Before dawn, lights shone brightly in the ship's quarters. Lübeck and Brittany had already finished dressing in their rooms. Today, they would activate the portal to transport the Saint Jacinto and her entire crew to Saturn's orbit, venturing into deep space. Yet this journey transcended mere distance—it altered time itself. The portal created a spacetime conduit, leading to a completely unknown world on the other side, a realm reached by warping the fabric of space and time.
天还没有亮,舰上的住所里灯光明亮,吕贝克和布列塔尼已经在房间里穿束完毕,今天就要启动传送门把圣哈辛托号和她的所有船员传送至土星轨道,进入深空.然而这不仅仅是距离的遥远,改变的还有时间,传送门所产生的是一个时空通道,在门的另一端完全是一个未知的世界,一个改变了时空结构所到达的另一个世界.
Lübeck placed both hands on Brittany's shoulders, gazing into her eyes. She would be the only companion on the unknown journey ahead.
"Are you ready?" Lübeck asked, looking into her eyes.
吕贝克双手扶着布列塔尼的双肩,望着她的眼睛,她将是伴随自己之后未知旅程的那个唯一伴侣,
"准备好了吗?"吕贝克望着她的眼睛问,
"Mm," Brittany murmured in agreement.
"嗯,"布列塔尼轻声答应,
Passing through the portal might cause some discomfort, but I haven't heard of any major incidents—nothing like the Philadelphia Experiment. Lübeck was well aware of the risks involved in operating the portal, and he knew there was no need to add to Brittany's psychological burden under these circumstances.
"经过传送门可能会有些不舒服,但是我还没有听说出现过什么大的事故,不会像费城实验那样,"吕贝克心里当然清楚传送门运行的危险性,他也知道在这种情况下没有必要再过多地增加布列塔尼的心理负担了.
After speaking, Lübeck wrapped his arms around Brittany's shoulders and waist, pulling her close to him. Then he whispered softly into her ear,
"Don't worry, everything will be fine."
说完,吕贝克搂着布列塔尼的肩和腰,把她搂入怀中,然后在她的耳边轻声说,
"别担心,不会有事的,"
"Hmm, I'm not afraid," Brittany murmured softly, her face pressed against Lübeck's neck as she held him close. Her arms tightened around his body, and Lübeck could clearly hear her breath.
"嗯,我不害怕,"布列塔尼在吕贝克的怀里,把脸贴在他的脖颈,轻声说,然后双臂搂紧他的身体,吕贝克可以清晰地听到她的气息.
He tightened his arms around her, holding her close. Breathing in the scent of her hair, Lübeck gently kissed her cheek and neck. Flashes of moments since meeting Brittany raced through his mind. Finally, they kissed goodbye and hurried off to their respective workplaces.
也同样收紧自己的手臂,搂紧她,吕贝克一边呼吸着她秀发的气息,一边轻轻亲吻她的脸颊,脖颈,脑海中飞速闪过自己与布列塔尼相遇以来的一个个瞬间,最终二人吻别,奔赴各自的工作岗位.
The bridge remained illuminated throughout the night. Technical officers cross-checked operations and data with the base console according to transmission protocols, while the duty officer briefed Lübeck on the previous shift's activities.
舰桥上一直灯火通明,技术官员按照传送程序与基地控制台核对着操作与数据,值班军官则给吕贝克提供上一班次的简报,
"Proceed with the thirty-minute transmission countdown as scheduled," Lü Beck ordered while reviewing the briefing.
The command swiftly propagated through verbal announcements and other channels. Soon, Lü Beck observed the base's transmission dock activating its flashing countdown lights through the bridge's observation system.
"按计划,传送三十分钟倒计时准备,"吕贝克一边看简报,一边发布命令,
命令迅速以口头语音以及其他方式传达,很快吕贝克通过舰桥的瞭望看到基地传送船坞也开启了倒计时的频闪灯.
The voice channel relayed readiness status updates from monitoring stations while simultaneously projecting various data onto the combat information display. Yet Lübeck still preferred receiving reports through his headset, as if he could glean more insights from the crew's voices.
语音频道里报告着监听各个岗位的准备状态,同时也把各种信息投屏在了作战信息显示屏,但是吕贝克还是喜欢听取耳机里的语音汇报信息,似乎他能够从船员们的语音中获取更多的信息.
Transmission countdown: twenty minutes. The voice communication channel had fallen silent, while the public display screen scrolled through critical ship equipment parameters and system statuses. From the bridge side window, Lübeck observed the base control console. He could now discern that the edges of the light windows emanating from the console had transformed from straight lines into rippling, undulating curves. It wasn't the building's windows warping, but rather the air altering its refractive properties within the frequency-shifting electromagnetic field.
