January 10, 2203 – Government District, Geneva
I
stand before the hovering hologram of the UNS Valhalla, feeling a
mixture of pride and uncertainty stirring inside me. This colony ship
symbolizes everything we've accomplished—but also everything still
ahead.
Next to me,
Leila Moradi gazes at the projection with shining eyes. "The
life-support systems are fully autonomous, the hydroponic gardens
utterly reliable. Technologically, things couldn't be better." She
pauses briefly. "But do you truly think humanity is ready?"
I
remain silent for a moment, letting my gaze wander outward. Through
panoramic windows, I watch transport drones silently glide between the
towers of New Geneva. Vertical gardens adorn glass facades—a visible
testament to how much we've already changed. Yet, an old worry catches
up with me:
"I often
wonder whether we've genuinely learned, or if we're just carrying old
mistakes to new worlds," I whisper, thinking about my home village,
cracked, dry soil, and the grateful faces of the people I once helped.
"I want to ensure we truly leave no one behind."
Leila
looks thoughtfully at me. "But that's exactly why you're here. The
President feels exactly as you do. You both want everyone to benefit,
not just a few."
I
nod slowly, trying to shake off my doubts. The schematic silhouette of
the UNS Valhalla floats before us, almost tangible. Behind me, muted
voices of technicians quietly discuss last details. It reminds me
visions alone aren't enough—we must act, with responsibility and
humility.
"The ship will soon be ready," Leila says calmly. "We're making history."
I
take a deep breath, looking determinedly at the hologram of the UNS
Valhalla. "Yes, we are. But what's more important is the story we
write."
The choice is ours—and it begins right here.
January 10, 2203 – Geneva
The
familiar cobblestones beneath my feet feel as though they're welcoming
me. As I enter the narrow streets of the old town, I sense the tension
of recent months slowly melting away. It's been a long time since I've
felt this calm—as if I could simply leave behind weeks filled with
battles and conspiracies.
Cold
January air fills my lungs. I hear the distant lapping of Lake Geneva,
shimmering quietly in pale winter light. Stopping to gaze across the
water, gentle nostalgia washes over me. I remember standing here
often—back before I knew anything of alien ships or fanatical cultists.
Back when I wrote articles about everyday matters: social reforms,
reconstruction projects, and people daring to dream again after great
crises.
I step into a
small café I frequented long ago. The door jingles softly, immediately
filling my senses with the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and
melted chocolate. Behind the counter stands an elderly lady who greets
me politely yet distantly. I order a hot chocolate and take a seat by
the window, watching familiar streets outside.
As
I await my order, my data pad vibrates. A message from Xiu Wan.
Quickly skimming the first lines: They've discovered hidden chambers
aboard the cultists' ship. The analysis could take weeks.
My
pulse quickens briefly. More questions, more puzzles. My journalistic
curiosity awakens—yet I hesitate. Perhaps it's good, just this once,
not to need to know everything immediately. Earth reminds me how it
feels simply to be human: vulnerable, curious, yet craving tranquility.
The
elderly barista eyes me curiously as she hands me the hot chocolate.
Her expression suggests she wonders if she should recognize me.
"Haven't been here in a while?" she asks warmly.
"Too long. Much has changed."
"Not everything," she replies with a gentle smile. "Geneva is still Geneva."
I
nod gratefully, sipping my chocolate. Its warmth gradually dispels the
chill, briefly making me feel I've never left. The reality between the
stars seems distant, though I know this peace won't last.
As
street lamps begin lighting up outside and dusk gently embraces the
alleyways, I make a decision. Tomorrow I'll visit the government
district and meet State Minister Swanepoel. Perhaps he'll have
answers—or at least insight into how much Earth has genuinely changed.
As we seek answers among the stars, the old questions here remain
unresolved.
Leaving
the café, autonomous drones glide silently overhead, blending aromas of
coffee and cold rain. Walking slowly, I again feel comforting
cobblestones beneath my feet—a soothing rhythm I'd nearly forgotten.
I open my data pad, sending the message already formed in my mind:
"10.01.2203
– Sometimes you need distance to see clearly. I'm back on my hometown
streets, wondering if the true secrets lie not in the stars but deeper
within ourselves."
For this moment, I'm exactly where I should be—before stepping once again into the unknown.
