The First Interstellar Voyage

The Progress spacecraft was the first human-made vessel to reach a quarter of the speed of light. It was designed and built as part of a highly advanced space exploration program to test the limits of current technology and expand our understanding of space. This mission was not only a major technological milestone but also a strategic step toward the larger goal of exploring distant star systems and searching for habitable exoplanets. Specifically, The Progress was designed to reach Proxima b, the closest known exoplanet to Earth.

On March 21, 2085, coinciding with the spring solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the historic spacecraft Progress was launched into space. It carried four young, highly trained, ambitious astronauts who had spent years preparing thoroughly for this extraordinary journey. Their mission was to explore the Alpha Centauri triple-star system and the rocky planet Proxima b, the closest known habitable exoplanet to Earth at about 4.25 light-years away. The spacecraft was equipped with cutting-edge technology and advanced life-support systems carefully designed to sustain the crew during the long, challenging trip through interstellar space. The one-way journey from Earth to Proxima b was expected to take approximately twenty years.

The crew consisted of four members, each with specific skills. Captain Jason Bloom, 24, had advanced training in navigation and leadership and was in charge of the ship and leading the team. First Lieutenant Tina Gardner, 23, was skilled in computer systems and mechanical engineering, ensuring the ship's systems operated smoothly. Second Lieutenant David Tall, also 23, served as the medical officer and astrobiologist, caring for the crew's health and studying alien life forms if encountered. The last crew member, 22-year-old Second Lieutenant Akiko Nakayama, was skilled in chemistry and planetary geology and helped analyze planetary surfaces and geological formations. The Progress ship also had an artificial intelligence system named Alex. This AI was highly capable of handling critical tasks, including navigation, controlling the ship's environment, and ensuring everyone's safety on board. It had access to nearly all of humanity's accumulated knowledge stored in its data bank, including history, scientific discoveries, and technological information.

Aside from a few minor issues, such as equipment failures and routine maintenance, the first two years of the trip were mostly quiet and uneventful. During this period, the initial excitement of being the first humans to travel between stars gradually faded, replaced by boredom, regret, and a longing for home—the lifestyle they had left behind. The crew slowly grew bored, homesick, and irritable, often arguing over petty matters. Life on board The Progress was monotonous and mechanical: confined in a small space, waking up at the same time, eating the same foods, doing the same tasks, going to bed, and repeating it the next day. With no sun, day and night were equal, distinguished only by the brightness of the spaceship's internal lights, controlled by Alex, the AI. As they moved farther from Earth, messages from home arrived less often and were already outdated by the time they reached them. The lively face-to-face conversations with loved ones turned into recorded video messages, which they watched with a mix of nostalgia and longing, knowing they couldn't talk to each other in real time anymore.

Three days into the 27th month of their journey, The Progress suddenly shook violently, as if caught in a fierce storm. The entire ship rocked and trembled, like an airplane hit by heavy turbulence during a rough flight. But in the vacuum of space, how could that be possible? Jason called Alex with concern and asked, "What's happening?" His voice reflected his worry as he tried to make sense of the sudden chaos around him.

"I don't have a definite answer, Captain," Alex responded.

"What do you mean?"

"There is nothing in my database that explains this phenomenon."

"I see," Jason said, pondering. "What is your understanding of this phenomenon, Alex? We are in space, and we should travel into the vacuum. So what caused this turbulence?"

"We've probably entered some kind of anomaly bubble."

"Could you elaborate on that, Alex?" Jason asked.

"According to the theoretical physics models of space, such a phenomenon should not exist."

"Are we in danger?" Tina asked anxiously.

"I have found no damage to the integrity of The Progress's hull yet," Alex responded.

"How much stress can the hull withstand before fatigue cracks form and weaken its strength?" Tina asked.

"The electromagnetic field around The Progress absorbs most of the stress energy, ensuring the hall's safety. I have already diverted power from unnecessary sections to reinforce the shield further," Alex explained.

"Great, thank you, Alex," Jason said.

"You're welcome, Captain."

"How much extra energy are we consuming now, and does it affect the rest of our trip?" Tina asked, curious about the additional energy use and its potential impact on their journey.

"We are currently using about 10% more energy than usual, but whether I can answer your question depends on how long this situation lasts. I don't have any way to calculate the size of this anomaly bubble," Alex replied.

"The best course of action is to stay patient and pray that this unusual anomaly passes quickly and without further complication," Jason said.

"Exactly," Alex replied.

The stressful situation lasted twenty-two days, during which the atmosphere aboard the spaceship stayed tense and chaotic. The constant shaking and worries about potential damage to the ship and endangering their lives took a mental toll on the four, leaving them anxious, jumpy, and impatient. Suddenly, as it had started without warning, the chaos stopped, and the spaceship returned to its previous calm, as if it had endured the fierce storm in the vastness of space. It made everyone on board The Progress feel happy and celebratory.

"Damage report, Alex?" Jason ordered.

"The damage is minimal. I've already dispatched maintenance robots to inspect the hull and fix any potential damage," Alex said.

"Thank you, Alex," Jason said.

"But there's an issue," Alex said.

