16.05.2106
Today, we touched down on a new celestial body; the first
one in a while. Upon examination, we found it met the
criteria to be called a planet, this excited us. We searched
long and hard, using every piece of equipment at our
disposal, but failed to find any form of life on its surface,
much less intelligent life.
Disappointed, we filed back into the shuttle and were soon
on our way again. Back in the command module, I took the
liberty of naming the newly found planet Iris, that made
today extra satisfying for me. I mean, not many men can say
they had a planet named after their wife. Despite finding no
signs of intelligent life on Iris, the discovery of it has made us
hopeful as we continue our mission.
***

Star Atlas is a pretty decent place. Of course I’m probably just saying that
because I’ve never lived anywhere else but, it is lovely, and I live right at the
heart of it, in a large community known for innovation. The Abirans
(indigenous alien species) are simply delightful, at least most of them are. I’m
well known in these parts. I should be, being the only human left and all.
My mom and dad were part of a team of cosmonauts sent from Earth forty
years ago to investigate the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. Long
story short, the entire expedition went south, leaving them stranded on Star
Atlas, where I was born a few years later.
My childhood was filled with stories about Earth, and even though I’ve never
been there, I connect with it in ways I can’t explain. In fact, it is my dream to
one day visit Earth and experience first-hand, the things I’ve heard so much
about. Until then, I am content with exploring the boundless treasure chest
that is deep space.
I learned everything I know from my dad. He kept a detailed journal of his
adventures, on Earth and in space, it has been an invaluable source of
information to me. I was reading through it for the umpteenth time when I
came across a page containing details about the galactic coordinate system.
Using it, he had calculated and mapped out routes to several locations in the
galaxy, including Iris: a rogue planet his team had discovered.
This was huge for me. In all my years of exploring, I had never wandered
beyond The Halo – a ring of ice surrounding Star Atlas. Now, I had a reliable
map to places I would never have visited otherwise. Iris was at the top of my
list as my parents always spoke fondly of it, or her as they preferred.
I began making preparations at once. The most important thing was getting
my space pod repaired, and seeing that I was low on money, I decided to take
it to a good friend of mine.
***

“Six thousand novas.” Thraz’ek said, slamming the hood of my space pod after
a brief inspection. “For real?” I was honestly shocked. “Six thousand?” “Mmhmm, and much of it will go into getting spare parts for the engine, then
there’s the bodywork…it’s in pretty bad shape, you know.” Of course it is, it
was hit by a meteoroid. “I see”. This was followed by a few minutes of silence,
during which I thought about how best to tell Thraz’ek I only had a small
fraction of the money he was demanding.
“The thing is”, I finally said, “I need it for an important trip, but I really can’t
afford six thousand novas right now. I have less than a thousand at the
moment, and I still have to buy some other supplies. Could I please maybe…
pay for it when I get back?” Silence again. I just stood there, expecting the
worst, until he chuckled. “Okay.”
A week later, I went back to have a look at my space pod. I met Thraz’ek
polishing it and I couldn’t believe my eyes – it looked amazing. “Good as new,
eh?” He beamed when he saw how excited I was, “better, actually. Thanks a lot
man, I owe you.” Literally.
On my way out of Thraz’ek’s workshop, I saw something that caught my fancy.
Parked in his lot was the most sophisticated looking vehicle I had ever seen. I
went to take a closer look. It had a sleek white exterior and was pretty
spacious too, the words Av’o Shuttle were etched on its side. When Thraz’ek
saw me admiring it, he came over with a tablet containing its specifications so
I could check them out. When I was done, something suddenly occurred to me:
this shuttle was capable of taking me to Earth!
***

That night, I was up for hours imagining what it would be like to finally visit
Earth, to meet more humans, to get to see a tree. Dad once told me that trees
produce something called oxygen which humans breathe. The prospect of not
having to wear my kevlar respirator anymore seemed too good to be true, and
though I wasn’t sure whether or not Earth was all I had made it out to be, one
thing was certain: I had to get that shuttle.
***

