Dse Hardwood Ch 01 Eol 1

Launch

12th April 3094, the ship DSE Hardwood was preparing to set off. Captain Lauren stood at the front of the control room, she looked at the main members of her first team. Twelve of them eager to go. They were the best of the best and although personality wise some of them were not Lauren's first choice, she couldn't doubt their ability to get their job done.

"Are all the checks completed?" Lauren asked Sasha, the ship's head technician.

Lauren had known Sasha since they were in flight school together. They rose through the ranks with each other, although Lauren was always a natural leader and Sasha had been the technical one of them both. There was no one else Lauren would want checking the safety of the ship than Sasha.

Sasha was a dark skinned woman with long, black hair and big, brown eyes. Sasha, like the rest of the first team, wore a blue buttoned shirt and trousers for their uniform whereas Lauren wore the same outfit except in white to signify that she was the captain.

"All done and ready to go." Sasha replied respectfully.

Perfect,

Lauren thought and went to address the team who stood at attention.

"Everyone, we will be setting off shortly," Lauren said to their eager ears, "This is a monumental step for our kind. Ever since Rapid Travel was invented we have reached further and further from our system. As you know we have mapped safe travel routes from system to system, however, this is a different mission."

She saw each of their faces, some showing worry over what they were doing, others excited. Callum Smith showed boredom. He was the botanist of the first team and although he was the best at what he did, Lauren had read the reports of his inability to work as a team. Fortunately, his father was a large donator of the world's space union so he landed a spot on this team.

"We are travelling to systems that have not been explored before," Lauren continued, "we could come across unknown meteor showers, unknown alien life forms, make no mistake, this is one of the most dangerous explorations our kind have been on in hundreds of years."

Now,

Lauren thought,

time to build their confidence.

"Which is why I have hand selected every member of this ship," she told them, "this mission can only be a success if we have the best of the best, which you all are. Each of you are the pinnacle of your selected fields, I do not doubt in my mind of your ability and if we work together, then we will come home safe and sound."

A few smiles appeared on their faces and Lauren knew that she had gotten through to many of them.

Except for Bella Henkins. She was the rookie of the first team. Lauren's assistant, was there to help with any needs Lauren needed that she was too busy for.

Bella was only twenty years of age but she was a genius prodigy. A slim woman with shining blonde hair and blue eyes. The worry on this young woman's face was clear, this was her first ever trip off world.

"We will rendezvous with the station orbiting Jupiter for final checks and then we will go, stations," Lauren ordered and everyone got to work.

The control room was all white and the sound of buttons being clicked filled the air. Every member of the team knew their jobs, which made Lauren's life easier.

A voice came on the speakers throughout the control room.

"Captain Hughes, are you ready?" The male voice asked.

Lauren pressed a red button on her captain's chair.

"Ready, control." She replied.

"Good luck, the countdown starts now." He replied.

"5..." A few buttons were pressed and the engines warmed up.

"4..." Protector shields covered the glass in front of the ship.

"3..." Thrusters ignited and the ship vibrated.

"2..." Flamers lit and the ship attempted to move, being held only by the metal hands that held it in place.

"1..."

This is it. A new age for mankind.

"Launch."

And with that, the metal hands released and the ship took off.

Jupiter Rendezvous

"C-Captain?" Bella's voice stuttered as the door to Lauren's room slid open.

"Come in." She replied and sat up from her bed.

Bella walked in, her right hand brushed through her blonde hair, in her left held a file.

"All checks are done, we are ready to depart in two hours," Bella told her.

"Perfect." Lauren replied, so far there we no problems.

But Bella stood there, still with the same nervous face she had since boarding the ship.

Being a leader means more than running the ship,

Lauren thought.

"Bella, take a seat," Lauren told her.

The young girl nervously sat down on a free chair and Lauren walked over to her.

"Do you have much family back home?" Lauren asked.

"The normal, mum, dad and brother." Bella replied.

"Did they give you a nice send off before leaving?" Lauren asked her, and she attempted to find the fine line between professional and friendly.

"We had a party," Bella replied and smiled, "well I say party, it was just us four."

