The Space craft was ready for lift off. The space craft was standing vertically on the launch pad with the gantry tower's support. At it's very top, Nivedhan and Yamini lay supine engaged in space-craft's check-up and starting manoeuvres. Count-down was in progress.
T-minus five minutes-
"Yamini can we check the fuel-system?"
"Checked. Green"
"Communication system"
"Also green"
"Trajectory control"
"Go"
"Telemetry system"
"Also go"
"All systems go"
Final count-down-
T-minus 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,0....Ignition on!
Nivedhan switched on the ignition .....ROOOOAR! Engines sprang into life with their roar rising to a crescendo and the space-craft dived upwards spewing out hot balls of fire, into the skies
Thirty kilometres above earth, forty kilometres, fifty, sixty, seventy the space-craft tiltingly climbed .....and above ninety kilometres a almost zero vaccum began. It freely coasted and revolved around the earth in egg-shaped orbit.
Nivedhan contacted the ground control.
"Ground control . This is Nivedhan and Yamini.Everything is fine here.
Space-craft is cruising fluently without any hitch"
"Very glad to hear everything is fine. Space craft has completed one revolution. Two more rounds to go. Then you go into outer space. Roger"
"After the third round, yamini revved up the booster engine, the space craft gained speed and ZOOOOMED into outer space.The g-forces attained peak power when the space craft attempted into pull away from the earth's strong gravitational force. Their vision began to dim and they tried their best not to lose consciousness. After a last-second struggle, it pulled away from the earth's gravitational field diving into the outer space and they escaped from the fury of the g-forces.
Were there intelligent beings in the vast expanse of universe just as human beings on Earth? In the event of such intelligent beings living elsewhere in the universe, it is customary to spew out coded signals into outer space to inform them about the existence of Earth. A reply signal came to such a universal message just a few days back. The reply signals indicated that they were very near. They were heading to the source of that signal. Since the signals appeared to be so near it might be from a hitherto undiscovered tenth planet in the solar system.
In the control panel's video screen the space-craft's path appeared loud and clear. The scanner and the fixed point antenna are the space-craft's two eyes.
While the scanner served to scan the immediate vicinity the co-ordinates-finding- antenna focussed on the distant objects. They were on differnt screens. The co-ordinates-finding- antenna was tuned for the target source.
Nivedhan's eyes moved over to the scanner screen....What is this? In the screen there was a big light circle. "May be a supernova explosion" he informed and operating the reverse control, withdrew the space craft backwards and operating yaw control turned the space craft sideways and tried to avert the space craft cominng under the influence of the light circle.
No use. The light circle enlarged and enlarged and reached out to the space craft as if to engulf it. The space craft shook enormously and communicaton with the earth snapped.
Nivedhan called "Yamini"- as the microphone was not working with the mouth moving silently in the vaccum.
-----
Back on the Earth....
All hell had broken loose in the ground control with all order going haywire and there was utter chaos.
"Nivedhan-Yamini. Nivedhan-Yamini! Repeatedly electro magnetic waves calling them surged into the vacant outer space and searched for them. No response from them.
"What would have happened? Expanding light circle, supernova explosion- that was the message they received from Nivedhan and Yamini last. They were transmitting pictures continuously from the space craft. if they have a look at the pictures upto the last message received they might be able to dicipher the reason for the communication black out with the space craft crew.
A call flew into the telemetry centre.
"Telemetry centre. This is Ground control, the uptodate pictures sent in by Nivedhan, Yamini needed immediately"
"This is telemetry centre. There is light circle in the last picture sent by them. We are sending the picture upto the light circle enlarging and engulfing the space craft"
The pictures were transmitted from the telemetry centre to the ground control and they saw upto the light circle enlarging and enlarging and engulfing the space craft.
It indeed appeared like a super nova explosion. The only star near is Sun. In that case it might have been a solar flare. There is no news of a solar flare in the near past from any of the astronomical centres. It was turning a riddle. What swept by might have also heen a magnetic storm from an unknown source. If that was the case, communication equipments might have gone broke. After the storm dies out the communication black-out might be lifted and they might contact the ground control. Anticipating this, the ground conrol waited.
------
Opposite the space-craft-
the light circle finished it's violent display and the space craft was still intact without a single scratch.
Nivedhan called, "Yamini"
the voice came over the microphone besides his lip movement. The communication black-out is over. NIvedhan heaved a sigh of relief.
