Chapter 11

Toward Mars

Mankind's first Mars settlement ship, the Victoria was preparing for its final departure in the Earth’s orbit. The modules which were attached to Base Selene slowly and one by one came together. The place where hot and cold coexist; beautiful yet hostile to ever so fragile humankind. This is the reason why during the long journey to Mars, the ships should be inspected in every step of the way.

“This is the last docking! Alex! Concentrate,” said Captain Rei. It was different from the time of Mars One Project. Everything went on smooth. During the docking process of the modules, it was highly probable to face an autonomous guidance system error, but it didn’t happen. Victoria’s hardware and software quality was near to perfection, for the manufacturing company was a renowned robot manufacturing high-tech company.

“4,3,2,1. Great! We did it!” cried Alex joyfully. “Off we go!” Chang shouted together. “Not yet. We should finish the ending inspection,” said Hugh calmly. The pilots were exhausted during the long audition period, thus, they were excited like kids leaving for a school trip. They felt relieved since they became free from doing all the run-through rehearsals.

“Victoria. This is Base Selene. Now the modules are all set,” said the Operater of Base Selene. “Thank you for keeping them well!” Captain Rei answered. “Roger. Wish you can all survive,” the operater's voice sounded like a final goodbye. “Who is this? It’s a kinda eere for a farewell,” Michelle Chang whispered to Alex.

Victoria was still spinning around the orbit. The blue planet Earth, where humankind emerged, was shining under Victoria. Voyager 1, 2 and other probes created by human, have found their way out of the heliosphere a long time ago. But humans were still confined in the boundary of Earth and its satellite, moon. Breaking away from the boundary were always followed by its consequences. There were 5 departing Magellan Fleet many centuries ago, in August 1519. However, only one of them managed to return. The name of the ship was Victoria, the smallest boat of the fleet ; Magellan did not succeed. Through a naming exhibition, Dragonfly named the first Martian spacecraft as Victoria.

Victoria was as simple in its structure as Apollo, the space probe for the moon. With the command module on the head, the modules Destiny, Hypnos, and Leonardo were linearly connected. There was once a project called ‘Starship’, launched to develop a newly-designed spacecraft for inter-planet travel, but Starship failed after the CEO’s sudden disappearance.

“System inspection begins,” said captain Rei. “The command module and Destiny all clear,” said Hugh, “Hypnos and life supporting device all clear,” said Alex, “Leonardo all clear,” said Chang.

The four pilots manually checked the system of which each of them were in charge. Moreover, Victoria’s Artificial Intelligence Control System also checked the overall spacecraft’s condition. All the modules were in great condition. Among them, the command module – Desitny, Hypnos-Leonardo were somewhat like couples. The two modules teamed as one and had a separate life supporting device of its own.

“Control center....all system clear. Everything is under control! Preparation over!”, Rei communicated to Earth in a delighted tone. the Capsule Communicator(CAPCOM) said, “Great, Victoria! Congratulations.” The pilots applauded and bumped their fists. “Victoria, approximately 17 minutes later, start activating the main engine. When we mark, you start,” the control center announced the following schedule. Journey to Mars is different from shooting a gun for a target. This is because the Mars revolves around the Sun at the speed of 24km per second.

“We are getting on the Hohmann Transfer Orbit,” Hugh murmured. Rei replied, “How many times have we tried this from the simulator? More than a million times...wow.” Michelle gazed at Rei, “Still, I feel grateful. As a human, this is the very first time. The very first.”

The four people became solemn. This is the course which numerous Mars probes have traveled, but it’s the first time the ship actually had mankind on board. The heads of the pilots were all facing the Earth. It was a pose to protect the pilots from the intense cosmic rays. When the spacecraft enters the orbit, the shielding device will come down like a curtain rolling down. The body of the spacecraft will then rotate around like a barbecue on a fire pit.

“Look. The aurora!” Chang exclaimed. Above the whirling cloud, the aurora meandered in the dark sky as if boasting its fluorescent colors. It is a phenomenon which shows that the magnetic field surrounding the Earth is running against the plasma particles from the sun. The red planet, Mars has no such magnetic shields.

“We won’t be able to see this again,” Alex said. Chang echoed Alex's words,“That’s right. Never again...” Rei asked them jokingly, “Do you mean you want to see the aurora, the planet Earth again?” Alex replied, "Nope, but... It’s hard to say goodbye.”

