Prologue:
When a planetary system was discovered in 2043, surrounding Epsilon Eridani, approximately 10.7 light-years from Earth, preparations began for a research expedition to that region of the galaxy. This was a massive undertaking, requiring significant financial outlays and the immense effort of the starship's engineers. Therefore, it was decided to co-finance the expedition with all the wealthiest and most developed countries. The entire international community waited in suspense for the moment when human dreams of traveling beyond the solar system would come true. The film of the first human landing on the moon and old newsreels, which showed the extraordinary interest of those watching the event on television screens, were frequently recalled.
Only on July 11, 2047, at 7:00 PM Universal Time, did all radio and television stations broadcast the long-awaited news. Although it was spoken in multiple languages, its content was almost identical and concerned the first launch of a manned, long-range spacecraft in human history. After departing from the lunar base "Selene," the spacecraft was to leave the Solar System and embark on a long journey that, thanks to the starship's superluminal speed, would take only about fifteen years. The composition of the international crew was also announced, with Colonel Jonathan F. Preston as its leader, and Major Lev Leontievich Popov appointed as his deputy. The crew of over one hundred also included fourteen women. Nearly all the leaders of the United Nations member states extended wishes for a safe return to these courageous pioneers of interstellar travel. Wishes also arrived from the Holy See.
In holoprojections, one could watch the massive cylinder of the starship lift off from the space base, and read the bilingual inscription along the fuselage:
STAR STAR.
In the space flight command center, equipped with dozens of computer stations, behind which sat computer scientists supervising the first part of the flight from the ground. A large holoprojection in one part of the center showed a point of light moving against the background of a three-dimensional sky map, heading toward the brilliantly gleaming target: Epsilon Eridanus.
Meanwhile, the Star spiraled ever further away from the orbital station until, finally reaching faster-than-light speed, it left the solar system.
Since most of the travelers—apart from the starship's command staff, maintenance crew, and a small group of scientists—had been placed in hibernation before takeoff, there was more than enough space on board. There was also ample space in the wellness rooms, swimming pool, garden, and other areas designated for the crew's entertainment and relaxation. The journey was peaceful and uneventful, so everyone eagerly took advantage of these amenities.
One
day, a meeting was called in the starship's briefing room, attended by the following individuals:
Colonel Jonathan F. Preston—tall and slender, appearing no older than forty, though he was actually fifty-six. The only evidence of this was the graying of his temples, which stood out against his crew-cut black hair. He was an experienced stealth fighter pilot, then a squadron commander, before transitioning to NASA as a spacecraft pilot;
Major Lev Leontievich Popov—the complete opposite of Preston in appearance—short, slightly obese, with a large, bald head resembling a monk's tonsure, surrounded only by a wreath of pure white hair. Gifted with exceptional intelligence, he had graduated from four faculties. Although he was an Air Force major, he—as he himself used to say jokingly—piloted only unmanned aircraft. Behind his back, they said these were spy planes, as it was an open secret that he had served for a time as an agent of Russian intelligence.
The head of the scientific team—Dr. Olgierd Pavlovsk—a graduate of the Warsaw University of Technology and the Max Planck Institute;
the expedition's physician—Dr. Bjoern Johannson—a forty-year-old, blond giant, his face covered with a light reddish beard, called a Viking by his companions, a nickname he initially protested, claiming he was not Norwegian, but Swedish. After a while, he got used to his nickname, even grew fond of it, and in conversations over the intercom, he always introduced himself by it;
Sylvia Dupont – an exobiologist from Quebec – a petite, almost thirty-year-old, black-haired mascot of the team;
the starship's chief engineer – Masushiko Mifune – a Japanese of the Ainu tribe – boasted of his grandfather – a famous Japanese actor;
Dr. Mahmud Hashad – a psychologist from Palestine;
Patrick O'Hara – a fiery redhead from Ulster, with a face covered in countless freckles, the shuttle pilot,
and several other scientists, pilots, and technicians
– "So, today, at 2:27 p.m. ship's time, the main computer signaled to begin braking," Preston announced. "This means, ladies and gentlemen, that we have reached the halfway point."
"You're not planning on returning to Earth, Colonel?" Pawłowski joked.
"Oh, yes. Sorry. Quarter-time, of course. Are there any questions about that?
" "I suggest we organize a costume party for the occasion," blurted out the incorrigible joker, Dr. Johanson.
"Doctor, will you ever become serious?" Preston asked with a smile.
