A WORD BEFORE WE BEGIN

PRELUDE

By 2008;

  • Soil fertility has been declining for decades due to climate instability, erosion, salinization, blights, and the collapse of pollinator populations.
  • Livestock becomes prohibitively expensive because feed crops fail.
  • Water shortages become commonplace.
  • Global cooperation falters with survival being prioritised.
  • The internet fragments into isolated regional networks, if any.

    • In humanity's final concerted effort to understand the crisis, the Earth Observation Probe Blue Oyster was launched, the last satellite ever placed into orbit. Designed to monitor the planet's long-term environmental health, Blue Oyster carried the most sophisticated Earth-observation instruments ever assembled, alongside an experimental semi-sentient artificial persona intended to interpret data, adapt to changing conditions, and communicate its findings in human terms.

    Its mission was simple: create the most complete and continuously updated model of Earth ever recorded.

    The countdown had become ceremonial. Nobody truly believed Blue Oyster would save the world. That responsibility had vanished years before the rocket ever reached its launch pad. Yet millions watched anyway.

    Some hoped. Others simply wanted to witness history. The final satellite humanity would ever send into orbit.

    At T-minus thirty seconds, Mission Control fell silent. No applause. No speeches. Only the steady rhythm of computers confirming that every system remained green.

    Ten. Nine. Eight.

    The engines ignited.

    For seven seconds, Blue Oyster stood perfectly still, restrained against hundreds of tonnes of thrust. Then the clamps released.

    Humanity watched its final machine disappear into the sky. None of them knew it would never speak again.

    For thirteen years.

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