Sector 51

Part 1: Valiant

My name is Stephen Damien. This a story of Aliens, Escapes, and Adventure.

The Press Conference was exhilarating, I've never seen so many camera lights flashing into my face. I was going to Luhman 16. I mean, I know it's a depressing Brown Dwarf star but it's the most optimal target for a Fourth dimensional jump. Scientists at NASA figured it out somehow, but don't look at me. I'm just following their instructions. When I take a moment to think, astronauts are glorified test dummies. But I'm probably the most famous test dummy ever to exist. I'm going to another star and back. In a damn hour! And that's actually a big deal if you haven't noticed. Anyways, to sum it up. I'm the most important man in the world right now.

"Stephen? Time for your briefing."

It was Public Relations Administrator Holly Redwen. She was currently my best friend, she would find excuses for me to avoid Press Conferences, TV Interviews, and any other way the Media could reach me.

"Sorry Holly, I'll be out in a second."

I was sitting in an office chair at Kennedy Space Center, The Valiant was sitting outside. I could see it through the window. A massive spherical spaceship (an homage to the Vostok Programme capsule) with Ion propulsion, A Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, and the newest thing to come out of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory the Fourth Dimensional Core Drive, the greatest invention in all of human history. It can meld time and space together. I mean, I have no idea how it works, as I said before we're glorified test dummies.

"Hurry up Stephen, The reporters don't have all day."

That's the one thing I despise about Holly, she is the single most impatient person in the world, or at least in the entire space program.

I stepped outside the office door, Holly was wearing a black suit with a small Valiant mission pin. Makes sense, everyone at NASA wears one now, and before I got into the ship. I had to do another press conference, Holly was here to 'escort' me to it.

The halls of Kennedy Space Center were decorated with signs depicting the Valiant, saying in bold capital letters. 'To the stars! Stephen Damien!' People looked at me like I was God incarnate, I kind of smiled at them nervously then gave them a thumbs up. I was the weirdest American Hero ever to exist, I wasn't good at being social, I wasn't good-looking. I just, got the opportunity of a lifetime.

I looked at Holly. "When am I getting the Valiant  Manual?"

She looked up at me, she was significantly smaller than me, I'm 6'2 and she was 5'11 unusually short in my opinion.

"the manual is with the briefing package on the seat of the Valiant, be patient."

I turned away and scowled I hated when I couldn't have something to read whilst at a press conference, Holly usually stuck a book on Chemistry or Physics beneath the table so I wouldn't get bored. I had a feeling she didn't do that today. Most likely because this was so far the most important moment of my life.

The reporters were like wild dogs in my eyes, wild dogs that could speak English that could use cameras. There was a table with a silky white drape and a pitcher of iced water. Let the games begin. There was mostly questions regarding my thoughts on the mission, the Valiant,and Luhman 16. One question from CNN really caught my attention.

"What are your odds of surviving the journey?"

I had never really thought about it. Everything has been so tightly packed, of the five probes sent through hyperspace three returned. I tried to act as casual as possible.

"Well" I paused "based on the five probe missions only three returned." My palms were sweaty, the question hit me unusually hard. "that means based on theoretical probability I'll have a sixty percent chance of returning to earth." I think my answer came off ominously. The reporter scribbled on a notepad.

Holly rushed onto the stage quickly "that will be all! Goodnight everyone!"

The reporters flew into another frenzy. Holly ended the conference 45 minutes early.

"You can't tell them that you have a forty percent chance of dying! You fool!"

Holly rushed me into the hallways. I knew where I was going now.

The Valiant stood against the floodlights across the launch pad, it was atop the Delta X. An insanely large fusion of the Delta IV and the Space Launch System. And I was being put on a chair atop of it. Holly brought me to a van that would escort me towards the Valiant. It was really the Goliath of rockets. The van pulled up to an elevator that would take me to the Airlock. I was sliding on my pressure suit. Holly stared at me uncomfortably

"thanks for reminding me that you might die."

I looked at her, she showed genuine concern for me.

'You're welcome."

She let out a laugh, and I couldn't help but smile

"I won't die okay?"

She nodded and I put on my helmet. The van pulled to a stop, I slid open the door. there was masses of NASA employees standing before me clapping. I waved and everyone started cheering. I pressed a button on the metallic red frame of the elevator, the door opened up and I stepped into the elevator. I slowly started moving up. Holly was standing beside the van waving, I waved back, I was going to miss her terribly.

I crossed the platform to meet two NASA employees.

"Hey boys,"

they looked at me, one spoke out. "Hello sir, good luck with your mission."

I smiled and they nodded in unison.

The Valiant was massive, it was a spherical chamber with a massive hydroponics facilty, a treadmill, a freezer, and of course, the fourth dimensional core drive. It was huge, a black box taking up a good third of the space. The command center was at the top of the capsule, when the Valiant is 'hindered' by gravity I have to climb up a painfully large ladder in a pressure suit. the employees closed the airlock behind me. There were approximately 29 rungs on this ladder. and I was on the 27th and was tired as a dog. When I finally reached the seat I was panting.

"Ground control?"

someone spoke to me over the radio

"this is Ground control, we're listening."

"why is the ladder so damn long?" I was panting into the radio, the Valiant pressure suit was very movement-restrictive. It was made out of multiple layers of fabrics that tightly compressed to form a semi-shell around your body.

"Hello Stephen, this is Head Valiant Designer Andrew. The ladder is large because the Ship is large. Don't worry, next time you'll be going down the ladder."

I laughed. "Roger that, giant ship equals giant ladder"

There was still going to be another 15 minutes to launch. So I pulled out the briefing package. A comprehensive guide on launch, flight, and return procedures complete with guides to the interior and exterior of the Valiant. I studied everything about the Valiant carefully. Where everything was. What every button on the control panel meant,and who built it. Then I flipped to launch procedures.

"Alright Stephen. You ready for this?"
Ground control abruptly spoke into my helmet making me lose my page

"Could've warned me when you were going to say something!" I boomed over the radio

He took a moment to respond so I could tell he was laughing, or telling his friends how he's talking to the Stephen Damien.

"Alright, you have T minus one minute to launch. Follow instructions one to thirty in the Valiant manual launch procedures."

I moved my hand around the control panel, clicking every button that the manual said to click with precision and speed. I only had about 30 seconds now

"Alright Stephen, hold on. Booster ignition in 15 seconds."

I could hear a voice: "5...4...3...2...1..."
The ship rattled violently
"Liftoff, we have liftoff."