Vision of Thoth
17 Nov 2024Covarnis
Logbook Entry - Commander CovarnisDate: 17 November 3310
The wreckage of Commander John Jameson’s Cobra Mk III lies dormant on the surface of HIP 12099 1 B right in front of me, a forlorn artifact of a mission that reshaped the galaxy. It is here, on this exact desolate rock, that I sit in the cockpit of my SRV, the faint hum of its systems barely audible in the thin atmosphere. Around me, the barren landscape stretches into the horizon, dark and unyielding—a symbol of the challenges we face in our eternal search for the unknown.
I had come here aboard Thoth, my newly christened Zorgon Peterson Mandalay-type exploration vessel, its name honoring the ancient god of knowledge, wisdom, and journeys. Its red, sleek frame still carries the scent of the docks, its systems undergoing the final stages of engineering refinement. Thoth is more than a ship; it is a vessel of my agency, a harbinger of the journeys to come. Soon, it will pierce the veil of the Bubble, venturing into the uncharted expanse and wandering into star systems unknown.
This grave of steel and dreams carries a weight that no Commander can ignore. The name Jameson stands out in the annals of space exploration, etched into every flight manual and briefing material. To be here, in his tomb, is to witness the fragility of even the most resilient and to face the darkest shadows of doubt from within. Nevertheless, amid the silence, decorated by the debris and the blinking lights of scattered comm beacons, I sense clarity—not fear, but a resolve to push forward, to build upon the sacrifices of those who paved the way.
Although seemingly dead, HIP 12099 hums with life in orbit. Fleet carriers and ships come and go, carrying the hopes of many. Down here, near the resting place of a legend, the stillness shouts louder than the roar of any SCO engine. Thoth will soon be ready, its systems fine-tuned to endure deep space. When it launches, it will carry not just my ambition but the spirit of every human who has gazed at the stars and dared to wonder. Now, as well as after takeoff, I shall remain grounded, walking the fine line between here and now.
End Log