January 11, 2203, Geneva
I'm standing at the edge of an observation platform high above the vast
recultivation area, looking down on a sea of activity: hundreds of
autonomous machines, enormous reclamation devices, and swarms of drones
working the ground—digging, cleaning, replanting. A rhythmic humming and
the metallic clatter of construction vehicles fill the air, yet rather
than finding the noise disturbing, I almost find it soothing. Because it
signifies progress—tangible progress.
"Minister
Swanepoel?" calls a voice beside me. It's Anna Ritter, a young
colleague from my ministry, who approaches briskly and hands me a
tablet. "The progress is even faster than we expected. The renaturation
of the ocean sectors is advancing—and on land, we're also way ahead of
schedule."
I take the
tablet and glance at the charts. The area once cynically called the
"Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is shrinking a bit more each day. Tireless
recycling drones are collecting tons of plastic and debris from the sea
and converting it back into valuable raw materials. Next to the chart, I
see a forecast for new settlement areas—millions of people could soon
have new homes here.
"Who would have thought we'd ever get this far," I murmur thoughtfully.
Anna
nods, smiling, and also looks down at where the first green areas are
emerging, in places that were recently polluted industrial sites.
Enormous glass recultivation domes rise like small islands of life among
remnants of the old era. Workers in protective suits check sensors;
gardeners carefully plant seedlings in the freshly treated soil.
"In a few years, no one will believe this was once a complete wasteland," Anna says optimistically.
I
nod, but in my mind, I still see the faces from my home
village—worn-out farmers, once hopeless in the face of withered fields. I
can still hear my father's words: "We have a responsibility, Sibusiso.
Not just for today, but also for those who come after us."
"In
five years, millions of people are supposed to live here," I say
slowly. "But we can't just build cities. We have to create quality of
life, stability, and hope."
"We'll manage," Anna replies confidently. "The technology works, and the public is behind us."
I
look at her seriously. "But we must never forget that technology alone
isn't enough. People need to feel that all of this is being done for
them—each and every one."
Anna nods in understanding. "That's exactly why you're here, Minister."
I
give a faint smile and let my gaze sweep over the gigantic construction
site. From up here, the recultivation machines look like tiny ants,
busily and tirelessly pursuing a shared goal. Yet these images mask the
real challenge: the real building is only just beginning—in people's
hearts and minds.
"Minister
Swanepoel!" I hear again, this time more urgently. A familiar voice—I
turn and recognize Elena Makarov, the journalist, walking toward me.
"Elena! You're back on Earth?" I ask, surprised but pleased.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"Just briefly," she replies with a smile, though her eyes look serious. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"
"Quite the opposite," I answer warmly. "Your reports are important. People need to understand what we're doing here—and why."
She
glances out at the construction site, then back at me. "Would now be a
good time for a quick interview? I'd like to talk about the new colony
plans."
"Of course," I say, gesturing toward a quiet corner of the platform. "Ask away."
As
we step aside, I take another look at the enormous site. Cranes lift
large steel beams, transport drones glide silently through the air, and
workers enthusiastically discuss the next steps. It all looks like a
living work of art, shaped by hope and responsibility. Our past is being
healed bit by bit at this very moment, and again I feel deep inside why
I chose this path.
"All right," I say quietly to Elena. "Let's talk—about our future as humanity."
From
the observation platform, the once soot-blackened wasteland appears
almost like a promise of hope today. Fresh greenery stretches out for
kilometers below, broken up by the glass recultivation domes whose
interiors glow with warm light. Giant machines move methodically across
the once-contaminated ground, planting new seedlings—symbols of a future
we once thought impossible.
"It's
hard to believe how quickly all of this has come together," I say
thoughtfully, letting my gaze roam over the new landscape.
Elena
Makarov steps up beside me at the edge of the platform and follows my
gaze. "Ten years ago, we could barely imagine anything like this," she
murmurs. Her voice sounds reflective, almost dreamy. I can sense she's
drifting between the here and now and her experiences on Alpha Centauri
III.
"When you were still reporting here," I say, "you often wrote about the rebuilding. Now you're seeing it in full swing."
"Back
then, it felt like a distant promise," Elena replies. "Today, it almost
feels self-evident—though we're still far from finished."
I smile briefly and point to the hologram in front of us that shows the construction progress of our colony ship, UNS Valhalla.
