Chapter 2: The discovery

Miori woke up from her slumber when the alarm rang from her clock. Sitting up she peered blearily at her surroundings.

It took her a moment get her sight focused, with a quick jerk using the momentum of her legs she shot out from her bed acrobatically.

She dressed up quickly and made her way towards the sensor room. "Any readings from the sensors? " she asked to the blond haired scientist,

Alexis Schevolski who was sitting at the sensor screen. " Nothing yet, " said the Alexis. Miori sighted as she eyed at the huge screen before her.

She could make out a few readings from it and there was nothing of interest. The sensors showed some space debris floating around.

The readings from the sensors showed there was some titanium alloy found in those asteroid fields and some uranium that is commonly found in asteroids.

Sensors indicated there a ton littered in those asteroids, " But it is not enough for the 'Colonization Project' that Earth has launched, " she thought.

" Still it would help along the way, " she keyed in the coordinates on the panel marking the site. The computer bleeped and stored the data into its drive.

The expedition team is now traveling towards the Kasseri System a few hundred thousand leagues from Earth using limited supply of fuel from Earth.

"Madam are you sure there is anything in that system?" Alexis asked while looking at the readings on the huge screen." Yes, there is something we can use out there," said Miori.

"Do you have any reports to support you claim madam?" asked Alexis." Well no, it's a hunch," replied Miori.

"A hunch?!" cried Alexis turning his head at her so suddenly that it nearly made his glasses fall off his nose. "But how could be sure if your conclusion is just from a hunch?"

he said adjusting his specs properly on his nose. "All I know is that I can feel it drawing towards me," answered Miori.

"Feel it drawing towards you?" Alexis razed an eye brown in suspicion." I know that you doubt me Alexis," seeing the confused look of the scientist.

"Yes I know we are trained as scientist and we know that everything must be explained and concluded by the results of reports and experiments we've done.

For now I cannot give you any proof but all I ask you is to trust me," said Miori. The tone of her voice said she was serious and he sighed, "Yes madam,".

He had no mood to doubt, since the expedition was going well in their way. So far they have picked up some readings of resources on their journey, he

wondered how Miori was able to put them in the right track. He had a feeling that something was leading them towards the Kasseri System but brushed the thought away.

It's 13 00 hours and most of the crew were in the cafeteria having lunch.

Miori was sitting with Alexis discussing about the day's find," Over the past 2 weeks we ours journey we are able to uncover an estimate of 4 tons of uranium,

10 tons of titanium, 12 tons of iron and 10 tons of other minerals. Harvests ships from Earth are making there way to the sites we have marked. Earth is giving us praise.

They are getting exited and salute us as heroes for they didn't predict that we could find this much of resources in 2 and half months," beamed Alexis.

"That's good to hear," Miori said smiling at him. "It is in your leadership that we are able to come this far. I bow to you madam Miori," said Alexis and he stood up and bowed to her.

"Thank you, but it's not only me but the whole team who put in their effort," she said trying to sound modest.

" I think it was luck that we are able to find these," she said looking out at the window of the cafeteria. She saw the mother ship escort deploying its fighter ships for the days patrol.

She wondered if Bryan is in one of them. It's been a long time since he had visited her. "Is something wrong madam?" asked Alexis seeing Miori staring out the window.

" No, nothing is wrong…" she cut of by the sound of booted feet coming from behind them.

Miori and Alexis turned around quickly to find someone running towards them. " Madam Miori and Sir Alexis come quick! " cried a young scientist excitedly, Sarah O'Connor.

" What? What is it? " they both answered. " I-", she choked, placing her hands on her knees. " Slow down girl or you get yourself killed, " lending a hand Alexis helped

Sarah straighten up. Sarah accept Alexis support while resting a moment regaining her breath. " We have to get back to the sensor room. It's readings are buzzing like crazy.

Unlike anything I've ever seen before," she said tugging on Alexis's hand like a child eager to show to a parent something new.

"Come on! Let's go," she said pulling on Alexis's hand again.

All of them rushed towards the sensor room. When they got there they could see the crew on duty staring at the huge screen.

" What? What's the matter? " asked Alexis with Miori standing by his side. Sarah was shoving the crew aside to make way for them both.

" Sir! We have picked up strange energy readings coming from the centre of the Kasseri System, there seems to be a lot of activity coming from that location,"

said one of the crew pointing at the site on the screen. Both Miori and Alexis stepped forward to have a closer look.

" Well Miori I'll take your hunch is a correct one, Eureka! We've found it," said Alexis rising his right hand in triumph, he then hugged Miori.

The crew cheered on their latest find, the atmosphere was on a celebrative mood.

" Send out the scout probes, take some readings and samples, " Miori ordered. " And steer the ship towards the source, I want to take a look at it, " she added.

Miori could feel her heart beat with excitement. Blood rushed towards her head making her dizzy, she leaned on the rail before the screen for support.

The crew immediately went into action. One of the crew activated the docking bay doors and out shot three scout probes with spidery claws.

The crew then pivoted the ship driving it to the site, suddenly blue light illuminated through one of the ships windows.

Everyone gaped at the sight, " It's beautiful," Alexis said staring at the light. The crew nodded in agreement, the blue light seemed to pulse with life and they

could see the 3 small specks of the probes making their way towards it through the window. "Oh, my goodness! It looks like a small star!" said Sarah bouncing on the balls of her feet.

" Is it you my blue friend? How beautiful you look," thought Miori.

