《The Lost Colony》 Chapter 1: Destination: Pax Haven I''m normally a charming person to be around but not when I just got assigned the job from hell, exploring Pax Haven. After everything I''ve done for this corporation, I get this. My crew is not going to take this well. As I walk through the shops at the station selling food, clothes, and other things I can''t help but wonder what I did to deserve this assignment. For the past two jobs our crew had done they all went off without a hitch. We escorted a transport across solar systems, and we went on a mining operation. Nothing we''d done yet would call for a job like this. Well, this job should pay handsomely if we find out what happened. As I walk abord our ship (The Luma) I''m greeted by our AI Nova. Are we going to depart soon or not? You haven''t told us anything about this job yet and I''m getting impatient. Relax Nova, or we might just pull the plug, says Matt. Now Ladies break it up says Zach as he pops up from underneath the floor with a grin. Dude what are you doing down there? Just making sure everything''s working for our trip to Pax.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Wait a minute, how did you know we''re going to Pax, I haven''t announced it yet! Uhhhhh, guess? Zach did you hack into my feed again? Pfft, no, I''d never do that.... again. Not like I can just stop him; he has an IQ of 180 and is the smartest damn engineer on this side of the galaxy. Make sure you don''t mess with Nova, or he might electrocute you when you''re working down there, I say as convincing as I can manage when I know Nova loves Zach more the anyone else on this ship. Who else would upgrade him with cool weapons and the latest software? Chapter 2: Onward Bound When are you going to tell the rest of the crew? Zach asks. As soon as Chloe returns from shopping with Theo then I''ll let them know about it. Zach snorts. GREAT, more shopping. Why does she do this every single time we get back from a mission? It''s the same stores, same clothes, same food! It''s the same stuff every time! Hey, don''t yell at me, do you think I know why she goes shopping every time? Why? I think it''s just because that''s what she''s used to. I don''t even know why she went and got a job here; her father''s rich enough from running asteroid mining operations. Could be she just got bored or something and wanted to do something fun? HA wouldn''t exactly call this the funnest thing to do in the world. You know that''s not a word, right? That''s what they all say. Maybe because it''s right?! Whatever. Hey, looks like Chloe and Theo are back from shopping! Hi Yall! How''s it going? Says Chloe. Just talking about the next job with the captain, if you wanna like, know where we''re going. It''s somewhere real fun! Like where? Just PAX HAVEN! Ain''t that a colony site? What business do we have going to a colony site? Asks Theo. Hey, I don''t know why we''re going to a colony site, but we are. We have a choice here colony site or get fired. I think I know what I''m going with here. Says Zach. What about the rest of you? Eh, why not? Says Theo. Sure, sounds like it could be fun. Says Chloe. Do I get a choice here or am I just going to get dragged along on this? Asks Nova.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Well, there is always just deactivating you. Says Zach. Hard Pass says Nova. Well then since we''re all in agreement I think it''s about time we depart. Zach, is she all fueled up? Yup finished even before you got here, Zach says with a smile. We can leave at any time. Alright, let''s get going then, Nova. Yes? Undock us. I exist to serve. As we disembark from the station Chloe leaves to put her bags away and Theo sits down in his chair next to the weapons console. Alright, what new toys did you make for me Zach? You''ll find out later, right now I just want to relax. Nova butts in, we are clear of the station. Permission to go into superlight? Wait till Chloe gets seated then punch it. Ok, I heard that! I''m coming! She runs in and takes a seat. Happy? Yup, alright everyone strap in, and let''s get this show on the road. Nova, HIT IT! Chapter 3: Before The Descent Nova, how long will it take to get to Pax? asks Theo. We should arrive within the next 8 hours. Hey, that''s not so bad. How far is it to Pax anyway? Pax Haven is on the exoplanet Gliese 1002 b orbiting the red dwarf star GJ 1002. That means it''s 15.8 Light years away and we are moving at 3,225,070,000 miles a second. Nice and slow, right pax? Hardly. Well, I think it''s time we learn a bit more about this place. Nova, tell us everything relevant on Pax Haven. Yes sir. As I have already informed you all Pax Haven was built on the exoplanet Gliese 1002 b which is orbiting the red dwarf star GJ 1002. It was built 30 years ago and was running at full capacity until about 10 years ago when it first started showing signs of failure. No one is sure what exactly went wrong so that''s what we''re being paid to find out.