Alex, Chang and Rei spoke to each other. Hugh was rather quiet. He didn’t want to fake himself by saying things meaningless. Rei looked at Hugh. Rei thought that Hugh's face resembled the face that she had seen at the Bonghwa Hospital in Pyungyang. He looked as if he couldn't say anything, as if he had a secret.

It was Michelle who broke the silence and spoke out, “Hugh, what are you thinking about?” “Thinking? I was just thinking about the things we went through together,” Hugh lied.

Actions to be taken. X’s final words, X had said shaking his head that the project will not be a success. He had said that Hugh should stop everything. Hugh shouted at X, “Why are you cursing?” He disappeared. A mysterious man. Hugh had never come across his real face in person. Hugh did not know who he exactly was.

But his words, unlike the intention it was said, imparted a spell on all four of them. All things they went through together crossed their minds. Hugh giggled all of a sudden. He remembered the time when Rei kicked him in between his legs. Rei also remembered the same situation. Rei's face turned red, and she stammered at Hugh, “What! What are you thinking about?” "Nothing," replied Hugh with a smile.

Back when the team was newly set, Hugh wanted to check if the D-type link hidden in the tape player was working well; and at that moment, his identity was about to be revealed by Rei. Startled Hugh, deliberately spilt a drink on Rei. Rei, as fast as thunder, attacked his vital point. Hugh instantly fell to the ground. Luckily he could avert suspicion and what’s more, their love sprouted from this incident. It’s amazing how love comes to you like fever, at an unexpected moment or a chance.

“D minus 1 minute,” The control center sent a wireless signal. It was time to get on the Hohmann Transfer Orbit.

“All system clear,” Alex said. “Check the lock again and everyone to your position!” Rei said.

“4.3.2.1. ignition!”

It was quite simple to go 2.95km per second faster. Everything went softer than that the impact of the simulator. Time itself didn’t last long. When the engine was off finally, the pilots did not applaud. Now the one-way journey – departure of no return - to Mars has finally begun.

“Route and speed, all clear. Well done, Victoria! Bon voyage until the re-connection!” the voice from the control tower sounded light, as if a big burden has been lifted. “Now, off to sleep!” Rei shouted out loud."

It was an inevitable moment. All the pilots were afraid of going into hibernation. It went through clinical trials and achieved FDA approvals. Still, the hibernation they were about to go into was so called a “death-like sleep”. The hibernation device which stood in line with Hypnos walls looked similar to a coffin. The devices didn’t even have windows, in order to shield the cosmic rays.

“In the old SF movies, many of thems were made of transparent glasses; did they really have to make it like this?” grumbled Michelle. “Right, Michelle! I agree with you 100%,” Alex responded.

Michelle went into the hibernation device first. She fit herself into the small space. Alex helped her tuck in. “Shall I make a little hole so that you can take a peek outside?” Rei pretended to smash the top of the device. “No captain, I don’t want a skinny Michelle. Chubby Michelle is so adorable!” Robust Alex answered Rei with a cute little voice. Michelle drew a heart shape with her fingers at Alex. Michelle was injected some sleeping anesthetic through a needle-less injection. Robin Alex held her hand. Michelle closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Automatically, the top of the device closed by itself like a drawer closing; then, Shoot, a sound of wind coming out was heard. Next was Robin Alex’s turn. The following was Rei.

“I...wanna be awake” said Rei. “You do? Captain? Shall I go first?” Hugh deliberately said in a playful voice. Hugh pretended everything was OK but was afraid that she might request to change the order. All kinds of scenarios were rolling in his head. “No, I didn’t mean that. You, silly. If I be awake with you for 8 months, I might get frustrated to death before I reach Mars,” replied Rei while she hit Hugh on his chest softly. “No, I don’t worry about that. The problem is that we don’t have enough food to be awake for that long. I don’t wanna starve,” Hugh said. Rei pretended she got mad, “Do you really need to describe all that?” Hugh reached out to Rei, held her in his arms and kissed her,“Let’s meet in our dreams.”

Rei went into the hibernation device. Victoria became all quiet. Everything went along as planned. Hugh swam over to Destiny. Now it was time to execute the plan.