Pulling my engineering suit down from its rack I start to take it apart and oil all of its components. Pulling my repair kit out from its place in my room I also replace some of the parts that seem to be cracked. -Wouldn't want this to have a breakdown when I am in deep space.- Taking my PDW from its holster, I start to run the diagnostics screen on it while reassembling my suit.
~Data Corruption detected. 23% of processes need formatting. Plasma stabilization inoperable, seek technician soon.~
"Well shit, how the hell did that happen?" Flabbergasted I stare at the screen for a moment.
*start secondary system conversion*
~Secondary operating system conversion will take 3 minutes. **** Error **** Primary systems malfunctioning, aborting process.~
"What!" Even more so confused I try to think of the reason why it is having issues. -Could it have been tampered with?-
*Disable primary system, begin restoration. disable motorized blade ejection. Enable manual control.*
~Restoration time estimated at 18H, 19H, 23H, 3 days, 7 days~
~Blade lock disabled, manual control authorized.~
Pulling out the collapsible blade I examine the dark grey 2 foot long blade. Normally it would have a plasma blade contained on the edge but due to the failed system it doesn't work. Thankfully it's still 'usable' without it but most modern armors wouldn't be cut through by it. Meteoric Steel may be highly advanced but it's still metal. "Oh well," Placing it into the holster on the hip of my suit I finish up reassembling my suit. Finished, I slip it on over a set of clothing that monitors my temperature and regulates it to a proper heat to keep my self in optimal form. Snapping together the last of the fasteners I throw on a jacket to cover up the suit partially to not draw too much attention. Grabbing my duffel bag I head out the door. I'd have to wait until we get back before requesting a new PDW. It was getting old but I liked the feel of it. "Sigh"
I knew I should have done all of the checking on my equipment last night but got to held up on reading up on some of the material for the mission. The schematics for the drive are fascinating! The design took some pointers from Thomas's creation but really is a completely new invention. This isn't just going really fast, it's punching a hole into space and traveling in some kind of destabilized zone that runs parallel to our own. The only thing we have really discovered about it so far is that it seems to be that its made up of nothing and it is much smaller. Allowing us to travel further distances while only going a fraction of the way in the other realm.
The objective of the mission is really just fine tuning the computer system to get ready for much longer distance jumps. A few secondary goals are in place, but other than that it's just getting it ready for more wide spread use.
Looking down at my watch I conclude it is about time to go. Glancing over at my roommate who is currently full diving in some fantasy game I chuckle. Sending a mental command to my watch I message him, letting him know the rooms all his for the next few days. A quick 'Bye' his reply. "Yup, love you too buddy!" Once again chuckling softly to my self I head out the door in the direction of the Launch Zone. Looks like I'll finally be able to see the stars for the first time in years.
On my way there I pull out Claire's number and input it into my contact list. Selecting her as the recipient I send a short message. 'Going on a trip with Thomas, Should be back in a few days. Expect company then. ^.^ '
'Yeah, I better Mr. Frey. Enjoy, I heard a bit about it, you're quite lucky.'
'I know and I will. Thanks!'
glancing at my surroundings I make note that I am about half way there. Spotting a Snack machine I stop and browse momentarily. Seeing a couple candy bars I place my watch against the sensor and confirm my purchase. Putting one of them in my bag I open the other and start munching on it while continuing on my way.
Drowning out everything, I keep walking as I put in my headphones. As big as the campus is and what with how nice it is to have as many things as we do. It is definitely a pain having to walk every where. When you have to walk a few miles just to get to your next class you have to wonder what the people who designed the facility were thinking. Either they had a sweet transportation system planned out and had to cut it due to budget or time constraints or they just wanted us to all never get fat. I wouldn't be surprised at either of them really...
While still thinking about a few unimportant things I look up to notice that I've just about reached my destination. Noticing Thomas talking to a man in a engineering suit a little like my own I head over.
"...ter systems checks are all coming up positive. We should be good to go in 15 if everyone is ready to board. We have all of the research equipment already ready so other than passengers preparations are complete." Finishing the engineer waits for Thomas response.
"Good, thank you for the report. Start having people board, I'd like to leave as soon as everyone is here and the ship is good to go. Dismissed" Looking over to me Thomas greets me. "Good morning Alsius, I am glad to see you. Lets head inside, I'll show you your quarters. We will be free to do what ever until we start up the Warp Drive, so enjoy your self while you can."
"Thanks Thomas, once again. I really appreciate you allowing me to go with you." Gesturing to the ship I continue "She's a real beauty, it always amazes me each time I see one. the marvels we can accomplish when we set our minds to it. Just this alone shows how much we have advanced, we've finally reached the threshold to traveling the stars. I can hardly imagine what we might find out there."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Yes, we really are almost there... I look forward to working with you Alsius, well.. lets go in in."
Entering the craft we head over to the crew quarters, the ship is really quite large, allowing a full crew of over 400 members to fit comfortably, any more and you start having to share rooms and the such. But still, massive.
Reaching my room I open the door and place down my bag.
"Like a said, there wont be much to do until really after the first jump so feel free to move around the ship. There's a cafeteria down the hall, everything else you'll just have to see for your self. I will be in engineering monitoring the drive. I'll have them send you a message when it is time to come over. Hope you enjoy the trip!"