"You're all close then?" Lauren asked, "Tell me about them."

Bella smiled like a funny memory came to her head.

"My brother is a knucklehead," Bella told her, "would defend the people he loved to the ends of the earth, but he's a sweetheart really."

Lauren chuckled at that, although she didn't know the feeling she knew how to fake it.

"And your parents?" Lauren asked.

"Dad's a mailman, a hard-working man, never one to sit and relax," Bella told her, "my mum has always been a stay at home mum, she wanted to give us the best upbringing that she could."

Lauren gently rested a hand on Bella's shoulder.

"Keep a hold of those memories," Lauren told her, "space can be lonely at times, but in those times just remember your family, the love that you will receive when we return home."

"If we return home," Bella whispered.

Lauren crouched down and looked the young Bella in her eyes.

"We will return home," Lauren told her firmly, "It is my job to make sure of that, and I'm damn good at my job."

Finally!

Lauren thought when she saw Bella smile.

The young girl left Lauren alone once more.

A family, I wonder what that's like,

Lauren thought. She was an orphan, never knowing what it was like to have a loving family. It was one thing she missed, although it helped with her long trips away, no one to miss.

Lauren grabbed her combox and clicked a button on the side.

"Sasha," She spoke into it, "gather the first team in the control room, we depart in two hours."

System Travel

System travel had been mapped out by previous expeditions. It was learnt early on that between systems there was a lot of space debris. Meteor showers and such. There were a few ships that were struck by these on their first travels which ended in disaster. However, with the mapping they could travel the first few systems with relative safety.

They were an hour into Rapid Travel to the first system outside of the Milkey Way.

Every time Lauren had experienced Rapid Travel she felt a sense of wonder like no other. Everything outside of the ship turned into bright, white lines. It was like they were one with the entire universe.

"Captain?" Sasha's voice quickly spoke as she approached.

"Everything okay?" Lauren asked.

"We should be coming to the second system in twenty minutes." Sasha told her.

"Perfect," Lauren replied and looked up at her dark skinned friend, "how are you finding the trip?"

"Fine," Sasha replied, "no reason to think otherwise."

Sasha was smart but she had no way to hide her emotions. If there was anything wrong then her face would give it away. So Lauren's mind was at ease when she could tell that Sasha was happy.

Lauren stood up and gently held onto Sasha's arm before taking her outside of the control room.

"Any issues with the crew?" Lauren whispered.

"Everyone seems fine." Sasha replied.

"No one getting nervous or bothering anyone?" Lauren asked.

"Just the usual nerves," Sasha told her, "and that Callum has been annoying a few of the women."

Men,

Lauren thought and rolled her eyes.

"What has he been doing?" She asked.

"Just the odd crude comment, nothing too harassing." Sasha replied.

Lauren sighed and thought for a moment.

"If it becomes a problem let me know." Lauren told her.

Sasha gave a quick salute and then went back into the control room.

A few hours later Lauren stood up to address the first team.

"We will be eating together tonight," She told them, "meet at my private hall in three hours."

It always felt strange for Lauren to describe time while travelling as there weren't days and nights. They could only go by the clocks that they had set to Earth time.

--

Three hours later all of the team were sat along a large, white table with food being served by a few workers. They were all chatting and getting to know each other. A noise that Lauren enjoyed from her team.

She kept a keen eye on Callum, she attempted to listen to any comments she made to the female members of the team.

He would be attractive if it wasn't for his personality. He was a tall, muscular man with short brown hair and a shaved face which showed off his amazing jawline. The type of man Lauren would take home back on Earth.

By the time the dinner had ended Lauren had found herself a little hot and bothered.

She had her own strict rule about not fraternising with her team but that didn't stop her from fantasising about them.

As she lay down in her bed wearing nothing but a pink thong she let her mind do the first bit of work.

Thoughts of Callum plagued her head. She thought about his big, strong arms holding her. Imagining him having her pressed against a wall as his lips touched hers.

Soon her fingers delved into her thong and pressed against her swollen clit.

"Mmm." Lauren quietly moaned.

