Morale index reads 71. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
The manifest shortens by one: Edith Merriweather, 79 years. 2 children carry the line on.
The manifest shortens by one: Umbra Aaberg, 95 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Kamala Salazar died in quarters at brightening, 97 years old. 843 souls aboard.
After 92 years, Tatiana Navarrete has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Census check: 845 souls, 179 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Ikenna Quaye does not wake at brightening. 94 years, most of them given to Medical.
Walid Diallo died in quarters at brightening, 79 years old. 846 souls aboard.
Xiulan Nwosu times an occultation to refine our ephemeris. The course correction is smaller than a held breath.
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.
Sixteen years for Quill Fang, who signs to Ecology on the first watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 152, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
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.
The Crossing. Every year it is observed, and every year someone stands to say the second half is the harder, and is booed warmly.
The manifest shortens by one: César Fang, 104 years. 1 children carry the line on.
Mariam Navarrete is made Chief of Archive & Schools, and marks it by standing the ordinary shift anyway.
Last shift for Tao Navarrete, who joined Archive & Schools half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Chengdong Quill's crew brings Fabrication Shops back after 5 days.
Last shift for Yusheng Nwosu, who joined Drive half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Rotimi Diallo died in quarters late in the second watch, 88 years old. 848 souls aboard.
Fabrication Shops faults late in the second watch. Fabrication takes the call.
Meridian Sharma is delivered of a son in the middle watch. The child is called Fuhua.
Sojourn Navarrete does not wake on the first watch. 96 years, most of them given to Fabrication.
After 91 years, Fern Thorvaldsen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
A birth in Ring D: Meridian, boy, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Sixteen years for Jinsong Navarrete, who signs to Fabrication at dimming and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Winifred Petrov, 95, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 1,612th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
The youngest aboard is now Deneb Fang, minutes old, asleep. 850 souls.
A first shift for Harini Navarrete, sixteen: thermal engineer, Life Systems. The badge is printed fresh.
Census check: 849 souls, 179 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
First Light festival. The children are lifted to the eyepiece one by one to see where they are going.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
The manifest shortens by one: Arjun Shen, 87 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Mateo Sharma does not wake in the middle watch. 74 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
Cygnet Pemberton does not wake in the middle watch. 92 years, most of them given to Drive.
A wedding late in the second watch. Gbenga Navarrete, Fabrication; Valentina Peng, Hydroponics. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
After 71 years, Solveig Shen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
Born late in the second watch: Orrery Sharma, generation 6. The ship holds 853 souls tonight.
Born on the first watch: Gantry Petrov, generation 6. The ship holds 852 souls tonight.
Edith Petrov does not wake at brightening. 68 years, most of them given to Drive.
Maintenance sweep of Ring D complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Hakim Thorvaldsen, 85, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
After 87 years, Halley Peng has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
Pearl Nwosu, 99, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
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.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Sixty-eight years: Raymond Shen hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring C stands ready.
Census check: 855 souls, 177 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
After 90 years, Safiya Shen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.