"See you in a bit Thomas." Waving as he leaves I turn back to my bag, pulling off my jacket I stow it away before closing the door to the room after registering my name as the owner of Room 136. -Hmm, food?- Taking my rumbling stomach as que I head over to where Thomas showed me. Entering the cafeteria I make note of the absence of anyone.
"Oh well, more space for me." Smiling slightly I head over to the synthesizer, thinking for a moment I decide I'll go with something I haven't had in a while. Pulling up the menu I scroll down to sandwiches and select a Reuben adding in no sauerkraut. A screen shows up stating it'll take 40 seconds to prepare. -Gosh, having this thing is so convenient, I don't even know how people managed with out it. Seems like too much work to me.-
Hearing the timer go off I pull out my food and pick a random table. -Mhmm, That's satisfying- Finishing the thing a bit to fast i am a bit saddened. -oh well, I can always have another later.-
A yellow light flashes through the room, "warning, stand by for take off."
Thankfully now a days it isn't nearly as hard to leave our atmosphere. No giant rocket of doom or anything just a gentle downward pull before the inertia dampeners kick in. I have to wonder what went through peoples minds when they were being propelled into space by a giant missile. Poor bastards, haha.
As we breach the atmosphere I head out of the cafeteria and look for a window to see the earth fade away. Reaching it I just stare as i see it for my first time with my own eyes. Any image just cant do it justice, It'd only be better if I activated my helmet and left the ship, but well.. That'd be a bad idea.
A few hours later I find my self back in my room after looking around the ship, reading up some more on the Warp Drive. I'm actually trying to think about ways it could malfunction, if we put too much force into going into the other place, or too little some pretty bad things might happen. Rebounds if the force is too little could rip apart the ship. Thinking about it, that might actually be weaponizable. The only problem being we don't know what kind of repercussions the possible damaging of it might cause.
Once again seeing a light flash through my room, "Warning, beginning start up for warp drive in 10 minutes."
Hearing that I start heading toward engineering, "looks like it's time to get to work!" Rubbing my hands together I pick up the pace.
"5 Minutes to jump."
Hearing that as I step into my destination I start moving over to where I can see Thomas writing things down on a clip board.
"Everything alright? The view as we left Earth was amazing by the way!"
"So far so good, seems to be that everything is in order. We'll be making the jump at the current calibrations and then adjusting it and making another jump every ten minutes for the next hour or so. then were going to let the drive rest while going over the data. There is a few specific things we want to try out today, so other then just making sure the distance is calculated correctly we'll being doing that too."
"Alright, well it looks like they are about to start it up. This is pretty exciting!"
After saying that another warning goes through to get ready for the jump.
"Do we need to strap in or anything? I don't remember seeing that in the reading."
"No," Thomas starts. " It should be a pretty easy process. You might want to hold onto something though just to make sure."
Feeling a slight rumble through out the room I respond, "Alright." before heading over and hold onto a bar.
The rumbling becomes a bit more intense before going away. In its place a weird haze washes over my vision. Like everything is moving at the normal speed and yet going faster at the same time. I notice a few people becoming a bit green after it happens. -Must be because of the parallel realm.-
Moving my hand back and forth I see what looks like two images, one at the normal pace and the other zooming back and forth. It seems to even somehow do things before I do then. I feel that if I were to take a step, I'd see my self take a step before I actually took one, how weird.
Feeling a bit of rumbling again, the haze fades away as we presumably enter back into normal space.
"Well done everyone, the computer is showing all systems normal except for us being off by a little from where we wanted to go. lets get moving on calibrating that. We've got another 5 jumps so take your time. No reason to do any massive tweaks." Thomas calls out to every one as they start to get to work.
He him self motions me over as he moves to a terminal. "What we're doing is just moving around where we exit from the other world. So we can find out the most precise position to be as close to our goal as possible."
Watching him, Thomas pulls up a screen and tweaks a few numbers. Pulling my head away from his screen I look around at a few of the other technicians as they alter some things. looking specifically at one of them I notice some changes that cause me to crease my eyebrows. looking more closely I ponder a moment before just me not knowing what I am doing.
Noticing that everyone is done, I head back over to my spot and hold onto the railing I used as support before.
The alarm goes off again to let every one know we'll be jumping. The rumbling is a bit lessened this time as the haze once again comes about. dropping from the space I look back at the terminal I saw the odd changes at. -Huh, looks like those weren't actually saved.- Seeing the technician tamper with the numbers a bit more I notice him apply them this time.
"okay everyone,lets get ready for the next one."
Moving back to my spot I wait for the rumbling. Feeling nothing even after the warning goes off I am a bit confused. All of the sudden a big grinding noise sounds out. A blaring red alarm starts to go off through the room. The haze sinks in and I see the beginnings of what looks like white flashes around each technician. The haze showing what was about to happen. Worried I look to Thomas as I hold on tighter to the rail.
Frightened by what I see I call out, "Thomas, be careful, the haze seems to show you what is about to.." All of the sudden a large amount of plasma is pushed out from around the waist of everyone in the room but me. Unable to contain it's self it splashes out instantly vaporizing anything around it. "THOMAS!" I scream his name right before banging my head into the pipe next to me and blacking out.