Hello all. This is a bonus to show that i really appreciate all of you guys reading and commenting. and also to celebrate 5k views along with 1k followers. Enjoy.
----------------------------------------
[beep… beep]
[…]
[…]
[beep… beep]
[Hospitable planet detected. Running scans.]
[beep… beep]
[yellow dwarf star. Class G2V. 4 planetary bodies in orbit. 2nd body within goldilocks zone.]
[beep. Beep]
[Calculating size and distance.]
[beep. Beep. Beep]
[Distance: 2.5 lightyears. Size: 0.87 earth. At current velocity, ETA 5 years. Running planetary terraform scans.]
[…]
[…]
[…]
[Reflected radiation indicates abundant liquid water. Atmosphere able to sustain life. Traces of methane and hydrogen sulphide detected. Toxicity below threshold levels. Planet deemed safe for colonisation.]
[Initiating start-up protocol. Thawing crew cryostasis chambers. Awaiting further instructions from Captain Palmer. Requesting alterations in colony ship projector.]
Within the decks some levels below the cockpit, large metallic chambers with glass panels that revealed the faces of their inhabitants began to vibrate. Red warning lights were flashing above each cryostasis chamber as the pipes connecting down the back of each chamber began unhooking, leaking a freezing white mist as each one retracted back into the room’s walls.
The top hood with the glass panel lifted upwards, while the main body of the chambers split vertically down the middle into 2 halves that pivoted and swung open to the sides. Inside each chamber was a single human dressed in skin tight suits. The first to open their eyes was the captain, as he fell to the ground on his elbows and knees, coughing up a white translucent serum from his mouth and nose.
Slowly, the other 14 crew members followed suit, each one crumbling onto the floor and shivering in foetal positions as the floor of the room began heating up. The room soon reached a sweltering 30 degrees Celsius as the crew members began to rise up to their feet.
“Again? Rowanda, how long since we entered cryostasis?” Captain asked, facing no one in particular.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
[Welcome back Captain. This is the 6th time you have awaken. It has been 32 earth years since your last awakening. Time since departure from earth: 721.56 earth years. Would you like to look through the ship’s logs on the activity during your sleep?]
“No need. It’ll be the same again anyways. How far is the planet this time?” Palmer asked, as he made his way towards the blast door while propping himself up against the walls for support.
[2.5 lightyears Sir. I’ll have all the relevant data up on your screen in the cockpit. Shall I begin the thawing protocol for the colony?]
“No. Hold up on that. This might just be another false alarm like the last 5 times. No point wasting 2 years of their life readjusting from cryostasis each time they wake. We’ll confirm the planet’s ability to sustain life first, then begin the thawing procedures.” Palmer was now opening the locker in the next room after opening the blast doors. His fellow crew members are also following suit, putting on their uniforms over the skin suit they were frozen in.
[Roger that Sir.]
“Iman, check the ship’s logs and do a quick stocktake. Wellin, do a systems check, make sure software’s running smoothly. Vladlena get the drones ready, do a hull check and start maintenance procedures. Decker, do a weapons check. Rena, update me on the colony’s health status.” Palmer began barking out orders as they rose up through the decks, being pulled by handles that ran on a belt along the walls.
As everyone got into their positions, Captain Palmer adjusted himself into his seat, in the middle of the cockpit, situated above everyone else in the back, overlooking all the various stations. He flipped open a glass cover and pulled the lever down. With a loud hum, the blast shields that covered the entirety of the cockpit began retracting, stacking layer upon layer before finally, they came to rest as a large hunk of multiple plate layers along the bridge that connected the cockpit to the colony section of the spacecraft.
The crew were already used to the sight, staring into complete blackness, sprinkled with miniscule spots of lights from stars that shone from billions upon billions of kilometres away.
Sitting upright and pulling the holographic screen in front of him, Captain Palmer interlocked his fingers and rested his chin on his hands, studying the data of the new planet. “Now let’s see what you have to offer us, planet number 6.” He muttered as his eyes scrolled through the flood of information presented to him by the ship’s AI.
----------------------------------------
Chapter 1 will be release on Sunday, maybe earlier if all goes well, but please don't get your hopes up.