Launch Day

Dirk nods his head at Luke’s words. Having plausible deniability is comforting as his mind tries to think through the facts in front of him. He won’t say it out loud, but the first thought on his mind is ensuring his own career survives.

"I don’t really understand any of this. But it seems our course is set for now, I better check the guidance computer and make sure we are still on track."

The crew finally arrives to rendezvous with the satellite. It seems unassuming and like any other satellite, which feels somewhat disappointing with what you have been told about it.

O'Neil says, "We're here. What do you want to do about it?"

"I don't want to do anything but we have to do something now that we are here."

"Well? she asks, turning to O'Neill. Then, "Michael, I don't think we will ever really know those answers."

"Let's do what we're really here to do, and be done with it."

Belton has been awfully quiet the entire trip. Polite, professional, but mostly silent. The fact he's speaking up after arrival should surprise no one, however.

Dirk sighs from the back, but isn't going to argue with anyone.

"I obviously don't know exactly what I'm looking for, it looks like any satellite one would expect. If we went out there for an initial inspection, how would we proceed O'Neil? Is there something specific you need access to?"

"Nothing specific. I just need to access it manually."

"Alright, then let's proceeed."

...I mean what else can we do, Spay thinks to himself.

"You're right doctor we probably won't get any answers"

Belton, Hamlet, and O'Neil are suiting up for their spacewalk to the satellite. The mood is quiet and tense. Before he puts his helmet on, Hamlet says, "This is fucked up beyond words, you know. Whoever you work for is using us. Will you be able to sleep after this?"

O'Neil likewise pauses putting on his helmet and gives a sad smile. "Oh, I have had trouble sleeping for a long time. Sadly I've been part of much worse than this. I imagine it's like being in a war. Sometimes you are forced between many terrible choices and you are stuck choosing the least awful one."

Everyone is suited up and ready. The airlock to the payload bay opens. The payload doors are open to space. The view is as amazing as the astronauts hoped. Earth is a brilliant globe of white, green, and blue and the view is peaceful. The satellite is a few dozen meters away. You must tether yourselves to the ship and then begin piloting the MMUs to the satellite.

Before Belton suits up, as to avoid using the comms, he quietly reminds the others to please keep an eye on his wife. Part of him trusts she'll be fine -- heartbroken by the loss, but no abnormal complications. Unfortunately... part of him just can't quite trust the government. He always had reservations, but his faith was at an all-time low.

As Belton tethers himself, he asks O'Niel, "Hey. I'm not sure how this is all going to play out, but is there any chance we can just take in the view from the sat before we... get to work? Or are we on a timer?"

Literally, he thinks, realizing he isn't sure what makes the killswitch engage.

With that, he steps into the void.

Dierdre gazes outside from the bay in awe. This was what she had wanted to experience but naturally not under the current circumstances.

Dirk stands there as well, watching the men head out and thinking if he should be doing more to stop this.

After they leave, he’ll proceed back to the cockpit and try to radio Mission Control to let them know that they are on station and the crew is proceeding out.

"Yeah, no problem. It will take me a while to make the...'repairs' anyway. Maybe a half hour or so." With the tethers secured, the trio float out into space. Belton and Hamlet help guide O'Neil with the propulsion units in their MMUs. Halfway through the trip, O'Neil begins looking around, trying to peer over his shoulder, looking up, looking down. He repeats this set of motions once more before muttering, "I get the feeling something is watching me. Does anyone sense a presence?" You do not.

McMillan gets through and gives an update to Woolrich who seems pleased and tells you that despite the tragedy of Weintraub's death, this will still be a successful mission and you should be proud of your part in it. After the conversation ends, McMillan looks up out of the windshield and sees something that his brain refuses to register at first. It looks as if his view is distorted in sharp angles. The stars beyond are at skewed angles, like their is some perfectly translucent prism of unknown geometry refracting the starlight behind it in sharp angles. This distortion moves towards the shuttle, but "moves" is the wrong word as it doesn't move in a linear fashion, but seems to flicker in and out of existence, getting closer with each experience. Currently it settles on the nosecone of the shuttle, with only the windshield separating the astronauts from whatever is out there.

"Sounds good," Belton replies wistfully. "May as well enjoy the view while we can, eh? This isn't any ordinary Teusday."

In the cockpit with McMillan, Spay spots him looking out the window with a puzzled look, "What's up? What are you looking at Dirk?"

Looking out the window, Spay sees the same sight. As the sun passes in front of the windows, behind the distortion, the spherical sun becomes a sharp-angled fractal that reminds Spay of an intricate crystal structure of abnormal complexity.