Chapter One: Outset.
. June 9th, 12,367 AD.
The wind whipped around Cassiopeia G as she stepped out onto the launchpad. The cold air nipped at her exposed face underneath her parka, small flecks of ice sticking to her eyebrows which she futilely tried to brush off with her gloved hand. Despite the frigid cold that had been humanity's reality for the last three centuries, today was exceptionally good weather all things considered. The grey sheet of cloud that usually blanketed the sky had thinned, allowing the ghostly disc of the sun to shine through; perfect weather for the launch.
Across the extent of the launchpad, she could see the vessel that has become the pride and joy of the Northern Federation's Temporal Exploration Guild and would become her home for the next few months, the Time Flyer. From her position she could see the modular form of the timeship, its silvery-blue hull a dull grey under the overcast sky. Two wing-like structures extended from the rear of the vessel, two temporal portal generators situated on their ends, a green light emanating from the ring-like structures. Surrounding the craft Cassiopeia could see technicians making their final checks of the Time Flyer, but it was the small group that stood in front of the vessel which caught the girl's attention, the group she knew consisted of high ranking members of the Temporal Exploration Guild and her father.
Taking a deep breath, Cassiopeia made her way across the pad towards the Time Flyer. As she grew closer to the timeship, she noticed that the wind had begun to die down. Above her she saw that the cloud cover had begun to thin, allowing a hole to form in which a few stray rays of light shone through.
Perhaps this is a good omen, thought Cassiopeia.
Finally, Cassiopeia found herself before the group, numbering five in total. Four of the individuals wore grey parkas with the insignia of the Temporal Exploration Guild stamped on the right breast, one of whom she recognized as her professor from the Academy of Time-Space Exploration, Techne Shu. The fifth figure wore a blue parka like her own, a grey beard sticking out from the hood, this was her father, Cedric G, head engineer of the Temporal Exploration Guild's Engineering Corp.
"Gentlemen, Professor Shu, Father", said Cassiopeia, addressing each member of the crowd with a nod.
"Cassiopeia G", said one of the men in the grey parkas, who Cassiopeia recognized as Minister Findas Rohd. "On behalf of the Temporal Exploration Guild and all of humanity, we wish you a safe voyage."
"Thank you, Minister Rohd", said Cassiopeia. "As a student of the Academy of Space-Time Exploration, it is my honor to partake in this expedition."
"Cassiopeia", came the voice of her father, a stocky man with greying hair. "Are you certain that you are up to this mission?"
"Yes, father', said Cassiopeia. "I am."
"Good", replied the bearded man. "Then let us get you acquainted with your vessel."
Cassiopeia followed as her father led the group towards the Time Flyer. As she got closer to the timeship, she noted how large the ship was, over forty feet in length and nearly twenty feet high. While she had been aware that the vessel would be large, she couldn't help but feel somewhat intimidated by the size of the craft. She shook the feeling off as a technician opened the hatch at the rear of the vessel, leading into its large cargo bay.
Inside the Time Flyer was significantly warmer than it was outside. The group removed their hoods and unzipped their parkas. Cassiopeia did the same, quickly running her fingers through her hair, auburn with natural streaks of blue near the bangs, to straighten it. At the end of the cargo bay was a small stairway leading through a smaller hatch to the upper deck.
"Here are your living quarters", Cassiopeia's father said, pointing out the large alcove at the back of the ship. Two sets of bunks were situated on each wall near the center, freshly made. At the very back was what appeared to be a kitchen area with a circular table and booth. "I trust these accommodations will be adequate for your journey."
"Most adequate", replied Cassiopeia, observing the quarters. While they were minimalistic in design, the living quarters had an air of hominess to them, though they could use a bit of personalization.
"Through here you will find the bridge", her father continued, leading the group through a pair of doors.
Cassiopeia gasped at the sigh. While she had been through simulations of the Time Flyer in her time at the academy, they were nothing compared to the actual vessel. The bridge was spacious, a round table with four chairs placed around it was situated at the center, on each wall was a row of computers and sensor readout displays, and at the front, beneath three glass domes serving as windows, was the helm.
"I trust this will all seem familiar to you, Cassiopeia", Professor Shu said, a slight smile on her face.
"Very", Cassiopeia replied. She then looked around, puzzled. "Father, I was told that there would be a crew accompanying me."
"Indeed, I did", replied her father. He pressed a button on the console of the central table and a panel on the floor opened. From the compartment below three robots floated up, capsule shaped things with a pair of thin manipulator arms.
"Commander on deck", one of the robots announced in an electronic voice. At this it and the other two robots gave a salute to Cassiopeia.
"Robots?" Cassiopeia said.
"We thought it more efficient to utilize a robotic crew to assist you", her father said. "They have been designed to assist you on your exploration in anyway necessary. They will also provide enjoyable social interaction so important to adolescents."
Cassiopeia looked over the robots again. The three robots' bodies were roughly teardrop shaped with a single eye in the center. The arms of the robots were colored to differentiate the three; blue for one, green for the other, and yellow for the last. She was kind of glad that they were robots, as social interaction had not been one of her strong points, as anyone at the academy would tell you, but at the same time she was a bit disappointed, as she had hoped to bond with real people presumably her own age; perhaps their circumstances would've somehow made it easier to connect, at least that was what she had thought. A silly thought, she scolded herself.
"They are a fine crew", Cassiopeia said at last. "Thank you, all of you. I will not let you down."
"We are sure you won't", Minister Rohd said. "Safe travels and Godspeed."
With that the three Guild members and Professor Shu made their way out of the bridge. However, her father remained, standing by the central table until the four had left the bridge and closed the door behind them.
"Is something wrong, father?" Cassiopeia asked.
