“Apparently not, ma’am,” Williams quietly observed.  “Perhaps if we go deeper into the galaxy, we’ll find some answers.” Captain Withers nodded.  “That sounds like a good idea.  Helm, plot us a course that takes us through the heart of this solar system.” “That shouldn’t be too hard,” the Lieutenant Commander responded. “Why is that?” asked Withers and Williams at the same time. “The planets are aligned exactly like those of the Milky Way.” Withers and Williams looked at each other.  “Thoughts, Commander?” the Lunar’s Captain asked, wondering what to do next. Commander Williams frowned as he stared out of the viewport.  “If this is a duplicate of the Milky Way as we know it, maybe we should plot a course for this Earth and have a look at it.” “Excellent suggestion.  A course for Earth.” “Course laid in, ma’am,” came the response from the helmsman. “250,000 knots.”  The Lunar shot off to investigate the puzzling formation of a second Milky Way Galaxy. ??? 15:45 SET 2196 The Lunar approached the third planet in the solar system.  The bridge crew was speechless. “Looks exactly like Earth,” the Tactical officer from Sorra III said, scratching his bald head.  “This is impossible.” “Impossible yet we see it before us now, Ensign,” said Commander Williams before taking the first sip of his simulate coffee.  He frowned slightly as he swished the taste around in his mouth before swallowing it.  “I should’ve put another pack of sugar in there,” he muttered to himself.  “I say we attempt to establish contact with the people of that planet,” he ventured, looking over at the Captain.  “What do you think?” Withers nodded.   “I think so too, but before we get involved with them, I want to survey the rest of this area.  There’s something not right about this.” Williams frowned.  “What’s wrong with having a system that looks just like ours?” It was Captain Withers’ turn to frown.  “Sure, we’ve seen planets here and there that look like ones from the Milky Way, but like this?  Lined up in the exact same rotation having the same measurements and readouts?  It’s too coincidental.” “Space is a big place, Captain.  Anything could happen.” Captain Withers brushed off Commander Williams’s last comment and asked her Science officer for the readouts on the look alike Earth.  She was not surprised when the readings came back identical to the Earth they knew.  “Continue on present course, helm,” she ordered, still not sure what to make of it all.  “Let’s see what else is out there.” By the end of the hour, they had charted and found facsimiles of every other planet Milky Way galaxy.  It was apparent, however, that no space activity could be found within the galaxy.  The bridge crew thought that odd. “What’s our next move?” Commander Williams asked from there.  “Back to third planet and see if it’s habitable?” “Do you mean habitable?” asked Captain Withers, “or if it contains humans?” “Both.” “Well, let’s go see.”  The helmsman plotted a course to double back for the mirror Earth, and the science vessel made back for the way it came. Captain Withers had the Lieutenant Commander orbit the false Earth and made the Science officer scan for life forms. “Life forms in the billions, Captain, but not as we know it.” “Explain,” Withers demanded. “The scanners show only 2.8 billion people, with a large concentration in Australia and South America,” she reported. “Atmospheric content?” asked Commander Williams from his seat near the Science officer. “Similar to the Earth we know, sir.  Carbon dioxide, Oxygen, and traces of a few pollutants.” Captain Wither knotted her brow as she wondered what to do next.  “I wonder if--” she was cut off as the Lunar shook violently under weapons fire from seemingly nowhere.