Some History info and Background
24 MOONS AGO
May 18, 1174
Sparkle Space Center
030 Launch Site
17:27 PM
"This is LC-4 launch control, t-minus 3 minutes and 30 seconds and counting of our countdown for the launch of Lunar Celestial 4."
"Launch vehicle test conductor Norch Quickwing just reported to the test supervisor Orcus Clickerbug, that they're clear for launch. Indicating they're ready to go onto automatic launch sequence."
It's an honor, to launch the last of the Lunar Celestial space laboratories at the space center named by Former Princess Twilight Sparkle, who's both the former ruler of Equestria and the former head administrator of EASA. Ever since the first launch of Spotnik 1 maremade satellite by the PSSR cosmos space program in 1157, which triggered a 12 moons long space race between Equestria and PSSR. Although the Equestrian space program EASA managed to win the race by putting the first pony on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1169, it doesn't really mark the end of this aerospace engineering competition.
PSSR, realizing that they had already suffered a critical defeat in the race towards the moon, focused on two objectives that they're planning to suppress Equestria once again; Mission to Duna (ksp, yes why not) and creating a shelter in space that can last weeks for Cosmonauts to stay. Finally, on April 18, 1171, the PSSR Space Program launched the world's first space station, 'Cosyut 1.
EASA was then rushed by the National Security Agency at three in the morning after Cosyut 1's launch, and as the result, the Lunar Celestial Project was born. However, this project suffered when the first rushed launch of LC-1 on April 3rd failed as the stage shut down prematurely due to the oxygen supply line burning through during second-stage ignition. Luckily, they still have a backup; LC-2 was launched a week after LC-1's failure, and it had placed Equestria as the second country in the world to have its own space station in orbit. The first crew arrived two weeks later and spend about 20 days in the station before departure.
Consider it lucky for LC-2 to remain operational until June 17, when three out of six of the solar arrays suffered a motor freeze due to a malfunctioned RCS booster which was unable to turn the station towards the direction of the sun. The entire station was out of power for 22 hours before the ground crews are finally able to resent links to the malfunctioned RCS booster to get the station back to its correct course. Unfortunately, the freeze remained for too long, permanently damaging the station's primary batteries. Three days later, it was finally decided to remote-control deorbit of the LC-2 above the Central Equestrian Sea. The shortage of time of its service is expected since its launch, the fact that LC-2 was rushed, and that many systems onboard still remained single-checked.
Learning from its mistake, EASA maintained patience with its upcoming LC projects. The engineers made a daring decision by taking apart the modules of LC-3 and attaching them to the half-completed LC-4; the scientific research module was remastered, three more antennas were added, and a special module made up of six-sided sealed heat-proofed windows and one main opening sealing to view their beautiful planet. This time, EASA even installed a heat generator to its power module to prevent the same problem occurred to LC-2's solar arrays.
Everything was ready on May 18, 1174.
"T-minus 30 seconds, the pressurization of all tanks is taking place now as the total amount of nine hundred and seventeen thousand gallons of liquid fuel are ready to burn."
"10, 9. 8, ignition sequence has started, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3," The five F-1 engines which can produce up to 7.5 million pounds of lift-off thrust unleashed its raging roar, as flames and smoke burst out from the side of the launch pad. The tower restrictions were lifted one by one as the heavy rocket slowly rises, '2,1, and lift-off! Lift-off of the Lunar Celestial 4 space laboratory core module, and the clock is runnin'!"
As the bright trail of flames disappears into the deep blue skies above, the marking of the final Lunar Celestial project had begun.
Three weeks later, after two crew transfers, the addition of the EVA module, viewing the module, and resupplying to the core module in LEO, LC-4 had its final scientific research/electricity power module installed in front of the singular docking port mounted at the head of the station.
