- Alfrun Station Research Section, Heaven's Gate Lab, Sol Calendar 2688-01-26, 0945 Hours -
"Alright. We've been doing multiple live testing using animals so far and all of them are successful. We've ironed out the kinks and managed to minimize the time dilation spent inside the portal to 6 hours. This will be our 25th and last live testing using animals. A success here will be most welcome as my 300th birthday present."
Zuman cheerfully told his team prior to the experiment today.
Cheers answered him as his team started getting rowdy.
"Settle down. As this is our final experiment before we begin human testing, I hereby order a stationwide backup of all data available to be transferred to Earth. We will begin experiment after backup. I don't want any errors to make us lose valuable data."
"General Gustav responding here Professor. I have received your order and backup of all data are underway. ETA of completion, 30 minutes."
"Thank you General. Also, please make sure there are physical copies sent to Earth as a measure against data corruption mid transfer. I know the chances for this is very low, but better safe than sorry."
"Noted Professor. I have assigned 2 shuttles to carry the drive copies of data. This will stretch the ETA by another extra 15 minutes as we'll need to load the backup drives on the shuttles."
"Thank you again General."
Saying such, Zuman ended his connection to Station Bridge.
"Well then. Begin checks of all the equipments and the animals. What's the shipment manifest today?"
"Reporting sir. The animals used today are 4 pairs of cats. 1 male and 1 female per pair.
"Ohho? Cats? Where are they?"
"There sir."
Saying such, the adjutant pointed towards the cages arranged nicely inside the Test Vehicle to be used. There are enough food and water inside to last the cats 2 days.
Zuman went to the cats and looked at them. As he looked on, the cats looked back at him, 1 of them hissing disdainfully at him.
(Figures. Even mid experiment they still have the attitude to hiss at me. Cats. Hmmm.)
"Sir, we're ready to begin."
The adjutant gently informed him while he was in a daze looking at the cats. Apparently his daze took longer than he thought. To just stand there for approximately 45 minutes just looking at the cats, the adjutant wondered what was so interesting about the cats.
"Thank you. Issue a station wide alert please. And go on record that we're beginning."
"We are on record sir. Beginning ionization now. Ring rotation uniform. Slowly accelerating. Will reach optimum velocity within 5 minutes."
"Sir, isolated horizon forming."
"Confirmed. Isolated horizon has formed outside the station at Target Location."
"Portal materializing. Materialized!"
"Alright. Send in test vehicle 3410."
Zuman promptly ordered.
"Aye sir, sending it in."
Slowly, the vehicle modified based on the designs of the first success moved towards the portal. As it entered the portal there was a flash and it was gone.
"Confirmed entry. Reading fluctuating reading at inbound portal."
"Inbound portal shows signs of exit. Confirmed! Vehicle 3410 exiting. Sir! Readings all clear. Life signs stable and vehicle structural integrity above danger threshold."
"Good. Reel the cats in boys. Very good work."
Zuman congratulated his team on their efforts. The atmosphere is contagiously full of excitement.
Fate, however, had a different thing in mind.
"SIR!!!!! A PRIORITY 1 WARNING FROM THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY!!!!"
Screamed a technician amidst the happy and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Zuman's face changed hearing this.
"Relay the warning right here right now!"
"Sir! They have just detected an immense CME (coronal mass ejection) event happening at Proxima Centauri! The scale is such that it carries 5 times the danger of a Carrington Storm. The solar wind will hit us in approximately 30 minutes!"
"!!!! Retrieve the vehicle ASAP!! And begin shutdown sequence immediately!!"
Zuman ordered.
"SIR!!! Shutdown sequence not responding! The advance wave of the solar wind has affected the surrounding geomagnetic field! This has interfered with our control over the inbound portal as the exit is in exposed space!"
Hearing this, Zuman immediately opened comm chanel to Station Bridge.
"General Gustav! I hope you've received the reports as I have. We've temporarily lost control of the Heaven's Gate and are unable to shut it down immediately. Please prepare the station for immediate evacuation!"
"Noted Professor. And good luck in getting it under control."
Face pale, General Gustav still managed to get his crew under control to prepare for immediate evacuation.
"Also General, I want you to transfer security protocols for my lab's station anchor to me. I will be staying on board to attempt control until the last moment! Failing that, I will jettison this lab away from the station so that any incidents won't directly affect the station."