"Oh, no", her father replied. "Nothing is wrong. I just wished to let you know how… proud I am of you."
Cassiopeia's heart nearly skipped a beat. While she knew that her father cared deeply for her, he had always had a stern disposition towards her. But the look of pride that he now wore on his usually stoic face touched her in a way she had desired for a long time.
"Cassiopeia", her father continued, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "You are about to become the first human to travel into the future. This mission is of utmost importance, and through your hard work and dedication to the mission you have shown the ability to endure them, and for this I am very proud."
"Thank you, father", Cassiopeia said, a smile forming on her lips.
"And I know that your mother would have been very proud as well", said her father, looking down into Cassiopeia's eyes.
"You really think so?" the girl asked.
"I know so", her father replied, placing a few stray strands of blue hairs behind her ear. He then removed his hands from his daughter's shoulder and began to put on his parka. "Farewell, Cassiopeia", he said as he made his way to the door.
"Farewell, father", Cassiopeia said with a small wave.
With one final look, Cassiopeia's father turned and left the bridge, leaving Cassiopeia alone.
"Greetings commander", an electronic voice said.
Cassiopeia jumped at the sudden intrusion. She looked to see one of the robots, the blue one, hovering before her.
"Ah, yes", said Cassiopeia, regaining her composure. "And you are?"
"Apologies", said the robot, placing a hand upon its metallic casing. "I am Nelnut, your chief engineer on this voyage. I also provide a variety of entertaining games." From a compartment on the robot's back Nelnut produced a small ball and some sort of curved object. It then threw the objects, causing them to ricochet off the walls and hit the other two robots with a metallic clang. The robot continued, "As well as engage in age appropriate banter, to make our travel time whiz by like a portal jump to Krebulon V."
Nelnut chuckled at this, seeming to find some humor in his statement. Cassiopeia gave a nervous chuckle as well. "Very amusing, Nelnut", she said.
"For example", the robot went on. "I have several jokes in my archives."
Cassiopeia forced a smile. This robot was going to drive her insane. "Oh, is that so? Um, do you have a volume control?"
"Affirmative, commander', replied the robot. "Prepare for humor: an android, a clone, and a can opener walk into a bar…"
Before the blue robot could continue, Cassiopeia touched the volume knob she had located on the side of the robot's head, causing the robot's electronic voice to quiet until it was completely silenced. "Good", said Cassiopeia, reveling in the silence as the robot backed away, seeming to take the hint.
"Suroc reporting, madam", a calm eloquent voice said as the green robot came forward.
"Hello", said Cassiopeia, admiring Suroc's calmer tone. "I trust you are the expert in animal behavior."
"Correct", replied the green robot. "I am also a medic and familiar with adolescent peer issues. If the commander has any emotional conflict she may share them in my rear speaker-phone.
Suroc proceeded to turn around, revealing a circular device on it's backside. Cassiopeia cringed at this, not exactly fond of the idea of speaking into something's… bottom. "Er, I feel fine, Suroc. Thanks", she stated, backing away from the robot.
"Self esteem rating: above normal", Suroc announced, to which Cassiopeia rolled her eyes as the robot hovered away.
"Visocod Y reporting", said the final robot, yellow in coloration. Its speech was tinted with an accent that Cassiopeia recognized as one found in the Euros Providence.
"Hello, Visocod Y, ready for adventure?" Cassiopeia asked.
"Affirmative", replied the robot. "I am designed to scout environments that may hold potential threats. I have also been modified to serve as the ship's cook."
"Really?" said Cassiopeia. Figures, she thought. Her father would never trust her to cook.
"Indeed, I can create twelve different vitamin bars and nutritious liquids", Visocod Y went on, producing a sort of cocktail shaker and shook it, a liquid sloshing around inside. "Healthy smoothie?" the robot asked, holding out the finished product.
Cassiopeia leaned towards the cup in the robot's hand, which contained a sort of green liquid. She sniffed it and was immediately repulsed by the smell. "Maybe in a few million years", she said, gently pushing the cup away. "Thank you."
"Understood", replied Visocod Y and it floated off to join the others.
Cassiopeia looked over the three robots before her. While she was sure her father had intended for them to be as authentic as possible, she felt as though they were a bit too overbearing and artificial. Perhaps she would grow accustomed to it as the mission went on.
"You are a fine crew", Cassiopeia said. "Prepare for vortex entry."
With that she made her way to the helm. Sitting down into the large chair before it, she waved her hand over the glass display causing holographic icons to flicker into existence. With this her training took over as she initiated the ignition sequence. A hum could be heard as the Time Flyer's engines came online and the turbines in the temporal portal generators, which also helped propel the timeship, began to lift the Time Flyer off the ground. She placed her hands into two circular icons, the hard-light interface allowing her to pilot the vessel. She looked out through the large bubble of glass before her and could see her father and the others looking up towards her. She caught sight of her father waving up at her, to which Cassiopeia waved back, unsure if he even saw.
"Initiating time vortex entry", the voice of the ship's onboard computer announced as the rhythmic thrumming of the engines grew louder. Ahead Cassiopeia could see the air around the Time Flyer begin to ripple as the ship moved forward. And as the thrumming of the engines reached a climax the Time Flyer shot forward with a crack as the world of 12,3607 A.D. disappeared and gave way to the blue chaos of the time vortex.
"Time vortex entry successful. Destination: two-hundred million A.D., Northern Forests", announced the computer. "Estimated time of arrival: thirty minutes."
Cassiopeia looked out into the blue world before her as the Time Flyer flew through the vortex, millennia passing by with each second.
"Future world, here I come", Cassiopeia said to herself as she returned her focus to the helm.