Lunar Celestial 4 was a huge success in Equestrian Space projects, not only proving that creatures can survive longer in space and that many experiments that could relate to future mared planetary missions that might take months or years to complete in space. Time flies by, 24 years after its launch, LC-4 is getting onto age, two of its solar arrays are damaged from the extreme heat and coolness, one of the solar array motors is dead, the electronic devices onboard are out of date, and the jet propellant onboard is running low. Plus EASA just announced the starting of an international space station project that they'd be taking part in the fall of 1198; although many updates were brought on board by each crew transfer, this still doesn't change the fact of its upcoming retirement.
Thus, the last crew transfer onboard LC-4 was scheduled, after the last thirty days onboard, the crews would manually enable the self-deorbit system before departure...
Author's Note
Phew, let's hope this one can get some of the readers back...
Hippogriff Atlantis Turrent gazed over the dome module, where her home is, about 290 miles above their planet. All her excitement had cool down ever since her crew's final dock to this 24 years old space laboratory, it's still a cool thing to see all those old module comparing to the digital systems EASA had installed on their mared spacecraft 'Serprent'. Herf irst time in space ended ater thirty days onboard this metal can, felt just like yesterday, Atlantis sighed as her claws smoothly scratched over the windows of the dome module; they're currently crossing the Central Equestrian Ocean, where LC-4 is schedule to deorbit at, it's part of their mission objectives as well.
"Enjoying the view Lettuce?", a familair voice came from behind, Atlantis rolled her eyes at that name.
"About two hundred fifthty three times Bravewing, quit with the veggie." A pegasus stallion flew into the dome module next to Atlantis; Mission commander Bravewing Airflow, an experienced commander who flown the 'Serprent' and docked the spacecraft with LC-4 several times. With the total flight hour of 1,580 hours, Bravewing once again took the Mission Commander role of this manual deorbiting mission. He's from the Air Force, in which he has a habit of nicknaming every single rookie-nauts he takes to space. LC-4 deorbit is his last mission before retiring, and old stallion just kept whinin' like a colt.
"Commander, the LC-4 deorbiting code has been activated manually and should be running in 4 hours," from the headset came in a light voice, "Alantis and Bravewing, take your time relaxing and all, and make sure to pack up your belognings before returning to 'Serprent', it's your last day up here sir." That's Scarab Beetlebug, a changeling mission speicalist, been to LC-4 two times, although not as experienced as Bravewing, the crew still trusts him alone in the crew module doing all the coding.
"You should do the same Beatle," Bravewing laughed, "s' not like we could be in LC-4 everyday... Well, technically we had, but the last thing we do is to get this laboratory down."
"Nah, I;m fine in the Serprent, plus I gotta make sure the jet propellants are enough for re-entry." Scarab's never really a fun dude, he did mentioned himself being single in his entire high school and college life, yet he doesn't give a buck. A few jokes per day is all Scarab's goona take before giving you the face.
Back in the core module, Atlantis shivered as she felt her feathers sprang up from the freezing temperature, she checked the dome, LC-4 just went over the nightside, the last ray of light from the sun faded as cool silver side of the moon took over, everything looked under zero, which it is the fact. Bravewing had already informed her about the two dead solar arrays and the old cracking generator, both never edited since the 80s, and that they should be returning to the crew module as soon as night hits.
"Com' on Lettuce," came Bravewing's voice, "shit's boutta get real cold once passes midnight."
"Right, coming in" Altantis flew her way back to the docking port, with another glance back to the cold core module, she sealed the hatch. Scarab has already fallen asleep in his sleepbag, nerd's got a tight schedule. Bravewing is reading this small yet thick novel since the day they arrived, yet it's only about 1/3 pages read. Bravewing must'bve noticed Atlantis's enter, as he closed the book after folding a page in the corner and killed the lights.
Slight snores can be heard coming from the commander, he's alwasy relaxed under different circustances, this time as his last flight, old stallion just let it all out. Atlantis still has her eyes opened, her face turned towards the window next to her, Equis passed by slowly, yet quickly as the station spranted about 4.8 miles per second. The hippogriff checked her watch, 30 minutes till day time, down there, about 4 hours untill sunrise.
