Galactic Exploration
It was one hundred years ago when they discovered the ship. It was found on Mars during seismic tests on the surface. Sonar echoes pinged back a huge, almost city-sized, ship buried deep in the red martian earth. Excavations began immediately.
After the ship was uncovered, metallic sampling was a big problem. No cutting tool could pierce the hull of the ship. The doors were, surprisingly, human-sized and it was discovered quite by accident that they would open up when bare human skin touched them.
Parts of the interior that seemed to be made of the same material as the hull were detachable and therefore testable by scientists. It was discovered that not only could this material withstand temperatures hotter than the sun, it could do so without itself becoming hot in the process: perfect insulation.
The instrumentation, furnishings, and interior rooms of the ship were also human-sized. About 80% of the ship's mass was devoted to what seemed to be propulsion and other devices. One of these devices was a machine that would take matter from outside the ship and convert it into life-sustaining food, water, and air.
The oddest thing about the ship was that the doors would only open up and the ship itself would only power up for one person only: you, the site worker who accidentally touched the ship's door with your bare hand.
This fact has been very hard on you personally. Because of your unique status, extremists and other loonies have labeled you "the chosen one". Denying this only enraged them. You espoused personal beliefs different from theirs and they retaliated by branding you a "great Satan". This resulted in your becoming more and more isolated from other people. Depressed, you are in forced seclusion on Mars near the ship.
One night, a guard takes pity on you and allows you to go for an escorted walk. During this outing, a terrorist attack occurs and your escorts are killed. As bullets and beams fly above your prone form, you see that you are near the closed door to the star ship.
"What the hell?" you say to yourself. "I've got nothing to lose any more."
You get up amidst the gunfire, walk to the door, and touch it. The door slides open soundlessly and you walk in as the door slides behind you.
After the ship was uncovered, metallic sampling was a big problem. No cutting tool could pierce the hull of the ship. The doors were, surprisingly, human-sized and it was discovered quite by accident that they would open up when bare human skin touched them.
Parts of the interior that seemed to be made of the same material as the hull were detachable and therefore testable by scientists. It was discovered that not only could this material withstand temperatures hotter than the sun, it could do so without itself becoming hot in the process: perfect insulation.
The instrumentation, furnishings, and interior rooms of the ship were also human-sized. About 80% of the ship's mass was devoted to what seemed to be propulsion and other devices. One of these devices was a machine that would take matter from outside the ship and convert it into life-sustaining food, water, and air.
The oddest thing about the ship was that the doors would only open up and the ship itself would only power up for one person only: you, the site worker who accidentally touched the ship's door with your bare hand.
This fact has been very hard on you personally. Because of your unique status, extremists and other loonies have labeled you "the chosen one". Denying this only enraged them. You espoused personal beliefs different from theirs and they retaliated by branding you a "great Satan". This resulted in your becoming more and more isolated from other people. Depressed, you are in forced seclusion on Mars near the ship.
One night, a guard takes pity on you and allows you to go for an escorted walk. During this outing, a terrorist attack occurs and your escorts are killed. As bullets and beams fly above your prone form, you see that you are near the closed door to the star ship.
"What the hell?" you say to yourself. "I've got nothing to lose any more."
You get up amidst the gunfire, walk to the door, and touch it. The door slides open soundlessly and you walk in as the door slides behind you.