If the Rocket Flies

The rocket looked like a Hugo Award. Clean, smooth and angular. But it didn’t work. Sixty billion dollars went into the project but fizzled.

“Goddamnit. Why isn’t the goddamn thing lifting? That’s what they’re supposed to do, right? In my day they left the platform. Is that what we’re going to do? This whole project cost me one hundred and fifteen billion out of my own pocket. I have the best minds. Why is it just sitting there?”

“Sir, we’re going to delay the launch another week.”

“We don’t have—okay. You pencil pushers know what you’re talking about.” He sighed.