Weird thing to think about, Atlantis isn't really a big fan of returning home deep inside, she's an orphan, luckily raised by a well-educated family, which got her into where she is today. However, her family were all gone, taken from her when she was 12 during a airship accident. Atlantis lacked friends, so far only her crew and that one technician mare. To be honest, she'd rather spend her life up here, in LEO. She laughed at that thought, although with enough exercises per day, eventually things like upper respiratory infections, colds, skin infections and urinary tract infections would get the best of her. Luckily, she might be one of the first crews to be send to the newest and upcoming International Space Station, heard that the Pussians would be launching the first module two months later.
Atlantis thought about all this, and Luna's dreamworld overtook her before she could even see it coming...
Author's Note
By the way, since this is a short story, each chapters are often shortened to about 600 words or above.
"Begin undocking procedure, secure the hatch," Bravewing said as he swiftly pulled out the control stick, activating the control system, while Scarab on the right side had the guidance engulfed in a green aura, while clicking the switches on the control panel, Atlantis on the other hoof, was slightly confused on what to do, Bravewing sees it, "Lettuce, just like in the simulation, open the hooks and latches."
Atlantis gulped as she inhaled a big breath, then began the procedure, after about 20 seconds, her claw hovered over the undocking switch, "Serpent undocking from LC-4 in 3, 2, 1, mark." The entire spacecraft shook slightly as Bravewing pulled the stick backward a little. With a few hisses of jet propellant pushing the spacecraft, Serpent slowly drifts away from LC-4. Bravewing had his eyes fixed on the camera view the entire time, and Scarab still had that motionless expression on, Atlantis could feel her claws now getting a little wet, she stared at the camera view as the docking module drifted away.
About five minutes later, 'Serpent' is now 25 yards from LC-4, Bravewing gave Atlantis a nod, "Acknowledged, turning craft onto reentry orbit." Atlantis quickly, yet stiffly typed the procedure on the control panel, a second later, the crew felt a slight push to the right as the 'Serpent' rotated slowly towards the rear-end side. Atlantis, now starting to get familiar with the control system, swiftly typed another procedure as the RCS stabled the 'Serpent' from overshot. Bravewing peaked over the window; the shape of the LCS is now barely recognizable, it's now the size of a pea. Gravity is doing its job well, now slowly dragging Serpent down toward itself.
"Estimated reentry time in 30 minutes." Scarab reported, then looked at Atlantis, "Well done."
Atlantis let out a relieved sigh, earning a laugh from Bravewing, "Jus like flying a drone." he said.
"Jus like flying a drone..." Atlantis repeated.
There was a moment of silence between them, then Atlantis broke the silence, "By the way Bravewing, what's your plan after retirement?"
"Me? Eh... My brother owned a farm back in Towas, he had an instructor job at a private shooting yard there." Bravewing sighed, looking out to the enlarging shape of Equis, "But the moment I became a pilot, I knew I belong up here, not on the dirt..."
Then there was another moment of silence, Bravewing coughed, again having to break the silence, "You got any plans for-"
Suddenly, the radio started chattering, Scarab jumped to the panel, his face frowning as he checked the frequency, "Sir, you might want to see this..." Bravewing leaned over, "Emergency channel?" the old stallion's face darkened.
"This is Mission Control, checking in on Serpent crew, report status." Came in mission control.
"Mission control, Serpent status fine, what's the rush?" Bravewing asked.
"Commander Bravewing, the mission has been updated, the undocking and manual deorbiting is a semi-success, however, according to SSN scans, your prior position was hit by a minor of space debris; which is, according to CIA, caused by the destruction of a malfunctioned satellite. It also impacted several other communication sats, our communication is expected to break in 5 minutes."
"What about us?" Bravewing asked.