The sleek, elegantly contoured hull is steadily taking shape in the
Luna Orbital Shipyard. "Our home is regenerating. Now we're building a
new one—out there among the stars."
Elena
nods and looks at me, her eyes suddenly alight with a mixture of pride
and awe. "You know, Sibusiso, we found alien life for the first time in
the Alpha Centauri system. I stood on that surface myself—breathed that
alien air, saw those... incredible landscapes."
"And?" I ask eagerly. "What was it like?"
She
shakes her head slightly, smiling in fascination. "Indescribable.
Imagine plains filled with plants that glow like tiny lanterns, and rock
formations that look as if an artist had sculpted them. It was as
though the planet itself welcomed us."
I take a deep breath, picturing the scene vividly. "That sounds almost too good to be true."
"It
is wonderful," Elena confirms seriously, "but it's also alien. We still
don't know how that ecosystem will respond to us. Xiu Wan and the team
are proceeding carefully—we're guests there, not conquerors. We can
learn a lot from that planet, as long as we don't repeat our mistakes."
I
nod and look down at the green expanses below. The machines moving
gently, like diligent giants, seem almost to echo her words. "That
applies here as well," I say firmly. "These new areas have to be open to
everyone—not just a privileged few. New housing, schools, and even
spaceports are already being built so that all people can benefit from
this development equally."
Elena
nods thoughtfully as she gazes at the seemingly endless rows of young
trees. "You know, Sibusiso, the people out there—on Alpha Centauri—will
learn from us, from what we do here and now on Earth. Our approach to
this industrial wasteland might be as significant as the colony itself."
"Exactly,"
I reply with conviction. "Earth is the foundation. This colony ship—and
everything that follows—symbolizes what we want to become: a society
that acts responsibly, not just one that expands outward."
She
smiles warmly, quickly types a few notes into her data pad, and looks
back at me. "That will be my story: Earth is healing while we learn that
the next step toward the stars can only succeed if we don't repeat our
mistakes here."
I
take one last look at the rotating holograms of the industrial wasteland
and the colony ship floating side by side. Two worlds, each in its own
way full of challenges and opportunities.
"We're on the right path," I say softly. "But we must never forget where we came from."
"Exactly,"
Elena responds, her gaze drifting across the landscape. "Maybe that's
our most important task as humans—not simply to flee to the stars, but
to head there deliberately, not out of fear, but with a clear goal in
mind."
I inhale
deeply and keep my eyes on the greenery gradually reclaiming Earth. Yes,
I think silently—that's precisely why I'm here. Not just to administer
but to ensure that we truly learn from our history. So that people on
Earth, as well as those who will soon settle on Alpha Centauri III, can
share a better future.
Elena takes one last look at the construction site, then straightens up decisively. "In a few days, I'm heading back to the UNS Gagarin,"
she says. "There's still so much to discover and report. Alpha Centauri
is waiting, and I can't wait to see what other secrets we'll uncover."
"When exactly are you leaving?" I ask.
"January
15," Elena replies with a slight smile. "Until then, I'll enjoy Earth
for a bit—who knows when I'll next have the chance." She glances briefly
at the sky, as if she can already make out the spaceship there. "Then
it's back to setting course for the stars."
I nod in admiration. "Take care of yourself, Elena. And bring us good news."
"I
will," she promises firmly. We bid each other farewell with a brief
handshake, and as I watch her depart, I can feel it again: we really are
making history—here on Earth and out there among the stars.
January 15, 2203 – UNS Gagarin en route to the Efoll system
I feel a strange sense of anticipation as I take the last few steps
along the ramp leading me back into the shuttle bound for the UNS
Gagarin. Behind me, the lights of New Geneva sparkle, and ahead of me
awaits the universe once more, with all its secrets. My brief stay on
Earth did me good, but now I'm drawn back to space—back to my true
element.
"Welcome back, Elena," Xiu Wan greets me with a slight smile. "I hope you're well rested."
"More than that," I reply, smiling, already feeling my curiosity stir. "Where are we headed this time?"
Xiu
hesitates briefly, as if savoring the moment before answering, "To the
Efoll system. Don't worry if you've never heard of it—I felt the same
way. All we have are a few vague references from an old database. Some
unknown anomalies, maybe mineral deposits. Definitely uncharted
territory."
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Efoll? Sounds exciting—and mysterious."
