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“The silence Especially after all that noise”

“The waiting’s what I hate,” Jackie joined in, “especially with a broken altimeter”

“Only anotherand we’ll get out of this just fine”

Trapped inside the sh a small, obstructed porthole, the three astronauts try their best to i on outside A cluster of red and white parachutes pull taut lines fastened to theon a breeze that carries it over the open ocean The weather is clear aside fro the air across the planet, caused by the seely infinite number of fires that still burn out of control

When theand a splash, leaning over so far to one side due to its ain When it does, though, it rocks back and forth, each ti and sound of water against the hull finally dies down

“Straps off, check for leaks” Commander Palmer speaks with a loud, confident voice He, Jackie and Ted each unbuckle their harnesses and begin shuffling in their seats, looking around to see if any water has ed to find its way into the h, and there’s no sound or sight of any water

“Clear”

“Clear”

“Confiret topside Jackie, what’s the battery look like?”

“Better than we thought We’ve gotwe’re close to shore”

“Excellent Ted, see if you can spot land once you’re up there” Commander Palmer leans forward and looks at Jackie “Once he’s up, you and I will get the o out to attach it to the hull”

Jackie and Ted both nod and set about their work,with a renewed purpose Their bodies feel weak and ineffectual after so long spent in space, and gravity pulls hard against the froreeted by a recovery and rescue team, but they are completely alone and must rely on themselves if they wish to survive

Ted groans as he twists the handle on the module hatch, and Commander Pal”

The handle finally spins free and Ted huffs as he pushes the door open The sh thewith it the scent of a warm breeze, fresh air and just a hint of smoke Jackie wrinkles her nose as she tosses her helmet to the side, then slowly stands up and turns to locate the equip

“Anything in sight up there, Ted?” Coh the hatch as he speaks to Ted who is sitting on the edge of the hatch opening