传送倒计时二十分钟,语音通信频道里已经变得安静,公共显示屏上滚动显示着舰船设备关键参数和系统状态.吕贝克从舰桥侧窗望向基地控制台,这时已经能够注意到基地控制台透出的灯光窗口边缘由直线变成涟漪般的波纹弯曲,那不是建筑的窗子弯曲了,而是空气在频率变化的电磁场中改变了折射特性.
The operation of the portal differs from the anti-gravity engines of the space carrier itself. While the latter adjusts the ship's interaction with the gravitational field, the former alters the spacetime structure in which the ship exists.
传送门的操作与空天母舰自身的反重力引擎不同,后者是调整船与重力场的交互,而前者是改变船所处的时空结构.
Ten minutes until transmission. No personnel movement permitted. Sound the ship-wide alert. Switch to fully automated operation. As the transmission portal continues to increase its load, some interesting phenomena may occur—different individuals may experience varying sensations or perceptual illusions. Lübeck periodically scanned the bridge crew for any abnormal reactions. He himself felt as though passing through a miniature portal: ringing in his ears, as if every hair on his body was affected by an electric field. His vision seemed distorted too, with patches of varying brightness flickering across his field of sight. When he thought of Brittany, he could almost see her sitting in her seat, already strapped in, her hands gripping the armrests tightly, staring straight ahead with a tense, expressionless look. The image lacked color saturation and vanished in an instant. Lübeck was eager to find her later and verify the details.
传送倒计时十分钟,不再有人员走动,拉响全舰警报,进入全自动操作.随着传送门的持续增加负荷,这时候会有一些有趣的事情,不同的人会有不同感觉,或者感知错觉.吕贝克不时扫视着舰桥的人员,是否有异常反应.而他自己则如同经过小型传送门一样的感觉,有耳鸣,感觉身体的汗毛都受到了电场的影响,似乎视觉也受到了影响,视野中的景物开始有不同明暗色块的闪烁,当他想到布列塔尼的时候,似乎他可以看到她正坐在自己的座椅上,已经系好了安全带,双手紧握座椅扶手,目视前方,没有表情很紧张的样子,画面缺乏色彩饱和度,片刻闪过.吕贝克很想过后去找她核对实情.
As my thoughts snapped back to reality, the superconducting coils encircling the shipyard portal were already emitting a high-pitched whine through the rock walls under intense vibration. Through the bridge console's front window, I could now see the landscape and space itself stretching. My entire skin felt like ants were crawling over it, especially my limbs—as if being torn apart by fire ants.
当思绪再次被拉回现实,船坞传送门那些环绕超导线圈已经在高频的震动下,透过岩壁,发出嘶鸣.此时视线透过舰桥控制台前窗已经看到景物以及空间的拉伸,全身的皮肤仿佛有蚂蚁在爬动,尤其四肢,仿佛被火蚁撕咬.
Lübeck scanned the other crew members, checking for normal reactions, then thought of Brittany. A sharp ringing surged in his ears, his chest trembled violently, and with a sharp crack, a mosaic of black and white images flashed through his mind before everything returned to normal.
吕贝克扫视着其他舰员,是否反应正常,又想到布列塔尼,耳畔的嘶鸣声压飙升,胸腔震颤,旋即啪的一声,脑中一片黑白马赛克景像闪过之后,一切都恢复了正常.
Looking out the window again, the view was now endless deep space. When my gaze shifted back to the bridge console, the crew members all turned their heads to look at me.
再看窗外的景物,已经是无尽深空,当视线移回舰桥控制台,船员们纷纷扭头看向自己,
"Order all systems to report status," Lübeck commanded the duty officer.
"Update navigation and positioning data," he instructed while pointing at the information display, then lowered his head to review critical mothership facility data on his terminal, all the while listening to the audio reports from each system.
"传令各系统报告情况,"吕贝克对值班官下令,
"更新导航定位信息,"吕贝克一边下令一边手指信息屏幕,随后低头在自己的终端上查看母舰设施重要信息,同时耳边听着语音各系统汇报,
After a brief flurry of communications, Lübeck verified and approved the San Jacinto's deep-space deployment details, initiating the transmission of data reports to higher HQ.
经过短暂的信息风暴时刻,吕贝克核实并且批准了圣哈辛托号的深空部署信息,并启动向上级HQ的数据汇报传输.
Looking at the mother ship's orbital navigation information displayed on the screen, Lübeck picked up the phone and called the ship's medical station.
