Click!
- What was that? - I asked, upon hearing a strange noise. As I looked around, I noticed that the sound came from the array of computers in front of us. We were on the Pitstop Station, a space station in lunar orbit made with refueling in mind, however, it had a secret room for members from the Agency of Cosmic Espionage, a top secret government organization tasked with protecting the US's properties in space. It was created in 2027, when the Second Cold War (fought between America, Russia and China) begun and with it, a new space race.
However, due to the modern tensions, even space has to be protected from evil, as we found out the hard way. We had just foiled an evil plot to blow up the American Moon Base and the mines around it so that Russia would get rich from exporting helium-3. Additionally, this could have resulted in an escalation between the conflict between the US and China, as a Chinese person was to be framed for the attack. Luckily, our unit managed to foil this horrible plot.
I didn't see anything of this coming over a week ago.
Eight days ago (on the 14h of February, 2035), I was recruited into the agency, expecting to enter an academy for astronauts, but that was just a cover up for the agency's secret base and training facility. Before I could process any of this, I became a member of unit 212, along with my new friends: Amber, a combative girl of my age, Claudius, a 15-year-old mechanics enthusiast and Sebastian, our team's leader. We all stood in the back of the room, with another unit nearby: unit 208. Three of their members, Vincent, Jeff and Lauren were guarding a former member of the unit who we exposed as a mole: Dawn. Dawn had a sweet facade and nobody found out about her true motives for two years, until we came in.
Now, I've just agreed to join a new, dangerous mission. All of our new enemies (except Dawn), whom were members of a Russian criminal organization called the Perseids, escaped in a rocket after our showdown. Currently, two analysts were busy, trying to track them down. Beside them stood two elderly men: Einstein (real name Edward. We call him that way because he resembles Albert Einstein), who was our caring adult supervisor and Captain Nigel, the training facility's principal and a cold, tough man. His seemed, at times, to be Einstein's polar opposite. Nigel was the one who sent us on this mission.
The secret room was very small and dimly lit by an old lamp on the ceiling. Most of the room was occupied by the impressive computer array, with five TV-sized screens connected to smaller computers on four black desks. Only two of these small computers were active. The screens showed a black field with several green dots and one red, pulsing dot.
- We found them! - One of the analysts exclaimed cheerfully.
- How? - Amber asked curiously.
- We have an interconnected network of satelites that track movement in the area. They've picked up signals coming from a vessel above the area that the Perseids fled - The analyst explained.
- Good, where are they? - Captain Nigel asked in his typical emotionless tone.
- They're in the Hyperspace, which poses an issue: it is difficult to operate there, because adult agents will be quickly noticed by the enemy, as they are expecting a search - the analyst replied. The Hyperspace is a space hotel orbiting around the Earth, being unique for two reasons: Firstly, it is absolutely massive, dwarfing every other space hotel, and secondly, it is fully managed by an advanced AI called HISS (acronym for Hyperspace Intelligent Security System). The name is a bit misleading, as it is capable of far more than just protection.
- Who said they have to be adult agents? A group of tourist kids won't be suspicious - The other analyst asked, glancing upon us.
- That's a good idea. Unit 212 already knows the enemy agents, so it won't be hard to locate them - Captain Nigel nodded in agreement.
- I told you that this new mission will be dangerous - Einstein turned to us. He brought up a new operation and asked if we wanted to participate. I was a bit hesitant, but eventually opted to join, wanting to close what had already opened.
- Don't worry, I've got this covered. Unit 212 will be supported by a special field agent. First, we need to get to the Hyperspace, so don't just sit around and get going! - Nigel replied.
- I'll fly with them, It'll be safer - Einstein proposed.
- No, you're staying with me. We will observe our junior agents and only provide help if it's absolutely neccissary. You've shown signs of inobedience, so I'll be happy to oversee you actions. Any further order denial will be classed as mutiny - Captain Nigel sounded threatening. Einstein gazed upon us with an apologetic look.
- Go to the spaceplane! - Nigel rushed us. Einstein looked at us one last time, so did the members of unit 208, even Dawn. We left the secret room and put on our spacesuits. Dressing up in them was already difficult on Earth, as the spacesuits were extremely heavy and made of multiple parts, but putting them on in zero-gravity was even more challenging. After suffering with them, we flew into the spaceplane and strapped into our seats.
The pilot was Jaxon Koval, a half-American, half-Russian agent who was commonly called "naively loyal", as he would take any job in the agency. We didn't know the details of his career, all we've heard about him came from either Einstein or Nigel.
- Okay, children. You know the safety protocols and your destination, so I won't tell anything - he said us with a slight Russian accent.
The spaceplane was very slim and futuristic looking. It was about the size of a fighter jet, with a white chassis and a smooth, triangular cocpit. There were two big and three small thrusters in the back. The wingspan was about 45 feet. The bottom side of the spaceplane was black and metallic. The windows were small and couldn't be opened, because they'd open to the vacuum of space if they could. The spaceplane was equiped with heat shields and hidden laser blasters, both of which came in handy in our last mission.
I looked at my reflection in the window. The mission had taken a toll on my appearence. My dark brown hair was messy, partly because I forgot about bringing a comb with me, and because I didn't have much time to work with it anyway. My glasses were slightly tilted, so I moved them back and met my own brownish gaze. My spacesuit was white and far more comfortable than the dummy suits that we used in the academy.
I was surprised upon hearing that the three good members of unit 208 didn't join us on the mission, but I assumed that they were tasked with guarding Dawn and making sure that she doesn't escape (they know her the most). As far as the mission was concerned, I was both excited and worried. I was excited because this was going to be far more interesting than my typical routine before joining the agency. Even the grueling training seemed boring in comparison to a real operation. On the other hand, I was worried about dying from the hands of dangerous villains and never getting to return to my home in Florida on Earth. The two emotions were a weird mix to feel, but I tried to relax, so I just stared at the window and the countless stars outside.
Suddenly, the spaceplane detached itself from the Pitstop Station and we set off towards the Hyperspace. The mission has officially begun.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.