01 March 2038 – Baffin Bay Spaceport, Kenedy County, Texas

Sabrina walked into Beth’s office wearing her usual black flight suit, complete with a name tag and a gold astronaut device superimposed over her silver command wings.

“Hey, Boss,” she chirped before tossing herself in a chair in front of Beth’s desk. “Mary said you wanted to see me?”

“Yeah. Thanks for coming over,” Beth said as she dug through some papers on her desk. “How are your two little kids doing at the daycare center?”

Sabrina rolled her eyes.

“You can barely drag those two away from Immaculada or Sofía at the end of the day, that’s for sure!” she said.

“I bet! How are things progressing with the SSTO fleet?”

“I’m sure you’ve seen the reports, but things are going well.”

Beth smiled at Sabrina before a serious look settled back over her face.

“You might want to see this,” Beth said while holding a piece of paper out to Sabrina. Sabrina read the paper, and a scowl fell over her face.

“The colonel is bringing this asshole here?”

“Rodi and I have already had a conversation about this visitor. Rodi’s not happy about being used like this, but there’s not much he can do. The visitor will be here in about a month …”

Sabrina stared back at Beth with barely controlled anger. The anger wasn’t directed at Beth or Colonel Armas but at the asshole that had bounced her from the Air Force.

“Rein in your anger, Sabrina,” Beth said in a calming voice. “You’ll have the opportunity to direct it where it should be aimed.”

✦       ✧       ✦       ✧       ✦

Sabrina returned to her family and their house, but her rage remained. Tom and Marisa noticed it as Sabrina paced across the living room. Jeff was too young to understand his mother’s mood completely, but his father and big sister could. Jeff followed Sabrina with his eyes while Marisa clung to her father.

“Mommy’s not angry with you, Marisa,” Tom soothed. Sabrina stopped pacing and knelt in front of her daughter.

“I’m not, little sweetie. Mommy got some unhappy news today and is still processing it. Again, this isn’t your fault.”

Sabrina gathered the little girl into a firm hug. Tom raised an eyebrow at Sabrina, to which she mouthed, “Later.” After the children were in bed, Tom gave Sabrina the same look. She waved him downstairs, and they sat on their couch.

“Okay, Sabrina, what’s going on?”

“Campbell is coming here.”

“What?” Tom hissed.

Sabrina explained to her husband how Campbell had managed to finagle his way into a meeting with Beth and why Colonel Armas would also be present.

“Campbell’s gonna see you and go bonkers!”

“It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to use my karate properly …”

“No offensive stuff!” Tom warned. “Defensive moves, and only if necessary!”

Sabrina was still stewing over Campbell’s impending visit when Adriana came to have lunch with her the following day. Seeing Anna always calmed Sabrina down.

“How’s life in the physics department?” Sabrina asked.

“It’s not too bad, especially when you only have to work part-time. Plus, they hired some hot-shot woman with a doctorate to work alongside Alex, and it’s already paying dividends.”

“‘Dividends,’ how, exactly?”

“The girl they hired seems to get where Alex is trying to get to when it comes to engines. She’s even already suggested a few improvements!”

“What’s her name?”

“Amanda Parnell. She asked us to call her ‘Mandy’ and never to call her ‘Doctor Parnell.’”

Sabrina froze.

“‘Amanda Parnell?’” she asked. “Brunette? Stands about this high?”

“Yeah, that’s Mandy. Wait, how do you know what she looks like?”

Sabrina stood and began packing her backpack.

“Because this girl might be my freshman-year roommate from the Air Force Academy!”

Sabrina practically dragged Anna out to the parking lot and then rode her sister-in-law’s bumper on their way back to Anna’s building. Sabrina walked into Alex’s office, where he was trading notes with Mandy while they both faced away from the door.

“Alex,” Sabrina said, “when were you gonna tell me you were working with my freshman roommate from USAFA?”

Both looked up, and Mandy’s jaw hit the floor when she recognized Sabrina. Mandy slammed into her and wrapped Sabrina in a massive hug.

“Hi, Mands …” Sabrina said in a muffled voice.

“I knew Alex’s name sounded familiar!”

“Yeah, but he’s taken now.”

“Oh, I already know I’d never try to do that to Anna!”

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Is it that late already?”

“Man, do you and Alex both get into grooves!”

Sabrina took Mandy to one of the nearby restaurants on the Spaceport property.

