Omolara Petrov, sixteen, takes the plasma systems tech apprenticeship in Drive.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Last shift for Rania Tväten, who joined Hydroponics half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A child in Ring A asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
The manifest shortens by one: Yusuf Salazar, 89 years. 3 children carry the line on.
Radomir Valdivia, sixteen, takes the signals officer apprenticeship in Command.
Sixteen years for Gyre Aaberg, who signs to Archive & Schools at dimming and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The youngest aboard is now Suyin Thorvaldsen, minutes old, asleep. 854 souls.
Born at brightening: Domingo Valdivia, generation 7. The ship holds 853 souls tonight.
Sojourn Quill and Verne Peng are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Ecology turns out.
Konstantin Tväten died in quarters on the night watch, 83 years old. 852 souls aboard.
Anders Petrov died in quarters late in the second watch, 98 years old. 853 souls aboard.
Sixteen years for Rosario Sharma, who signs to Medical on the night watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The youngest aboard is now Yaw Yan, minutes old, asleep. 854 souls.
Feng Tväten takes the hand of Caelum Thorvaldsen before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
A daughter, Rell Sharma, born in the Ring A infirmary to Ekaterina Sharma and Ragnar Shen. Mother and child are well.
Census check: 852 souls, 228 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Zaid Nwosu times an occultation to refine our ephemeris. The course correction is smaller than a held breath.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 26,854 days to orbit.
Arne Mansour and Deneb Sharma, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
A daughter, Halley Ulriksen, born in the Ring B infirmary to Ragnhild Ulriksen and Gyre Thorvaldsen. Mother and child are well.
Quill Kowalczyk stands down from Hydroponics at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
3.19 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 22,877 thousand to go.
The schools release Edith Quill to Life Systems. Generation 6 takes up its tools.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Vikram Diallo, 91. It is little enough.
A new song from Kestrel Kong — “Seven Furrows Waiting.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
3.19 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 22,909 thousand to go.
The Crossing feast: more behind than ahead. The long tables come out; the good preserves come down.
Leticia Nwosu stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Hydroponics.
Clifford Quill chooses Fabrication — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 176, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Drift Valdivia died in quarters at dimming, 61 years old, once nurse. 852 souls aboard.
Morale index reads 79. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Mira Quill chooses Medical — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
The youngest aboard is now Pallas Quill, minutes old, asleep. 853 souls.
A child in Ring D asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Born in the middle watch: Modupe Sharma, generation 7. The ship holds 852 souls tonight.
Census check: 851 souls, 229 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Morale index reads 79. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Born on the first watch: June Shen, generation 8. The ship holds 851 souls tonight.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Yaw Quill. This one is called Sarala.
A birth in Ring A: Aster, girl, generation 7. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Sergei Quill and Mira Fang, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
The youngest aboard is now Pallas Quaye, minutes old, asleep. 848 souls.
First Light. The observation blister queues run all day: Teegarden's Star, held in the eyepiece, a little brighter than last year — 3.20 light-years to go.
Gayatri Fang and Anand Valdivia name their daughter Juniper. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Yash Nwosu stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Fabrication.
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 hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 176, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
A child in Ring D asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.