Short story: "Flight of the Dragon"

[DocM]

From a Kiwi NSF'er and part time writer, 

 

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Flight of The Dragon

 

By Matthew Pavletich

The more than 2000 American and International journalists at Kennedy Space Center that April morning, 2020, waited and listened with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and nervousness. On the many big televisions around the KSC Press Center, there were several live feeds playing from Mission Control and a spacecraft currently in orbit above the other side of the Earth. And outside, occasional announcements spoke calmly from the Public Address system speakers. More than two hours ago the Journalists, TV reporters and the hundreds of thousands of spectators crowding the Visitors Centers, marinas, Causeway and even the sides of the roads leading into Merritt Island, had witnessed the launch of two human beings, specifically two men, on one of the largest rockets in the world.

Any crewed launch from Kennedy Space Center was a relatively rare event, even in this second decade of the 21st Century. But in the previous two years, a steadily increasing roster of men and women had launched from the launch pads on Falcon and Atlas rockets; heading for the International Space Station. For more than 7 years, no human being had risen from KSC on powerful, flaming U.S. rockets and spacecraft to proudly and boldly send people to that huge Outpost in the heavens. For too many years, the glory had belonged to the trusty Russian Soyuz spacecraft and launchers.

But no more - the well trained and motivated Astronauts were now riding craft with names like Starliner and Dragon. And they rode uphill on their thundering rockets to a place no more than 400 kilometers in the sky, which orbited the Earth about every ninety minutes. It was still a hazardous undertaking, to be sure and even after dozens of crews had inhabited the speeding, shining Outpost it was certainly not taken for granted.

Though, on this notable day; there was more excitement in the air than usual. For this had been no ordinary launch, nor no ordinary mission. A fan of the old Science Fantasy franchise Star Wars might say; "There is a great disturbance in The Force." And they would be accurate.

Many of the journalists and storytellers at KSC were not young men and women. Some had even been doing this since the 1960s. One distinguished member of the Space Fourth Estate sat at his desk station in the Press Center and made notes on his paper pad with a dark B pencil  just as he did in the days of Gemini and Apollo. He wrote quickly and surely, pausing a moment to push the thick glasses back up his nose to their rightful place  he was far from the only one perspiring, even in this big air-conditioned room. He had to get his impressions down right; too many journalists in this day and age indulged in trivial sound bites he felt. He had a responsibility to History  a History he felt had been neglected for far too long. The minutes passed by and the tension continued.

Nearby, a middle-aged man from New Zealand with a shaven head stretched,  to try and ease his aching back and neck. He glanced at his companions on either side and sighed. He was about to speak when an announcement came over the TV sets and P.A. systems  the chatter in the Press Room quickly dropped away.

"This is Dragon Mission Control at T-Plus two hours and fifty-one minutes from Launch. We have just heard that there is a go ahead for the next phase of the flight,"  and the Public Affairs officer stopped a moment for the audio feed from Mission Control to be heard:

"This is Capcom for Dragon: you are Go for Trans Lunar Injection, repeat you are Go for T.L.I! Your sequencer should now be displaying the 'Proceed' events, Over."

A rustle of excitement filled the room and there were some stifled cheers  for nobody wanted to miss the reply. On the TV screens the view had shifted to a live TV relay from the Dragon of the two crew members. Strapped into their couches and wearing their Space X pressure suits, they could be seen to be grinning broadly and waving at the camera.

"Roger that, Capcom!" answered one of the crew happily. "Here we go!"

The Press Room erupted in cheers and some clapping. The veteran journalist looked around him, savoring the moment. He saw the New Zealand man and noted the tears running down his cheeks and his slightly quivering smile. Then his own vision blurred for a moment. He wiped his eyes and picked up his pencil again...

...On a cruise ship bound for Honolulu, dozens of guests stood on the deck in the warm night air. Many clutched drinks in their hands and chattered amiably among themselves. One particular group of the cruise goers were watching the dark predawn sky with a singular purpose, however. The Cruise Director had even turned off many of the deck lights to see the night sky better, though some dim LED lights were glowing at foot level for safety's sake. After a short time, their vigilance was rewarded.

"There it is! I see them  I see it!!" cried a young woman excitedly. She was pointing upwards into the clear, starry night. As they watched, a bright reddish light appeared. Within moments, the light was glowing brightly and appeared to grow a greenish, comet like tail. It was accelerating visibly as they watched. Some of the watchers were puzzled, though  for they didn't watch or read the news much.

"What is it?" asked one slightly drunk man, peering upwards at the strange vision  -77 a type not seen in nearly fifty years.

"There be a Dragon," the young woman said, her voice quavering with emotion. "From this night on; there will always be Dragons..."

 

 

[+John. Subscriber¹]

That was a nice read  Thanks for sharing that