Operation Boomerang

"Operation Boomerang" by George Revelle is a mid-20th century science fiction story about the daring venture of the spacecraft "Starfrost" around the Moon, filled with bravery, honor, and the weight of choices in the vast emptiness of space. Colonel Wade Boeman has the difficult job of overseeing the mission, which features the main character, Captain Allen Ackerson, the pilot of "Starfrost". Boeman struggles with his inner feelings—especially about Tomer, a former soldier from the training, and his rivalry with Ackerson. Although he doesn't like Ackerson's personality, Boeman's main drive is the mission's success and what it means for the nation's safety. When "Starfrost" finishes its task, Ackerson is hailed as a hero, leaving Boeman with mixing feelings as Tomer is stuck in a tight spot in space. The story wraps up by looking at the meaning of true heroism, between those chasing fame and those acting out of duty.