Darkest Space

Moon Base

“Jim, Jim, do you hear me? Jim? Can you check what’s going on with the solar panels? I can’t manage the power, it’s overloading.”

Jim walks through the corridor. I hear the clicking sound of his metal-reinforced shoes on the metal floor.

“Jim, tell me what’s going on. What’s happening?”

“Duuuuun, turn everything off, now. Cut the power, now. Oh my god.”

Flash. Strange noises. Darkness.

I see the countryside, a lake, people fishing next to it. It’s a sunny and hot day. I see a flashlight, it’s Jim.

“Jim, what the heck is going on? What did you do? I have a really bad headache. I thought you were going to fix it. What the heck, my wristwatch exploded. I’ve never seen anything like that. A line of smoke is coming from the piece of electronics that used to be my wristwatch.”

“Dun, are you okay? I thought you were hurt.”

“I am okay because I was in the suit. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I think I’m fine. What the heck, Jim.”

“The Sun, a corona ejection. The big one.”

“You’re serious? I thought it was something you did or an asteroid.”

“Well, it hit us pretty badly. The whole base was shaking.”

“Did you manage to turn anything off?”

“Of course I did. The solar panel power line, the explosive bolts. I think it worked.”

“Let me check that. Jim, did it work?”

“Yes, there’s a 1-meter wide gap between cable ends. All three cables. We’re lucky, I would say.”

“That’s good. What else? Anything fried inside?”

“A couple of radios don’t work and a laptop, that’s what I’ve checked already. Everything else seems fine.”

“What’s fried outside, Jim?”

“Everything, I mean all electronics. All of it.”

“I suspected that. What about the capsule?”

“No idea, need to run diagnostics.”

“Listen, I’ll do some work tomorrow. Now I need to get to my family. They’re probably stranded somewhere on Earth.”

“Jim, I’m wondering why that synthetic human left so quickly. There’s no spaceship on launch pad 7 anymore. He didn’t tell anyone he was leaving.”

“I have no idea. He didn’t take anything. He just left. Maybe he knew what was going to happen or maybe he did it.”

“No, I don’t believe that. He has no reason to do that. Does he want something? He has everything he can imagine. Did you see their molecular printer? It’s quite an astonishing invention. I just hope none of them got hurt from the Sun. Do you think he’ll be back?”

“No idea. Maybe. A solar corona ejection already happened, so that means about 50 years will be quiet. We’ll see.”

“Yes, we will see.”

I found Jim in the garage.

We have 60 days of food. Water isn’t the problem. I’ll go to the North Pole and dig some ice, so we’ll have four months of supply or so. The real problem is the food.”

“I have 60 days of MREs in my rover. So that makes 120 days. I think it’s plenty of time. We’ll figure something out.”

“Just in case we get in trouble, I’ll see what we can synthesize. That molecular printer would be really handy here. I wonder if it can print meat-free burgers and lasagna.”

“I would like pizza.”

“Yeah, right. Are those MREs pizzas?”

“Yeah, mate. Can’t live without pizza.”

“Okay, food problems temporarily solved. What about the capsule?”

“We need to replace the electronics.”

“Do we have a spare kit?”

“Yes, we do.”

“I wanted to ask you, Jim, are you from the army by any chance?”

“Yes, US Space Force. Why do you ask?”

“I just wondered how you managed to get 30 days of MREs and the rover.”

“From there, Dun, from that place.”

His answer made me happy temporarily, but I had more questions. Not for today though. I wondered what the Space Force was doing here and why most of their equipment didn’t fry. His rover still works despite being outside during the storm. It has some electronics, I think, but why it didn’t fry is interesting.”

The Sun

It had been happening for years now, but no one could quite explain it. The sun was changing, becoming more active and unpredictable. And with each new coronal mass ejection, the people of Earth were left to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild.

For Markus, a young scientist living in Germany, the changes to the sun had been a source of fascination and frustration. He had devoted his career to studying the sun and trying to understand its behavior, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to get ahead of it.

“It’s like the sun has a mind of its own,” he muttered to himself as he pored over his data. “I can’t seem to predict its behavior no matter what I do.”

But Markus wasn’t the only one struggling with the sun’s changes. Lena, a schoolteacher in a small town in Germany, had seen firsthand the effects of the coronal mass ejections on her students and their families. Many of them had lost their homes and possessions in the flare-ups, and Lena knew that the psychological toll of the constant disruptions was taking a toll on them.

“It’s like we’re living in a never-ending disaster,” she said to her friend, Maria, as they sat in a crowded shelter. “I don’t know how much more of this we can take.”

But despite the challenges they faced, Markus, Lena, and Maria refused to give up. They knew that the sun’s changes were a temporary setback, and that if they could just find a way to adapt and persevere, they could make it through this difficult time.

That’s when they learned about the Star Citizen program, a new initiative that was offering people the chance to leave Earth and start anew in a new colony. It was a risky move, but Markus, Lena, and Maria knew that it was their only chance to escape the constant disruptions and start fresh.
So, with the help of the Star Citizen program, they sold everything they had and set off on a journey to a new world, filled with hope and determination.