She thought of this annoying man spreading her legs, feeling his tongue against her pussy.

In no time at all her pussy was soaking wet and Lauren gently fingered herself.

That's it,

Lauren moaned in her head,

fuck me, you bastard.

She pictured having her legs up on his shoulders as he bent her in half, his big cock hammering into her as she moaned like a slut.

"Oooooh god!" Lauren moaned as she made herself cum.

She took a few minutes to catch her breath.

It's been too long since I've had sex.

Planet Eol 1

It took nearly four weeks to get to the furthest mapped system. From there the DSE Hardwood turned on their Rapid Travel to explore a new system for a hundred years.

Every second had Lauren quietly afraid. No one knew if they would be hit by space debris. Sure, they had scanned the area and sent practice, unmanned ships. But out here there was no way for no for sure. They were chartering a brand new system path.

And then, the ship came out of Rapid Travel and every member of the first team's eyes lit up.

We made it.

From where they stopped they could see a blue sun with five planets orbiting it. From what they knew there were actually eight planets in this system but their alignments stopped them from being viewed at this angle.

The entire ship erupted in cheering and clapping. Lauren let out a huge sigh of relief. When she looked at Bella she could see the young girl fighting back a scared tear.

"We made it." Lauren whispered to her and Bella just nodded.

They aimed for the first planet that they were to land on. Previously named Eol 1. From the unmanned capsules, they knew this planet had a lot of greenery similar to Earth which made it the safest choice.

The DSE Hardwood orbited this planet for three Earth days before a secure landing area was decided upon and they made their descent.

Fortunately for all involved, there were no issues with the landing. They had taken a smaller ship from the DSE Hardwood with just the first team aboard.

Callum was the first to depart in his interplanetary gear. He would check the soil and the air to see if it could support human life.

Three more days of testing and he confirmed that they can travel by foot.

Lauren took the lead and stepped out first. Each of the crew watched from the smaller ship as she lifted up her helmet and breathed in the new air.

For all of time, I will be the first human to breathe in this air.

It would be a lie to say that a part of Lauren wasn't afraid of dying from this new air. Thankfully she was fine and this planet seemed safe.

"Safe for you to join me," Lauren said down the combox.

Soon after all the team joined her.

The landscape was like an untouched Earth. Green fields and trees took over the land. There were mountains, hills forests that surrounded them.

After an hour of planning they set off, each going three miles in separate directions in teams of two.

Lauren had Bella stay close to her.

An hour into their trip Lauren knew they weren't getting far. The sun could barely be seen through the tall trees and constantly having to cut down bushes made the travelling slow.

"So, what do you think of your first planet outside of Earth?" Lauren asked.

"Strangely similar," Bella replied and Lauren laughed.

"True," Lauren told her, "wait until we go to a red planet, they are strange to walk on."

"Do you think we will find any living animals?" Bella asked, for once her voice didn't sound nervous but more excited.

"Chances are we will find some bird like creatures or mammals," Lauren told her, "but of all the systems we've been to we haven't found intelligent life yet."

"That's what we are doing, isn't it?" Bella asked, "Trying to find another life form like us?"

"That is part of the mission," Lauren told her, "but I doubt it."

"Why's that?" Bella asked and cut down a branch in front of her.

Both of their uniforms had gotten dirty and cut from their walking.

"I just think that if we were going to find intelligent life then we would've already," Lauren told her.

Shortly after they came across a darker area of the forest. The branches that crossed in front of them were as thick as legs and the tools that Lauren and Bella had couldn't cut through them.

"What now?" Bella asked.

"Can't turn back now," Lauren told her.

She reached and grabbed as many of the branches as she could before trying to squeeze through. With all of her might, she just about got through a small gap. Only on the other side did she realise she had torn the bottom half of her trousers and her leg was practically all out.

Bella followed but she ripped her shirt, leaving her toned, smooth stomach on show.

They both carried on struggling through the brushes.

"Ah!" Bella shouted.

Lauren spun around immediately and saw the young blonde as she jumped away from a branch.

"What is it?" Lauren shouted.

