"Let's go!" - Yuri Gagarin

A man was lying in the dirt. He was in what was once a peaceful meadow. But now it was filling with the dark smoke of a burning crater. The man sat up and saw the embers in the grass around him, but he was uninjured despite the flames. He unsteadily rose to his feet and walked to the crater edge. Peering into the crater he saw a twisted metal wreckage burning at the bottom.

Suddenly a voice yelled, "Wake up!"

The man was lying in his own bed with an older man was standing over him. The older man told him, "We have to go to the speech today. Go get ready."

~*~

It was the 24th century, humanity had developed technology that would seem to be magic even to its most educated members only a few centuries prior. Just over sixty years ago humanity had build the Yagi-Dymond displacement engine. This device had allowed the vast distances between stars to be traversed in mere years instead of centuries. However mankind needed a destination to explore. A solar system was chosen due to its similarity to mankind's own. Robotic probes were sent to explore the new solar system. Of the planets in the solar system one stood out, it seemed to be almost a copy of Earth. It was of similar mass, orbit, rotation and even had a large moon, yet it had its differences. The atmosphere seemed to be thick with clouds obscuring the view of the surface from orbit. The first probes sent down to the surface arrived in what seemed to be desolate wastelands. But then a probe found what may be life. More were sent providing evidence to the existence of life on another world. The planet was named Geb after the Egyptian god of the Earth. A series of manned missions were planned to establish a research base on Geb.

~*~

Today was the last day before the launch of the first manned mission. In an auditorium people had gathered to hear speeches that were being given by people who worked on the mission to Geb.

Nishant Chandra, the director of the International Association for the Exploration of Space, was finishing his last speech before the launch. He said, "Humanity has gazed at the heavens for millennia. Our curiosity of what could be there and why it is has fueled of imagination of many. We have journeyed into space for the first time only four hundred years ago. Our feats of engineering have allowed us to explore our solar system and now we have begun to explore another. I believe that humanity's ingenuity will allow us to achieve even greater things. Tomorrow we will begin a new chapter in the history of human exploration when three men from Earth set off on a journey to another world. The cooperation and peace of mankind has allowed us to arrive at this critical point in future of human history and it will continue to take us beyond."

Lieutenant Commander Zhang Wei, the mission's commander, stood from his seat next to the two other astronauts and walked to podium. He said a few words to the audience, "It is an honor to serve humanity in our quest for knowledge. I will do all in my power to ensure my crew's journey to and from Geb will be as fruitful a quest for better understanding our universe as possible. Speaking for the rest of the crew and myself, I wish to thank our friends in the IAES and the people of Earth for this chance to better all of mankind." Wei and the other two astronauts walked off the stage.

~*~

Dr. Anatoly Volkov was floating a metre above the floor of his sleeping quarters when he heard a knock on the door. "Tolya it's Ed. Can we talk now?" said the voice beyond the door.

"Sure," Anatoly replied. Floating to his feet he walked to the door and opened it. At the door stood Captain Edward Smith with a look of anxiety about him. "Come in and take a seat," said Tolya motioning Edward to enter.

"You forgot the furniture," muttered Ed.

"Oh, let me fix that," replied Tolya with a chuckle. With just a thought he sent an infrared optical signal to the nano machines in the room. The machines flowed and coalesced into the form of a chair.

Ed taking his seat spoke, "Are you planning on sitting on that fog again?"

"Of course, nothing is more comfortable," with that said he sent another command. This time the machines formed a more elastic structure with the appearance of a stool sized cloud.

"I'd rather sit on something more physical, considering this is our last day on Earth for years," Ed responded.

"As I assume you can already tell, I am worried about the mission," said Ed.

Tolya replied, "Why, despite this mission's groundbreaking magnitude, we are using well tested technology? Humanity's early missions to Jupiter were considered more dangerous, but despite that there were no failures."

Ed changed his posture, leaning closer to Tolya. He spoke vehemently, "Exactly, they had no failures. What if we had one? What if we died? They could cancel the whole program. Delaying any manned mission using the Yagi-Dymond engine for decades."

Tolya surprised by Ed's sudden vigor slid back on his cloud. Tolya waited a moment for Ed to regain his composure before responding in a calm voice, "You shouldn't worry about that. Wei is one of the best pilots in the world and understands the Tianma better than any other single person. I have been a surgeon for years and have cross trained in many other fields of medicine. With the expert system's assistance, I could treat almost anything we could encounter. And you will be there to keep everything running and set up our base on the surface."

