Time to Orbit: Unknown

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> The next morning, we assemble around the picnic table, and Lina explains what she and the Friend have spent the past day investigating. “So. We have a hypothesis that may actually answer quite a lot of questions.” “Great,” Tinera says. “I love things that … Continue reading 114: REACTION

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> By popular agreement and lighting coordination, the whole crew is on the same basic 24 hour schedule, so we tend to have breakfast together unless somebody’s busy or feels like sleeping in. We also tend to have our crew meetings over breakfast, so nobody’s … Continue reading 113: SENTENCE

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> “What does that mean, a coherent radio message?” Captain Klees asks. “Somebody talking to us? From Earth?” “Unlikely, with our dish,” Sam says, “although we’re close enough to Hylara that if they were trying to contact us on Hylara, we’d pick it up if … Continue reading 112: COHERENCE

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> I’m chopping vegetables and handing them to Captain Klees for a morning omelette when Lina strolls in. “Captain, do you mind retaking some scans? I’ve just about wrapped up your health assessment but we’re getting some strange results. A scanner error, I think.” Captain … Continue reading 111: SCAN

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> “So how’s our new home planet?” I ask Sam as we check the atmosphere in the Habitation Ring. They shrug. “Still orbiting. Presumably still mysteriously oxygenated. It’s passing in front of the sun right now so we won’t get much in the way of … Continue reading 110: GRAVES

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> When Lina takes my arm to insert the needle, I stiffen automatically. She hesitates. “If you’re uncomfortable with me, the Friend can do this,” she tells me. I shake my head. “I’m sure you won’t kill me for my organs on a spaceship.” I … Continue reading 109: NORMAL

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> It’s mostly dark. Dark enough that, as I lay on my back in my sleeper nest and stare up at the branch above, I can’t quite out make the ceiling behind it. The light’s not quite right, but I can almost, almost pretend it’s … Continue reading 108: GROWTH

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> The process of explaining the issue takes long enough that the designated time for Movie Night ends partway through. Captain Klees sheds random costume paraphernalia as he paces back and forth in the Engine Ring. “Everyone stay calm,” he says in a tone that … Continue reading 107: IMPLICATION

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> It’s movie night. It’s Tal’s turn, and ke has insisted on doing some preneek tradition called ‘talk like a pirate day’. This involves adopting some specific vocal affectations that ke has provided instructions for. This also involves, for some reason, dressing like a pirate. … Continue reading 106: PIRATES

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Map] .......... Next> .......... Last>> “Antarctica?” I ask. “Our resident fatcat’s family fortune is tied up in research labs in Antarctica?” “Does this mean that Captain Sand’s nonsense conspiracy theory that you told us about was actually right?” Tinera asks. “It couldn’t be. It doesn’t make any sense. There’s … Continue reading 105: DOR