InterStella Space

Chapter 1, WWIII

As the ship collided with the planet's surface a ringing noise began to envelope Stella's head. The ship's body contorted and broke apart as it continued to scrape across the dusty purple ground. Stella was in such a state of shock her brain couldn't process what was happening. Not being able to hear anything made it seem surreal to her. The ship's disintegration was almost in slow motion for Stella as her mind went back to the memories of how she got here...

...For months rumors were spreading across earth that a nuclear war was about to break out between America and Russia. Up until May 15, 2029 Stella's mom, Elysabeth had no reason to fear. That was until the news began to broadcast that war was declared, just like Elysabeth had feared. That day while Stella was still in school, her mom decided she would try and get her off the planet to keep her safe. Since February of 2025 space travel had become available to the public, but it still costed large sum of money. Elysabeth normally would never have enough to get Stella a seat on a ship going to the civilization on Mars, yet Elysabeth had been saving up over the years. She hoped that money would be used on Stella's college, but if the earth was destroyed there would be no reason to have the money. Elysabeth booked a one way ticket to the  for Stella. Elysabeth wouldn't have had enough money for the ticket if she didn't get her paycheck the day prior. After the ticket was booked for later that night Elysabeth began to pack a bag for Stella. Elysabeth only packed the essentials, knowing that NASA would provide space suits to all passengers on the ship. The United Nations had made the rule that no clothes other than what is issued is to go into Mars, so that they would all sort of be in uniform.

After school Elysabeth informed Stella she was going off to Mars. Stella was shocked and mad that her mother would make her leave her. But Elysabeth reminds Stella that she was 18 and in her senior year of school, Elysabeth trusted her and knew it would be better for her if she was off of the planet. Stella begged her mom to join her but Elysabeth didn't have the money, and the ship Stella was taking filled up quickly. Elysabeth promised as soon as she got the money she would bet there with her. It was a three hour drive to the launch sight, Stella was quiet the whole ride. Stella got changed into her suit when they arrived, handing her mom her old clothes. Stella waved goodbye to her mother as she boarded her ship with the twenty other people who were getting on. Silently Stella wished that this wouldn't be the last time she would see her mother.

The launch sequence finished and the ship boosted off from earth. As the rocket ship made its way out of earth's atmosphere the ship began to have errors and glitches in the system. All the passengers were instructed to find an escape pod and leave the ship. Stella bearded a free escape pod, but she quickly learned the pod was broken and she couldn't navigate it herself. As the rocket ship exploded, Stella was launched into the deep space. Stella began hurtling through space, there was no way to tell where she was going or how to tell which way was up. Eventually her ship had found a planet and was sucked into its atmosphere...

...That leads us back to Stella now, with no actual control of the pod Stella could only hope she survived the crash. The ringing in her ears stopped, now letting Stella hear the sounds that the ship was making as it was coming to a halt. The sound was loud enough to snap Stella back to reality just as the pod stopped moving. Stella could see almost nothing, as a huge purple cloud of dust had formed in the air. Stella began to cough as the glass window of the ship shattered, introducing her to the harsh dust filled air of the planet.