Read Command Decision (Project Gliese 581g #1) for Free Online Page B

exasperation before she grinned. “Besides, every time Sergi tells someone, it gives me a chance to hit him.”
    Sergi gave him and Ash a pained expression. “I should never have shown her how to fight,” he muttered in pretend resignation.
    Mei and Julia’s laughter filled the cockpit. Sergi and Mei’s constant picking on each other had become a source of entertainment among the crew. They were both intelligent and enjoyed the banter, which made it even more fun to watch as they tried to outdo each other.
    “Mission Control, turning over control for core rendezvous and docking sequence,” Ash said, jerking Josh back to the present.
    “Copy,” Mission control responded.
    “We can see the pictures. Three hundred meters and closing. Begin fly around,” Ash responded.
    “We see thrusters are working and we are moving to docking assembly. Copy,” Mission Control responded.
    Josh watched on the screens as the docking mechanism came into view. Mission control continued to give them information as the two docking assemblies lined up. A few minutes later, there was a soft jerk and the sound of the docking assembly locking.
    “Locking assembly has engaged, Gliese 581. Welcome aboard your new home,” Mission Control stated.
    “Copy that, Mission Control,” Ash responded with a grin as he finished the final shut down and prepared to open the connecting hatch. “Let’s go take a look at our new home.”
     
    *.*.*
     
    Five days later, Josh stood in front of the huge virtual window, looking down at the Earth. Two of the crew members from the International Space Station had departed an hour before with the capsule that had brought them here. The two cosmonauts would dock with the outlying structure that had been used as a base during construction of the Gliese 581. They would release the last of the tethers. The remaining base would be joined to the International Space Station. At the moment they were waiting for final approval from Mission Control to begin a voyage unlike anything man has ever done before.
    “It is good to know that the artificial gravity works,” Julia commented as she gripped the handhelds near the doorway and lowered her feet to the floor before stepping inside the main control and living area. “Though, I have to admit floating is fun.”
    “It is more than fun,” Mei laughed as she came up behind Julia. “I missed this part of being in space.”
    “Not as much as I missed watching you bounce off of things,” Sergi retorted with a grin.
    Mei turned and pushed Sergi backwards when he tried to come into the control room. Grabbing the handheld, she nimbly lowered her feet to the floor and stepped into the area with the artificial gravity. She glanced over her shoulder and grinned when Sergi stumbled.
    “It is not as easy as it looks,” he grumbled, flashing a quick grin.
    Mei tossed her braid over her shoulder and laughed. “You are just clumsy,” she retorted, darting out of Sergi’s reach when he started to grab for her braid. “And slow.”
    Josh couldn’t keep the amused grin from escaping. He wondered if those two would be like this the entire journey. Turning back, he stared down at the Earth again as the others slowly made their way over one at a time to join him.
    “I wonder if we will ever see it again,” Mei asked in a soft voice.
    “I don’t see why not,” Josh replied, shooting a glance at Julia’s calm face. “We get out there, find out what the object is, and come back.”
    “Almost three years in space, a trillion million miles from any other living soul, and totally self-reliant on a massive piece of equipment that looks great on paper, but has never been put to the test,” Sergi reflected, rubbing his chin before he dropped his hand and shrugged. “It will be a piece of pie. I would say we have a billion to one chance of making it back in one piece.”
    “It is a piece of cake,” Mei growled, turning and punching Sergi in the arm. “I’m going to go check