Written by my cousin Shen…
Somewhere in space, in a later time of space-time-continuum (about 600 years from now), a large 4,500 meter long craft cruises slowly in an asteroid field, mining from the ore-rich asteroids. It has been doing that for the last 2 months, collecting ore to be processed back home.
The ship had been doing this for the last 17 years, 11 months, 16 days, 21 hours and 152 minutes. It seemed like a perfectly normal carefree day for the miners on board. Unbeknownst to the 36,001 personnel onboard, their lives would change in exactly 20 minutes and 52 seconds.
In level 271B, Section C, Coordinates 21,54, exactly 5 minutes from the engine room, Engineer Likup strode in a purposeful manner. He was for once, from the 600-odd engine crew, summoned to the Head Engineers’ office.
To be summoned or ordered around by Head Engineer Freya was a very special opportunity. Head Engineer Freya was the only attractive female in the Engine Section. Most of the others were assigned to the administrative sections or the bridge. After two months in space, many crew members were getting restless… especially the males.
Wan Phing Lim 