PROJECT • ZEROBASE

The Characters' Dilemmas

Hey there again, it looks like you're already immersed in their journey. Since it's my duty to complete their record, I need to explain what's been happening since we last checked in on them. Previously, the group of nine young Keplians selected for the project was about to embark on their mission. Now, let's pick up from where we left off.

But before we dive in, let's get a brief overview of how the ship operates. I'll keep the technical details to a minimum, as nobody really wants to wade through all that, but there are a few key points you should know that are relevant to the plot.

The ship boasts a unique design that allows it to morph its shape as needed. The materials and technology used in its construction are typically employed for exploring black holes, often referred to as atto-tech. It's a masterpiece of engineering, crafted right here in our beloved Solasta-18. While it's an advanced version of atto-tech, the ship's metal is something else altogether. It's virtually indestructible, immune to scratches - you could say it's anti-fragile. This stuff is the strongest material in the universe, capable of repairing itself when damaged. As for the specifics of its atomic structure, well, I'll leave that to the scientists. I'm more of a history-literature and journalism enthusiast myself, not a science whiz.

Now, let's move on. The ship can seamlessly adjust its size in dimensions beyond the third, making it perfect for navigating through time and different realities. This is why nearly five generations of Keplians have toiled away at perfecting this technology. Don't let the time frame fool you; our lifespans stretch quite a bit longer than what you might be used to. (it's more than a thousand years)

Inside the ship, things are relatively standard. You'll find a compact kitchen - though not like your average kitchen, of course. Nothing here is ordinary; we're talking about a future that's far beyond the norm. There are nine rooms, some interconnected, others separate. There's a dedicated bathroom and a separate toilet. The real heart of the ship is the control room. Maintaining it is paramount for a smooth journey. The entire ship is intricately linked to this control center; a single mishap here could spell disaster.

Then there's the flying room. Despite the ship's automation, someone still needs to handle takeoffs, landings, shape changes, settings adjustments, inputting destinations, and regular check-ins. It's equipped with various modes - submarine for underwater excursions, plane for atmospheric travel, spaceship for leisurely interstellar jaunts, and much more. You've got functions like expansion, contraction, invisibility, and other nifty features. So, while the ship does a lot on its own, human management is still essential.

The remaining areas include a central hall connecting everything - the nine rooms, open kitchen, washrooms, control room, storage space, and the report panel.

We'll delve deeper into these aspects as the story unfolds. Now, let's shift our focus back to our main characters. They're currently seated around a round table in the hall, perched on floches. Their attention oscillates between each other and the data displayed on the table. It's been an hour since they departed from their home planet. According to the control panels, they're approaching the wormhole they've generated. This is, after all, the crux of time travel - activating the wormhole when in close proximity to a massive black hole. This particular black hole resides in a distant galaxy, a staggering twenty million light-years away from Cyprus. The galaxy itself is in its twilight, with the central black hole having devoured a significant portion of its matter. Its gravitational force and sheer mass make it an ideal candidate for their wormhole experiments, which, upon entering, will transport them to an entirely different timeline.

At this moment, the team is engaged in a discussion: the first timeline they should explore.

"Okay, so these are the major events that we're aware of in the upcoming years." Hanbin points to the table.