Earth,

The Mariana Trench

Seven miles down (36,201 feet below)…

The Earth Core United Oceanic Science Class Vessel (ECU OSCV), cruised the cold, darkly murky waters of Challenger Deep. It passed along desolate seabed dunes like a large stealthy shark hovering overtop. Beams projected from underneath the vessel, forming a bright red rectangle shape, as the lasers cut through he darkness of the barely visible ocean environment. The crustaceans (seen as the light shone close to them) darted about trying to avoid the intruding brightness on their territory, as did other dark-dwelling fish that randomly hung about as the vessel skimmed past.

Jen Sakura sat safely inside this extremely well built submarine, studying the visuals and the read-outs of this analytical data being relayed to her station. The young woman was captivated by it all and enjoyed a hearty bowl of vegetable broth with noodles cradled in he hands. She looked comfortable in her seat, one leg folded over and wearing pink bunny slippers on her feet. A slight uniform irregularity considering the rest of her outfit. One that didn’t get past the ship’s captain as she tapped on those fluffy ears sticking out of them. The captain of the vessel saw her as she stepped onto the bridge and made her way over.

“Jen,”

“Yes, Captain Alamata?” She replied, not glancing away from the monitor.

“I realize you’ve been on this vessel a good while now, but…”

The captain abruptly stopped talking and eyed her. That caused Jen to glance up at the captain standing before her. The red-haired woman tapped at the bunny ears again, glared at it, and then back on her. Sakura flopped her feet down with embarrassment.

“Sorry, captain…” She bowed in shame. “I totally forgot I was wearing them when I came on duty.”

“That’s the thing, you’re not supposed to be on duty for another two hours.” The captain frustratedly let out a sigh, and folded her arms. “Honestly, I’m not sure why you keep coming on before your shift starts, what’s up with this? Hm? Why do you keep coming on before the assigned times given?”

“Nothing, I apologize,” She bowed slightly again. “I’m just enjoying the exploration of it all. Theres so much information and scientific data, it’s utterly fascinating to me. There’s so much we still don’t know, what discovery would could find…”

“It’s the ocean, dear.” The captain scoffed. “Ain’t nothing down here but whole lot of rock, sand and scared fish.”

Jen was perturbed by that remark. She couldn’t understand the lack of enthusiasm for what they were doing. Jen had a treasure trove of degrees from every science related field she could study. She couldn’t remember a day she wasn’t curious about the nature of all things in existence. This young Japanese woman of twenty-six years was probably the most highly educated scientist on the entire planet. Not bad for the likes of a fisherman’s daughter, the only child of two parents totally uninterested in how or why the world works.

“Captain, I’m convinced there might be more down here. A new species we’ve never encountered. There could even be hidden cavern that could go even deeper than anything we’ve seen before…”

“I highly doubt that.” The red-haired woman rolled her eyes. “We’ve pretty much explored every crevasse and canyon that might be of some interest. Sure, some stuff got lost during the wars, information and charts––but nothing of significance.”

“So why are we down here then? Huh?” Jen shrugged at her. “Why bother to send a submarine vessel of this class to scan the bottom of the deep if there’s nothing worth looking at?”

“Because it’s just a job, that’s all, hon.”

“A job, right,” Sakura pointed at her. “One that needs to be done and I intend to do it right.”

“Look,” The captain said, leaning against the console beside her. “Let’s not kid ourselves here. This is just routine assignment. We’re just keeping busy, making the ECU look good and showing what combining all aspects of the military, science and exploratory departments into one de facto unit might be. So, we’re scanning the oceans… dead as they might be, no thanks to all that climate change and pollution disasters, but, that’s about it.”

“You’re so wrong, Captain.” Sakura frowned. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to see what more lies beneath the surface and discover new life.”

“Shit,” The red-haired captain snickered. “You’re in the wrong place, honey. This ain’t nothing but a dead-end cruise ship. The only thing you’ll discover down here, is the all-you-can eat buffet cook whips up.”

