As the countdown began, the launch control room held its collective breath. This uncrewed rocket would be Humanity’s next step into space.
The rocket ignited, and there was a cheer as it lifted off from the platform. But as it reached the upper atmosphere, the cheers turned to groans as the vehicle wobbled and exploded.
At his desk, Roger hid a smile. This failure would set the humans back years, meaning his mission was a complete success. His team called themselves ‘Firefighters.’ They went to undeveloped planets and put out fires that if left unchecked, could destroy the entire galaxy.

“Antares Rocket Preparation” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.


Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.