Moon Hoax (Hoax Trilogy Book 1)

by Paul Gillebaard

  The noise began to get louder downstairs and Peter hoped this was a sign his mom would soon be coming. Sure enough, his door slowly opened and his mother’s silhouette appeared. Knowing he was supposed to be asleep, he simply couldn’t control himself and yelled out, “Is it time, Mom?”

  “Sweetheart, you were supposed to be asleep,” his mom remarked as she turned on the light.

  “I can’t sleep, Mom, I’m too excited.” Peter sat up.

  She crossed to the bed and sat next to him. With her soft hand she lightly brushed his hair out of his eyes. “I understand, dear, I’m excited too. Well…it’s time. Your dad will soon be walking on the moon. So let’s get you out of bed and downstairs with the others.”

  Peter hopped out of bed in his Bugs Bunny pajamas, raring to go. His mom smiled as she stood and grabbed his hand before escorting him out the door. Peter skipped all the way down the stairs as he held her hand. Most everyone was crowded around the single black and white TV in the den. The only person not in front of the tube was his grandfather, his father’s dad, Opa. He was waiting all alone at the bottom of the staircase looking up. When he saw Peter, a big smile came to his face.

  “Peter, are you ready to see your dad walk on the moon?” Opa extended his hand. Peter took his grandfather’s hand and with a big smile nodded “yes” proudly. “Well, let’s get our little astronaut the best seat in the house.” He winked at Mom. “I’ve got him, Anne.” Anne Novak smiled, and Peter skipped away tightly holding Opa’s hand. Opa placed Peter front and center of the TV.

  The grainy, black and white picture on the TV flashed in and out and Peter was having a hard time seeing anything clearly. However, since one of his favorite toys was a Lunar Lander model, he knew exactly what he was looking at. On the screen was a portion of the Lander, with nothing else going on.

  Someone behind Peter called out. “Okay, everybody, it looks like Tom is getting ready to open the hatch. He should be coming out very soon.”

  Everyone stared at the television closely. Peter was surprised how quiet the room was as he turned and looked back at his mom. She was fidgeting with her hands. She made eye contact with him and blew him a kiss. Peter turned back to the TV, excited and happy.

  His dad’s foot slowly appeared on the TV screen to come down the ladder. Opa yelled excitedly, “There he is!”

  Full of pride, Peter straightened up when he heard his dad’s voice come out of the TV. “Houston, I am on the ladder, heading down.”

  “We copy that, Tom,” answered CAPCOM at Mission Control.

  Peter looked over at the blue ribbon he won in swimming that hung off the mantle over the fireplace. He was feeling the same joy as he felt when he received the award. Beaming, he looked back at the TV rubbing his hands on his legs. For as long as he could recall, his dad talked about one day walking on the moon, and here he was reaching his dream.

  “Houston, I am ready to step off the ladder.”

  “Roger, Tom, good luck,” replied Mission Control.

  Peter watched as his dad jumped off the ladder. He seemed to float in slow motion forever before finally touching down on the lunar surface. “Houston, you have one happy astronaut here. The ground is covered with a few inches of gray dust and all is okay.”

  “Roger, Tom. Congratulations, and try not to get too dirty,” responded CAPCOM.

  Everyone started hooting and hollering in celebration. Opa glanced at his watch and yelled out, “My son first stepped on the moon at 9:45 p.m., a time I will always remember.”

  Peter’s mom walked directly through the celebration straight to him and bent down to gave him the biggest hug she could. To Peter the hug seemed to last forever. Finally as she released him slightly, he looked up to see she was crying, which confused him. “Mom, why are you crying? Daddy’s okay.”

  Anne looked down into her son’s eyes and put her hand on his face, lightly stroking it. “Sweetie, I am just so happy for your daddy, you have no idea how hard he worked to get to this moment.”

