
A seasoned captain finds himself at a crossroads, literally, as his vessel drifts toward an uncharted asteroid belt on the way to Mars. Inside the cramped assembly area, a tense nine‑man crew presses for a decision, their faces reflecting a mix of fear and stubborn resolve. The young, outspoken nuclear engineer argues for turning back, citing grim odds, while the veteran engineers and navigator remain silent, their confidence in the mission’s purpose unshaken.
The commander, aware that every choice could cost lives and the hard‑won knowledge of previous failed flights, refuses to give a hasty answer. Instead, he insists on gathering more data, promising that the photographs he takes will guide the next move. As the crew waits, the story explores the weight of command, the clash between daring ambition and cautious prudence, and the fragile trust that holds a pioneering space crew together.
Language
en
Duration
~49 minutes (47K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-10-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

An author of vintage speculative fiction and later nonfiction, his work ranges from a 1950s science-fiction adventure to a memoir shaped by art, travel, and time spent in West Africa.
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