CHAPTER 14: WARPSTAR

"Coming up on FTL exit vector in two minutes," Charr called out, her eyes darting over the terminal that displayed a myriad of data, estimating their current location and the time remaining until they reached their destination. The brilliant view from the viewport captivated her; the light outside danced and refracted, bending its will to showcase the full visible spectrum of color in a mesmerizing display. "Just for the record, sir, I am not comfortable with the exit vector."

"Understood, Commander." The established protocol between John and Charlene dictated that they emerge from FTL at least two to three astronomical units away from the furthest celestial body in the solar system. This precaution was crucial, as insufficient data had been collected to fully understand the effects of the numerous gravity anomalies present in a system, from the local star to each planet, and even the unknown forces lurking in the cosmic shadows. Maintaining a safe distance also assisted in the relative assessment of the gravitational forces at play in the area. With the slow crawl of light, the sensors would be unable to determine with great accuracy what lay within the system in real time; however, they would still provide the crew with a valuable set of preliminary data to work from. Scanning the system while traversing the pocket dimension of FTL was impossible, making their emergence into any area a gamble cloaked in uncertainty. Despite the inherent risks, John felt relatively secure, knowing they were entering a star system that was friendly—or at least, was supposed to be. Even with Enki's assurances that the Sumerian fleet would not attack them, every instinct honed through years of military training screamed at him to remain vigilant. He watched the countdown clock tick down to 60 seconds; in theory, they should already be within the system, possibly even in range of the seventh planet. His gut churned with anxiety, prompting him to err on the side of caution. "Helm, add an additional 95 seconds to the clock before exiting FTL," John ordered, mentally running through quick calculations. He chose to disregard the device implanted in his skull, which could provide him the answers he sought, knowing it would come at a great cost of pain.

"Helm, aye," Charr acknowledged, her fingers deftly adjusting the controls.

"Do you not trust me, Captain?" Enki asked, his voice tinged with a hint of hurt, as if the question itself was a stab at their camaraderie.

"Just being extra cautious, Admiral. For my crew's sake. It never hurts to be too careful," John replied, maintaining his focus on the instruments ahead.

"I can't argue against that, Captain," Enki nodded in agreement, seemingly understanding the abundance of caution that had gripped the bridge.

As the bridge crew monitored the countdown clock, it transitioned from zero seconds to plus fifteen, then plus thirty, and finally reached plus 95. The vibrant spectacle of colors that had filled the forward viewports gradually melted away, returning to the familiar starlit backdrop that the void of space was renowned for. They continued to wait, the additional time crucial for the Combat Information Center to generate comprehensive sensor data and relay it back to the bridge. After a few tense minutes, the report finally came in; passive sensors were diligently processing each byte of incoming information, revealing thousands of ships and space stations scattered across the expanse of the system. A sense of calm washed over John's mind as the sensors reported no hostile intent from any source, and the gravity readings of the system were measured and deemed safe for a warp-in on the second planet.

The Sumerian star system, known to its inhabitants as Sumer, left the crew in awe. This celestial expanse boasted twelve planets orbiting a K-type red dwarf star, each one a testament to the wonders of the universe. The inner four planets were primarily rocky and lacked any significant atmosphere, presenting a harsh and unwelcoming environment. The first planet, despite its position within the habitable zone, was tidally locked, leaving one side scorched by relentless heat while the other remained frozen in an eternal chill—conditions too extreme for life to thrive.

However, the second planet shone with potential. Nestled comfortably in the heart of the Goldilocks zone was Sumeria, the cradle of one of the galaxy's oldest civilizations. This ancient world was adorned with sprawling mega cities, a vast network of satellites, and space stations, teeming with hundreds of billions of Sumerians. The system had evolved into an industrial colossus, boasting millions of years of development; every planet, moon, and planetoid had been transformed into a hub of activity, with each site housing its own mega cities. The third planet, meanwhile, had undergone extensive terraforming, positioned on the outer edge of the Goldilocks zone yet still capable of supporting life.

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"Now entering upper orbit, engaging autopilot, maintaining orbital velocity," Char announced, her voice steady despite the storm of excitement raging inside her. She was acutely aware that she was the first human to park a starship in the orbit of a planet inhabited by an alien civilization—a monumental achievement that made her heart race.

"Aye," John responded absentmindedly, having momentarily forgotten he had given the command. His gaze was fixated on the planet below, which bore a striking resemblance to Earth yet was undeniably unique. Water adorned its surface in only two major bodies, while the land comprised approximately 69% of the total area, dominated by vast deserts. Only 15% of the land was cloaked in thick, dense forests, and a mere 10% was encased in ice. The explorer within John stirred with a desire to land, to delve into the secrets of this densely populated planet, and to uncover how such a thriving civilization could exist with so little vegetation.

"Please state your identity and intentions," a sudden voice broke the silence on the bridge, pulling John out of his reverie. A Sumerian figure had materialized before the forward viewport, clad in a military uniform reminiscent of Enki's. John immediately recognized him as a member of the Sumerian military.

"I..." John began, but Enki’s hand raised, cutting him off.

"Admiral. My apologies; I did not realize you were aboard this..." The figure hesitated, searching for the right words. "Strange craft."

"Arrange a shuttle to pick me and one other up; they won't be staying long," Enki commanded decisively.

"It will be done, sir." With a respectful bow, the figure flickered out of existence.

"Captain, as much as I would love to show you around my home world, I don't think we have the luxury of time," Enki said, his expression tinged with regret.

John smiled, taking a deep breath as he grasped the Sumerian Admiral's hand. "Perhaps when this is all over, I would be honored."

"When this is over, I look forward to enjoying time in Sol as well. Your culture has produced an immensely diverse array of sustenance. We possess only about three, compared to your thousands," Enki replied, his eyes sparkling with appreciation for the richness of human culture.

The two leaders exchanged mutual respect one final time as the Admiral prepared to leave the bridge. Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Bortsova Lana Gennadievna offered a salute to the entire bridge crew before following the Sumerian.

"I'm going to accompany them," announced Senator Jaekob Rhindle of the Outer Rim Alliance as he entered the bridge. "As a representative of the Federation, I believe my presence will help persuade the Republic to stand down and defend our mutual homeland."

"Thank you, Senator. Your assistance will undoubtedly be valuable," Minister Lana said, shaking the hand of her political rival, affirming the alliance between their two factions.

John smiled and saluted the veteran of the Jovian Army. "Good luck, sir."

Less than an hour later, the Sumerian shuttle had departed from the Federation Destroyer, embarking on a mission that was critical for all three passengers—one that sought peace but could very well lead to war.

"Nav, initiate handshake with Alpha Centauri," John ordered, securing himself into his command chair with a firm resolve.

"Nav Aye, initiating handshake," came the prompt response.

Heidi pulled the red claxon lever once, her voice echoing through the ship-wide 1MC. "All hands prepare for hyperspace jump."

John, along with every crew member who could gaze out a porthole or viewport, watched the alien system unfold before them, each heart yearning for the chance to explore the culture of a civilization so vastly different from their own.

"I have hyperspatial coordinates locked, hyperdrive is primed. Helm is reporting green to jump," Char called out, her tone indicating they were ready to breach the fabric of reality itself.

"Helm, aye," John replied, hesitating for a brief moment as he took in the brownish-blue world one last time. "Execute jump." With that command, reality twisted around them, creating a rift in known space and time. A black void formed at the center of Sumeria, slowly consuming the desert landscape until it enveloped their entire view. They had successfully ripped a hole in space and traveled several hundred light-years, arriving in the Alpha Centauri system.