Into The Stars

Into The Stars_005 // Brightest Star_01 //

Chapter 1: A Glimpse of Hope

Out in the void of space, time seemed to stretch and warp, distorting their sense of reality. The absence of gravity and the effects of time dilation created an almost serene environment. Yet, this stillness was deceptive. The quiet, soothing expanse of space harbored far more dangers than any landscape Earth could conjure. It was true what they said about the vacuum of space—it could give you an overwhelming sense of loneliness, the kind that clung to your soul.

And paradoxically, in that vast, empty silence, there was a feeling of control. You stood on the brink of destruction, yet in the very same moment, you felt as though you were cradled in the hands of the cosmos itself, balanced between existence and oblivion.

The shuttle drifted, lost in space, as the crew remained motionless, caught in the delicate balance between life and death

As time passed, Commander slowly regained consciousness, his senses sharpening in the weightless void around him. The hum of the shuttle's systems filled his ears, but it was almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they'd just escaped. His body ached, but for now, things seemed... stable. It was a fragile calm, the kind that sets in right before the storm hits. He knew this moment was the tipping point.

For all their research and planning, for all the trials they'd survived, aiming for a star was the kind of thing you dream about, not something you ever expect to achieve. Commander blinked the fog from his vision, trying to grasp the enormity of it. Could he actually pull this off? Even the best simulations couldn't prepare him for the reality of shooting into the unknown, for reaching beyond the stars themselves. He had trained for this, prepared for it in every possible way. Yet now, it felt like staring into a bottomless abyss.

But then, he remembered Admiral's words—the words that had carried him through every mission, every impossible task. Aim for the brightest star. The trust Admiral had placed in him, the unwavering belief that they could achieve something greater than themselves, was enough. It was more than enough. The Admiral's sacrifice weighed heavily on him, but it also fueled him.

He glanced at his fellow soldiers, still unconscious but alive. That was a start.

With a deep breath, Commander set his focus. He could doubt himself all he wanted, but the Admiral had believed in him, and that faith was all the reason he needed to try. To aim for the stars.

Getting up from the floor he was knocked out, Commander looked at the shuttle's windows and stated: "I don't think we managed to finish our mission yet, but we managed to see the stars as close as someone could saw them. Now all we had to do is to aim for the brightest one!", stated Commander very excited and with almost a billion of thoughts of failure.

"I don't think we should keep that long", said Jakson, one of the best tehnician humanity saw.

"Jakson is right, our energy will go on a shortage in about 7 mins from launch, so we have to think good and hope that god is on our side", stated Malik, grabing his gun and keeping it near his chest.

"Isn't it right? God is on our side as we can see even from the number of minutes", replyed Jakson.

The Commander's expression was far from one of relief or joy, weighed down by the rapid series of events and the conversation he'd overheard between his two comrades. It wasn't that the Commander didn't believe in God—he did, in his own way—but at this moment, all they could truly rely on was the hope that his aim would be as true as it had been back in 2066 during the Battle of Harpoon. Against all odds, he had led the defense and emerged victorious, even when survival seemed impossible. The radiation levels during that conflict were lethal, particularly given they were only equipped with Hazardous Protection Level 2 masks, instead of the Level 4 required for such volatile chemical element as Vorlaxium. Maybe it was in that moment that he realized he was something more than ordinary—a chosen one, perhaps, to survive when no one else could.

Commander moved to the aiming position, intent on calibrating the sensors, even though some had fried during the tumultuous launch. He was resolved to do everything within his power to target the brightest star. As he approached the aim scope, the atmosphere grew thick with tension; heavy breaths echoed in the cabin, and time seemed to stretch, wrapping him in a cocoon of thought. It wasn't a matter of whether their mission would succeed—it was the pressing question of how to make it work that loomed large in his mind. This tension felt like a heavy burden on his shoulders, worsened by the reality of his fallen comrade, a loss he had yet to fully comprehend. The thought of Admiral's fate weighed on him, a dark cloud pressing down his spine. Their communication systems had failed, leaving them with no alternative means to reach out; they were stuck with the only technology that had survived the chaotic launch and subsequent turmoil.

"Steady on, Commander," Jakson said, his voice steady despite the tension. "The systems are calibrated for the best shot; the error margin is nearly zero. Our only issue is that we have one shot—one chance—and if this doesn't work, we're doomed."

"Commander," Malik interjected from his gunner's post, his frustration evident, "from where I'm standing, all the stars look the same. They're all bright! How are we supposed to find the brightest one when they all shine so brightly? It's a ridiculous challenge."

"Malik, now isn't the time to panic," Commander replied, raising his voice. "Your worrying is only adding to our stress and could jeopardize our chances. Be the soldier you've trained to be and stop overthinking everything!"

"It's not overthinking if I'm staring at this pathetic little window and seeing nothing but bright points!" Malik shot back, anger flaring in his eyes.

"Jakson, calibrate the scene and let me shoot. Let me shoot and let me aim for the star, because if we don't do it now, it's all in vain. We have to do it NOW!" the Commander exclaimed, urgency lacing his voice as he approached the scope. He took a deep breath, the weight of their situation pressing down on him, and positioned his eyes near the glass. As he closed his eyes momentarily and then opened them just a crack, a vision emerged that chilled his spine and stole his breath away. There it was—the brightest star, shimmering with a light that felt almost otherworldly. It appeared before him as if he were being divinely guided, a celestial beacon cutting through the dark void. Perhaps the spirit of the Admiral was with them, watching from the afterlife, steering their fates in this moment of desperation.