“How long until we reach the target?” Samson asked.

Her co-pilot, Marino, flicked open a cap above his head. The clock’s digital glow added a green ambiance to the flight panel’s distinctive red pattern. Every spectre of light was keenly absorbed, as the craft’s viewing ports were sealed with lead based shutters to protect the pilots from the intense radiation of space.

“Soon, miss, I mean sir,” said Marino, rubbing his hands through his airtight suit. “We should be in range in five minutes.”

Samson manoeuvred around the cockpit to the rear, where she checked the Nav Panel for the last time. Montreal was sending a clear reading of the craft’s trajectory against the unidentified debris that had caught NASA’s attention. Soon, the debris would pass directly in front of Samson’s craft. Marino would only have a second to activate the Photonic Sonar, which could only ‘film’ for a few seconds before he would risk exhausting the ship’s primary batteries. The operation had all been so swiftly assembled that Samson hadn’t had time to adjust.

She knocked the Nav aside and turned up the A/C. Marino checked over his shoulder, giving Samson an odd expression.

“What do you think it is?” asked Marino.

“I haven’t given that much thought,” Samson replied. “This is all going by very fast.”

Marino’s jaw dropped. “We’ve been floating here for over four hours! What’s happening in there, chief?”

“Nothing’s happening. While you’ve been enjoying yourself I’ve been prepping our course and triple checking the instruments.” Samson exhaled, retaking the seat next to her colleague. “Did you know that we only have eighty percent of the regular supply of oxygen and fuel for this assignment?”

“Well, I know now. Sounds like base control aren’t planning on letting us do any sight seeing,” Marino joked.

“It’s understandable. After the last disastrous Martian expedition, I’m not surprised that we’re running out of air.” Samson lifted the portside shutter just an inch, where outside, the Earth stood as still as the cabin air. The clouds had cleared up over Sydney’s coast.