Smoke began to pour from the bottom of Enterprise IX.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jECE6H5h0
"7....6....5....we have outboard engines....4....3....we have inboard engines....2.....1....0...."
The launch pad was filled with glaring flame. The rocket roared and began to lift.
"We have launch commit----we have a lift-off---we have a lift-off!"
For a few flaming instants the rocket seemed to hover. Then it began to rise and rise.
Dr. Roddenberry placed his forefinger on the bridge of his glasses, pushed them a fraction down his nose, then up again. He turned away from the huge screen in the Mission Control center and stopped watching the rocket's ascent for a moment.
"Looking good, Enterprise," came an amplified voice.
"Roger, Houston, we are starting yaw," said a voice that was Kirk's.
Roddenberry couldn't seem to get the glasses exactly where he wanted them. He finally took them off entirely.
People were leaving the grandstand. Congressman Johnston, very carefully holding his souvenir binoculars, said to the Vice President. "Well, everything went perfectly, didn't it? Lift-off, separation. Beautiful."
"Very impressive, yes." The Vice President rose from his chair.
"NASA's got a few more impressive tricks up its sleeve."
"Undoubtedly, Irving."
With a moderate grunt, the thickset congressman lifted himself out of his seat. "You'll be sure and give my regards to the President?"
I'll be glad to."
"I do hope that whatever matters kept him from being here," said Johnston, moving his thick face close to the other man's, "will be successfully dealt with."
"That's very thoughtful of you, Irving. The President, I'm sure, will be most pleased to learn of your support."
"He might receive a little more of my support if he'd be a shade more helpful to the program here."
"Now, you know how interested he is in the space program."
"Interest and support," said the congressman, "aren't the same thing."
"There are a lot of people, Irving," the Vice President told him, "who believe we have problems here on Earth that urgently need our attention. So before we spend billions on outer space, we need to make some improvements a bit closer to home."
"And there are also people who think our most important problem is our declining position as a world leader."
Vice President Sephiroth gave the congressman the briefest of pats on the arm and then turned away, saying, "It's been nice seeing you again, Irving."
"Likewise, Mr. Vice President."515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bEdkVNniS
The astronauts were transferred from the helicopter to a military Falcon jet. Two men in civilian clothes hurried them into the plane, escorted them into the passenger compartment, and left them there. A moment later the jet took off.
"This isn't," said McCoy, the kind of trip I was planning for today."
Kirk seated himself as best he could in his gear. "Maybe I shouldn't admit this, fellas," he said slowly, "but so far I'm pretty much baffled."
"Well, in the words of that great philosopher," said Pike, "we might as well relax and enjoy it."
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