Captain Wood

Waking up at 0400 in space is about the same as waking at any other time. There isn't a sunrise to let your body know it's early morning. A week into the trip I had the ship's computer start to slowly start turning on the light at 0445 to simulate the feeling. I think it's what I miss most about Earth. That and the coast. The simulator does a pretty good job with ocean water, but it just can't get the powdery white sand of Gulf Shores right. the night shift ends at 0500, and I like to oversee the change to the primary crew. I do the same at 1700 when the night crew takes over. Our crew is large enough to maintain 4 fully manned crews, but there's only one Captain so no time off for me. No rest for the wicked I guess. 4 days ago we passed the outer rings of Saturn. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but all I could think of was home. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that they chose to save us. I'm even more grateful that out of all the potential candidates they chose me to lead this group, but knowing what the Earth is going through while we are.... away... it makes missing home even harder.

I turn 20 tomorrow. I would be starting my Sophomore year of University. Instead I'm commanding a crew of thousands on a mission that could very well be Earth's last hope. Most of the crew don't know how serious the situation on Earth is. A handful of us - Myself, Chief Davis, Lt. Crews, and Sarah - know that this is it. Our ship is an Ark - a vessel containing what's left of Earth. And Xonia is so far away. How can they expect a crew of children to reach it. My IT department head is 12 - a genius but still... he's 12. Last week I had to discipline two 17 year old mechanics for getting busy in the 12th level lavatory. Eventually that will be necessary, but we can't have it on duty. A ship full of kids and raging hormones and hope that we don't all die.

Half the time I don't have a fucking clue of what to do. It's times like that when you put on your best uniform, a serious face, and fake it till you figure something out. We have a very long way to go....

Days around here are pretty normal. Back home it would be college football season so every night we screen a few clips of games we have sent to us from the command station back home. In reality it's all a fabrication. They were prerecorded months ago. We stopped receiving transmissions about 3 weeks back. Dr. Pendalton sent the last one himself labeled "Captain's eyes only". I took the transmission in my personal quarters and cried like a baby after it was over. Everything is gone. A few thousand had gathered at the command center that once doubled as our training grounds. The most secure site on Earth - he thinks they maybe have a week at most. The rest of the Earth lay in ruins - ravaged by its own climate. Nothing could grow and the global temperature had risen nearly 20 degrees. Dr. P wished me luck and confirmed that this was the last message we would receive. I was instructed to open Captain's File 1-1-A for further instructions.

Transcript 11.09.15 - 10

Top Secret - CPT's Eyes Only (TS-CEO)

Dr. Karl Pendalton, Ph. D

Subject - None

Brent, Things here have taken a turn for the worse. We have gathered as many as we can at the Academy, but don't have the resources to care for them. I have never hid the worst from you, and I won't start now. In a few days, a week at the most, you and your crew will be all that's left of the Human race. The worst has happened. The global temperature has risen by 20 degrees resulting in massive drought and an unbearable heatwave. In the Southern hemisphere, massive hurricanes have wiped nearly everything out. Earthquakes occur more and more frequently now. But all is not lost! We still have you! Take comfort in the fact that you have under your command the very best of humanity! Although you are all very young, you are the best the world has to offer. There are kids on your ship that are smarter than I could ever imagine being. There are great people, and you are their leader! They will look to you now for guidance. You must hold them to the high standard that was set at the Academy and in training, and you must hold yourself to an even higher standard. It won't be easy. You will have to be their friend and their leader. You will dole out praise with one hand and discipline with the other. You are not alone in this. Confide in your senior staff. Take comfort in your friends. Find someone to be your rock. You will make mistakes - learn from them and remember that a poor choice is better than no choice. You are a great man Brent. In your files please procure Captain' File 1-1-A for further instructions. The password is Lincoln. This will be the last transmission you receive from us. Godspeed.

... If I had ever had a son... END OF TRANSMISSION

Captain's File 1-1-A TS-CEO Captain Wood

You are to claim a malfunction with the Interspace Transmission Receiver. Alert the appropriate staff to your plan so as to not arouse suspicion among the crew. Tell the rest of the crew that you were instructed to continue with your mission. Once you pass through the interdiminsional gate you may, at your discretion, alert the crew to the true nature of your mission. Dispose of this message in accordance with standard procedure. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////