Xiu
nods seriously. "That's exactly why we're going. It could be absolutely
nothing—or the greatest discovery since Alpha Centauri III. No one
knows yet."
A
familiar tingling spreads through my stomach, that mix of excitement and
anticipation that always seizes me when we set off for new
destinations. "When do we depart?"
"Whenever you're ready," Xiu says, with a knowing sparkle in her eyes.
I smile and jot down in my data pad: Sometimes setting out into the unknown is just what we need to feel alive.
A
buzz of activity fills the bridge. The crew is full of vigor:
technicians and scientists prepare devices, officers check the latest
status reports. I take my usual seat and watch intently as the
navigation officer makes the final adjustments.
I
glance at my data pad. The mission data is scant. There's hardly more
than the basics—a name, a set of coordinates, and one confirmed fact:
Efoll is a pulsar system.
That
means intense radiation, electromagnetic disturbances, and a harsh,
hostile environment. But what else might be in this system is a mystery.
No known planets with confirmed properties, no recorded resources—just
vague references in old scans that don't even say if there's anything of
note at all.
"Efoll," I murmur, leaning back in my chair. "Doesn't exactly sound like the friendliest place."
Xiu
Wan, standing by the navigational instruments, emits a quiet snort. "We
don't know much, but that's what makes it interesting."
I raise an eyebrow. "What do we actually have? Other than a dying star that's frying everything in its vicinity?"
Xiu
taps on her display, and a holographic representation appears before
us. At the center spins a glowing sphere surrounded by concentric
waves—the pulsar. Its radiation pulses through space at regular
intervals, a force of nature that challenges even the most advanced
technology.
"There
are a few planetary bodies," Xiu finally explains. "We just don't know
if they're anything more than barren rocks. No clear signs of
atmosphere, no registered energy readings—nothing to indicate that
anything or anyone has ever been there."
I sigh and lean forward again. "So basically we're going in blind."
Xiu gives a crooked grin. "Exactly your thing, isn't it?"
That
familiar tingling returns. She's right. There's nothing more exciting
than setting foot in a place no one knows anything about. Maybe we'll
find nothing but desolate rocks—or maybe something no human has ever
seen.
"Igniting drive in three... two... one..."
A
jolt runs through the ship. A bright flash of light floods the bridge
as we enter faster-than-light mode. For a moment, it feels as though
time stands still—then the stars around us stretch into elongated
streaks of light.
Then—abruptly—everything
is calm again. The systems hum softly, and the familiar vibration
returns beneath my feet. We've arrived.
The pulsar flickers in the viewport, a white-blue flash that permeates the entire system with its merciless light.
"Begin scans," Xiu orders.
I lean forward, my eyes fixed on the screen as the first sensor data gradually appears.
I
nod, already double-checking my camera and recording equipment. Ever
since I returned, I've felt a burning curiosity to capture new stories
and send them back to Earth. Perhaps out there lies the next great
mystery—something as fascinating as the enigmatic cultist ship whose
secrets we still haven't fully unraveled.
Xiu
Wan stands next to the navigational controls, her gaze fixed on the
incoming data. Her expression is as focused as ever, but I know her well
enough to recognize the gleam of eager curiosity in her eyes.
"Elena,
we're picking up the first signals. No clear indication of habitable
zones, but at least two planetary bodies are showing up on the scans."
She keys in a quick command, and hazy outlines appear on the
holo-display. "One of them is in a so-called 'moderate' orbit—if you can
even call it that in a system like this."
I
lean in closer to the display. The pulsar dominates the system's
center, its harsh light casting the planets in flickering shadows. "Any
sign of an atmosphere?"
Xiu
shakes her head. "Too early to tell. But if there was ever life there,
it either adapted to extreme radiation or exists deep underground."
I take a deep breath as the scans begin. Then I type into my data pad:
01/15/2203
– The UNS Gagarin has reached Efoll. We don't know what awaits us here.
Only a dying star and two uncertain worlds. Maybe we'll find nothing
but barren rock—or maybe we're on the threshold of another major
discovery. I'll document it, for humanity, for the future, and for that
indescribable sense of wonder only space can provide.
My
gaze drifts to the panoramic window, where the ominous light of the
pulsar flickers across the Gagarin's hull. A new chapter is
beginning—and we have no idea what's in store.
