Into The Stars

Into The Stars_003 // The Brightest Star //

Chapter 1: A Glimpse of Hope

But the government, driven by insatiable greed, refused to grant the Admiral even an extra year. Their initial funding had been more of a public relations stunt than a genuine investment in scientific advancement. Despite the sacrifices made during years of experimentation-human lives lost to hazardous materials and prolonged exposure-the government cared little about the cost. They believed success would overshadow any ethical concerns.

As the day of reckoning arrived, Admiral Kensen understood that he was in grave danger. He had only ten to twenty minutes to make a life-altering decision. He could either submit all his research to the government or take a leap of faith, preparing the shuttle with every resource available and sending Commander along with his two best gunners, Jakson and Malik, into the depths of space. This was a sacrifice they would have to make, a necessary step given the countless lives lost before them.

Three days before the crisis, the station had been evacuated, leaving the four of them-Admiral Kensen, Commander, Jakson, and Malik-in the shuttle's cargo hold. The Admiral addressed his team as he always did, a paternal figure speaking to his children, because that's how he saw them: not just soldiers, but family. They had all put their lives on the line for humanity's sake, a noble endeavor.

"As you can see, the government tried to sabotage us from the start," he began, his voice a mix of despair and unwavering courage. "They never intended to help us; we were merely a marketing tool for their agenda. But we have proven them wrong. We must go Into The Stars; we are meant for more than this planet. Remember, when you make your decisions, think not of yourselves but of humanity's future. We are nothing without each other."

"All sequences are initialized. The shuttle is ready. You have ONE SHOT-a chance at either humanity's fortunate future or its greatest failure," he continued, tension mounting in the cramped space.

"Admiral, what are the odds of hitting a star in manual mode on our first try? We haven't had real practice!" Commander asked, fear creeping into his voice.

"Remember, aim for the brightest star. That's where the greatest energy is-where life exists," the Admiral instructed.

"But how do you aim for the brightest star manually? It's not like I shoot stars from my balcony," the Commander replied, exasperated.

"Every action we take is a leap of faith. The odds might be against us, but we must try," Jakson, the technician and gunner, chimed in. "The odds are roughly 0.14876."

"I can't even wrap my head around this madness," Malik muttered as he settled into his seat, weapons at the ready.

"Close your eyes," the Admiral instructed. "Visualize the tiniest particle of light. That's your target-the brightest star."