Makaar
11-12-2005, 22:51
"Breaking news, Royal Space Fleet planetary survey ships have discovered a new planetary system near the neighboring Nuphotnic galaxy. The stellar cluster, known as XJJ-442, or the Bryolie Patch, has several inhabitable planets in the same system. According to scientific research, there are 4 small stars orbiting a tiny black hole. The Ministry of War has stated that it is expecting the Zactorn government to react strongly to the news, especially as the system was discovered in space closer to the Nuphontic galaxy than our own. Turning to sports, Makaari Core took a decisive victory against..."
Captain Nelson turned the television off before sluggishly sliding on his service uniform. The dull grey and black tones blended well with the dull grey and black walls, which in turn fitted in perfectly with the dull grey and black view from the windows.
"Computer, lights off," he ordered, grabbing a mug of now-cold coffee and taking a sip before leaving the room. Entering a lift, he pushed the button for the bridge, before the doors slid shut and the lift whirred into motion, sliding gracefully towards the bridge.
"Captain on the bridge!" a junior officer called. The crew there immediately stood to attention as the captain took a clipboard from next to the lift doors and read it carefully. "As you were," he ordered, taking his seat.
"Sir, planetary research team A has reported that they have found another dense pocket of iridium nitrate on the planet. They're sending up samples to be analysed."
The captain glanced at the viewscreen, which was displaying key information about the planet below. "How many tonnes is that now?" he asked.
"So far, the teams have discovered 1.04 gigatonnes of iridium nitrate," the science officer said. "That's enough to fuel an entire division of Hammer-class ships for two and a half centuries."
The captain smiled. "Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, you've all earned me another medal." There was a slight murmur of laughter from the bridge crew. "Continue scanning, I want more teams ready to begin examining the planets."
"Not until we get one of our shuttles back, Captain," the science officer said. "We've got as many teams as we can get down there now."
An alarm sounded, and the crews looked to their stations. "Report!" the captian ordered.
"Sir, I'm reading a massive explosion on one of the planets... the iridium nitrate has been detonated. There's dense clouds of the stuff being spewed out. Survey team 5 is beginning emergency evacuation of that planet... my god, the planet is breaking apart! The iridium nitrate went all the way down to the core!"
On the screen, a planet in the distance was engulfed by a fireball. When it cleared, all that was left was large fragments of interstellar dust.
"Get our ship over there," the captain ordered. "Tell the other teams to be very careful, we don't want a repeat of that. Activate grappling hooks, we can tow whatever iridium we can get back up to the ship, send some mining craft to gather the rest."
There was no doubt about what they had discovered - possibly the richest supply of interstellar fuel ever known. Unfortunately, as much as they wished it was not, it was only a matter of time before Zactorn ships turned up, trying to claim what they would see as theirs.
Captain Nelson turned the television off before sluggishly sliding on his service uniform. The dull grey and black tones blended well with the dull grey and black walls, which in turn fitted in perfectly with the dull grey and black view from the windows.
"Computer, lights off," he ordered, grabbing a mug of now-cold coffee and taking a sip before leaving the room. Entering a lift, he pushed the button for the bridge, before the doors slid shut and the lift whirred into motion, sliding gracefully towards the bridge.
"Captain on the bridge!" a junior officer called. The crew there immediately stood to attention as the captain took a clipboard from next to the lift doors and read it carefully. "As you were," he ordered, taking his seat.
"Sir, planetary research team A has reported that they have found another dense pocket of iridium nitrate on the planet. They're sending up samples to be analysed."
The captain glanced at the viewscreen, which was displaying key information about the planet below. "How many tonnes is that now?" he asked.
"So far, the teams have discovered 1.04 gigatonnes of iridium nitrate," the science officer said. "That's enough to fuel an entire division of Hammer-class ships for two and a half centuries."
The captain smiled. "Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, you've all earned me another medal." There was a slight murmur of laughter from the bridge crew. "Continue scanning, I want more teams ready to begin examining the planets."
"Not until we get one of our shuttles back, Captain," the science officer said. "We've got as many teams as we can get down there now."
An alarm sounded, and the crews looked to their stations. "Report!" the captian ordered.
"Sir, I'm reading a massive explosion on one of the planets... the iridium nitrate has been detonated. There's dense clouds of the stuff being spewed out. Survey team 5 is beginning emergency evacuation of that planet... my god, the planet is breaking apart! The iridium nitrate went all the way down to the core!"
On the screen, a planet in the distance was engulfed by a fireball. When it cleared, all that was left was large fragments of interstellar dust.
"Get our ship over there," the captain ordered. "Tell the other teams to be very careful, we don't want a repeat of that. Activate grappling hooks, we can tow whatever iridium we can get back up to the ship, send some mining craft to gather the rest."
There was no doubt about what they had discovered - possibly the richest supply of interstellar fuel ever known. Unfortunately, as much as they wished it was not, it was only a matter of time before Zactorn ships turned up, trying to claim what they would see as theirs.