Exploring the Stars

Chapter 8 - New Discoveries

(There are italicized words in this chapter that are foreign. Knowing their meaning isn't needed, but it helps know the characters using them a bit more. The final chapter of this book is a listing of these words with their meanings.)

A bit more than two days later, they arrived at the outskirts of their fifth system – the target system Ksenia had suggested. When Ksenia had dropped them from FTL, she checked her instruments, then looked wide eyed out the windows and murmured, "Eto interesno."

After checking his own instruments and sensing Ksenia's excitement, Hari nodded in agreement, "Precisely what I was thinking. Dannay, look at what we see here."

"I see three large planets – I'll guess they are gas giants, with no other clues – looking in toward the primary. Much as we saw in our first system, right, Ksenia?"

Ksenia looked excited. "Da, Dannay, but also not quite. Let us get our second scan three AU above the plane and see if what I think I see is correct."

They popped in after the short jump, and got their second system scan, and Hari noted Ksenia appeared even more excited. "Kapitan, I will be an hour checking this, at least. Hari, can you come back in half that? Mita?"

Mita replied, "Scan complete, and I'll have them on your screens shortly, Ksenia dear."

– o O o –

At just shy of a half hour, Hari went back to the bridge. He saw Ksenia at her station talking quietly with Mita, and her excitement showed even more. Coming in behind her but not wanting to alarm her, he placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered, "Ksenia, did you find what I think you were expecting? Are we looking at ..."

As soon as she felt his touch, the wide-eyed Ksenia jumped up and wrapped him in a huge hug. "Da, Hari," she cried. She pulled back and stared at him. "Oo nas chetiree – uh, izvinite. We have four giants, the largest and closest to the primary about Jupiter's size, but still at five AU. We have several planets, all terrestrial inside its orbit, and one is in middle of habitable zone! It is in better position than Terra, if I can guess. Need planetologist here now!!" she exclaimed.

"Will be fun to visit! Already know it has O2 / N2 atmosphere. Also water vapor, and possibly – nyet, probably CO2. Just need percentages! We also need its gravity. Also has largish moon, but need more data!"

"Well, this is going to be a fun trip, I have to agree," said Hari as he took her hands in his, more to keep her from shaking him any further than anything else. "Rather than going to the LaGrange points of the giants, I assume you want to check our proto-Earth first?"

"Da, fchera – yesterday, if we can!!" she cried. "Is more exciting than anything I have done, Hari!!"

"Anything?" Hari said with a grin aqs he tickled her a bit. "I seem to recall ..."

"OK, anything with no one touching me!" Ksenia squeaked through a bright blush as she hugged him again.

As they were hugging, the others joined them. Seeing their obvious excitement, Dannay asked, "So, kiddos, new planets? Good star? What have I missed?"

"Superb planet!" squealed Ksenia, slipping further into her Russian accent. "Excellent star! Can we check planet now?"

Shocked by her enthusiasm, Dannay said, "Wait a bit, little girl, give me some background! I take it you found the mother lode?"

Catching herself as she released Hari, Ksenia paused for a few seconds. She then took a breath and went on, "Dannay, we have a mirror of Sol's system, but here. Four gas giants beyond five AU. Several terrestrial ones inside them. One in middle of goldilocks zone! Possibly better than Terra!"