"Scout probes report that it detects ionic activity coming from that star we can't identify. The star measures about 40 meters in a diameter," said Sarah

who was looking at readings on the screen at probe control panel. "Huh? That's funny," she said staring up and down banging at the panel.

"Hey! Cut that out!" Alexis cried and quickly rushed towards her, "What is it?" he asked.

"Sir the temperature readings of that star measured 38 celsius, the normal temperature of a human body," she said looking at Alexis confused.

"What?! Are you serious?" Alexis stared at the screen bewildered. The crewmembers stopped their work to eavesdrop on conversation.

Alexis read the temperature measurement aloud.

"Strange for a star with so much energy and gives of little heat," he puzzled. The crew crowded around looking at the panel screen getting interested.

"Then what is it sir? If it is not a star," asked Sarah. "I don't know. But this will be the discovery of the century!

Our name will be written down in history books," dreaming of winning a Nobel Prize Alexis's puzzlement diminished quickly replaced by a dreamy look printed on his face.

Miori pressed a button at the communication panel and a brown haired officer appeared on the holographic screen,

"Captain Panaka of the mother ship SG-202, the Perchion," the figure nodded in acknowledgement .

" This is research ship RS-002 we need your fighters scout the area immediately to see if it is safe out there before we deploy our research team.

Downloading coordinates to your Nav computer now," Miori said. " It will be done madam Miori, I will send some fighters to scout at these coordinates," he replied.

Turning off the transmission Miori then shifted her gaze to the window and saw a few squadrons of fighter ships on patrol making their way to the area.

They waited for a few minutes then a bleep sounded and a face appeared on the holographic screen.

" This is Alpha lead and negative RS-002 there's nothing but gravel out here. Radar detects nothing in the area you're clear to move in.

Wow! What a beauty," said a familiar voice in awe. "Bryan is that you?" asked Miori turning her gaze towards the screen. "Miori, how nice to see you," said Brian grinning,

"Anyway what is that thing?" he asked. "We don't know yet, we've just only found it," said Miori. She called Sarah to her, "Sarah, I need you to contact the engineers,

ask them to attend a meeting at the briefing room. We need to discuss on how to construct a containment area to bring that blue star home,"

said Miori to Sarah who nodded her head eagerly and dashed of to find the engineers. "Can I come too?" asked Brian. Miori stared

at him on screen in surprise she had totally forgot Bryan. For Bryan is usually not interested in anything that's got to do with science.

She remembered while in high school Bryan used to doze off in chemistry class. " Er-, Ok sure, " she said. " Thanks, " he smiled and the intercom bleeped off.

2 weeks had passed and the engineers managed to construct a temporary containment area using the supplies from the fleet's store.

The containment's frame made of steel measured 45m x 45m x 45m. The rest of the containment is covered in strong fiberglass capable of withstanding any object that is

hurled in a force that is about 6000 lbs and the bottom is covered with plain steel.

When they had finished the engineers were caught by surprised when they tried to moved the star into the containment area.

The star just floated into it on its own will without any help. The engineers then closed the containment keeping it safe.

The crew managed to find a space in the cargo hold of the RS-002, they found out when it was cleared the hold provide more than enough to space to keep it.

The Pexis floated inside the containment area defying the ships gravity generator. While the engineers built the scientist took readings and made out reports.

Most of them argued on where to place it as a sentient being or an energy source based from their reports.

Some claimed that it talked or somehow appeared in their dreams believing it a sentient being. The strangest thing is that readings taken from monitoring equipment shows

that this sphere, star, thing… whatever they called it is emitting waves, brain waves to be precise of a human being that synchronize with any person

while he is asleep or unconscious. The scientist found it peculiar that it has the power enough to support hundreds of colony ship for 'eternity?' the scientist couldn't be sure.

After much debating they decided to put it in the category as a sentient being.

~~In the RS-002 meeting room~~

Miori was seated at the end of the oval shaped table in the meting room at the other end sat the head engineer Cid Jones.

5 other senior scientists and engineers were seated at each side of the table. Alexis one of the senior scientist was seated beside Miori.

Miori was first to open the meeting, "In today's meeting we are gathered here to discuss about our latest discovery and it is time that we named our star," said Miori.

"Any suggestions?" asked Miori looking around the room. The room now was packet with people. Normally those who are not in the committee are not allowed in this meeting.

But today's meeting is special for it involves nearly the whole expedition crew." I know," quipped Bryan from the crowd. "Let's name it Star-Bucks! Since it looks

like a star and it's gonna make big money once we return to Earth," he grinned foolishly. Everyone in the room burst into laughter except Alexis.

"We can't name it Star-Bucks," Alexis frowned. "besides it is copyrighted and the company would demand us to pay a lump of sum to use it," he continued.

"Ok, Ok it's just a suggestion," Bryan razed his hands in a warding off manner.

"What about the Transfoma Core?" Cid suggested. "No, it's sound more machine like," said a senior at the table. "What about Star Burst?" Sarah suggested.

"Nah, sounds like a ship's name to me," put in Bryan, "I say we should let Miori name it since she's the one who lead us to it, what about it Miori?" he asked.

The crew chattered in agreement. Alexis raise his hand and the crew silenced. "We are waiting Miori," he said.

Miori hesitated for a moment then she spoke loud and clear, "I think we should call it the Pexis Plagma. Pexis is from the word plexus and

Plagma from the word plasma meaning it is plexus plasma. A network of energy that interconnects our thoughts and feelings," she said.

"All in favor raise your hand," said Alexis. Majority of the crew shot up their hands. "Pexis Plagma it is," Alexis declared.