The Impossible Ambition

By Stephen Brandon

One morning a telephone call. A chance to work toward helping others achieve his dream. Could it really be possible?
Herding cats seems simple compared to his new job. Egos the size of mountains, power struggles, and even possible sabotage rears its ugly head.
Her scowl would have frozen nitrogen as she said, ”You'll never know unless someone squeals.”
The message read: There is a group that has infiltrated THE BOARD support personnel. Its purpose is ...

He knew Murphy was lurking somewhere. "Cargo ship 2 is drifting out of formation. When the automated diagnostics were run we found ..."
Then nature even conspires to kill them.
"... inspection shows over 6 inches of dust and debris build up over surface of ship, especially along the structural members. This magnetic dust could present a danger to other ships."

"Only the Crab box was close to the inertia system location. Adrina says they were lucky to find their way back."
How lost can you really be when you can see the stars, unless you are among them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Brandon
• Release date: Apr 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301581672

Stephen Brandon

I've loved westerns and science fiction since I picked up my first book at the public library. I've been writing on my computer for years. I never planned on any of my stories being published, just to be read by myself, family, and friends. The base journal is on forty spreadsheets with links to about a thousand files of short one day paragraphs plus other stories. {My claim to fame, written by someone else. Thanks.} "As an earthbound retiree, Stephen writes mostly science fiction and short stories. He is a voracious reader and has written for a few years, publishing his stories on Smashwords."

Book preview

The Impossible Ambition

or

Near Earth Orbit

by Stephen Brandon

Portions of cover photos, courtesy of NASA

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Copyright 2013 Stephen Brandon

Smashwords Edition

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Author's Note

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, incidents, and dialogue are from the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

As much as I hate paying taxes, the original NASA missions were scientifically justified. However, in the past decade I think the they've lost their way, yet I still appreciate their publishing free pictures on their internet site.

I originally started this for the fun of it in 2009. It was originally written as a journal of sorts with a separate file per day as I let my imagination stretch. After about a several hundred files I began to organize it and correct facts and in 2012 started to putting it in story format. This is written from the viewpoint of an individual that has the knack of surrounding himself with knowledgeable proficient people. He has spent more time surviving than getting his rough edges honed. Enjoy!

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Table of Contents (ToC)

Characters

Chapter 1 I'm Hired?

Chapter 2 The Cave

Chapter 3 The Sheriff

Chapter 4 On the hit list

Chapter 5 Design what?

Chapter 6 THE BOARD

Chapter 7 Principles

Chapter 8 Self defense

Chapter 9 Legal fun and games

Chapter 10 Launch

Chapter 11 On the Way

Notes and Messages

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Characters

All characters in this book are fictional. I had fun grabbing one name at a time from the pages of the telephone book and then combining them for a proper name for my characters.

Albert – communications guru for the cave

Alice Doctor – became full member of THE BOARD after death of her father

Alice Merryweather – expert pilot – James M's daughter

Angela Zulawski - security guard in the cave

Artemis Baptiste – security guard in the cave – married Lee M.

Bob Quincy - cave security team leader

Chester Lashel - security guard in the cave

Doug Reynolds – Sissy's husband & head of the cave security department

Frederick P Cole – head of the space station

James Merryweather – cave security team leader – {Lee fullback}

Janet and Stewart Swift – outside design experts

Jill Spears – gourmet cook and married to Mike S.

John Ironstone – supply wizard & head of Montserrat launch site

June Allison – medically retired marine DI & head of the Cave cafeteria

Karen Alice Fryer – teenage computer hacker

Lee Merryweather – pilot – {the kid} James M's son

Lee Redhead - cave security team leader

Madeline Ramirez - hydroponics expert and biologist

Mike Spears – head of the cave supply & logistics department

Snowfeather – John Ironstone's wife

Sissy Reynolds – {Lee} – the bosses daughter

Steve Nugget – in charge of outside manufacturing

Steve – Stephen - Mr. B – an individual that has the knack of surrounding himself with knowledgeable proficient people. He has spent more time surviving than getting his rough edges honed.

Sugar Plum – wife of Stephen.

Suzzie – nurse in the cave and doctor in asteroid belt

Mr. Tim R. - advertising company owner – owner of the cave

Dr. Venu – brilliant doctor and inventor

Wanda Hyang – head of the cave transportation department

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Chapter 1 I'm Hired?

