Well, technically it'll be written more or less concurrently with my Trek story (see tidbits here: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=111663 ), but I thought I'd put up a teaser for my attempt at some retro sci-fi...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The day beyond tomorrow...
Belching flame, the mighty 7747 rocket liner thundered down runway 4L of the Moontropolis Rocket Port and into the blackness of space, headed for Mars. Once the Earth and Moon had receded into the distance and the rocket was securely on course, the captain activated the servo-pilot and headed back to the galley to get a cup of coffee. There were only a handful of passengers on this flight, which didn’t surprise the captain; the 10:45 Moon-to-Mars was rarely more than a quarter full.
As the captain made his way back to the control deck, a sudden blast shook the ship. He ran to the control deck, where the servo-pilot was cycling through its (admittedly limited and certainly unimaginative) programmed repertoire of evasive maneuvers. Taking over from the hapless automaton, the captain looked out the windows and saw several silver shapes flash by. He caught the red skull insignia emblazoned on their wings, and began to sweat: those were Professor Vulcan’s attack rockets! Hands shaking, he reached for the radio controls.
"Mayday, mayday, this is Atomic Rocket flight 1138. We are under attack by Mercuroid science-pirates! Repeat: this is Atomic Rocket flight…” A burst of static screeched through the control deck as one of the raiders shot out the 7747’s antenna. The pilot gulped nervously, hoping his signal had been received…
Fortunately for him, it had. In a secret space station, pilots were suiting up as their ships were armed and fueled. Helmets were snapped into place, cockpits were sealed, and several sleek rocketplanes were moved into their magnatomic catapults.
"Coordinates have been transmitted to your computators, Rangers," said the dispatch officer. "Launch when ready.”
From the cockpit of the lead rocketplane came a voice of courage and steel. "This is Captain Zoom. Rocket Rangers.. away!" One by one, the planes leapt into the star-filled night...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
WILL the intrepid Captain Zoom and his noble Rocket Rangers get to the endangered rocket liner in time?
WHY is the nefarious Professor Vulcan having his Mercuroids attack an innocent rocket liner, and WHAT is he really after?
FIND OUT in the next thrilling adventure of CAPTAIN ZOOM and the ROCKET RANGERS!! Keep your radio imagers tuned to this frequency. ROCKET RANGERS.. AWAY!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The day beyond tomorrow...
Belching flame, the mighty 7747 rocket liner thundered down runway 4L of the Moontropolis Rocket Port and into the blackness of space, headed for Mars. Once the Earth and Moon had receded into the distance and the rocket was securely on course, the captain activated the servo-pilot and headed back to the galley to get a cup of coffee. There were only a handful of passengers on this flight, which didn’t surprise the captain; the 10:45 Moon-to-Mars was rarely more than a quarter full.
As the captain made his way back to the control deck, a sudden blast shook the ship. He ran to the control deck, where the servo-pilot was cycling through its (admittedly limited and certainly unimaginative) programmed repertoire of evasive maneuvers. Taking over from the hapless automaton, the captain looked out the windows and saw several silver shapes flash by. He caught the red skull insignia emblazoned on their wings, and began to sweat: those were Professor Vulcan’s attack rockets! Hands shaking, he reached for the radio controls.
"Mayday, mayday, this is Atomic Rocket flight 1138. We are under attack by Mercuroid science-pirates! Repeat: this is Atomic Rocket flight…” A burst of static screeched through the control deck as one of the raiders shot out the 7747’s antenna. The pilot gulped nervously, hoping his signal had been received…
Fortunately for him, it had. In a secret space station, pilots were suiting up as their ships were armed and fueled. Helmets were snapped into place, cockpits were sealed, and several sleek rocketplanes were moved into their magnatomic catapults.
"Coordinates have been transmitted to your computators, Rangers," said the dispatch officer. "Launch when ready.”
From the cockpit of the lead rocketplane came a voice of courage and steel. "This is Captain Zoom. Rocket Rangers.. away!" One by one, the planes leapt into the star-filled night...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
WILL the intrepid Captain Zoom and his noble Rocket Rangers get to the endangered rocket liner in time?
WHY is the nefarious Professor Vulcan having his Mercuroids attack an innocent rocket liner, and WHAT is he really after?
FIND OUT in the next thrilling adventure of CAPTAIN ZOOM and the ROCKET RANGERS!! Keep your radio imagers tuned to this frequency. ROCKET RANGERS.. AWAY!!
