Epic Conclusion of Paul’s Tale – A New Past Book Three Excerpt
One of the problems with writing Erotic Science Fiction is the fact that many potential readers assume the focus is on the erotic elements rather than the underlying science fiction and general plot. To try and overcome this perception, I’m sharing some excerpts from my series, A New Past to share some of the “non-erotic” elements. This excerpt is from chapter one of Book Three and covers the opening events that set up a major plot conflict for the novel.
“Pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan. This is Golf Sierra Niner, in de-orbit profile, passing latitude eight-nine north on heading one nine zero. Altitude two-one-two klicks, descending. We are broadcasting in the blind and unable to receive communications.”
I marveled at the disciplined voice of Terry White, the pilot. We had been on what I considered a routine flight up to PTO-1 for a supply delivery. We’d launched the station in December of 1994, just outside my eighteen-month goal, and had manned it continuously since. Dr. Thomas Culpepper, one of the Season Three interns and now working with Dr. Wilkerson in my materials research team, oversaw the orbital science operations.
I’d joined the flight at the last minute, wanting to review some of the material processes being worked on in the orbiting lab. It was two days docked to the station and then an orbital change to retrieve an end-of-life military satellite for the DoD before returning to Edwards Air Force base with our cargo. That had been the plan.
That changed after a debris hit, following the satellite retrieval.
“Any way to know if we’re broadcasting?” Samantha Conner, the co-pilot, asked.
“Negative. Whatever hit us took out at least one antenna array. Once we get lower and we’re not ionizing the air so much, our other comms should work.” Terry replied. “I just hope no one gets twitchy with something de-orbiting from over the pole.”
While tensions around the world had reduced to some extent over the past two years, the START II treaty was still stalled in Congress and the US retained a formidable response capability to a missile attack. Of course, GS-9 was on a published flight path, and I was confident the Air Force was tracking us, given our mission to retrieve a military satellite.
“How’s our speed?” I asked, as I glanced over my shoulder and out the window. The glow of reentry had dimmed.
“We’re below six klicks a second. Why?”
Rather than answer, I flipped two switches on the engineer’s panel before me and began typing on the keyboard. After a minute, I sat back and watched the screen.
“Yes! I’m able to connect to the remote telemetry system. Let me alert ops.”
I began typing again.
“Ops is online. They can hear our broadcast, but we can’t hear them,” I said a few moments later.
“That’s good news,” Sam said.
“It is. Let me see if they are tracking…. Shit. High T-34, high fluctuations on M-34, port engine.” I typed furiously as I kept one eye on the monitors at my engineering station.
“Any station this net, Golf Sierra Niner broadcasting in the blind. We are losing one engine. Requesting immediate clearance to land….”
“Hill Air Force Base looks closest,” Sam said as she checked the track against her display.
“…at Hill Air Force Base,” Terry finished.
“Ops says we are clear. They’re alerting Hill.”
A red alarm flashed, and a klaxon sounded on my panel.
“Shutting down port engine!” I announced.
“Throttling down starboard.” Terry stated as he monitored his controls.
The cockpit was quietly tense as the two pilots adjusted course and monitored our altitude. I kept an eye on the engines. I had many hours in test firings and simulator time, but this was the first trip sitting alone in the engineer’s station on a real flight bridge. I was proud of completing all the certifications we had devised for the position but found myself wondering if the training was enough for a real emergency. I pushed those thoughts away and pulled out the checklist for landing on one engine and began reviewing the procedures, just as I had trained.
Book Three is the epic conclusion of Paul’s tale and sees him lock-horns with geopolitical adversaries as he works to make a better world. A New Past is available on Amazon, as well as Smashwords and other ebook channels.
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