Free Sample
Preview from chapter one
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Slow burner
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The high command had decided to attract more young female cadets to settle down on planet 744.25 in order to strengthen their furthest outpost. 744.25 was a vast, desolated planet, and only a very small part of it had been explored. Perhaps 50 square miles. But the carefully picked landing zone had surprised even the most sceptical explorers, as they measured almost the same conditions as on Earth. Air, water – it was all there. Mountains, lakes, you name it. The only thing missing was life. Not a single living organism was found in the little area they had explored.
As soon as enough data was collected, it was sent to the high command. It would take about a month for the transmission to arrive on Earth, but they had no hurry. The journey had taken roughly seven years, and they were all glad to be finally out of the HyperFlow State, leaving in their sleeping pods their backup clones.
Once the data had been properly analysed on Earth, Project NebulaGrowth was initiated. 50 cargo ships were sent, carrying raw materials and supplies, including, among others, architects, builders, carpenters, electricians, heavy equipment operators and space soldiers. Once they arrived, they were joyfully greeted by the explorers, only 15 remaining. Some had died of natural causes, but 35 explorers had simply disappeared without a trace. From anywhere: from their rooms, from their working stations, and, of course, while exploring. Funny enough, only men disappeared. Not a clue was found, and everybody was scared, so the arrival of one division with 1000 experienced space troopers was a big relief.
Big structures were built, with large walls all around them, protecting them from the unknown. In the first year, there were no further disappearances. The only enemy they had was boredom after work. There was nothing because essential facilities were being built first, and a backup oxygen plant was not very exciting. Men started having sex with each other, but many killed themselves. It was a disastrous situation, and the standard initiatives to attract families to live on planet 744.25 were a big failure. Not many people wanted to live there. The truth was, not a human soul was interested.
A more aggressive plan was needed. Targeting the young, mostly naïve women on Earth, big promises were made. Big money was assured. Live on Planet Sunshine (as the marketing department had baptised it) for only two years and get rich for life. Get free education and build yourself a future. Do some planet hopping and see other worlds.