Rogue Phoenix

By Frank DeCaire

Rogue Phoenix is a short story (6,200 words) about a hacker that takes control of a power satellite in lunar orbit. Phoenix satellites collect energy from the sun using solar cells. The energy is then beamed to a collection plate on the surface of the moon using a microwave beam. The beam is very tight and focused. It's also very powerful and can cook almost anything in seconds. When satellite control detects that the beam has wandered off the receiving pad, an investigation is launched to find out why and how to stop it. Soon our intrepid technicians discover that the beam is headed towards the dome where the mayor of this lunar outpost lives.

Can they solve the crime and catch the hacker? Can they regain control of the satellite in time to save the colony?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank DeCaire
• Release date: Oct 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215779620

Book preview

FRANK DeCAIRE

Galactic Core Books, LLC

This book is a work of fiction.

All the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2020 By Galactic Core Books LLC

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover design by Tegnemaskin (www.tegnemaskin.no)

Visit my website at: www.galacticcorebooks.com

CHAPTER 1

Hey, boss, said Tim.

It was after work hours, and the satellite control shop was devoid of people.

Yeah, Tim.  What’s up.  Darrel said. He looked over Tim’s shoulder at the satellite control console.

Phoenix five is drifting.  The satellite is going to lose lock in about ten minutes.

Have you tried…

Yup, said Tim.  The first thing I did when I noticed it drifting, was trying to send a command to redirect it back.  Tim punched a green button several times to demonstrate that nothing was happening.  See.  Nothing.

Run a diagnostic.

Re-running the diagnostic.

Tim punched a few cryptic commands into the console using only his two index fingers.  He knew that Darrel would probably say something about it.  He refused to expend any effort trying to learn to correctly type when he could do everything much faster with his two fingers.

Several patterns scrolled across the screen, then a beep, and an error message popped up.

Oh, boy, said Tim.

What’s the problem, said Darrel.

Seems we have a problem with the uplink.

Is it out?

Not exactly.

Then what’s going on?

"Looks like we’re locked