“So. ‘Doctor Parnell!’”

“Yeah, and you better not ever call me that again!”

“Don’t worry, Mandy. I don’t like it when people call me, ‘The best F-22 pilot they’ve ever seen!’”

“So, you did get jets!”

“Eventually. I went through some difficulties at the Academy before I got my UPT orders after graduation. Now, how did you wind up as ‘Doctor Parnell?’”

“My parents stuffed me right back into college when I was forced out of USAFA. They put me in one of the best physics programs in the country. Princeton, no less! Then I went to Purdue for my master’s, and I stayed there and got my doctorate in aerospace engineering from them, too.” Mandy shrugged. “It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

“I hoped things would work out for you when Fairhaven forced you out of the Academy, Mandy.” Mandy’s face darkened at the mention of Devin Fairhaven’s name. “I went after him.” Mandy looked a question at Sabrina. “He got expelled from the Academy less than six months before graduation. He’s gone now, like totally gone!

“His half-brother forced me out of the Air Force before I came here. That jerk is coming here for a meeting with Beth in a month. What he doesn’t know is that I’ll be at that meeting, too, along with the full bird colonel who runs the wing at the Air National Guard base here, Mandy.”

Mandy now had a devious grin on her face.

“He doesn’t know that I’m the squadron commander next door,” Sabrina said, “or that I’m now a lieutenant colonel, either. Beth and Colonel Armas aren’t happy the other guy is coming, but they are happy that we’re all going to gang up on him. This guy will never see us coming!”

✦       ✧       ✦       ✧       ✦

As the weeks passed, Sabrina kept Mandy apprised of Campbell’s arrival. On the day of Campbell’s visit, she warned Mandy to stay in her building. Sabrina was already sitting at the small discussion table in Beth’s office when Mary announced the arrival of Colonel Rodolfo Armas and Lieutenant -Colonel Richard Campbell. People entering Beth’s office would overlook Sabrina.

She watched Colonel Armas enter Beth’s office, an unhappy mask on his face. Richard Campbell strolled in like he owned the place. Rodi Armas received his usual warm welcome from Beth. Richard Campbell just got pointed to an empty chair in front of Beth’s desk.

“So, Colonel Campbell?” Beth opened once the men had settled. “What’s the purpose of y’all’s visit?”

“NASA needs one of your SSTOs,” the man said confidently.

“Ain’t gonna happen, Dick!” Sabrina said from behind Campbell.

The man spun around, recognizing Sabrina’s voice. Colonel Armas turned slower while he wore a sly grin. Beth’s face wasn’t far off.

“My chief pilot is correct,” Beth said, making the previously smug colonel’s head whip around again. Colonel Armas was enjoying the show.

“If y’all are here to order me to give y’all one of my SSTOs, the answer is, ‘no.’”

“The government will force you to give NASA the craft we requested.”

“You can try it, you worthless piece of horse excrement,” Sabrina said while she stood from her chair and approached. “It’ll be a violation of the Fourth Amendment, though.”

“And what do you know about what the government can do, you little pissant!”

Sabrina looked at her boss.

“Your turn.”

Beth picked up her desk phone and hit a speed dial number.

“Soren! Beth Oldham. How y’all doing?”

Beth listened to the man reply on the other end.

“Well, I’m in my office at Baffin Bay, and one of y’all’s astronaut candidates is trying to order me to give y’all one of my SSTOs … That’s what I figured, but I’ll put y’all on speaker and let y’all explain it to him.”

Beth turned her desk phone around, stood to see the right button, and pressed ‘Speaker.’ Colonel Campbell just sat there, looking dazed.

“Y’all are on speaker, Soren.”

“This is Admiral Soren Hickman, the Director of NASA. Who am I speaking to?”

With the briefest pause, when she saw Campbell still frozen in his chair, Sabrina answered, “Admiral, this is Sabrina Knox-Jones, chief pilot for Ad Astra. With me in Beth’s office are Colonel Rodolfo Armas of the 196th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Campbell. I assume Colonel Campbell is one of yours?”

“That remains to be seen. However, I understand you’re the commanding officer of the 217th Fighter Squadron under Colonel Armas and an astronaut yourself?”

“I’ve been fortunate, Admiral.”

“Yes, you have that reputation. Now, let’s return to the matter at hand, if possible. Beth, I’d like to apologize for Colonel Campbell’s behavior. NASA wants to open negotiations to see if we can use one of your SSTOs.”