看着显示屏的母舰轨道导航信息图,吕贝克拿起了电话,打给了舰上的医疗站,
Major Olivia Hayes reports that the medical station is operating normally and has received no requests for medical assistance.
"奥利维亚·海斯中校报告,医疗站一切正常,没有接到医疗救助需求."
"Alright, please put Brittany McGowan on the line," Olivia paused, puzzled. Why would they need her at such a critical moment? Then Lübeck continued over the phone,
"I want to understand the new recruits' subjective experience with the portal."
"好的,请把电话交给布列塔尼・麦高恩," 奥利维亚听了一愣,有些不解,为什么这么重要的时刻要找她呢?只听电话里吕贝克接着说,
"我想了解一下新兵对于传送门的主观体感,"
"Aye, Captain," Olivia replied, turning to hand the phone to the orderly.
"Ensign Brittany McGowan, come in."
"是,舰长,"回答着,奥利维亚回身手持电话传令,
"布列塔尼・麦高恩少尉,接电话,"
"Who?"
"谁?"
"Captain,"
"舰长,"
"Huh?" Brittany was a bit surprised the captain had called her. This wasn't exactly the time for flirting—could he be feeling unwell?
"啊?"布列塔尼有些吃惊舰长打电话给自己,这可不是谈情说爱的时候,难道是他有什么身体不适?
Brittany took the phone with a mix of surprise and trepidation, her voice timid as she spoke into the receiver, unsure what assignment the captain might assign her.
"This is Ensign Brittany McGowan," she said, then cradled the receiver to her ear, listening intently for any hint of discomfort in Lübeck's voice.
布列塔尼怀着吃惊和忐忑的心情接过了电话,有些怯怯的语声对着话筒说,不知道舰长会给自己安排什么工作,
"这是布列塔尼・麦高恩少尉,"说完手捧着话筒,把听筒贴近耳朵,仔细倾听是否吕贝克的声音中会有什么不适的感觉,
"The transfer was successful. We're already in orbit. How are you feeling?"
"传送成功了,我们已经在轨,你感觉还好吗?"
Brittany heard Lü Beck's voice sounding normal, and he hadn't mentioned feeling unwell, so she finally calmed her anxious heart. It turned out he hadn't called about work at this hour, but out of concern for her. Instantly, joy filled her heart, a smile touched her lips, and she softly replied,
"Ah, I'm fine, not feeling too bad."
布列塔尼听吕贝克的声音正常,也没说自己不舒服,这才放下自己那颗不安的心,原来他在这个时候打来电话不是因为工作,而是对自己的关心,瞬间心生喜悦,微笑浮上脸颊,轻声回答,
"啊,还好,没有太多的不舒服,"
"有没有,头晕恶心之类的?"
"No,"
"没有,"
"That's good. Keep an eye on your health."
"那就好,注意监控自己的身体状况,"
After hearing Lübeck say all this, all out of concern for her, Brittany stole a glance at the supervisor and colleagues in the room.
Sure enough, a dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on her. Whether from shyness or remembering Lübeck's warning not to make others jealous of their relationship, Brittany unconsciously shifted her position, turning her back to the others. Then, cupping the microphone to her mouth, she whispered softly,
"I will. You too."
听到吕贝克说了这么多,都是在关心自己,布列塔尼偷眼看了一下同在室内主管和同事,
果然,十几双眼睛都在注视着她,布列塔尼不知是害羞了,还是想起了吕贝克嘱咐的不要让别人嫉妒他们的关系,不自觉地挪步,改为背对着其他人了.然后用手拢着话筒小声说,
"我会的,你也是,"
Alright, that's all for now. I'll be leaving on time. See you tonight.
"好,就说这些,我会按时下班,晚上见,"
"Alright, goodbye."
"好,再见."
After hanging up the phone, Lü Beck knew they would proceed to inspect critical stations and check the health status of personnel in high-risk positions—that was their duty. As for himself, he gazed out the window, locating the stars in the sky to see if he could spot Jupiter. The ship would follow Jupiter's orbit, harnessing its gravitational pull to accelerate.
放下电话,吕贝克知道她们会陆续检查重要岗位,和高危岗位人员健康情况,那是他们的工作职责,而自己,望向窗外,定位星空,看能否看见木星,因为船要跟随木星轨迹,利用其引力加速.
The journey into deep space feels profound not only because of the vast distances involved, but also due to the span of time—it is now the year 1931 on Earth.
深空的旅程不仅仅因为它的空间距离而体会深的感觉,还有时间的跨度,现在是地球时间1931年.