Lost In A Bradbury World

by VisauralWrites

Captain Turner is a seasoned space-vehicle captain who's just been assigned to go on a mission to a new planet near Sirius... but is it a planet? Has he been there already? Ray Bradbury/FOP tribute. Rated K for frequent usage of technical terms.

2. Union

CHAPTER 2

UNION

MARCH 31, 2048

21 The clock struck 12. Or in military time, 00:00 HRS.

22 Turner heard the radio crackle again. They were 1,500 km above the exosphere and waiting for Julius and Venus to arrive at the rendezvous point.

23 "Control to Turner. Julius and Venus are doing fine. In 15 minutes 33 we're goin' to initiate docking sequence."

24 "Turner to Control. Will give them instructions."

25 "P10F to Julius. Align with Venus and initiate docking sequence."

26 "Julius to Venus. Initiate alignment and docking sequnce."

27 "Roger, Julius. Aligned."

28 "P10F to Julius and Venus. You are aligned. Initiate docking sequence phase one."

29 Turner and his crew watched the main monitor as it showed Julius and Venus getting closer.

30 Docking arms deployed. Distance 500 meters… 300 meters… 200 meters… 100 meters… 75 meters… 50 meters… 25 meters…

31 A sequence of beeps could be heard.

32 Docking sequence phase 1 complete.

33 Meanwhile, Julius and Venus formed into a large, streamlined, wing-like shape as they merged. It only needed its cockpit - P-010-F. Everyone called it P10F because, well, it's shorter and easier to say.

34 "Julius-Venus to P10F. We're docked."

35 "Turner to Julius-Venus. Prepare for docking phase 2. Cockpit's ready to dock."

36 "Julius-Venus to Turner. Docking sequence phase 2 start."

37 Docking sequence phase 2 initiated.

38 "Okay guys, let's get this show on the road… I meant space… never mind! Let's do this!" ordered Turner lightheartedly. One of his officers nodded. "Deploying docking arms," he said.

39 "Central to Turner." The transmission sounded strange, as if some snake was swimming through a pool of sound. "We're suffering phase cancellations in our transmission…. You're on your own now."

40 "Turner to Central. No effect on our part?"

41 There was only white noise as the transmission was shut off.

42 "Turner to Julius-Venus. Can you hear me?"

43 "Julius-Venus to Turner. 10-4, we can."

44 "Turner to Julius-Venus. Resume docking sequence then."

45 Docking sequence complete.

46 Soon enough, the cockpit and body of the Axwell-class cruiser were joined. The transmission to Mission Control was restored. "Control to CW9895. Docking successful. Begin ignition of main engines." CW9895 was the transmission name of the ship with all its pieces joined together.

47 "CW9895 to Control. Commencing departure to planet."