| knt |
Posted
on 31-Oct-03 08:44 AM
Here is my first try at science fiction. This will hopefully be in installments. Please let me know what you think.
Year: 3153 CE
Planet: Earth
"Are you certain there will be no side-effects?"
To which, Amras Yaja replied, "The beta phase, as per my knowledge, need not go on any further. It has been almost a century since our project began. It cannot be as complete as this. We have hit the ceiling and there are no tweaks that need be made. But my team is having second thoughts about it. They are afraid of public retaliation. We haven't been very humane during our beta phase. As far as they know, it was a nuclear meltdown. "
Yaja lead the team that was responsible for developing the hyperdrive propulsion system, which supposedly allowed traveling in space a much easier task, as it meant entering a dimension that allowed skipping hundreds of thousands of light years. The project had been concealed from the public as best as possible-- albeit with minor rumors that had somehow seeped into the media-- since had it been disclosed, it would most like have been deemed as cruelty to fellow humans--thousands died during the beta phase when people were rounded up and thrown forcefully into a hyperdrive emulator that purportedly approximated what people would go through when entering the dimension--by the People Party, which was gaining in momentum due to its populist slogan of "People Rule" that the general people found appealing. Sherah Tensab was a master orator of this party, nefariously known for his ability to use and abuse anything and anybody in order to achieve his goal to be the next mayor of the planet. The incumbent Mayor Irah Apaht realized this.
Irah Apaht pointed his index finger of one hand at Amras Yaja, while scratching his forehead with the other. "You very well know the situation I have to deal with Yaja. Come next election, I most likely will not be selected by the people and will end up serving as a waiter in one of the sky restaurants. You know how it is; high altitude makes me queasy. All polls favor the Populist Party, except for the one we set up on the Virtual Global Connector. And we both know it well that its mostly my constituents who visit it. For the sake of your project, it is highly desirable that I be reelected. The pacifist populists dont tolerate anything, not even scientific progress. I have been the only Mayor since time immemorial that supports almost everything scientific for humanitys sake. I see the big picture, they dont. Please realize this and persuade your team to expedite the next phase, Operation Hyperdrive Launch."
Yaja sucked in his teeth and said, "I will try my best. But dont count on it. I am perfectly aware that you helped finance our project during its incipient stage and we owe you one. If I try persuading them by taking this approach, perhaps I could succeed. They absolutely adore you. But for now, adieu."
Then they shook their elbows and went their own way.
After a few days, Operation Hyperdrive was ready to be launched and humanitys next big step thus came to fruition.
(Next chapter will be: introduction of the astronauts. Cross your fingers and wait to see whether the new space vehicle will be launched or not!)
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