Was Stone about to abandon the mission? Takeoff was less than twenty-four hours away and the summons she’d received was tagged UTMOST URGENCY. The atmospheric physicists had assured her only yesterday that no solar flare activity had occurred that would hamper takeoff. Marcus was ready. She was ready. Stone’s assistant waved her straight through. Darla swallowed down her fear at seeing the frantic look on the younger woman’s face. “Ah, Dr. Wynter. Take a seat,” Stone commanded. Darla sat, though she merely perched on the edge of the hard chair, finding it impossible to relax. The stern visage of her superior only added to her growing anxiety. “We have a problem,” he stated. “Problem?” The word almost choked her. Perhaps he knew what she’d done. Perhaps she’d be banished to one of the outer settlements on Ganymede instead. “Yes.
