The tapping of shoes against marble floors can be heard throughout a large modernized building as people in white lab coats and casual clothing can be seen running around while carrying stacks of paper and frantically answering phone calls.
This is none other than inside the main hub of the I.S.A, or the International-Space-Agency, the first truly united effort for Humanity to go beyond our overpopulated Earth, and to enter the frontier of space and to colonize the planets in our solar system.
. . . . .
The I.S.A was formed a few years after a continental war between two significant world powers. The 'Federation', a collection of European nations that had split from the European Union in 2040 due to a conflict in interests.
And the E.D.A, also known as the 'Eastern Defensive Alliance'. This was a series of nations and unrecognized groups that came together under a single banner to fight back against 'the west' and their growing control over the natural resources on land, and in the seas.
Regardless of the efforts of the European Union and the United Nations, a war still broke out a few years after the formation of these two groups. It had lasted over a decade, and eventually brought the rest of Europe and parts of Asia into the war.
Once the war had ended, it had left eastern Europe and parts of western Asia a scorched wasteland. The use of MOABs and scorched Earth tactics left these regions almost inhospitable. The only people still living there are living in small communities underground, or in domed cities.
With the release of so much pollution from the war effort in their home countries and the smoke from the battlefields, it had sped up global warming at an unprecedented level... It increased the sea levels and acidity in the air decades ahead of estimated times.
The air in some regions requires rebreathers now. No one can remember what it was like to breathe outside of the sealed domed cities without them. Stories go around with children and teenagers of isolated pockets where the pollution hasn't reached... We've all checked. A decade of searching by each nation, and there was nothing.
Worst of all, the coasts of many countries went under the sea, millions died in under a year. A series of flash floods and the failure of power grids left millions trapped in cities without any resources. Food, power, necessities. All gone.
It has been over twenty years since the 'Federation' and 'E.D.A' have fought their war... And only fifteen since the crisis that occurred after.
. . . . . . .
With the formation of the I.S.A and the looming threat of extinction from the pollution and small skirmishes between countries, it was finally decided that we needed to expand outwards to save what little we can, and perhaps save everyone we will need to leave behind.
A vessel has been a decade into construction, with the united effort of every country. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent to construct it. Top of the line in technology and quality.
This vessel was equipped to act as a seeding ship if need be. Although, before that day ever comes, god forbid it does, it is currently an exploration and early-preparation vessel.
Hundreds of exploration, repair, and collection drones are stationed onboard. A robotic crew of twenty to be led by a human crew of three.
The lucky three are none other than Arkady Volkov, Hinato Sato, and Oliver Burton who were selected for this grand mission.
All three have had some form of experience in engineering, and astrophysics.
Specifically, Arkady went to the United States to study at MIT for a Ph.D. in Biomedical and Chemical engineering.
Hinato Sato, a Japanese-Canadian, went to the United Kingdom to get a master's degree in Geotechnical engineering.
And lastly, Oliver Burton. He was selected as captain for his experience in the United States Navy as the captain of the U.S.S Kallings, a destroyer in a new line of warships designed during the war. As well as his experience of leading a crew was another deciding factor for his position.
. . . . .
A loud series of beeps can be heard from a series of intercoms layered throughout the I.S.A compound, before an urgent voice comes through the speaker.
" All personnel, please head to the viewing bay and designated positions. The launch of the exploration ship, 'Bastion', will begin in T-minus sixty minutes! "
With a crackle of the intercom and silence following the announcement, a flurry of hurried steps and yelps can be heard throughout the compound as scientists, security, and administration run towards the viewing bay and their positions.
. . . . . .
During the commotion, a tall man with dark green eyes and slicked black hair can be seen exiting a locker room, wearing a black and silver suit while holding a helmet between their arm.
Looking around, the man makes his way down the hallway to the left, towards a twin set of doors with a sign reading, 'docking bay'.
Upon entering the room, he's ensnared at the view of hundreds of pipes and metal poles coming from the compound, and connecting to a large vessel ahead of him.
This vessel is none other than his ship. The Bastion.
