A Tethered Web of Evasion — Ronald E. Hudkins

Since the space lift was first conceptualized in 1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the idea of a space elevator has intrigued and challenged scientists. Suddenly, technical aspects are resolved, and the construction of a space elevator promises to open up the Solar System to all of humanity. Seems that soon, Satellites or other payloads will be “launched” into orbit �" without rockets, merely by attaching them to the tether with a machine that climbs �" hauling the payload to the end of the cable and then letting it go into space. It will be that shimmering bridge between Earth and space that mankind will climb to the stars!The scientist that announced the solution to the last challenge in the building of the elevator tether is treated as a world hero. Meanwhile, the head of the military starts receiving data that suggests something else is going on in our outer atmosphere and begins researching deeper. It is discovered that there are aliens in orbit around the planet. The military also discovers these aliens had made contact with the hero scientist while he was performing duties at the ISS. They suspect that meeting was related to the tether and the advanced technological information exchange had a deeper and subsequent evil meaning.It dawns on a handful of scientists and military members that the aliens could use the tether and the climbing machine to overcome their inability for their cargo craft to penetrate Earth's atmosphere and “come down” once the first payload is brought up. Will the launch happen? Are the aliens really preparing to “come down” the tether? What is the end game really on either side of the developing situation?