12.08.2106
Ever since we crashed-landed on this dwarf planet about
a month ago, things have been different, to say the least.
We’re all still adjusting to our new reality here, and the
initial excitement at finally finding intelligent lifeforms
outside Earth has since been replaced by a medley of
emotions. Sadness is one of them for obvious reasons. Fear
is another, although the locals have been kind and
hospitable so far, the future remains uncertain. Each day,
my mind is flooded with more questions than I have
answers to, and I can tell by looking into Iris’s eyes that
she shares my fears. I have nevertheless learned to take
each day as it comes, seizing every opportunity I have to
learn something new. As a matter of fact, I like to consider
this the pinnacle of my career, having become one of the
first human settlers on Star Atlas.
***

Locating Iris was more difficult than I expected. I found this strange, having
preset my space pod using the coordinates I found in my dad’s journal, but
after traveling for what I can only describe as a really long time, I got to see
why.
It took me a while to comprehend what I was looking at. I mean, I had heard of
planetary collisions before, but what happened here was cataclysmic. Iris was
gone, and in her place lay a vast debris field littered with, among other things,
glowing purple crystals which held a viscous black substance. It was as bizarre
as it was beautiful. I took one of the smaller crystals in my hand and, upon
further analysis, I found that it contained unprecedented levels of luminoxx -
our primary energy source which was fast depleting.
A discovery like this was next-level. The entire debris field in fact held great
potential but, enamoured with it as I was, I knew I couldn’t fully utilize it on
my own. Selling the information to someone with the necessary resources
who could put it to good use was the next best thing. Plus, it would mean I was
a few steps closer to getting the Av’o shuttle, which had a seven-figure price
tag. And so, I proceeded to create a data block containing my finding about the
debris field, as well as the possibility of harnessing its valuable resources.
***

I alighted from my space pod with a singular objective - finding a buyer for
my data block. Quite frankly, I knew only a handful of people who could
afford it, but I was hopeful. My search for a buyer took me to Meda, a popular
tavern where the elite go to rub elbows. There, I was able to meet the Toks,
one of three notorious factions. They were very interested in my proposal
and saw the data block as a key to becoming the most powerful faction in all
of Star Atlas. That wasn’t quite what I had in mind when I created it, but hey,
who was I to judge? We agreed on four hundred thousand novas and so, I
handed it over.
***

“Six thousand novas,” I said. Thraz’ek received the pouch smiling, “thank you,
my friend.” I was glad to be able to pay off my debt, but the feeling was shortlived. Thraz’ek informed me that more people had been coming to check out
the Av’o shuttle, and I would have to make at least a 60% deposit to secure it.
That was still over half a million, I became desperate. I had to get that shuttle.
***

“Why should I feel bad? It’s just a data block, one that I created, using
information that I gathered, from a debris field that I discovered. It’s mine, I
can do with it as I please.” This was me deliberately going against my better
judgment, on the way to make what I now realize was the biggest mistake of
my life.
I had arranged separate meetings with the commanders of the other two
factions, and was on my way to deliver identical data blocks to them for five
hundred thousand novas each. I thought I could get the Av’o, and be out of
Star Atlas before any of the factions realized what was happening. I was
wrong.
All three factions had arrived the debris field at the same time, to claim what
they each believed to be theirs. Chaos ensued.
***

The Convergence War (as it is now being called) is unlike anything I have
ever witnessed. Indeed, words are inadequate to effectively convey the
horror of it. I believe the tears that stream down my face are a better
medium. Far too many lives have been lost already, including Thraz’ek’s. He
was attacked in his workshop. Homes are being burned to the ground on a
daily basis, and it’s not just Star Atlas, everything everywhere is being
destroyed.
I sit in my bunker and wait. I hear the lethal blasts and the hopeless cries of
innocent Abirans, whose only crime was keeping me in their midst. It’s just a
matter of time before they come for me, too. I hope to at least finish my first
journal entry by then, it’s one of those things I’ve always wanted to do.

09.11.2146
“My name is Lev, and I write this as one would an
unofficial autobiography, in hope that, whether I
make it out alive or not, a piece of myself would be left
behind for those that come after me. I’m not like most
people, the circumstances surrounding my life have
always been particular to me. Many times, I want to
complain about constantly getting the short end of
the stick…”
I look up and smile weakly at the possibility of someone one day finding this
small leathered-bound journal floating around in space. Space…where no one
can hear you scream.