**Chapter 2: "Transit"**

The vast expanse of space stretched out before the Horizons Edge spacecraft like an endless canvas of stars and silence. As it broke free from Earth's atmosphere, the crew felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. They were on a mission to detonate a high-yield explosive on the Moon's surface, a task that had been years in the making. Dr. Emma Taylor's voice came over the comms system, steady and reassuring. "Horizons Edge, this is Mission Control. We're reading you loud and clear. Your trajectory looks good, and you're on schedule to reach the Moon's orbit in approximately 72 hours." The crew of the Horizons Edge consisted of a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and military personnel. They had all been handpicked by Dr. Taylor for their expertise and experience. As they settled into their routine, tensions began to rise. Dr. Rohan Patel, the soft-spoken engineer, turned to his colleague, Dr. Lisa Nguyen. "Can you believe what we're doing?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, we're actually going to blow up the Moon." Dr. Nguyen's expression was somber. "We have to, Rohan. The data we collect will be invaluable to the scientific community. And who knows, it might even help us better understand the Moon's internal structure." But not everyone on board shared their enthusiasm. Lieutenant Tom Bradley, a military officer assigned to the mission, frowned as he studied the navigation charts. "I don't like it," he said, his voice firm. "We're talking about detonating a nuclear device in close proximity to a celestial body. What if something goes wrong?" Dr. Taylor's voice came over the comms system once more. "Horizons Edge, we're monitoring your systems closely. If anything unusual comes up, we'll let you know. But for now, everything looks good. Keep up the good work." As the hours ticked by, the crew settled into their routine. They checked and rechecked the systems, performed routine maintenance tasks, and monitored the spacecraft's trajectory. But despite their best efforts, a sense of unease lingered. It started with small things. A faint vibration in the engines, a minor fluctuation in the life support systems. At first, the crew dismissed it as a minor glitch, but as the incidents continued to pile up, they began to feel a growing sense of concern. "Malfunction in one of the solar panels," Dr. Nguyen announced, her voice tight with worry. "We're losing power at a rate of 0.5 kilowatts per hour." Dr. Taylor's voice came over the comms system once more. "Horizons Edge, we're reading the malfunction. Try to compensate with the backup systems. We'll walk you through the repair procedure." As the crew scrambled to respond to the malfunction, a sudden, unexplained jolt rocked the spacecraft. The lights flickered, and the engines sputtered. "What's happening?" Lieutenant Bradley demanded, his voice firm. Dr. Patel's face was pale. "I don't know, but it looks like we've got a problem on our hands."