Sacrifices

By Paula Austin

Captain Alan Carter struggled desperately with his wounded spacecraft. The Eagle was spinning recklessly, and as he worked to recover some control he knew at best all he could achieve was some kind of controlled crash. Even as he had this thought more flight and navigational systems continued to fail. He turned to his co-pilot, Controller Paul Morrow, who was struggling with the disorientation that the pitching and rolling Eagle produced, trying to discover the reason for the sudden multi-system failure that had occurred only moments before.

"I guess you’d better put in a distress call to Alpha, mate." he said through clenched teeth. " And initiate crash procedure. I’m not sure how long I can hold her." The Australian’s easy going attitude prevailed even in the worst of circumstances. He showed no signs of panic.

" Right." replied Morrow. Not one to waste words. He pushed a button to open communication lines to Moonbase Alpha. "Eagle four to Moonbase, we are declaring an emergency. Near total systems failure. We are at coordinates ...." Suddenly flame erupted from the communication console.

Marrow reached for an extinguisher and soon had the fire abated.

"Well, that’s that." remarked Carter, his fight becoming much more desperate. "Try the distress beacon. We might get lucky yet."

Morrow pressed another button to the right of his console and was rewarded with a green light that represented possibly the only functional system on the craft. "Distress beacon is functional...so far." His task completed, he tightened down his restraint harness and put on and sealed his helmet.

Suddenly, all systems on the craft failed and Carter lost his fight for control.

"We’re going in!" Carter yelled as he grabbed for his own helmet. So this is how it will end, he thought to himself. After all the dangers they had faced since leaving the Earth’s orbit, he would die in an Eagle. It was only appropriate he told himself as the Eagle crashed into the lunar surface. He looked at his companion, the man he had shared the fight with, and he grieved for him. As the Eagle impacted, he lurched forward against his restraints. Then his world went black.

When the plummeting Eagle impacted the surface of the moon, the pilot section was separated from the main section of the spacecraft. The subsequent impact with a large rock outcropping resulted in the decompression in the pilot module. Morrow, who never lost consciousness during the crash, was flung forward against the console when his restraining harness gave way under the stress of the crash. His first observation was that the faceplate on his suit was shattered beyond repair, and he was certain to die very quickly. His second observation was that in the events leading up to the crash, Carter had managed to get his helmet on, but it remained unsealed. In the last few seconds of life remaining to him, he reached out and sealed his friends visor.

Sandra Benes had been monitoring Eagle four’s flight as it returned. Her two close friends were returning to the base after a two-week inspection tour of the peripheral defense systems. all aspects of the flight had gone as planned until the Eagle was within two thousand kilometers of the base. Suddenly, her instruments showed the craft was experiencing a massive system failure of unknown origin. Her heart leaped as she heard Paul Morrow’s voice come over the intercom declaring an emergency. Then she felt it stop as the transmission ended abruptly before he gave the failing craft’s precise location. Instantly, she slammed her hand down on the Red Alert klaxon, putting the entire base on emergency status and summoning all essential personnel to Main Mission.

John Koenig was finishing the last item of business for the day before retiring to his quarters for a quiet supper with Helena Russell. When he heard the alert klaxon he immediately plucked his commlock from his belt and opened the doors to Main Mission. In only a few strides he was at Sandra’s side.

" What is it, Sahn?" he asked with a worried look on his face. Sandra had been on moonbase almost the longest and was not one to panic. More than once her calm demeanor had been an example for other moonbase personnel.

" Eagle four was returning from the semi-yearly checks of the peripheral stations when, at approximately twenty five hundred kilometers she experienced complete system failure. They tried to get a precise fix out to us, but communications failed before the message was complete."

Koenig began to worry. He did not need to be told that his chief Eagle pilot and Second in command was on that ship. "Scramble rescue Eagle one and two more recon Eagles to their last plotted position" her ordered. Placing a comforting hand on Sandra’s arm he added "You’d better get some help up here, too."

When Doctor Helena Russell entered the broken pilot module she expected to find both men dead. The first thing she noticed was the co-pilot had been thrown from his seat and his suit was damaged beyond repair. Moving on to the pilot’s seat she found, to her amazement, that he was alive. All the seals on his suit were intact and his restraints had held. It was only when she had them both moved to the rescue Eagle and had their helmets removed that she recognized the men. There was no doubt that Paul Morrow’s death was the result of both blunt trauma, when his restraint harness failed, and decompression from his shattered faceplate. Carter suffered from a coup-contra-coup head injury from the crash and impact, but prognosis was fairly good if he survived the first twenty-four hours. The fact that he was suited had saved his life. Unfortunately, Morrow’s suit didn’t protect him.

