Orbital Ring

Xenoblade Chronicles 2


The Earthlife Colonization Project. Otherwise known as Project Exodus. While the population of humanity had fallen after the crises in the earlier part of the century, numbers were slowly recovering in some places. What should have been a good thing however wasn't, as the systems of the modern world could no longer handle the strains that the old world had. In addition, there was a worry that should the world be wracked with more crises, either manmade or natural, that this time humanity wouldn't survive.

Unless, of course, it finally spread to the stars. A dream that humanity had held for as long as they had stared at the heavens and wondered what worlds awaited. And yet until recently, they had only gone as far as the Moon. Even the terribly wondrous Lunarians, who had spirited themselves away to the Moon in ancient times, had gone no further.

The Icarus was the eighth of its kind. The eighth ark built so far, when in ancient times just a single ark to survive a flood had been a miracle. It was a massive thing, and Maribel couldn't help but think to Moby Dick, for the ship was an alabaster whale shaped object and just as impossibly massive. The Icarus hung docked on one of the space towers that extended past the Orbital Ring. Far enough away that Maribel could blot it out with her hand, which did nothing to diminish its scale.

The three watched the ship from the viewing portal on the upper levels of the Rhadamanthus. It was a room that encircled the station, devoted solely to observing the world outside. It was a dark room, illuminated only by small pathway lights and the shine reflected off the Earth. The light of the Sun washed away all twinkling stars from the sky. It didn't matter. Maribel could see them shining within Renko's eyes.

"It moved into position a couple of days ago after a test run," Galea explained as Renko was stunned into silence. "It's going to launch in about a week."

It was clear that though she tried to hide it, Galea was just as excited as Renko was.

"Launching from the Ring makes it easier to leave the Earth, right?" Maribel asked, thinking back to what she remembered of the many times Renko had talked about Project Exodus.

"Not as much as you'd think," Galea explained. "But the Ring allows us to create the arks in orbit, which is cheaper than having to build them planetside and launching them."

"They are certainly impressive feats of engineering."

Maribel turned. A man in with shoulder length blonde hair and a lab coat walked up to them.

"I can't say I'm entirely fond of the project," the man grumbled. "But I can't deny the brilliance of the engineering."

"Professor Klaus!" Galea said.

"Professor Klaus?" Renko repeated, being brought back "down to earth".

"You must be Doctor Usami," Klaus said, nodding at her and extending a hand. "Your paper on singularities was very interesting. I look forward to working with you."

"Same here!" Renko said, shaking his hand. Klaus' smile was not as warm as Galea's, but it looked genuine enough. Then he turned his gaze to Maribel, expression furrowing into a neutral frown.

"And you are?" he asked.

"Ah, Maribel Hearn. I'm Renko's partner," she hesitated for a moment before asking her next question, "Do you not approve of Project Exodus?"

Klaus' frown deepened, Still, he answered.

"I'm not against it, don't mistake me. The motivation behind the project is understandable. But in such a vast cosmos, the chances of finding a place like Earth is miniscule," Klaus shook his head. "Our ancestors placed Paradise in the faraway heavens, when in fact it was right here all along. And see what we've turned it into."

Maribel frowned at the bitter twist to his words. She wondered what a man of science like Klaus would say if she had told him that she'd once glimpsed the Paradise the ancients had spoken about.

"In any case," Klaus continued before anyone else could speak. "Galea, you're needed. It is acting up again."

"Really?" Galea sighed, turning towards them. "I'm sorry to have to cut this short."

"It's no problem," Renko said. "We should probably get settled in anyway. It was a long journey and all. Maybe I'll be able to help later."

"I'd appreciate all the help I can get," Galea said. "Though you'll probably mostly be working with Professor Klaus."

"Indeed," Klaus smiled. To Maribel it seemed a slightly smug expression. "And, speaking of paradise, allow us to at least show you to Elysium."