Chapter 3 | Take off & Docking
"Good morning Mr. Ducker. It is currently eleven on Sunday, July 19th, 2048 CE. I am happy to be serving as your alarm function this morning. There has been no notable news during your period of rest. Shall I start the NeuroStimCoffee™ pot?"
"Good morning, Alex. Yes, please start the pot going, I will be up and moving momentarily." I said in response to Alex's call to wake up. Nothing motivates one to get up like the sound of a fresh pot of high-concentration stimulants.
It has been two and a half days since I was selected as a contestant in Humanity's Trial of Ascension. Since then I have been avidly studying the information provided in the contestants guide to the universe. I can tell that the universe is mostly stable politically/socially. Most conflicts between sovereign species are resolved without violence, although occasional conflicts do break out. It seems that apart from the IEC, the sovereign species mostly operate independently of each other's authority, although they regularly hold forums to discuss important matters.
The technology on the other hand, is out of this world, literally. I can easily tell that many of the documents provided are only covering the basics, and even that is far too much for my feeble mind to comprehend. Technical documents and blueprints for designs are included and require materials and manufacturing techniques that humans have not even dreamt of, let alone invented.
It seems a large amount of the alien tech is not compatible with human biology, or most species biology. In order to interface with the tech, special skeletal augmentation kits are required to be installed (and are, in fact, the general definition of a sovereign being requires such tech).
Which means today is going to be a very important day. After all, today is the day where we contestants are to be fitted and presumably receive our augmentation kits. I was excited when I first learned of this procedure. But having read through extensive documentation regarding the uses of such kits, I am practically frothing at the mouth in anticipation. In summary, the kits basically turn any being that installs it into what would be considered a god in humanity's eyes. We are talking enhanced perception, reflexes, physical ability, as well as some ridiculously advanced neural interfacing tech.
The kits are only the beginning too, supposedly we will also get equipped with an external exosuit. Which acts as a second skin, armor and clothing all in one. Simply put, I am about to undergo a procedure that will make me a god among men. Also, Alex is a saint, I might start a church based around him after this is all over.
12:00 UTC, Sunday, July 19th, 2048 CE
I sit on my balcony, lounging back in a comfortable chair while enjoying the midday sun on my face. I decided to take a break from reading the guidebook and spent some time watching some of my favourite net streamers, who are making use of the emergency public holidays to rake in lots of views.
I am eagerly awaiting my scheduled fitting session, which I should be collected for any moment now. Alex's immaculate breakfast did not do much to sate my anticipation of this event, it did satisfy my stomach though (Alex is a saint).
Moments after that thought, the security drones start moving. Alex taps my shoulder and motions for me to go into the lobby, which I quickly do. When I enter I see a familiar sight, the security drones are lined against the walls and the pedestal is displaying a hologram of the Gamekeeper.
"Long time since I've spoken to you, Contestant Kovon. Unfortunately this conversation will be brief, as I am just here to inform you that your transport is located outside this building. Have fun at your fitting, contestant."
As quickly as the Gamekeeper appeared, the message was said and the Gamekeeper vanished. Oh well, the creature must be kinda busy, they are managing an intergalactic event after all.
I quickly follow the drone that guides me to the outside of my building. When I exit from my normal entrance, what I see astonishes me. It's a space ship. A real, in the flesh (or strange alien metal I suppose) spaceship. I don't quite know what I was expecting my transport to be, but I didn't expect it to be a giant spaceship parked in the middle of the road.
To my left and right I notice massive crowds held back by barriers. It seems a good portion of the city's police force is here to herd the crowds. I spot many cameras among the crowds, likely paparazzi rushing at the chance to get the first pictures of me, the famous contestant (also the cool ship as well). I am guided up a ramp into what appears to be a luxury bar. I am instructed to approach the seats lined against the wall.
"Mr. Ducker, please have a seat and allow yourself to be strapped in. The take-off procedure can be very jarring without an augmentation kit installed."
I do as Alex suggests and allow myself to be secured in the seat. Strangely it seems as soon as I sit down that my body becomes near-massless and I can't feel air moving against my skin. Just another piece of crazy alien tech I suppose.
A strange artificial voice speaks, likely the ship's announcement system, "Attention passenger, welcome aboard the Ae4-Borealis luxury cruiser. This ship is owned and managed by the IEC, with its primary purpose being to transport passengers to their destinations.
