Star Rider

Kurt's Journal #4 - First Encounter

I was sitting in a recliner, sipping coffee and flipping through the video catalog displayed on the big screen. I had been browsing for three minutes but didn't know what I wanted to watch. Maybe it was because the distress signal from 11071 earlier had made me feel uneasy. Cube sensed my hesitation and asked, "Kurt, do you want to watch something lighter or more intense?"

"Hmm...something lighter?" I replied.

Suddenly, Cube interrupted me. "Sorry, Kurt. I just received a survey report. The data from b-19997 is interesting. Do you want to take a look?"

"Sure, what's interesting about it?"

"Several analyses showed that it's mainly composed of silicates, but there's one set of data that's a bit strange..." Cube said as it displayed the data on the big screen.

I looked at the data, and it did seem strange. The spectral display showed light metals, which looked like aluminum or titanium.

"That's strange. I've never seen this kind of data before. Could it be an error?" I muttered to myself.

"Do you want me to fly closer?" Cube asked.

"How far are we from it now?"

"1.8 million kilometers."

"Cube, turn off the gravity and open the window. I want to take a look."

"Okay. Portside window number 2."

Cube turned off the centrifugal gravity system, and I put my drink pouch on the rest and pushed off toward the window. Cube had already moved the telescope to the window, and I grabbed the handle and looked at the small celestial body. My first impression was that the surface of this asteroid seemed to reflect more light than other bumpy asteroids that are usually dark.

"Kurt, I have higher-resolution survey images and synthesized spectra obtained from the computer..." Cube said as it displayed the images on the big screen. I turned around and looked at the screen. The small celestial body was relatively smooth and had a faint white glow. It was probably a silicate planetoid, but why did the spectral data show light metals?

"Cube, can you scan a few more times?"

"Sure, it'll take about 1/8 of a clock cycle. I'll let you know the results when they're available."

"Okay, turn on the gravity."

I grabbed the handrail and put myself to the comfortable centrifugal gravity position. Cube closed the porthole and slowly activated the gravity. I walked back to my recliner and tried to continue browsing through the video directory. However, I found myself a little distracted. After all, this kind of discovery was rare in my exploration career. There were many small celestial bodies with metal, but there were less than 5 with lightweight metal. After these celestial bodies were identified and located, they would be sent back to the company's database, and the company would report the data to the Federation and the Deep Space Exploration Commission. They would also submit sufficient amounts of detection spectrum evidence and the galactic coordinates of the survey spacecraft, as well as evidence that the survey spacecraft had human crew members rather than robots. The commission would then determine the ownership of the celestial body based on this evidence. Basically, whoever discovered it first would be assigned the mining rights. Meanwhile, some survey data on celestial bodies that have been classified as "currently of no mining value" and their respective surveyors would be made public.

As an exploration company, the main business value is to prove that the asteroid was discovered and registered by itself first. Even if the earliest survey indicates that there is no mining value, and later it is discovered to be valuable, the earlier surveyor still has the right to buy out and at least 5% of the proceeds. There have been some fraudulent behaviors by exploration companies, who use their only a few survey spacecraft to enter an area and artificially create fake data for small celestial bodies that other companies have already surveyed and classified as not suitable for mining, in order to make these celestial bodies meet the mining value criteria and update the ownership to their own. Then, they wait for buyers to purchase mining rights. This type of fraud was once prevalent, but as the truth came to light, these fraudulent companies were compelled to cease operations, with their assets and spacecraft being sold off through auctions. The ownership of the small celestial bodies was either restored or put up for auction. All involved participants were imprisoned, and over time, this phenomenon was gradually eradicated.

"Hi Kurt, the data is ready. Most of the spectral feedback is from silicates, but there are still a little data showing light metal spectral feedback."

"That's strange. Let me take a look..." I glanced at the data and indeed, as Cube said, there were metal spectral signals.

"Cube, do you have a clearer photo now?"

"Yes, I'll put it up on the screen for you."

I flipped through the photos, zooming in and out. It was a small celestial body that looked like a regular potato. It seemed to have undergone high temperatures, with the silicate surface appearing to have melted and resolidified. It had a whitish appearance and was quite smooth...

"Cube, can you tell from which part the metal spectral signal is returning?"

"Yes, from the data, it's coming from this area..."

Cube highlighted the region where the metal spectrum was detected on several photos. I looked closely and suddenly noticed a shadow in one spot. It looked a bit like a depressed meteorite crater, with a small bump growing out of it, but it was a bit hard to see from a distance.

"Cube, what is this?"

"I don't know, but the data shows that the area with the metal has a 76% chance overlap with this spot."

This was interesting. My heart rate suddenly increased. Could this small potato-like object actually be made of metal, with a silicate shell covering it? Was the metal core only exposed at this spot on the surface?

"Cube, I want to take a closer look. How long will it take?"

"It will take about eight clock cycles to reach a safe distance for close observation."

"Okay, let's go check it out."