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

The story continues…

chapter 8

CALCULATED

Inside the small cloakroom, everyone took a seat on the benches surrounding the wall. “No travel comes without risk, but these will reduce it even more.” Rai dropped the large bag in the center of them all. “Zani had these prepared.”

“What is Threshold?” Mirin asked.

“Top secret,” Rai whispered. “A wormhole designed by me.”

“And exactly how do we know it’s safe?”

“It’s been thoroughly tested.”

“But it’s a secret?”

Rai nodded. “You can chat with Luci about the data collected. Luci, Mirin is now to be considered cleared.”

“Luci, what’s the average g-force experienced using Threshold?”

“One point five gees.”

“And the duration, Luci?”

“The average duration is six minutes. However, inside the phenomenon time might not correlate.”

Mirin raised an eyebrow at Rai. “Luci, will the g-force fluctuate?”

“We’ve found g-force to be reliable within the phenomenon. Entry speed dictates forces.”

“Let’s see what Zani sent,” Rai said, unzipping the bag and handing Mirin a white suction packed roll. He made a small cut in the top. The package hissed and he pulled away the plant-based wrap, leaving a spacesuit big enough for Isaac in her arms. “There’s one each.”

“But these are the new fabric. Zani’s going to be in trouble for this.”

“No she won’t. I placed an order fair and square with B. E. C. Yours is at the bottom. I had your name placed below the badge.”

“I love the badge,” Mirin said to Rai. “Thank you.”

Mirin and her children changed into their pressure suits and Sara hung Professor Beaky around her neck. “We have a lot to be thankful to Zani for.”

“Well Chasey kids, are we going to the moon?” Rai asked. “Don’t forget your bags.”

“Yes,” everyone called back.

“What a noisy experience. This way.” He led the giggling crew into the next room. There in the middle was a small, raised shuttle. A small set of steps led up to the back of it.

Mirin strapped Junie inside of her Portland Space pressure suit with meta fabric to track her vitals. “Okay, let’s load up.”

Luci promised to keep her informed through her helmet’s coms about the children’s vital statistics during the flight. Ten, nine, eight…, Please keep us all safe.

“Connect your umbilical tube to your chair,” Rai said. “You’re the first children across Threshold. What do you think of that?”

“Exciting,” Isaac said.

What the fuck!

Five, four…,

“Seal your pressure suit,” Rai barked at her.

“Yes sir.” Mirin ran her hand over the Velcro seal, locking the baby beneath her suit.

The kids joined in. “Three, two, one.”

Isaac shouted, “Lift off!”

Everyone giggled as the capsule gathered speed off the ramp. The urge to cradle Junie had to be resisted. Poor little thing doesn’t need to be crushed by my arm.

Forgetting, she tried to move her head. Oh man. She reassured Micky with a smile, not sure if he could even see her face from opposite her. She squeezed the small, gloved hand beside hers on the arm rest. Isaac managed to wiggle a finger beneath her hand. So far so good.

“A rift,” Beaky squawked. “Warning!”

“Hush,” Sara said, patting the Professor.

“Ohhhhhhh,” she heard Burton say from the front seat next to Rai.

The small shuttle pod jolted. The pressure on her body stopped, her hand shifted from the armrest. “I need to know if everyone’s alright,” Mirin called. “Check-in.”

“Burton here.”

“Ellen here.”

A snort of stifled giggling could be heard by everyone over the comms. “What’s so funny?” Mirin asked, putting an instant stop to the jubilations.

“Isaac here.”

“Sara here.”

“Beaky here.”

“Me, I’m here.”

“Say your name,” Sara said.

“Me, I’m Micky. Here.”

Junie nursed beneath her suit.

“Quiet please. Rai, is there a problem?”

“Surprise,” Rai appeared at the open hatch door at the back of the shuttle. He stood there waiting with his visor raised.

“We’re not going then?” Mirin asked. “Why?” She helped Micky with his harness release button and led him toward Rai, lifting her visor.

“Look out the window. Is this the same room outside we started in? No, it isn’t.”

Micky began bobbing and giggling. What’s up? “Jeez, would you look at that.” Micky’s feet hovered above floor level.

Rai laughed. “Welcome to the developing International Lunar City we call, Star’s End.”

“There’s only one thing that’d make this perfect.” The kids all looked at her. “If your pa was here.”

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to Ros. She’ll be your go to person up here. I’ll be visiting, of course, but she’ll help you get word to your husband, and help you settle in.”

“You don’t need another space construction engineer consultant, do you?”

“Where’s he based?”

“Rick’s out on Phobos.”

Rai shook his head. “No, he can’t be. Who’s he working for?”

“McDonald, I think the name is.”

“Not Lium McDonald?”

She nodded.

“Lium’s crew are out at Ceres, Phobos wasn’t a good fit.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Brilliant news. From here you’ll be able to VIDchat.”

Next

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