“I have just one condition before we open negotiations, Soren.”

Here, Beth pressed a button under her desk twice in rapid succession. Two Baffin Bay Police officers, a sergeant and a patrol officer, entered her office. She had alerted their department that she needed two officers to stand outside her unless she pressed that call button.

“That condition is that Richard Campbell is NOT included in NASA’s group in any way, and it is made clear that he is not welcome on any property that Ad Astra owns. That includes our SSTOs.”

“Absolutely, Beth. Campbell? Did you hear that? Be in my office by nine o’clock tomorrow. Now leave the spaceport!”

Campbell sat there in disbelief.

“You worthless bitch!” he hissed at Sabrina while the two BBPD officers drew closer.

Campbell darted out of his chair faster than anyone could react. Anyone except Sabrina, that is. She stood there calmly as Campbell approached her, and then she let loose with a flurry of kicks and punches that put the man on the floor, looking a lot like Beetle Bailey, after the Sarge had worked him over.

‘“Defensive moves only,” the man said …’

The BBPD officers handcuffed Campbell, pulled him to his feet, and dog-walked him – all bent over – out of Beth’s office. One of the officers came back in.

“Are you okay, Ma’am?” he asked Sabrina, who nodded. “Do you wish to press charges against that man?”

Sabrina sighed.

“I guess I gotta go give a statement, Boss.”

“Go take care of that, Sabrina. I’ll wrap things up with the admiral and colonel.”

Sabrina nodded to Colonel Armas and walked out with the BBPD sergeant.

“I think Colonel Campbell might be late for that meeting tomorrow, Soren.”

“He won’t like the outcome of the meeting regardless of when he makes it back here, Beth.”

“Soren, call me back when y’all can, and we’ll talk about y’all’s people riding in one of Ad Astra’s ships.”

“It’ll probably be tomorrow, Beth. Right now, I’ve got some paperwork to fill out.”

“Sounds like a plan, Soren. I’ll talk to y’all later.”

“Bye, Beth.”

Beth pressed the speaker button again, ending the call.

“You do know how to keep things interesting, Beth!”

“I sure do, don’t I? This won’t cause Sabrina any problems, will it, Rodi?”

“Are you kidding? She just about got that base running without any help! She doesn’t have to worry about getting a bad officer evaluation from me!”

✦       ✧       ✦       ✧       ✦

Two weeks later, Sabrina stood on the tarmac at the Baffin Bay Spaceport, her black flight suit whipping in the gusty winds. The scene was quiet now, with the steady hum of SSTOs in the background, but she knew that wouldn’t last. She glanced at her watch, anticipation and irritation bubbling in equal measure. Mandy was supposed to meet her here, but her new colleague’s inability to track time hadn’t changed since their Academy days.

“Mandy, where are you?” Sabrina muttered as she scanned the horizon.

Just as she was about to give up, Mandy’s tiny electric scooter zipped into view, weaving through parked vehicles with reckless glee.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Mandy called out, parking haphazardly near the hangar. “Alex roped me into running some final numbers for the propulsion calibration tests.”

Sabrina raised an eyebrow but smiled.

“You’re lucky I like you.”

Mandy grinned.

“That’s what they all say. What’s so urgent, anyway?”

“Campbell,” Sabrina said.

The name was a loaded bomb dropped into their conversation, and Mandy’s smile disappeared.

“What now?” Mandy asked, folding her arms.

“He’s formally filed complaints about our actions during his visit. Instead of his dismissal being finalized, he’s fighting it – claiming bias and that his behavior was justified under the ‘pressure of high-stakes negotiations.’” Sabrina made air quotes, her frustration spilling into the motion. “Beth’s got legal on it, and NASA’s already distancing themselves, but this isn’t just about Campbell anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

Sabrina took a steadying breath.

“This is about the reputation of what we’ve built here. Ad Astra. Baffin Bay. It’s about proving that our behavior, accountability, and excellence standards are higher than anyone else’s. If Campbell manages to spin this into anything other than his failure, it undermines everything.”

Mandy nodded solemnly.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“We stay ready,” Sabrina said, determination hardening her voice. “The SSTOs, the crew, our operations – all of it must shine. We don’t give anyone an excuse to question what we’re doing.”

