The Blue People of Cloud Planet Read Online Free Page B
Author: Brian Wolfenden
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Fantasy, Exploration, Space Exploration
Sir?’ Scott asked, ‘This is highly unusual.’
‘You can drop the ‘Sir’, but I would like you to call me ‘General’. You must all be wondering what you are doing here and the reason for the extraordinary training sessions that you have come through.’
The General then pressed a button on the small remote in his hand.
‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’
Olivia’s head shot up as her voice suddenly boomed out of the multi sound speakers.
‘What the hell am I doing in this stinking forest – I’m a top astronaut!’
The astronauts exchanged smiling glances but before Olivia had time to feel embarrassed the General quickly went on.
‘What indeed and doubtless you all harboured similar thoughts and before we go on I make no apologies for the fact that you have been monitored every minute of the day and night for the last three months.’
Olivia turned and saw that colour had risen up Melanie’s neck. She smiled knowing that Melanie had a thing for Andy. What a relief he hadn’t made it through jungle training!
‘I know you are the best technical astronauts we have produced,’ he continued, ‘but we needed to find the best possible teams for Project Omega.’
He operated the remote again and this time Scott’s voice reverberated around the room.
‘It’s not in the instructions but I know we have to cross the river. Olivia, you have to trust me.’
‘You were all given common instructions for your teams in Borneo,’ the General explained, ‘but each of you was also given one piece of vital information which you would know when to use. You were also asked not to reveal how you came by this knowledge but to use your powers of persuasion to get your partner to trust your decision. Trust, respect and finding the couples most suited to one another is vital for this mission because some of you are going to be together for the next 50 years!’
The silence was palpable as the astronauts looked at one another and tried to take in this astounding revelation.
Chapter 6
The Search for Life
‘You will not be surprised to learn that Project Omega is the search for life, hopefully intelligent, amongst the star constellations that light up our night sky. What may surprise you is that I have been active in this project for the last 25 years. Back then we focused on stars with known planetary systems and within 20 light years of Earth. We also needed strong evidence that Earth sized planets at the right distance from their star were likely to exist.’
He paused and then operated the remote.
The lunar sky in the dome above them suddenly vanished and was replaced by a myriad of stars and constellations, resplendent in their unique colours. The astronauts adjusted their seat backs and admired the spectacle.
Suddenly three red arrows appeared at different parts of the sky.
‘The constellations of Agamemnon, Vercingetorix and Hercules,’ the General’s quiet voice played over the visual display and each constellation’s name appeared beside it, ‘have stars with known planetary systems and fall within the distance criteria. In the constellation Agamemnon, the star Capitulan has a very interesting system.’
The overhead display changed to show the detail of this star and its attendants. Gas giants, ringed planets and barren rocks swirled around their central energy source.
The General moved the pointer over a small planet. ‘This one has possibilities and it is roughly the same distance away from Capitulan as we are from the sun.’
‘However, in Hercules, two stars have very promising planetary systems but they are 20 light years away and at the limit of reachable space travel. But in Vercingetorix, 10 light years away, the star, Seren, gives us the most excitement.’
Then the overhead display filled with Seren and her orbiting family. The astronauts looked up in awe as colourful gas giants,
‘You can drop the ‘Sir’, but I would like you to call me ‘General’. You must all be wondering what you are doing here and the reason for the extraordinary training sessions that you have come through.’
The General then pressed a button on the small remote in his hand.
‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’
Olivia’s head shot up as her voice suddenly boomed out of the multi sound speakers.
‘What the hell am I doing in this stinking forest – I’m a top astronaut!’
The astronauts exchanged smiling glances but before Olivia had time to feel embarrassed the General quickly went on.
‘What indeed and doubtless you all harboured similar thoughts and before we go on I make no apologies for the fact that you have been monitored every minute of the day and night for the last three months.’
Olivia turned and saw that colour had risen up Melanie’s neck. She smiled knowing that Melanie had a thing for Andy. What a relief he hadn’t made it through jungle training!
‘I know you are the best technical astronauts we have produced,’ he continued, ‘but we needed to find the best possible teams for Project Omega.’
He operated the remote again and this time Scott’s voice reverberated around the room.
‘It’s not in the instructions but I know we have to cross the river. Olivia, you have to trust me.’
‘You were all given common instructions for your teams in Borneo,’ the General explained, ‘but each of you was also given one piece of vital information which you would know when to use. You were also asked not to reveal how you came by this knowledge but to use your powers of persuasion to get your partner to trust your decision. Trust, respect and finding the couples most suited to one another is vital for this mission because some of you are going to be together for the next 50 years!’
The silence was palpable as the astronauts looked at one another and tried to take in this astounding revelation.
Chapter 6
The Search for Life
‘You will not be surprised to learn that Project Omega is the search for life, hopefully intelligent, amongst the star constellations that light up our night sky. What may surprise you is that I have been active in this project for the last 25 years. Back then we focused on stars with known planetary systems and within 20 light years of Earth. We also needed strong evidence that Earth sized planets at the right distance from their star were likely to exist.’
He paused and then operated the remote.
The lunar sky in the dome above them suddenly vanished and was replaced by a myriad of stars and constellations, resplendent in their unique colours. The astronauts adjusted their seat backs and admired the spectacle.
Suddenly three red arrows appeared at different parts of the sky.
‘The constellations of Agamemnon, Vercingetorix and Hercules,’ the General’s quiet voice played over the visual display and each constellation’s name appeared beside it, ‘have stars with known planetary systems and fall within the distance criteria. In the constellation Agamemnon, the star Capitulan has a very interesting system.’
The overhead display changed to show the detail of this star and its attendants. Gas giants, ringed planets and barren rocks swirled around their central energy source.
The General moved the pointer over a small planet. ‘This one has possibilities and it is roughly the same distance away from Capitulan as we are from the sun.’
‘However, in Hercules, two stars have very promising planetary systems but they are 20 light years away and at the limit of reachable space travel. But in Vercingetorix, 10 light years away, the star, Seren, gives us the most excitement.’
Then the overhead display filled with Seren and her orbiting family. The astronauts looked up in awe as colourful gas giants,
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