The Azura; Cephei Sector NX-U b2-0 B 5 : Generation Ship Phanes
22 Feb 2021Feldbibliothekar
Generation Ships - relatively ancient vessels from times when humanity began to flee the Solar System. The concept itself is frightening enough. Pack some hundreds, maybe some thousands humans into a huge intergalactic ship without FTL-travel capability. Slowly reaching a fraction of lightspeed while at the same time accommodating and housing thousands of humans - for several generations. Some of them did travel for about 700 years, developing a unique spacefarer culture just for them to get back to settling a real planet under a real atmosphere. What a terrifying but at the same time incredible concept and a huge feat of mankind. About 70000 of these ships did launch from earth in a very narrow time window. For this time an immeasurable amount of materials and ressources were allocated to just this goal - getting humans away from earth. And into the darkness. Most of these ships seem to have reached their goals, while some of them also ... didn't. A number of these abandoned Generation Ships have been found with each of these having a unique backstory to their abandonment. Horror, despair and pain are tragically the common themes for them.This is the Generation Ship Phanes. 4 of their ship logs can be accessed and downloaded via scanning the Ship Comms Log Uplink.
THE LAST PEOPLE 1/4
Warrant Officer Noonan — Personal Log 512/9
I must admit, sometimes our mission seems futile. It’s still difficult to accept that we’re the last humans in the galaxy. But who am I to argue with Command?
Details regarding the end of humanity are scarce, and discussion of it is forbidden. The rumour is there was some kind of cataclysm. Sol was the first to fall, followed by every inhabited system in the core. Plague, famine, war – it could have been anything. All I know is we’re the last vestige of humankind. And we must find a new home if our race is to survive.
Who knows what would have happened without Command. They’ve guided and protected us for hundreds of years. If I prove my worth, maybe one day they’ll ask me to join them. But for now I’m happy to serve in whatever way I can.
THE LAST PEOPLE 2/4
Warrant Officer Noonan — Personal Log 576/4
Something really weird happened today. I was accompanying Admiral Kerr on a tour of the ship. Actually, it was more a case of pushing his wheelchair while he mumbled about the good old days. Everyone knows the Admiral should have been put out to pasture years ago – he’s certainly not dealing with a full deck. Anyway, he said the strangest thing.
As we were passing communications he suggested we send a progress report to Sol. I tried to explain that Sol was gone, but he was insistent. Then he seemed to clam up, as if he’d said something he shouldn’t have. He was silent for the rest of the tour.
I’m not sure whether or not to mention it to Command. Talk of Sol is forbidden you know, but I don’t want the old man to get in trouble. At his age who wouldn’t be confused?
THE LAST PEOPLE 3/4
Warrant Officer Noonan – Personal Log 612/8
The incident with Admiral Kerr really played on my mind, so I decided to do some digging. I shouldn’t have done it, I know, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. I used his Command clearance to access the ship’s archives. I almost wish I hadn’t now.
We’re not the last bastion of humanity. That was a lie. A deception designed to dupe every man, woman and child aboard the ship.
Our mission should have ended generations ago, but when the ship reached its destination the planet was found to be uninhabitable. Most people wanted to turn back, but Command wanted to continue and find a new colonisable planet. There was an uprising, which was violently brought to an end. Afterwards, they put out reports that we were the last members of the human race in an effort to keep us under control. It was all a lie.
I’m not sure what to do with this information. Would anyone even believe me if I told them?
THE LAST PEOPLE 4/4
Warrant Officer Noonan – Personal Log 625/7
I didn’t mean for things to get out of hand, but the people had a right to know the truth. I only told a few people I thought could be trusted – but it spread like wildfire. Within hours, Command was faced with an angry mob threatening mutiny and they responded with overwhelming force.
Over the last few days the ship has been engulfed in conflict. Two factions have emerged – one that wants to return to the core, and one that wants to continue with the mission.
People are dying and it’s all my fault. Why did I tell them? All I can do now is try to stop the killing, before every last person on this ship is wiped out.
I can't quite reproduce the reasoning behind giving out such misinformation just to push forward. I mean, I understand it, but the implications of it being a lie that has to be kept for generations after, while at the same time restructuring the uppermost command to still function as before seems just a perfect recipe for disaster. It's build up to just this point - one person finds the secret and spreads it. Everyone going into disarray with elements of mass panic. And still - when the news broke out, everyone one the ship was generations away from the next goal. Either a habitable planet or Sol, it wouldn't have much mattered in the moment, but it's only logical that everyone wanted to have a say in which direction it is going to. Finding out that the command couldn't be trusted, leaves a huge hole in the authority chain. A mob of angry people isn't the best for making (in a way) life-altering decisions. I can't help but feel sympathetic for everyone on this ship.