This cruiser has been assigned to you, and you may use it at your leisure to travel to authorized destinations within the solar system. However, currently your destination has been fixed at the Alpha Centauri IEC megastation. The estimated time until arrival is two hours Earthstandard.
It is recommended that you remain seated until we have entered hyperspace or you will die. Please enjoy your ride, valued passenger."
I had read about Arkanian cruisers before in the guidebook but the feeling of being in one is far different than I imagined.
Produced by the species best known for ship manufacturing, current models can effectively move at over a dozen times lightspeed. In comparison to human spacecraft which can only hit top speeds of around 8% lightspeed, the contrast is absurd. Not to mention the technology behind it, by using a combination of techniques similar to Alcubere drives, as well as anti-matter based propulsion systems, ludicrous speeds can be achieved.
The craziest part is that, apparently, once this appointment is over I can have free use of this ship to travel all around the solar system. Perhaps I will just never go home again.
"The take off procedure begins in fifteen seconds." Says the ship.
I seem to tense up most of my body in anticipation of the takeoff, even though logically I know I likely won't even feel it due to this crazy seat. At last, the ship takes off, and within seconds we rocket out into high Earth orbit. While this isn't my first time in space – I have taken several vacations to Luna and once to Mars – the view outside the window still takes my breath away. As the ship slows down and aligns to go towards the edge of the solar system, I ponder what exactly I agreed to when becoming a contestant.
This thought is quickly tossed out of my head as the cruiser speeds away from Earth. It only takes mere moments for Earth to become nought but a pale blue dot.
Within a few seconds we approach Mars. What feels like moments later we pass by Jupiter and then Saturn, in all their glory. It takes a few seconds for us to pass by Neptune, Uranus and Pluto, I can just barely make out the few gleams of Plutonian city lights as we fly past Pluto out past the edge of the solar system.
The ship speaks once again, "Attention passenger, we have just left the edge of the Sol system.
Congratulations on being one of the first humans to ever reach interstellar space. We will be entering hyperspace in approximately thirty seconds. Please remain seated until the all clear is given, if you disengage the safety measures you will be instantly killed upon acceleration to hyperspace."
Taking those words of caution into mind, I ensure that I do not cause my own death. Exactly thirty seconds later, I feel a strange sense of vertigo, almost as if time itself is warping around me (as it literally is, due to the hyperspace acceleration). My mind seems to confuse itself for several seconds as it adapts to the new sensation. Once my mind returns to normal the ship speaks once again.
"Attention passenger, It is currently 12:36 IST on the fifth day of the eighth month of the 3078 year PV.
We are currently enroute to Alpha Centauri IEC megastation, estimated time of arrival is 14:14 IST. We have entered hyperspace and are proceeding on schedule. You are now safe to disengage safety measures and walk around the ship and enjoy its amenities. Please be back in your seat by 13:58 IST as we will exit hyperspace at 14:01 IST. Enjoy your ride, passenger."
I listen closely to the ships' message, making absolutely sure that I remember to be back in my seat on time.
Speaking of time, IST stands for Intergalactic Standard Time, which is a standard used all across the universe. Strangely, each minute is still sixty seconds (and seconds/hours are the same), however, each 'day' consists of 20 hours, and there are eight 'months' of twenty days each, for a 160 day 'year'. As a side note, the PV stands for post Velz. According to the guidebook, the era is changed when a new species is made sovereign, with the new species being included in the new name. Why so many 20s you ask? It's a long story, something about there being 20 initial galaxies at the time of the standard, yadda yadda, boring history. The guidebook failed to mention why the minutes, hours and seconds are the same, the author must've just been lazy.
For simplicity's sake, the Earth terms will be used, and if it is referencing a specific planetary time system, then it will be noted, otherwise times will be given in IST format. Or at least, that is what the guidebook said, I'm not sure how faithful they are to the practice. Considering that it also mentions that there may be time discrepancies due to temporal phenomena, I am certain that this will never cause any confusion.
Now that we have entered hyperspace, I disengage the safety system and stand up. It appears that the ship is maintaining gravity at Earth-standard, likely for my comfort. I venture out to explore the ship.
