The Andromedan Saga (Among the Stars Book 1)

by C. O. Amal

  “I think Dr. Graham and his team is the best” Jenny Said.

  “Who?” Thomas asked.

  “Doctor Graham, the best medical researcher in America. He is the one who found the cure to cancer.” Jenny Said.

  “Oh, I know him. Then let’s meet him as soon as possible.” Thomas said.

  Graham is the one who found the cure to the Cancer. He is a leading researcher of WHO and his team will be perfect for this mission.

  Thomas and Jenny exited the white house. And they got inside the car. “So where can we find Graham?” Thomas asked.

  “He live here in Washington DC. Since now we are here let’s check on him in his house.” Jenny looked in her tab for his availability. “He is on leave and his house is couple of blocks ahead.”

  “Then let’s go there, we don’t have any time to waste.” Thomas said.

  Jenny drove the car toward Graham’s house. “So what do you think about the Green Planet? Those people mentioned about being the last of the humans. They also mentioned that there won’t be any humans left if we didn’t rescue them. What do you think of that?”

  “I don’t know! But I do think they are in grave danger. Those hybrid dogs are nothing like our regular wolf or dog. They are much bigger and I think they are trained to hunt”. Thomas said.

  “So you think another intelligent life form is responsible for this massacre?” Jenny asked.

  “It is a possibility. If it is true we may also be in danger. That’s why we need to reach the Green Planet as soon as possible.” Thomas said.

  “There it is, Graham’s house” Jenny said pointing to a house painted in blue colour.

  They exited the car and walked towards Graham’s house. Thomas clicked the bell switch and an old man around in his fifties opened the door for them.

  “Yes, what can I do for you?” The old man answered.

  “We are looking for Dr. Graham” Thomas said.

  “Well, you found him!” Graham said.

  “Well your nothing like I have seen on television. We are coming from Chicago Space observatory and we have an important matter to discuss, only if you don’t mind?” Thomas said.

  “Not at all, come inside” Graham said.

  They got inside his house.

  “So what is the matter you want to discuss?” Graham asked.

  “We found life outside our planet, in Andromeda galaxy. We are looking for a research team to go there. We already got permission from our President. So are you in?” Thomas said.

  “Life outside our planet? What is the nature of it? And how did you find out?” Graham asked.

  “Yesterday some men in the Andromeda galaxy, Green planet in the Rodent System to be exact, contacted us via one of our Atlantis satellite, by Radio manipulation technology, and we think they are on the verge of extinction.” Thomas said.

  “Are you saying that there are humans outside our planet and you got in a video conference with them?” Graham said.

  “Yes! As a matter of fact.” Thomas said.

  “When are you leaving?” Graham said.

  “Tomorrow.” Thomas said.

  “Well then I am in. If there are life outside our planet I want to see it too.” Graham said.

  “Then come to Chicago Space observatory tomorrow with your team.” Thomas said.

  “How many are you expecting?” Graham asked.

  “We are going there in Class B Skylark ship with capacity up to hundred. A team of twenty scientists will be enough. We are going with other about seventy Military personal. All research equipment are aboard the ship. You have to take only the necessary tools.” Thomas said.

  “Then see you tomorrow at the space observatory.” Graham said.

  With that Thomas and Jenny left Doctor Graham’s house.

  Chapter 4

  Los Angeles, Barracks

  It is normal day for Sergeant Samson. He sighed after the long day’s training. He went to the bathroom to take a shower. During the shower he think about all the time he has been here in the barracks with no real mission. He is been in service for over Five years now but with no missions.

  After the shower he went to the cafeteria to drink the evening tea. All his mates are already there discussing something. “Hay what are you all discussing?” Samson asked.

  “Major want to discuss something important to us. He called a meeting at 5’O clock” A corporal answered.

  “We think it’s a mission.” Another corporal said.

  Finally a mission! Samson thought.

  Everyone entered the meeting room with great expectation. Everyone is waiting for a real mission and finally this could be their salvation. Major is sitting patiently in his chair. With him are two unknown personal. One is an old man in his fifties other is a middle aged woman.

  “Welcome everyone, today we are going to give you the long waited mission” Major said. “With me are Jenny a young Astrophysicist and Professor Thomas who is also an Astrophysicist. First we are going to show you a video. Jennypher, please play the video.”

  Jennypher, Major’s assistant switch on the projector and a video of two men starts to play. Those two men are requesting for a Rescue ship. Then they are running away from something. Next moment a large wolf-dog hybrid emerged from a thrash opened door. The door is appeared to be made of steel but the creature thrash opened it. One large dog captured one of the men by biting in the neck and starts to eat. A horrific scene.