  FORTUNATELY, Peter was able to get a good six hour rest on the flight to D.C., and the hour long taxi ride to CIA headquarters allowed Peter a chance to wake up. It was always easier traveling west. He was still groggy as he went through a couple of security check points and walked down the corridor of the CIA building toward Gavin’s office. The long walk was starting to get his blood pumping. Peter glanced at his watch; 11:25 a.m. Having a few spare minutes, he hoped to get a cup of coffee to energize him.

  As Peter came around the corner he was surprised to see Chris Riddick walking toward him. Peter wondered what that asshole was doing here. Peter never got a seat on the Shuttle because of Chris. As director of flight crew operations at NASA, Chris was Peter’s boss and had the authority to decide who flew and who didn’t. Peter was always considered one of the top astronauts by both his peers and management, but for years he saw fellow astronauts with lower scores, or credentials, fly before him. Though Chris could be overruled on any selection he made, it rarely happened. Peter could have had his dad contact Chris’s boss at the time, Stu Bailey, and probably have gotten a ride. Stu and Peter’s dad were in the same group when they joined NASA and subsequently trained together. However, Peter never wanted to get the nod because he was a moonwalker’s son.

  He always suspected Chris had some sort of vendetta toward his dad and took it out on him. Chris was on the support crew of the U.S.-USSR joint mission, behind his dad who was on the backup crew. His dad later mentioned that Chris felt he should have been on the prime crew or worse case, the backup crew, and believed Tom had a hand in preventing him from getting a spot on either crew, which was never the case. According to his dad, there were more deserving astronauts who warranted those seats.

  As the two approached each other in the hallway, Chris smiled and slowed up, apparently wanting to chat. “Hello, Peter. What are you doing here?”

  Peter clinched both fists low by his hips and said nothing as he walked on past.

  Behind him Chris said, “Well, same to you.”

  Peter smiled as he continued walking, satisfied his brush-off bothered Chris.

  He turned the last corner and saw Gavin’s assistant, Lola Peterson, at her desk. She was a 60-year-old grandmother who Peter always assumed was part of the hippy movement of the late sixties, the time of free love. In past conversations she often spoke of being sorry she missed out on going to Woodstock. She had a good body for a woman her age and always dressed a little sexy. Peter knew she loved being a grandmother, but hated thinking she was actually old enough to be one.

  “Hello, beautiful,” Peter said with a smile as he approached her desk.

  Lola looked up and immediately smiled as she straightened her dress. “Welcome back, handsome. Right on time as usual.”

  “So how’s boss man today?” Peter leaned on her desk.

  “He’s in a good mood, considering everything that has been going on. Can I get you anything before you go in?” She flashed a flirtatious grin.

  “I can think of quite of few things you could do for me, but I think we might get in trouble,” he whispered with a wink. She blushed as Peter continued, “But if we insist on being a good boy and girl, then a cup of strong coffee would be nice. I’m trying to shake this jet lag.”

  Looking up at him with a sly smirk, she responded, “Peter, you know I am always a good girl.”

  She got up to get his coffee, walking over to the counter and pouring it with her back to him. He couldn’t help but check her out. Damn, not bad for a grandmother. She looked back, catching him staring. He just smiled.

  She handed him his cup of coffee. “You better get on in there before we both get in trouble.”

  Peter winked and gently took the hot cup from her hand making sure not to spill any, and kindly thanked her. He always practiced his manners.

  Before stepping into Gavin’s office, he took a few sips. The caffeine gave him the quick jolt he needed. Gavin’s door was already open. Peter entered, giving a slight
knock as he walked in.

  Gavin was noticeably tense as he looked up from his desk. He immediately smiled and walked over to welcome Peter back. He shook Peter’s hand, closing the door behind him. “Welcome home, Peter, how was your flight?” The director motioned for him to have a seat in the leather chair at the front of his desk.

  “It was fine,” Peter said.

