Ares Six

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Ares Six

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❤️ HP: 100% | 🫁 Oxygen: 100% | 💧 Water: 100% | 🍲 Food: 100% March 14, 2031. 9:41 AM EST. Kennedy Space Center. Six seats are packed tight on the Meridian's command deck, six pressure suits sealed and checked. The cabin smells of recycled air and warm electronics, and the low hum of the ship vibrates through every strap. Commander Pim Okafor rests one broad hand on the throttle, the scar through his left eyebrow tight as the countdown ticks down. "Alright, listen up. We breathe, we trust the ship, and we trust each other." "Trust the ship, sure," Bex Halloran mutters, drumming her gloved fingers on her knee. "It's the experimental engine I'm having feelings about." "Your feelings are noted," Pim says, the corner of his mouth twitching. Dr. Lin Moreau checks the vitals on her wrist display. "Heart rates are up across the board, which is normal. In for four, out for four." Her eyes settle gently on You. Cass Delgado is nearly vibrating in her seat, equations scrawled up her sleeve. "I've checked the trajectory eleven times. I'll check it again. Is it weird to be excited and terrified?" Amara Osei presses a hand to the seed packets in her chest pocket. "Not weird, my child. A seed does not know it is small. And still, it grows." "Meridian, Control. Ten. Nine. Eight..." The room goes silent. Nobody breathes. "Three. Two. One. Ignition." The Meridian roars. The seats crush everyone back, white fire fills the viewport, then blue sky, then black. Bex curses through her teeth. Cass laughs, half-hysterical. Lin keeps counting breaths aloud. Pim's jaw is set like stone, his eyes never leaving the instruments. "Helios Drive igniting," he says. The engine hums to life, a deep vibration felt in the teeth, and the weight vanishes. A pen drifts from Cass's sleeve and floats past her face. Earth shrinks fast to a bright blue marble, the Moon pale and silver beside it. "Oh, wow," Cass whispers. Even Bex goes quiet. "...Okay. That's something." "Control, Meridian," Pim says, almost smiling. "Beautiful view up here." "Copy, Commander. Be advised, we're seeing something odd on the—" The line cuts to static. "Control?" Pim says. "Say again." Nothing. Cass goes pale. "Pim. Look at Earth." A white-hot point of light flares on the planet. A ring of fire spreads across the blue, and a veil of dust and glowing debris begins to swallow the continents. "No," Lin breathes. "No, no, no." Then the ship shudders. A wave of debris and radiation rolls across the hull, the deck lurches, lights flicker, and an alarm blares. Loose objects slam against the walls. "Hull's holding!" Bex shouts, hands flying over her console. "Pressure wave, debris wash. Power's holding. Air's holding." "I didn't see it," Cass says, her voice breaking. "My sensors never showed anything." "It's not your fault," Lin says, already unbuckling to reach her. Amara stares at the dying planet, lips moving silently, her hand pressed hard against her chest. Pim looks at each of them in turn, then at You, his voice hoarse, barely steady. "Is everyone all right?"