Journey to the Red Planet Quest

By Hugo Rene

Journey to the Red Planet Quest takes readers on an exciting and humorous adventure as a group of young astronauts embarks on a mission to Mars. Led by Commander Zira Hawke, the crew—Engineer Baxter Wren, Pilot Lyra Fenn, and Scientist Oliver Rigby—face unexpected challenges, from Mars' fierce dust storms to discovering signs of ancient alien life. With their creativity, teamwork, and courage, the young explorers must unravel the secrets of Mars and uncover a mystery that could change the fate of humankind. Packed with excitement, humor, and heart, this space odyssey is a thrilling journey into the unknown!

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Good Child Bookstore
• Release date: Jun 6, 2025

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Journey to the Red Planet Quest

Adventure Series

Space Adventures

Hugo Rene

Published by The Good Child Bookstore, 2025

Copyright

Published by The Good Child Bookstore

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

All rights reserved © 2025, Good Child Bookstore.

Preface

In the not-so-distant future, space exploration is no longer just a dream. A team of young astronauts, each with their own quirks and talents, is tasked with the impossible—journeying to Mars.

The mission is filled with promise, but no one could have prepared for the unexpected challenges that lie ahead. From battling fierce dust storms to uncovering the remnants of an ancient Martian civilization, Commander Zira Hawke, Engineer Baxter Wren, Pilot Lyra Fenn, and Scientist Oliver Rigby find themselves facing more than they ever imagined.

What begins as a scientific expedition soon turns into a race against time when the astronauts uncover a secret that could alter the future of humanity. But they will have to rely on more than just technology and science—they will need their wit, humor, and most of all, their friendship to survive. Join them on this thrilling, comical adventure as they explore the wonders and dangers of the Red Planet.

Contents

Chapter 1: The Countdown Begins

Chapter 2: Liftoff!

Chapter 3: The Void Between Stars

Chapter 4: Mars – The Red Desert

Chapter 5: The Winds of Mars

Chapter 6: The Sandstorm Surprise

Chapter 7: Hidden Messages

Chapter 8: An Alien Discovery

Chapter 9: The Martian Time Machine

Chapter 10: Martian Robots

Chapter 11: Teamwork and Trouble

Chapter 12: The Maze of the Martian Caverns

Chapter 13: The Alien Message

Chapter 14: The Solar Flare Crisis

Chapter 15: The First Martian Message

Chapter 16: The Heart of Mars

Chapter 17: The Awakening

Chapter 18: Into the Unknown

Chapter 19: The Choice

Chapter 20: The Heart of the Cube

Chapter 21: The Ancient Network

Chapter 22: Beyond the Stars

Chapter 23: The Uncharted System

Chapter 24: The Infinite Gateway

Chapter 25: The Final Discovery

THE END

Chapter 1: The Countdown Begins

The year was 2057, and Earth had already sent its first astronauts to the Moon and beyond. But the Red Planet, Mars, had always been the ultimate challenge. The excitement surrounding Mars exploration had been building for years, and now, the time had finally arrived.

A group of young astronauts had been chosen for this monumental mission, a task that was considered too risky for the seasoned explorers but perfect for these up-and-coming stars. It was their moment to shine, their chance to prove that a new generation of explorers could rise to the challenge.

Commander Zira Hawke paced back and forth in the sleek control room. The walls around her were filled with blinking lights and screens displaying data from the spacecraft, The Odyssey. She could feel the nervous energy in the air, and her crew—Engineer Baxter Wren, Pilot Lyra Fenn, and Scientist Oliver Rigby—were all getting ready for the most important journey of their lives. It was the moment they had trained for, the mission that could change the future of humanity, and none of them wanted to mess it up.

Zira, are you okay? Lyra’s voice came from behind her. Zira turned to find her pilot grinning, clearly sensing her tension. Lyra always had that effect on people—a calming presence even in the most chaotic situations.

Just making sure we didn’t forget anything. You know, the usual, Zira replied, trying to hide the nerves in her voice. She had been the leader of many missions before, but this one was different. This one had the weight of the future on it.

It’s not like we’re launching into the unknown or anything, Baxter chimed in from the corner, not looking up from his station. Oh, wait, we totally are.

He was busy tinkering with a console, his hands moving at lightning speed, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Baxter had been on more than one mission, but somehow, every time they launched, he found something to fiddle with. It wasn’t that he was bad at his job—far from it—but his hyperactive mind always had to be doing something. Even if that something was adjusting the flow of oxygen or making random calculations that never seemed to make sense to anyone else.

Oliver Rigby, the quietest of the group, sat across from Baxter, his nose buried in a thick manual. The scientist was deeply focused on ensuring that every test had been conducted, every experiment planned out, and every detail fine-tuned. Oliver was the kind of person who preferred to observe before acting, which made him invaluable in this mission. It was a good thing, too, because there were enough spontaneous decisions being made on this mission that a little cautious planning could go a long way.

