Star Core by M.S Olney

Author:M.S Olney [M.S. Olney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Starforge Books
Published: 2024-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter seventeen

Into Wild Space

With a clunk, the docking clamps of the Camelot released, and the ship was free from the EF space station Artemus. The engines hummed to life, their power coursing through the vessel as it began to glide smoothly away from the station, leaving the silvery orb of Luna in its wake. To any observer or interested party monitoring system traffic, the ship appeared to be embarking on a routine shakedown run, a simple test of its new thrusters. Secrecy was of the utmost importance. EF intelligence had spread countless bits of disinformation across the Sysnet in an attempt to blind any Red Brotherhood spies to their true purpose.

The Camelot had arrived at Luna two days prior under the guise of standard resupply. The station’s personnel had loaded the ship with everything it would need for an extended journey—food, water, ammunition, and critical parts, enough to last several months. Crates of supplies had been quietly transferred, each one carefully marked and checked off against the manifest. The crew had been equally discreet, knowing that their mission required the utmost caution.

As the ship moved further from the station, the vast expanse of space stretched out before it, an endless sea of stars twinkling in the inky blackness. Luna’s pale surface grew smaller, and the blue-and-white marble of Earth hovered on the horizon, a distant yet familiar presence. The Camelot’s hull gleamed under the light of the sun as it powered onward.

Inside the ship, the atmosphere was one of quiet anticipation. The crew moved through the corridors with a sense of purpose, their boots echoing softly on the metallic floors. Each member knew the gravity of the mission they were about to undertake—venturing into Wild Space, it had never been done before by an EF vessel. Admiral Clarke stood on the bridge, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen as the Camelot navigated through the big dark. The bridge was a hub of controlled activity, with officers manning their stations, their hands moving deftly over consoles as they monitored the ship’s systems. The soft hum of machinery filled the air, punctuated by the occasional beep of a sensor or the quiet murmur of communication between the crew.

Clarke’s gaze was steady, his expression unreadable as he watched the screen. He knew the risks they were facing, the dangers that lay ahead in the uncharted territories beyond the Kuiper Belt.

“Status report,” Clarke said, his voice calm but authoritative.

“Engines reaching full power, Admiral,” reported the helmsman. “Course is set for the outer edge of the system. Engaging quantum slip drive on your command, sir.”

Clarke nodded, his gaze fixed on the viewscreen, where the vastness of space stretched out before them. “Good. Activate the drive and prepare the crew for the jump.”

“Aye, sir,” the helmsman replied, his voice steady.

As the ship surged forward, the stars outside the viewport began to blur, transforming into streaks of light against the inky backdrop of space. The Camelot was now fully underway, hurtling toward the unknown with a single-minded determination.

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