"I hope not. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to stay with you all on this trip. I also recommend a little less seriousness to all of you, and you'll be healthier.
" "And then you'll die of boredom," Major Popov joined the conversation. "Don't worry. With a cook like ours, I'll have plenty of work to do, tending to your stomachs," the doctor laughed.
"Aha. Major Popov, I believe you wanted to talk to the pilots again..." Preston neither asked nor stated.
"That's right.
" "Then I ask the pilots to stay; the rest are free."
2
A small group of interstellar travel pioneers, including Sylwia and
O'Hara, left the starship's projection room.
"Why are you so subdued, Sylwia? Don't you like old movies?
" "I won't say I don't. They often have more charm, and certainly much more to say, than today's holoprojections, but all these comedies, and especially adventure films and horror films, are almost the same. Only "Rosemary's Baby" I've watched for the third time without getting bored. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the gym.
" "Could I join you?
" "Of course. The gym is open to everyone..."
Although this didn't sound encouraging, Patrick joined Sylwia's exercises.
3
A meeting was being held in the briefing room, led by Pawłowski.
"As most of you know, we have confirmed the existence of a planetary system similar to ours. So, one of the goals of our expedition has been achieved. Dr. Sumiko Harada will provide us with more information on this subject. Please, doctor."
"We've managed to confirm," the petite Japanese woman continued, "the existence of a planetary system composed of at least five planets. The first, with a mass eight-tenths that of Earth, and the second, four times the mass of our planet, orbit within the hypothetical habitable zone.
" "Why hypothetical?" interrupted one of the conference participants.
"It's about a habitable zone within which life similar to Earth could develop. The next three, with masses," Sumiko continued, "four and six tenths, two and eight tenths, and one, coma one, orbit significantly distant from the central star. For understandable reasons, we should be primarily interested in the first of these.
" "Thank you. We will—of course—be conducting studies of the entire system, but we will focus primarily on the Earth-like one. If there are any questions, please..."
Since there were no volunteers, Pawłowski concluded the meeting.
4
Colonel Preston, lying on his bunk in his cabin, was solving a chess problem that had been occupying his mind for several days when the intercom signal sounded.
"Over!" he said, and a holoprojection of Pawłowski's face appeared.
"We have a bomb, Colonel.
" "Yes?
" "There's oxygen on Prime.
" "On which Prime?
" "Ah, yes. You don't know our code yet." We've given the discovered planets names according to their Latin numerals: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and so on.
"I see. And you're saying the first one has oxygen?
" "That's not all. There's also water. And a rather thick atmosphere.
" "What conclusions?
" "It's too early for detailed conclusions. In any case, I think it's necessary to enter its orbit and study it in detail. Even if there's no life on it, it's possible that it could be suitable for human colonization in the future.
" "Okay. I think you're right. We need to study it thoroughly. Please order the entire crew to wake up."
The five-
person exploration group and the three-person support team went to the room where the spacesuits and other individual equipment were stored. Preston and Pawłowski accompanied them in preparation for the expedition.
"When the first group lands on Prima's surface," Preston reminded, "you will be orbiting on geostationary... No!" In—he smiled faintly—primostationary orbit, to provide immediate assistance if necessary.
"I suppose I don't need to remind you of the absolute necessity of maintaining constant communication with the base?" Pawłowski added.
The nodding of heads was sufficient confirmation.
After donning spacesuits and checking their equipment, both crews entered the airlock and proceeded to the launch deck, while Preston proceeded to the starship's command center, known as the captain's bridge. The holoprojection showed both crews taking their seats in modified Mars-39 Harrier shuttles. Then, on Preston's command, the launch hatches opened, and one by one, the spacecraft disembarked from the mother ship. A moment later, their engines, revved to full power, propelled them toward the planet, gleaming bluish in the rays of Epsilon Eridanus.
After less than an hour of flight, the first shuttle gently landed on the surface of Prima.
"It doesn't look very inviting," Bob said.
"It doesn't even have any decent mountains. Not like Mars," Jean added.
"Or oceans," Bob said, disapprovingly.
"I think you're wrong, gentlemen," Sylvia interjected. "I may be wrong, but I think I saw a glimmer ahead of us, and maybe something else. Didn't you see that, Captain?
" "I think you're right, Sylvia. It glistened like water," O'Hara replied. "We'll start our planet survey from here. What's the data?
