As Hoot Muskin sat on the launch pad 39b, at the Kennedy Space Center, he thought of the turn of events that brought him to this place. The continued escalation of war in the Balkans, The complete collapse of the Russian economy, and Russia's inability/unwillingness to meet their end of the International Space Station. These had all been predicating factors in this mission. But the thing that really had Hoot's military handlers nervous, was Russia's plans to refurbish the now decrepit MiR space station, with the financial support of their new ally China.

The abandonment of the International space station, was bad enough. But now reliable intelligence sources told the Pentagon, that the upcoming MiR refurbishing, included militarizing the Space station. This would include anti-satellite lasers, more powerful manuvering engines, and some type of hull mounted earth-directed missle launcher.

This problem was exacerbated by the fact that Russia was the only nation on earth with a permanent presence in space. It was early January when the Pentagon, and NASA planners, started weighing their options. They knew the Russians were very adept at construction on orbit, and backed properly with China's money, NASA knew the refurbishing would not take long.

The threat of this new station did not have to be explained to those involved, they were well aware of the possible ramifications. This station could concievably, go about disabling all of America's military satellites, and for that matter, all communications satellites in general. That would leave the United States military blind. Along with many, irate cell phone users, and satellite television subscribers. And the hull mounted missle rack would pose a definate problem to a blind defense system. Neither NASA, nor the Pentagon felt it would be prudent to take a "wait and see" policy. That could be catastrophic. What happened next, was the riskiest, most important mission of the American Space Program. A TOP SECRET mission to MiR, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This would be a hostile takover attempt of the Russian MiR Space Station. This mission would include massive training, it would include, combat, it would include untested hardware, and... it would include HOOT MUSKIN.............. TO BE CONTINUED...........

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