The first wave had come and gone without incident. Austin didn’t get a chance to speak with the returning Star Runners in the hangar, but the excitement on their faces was evident as they punched each other’s shoulders. He wanted to ask them about plotting a distance curve and orbiting another planet, but he figured he would find out soon enough.
The Trident passed the digital red line on the HUD.
“We’ve passed the marker,” he said.
“Good,” Nubern said from the trainer’s seat. “Go ahead and signal back to the nest.”
“Roger.” Austin keyed for the external gamma wave. “Tower, this is Rock, leading Beta Wave. We are ready to open a curve.”
“Reading you loud and clear, Rock,” a female voice responded. “You are clear for a curve.”
Austin warned the Beta Wave by sending a text transmission
