Chapter : 1
Tittle : Approaching the pale blue
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August 21, 4311
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The recycled air in the Stardust Drifter crackled with an almost tangible excitement. Years. It had been years since they last saw Earth, years of traversing the cold, empty vastness of space. Now, a familiar blue marble, still vibrant and alive from this distance, filled the main viewport.
"There she is," Maya breathed, a soft smile gracing her lips. A collective sigh of relief seemed to ripple through the small spacecraft.
Eunwoo, leaning back in his pilot's seat, a rare, genuine smile on his face, pointed towards the approaching planet. "Home sweet home, just like we remembered." He glanced at his readings. "Atmospheric scans are nominal. Everything looks... stable."
In-Guk, a hint of warmth softening his usual stoic expression, stood beside Maya. "It's good to see her again." He hadn't spoken much about missing Earth, but the subtle shift in his demeanor spoke volumes.
Ana, practically bouncing in her seat, peered excitedly at the view. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? I can't wait to feel real gravity again!" She giggled, a sound that had become a precious rarity during their long journey. "And real food! No more nutrient paste!"
Maya chuckled, her arm instinctively reaching out to playfully ruffle Ana's hair. "Almost there, kiddo. Just a little longer." She turned back to the viewport, her heart swelling with a mixture of joy and anticipation. They had done it. Against all odds, they had completed their long mission. They were finally coming home.
Eunwoo initiated the final approach sequence. "Preparing for atmospheric entry. Everyone strap in." The familiar procedures were a comforting routine after so long in the void.
As the Stardust Drifter hurtled towards the welcoming blue of Earth, a sense of peace settled over the crew. They had faced countless challenges, overcome technical failures and the gnawing loneliness of deep space. Now, their journey was ending. A new chapter was about to begin.
Maya stared out of the main viewport, her brow furrowed. The familiar blue marble was now marred by sickly shades of brown and grey. Swirls of toxic clouds choked the atmosphere, obscuring continents she once knew by heart.
"Anything?" Her voice was tight, barely above a whisper.
Eunwoo, his fingers flying across a holographic display, didn't look up. "Readings are consistent. Atmospheric toxicity levels are critical. Surface temperatures are spiking erratically. It's... worse than the simulations predicted." He finally glanced up, his usually calm eyes clouded with a grim understanding. "The window is closing, Maya. If it hasn't already."
In-Guk stood silently by the viewport, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the dying planet. His stoic expression offered little, but Maya could sense the tension radiating from him. He had family down there. They all did. Expect for Maya.
A sudden, sharp beep pierced the tense silence. Ana, who had been fidgeting with a loose panel near the back, jolted. "What's that?" Her usual playful tone was replaced by a tremor of fear.
Eunwoo quickly checked his display. "It's... a distress signal. Faint, barely readable. Originating from Earth's surface, near the old European continent."
Maya's eyes widened. "Someone's still alive?" A flicker of hope ignited within her, quickly doused by the overwhelming reality outside the viewport.
In-Guk finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "It could be a trap. Or just a ghost signal."
Ana, despite her earlier apprehension, piped up, her curiosity overriding her fear. "But what if it's not? What if someone needs our help?"
Maya turned from the viewport, her gaze meeting each of her friends. The weight of their impossible mission settled heavily in the small spacecraft. They were on a desperate flight to a planet light-years away, a gamble with astronomical odds. Turning back towards a dying Earth, even for a faint hope, felt like madness.
"Eunwoo," Maya said, her voice regaining its usual determination. "Can you lock onto the signal? See if we can get any more information."
Eunwoo nodded, his fingers dancing across the controls once more. The fate of humanity, or what little remained of it, hung in the balance, reflected in the grim tableau outside their viewport.