" "Air temperature 293.1 Kelvin, ground temperature 295.7. Wind speed 1.2 meters per second. Oxygen 5.2 percent, nitrogen 93.9 percent, carbon dioxide 17 per mille. Humidity 25 percent. Pressure 783 hectopascals," Misha reported.
"All right. First team to the airlocks! Good luck, boys!"
Bob and Jean went to the airlock and went outside. After lowering the cargo bay ramp and unloading various measuring equipment, they connected the power cables and began collecting soil samples.
"Listen, Sylvia," O'Hara said. You said you saw something unusual before landing.
"I did. I'm sure. But I'm not saying it was unusual, just that it stood out against the desert.
" "And you, Misha?
" "I admit I didn't. But if you both saw it, there must be something there.
" "Okay, boys. Are you finished? Come back on board, Bob. You'll be monitoring the measurements and communications. We'll get the limousine going and head out to you.
" "Yes, sir! Just don't forget to bring your guide. And if you happen upon a good restaurant, order me a nice steak and a cold beer.
" "You're in safe hands," the captain replied.
A moment later, an all-terrain, wheeled and tracked electric vehicle emerged from the hatch with O'Hara, Sylvia, and Misha on board. Jean joined the team, and the rover headed in the direction of whatever Sylvia and O'Hara had spotted. A cloud of dust rose behind the vehicle. They had been driving for about half an hour when Sylvia asked:
"Have you noticed a change?
" "Yeah, sort of... But I can't figure out what it is," O'Hara replied.
"Then look back," Misha said.
"You can't see anything," Jean and O'Hara replied simultaneously.
"Exactly," Misha said with satisfaction.
"Now you can't see anything, and before there was a cloud of dust," Sylvia added.
"Well, it really has stopped dusting," Jean confirmed.
"Could it be that the ground is more cohesive?" O'Hara surmised.
"In a way, yes," Misha adopted a mentoring tone. "It's wetter. Look over there!" He pointed to a patch of sand that was noticeably darker than the surrounding area.
"Stop the rover!" O'Hara ordered.
Jean stopped the vehicle, and everyone approached the spot Misha had indicated. Suddenly, Jean, who had been walking ahead, sank knee-deep into the ground, and as he tried to free himself, he sank waist-deep.
"Merdè! It's a fucking swamp. Help!"
Together, they pulled the poor Frenchman out of the trap.
"A wonderful bath," Jean said, his good humor intact. "Perfect for rheumatism. Too bad I don't have my swimming trunks with me.
" "Feel free to turn around," Sylwia joked.
"We have to take a sample of this mud." O'Hara didn't join in the joking mood of his companions.
"Why? The one on Jean's suit won't do?" Sylwia said with a laugh.
"Boss, that's not mud," Misha chimed in.
"What?
" "We're not on Earth. Mud is a mixture of soil and water, and here there's no soil. It's a suspension of sand and dust in water—a quicksand. And I'm already taking samples. After all, life could begin in something like that."
After taking the samples, everyone took their seats back in the all-terrain vehicle.
"Careful, Jean," said the expedition leader, "or our entire limousine doesn't follow your example."
They moved forward, and after a few minutes, a large, shimmering surface emerged from beyond the horizon. They were immediately convinced it was a substantial body of water. When they reached the shore, Jean turned right, and the rover slowly moved along the boundary between water and land. A few hundred meters away, some low hills were visible.
"What are those?" Misha asked himself.
"Dunes. That's obvious," Jean hurried to explain.
"Maybe," O'Hara commented. "But turn on the camera." "Base! See?
" "This is Preston. We can see it, but it's hard to tell from this angle. Harrier2! Change orbit and try to show us!
" "Harrier2 reporting. We're about to begin the maneuver."
Before the rover reached the mysterious hills, its passengers received a transmission from Harrier2.
"Do you see what I see?" Jean exclaimed.
"We see," a chorus of voices answered him.
"What the hell is that?" O'Hara wondered.
"It looks like..." Sylvia said slowly, "...like..."
6
"...like airplanes buried in sand.
" "I think you're right, Sylvia. And over there, the big ones, maybe some hangars? Although they have a strange shape and are a bit too small. Maybe some workshops... Let's take a closer look," O'Hara said.
They left the vehicle, approached one of the hills, and tried to climb it, but the sliding sand prevented them.
