by Richard Leru
Commander Birch paused as the holograph flickered and pulled up the image of a solar system.
“The first solar system we will be travelling to is Solar System 1. Each solar system has been named with its corresponding mission parameter number. It will be the first leg of our journey. Alex, do you have anything else you’d like to add before we make way?”
Alex stood and looked around the room. He had never been the greatest at public speaking, but in this moment, he was able to find the courage.
“Yes, thank you. First, I’d like to say thanks to all of you, for the dedication and hard work that has made it possible to even come this far. When I first discovered the PEMG formula, I dreamt it would take me somewhere amazing. Even I didn’t dare to dream this big. Today, we start the most perilous and brave journey ever attempted by man. Soon, we will be travelling between light in a slipstream, moving faster than ever thought possible. However, at this speed, it will still take nearly a year to get where we are going. To travel this distance, we will all be using the sleep serum put together by Dr. Taylor, Dr. Yuen, and … Miss Martin.” Alex looked down at the table gathering his strength. “She didn’t join us for the trip but her work did. Dr. Yuen will be going around, ensuring the flow of the serum is correct before going to sleep himself. Have no fear, Engineer Franks and his team will be taking shifts awake to ensure the ship is on course and the engine is running smoothly. This ship is named after the Greek Primordial God of Darkness. That is where we will travel. In darkness, searching for a new light.”
Pleased with his speech, Alex sat down. Commander Birch and Pilot Arenta gave some finishing words and everyone left to settle into their rooms and brief their crews. Occasionally, Alex would catch the sorrow glimpse of a crewmember looking at him, knowing he was in pain.
Before retiring to his room for the first leg of the journey, he went to the lab level. This level was divided into two areas. The forward area, which had a series of windows, was the math lab. In here, Alex and Dr. Titus would be able to work together programming the attraction and flight formulas. The room was basically a large semicircle with a rectangular table in the middle and computers lining every wall. Scanners on the exterior of the ship sent information to the computer’s screens.
On the other side were the specimen examination and medical labs. These labs were state of the art, with all digital and holographic specimen chambers, tables, and imaging. In here, they would find the answers to many questions of the universe. These labs would help them see if they were not alone.
“It doesn’t seem right without you here.” Alex was talking to himself, as he had a habit of doing. “This was supposed to be our amazing adventure together. How could you change your mind so fast? This was ours.”
ALEX WALKED INTO his room and looked at the small sink, small bed, and even smaller closet. It made the dorm rooms in college look like penthouse suites. Out the small portal window was floating Pluto, the cast away planet. He knew how it felt.
Dr. Yuen came into Alex’s room, ready to inject the sleep serum. The IV line hung from the wall above the bed. Alex had never been a fan of needles but it was the best way to maintain a consistent flow into the bloodstream during such a long journey.
“Hey, Alex, how are you doing?”
“Doctor, you worked with Angela, did she ever say anything about not wanting to go to you?”
“No, she didn’t. Actually, she was asking me if there was a way to get a longer tube so you could sleep next to each other during the trip. She loved you, and was excited to be spending the next 10 years with you, no matter where it took her. I don’t get it, I really don’t.”
“Neither do I,” Alex said over his shoulder as he continued to stare out the small portal window.
“How about we leave this world behind for a little while? Let’s see if we can find a happier one out there.” Dr. Yuen said from the doorway, a comforting smile appearing on his lips.
“Sounds good, Doc.”
Dr. Yuen walked over and put the IV into Alex’s arm. Alex lay down and the doctor turned on the serum’s flow. It went through his veins and felt like ice. Sleep was overtaking him. He looked at the picture of Angela, now taped to the ceiling above his bed. Just before his mind went blank, he silently asked her again.
“Why?”
7.Solar System 1
Jones had his hands wrapped around the metal bars of Alex’s cell, with his face pushed up against them. His eyes were bloodshot and spit flew as he yelled.
“TELL ME HOW TO MAKE THIS PIECE OF SHIT MOVE!”
He began pulling against the bars, his muscles bulging as every vein popped. Rage was overtaking him. He looked like a wild animal at the zoo. Soon, thought Alex. Jones would probably come in and kill him; he did have the key after all. Then it would be only a matter of seconds until Jones had his hands clasped firmly around his throat. What an amazing journey his life had taken.
