| Chapter 1: The Journey Begins Stardate: 9.11.24.5.0086. ?Recorder. My colleagues and I have left Tranquility Station. We are now setting coordinates for a microjump to Europa, where we will refuel and then make the jump to Cygnus. End.? Captain Edward Jones leaned back in his custom-made buck-leather chair, tucked the micro-recorder carefully away in the nylon pouch on his chest, and closed his eyes. He could hear the whirring of machines all around him, and a faint pounding sensation from the floor, traveling up the spine of his chair. It was a pleasant massage to his jumpy nerves. ?Captain, the navicomputer has the coordinates,? John Bean said, as he scratched the back of his blond, matted hair absentmindedly. ?Proceed at will.? Jones nodded to him, then pressed the button on the side of his chairs' built in microphone labeled ALL SHIP. ?Attention, crewmembers. Return to ship?s center. We will be departing T-minus five minutes. That is all.? Soon, running footsteps could be heard throughout the ship. As the crew of the U.S.S. Swartzchild gathered in front of the captains? chair, Jones surveyed them. John Bean of navigation and radar, technician Sally Ranz, a master with anything electrical, Christopher Lancaster of weapons and engines, and first mate Paul Johnson, the most intelligent man on earth. His I.Q. was 200, and he aced the SATs.... in seventh grade. He fixed up anything that went wrong, and made predictions. Oh yes, he also had doctorates in both physics and quantum mechanics, to name the two that would mainly be used on this trip, as well as being the doctor and surgeon if (God forbid) needs be. Quite a talented group they were. ?Sir,? a voice piped up, breaking Jones' reverie. It was Chris. ?Engines at 100 percent.? ?Start'em up,? said Jones. As the whirring increased, more shouts in the cavernous control room could be heard. ?Power Grid at 100 percent.? ?Navigation and radar at 100 percent.? Then, quietly, for Johnson was a quiet man, ?Trajectory and Range perfect.? "Right then," said Jones. ?3...2.... 1.... Go to hyperspace!? The stars seemed to stretch from pinpoints to rods, then spiraled into infinity as the Swartzchild rocketed on. |