Chapter : 2
Tittle : The echoes of the lost world
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"Lock onto that signal, Eunwoo," Maya commanded, her voice firm despite the tremor of emotion she felt. The image of the polluted Earth on the main screen was a constant, painful reminder of what they had lost. The thought that someone might still be alive amidst that devastation was both terrifying and a sliver of hope.
Eunwoo's fingers danced across the holographic interface, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It's faint... bouncing off multiple layers of atmospheric interference. Whoever is sending this has very little power."
He zoomed in on a specific region of the ravaged European continent on his display. "I'm triangulating... the source seems to be somewhere in what used to be central Europe. A heavily urbanized area, according to the old maps."
In-Guk stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Can we even get through that atmosphere? The readings you showed..."
"It'll be rough," Eunwoo admitted, his voice tight. "We weren't designed for planetary reentry under these conditions. The Drifter's shields can handle some heat, but the pollutants... they could be corrosive. And landing... well, the surface scans are chaotic. Massive structural collapses, extreme temperature fluctuations..."
Ana, who had been watching the display with wide, worried eyes, spoke softly. "But... we have to try, right? If someone is calling for help..."
Maya looked at each of her crewmates. The hope in Ana's voice, the grim determination in In-Guk's gaze, and the focused intensity of Eunwoo's work mirrored her own conflicted feelings.
The logical part of her screamed to continue their primary mission, to reach the new planet while they still had a chance. But the thought of abandoning potential survivors... it was unbearable.
"Eunwoo, what's our best course to get close enough to establish clearer communication?" Maya asked, her decision hardening.
Eunwoo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'd have to drop into the upper atmosphere, try to punch through the worst of the pollution. It'll be a rough ride. We won't be able to land safely in this state. We'd have to rely on a short-range shuttle if we manage to pinpoint a viable landing zone."
In-Guk nodded slowly. "A shuttle run would be risky. We don't know what's down there. Hostile environments, potential survivors who might be... desperate."
"We go in prepared," Maya stated, her gaze resolute. "Eunwoo, plot a course for atmospheric entry over the signal's origin. In-Guk, prep the short-range shuttle and our environmental gear. Ana, keep monitoring all incoming signals. Let's find out who is calling for help."
The hum of the Stardust Drifter shifted as Eunwoo adjusted their trajectory, the ship turning its nose towards the swirling brown clouds of Earth. The hope of reaching a new world was momentarily eclipsed by the desperate plea from the old, a testament to the enduring pull of their lost home. The journey back to Earth, even a dying one, had begun.