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And That`s The Way It Was

by M. Close 

Posted: 27 January 2012
Word Count: 493
Summary: for the Change History challenge


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July, 1969

The door to the cell swung open on creaky hinges. Two guards were waiting in the pre-dawn hours on this chill morning.

"Let's go Neil. Today is the big day. You ready?"

"Either way, looks like I'll make history today, eh?" said Neil Armstrong as they led him down the long corridor.

Along the way, they met up with the other members of the team, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins and their guards. Each walked in silence, alone with his thoughts. The guards also maintained a respectful silence.

They walked along twisting corridors, through brightly lit hallways finally arriving at the dressing room where they began to don their preflight suits. The General arrived soon after.

"Are you ready boys?"

"When I signed up for the Space Program, I didn't expect it to be a suicide mission, sir," said Neil, "None of us did."

" I know boys, but we didn't have any missile defense technology for those last two attempts like we do today. If the Russians fire another attack at the launch vehicle, I am sure we can mitigate the threat with our new Star Wars defense system."

"Huh, Star Wars......sounds more like a movie title than a defense system," grumbled Buzz.

"You thought you had all the bugs worked out for the last attempt, Apollo 12, but the last thing we heard was Lovell saying 'Houston, we have a problem', then nothing but a bright flash in the sky. I don't want to make history as a flash in the sky sir. I sure hope you have all the bugs worked out this time", said Neil.

Mike asked, "What about that diplomatic option we heard about?"

The general look a bit uncomfortable at this, but answered directly, "We have kidnapped the Russian Czar's Daughter and her two children. Chairman Kennedy has let the Czar know, in no uncertain terms, that their lives will be forfeit if Apollo 13 is attacked. You see boys, we have taken every step to ensure a safe trip and a safe landing on the moon."

Mike chimed in with, "Using the cheapest subcontractors to make the forty two thousand parts for our LLM is ensuring us a safe landing? Ha!"

"What about the Chinese threat sir?" asked Buzz.

"The Chinese have yet to successfully launch a long range missile. Their cultural revolution was one of the best things that ever happened to us. We have covered all our bases this time and all systems are GO for a successful moon landing! God speed men." And with that the General saluted, turned sharply and walked from the room.

The men all made one last phone call to their families before being marched out to the rocket under guard. They entered the rocket on the launch pad and got settled into their seats. From here, there was nothing to do but wait for the countdown and pray.

And the rest, as they say, is history!






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Comments by other Members



fiona_j at 17:31 on 27 January 2012  Report this post
This is great, I loved the little hints to a completely different world.

If only we knew what the rest of history was. You should give us some more on this, definitely.

" I know boys, but we didn't have the missile defense technology for those last two attempts
that we do today
. If the Russians fire another attack at the launch vehicle, I am sure we can mitigate the threat with our Star Wars defense system.


The close speech marks are needed for this sentence. Also, I think it's a bit wordy. For instance, the underlined "the" I would make "any" and I would remove the second underlined bit. Then, before "Star Wars" I'd add the word "new". Then it's not as wordy but you keep detail required.

Well done with this, though. I do feel sorry for Lovell.

Fi x

<Added>

Sorry, I don't know why it's drawn a box, not a line. I hate the tags in these comments boxes!

tusker at 18:03 on 27 January 2012  Report this post
Excellent Mike. Really enjoyed this.

Made me think too which is hard work for me.

Jennifer

M. Close at 18:30 on 27 January 2012  Report this post
Thanks for your comments and crits. Fiona, I see what you mean and have made the changes you suggested.

As for the history, I'll tell you, to refresh failing memories from the 60s, that it was Apollo 11 that actually landed on the moon in July 1969. Apollo 13 was the troubled craft where Lovell actually said " Houston, we've had a problem....."

I was seeing a bit more....aggressive space race to the moon during the cold war of the sixties, and I kind of hinted at a major change in the US government as well with Chairman Kennedy, obviously, rumors of his assassination were greatly exaggerated.

Glad you enjoyed it,
Mike


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