The Planet of Dread

Chapter 1

"Oh my gosh! What was that? Are we under attack or something?" Sixteen-year-old Casey screamed as the ship shuddered violently beneath her feet, a deafening thud reverberating through the metal hull. Desperately gripping the control panel, she fought to maintain her balance, her heart racing as she witnessed her crewmates tumble to the floor in a chaotic tangle.

Captain Byron, a seasoned man of forty-five, and Commander Bethany, at thirty-seven, burst into the cockpit, their bodies slamming against the walls as the ship pitched and rolled like a wild beast. An ominous series of beeps filled the air, warning them of the critical damage the vessel had sustained.

"What happened, Casey?" Captain Byron demanded, his voice strained but commanding. It was supposed to be a day of autonomy for the students, a chance to apply their training after a week of practical exercises. This was only the second day, and they had been doing so well—until now.

"I don't know, Captain!" Casey replied, panic lacing her voice. "I didn't see any other ship nearby."

"Suddenly, something struck us, and the whole ship went wild!" Fleur, the eighteen-year-old with wide, terrified eyes, added. "I think whatever hit us has damaged the ship!"

"Are we under attack, Captain?" Seventeen-year-old Layton asked, concern etched across his strong features. He stood steady, gripping a support beam as if it were a lifeline. A flicker of excitement danced in his eyes, the thrill of combat seeming to invigorate him at the prospect of defending their ship.

Casey swiftly scanned the display, her heart pounding. "I can't see anything like that!" she replied, her voice edged with uncertainty.

"Let me take a look!" Kristy, the team's star student and also seventeen, rushed to the console. She pointed to a blip on the screen, her brow furrowing. "Is that a ship?"

Commander Bethany quickly leaned in to examine the display as Captain Byron struggled to stabilize the ship alongside Layton and Jerry, his eyes darting between the control panel and the chaotic scene around him.

"Yes, it looks like a ship," Commander Bethany confirmed, her voice tense as the ship's lights flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows around the cockpit.

Suddenly, the other students, previously off-duty, burst into the cockpit, their faces painted with confusion and fear. The ship's evacuation system blared a piercing alarm, its mechanical voice echoing through the cabin: "Alert! Alert! Evacuate now. Evacuate now!"

"Everyone, to the pods!" Captain Byron shouted, his authority cutting through the rising panic. But before anyone could react, the ship jolted violently as if it had struck the gravity of a planet, sending them all tumbling toward the floor in a chaotic rush.

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Kristy awoke to a throbbing pain radiating through her entire body. It took her a few moments to piece together the chaos that had unfolded. A sharp ache pulsed in her head, as if she had collided with something hard. Blinking against the dim light, she surveyed the ship, now shrouded in darkness. Only a single, flickering bulb struggled to cast a feeble glow, illuminating the shadows of her fellow team members sprawled on the floor. She noticed a few of them slowly attempting to move, their limbs heavy with confusion.

"Where are we?" Casey croaked, her voice hoarse and strained, echoing from a few feet away.

"Is everyone okay?" Captain Byron inquired as he pushed himself up, shaking off the disorientation. Next to him, Commander Bethany also rose, her expression etched with concern.

"I'm okay," Casey replied, her voice a bit stronger now.

"Me too," Kristy added, gathering her strength to stand.