Metafire

"Finally, here is what we call a 'hatch opener.' Normally only a supply capsule has the capability of joining without cooperative effort on both sides. This hatch opener fits on your existing forward hatch and will lock with the other hatch in such a way as to release it. Once there is air between the two hatches, their hatch should open easily.

"Other than that I've included some really good Mexican food. Extra water, oxygen, a few extra pounds of nitrozine propellant, and a couple of bottles of wine. It would have been beer, but you know that stuff spews all over the place in microgravity. Have fun guys." He put on a broad grin as he faded out.

A parallel but much more sinister set of events were taking place in the Metafire colony.

After the Metafire supply capsule joined to the Metafire colony, George asked everybody into the cavern, except Janet who had to watch the consoles. Erisa and Randy were among the group.

George spoke, "People, we are together at last. Only Dr. O'Leary and a few other brave souls have remained behind on earth. We have achieved our goal. Humankind is reminded of the horror of the atomic bomb. Humankind is protecting itself from annihilation. It is now for us to live out our lives doing what we can. But our basic work is done. In this colony we will die.