New Frontiers Corporation

Chapter 1

Year 3056., UNE territory, unknown location

The landing gear emerges from underneath the small shuttle as it touches down smoothly in the spacious hangar. The interior, dominantly light grey and elegant yet utilitarian in design, is illuminated by large floodlights casting their intense white light from the ceiling or from occasional smaller floodlights embedded in the walls.

Many other spacecraft, larger and smaller, are parked in designated zones, a notable number of people can be seen moving around, exiting or entering other craft, or perhaps loading or unloading supplies as several small automated transport vehicles zip about, carrying cargo and man alike, adding to the somewhat busy atmosphere.

A ramp at the rear of the shuttle lowers, a pair of short stubby legs serving as support slowly touch the ground, leaving just a few centimetres separating the edge of the ramp and the floor. A woman, tired and groggy, slowly walks down the ramp and onto the hard metal floor of the hangar.

She sweeps her long brown hair to the side, the intertwined strands revealing a rushed attempt at fixing it, a pair of emerald green eyes squint as the floodlights bathe her in their artificial light.

An annoyed voice behind her urges her to move on as she finally steps off the ramp, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings and adjusting to the harsh lighting.

Several more people exit the shuttle behind her, carrying bags and backpacks, their white overalls making them indistinguishable from the other workers moving about. The woman, however, sticks out like a sore thumb with her black pants and white blouse giving her the classic office woman look. Her unbuttoned décolletage revealing her well endowment might have been the centre of attention if others, much like herself, weren't too busy to notice it.

"Ah, Miss Amelia, welcome to the Silent Horizon Station. I hope the trip wasn't too uncomfortable?" A man in a fine dark blue suit with a red tie and a white shirt underneath approaches her with a wide smile, offering his hand for a handshake. A pin with the company logo glistens in the bright light, further distinguishing him.

"Ugh, I feel like one of those bags," Amelia replies, accepting the handshake while briefly glancing at the luggage being loaded onto one of the small automated transports. "You really couldn't arrange something with cryo capsules?

"Amelia arches her stiffened back, stretching from the long journey.

"Hmm..." The man takes a moment, his brown eyes reflecting the fine figure of the woman before him. He closes his eyes momentarily, adopting an apologetic tone. "Unfortunately, due to the nature of the matter, we had to accommodate you in less conspicuous transportation. After all, we wouldn't want the UN poking around, would we?" He flashes a smile that fails to convey genuine happiness or warmth.

"Haaa... I guess not..." Amelia responds, looking around with her tired eyes and noticing the man's earpiece, not at all hidden by his short brown hair.

She had been on a shuttle for over a week, and since shuttles typically lack faster-than-light propulsion, they aren't under as strict regulations as their FTL-capable counterparts, it also means they aren't equipped with the very convenient cryo capsules. But then, this was a secret space station, hidden from the UN, so not complying with FTL ship regulations might be a minor issue compared to that...

Focus!

Amelia shakes her head, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.

She is in an unregistered space station built behind the UN's back, likely used for experiments not approved by them. And she's part of it.

"I understand you might want to rest a bit; however, we're on a tight schedule, and you're the last to arrive." He gestures to the double sliding doors integrated into the nearby wall. "An important meeting will start soon. There, you'll be briefed about the mission and meet your counterparts from other fields."