Refueling At Europa

Refueling at Europa

So this is a short sci-fi story i wrote 2 to 3 years ago. I'm still learning, so please give me whatever constructive criticism you can.

I'll also be posting a few more of my stories while I'm currently working on that one lesbian bug alien romance story I posted about before.

Synopsis: A Blackbox from a group of Voyagers’ is recovered after their starship is found destroyed. It reveals that refueling off of the water from Jupiter’s moon Europa may not be the best idea.

“AY-005 to command.” the terminal crackled and the image of Lt. Pallin faded into view through the static. “One moment Pallin. Gotta clean up your image.” I replied into the microphone as I twisted the dials that lined the terminal. Slowly Lt. Pallin’s face became more clear and her voice lost some of the accompanying grain. “Alright go ahead.” I was eager to hear her report, usually being on night shift I rarely get any first hand contact. It's all told to me by the previous shifts or in emailed memorandums, this was a welcome surprise. “Right,” Lt. Pallin began “We found the black box that belonged to AX-004.” My heart leaped in my chest. This was astounding news, AX-004 had been destroyed a few months ago, and we only found out thanks to some routine telescopic searching. “That's fantastic news, Pallin. Send it in.” The loud clicking of my key-board nearly drowned out my instructions as I prepared the terminal to receive the blackbox’s contents. “Copy.” she replied and moved just off screen. I went and made myself a fresh pot of coffee as the data was being transferred, my shoes sticking and making awful squelches as I walked. They really need to clean this place. 

I made my way back and sat down with a new mug of coffee steaming, the pot set next to me. The terminal’s processor revved and the fan spun, working hard to complete the download. Finally the green bar with a ninety-nine percent hovering over finally filled and presented “DOWNLOAD COMPLETE” and Lt. Pallin’s face returned. “I’ll review this right away. Thanks Lieutenant. Be careful.” I praised, and I readied myself for a long night. Her chuckle was distorted as the feed gained more interference. Before she cut out I heard her say “All G— will con— need to refuel. Planning— Europa’s ocean.” Then she was gone. Honestly, I was surprised her communication had lasted as long as it did. These terminals may have been the latest and greatest in light-year communication, but even they have their limits. I queued up the file, only an audio log accompanied by descriptive text of the ship's onboard computer system. Sadly the AX series of ships were just old enough to not be equipped with cameras but were equipped with auditory receptors allowing the crew to use voice commands. That way they needn’t travel to a ship terminal just to adjust the temperature or run diagnostics. I grabbed myself a snack from my desk, my notepad, and settled in.

<SCS> 00:30 running diagnostics. Fuel low. Reserve error. Waking Captain…

(Capt. Love): Computer, what’s happening?

(SCS): Request not recognized.

(Capt. Love): God dammit. Computer run diagnostic.

(SCS): One moment. Diagnostic report: Engines- fine, shields-fine, landing gear- fine, life support- fine, Fuel - Low, Fuel Reserve - Error

(Capt. Love): So it's a fuel problem. Alright, damn. Computer, scan for possible fuel sources, enough to complete the mission.

(SCS): One moment.

<SCS> Scanning…

(SCS): Large source of H2O found. 325 miles from current position. Location: Europa.

(Capt. Love): Huh, okay. Computer wake crew. 

(SCS): One moment.

<SCS> Waking crew…

(Cpl. Benings): Awww, come on. What now?

(Pvt. Dell): What's going on? Are we here? 

(Dr. Ve): Well that was a nice nap.

(SCS): Captain, crew have been awakened.

(Capt. Love): All hands to the bridge. 

(Cpl. Bennings) What’s going on Captain?

(Capt. Love): Low on fuel and the reserve is malfunctioning. I found us a good refueling point, at least enough to finish the mission. Europa.

(Cpl. Bennings): Alright so we just fly down and grab some water, easy. I’ll go check out the reverve, see what's up. Though why’d you wake up these two?

(Pvt. Dell): Yeah I was gonna ask the same thing. I'm no engineer.

(Capt. Love): Good experience for you Dell and I figured the Doc wouldn't want to miss landing on a moon made of ocean.

(Dr. Ve.): Thank you.

(Capt. Love): Computer chart course for Europa

(SCS): One moment.

<SCS> Charting course. Ideal landing zone found. Engaging Autopilot. Engaging engines…  

<SCS> 01:20 Deploying landing gear. Intciating landing…

(SCS): Please be advised. The temperature on Europa is currently -260℉ or -160℃. Thermal suits are recommended.

(Cpl. Bennings): No shit sherlock. Oww, sorry.

(Capt. Love): Alright, Everyone ready?

(Cpt. Bennings): Yep.

(Pvt. Dell): Yes Sir.

(Dr. Ve): Almost. Okay.

<SCS> All crew members have left the ship. Switching to remote communications.

