Requiem

Captain Kellon has spent his career pushing the boundaries of astro‑graphical research, but his latest assignment feels more like a traveling circus than a scientific expedition. A star‑ship that once carried pure survey crews now hosts a noisy entourage of telaudio technicians, flamboyant commentators, and celebrity reporters, all eager to broadcast the first live footage of an ice‑locked world awakening. The destination is a dim, tawny planet orbiting a centuries‑old white dwarf, its frozen surface melting after a wandering body disturbed the system.

The captain’s frustration is palpable as he juggles bureaucratic demands with the crew’s growing anxiety about the mission’s true purpose. Among the press, the solemn‑voiced commentator Borrodale and the striking reporter Lorri Lee each demand exclusive access, promising a “sentimental pilgrimage” that clashes with Kellon’s sense of duty. As the ship descends toward the thawing world, the tension between genuine discovery and manufactured spectacle sets the stage for a compelling clash of ideals.