The launch of the first organic satellite ignited mania and chaos in Japan.
Daiki and Sora, the pilots of the reconnaissance starship that would transport the wooden transmitter into orbit, had become as famous as their country's popstars.
Now, it was just them, their third day orbiting Earth, awaiting confirmation from Ground Control to jettison the satellite.
"Is that static, Sora?" Daiki asked, suddenly twiddling his earpiece.
She shrugged, then transmitted, "Can you hear me, Ground Control?"
"A OK, Sky 1!" they responded, crystal clear.
Without warning, the starship shook to its rivets; the pilots looked at each other, then at the external cameras. What had hit them?
One screen showed a crumpled bay door, but dented from the inside!
Looping branches, like vines, whipped through space as the satellite morphed, growing boles as big as sandpits from which giant hornets poured like a golden river.
A seemingly sentient sapling slithered towards them, encircling the nosecone, dragging the starship towards the satellite's burgeoning mass.
Free of gravity, these ancient creatures had realised their true capacities, and needed fuel for reentry!
You can find the catalyst for this piece in the Facebook Scifi Roundtable.
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A Japanese company and Kyoto University have joined forces to develop what they hope will be the world's first satellites made out of wood by 2023.
Sumitomo Forestry said it has started research on tree growth and the use of wood materials in space.
The partnership will begin experimenting with different types of wood in extreme environments on Earth.
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