Meta Probe Crisis
In September 1999, a mysterious rash of deaths hit Moonbase Alpha. Eleven astronauts — nine workers at Nuclear Disposal Area Two, and Frank Warren and Eric Sparkman, the two pilots for the manned probe to a newly-discovered planet christened Meta — experienced all the symptoms of radiation sickness: malignant growths, disorientation, irrational and violent behaviour, before lapsing into comas and dying. Doctor Russell believed that the astronauts' deaths were being caused by radiation leakage from the nuclear waste disposal sites on the Moon. Repeated tests of the waste disposal areas revealed no detectable leakage.
She attempted to convince Commander Gorski, then commander of Moonbase Alpha, to allow her report her findings to the World Space Commission authorities on Earth, but he refused (under orders from Earth Command to conceal the incident behind a 'virus infection' cover story). Gorski was subsequently relieved of duty and replaced as Moonbase Alpha's commander by John Koenig. Unlike Gorski, he investigated her suspicions and they proved to be true - the astronauts were all affected by a previously unknown form of magnetic radiation effect produced by the accumulated nuclear waste and building towards a massive explosion. When it happened, the Moon was hurtled out of Earth orbit and plunged into deep space.
Read more about this topic: Helena Russell
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