Space Station Crisis: Star Challengers Book 2 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, June Scobee Rodgers Read Free Book Online

responded with a puzzled look. Turning to Kloor, Napali, and two crewmembers who were watching curiously from their workstations, the stationmaster addressed them briskly. “Could I please have some time with the new arrivals? I need to debrief them.”
    Clearly mystified, the others retreated from the module with suspicious looks toward the newcomers. Security Chief Napali was reluctant to leave, but Ansari shooed her away. “Go—I’ll provide information as soon as I have it.”
    When they were alone, Dyl swam through the air to give Ansari a hug. “Chief! It’s such a relief to see you. We thought you were dead after the moonbase attack.”
    Ansari gave him a rueful look. “Not quite dead yet, though it was a close call on the Moon. And actually, it’s Stationmaster Ansari now, not Chief.”
    King smiled. “Congrats on the promotion.”
    “It seems my experience on the Moon gave me unique qualifications to command the space station,” Ansari said, studying their faces.
    JJ cautiously said, “It’s, uh, been awhile, hasn’t it?”
    “A whole year,” Ansari said. “Yet you cadets don’t look like you’ve aged a day. You are still cadets, are you not?”
    Song-Ye spoke up. “That’s what Commander Zota calls us. He has another name for our group too, but—” her voice drifted off, as she realized she might have said too much.
    “Just call us cadets, that’s easiest,” JJ said, remembering Zota’s admonition not to reveal too much. “We never heard what happened to you … uh, after we got back to Earth.”
    “You mean your Commander Zota didn’t know? The whole world was in an uproar to learn of the alien attack. Where have you been?”
    Alarmed, JJ blurted, “That’s … classified. Unfortunately, when we’re training, we don’t get much news.” It seemed a convenient excuse, because the real explanation would have sounded impossible.
    Ansari nodded slowly, as if she had just realized something interesting. “We wondered if you had survived, as well. Our whole moonbase crew made it out using the emergency suits from the bunkers. There were a few injuries on the way back to the ISSC in the retrofitted supply ship, but we have you cadets to thank for the fact that we made it alive. The Halley won’t be carrying passengers again, but it got us safely away from the Moon. Captain Bronsky and Dr. Romero will be happy to see you.”
    Song-Ye gasped. “They’re here, too?”
    Ansari smiled. “When I was appointed Stationmaster of the ISSC eight months ago, I asked them to join my crew.” She rummaged through a wall cabinet and handed them each a pair of socks. “Put these on instead of your shoes. They’re quite practical, and they are less likely to damage delicate instruments.” While they changed into the socks, Ansari stowed their shoes in the cabinet.
    Tony put a hand on JJ’s arm to turn her toward him. “This is real!” he exclaimed in a loud whisper, as if he had just realized it. Unfortunately, he underestimated the amount of force it would take to turn her in zero-G, and JJ spun around and around, drifting toward a wall until she bumped it. JJ wasn’t hurt, just a bit surprised by the unexpected twirling.
    Ansari continued to fill them in on the situation. “In the year since the aliens attacked Moonbase Magellan, we haven’t managed to get any new images of their base—it’s all still a mystery. We’ve recently launched our first stealth probe, which will arrive there in two days, and we hope to get some valuable images. The whole world is scrambling to revive its space programs after leaving them to gather dust for so many years.”
    Just then a chirp sounded from a control panel, and a light flashed to indicate an incoming message. Ansari flashed Dyl a quick smile. “Cadet Wren, would you mind answering that for me? You were an excellent communications officer at the moonbase.
    Dyl grinned. “Not a problem.” He pushed a foot against one wall and sent himself