"According to the normal schedule, you and your crew should be on the returning route now, however, we lost contact with LC-4 about 3 minutes ago, we spot an interception between LC-4's deorbiting orbit and the debris flight route, LC-4 is believed to be hit by the debris, and that must've been a heavy blow; LC-4's predicted orbit has been knocked off-course 47 degrees."
"And I assume LC-4's not splashing down?" Bravewing asked, tension building up in his tone.
"Usually, such life-risking operations are NOT allowed, but 'Serpent' is the closest manned craft to LC-4. Commander Bravewing, your new objective is to take your crew to rendezvous with LC-4, we sent you the data link. However, to acknowledge that LC-4 might be in an irregular spin, we don't know whether it's fast, be really cautious during the operation."
"Copy, check oxygen and fuel level..." he looked at Scarab, who scrolled through the panel, then gave him an approving nod, "Control, craft status, oxygen, and fuel level is a go, proceeding onto operation, over."
Just as he ended the conversation, the communication was cut off, now the chatter is all the crew can hear.
"Atlantis, start up the engine, turn 'Serpent around, and move towards the designated area," Bravewing ordered.
"Copy that." Atlantis is anxious, her claws shook a little as she quickly punched through the control panel, just before the craft entered the reentry parabola, SKD engines ignited, pushing the 'Serpent' towards LEO again. Bravewing had his eyes on the given data link, "Let's hope these tin-cans didn't knock LC-4 into MEO..." he muttered, he then turned toward Scarab, "How long can our fuel cell last at current speed?"
"Estimated to last 2 hours, by the way, commander..."Scarab felt a lightbulb, "after docking with LC-4 we can consider using the remaining fuel onboard the station for refueling."
"I don't know about that Scarab," Bravewing said, "the fuel up there is the 80s version, don't know if the improved SKD engines are gonna take it in."
Before Scarab could continue, Atlantis's anxious voice, came in, "Commander, I've LC-4's visual... this is not good..."
Bravewing leaned over to the camera, his frown deepened.
"Sweet Celestia..." Bravewing muttered, "That's one helluva heavy blow..."
In the camera, LC-4 can be seen as a small can, spinning horizontally and vertically, the route of the docking module is nearly impossible to predict; the solar panels had a few holes in them, and Bravewing could only imagine what happened to it.
"How the hell are we supposed to dock with her.."
Two tin cans, both racing at the altitude of 1200 miles, seven times faster than a sniper round, with the bigger one performing an irregular rotation. Atlantis's breathed shakily, she looked at Bravewing, unsure of what to do. Bravewing did a quick calculation on his notepad as he came up with the conclusion, "Okay... we have to find a parallel angle with our docking module facing LC-4's, which requires a large amount of RCS. Since we used half of our fuel on rendezvous, that left us with a maximum of four strikes. Scarab, try to calculate the orbital pattern of LC-4 and give out the coordinates, and Atlantis... "
He then looked at Atlantis, and seeing her reaction, he made the decision, "I'll take over if you struggle."
Atlantis nodded, the only help she could offer now is to not be the obstacle.
Bravewing saw that fear and anxiety from her expression, he knew what would possibly happen to her if this emotion continued further on, a panic attack. He gently patted the hippogriff on her shoulders, "Relax, lettuce," he had that confident smile, although deep inside not as confident as he is, "You're flying with a stallion who had over 65 hundred flight hours, flew in Kirinam War, and the best engineer we got here. Unless I do something idiotic enough... WE, are ALL going to make it..."
The two feathers on top of Atlantis's head, which were down before, slowly raised back up, although her expression stayed the same, Bravewing saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Seeing that, Bravewing returned to his concentration. After about 3 minutes, or Bravewing thought, Scarab came up, "Commander, the docking module is located at the bottom of the service module, from the direction and the rate of rotation, seems like LC-4 was most likely to be hit by a satellite module or some sort... As for the docking module, according to our current orbit and speed around the station, we'd run into an interception line approximately every 5 minutes; and the next interception line is approaching in 70 seconds."
