 What goes wrong just as Winship makes contact with earth?
The Winning of the Moon BY KRIS NEVILLE The enemy was friendly enough. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] General Finogenov notified Major Winship that the underground blast was scheduled for the following morning. Major Winship, after receiving the message, discussed precautions with the three other Americans. Next morning, before the sunlight exploded, the four of them donned their space suits and went and sat outside the dome, waiting. The sun rose with its bright, silent clap of radiance. Black pools of shadows lay in harsh contrast, their edges drawn with geometric precision. Major Winship attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with Base Gagarin. "Help?" " Nyet ," said Major Winship, exhausting his Russian. "Count down. When—boom?" "Is Pinov," came the reply. Boom!" said Major Winship in exasperation. "When?" "Boom—boom!" said Pinov. Major Winship cut out the circuit. "He's done it deliberately," said Capt. Wilkins, the eldest of the four Americans. One by one they clicked on their cooling systems. Ultimately, Lt. Chandler said, "This is a little ridiculous. I'm going to switch over to their channel. "Ah, it's all Russian. In the airless void of the moon, the blast itself would be silent. A moth's wing of dust would, perhaps, rise and settle beyond the horizon: no more. A small infinity seemed to pass very slowly. Major Winship shifted restlessly. "I'll try again," Major Winship said and switched to the emergency channel. "Base Gagarin? "Pinov's still there," Major Winship said. "Tell him, 'Help'," said Capt. Wilkins, "so he'll get somebody we can talk to." "I'll see them all in hell, first," Major Winship said.
 He is starting to lose air and needs to have it replaced.
 His communications were cut off, and he has no way to talk to Wilkin.  He is starting to lose air and needs to have it replaced.  He runs out of air and can't breathe.  The communications equipment stops working, and the people down at Earth start to worry.