The exploration begins

Posted on Saturday 23 October 2021 @ 20:38 by Captain Melody Jones & Lieutenant Nir’anyar

Mission: First Contact
Location: Experimental warp craft
Timeline: Current
641 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

"Ok, so i'm bringing us back to sub-light speed in 5....4.....3....2....1... Now"

There was a mild tremor ran through the craft as Bob eased the throttle back and the craft slowed down and the stars became single points of light again. Also in the distance was a massive gas giant.

Bob looked at it in wonder. "Wow, that's pretty big. You want to bring the planetary scanner online so we can have a proper look?"

"The imaging and life scanner are spooling now. They should be primed once we are within ten SMU's of the planet"
Taron said, his own excitement building at the image before them. It was regal, beautiful, and something they had never seen before. The rings surrounding it, a paler blue than the navy blue and royal blue clouds on the surface of the planet's atmosphere. "It's beautiful!"

Bob nodded. "It is, but clearly incapable of supporting life. According to this, it's got an atmosphere of liquid helium and nitrogen. Not a very hospitable place. Pressure down there is enough to crush the ship flat. I think this is close enough.

"We are now at eight SMU's so we should get some good resolution shots of the planet from here!"
Taron said as he started to move from the copilot's seat and back over to the scanners console. "Coils aligned, Imaging aperture calibrated... By your command boss!"

"Activating scanning beam." Bob said as he activated the final sequence.

"Nice, very nice. It will take a few minutes to capture all the data and...." His attention was drawn to one of the long-range detectors "What the hell is that?" He said, studying the panel more closely "An energy reading, very faint... It's coming from the next star system. I can't tell what's creating it at this distance but look. Look at the power curve and distribution, it's far too symmetrical to be a natural phenomenon." He let that statement hang for a moment.

"More than that, look at the power output... It's three point seven to the power of ten keelans more powerful than our planets power distribution network... Could it be, I can't believe I'm about to say this... Could it be another civilization?"
Taron was instantly excited by his own words.

Bob thought for a moment "I'm breaking missing protocol. When we've finished with this planet, we're going to investigate that reading." Off his look, he continued "I know, I know it's a big risk and it will take us at least two days to get there but I've got a feeling about this. Trust me."

"You won't get any objections from me but if we get into trouble with Command I'm blaming you!"
Taron chuckled as he came back to the copilots chair.

Bob nodded. "Don't you worry. I'll tell them it was all your idea." he added with a smile. "Scan complete. Shut down the planetary scanner, I'm powering up the 'Star Drive' as you call it. Coils are charging, I'm altering our course and heading.... Standby."

"Imager coils offline and power spooling down. Diverting power to the spacial deflector assembly!"
Taron was forcing himself to remain on task but in truth he was already seeing he and Bob accepting a Scientific Discovery Of Note award at the ministry of governance back home.

"OK, I've got a green panel here. Breaking the light speed barrier in 3...2...1...Now!" Bo turned to his co-pilot "When we get there, knowing our luck, I bet it's just a 'weather balloon or something like."

"A weather balloon with the power output larger than that of our entire planet... That's some balloon!"
He wasn't going to be distracted, Taron could tell this was something more already and he wanted to be the youngest man to receive the award.

OFF:

Pilot Bob G’Har
NPC Jones

Co-pilot Taron De'larn
NPC Nir'Anyar