"Much appreciated Scarab." Bravewing said as he slightly adjusted the direction of the craft, a single light bump against the structure of the spacecraft could lead more waste of RCS fuel to readjust, and they have limited attempts. Atlantis on the other hoof, was looking at the front camera view, seeing the docking module now turning towards them at the speed which she'd not DARE to maneuver around.
Scarab's voice rang, "Interception in five, four..."
Bravewing's hoof is hovering above the accelerate button, he could feel sweat start to form on his forehead.
"Three, two, ONE."
On the mark of 'one', Bravewing pushed the button, and the entire crew felt a quick and swift push from the craft, the docking module came speeding up towards the camera view... However, the commander quickly came to realize that their incoming angle was off by .7 degrees...
"SHIT! PULLING OFF!" Bravewing could feel his heart exploding in his chest as he immediately boosted the RCS backward, barely avoiding the docking module which went swinging inches away from their spacecraft; goddess of luck is on their side... For now.
"Darn, that's strike one." Scarab sighed, "two more and we're out. Literally."
"Not helping Scarab." Bravewing wiped the sweat off his forehead with a tile. Attempting to return to their interception orbit took another 3 minutes, Scarab was busy diving his head into the storm of formulas while Atlantis was on the lookout.
"My bad, there was a minor error on my calculated perpendicular line and the angle of interception." Scarab scrubbed his nuzzle, "won't happen again Commander."
"Make that accountable Scarab." Bravewing said as he went ready to dock.
"Interception available in 40 seconds."
Atlantis shook her head, trying to stay calm, however, her overspeed heart beat is slowly overtaking her, Bravewing glared into the camera view, awaiting Scarab to set him off.
"Interception in five, four, three, two, ONE."
Another firm push on the acceleration as the 'Serpent' went down once again, "Sweet Celestia please..." Bravewing muttered.
This time, the docking module went straight into the space station. A low yet clear metal clash was heard as the entire spacecraft was shaken by the sudden impact, Bravewing's face went pale for a second, but was relieved when he heard the breach lock sound.
Looking aside at him, Scarab looked as if he was going to throw up, Atlantis looked as if she's having a panic attack. Bravewing decided it's his time to lighten up the air, "Cheer mates! We just accomplished the first ever manned dock with a non-cooperative object!"
"Damn sure they're gonna throw us a party back home." Scarab let out a small laugh, "Well now I know what story to tell my sister."
"Anyway... the next part would be... simple... I hope," Bravewing said as he put on the spacesuit, "Atlantis, come with me into that tin-can, wear your suit, celestia know whether or not the debris punched a hole through that thing. Scarab, stay back here and be ready for any emergency evacuation."
Atlantis reacted fast, due to the two emergency experiences she just went through, she's getting adapted to her job pretty well. After making sure their helmets are clipped tight, the two astronauts went by the hatch.
"Ready?" Bravewing asked.
"Anytime." Atlantis nodded.
As soon as the hatch lock was off, Bravewing felt a sudden pull from the opening, as if getting sucked away by a giant vacuum cleaner. The hatch bursted open, at that instant all the air in the docking module was taken away violently, and was exposed to the deadly vacuum of space.
"Holy celestia, Atlantis you alright?!" Bravewing asked as he grabbed onto a bar next to him, he looked at Atlantis who were drifting around, luckily to be tightened by her safety tethers.
"OH SHIT!!! WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT?!" Atlantis exclaimed, her breaths were heavy and rapid.
"Atlantis! Calm down! You're fine!!!" Bravewing said as he checked the damaged LC-4 modules, "Damn it, feels like a big hole to me. Let's hope the navigation module is not offline..."