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Do we have a plan to figure out what happened? Asks Zach. The recommended course of action is to investigate the power core, bots, AI system, Farms, and the infostructure. Wait, that doesn''t sound so hard. Says Chloe. The problem is Chloe that other crews have gone to Pax Haven before to investigate and none of them have come back before. They say that when you land you never take off again... OoOoOoOo I''m so scared. Says Chloe. All I''m saying is it''ll be best if we play this very carefully, who knows, we might even survive! You''re hilarious. Is that all you have for us Nova? It appears so. Well then, I''ve got some time to kill I''m going to sleep, Nova wake me up when there are 20 minutes until we exit superlight. Ok, boss. The rest of you might want to do the same, it''s best if you rest up before we land. I want you all at 100%. I''m greeted by a chorus of what I''m hoping are affirmatives as I walk down the hallway to my cabin. Chapter 4: Exiting Superlight Captain, wake up, says Nova. We will be exiting Superlight shortly. Thanks for that Nova. You are very welcome. As I climb back up the hatch and pop out into the ship''s main hallway I trudge towards the main console as I try and blink the sleep out of my eyes. It looks like someone''s well-rested, says Zach popping out from underneath the ship. Did you get any sleep? I ask. Nah, you know me, no point in sleeping when you could be working! I hope you know that philosophy is going to burn you out someday. Nova butts in, Exiting Superlight in 2 minutes, if you don''t enjoy being thrown against the nearest wall then I would highly recommend getting seated in the cockpit immediately. Yeah, yeah, I heard you, I''m coming, Chloe says as she opens her hatch and walks down the hallway. Same here, Theo says as he walks down the hallway behind Chloe. As they get seated in the cockpit and strap in Nova begins to count down. Deceleration in 3, 2, 1. As I''m being pulled from my seat my eyes are glued to the beautiful colors dancing in the viewport. The black fading away into a million shooting stars of every color of the rainbow, dancing through the sky. The colors slowly start fading away until the planet appears below us. A Sphere of blue and brown with hints of vibrant green and a Vibrant blue glow surrounding it all. Well, if that ain''t something special, says Theo gazing at the planet below. It is quite visibly appearing, says Nova.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Enough dilly-dallying let''s get this show on the road people! Nova, set a course for the space station orbiting the planet. Let''s see if they have any intel on the colony site. Plotting a course now, says Nova. Chloe, see if you can find anything else on Pax before we arrive at the space station. Theo, make sure all the weapons systems are working. I don''t want to get into a fight only to realize they are malfunctioning. Zach? What do you have for me captain? He asks. I''ve got nothing, go work on your secret project or something. On it! He then vanishes from view as he ducks back beneath the ship. Alright, step to it, times a wastin! Chapter 5: The Haunted Colony Captain, we have docked at the space station, says Nova. Alright, I''m going down to ask the inhabitants if they know anything else we don''t already know. Affirmative captain. Mind if I tag along? I need to find some more parts for the ship. Asks Zach. Sure thing. Well then, shall we? After you. No, I insist. Kids do I need to throw you out the hatch or can you walk like normal humans? Says Nova. HA HA, we''re going Nova. Finally, he adds. As Zach and I open the hatch to step out into the station we are greeted by an old man. He smiles and asks, how are you two fine gentlemen doing today? Well, we''d doing much better if we didn''t have to be here, no offense. Says Zach. Don''t worry, none taken. I''m just glad to have