Voyage to the Stars

by GB Weber

  The small, remotely-controlled ship—renamed Eva—begins its flight piloted by John Arlen, hoping that this time, the flying machine will successfully culminate its second mission of the day. The probe starts recording the area dimly lighted in the crepuscular zone, while in the cockpit, the expedition team observes the images of the plains of Nova Terra. Its geography in that quadrant shows abundant steppes, colored in light and dark brown tones. In the middle of one of these obscure stripes, there is a large lake, about 50 kilometers long and 20 km wide. Its stained waters appear colored in the same brownish tone, perhaps because of its depth. A mountain range surrounds the valley where the lake is. Not far north of it, possible artificial structures are detected, but no humanoid life signs are observed. There are, though, spots moving near puddles of water in the area of the lake, which are identified as herds of animals. Scientists agree that the region is the perfect place to plant flag. A name for the lake was suggested by Humy and supported by all. It was agreed to call it: Hope Lake.

  Around the same, there is a vast forest that could provide timber and other raw materials. The name concluded for the arboreous area is Woodland.

  The probe successfully returns to its base in the planetary orbit, and after new studies of the images of the twilight ring, it is selected one of the shores of Hope Lake where will be set up the first human settlement outside our solar system. The transport ship Challenger, coupled to the Humanitas, begins to be prepared to take the first three astronauts to the surface of Nova Terra.

  Kepler Mission - Day 17,169

  The new day marks the beginning of the last stage of the journey, with the aim of stamping man's footprint on the soil of the planet. The astrobiologist Tanja Dyaglieva, the pilot John Arlen, and the droid Shin, get into the shuttle for the first descent to the new world. The transport vessel undocks from the Humanitas and begins its fall over the habitable region, experiencing strong shaking during the entry into the mesosphere. Now the Challenger continues to make its way through a thick blanket of black clouds, and after a few moments, it is possible to see Hope Lake from the sky, surrounded by the Woodland forest. After a prolonged period of approach, the ship finally lands on a solid brown, grassy ground, on the banks of a vast lagoon of dark waters.

  This moment has been a source of discussion for decades, from the first minute of the planning of the expedition. On the one hand, it was questioned whether the humans had the right to invade another planetary environment where life prevails, with the consequences that this could bring for extraterrestrial organisms—contamination with spores from Earthling origin could destroy alien life forms—and therefore, mankind should seek to colonize a dead extrasolar world.

  Through an agreement on the Mission Protocol, it was concluded that the native habitat would not be impacted, and the colony would only make use of its natural supplies when strictly necessary, without polluting the living ecosystem.

  "He who has believed that fallacy is surely a fool", had thought Arlen.

  The other discrepancy would not affect the present life on the planet, but the rivalries between the countries participating in the expedition. Who will be the first being to set foot on the ground of the super-Earth Gliese 667Cc?

  This issue had been raised in heated discussions between Americans, Russians, Europeans, and Chinese. It was ruled out an Asian, as they had secretly sent the first man to Mars. On the other hand, the United States had already conquered the Moon and, in turn, they did not want a Russian to be the first person to step on an exoplanet. It was then decided to grant this privilege to Japan, which had built two AIB—artificial intelligence beings—for the mission.

  Shin is prepared to descend from the ship. He opens the hatch and starts to climb down the stairs. The first thing he detects in the air is the force of the wind. While leaving his first footmark on the planet's soil, the automata speaks these words in Japanese:

  "I share this honor with my human counterparts and in memory of Eva, my traveling companion."

  After posing his metal feet on the nova-terrestrial surface, Shin analyzes the windy atmosphere using various digital measuring instruments. Inside the cockpit of the Humanitas there is great joy, not because the robot has just touched ground, but because the green light on the control board began to glow inside the ship, giving the unmistakable sign of a breathable environment in the planet. The composition of the air is very similar to Earth's, having 54% nitrogen and 43% oxygen. There is also ozone present, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, amid other gases.