Within it I find a fully equipped, human-style; kitchen/bar, bathroom, bedroom (with a very comfortable bed, equipped with the same massless-tech as the seats), lobby, storage closet, game room (with many human and alien games), a room with an alien-looking link terminal, and lastly, a massive olympic size swimming pool. Why is there a swimming pool on a spaceship? Well, that is because it is not just any spaceship, it's a luxury cruiser, which means it naturally must have a massive swimming pool.
Also of note, there is a bridge section, cargo bay as well as a room housing the ship AI's core. It appears there are also other areas that I am not allowed access to. In summary, I would definitely say it lives up to the name of a luxury space cruiser.
13:58 IST, Fifth day, Eighth month, 3078 PV | Hyperspace outside Alpha Centauri System
"Attention passengers, please ensure you are seated and safety measures are engaged. We will exit hyperspace in 15 seconds."
I thankfully remembered, and have been waiting safely in my seat for several minutes prior to the warning. After sampling the amenities for the duration of the journey I am feeling sufficiently refreshed and ready for the coming events.
I look out the window once again, and am once again amazed by the gorgeous display of the universe, devoid of any constellations humans have invented. Shortly after this glance, we exit hyperspace. I notice the somewhat familiar feeling of space-time being warped and my mind gets confused once again. Thirty seconds after my mind frees itself, the ship speaks once again.
"Attention dear passenger, welcome to the Alpha Centauri System. Acknowledge the fact that you are among the first seven humans to ever enter a star's influence other than Sol.
If you look out the window you should be able to make out the beautiful trinary stars; Rigil Kentaurus (A), Toliman (B), and Proxima Centauri (C). Please remain seated as we approach the station and initiate docking procedures. The estimated time until arrival is fifteen minutes."
Once again, the realization of the path I have embarked on dawns on me. After all, even if I don't become the victor and earn supreme bragging rights, I still will have some bragging rights amongst humans due to all this alien tech. Surely enough, I look out the window and see the stunning sight of the three stars in all their glory.
Ten minutes later, we are approaching the orbit of Centauri A (I will subsequently refer to them by their easier names), I think I can start to see a structure anchored nearby. Which given the distance must mean it is absolutely massive, as one would expect from a supposed megastation.
As we are nearing the end of our journey, the megastation only gets larger in my view. By now it is taking up a majority of the viewport. The only words that I can use to describe its size are astronomical. If I had to give an estimation, I would say it appears to be about 1/7th the size of Luna (~500km diameter). Which absolutely dwarfs anything humans could ever hope to construct.
"Attention passengers, we are now upon final approach to the Alpha Centauri IEC Megastation. Reminder: please remain seated until the docking procedures are fully complete. I have been ordered to give you a message on behalf of the entire intergalactic community, it is as follows:
Welcome human to one of many Megastations built by the IEC. We have been waiting quite a while for you to finally arrive, a few hundred years perhaps, laugh. We hope you enjoy your visit and take in all the new sights. Thus concludes the message.
On another note, I have also been instructed to inform you that during your visit you will not encounter any aliens, as without your augmentation kit and exo-suit, unfamiliar substances and pathogens might kill you instantly. All contestants will also remain separated. Enjoy your visit, valued passenger, I await your return."
I suppose this voyage is just about over as we initiate docking procedures. I reference back to all my memories of all I have learned throughout my life. From my questionable upbringing.
To my friends that I had back in my schooldays (especially to that cute childhood friend). To my more recent status as a skillless NEET. Lastly, I arrive at my current self. Contestant Kovon Ducker of Humanity's Trial of Ascension. One of seven candidates for the future administrator of all of humanity as it makes its way into the universe.
While I am contemplating this, the docking procedures are complete. The safety systems automatically disengage.
I stand up, stretch my limbs and look around the ship that is in some way my own. I let out a deep, long sigh. Finally, I utter the words "Well, I guess there is nothing else to do but exit and face the challenges ahead. Bring it on."
End of Chapter 3
A/N: Hello, it's the author. You've made it to the end of the third chapter. So you must enjoy my little story somewhat. This chapter was quite heavy in exposition, but I promise they won't all be that way (this may be a lie). But given the nature of Sci-fi, lots of explanations must be given. Feedback/opinions/fun jokes are much appreciated, so please, comment and review away.
I've always been an avid reader, but this is my first time writing something and actually publishing it. So I apologize for any poor grammar or bad writing, I hope to improve greatly over time.
Thank you dear reader for your support,
Cathrix