The Beacon: Hard Science Fiction by Brandon Morris (red white and royal blue hardcover TXT) 📕

days. She’d spent her entire life on board the generation ship that her ancestors had set up in the hollowed-out interior of an asteroid. Now she had the opportunity to leave the spaceship for at least two days. She clattered her beak involuntarily.

“Kimikizu?”

The Supreme Navigator must have heard her. But that was not how she had meant it! Or had she? Kimikizu thought about training with Niribinu. She wouldn’t have to see the spoiled brat for two days. Wasn’t that alone worth it?

“Yes, Supreme Navigator?”

“I got the impression that you wanted to say something.”

“Yes.” Kimikizu couldn’t believe she’d just said that.

“Yes, what?” asked the Supreme Navigator.

She could still turn back. All she had to do was say something unrelated. That would undoubtedly ruffle the Supreme Navigator’s feathers, but ultimately it didn’t matter. Her career had already been predetermined for her when she’d still been inside an egg. There was no need to go above and beyond.

“I will accompany the Explorers,” said Kimikizu.

Now it was out and she couldn’t turn back without losing face. She would leave the ark and fly to the rocky planet. Darn it, she thought, what had she gotten herself into? Her innermost downy feathers stood on end.

“Wonderful, Kimikizu,” said the Supreme Navigator. “You will represent us well there.”

“And most importantly, you’re going to have lots of fun, dear,” added Lobozinu. “I must confess that I’m jealous of you, getting to make this journey.”

Fun. Glory. Kimikizu wasn’t all that sure that even one of the two was within a wingspan’s reach. She had always lacked the big tail feathers needed to become a heroine. But it was worth it to not have to train with Niribinu in the upcoming two days.

The Net Fleet

Twenty new stars appeared on the edge of the system. At least it would have looked like so at first glimpse to somebody on the surface of one of the planets that orbited the bright yellow sun. Yet from up close it was not new stars that suddenly appeared, but rather brightly shining spots of light that had formed in the icy vacuum of space for no apparent reason. They didn’t remain stable for long. Just a few tenths of a second after they materialized they expanded, and a dark spot appeared at the center of each one, although the word ‘dark’ doesn’t quite do justice to the impression these spots gave—it was not just the sense of absence of light, but rather the absence of everything! It was as if 20 holes had been punched through the fabric of the universe… and this was just what had happened.

Twenty spaceships burst out of the 20 wormholes, coming back into the reality of outer space. One ship scarcely made it out before the wormhole from which it had exited shrank behind it to then contract into a spot of light that quickly faded. All 20 of these new ‘stars’ disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.

On one of the 20 ships, Netmaster Kasfok opened his three right eyes and glared mercilessly at the troublemaker who had dared to interrupt his meditation. Reluctantly, he loosened his back legs from the net, opened his three left eyes, swung his body around, and dropped via a fresh thread to the floor of the meditation room.

From the entryway, Threadfinder Jokar drummed on the floor with his two front legs, communicating a greeting along with an apology for disturbing the meditation session. Kasfok received the vibrations and emitted a pheromone cloud that signaled his salutations and indulgence.

The report! he drummed back.

Successful passage, came the answer. All ships have arrived in the target system. The remote localization has been confirmed.

Kasfok was satisfied—in fact, more than satisfied! As master of the network, he was not only responsible for the 20 ships, but the fate of the remainder of his species hinged on his very mandibles. And this survival depended not least on their ability to replenish their dwindling energy resources. This wormhole transfer had been the last they could make using their jump generators, since the fusion reactors lacked the helium-3 fuel to create the energy needed for another one. They had placed all their bets on this system because it was unique among the galaxy's solar systems.

Maybe not unique, but certainly an exception, thought Kasfok.

The Milky Way has an inconceivably high number of planets, yet only a few of them are gas giants. These few almost always have orbits that are very close to their sun, making accessing them problematic, if not impossible. It is extremely rare to find a gas giant that is far enough from its central star to allow for the mining of helium-3 from its atmosphere. Helium-3 would inevitably become a vital energy source, a coveted raw material for all space-faring species.

On gas planets, the helium isotope is found in its original cosmic ratio. This is higher than on any rock planet, meaning that gas planets serve as the preferred and most sought-after source for this precious substance. Thus, gas planets orbiting their respective suns at suitable distances will take spots at the top of the list of heavenly bodies that astronomers of all intelligent species will seek. Finding a solar system with four such planets would be an incredible stroke of luck for any space-faring civilization. Ah, but this was just what they had succeeded in doing. For the remnant still in existence, the future of their people was assured for the time being.

What did the scans show? Kasfok drummed.

As we had hoped, Netmaster. Four gas giants at a considerable distance from the central star. It will not be challenging to harvest helium-3 from their atmospheres. Threadfinder Jokar emitted a cloud of contentment. He was responsible for the navigation of the small fleet, which he had brought here safely on the last of their energy reserves.

Are there signs of life in this system?

This was their greatest concern. They no longer had the resources to hold their ground against any advanced civilization