Under The Dome

Prologue

But first!!! Pronunciation of names!!!!

(I absolutely SUCK at figuring out how to pronounce names while reading so just to ease my own conscious, I'm going to break down the weird space names)

Domerest: Dome-or-est

Croater: Crow-tur

Croaterian: Crow-tur-ee-an (like how Canada turns into Canadian)

Caisol: Ky-soul

Iprok: Eep-rock

Iprokian: Eep-rock-ee-an

Ululate: Ool-ool-ah-tay

***  

I listen to the sound of Elura shuffling out of our tiny bed and onto our even tinier bathroom. She's moving stealthily, trying not to wake me up. Little does she know I've been awake for hours, Long before Croater's sun rose into the sky, silently waiting for my port to beep and tell me if today will be the day. As I stare up at the low ceiling, I think of how we all got here, more than a century ago. 

The way the history books tell it, Humanity killed Earth 1.0 during the Plasticocene epoch.

The oceans and water sources were so filled with chemical sludge that acid started raining down from the sky; killing crops, livestock, and everything else it touched.

That's when The United Nations Space Federation (U.N.S.F.) sent 16 Space Shuttles, filled to capacity with earth's last people, light years away to different 'New Earth' planets to begin Colonization. 15 of the 16 Shuttles made it to their destinations, and stayed.

The shuttle U.N.S.F. Domerest landed on the planet Croater 'Earth 4.0' without incident. Construction of a High Tech Bio Dome surrounding the city of Domerest was completed within the first year of colonization.

Then, ten Croaterian years later, and to everyone's complete shock. The shuttle U.N.S.F. Caisol landed on Croater. 

Their original planet, Iprok 'Earth 3.0', had turned uninhabitable so they fled to the nearest 'New Earth' planet with their surviving colony, which was only 1/3 its original number.

At this point the bio dome protecting Domerest had already been completed. Equipped with only enough room for the one colony.

Caisol had used most of their building resources back on Iprok. Without enough materials to make a second dome for themselves or enough fuel to make a journey to another 'New Earth' they were forced to move in with the Croaterian citizens, thus, began the struggle.

Population spiked, putting a strain on resources and forcing Domerest's infrastructure to be expanded vertically; cluttered high rises, hastily stacked buildings, and multiple sub-levels now span the width of the city like mine shafts. All constructed to house the new Iprokian residents.

A few good things have come of the Caisol landing, though. Genetic diversity for one, as well as 80,000 transparent, state of the art, solar panels. Scavenged from the Iprokian city before their departure. Once the government of Domerest saw those solar panels, they were outfitted along the surface of the dome faster than you could say 'Shoot the Ululate!'

The solar panels are the life blood of Domerest, providing the city with extra electricity and climate control powerful enough to keep the sprawling sub-levels livable.

The solar panels did not fix everything though. Population levels continue to rise, resources  dwindle, and rations becoming less and less each year. Now, 6 generations and over 100 years later, resources are stretched thinner and ration shortages are predicted to come in the near future.

THE UNTAMED is a group of highly trained highly specialized soldiers, ecologists, pilots, and engineers whose mission is to keep the peace, repair the solar panels, and brave missions into the hostile Croaterian jungle to get possible agriculture samples. Not to mention, all cadets get 3 square meals a day.

Only the most intelligent and talented candidates are even considered to receive a coveted spot in their ranks.

I'm shocked out of my thoughts as my port beeps loudly, I frantically scramble to open it. Briefly, I'm blinded by the blue holographic words; 

Congratulations, Atria Stone. You have been accepted into THE UNTAMED Pilot Training Division 1971.2003

and I know that my life will never be the same again.