"Booster separation."
In Earth orbit, at Reed's command, the three rocket boosters beneath the Strive for Excellence detached from the main body. The Strive for Excellence then continued ascending.
Through the porthole, the city lights that had filled their entire view rapidly shrank, until New York was reduced to a blurry patch of light.
"Altitude: one hundred seventy kilometers."
"Main thruster power decreasing."
"Orbital velocity stable."
Susan watched the console, confirming the ship's status item by item.
"Entering low Earth orbit."
Ben, seated at the controls, pushed the control stick forward.
Several hundred kilometers ahead of them, a faint silver point of light floated silently in Earth's orbit.
As the distance steadily closed, the object gradually revealed its true outline.
It was a ring-shaped mechanical structure over a hundred meters long.
"A Superluminal Engine?"
Miles glanced out the porthole.
"A Standalone Spatial Jump Module."
Reed answered, "The Strive for Excellence doesn't need to permanently carry such massive equipment, so I left it in orbit."
"And we dock with it when we need it?"
"That's right."
A few minutes later, the distance between them had shrunk to less than a hundred meters.
"Begin docking."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Susan pressed the confirmation button.
"Clank—!"
A heavy tremor ran through the hull.
Locking mechanisms closed one after another.
[Jump module connection complete] [Spatial coordinate calibration complete]
Reed raised his head.
"Input target coordinates."
"Activate the Superluminal Engine."
Bzzzz—
Behind the ship, the massive ring-shaped device slowly powered up.
Pale blue light spread along every mechanical structure, eventually converging into a single point before the Strive for Excellence.
The next instant—space caved in.
Distorted space formed a wormhole, swallowing the enormous ship in one violent gulp.
Then everything returned to calm.
"Miles..."
"Miles..."
On a barren metal plain, Miles stared blankly