  Although the relationship between the crew was healthy during the trip, they knew in advance that this moment would create tension among them. While the droid was the first individual to touch land, now it was time for a living soul to do the same, and be the one to take all the credit. During his appearance in Congress, astronaut John Arlen had been persuaded by the Space Committee and by Pentagon Generals that HE should be the one who comes down first and plant the flag of 13 stripes and 51 stars, thus violating the mission protocol signed by all its members.

  It is now when John makes the decision. He could get out of there and descend the stairs without hindrance, but resolved to do the right thing, even though his gesture would not be willingly received in Washington. Moreover, his behavior would defuse tensions recently arisen between the expeditionaries. Looking at the Belarusian cosmonaut and pointing his hand to the exit hatch, Arlen says:

  "You go first."

  "Let's go down together," says she in a gesture of gratitude.

  "I insist, Comrade Dyaglieva," says John emphatically, placing in her hand a flag on behalf of all the inhabitants of the planet Earth.

  On the day 17,169 of the mission; year AD 2148 on Earth; Year 0, Day 1 of the New Era; the first man to walk on the surface of Nova Terra is a female cosmonaut from the Union State. Tanja takes a deep breath without her helmet, and putting her feet on the terrain, feels the wet brown soil beneath her boots, and the overweight of her slim body unaccustomed to the new gravity. She is followed by the American, who is looking around the place while standing on the rung ladder of the Challenger. Once on land, the group displays the banner with the blue and green colors on a pole, and mounts it into the ground of the new home planet. The two terrestrials and the droid join hands, and at that instant, John Arlen makes the following statement:

  "This moment, so sublime and expected by all mankind—and also by our automaton friends," he says looking at Shin, "marks the beginning of a new stage in the long path we have to the cosmos and beyond."

  After embracing and congratulating each other on the event, the three explorers begin to examine the environs surrounding the lake. Black clouds over the valley have obscured the area. Using the smart lenses, the vision of the astronauts becomes clear and detailed. Tanja studies the vegetation and discusses her observations with John.

  "The dark-brown color of the plants is due to their need to absorb as much light energy as possible for the photosynthesis process, as the photons available contain low energy levels, being closer to the infrared spectrum of light."

  "Look the size of those leaves!" Arlen exclaims, pointing to a dense blanket of vegetation.

  "Exactly!" she says, and explains: "The shortage of energy sources causes in these photosynthetic beings the development of extensive roots, and larger flexible leaves."

  While the cosmonauts inspect the flora of the zone, Shin takes water samples of the dark lake and starts the bio-analysis. The report is received in the ship and the green light activates again: the water is fresh and drinkable.

  "We can cultivate vegetables in greenhouses next to the lake and use the reservoir to irrigate the crops" says the robot.

  "I think we would manage to live well here," says Tanja, "despite the dim light and the strong wind.

  Later, the shuttle Challenger returns to the mother ship to carry more passengers and supplies to the surface of Nova Terra. Once there, the architect-engineer Wang Dan, along with the other men, began work at the sit
e.

  Kepler Mission - Day 17,170

  New Era: Day 2

  The first extrasolar settlement is taking shape. Using the 3D printer, blocks have been built with which the first huts and shacks have been constructed to serve as refuge for the humans. The initial station on the exoplanet is called Colony Base. The Americans liked the choice of name that evokes the 13 colonies of the New World, but what they don't know is that the term "Cologne" was first secretly proposed to Humy by a native German from the homonymous city. The Russians did not oppose it, hoping to impose a Slavic name in the near future.

  Kepler Mission - Day 17,171

  New Era: Day 3

  Begin the reconnaissance by land of the thick forest surrounding Hope Lake. The strong wind shakes the branches and large dusky leaves of trees. Arlen sends a drone to make a visual survey from the sky. The team hasn't seen any animal species roaming the base, but they know these creatures wander in the area because they have seen them with the probe. It is uncertain the reaction they will have when they see the visitors, therefore, the explorers load their shotguns and photon pistols, just in case they feel their safety is threatened.

