Write the First Lines for a SciFi Story

Here’s the last prompt for this month’s theme of speculative fiction. Study the photos and write the first lines for a scifi story.

Here’s my inspiration:

Slumped in her swivel chair by the front control panels, Dalian said, “Sector Q-37 is clear. All normal readings. Exactly what we’ve found in all the previous sectors, and exactly what we’ll find in all the rest. Thick forests, steep mountains, and no intelligent life.”

I rubbed my eyes and flipped several switches. “The scouting mission wasn’t a total waste. Mining is possible in the mountains.”

“Those trace amounts of elements wouldn’t make it worth any companies time.” Dalian stared at the front screen which relayed the terrain in front of our ship. “My brother-in-law has told more than I’ve ever wanted to know about mining.” She sighed. “Sectore Q-38 is …”

I looked up from the buttons in front of me.

Dalian stared straight ahead and lifted her hand to point at the screen.

Our ship was quickly approaching a structure big enough to be a city jutting from the side of a pinnacle.

“I guess there is intelligent life. Or was.”

“But it’s not registering.” Dalian had moved her focus to the displays. “According to our sensors, there’s just a mountain peak in front of us.”

We looked at the structure and then at each other.

For more prompts for writing scifi stories, click here.

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