“Wow, how did you even become a captain? It amazes me you even bothered to sign up for this job.”

The captain gave a slight sigh of annoyance. Jen was a fine officer. A really devoted scientist. But she was as dull as the rocks they scanned. At least, that’s what the captain thought, and more than likely most of the other crew. She was too intelligent for her own good. Nobody on board enjoyed being around her, she was emotionally vacant at times. The single men onboard constantly tried to pique her interest, a desperate attempt perhaps on their part, but she didn’t acknowledge their existence.

Unbeknownst to Jen, she’d been called Vulcan a few times, which seemed to follow her wherever she stationed. A beloved science fiction character of tv from centuries ago; his alien species purged all human emotion and focused on total logic. Well, that pretty much summed up her in a nut shell. Jen had never watched any of those old programs, she was far too busy doing real science.

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The captain detested her glib response and felt she still wasn’t making herself clear on the matter. Alamata quickly nabbed the slipper off of Jen’s foot and threw it onto the computer console bitterly.

“I won’t have this kind of infraction on my ship, Lieutenant! More to the fact, you won’t be allowed to do this on the next ship you’ll be heading for.”

Jen seemed shocked by that outburst. She scooped up her fluffy footwear and gazed up at the angered woman with a confused look.

“Next ship? I don’t understand….”

Alamata sighed while briefly pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

“I’m reassigning you, Jen. I was hesitant at first, but… with your constant behaviour of late…”

Jen stood up, clutching her slipper in hand and scowled at her.

“What have I done to warrant such an action? Regulations clearly state that, any officer can refuse a transfer if they feel there is insufficient justification or lack of reported infractions filed to the proper chain of command. No transfer of said officer may commence until a review board has approved of…”

Captain Alamata held up her hand defiantly to stop her from speaking. Jen froze for a second and realized that this wasn’t open for debate. Alamata glared her down and frowned.

“Don’t you dare quote regs to me.” The captain folded her arms together and continued on. “As part of the ECUF, you can be easily transferred to any other assignment based on two factors. One, a special order given by the ECUF authority, which cannot be countermanded. And two,” The captain sneered. “If the officer had previously filed an application prior to their original assignment and subsequently was approved at a later date from the main office.”

Jen looked confused for a second, giving a moment’s thought on the matter. It was like she was combing through the manual in her brain to find that sort of regulation to see if it was accurate. Suddenly, her eyes flared in realization. She glanced up at the captain.

“I forgot about that application. But, that was like… a year ago…”

“Bout the same time you came on board…” Captain Alamata affirmed.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted this position or not, back then.” Jen grimaced. “I thought if something better came along, I could just…”

The captain rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yeah-yeah, I get it… so, what made you stick around here then? It can’t have been the camaraderie, surely. I doubt you’ve made any friends on here.”

That obtuse statement offended Jen. She gave a disapproving glare at this obnoxious captain and placed the slipper back onto her bare foot. For all the time she’d served on this vessel, the captain had always been rather flippant to her. Was she threatened by her intelligence? Or was it that she found the job more stimulating than any other serving on board here, even Alamata. Instead of questioning the transfer anymore, Jen instantly accepted it. She gave a smug smile and shrugged.

“Probably just as well I didn’t. Thank you, Captain, for informing me of the transfer. I believe I shall start packing right away. Where am I being reassigned to, if I might be so bold to ask?”

Alamata shook her head slightly at the brash officer and gave a coy smirk of her own.

“You’re heading into deep space, Jen. A ten year mission out of the system, as their science officer.”

“The Deep Contact mission?”

“That’s right,” Alamata nodded. “It seems you’ve been chosen specifically, based on your previous application request, of course. From the ocean to interstellar space… lucky-lucky you, huh?”

“Indeed…” Jen stated, lowering her eyes in disappointment. “Ten years… out in deep space.”

The captain gipped her shoulder lightly, giving a few pats to it, and smiled.