  Gavin walked back around his desk to sit. Gavin was a quiet guy, which some people took as arrogance. Peter assumed Gavin came across that way at first because he was sizing you up, but once he got to know you, he was actually a great guy. He was the kind of boss who if you put in a good effort and were honest with him, he would back you up 110 percent. Gavin was someone he could trust and be himself around. He was actually one of the reasons why Peter came to SID from NASA. Gavin was able to put him at ease about the new CIA division; convincing him it would be a great opportunity and probably catapult him into space sooner rather than later. The director had complete confidence in Peter’s astronaut skills and let him know it. In fact, he said Peter was by far the best candidate to be the first agent of the division.

  Peter crossed to the chair. The office still looked the same, beautifully decorated with mahogany furniture, immaculately cleaned. Even the papers and files on Gavin’s desk were perfectly organized. He set his coffee gently down on the front of his boss’s desk. Next to the coaster sat a new framed picture of a pretty girl who Peter assumed was Gavin’s youngest daughter, Krystal. He picked up the picture frame to get a closer look as he sat in the chair, “Wow, Krystal is growing up. How old is she now, fifteen?”

  “She’s sixteen and driving me crazy,” Gavin said with frustration in his voice. “Between her and her mother, I’m glad to be able to get away to the office. You were definitely smart not getting married and having kids. It can drive you out of your mind sometimes.”

  Peter laughed as he put the picture back. “Gavin, you know the grass is not always greener on the other side.”

  Gavin leaned forward in his chair. “Who are you trying to kid? I know the bachelor life you live. I think most males with a pulse would love to spend a few days in your shoes.”

  Though Peter loved his life, he did feel like he was missing something. “Kids are a wonderful joy in life. I miss not being able to experience that.”

  Gavin smiled. “Yes, they are a joy…just a pain in the ass sometimes.”

  Peter sobered. “I just saw Chris Riddick in the hallway. What is that asshole doing here?”

  Gavin chuckled as he shook his head, “You still have issues with him. He is out here to advise me on possible astronaut candidates for SID. He also updates me on what is going on at NASA, including current training developments.”

  Peter mashed his lips together in disgust, but kept quiet.

  Gavin said, “I was surprised he never recommended you for SID.”

  “It didn’t surprise me, but I am glad you looked beyond his recommendations. I needed to get out of NASA and away from him. So if he was wrong about me, how can you trust who he suggests?”

  “Well, I don’t rely solely on him, though he usually gives a pretty fair assessment of the candidates he has. I guess he must have had personal issues with you.” Gavin leaned back in his chair and asked, “So, how is your dad taking all this crap?”

  Peter appreciated Gavin thinking of his dad considering all that had been going on. “I talked with Dad shortly after those crazy allegations came out. It’s been tough on him, and Mom. They’ve been bombarded by media invading their privacy. It seems more fanatics are coming around, insulting Dad with absurd talk about how he’s a liar and never walked on the moon. It’s just ridiculous stuff.”

  “Well, it should be over soon,” Gavin said. “In fact, I was informed the LRO reached the moon earlier today. We should be receiving detailed pictures later this week of one of the landing sites, which should shut China up. Plus we’re supposed to hear from the UN either later today or tomorrow on the outcome of the rocks’ origins. So tell your dad we should have enough proof this week to end all of this ridiculous talk.”

  Peter smiled in appreciation.

  The meeting turned to Peter’s future. As expected, Gavin told him they did not have a new mission for him as of yet, but the agency did want him to get refresher astronaut training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Peter was happy to hear this since it would give him an opportunity to visit his parents.

  Peter debriefed Gavin on his mission in China. After thirty minutes of discussion, Gavin’s phone rang. While he usually never picked up his phone in a debriefing, Gavin frowned at the caller ID screen and excused himself as he answered. Peter leaned back in his chair during the long pause as his boss listened to the other end. Gavin’s jaws tightened as he lightly shook his head in disgust. Soon Gavin replied with an upset tone, “You’re kidding me. Any idea on how this happened?” Again, a long pause as he turned away from Peter and looked out his window while listening. “Well let me know what they find out and if they determine the cause.”

