Chariot 3: Conception
Chapter 1 – Launch

“Antimatter?” Enquired the thick and rough voice.

“Stable”. A second voice replied.

“Graphene solution?” The first continued.

“Full.” Replied someone while reading the information projected on his iris.

“Reserve energy?”

“Loaded”. The answer was quick, without any hesitation.

“Communications?”

“Linked.”

“Linear Motor?”

“Check!”

“Jump Drive?” The voice quickened its pace.

“It`s on.” The answer was short an clear.

“SD interface?”

“Up and Running.”

“Magnetic impulse?”

“Ready to pulse, Sir!” The voice replied after completing all checks requested by his superior.

“Well done V-Nus! Did we receive the coordinates yet?”

“Yes, Sir. Locking coordinates 0.67408, 23.47297 and…wait! This’s about 238,900 miles from Earth. It looks like it`s where...the Moon used to be! Why they would send us so close to Earth?”

“I do not know V-Nus, but after the mission`s briefing with the Control two days ago, the least I can tell you is that I have a strange feeling about all this.”

“Captain” – interrupted a female voice coming from nowhere – “I have carried out all checks and I can ensure you I am perfectly fine to perform all my duties”.

“I appreciate your honesty Chariot 3, but I do not want you to get ‘tired’ doing all checks on your own.” The superior`s voice replied with a sarcastic tone.

“I am afraid I am unable to ever become tired Captain, this would be feasibly imp…”

“Cha-ri-ot 3…” he slowly pronounced her name, preventing her from finishing the speech “…has no one ever told you that your name is far too long? There is even a number on it.” Captain Shoffer had a naturally sarcastic sort of speech.

“I am afraid not Captain, I was conceived just four days ago...”

“You may call her Sissy.” Said V-Nus, trying to speed things up.

“Much better, we shall all call you Sissy then.” The Captain agreed.

“Sissy we need to move! I do NOT want you talking until further order!” The Captain`s voice sounded abrupt at the minimum.

“Message acknowledged.” She confirmed it the shortest way she could.

“Cai…” The Captain tried to ask one of his crew members as he continued his checks.

“I am ready!” Cai Yiu Hun said without letting his name be finished.

“Flumen?”

“Rrready.” Flumen answered – even though it certainly did not sound as if he was – while noticing that at least his amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for the sense of fear, seemed to be functioning extremely well.

“Control, this is Captain Shon Shoffer from Chariot 3. We are ready to fly.” The Captain spoke with a noticeable hint of excitement in his words.

“Message acknowledged Captain. Shall your path be safe.” A feminine voice replied from the Control. The four sensed a compassionate tone in her voice, absolutely imperceptible to the living ship.

“And so shall yours.” V-Nus replied with a tenuous voice.

“6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” The numbers sounded robotic deep inside their minds, and they were.

“Launch!”

The countdown had barely been finished and the recently born Chariot 3 took off for the very first time towards its classified and unscheduled last minute mission.

Sissy could still feel the pain of her name CHARIOT 3 being engraved on both sides of her disc shaped body made of metagraphene, although perhaps pain would not be the most appropriate word to describe the sensation felt by an engineered masterpiece.