  “These people contacted us through radio manipulation technology from Andromeda galaxy. Planet Green in the Rodent system to be exact. These hellish dogs seemed to have hunted down all the humans on that planet. It’s going to be a search and rescue mission along with some research mission.” Thomas said. “This planet support life, which is an amazing fact. All this time we have been searching the all corners of our visible universe for a planet that support life and now people from out of nowhere has contacted us for our help.”

  “As you have seen these dogs are capable of many things. So President himself have given us the permission to use the new technologies and new devastating weapon systems on that planet. You leave tomorrow morning in a Class B Skylark ship which is capable of wormhole travelling.” Major said. “People, this is the moment you have been waiting for.”

  “These men you have seen on the video mentioned about them being last of the humans. So we need to be prepared for a war” Thomas added.

  “Do you have any questions?” Major asked.

  All are happy about the mission. The long waited mission have come to them. A mission in another planet.

  “Sir, do you think the air in that planet is breathable?” Corporal Sandy asked.

  “We have no idea about that, as a precaution we are going with a specially designed mask which convert any atmospheric gases to oxygen.” Thomas said.

  “Well then return to your rooms. Weapons will be inside the ship but you are advised to take your assault rifle with you as a precaution.” Major said.

  Everyone starts to go to their own rooms.

  “What happens if all the humans have been hunted down by the time we reach there?” Corporal sandy asked Samson.

  “I don’t know man, they said about some research, I think we are to assist the research team and provide them protection from those hellish creatures.” Samson said.

  “Are they going to take all of us in?” Corporal Sam asked.

  “I don’t know that either. But Skylark is supposed to have crew capacity of hundred. So I think they are going to take us all in.” Samson said. “It’s been my dream to go to space. But we are going to another galaxy. Which is making me extra happy.” Samson added.

  “I am afraid of that creatures, what if our bullets don’t work against them?” Corporal Sandy said.

  “Don’t worry man, they are going to give us the best available weapon technology, so no need to worry. Any way only time will tell the truth.” Samson said. “Besides if I die down there I get to die in another planet which is grea
t thing right?” Samson said.

  No one said anything. Samson couldn’t hide his joy knowing that he gets to visit another planet in another galaxy. And it appear that, that planet also support human life. Even though they don’t know whether the air is breathable for us, knowing that, that planet support human life is a great news. After all, we aren’t alone in the universe. Green planet, what a peculiar name for a planet, Samson thought.

  It is a new era of space adventure. First scientist made a breakthrough by the invention of wormhole travel, now the discovery of life outside our planet earth. Samson couldn’t hide his emotion. Tomorrow he gets the chance to use one of the advanced war weaponry.

  Chapter 5

  WHO Research facility, Chicago

  Doctor Graham hurriedly walked toward the meeting room. As the head of the research department it is his job to make sure everything goes according to plan. He have called the meeting as soon as Professor Thomas left his house. Sounds are reverberating inside his ear due to the long journey in the helicopter.

  Graham reached the meeting room and open the door. Everyone were waiting for his arrival. Everyone is with a surprise look. Graham drank some water in the bottle on the desk and cleared his throat.

  “As you may have guessed I have an important matter to discuss with you. Earlier today I have met two Astrophysicists of Chicago space observatory and they claim to have found life form outside our planet in Andromeda galaxy. And they have asked me to lead the research team who is going on this mission to Andromeda galaxy…one Green planet in the Rodent system to be exact.” Graham said with a deep sigh.

  “What kind of life form? How did they found?” One of the men asked.

  “They said some humans in the Andromeda galaxy have contacted them via Radio manipulation technology. And these men in the Green planet have asked for a rescue ship, they also mentioned these people are presumably on the verge of extinction.” Graham said.

  “Sir, if they are on the verge extinction and if it is due to some pandemic how can we assure it does not transmit to us.” One of the female staff asked.

  “At this point I can’t promise anything but by the time we reach there a lot of things will be deferent.” Graham said. “In this mission I need twenty volunteers who are willing to go with me to this planet.”

  A lot of hands raised and they all are willing to go with him.

  “Ok then, all of you can come, we leave at morning, pack your essential things only and meet tomorrow morning at this place, and a military helicopter will be here to escort us.” Graham said.

  With that everyone start to leave the room to pack their things and to say goodbye to their loved ones.

  Twenty five personal are coming. They said twenty. I am sure they have some space left. Graham thought.

  It is a hard job being the head. You have to take the full responsibility for everything. But life on another planet and it is being humans is a great news. If they are suffering from some kind of pandemic he need to take the precautions and should take the serum extractor device with him. Serum extractor is a special kind of device which can extract the virus or pathogen that is causing a disease. Cure for many diseases are found by using this device.

