NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: THE AWAKENING OF THE POPULATION
A few minutes after the awakening process began, the ship's system initiated the reactivation of the crew members. Something remarkable had occurred: the interaction for the common good was evident, a total harmony among all. All equipment was ready and operating perfectly.
The teams began to identify the origin of the communication signals that had attracted them to Alpha Centauri. Meetings were held to form teams and assign specific roles. Preparations were underway for the launch of reconnaissance ships and their respective teams. Stood desired that everything be ready within 5 days, calculated per ship rotation—meaning 1 day equated to a full rotation of the ship on its own axis—for the launch of the ships. Everyone was armed, and the ships were prepared for potential combat.
The restaurants, previously idle, were now operating at full capacity; the farms, cities, and industries—everything was coming to life. The great moment had arrived: the first significant step had been taken.
The Alpha Centauri system, composed of three stars bound by gravity—the binary Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, which are brighter and closer to each other, and the red dwarf Proxima Centauri, or Alpha Centauri C—presented an indescribable beauty. The population began to observe all that grandeur contemplatively.
Orders were given for the dispatch of the ships: 20 for each star. And the impossible was now before everyone.
The arrival of the ships, traveling to each star, was filmed and sent to Earth. Humanity had arrived at Alpha Centauri.
During the analysis of the received signals, it was identified that the origin of the communication was associated with Proxima Centauri b, an exoplanet located in the habitable zone of its host star.
Proxima Centauri b is an exoplanet with a mass approximately 1.07 times that of Earth, situated about 0.04856 astronomical units from its star, completing an orbit every 11.2 days.
Despite its location in the habitable zone, Proxima Centauri b faces significant challenges for habitability. The proximity to its parent star exposes the planet to intense stellar winds and extreme ultraviolet radiation, conditions that can compromise the presence of a stable atmosphere and, consequently, the possibility of life.
Given the potential of Proxima Centauri b as a target for exploration, all ships were directed to this exoplanet.
The teams were aware of the environmental challenges they might face, but the mission represented a unique opportunity to investigate the conditions of a potentially habitable exoplanet.
The journey to Proxima Centauri b was about to begin, and humanity was preparing to face the mysteries and challenges that awaited on that distant world.