A daughter, Fathom Thorvaldsen, born in the Ring D infirmary to Beatriz Thorvaldsen and Yaw Ning. Mother and child are well.
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 star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Chukwuemeka and Qing. The commons sings late.
“Engine for the Warm Anchor,” a tale-cycle by Node Aaberg, is unveiled late in the second watch to the particular applause of Hydroponics.
2.62 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 20,143 thousand to go.
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.
Comms Array restored after 1 weeks. Fathom Sharma signs the work order and goes to sleep for a full watch.
Caelum Kong, sixteen, takes the teacher apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
Fault isolated in Comms Array. Repair estimate: unwise to say aloud.
The manifest shortens by one: Yaw Zhao, 100 years. 3 children carry the line on.
Census check: 863 souls, 186 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Sixteen years for Raisa Barakat, who signs to Hydroponics late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
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.
2.62 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 20,194 thousand to go.
Bernardo Nwosu and Liv Shen are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Hydroponics turns out.
Rotimi Petrov and Helm Quill, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Sixteen years for Magnus Nwosu, who signs to Hydroponics on the first watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
“Lantern for the Last Door,” a poem by Ifeoma Aaberg, is unveiled on the first watch to the particular applause of Archive & Schools.
Departure Day, year 186. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 185, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 4,886th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
After 89 years, Ulyana Shen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Kestrel Ulriksen takes the hand of Kwame Tväten before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Zikora Shen stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Command.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Arthur Navarrete, 59. It is little enough.
Sixteen years for Arne Fang, who signs to Hydroponics late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Radhika Petrov is delivered of a daughter on the night watch. The child is called Hanan.
Green across the board: Comms Array holds after 4 days of work. Spares were spent; Fabrication is notified.
A failure in Comms Array. The duty crew is roused; tools move down the spinal corridor at a jog.
Rocío Kowalczyk is delivered of a daughter late in the second watch. The child is called Signe.
2.63 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 20,245 thousand to go.
Ada Shen chooses Hydroponics — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Yejide Quill stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Medical.
Dag Tväten, sixteen, takes the machinist apprenticeship in Fabrication.
Hassan Tväten, sixteen, takes the recycler apprenticeship in Fabrication.
Clifford Quill and Dalia Mansour are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Fabrication turns out.
Rajesh Singh retires at dimming. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 23,479 days to orbit.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 185, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Quill Aaberg and Elsie Petrov are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Life Systems turns out.
Nneka Navarrete takes the hand of Lakshman Thorvaldsen before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Kayode and Obinna. The commons sings late.
Sanjay Shen, sixteen, takes the reactor tech apprenticeship in Drive.
Sixty-eight years: Ignacio Pillai hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.
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.
Unn Thorvaldsen chooses Medical — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Xavier Aaberg takes the hand of Ekundayo Jaber before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.