like one of those long-plunge freefall rides at an amusement park, and her stomach tried to float up into her throat. But she didn’t panic; she knew what to do. JJ sucked in a deep breath to steady herself and concentrated on flying even as turbulence shook the aircraft.

  Another strong gust smacked them, then—wham!—something hard struck JJ on the back of the head, and everything went gray and fuzzy.…

  The next thing she knew, an acrid chemical smell was filling her nostrils, and everything came into clear focus with a jolt. From the copilot’s seat, Uncle Buzz waved something that looked like a roll of gauze under her nose—the source of the horrible smell. Her eyes and nose stung, but she was fully awake.

  “What…?” JJ began.

  “Good, that snapped you out of it. Took me a couple minutes to get us into clear airspace, but we’re fine now.” Uncle Buzz threw the small tube of gauze into the back seat. “Smelling salts—very useful in an emergency like that. Most pilots don’t carry them, but I’m old fashioned about my first aid kit. You were looking a bit woozy there. It tends to happen when you get banged on the head.… ”

  JJ put a hand to the back of her skull, which was throbbing. “Wha—how?” she asked, then remembered to put both hands back on the yoke. She tightened her grip. “Who hit me?”

  “There was an embedded thunderstorm in the clouds. After ATC gave us our heading, the storm must’ve moved faster than expected. We caught the edge of it, and the winds knocked us around a bit. And when we hit that downdraft, the pubs bag came up out of the back seat and whacked you on the noggin. Next time, remember to stow it and strap it down.”

  JJ felt herself flush with embarrassment at the stupid mistake. “Sorry, I won’t forget next time, and I certainly won’t forget that smell!” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “It sure cleared my head fast.”

  “Ammonia salts,” Uncle Buzz explained. “You weren’t unconscious, but it wouldn’t hurt to let a doctor look at that head once we land. How are you doing?”

  “Other than feeling like an idiot, you mean? Fine.” JJ was determined to get things right, and she would not make that particular mistake again. “I’d like to do the landing, if that’s all right,” she said. “Someone has to take us back down—and it might as well be me.”

  Uncle Buzz gave her a thumbs-up again. “But you let me know if you feel dizzy.”

  Clouds and the speckles of mist on the cockpit windshield made it impossible to see, but she followed her instruments. IFR. That was her challenge for today. She contacted the tower again, and Air Traffic Control provided a return heading. Using the numbers and the compass, she turned the plane back toward the small runway.

  She watched the altimeter as she descended, pretending not to notice that Uncle Buzz kept a sharp eye on the instruments as well. Fortunately, he didn’t need to correct her. Though her head still throbbed, JJ knew she was following procedures to the letter. The instruments told her
she was on the correct flight path.

  Suddenly, like a curtain being yanked away from a window, the haze of moisture disappeared as the Piper Arrow dropped below the gray clouds. The rolling landscape spread out before her, and in the distance she saw the airport with its small control tower. Far to her left, she spotted another small plane just climbing to the clouds. Otherwise the sky was empty. What a relief to see where she was going again!

  Over the radio she heard, “Arrow November nine zero five zero kilo, report runway in sight.”

  “Arrow November nine zero five zero kilo—runway in sight,” she said.

  “Arrow November nine zero five zero kilo, cleared to land, runway one-seven right.”

  She tensed briefly, forced herself to relax, then glanced at the instruments. She could tell Uncle Buzz was proud of her. Her father, a firefighter killed in the line of duty two years ago, would have been proud, too. The runway drew her toward it like a magnet, and she aligned the Arrow perfectly.

  The plane felt natural gliding down toward the pavement. The wheels touched down with just a bump, and then they were roaring along the ground, decelerating like a drag racer. She felt an adrenaline rush as she slowed the Piper to a safe ground speed and brought them to their designated spot.

  Laughing, Uncle Buzz gave her a one-man round of applause.