"Why me? I am not the best engineer in the program. I am younger and less experienced with the type of systems I will be handling compared with my alternates in the program. The only two reasons I was chosen for the first flight is because you needed someone from the United States and someone who would be able to live with only the two of you for four years," replied a crestfallen Edward.

Tolya placed his hand on Ed's shoulder and said, "It is because you are our friend. With all of us working together we can accomplish anything. There is no one else that could keep us together and complete the mission. Don't worry Doomsday. The mission will go perfectly and humanity will have us to thank."

A suddenly gratified Edward said, "Thank you, I just needed to get my worries off my chest. We can do anything. Keep up the good work Bones and we shall tell the world of our accomplishments from another."

With that Ed stood from his chair, which seemingly dissolved into the floor. "You can sleep on your fog tonight. However I will sleep on the floor to be as close as I can be to Earth for the next six years," Edward said as he opened the door and left.

~*~

The next morning Wei, Anatoly, and Edward were being suited in their pumpkin escape suits for the launch. Nishant walked into the room with slight smile on his face.

He waved then spoke, "Hello, gentlemen. Since this is the last time we will be seeing each other in person for some time, I wish to thank each of you for your skill and dedication that you are bringing to the program. I cannot thank you enough for the time you have sacrificed to make my dreams and the dreams of all mankind a reality."

Ed and Tolya were at a loss of words.

But Wei knew what they wanted to say, responding, "We would like to thank you, the others working for the program for making this possible. And to thank you personally for helping us throughout our training and preparation for this mission. Would this mission have happened without your vision and leadership?"

Ed and Tolya nodded and said, "Thank you."

"Well, then I have to the mission control center. Good luck and remember whatever happens you will be heroes," Nishant said before leaving.

~*~

The astronauts were seated aboard the Xenon. It was seven minutes to launch. Wei spoke to mission control, "Prelaunch operations have been completed. Ready to continue."

Over the radio the astronauts heard, "Understood automatic systems are go."

After a few seconds pause mission control continued, "Systems are ready for go."

A minute later the controls unlocked in the capsule. Wei said to the other astronauts, "Switch to suit supplied air."

Tolya and then Ed said, "Changeover complete."

Wei spoke to mission control, "Controls activated and air supply changeover complete."

A few more minutes of preparations and mission control reported, "Fueling tower separation, we have liftoff." The astronauts were pushed into their seats by the sudden acceleration. A couple minutes later the first stage was jettisoned from the rocket. Several minutes later the final stage separated.

Wei spoke to mission control, "Final stage separation complete, orbit achieved, antennas and solar panels deployed."

~*~

Two days later the Xenon was preparing to dock with the Tianma. In free fall in the service module, Wei and Ed were double checking their flight checklists. Ed said, "It looks like it is time to get our spacesuits back on. Is that what you have next too?"

Wei answered, "Yes, tell Tolya to get his suit on and head to the command module to prepare for rendezvous."

The astronauts were back in their space suits in the command module. Ed was adjusting controls on the panel in front of him. He said, "Automatic rendezvous sequence ready."

Wei flipped a switch then replied, "Sequence begun, next we shall monitor its execution."

Tolya and Ed responded quickly, "Understood."

~*~

Three hours later the docking had completed. After checking the air pressures the astronauts removed their suits and entered the Tianma. Wei gave orders to his crew, "Anatoly take inventory of the supplies. Edward and myself will prepare the reactor then assist Anatoly. Any questions?" Tolya and Ed shook their heads.

After the work was done the crew reassembled. Tolya addressed the others, "Good work everyone. We should eat and rest before departing Earth."

After completing their morning exercises the crew had gathered in the Tianma's control room. Edward was verifying the navigational calculations. "We're good to go," said Edward with a thumbs-up.

Wei relayed this to mission control, "Navigation verified, ready for departure."

Mission control responded, "Flight plan confirmed, controls unlocked. You are go for transit to Janus." Wei pressed a series of buttons on his control panel.

"Program initialized, we will arrived at Janus station in approximately one year," Wei said to everyone.

~*~

Six months later, Anatoly was speaking to Wei. "Wei, we can't have you neglecting your exercise. It will cause a risk to the mission when we get to Geb," Anatoly sternly told Wei.

"I have to recheck the vehicle's systems to ensure our safety," Wei plead.

"Edward and myself have been doing that as well. You have been spending too much time rechecking things that have been already verified, doing three times the amount of work necessary. Neglecting your health to do so could harm all of us. What if when we get to Geb you break a bone and become incapacitated? How would that impact our safety? By trying to protect us you are introducing us to risk," Tolya spoke with an almost vitriolic yell.