"Noted professor…. And…. transferred. Godspeed Professor! You lot, quick, kick everyone that's asleep awake. Give them only 10 minutes to pack personal effects! This isn't a -"
The comm ended midway, General Gustav being in a hurry he forgot to terminate it before hounding his crew for more speed.
"Professor, you can't stay alone!"
"Yes sir, he's right! Please evacuate sir!"
"It's too risky sir! Why not just jettison it now?"
His team started pleading for him to evacuate with them.
"No! I've worked too hard and too long for this. I've lost too much in my life towards this thing for it to end so simply at this stage. You guys leave now, that's an order!"
Full of reluctance, the team slowly started evacuating.
While he's controlling the Heaven's Gate interface, a hologram appeared in front of him. It's Dalbir, from one of the evacuating shuttles.
"Raph. Don't do this man. Don't choose this as the way it ends! And don't bullshit to me that you're trying to save the situation. We both know that the situation doesn't need saving. You can just rebuild from scratch after all, with all those backup data... WAIT!!!! You're prepared for this!!!! THAT'S WHY YOU ASKED FOR THE BACKUP!!"
Dalbir started shouting, upset at his realization.
Zuman smiled sadly at Dalbir.
"I can't hide things past you can I, old friend. Yes, I was prepared for this. Not this exact CME event, but for any event or accident that may happen and render this gate a danger to everyone. I'm sorry old friend. I'm just…. Tired…"
"Don't do this Raph. Don't. You're supposed to take revenge on that bitch. You're supposed to make her life miserable and be happy yourself!"
"I can't Dalbir. I love her too much to hurt her. Yes, even after that betrayal."
"Station Announcement! PRIORITY ALERT! EMERGENCY EVACUATION UNDERWAY! PERSONNEL IN STATION : 1 PERSON! PLEASE EVACUATE USING THE AVAILABLE EMERGENCY ESCAPE SHUTTLES. THE CLOSEST TO YOU IS ON SECTION D OF THE RESEARCH SECTION!"
The station AI announcement was heard in the background as Dalbir was scolding him.
"Don't worry too much old friend. If I can control it, I will. I'm not seeking death after all. It's just that I won't run if it comes now. So if I live, I'll get to live the boring life you just described to me."
"You better do so. My shuttle will be staying in normal space. I will only engage Hyperlight if there's anything wrong, so by god please don't let be there anything wrong!"
"Just wait there for the good news. And keep the channel open. It's kinda lonely now when all those idiots are not around."
Saying that, Zuman keep inputting one command after another, attempting to wrest control of the Heaven's Gate rings from the self-imposed lockdown.
He was making headway and was almost able to unlock the rings rotation speed when an announcement sounded.
"WARNING! SHOCKWAVE INCOMING! STATION SHIELDS ARE ADEQUATE TO COMPENSATE FOR IMPACT, BUT THERE WILL BE SHAKING IN THE STATION. PLEASE HALT ALL PROJECTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!"
Zuman smiled grimly. (Well. Looks like I have no luck after all).
"Station! PRIORITY 1 CLEARANCE ORDER! UNLOCK THE STATION ANCHOR FOR THE HEAVEN'S GATE RESEARCH LAB! Verify that the Research Hab Thrusters are working!"
"Acknowledged! Clearance verified! Closing all airlock connecting to Heaven's Gate Research Hab! Thrusters are working normally as of last maintenance cycle 71 hours ago."
"Good! Now let's see whether I'm faster or the shockwave is faster. Oh, Dalbir, you still there?"
"Still here man. Dammit, what am I supposed to tell your sis's greatgrandchilds? That their greatuncle gave up?"
"Just tell em whatever you want, as long as they know I'm gone. Old friend, in case things don't pan out today, I'll need your help to settle my inheritance for my relatives okay."
"Tsk. Such grim words."
Dalbir spat at him.
"C'mon you fool. No time for that now."
Zuman's hands still working quickly attempting to bypass all the overrides to manually slowdown the rotation.
"Hmmm. Nurse Karina has a crush on you ya know."
"DOCTOR DALBIR, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TELLING HIM AT THIS MOMENT!"
A shout from the side. Apparently Dalbir's shuttle is filled with his medical team.
"It's not a lie now is it?"
"Umm.. it's not.. but.. the timing… gaaaahhh.. Doctor Dalbir you stupid indelicate idiot. I'll tell your wife to give you a beating after this."
Karina scolded him from the side.
Zuman just smiled sadly at them.
"Thank you Karina. I'll give you an answer if I survive this."