2073/August/23
USA, Colesville, Florida
It was August now, and Colin had been coming to work at the space center every day, eagerly preparing for the mission. At first, they didn't have much for him to do, but eventually, they assigned him to work on protocols for meeting new alien species, developing routines and standardized procedures for such encounters. It had been a successful endeavor so far. And now, to his delight, he was selected to be part of one of the landing crews! He was excited to put his skills to the test and finally embark on this extraordinary journey.
Over the past month, Colin had been training with his landing crew, getting ready for the mission. During this time, they had been sending other teams through the wormhole to orbit around the new planet they had code-named Aquarius. This distant planet orbited two stars: a sun-like star and a red dwarf star. Aquarius had two moons, one similar to Mars, and another resembling Earth's moon.
While they had very limited information about the native species on Aquarius, they knew that they had developed cities, towns, and countries, yet didn't have electricity. Colin wondered about their advanced use of bioluminescence as a substitute for artificial light due to them knowing the trees glow. The planet's day and night cycles were approximately twice as long as Earth's, making adjusting to the different sleep patterns a concern. Furthermore, Aquarius had slightly weaker gravity than Earth.
To prepare for the landing, Colin and his team underwent rigorous training, including simulations of space flight and survival on the new planet. They even learned various ways to test resources for edibility under Grace's watchful eye, the onboard biologist who he had met on his first day.
Finally, the day of the mission had arrived. Colin was filled with anticipation as he drove through the security gate and reached the spaceport. The spaceship they were going to fly looked like a plane, designed to function both within and outside the atmosphere. It was compact, capable of accommodating a crew of five, and stocked with essential supplies, including snacks for the long journey.
Colin entered the changing rooms to join his crew. First, he saw Grace, the young woman with brown hair and blue eyes, who had become an essential part of the team. She was busy donning the general space flight uniform, a combination of grays and whites, made of durable and stretchy fabric to withstand the challenges of space travel.
Next, he encountered Gerald, a fellow crew member whom Colin didn't particularly like. Gerald considered Colin's work on protocols and communication with alien species unnecessary, underestimating the complexity of such encounters. Funnily enough, Gerald seemed to be struggling to put on one of his boots. His job is to keep the team safe, and if necessary deal with aliens. He has the combat training to show for it being in the military for a few years. He is a stern man.
Then there is Arnold, he is the main engineer, responsible for making the ground base they will construct upon landing. He is a man of few words, and is agreeable enough. He is also well trained in electronics and such.
Lastly there is the team leader, Taby. She is a woman who cares more for the mission then much else. She is serious, and focused. However does have a soft spot for cute animals. She is well trained in scientific research, and her main job is the make sure the crew works while maintaining safety standards, and keeps there mental health well cheaked. How ironic.
Regardless, as i walk in Gerald says "Well, look what the cat dragged in. Thought you might be late to your only chance to get to a new planet." I said "Yeah, Yeah, sure, just don't go guns blazing on the natives or else you may go to jail". Taby says "Stop you too, and get dressed", she says as she walks over to Gerald, and pushes his boot on with one strike. Me and Gerald say "Yes boss", in a board tone. After i put on my gear, we walk out and into the spaceship. As we walk there is many pepole taking photos, and such. In truth they reviled to the public that this mission is heading to the planet Enceladus for long term study. They believed the lie well. Thou it was a little unnerving to be surrounded by so many reporters.
After we got into the ship, we got into our seats. The ship was roomy with 1 seat at the controls of it, there was a large window in front of the controls. As well as small windows to our sides, reminded me of a airplane. Behind our seats were 0G bathrooms, and a ration dispenser. As well as more technical things. Arnold got up to the front seat, as he is our main pilot, besides Taby is team leader for when we land. We line up the plane with the magnetic launcher, and connect to it with a loud deep *click*. The magnetic launcher begins to accelerate our plane, slowly at first, but then it gets faster and faster, i feel the g-forces pull me back as we emit a sonic boom, and let go from the launcher and ground. Arnold says "This is A-07 We have liftoff ground crew, I repeat, we have liftoff". I look at the window as the g-forces subside, i see the ground moving so fast its difficulty to look at as i start to see the horizon. I look out the frount window only to see a small object in the distance. I say "Is that what i think it is?" Taby says "Yep, see and weep boys" Taby has went on many flights before us. As we get closer to the hook, i see it better, it looks like a large cone, with one end thin, opening up to a large hanger looking thing. The front is on fire due to the high speeds, as we are as well. We slowly aprotch the hook, and enter its back. Once inside, i hear many clicks as it latches onto us. Arnold says "This is A-07 to ground crew, we have locked, i repeat, we have locked." As Arnold lets go of the controls.
