Novel: Bad press calls for desperate measures. For the Interstellar Forces, sending a small crew to Neptune was the bet they were willing to make - at the risk of losing what little respect they have left (and maybe some lives).
A roll of dice and a lack of options led to the selection of the Celestion-5’s crew, a collection of inexperienced astronauts ranging from space-loving dreamers to cynics only in it for the money.
It’s them against the universe, and their odds are a gamble at best. Learning how to live together can only help. Though with the crew’s pervasive personal problems, that might be the real journey.
New Chapter: All seems well again on the Celestion-5, but Emil can't help but feel the weight of his decision.
Sample:
“Hmm. Regardless of his reasoning, it won’t save him from punishment. I’m planning it as we speak.”
“What??” Emil leaned over the chair. “C’mooon, on his birthday? All he did was hide. He even showed up for jet training!”
“Wrong.” Lorenzo looked up toward him. “He did not respond when I called for him at his brother’s birthday party. That is a major infraction. The law doesn’t stop for birthdays.”
“Can the law at least wait patiently until after the party?”
No response from Lorenzo.
“So is that a yes, or…?” Emil leaned further.
Lorenzo simply stared ahead.
