ASTRO S2 - Part 8: Spaghetti Party, Decisions, Halo 897 E-Book

Martin Wintersberger

• Herausgeber: Astro Entertainment
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 63

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Transience and Hope! Astrolabius Winter faces his first great adventure as Junior Ambassador of the Moon Station – and it leads him straight to his old friend Emil on Alpha Prime. But the joy of reunion is short-lived, as on his 13th birthday Astro must make a decision that will shape his entire future. Meanwhile, Lilly Winter fights tirelessly against the growing threat of the unpredictable artificial intelligence. As the final days on the space station pass and the machines fall silent, the few remaining inhabitants face the painful task of saying goodbye. Yet it is not only the darkness of space that threatens to consume them – the ghosts of their past and the uncertainty of what lies ahead haunt them still.

Leseprobe

Authors: Manuela Wieninger · Martin Wintersberger

Cover and Illustrations: Midjourney

astro-entertainment.at

This work, including all its parts, is protected by copyright. Any use outside the narrow limits of copyright law is prohibited without the written consent of the author and is punishable by law. This applies in particular to reproductions, translations, microfilming and storage and processing in electronic systems. ASTRO and all persons appearing therein and their names, all actions, circumstances and laws of nature are fictional. Any resemblance to living or dead persons or fish is purely coincidental and unintentional..

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Copyright © 2020, 2025 Martin Wintersberger

First English Edition 2025 – Based on the 2021 Austrian release

Published in Austria by ASTRO Entertainment e.U.

Based on an idea by Martin Wintersberger

Translated from German with DeepL

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-3-99119-059-2

SEASON 2

SPACE STATION 236

Episode 22: Spaghetti Party

Episode 23: Decisions

Episode 24: Halo 897

»THE MOON IS JUST THE BEGINNING!«

EPISODE 22SPAGHETTI PARTY

It was just before 6 o'clock in the evening, and the news was about to be broadcast live from the Lunar Station to all households on Alpha Prime. Emil sat in the kitchen and quickly spooned up the delicious potato and porcini mushroom soup. He was eager to watch the live broadcast of the award ceremony. His mother lovingly admonished him, ‘Emil, eat more slowly!’ He nodded, but continued eating at the same pace.

When he was done, he jumped up and ran into the living room, but his mother stopped him: ‘Emil! Clear the table!’ He quickly turned around, grabbed his plate and put it in the sink. He ran off again; in a minute, the familiar jingle would announce the start of the news. ‘Emil! Don't forget your banana-kiwi smoothie!’ his mother called. Emil turned around again, grabbed the drink and hurried away: ‘Thanks, Mum. I'm in the living room, it's about to start!’ ‘Be careful not to spill anything!’

Since the scandal surrounding Don Boss and his corporation, transmissions from the Lunar Station had returned to the forefront. Emil was glad that Don Boss had been exposed; he had always found him creepy with his strange grin. He was all the more euphoric when he saw on the news a few weeks ago that Marvin Winter was leading an expedition to Deimos to build energy production facilities there. Even though the assignment had originally come from the corporation, Emil had no doubt that Marvin had only the welfare of the humanoids in mind. His parents were divided on this issue, and he often heard them arguing heatedly about it. Emil's father believed that efficient energy production was the key to all social progress. His mother was particularly keen on wind energy. She refused to accept that this required the construction of gigantic reinforced concrete foundations, access roads and pipelines, which would harm the local flora and fauna. Nor did she accept that wind turbines only produced energy when the wind was blowing.

The contents of the glass sloshed dangerously back and forth as Emil manoeuvred himself onto the sofa next to his father George, who was asleep in a sitting position, and slammed the glass down roughly on the coffee table. George woke up and muttered something incomprehensible. ‘Emil!’ Luisa called. "Yes, Mum, it's okay. Nothing happened. The news is starting!‘ Luisa sat down next to her son and watched sceptically as Emil sat in front of the monitor with sparkling eyes. The jingle sounded and Emil bounced along to the beat. Images of the moon base flickered across the screen. Then the image changed and a reporter smiled into the camera. Luisa commented, ’I don't know what to make of it. So much fuss about a city on the moon. If you...‘ ’Mum, not now..." Emil interrupted her abruptly, but quickly followed it with an apologetic grin. Luisa snorted, but let it go.

The reporter said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the hydroponic centre of the Lunar Station, reporting live from the awards ceremony announced by the Ministry of Extraplanetary Affairs and Ethics.’ Then the reporter leaned forward, his face almost touching the camera. He whispered: ‘Between you and me, ladies and gentlemen, ironically, these awards would not exist without Don Boss, because he created the conditions for them. But who am I to judge?’ Then the reporter sat up straight again and smiled artificially: ‘Stay tuned, we'll be back after a short commercial break!’ Luisa shook her head: ‘You see, Emil. The government wants to use these awards to put the Mondians in a good light. Those who do honest work don't need that at all.’

‘It's honest work. Just on the moon,’ replied George.

Emil rolled his eyes. It had become a ritual. Luisa complained about the government and the Mondians, Emil's father spoke up for them, and Emil sat in the middle sipping his smoothie. Corporation or Lunar Station or not. His best friend Astrolabius Winter lived up there, and Emil envied him every day. The commercial break ended with an advertising slogan for washing powder, then the camera focused on the stage.

Minister Darryn Clark read out the names of the nominees for the awards: ‘First, I would like to invite Dr Marvin Winter to the centre of the stage. It is our great pleasure to present you with this award. For the extraction of high-energy substances on Deimos and the associated leap in the development of humanoids.’ Applause broke out. Emil smiled. He knew Astro's parents very well. He used to visit the Winter family often after school. He and Astro would do their homework and eat spaghetti Bolognese. He tried to remember the last time he had eaten spaghetti.

The next announcement pulled him out of his thoughts. Viktor Romaneschko smiled at the crowd. Once again, a childhood memory flashed through Emil's mind. Astro and he jumped up and down on his bed, pretending to be Viktor Romaneschko on his dangerous five-year mission. They took turns, sometimes Astro was the co-pilot and Emil was Viktor, and vice versa. Emil even had an autographed photo of Romanenko hanging next to his bed. Then the cameras turned to Lilly Winter. Visibly nervous, she walked to the centre of the stage. Luisa remarked in a gentle voice, ‘Oh, look at her, Emil. She doesn't like being in the spotlight at all. Even at school, she never wanted to give a presentation in front of the class.’

‘Dr Liliane Winter for deciphering artificial intelligence.’ Luisa snorted: "Poor thing... If the corporation hadn't unleashed this... this... artificial intelligence, we could all sleep more peacefully. Who knows what else is in store for us. But I'll tell you one thing, Emil. If anyone can take on this thing, it's Lilly!‘ Emil nodded in agreement and took a sip of his smoothie. After Amanda Scott had received her award, the reporter wanted to end the live report: ’Thank you very much to all our viewers watching on their screens. That was the live broadcast from the moon directly to your homes, we ..."

He paused and looked back at the stage: ‘Wait, it looks like there's another award. Hold on, Larry! Back! Back!’

The camera panned across the open footwear of Mondians, another was scratching his bum, while a child was picking his nose. The pan reached the stage just as Lennard Cordes was making his announcement.