some company here on Heaven''s Reach. Is that what it''s called? It sure is, I named it myself. Huh, are you the only person on this space station, I mean, other than us? No, no, no one wants to come here anymore on a count if they think it''s bad luck. What do you mean? I ask. Well ever since the colony site was abandoned people stopped coming through here so often. When the first crew went down to investigate and never came back that''s when the rumors started. They say that it''s haunted by the colonists who used to live there, and since they never came back, they won''t let you either. Do you believe the rumors? Pshhh, nah that''s all some bullshit made up by people with nothing better to do with their lives. Hey, that''s a vote of confidence if I''ve ever heard one, right captain? Whatever gets you to go down on the planet works for me. Oh HAHA, real funny. Anyway, old man have any parts I could buy from you? Yes yes, I have some in my shop. Here, follow me.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As the old man leads us down a short, dimly lit pathway we emerge into a giant atrium filled with black screens and holograms that have all been powered down. Would ya look at that view Zach says as he gestures toward the ceiling. And what a view it was, the entire ceiling was see-through, allowing in a gorgeous view of the planet hovering perfectly centered above us. Ah, yes. One of the few things worth anything around here. The old man chuckles. Let''s keep moving. As he leads us to his shop in the corner of the atrium he shuffles behind the counter and asks us, Now, what kind of parts did you say you were after? What I need is a Neural Sync Core. I doubt you have one but if you did, I would love to buy it. What do you need a Neural Sync Core for? Hell, what does that even do!? I ask. Just a part I need for a secret project of sorts. Do you mind telling me what that is? HA, nope. Hence the word "Secret". Alright man, I''m heading back to the ship call me when you''re done. Alright. As I walk away, I can hear the old man saying. Found the part you were looking for, it''s a bit beat up, but it should still run ok. How much do you want for it? 30,000 credits. What!? That''s like half my salary! I wouldn''t even pay that for a brand-new one! As I continue to walk away, I can hear their voices fade away still arguing over the price. That old guy is going to be in for a hell of a fight, Zach is the best haggler I''ve ever met, and keep in mind, I''ve traveled the galaxy. Chapter 6: The Calm Before The Storm Guess who''s back!? Exclaims Zach as he opens the hatch. Hey Zach, did you find the parts you wanted? I ask. Yup, sure did! You seem even more energetic than you normally are. Somebody got the deal of a lifetime huh? Adds Chloe as she walks in with Theo. Did he have any weapons? Asks Theo. Hey, I didn''t ask but I don''t think a kind old man would be selling weapons in a small shop on an abandoned space station, I''m just saying. Plus, don''t you have enough fun little weapon toys to play with? I''m making you new ones pretty much constantly. Shit, if I had to guess I''d say we''re more heavily armed than your average military cruiser! Ha-ha, I don''t have that many weapons on this ship. Dude, I''ve been in your room, your walls are PLATED with explosives, a laser blaster, doorbusters, an ion lance, and an ECLIPTIC SABER! Do you know how rare those are? Not to mention all the homemade stuff I''ve made you. Alright bucko.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Hey Zach? Asks Chloe. What exactly did you buy? Just a piece of complicated circuity I need for the ship. Ok, I will pretend I know what you''re talking about. Good, keep doing that. Anyway, are we all set to go down to the colony site? Theo Asks. Since Zach''s back we can leave anytime. Perfect, when we get back from this, I''m going to take a vacation on Earth and relax. That sounds nice, I think we all deserve a vacation. Adds Chloe. That would make three jobs back-to-back with no break. Well, I find it nice that you all are planning a vacation I think it would be best if you did that after we survive this. No recorded crew has ever returned after attempting this job. There''s a good chance we die. Thanks for the vote of confidence captain, Zach says with exaggerated sarcasm. That''s it, Nova, take us down to the colony. There''s no point in waiting any longer. I think it''s time we got this show on the road.