* * * * *
The ship had come to a halt at the edge of Solar System 1 after a journey of just under a year. It took less than an hour for the effects of the sleep serum to wear off. Alex stared in the small mirror in his chambers. It was strange looking at his reflection. He knew a year had passed but nothing had changed, not even a speck of stubble showed on his skin. Even the bags under his eyes remained from the emotional departure. Alex knew the serum halted aging as well as regeneration but it still seemed so surreal, as if the time surpassed hadn’t really occurred. The dreamless sleep that the compound induced did little to help with that strange sensation. Alex pulled on his uniform and straightened his stance. It was not the time for retrospection and wonder, it was time to work.
Crewmembers were filing into their posts and the command center was awaiting the arrival of Commander Birch. Everyone was excited. This was it. Finally, after long years of preparation, they were looking at planets that had never been seen with the human eye.
“Commander on deck!”
Commander Birch entered the room and went straight to business. “Report.”
Dr. Titus stood up from his station. “Sir, Solar System 1 appears to have six planets and a number of moons. They are orbiting a star that is slightly smaller than our sun with nearly the same radiation signature. We won’t know the exact planet sizes until we scan the planets more closely.”
“Thank you, Dr. Titus.” Commander Birch moved his gaze to a crewmember. “Send out the probes.”
The crewmember reached out and pushed an icon on her screen. As she did, 6 small rockets shot out from the front of the Erebus each toward one of the planets. As they neared their destination planet, they broke apart and a small satellite was left. The satellite had been designed to take scans of the composition of the planets as well as atmospheric conditions and general topography. From a high orbit, any detailed information would be unreliable and would require the planned in-person inspection.
“It will be only moments, sir, until we have preliminary scans finished.”
“Very well,” said Commander Birch. “Pilot Arenta, take us to within solar charging range.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dr. Titus and Dr. Taylor, go to the science lab and be ready to analyze the incoming data. Mr. Runner, go with them and be ready to program the landing sequences. Everyone else, stay alert and scan for any objects that could impact with the ship. We don’t know what kind of space junk could be floating around out there. Is everyone clear?” The whole room silently nodded. “Dismissed.” Everyone left in a hurry, ready to explore.
The crew went about their business as Commander Birch roamed the room, ensuring every system was functioning correctly and that every crewmember was working diligently at their assigned task. He was a good leader in the military and his professionalism was rubbing off on every crewmember of the Erebus.
Commander Birch was the idyllic military man. He was a fourth generation serviceman and proud of it. His childhood consisted of lessons on patriotism and duty from his father and grandfather. W
hen he came of age, he joined the Marines. Birch rapidly rose through the ranks to Captain. While a Captain, he moved on to join a special unit with designation of Alpha 1. This unit was a joint task force of the best, up and coming officers from units around the world, aimed at stopping terrorism at its roots. Years there led him to War College and the rank of General.
Eventually, there was no more need for him in the Marines, and he was ousted. A life without rank or purpose would never have fit Birch, so when the corporation came calling, he signed up immediately. Inspiracorp had targeted Birch and had some hand in his exit from the Marines, because they coveted his ability to lead by example and follow orders without question. Birch never had children; he was the last of his Spartan race, the summit of years of breeding. He was a leader.
After a couple of minutes, the first scans of the planets began to come in to the science lab. The mainframe computer built descriptions of 6 planets, named simply A through F.
Planets E and F both came back with the same results. They were a thin layer of methane atmosphere with ice of some kind and a hard iron core. Planet D was a solid metal planet with a thin layer of hydrogen gas. All three showed no signs of life in any form.
Planet C showed some promise. Its size was in the range of human habitation and had large reserves of water. The planet was shaped with massive slow moving rivers and chasms, with major differences in topography. Large mountains and plateaus had been cut into the landscape from the water’s power.
Planet B brought results. Dr. Titus, Jo, and Alex were shocked at what the readings showed. Not only did it have resources of carbon, water, oxygen, plus other essential gases, but also green areas of foliage on one large land mass. It was a bit on the larger size, in relation to Earth, but still within habitation range.
Planet A was a large rock, burnt out by its close proximity to the star.
Commander Birch picked up the small headset next to the captain’s chair. His face showed no emotion, only the calm years of training had drilled into him. It was only a few seconds long conversation. Birch gently placed the headset back in its cradle.
“Arenta, give me a ship wide communication channel.”
Pilot Arenta typed a few commands into her panel. Every screen throughout the ship lit up with the text <<
“Attention. We have arrived at Solar System 1 and identified two possible life-sustaining planets. We will be sending men to the surface to collect data and investigate further. Landing teams Alpha and Bravo, prepare for exploration immediately. Report to the shuttle deck and check in with your security leaders at 13:00. This is what we are here for. Today, we make the first of many glorious journeys. God speed.”
