Growth of civilization has been augmented continuously by the colossal presence of technology. A hundred years ago, earth suffered devastating calamities and humans weren't able to survive in it anymore. Humanity almost perished but a few skilled technologists came together to weave seven space stations that were capable of housing thousands, albeit a few. The space stations banded together to form a single massive station named "The Sanctuary", where about 7,000 people lived.
Resources were scarce and all crimes no matter their severity were punishable by death, unless the transgressor was under 18 years of age. After the Sanctuary's life support systems were found to be deteriorating, 202 skilled military personnel were dispatched to one of the the nearest planets, a promising candidate for supporting life. The main mission of the military personnel was to scout a planet for a few strange creatures that were capable of resisting radiation and thriving in unfavorable conditions. Humanity had never forgotten to reclaim its lost home, hence various projects were launched yearly with the sole aim of finding a solution to earth's biggest problem— extremely high level radiation. Project Helix was finally supported by the Assembly although it raised ethical concerns. The project focused on introducing animal genes into humans, with the belief that humans would be able to survive the harsh conditions of earth.
Many problems were considered before the Assembly finally gave their support. Would the genes from these animals be compatible with the human genome? Would they be able to integrate into human cells and function as intended? How would the genes be edited and regulated to ensure they don't disrupt other essential human genes or processes? Could introducing these genes have unintended consequences, such as altering human physiology, behavior, or cognitive abilities? Would the introduction of animal genes into humans raise ethical concerns, such as the potential for unforeseen side effects or the blurring of lines between species? Each one of these problems was enough to dissuade the upper echelons of the Assembly but the deteriorating life support systems was a major concern hence humanity decided to take a big risk, or perhaps a leap of faith.
After the project was finally approved, another bigger question arose. Which planet should be visited? Mars was known to all to be the closest planet to Earth that could potentially support human life. It's about 140 million miles; 225 million kilometres away from Earth, which is relatively close in astronomical terms. However, Mars' harsh habitat, lack of atmosphere, and extreme temperatures made it very much inappropriate to dabble with. Venus also was inhospitable due to its thick atmosphere, extreme greenhouse effect, and surface temperatures reaching up to 462 degree Celsius. Some of Jupiter's moons, like Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, have subsurface oceans, which could potentially support life. However, their surfaces are still quite inhospitable due to extreme temperatures. One of Saturn's moons, Titan, has a thick atmosphere and lakes of liquid methane on its surface. While it's an interesting habitat, its surface temperature is around —179 degree Celsius, making it inhospitable to most known forms of life.
Astronomers and Astrobiologists have been searching for exoplanets that resemble Earth and could potentially support life. For example, Proxima B, Trappist-1e, Kepler-452b, Gliese 667 Cc, and K2–18b. While these exoplanets share some similarities with Earth, humanity had very little knowledge about their atmospheres, geology, and potential biospheres. After several arguments, the upper echelons of the Assembly finally agreed on scouting Enceladus, a moon of Saturn's. It has a subsurface ocean, which is thought to contain liquid water. This is a crucial ingredient for life as we all know. The moon's subsurface ocean is in contact with rock, which could provide the necessary energy for life to thrive. The plumes of water vapor and organic compounds erupting from Enceladus' surface suggest that the building blocks of life are present. Enceladus' subsurface ocean is thought to be relatively stable, with minimal changes in temperature and chemistry over time hence Enceladus was the chosen place to carry out the gene—seeking mission.
Amongst the 202 military personnel that was chosen by the Assembly was Lieutenant Commander Miguel Morien, an excellent combatant and a brilliant scientist, one of the major contributors to Project Helix and Cygnus X-1. Cygnus X-1 was a cylindrical spacecraft with a rounded nose and a flat, rectangular stern. It measured 150 meters in length and 30 meters in diameter. The spacecraft's hull was made of a durable, lightweight metal alloy, providing excellent protection against radiation and extreme temperatures. The hull was covered with a layer of thermal insulation to regulate the internal temperature.
Two large solar panels were mounted on the spacecraft's sides, providing power to the ship's systems. The solar panels were retractable, allowing the spacecraft to reduce its profile during navigation through dense asteroid fields or planetary rings. Cygnus X-1 was equipped with a state-of-the-art nuclear-electric propulsion system, consisting of a nuclear reactor, an electric generator, and an ion thruster. This system provided efficient and reliable propulsion for long-duration missions. A high-gain communication antenna was mounted on the spacecraft's roof, allowing for secure and reliable communication with Earth and other spacecraft.
The command center was located at the front of the spacecraft and served as the nerve center for the entire ship. It featured a large, curved screen displaying real-time data and a holographic display projecting 3D images of the surrounding space. The Crew Quarters were located in the middle section of the spacecraft and could accommodate up to 300 soldiers. The quarters were equipped with private bunks, personal lockers, and shared facilities for hygiene and recreation.
The mess hall was located adjacent to the crew quarters and provided a spacious area for meals and socialization. The laboratory was located near the rear of the spacecraft and was equipped with state-of-the-art scientific equipment for analyzing samples and conducting experiments. The engineering section was located at the rear of the spacecraft and houses the nuclear reactor, electric generator, and ion thruster. This section was also equipped with spare parts, tools and equipment for maintenance. The life support system was responsible for maintaining a healthy and comfortable environment within the spacecraft. It included air recycling, water purification, waste management, and temperature control.
