Xenia Petrov does not wake late in the second watch. 87 years, most of them given to Ecology.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Node Barakat and Zenith Ouyang name their son Vikram. The nursery lamps stay warm.
A first shift for Sami Yan, sixteen: printer operator, Fabrication. The badge is printed fresh.
“Iron Bell, Bright Watch,” a mural by Kayode Shen, is unveiled on the first watch to the particular applause of Fabrication.
Gyre Barakat, 89, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 36,511 days to orbit.
Morale index reads 78. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Tarun Quaye died in quarters at brightening, 89 years old. 860 souls aboard.
Last shift for Adrián Diallo, who joined Archive & Schools half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 760th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
Census check: 861 souls, 163 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
A new instrument from Leticia Shen — “What the Orchard Holds.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Departure Day, year 150. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
After 85 years, Ikenna Ning has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
The youngest aboard is now Pranav Kong, minutes old, asleep. 862 souls.
Morale index reads 77. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Last shift for Zikora Ulriksen, who joined Hydroponics half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 36,581 days to orbit.
A birth in Ring B: Nora, girl, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Ignacio Nwosu, sixteen, takes the teacher apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
Irina Zhao does not wake in the middle watch. 86 years, most of them given to Medical.
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.
Olaf Nwosu's crew brings Hydroponics Bays back after 2 weeks.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Hydroponics Bays faults late in the second watch. Hydroponics takes the call.
Sixty-eight years: Fyodor Jaber hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring A stands ready.
Meridian Fang retires at brightening. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
“The Green Garden,” a mural by Ulyana Mansour, is unveiled on the night watch to the particular applause of Life Systems.
Last shift for Vernon Fang, who joined Archive & Schools half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Hedda Quill. This one is called Qiang.
Hedda Quill and Aleksandr Aaberg name their daughter Yaw. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Remembrance. All names read since the last one — held in silence in every ring at the same hour. I keep the lights low until it is done.
Maintenance sweep of Ring B complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Chukwuemeka Ouyang, 83. It is little enough.
Last shift for Raisa Fang, who joined Fabrication half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
The schools release Qiaoyun Navarrete to Ecology. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
Repair complete on Comms Array within the day. I run the test cycle twice, out of respect for history.
Comms Array quits at brightening, with a sound the old hands do not like.
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.
The youngest aboard is now Cygnet Northam, minutes old, asleep. 860 souls.
A wedding in the middle watch. Mahmoud Kong, Drive; Lyra Nwosu, Archive & Schools. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
A son, Deneb Pillai, born in the Ring A infirmary to Folasade Pillai and Bogdan Valdivia. Mother and child are well.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
All boards green. I count 858 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A wedding on the first watch. Alice Fang, Life Systems; Stanley Nwosu, Hydroponics. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
The manifest shortens by one: Fuhua Shen, 86 years. 2 children carry the line on.
A wedding at brightening. Sundiata Diallo, Hydroponics; Funmilayo Valdivia, Drive. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
After 81 years, Dolores Nwosu has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Sixty-eight years: Altair Quill hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.