From Orbit

By Rob Goforth

As the Raven reaches orbit all seems routine. The orbiter moves to rendezvous with the orbital platform so they can cycle the crew and resupply.
Little do the multinational crew know that events on the planet below will begin to overtake them all, leading to heartbreaking consequences that none of them could have expected.
A science-fiction short story by Rob G. Goforth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rob Goforth
• Release date: Aug 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301211265

Rob Goforth

Rob G Goforth studied computer graphic design and animation at the University of Teesside and has been struggling with depression for most of his life. Writing helps him cope; it is his passion, allowing him to free his mind and imagination from the troubles of the world. Rob lives in his lair in the North East of England with his long-suffering partner Anna and their cat Newton and has recently begun designing and selling custom t-shirts.

Book preview

From Orbit

by Rob G. Goforth

Copyright © Rob Goforth 2013

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

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.

As the Orbiter approaches the platform, not one of either crew suspects that it will be for the last time. Few of the ground teams at Beijing and Houston have even noticed the news stories that will come to a dramatic conclusion within the next few hours.

This is to be expected of course, for the cutting-edge of science requires a certain level of focus. Whether the procedures currently under-way are truly the forefront of science any more though is a matter of debate.

Aboard the Orbiter, US pilot Lt. Abe McKenzie reads from the instruments and types in adjustments, compensating for a few variables that the craft’s computers has not yet accounted for. In truth, his tweaks are largely meaningless, for even if the Orbiter were completely unmanned it would still be able to dock with the platform. Abe himself knows this, knows that he is there simply because the treaties say the Orbiter needs a human pilot.

Sometimes the thought makes him feel superfluous. The Magellan-class Orbiter can enter orbit, manoeuvre, land, all without human intervention. A technical masterpiece, with a less than one percent error rate. McKenzie is reminded of his father's time, when automated cars were first introduced. Drivers like his father still needed to learn how to drive manually, pass tests and get a license. He can still picture his father's face as he sat there behind the wheel like a spare part as the car drove itself along.

Stable at delta, McKenzie tells his commander, his voice flat and lifeless. "Still