The crew decided to walk around on Kephar a little more, and sleep in the hotel one last time. They had 3 more days on the booking list, but they just refunded that to 12 colacks and some change. They finally went to the Thread.
First off, Xita created Aeternum's Thread profile and set him up.
"ID: Aeternum-KaeVen created. Commencing permission obtaining command.", spews out the waypoint phone.
"We should learn this thing before we set off to our next stop. We need to also decide on one.", says Mailen, completely locked in.
"There's way too many stuff here that I just do not get.", says Zarya, who was just looking at the control buttons of the Thread.
"Y'all don't have to control the Thread. You can just accommodate yourself, and learn about the Thread itself slowly.", says Rain, acknowledging the crew as family, and making sure nobody is overwhelmed.
"Welcome back to the Thread! There's a few set of rules I've set while Rain was away, and I'll list them to you all.", says Xita, walking out of a small room.
Xita explains the basic rules to the crew, and mentions that the rules will be added over time.
"Alright. I've got it. Now, let's work on setting up everything else on the Thread, which we will do on our way to the next planet – that is, once we get the proper info on it.", says Rain confidently.
Back on Kephar, Kael looks at the sky and sees the Thread depart slowly.
"Do you ever think that they'll come back?", asks a person standing next to Kael.
"I don't know. Maybe in the future generations.", says Kael. "All I want is for their journey to be smooth with no problems. Especially because Kephar is their first planet that they've been on."
"Yeah… This is only their beginning, right?", says the person.
"I believe so.", says Kael, exhaling and going back to his office to continue his work. "I believe they'll be here for the next year's festival."
On the Thread, Rain looks at the cosmic news for the first time.
"Good morning, good evening, good afternoon, wherever you are in the cosmos. Today is 5.16.2175 2SE. We are bringing you the latest news from the cosmos.", says the reporter on the television.
"The planet of Astoria has successfully concluded its "Cosmic Tech Party," attracting a peak live audience of 7.4 billion viewers. Officials report the event proceeded without incident and note significant engagement across interstellar broadcast channels. Preparations for subsequent events are under consideration."
"Following a surge in reported viral infections, the planet of Almatia – the cradle of modern technology in the cosmos – has entered a full planetary lockdown. Local authorities have restricted all travel in and out of the system. Containment protocols are in effect, and stabilization efforts are underway. Relief and monitoring teams from neighboring planets, including Xeron and Thetis Prime, are on standby."
"The planet of Lyron has completed its scheduled century refit cycle ahead of schedule. Upgrades to the planetary energy and cloud lattice systems have resulted in a 40% increase in grid efficiency, according to official reports."
"The planet of Kessa reports an unprecedented aurora bloom, described by local scientists as a significant ionospheric phenomenon from its local star. Authorities note the display did not impact infrastructure or population safety."
"And the most breaking news of all. The Astral Thread has been observed for the first time in recorded history, thousands of years after the Solar Scientists implemented the cosmic border closure. It has been spotted on the doorstep of the planet Kephar, a planet that has been locked down for a thousand years. A long-awaited project designed to stabilize universal structures has finally emerged from the Solar System and is being awaited everywhere. Current assessments indicate the thread remains low in technical value, though monitoring is ongoing. We plan – as UHC's Universal Defense Ministry – to contact the Thread, and to look at their next stations."
"Further updates will follow as official information becomes available."
Rain turns off the news, and figures something out. "Infection on Almatia? Never heard of the planet. I have to take a look into the data bank later. Maybe we can check out the source and help the planet out?"
Rain walks out of her room, and tells the crew the news.
"Almatia? Like the second capital of the Milky Way? It would be an interesting approach. However, I also have some destination ideas.", says Mailen.
Mailen recommends the planet of Mayik, where Aeternum was born, as well as the planet of Hoshinara, a scenic, peaceful planet to just relax for a month.
Rain goes to the front part of the Thread to talk to the speaker. "Please come to the main room. Let's start our vote for the next planet."
To be continued...