Mandy grinned, the spark of competition lighting in her eyes.

“That I can help with.”

Sabrina smiled back.

“Good. Now, let’s get to work. I’ve got some maneuvers to test, and you’ve got propulsion tweaks to double-check.”

As the two women walked toward the hangar, side by side, Sabrina felt the simmering anger from weeks before finally dissipating. In its place was a fiery resolve to protect what they’d built … whatever it took.

✦       ✧       ✦       ✧       ✦

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the tarmac, Sabrina and Mandy entered Hangar 4. The cavernous space was alive with activity. Technicians in blue overalls maneuvered around the gleaming hull of Ad Astra’s next prototype named Sidera Visito – “I Visit the Stars.” The ship’s sleek silver body reflected the golden light, a beacon of human ingenuity and resilience. Mandy stopped mid-step, her mouth slightly open.

“You never told me it was this gorgeous.”

“You never asked,” Sabrina replied, smirking. “Come on, there’s something I want you to see.”

They walked toward the rear of the SSTO, where a small group of engineers was reviewing diagnostics. Sabrina waved at one of them, a wiry man with thick glasses perched precariously on his nose. He glanced up, recognized her, and immediately waved back.

“Jimmy, got a second?” Sabrina called.

“For you, always,” Jimmy replied, stepping away from the console. He gave Mandy a curious glance.

“This is Dr. Amanda Parnell, our newest genius, and she prefers ‘Mandy,’” Sabrina said, motioning toward Mandy. “Mandy, this is Jimmy Carter – no relation to the president. He’s one of the best propulsion engineers in the business.”

Jimmy grinned.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Sabrina. Welcome aboard, Mandy.”

Mandy shook his hand, her grip firm.

“Nice to meet you. What are you working on?”

Jimmy gestured toward the array of screens displaying complex data streams.

“We’re optimizing the fuel flow to stabilize propulsion during orbital transition. The last test flight showed a slight instability at Mach Twenty. Nothing critical, but we want it perfect before we greenlight the next mission.”

Mandy leaned in, her eyes scanning the data.

“Looks like a thermal expansion issue in the secondary injector valves. Have you tried recalibrating for heat-induced distortions?”

Jimmy blinked, impressed.

“That’s … exactly what I was about to suggest. You’re good.”

“She’s brilliant,” Sabrina said, nudging Mandy. “And modest, too.”

Mandy rolled her eyes but smiled.

“Let me know if you need a hand running simulations.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” Jimmy said before returning to work.

Sabrina and Mandy continued their tour of the hangar. The buzz of activity around them seemed to amplify Sabrina’s determination. This was more than a workplace; it was a sanctuary, a testament to what people could achieve when driven by purpose.

“You’ve built something incredible here,” Mandy said quietly as if sensing Sabrina’s thoughts.

“We’ve built it,” Sabrina corrected. “Every single person here is a part of this. That’s why I won’t let anyone like Campbell tear it down.”

Mandy nodded, her expression serious.

“You don’t have to worry about that. We’ve got your back.”

Sabrina’s phone buzzed in her pocket as they reached the front of Sidera. She fished it out, frowning at the caller ID. It was Beth.

“Boss?” Sabrina answered, stepping aside for some privacy.

“Sabrina, we’ve got a problem,” Beth said, her tone sharp.

“What kind of problem?”

“Campbell’s filed another formal grievance, this time with the Department of Defense. He’s accusing y’all of professional misconduct and claiming y’all assaulted him unprovoked.”

Sabrina’s jaw tightened.

“‘Unprovoked?’ He came at me first!”

“I know that, and so does everyone else in the room. But Campbell’s playing dirty. He’s got connections and uses them to make noise.”

Sabrina’s hand clenched around her phone.

“What do we do?”

“We fight back,” Beth said firmly. “I’ve already contacted our legal team, and Colonel Armas has your back as well. This isn’t just about defending y’all but protecting Ad Astra’s reputation. We need to be ready for anything.”

Sabrina exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm. ‘In Omnia Paratus,’ she thought, repeating what Beth had just said, but in Latin.

“Got it. Let me know what you need from me.”

“I will. And Sabrina?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let this distract y’all from the mission. Campbell’s playing his game, but we’ve got bigger things to focus on.”

Sabrina nodded, even though Beth couldn’t see her.

“Understood. Thanks, Boss.”

As she ended the call, Mandy approached, concern etched on her face.

