While the astronauts dressed, a voice from an overhead speaker told them what they were supposed to be doing.454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnRvqdVjxC
"This is Robert Sarnoff, Enterprise Control. We are 259 days, 14 hours, 12 minutes into the flight. All systems read nominal. The prime recovery ship, the U.S.S. Hornet, is in position. The flight director advises that the prime recovery helicopter is tail number 3776, the secondary recovery helicopter is tail number 3775. An on-target landing should result in a recovery time of 18 minutes from splashdown to the opening of the hatch. After the crew delivers its speech on the deck of the Hornet and is welcomed aboard by Captain Ronald Tracy, they will be taken belowdecks for a medical debriefing. Tonight at 1800 hours Pacific Daylight Time, the crew will attend a victory banquet, topped off by a special dessert---a 40-foot high red cake depicting the Martian surface."
"Yummy," said Pike. "That makes it all worthwhile. These months of bullshit won't seem so bad when I get that special dessert."
"Don't count on getting to eat it," said McCoy. "Roddenberry probably found a way to fake that, too."
"Don't be such a pessimist, Leonard."
From out of the overhead speaker came more voices.
"Enterprise IX, this is Houston."
"Roger, Houston.
"You are go for CSM-CM separation."
"Roger, Houston."
Head tilted, Pike glanced up at the speaker. "You've got a beautiful voice, Jim. Ever thought about going into radio?"
Kirk gave him a sour look.
"You'd make a hell of a DJ," suggested McCoy.
"You are 17 minutes, 44 seconds from Entry Interface."
"We copy."
"We are reading ECS of 2535."
"2535 ECX."
"Guidance should be set for Spica and Numa."
"Guidance on Spica and Numa."
The door of the room was pushed open carefully. A crew-cut young man stepped in. "Gentlemen, if you'll come along with me now, please."
"Shit, just when it was getting to the good part," complained McCoy.
"I actually think," said Pike, moving for the door, "I like the Interplanetary Adventures of Colonel Kirk better than As The World Turns."
"Oh, so do I," said McCoy. "It's much sadder."
"A three-hankie show for sure."
"Gentlemen, please. Your jet's waiting."454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShHCYYbQy5
They made their way across the soundstage hangar, cutting across the red face of Mars, and stepped into the glaring desert day.
The Falcon jet, door open and engines already whining, was waiting nearby.
Very rapidly they were escorted inside, and the ship took off.
Another crew-cut young man told them, as the jet knifed across the clear blue sky, "We've got a chopper waiting for you on the island. It'll take you to the spacecraft when it splashes down."
"Looks like we're going first class," remarked Pike.
The crew-cut man ignored him, addressing himself to Kirk. "The chopper will transport you to the craft, like I was saying. It'll take the Hornet more than 90 minutes to reach you, so there's no rush."454Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOk31PpgLx
"No rush," said Kirk.
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