Read Athena Lee Chronicles 0: The Lost Pilot for Free Online Page B

jump. We beat the average by 300 people. This ship was designed to carry 21,000 colonists. Earth Gov had packed on 22,000, knowing that they would be killing at least a thousand of them. Those that died were mostly the very old or the very young. Some people with health conditions also died in the jump. I really hated doing it but we abandoned the bodies to the depths of space. Slowing down or coming out of jump to hold services was not in our plan.
     
    I sat in my ready room staring at the hundreds of cameras scattered around the ship. The Precious Jewel was not the right name for this giant box with engines. From the outside the ship had sleek lines and looked modern and intimidating. On the inside, however, it was a tub. The dormitories were arranged in a spiral pattern with the cafeteria's centrally located within the core of the ship. Engineering and hydroponics occupied the stern of the ship. The bow was where crew quarters and the bridge were located. We had our own tram station located above the main living areas accessible to crew only. The ship used biometrics for access to vital areas. Imagine going to a college without any classes for the rest of your life, and you will understand what a colony ship was like. The lower half of the ship below the living area was packed with supplies for the trip as well as startup for the new colony. Classes and training were in the plan for the colonists but not until the 10th year of travel. Earth experts had predicted that the population would ebb and flow like the tides with the young taking over from the old. We were to teach the new generation not the old. I could see that people were beginning to talk to each other and socialize. It was time to have a conversation with the condemned.
     
    Armed and armored security teams were sent to all of their hidden outposts around the ship in preparation to my speech. On the ship messaging system notices were run announcing that the Captain wished to speak to the colonists. Many began to gather in the public places.
     
    I cleared my throat and switched on the controls for the broadcast system. "If I may have your attention please."
     
    On every screen of the ship my image appeared. The picture showed me and part of the bridge with a star field in the background. "Welcome to the Colony ship Precious Jewel. I am aware that very few of you wish to be here, but here we all are. I hope that we can learn to work together to the betterment of society and our lives. Our current destination is Sector 7, what is know as the Botany Bay sector." My face disappeared on the screen to be replaced with a star chart. A bright light appeared on the edge of the star chart. "This is our current position. As you can see, we have a long way to go." I drew a line up to our target sector. "The other four colony ships are coming with us to the same sector. The plan is to found a total of five colonies. Sector seven is rich in asteroids and mineral wealth. In the holds of our ships are all the material and equipment needed to get our new colony functioning. I am aware that none of you are miners or know very much about founding a colony. Earth Gov has sent all the educational materials that are needed to train everyone on how to do those things. This entire crew has been carefully selected to accomplish this and much more. That is the good news. Now for the bad." The picture switched back to my face. "This ship is not very fast. None of the colony ships are. It is why they are called generational. The remainder of our trip will take around twenty years to complete." I paused, allowing this to set in. "This is not a prison, although it may seem that way. There are civilian jobs available for those that wish to work. We have a ship's library on deck three open to all. There will be some classes and activities posted in a few weeks. If anyone wishes to comment or make a statement there is ship's computer access in the library. Thank you for your