Chapter 1
Orion strained his neck sideways, trying to look through the rain drenched windows of the shuttle.
'Just a month ago, he was a barista at a cafe, serving cakes and cappuccinos. He has been earning enough to live comfortably.'
The eerie silence in the cockpit was interrupted by an announcement from the main station.
'All the best, soldiers. Launch Systems ready.'
Check.
'Propellant loading and thrusters.'
Check
As all compartments of the space shuttle were at stable. It was go time.
T minus
Ten. Nine. Eight.....
Orion's heart pounded in his chest as the countdown reached zero. The shuttle shuddered, then lurched forward, breaking through the Earth's atmosphere. The once familiar world shrank below, a swirling blue marble dotted with green and brown.
This was the first time he had been on any type of aircraft. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him. Was this real? Was he really leaving everything behind?
As the shuttle hurtled through the cosmos, Orion couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the brink of something extraordinary, something terrifying. The future, uncertain and full of promise, stretched out before him like a vast, dark void.
After a couple of minutes, he calmed down, his breathing steadying as he let the initial surge of adrenaline dissipate. The craft hummed softly, its engines a constant, soothing backdrop. He turned his gaze outward, where the endless expanse of space unfolded before him. Stars glittered like diamonds scattered across a velvet-black canvas, their light so crisp and brilliant it was almost surreal. Nearby, the glowing arc of a nebula stretched across the void, a kaleidoscope of deep purples, fiery oranges, and vibrant greens.
Occasionally, a distant asteroid drifted past, spinning lazily in the weightlessness. The vastness of it all made him feel both insignificant and awestruck, as if he were witnessing the universe breathe.
Inside the craft, the scene was a stark contrast to the grandeur of space. The interior was sleek and modern, designed with a balance of functionality and comfort. Smooth metallic walls shimmered faintly under the soft white lighting, which was carefully calibrated to mimic daylight. Rows of cushioned seats lined the cabin, each equipped with adjustable harnesses and individual consoles. A translucent screen at the front of the cabin displayed navigational data, while a few holographic projections floated in mid-air, providing real-time updates about their journey.
The passengers around him were a mix of emotions. Some were wide-eyed and glued to the viewports, their faces lit with the wonder of seeing space for the first time. Others appeared more relaxed, chatting softly or scrolling through personal devices. A child nearby giggled as they played with a zero-gravity toy, the colorful object spinning and twirling in the air. The quiet murmur of conversation, punctuated by occasional laughter, added a human warmth to the otherwise high-tech surroundings. For a moment, he felt a strange sense of unity—a shared experience of something truly extraordinary.
The first few hours aboard the spacecraft felt surreal to him. The gentle hum of the engines and the faint vibration beneath his feet became a constant companion. Adjusting to weightlessness was both thrilling and disorienting at first. He spent a good part of the first day mastering simple movements, learning how to glide gracefully through the cabin instead of awkwardly bumping into surfaces. The onboard staff offered helpful guidance, along with packets of neatly sealed food and drinks designed for zero gravity. Eating was an adventure of its own—bits of food floating through the air if not handled carefully.
To pass the time during the two-day journey to the Moon's north pole, he alternated between gazing at the endless cosmos through the large viewing panels and exploring the interactive systems on the craft. A holographic library provided detailed information about the craft and the Moon itself. He devoured every bit of data—its craters, its frozen water reserves, and the scientific bases set up at the pole. At night—or at least what passed for night in space—he drifted off in his harnessed sleeping pod, lulled by the soft glow of the control panels and the occasional chatter of the crew.
On the second day, the Moon loomed closer, transforming from a silvery disk into a vast, cratered surface. The descent was smoother than expected, and soon the craft touched down gently near the north pole. Stepping onto the lunar surface for the first time was a moment he would never forget. The Moon's stark beauty struck him—the endless gray dust, the jagged shadows cast by low sunlight, and the Earth hanging in the sky like a luminous blue jewel. The airless silence was broken only by the faint hum of his oxygen systems.
One evening, he stood alone outside the habitat dome, staring at the vast, barren landscape. He felt a profound connection to humanity's endless curiosity and determination to explore. It was more than a journey—it was a glimpse of the future.