With a final, violent jolt, the ship broke free of the dust cloud and surged into the blackness of the upper atmosphere. Below, the cratered ground became a distant map. Ahead, the tiny, glowing lights of New Hope Base appeared on the horizon—a lone campfire in a desert of stars.
The onboard AI chirped in response. "VID-2 status: Hull integrity 84%. Fuel cells stable. Atmospheric scrubbers at capacity. Note: External temperatures are dropping faster than anticipated." VID-2_mp4
"Keep it together, girl," Elias whispered, gripping the flight stick. With a final, violent jolt, the ship broke