When Koenigs comlock beeped and Helena’s face appeared in the tiny screen he knew his worst fears were founded. He thanked her for telling him on a private circuit so he could break the news to Sandra gently. When he called her into his office she already suspected the worst. There had been no word from the rescue Eagles and she was not accustomed to being summoned into the Commander’s office in the middle of an emergency situation.

Sandra and Paul had recently spent a lot of time together and it was even rumored that they were lovers. They had even discussed the possibility of sharing quarters. So, the news of Morrow’s death was quite a blow to the young technician. She would not remember the long journey back to her quarters after she was relieved of duty by the commander. She would not remember anything for a long time. Except that she had loved....and lost , again.

John Koenig entered Medical Center as Helena Russell was attending to Alan Carter’s injuries. He watched he quiet deliberation as she worked over her subject. He knew that his chief Eagle pilots life could be in no better hands.

"How’s he doing, Helena?" he queried.

"Not as much damage as I expected. But he will be critical for quite a while." She said as she adjusted the monitor on Carter’s chest. "How about some coffee?" she asked as she led him into her office. "I only wish I could have done something for Paul." She sounded defeated.

Koenig knew that each Alphan death was emotionally taxing to his companion. Paul Morrow’s death would hit them all close to home. One person in particular was foremast in his thoughts.

"We recovered the flight recorder from the pilot module. Looks like they had a rough time. The maintenance techs are still trying to find the cause of the crash. " He sighed deeply. "I’m afraid Alan will have a tough time when he watches it. The last thing Paul did was seal Carter’s suit."

Helena watched Koenig wrestling with what he had seen on the recording. John and Paul had worked closely together for a long time. Often under the worst of circumstances. He also was having difficulty dealing with Paul’s death. Moving from behind her desk, she sat next to him on the sofa. Grasping his hand between hers she laid her head on his shoulder, knowing that the closeness between them would comfort then both.

A memorial service was held for Paul two days later in the large auditorium. Every crewmember that wasn’t vital to the bases operation was in attendance. Helena took a seat next to Sandra in the first row. The effects of Sandra’s mourning showed clearly on her face, but she was coping well. She had lost her fiancé just prior to breakaway. She was no stranger to heartbreak.

Koenig delivered a beautiful eulogy. There was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium when he finished. He closed by announcing that a memorial would be placed near Paul’s grave on the lunar surface and that it would serve to remind them and those that came behind them of the courage and sacrifice they each made for their own survival.

After the service Sandra decided to go to Medical Center to see Alan. His strength was slowly returning, but he still suffered spells of vertigo after the accident. Unable to attend the service he had watched it on closed circuit as did the other members of Alpha who were unable to attend. She found him on the far side of Medical Center facing the wall.

"Hi Alan." she started "How do you feel today? Doctor Russell says you will probably be back on your feet soon."

Slowly he turned to face her. Deep lines creased his face and dark circles ringed his eyes. The loss of his best friend had affected him deeply and Helena had voiced concern over his deep depression. As always when Sandra came in the room he brightened a little. A faint smile crossed his face when he saw her.

" Hello, Sahn. How was the service?" he asked.

"It was nice. The Commander did a nice job. There were a lot of people there. They all asked about you."

Suddenly his face darkened and Sandra saw tears come to his eyes. "It should have been me Sahn. Why did it have to be Paul? I knew I was going to die. I was ready. "

Sandra moved to his side and took him in her arms. "I don’t know why he had to die." she whispered. "Just like I don’t know why our moon was thrown into outer space. Or why we lost so many of our friends along the way. OR....why you were spared. But I do know that I couldn’t bear to lose you both." wiping her eyes she continued. "You are my best friend, Alan. Just as Paul was my best friend, and right now I need you to help me go on."

Carter, always ready to play the part of the hero, took his cue from her. "Yes. I suppose you’re right. No one can explain these things." He would be strong for Sahn he told himself. He would continue to grieve for his friend, but he would find a way to give Sahn the support she needed. That was what friends did. They sacrificed.
 
 

Koenig got up from his desk to stretch his legs. He had been working on reports for hours now and needed a break. Pouring himself cup of coffee, he walked to the port, always in awe of the beauty of the moonscape. The view from the port on his office was one of the best on Alpha. For this reason he had elected to place Paul Morrow’s monument placed in a clearing about fifty meters out. Looking out towards the monument he noticed a suited figure next to it. He watched for a moment as the figure placed something at the base of the monument. Deciding to give the individual privacy he returned to his desk and the stack of reports waiting. They didn’t seem so pressing anymore. After all, he thought, our life goes on.

Carter looked down at the monument for the first time and read the inscription:
 
 

From another port on Moonbase Alpha Sandra Benes watched the lone suited figure slowly return to the base. A hint of a smile crossed her face. Yes, she thought, Alan will be okay. Maybe someday, if they ever found a home, there was a future for them. Future Alphans would tell their children stories of two heroic men. After all, that’s what legends are made of.