International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: Gear Up and Buckle Down [message #2088 is a reply to message #2087] Sun, 29 July 2012 14:20 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
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Wednesday, April 4, 12 PM; a space station above the IDL (11 AM on Tracy Island)

Five hundred miles above Earth, orbiting the planet directly over the International Date Line, due west of San Francisco, was an unusual space station. It was a privately owned medical facility, still under construction. Two medical research companies, a pharmaceutical company, two universities and several physicians combined their resources to create this, the first of its kind.

The purpose would be to treat cancer patients. Years ago, it had been determined that the disease spread much more slowly in low gravity. It was reasoned that zero gravity might halt it, or at least slow it enough for treatments to be developed or improved. It would house fifty patients, plus half again that many medical personnel and staff to care for them.

But the opening of the facility was still in the future. The exterior had been finished two months ago, and the interior was slowly taking shape. The six members of the construction crew were just about finished putting in the partitions between the patients' chambers. On another level, some engineers were working on the control panels for the gravity controls of the various levels (they had their level successfully put on 1G), and the oxygen controls. On a third level, more people were working on the facilities for food storage and preparation, and laundry. On yet another level, in a chamber specifically designed and built to hold them, two of the large oxygen tanks - those that had been supplying the personnel aboard with a breathable atmosphere - were being replaced.

Three men were doing this last task. They'd just removed the second empty tank and were allowing it to float away in the null gravity. But it didn't quite go in the direction they wanted it to, and it knocked against one of the full ones, causing it to slam into a bulkhead.

"Whoa! Careful, you guys. We don't need any accidents, especially not in this area," said one of the workers.

"Easy, Paul. We got it. And it looks okay," replied another, giving the tank a quick once-over, then pushing it gently in the direction of the empty niches. "Here it comes, Nick."

"Nice touch, Ken," said the third man, as the tank slipped easily into place. He strapped it in. "Now for the other one."

The second tank was quickly moved to its niche and fastened down. Then they started to hook the tanks up to the coils that fed the oxygen to the various levels on the station. None of them noticed that the tank that had hit the bulkhead had its connectors loosened by the shock. And just as the connection was made, the engineers tested the controls for the oxygen tanks. It only took a small electrical current to initiate any changes in the flow. This time the current caused a shock as it met two pieces of metal rubbing against each other. The resulting spark caused a small explosion that knocked the three men across the room and into the far wall. Then another, larger explosion occurred, and ripped a hole in the bulkhead. The entire station shuddered, and everyone aboard stopped what they were doing.

Communications within the station were immediately abuzz with questions and shouts. The control panels in the engineering section showed the oxygen level dropping far more rapidly than it should. Two of the engineers suited up and headed to the level where the tanks were kept. Twenty minutes later, they reported the situation to the chief.

"Mr. Bailey, it doesn't look too good. One of the tanks is destroyed, three more have holes in them and there's a large hole in the bulkhead Two of the damaged tanks were blasted from their moorings and have partially blocked it. We were able to go in and pull the three men out, but two of them are dead. The third one is still alive, but in bad shape. We need help."

"All right, Mr. Chang. You and Ms. Sanchez do what you can for him. I'll radio Earth and see how soon they can get help up here."

"It had better be soon. I don't know if there's any other damage. The radiation shields are close to this area. I hope the explosions didn't do any damage to them."

Startled, Don Bailey checked the digital gauges. He shook his head as he saw the radiation levels had risen slightly, and were continuing to do so. He made some rapid calculations, then placed the call to their base on the planet.

Another twenty minutes later, he was ready to panic. Their Earth base told him that they had no transport ready to go, and wouldn't for another week. They contacted the WSA, who showed little interest in helping, and said their vehicles were not available. Other spacegoing organizations were similarly disinterested. He heard a noise and looked up to see Ms. Sanchez entering. "Corazon, no one is available, or willing to help. We're stuck here for at least a week, and the radiation levels are rising. The rise is slow, but it is steady, and will reach the danger level long before anyone can come."

"No one on Earth can help, Don?"

"No one."

"What about International Rescue?"

Don slapped himself on the side of his head. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that??" He opened communications once again. "International Rescue. Calling International Rescue. This is Space Station M.C.R.C. calling. We need your help. Come in, International Rescue!"

Post by Hobbeth on 18/02/2005

Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!

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