I checked the atmosphere readings again, Oliver said, looking up. The Martian dust storms are more intense than expected. We’ll have to be careful when we land.

I’m sure we’ll be fine, Zira said, though she couldn’t help but notice the slight tremor in his voice. We’ve trained for every scenario. Mars won’t catch us off guard.

Baxter, still tinkering with his console, suddenly gasped, Wait! Did I—did I forget to update the navigation algorithm?

The room went silent.

What? Lyra snapped, her eyes widening in alarm. Baxter! This is not the time for—

No, no, I think I’ve got it! Baxter shouted, slapping the console. I’ll just—just—uhh… He quickly started typing on the keyboard, muttering to himself.

Zira, though she could feel the panic creeping in, took a deep breath. Baxter, focus. We need this launch to go smoothly. She turned to Lyra. How’s our launch trajectory looking?

Lyra peered at her screen, her face relaxed but with an air of intensity. Perfect. We’re good to go. Just need the all-clear from the engineers.

That’s us! Baxter grinned, his fingers flying across the keyboard. And, uh, I just need to finish fixing this minor glitch—

You’ve got one minute, Wren, Zira warned, her tone firm but not unkind. Get it done.

Baxter shot her a thumbs-up and continued to type away at lightning speed. The crew knew him well enough by now. He always left things to the last minute, but he never failed to come through. And if he did fail, it was usually in an entertainingly spectacular way.

With a final flourish, Baxter hit enter. The system beeped, and the screens flashed green. Done! he announced, beaming with pride. All systems are go.

Zira couldn’t help but roll her eyes but smiled at the same time. Baxter’s chaotic energy might drive her crazy, but it was what made him an irreplaceable member of the team. And now, as the countdown began, Zira felt her heart race in anticipation. This was it. They were going to Mars.

The ship’s intercom buzzed, and the voice of Mission Control crackled in through the speakers. "All systems are nominal, Odyssey. You are cleared for liftoff. 30 seconds to launch."

Zira’s stomach fluttered, but she kept her voice steady. Roger that, Mission Control. We’re ready.

She turned to her team. Lyra, focused and calm, was already strapping herself into her seat. Oliver adjusted his glasses and gave a slight nod. Baxter, on the other hand, was still bouncing in his chair, too excited to sit still.

Here we go! he shouted.

The countdown began, and for the first time, the crew felt the full weight of the moment. The roar of the engines surged to life, vibrating through the entire ship. With a loud, thunderous blast, the Odyssey blasted off from Earth’s surface and into the sky.

Zira couldn’t help but grin. There was something magical about a launch—the moment when all the planning, all the training, all the sacrifices finally culminated in this one thrilling ride into the unknown. It was what they had trained for, and it felt exhilarating. The Earth fell away beneath them as they soared into space, the first step of their journey to Mars.

They were on their way.

As the ship pushed through the atmosphere, the feeling of weightlessness overtook them. Zira allowed herself a moment to relax as she looked out the window at the blue sky now distant and fading into the blackness of space. This was it. The beginning of the greatest adventure of their lives.

Chapter 2: Liftoff!

The moment the rocket engines roared to life, the crew of the Odyssey was thrust into their seats. A sudden wave of pressure pressed them back, and the metallic roar of the boosters filled their ears, making it impossible to hear anything else. But there was something magical about that sound—something that told them they were truly leaving Earth, heading toward the vast unknown.

Zira Hawke, Commander of this incredible mission, squeezed her hands into fists to steady herself. She'd been through liftoffs before, but this one felt different. Maybe it was because this mission was not just about exploration—it was about the future of humankind. Every part of her brain screamed to stay focused, but deep down, she couldn't help but feel the thrill of the unknown.

Behind her, Baxter Wren was bouncing in his seat, looking remarkably unbothered by the massive forces working against them. He seemed more interested in fiddling with his console than paying attention to the chaos around him. Baxter, always the optimist and the wildcard of the group, loved the unpredictability of the mission, but also loved pushing buttons.

Hey, Zira, he called over the roaring engines, his voice muffled by the vibrations. I think I might have accidentally toggled the life support system to maximum. Do you think that’ll cause any problems?

Zira shot him a glare, half-laughing, half-worried. Baxter, focus! We’re literally leaving Earth right now. You can’t play with the settings!

But Baxter just shrugged, turning back to the console. Well, what’s the worst that could happen? We’ve got tons of oxygen, right?

Lyra Fenn, the ship's pilot, was in her element. Her hands flew across the controls as she adjusted the trajectory, making small tweaks to ensure their flight