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

FIX-ION Blogged Chapter by Chapter

This is just one of the many stories in the Tech Array matrix for the Age of Unity series. Tech Array are short, well rounded out stories and standalone. 

Characters are often side characters to Athena Cartwright who is my main character in my novels. Although I’m not yet sure whether Mirin Chasey will ever meet Athena. (Never say never.) Mirin and Athena have much in common. They are both mothers just at different stages of their lives. Both are inventors. And both will have a connection to another important inventor. You’ll have to see the story through to the end to find out who that is.

chapter 1

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Be convincing. Mirin entered and gripped the nearest desktop in med-tech’s outer office. She groaned in a deep tone as if in pain. She exhaled recovering herself. “Mom2b’s ready for loading,” she gasped. “Latest version spacesuit and g-reduction seat. One parcel, as specified.” She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled, a supportive hand beneath her bump. “Number six here we come. Micky took six minutes. Where’s Doctor Zani?”

The two admin med-techs outside of Zani’s office peered at her over their screens, wide-eyed.

Their faces are a picture. Mirin groaned for added effect. “Can’t do data analysis until after the test results come in anyway.”

“How early is it?” Kendra asked.

“Thirty-nine weeks.” Mirin exhaled and straightened. “That was a big one.”

“What did you do?”

“My job. No sin in that.”

“I’ll call 911.”

“No, I’m not sick. I’ve experienced five home births. Unless you want to drive me?”

“Zani can handle this. Take her next door.”

Mal, a jobs-worth, helped Mirin shuffle as best she could. He doesn’t speak let alone help unless told to. Mirin stood a little straighter as if the pain had subsided. Junie moved, making her bump wobble. Mirin groaned and ran a calming hand down the baby’s back. She drew in another breath. “Here comes another; a big one.” Which asshole’s the snitch?

“My, they’re coming one after another,” Mal said. “Want me to contact your husband and get him to come home?”

“Mister, life’s twenty percent profit and eighty percent value. Phobos mining.” I wish we could go to him.

Kendra hid behind her screen. Mal tensed as Mirin hunched. Her next contraction in progress. Fear kept Mal moving her along. The Beyond Earth Corporation’s only occupational health bed was in Zani’s room.

“Careful with her,” Zani’s mature voice closing in from behind. “Good job I read up on emergency deliveries, just in case.” Zani wound her greying ponytail into a bun as she shooed Mal out and closed the door. Mirin leaned against the bed groaning for the security camera. “Pushy yet?”

Nodding, Mirin heaved herself onto the bed and onto her side continuing her Lemar’s breathing. Zani pulled a curtain around her.

“Get comfortable.” Zani grabbed her trolley. “I’ll take a look. I’m a med-tech, not a doctor. Oh no point in 911, they’d never get here in time. Calling me a doctor was stupid.”

“They didn’t want to help.”

Zani made a tent of her long maternity dress. “We have a head. Pant, that’s it. Okay, no umbilical in the way. Next big contraction. Push!”

Mirin strained, for the security camera’s audio. Junie screamed right on cue as the cold air enveloped her naked body.

“A daughter.” Zani thrust Junie at her and returned to the business end. “Her name?”

“Junie, after my mother.” Mirin fed her. Junie’s tuft of wet hair stuck to her head with a residue. Newborn scent. Zani’s thorough, I’ll give her that.

Mirin coughed. Last phase, good.

Voices in the outer office became louder. Zani locked eyes with her and pinched the top of her earlobe. Game time.

Mal burst in. “Agents Carson and Peterson are back.”

“Excuse me, out.” Zani rushed beyond the curtain clutching the bowl.

“I’ll take that.” Carson’s voice. “The first mucosa and details of what caused early birth.”

“Stat’s show few babies come on the expected day,” Zani said. “That’s why it’s so lucky when they do.”

They had the power to detain her, split up the children. Could I get away with the kids?

“Can you send for my children? They’ll want to meet Junie.”

Peterson, with the scar near his eye, appeared around the curtain.

“A bottle’s more sterile.”

“Off-world this is the easiest way to nurse a child. My knowledge and experience will be helpful for the next generation. I’ve persevered. For one thing it’s not natural for everyone. Get the supply established. Then it becomes more robust.”

He sneered, his gaze stuck on Junie feeding.

“She gets a boost in immunity and reduced chances of allergies. Good for the environment too.”

Peterson moved a gloved hand toward Junie.

“Don’t!”

“Just need the residue from her head.” His hand swished Junie’s head and he removed the glove. “This little lady…well, she’ll have a nice husband to protect her when she’s twelve.”

Don’t react. Heat spread up Mirin’s neck.

How many’s this?”

“Six.”

“You and your husband are good citizens.”

Mirin offered her finger to Junie’s palm; she clung on. I’ll never let that happen. Never! “Rick’s back when she’s three.”

“Number seven here we come.”

“Six is enough.”

“That’ll be his decision.”

A chill ran through her. “We’ll live off-world with him as soon as everyone’s old enough.”

“Settlements will be worse.” Peterson’s scar puckered.

“Let’s go.” Carson called. “We have what we need. Download the security videos and this inquiry’s done.”

A door handle rattled on the other side of the screen.

“The next generation will do their duty.” Peterson called to her. “Wherever they are.”

The door closed behind them.

Junie sucked on her fist. Mirin switched Junie to the other breast.

Zani appeared at the bottom of the bed with five happy faces. I can’t accept the future slavery of my children. I won’t.

Next

Now it’s your turn. What do you think will happen next? Drop your answer into the comments below. Chapter 2 will be available in seven days.