He then turned on the flash light, after a quick survey around the station, the Pegasus found himself in a critical situation. He looked over to Atlantis, who has gotten hold of herself, and drifted towards him, "Atlantis, the seal to the navigation module is locked dead, the electronic system are completely destroyed, if we were to restart the deorbiting procedure, we gotta get through that thing..." Bravewing said as he looked at Atlantis, awaiting an answer.
"Yea- yeah, if I remember training correctly..." Atlantis gulped, searching through the storm in her mind, "The seal between the navigation module and the service module is always on manual mode, it'd automatically lock dead if the modules were depressurized, and this procedure is controlled by a solar powered cell outside the station...."
"Good idea, my oxygen level is at 91 percent, enough to stay out here for an hour or so, you?" Bravewing asked.
"Uh, mine's at 82 percent." Atlantis said, nervously.
"Okay, probably due to your irregular breathing pattern, try relaxing your breath." Bravewing then maneuvered outside the damaged station, "take the right side, there's more hoof-hold spots, grab these, and advance slowly."
"Copy that..." Atlantis replied as she detached her safety tethers and then reconnected them onto a metal bar closer to the navigation module.
Time passed insanely slow, Bravewing could hear Atlantis's breathing become heavier, "Atlantis, report your O2 level."
"69 percent." Came Atlantis's panting voice.
"By the way lettuce... about our conversation before..." Bravewing decided to step in and lose the tension on Atlantis a bit, "You got any plans after getting back home?"
There was a moment of silence, then Atlantis spoke up, her voice a bit sad, "No sir, I... I'm not sure whether I can get back to regular bases down there..."
"Hmm, so you like it up here?" Bravewing chuckled, "No wonder they put you with me." He then sighed, looking towards the beautiful glimpse of Equis above, the sunlight bouncing through the atmosphere, reflecting the pale blue color, soft and comfortable...
"Aw darn it, you're making me depressed now," Bravewing laughed lightly, pity in his tone, "they ain't putting me back up again, they said I'm too old for that... Buck that shit, I ain't too old for anything..."
Then it was another long period of silence, Bravewing didn't start another conversation, knowing it'd be the best for Atlantis to stay quiet and save some breaths.
Bravewing stopped in front of an antenna, he looked at the damaged navigation module, a big frown appearing on his face, "It's worse than I thought..."
Atlantis came up behind him, upon seeing the mass scene of destruction, she looked helplessly at Bravewing. The main antennas were completely torn off by the debris, the 2 out of five of the battery cells were dead, and the worst of all; the solar powered cell in which is the control of the seal breach is covered up by a can shaped debris, it might've been stuck there when the debris was knocked apart.
"Not good, the high temperature of the sun must have glued that debris together with the station... luckily, we're not too late..." Bravewing looked at Atlantis, "Atlantis, you have that hammer with you the entire time correct?" Atlantis checked her kit of tools which she'd brought alongside in case of an emergency breach, "I got it."
"Okay, now we're gonna hammer that debris off!" Bravewing said, causing the hippogriff to look at him strangely, "Yeah I know that look, but what else can we do? Let's get to work."
Bravewing grabbed the hammer, locked his back hooves onto a metal bar, tightened it with his safety tethers, then raised the hammer over his head. With a heavy blow, the first strike landed, from Atlantis's point of view, Bravewing simply knocked the debris 'lightly', soundless space made it even more frustrating. Bravewing quickly landed the second strike, the third, fourth, fifth!
Five minutes later, Bravewing stopped, frowning at the debris which... did not move an inch at all after five whole minutes of constant knocking. Atlantis looked at the Oxygen monitor, "Commander, my O2 level is at 40 percent."
"Yeah, mine's not any better, 48 percent." Bravewing sighed, however, as he caught the glimpse of the dark side of the planet, the warm orange-reddish glow of sunlight through the atmosphere sparked an idea, "Atlantis, remember what you learned in Thermochemistry class? Metal would be weaker in extremely cool temperatures, plus, we still got 2 minutes before hitting the night side."
"Our O2 level would hit around 35 percent by then, enough for us to perform EVA for about 15 minutes." Atlantis replied.
