Along the Stars

The Take Off

It was finally time, After what felt like an eternity of training, I was in the brand new, biggest, fastest and most powerful star cruiser. The name of this crazy ship...Hellen.

Yea, I was surprised at this name too but the officer in charge was adamant that he wanted the name "Hellen" on the most impressive thing the humans own, But here we are in "Hellen" about to fly the most dangerous mission EVER recorded.

A little background to the ship. It's an ISSAFO Model SM-75-Type-Y made in the year 2102 it has the newest helical engine design that can propel it to 95% of the speed of light and last up to 20 years in constant use, Cryogenic stasis to keep the crew alive for the journey much longer and an experimental Lazar weapon system that can burn any debris coming at the ship.

The ISSAFO spent around 10 years updating and upgrading the various systems on the ship. It paid off greatly and all the time that was put into this undertaking allowed the ISSAFO to pull through to the top place on the composition and smash all other ships' competing in the intergalactic race.

I was wondering about how would the mission go and after a brief moment I was pulled away from my thought and into reality.
"Come on Jamie snap out of it," said Corporal Daisy with a voice that could charm the most furious person in the known universe.
"Huh? What?" I said confused still half-daydreaming about how the mission would go. This time corporal was not so sweet, or cheerful looked into my eyes and give me a look of 'You really want to get told off?' and just sighed, patted me on the shoulder and said
"Focus on the present, not the future. The mission is going to go smoothly"
"Right, Focus," I said still not focusing all the way.

"Atta boy," said Corporal Daisy once again patting my shoulder and handing me the code to the space ships airlock control panel. As I approached the airlock I had a sense of hysteria but I pushed on and ignored it, the door was about 1 foot thick and weighed around half a ton, 'such a big thing' I thought, I never really appreciated all the little things about the ship. It's the white coat of paint it wore, the huge engines just sitting waiting to be fired up, the ionic bond that held the panels together and most importantly the thorium reactor that provided all the energy needed for the mission, it was surprisingly small only coming in about the size of an average human.

I slowly enter the code into the keypad and the sense of hysteria persists and comes back again, Again I push on and ignore it. 'Fshhhhhhh'
"Good the airlock is in perfect working order" said Corporal Daisy in a slightly wobbly voice
"Awwwwh looks who's got a wobbly voice," I said teasingly
"Sh-shut up" Daisy replied embarrassed
I chuckle at his little episode of anxiousness and move on, as I step through the airlock door I am greeted by the other astronauts on this mission, there is Sargent Sturgus he's the mechanical pro in our group, Cammi the co-piolet (he likes to keep to himself) and there is Captain Barns he is the captain of the vessel and he is responsible for everyone and he also controls the ship.
"'Ello lads," said Captain Barns
"G'Day Daisy 'n Jamie," said Sargent Sturgus
"Hello, Daisy and Jamie very nice to see ya both" said Cammi in his low-pitched voice
As we all got to greet each other and chatted for a little while the Officer in charge said over the incoms
"Alright ladies get into your seats we are taking off soon"
As we all heard this we all fetched our suits and got into our seats and stamped in tight
"Warming up the engines!" said Sturgus loudly
"All engines in working order ready for take-off!"
"THEM FIRE THEM UP GOD DAMN IT!" said Captain Barns angrily
"Alright, Get ready for the jump!" said Sturgus with enough enthusiasm to power the ship for eternity.

I don't know why but I didn't brace all the way, I should have thought because that was a very hard jump, it was like an explosion just shot me up into the atmosphere, Well that was what happened. All 5 ISSAFO helical engines warmed up and shot us up at 0.005% of the speed of light for a split second, it was mesmerizing to see Mars just disappear like that. Truly a great experience. The air was still for the next few moments as all the others adjusted to the change of speed.
"WHOOOOAAA!" said everyone
"That was wicked," said Cammi in the most excited voice I have ever heard him in. I glanced over at Daisy and I saw him holding my hand, curled up in a ball and he was frightened, to say the least.