Aliens on the International Space Station Read online

  “Sergey hold on,” Katherine called after him. “I was planning to send two people on EVA, and hold two in reserve. I thought you and Vladimir could be the reserve.”

  “Niet,” The Russian snapped back.

  May looked nervously at the cosmonaut, the Russians had hundreds more hours experience out in space. Their fifth generation Russian Orlan suits were loved by US astronauts as well as most visitors to the ISS, and the Russian cosmonauts’ heroism was legendary. Maybe Sergey was the best person to send.

  “Listen Sergey, we’re using the Space Scooter, it’s only in BETA but it’s been authorized and May is trained… “ She sounded like she was trying to convince herself this was a good idea, using untested tech and a junior astronaut in such circumstances, then she changed tack. “But, however we do it, we need to collaborate, we can’t all just go rushing out there…”

  Sergey looked at Katherine with a characteristic hard stare. There was only one thing he wanted.

  “I go with Frankie…” Sergey said. Everyone knew the Russian liked the tough blunt pilot.

  “No, you won’t,” Katherine interrupted, clearly annoyed to be overruled by the Russian. “It’s not your call,” Katherine told Sergey. “Houston said May was to be the first choice, so if Sergey insists on going on the first flight. It’s Sergey and May.”

  “Damn,” Frankie punched one hand into the palm of the other. Someone must have trained her to do that, May thought. Let out her anger but not break anything in the process. She wondered if Frankie also had a mantra. She turned away to avoid Frankie’s glare, and instead looked at Sergey.

  “You send this one?” Sergey’s voice was full of doubt, he turned to Katherine. “Is extreme danger right?”

  Why did he say that? Extreme danger meant high probability of death. Was this a dangerous mission?

  “Sergey, if you don’t want to go,” Katherine said. “Then Frankie will go with May. That’s the end of it.”

  “I’m ready,” The pilot replied, even when faced with a high probability of death Frankie looked calm yet fierce.

  “Are you saying we Russians are cowards?” Sergey snapped. “I said I go.” With a nod at May. “I babysit your baby astronaut.”

  Then to underline the fact that he did not need Katherine’s permission, he headed off.

  May watched him go. Her and Sergey on a mission together? She hardly knew the man. She could feel her pulse accelerating. No, but seriously, May had only been on the ISS eighteen days. The Russians mostly ignored anyone who had not cleared their first 100 days. Would it matter? They were both professionals right?

  “It will be an amazing historic international collaboration,” It sounded like Katherine was preparing her excuses for NASA. “May leaves as soon as the alien shuttle heads back to the surface. Sergey?”

  “We’ll be ready!” the Russian called without turning.

  Commander Katherine stood a moment conflicted. We had all seen how she had been bested by the Russian. So what about her own team? May looked past him to the schematic on screen. Whatever the military did, they were going to be in close proximity to the ISS as they took their fight to the unknown alien craft. The ISS had no weapons, no shields, and only two Soyuz escape capsules. This was not even close to funny, but then Commander Katherine said:

  “It’s a great risk, but if they succeed, even if we pay the ultimate price, then I think it is worth it.” May looked around the others were nodding, all had long since accepted that being part of the space program meant that your life was given up to a greater cause. Did she feel that way?

  “So May,” Katherine continued. “Your role will be observe and report.” May nodded. “That’s all you have to do, you go with Sergey, you take photos. If anything happens, then Frankie will be sent out to assist. She’ll be ready, got that?”

  “You don’t want Frankie, to go out first?” May said.

  “No May, we don’t.” Katherine hesitated.

  “So Extreme Danger,” May repeated Sergey’s words. They think there is a high chance of me getting killed, May thought. That’s why they are sending me. The astronaut who won’t eat.

  Or maybe they just want a nice slim astronaut to meet aliens.

  I have a PHD from…

  Dumpling. De-De-Dii-Dii-Dumpling.

  And Dumplings get squashed, Jasmin hissed. It was a nasty memory, had Jasmin ever said that?

