It was night time aboard the Intrepid, at least it was according to the ship’s internal clock. In fact, the clock said it was 23:37 to be exact. The lights throughout the entire ship had either dimmed or turned off completely in order to simulate the darkness of night, as if the darkness of space was not foreboding enough. Throughout the huge vessel, many thousands of people slept in cramped quarters, sometimes two or even three people crammed into a space originally designed for only one occupant. All was quiet aboard the craft apart from the humming of various systems busily working away in the background to keep the air circulating and the temperature sufficiently warm.
A single, solitary figure stood on the bridge section of the ship as the enormous vessel continued onwards through the vast emptiness of space. She looked out of the main window and peered at the stars. When she was a child, she used to look out of the ship’s windows and see endless possibilities – all the stars and planets out there. She gave every one of them a different story complete with different characters living on them or in them. Now she was all by herself, she allowed a sigh to escape her ruby lips. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Space was actually filled mostly with nothingness – just empty space. There were many planets but it took an almost incalculable amount of energy for humans to get to the nearest solar system with their current technology, much less to a habitable planet on the other side of the galaxy. It was far tougher than any of them had ever imagined to travel through the blackness of space and unfortunately, there were none of her imagined friends and characters out there waiting to welcome the human race to a new age of prosperity with open arms.
Suddenly she became aware of somebody walking onto the bridge.
‘Olivia? Is that you?’ The voice sounded both tired and caring.
The woman did not turn around as a stocky man with a closely cropped haircut of salt and pepper slowly walked up to her, nor did she move a muscle as he stood directly beside her. She simply continued to stare out blankly through the window in silence.
‘Hey,’ said the man as he put an arm around her to try and offer comfort, ‘what are you doing up? You should be in bed like everybody else. The ship can fly herself – look, autopilot is engaged and working perfectly. Why are you here?’
The woman took a deep breath and absent-mindedly ran her fingers through her thick mop of shoulder-length blonde hair.
‘I’m not sure I can take this much longer,’ she said quietly.
‘What are you talking about?’ said the man, eyeing her with concern.
‘We’ve been out here for years and for what? Nothing. The light from the stars feeds our solar generators and keeps us running but for what purpose? We haven’t found a single suitable planet that we could colonise yet and those that we have....well, it would take us a century or longer to reach at our current speed. We won’t last that long...’
The man’s eyes narrowed.
‘What are you talking about? Do you know something that the rest of us don’t?’
Olivia turned to look at him with watery eyes and a trembling lower lip.
‘What is it?’ the man asked quietly with his arm still around her.
‘I’ve been told by the technicians that the airponics and hydroponics bays are operating at falling levels of efficiency. We aren’t producing as much food as we used to be able to. In several months we might not be able to feed everyone...’
‘Oh...’ was all that the man could utter with a stunned look on his face.
‘I’m so sorry, Paul.’
‘Hey, it’s OK. It’s not your fault. Now that we know what the problem is, we can find a solution. We always find a solution. It’ll be OK, you’ll see,’ said Paul in an effort to convince himself as much as convince the blonde woman in his arms.
A few tears streaked down Olivia’s smooth cheeks as she nuzzled in her friend’s chest. Paul responded by snaking his other arm around her and holding her tightly. They stayed like that for several minutes before being interrupted by a repetitive beeping sound emanating from the main computer.
‘What is it?’ asked Olivia as she used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears that had tumbled down her cheeks.
‘I’m not sure,’ replied Paul as he let go of her and started tapping various controls. Soon he began to get excited and started to type faster and faster.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing’s wrong. Nothing at all,’ said Paul, beaming from ear to ear. ‘Our computerised telescopes have found a habitable planet, in fact they have found several, but most importantly the nearest one is only about eighteen months travel away! I think we’ve finally found what we’re looking for!’
‘Really? Are you sure?’ asked Olivia excitedly, the tears now completely forgotten and replaced with a new sense of purpose and anticipation.
‘Yes, the main computer has confirmed all the readings. I think we’ve finally done it! Quick, open a communications channel to the nearest ship and tell them the good news. We’ve finally found a new home!’
Exploration Vessel “Plaizar”, In orbit around undesignated planet, Outer Fringes of the Galactic Network
Earth Date: Unknown
Galactic Network Date: 5732.19