Authors: Christopher Costanza
“All military personnel will begin boarding the transports in less than five minutes!”
When I looked over at Kayin, I could tell he was even more ready to go than I was. As always, he was the
inspiring type of guy. He was the one who would jump first and laugh at everyone else for hesitating. Just looking into his ice blue eyes would give anyone the impression they were dealing with a very intense and special person… There was just something about Kayin that drew people to him…
I on the other hand was cautious and meticulous, which is most likely why I was assigned as a first encounter specialist.
…Funny that I’m called a “specialist” because we’ve never made contact… Therefore such a thing can’t exist yet…
As the line started to move, my excitement only grew and my stomach was in knots... It was strange to think I would be gone for many years, but at the same time it was fine because there was no one waiting for me... I honestly can’t think of one reason why I would miss Aeris while I’m gone…
If anything, it would be interesting to see how much Aeris will change after such a long period of time. Especially since I’d be in stasis and wouldn’t age or experience time for 10 of the 14 years we would be gone. From my own perspective, you could almost say it would be like time travel.
Kayin turned to me and said “So you were assigned as a first encounter specialist huh?.. Seems like a good fit for you.”
“Yeah, I was a little surprised when I found out but I
got used to the idea… I hope I actually get to do my job.”
He laughed and said “Yeah you’d be great at it. Too bad you’re most likely gonna end up mining… Don’t worry though, I’ll come visit you every now and then so I can tell you how easy my job is…”
I smiled. “Aah, don’t say that… Not that I won’t be happy to help… But you know how I feel.”
It was finally getting to the point where Kayin and I would be in the next group going up to the Aurora Station. Within minutes I would be boarding a transport ship for the first time.
Just then the woman controlling the boarding process said “Next group!”
As I walked through the doors out to the departure area, another transport ship shot into the sky. The shockwave it sent out almost made me lose my equilibrium and start to fall… I truly realized that from this moment on my life would definitely never be the same… It would be extraordinary…
Kayin laughed and said “Don’t hurt yourself before you even make it on the ship man!”
He must have noticed me lose my balance…
When we boarded the transport ship, Kayin and I immediately began to struggle for a window seat. He of course won, so I just went to the back and found another one. There was no way I was missing out on the view of Aeris from space. Once we got to the
Aurora, Aeris would barely be distinguishable. Nothing but a green speck in the distance.
The Aurora was about ten times further away than the moon. It was a safety precaution in case something ever went wrong with the new technology the ACI was experimenting with.
They had found a way to “draw immense amounts of energy directly from subspace”… Whatever that means…
Their scientists considered it to be a backup plan of sorts. If the mission to X-451 was a failure, they believed this new technology could eventually lead to the ability to power protective fields around every city on Aeris. Unfortunately, they predicted many decades of research until a usable prototype could be safely tested.
A rumor spread throughout The Capital, that if one of these experiments were to ever detonate, the explosion could quite possibly kill everyone on the planet. The ACI claims it isn’t true, but to silence the protestors they agreed to operate the Aurora at a “safe” distance…
The anticipation made it seem like hours before the transport ship finally launched.
It was quite a sight to watch the Capital fade away and the blue sky turn into a starlit background. The evidence of civilization slowly disappeared, revealing only the face of nature.
I couldn’t help but be transfixed and I thought to myself, “This definitely won’t be the last time I do this.”
The view of space was so incredible… I must have completely lost sense of time and slipped into some kind of a trance. It was supposed to take almost an hour to reach the Aurora… But next thing I know, I heard the com cut on.
“We are now approaching The Aurora Station, should be docking in about 10 minutes.”
Kayin got up and walked back to where I was sitting.
“That was amazing wasn’t it!?”
I replied “Yeah I just wish the ship wasn’t so fast so it all would have lasted a little longer.”
“Oh for sure…I can’t wait see the inside of the Aurora, you know about the Asirium Hall right?”
“Of course, it’s all anyone who’s been there talks about…”
As The Aurora came into sight it was absolutely overwhelming. It was almost like an entire civilization floating above Aeris. The best way to describe it would be a city in the stars.
When the transport ship began to dock, I could see the legendary Asirium Hall. Asirum is a clear, glass like substance that was found on D-217 and it just so happens to be one of the strongest materials we know of. It’s a perfect example of helpful discoveries that can be made from the Sirius missions.
The ACI decided to make the outside walls of one entire floor from asirium. The Aurora was disc shaped and the Asirium Hall wrapped around the whole station. You could walk for close to twenty miles with an ever-changing view of space… It’s something I definitely planned on doing tonight since our ship wouldn’t be embarking until the morning.
When the transport ship docked and Kayin and I boarded The Aurora, we were both speechless. All we could do is look at each other and point at everything.
It became very apparent that the ACI was far more advanced than the public and our government. The Capital was an amazing example of our technology, ingenuity and creativity… but nothing like this.
Walking through the doors onto The Aurora was almost like stepping through a portal into the future. I couldn’t even identify most of what I was seeing… All I knew is if the cities outside the protected zone saw this, it would surely provoke another war…
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t understand how something like this could even exist… The time, money, and manpower it must have taken was simply unbelievable. The mining of all the metals, the vast amount of asirium used for the hall and the idea that it was entirely constructed in space was simply beyond my comprehension…
As followed the group to the north side of the Aurora, my eyes began to burn because I couldn’t
bring myself to even blink... It was one of the most incredible things I had ever experienced… The asirium was so clear that it almost gave the effect of actually walking in space.
I was lucky I didn’t bump into anyone or trip; I couldn’t keep my eyes forward as we made our way to the orientation area. The only way I could describe it was hypnotizing, and when I looked over at Kayin, I could tell he felt the same way.