The armory was located near the crew quarters and was equipped with a variety of firearms, ammunition, and personal protective equipment for the soldiers. It was equipped with a detachable landing craft, capable of transporting soldiers and equipment to and fro from the surface of Enceladus. Two robotic arms were mounted on the spacecraft's exterior, allowing for the manipulation of equipment and samples in space.
Cygnus X-1 cost humanity a lot of fortune. They expended half of their resources to build such humungous spacecraft, all for the sake of reclaiming Earth. Miguel swore to ensure that the mission would be fulfilled, even if his life would be lost. He was born in the Sanctuary, 23 years ago, to a low class family. His father was an engineer and his mother, a tailoress. A conspiracy was birthed which implicated his parents. They were accused of stealing some food rations from a high ranked member of the Assembly, after which they suffered the only penalty every criminal in the Sanctuary deserved— space aphyxiation. They were both thrown out of the Sanctuary, into space. The air in their body expanded rapidly, causing damage to their lungs, skin, and other tissues. This decompression led to their deaths and their bodies were not retrieved, but forever lost to space.
The infant Miguel was adopted, and he wasn't much aware of the happenings back then, although he cried, due to the absence of his real parents. As he grew, he began to understand the complexity of humans and how dark their hearts could be. He had a knack for combat so he didn't hesitate to join the military force. He proved to be adept in combat and science so it didn't take him much time to make huge contributions and be promoted. Seven years ago, when he joined the military force, at the age of 18, he was just a private but now, he was one of the Lieutenant Commanders of the Sanctuary's Military Force, the second-in-command of the entire military affairs of the Seventh Station.
Due to his origin, he was known to be cold, something his boss hated him for. Moreso, Commander Sarah Jerkins hated to be in the same spacecraft with him. As much as she hated to accompany him, she had to, since the fate of humanity relied on the gene-seeking mission. She was as young and influential as Miguel, not just because she was from a rich background, but because of her excellent strategic ability. The President entrusted the duo with the gene-seeking mission and appointed his son who was also tagging along with them, with the position of the Diplomatic Liaison. Given his connection to the President, he would act as a diplomatic liaison between the military crew and the Sanctuary's government, facilitating communication and coordination.
The stars shone brightly in the vast space as Cygnus X-1, accompanied by its landing craft, prepared for departure. On board, Commander Sarah Jerkins, Lieutenant Commander Miguel Morien, and the President's son, Alex Thompson, stood at the forefront of the 200-man crew.
"Mission briefing, final check," Sarah announced, her voice firm and authoritative. "Our destination is Enceladus, Saturn's moon. Our mission is to investigate the moon's subsurface ocean and search for signs of life."
Miguel nodded, his cold blue eyes scanning the crew. "All personnel, please confirm your readiness." The crew responded with a chorus of affirmatives, their husky voices echoing through the spacecraft's corridors.
Alex Thompson, dressed in a specially designed civilian jumpsuit, stood out among the uniformed military personnel. As the President's son, he had been tasked with observing and reporting on the mission's progress.
"Mr Thompson, please note that, as a civilian, you'll be required to follow all safety protocols and instructions from the crew." Sarah reminded him but he only nodded his head in approval, refusing to offer her the respect she deserved. Miguel noticed him stealing glances at Sarah's rear end, further proving his popular status as a perverted human.
Sarah turned to Miguel. "Miguel, please run through the mission objectives one more time. I don't want any one of us to forget what exactly we plan to do there. No mistake is allowed. Whoever disturbs the pace of the mission will be executed." Her voice was laced with a torrent of killing intent, as her eyes roamed the crowd.
Miguel's voice rang out, calm and steady. "We're to investigate Enceladus' subsurface ocean and search for signs of life. We're to gather data on the moon's geology, and composition. We're to battle the strange creatures we find there and retrieve their bodies after which we send them back to the Sanctuary. I believe we all know what we plan to do with their bodies. We'll introduce their genes into our genome after which we reclaim our lost planet. This mission is a dangerous one, so we should all be cautious. As Commander Jerkins mentioned, whoever affects the pace of this mission will be eliminated."
Sarah nodded, her expression stern and serious. "Remember, crew, this mission is a historic opportunity for humanity. We're not just exploring a new world, we're creating a legacy. A legacy that'll be passed on to many generations. Many would remember our glorious feats, sing praises and write ballads for us. We shall be remembered to be the heroes who paved a great path for humanity."
The crew erupted into applause, their faces beaming with pride and set with determination. They all felt a surge of excitement as they gazed deep into Sarah's eyes. Their morale was ignited and they couldn't help but chant "For Humanity!" With the final checks complete, Lieutenant Commander Miguel Morien gave the order to depart. Cygnus X-1, with its crew of 203, broke free of the restrictions space granted and embarked on its journey to Enceladus. As the stars whizzed by, the crew settled in for the long haul, their hearts filled with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation.
The mission to Enceladus had begun.