Chapter 3
Only the Best
May 12, 1993… The Jupiter 1 was ready for lift-off and the Academy had suspended classes so that the cadets could watch the live television reports. Don and his roommate Mike Bonilla, had the biggest television set-up in the dorm, thanks to the fact that Mike's father owned an appliance store. Fifteen friends were jammed into their room with Lynn sitting near Don on the edge of his bed. The first Jupiter launch, carrying two United States Space Corp pilots and four engineers went perfectly. Their mission was to test the various systems on the ship as well as increase publicity and support for the colonization program.
The room cleared as the day went on and only the die hards were left. Lynn tried to drag Don away for dinner, but he was glued to the TV, so she volunteered to get take-out for him and Mike, who shared Don's enthusiasm for the space program.
As she headed into the Chinese restaurant, she literally bumped into Captain Bryce. Even though neither was in uniform, she stood at attention and saluted him.
"At ease, Lieutenant O'Hara. Are you alone?" Bryce asked.
"No, sir, I'm picking-up for Lieutenants West and Bonilla also," Lynn replied.
"So you're the errand girl?"
"I wouldn't say that, sir. They're watching the Jupiter flight on TV and didn't want to miss anything. They'll both be applying to the United States Space Corps next year."
"Oh, yes, they're in that three-year program, aren't they? Well, tell them not to count their chickens before they're hatched. Being in that special program is not a guarantee that they'll get in. They only take the best."
"I think they know that, sir."
"Give my regards to Lieutenant West."
"Yes, sir, I will, sir."
She watched his back as he left. He was tall, blond and arrogant, a trait she despised in men. She had no idea what he had against Don, and she was glad that he wouldn't be around to torment him next year.
Alpha Control had received hundreds of thousands of applications for the colonization program. General Bowers, who was in charge of the project, and his staff had whittled the list down to ten and were holding a private viewing of the Jupiter 1 flight for them. Their reactions to the flight were carefully observed by psychologists as a way to further narrow the choices.
A joyous whoop arose from the "party" as the Jupiter lifted-off. Maureen turned towards her husband and children. John stood silently at her side, exuding a sense of wonder and awe, and Will was in front of him, undeniably enthusiastic about what he had seen. Penny and Judy were to her left. Penny smiled broadly, but Judy remained silent and serious throughout, her eyes transfixed on the screen as the craft cruised into the sky. John never strayed far from the viewing area, and Maureen would check on him regularly, as well as her children, as the day progressed.
Twelve hours into the flight, the room was silenced as the on-board camera recorded a blinding light and all transmissions ceased. Questions were thrown to the officials in the room, but John immediately knew that something had gone terribly wrong. He didn't wait for official confirmation of his fears. He directed Maureen to take the children to his office as he left to confer with General Bowers. Maureen herded her children out of the area before any official word could reach the group. A look at her husband's face told her all she needed to know.
Lynn ran into the barracks and found Don's room once again crowded with cadets. She pushed her way through and found Don, his face in shock, as a USSC official spoke on TV.
"Don, what happened?" Lynn asked.
"They're all gone, Lynn. The pilots, the engineers…" he replied.
"All gone?"
He turned to face her, his eyes shining with tears. "The Jupiter exploded."