Author: 🇨🇦 Helena Trooperman © 2026 all rights reserved
Destination Phobos, Tech Array [AOU,03,02]
Accompaniment to Age of Unity Series
(Included in © No AI scraping and no permission to copy)

DESTINATION PHOBOS

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The story continues…

chapter 7

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 “You must be Mirin. Call me Rai.” He shook her hand and gestured her to accompany him. His crisp vowels confirmation they had travelled to the other side of the pond. “Tell me, what was your journey like?”

“Smooth.” She turned to the slight man with dark, intelligent eyes. “Quiet, too.”

“Yes, but how long did it take to cross the ocean?”

“Eight minutes, not including your shuttle.” She indicated the tunnel. “I asked about it, but…”

“Incredible,” Rai said. His dark spiky hair stood to attention. He was dressed casually, yet projected professionalism in dark jeans and a lounge jacket. “Yes, I understand. The agreement insists no questions. I had to ask. What did it look like inside?”

“Plain. A few seats. Walls and doors that appeared at a touch and were gone in an instant.”

“You haven’t seen it from the outside then?”

“No.”

“Me neither. I’m betting it’s one of the thousands of confirmed NHI sightings.”

“Zani’s human.” Mirin laughed. “She’s my best friend; I should know.”

Rai pointed upward. “Portland Space Base. You can remain in Allies of England, or you can go off-world. Either way you work for me and are salaried.”

Her burst of laughter was out before she could prevent it. “What choice is that? For safety the children shouldn’t be exposed to more than one point five g-force, two gees at most.”

“I’m Burton.” Her eldest son held out his hand to Rai. They shook hands. “Junie came early. Thirty-six weeks. That’s a sin where we come from. You’re guilty unless they say you’re not.”

Rai studied the earnest faces before locking his eyes on Mirin.

“My job was to calibrate a Mom2b test dummy with no ‘real’ data to do that with. I was that data. It was a calculated risk. Junie was moving well. I was already at term—thirty-six weeks—forty weeks are preferred. Zani and me were alone. B. E. C. organized it that way. Someone snitched. Zani helped me cover the birth and fake it at thirty-nine weeks. Agents were sniffing around. we couldn’t wait any longer. Bless Zani for helping.”

“Mom’s held it together really well.” Ellen shook Rai’s hand.

“Working here, they could request your extradition,” Rai said.

“Worst case baby came early,” Mirin said. “But healthy.”

“How many gees?”

“Three.”

 “That can be less than a roller coaster,” Rai said. “Bad if they decide you wanted to harm the child.”

“In my report I recommend against two-gees for pregnant moms and children. I’d never do it again.” Mirin wiped her weary eyes. “I’m guilty of leaving before they said I could. But they’d split us up if they could. Their Pa’s off-world and I’m all they’ve got. Zani knew it too. Haven’t you ever done anything you’re not proud of?”

Rai looked miserable. “Yes. If you stay, I’ll help you fight extradition. Follow me.” He raised the large bag and indicated a door to a staircase. Rai whispered to Mirin, “Or there’s Threshold.”

She stared at him. Give me a third way, please.

“It’s a different form of travel. One point five gee maximum. Plus, we’ve found the sweet spot with our gravity well, for bone density growth and maintenance too. The moon’s going to be the best destination off-world right now to raise children. You’d be together. No extradition threat from there. And a great testing ground for Professor Beaky. But it’s one of those calculated risks you now hate.”

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Now it’s your turn. What do you think will happen next? Drop your answer into the comments below. Chapter 8 — the last chapter — will be available in seven days.