"What Nivedhan?" Ranjani appeared to speak as if to enjoy her own voice after the long silence.
"We saw a light circle, in front right? Was it a super nova explosion or something else? unable to make out what it is. How it could have traveresed light years to reach us in such a short time. May be it is a magnetic storm from a unknown source. That is why the communication equipments failed temporarily.The storm has stopped now."
"Even we couldn't speak to each other even though we were at touching distance to each other.How can we speak in a vaccum when the microphone is not working?Thank God, the storm has ended."
"Let us send message to the ground control"
"Before that we can check if everything is alright here"
The examined-fuel sytem, trajectory control, communication system, etc., etc., all o.k.
Yamini scanned the vicinity to see if there was any mischief left around the space craft.In front o.k. the rear?- s smoky column has engulfed the rear portion of the space craft!
""Nivedhan. Any chance this is exhaust fuel from the space craft?"
"No chance. The exhaust fuel will not be like this. This is something else. Let us send message to the Earth"
Yamini flicked the trasmission switch on."Ground control'
No response back from Earth.
"It appears our message is not travelling to Earth"
"Why?'
"I think the signals are not able to traverse the smoky column in the rear."
"Damn! what to do now?"
"Our destination planet's co-ordinates appear very near. Let us go straight there, land and connect to earth again"
"We have to do that only. No other go"
The space craft resumed it's journey towards the destination.
In the co-ordinate screen a mild image had begun to form.
As they neared the image 1000 kilometres ....500 kilometres, 400 kilometres the image didnt appear like a planet but appeared something unknown.
"Whether the image appearing in the screen is our destination?' asked Yamini
"It is our destination.The co-ordinates match the destination's co-ordinates"
"It doesnt appear like a planet"
"Let us operate the hologram projector and see it's three dimensional image"
Yamini operated the hologram projector. On the circular projector image's 3-D image floated up.
"It is a floating space-station!"
"The planet we were looking for is a space-station at last!"
"How could have a space-station materialised here?"
"Any one of the super powers back on earth might have launched it.Or else people from a solar system elsewhere in our galaxy might have launched it to proble our Earth"
If we propel a satellite above a certain point it will escape Earth's gravitational field to get attracted by the sun's gravitational field begining to revolve around Sun. This might have been launched like that”
"Motive?'
"How far we can see from the telescopes from our Earth? We can see other solar systems still more clearly from a place like this far far away from Earth"
"Anyway let us venture into the space-station and see for ourselves"
The space craft came into closer view now and they looked up in awe.It was a cylindrically shaped giant structure. Solar panels were jutting out from it's sides like birds' wings. As they spotted a parking space for the space craft, they fired the retro-rocket slowing it down and landed on it. They moored it to the space station by a heavy chain provided in the parking space and entered the space station through the central area.
Lights were on inside illuminating the interior. Getting alert, they drew out their laser guns and moved step by step. In the area they entered there was a stack of equipments in four to five rows.
When they opened one of them- they spotted triode valve, oscillator, moderator, step-up transformers then leads from going out of the out put inside the racks.
When they moved further from the stack of equipments rows, they saw the wires from solar panel coming into the power input.
"what are all these?"
"An idea comes to my mind Yamini. I can say for sure if we take a look at the space-station's roof"
"The roof? ok, let us see"
They came out and searched the route to go to the roof. They spotted a ladder to the left, climbed and reached the roof.
The first thing they spotted was a micro-wave antenna.
"What I thought was right"
"What you thought and what is right?"
"This space-station serves as a repeater station. The messages coming in from elsewhere are strengthened here and being sent to the Earth"
"Where from those messages are coming?
"Don't know. If we go back inside and check thoroughly may be i will be able to tell"
When they came back in and crossed the stack of equipments, there was a glass chamber on the side. There were crops.
"These appear like the crops on Earth"
"Yes. May be for research to grow crops in zero gravity. There is one more room. Let us go in and see"
That appeared like a control room. There was a air cylinder and a valve on the wall.
"It may be a air cylinder for breathing"
"Let us remove the face mask and inhale it'
They opened the valve and removed the face masks.
"Ahhhh! Ahhhh! The air pressure inside was simply unbearable choking them.
"I am gasping. The air pressure is very very high. The valve on the wall appears to be for increasing the air pressue inside"
Yamini tried to close the valve. She couldn't
It began to choke terribly and they began to gasp. It appeared as if they are forced down into a water filled tank ,Ahhhh....Ahhhhh! God!Gasping, gasping and gasping .....ik..h,mmmmma! If the pressure continued at this rate the blood vessels will burst as if deep deep inside the ocean. Frantically they searched for something that could save them from this ominous clutch of pressure.
