A Moment of Inertia

by

Sean MacKendrick

The massive white star burned across the viewscreen once every few seconds, growing a little larger each time.

“Escape trajectory calculated,” the ship computer announced cheerfully. “We are currently 4390.4 kilograms too heavy to escape the gravity well. Shall I dump the cargo hold to compensate?”

“No, never,” Davtyan shouted over the groaning sound of tortured metal. “The cargo must be protected at all costs.”

“Acknowledged. At current velocity we will experience critical structural failure due to shearing forces within 255 seconds.”

Davtyan whispered a prayer to the empty bridge and jettisoned the medical bay contents. “Recalculate based on current mass.”

“Acknowledged. We are 3958.7 kilograms too heavy to escape at current mass.”

Davtyan whispered a plea and jettisoned the galley contents. “Recalculate.”

“We are 3593.1 kilograms too heavy to escape at current mass.”

Davtyan whispered a curse and released the escape pods.

“We are 543.0 kilograms too heavy to escape at current mass.”

Davtyan whispered an apology and jettisoned the contents of the crew quarters.

“We are 89.5 kilograms too heavy to escape at current mass.”

Davtyan screamed in wordless rage and jettisoned himself into the vacuum.

“We are 3.3 kilograms too heavy to escape at current mass. Structural failure estimated in 5…4…3…”

Sean MacKendrick splits his time between Colorado and Texas. When not writing he works as a software engineer.