SV-75

  Jungwoo drifted effortlessly through space, guiding the machine closer to the Moon.

  The vehicle he piloted—a space junk sweeper officially designated HGT101—was a standard model used to push orbital debris beyond Earth’s gravitational field.

  As the Moon loomed closer, Jungwoo’s face tightened into a scowl.

  “Damn it… When did all this junk start piling up? Whose brilliant idea was this…?”

  Suddenly, his right eye flickered blue.

  *Space Debris: Since the rapid increase in satellite launches during the 1970s, space activity has steadily filled Earth’s orbit with debris—defunct satellites, upper-stage rocket parts, and countless fragments. In 2074, humanity decided to collect and discard space waste on the Moon. This initiative was dubbed ‘HIM’—Hidden in the Moon.

  —[SAVER Encyclopedia]

  Jungwoo blinked rapidly.

  “Shut up… Stop pulling up that crap on your own…”

  As the HGT101 neared its destination, the so-called Silent Junkyard, the size of the floating debris fields increased dramatically.

  He quickly activated the reverse thrusters.

  The sight before him was staggering—massive clusters of space garbage hovering like a silent mountain range.

  He craned his neck upward, surveying the scene.

  Down on the right floated Naroho-32, a derelict manned shuttle still fused to its dock. High above, the skeletal remains of ISS-7, once a proud orbital station, drifted in solemn silence.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Chris! What’s it like on your side?”

  “Total mess. I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Let’s tackle the top layers first.”

  “Got it. Just don’t throw anything toward the Sun.”

  “Obviously. Who the hell would do that?”

  Jungwoo reached for his right ear, blasting music through his headset.

  “How could anyone do this job without music…”

  Bobbing his head to the beat, he began the cleanup.

  ?

  M-PU239 / M-AM95 / M-NP93

  What is this…? Why is it so tightly packed…?

  His grip tightened.

  But the mass wouldn’t budge. It looked entangled, as if fused at a molecular level.

  ?

  Basic Rules of Orbital Debris Removal

  1. Do not eject debris toward the Sun.

  2. Apply only enough force to escape Earth’s gravity.

  ?

  Jungwoo’s breath grew heavy.

  Screeeeeee…

  A strange, grinding noise echoed from the HGT101—one he had never heard before.

  “Shit!!! What the hell is this?!”

  He strained harder, trying to break the object free.

  Screeeeeak…

  The more force he exerted, the louder the machine screamed in protest. Red lights flared across the cockpit.

  He blinked.

  “Hi, Lucy. Can you analyze this and tell me how to detach it?”

  …

  “Hi, Lucy? Are you booting up?”

  …

  “Seriously? I told you to shut up, and you just shut down completely?!”

  CLANG! CRACK!

  With a violent jolt, the mass dislodged all at once.

  The HGT101 surged backward at high velocity, spiraling out of control into the void.

  “WAAAH—!”

  The force of the backlash knocked Jungwoo unconscious.

  The junk sweeper tumbled headlong into empty space.

  ?

  “JUNGWOO!!!”

  Chris’s voice pierced through the comms.

  Jungwoo’s eyes snapped open.

  ?

  Glossary

  [HGT101]

  ? Nicknamed “The People’s Space Sweeper”

  ? Capable of lifting up to 3,680 pounds in zero gravity

  ? Cockpit syncs with pilot’s muscle movements

  ? Flagship junk-removal unit from Lucy Corp.