Doppelganger

As if coming from next door instead of deep space, the voice on the radio was strong and clear.

"Course zero six niner, mission control."

"Constellation, this is mission control You’re looking good. Stand by for planned course correction in thirty seconds."

"Roger, Houston, course correction in thirty seconds."

"Tom, this is Sam. We just got a phone call from the White House. The President asked us to send his regards and said he looks forward to having both of you and your families at the white house when you return."

"Give him our thanks and tell him we’ll be there," Tom answered."

"Will do. Course correction on my mark in ten seconds ....nine .....eight."

"My God, Sam, do you see what we see?"

"We see it, Colonel."

"I’ve never seen anything like it. What do you make of it down there?"

"We’re analyzing it now, Colonel. Stand by."

"It just suddenly appeared in space dead ahead of us."

"Ah, Tom, we recommend an immediate thirty second burn of all forward thrusters to put some distance between it and you."

"We copy, Sam. Initiating thirty second burn ..........now."

The sound of the thrusters could be heard faintly in the background as Sam’s computer screen told him the burn had began.

"What’s your radar showing?" Tom asked.

"Nothing," Sam replied. "Nothing at all. Everything looks normal."

Tom turned to his copilot and said, "Tell me I’m dreaming, Terry."

"I see it, but I can’t believe it," Terry shouted.

"Tom, how big across do you make it to be?" Sam asked.

"At least a mile....maybe more. Any ideas down there, Sam? This thing is...uh oh...Houston we have a problem.. We’re being pulled toward it....thrusters aren’t holding....my God, we’re going in. We’re........."

Sam stared disbelieving at his radar straining to hear anything in his earphones. "Come in Constellation.......come in......Colonel, we’ve lost you .....Tom, come in."

The song being played on the evening radio show was cut off abruptly as an announcer broke in with a news update.

"We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin. The United States newest two man space craft has disappeared only several hours after blasting off on the first historic mission to the planet Mars. Piloted by Colonel Tom Fisher and Major Terry Borland, the space craft Constellation suddenly vanished from all tracking devices including the new alpha particle radar which was to have tracked it all the way to Mars. Colonel Sam McCord was in communication with the Constellation, from the Houston Space Center, when it disappeared and... Just a moment, I understand Colonel McCord is on the line with us from Houston, now. Colonel, what can you tell us about this?"

"We’re looking into all possibilities and I really can’t say any more at this time."

"But Colonel McCord, surely you must have some idea as to what happened."

"We’re analyzing the available data now and we’ll release a statement when we have something more conclusive."

"Do you have anything at all to add?" the announcer asked.

"No, I’m sorry. I....I really must go now."

"Well, unfortunately, that seems to be all Colonel McCord has to say. Stay tuned to this station for the latest developments. We now return you to our regularly scheduled program."

When Sam McCord walked into General Wiley’s office, he could see the General was visibly upset. He’d been the head of the Mars mission from the very beginning and Sam knew that his calm exterior was not a true reflection of what the General was feeling.

"General, there’s no way we can tell the public what really happened."

"All right, Sam.