บท 70: Chapter Seventy(70)
POV Change
Science Island.
Space center,
Behind the massive facility was an incredibly large empty reserve of land. Several hectares of land filled with nothing but just grass and at the center of it, was a massive construct. It was a large Launchpad and a few meters away from it was a large vehicle which was transporting a weirdly small rocket… well at least when compared to the size of a normal rocket but the operators of the vehicle still transported it just as slowly and carefully as they would a regular one.
Several kilometers away from the launchpad was an observation deck or building which was filled with basically all the important people in Elysium and beneath it was a small underground tunnel that led straight to the launchpad. I was in that tunnel with my friends ready to embark on what was probably the most exciting adventure of my life.
"Reed what are you doing, get in the car, the rocket is already mounted" a voice shouted from somewhere in front of me
"I'm coming, this thing just wouldn't fit" I shouted in reply as I foddled with my suit
"Just get in, Ben would help you with it" Johnny said so I ran towards the car and jumped in as it took off towards the launch pad
"We're doing this!!!" Johnny shouted in excitement
"Shut up, you're too loud" Sue reprimanded him and he shut up instantly
Now you are probably wondering what a team of scientists and engineers are doing heading towards the launchpad when they are supposed to be in the observation deck checking and giving orders etc. Well it's actually simple, we are the astronauts for this test, of course it took a lot of begging to be allowed to do this but when you are the chief designer of such an incredible spacecraft, you would be tempted to be its first user.
To do this, all of us had to undergo several months of training just to have thirty(30) minutes in space. The rocket was equipped with a functional warp engine that is supposed to allow us travel way faster than the speed of light and also made to be reusable, this is a ship that is equipped with the best of what Elysium has to offer. The purpose of this mission was simple, go see Jupiter and come back, it was that simple.
Normally it would take us up to six years to get to Jupiter and another to get back but since the rocket was equipped with a warp engine that should allow it travel well beyond the speed of light or at least two(2) times that speed so it would take us at most fifteen(15) minutes to get there and spend a few minutes releasing the drones made to survey the planet then return, easy but we had to train for more than four(4) months. Typical example of no pain no gain.
"Thanks" I said to Ben who had helped me with my suit.
A few minutes later, we were directly underneath the massive rocket and in an elevator of sorts which was headed to the top of the platform so we could board the rocket. This mission was easy in theory but if you really think about it, you realise just how difficult it is, space is a place we know a lot about but yet even that a lot is nothing compared to the unexplained mysteries. Anything could happen during this mission and it may result in all of our deaths but oh well, no pain no gain. There is nothing in existence that doesn't come with a risk.
"Well let's do this" Sue said with a bright smile on her face as we started walking towards the rocket
As we entered the rocket, my heart instantly started racing. Ben was the main pilot here and was the man that did the main navigation, the others and I had other duties but they were nothing compared to Ben's. I don't do much and I am already this nervous, imagine Ben who any mistake of his would result in a catastrophe.
"All systems check, Paris?" Ben asked as he flipped several switches on the dashboard of the jet
[We are ready for take off] Paris replied and he smiled. It was clear that Paris' involvement here made him happier, he could at least trust that the A.I would ensure that there are no screw ups. Well I couldn't blame him, all of us felt the same, Paris just had this weird atmosphere that came with her presence that assured everyone of their safety or success in whatever they were doing.
After a bit of technical back and forths between Ben, Paris and the control center. Loud alarms were heard sounding all over the facility and minutes after, the rocket roared to life as a countdown started and soon the rocket slowly started rising into the air and within seconds, it broke through the Earth's atmosphere.
"Shit!!!, This is awesome!!!" Johnny shouted and the others smiled
"Releasing first package" Ben announced and pressed a button and we all felt the rocket shake a little showing that something was definitely happening somewhere on the rocket.
The first package Ben was talking about were a series of worker drones and several tons of materials all contained inside several crates. The materials were for the creation of a national Satellite and the drones were to do the building. As for why an already built one wasn't sent instead, it was simple. The higher ups designed a series of small but stationary satellites that would spread to cover all the area under Elysium's rule, I don't need to see the blueprints or specs of this satellite to know how powerful it probably will be.
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