“What’s going on?”

“Campbell’s not done yet,” Sabrina said grimly. “He’s coming after me – and Ad Astra.”

Mandy’s eyes narrowed.

“Then we hit back harder. Whatever he’s planning, we’ll be ready.”

Sabrina felt a surge of gratitude for her old friend.

“Thanks, Mandy. Let’s make sure this place is bulletproof.”

With renewed purpose, the two women turned back toward Sidera. There was work to do, and Sabrina wasn’t about to let anything – or anyone – stand in their way. Sabrina and Mandy stood side by side, gazing at Sidera as the sounds of the bustling hangar surrounded them. The tension in Sabrina’s chest tightened, but Mandy’s unwavering presence reassured her.

“We’re going to make him regret ever stepping foot here,” Mandy said quietly, her voice steely.

Sabrina nodded, her jaw set.

“Let’s focus on what we can control. If Sidera is flawless, it’ll speak louder than anything Campbell tries to pull.”

Mandy smirked.

“Agreed. And I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, not after I left the Academy.”

As the two women walked toward the engineering bay, Sabrina felt her mind race with contingency plans. Mandy was already jotting notes on her tablet, likely brainstorming improvements for the propulsion system. They reached the engineers’ workspace, where the hum of activity was punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter or the hiss of pneumatic tools.

Jimmy caught sight of them again and waved.

“Sabrina, Mandy! Perfect timing. We’ve got something you need to see.”

He led them to a large monitor displaying a 3D schematic of Sidera. On the screen, heat maps pulsed with vibrant colors, indicating the areas of concern during high-speed transitions.

“We ran Mandy’s suggestion for compensating thermal expansion through the simulator,” Jimmy explained, excitement lacing his words. “Look at this.”

He tapped a few keys, and the heat map transformed. The previously unstable regions of the schematic now glowed a steady green. Mandy leaned in, her eyes lighting up.

“It worked.”

“Better than worked,” Jimmy said. “It’s given us a fifteen percent increase in efficiency. If this holds up in live tests, Sidera will be the most reliable SSTO in existence.”

Sabrina clapped a hand on Mandy’s shoulder.

“I knew Beth bringing you here was a good idea.”

Mandy grinned.

“Well, it’s nice to have my brilliance appreciated.”

The small victory lifted Sabrina’s spirits, but the weight of Campbell’s accusations still lingered in the back of her mind. She turned back to Jimmy.

“How soon can we schedule a live test?”

“We can be ready in two days,” Jimmy said, glancing at the schedule pinned to the wall. “We’re ahead of the curve, so it’s just a matter of final inspections.”

“Good,” Sabrina said. “Make it happen. I want this test to be flawless.”

Jimmy gave her a thumbs-up and returned to his team. Mandy stayed by Sabrina’s side as they exited the engineering bay and walked toward the control tower, where Beth was waiting for an update. When they entered Beth’s office, the older woman sat at her desk, poring over a stack of documents. She looked up as they walked in, her sharp eyes narrowing.

“Tell me something good.”

“Mandy’s idea fixed the propulsion instability,” Sabrina said. “We’re running a live test in two days.”

Beth leaned back in her chair, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“That’s what I like to hear. If this test goes well, it’ll give us the leverage to counter Campbell’s noise.”

“Speaking of Campbell,” Sabrina said, her tone darkening, “how bad is it?”

Beth sighed and pushed the papers aside.

“He’s painting y’all as a loose cannon – reckless, insubordinate, prone to violence. He’s claiming y’all’s actions during his visit were an unprovoked attack on a senior officer.”

“That’s a lie,” Sabrina said through gritted teeth. “And we’re the same rank. He’s NOT a ‘senior officer!’”

“We know that,” Beth replied. “And so does Colonel Armas and everyone who was in the room. But Campbell’s not playing fair. He’s banking on his connections in the DoD to muddy the waters. If we’re not careful, this could escalate into a full-blown investigation.”

Mandy crossed her arms, her expression fierce.

“He can’t get away with this. We have witnesses, security footage – evidence.”

“True,” Beth said. “But this isn’t just about proving Sabrina’s innocence. It’s about protecting Ad Astra’s reputation. Coming out of this looking defensive or disorganized could hurt our standing with NASA and other partners.”

Sabrina took a deep breath, steadying herself.

“So what do we do?”