"I think I need to take another bath," Jean said, and entered the water to climb the hill over the slightly wetter, and therefore more cohesive, sand. Approaching its highest point, he began to brush away the sand with his hands. After a few minutes of work, the dune began to slide rapidly, and a section of the plane's vertical stabilizer came into view.
"Hello, base! Can you see this well? We've discovered the remains of some unknown civilization. We'll go back to that larger object.
" "Hello! This is the base. We can see perfectly. After examining that large object, come back!
" They drove a few hundred meters and began inspecting the larger hill, circling it several times.
"That shape doesn't remind me of anything," Jean said, "and certainly not of an airplane.
" "You know what... I've just had a thought that I'm almost afraid to say."
"Tell me, Sylvia," O'Hara encouraged her. "You got it right the first time.
" "You'll laugh.
" "We won't," the others replied.
"It reminds me of... a ship.
" "Of course," Misha agreed. "A ship lying on its side. There's the bow, and here... Look! Up there, that must be the rudder. Oh, and you can also see the outline of the superstructure.
" "Yes, indeed," O'Hara confirmed. "But how did it get here, on the shore?"
"Apparently, some ocean currents are reaching here, washing damaged ships ashore," Jean said.
"Yes, they're washing ships ashore," Misha said ironically. "And then they add airplanes to the mix.
" "Ocean currents, you say?" Sylvia said doubtfully. "You think ships are floating here... Well, I don't know. I don't think it's an ocean, or even a sea. True, you can't see the other shore, but I have the impression it's more like a lake. A large lake.
" "Why do you think that?" O'Hara asked.
"We both noticed that shiny surface just before landing, but it certainly wasn't large enough to be considered a sea. Besides, we would have noticed a body of water of considerable size from a starship."
"Okay," Jean insisted, "it's a lake here now, but at some unspecified time in the past, a real ocean could have roared here.
" "Perhaps you're right," Sylvia agreed with his idea. "We'll surely find out everything in time. "
7
Meanwhile, a meeting was taking place aboard the starship, attended by Preston, Popov, and Pavlovsky.
"I think it's advisable to send shuttles with appropriate equipment and apparatus to Prima. And what do you gentlemen think?
" "But it's simply necessary, Colonel," Pavlovsky replied. "This is a real revelation. The first interstellar voyage of an Earth-based spacecraft, and we immediately encounter traces of an alien civilization. Perhaps its creators are still alive somewhere? Perhaps they expect our help? We need to find out.
" "I completely agree with you," Popov added. "Even if we don't encounter living beings, we can—no—we must at least familiarize ourselves with their technological achievements. Perhaps we can learn something from them."
"I'm glad we share the same views on this matter." Preston began issuing orders to the scientists, technical staff, and pilots. "Major, please also prepare for landing on Prime. You will be directly supervising the entire operation.
" "And me? I think I should go there too.
" "Okay. You will be responsible for the scientific portion of the research. Please select a four- or five-man team. Harrier 1, report in!
" Harrier 1 reports.
"Captain O'Hara. Please check the ground for cohesion in the area of the objects.
" "I don't understand, Colonel.
" "We don't want any of the shuttles to have an experience like Jean's. Check for similar traps in the area. If you find one, set up a radio beacon. Then return to base.
" "Orders, Colonel!"
O'Hara's team checked the area around the wrecks and, finding no dangerous spots, settled into the rover. As they returned to the shuttle, four more Harriers, carrying technicians, scientists, and construction equipment, were departing from the starship. Soon after, they landed one by one near the buried planes and ships. Bulldozers, excavators, cranes, and other equipment slowly emerged from the open cargo bays. At the same time, the technicians deployed holographic cameras and connected them to the generators using cables.
After a short preparation, the bulldozer and excavators began work on the first of the discovered objects. The first cubic meters of sand had already exposed the plane's fuselage. Most of the remaining crew on the starship were in the command center, observing a holoprojection of the excavation site. When the image showed the plane's fuselage emerging from the mounds of sand and its cockpit hidden beneath a distinctive "hump," the starship's chief engineer, Tom Scott, jumped to his feet.
"Sir! I know that plane! I saw one in a museum.
" "You saw an extraterrestrial plane in a museum?
" "This isn't an extraterrestrial plane. This machine was manufactured on Earth. It's a Boeing 747, called a jumbo jet."
Meanwhile, the excavators uncovered further sections of the plane, revealing the words "American Airlines" running along the fuselage.
Preston
rose from his chair and turned to the assembled group.
