The Chronicles of the Milky Way Galaxy : Gaia

Chapter 8 : A World Left Behind

Hera

With just a few crewmembers awake, Alex woke up and began walking toward the
main deck. An awkward feeling began to envelop his mind. Is this for real? It feels so
surreal that just a bit ago I was in orbit around the Earth. This is probably the first
step toward conquering the galaxy. Why haven't we seen any alien species? I need
to focus on the mission at hand. I should not daydream so much. While approaching
the living areas, he heard voices.

He recognized General Bara's voice. "It's hard not to think how crazy what we
are doing is. We have been going for about thirty years, and it makes me feel ...
weird. We are in the middle of nowhere now. On Earth, so many things have
happened that it's hard to keep track.

Alex interrupted him. "We are in the middle of everything, actually. How is
everyone doing? Also, that's a strange noise behind the music. Like an engine of
some sort."

Konoya replied, "The background noise is constantly playing. Even when the
music is on. Otherwise, the silence can be deafening."

"Let me see." Alex turned off the music and noise and waited with his finger
upward, indicating for everyone to be silent. "It's true! The silence is incredible. I
mean I knew about it, but it's different to experience it firsthand. If we don't speak, it
feels like something is wrong. I was expecting the ship to be making some kind of
noise with all those systems in operation, but there is nothing. It's actually quite
incredible how quiet it can get."

With a clear issue to discuss, Konoya changed the subject. "What I find
strange is that no one is scared. Everyone is so used to technology working that they
don't even consider the chance of something failing."

"That, or Apostasis has affected everyone a little bit," replied Alex with a
smirk.

"Or that," said Konoya with her eyebrows high.

Bara interrupted their conversation with his own worry. "Things back at home
don't look too good. There are a lot of problems, and Apostasis seems to be getting

the better of society. There is also a lot of talk about Project Gaia. The resources
spent for the making of Hera have taken their toll onto the rest of the population."

Konoya, wanting to ease the conversation, tried to once again change the
subject. "Well, yes, there have always been problems. This time is no different, just
the reasons differ from time to time, but also, Alex, you are probably one of the oldest
humans in existence."

"How so?" asked Alex.

"Apostasis seems to have claimed the lives of almost everyone who was born
before the COD. And you were born shortly after, which means you are one of the
oldest humans. Congratulations."

"I am not sure If this is something I should feel happy about," said Alex.

"Well, you should not. It might be an indication that the COD only extended
our lives but also cut short our birth rate. It might end up being the doom of the
people back on Earth," replied Konoya.

Alex stood up and looked around. "I don't think now is the proper time for
philosophical discussions, Konoya. We have other things to care for. I will be
checking my logs, and then I will head back to my hibernation chamber. Try to think
happy thoughts."

2515

Earth

Old practices began to resurface. Worship of deities started to be common. The
superintendents were losing power.

2798

Earth

Resources were becoming an issue. Most cities halted research in favor of
conservation.

2837

Earth

The first war since the Osiris impact broke out. The city of Budapest was destroyed.
News between cities was becoming increasingly filtered.

2897

Hera

As Juuda went for his scheduled system checks, he noticed errors. This has to be a
mistake, he thought. Immediately, he ran to wake Alex.

About an hour later, Alex was ready to hear the news. "What has happened,
Juuda?"

"There seems to be an issue with our acceleration systems. I have been
checking for the past hour, and nothing seems to be malfunctioning from our side."

Alex was clearly skeptical. "Calm down and explain the problem to me first."

"Okay." Juuda calmed himself and continued, "We are receiving reduced
boost from the satellites. Some have failed, and the others seem to be failing one by
one. We will soon be cruising without any added acceleration."

"Why am I hearing this just now?" said Alex with an aggressive frown.

"When the first satellite went offline, we thought that it was a malfunction that
they would fix back on Earth. We have not received any reply yet as to why this
happened," replied Juuda.

"When did it start?"

"About a month ago."

"Wake Steve and Gakuto up," ordered Alex with clear discomfort.