They spotted scuba-suits just as the ones used to dive under water in a drawer. They hurriedly donned the suits... Ah! What a relief! They could breathe easily now.
They examined the room they are in, further and spotted communication panels. There were two seats in front of them.
They were tempted to sit in them and they occupied the seats.
"Ah! there are seat-belts on the edge of the arms"
"It appears we have to sit fastening this belt only"
When they fastened the belts around them the seats began to shake violently. The seats bounced like springs sending them up and down. It was horribly hurting with their rig cages seeming to burst out by the violent shaking and jolt. Were the troubles they undergone not enough? The life within them they managed to withhold upto now appeared to be choked out. Earth, message, travel, destination ....random memories flashed through them and they started losing consciousness. The impression that all would end for them coursed through them as their consciousness was dimming very fast. They resigned themselves to the inevitable and prepared to face their last moments.
Abruptly the shakings and joltings stopped.
They swam, swam and swam back to consciousness from deeper reaches of seeming unconsciousness. They unfastened the seat belts and rested themselves.
"Space-station-9 welcomes you"
a deep voice called out and they sat up jolted!
They looked around to see who is calling. There was no one!
"Space-station-9's congratulations to you."
-the voice came from the video screen opposite them only! There were also letters on the screen repeating the announcement by the voice.The voice continued.
"You have succeeded in the tests carried out by us"
Tests? Nivedhan and Yamini glanced at each other.
"Yes. You underwent a lot of ordeals just some time ago. Remember that light circle, then that smoky column in the rear of the space craft, on reaching here the pressurising valve, then lastly the vibrating seats all those were tests"
"Why? What for? Who are you?"
Yamini asked the voice.
"We are residents of bennot planet in the carsica solar system. We have eight more space stations like this one. This ninth space station is the one near to your earth. From here only we received the universal messages from the Earth to look for intelligent beings and from here only the reply signals to the Earth came. This space-station also operates as a remotely-controlled research station. You might have seen the crops grown in the glass chambers.We have plans to take those who reach here. Enroute to our planet magnetic storm, pressure build-up, space craft vibrations will all be encountered serially"
"Oh! then you wanted to test us whether we can withstand them?"
"Yes, right"
"Thanks. Whether we can come to your planet ourselves?"
"Not possible. We shall come and take you"
Yamini gestured to Nivedhan pointing at the transmission switch.
"Is it possible to speak to the Earth from here?"
"Yes, you can speak. Flick the transmission switch before you do that"
Good. We have to speak to the earth. In rhe meelee you created we lost contact with Earth for a long time"
"Sorry for inconvinience. It was done as it was necessary. Now you can speak to your Earth"
"Thank you'
Nivedhan flicked the green switch in the transmission panel.
"Ground control. This is Nivedhan-yamini"
"This is ground conrol. Is that Nivedhan-Yamini?"
"Yes"
"Whatever happened to you and where are you"
"We are speaking from space-station-9 now"
"Space-station-9? What is it?'
"It is the destination we came for. The destination is not a planet as expected by us. It is a space station. Nineth space station of the bennot planet people who replied us. This space station is the nearest one to our Earth. All other space stations are very very far off"
"Ah! Amazing to hear. ok. Whatever happened to you in between?'
"The light circle was a test carried out by the bennot people to take us to the planet. There were many tests after that. We completed tests and training in centrifuge, simulator and zero-g back on earht and came here. Still we were subjected to the bennot people's own tests. Anyway they inform that we have successfully negotiated the tests. We are qualified to go to bennot planet"-
"Glad to hear this. You have saved the face of the Earth. Your success means our Earth's intelligent quotient is not bad at all'
"They are coming to take us to planet bennot. We have to wait till they come. Have we the permission to go to bennot?"
"Permission? You have that. It is a rare news that intelligent beings are there elsewhere. You are going to meet them in person. We have to know about them only through you. Therefore you have full authority to go with them. Take care. Bye"
The earth bid adieu.
If the bennot people could creare super nova explosion and magnetic storm-like scenario like a child's play they should be highly intelligent. They even have the means of traversing light years fluently. They are cong just because they have that means
They awaited eagerly the arrival of Bennot planet people.
*******
-Mohan Sanjeevan