Beth leaned forward, her gaze piercing.

“We stay proactive. We document everything, gather every piece of evidence, and make our case airtight. And most importantly, we keep doing what we do best – building the future. If Campbell wants to fight dirty, let him. We’ll beat him with results.”

Mandy nodded, her resolve matching Beth’s.

“Let me know how I can help.”

“Start with the test flight,” Beth said. “If Sidera performs how we expect, it’ll be a game-changer. Sabrina, you’re the pilot for this one. Show them why you’re the best.”

Sabrina felt a surge of determination.

“I won’t let you down.”

Beth’s eyes softened, and she gave a small smile.

“I know y’all won’t.”

Two days later, the spaceport was alive with anticipation. Engineers, technicians, and support staff bustled about, finalizing preparations for Sidera’s test flight. Sabrina stood on the tarmac, her helmet under one arm, as Mandy ran through the checklist beside her. Tom and the kids stood beside her on the other side.

“All systems are green,” Mandy reported. “She’s ready to fly.”

Sabrina nodded, glancing up at the sleek SSTO waiting on the launchpad. This was more than a test flight – it was a statement, a chance to show the world what Ad Astra was capable of.

“Time to make history,” Sabrina said.

Mandy grinned.

“Kick some ass up there.”

With a nod, Sabrina kissed Tom, hugged her kids, and climbed into the cockpit. She felt a familiar adrenaline rush as she strapped herself in and powered up the systems. This was her element, her purpose. And no one – not Campbell nor anyone else – would take it away from her.

The countdown began, and as the engines roared to life, Sabrina gripped the controls, her focus razor-sharp. When the launch command came through her headset, she pushed the throttle forward, and Sidera surged into the sky, leaving the chaos of Earth behind. This was just the beginning.

As Sidera soared into the atmosphere, the cockpit vibrated with the power of the engines, their hum a symphony of precision engineering. Sabrina’s hands moved deftly over the controls, her years of experience guiding her through the ascent. Outside, the blue of the Earth’s sky gave way to the upper atmosphere's deep indigo, then space's inky blackness. The craft was smooth, responding to her every command like an extension of her own body.

“Control, this is Sidera. Transitioning to orbital trajectory,” Sabrina said into her comm.

“Copy that, Sidera. All systems are nominal,” came the steady voice of the mission controller. Beth’s presence was palpable, even through the professional tone of the operators on the ground.

Sabrina checked her instruments. Every reading confirmed what she already knew: this was the finest spacecraft she had ever flown. The SSTO wasn’t just working – it was excelling. A small smile tugged at her lips as she thought of Campbell’s accusations. This was undeniable and tangible proof that Ad Astra’s work could withstand scrutiny.

“Sidera, entering test Phase One,” she said, her tone steady.

“Roger, Sidera. Proceed when ready.”

Sabrina eased the craft into the first maneuver: a controlled roll designed to test the structural integrity under orbital conditions. The ship responded beautifully, rolling smoothly through space as if gliding on rails. The heads-up display highlighted the stresses on the airframe, and everything remained well within the safety margins.

“Roll complete. All parameters nominal,” within the expected range,” she reported.

“Copy that, Sidera. Proceed to Phase Two.”

Phase Two tested the propulsion system’s ability to throttle up and down efficiently in microgravity. Sabrina activated the engines, pushing them through a range of speeds. The SSTO roared in response, its power unyielding yet precise. She glanced at the readouts and felt a swell of pride for Mandy and the engineering team. They had nailed it.

“Phase Two complete,” she said. “Engines operating at peak efficiency. No anomalies detected.”

“Good work, Sidera,” came the reply. “Prepare for reentry sequence. This is where we shine.”

Sabrina nodded to herself, her hands steady on the controls. This moment would prove the SSTO’s worth – its performance in space and its ability to return safely and seamlessly. She initiated the reentry protocol, tilting the nose of the craft and engaging the thermal shielding.

On the ground, the control room was a hive of activity. Engineers monitored live data streams, their faces lit by the glow of monitors. Beth stood at the center, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the large screen showing Sidera’s trajectory.

“How’s she doing?” Mandy asked, rushing into the room.

“Flawlessly,” Beth said, her voice tinged with pride. “This is a textbook test flight.”

