The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Test Platform Alpha achieved the rare distinction of making its first and final flight simultaneously.

What the engineers referred to as a ‘Roofus’, slang for RUOF. Which, translated from engineer-speak into human-speak, meant Rapid Unexpected Onboard Fire.

Code words for big-badda-boom.

On the upside, the twin Graviton Mark 300 300 kiloNewton engines worked autonomously and flawlessly and returned what was left of the craft to its launch point.

---