"Bones calm down. You shouldn't get angry over this. I understand your argument. I will continue my monitoring of our vehicle's systems, but I will not neglect my health to do so from now on," said Wei in an astoundingly calm response.

Tolya smiled and said, "Thank you, friend. I was worried about you."

"Remember, we are all in it together out here," Wei said before departing.

~*~

Another six months passed and the Tianma was finally docked with Janus station. Ed smiled and shouted cheerfully, "Finally, somewhere else other than that small space we were in for the past year."

"Remember we aren't going to be here for long. We are just getting more propellent and supplies from the station. Then we leave for the other solar system," Wei said breaking Ed's mood.

"Well, let's get to work then," Tolya said interrupting the other two.

~*~

A few days later the Tianma had disembarked from Janus. The team were back inside the Tianma's control room. "Preparations for activation of the Yagi-Dymond engine complete," Wei announced.

"Let's go," Tolya said excited.

Ed flipped a switch on his panel then said, "Wei, we can go when you are ready." Wei pushed a button and nothing seemed to happen.

"Did it work," asked Ed.

"I don't know we need to check the astrogation systems, but it appears it does based on the radio systems. Tolya stay here and watch the communications. Ed and myself will check the astrogation equipment to program our next flight path," Wei ordered.

Edward and Wei returned to the control room. "We have prepared the program to insert us into Geb's orbit," Wei told Tolya.

"Wei start the program and let's go," said Edward after taking his seat. Wei started the navigation system.

Tolya spoke, "We should send a message back to Earth to inform them we are on schedule." They wrote a short message to the people of Earth:

We have made it. We are currently in the gravitational sphere of another star. We may be the first to do so, but there will be others. We have begun on a course to Geb and will arrive in approximately a year. We thank the people of Earth for their support.

After they sent this message they received messages from Earth. The messages were sent in response to the Earth based command stations receiving the signal sent on activation of the Yagi-Dymond engine. One of the most important to the crew at least emotionally was Nishant's:

If you have received this message, you have made history. I personally thank you on behalf of the people of Earth for helping us to fulfill our dreams of exploration. Good luck on the second half of your journey to Geb.

~*~

Three months had passed since their arrival in this star system. Edward was speaking to Wei in the crew cabin. "I haven't gotten enough sleep in the three months we have been here," Ed told Wei.

Wei asked, "Why? You haven't had problems with sleeping before."

"I don't know why. I have not felt both this excited and bored before in my life," Edward said as he bounced a ball off the wall.

"I understand Ed, I really do. Here we are expanding the frontiers of humanity, while being trapped in a small craft doing repetitive work. It makes you feel two contradictory emotions. One of being immense awe of your accomplishments and hope for future ones. The other being the tedium of the day to day tasks of performing those accomplishments," Wei explained to Ed.

Ed shook his head and replied "It is just that I shouldn't be bored. I have told you before at the training academy. I am different from you and Tolya. While you may have some of the fasted reflexes in the world due to your modifications. I have had genetic modifications that effect my mind. They were intended to allow people with them to be able to learn faster, but the side effects made it controversial. The one important to us now is that it is normally very hard for me to become bored."

Wei took a moment to think then responded, "Then do you think there is a possible complication caused by your modification that could cause this?"

"Yes, one of the side effects is that I can more easily become affected by mimetic cues in the environment. We need to think of something for me to do before this could develop into a problem to the mission," Ed replied in a sad tone with a frown.

Wei responded quickly, "We could work together on art. Does that databook you use all of the time have a drawing function?"

Ed replied, "No, it is a read-only model, but that is a good idea. I think we have one with a drawing function in the auxiliary storage."

"Good, let's get it then. I can show you how to draw on it," Wei said as he went to the door.

"You are a diamond friend," Edward said following him.

~*~

They had finally made it after two years the Tianma was in orbit of Geb. It had docked with Pushan station, an automated supply station. "We have made it. Only a short trip down to the surface and we will be discovering new things for the betterment of mankind," Wei said triumphantly as he activated the diagnostic systems aboard the Pushan.

Tolya was monitoring the sensors when he suddenly jumped from his station. He yelled, "Solar storm warning! We need to get to the biowell."