Just another Wednesday. After cereal for breakfast I turned on the TV. Darn phone, it always rings when I get interested in a program and it's probably another telemarketer, and at 8:15 in the morning. As I watched the phone number block in the upper left corner of the TV I realized the name on the top of it wasn't one that looked like a telemarketer. It just said Lee and no numbers. Usually they hung up after five or six rings and this one looked like he wasn't going to. The battery was dead in the phone by the chair so I had to get the kitchen phone. The guy just wouldn't hang up. So I answered it and heard.

Mr. Brandon, a friend recommended you to me as a person that might be interested in a project our company has in mind. It does not pay much, but the side benefits are great. Would you be interested in meeting with my representative in San Antonio on the fifteenth? I will send a van to pick you and your wife up, all expenses paid whether you accept or not. Think it over and I will call you back tomorrow at the same time. Thank you, and by the way my name is Lee.

When I asked my wife if she'd like to go to San Antonio for a couple of days all expenses paid on the 15th. That telemarketer didn't even say what he was selling. She said OK.

Thursday morning I made sure that the phone was right beside where I put my feet up after turning on the TV. Exactly at 8:15 the phone rang and Lee was the only thing that showed up on my caller ID. I thought hell's bells as I picked up the phone and asked if I was talking to Lee.

Lee answered and asked if I was interested? After saying yes, he said, There had been a slight scheduling problem on his end. We can meet at the Hallmark at noon today if you're free. We will pay you $350 as a consulting fee for your time today. Your wife will still need to attend. Dress is casual. Lunch will be provided.

OK, I answered and all I heard on the other end of the phone was a click. Well several hours is enough time to empty a house, so I called my neighbor across the street and asked him to watch my house today and call the cops if anybody pulled up and looked suspicious. I calculated that $350 was a shade more than my electric bill from last month. It would come in handy.

As we walked in through the front doors of the Hallmark I realized that I hadn't been told how to contact Lee. A young man got up off the chair to the left of the desk and headed our way. He introduced himself as Lee and asked us to accompany him to the restaurant.

There was a young lady at the table he led us to and as we were seated he introduced her as Lee. My first comment was, Is your whole team named Lee?

He chuckled as he laid a $100 bill on the table. He asked what we would like to have. Since he was paying I ordered a New York strip medium well with fries and sweet tea. Of course Sugar Plum couldn't make up her mind so I ordered her the catfish platter. He told the waitress to bring him the same as mine and Lee ordered a spinach salad.

I asked Lee how she spelled her name and if she had another because we could get mixed up if everyone answered to Lee.

Her answer was really unexpected. I passed mind reading 101 so I'll know if you are addressing me!

Sugar Plum slapped me on the arm and then started laughing. Our middle names are also Lee and he didn't pass mind reading 101.

As the waitress approached with our drinks we quieted down. Lee then said, After eating we will go to the conference room and see the presentation.

Lee started the presentation by saying, "The first part will be boring to you since I'm sure you know most of it, but I want your wife to hear the basics.

"The race for space was improperly done. The first step after the Apollo flights should have been building a low earth orbit station. Then a high earth orbit station capable of manufacturing space craft. Then a permanent station at L1. The first target in space to explore should have been a scientific base on the moon. The next target should have been Mars, then the Asteroid Belt.

"Do you remember hearing on the news recently where they cut funding to NASA for the moon base. Their last goal was a moon base in 20 years. Well that's out now.

"However, since everything has been so poorly managed our first target must now be a high orbit Space Station and then the Asteroid Belt. Logistically it is a large step, but possible with off the shelf equipment. To many resources have already been wasted and misdirected. Our target date is two years. We plan for a crew of nine. Three couples on each ship launched on the same day.

"I understand that you are a Science Fiction fan and well read. Also you were an NCO in the Army and worked for a cable company for over 17 years with several years as a trouble tech. We need someone with no astronaut training or experience that can be a trouble shooter and leader. He must be inventive enough to look for all the problems that could happen and intelligent enough to also help point toward a possible solution. Many of the ideas from all the Science Fiction writers in the past have been looked at, but weeding out the impractical ones is an immense problem in itself. We can also use someone that is familiar with KISS and MAPTO.