"Gentlemen!" We thought we'd made a sensational discovery, he said with emotion, of traces of an alien civilization. It seemed that one of humanity's dreams had come true—finding our cosmic brothers. Meanwhile, the sensation seems even greater, and at the same time utterly surprising. An Earth-based aircraft more than ten light-years from its home planet is utterly inexplicable, yet true. We'll use every possible means to solve this mystery. First of all, we have to get inside the plane.
"It'll be a bit tricky, because the plane is tilted and its door is quite buried," said Scott.
"So we'll cut a hole in the fuselage," Preston decided. "Did you hear that, Major?
" "Okay. We'll get out the metal-cutting equipment now," Popov replied.
The technicians began cutting a hole in the plane's fuselage. As Epsilon Eridanus disappeared below the horizon and dusk fell rapidly, they finished the job using the spotlights. The entire team waited impatiently nearby. Once the skin had been pried open, Popov, Pavlovsky, and the two pilots entered the aircraft.
The interior of the fuselage was dark, illuminated only by the beams of light from the external spotlights filtering through the portholes. They lit the lamps attached to their helmets and began moving between the rows of seats.
The passenger cabin was empty.
"Let's go to the cockpit," Pavlovsky decided.
They climbed the stairs to the upper deck and entered the cockpit through the open door. Here, too, everything seemed to be in order. One of the pilots sat down in his seat.
"Do you know anything about this?" Popov asked.
"All planes are similar. I might not be able to take off without more training, but I can generally check it out."
"Then do it!" Popov ordered.
The pilot studied the instrument panel for a moment, then pressed a few switches, and pale lights and control monitors flashed in the cockpit.
"The batteries are almost completely discharged," he said, "but the instrument readings show no faults. There should be enough fuel for about 5,000 kilometers of flight. If the batteries were good, it would probably be possible to start it. However, we could 'borrow' electricity from the shuttle. What do you think?
" "I think it's worth a try," Popov said.
"It doesn't make any sense. There's too little oxygen in the atmosphere," Pavlovsky interjected.
"Yes, you're right. Let's check every nook and cranny of the cabin again and get back to the Harriers. We have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow."
They returned to the passenger compartment and searched the luggage compartments, the floor under the seats, and the seatback pockets. They found a few personal items, like a hat, a handkerchief, a bunch of keys, a pair of gloves, and were about to leave when one of them spotted a woman's handbag lying on the seat. Besides the usual feminine accessories, they found a passport in the name of Lynda Stratton and a flight ticket from Miami to London, with the date October 14, 2006, printed on it.
"Wait," said Pavlovsky. "So, that means this plane left Florida fifty-six Earth years ago...
" "I don't understand any of this," Popov said, as surprised as his learned colleague.
"Listen!" said Sylvia, who had been watching the events unfold from the deck of the "Star." "Maybe this has something to do with the Bermuda Triangle?"
"
What triangle?" Preston raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"The Bermuda Triangle.
" "And what is that?"
"In the second half of the twentieth century, in an area whose peaks mark the southern tip of Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, numerous disappearances of airplanes, yachts, and even seagoing vessels occurred. Many speculations have been made, including that they may have been the result of the actions of alien civilizations, but the causes have never been fully explained. Our discovery today seems to confirm the alien hypothesis.
" "Interesting... We were never told anything about this at the flight school or at West Point. And you, despite your young age, possess such information...
" "Colonel. Even though I studied exobiology, I occasionally found myself reaching for literature other than academic textbooks." Sylvia's voice was slightly irritated.
"Please don't be offended. There was absolutely no irony in my words, only admiration. You've already shown your sensitivity, and now you've demonstrated your knowledge as well. Perhaps this time you're right too. Major Popov! Try removing the black box. We'll try to analyze the events of this flight.
" "Okay, Colonel. I'll send the technicians immediately."
A moment later, all the teams retired to their Harriers, only to resume work on unearthing more objects after a few hours of sleep. After just a few sweeps of the buckets on the largest one, masses of sand descended, nearly burying one of the excavators. After the great cloud of dust subsided, everyone could see the massive tanker in all its glory.
"At least two hundred thousand tons of displacement," one of the team members estimated in a low voice.
"A colossus," Pawłowski confirmed. That one definitely couldn't have made it here. If I had no doubt that we were on Prima, I might have thought we had mistakenly found ourselves back on Earth, where some cataclysm had occurred.