(Cpl. Bennings): Holy shit, I thought my mother in-law was cold. 

(Capt. Love): Imagine it without the thermal suits. Now Dell, bring that over here. Alright This is literally the definition of plug and chug. We insert the drill, it drills the ice, sucks it up and puts it in the reserve. Then when we reach the water below the surface, that will fill up our main tank.

(Dr. Ve): Would you look at those geysers? Amazing.

(Capt. Love): Hey Doc don't go too far, the surface is very unstable from the shifting currents. 

(Dr. Ve): Oh right. Sorry.

(SCS): All members be advised. Large life-form detected. Proceed with caution.

(Pvt. Dell): What?

(Capt. Love): Computer, elaborate.

(SCS): Sure. Lifeform location 85 miles below the surface. Lifeform appears to be 360 

feet in length. Weight estimated to be 467 tons. Creature’s thermal signature indicates it is an endotherm.

(Cpl Bennings): What the fuck? Really? First alien life we encounter and this type of shit. Great.

(Capt. Love): Hold it together Bennings. Computer, track lifeform. Warn us if it's within 2.75 miles of the surface. Dell get the Doctor back to the ship, I'll finish here.

<SCS> Lifeform movement 63 miles from surface. Fuel 54% complete. 

(Pvt. Dell): Watch your step Doctor. 

<SCS> 2 of 4 crew members on board. Lifeform movement 34 miles from the surface. Fuel 65% complete.

(Clp Bennings): Come on Sir. I don't like this, it's too quiet. 

(Capt. Love): Just as quiet as before Bennings. 

(Clp Bennings): Yeah but now there’s a fucking leviathain beneth us.

(Capt. Love): What? 

(Clp. Bennings): Nothin’. 

<SCS> Lifeform movement 22 miles. Fuel 78% complete

(Capt. Love): Dell get the ship ready for departure. We are not waiting to see this thing, understood?

(Pvt. Dell) Yes sir. Computer, prepare the cockpit for liftoff.

(SCS) Sure. One moment…

<SCS> Initiating manual piloting system… 

(Capt. Love): Computer, Fuel status update.

(SCS): One moment… Fuel 86% complete

(Clp Bennings): Alright. Alright, we making progress.

(SCS): ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Lifeform within 2.75 miles of surface. ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

(Clp. Bennings): Fuck.

(Capt Love): Run!

(SCS): Lifeform 2.00 miles from surface.

(Dr. Ve): Come on! Hurry!

(SCS): Lifeform 1.52 miles from surface. Warning surface becoming unstable.

(Capt. Love): The Ice is cracking, come on Bennings! Dell start lift off!

(Pvt. Dell): Yes Sir!

<SCS> Manual liftoff engaged. All control to pilot.

(Clp. Bennings): Oh Shit! Guys Help! Fuck thats cold!

(Capt. Love): Shit Bennings! Fuck! Dell get this thing off the ground so we can get him!

<SCS>3 of 4 crew members onboard. Gaining altitude… (SCS): Lifeform within 0.46 miles of surface.

(Clp. Bennings): Oh shit I think I see it! Fuck, I think it sees me!

(Capt. Love): We’re coming, Bennings! Get to a high point!

(SCS): ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Lifeform has reached the surface. ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

(Clp. Bennings): Holy— how many eyes does this thing have?!?

(Capt. Love): What the fuck? 

(Dr. Ve): Oh God.

(Capt. Love): Dell, you see him? Avoid those tentacles! 

(Pvt. Dell): Holy shit! Holy shit! Why didn't I just go to College!

(Capt. Love): Keep it together. Bennings grab my hand!

(Clp Bennings): Ha, got ya! Ok, now pull my ass up!

(Capt. Love): We’re trying! Not our fault you're a mountain of muscle, lay off the gym will ya?

(Clp. Bennings): I’m Sorry! 

<SCS> All Crew members have returned to ship. Sealing outer doors…

(Dr. Ve): Alright let me check you over. 

(Capt. Love): Ha, good Flying, Dell. Now get us the Fu–

       *End of all downloaded information*

I leaned back in my chair sweating, exhausted from simply listening and reading the recount of what happened. My mind spun with billions of horrific images, attempting to grasp what they had encountered. In the end I only succeeded in conjuring a headache, and took a swig of my forgotten coffee, now chilled by the AC unit running full blast. I sat in silence for minutes that stretched for hours, shudders and chills ran up and down my spine. Then a thought pierced me, spurred me into frantic action.

 I twisted and pulled on the terminal’s hard unfeeling dials, typing command after command to the point I thought the keyboard would break. I had to reach the Lieutenant, warn her. I know they didn't have the correct equipment to have seen what I had seen, read what I read. I finally got the signal out. One minute turned into two, two to ten, ten to thirty. But the Terminal only displayed static.