“Sucks to be you, girl. But, I’m sure you’ll just be as warm and friendly to all those crewmen like you were here, eh?” Jen glanced at her with a scowl. That made Alamata chuckle. “Well now, I’ll make sure all your stuff is down by the docking ring once you’ve packed, and let me offer my sincere congratulations on the promotion… of sorts…”

The captain walked away, almost with a spring in her step, and stepped off the bridge again. Jen, still mulling over the whole situation, forgot the other crew were about on the bridge. They were all staring at her and snickering at the woman. Every face she scanned seemed to give the same sort of vibe. As if they were mentally projecting, “See ya later, bitch!” Jen wanted to cry on the spot. She wasn’t some unfeeling monster. She was capable of some emotions, she just wasn’t one to outwardly show it. Jen gave the crew one last look, raised her head up slightly and stormed off the bridge.

“Don’t give them the satisfaction, Jen.” She thought to herself. “Screw this lot. Time for something better. Discovery awaits…”

* * *

Five days later…

Jen arrived on the LaGrange station and headed for the transfer point that would take her to the moon. The corridors where busy with other travellers trying to reach their own transports. This section she was in was devoted to all military traffic of the Earth Core Untied Fleet. Officers of every ranking moved about as they headed for their assigned vessels. Jen felt very lost as she tried to make out the holographic signs directing people to the various gates.

She took a moment to rest, finding an unoccupied seat near a cafe off to the side of one of the gate ports. She placed her heavy duffle bag down beside her and watched the hustle and bustle of this place. From where she sat, she could see the entire open-concept concourse of the gate port. A massive ship was docked there, with thousands of officers waiting to board it. Jen motioned to the barista for a coffee, giving the universal hand gesture for two sugars and cream, and turned her focus back onto the crowd. Suddenly, she felt someone smack into her back.

“Hey!” Jen shouted.

“Sorry…” A woman said, as she tried to pick up her bag from falling. “Some asshole ran into me and I couldn’t stop.”

“Well, could you be more observant, next time?”

“I said I was sorry, really.”

Jen was mad, but seemed understanding to the woman’s plight. She saw a chair becoming available and gestured for her to take it. The woman nodded and took the seat. She pulled it to Jen’s small round table and motioned for a coffee as well.

“So, where’s a fine looking woman like you going?”

“The moon, I’m going on the Deep Contact mission…”

“No way! So am I.” She smiled. “I’m Sarah, Sarah Brigham. I’m the pilot…”

The two shook hands and Jen nodded in acknowledgment.

“I’m the science officer, Jen Sakura.”

“Wow, really?” Sarah grinned. “No offence, but you’re hot looking. I’ve met many a science geek before and, well, they’ve all seemed rather…” Jen cocked a brow at her. Sarah changed the subject immediately. “So… are you just as lost as I am trying to find this boarding gate?”

“So it seems…” Jen stated.

Their coffees came and the two quickly took sips of them. The talking seemed to end rather abruptly, neither Jen or Sarah offered up any small talk while dinking their coffees. Sarah found it uncomfortable and was just about to leave with the coffee in hand, when a loud announcement boomed across the section they were in.

Attention! Attention! All officers heading for the Deep Contact shipyard, please proceed to Gate thirty-three for immediate boarding. The shuttle is departing in twenty minutes. Please bring your carry-on and scan your identi-chip.

“Well,” Jen stated to her. “Since we’re both heading in the same direction, I believe it best that we find the boarding gate to our destination. Don’t you agree, Lieutenant?”

Sarah gave a puzzled glare at her. Jen stood up, grabbed her own duffle bag, and waited for Sarah with an expectant eye. It took a few seconds for it to register in her brain, but then, Sarah snapped out of her thought and grabbed her own belongings to join her.

“Okay, sure…” Sarah grinned. “Lead on, m’lady…”

Jen had no reaction to that comment. She slung the bag over her shoulder and proceeded on. Sarah’s smile diminished and gave sight before doing the same.

“Oh yeah, this is going to be a fun ride alright.”