  “Look May,” Katherine spoke in a whisper. “ None of us knows what’s out there. But Frankie will be here in reserve. If the worst happens, she’s our pilot. You’ll need to get back here, and we’ll all fly home together. But hopefully, it won’t come to that. And May I know you can do this. Think of Jasmin, okay? Do it for your sister?”

  Of course. Jasmin. She was here, Jasmin was not. Jasmin who was never ordered to eat an extra protein bar. May felt her stomach twist into ever tighter knots, she did not want the Commander to think she was a coward. Of course she would do her duty. She had dieted every day of her life since she was eight-years-old just to be here. So May jumped to attention:

  “Of course Katy, It is my honor to serve, commander.”

  “Good woman,” Katherine replied then added. “So be ready, we don’t know when you will leave. But you must be ready. Get everything ship-shape, Specialist Chang.”

  May was relieved, she had almost blown it, for Commander Katherine had not liked the phrase ‘Extreme Danger’, in fact she had hated it. Maybe that was too close to the truth.

  Space Walk beyond the International Space Station

  “This is it,” May liked how her voice echoed inside her helmet. “A genuine alien space ship - and I get to fly and inspect it.”

  Squeezing the controls of the scooter between finger and thumb, May felt in control a thrill to be flying high above the planet. Only the tether flapped against her leg reminding her that whatever it looked or felt like she was still attached to the station. Annoyingly even though Sergey was also attached loosely to the long tether, he was also was free flying, something he was not going to let May forget.

  “Tell me if I am too sexy, Yankey!” Sergey said. He tumbled and cartwheeled around the tether in a laughing display of fearless space acrobatics.

  “You crazy Russian,” she muttered. “Looking good,” she added with a smile. She looked forward to the alien ship and upped the speed of the space scooter, slowing only as the first tether stretched to his max.

  “If I die today,” Sergey said. “I will be the hero who gave his life to meet aliens. And I will be so happy.”

  “I am attaching the second tether,” she said.

  “Nice and easy, May,” Katherine said.

  This was a delicate moment. May needed to use two tethers to get as close as possible to the alien ship, but it was impossible to carry the two ropes as one long link. So now May had to hook one end of the coiled second tether to her belt, unhook the first tether, and finally hook the first tether end to end with the second to extend her range. Under no circumstances must she fumble or let go of either of the two, until she was attached. Butterfingers at this junction was not an option. She had to stay linked to the ISS at all times.

  She breathed deep and focused.

  Click, unclick, click.

  “Well done May,” Katherine said.

  “Your pulse is perfect,” Pravi added. “As cool as a cucumber.”

  May nodded. She did feel calm. High above the planet, flying through space on a mission to photograph aliens, what more could she ask for? She accelerated onwards, and soon she had reached her final position. The second tether taut behind her. She looked back to the ISS, for the first time she saw the entire craft spread out beneath her.

  “The ISS looks so beautiful today,” she said. Was she wishing she could return?

  “Home sweet home - beautiful Russian space ship,” Sergey agreed, he had moved closer to her, and despite his bravado, he had clipped himself loosely to her long tether. Then he reached to take her hand, and through the thick gloved she
felt him squeeze her fingers.

  “We stick together, hey Yankie?”

  “Eyes on the prize,” Katherine said. “You can do this May.”

  Katherine had been loathe to agree that Sergey should lead, but experience was experience. Sergey had been on board the space station for two long missions totaling in excess of 570 days, and completed 27 EVAs.

  So hand-in-hand they both rotated to face the alien ship

  “God-damned Ugly Rock!” Sergey said, May nodded. If she had not seen it decelerating, she might have thought this ship was a fragment of asteroid. As spaceships went, it was not a terrible design, take a space rock, mine out it’s heart and fit it with boosters, and there you had it: a solid space worthy craft. Maybe it was not very pretty but it was strong and this one was vast.

