Tale of the Space Turtle

Summary: We were given an assignment to create a story using all the vocabulary words in a set list. This is what I came up with.


Tale of the Space Turtle

The Space Turtle floated slowly through the galaxy. The exothermic heat thrusters were currently off, producing no energy or thrust for movement. The large metallic dome, which gave the ship it’s name, was filled with various fossil fuels from a now uninhabited planet called Kormander. The life on the planet had long since become extinct, leaving a plethora of coal and other carbon based fuels ripe for the taking.
    Sleeping atop a large crate of petroleum a young man was unaware that he was being watched.
    “Jonathan!” A harsh voice shouted. The sleeping teenager, Jonathan, was jolted awake and hurriedly rushed to his feet.
    “Lieutenant Sanders! Sir!” Jonathan exclaimed, quickly saluting.
    Lieutenant Sanders starred down at his young charge. “What have I told you about slacking off?”
    “I-I’m sorry, sir! The engines keep the temperature here so warm and-“
    “You do understand,” Sanders interrupted. “That you were hired with the expectation that you would do work? As in, actually put forth effort?” He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Come with me to the engine, it’s time for the Rundown.”
    Jonathan suppressed a groan as he followed his superior. The Rundown was a major test of the engine’s various functions and capabilities. It was exactly what he had been trying to sleep through.
    As they approached the engine room, Jonathan glanced at the large sign above the door.
      ‘Energy is neither created, nor destroyed. So it’s up to us to make use with what we have.’ Jonathan rolled his eyes while wondering who decided that the Law of Conservation of Energy would make a good motto.
    The two men made their way through the cramped halls of the engine. Lieutenant Sanders stopped and gestured to a large thermometer like object.
    Knowing what was expected of him, Jonathan took a quick breath and began. “That’s a calorimeter. It determines the heat associated with a chemical reaction. I believe this particular one measures our fuel igniting and changing us from standing still to actually moving.”
    “What are these forms of energy called?” Sanders quizzed.
    “Potential and Kinetic energy.” Jonathan replied.
    Clearly unimpressed, Lieutenant Sanders pressed on. “What two ways can we measure energy?”
    “Calorie and Joule.”
    “Conversions?”
    “One Calorie is equal to 4.184 joules.”
    “And the term for the amount of energy required to change the temperature one Celsius degree is?”
    “Specific Heat Capacity.”
    Grunting his reluctant approval, Sanders turned and strode down the hall. Jonathan followed after him, grinning victoriously.
    The entire ship suddenly shook, nearly knocking the two men to the ground. A blaring alarm soon followed.
    “We’re under attack!” Sanders screamed.
    Lieutenant Sanders doubled his pace, running down the hall. Jonathan ran to catch up and called out over the sirens. “Who could be attacking us?”
    “We’re in a foreign system with next to no knowledge of our surroundings. Dust bunnies crated from the natural gas out of a monkey’s rear could be attacking for all we know!” Pushing that mental image out of his head, Jonathan asked what they should do.
    “We’ve got to get the engine up to full capacity and activate the warp thrusters. The Space Turtle isn’t equipped for combat, we’re sitting ducks!” Sanders glanced at Jonathan. “You’ve studied energy, right? Thermodynamics?”
    After Jonathan nodded, Sanders continued. “ Then what’s the First Law of Thermodynamics?”
    “The energy of the universe is constant!” Jonathan called out automatically, silently amazed at Sanders ability to give out tests in crisis situations.
    “Exactly!” Sanders yelled as he began to unscrew a large air pressure lock. “So if we pressurize the internal energy within all five chambers of the engine, the potential and kinetic energy within should cause enthalpy, giving us enough power to activate the boosters.”
    “How do you know all five chambers will react accordingly?”
    “Hess’s law.” Sanders grunted as he finished twisting the air lock. “As long as we set up the right conditions in all five chambers, then we should get the same result with each.”
    He grabbed Jonathan’s shoulder to steady the boy when the ship gave another violent shake. “Now,” Sanders continued. “For the tricky part.” He pointed to a small ladder that disappeared into the metallic ceiling.
    “You need to get up to the Auxiliary Control Room and shift the secondary engine to the thrusters as well.”
    Jonathan gasped in horror. “Wait a minute! We’re going to make a blind Jump? We could crash into anything on our way home!”
    Lieutenant Sanders shook his head. “Think of it like a state function. Obstacles don’t matter as long as we have the distance and direction right. Our speed will be so great we’ll phase through any solid matter we hit. Now go! I’m counting on you!”
    Jonathan nodded and grabbed the ladder, pulling himself up. He ascended quickly, the Auxiliary Control Room was at the top of the ship, and so it took a few minutes to get there from the engine room. Those were minutes they might not have.
    Jonathan shot past a large window with a view of the Basin. A giant pool of water surrounded by solar panels under a large dome of glass. The glass caused a green house effect, absorbing heat from nearby stars while the panels absorbed the heat, using it to cause an endothermic reaction, further heating the water. Thus ensuring there was always a source of hot water at hand. Usually, Jonathan liked to admire the view, but at the moment he gave it no heed.
    Finally reaching the Control Room, Jonathan ran over to the main terminal. He quickly typed in his pass code and entered the command for a full power shift. The fuel would condense into the thrusters, before the energy and matter spread would explode outward and –hopefully- propel the ship out of danger.
    An error message appeared on the screen. ‘Mechanical shifters damaged. Manual override required.’ Jonathan swore loudly and slammed his steel-toed boot into the wall. Tearing the dented metal away, Jonathan found the override lever. Grabbing hold of the lever and bracing his feet on the wall, Jonathan pulled hard.
    The muscles in Jonathans shoulders screamed in protest as the lever slowly made it’s way forward. Finally, it clicked into place, allowing the fuel to shift.
    He used the terminal to open a COM-Link to the Bridge. “Captain Liam! This is sub-lieutenant Jonathan Sanders! Auxiliary fuel is loaded and thrusters are ready to fire!”
    A deep, commanding voice answered. “Excellent! Full emergency power to thrusters! 30 seconds to launch, and hurry! They’re charging up for another attack!” Jonathan cut the connection and bolted to the far side of the Control Room.
    He threw himself into the metal chairs bolted to the wall and grabbed the shoulder and waist straps, quickly strapping himself in. He counted under his breath.
    “Thousand nine, thousand eight, thousand seven, thousand-“ Jonathan’s timing was off. Before he could even begin six his entire body weight was suddenly pushed into the wall as the ship entered warp drive. He struggled to breath under the intense pressure. The Space Turtle may have been large and slow at sharp turns, but it had the finest thrusters ever created.
    The agonizing feeling of G-forces attempting to fuse him with wall was thankfully short, little more than a few seconds. Jonathan took several deep breaths, trying to stay conscious. The massive force was terrible to withstand, for any duration of time.
    The COM-Link crackled to life, and Lieutenant Sanders’ voice floated through. ”Mission accomplished, we made it… Good job, son.”
    Jonathan gave a dry chuckle. “Thanks, Dad.”