August 13th, 2017 11:00 GMT

The Belgium space port lit up in a blinding light as a metal tower, covered in a dim blue bubble, lifted itself into the skies with a deafening roar. The absence of smoke was odd for a normal rocket, but this was not normal. Or a rocket. It was the most advanced method of transportation ever built, the PSC-1. While ascending rapidly, it looked like a freakishly bright flashlight facing downward, only bigger.

„PSC-1 launched. All systems are go. I repeat, systems are go.“ Robert spoke into his headset, his voice hard pressed but calm. Right now, he and his crew experienced a G-force of about nine times normal, which made speaking hard and very unpleasant.

„Understood, PSC-1. Good luck, and on behalf of every human, thank you. Contact us when leaving earth orbit as planned. Ground Control out.“

„Roger that GC, wish us the best.“

While in phase one, leaving earth’s atmosphere, Roger kept a close look on the shield and engine status, which were most important at the moment.

Shield load at 17%, engines at 800MW total, looks good so far, he thought. I hope we make it into free space, the rest will be comparatively easy, he assured himself.

While the TO, BGO, SO and Robert himself took the immense force pressing on their bodies with stride, Taku and the two additional crew members visibly struggled to stay conscious.

They had all been trained for G-forces up to twelve G, but it still took a toll on body and mind when combined with the stress of a real launch, even if wearing pressure suits.

Phase one cleared in about one-hundred seconds.

„Phase one clear, begin phase two.“

Phase two, an easy slingshot maneuvre using the moons gravitation.

„Acknowledged. Next check-in after moon sling-by. GC out.“

The ship exited earth orbit with a speed closing in on thirty-thousand kilometers an hour, still speeding up.

The crew was unable to take much action due to acceleration which continued for another four hundred seconds until terminal velocity before moon sling-by was reached, around one-hundred-fourty-thousand kilometres an hour.

Everyone on board remained silent, but all their thoughts strayed into the future, past the moon and the inner planets, passing right by the sun.

What would they find? Would they even make it there?

They were scheduled to reach target coordinates in about one-hundred-fifteen days, flying by the sun in a wide arc.

„Phase two clear, sling-by netted us another fourty-thousand-two-hundred-six km/h, acceleration phases one, two, finished. Velocity and direction within accepted Parameters. We will now enter phase three. PSC-1 out.“

Ground Control gave their okay.

For the next four months, they would travel towards their destination. Seven people cramped in a building sized metal can, surrounded by the vast and dangerous vacuum between the planets, with no one to help them should something go awry.

„Ha, good one Cap!“

„Yeah, Sir, brilliant piloting as ever.“

„Fuck, i hate G-forces.“

The crew collectively started to laugh. The first hurdle was taken without further ado. Hopefully all hurdles and hardships could be overcome like that, which of course was unlikely but totally possible.

Now they had time to get acquainted and talk about the days to come, nothing much else to do anyway while on a nut-shell riding between the planets with the slow speed of roughly one-hundred-eighty-thousand km per hour.

August 29th, 2017 09:30 GMT

„At least we have coffee.“ Alina said, while blowing over her steaming mug.

They had quickly decided that a first name basis was much more appealing for space-roommates so with it went the stiff formality required when calling in Ground Control.

„Yeah but the food stuff is not exactly a star cooked menu.“

„Shut up, Renault.“ Luke Blackwood reprimanded his security assistant Baguette. Renault Baguette, perfect name. No cliche there.

They sat in the living hall, the biggest room aboard ship, at a table integrated into the wall.

„He is right though.“ Alina lowered her mug and took a spoon of cruel gruel. Edible but not something you look forward to eat.

The others were currently in their quarters on sleeping duty, except pilot Frank Miller who monitored the ship’s overall status on the bridge.

„But it is worth it. I wonder what we will find. Ever since a colleague of mine came crushing into my office, borderline excited, and showed me that slice of sequenced DNA, that is all i can think about.“

„Yeah, my CO(Commanding Officer) just went up to me and said ‚Time to earn another medal, soldier.‘ I’ve been wondering ever since if there will be something to shoot at. It’s always good to have an armed conflict, helps your personal growth.“

„I don’t even know why i am here“ Renault sighed. „I am just a regular soldier, not like you guys, experts in your specific fields.“

„There surely is a reason you were chosen, don’t..“ The alarm started ringing in a high, nerve penetrating pitch. Red lights started flashing in the corridors.

„This is Miller, all hands on deck. Immediately take cover. LRCD red, brace for impact. I say again, all hands brace for impact. I don’t know if the shields can hold this.“

In crisis, formality instantly returned. No time for sweet talk now.

Robert abruptly jumped awake, his sleepiness drowned by the sirens howling.

Without bothering to put on shoes, he sprinted towards the bridge.

„Miller! What do we got?“ He shouted while entering.

„LRCD says meteoric particles, bowling ball-sized, ahead one-hundred-fourty km. About a dozen, Sir.“

„Direct plasma flow to front part of hull, NOW!“

„Done, A-AMF 2 at full output, plasma converges to point. fifty-two km.“

God, please let the shielding hold, Robert Reel begged. A second later, the ship was violently slowed down by a few kilometers per hour.

„IMPACT..“

Miller smashed face first into the console, the belt not enough to hold him in his chair.

For Robert, everything went dark.