It was a perfect day for the test launch, scheduled by the "Deep Space Rockets Technology Inc.". For some long months, specialists of the company were designing and building a new type of long range extra powerful rocket with super atmospheric flight abilities. April Eagle and her college from the Cavalry Command Design Department were invited for the test launch. (Maybe the "DSRT Inc." was hoping the get a state order for their new rockets?)

The place for the test launch had been picked wisely. The launch field was surrounded by the desert. The old launch facilities (only 5 km from the town) were left in good shape and did not need much repairs. April and her college were placed in a control point on a riverboat. The river, which ran through the town, was calm and wide.

The rocket was so big that its head could be seen from the other the building roofs.

"One minute to launch!" - said the "DSRT Inc." engineer at the monitors.

April could see it herself by the started countdown. She put her protective glasses and passed a pair to her college.

"Hope that all the people are in a good cover. These busters are much more powerful than anything built on Earth. I have a feeling that this rocket has been designed not to operate on any earth-like planets." said April.

"You are right." the engineer at the console turned to face April.

"It was built for high gravity planets. You may find all information in the booklet over here."

April took one that she did not noticed before. She studied it for a few seconds. At that moment her attention was brought back to the launch. The rocket covered by the clouds of string started to lift into the clear sky. It was a magnificent view. Only a moment later, they heard the roar followed by the high wind, causing waves on the river, making the riverboat shake on them.

"All parameters are in range." - shouted the engineer through the wind without taking his eyes from the monitors. April was fascinated by the slowly moving up arrow feathered by the fire. The engineer was counting out loud.

"1000 meters, 1300, ... 1500, ... 1700, ... 1900, ... 2100, ... 2500, ... 2800, ... 3000, ... 3500, ... 3800, ... 4000, ... 4500, ... 5000, ... 5500, ... 6100,... 6700, ... 8000, ... 8300, ... 8400..." his voice started to sound tense. "8500... 8600..."

Even now, without the sensors, one could tell that the rocket was slowing down. The busters were still firing, but it was not bolting to the sky anymore.

"Is it the atmospheric maneuvers we've been promised?" asked the specialist from Cavalry Command.

The engineer, busy with his sensors, gave no answer. April looked at the rocket with a furrowed brow. The projection flight of the rocket was marked with the line of string, and by it, anyone could easily see that it was going crook. The rocket was not vertical anymore. April firmly stepped to the monitors, hustling the engineer a little. The leeway now was 23% from the predicted flight line and the number was rising every second.

"They are trying to hold it with the maneuver engines." murmured the Cavalry Command specialist who had also leaned over the console with the monitors.

"The main engines didn't use all their fuel..." almost whispering said April.

"They were right to evacuate the town before the tests." April stroke the engineer dumb with these words.

"It's going to crash no doubt. Maneuver engines were not designed to hold the full weight of the rocket plus the full fuel load." April continued with her thought.

She looked to the sky. The silver arrow was almost horizontal. It froze for a few seconds and started to turn around its nose in a horizontal plane.

"One of the engines is out of order." Reported the engineer giving April a glance like she was guilty for rocket no function.

April took the booklet and started to search through it mumbling to herself and every second looking at the rocket.

"Here... Oh, no..." she put her eyes to her college.

"This is a liquid-fuel rocket. It's not too poisonous, but highly unstable."

She approached the communication control.

"Saber, watch out for the rocket. It's going to fall in a matter of minutes. Be sure to stay away from it."

"Roger, April" - she heard in response, "How about you?"

"I just hope it won't fall on my head."

"We'll pick you up" offered Saber Rider.

"No need. The chances it'll crash in the town are minimum. Better look what you can do to help the DSRT people."

"All right. Stay on line..."

Not turning off the comlink April rise her eyes. The rocket already finished its first circle, passing the place where the riverboat was. It was a fantastic view. A great arrow with a roar was going round. It was impossible to take eyes from it. Like it was deciding someone's fortune. Like a gigantic Wheel of Fortune. Like in a game.

"It will fall where it'll stop." Mumbled the Cavalry Command's specialist only to himself but April heard him it gave her a creep.

The second circle the rocket made much slower. The fuel for the maneuver engines was coming to the end. But a huge fuel load for the main engines was sill there. They were watching the arrow. The stern of the rocket right above them then it suddenly stopped. They were looking at it for a moment and then they understood that it was going to fall here.

"They wanted to bring it other the river and sank it. But at the last moment it went out of control." With shake in the voice reported the engineer.

"Saber..." she called

"Here April. Are you in trouble?"

"Seems so. It's hanging right on top of us. It will fall into the river. You better shut it down while it's still high in the air."

"The Central Control sent us too far away from the monitoring point, but we'll try to be there on time. Fireball is coming to pick you up."

"Okay, April out." April turned away from the communicator.

The DSRT engineer was white as death itself. "The engines do not start!"

"Oh, shit!" cursed April.

"On the shore! And hurry, we don't have much time to lose."

She glanced at the rockets tail stuck up other their heads. If it will not move then it'll crash not in water but at the embankment and nearby buildings. Now all three of them are at the embankment. Made one more look at the slowly growing giant in the sky they bolt running.

"Don't turn around. We have only 2 minutes. Find a shelter fast!" ordered April on the run.