Mandy’s eyes darted to the screen, where a thermal readout displayed the heat buildup on the SSTO’s surface. The new adjustments to the propulsion system were holding steady, ensuring even heat distribution. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“She’s got this,” Mandy said, more to herself than anyone else.

Beth nodded, her focus unwavering.

“Let’s bring her home.”

Back in the cockpit, Sabrina gritted her teeth as the ship sliced through the upper atmosphere. The hull glowed faintly red from the intense heat of reentry, but the ride was smoother than she had anticipated. She kept her eyes on the horizon, where the curvature of the Earth was slowly becoming visible again.

“Control, this is Sidera. Reentry is nominal. Preparing for final descent.”

“Copy that, Sidera. You’re clear for descent trajectory.”

As the ship descended, Sabrina began a series of sweeping maneuvers to demonstrate its handling at high speeds within the atmosphere. The SSTO responded like a dream, with every movement being crisp and precise. By the time she reached the approach corridor for Baffin Bay, she knew the test had been a success.

“Control, this is Sidera. On final approach. Request clearance to land.”

“Sidera, you are cleared to land on Runway Three-Three. Welcome home.”

Sabrina eased the craft down, the landing gear deploying with a satisfying thud. The SSTO touched the tarmac of Runway 33 with the grace of a dancer, rolling to a smooth stop amid cheers erupting in the control room. She exhaled deeply, the adrenaline finally ebbing.

“Control, this is Sidera. Mission complete. Standing by for debrief.”

“Outstanding work, Sidera,” came the reply. “We’ll see you in the briefing room.”

As Sabrina climbed out of the cockpit, the hangar was electric. A crowd of engineers and technicians greeted her with applause, their excitement contagious. Mandy was the first to reach her, grabbing her tightly.

“You did it!” Mandy said, her eyes shining with pride.

“No,” Sabrina corrected, pulling back with a grin. “We did it.”

Beth approached, her expression one of quiet satisfaction.

“That was one hell of a show, Sabrina.”

“All in a day’s work, Boss,” Sabrina said, though the grin on her face betrayed her pride.

Beth nodded, her eyes scanning the SSTO.

“This isn’t just a win for us. It’s a message to anyone who doubts what we can do.”

Sabrina’s smile faded slightly, her thoughts returning to Campbell.

“Speaking of doubters …”

Beth’s expression hardened.

“Let him make all the noise he wants. We’ve got the results to back us up.”

Mandy stepped forward, her voice filled with determination.

“What’s next?”

Beth’s smile returned, this time sharper.

“Now, we take this victory and use it. The world’s watching, and it’s time to show them that Ad Astra isn’t just a name – it’s the future.”

Sabrina nodded, a spark igniting in her chest. Campbell might have started this fight, but she would make sure Ad Astra finished it.

That evening, she sat alone in the quiet of her backyard, the weight of the day pressing down on her shoulders. The cool night breeze rustled the trees, carrying the distant hum of spaceport activity. From the upstairs window, the soft glow of Marisa’s nightlight flickered, a grounding reminder of what truly mattered.

Tom stepped outside while carrying two cups of coffee in hand. He handed her one before settling beside her on the wooden steps.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said after a moment. Sabrina exhaled, staring into the darkness.

“It’s not over.”

Tom nodded. He didn’t need her to explain – Campbell might have been humiliated, but men like him never went down without a fight.

“Beth and Colonel Armas will handle the fallout,” he reminded her. “NASA’s already backing away from him.”

“That won’t stop him from trying to drag Ad Astra down with him.” She took a slow sip of coffee. “Or me.”

Tom reached over, squeezing her hand.

“Then let him try. He doesn’t get to define you, Sabrina. You’ve built something bigger than him. Bigger than any of us.”

Sabrina tilted her head back, watching the stars. ‘Ad Astra – To The Stars.’ They had chosen the name for a reason. It wasn’t just about flying; it was about proving that the future belonged to those who dared to reach for it. After a long pause, she smirked.

“You know, if you’d told me ten years ago that I’d be an astronaut, a fighter squadron commander, and a mother of two, I would’ve laughed in your face.”

Tom chuckled.

“And yet, here you are. The overachiever I married.”

She nudged him playfully, the weight on her shoulders feeling just a little lighter. Tomorrow, she’d face whatever came next. But for tonight, she let herself breathe. Above them, a shooting star streaked across the sky, disappearing into the vast unknown. Sabrina smiled.

‘Let’s see you keep up, Campbell.’