As the space tether rotates us up and into space, my hair starts to float, and my ears pop. But for this view, its worth it. Its amazing to see the earth like this! After a few minites of seeing the earth slowly go down away from our view, we then see it apere above us. Then arnold says "Understood Ground Crew, prepairing for detatchment in T-5 minites." As the time comes closer and closer, the space tethers hook unfolds around us, making it so only 1 side is conected. Then it lets go, and it dispares into the dark. Arnold says "Detatchment sucssesful, we are on the correct flight path." Then he turns and says to us "You are free to float around a do whatever, get use to living here for 5 days, in 1 and a half days we will arive at the wormhole."
2073/August/25
Space
After about a day and a half in the spaceship, the view of Earth had become a bit boring. Grace, Taby, and I attempted to play Uno with the cards I brought, but the weightlessness made it challenging to shuffle the deck. Our failed attempt almost resulted in launching a card into Gerald's eye, so we decided to stop after he got mad and yelled at us. Surprisingly, sleeping in zero gravity was easy, giving the sensation of floating, like being in a sensory deprivation tank, but more powerful.
We had to sleep on the walls since there was no up or down in space. Using the restroom was an odd experience; I'd rather not mention it. The food was pretty good; space food had come a long way since the 2020s, and even though it was challenging to eat in zero gravity, the taste was satisfactory.
As I sat back in my seat, buckled up, Arnold announced that we would soon reach the wormhole. It was a surreal and crazy sight. The wormhole was like a sphere, and as we approached, it looked as if the entire universe was bending around it. Inside the sphere, the surface displayed a bending of the other side, revealing the two stars and the planet. It seemed as though someone turned up the field of view like in a video game. I wondered how it would look when we passed through. Gerald commented, "Wow, looks like a kaleidoscope." Taby replied, "Well, it kind of is with the way it bends light. I want to see it in person; I've only seen it in videos." I agreed, "Yeah."
As we got closer, the scene became even more mind-bending. We saw the sphere grow larger until we finally entered it, and it felt like we were in a tunnel. The view behind us displayed a circle with Earth and the sun bent around in cycles, while in front, the same phenomenon occurred for our destination. To our sides, we saw an endless void, with walls formed by the reflected images of the entrance and exit. I asked, "What would happen if we go left or right?" Taby explained, "We would circle around and end up where we started, think of it like asteroids." I pondered, "Then shouldn't we see ourselves?" Taby clarified, "Yes, but we would be 30 km away, and considering the size of the ship, we can't."
As we continued our journey through the wormhole, I couldn't help but be captivated by the mesmerizing display of the bending universe around us. However, my fascination was interrupted when I noticed a peculiar phenomenon: purple lightning-like tendrils suddenly connected from the edges of the wormhole to our ship. I pointed at them and asked, "What's that?"
Taby responded, "We don't fully know. According to simulations and theories, it's what keeps the wormhole open. We believe it has a negative mass-like effect on spacetime, but we're not entirely sure. We also speculate that it might be connected to the purple star event, much like the being C. Many believe they are related. Regardless, its entirey safe. But scientists were panicling like crazy when the first probe got hit by it, and it did nothing."
The sight of the mysterious purple lightning was awe-inspiring. I cant beleve im here of all places!
Exiting the wormhole felt like emerging from a surreal dream into an even more surreal reality. Aquarius, with its two stars, stood before us in all its blue splendor. The planet's mesmerizing beauty was evident from space, with its vast blue expanse interrupted only by the clouds, snow-capped mountains, the poles, and deserts. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to stand on its surface, to breathe its alien air, and to explore its uncharted landscapes. As well as meet its locals.