When Polaris was a little girl, she watched the first space probe reach the star system of Alpha Centauri. Growing up, she dreams of one day being able to travel to its planets, unravelling its mysteries. This goal becomes her life's purpose, and every choice she makes in the hopes that it will take her one step closer. Many years, obstacles, and sacrifices later, only one step separates her from her destination. But could it be, that she was always closer than she realized?
This is the journey of the Tellus XII manned mission to Alpha Centauri. The mission will bring man even further into the universe as well as the future; and even closer to answering the lingering question: Are we alone?
Tellus is my first go with the science fiction genre, and I honestly spend more time researching than actually writing, but the science is probably still going to be off. So please bare with me. Also, any comments and critiques will only help improve my writing, so don't be shy - share your thoughts.
This is my contribution to the Open Novella Contest 2020, prompt #28. Wish me luck!
ROUND TWO QUALIFIER
In order to embark on a mission to discover alien life on the icy moon of Jupiter Maria must leave her life on Earth behind, including her father and her seven-year-old son Diego. She thought the hardest part of the mission would be saying goodbye, but little does she know what awaits her and her crew on Europa, an environment that has never been explored from the surface until this mission. Perhaps alien life was never meant to be explored by humans...
Will she fulfill her promise to her father and son to make it home alive, or will she fail to make good on that promise like her mother did when she was a little girl?
Note: This story was written during a challenge to write an entire book in one week! I vlogged the whole process on my YouTube channel (Patrick Procrastinates Writing), my Instagram (@memesforwriters), and my TikTok (@memes4writers). Be sure to check those out if you want a behind the scenes on my writing process behind this project! I will continue to work on Europa, but I will not update this version as it shows what I was able to accomplish in the seven days of the challenge. Please let me know what you think (don't be afraid to be mean).