Chereads / The Slow Collision / Chapter 3 - Dream, Nightmare or Message?

Chapter 3 - Dream, Nightmare or Message?

Amelia boards onto the glass herself. It envelops her and opens up a visor filled with different star systems of the Helix Nebula--even some that are currently being colonized and terraformed for further expansion.

She places her fingers in the air and swipes around to look for her home system. The military always allows this as so the trainees can see their home. A place to protect. Of course, however, after seeing where they came from. Earth.

After a few minutes of searching she does find it. In the system of Aquarius, the cold dwarf star still churns its fuel wisely, humanity has come a long way since then. Amelia zooms in on planet Trappist 1f, or now referred to as Cennet.

Paradise in Turkish, as they were the first to establish a colony in the Trappist solar system. All planets are terraformed and she can even see the plasma shield barrier over it. Amelia knows very well that the planet used to be a source of wonder for the Earth inhabitors.

Calculating its size, mass, availability for life. Her eyes fill with a bombardment of glimmering light as she squeals inside her capsule. This is what she's always wanted to see.

"Alright, Trainees! Take a good, long look at your home. Because for the next eight months it will be under attack and DESTROYED if you don't protect it." Technical Sergeant yells. After turning a knob--the bright blue light of Cennet dims and slowly loses its activity and light. The ginormous room filled with glee, hope and awe dimmed along with it. To the sound of space.

No one wants this, that's their home. Their family lives there. Even to the most stoic or calm person, this leaves a tear in their eye or shatters their heart. Amelia's throat aches as she places her hand on the location where her home dimmed. There's an emotional bunch this year, the auditorium echoes with little bits of sobbing and sniffing.

Ursing lets it happen. Even he cried the first time it was done to him when he was the trainee--and still sheds a small tear to this day being the one who has to give the inspirational speech. He gives a moment of silence to those who passed before switching the knob back on. Showing life again.

"This is what you all can prevent. It doesn't have to be that way. Every single one of you will find a job that best suits you and be the next generation of Spacefarers that will protect our Nebula. Our Galaxy. Our Humanity!" He yells, ending is speech with a slam on his desk.

Everyone fills with a light sensation in their hearts. Amelia as well. Her home definitely should be protected. She wants to make her planet proud. She's the first female on her planet to enter the Space Program as it was prohibited for a long time. Not cause of prejudice. Cause of fear. A fear that encompassed the planet in its entirety. Code 17.

She doesn't want to think about it and shakes her head at the thought. She needs to become a Planet Analyst, the lives of the planet depend on her success. Amelia's eyes lock onto the planet on her screen, satellites spinning across.

A girl in the capsule next to her taps on the glass and waves. Her hair is brown with a bit of teal highlights. Is she from the Trappist system? Its theit usual marking, "Hey! Wasn't that speech moving?"

Amelia is too focused on the screen in front of her as the Auditorium switches gears and a new display presents itself. 'Combat Exercise #1', "Yeah. It was a very well made speech. Made me remember why I was here."

Technical Sergeant Ursing continues as he swipes information from his desk forward towards the big visor in front of him, "Each person within your area is part of your squad. From now on you will be each others family away from family. A Core. One that cannot be cracked."

A green glow lights itself in Amelia's capsule, but the girl notices it first, "Hey! Your System is glowing!"

Amelia turns to her side and sees a green like pulsate, one...two-three. One...two-three. What could this mean? Is it ready to activate? But from what?

"Go and touch the center! Maybe its like the Constructor System?" The girl says.

"Okay, what is your name? Should I call you Trappist or something?" Amelia asks. This girl keeps butting in and its starting to give her a headache.

"Ooo! I like that! Call me Trappist!" She says with a glow to her freckled face. "But you should seriously tap the pulsating green dot.

Why is she so interesting in her System? Does she have a System of her own? Either way what information does her System hold? The green pulsating button begs for Amelia's attention. She picks it up and follows Trappist's recommendation for just once. And taps the button. A green shockwave bursts from her capsule and takes control over everyone's screen--even Ursings.

"What in the hell?" Ursing mumbles, and notices Amelia's capsule glowing. "Crofman! What the hell did you just do?!"

He storms down the steps and hurries over towards Amelia's capsule, fuming as his face starts to redden. Then he is stopped by the screen turning on with green imagery. Not the normal blue. In quick succession it shows a large fleet destroying a planet, crumbling it to dust. A powerful force. It then shows a location, the Horsehead Nebula. Then a Warp Gate that they fly through. With the last image stunning everyone.

A location to where they are heading towards. The Juoto System--their current system, along with an estimated time of six months. The scenes play out several times before it swiftly darkens and returns to its regular blue.

As much as Ursing wants to confiscate this System, it would break the law. Once a System has been utilized and trusted by its user. Only that person can establish its connection. Confiscation without premises or conclusion of danger will be a violation. Anyone who does could be faced with losing their job in the Space Brigade. He still however, walks up to Amelia's capsule.

Amelia's jaw drops, she's still staring into the distance as she is experiencing the System at its fullest. She sees her home being destroyed. She sees lights flicker out one by one in the galaxy they are in. In the whole Helix Nebula. She's found a name for her System as her body trembles, her mouth dry and eyes widened coming back from the experience.

Nostradamus.