The crew was gathered in the storm cellar to wait out the storm. Wei addressed the other crew members, "If we are going to be here a few days, we should go over the mission plan again." "After the Xenon has landed, we will exit using the surface EVA egress port. This will place us directly into our EVA suits. After running the suit diagnostics we will activate the surface vehicle. This should automatically open the hatch. If it doesn't I will open it for us. We will then us the vehicle to travel to the surface habitat using the habitat's radio beacon to navigate. Once we reach the habitat, Edward will use the external access computer to activate the habitat's long term systems and perform diagnostics. We will then attach our suits to the habitat's EVA port and enter. Any questions?"

"Yes, what if something goes wrong?" asked Ed. Wei went through the alternate plans with the crew members.

After eating in the storm cellar Tolya went to speak to Ed while Wei was drawing. "So do you think we will be able to do everything to have the surface base up and running, considering we have been in space for so long?" Tolya asked Ed.

"I see no problem with that as we have been exercising and keeping our health up thanks to your help," Ed replied.

"You are right. It was a silly thing for me to ask," Tolya said with a slight chuckle.

"Well, we need to get some sleep and hopefully this storm will end soon," Ed advised. "I'll finally get my fog back at the surface station," Tolya told Ed.

"I know how much you like that utility fog, too bad we couldn't use it on the flight," Ed said to Tolya.

~*~

A day had passed and the crew was still in the storm cellar. "This planet seems so strange," remarked Ed.

"Well, what did you expect? Did you think it would be just like Earth?" Wei said back to him.

"No, it is just that the atmosphere is seemingly opaque. However the surface probes detected enough light to use solar panels to power the base," Ed responded.

Tolya spoke next, "The light is possibly generated by some kind of bioluminescence by the life that was detected. The lifeforms on the planet may possibly use chemosynthesis to generate energy."

"We will be finding out what is on the surface soon enough," Wei replied to the others.

~*~

Finally the increased radiation from the solar storm had ended and the crew had re-boarded the Xenon. They completed the diagnostics and disembarked in the craft. "Okay, in six hours we should be on the surface," Wei told the crew.

A few orbits later the Xenon had begun its atmospheric entry. The heat shield was glowing red hot, but the inside of the craft was protected. Once the capsule was slowed enough, the pilot parachutes had deployed followed by the drogue chute. Suddenly the parachute failure light had come on.

The main parachute had not deployed. The crew flipped through their checklists to the section for the event of a parachute failure. Ed read the instructions to Wei, "Switch main parachute control from auto to deploy."

Wei flipped the switch, no response. Ed continued, "On the emergency panel switch the main parachute breaker to secondary circuit, then repeat step one."

Wei flipped both switches, nothing happened. Ed seemed slightly distraught as he continued to read, "Switch the backup parachute switch to on then activate the backup parachute release switch."

Wei complied, the backup parachute finally activated. Wei exhaled, "That was a bit frightful there."

Seconds passed and then Tolya spoke in a worried tone, "We don't seem to be decelerating enough."

Wei and Ed looked at the velocity indicator. Wei said, "We will be going faster than what will be survivable."

Tolya spoke with a shaken voice, "Friends, it seems to be that are mission will progress more like Komarov's than Armstrong's." Ed had broken into tears and was unintelligibly mumbling to himself.

Wei spoke with a cold acceptance of his fate, "We should say any last messages we have before–".

Tolya cut off Wei screaming into the radio, "Tell my daughter Sveta, that I love her." He was crying and barely intelligible as the spoke, "Tell her that I was doing what I thought was best." "I am so sorry what I put you though and that I won't be able to see you again," he cried. He gestured for Wei to use the radio, as he was alone with his regrets.

Wei spoke unnervingly calm, "I am sorry for only caring for work. I wish I could meet my brother Min again to make up for not taking time off from he program to visit my family." He paused before continuing, "You needed me and I shouldn't have been so selfish."

Ed was crying, unable to wipe the tears from his eyes under the helmet. Wei attempted to interrupt him to see if he had anything to say. He reached out to tap him and then shook him slightly. Finally getting his attention Wei told him, "Ed do you have anything to say?"

Ed nodded and tried to suppress his tears. He cried into the radio, "Sister, I am sorry for not being able to see little Iris grow up. Please, tell her that her uncle died doing what he loved to do. Please, I did this for the betterment of all of us."

Wei said a few last words to the crew, "We have had many achievements, but today we will be remembered as having died heroes to humanity."

As the capsule approached the ground unknown to the crew, there was someone who could help them. A white unicorn had noticed the object falling from the sky. She tried to slow it with her magic. However the capsule was going too fast and too close to the ground to be slowed enough to land softly. It impacted the ground hard. Not entirely sure what it was she ran to it. She inspected the strange metal object with her magic. And she found what appeared to be a door.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading this far. Please give me feedback.