Flight into time. Part 2 Risky Launch
by bradhig
based on James Bond Characters created by flemming and License to Kill.
The Moonraker 5 shuttle sat on the crawler transporter attached to it's external tank and booster rockets as it was carried to the launch site. Unlike the NASA shuttles the external tank was white and the wings and tail had yellow stripes.
It was July 24 two days before the launch on July 26. Felix would arrive soon after spending three months in training. James Bond waited with Holly Goodhead beside him. She was talking to some technicians and then she ripped some pages from a manual on a clipboard.
"You have several backup systems and now we will see if they work. "Holly said
The crawler was coming up the inclined path to the launchpad.
"The temporal displacement machine and the lander are aboard. Sadly we won't know if the mission is a success or not until Fellix returns from the past. Why couldn't you just pull Atlantis out of retirement? "James asked
"Atlantis would never withstand the strain of temporal displacement twice. American shuttles were built on the cheap compared to Drax's version which was built 10x better. If we had used Moonrakers for the shuttle program Challenger and Columbia would never have happened. "Holly explained
THey got into a waiting gray NASA car and drove back to the VAB. A Meteorologist walked over to them with bad news.
"Look at this data. The launch may be scrubbed. "The Meteorologist groaned as he handed over the papers with the storm data.
James and Holly looked at it and had worried expressions on their faces.
"It changed course and now we have 100 knot winds headed straight for us. Hurricane Della is going to cause us trouble.
"James Bond groaned
A blackhawk helicopter landed in front of them and the door slid open. Felix in a blue NASA jumpsuit go out and hurried to Jame's side. He saw they worried looks.
"What a hurricane headed this way and it's named after my wife. "Felix shouted
"Don't worry it could change course. "James Bond said
Later on Felix woke up screaming from a dream. James and Holly rushed in and tried to calm him down.
"Della! They killed her before I could reach her. They kill her! "Felix screamed
"Get some tranquilizer hurry! "James shouted
Holly got a syringe and filled it with tranquilizer. Then she stuck the needle in Felix's arm and injected him.
"You just be sure to get me off the pad tomorrow night. "Felix shouted before calming down
"He's been like that for hours. It's the memory of his wife's death haunting him "Holly groaned
"It will get rough around launch time with that hurricane bearing down on us. "James said