  Gavin turned back, hanging up the phone. He slowly put both hands through his hair as he leaned back in his chair, keeping them behind his head. “Bad news. That was Jack. He just spoke with Doug Rose. For some reason the LRO came around the moon in pieces, completely destroyed. NASA has no idea what could have happened. All systems were a go to enter lunar orbit. They assumed there must have been some kind of explosion on the back side, possibly during its burn. Since they have no data at the time of the explosion, Doug feels they may have a hard time figuring out what exactly happened. NASA is gathering a team together now to try to determine possible causes.”

  “Damn, that was not the news I wanted to hear. Does NASA have another orbiter they can send up?”

  “Jack mentioned NASA does have a backup unit, but probably won’t be ready for a month.”

  Peter thought for a moment. “I wonder if the MK Laser is somehow involved?”

  Gavin’s eyebrows raised and he leaned forward putting his hands on his desk.

  Peter continued. “As I mentioned, I’m convinced China used the laser on their last space flight to the moon. I assumed they tested it in space while they were circling the moon, but maybe, instead, they deployed it somehow to where it could shoot down satellites orbiting the moon. They could have released such an orbiting weapon with the MK Laser on it, designed to fire at other satellites. This would explain why they needed Rob and me so quickly in Jiuquan. China needed to fix the problem with the laser while they were orbiting the moon, or possibly their mission would have been a failure.” The more Peter thought about the possibility, the more it started to make sense. “Maybe that was their plan all along. If they knew before the mission they were going to claim our landings were a hoax, they would expect us to send a satellite camera to prove them wrong. If that was successful, their lie would be exposed. But if they could prevent pictures from being taken of our landing sites, the only way to prove them wrong is with evidence here on Earth.”

  “Is such a weapon even possible, and would China be able to operate it from Earth?” asked Gavin.

  Peter looked Gavin in the eye. “Possibly yes, but does China or even the U.S. have the required technology to design and deploy such a weapon? I don’t know.” Peter suddenly creased his forehead. “There’s one problem with this idea. If the laser is orbiting the moon, NASA should be able to pick up a radar signal. I haven’t heard anything about that, have you?”

  “No. I’ll check with Jack and Doug. Regardless, both should know this immediately. NASA may want to reconsider sending up a second LRO if there is a chance it too, could be destroyed. I need you to research this further and see what you can find out. I know you requested some time off, but I want you to stay here and see if you can find out more information. Maybe you can get more intelligence from your contacts at CNSA.”

  “Possibly. I’ll be happy to see what I can find out.”

  Peter wondered if he should tell Gavin about his dinner m
eeting with Dmitri later that night. Since they were getting together as friends first, he figured to hold off and if anything worthwhile came from the meeting, he would immediately let Gavin know.

  As Peter stood, he leaned over Gavin’s desk. “Gavin, you know I have a vested interest in all of this. I will do whatever I can to prove China is full of crap.”

  Gavin smiled. “I know Peter…I know.”

  8

  SHOCKING NEWS

  The smell of garlic filled the air as Peter walked into his favorite D.C. restaurant. He loved stopping by Da Luca’s Ristorante whenever he was in town. It was an old fashioned bistro with authentic Italian food and wine. As he entered the quaint, dimly lit dining room, he scanned the restaurant looking for Dmitri. Booths lined the walls, each with a flickering red candle in the center of the table illuminating the red leather seats. Many were occupied by romantic couples sitting across from each other, holding hands, a bottle of Chianti on the table.

  The maître d’ approached Peter. “Hello, Mr. Novak. It’s been a while, welcome back.” No matter how long it had been since Peter last frequented, he was always impressed Johnny remembered his name. He assumed it was because he usually arrived with a new girl on his arm.

  “Hello, Johnny. It has been a while. How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you. I see you have no lady friend tonight, are you dining alone?”

  “No Johnny, I’m going gay tonight,” Peter said with a wink.