Are you interested, and how soon can you start? We will be back in 15 minutes for your initial decision.

They left us sitting alone in the room to make our decision. I turned to Sugar Plum and looked deep into her blue eyes. I then told her that this would be a chance to earn some extra money toward our retirement.

Her eyes misted up as she said, You want to go don't you!

I could not deny my thoughts, but I said, They probably wouldn't take me because I did break my back, have osteoporosis, and I'm over sixty. If they would let me go would you go with me?

All I got was silence.

As they came back into the room I noticed she had a laptop and he carried a portable printer.

Sugar Plum said, He wants to go! We could use the money even it the job is only for two years.

Lee's answered, We'll put that option in the contract with the provision that you go as a couple if your health is good enough to survive in space for five years. She then opened her laptop, typed a few lines, and then turned it around and asked us to read the contract.

Surprisingly I could easily read every paragraph except one. It was in legalese. I asked her what it meant. She just deleted it saying it was for the lawyers. They can suck swamp water.

I asked Sugar Plum if she could understand and go with the contract as it was or did she want to change anything.

Her hesitant answer was It's OK.

Lee printed the two copies of the contract. We were to sign both and keep the one.

As we signed she placed a cell phone, and $350 cash on the table.

He then said I had three days to reconsider. If we changed our minds we were to call the programmed number, if not a moving van would pull up Sunday with a crew to pack our things. He also cautioned us not to discuss the contract with anyone. We could say that we were going to move. With that they packed up and left.

We looked at each other, picked up our copy of the contract, the phone, and the money. Outside we got into our van and drove home in silence.

After making arrangements Friday morning for our daughter to move into the house and maintain it for us we started deciding what to pack and carry.

While at the bank I set up a trust account for her to draw expenses from.

Sugar Plum went and told our few close friends I was taking a job out of state. Kathy tried to interrogate her like the lawyer she never was. Then she then invited us over for dinner on Saturday.

Upon hearing of the invite I knew that she hadn't given up trying to find out where we were going. I then knew we could not even tell our daughter or grandchildren anything about the job.

I then decided that the only thing we could say about the job was that because of copyright considerations I could not talk about it. I would comment that they were giving me a new laptop to write and do research on. We would promise to drop her postcards from some of the more interesting locations. Let her chew on that.

Saturday morning we started packing. Just as I expected, Kathy was over early. I decided to pack some summer and winter clothing. My old field jacket would make a good diversion. I threw it on the couch. Kathy had more questions than Carter had little liver pills. At noon we went over to Kathy's for dinner and lounging around the pool.

Just to add a tickler I mentioned to Sugar Plum to remind me to get an eye exam and new glasses along with more camping gear Monday.

After returning home that night I called the number on the phone. The voice wasn't one that I recognized. I asked who it was and she said her name was Lee. So I informed her that Sunday morning all we would need is a van because we had only three suitcases to bring with us.

No problem, she said. Don't you want to load any of your camping gear?

After a few seconds my reply was, Where is the bug?

Her reply was, Our system is quieter than a Predator drone. The van will have a small enclosed trailer. I'll pick you up at 0819 Sunday morning. Have a good evening.

Sugar Plum and I were sitting on the couch in the living room at 0815 Sunday after finishing breakfast. The sun was shining in the front window and it already look hot. I was working on my 3rd cup of coffee. I said, What do you want to bet that she's late.

Not a minute later a new looking blue Suburban with a U-haul trailer pulled up blocking the mail box and driveway. A small redhead got out on the drivers side. The guy that got out on the passengers side could have played fullback. I knew there would be little leg room behind the passenger seat. She headed for the door while he opened the trailer. After looking at it for a minute he picked up the back of the trailer and shifted it over to the curb. I was wondering if he was going to shift the rear of the Suburban too since it was about two feet from the curb.

Sugar Plum answered the door and invited her in.

She asked for the cell phone. She took the battery out and then asked where the trash can was.

I was thinking someone is paranoid about security.

She then asked if we had any computers or other cell phones. As I answer yes, she told me we would have to leave them here.

I guess you want me to trash my USB 500 gig. Seagate too.

No she said, "Our computer guy will have to completely check it out before you can use it. Shall we