In all of its mechanical glory, it stands 150 meters tall, and 85 meters wide. Two large rear thrusters can be seen as plumes of white exhaust flow out, and tens of smaller thrusters are littered around them in a square pattern.
Large 'wings' stretch out from the main body of the vessel, flashing blue luminescent lights all along the sides. Large cannons can be seen littered in the wing facing the front of the vessel, exiting and entering to test their functionality.
And finally, the command deck. A large dome built within the top-rear of the vessel can be seen. Thick glass surrounds the dome in a 360-degree radius, with metal shutters resting at the top and bottom of them, ready to close at the press of a button.
Large communication relays sport out of the dome, and along the sides of the vessel. Their only means of communication with Earth, once they're out of orbit.
Just as the man was observing the vessel, a shorter man with blond hair and brown eyes enters the docking bay behind him, before grasping onto his shoulders and shaking.
"Wake up! I know it's a sight to take in, but we've got to go." The blonde main exclaims while chuckling.
"I know... I know... I just can't believe we're going to be the first to actually try to explore the solar system in person. Especially in such a beast as this." The other says while waving at the vessel in front of them.
Letting out another chuckle, the blonde shakes his head as he begins walking away.
Taking a glimpse as he walks away, one would notice the similarity in their uniforms. Both in black and silver suits holding similar helmets. The only difference being the insignia on their shoulders.
The blonde wears an insignia with a blue comet with a golden trail following behind, whilst the black-haired man wears one with a star and half-eclipse. These are none other than the first officer, and Captain.
Also known as Arkady, and Oliver, these two make their way through the docking bay to a long bridge as it extends towards the vessel. Taking in the sight around them, they both stop and look around, before stopping at the entrance to the vessel.
As the entrance opens, steam can be seen exiting as a voice comes from behind the door.
"Took you guys long enough!" The voice exclaimed with a bit of excitement.
This was none other than Hinato, the second officer. His insignia and uniform are the same as the first officer, but rather than a blue comet, his is red.
Greeting them with a smile, he helps lift them into the vessel through the entrance.
Exchanging pleasantries, the three of them enter and look around. Drones cleaning the floor with automated lights turning on and off as they pass, and the faint hissing of pipes and fuel passing by the walls can be heard.
"Alright, guys. Let's make our way to the command deck and strap in for launch." Oliver addresses the group.
With a nod, they all begin to walk through the halls. Finding an elevator, they all get in and press a button that reads 'CMD'.
Upon reaching the command deck, they look around as their jaws drop, seeing the amount of effort put into the command deck shocks them.
Holographic panels can be seen floating in front of seats as humanoid drones press keys and adjust settings, while on the other side of the room, touchpads to the side of the three command chairs swap between analytical data of the ship and communication channels.
A crackle from one of the panels catches their attention, as all movement in the room comes to a halt. A voice comes through and addresses the crew.
" Launch begins in T-minus sixty seconds. Please strap yourselves down and prepare for launch. "
Upon hearing the news, the three of them run over to one of the seats and strap themselves down with magnetic restraints and bars come down to keep them sitting.
Once all three are strapped down, another crackle comes from Oliver's touch screen to the side of his seat. Quieting the other two down, he presses a button as a voice comes through.
" Launch begins in ten seconds. "
" Ten. "
" Nine. "
" Eight. "
" Seven. "
" Six. "
" Five. "
" Four. "
" Three. "
" Two. "
" One. "
"Lift off."
Once the final call comes through, the entire vessel begins to shake as a loud continuous roar comes from outside the command deck.
Plumes of smoke can be seen from where they sit as the facility outside begins to shrink as they go higher and higher into the atmosphere.
The shaking slowly begins to become more subtle as the three of them stop clenching the armrests of their chairs. Releasing a sigh of relief, Oliver unstraps himself and stands up before facing his crew.
"Today is a new day for us. A new journey that we will have our names sketched into the history books! Today... Today is a new dawn for humanity!"
With that declaration, the group of them are beaming with smiles while patting each other on the shoulder and chuckling.
A long journey lays ahead.