1. 3820-Sagittae


    Date: 4/23/2017, Categories: Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Author: Arcane, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    Red lights were flashing. The sirens were screaming for attention, drowning out the consistent moan of the gravity engine. Panicked people paced quickly from one end of the station to the other. Things aboard The Horizon weren’t looking great. Yet Alan Coley thought that this was the perfect time to sit down and have a cup of dehydrated coffee. The Horizon was a state-of-the-art solar observatory in an orbit around the star 3820-Sagittae. The main purpose of the facility was to collect data on energy capturing and applications; everyone on board was either a scientist or an engineer. Alan was the latter. His area of specialty was to maintain the solar shields; large, reflective panels that protect The Horizon and its inhabitants from the frightening temperatures and radiation courtesy of 3820-Sagittae. As Alan neared the bottom of his cup, an announcement was broadcasted throughout the station. ‘Alan Coley, could you please report to the Bridge. Alan Coley.’ With a reluctant sigh, Alan drained his cup and walked to the bridge. ~~~ ‘Well, you are right: this is a problem,’ Alan confirmed. He stood on the Bridge surrounded by concerned looking meteorologists and official looking people. On a screen in front of him, large red letters flashed the words “solar flare eminent.” Surprisingly, it was the first time solar activity had threatened the relatively new station. ‘But the good news is that I think you’re all taking this all too seriously,’ Alan said with a bored yawn. The ...
    dozens of people on the Bridge all breathed a sigh of relief. Alan could actually see the worry drain from their faces. ‘What I mean by that,’ smirked Alan, ‘Is that you are taking this all too seriously because, simply put, we are all screwed .’ The panic reappeared in the eyes of the meteorologists. Alan caught the steely gaze of the station Captain, Astrid Reener, from the back of the Bridge. Her grey eyes bored into him, daring him to continue. ‘Let me spell this out for you,’ Alan said, glancing back at the Captain. ‘One and a half trillion tons of super-heated plasma is going to be ejected at five-hundred kilometres per second directly towards us. This station wouldn’t last very long without our solar shields; in fact without them we would have been fried months ago. But the reality is that at the time of ejection, The Horizon will be sitting directly in the path what is called the prominence. ‘I’m sure you all remember that compulsory introductory video we had to watch before employment. Remember that footage of the huge loop of fire erupting from the surface of the star? Yeah, that was a prominence.’ A middle-aged meteorologist with sweat beading on his forehead stuttered out a question. ‘So what do you suggest we do?’ ‘I’m not in charge here, I’m just the engineer,’ Alan said, rolling his eyes. ‘The only certainty is that we have less than three hours to live; which is why if you have any further questions, you can find me in the dining hall enjoying my last drink.’ As ...
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