"At 0530 hours all team leaders need to be present at the mess hall." the PA system screeches through each and every floor stationed speaker. There's nowhere on the base that you can avoid hearing the announcements, designed that way I suppose.
It's currently 2100 hours, lights out is in 30 minutes. The silence on the base at night is deafening, I can hear the wall sockets buzz with electricity, water churning it's way to the recycling tank. Mom says its nerves because it’s getting so close. She'll find out everything tomorrow at 0530 hours, not long now. I guess I'm lucky that I get to be teamed with my Mom. She's not like most Moms, especially mom's here on the base. Base Mom's are known to be super strict and won't even consider bending the rules, not even the tiniest bit. My Mom sneaks ice-cream, Mac and cheese, chips and nacho cheese into our living quarters. It's not as if anyone is going to be pulling an inspection on the chief engineer for the rocket. Everyone on base is to adhere to a specific diet, but the minute they leave base they head out food.
She whispered to me the first time we had ice-cream on base.
"This could be the last time you get to taste this. Enjoy it!"
I guess we break the rules because we can't leave the base unlike everyone else here.
The speaker in my room vibrates static before bursting to life "Base Wide Announcement -beep-beep-beep- Lights out" the static lingers slightly before disappearing. The light dims from brilliant white to a swamp green. Like clockwork Mom pops her head in.
"Night sweetheart, want me to get you before I leave?"
"Yes please. What's the orders for tomorrow?" Smiling eyes look down on me, she always looks so happy to see me.
"Well Cadet, after reporting to Lieutenant Hughes I'd like you to meet me Rocketside at 0700 hours."
"Yes, Commander." Pulling the blanket over my shoulder her hand rests on my arm and leans placing dry warm lips on my forehead.
"Sleep well, I love you."
"Love you too Mom."
My room plummets into darkness, it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.
My room plummets into darkness, it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.
Morning pass in a blur of procedure. Wake up, wash, eat. I join my group of 1st class cadets, standing at ease we all seem uneasy. Lieutenant Hughes stands impressively in front of us, he's a towering figure of easily 6'6", his chest is probably close to 3' in width.
"Cadet Waters" blue glacial eyes lock with my warm honey and amber ones. I stand to attention.
"Yes Sir!"
"Commander Waters has requested your presence at Rocketside for 0700."
"Yes sir."
"Well Cadet, move on."
Standing Rocketside is a privilege, usually it's only science officer's and engineer's. I've been here once before, when the vast Bay 1 containment area was empty. Now it's capacity was full to bursting. Stand to attention as the Bay 1 door opens.
"At ease Cadet. How was your morning?"
"Good sir, and yours?"
"Well mine was very busy, part of the reason for calling you away from duties is to show you what I've been showing all the lieutenants."
Opening the door and stepping through to Bay 1 I follow closely behind at first there's nothing to see just a deep matted black imposing omnipresence. Commander Waters stepped to the side opening my view of the USS Serene first of its class starship. Going on spec she was 768 meters long 340 meters in height and width, living quarters for a crew of 250 and housing for 100 guests and delegates. She was kitted out with luxury in mind for guests and crew. This was going to be a long voyage, no point in having everyone cranky with nothing to do.
Without thinking I reached out and ran my fingers along the cool external plating, a smooth texture a telltale tingle of the self generating shield. I must have utter an ooh or something similar, Mom laughed and ushered me towards the gangplank.
"No drooling on the carpets OK?"
"I cannot promise that!"
She smelled New, and clean. I could taste the clean air system already up and running. Last thing you want on a big ship is dusty vents getting clogged and causing machinery to overheat.
Everything was smooth and bright, the colours reminded me of the sunrise. Communication panels dotted conveniently along the passageway. We came to a set of Sicco doors, the same ones as we have on base. Each personnel member on sign up has a tiny chip placed in the back of your hand. Each chip gets updated with your living record. If you're given privileges you can access them with your chip. Opening doors, lockers, checking into class is all electronically tagged in your hand.
"This works much the same as base Winter, Winter are you listening?"
"Yes sir, sorry Mom. This place is just fantastic."
"As I was saying control and communication panels work like on base, you'll have your privileges set up before we take command of her . Of course there will be restrictions like all Cadets and Ensigns, but as your quarters will be by mine you'll have slightly more access than others."
"Sir, may I ask a question?"
"Of course Cadet."
"When are we going to take command of her?"
"Good question Cadet, Captain Smyth has requested that the passing out of Cadets get moved up to tomorrow morning, from there we start boarding. All going to plan take of will be exactly 46 hours from now."
"Then we head to Trappist -1."
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