First on the Moon

A small, intensively trained crew is rushed into a secret effort to reach the moon before rival powers, piloting a modified multi-stage rocket while drone boosters accompany the manned cabin. After two prospective pilots die under suspicious circumstances, the remaining pilot, Adam Crag, confronts strict military oversight and mounting paranoia as he prepares for launch. Midflight and on the lunar surface, the mission becomes a contest of technology and trust when evidence points to a saboteur in the crew whose betrayal could hand control of the lunar base to the enemy. Interwoven with suspense are stark depictions of lunar landscapes and the mission's tactical urgency.