  "It is likely they will be afraid of us," Mary comments.

  "It's better that way," says Cao.

  "If they are meat eaters, we should find bone remains in the area," says Tanja, "but we have not seen anything yet".

  "And if they are vegetarians, then they should be worried about us," says Ulrich.

  "Look there!" Wang shouts.

  Two hundred meters from where they stand, they spot a long-tailed, quadrupedal mammal with huge red eyes and small round ears. Its appearance is similar to a kangaroo, with the trunk of an anteater. The scouts begin to move stealthily, trying to get as close as possible without scaring it away. The animal looks at them with curiously, and appears to approach the strangers. Suddenly, a spark strikes the head of the beast, falling dead in the meadow.

  "Who is hungry?" the Colonel asks mockingly, under the incredulous eyes of the group members.

  Dr. Shunli carries out an autopsy on the vertebrate being, and while observing the contents of its stomach, confirms its main menu: vegetables. After careful analysis of the nutritional values, Wang Dan performs a culinary test by roasting a section of its right leg and tasting a piece of meat.

  "Mmmmm! The flavor is delicious!" exclaims with pleasure. "Taste better than my town's rats."

  Despite the displeasure generated by her comments, and after waiting a few hours for possible digestion side effects, the crew decides to add the creature's meat to their diet.

  "How are we going to call it?" Wang is asked.

  "Hao Chi," answers. "It means 'tasty' in Chinese."

  John reactivates the drone to locate the herds of Haochis. The plan is to organize periods of limited and supervised hunting. They want to know the number of these wild animals and their periods of reproduction to avoid decimate their population. The little flying device began its journey through the planet's twilight zone. Because of the poor visibility, it uses the infrared camera to detect energy radiated by the brutes. A few kilometers from the base, John watches the thermographic images and finds groups of light spots—orange and reddish colored—near small water flows and abundant pastures.

  After making a detailed survey of the animal's habitat, the droid begins to divert. In its return flight, it crosses the rocky mountains and at some point enters into the hemisphere hidden in perpetual darkness. What John detects on the monitor left him astonished: thousands of bright spots are seen on the surface of Nova Terra's dark side.

  "Check this out!" he exclaims. The group quickly approaches to observe the infrared picture on the screen.

  "There are Thousands!" says Tanja surprised, "I didn't believe there was life there. What are they? Are they mammals too? Haochis?"

  "I don't think so," answers the probe pilot. "These things are located in the liquid water beneath a massive continental ice sheet."

  "An ocean? Are they fish then?" asks the Belarussian.

  "If they are so, I don't understand why they don't move," answers John intrigued.

  Kepler Mission - Day 17,172

  New Era: Day 4

  The next day during breakfast, the team comments the unexpected discovery in the icy, dark part of the planet. They also discuss the idea of an expedition to the north, where they have found structures that may be of artificial origin. In the conversation, Karpatov takes the opportunity to discuss the name they will give to the freezing zone.

  "I'd like to propose a name for the hidden hemisphere of Nova Terra," says Boris.

  "Continue," says Ulrich.

  "As we are referring to a vast frozen territory, I would like to name it Siberia, in honor of the most extensive region of Russia."

  "Any objections?" the Colonel asks to the people at the table. "Since no one disapproves, we impose that name to the ice-covered continent."

  "And what if we call Sahara to the bright, hot landmass?" asks Mary Arlen.

  That day, they make a new excursion to an area outside the boundaries of Woodland where there is a herd of haochis. They want to hunt a couple of specimens to perform other studies and use their meat as food.

  On their way back, they decide to border a lagoon, similar to Hope Lake, observed before with the drone. They cannot find any creature there, and that arouses Tanja's curiosity.

  "I don't understand why animals prefer to graze far from the lakes. It is as if they were afraid of something," comments the astrobiologist, intrigued.