"Alright, you're getting the hang of it..." Bravewing chuckled.
As they talked, shadow of the planet itself loomed over them, seeing their last chance, Bravewing immediately returned to work as Atlantis continued to keep watch.
Blow after blow, the frozen scrap metal began to tilt, seeing hope, Bravewing went harder than he could, faster pace, however, time seemed to be extremely inpatient, Atlantis looked at the watch and her O2 Monitor, "Not good commander; 3 minutes before sunrise, my O2 level is at 20 percent."
Then, as if agreeing to her statement, her warning system began to ring, "I'm critical in O2 and CO2 level!"
"Atlantis abort mission! Return to 'Serpent' immediately!" Bravewing ordered.
"What about you?"
"I'll be there, go now!" Bravewing said sternly as he continued his work, ignoring his complaining warning system.
Atlantis bit her beak, then made her decision, slowly returning to their spacecraft, leaving Bravewing behind...
"Com' on Celestia damn it!" Bravewingf would feel the dizziness in his head, he shook himself awake and kept hammering the tilting scrap metal, as if energy were slowly drained from him, with a loud cry, Bravewing brought the hammer down with the rest of his strength. He felt as if he'd hit air, no cling, the scrap metal finally lost its firm grip on the station as it drifted away. As soon as the scrap is gone, LC-4 hit daybreak, first ray of sunlight hit on the solar powered cell, the signal light turned green as the sealed breach opened. Bravewing knew he must act fast.
"10 percent of O2 is enough for me to make a dash for it..." Bravewing gritted his tooth as he pushed himself off the station, towards the unlocked breach, pushing open the breach, he saw the control panel, as well as some disconnected wires. Bravewing had to knock his helmet twice to keep himself awake, approached the wires then quickly reconnected them.
Just as Bravewing restarted the navigation system, Scarab who was in full control of 'Serpent' immediately began to enter the manual deorbiting procedure into the navigation system of LC-4. Atlantis on the other hoof, had successfully returned and now looking at the frontal camera view, which she saw Bravewing slowly advancing towards them.
Bravewing's eyebrows grew heavy, each breath hurts, as if his lungs were getting sat on by an elephant. 5%, he glanced at the monitor, then fastened his pace.
Scarab, finally able to plug in the final procedure code into the navigation system, pressed 'enter', just as Bravewing grabbed the airlock entrance. Suddenly, the entire crew members felt a heavy push from their chest, they were pressed onto their seats; the RCS boosters onboard the failing LC-4 has completed its final task of pushing the broken space station back to its deorbiting course.
Bravewing's world is fainting black, his vision became darker and darker per second, almost there... Bravewing, with his final pull, opened the airlock breach and pulled himself in, quickly closing the breach he pressurized the airlock, snatched off his helmet, and inhaled his biggest and largest breath of his life. The breach opened as Atlantis came floating in.
"Commander!" She cried as she grabbed Bravewing by the hoof and dragged him back to the descent module.
"Hey, hey lettuce, I'm fine." Bravewing said as he patted the hippogriff's shoulder, Atlantis smiled, "You better be."
"Commander, procedure is completed, are we cleared for undocking?" Scarab's voice came.
"Cleared," Bravewing sighed in relief, "nice job guys, we just saved an entire space program out there... Let's go home."
With a slight tumble of the 'Serpent', it separated from the space station, which went down faster than them due to its trajectory, it reentered the atmosphere first. The crew watched in indescribable emotion as LC-4's solar panels were torn off as the remaining modules glowed orange-reddish from the terminal velocity. Then they were too, broken down into smaller parts and faded into the atmosphere...
"Tri-module separation in three, two, one, mark!" Scarab said as they felt their pod rumble, the service module and the orbital module were dumped off.
As they made their way down through the atmosphere, Atlantis thought of many things, but one thought remained in her mind, for the rest of her life.
I'm getting back up there....