As they flew through the endless expanse of space, they knew that the journey ahead would be long and difficult. But they were ready for it, and they were determined to face it with courage and resilience.

And as they approached their new home, they knew that they had made the right decision. They were survivors, and they would always find a way to keep going, no matter what the future held.

Military Cargo Ship

The “Ember” was a state-of-the-art military cargo ship, capable of transporting goods across the galaxy with ease. Captain Jack Thompson had been at the helm of the Ember for years now, and he was proud of the crew he had assembled. They were a tight-knit group, always ready to face any challenge that came their way.

But this time, the challenge was unlike any they had ever faced before. As they flew through the endless expanse of space, a sudden warning flashed on their screens. A coronal mass ejection from the sun was headed straight for them, and they had to act fast if they wanted to survive.

“Everyone to the escape pods!” Jack shouted over the intercom. “We don’t have much time!”

The crew rushed to follow his orders, each one of them determined to make it to safety. But as they tried to make their way to the escape pods, they were met with a series of setbacks. The corridors were filled with smoke and debris, making it difficult to see or breathe. And to make matters worse, one of their own, a young engineer named Sarah, had been injured in the initial impact and was struggling to keep up.

“Come on, Sarah, you can do it!” Jack shouted, trying to encourage her. “We’re almost there!”

But as they fought their way through the chaos, they could feel the heat of the coronal mass ejection bearing down on them. They knew they didn’t have much time left, and they had to act fast if they wanted to make it to the escape pods.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the escape pods. Jack helped Sarah into one, making sure she was strapped in securely before turning to his own pod.

“Good luck, everyone!” he shouted as he sealed the door. “May the odds be ever in your favor!”

As the escape pods hurtled away from the Ember, Jack couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss and sadness. The Ember had been his home for so long, and the thought of leaving it behind was almost too much to bear. But he knew he had no choice. The coronal mass ejection had damaged the ship beyond repair, and the only chance they had of surviving was to abandon it.

As he looked out at the Ember, shrinking in the distance, Jack couldn’t help but wonder what the future held. He knew it would be a long and difficult journey, but he was determined to make the most of it. And who knows, maybe one day, he would find a way to return to the stars and rebuild the Ember. Until then, he would keep flying, no matter what the odds.

Space Station

As the sun rose over the distant horizon, Jim stood on the bridge of the space station, staring at the endless expanse of space before him. He had been working on the station for years now, and he knew every inch of it like the back of his hand.

But something was different this morning. As he walked through the corridors, he could feel a sense of unease creeping over him. It was as if something was following him, a mysterious presence that seemed to lurk just out of sight. He tried to shake off the feeling, telling himself it was just his imagination.

But as the day went on and the feeling persisted, he couldn’t help but feel that something was watching him, something otherworldly and mysterious. He couldn’t see it, but he could sense its presence, a strange and enigmatic force that seemed to be guiding him on his journey.
Suddenly, there was a loud beeping from his console. A message was incoming from one of his colleagues on the station. He quickly brought up the screen and read the message, a look of shock and disbelief spreading across his face as he did.

“Jim, we’ve got a problem. There’s been a coronal mass ejection from the sun, and it’s headed straight for us. We need to take shelter immediately.”

“Oh no,” Jim muttered to himself. He knew that a coronal mass ejection could be incredibly dangerous, capable of causing serious damage to the station and anyone on board.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jim sprang into action. He raced through the corridors, issuing orders and trying to get as many people to safety as possible. He knew that time was of the essence, and he had to move quickly if they were going to survive.

As he worked, he couldn’t help but wonder what had caused the ejection. Was it just a natural occurrence, or was there something more sinister at play? He had a feeling that the mystery of the sun’s sudden flare-up was far from over, and that he was just scratching the surface of something much bigger and more complex.

But for now, his priority was to get everyone to safety and try to repair the damage as best he could. He knew that the journey ahead would be long and difficult, but he was determined to face it with courage and determination.

“Jim, have you gotten everyone to the shelter yet?” asked his colleague, Rachelle, as she rushed to his side.
“Almost,” he replied. “I just need to check on the rest of the team and make sure everyone is accounted for.”

“Be careful,” Rachelle said, concern etched on her face. “We don’t know what kind of damage this ejection might cause.”
“I will,” Jim assured her. “I’ll see you in the shelter.”

As he raced to check on the rest of the team, Jim couldn’t shake the feeling that something strange was going on. He had a feeling that the ejection was no coincidence, and that there was more to it than met the eye.
But he had no time to dwell on it now. He had to focus on getting everyone to safety and praying that the station would weather the storm. It was going to be a long and difficult journey, but he was determined to see it through to the end.

Commander John

Commander John sat at the controls of his ship, his hands flying over the console as he navigated through the treacherous depths of space. He had faced many challenges, but this mission was unlike any other.