  Already someone from the Command Centre on the ground had calculated that a football stadium would fit inside ten times over. So the alien ship was 40,000 metres square, whereas her beloved ISS was maybe 400 metres wide with its solar panels fully deployed.

  “It’s too far to reach with the third tether!” May said. “I can get closer but not all the way!”

  “Stay where you are, the exploratory team are on their way to you.”

  Before she could reply May saw the spec of light rising from the earth.

  She pointed.

  “Here comes the cavalry.”

  It was one of the new shuttles, on board were military-trained astronauts, armed with as much weaponry as they could carry.

  It was heart-breaking, May thought. One of the most modern space shuttles, on one of the most important missions of all human history. Yet from her view point it looked like they were sending a dragonfly to attack an elephant. But the briefing had been clear, the risk, the costs, all was worth it. Whatever sacrifice was made today, it would be a learning experience for those who would follow behind.

  “Show time, Yankee!” Sergey said.

  At least their destination was clear. When the aliens had left for the surface of Earth, and the departing craft had left a gaping hole like a missing segment from the base of the asteroid. It was exactly as if they had left the front door open. Now the shuttle was accelerating into the open bay beyond. May’s role was to stand by and watch. And even at the end of the long tether she was still so far away. Where was the heroism in that?

  “God speed!” May cried, it was the least she could do.

  Boarding the Alien ship

  Twenty minutes had past since the military shuttle had touched down inside the hanger of the alien ship.

  And I have not thought about food even once, May reflected.

  So far not much had happened. The only surprise was as the shuttle approached the alien ship, it had crashed through some invisible force field. One moment May was looking at a black opening into the ship, next she saw a glittering curtain of silver hexagons. There was a brief crackle of light as the shuttle flashed white then the shuttle was on the other side.

  Despite the shimmer of the forcefield, May could see into the docking bay of the alien ship as the four military astronauts climbed out of their craft. They prepped some flying drones, to speed off in different directions.

  One lone astronaut stood guard by their shuttle, protecting their escape. May knew the shuttle was tough. Also it had twice as much fuel as needed, but still it looked small, set against the scale of the asteroid ship it looked like a child’s car parked in an aircraft hanger, and that was the only escape route. And yet the plan as far as she understood it was to explore and map the alien ship and return with detailed layouts to Earth. Such a vast ship, May mused, and they only time available was between now and when the aliens returned. So not long, May looked down to the planet.

  Typical, they were directly above California.

  “Watch the docking bay, May,” Commander Katherine said. “You’re our only set of eyes, so keep a look out for the guys, okay?”

  “Got it Katy,” May replied. So where were the four astronauts? The one guarding the shuttle had walked eight paces away and appeared to looking up at something. Then he turned and started running, as much as you can run in low-g.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the astronaut spinning head over toe though the weak gravity, was that deliberate? No! His arms were flying around like flags. Probably not deliberate so, what?

  May maneuvered herself to a better angle. Then she saw the alien. Trice as high and wide as the human astronauts, it was swinging though space like a giant ape. So the asteroid ship had not been left deserted. The alien looked furious to have been boarded in this way. May could not hear, but could see its jaw stretched wide. It was roaring at the incomers. It picked up one astronaut and carried it like a parcel under its arm, all the while sweeping another astronaut aside. May winced as the astronaut bounced and skidded across the floor.

  “Get up,” Sergey muttered

  Yes, get up, May thought. For god sakes, get up.

  The two remaining astronauts were climbing back into their shuttle. Only not fast enough, the alien grabbed one and tossed him out through the invisible shield. It flashed white as the astronaut crashed through it. The next moment the astronaut was free spinning through space.

  “Did you see that Katherine?” May said. “The visitor threw one astronaut out into space.”

  Then she was shouting.

  “KATY, WE HAVE TO HELP THEM. THEY NEED US.”

  May reached to the catch which attached her to the tether.