  He made a mental note on the things he needed. The Genometer is also needed. It can identify the features of DNA in minutes. Once he is satisfied with the equipment he is taking he start to pack things. They said all the equipment are aboard the ship. But as precaution he take some equipment too.

  Since his wife passed away few years ago he don’t have to say goodbye to anyone. He doesn’t have any kids too. But others are not like him. They have kids and families. They need some time. But people on the Green planet don’t have any time. It’s a lot to ask from his co-workers. But they do like to go and explore outside our milky way Galaxy.

  With the joyful thoughts about the journey to Andromeda he slept…

  Graham woke startled! He dreamed of being infected with a deadly disease!

  He took a shower. Sleeping inside the research facility is not like sleeping in home. He always woke startled by nightmares when he is sleeping in this facility. May be it is the smell of antiseptic.

  He dressed and ready to go…

  His team already arrived. They were waiting for his arrival. A large cargo helicopter is sitting in the yard of the facility. Everyone is waiting for him! He checked his watch. Its Six O clock in the morning.

  Everyone boarded the helicopter. Pilot said something about leaving, but he couldn’t hear it because of the sound of rotor.

  “So just how long do you think it will take us to reach there?” Antony, a respected medic, yelled at him.

  “May be an hour” Graham yelled back.

  “No, I mean to Andromeda?” Antony said loudly.

  “I assume about one year” Graham said back.

  They reached the Chicago Space observatory at 7’O clock. In front of the space observatory was an enormous Class B Skylark ship.

  Chapter 6

  Chicago Space observatory

  Thomas walked to the group of medics who have just arrived.

  “Doctor Graham it is nice of you to come.” Thomas said with joy.

  “Thomas, it is nice to meet you again. So when are we leaving?” Graham asked.

  “We leave at Nine O clock.” Thomas said.

  “I have brought five extra medics, is there any problem with that?” Graham asked.

  “Not at all. We have only fifty military personal coming with us. Other than that there are two pilots and the captain, me and my assistant Jenny and also some ship engineers. That will make ninety now.” Thomas said.

  Workers are loading the ship with equipment and other cargo. Ship’s cargo level is also huge, it support about ten thousand tons of materials.

  “Careful with that!” One of the ship engineer said to the worker who is moving a glass structure on to the ship. “It is a costly equipment.”

  Thomas walked near the ship engineer. “Are you finished with moving stuffs” Thomas asked.

  “Yes sir that was the last of the equipment to be moved.” Engineer announced.

  Everyone start to aboard the ship. The ship is huge. When everyone entered one of the pilot in his uniform came to the boarding ramp and checked whether everyone was inside. Then he pressed the button to shut the door. Military personal were the first to come. They have taken seats in the upper level of the ship. Soldiers are polishing their assault rifles.

  Ship’s research wing is huge and all the necessary materials for researches are aboard the ship. Defence wing is where the weapons are stored. Ship is in fact a high-tech one. Skylark models are famous for their ability to travel through wormhole. Wormhole is like a black hole but it is created by the ship. It folds time and space and creates a space tunnel. This tunnel is a short cut to the destination.

  Everyone have taken seat in the second level and put on their seat belts. “We are leaving in 3, 2, 1, 0,” Captain Steven said through the speaker.

  Ships control room is in the third level. Ship began to ascend with a shake. Clouds can be seen through the window. They reached the stratosphere in seconds. Skylark ships are also famous for their speed. They could reach miles in mere seconds.

  “We have reached the earth’s orbit” Captain announced. “We are going for a sling shot through earth’s orbit, everyone should remain calm, you may experience some post pneumatic stress.”

  A sling shot is a type of travelling, in which you first orbit the larger mass, in this case earth, with increased velocity. When a particular velocity is attained you just ejected away from the orbit, this gives higher momentum. It is the first phase when travelling to deep space.

  Ship began to orbit earth with high velocity. The G force continuously starts to increase. To crew it’s like putting a heavy substance on their chest. Once the terminal velocity is reached the ship just ejected away from the earth’s orbit and it starts to move toward the everlasting blackness. Earth can be seen now as a
big blue sphere.

  Part 2: Away from Home

  Chapter 7

  Near Moon

  After achieving terminal velocity, the ship is moving steadily through the space. Moon can be seen through the window as a tiny ball shaped sphere.

  “Dear passengers we have to reach near mars to begin the wormhole travel. So everyone come to the cryogenic compartment for hibernation.” Captain’s voice echoed through the ship’s speakers.

  Everyone, one by one start to go into the cryogenic compartment. Cryogenic compartment is huge. It has a capacity of hundred.