From the square they run at went several roads. One lead down the hill, one of others up to it. Both engineers took the way down - it is easier to run downward.

"No! The other way!" shouted April.

"Up the hill!" but no one was listening to her. She ran in the other direction. The roar was growing and with every glance the rocket was bigger and bigger. From the corner almost hitting April the Red Fury Turbo Racer burst out, and with a horrible noise stopped.

"Hurry up, April!" called Fireball opening the hatch.

"Two men are down the street. Go after them! Find a high spot covered from the river. I'll find a cover up here!" April shouted back waving to Fireball to hurry up.

Fireball nodded in acknowledge and bolted farther down the street. April was running farther and farther away from the possible impact point, counting in mind how much time left and looking for a shelter. She thought that there was enough time to get to the next building and ran further and further. A shadow passed over, roar of engines. April looked up, but that craft already went to the other building. Around the next corner, she almost dashed into that battle craft. Its owner was already hastening in her direction. April was petrified for a moment.

"Come on! Quick!" with that kind of a tone she had to obeyed Jesse Blue. April followed him bald-headed. Jesse Blue leveled up his ship and immediately landed it again behind a building - the rocket was only few meters away from ground. Only two seconds left till impact.

'Oh, Fireball, I hope you're all right.' thought April crouched in the corner behind Jesse's pilot seat.

Jesse Blue himself did not have time for April. He was turning off the engines and covering the ship with the protective force field. The earth quaked. Then the buildings around jumped at their places but didn't fell a part, and the nightmare began. The firestorm flashed through the streets of empty town sweeping clean away everything except for the stone buildings. Even they started to crumble over-blowing April and Jesse covered only under a fine metal shell. They could have been buried alive under the wreckage. April reached out through Jesse's shoulder to the communicator. Only the high level nose was in the air. Slowly it was calming down and April called for Fireball.

"Fireball, are you all right?"

Through the static a reply came.

"Yeah, fine!"

"Have you found the engineers?"

"Yea, they are with me. How about you?"

"I'm fine..." She decided not to mention that she was with Jesse Blue at the moment. "Call Saber Rider to pick us up."

"Will do!"

April switched off the radio.

Jesse expectative was looking at April trying to hide his smile.

"Thanks Jesse..." April heavily sighed. "OK, let's see what's going on out there. 50 foot." She gave him a collected eye, and he obeyed her without a question.

Slowly the ship lifted to the roof-level of the building and hovered there.

"Radiation?" April asked.

"Negative." Replayed Jesse Blue reading the sensors.

She was standing on her knees behind his pilot seat but her voice sounded so confident that Jesse Blue followed her orders even not thinking about it.

"Temperature outside?"

"55 degrees centigrade and rising."

"All right, lift it higher."

The ship softly flied other the edge of half destroyed building. The cooling system automatically turned on. The town was on fire. The shattered rocket body was partly covered under water. The rocket's tail section crashed at the town's riverside. The remaining of the boat were floating on the water surface. Some parts of rocket and the boat were lying on the nearby streets.

"Looks like nothing serious." Described Jesse Blue the view.

"I just hope it wasn't you who sabotaged the rocket." April squinted at his grinning face.

"Who me?! No!" he was ready to deny everything.

"Then what were you doing here?" April narrowed her eyes.

"I was thinking to place an order for the rocket. I find them pretty useful for my needs. But now it's obvious that they should work on it much longer." Jesse Blue easily explained his presents here. "And of course I've run to help you then I've heard your call to Saber Rider."

"You were listening!" April was indignant.

"Hey, it was an open channel." Jesse Blue shrugged not feeling guilt at all.

"All right, land us down" coldly ordered April.

She drew tight not really believing that she will slip out form his hands easily this time. That if he would allow her to do that. However, Jesse landed his ship on a clean spot and turned to face April.

"What's next, Captain?" the grin on his face annoyed April.

She felt appreciation to him for saving her life, but she could not allow herself to say even one soft word - she knew how it might end up, and so does he. That was why he was so obedient. That's why he came here in the first place.

"Open the hatch!"

"Are you going to leave me?" he was smiling but a note of offense sounded in his voice.

"Yes, Jesse" she said with a sigh, "And you better leave this place before Remrod will come."

With this words she jumped out of the ship.

"So... you do worry about me..."

"I don't! The only thing I'm worrying right now is my reputation! So go!"

"Your word is my command! Till the next time you need me." Jesse Blue gave her a salute and flew away.

April leaned to the wall. With all those nerves she hardly could stand, and from the smoke of the fire her head reeled. Within a few minutes, the Red Turbo Fury Racer came over. April ran to it. Both engineers were all right. Scared but alive. Fireball jumped out of the car to meet April. He carefully took her arm and looked into her eyes.

"Remrod is on its way here." he said, wanting to hug her, kiss her. He was so worried about her, but he could not. If she would only do the first step to him....

"Good. Did Saber Rider say why they haven't destroy that damn rocket in the air?"

"The "DSRT Inc." did not allow them to do it. They ordered Remrod to stay out of the launching range"

The air around them was hit from the burning buildings.

"We should check this company..." murmured April.

Her head was swirling that she was about to fall down when Fireball caught her in his arms and carefully took her to the car. In a few minutes they were safe on Remrod.