Bella stuck out her hand and saw a thick, clear liquid dripping from her.

"I... I don't know!" Bella shouted, "Am I gonna die?!"

Lauren walked over and inspected Bella's hand. This thick liquid was falling off of her and pooling on the floor. As Lauren looked around she noticed this liquid was all around them.

"What is it?" Bella asked in a frantic voice.

"Let me check." Lauren said, managing to keep a calm voice.

Lauren pulled out a glass container and scooped a generous amount of the goo into it. She closed the lid and pressed a button on the top. A few seconds later it beeped and Lauren let out a sigh of relief.

"It's not dangerous." She told Bella.

"Thank god." Bella sighed.

"Come on, let's keep going." Lauren told her.

The two carried on climbing through the branches and twigs, each one coating them more and more in this thick liquid. Strangely though, as they got further through they both found it easier and easier to squeeze through the small gaps.

"I have to say," Bella spoke up after a little more travelling, "I'm a little in awe of your career."

"What do you mean?" Lauren asked as she pushed herself through a tiny gap that was half her size.

"Well you're only forty and you're a captain on an expedition that will be remembered forever in history." Bella said.

"You're only young yourself," Lauren replied, "I'm sure you'll have many great adventures after I retire."

"I hope so," Bella replied.

They both stopped when they saw a very small hole in front of them. There was this thick, clear liquid dripping all around it.

"No way we can fit through that." Bella said.

They were both slim women but this hole was half their size.

"We have to at least try." Lauren took charge.

She first pushed her head through the gap, it was actually easier than she thought. The edges of the gap felt like they were wrapping around her as she pushed a little further through.

"How are you doing that?" Bella asked from behind.

"Urgh!" Lauren grunted and pushed a little further.

It was a strange feeling as if the gap was being stretched around Lauren's body. She knew that she shouldn't fit through but somehow she was. With one last push her body that was soaked in this goo pushed through.

"Okay, your turn." She shouted back.

Lauren turned around and saw a few beams of light bursting through the trees. It was lighting up the clear path in front of them and she was amazed at the shrubbery. Beautiful plants of all colours in front of her, species she had never seen before.

There was a slight rustling that echoed around her, but Lauren assumed it was from Bella coming through the gap.

And then, she felt something soft and spongy grip around her bare leg.

"What?" She managed to blurt out before she was yanked into the air, "Ahhhh!!"

"Captain?!" Bella's voice shouted.

Lauren felt dizzy, she realised she was being hung upside down. She looked at whatever it was that wrapped around her leg and saw an orange, pulsating limb around her!

What the fuck is that?!

She thought.

As she looked at it the only thing that Lauren could describe it as was a tentacle! It had suction cups all around it that seemed to constantly be throbbing around her leg.

"Bella! Get back to the ship!" Lauren shouted.

At that moment she knew that she wasn't coming back from this. An alien created had her and there was no point in threatening one of her crew's life as well. That was the choice a leader had to make.

"I'm nearly through!" Bella shouted back.

Lauren looked at this tentacle that was gripping her leg. She could see the clear, thick liquid dripping from it and realised that was its origin. The tip of the tentacle that was wrapped around her leg was about the width of a forearm, but the further from the tip, the thicker it got. To the point where Lauren could see it next to her head that was the size of a full-grown man.

The tentacle disappeared into the trees above her but from its size, Lauren could only assume this creature was huge.

"Bella, listen to me now!" Lauren shouted, "This is a direct order! Go back to the ship now!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Bella shouted back.

Lauren could see the younger girl's shadow appearing through the gap that Lauren had just climbed through.

"No! Leave me! Now!" Lauren shouted.

"I'm," Bella shouted and grunted, "Not... leaving!"

Bella's body emerged through the tiny gap that should definitely not have fit her.

We're both dead.

And just like that, Lauren felt her body being dragged through the air at lightning speed.

The Cave

By the time Lauren came to a stop her vision was blurry and she felt dizzy. It was dark, only a few beams of light letting her know that she was inside a cave.

The sticky tentacle was still wrapped around her leg, pulsating and covering her skin in this strange liquid.