The crew struggled, working endlessly to keep their great hulking mass of a ship sailing across the fabric of space without tearing apart. Their destination orbited a minuscule point of light. Almost too far now with damaged engines. Almost. Directly ahead hung a glittering planet of ice. They met it among the limits of its... Continue Reading →
Earth’ling
Readings returned slightly less than optimal levels, but their shuttle-mind assured them of safety. The first creature stumbled out, overwhelmed by colours. The browns and blues and golden yellows were not where they should be. And it hadn't ever seen so much green. Their journey from the dying world began generations ago, long before their... Continue Reading →
Swift Passage
The alien planet hung like a pool of blue. Their only stop on a one-way journey. Their vessel's final dregs of energy concealed them in orbit while their shuttle fell into the alien atmosphere. The violent entry rattled the shuttle, pilot and crew breathed deep lungfuls, fighting to clear their minds, to imagine a paradise... Continue Reading →
Not Cause for Celebration
A metal ship crossed the perfect sector. Great Mind opened a path beside the ship as a youngling’s human host floated out. Great Mind pulled the host through and sealed the path. The ship drifted onward, oblivious. “Ugh-” the host, a human female, stumbled beneath unexpected gravity. “We’re saved!” came a voice in her head.... Continue Reading →
Twenty-Fifth
Routine suit-up. Routine airlock cycle. Routine tether anchorage. Her crew-mate let her step out first. The field of stars took her breath away, as always, even on her twenty-fifth spacewalk. Everyone left her in silence, letting her enjoy it as they said she should. Someday, it will be her last. Then she spotted her tether,... Continue Reading →
Strength in Peace
Leaves swayed at the ship’s landing. Its team stepped out onto the alien world, fully suited, protected from its thick atmosphere. Deep violet vegetation sprawled toward the horizons ahead. Behind, an ocean of scarlet brine swelled and oozed. “Mission here is to survey, we need to claim this world before the enemy,” the commander said.... Continue Reading →
Raven
> 2237 - 03 - 07 Starship Raven. Departing Earth orbit. Onboard systems reduced. Power rerouted to propulsion system. Maximum acceleration. Destination arrival time: 42,327 Earth years. > 44,564 - 07 - 23 Destination reached. Asteroid mining drones dispatched. Planetary entry sequence complete. Metamorphosis protocol activated. Generational fleet arrival: 27,424 EY. > 57,309 - 04... Continue Reading →
Ice
“It’s ready. Transferring now,” says the VR technician. “Thanks,” I say, studying the new data floating in my vision. I equip a well-worn headset. Ripples of code give way to a silent darkness, only a lone light shines from behind onto icy ground. I’m pulled along by a gradual acceleration, subtle but present. A chunk... Continue Reading →
Gathering the Harvest
Picturesque Earth lay peaceful, to the untrained eye. One final pod slid up its cable to a ship in orbit. I peered down from the viewing deck.A streak of fire. Then an explosion. The cable rocked. Another streak. Closer. Pod integrity lost. Passengers compromised. Ship sirens wailed. Incredible engines rumbled to life. The cable detached... Continue Reading →