Meanwhile, using a platform attached to a boom, the research team was raised up to the ship's superstructure. A large wrench was then used to smash a window, allowing the crew to enter. Due to the ship's significant list, they moved more along the walls than the floor, using ropes to help them along. Every nook and cranny was examined and found that—as with the plane—no one was inside. No damage was found, aside from overturned furniture and other equipment, but this was undoubtedly the result of the ship lying on its side. More Harriers flew from the starship to Prima, delivering elements for the construction of a small base. The research team was also expanded, uncovering more objects without interruption at night. No humans or other living or dead organisms of Earth origin—apart from a certain amount of bacteria—were detected on any of them.
10
At one of the subsequent briefings held on the starship, the results of the research were discussed.
"So, we know that there are Earth planes and ships on Prime," Preston said, "will any of you try to explain this in some reasonable way?"
"Based on our current knowledge, we can't explain it," Pawłowski declared. "This is something beyond the limits of human understanding."
At that same moment, the lights in the conference room dimmed, and an accentless voice came from the speakers:
"Greetings, Earthlings. We welcome your arrival and wish to establish friendly relations with you. To this end, we invite your delegation to join us. In a few minutes, our unmanned shuttle will approach your ship. If you wish to establish contact, open the airlock and let it in. It has enough room for ten people. Spacesuits will be unnecessary. Thank you for listening to our proposal."
The people gathered in the briefing room fell silent and remained stunned for a long moment. The silence was broken by the voice of the starship commander:
"Major Popov, please take command. Are there any volunteers willing to fly with me?
" "This could be dangerous, Colonel." Popov expressed concern. "They could kill you!
" "Relax, Major. If they wanted to finish us off, they would have done so already. You have no doubt that these planes and ships are their work. They have the technology and, it seems, enormous energy reserves at their disposal, so they could have done it without difficulty." Now they're only inviting a few people, so why would they murder a delegation?
"Well, yes. I think you're right. I'm taking command." I'm activating the surrounding view.
The holoprojection showed a small spacecraft approaching the starship.
"I'm opening the airlock."
Meanwhile, Pawłowski, Sylwia, and O'Hara approached Preston. Then Dr. Johansson and a few others joined the group, from which Preston chose nine.
"Follow me!"
The group silently, though with obvious excitement on their faces, followed Preston down a long corridor to the elevator, then to the silo where the alien shuttle was already located. As they approached the ship, a door opened automatically and a ramp slid out, allowing the astronauts to enter and take their seats in two rows of seats, slightly too small for Preston and Johansson. Preston and O'Hara sat in the two front rows. They glanced at the spot where the control panel should have been. All they saw was a matte gray plate, on which a blue arrow pulsated calmly.
"What do you think we should do now, Captain," Preston asked, "what should we do?
" "I don't know. Maybe we should wait for a signal from the aliens?
" "Well, I don't know... Maybe they're counting on our creativity? That arrow seems to mean something...
" "Maybe so. But it should be green or red, yet it glows blue.
" "Stop thinking like humans. Maybe blue means clear passage for them. Or maybe they simply don't distinguish blue from green..."
O'Hara placed his hand on the plate. A moment later, the ramp and doors closed, and the craft rose almost imperceptibly above the floor. At the same time, the same mechanical voice reached them:
"Please give the order to open the airlock.
" "Open the airlock!" Preston, not seeing any microphone, simply spoke these words straight ahead.
"The starship's control room undoubtedly heard him, as the gates began to open." Then the shuttle slowly moved toward them. After leaving the starship, the force of acceleration pressed the passengers into the backs of their seats, and their craft began to rapidly move away from the starship. Everyone felt uneasy, leaving their home for the second time, as the starship had been their second home for several years.
11
Meanwhile, the laboratory analyzed the recordings in the black boxes removed from the planes and the navigation books found on the vessels. Sumiko, who was in charge of the research, contacted Popov:
"Major. Analysis of the recordings from that large Boeing showed that after taking off from Miami, the machine headed east and then turned northeast." The flight was proceeding smoothly, with all equipment functioning properly, when suddenly, less than an hour after takeoff, the recordings unexpectedly ended. Nothing. Simply absolute zero. In the remaining cases, the situation was very similar. The flights were proceeding normally, the weather was good, and suddenly all recordings ended for unknown reasons. All these cases have one thing in common: they occurred in a single, small area, confirming Sylwia's hypothesis that they are connected to the so-called Bermuda Triangle.
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