When we all made it to the orientation area there was already a man standing at the podium waiting to speak. He was obviously high in rank and probably pushing 60. He was noticeably tall, completely grey and looked almost frighteningly serious… like he had been through a lot…
He cleared his throat and began to speak.
“I am Commander Neros, and I would like to start by congratulating all of you, as you are now officially members of the Aeris Coalition of Intelligence… From the moment you entered this station, everything you see and hear must be considered as classified. From the moment you enter your assigned ship, the Sirius 7, everything you see and hear is classified. Does everyone understand?”
We all replied “Yes Sir!”
Commander Neros continued. “All the ships have been named Sirius because they are our greatest hope to once again find something that could change
the world forever… This mission will be potentially deadly and quite possibly unsuccessful, but you’re all here because you know it’s worth the risk… We must no longer stand by and watch the rest of the world suffer, simply because we have the technology to help ourselves. Otherwise we are no better than the men who destroyed the atmosphere through industry so long ago… I have faith that all of us will return with ability to correct their mistakes - as the saviors of humanity.”
After hearing his words I knew that I was in the right place, and that I really would never regret the decision to leave my life behind.
Just as Commander Neros finished, another man stood up and proceeded to take the podium. He was younger and noticeably less… important looking… He seemed frail, and was wearing plain clothes.
“Hello everyone, I am Director Orion. I’m basically in charge of The Aurora, once you board the ship, Commander Neros will be who you answer to… The Sirius 7 will be leaving tomorrow morning. Before then, please take the time to see what The Aurora has to offer… Best of luck to all of you, please know you have my utmost respect for your efforts and courage… Oh yes… All technicians report to area 13 in the west wing for technology orientation. I promise you will all be very intrigued by our new creations.”
… Guess I was wrong…
When I looked over at Kayin and I could tell he was excited.
He said “Oh this is going to be great! I can only imagine what kind of classified tech these guys have been hiding from everyone! You know I drool over this stuff Atlas… I’m outta here; I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”
He slapped the back of my head and took off running… I’d get him back…
I immediately walked back out into the Asirium Hall and continued to gaze at the stars for quite some time… It’s all I could think about. For a while it was as if nothing else existed… Just like when we were on the way up to the Aurora.
Suddenly, I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye.
“Amazing isn’t it?”
I was a bit surprised so I hesitated “…Yes it is… I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to stop looking.”
“Oh, I was the same way when I first started working up here many years ago… I used to get in trouble for being late to the lab every morning. I’d spend so much time at night walking the hall I’d end up oversleeping.”
He smiled, put out his hand and said “My name is Horus, I’m the head of the science division for The Sirius 7.”
I turned and said “Science division? I think you’re in
the wrong place; we’re all military in this section… Atlas, by the way.”
He said “Well actually, before I go on any mission I always go around and look for an assistant from another division… Scientists can be arrogant, combative, and annoying. I just need a regular assistant.”
I paused and said “Didn’t you just say you were a scientist?”
He laughed “Yes I’m a scientist, and as a scientist it’s my duty to present reality.”
I smiled “Hey, you said it.”
He turned and faced me “Why are you here Atlas?”
I thought for a moment “Well… you may not believe this but it’s because I’ve been thinking everything that Commander Neros said for a very long time… Just because we all live in safety, people seem to forget about the billions on the outside of the protective field. I don’t know about you, but I’m not ok with that and I want to do something about it.”
He looked at me for a few seconds.
“So you’re not here for money or a good time?.. Actually I already knew that, I was watching you while the Director gave his speech. I could see it on your face. That’s why I came over here to talk with you… Follow me.”
I wasn’t quite sure what had just happened but I have a feeling it was a good thing…
Horus looked to be at least 40, maybe even 50. He had an odd look in his eyes, almost as if he knew something the rest of us didn’t. I could almost describe it as unwavering confidence and wisdom.
I wonder what he could possibly want from someone like me?..
As we walked, I was about to ask that very question and he said “Why you?.. Well most people in the science division are only here because their families could afford the academy. Most of them are money driven, shallow, and lack any real vision. That’s where the qualities I dislike seem to come from... I don’t need someone to second guess my work and try to outshine me; I just need help with certain things… and of course you’ll act as my private bodyguard when we go down to X-451. You’ll learn as you go, and I can promise that you’ll enjoy it much more than whatever else you would be doing… You don’t seem like a military guy anyway.”
“I guess that’s why they made me a first encounter specialist.”
Horus laughed. “Yes, that sounds more like it.”
He asked about my life back on Aeris and how I ended up joining the military. So I spent the next few minutes giving him my whole story. I guess he wanted to know exactly who I was… For whatever reason, I knew that I was about to become a part of something very important.
This was all so strange, between everything else that had happened and now this… It’s beginning to feel like a dream, almost as if I could wake up any moment and be back on Aeris. I just hoped I could do whatever it is he wanted of me. I could tell he was very particular and demanding just from our short time together.
As we continued on, he gave me a breif history of the Aurora station and explained what his science team would be doing on the planet.
“Since there was plenty of room on The Sirius 7 to bring extra personnel, the government and the ACI agreed the importance of thoroughly studying an Aeris-like planet warranted the extra time and money.”
He claimed if it were only a mining operation chaperoned by the military, the Sirius 7 would have set off over six months ago. Apparently his private division was even kept a secret from the public to avoid any problems with the massive amount of funding needed for top minds and equipment.
Horus came to a stop and pointed me in the direction of the personnel quarters.
“Go ahead and find an empty room… The ones on the left side are usually a littler bigger.”
He shook my hand again and said “I’ll come get you tomorrow morning and explain further. Oh, and I’d wander around after I settled in if I were you…