He was deep in the heart of enemy territory, on a mission to gather intelligence on a mysterious new weapon being developed by a rival faction. If he succeeded, it could turn the tide of the ongoing war.

As John flew through the asteroid field, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of exhilaration. This was what he lived for, the thrill of the chase and the rush of victory.

Suddenly, his ship jolted as a stray shot hit its hull. John cursed as alarms blared, indicating that the shields were down. He gritted his teeth and focused, expertly maneuvering his ship through the chaos as he tried to escape.

Just as he thought he was home free, a massive battleship Anaconda appeared on the horizon, blocking his path. John’s heart raced as he prepared for the final showdown. He knew he was outnumbered and outgunned, but he also knew that he was one of the best pilots in the galaxy.

With a fierce cry, he charged towards the enemy ship, firing every weapon at his disposal. The ensuing battle was fierce and brutal, but in the end, John emerged victorious.

As he limped back to base, battered but triumphant, he knew that he had just earned his place among the elite.

Commander Rachel

Commander Rachel sat at the controls of her ship, staring in horror as the Thargoids advanced on her position. She had been flying through the fringe of known space, just outside of the bubble, when she had stumbled upon their trail.

At first, she had thought it was just a group of pirates, but as she got closer, she realized the truth. The massive, alien ships were unlike anything she had ever seen, with sleek, organic-looking hulls and strange, pulsating tentacles.

As the Thargoids surrounded her, Rachel knew that she was outmatched. She had heard rumors about the aliens, about their brutal attacks on human ships, but she had never believed they were real. Now, as they closed in, she knew that her time was running out.

She tried to call for help, but her radio was jammed. She tried to run, but her engines were no match for the Thargoids’ superior technology. And so, with a heavy heart, she prepared for the end.
As the Thargoids fired their weapons, Rachel closed her eyes, bracing for the impact. But it never came. When she opened her eyes, the aliens were gone, and in their place stood a group of human ships, their weapons trained on the Thargoids’ retreat.

Rachel couldn’t believe it. She had been saved by a group of rebels, fighting against the alien threat. And as she joined their ranks, she knew that she had found her true calling. From that day on, she dedicated herself to the fight against the Thargoids, and to protecting the human race from their deadly advance.

The Guardians

It had been decades since humanity had first ventured into the stars, and for Captain Sarah Thompson, it was a dream come true. As the leader of the expedition, she had spent years preparing for this moment, and now, as she stood on the bridge of the USS Armstrong, gazing out at the vast expanse of space, she couldn’t believe it was finally happening.

The Armstrong was the most advanced ship humanity had ever built, equipped with the latest technology and a crew of the most talented scientists and engineers in the field. Sarah had hand-picked each member of the team, and she knew they were the best of the best.

As they made their way through the galaxy, they encountered countless wonders and dangers, from breathtaking nebulae to hostile alien species. But Sarah was determined to push on, driven by a sense of curiosity and adventure that had always burned within her.

And then, one day, they stumbled upon something truly incredible. As they flew through a dense cloud of gas and dust, their sensors picked up a faint energy signature. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, and Sarah knew they had to investigate.

As they followed the signal, they emerged into a vast, open space, filled with floating islands and shimmering structures. And in the center, hovering above the clouds, was a massive, glowing orb.
Sarah’s heart raced as they approached the orb. It was unlike anything she had ever seen, and she could feel a sense of ancient power emanating from it. As they drew closer, a group of strange, humanoid figures appeared, their eyes glowing with a soft, blue light.

“Greetings, humans,” they said in unison, their voices echoing through the emptiness of space. “We are the Guardians, keepers of the galaxy’s secrets. Why have you come here?”

Sarah stepped forward, her heart racing with excitement and fear. She had heard rumors of the Guardians, ancient beings who guarded the secrets of the universe, but she had never believed they were real.

“We are a group of scientists, exploring the galaxy in search of knowledge,” she said, her voice trembling with awe. “We had no idea this place existed, and we came here in the hope of learning more about it.”

The Guardians looked at her for a moment, their eyes glowing with a mysterious light. Then, they nodded.
“Very well,” they said. “We have watched your journey with interest, and we see the potential for great knowledge in your hearts. We will allow you to continue your exploration, but be warned: the secrets of the universe are not to be taken lightly. Only those who are pure of heart and mind can bear the burden of the truth.”
Sarah nodded, her eyes shining with gratitude. She knew that this was an opportunity of a lifetime, and she was determined to make the most of it.

For the next few months, the Armstrong’s crew explored the floating islands, studying the ancient structures and learning from the Guardians. They discovered secrets of the universe that had been lost to humanity for millennia, and Sarah knew that their findings would change the course of history.
As they prepared to leave, the Guardians bid them farewell.

“Remember, humans,” they said. “The secrets of the universe are not to be shared lightly. Use the knowledge you have gained wisely, and always seek the truth.”

Sarah nodded, her heart filled with gratitude and awe. She knew that this was a journey she would never forget, and as she turned the Armstrong towards home, she couldn’t wait to share her findings with the rest of the world.