A resounding cheer rang from the command room and throughout the ship. Life among the stars was real!
As the screen went blank, Jo, Dr. Titus, and Alex stood staring at it, not saying a word. Were they ready? What would it mean if they did indeed find life?
“Well, let’s get to it,” Dr. Titus said as he turned and walked out of the room.
Landing team Alpha consisted of Dr. Titus, Dr. Yuen, and Captain Ratchet. They would be exploring Planet C with a small security team. Exploring Planet B would be Alex and Jo along with Captain Jones and his men. The remaining crew and settlers watched from the ship’s portal windows as the two shuttlecraft departed, heading for these alien worlds.
Landing team Alpha was the first to reach their designated planet. As the shuttlecraft breached the atmosphere, the crew saw a huge vista of bright red with massive rivers of running water. The entire landscape was a contrast of cracked crimson Earth and bright blue, reflecting and shining. The veins of this planet stretched as far as the eye could see. Clay, the entire planet, including the air, had a hue reminiscent of red Georgia clay. Landing Team Alpha put the craft down on a large plateau with a small lake and begun taking soil and water samples. The air outside was full of dirt and particulates. The filters on the Delta V environmental suits were clogging quickly. The team switched to full internal oxygen, giving them a short amount of time on the ground. Every step was arduous as their feet sank into the dirt and mud. It was a battle just lifting your foot. After a few minutes on the ground, the landing crew gladly piled back onto the shuttlecraft and slid out of their suits, now covered in red soil. Dr. Titus was the only one to brave a second trip out to the surface with a new air tank. He wanted to get a deeper soil sample to trace the rate of erosion.
“Erebus, Captain Ratchet reporting in. We have successfully landed and taken soil and water samples. No sign of life as of yet. The atmosphere has some oxygen but very little. Research team had to use the breathing suits. Planet C, Solar System 1, is not suitable for settlement, I repeat, not suitable for settlement. Dr. Titus is taking a few more samples and we will return to the ship, over.”
“We read you loud and clear. Erebus out. Landing team Bravo, this is Erebus, estimated time to Planet B?”
Jones came over the com. “Entering atmosphere now, will contact again once landing zone has been established. Update on Landing team Alpha?”
“Landing team Alpha found no life on planet C, hopefully your crew has more luck.”
“Roger. Jones out.”
Alex had always loved flying. Something inside him actually enjoyed that moment when turbulence caused the plane to drop a couple hundred feet and his stomach churned. As the shuttle broke through the atmosphere of Planet B, he experienced the reverse of that feeling with the most intensity one could imagine. The ship’s descent suddenly slowed, slamming everyone down into their seats, whipping their heads into their chests. As blood drained from his face, Alex suddenly had a flashback of when he was a child.
The summer fair was always a big festival. Hundreds of stands with fresh fruit, fried everything, and little games to play. Every year, his family went. It was the one tradition that had never been broken. No matter the country or culture they happened to be living in, they would find a fair. One year, when living in Southeast Asia, Alex had been feeling adventurous. After hours of begging, his dad finally gave in and took him on the rollercoaster. This was not a typical coaster. Workers being paid less than minimum wage with no safety regulations had put up this one, at least half of the joints were held together by duct tape. Alex was having the time of his life, every curve every rise and drop sent his heart racing and adrenaline through his body. This wonderfully made rollercoaster had one serious issue: the brakes were a little extreme. The car went from top speed to a dead stop in about 3 feet. Alex thought he would never experience that feeling again. The reverse whiplash was so extreme, he had found himself unable to lift his head. Here it was again. Alex snapped back to reality at the sound of shouting from his right.
“What the hell was that?!”
Jo had “asked” the question that was on everyone’s minds.
The pilot quickly barked back, “Nothing, the sky is clear. For some reason, we just hit air resistance, much more than we had antici….”
“How is that possible?! We have barely breached the atmosphere!”
The co-pilot interrupted with a violent point at the front window. Water was running across it. It was true, nothing about that seemed right. There was water running off the shuttle some 150,000 feet above the ground. As the shuttles deceleration ceased, everyone slowly raised their heads, stretching and holding their necks. They turned to the instruments to figure out what was going on. The ship continued to descend while the crew was taking measurements of the outside environment, finding that it was indeed water. This planet’s entire atmosphere was the same level of humidity from hundreds of thousands of feet in the air to a few hundred. The shuttle had slammed headfirst into a water brake. Alex was wrong, this was not like the rollercoaster from his youth but more like Splash Mountain.