"What issue?" Tina asked anxiously. She was tired of constantly receiving bad news.

"It's about our location. We're in a different spot than we should be," Alex reported.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked anxiously.

"Before we entered the anomaly, we were about half a light-year from Earth. But based on my current calculations, we are over four light-years from Earth," Alex said.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked, confused.

"The anomaly, whether it was a strange energy vortex or a wormhole, rapidly transported us to our current location at a speed much faster than light," Alex explained.

"How is it possible?" David asked.

"In theory, wormholes are believed to exist, connecting vast distances by passing through subspace. However, we have never had the means to test or verify their existence," Alex said.

"It's true," Tina agreed.

"So, where are we now?" Akiko asked.

"Based on my calculations, we are at the edge of the Alpha Century triple star system heliosphere," Alex replied.

"That's great news. Instead of wandering the dark interstellar space for another eighteen years, we're almost at our destination," Tina said.

"Yes, with our current speed, in about a month, we will enter the Alpha Century triple star system's heliosphere, and soon after, the three stars will be visible in the distance," Alex explained.

"That's great," Tina said, and started dancing around. The other three joined in, celebrating this unexpected moment.

"But there is another issue," Alex said.

"Not again. No more bad news," Tina complained.

"What is the issue?" Jason asked.

"The problem is that I don't get any signals from Earth," Alex said.

"Since we traveled over 3.5 light-years in just three weeks, it's understandable not to receive any messages from Earth, isn't it?" Akiko said.

"I don't mean messages that are directed to us. I don't receive any noise or background signals from Earth," Alex said.

"What's wrong, Alex?" Jason asked.

"It has been nearly two hundred years since the invention of radio, and since then, we have been constantly broadcasting our location to the entire world. Given this long history, we should be able to receive radio and television signals, as well as military and civilian signals transmitted roughly four years ago. However, I am currently receiving nothing, and the space around us remains completely silent," Alex explained.

"What does it mean, Alex?" Jason asked nervously.

"I don't have a definite answer, Captain," Alex responded.

"What is your interpretation of this, Alex?" Jason asked.

"I don't have enough data to give you a definitive answer, Captain. We either traveled back in time to a period before humans invented the radio, or we slipped into a parallel universe with no humans on Earth, or they are still in a pre-industrial era without modern technology," Alex responded.

"My God!" Tina exclaimed.

"Are you telling us that this is a one-way trip and we'll never return home?" Akiko asked sadly.

"Our trip was a one-way trip from the beginning, don't you think?" David said.

"No, it isn't!" Akiko protested.

"Just think, twenty years to reach the planet Proxima b, about five years of research, and another twenty years to return home. This mission can easily take 45 to 50 years if everything goes as planned and nothing bad happens to The Progress or us. Space is an unforgiving environment with many unknowns. The statistics are against us," David commented.

"Don't start, David," Jason said.

"What are the chances of returning home, Alex?" David asked.

"With my current lack of data, it's almost zero. But it might change as I learn more about what we've been through," Alex said.

"What should we do?" Akiko said desperately.

"We must pursue our goal of reaching Proxima b. We will get there in less than three years instead of twenty. While studying the planet, we'll have plenty of time to figure out a way to return home," Jason said.

"Captain is right," Alex said.

"How about we change our course from here and head home?" Akiko asked.

"There's no guarantee we'll find the Earth as we left it," Alex said.

"What do you mean?" Akiko asked anxiously.

"We might return to the Jurassic era with roaming dinosaurs on Earth," David said.

"Fuck you, David," Akiko said.

"That's enough, David," Jason said firmly.

"There is another possibility that we've traveled to a distant future, and humans have already gone extinct in an atomic war or an environmental disaster," Alex said.

"Thank you for giving us hope," Akiko said sharply.

"We first go to Proxima b to fulfill our duty. We also have a better chance of survival by orbiting the planet rather than being in the emptiness of interstellar space. We cannot live in The Progress forever. Our resources are limited, and we will eventually need to replenish them," Jason said.

"Captain is right," Alex said. "We are just a few months away from reaching the Proxima b planet. Data collected by advanced space telescopes show that the planet is not only habitable but also suitable for sustaining human life, making it an ideal choice for us as a new home."

"But I want to go back to Earth. I don't want to die in space or on an alien planet," Akiko said, her eyes filling with tears.

"Don't cry, Akiko. We are trained aerospace officers, not children, and we all signed up for this mission knowing its challenges. Our primary task is to reach the Proxima b planet, study it thoroughly, and relay detailed information back to Earth. During this mission, while researching the planet's environment and conditions, we are also investigating the anomaly we encountered en route. Our goal is to understand the nature of this anomaly, determine its implications, and find a way to return safely to Earth," Jason said.

"Captain is right," Alex said.

Akiko reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"What is our current situation, Alex?" Jason asked.

"At our current speed, we will enter the Alpha Centauri triple star system's heliosphere in two months and 29 days. From there, we will gradually slow down and head toward Proxima b. We will be in a distant orbit of the planet in eight months, six days, four hours, eleven minutes, and twenty-one seconds," Alex reported.

"Alex, stop showing off," Tina said.