A first shift for Milena Tväten, sixteen: toolmaker, Fabrication. The badge is printed fresh.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 6,205th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
A child in Ring C asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
The schools release Tern Tväten to Life Systems. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
A daughter, Yasmin Petrov, born in the Ring C infirmary to Yasmin Petrov and Femi Petrov. Mother and child are well.
Ibrahim Pillai died in quarters in the middle watch, 74 years old. 895 souls aboard.
Atmosphere Processing hums again. Orrery Petrov is stood a round of orchard cider by the off-shift.
The manifest shortens by one: Huda Tväten, 97 years. 3 children carry the line on.
CO₂ trim goes ragged as a processor bank fails. Life Systems is on it before I finish the announcement.
Maintenance sweep of Ring A complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Kestrel Aaberg, 95, generation 2, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 40,139 days to orbit.
The manifest shortens by one: Zhenzhen Jaber, 98 years. 2 children carry the line on.
Morale index reads 79. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Chinedu Thorvaldsen died in quarters in the middle watch, 83 years old. 898 souls aboard.
Divya Aaberg died in quarters on the first watch, 80 years old. 899 souls aboard.
Jaya Sharma stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Ecology.
Sixteen years for Zemin Thorvaldsen, who signs to Drive late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Noor Quaye stands down from Fabrication at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Baozhen Valdivia died in quarters late in the second watch, 79 years old. 900 souls aboard.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Karim Peng, 84, generation 2, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
I compare today's star field against day one's. The constellations have begun, very slightly, to come apart. Nobody else will look; that is what I am for.
A wedding at brightening. Rajesh Singh, Hydroponics; Gayatri Quill, Hydroponics. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
Everett Petrov retires at brightening. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
After 71 years, Mikhail Valdivia has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
Farida Quaye stands down from Life Systems at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Orrery Navarrete, 79, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Fernanda Nwosu retires in the middle watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Morale index reads 82. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Departure Day, year 140. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
The manifest shortens by one: Pallas Diallo, 71 years. 1 children carry the line on.
A new mural from Vasili Northam — “Spun Season (Year 139).” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
The manifest shortens by one: Helm Aaberg, 69 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 40,226 days to orbit.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Olaf Orellana, 95. It is little enough.
Yaw Fang retires at dimming. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
After 84 years, Stanislav Tväten has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Juniper Jaber takes the hand of Temitope Shen before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
After 84 years, Suyin Barakat has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Wei and Nadia. The commons sings late.
Yewande Jaber chooses Hydroponics — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
The schools release Chengdong Quill to Fabrication. Generation 4 takes up its tools.
The manifest shortens by one: Konstantin Kowalczyk, 88 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Rell Valdivia finishes a play: “Roots of Year 139.” It shows in the commons through the week.
All boards green. I count 910 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Vicente Nwosu, sixteen, takes the historian apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
Born at dimming: Johanna Navarrete, generation 6. The ship holds 910 souls tonight.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Ifeoma Thorvaldsen retires late in the second watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.