The shuttle docked with Starbound Academy with a gentle thud. Through the viewport, Maya could see Europa’s icy surface far below, and beyond it, Jupiter’s massive bulk dominating the sky.
“Cadet Chen, report to orientation,” the AI announced.
Maya grabbed her bag and floated through the zero-g corridor. Around her, other cadets moved with practiced ease—children of military families, born and raised in space. She was different. A scholarship kid from Earth, selected for reasons she still didn’t understand.
The orientation hall was massive, filled with hundreds of cadets. At the front, Admiral Reeves stood at attention.
“Welcome to Starbound Academy,” she began. “You are humanity’s future. And that future begins today.”
A hologram flickered to life behind her—a star map with a single point highlighted.
“Three hours ago, we received a signal from Alpha Centauri. We are not alone.”
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