[Chapter 1 - Page 1]

The sun glinted from the tip of the rocket as it sat on the launch pad. The largest one Amanda had yet made, it should make it to at least twice the height that she’d managed before. The launch shelter lifted into position as the ignition system reached its final stage, then with a roar, the Mk. V rocket shot into the air above the launch pad.

As Amanda watched the altimeter clicking steadily upwards, a car pulled up nearby. To judge by the large official-looking logos painted on the side, there was about to be trouble.

Someone in a uniform climbed out of the car, muttered something to the driver, then stepped towards Amanda. As he got closer, she called out, “I’d recommend moving that car back about a metre, if I were you.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Doctor Kerman.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you… By the way, I’ll have you know I put all the proper paperwork in for flight clearances this time, so I don’t know why you’ve come. I swear, nothing will go wrong this time and everything is fine.”

She tossed the box of matches that had been the first stage of her ignition system into the space under the propped-up sheet of plywood that was her launch shelter.

The uniformed kerbal shrugged at her, “Not my department. I’m here with a job offer.”