  At that moment, Boris notices a thing on the shore and bends to lift it.

  "How weird!" he says, while giving an object to his wife, elongated and pointed, similar to a bone.

  "It looks like a tusk; I'll do some analysis," says Tanja.

  A thick layer of clouds begin to cover the sky completely, while the strong wind towards Sahara hits their faces increasingly harder.

  "We must return to the base!" orders the Coronel.

  The team of hunters arrives to Colony Base under a heavy storm of wind and rain. While Shin and the others safeguard machinery and equipment, Cao begins to cover the vegetable garden to protect it from the tempest, despite the poor visibilities under the deluge. Due to the lightning storm, it is not possible the use of night vision. The rain continues falling on the lake, shaking strongly its dark waters. Suddenly from the depths comes a huge and grotesque figure that rises to the surface and crawls out of the lagoon. The woman carries on her efforts to protect the garden from the flood when, unexpectedly, she feels something tightening around her ankle. She is pulled down to the ground and dragged sharply to the lough. Although she cries out desperately, her screams cannot be heard inside the shelters because of the noise of the thunderstorm. Moments after her body sinks to the bottom of the lake, her husband observes from a window of the laboratory.

  "No need to worry," says Tanja, while viewing the pointed piece found under the microscope. "Surely she has taken refuge in other barrack."

  "I hope so," says Wang worriedly. "We couldn't make contact with her yet. It seems our communication systems don't work well in this hostile environment."

  "I'm afraid that is correct," says Ulrich.

  "Have you discovered anything?" asks Boris.

  "It's confirmed!" replies the scientist. "The object found is composed of mineralized tissues. It contains calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It's an animal's fang; I am almost certain that it belongs to a carnivore species."

  Kepler Mission - Day 17,173

  New Era: Day 5

  They spend the next morning searching the base surroundings, but find no traces of Dr. Shunli. From the marks in the mud of the shore they believe she was thrown into the lagoon by a powerful gust of wind, or perhaps she was hit by one of the tree trunks fallen over the destroyed garden. Mary tries to give hope to Wang, but it is in vain. Despair has gripped the Chinese engineer. Then John comes up with an idea. He will use a submersible to explore the lake, seekin
g for the missing woman. The small sub is part of the equipment brought in the Humanitas.

  Arlen asks the droid to use the cargo hold of the Challenger to attach it and lower it to the surface of the planet. Meanwhile, the American engineer studies the place in order to find the best location for immersion. He uses the drone to fly over the inland sea and takes thermal images of the deep lakebed.

  "No signs of aquatic animals," he says to the group, while watching the images. "It's very strange considering vegetation and water quality."

  "How deep is it?" Augusta Byron asks.

  "3,800 meters."

  The shuttle is back carrying its precious cargo: the mini submarine Nautilus. John wanted to name it in honor of Captain Nemo, who sailed through deep seas in his nuclear vessel in the Jules Verne's novel.

  The green landing light flashes in the control panel of the Humanitas. Shin had maneuvered the Challenger by remote control to the Colony Base, as he needs to remain on board of the starship to perform certain tasks. He is preparing an observation satellite to be placed in the orbit of Nova Terra.

  An hour later, floating on Hope Lake, two men are ready to dive into its dark waters.

  "This is Nautilus, calling Base. We are ready for immersion, over," says the voice of the pilot.

  "Here Base. You may proceed, over."

  John looks at his companion and asks, "Are you sure you wish to go?"

  "Affirmative," answers Wang. "I want to know what happened to Cao".

  "We all want," remarks John.

  The mini submersible begins to sink into the black lough.

  "No need to worry," Arlen says to the Asian man. "The transparent glass dome is safe. It can withstand up to 20MPa (megapascals) of pressure."

  John turns on the three powerful spotlights of 50 kilowatts each, trying to observe the bed of the lagoon. The large areas of black colored weeds, algae, and photosynthetic plankton, obstruct the visibility.