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lilfluffFrom aldersprig's prompt: A rediscovered planet, my favorite sci-fi trope.
Title: Welcome Back
Universe/Setting: Unspecified science fiction setting, post "Long Night" scenario
Rating/Warnings: Should be safe for all.
Summary: After the Long Night one world's explorers finally find neighbors. This feels more like a lead into something than a piece on its own. (487 words. Did I say 150-300 words? :))
With the distressing sound of something buckling, the Williamson's Hope fell back into normal space. For several minutes the bridge was filled with overlapping conversations as the crew double checked on the ship's health and where they had arrived.
"I'm sorry captain, whatever we find we aren't leaving for at least a week. The starboard array needs to be rebuilt or it won't survive another jump. Those were the last spares too. We're going to have to build replacements from the damaged units."
"Then I have good news captain." Spoke up specialist Therese, "We just might get some help. We've found civilization. We're picking up transmissions from the fourth planet. English, Spanish, and Greek have been confirmed so far."
After nine months with no sign of any other colonies captain Barnes found himself needing to shout to stop the rest of the bridge from peppering specialist Therese with questions.
"Calmly everyone, there's plenty of time to do our jobs right." Smiling at her thankful nod he turned to lieutenant Rylan.
"Have we spotted anything else in space besides ourselves?"
"Specialist Therese is right, they just may be able to help. The fourth planet has satellites and at least two large structures that are probably manned stations. We have also spotted at least two craft I'm guessing to be asteroid prospectors."
Two shifts later the debate over contact was settled for them, "Captain, we're being hailed."
"Unknown vessel, this is Anchorage Orbital Control, please reply with identity and destination." The message repeated in the languages they had already identified as well as Chinese and German.
"Let us hope having English in common won't get in the way of understanding each other. Record and send this reply. This is captain Renfred Barnes of the New Albany Exploration Ship Williamson's Hope, our destination would be Anchorage."
Most everyone tried to keep an eye on the clock while they continued their duties. Watching as it counted the time it would take for their reply to reach the station. Then as it counted the time before the earliest reply could arrive. More minutes passed by before they received an answer.
"Williamson's Hope, please confirm, would you be from the New Albany expedition carried by the colony ship Keisha Lee?" More minutes ticked by after Barnes sent his answer.
"In that case, welcome back to Anchorage, we've almost two hundred years to catch up on since the Keisha Lee passed through here. I do hope you brought a media liaison. Everyone, and I mean everyone, will want to talk with you."
aldersprig's prompt: A rediscovered planet, my favorite sci-fi trope.Title: Welcome Back
Universe/Setting: Unspecified science fiction setting, post "Long Night" scenario
Rating/Warnings: Should be safe for all.
Summary: After the Long Night one world's explorers finally find neighbors. This feels more like a lead into something than a piece on its own. (487 words. Did I say 150-300 words? :))
With the distressing sound of something buckling, the Williamson's Hope fell back into normal space. For several minutes the bridge was filled with overlapping conversations as the crew double checked on the ship's health and where they had arrived.
"I'm sorry captain, whatever we find we aren't leaving for at least a week. The starboard array needs to be rebuilt or it won't survive another jump. Those were the last spares too. We're going to have to build replacements from the damaged units."
"Then I have good news captain." Spoke up specialist Therese, "We just might get some help. We've found civilization. We're picking up transmissions from the fourth planet. English, Spanish, and Greek have been confirmed so far."
After nine months with no sign of any other colonies captain Barnes found himself needing to shout to stop the rest of the bridge from peppering specialist Therese with questions.
"Calmly everyone, there's plenty of time to do our jobs right." Smiling at her thankful nod he turned to lieutenant Rylan.
"Have we spotted anything else in space besides ourselves?"
"Specialist Therese is right, they just may be able to help. The fourth planet has satellites and at least two large structures that are probably manned stations. We have also spotted at least two craft I'm guessing to be asteroid prospectors."
Two shifts later the debate over contact was settled for them, "Captain, we're being hailed."
"Unknown vessel, this is Anchorage Orbital Control, please reply with identity and destination." The message repeated in the languages they had already identified as well as Chinese and German.
"Let us hope having English in common won't get in the way of understanding each other. Record and send this reply. This is captain Renfred Barnes of the New Albany Exploration Ship Williamson's Hope, our destination would be Anchorage."
Most everyone tried to keep an eye on the clock while they continued their duties. Watching as it counted the time it would take for their reply to reach the station. Then as it counted the time before the earliest reply could arrive. More minutes passed by before they received an answer.
"Williamson's Hope, please confirm, would you be from the New Albany expedition carried by the colony ship Keisha Lee?" More minutes ticked by after Barnes sent his answer.
"In that case, welcome back to Anchorage, we've almost two hundred years to catch up on since the Keisha Lee passed through here. I do hope you brought a media liaison. Everyone, and I mean everyone, will want to talk with you."
no subject
Date: 2011-10-30 07:03 am (UTC)So, what WAS the answer? looks like it was affirmative, so did the ship jump time somewhere? I'm confused.
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Date: 2011-10-30 07:46 am (UTC)Something happened to the powers that be, leaving the colonies out on the periphery of explored space on their own. As for what that was and whether Anchorage knows... Haven't written that yet.
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Date: 2011-10-30 08:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-30 09:06 am (UTC)In this case the ship was looking for anyone who was still around. But with the ship damaged and a populated world found it was pretty much just a question of when and how to approach them.
My current presumption is that New Albany wasn't left with much information on where anyone else hit with a combination of not having obtained for themselves much information on where anyone else was and the powers that be not bothering to offer that information either. Early on they would have been busy enough just getting a functioning civilization up and running with nothing but what they brought.
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Date: 2011-10-30 04:22 pm (UTC)[Someone is now going to tell me that Asimov is also a likely source...]
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Date: 2011-10-30 02:26 pm (UTC)And I like it, thank you!
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Date: 2011-10-30 03:56 am (UTC)