  Before anyone could reply, May saw the alien pushed the shuttle towards the very edge of the docking bay. With a massive effort, the creature slid the shuttle across the polished floor. Then it was floating in open space, with the hatch still open.

  One astronaut was spinning out of control across the night sky, one was inside the shuttle with the hatch open. Two other astronauts were still aboard the alien asteroid. May looked for them and winced, they were not in good shape.

  One crawled along the floor, injured. Was that blood on the OUTSIDE of his suit? Was his suit ripped? What of his air supply? How long might he expect to live?

  The other ran here and there, as cat versus mouse, the alien chased him. The astronaut ducked and looked for hidey holes, but this was not his ship. Even May could see the alien was toying with him.

  “THEY NEED HELP!” Sergey yelled.

  “YES,” May yelled back, her chest tight with fear.

  “Ready?” Sergey asked

  Sergey had his hand on the catch that connected her to the tether. He was about to unlock her from the International Space Station. Even with her Space Scooter, once she let go that rope there was no guarantee she would ever make it back.

  May took one last look at the ISS, then to where the military shuttle had been shoved out into space. It appeared to be coming directly towards her. It really wasn’t that far. She knew she had to do it. Some one needed to check on the astronaut inside.

  Jasmin would do this.

  May pushed Sergey’s hand aside and grasped the clip.

  “Let’s go,” she said and with a snap she unlocked the tether.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” the panicked voice was Katherine.

  She is too far away, May thought, her opinion no longer counts , behind her May’s safety tether snaked hither and thither like a snake in the grass.

  “Katy, reel the tether back - I won’t need it anymore.”

  “I’M SENDING FRANKIE.” Katy was yelling.

  “Don’t worry, I will bring her home,” Sergey shouted cheerfully, then pushed May towards the shuttle. “Now go.”

  “Katy, patch me into the shuttle, tell them I am going to come and help with the hatch.”

  May felt a thrill, now she was flying solo through space. She pushed the scooter ahead of her, eyes firmly on the stranded shuttle, and without really thinking about it she kicked her legs.

  Look at me, she thought, swimming through space. Laughter bubbled up inside her because despite everything she felt alive. And
yet she also had a job to do. Human eyesight was notoriously bad at judging trajectories, so the Space Scooter was fitted with auto-pilot-targeting, like gunsights. May aimed the Scooter at the shuttle.

  “Come on Baby, it’s only a short hop. We can do this.”

  The minutes ticked by slowly and the shuttle inched closer, as well as auto-navigation, the scooter also adjusted the speed, so as May approached she started to brake then…

  Ka-dud.

  May had landed on the outside of the military shuttle, she skidded across the surface desperately looking for handholds.

  “Yes!” she grasped a safety wire and held on. It felt a lot safer being on the outside of this small craft then just floating alone in space. And didn’t the shuttle have seven seats? Maybe she could hitch a ride to the surface, when all this was over.

  “Are you there Specialist Chang?” It was a moment before May recognized her name.

  “May, the voice you are hearing is Rogers, he’s inside the shuttle.” Katherine’s voice cut across the airways.

  “Got it, thanks Katy.” May said

  Clinging to the shuttle, she looked around for the hatch. She had landed on the wide body, the hatch was below the nose. She would need to climb up the outside of the shuttle to reach it.

  “Hand over hand.” May told herself, remembering her training. “Keep three points of contact at all time. It’s really not far, now pull up.”

  At last May leant over the open hatch and peered inside the shuttle. Rogers gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up. He was fine. His suit was intact, his helmet pristine, more to the point he had not seen what had just happened.

  “Vait!” It was Sergey. He was not far off, with the other military astronaut in tow.

  Ka-Chunk!

  The world swerved. Sergey had landed on the shuttle. May gripped tight as the tiny vehicle started to spin.

  “Wow, this is some ride!”

  “Sergey came in too fast,” Katherine replied, then, “Rogers, can you stabilize the shuttle?” Katherine’s distant voice was businesslike, as she gave orders to the pilot inside.