Free Back to the Moon by Homer Hickam

comm system by Virgil. The playback unit had the voice of each crew member recorded during the countdown training the week before. The computer “listened” for the standard queries from the Launch Control Center and had each crew voice respond appropriately via the playback unit. The system had worked perfectly. Launch Control believed all the crew members were comfortably seated, answering calls, and ready to go. With the automatic sequence initiated he felt
Columbia
begin to wake up. She first needed her own internal power. Three hydrazine-fueled auxiliary power units (APUs) gave her the hydraulics to actuate propellant valves and move the main engines on their gimbals. Three fuel cells provided her electricity. Inside the cockpit the indicator lights blazed. Cassidy patted the panel in front of him, whispering a greeting: “G’mornin’, sweetheart. Daddy’s home.”
    Interior, Crew Elevator #1, LC 39-B
    Grant assessed the situation. “This is bullshit,” she summed up. She tried the telephone. Dead.
    â€œMaybe they don’t know we’re stuck yet,” Brown offered.
    â€œThey expected us topside ten minutes ago,” Grant replied. “Somebody’s pulling something.” Her eyes fell on Barnes. “Janet, you’re small enough to get through the access hatch. Do you think you can climb up the shaft?”
    â€œSure, Ollie.” Barnes struggled to get out of her LES suit, peeling it back from her shoulders.
    Brown and Betsy Newell lifted Barnes to the elevator roof. She pushed open the access hatch. The next level was twenty feet straight up, reachable by a ladder between the two shafts. “I can see the doors,” she said. “Here I go.”
    â€œGood woman,” Grant called after her.
    Columbia
    Penny recognized the sounds from her one session in the shuttle simulator. The shuttle stack was readying itself for launch. But that didn’t make any sense. Where was Ollie Grant and her crew? She looked up at the flight deck, saw Hoppy Cassidy coming down the ladder.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she yelled at him. “Where’s the crew?”
    â€œWho was that on the phone, Virgil?” Cassidy asked, ignoring her.
    â€œLCC. Wanted to know why there wasn’t any video. I told them the camera’s fried. They bought it.”
    Cassidy looked at Penny. “Dr. High Eagle, there’s been a change in plans. You’ve got a new crew. Sit back, relax, and we’ll haul you on into orbit safe and sound.” When she started to protest, he held up his hand. “Not now. Later.” He walked past her.
    â€œIf you think I’m just going to sit here...” Penny bristled, twisting until she saw Cassidy and “Virgil” by the hatch.
    â€œSorry, Hoppy,” Virgil said, loud enough that Penny could hear him. “I didn’t know what else to do except strap her in. She must have come up in a different elevator.”
    â€œThe rest of the crew?”
    â€œIn the other elevator, I think.”
    â€œHow about Jack?”
    â€œHe ain’t here yet,” Virgil said, peering worriedly out the hatch.
    â€œWhere is he?” Cassidy demanded.
    â€œI don’t know.
He just ain’t here!
”
    Penny had heard enough. She started struggling with the unfamiliar straps around her chest, but the thick gloves of the LES suit defeated her. “Help me out!” she demanded.
    â€œWhy do you have a gun?”
she heard Cassidy say.
    â€œAre you nuts?” Penny demanded, twisting around again to see the two men. “This bucket is about to blast off and somebody’s got a gun?”
    SMC, JSC
    Sam Tate vultured his control room. Everyone on console had his head down, talking over the loops or scribbling notes. Sam sat down, keeping his eye on the clock, and then stood up and sat back down again. He couldn’t keep still. He and his people were ready to take over the