Earth Calendar year 2105.
Looking out at the sea of white beyond the window, Levi sighed deeply.
"Aquitas, the weather is getting colder and colder."
Without turning his head, he murmured, "Conditions like these are severely hampering our starship manufacturing."
A female Proxima Centauri person sat in a broad chair in the room.
Hearing Levi's lament, she slowly rose from her chair and walked to the window.
"Yes, Father."
"Our primary star is deteriorating. The severe weather began affecting our work two years ago."
"Quite a few Proxima Centauri people have even started protesting the grueling work, day after day."
"Damn them..." Levi growled under his breath, his expression dark. "They're building escape ships for themselves!"
"If they don't want to work, they can find a quiet corner and wait to die!"
"Father..." Aquitas looked at Levi in surprise.
Clearly, she had not expected her father to say such a thing.
"If this continues, even fewer people will manage to leave in the end."
As he spoke, Levi closed his three pairs of eyes in anguish.
"Perhaps... I should talk to them..."
His voice was so quiet that even Aquitas, standing beside him, could not make out his words.
"What?" Aquitas paused, casting a puzzled look at her father beside her.
Levi said nothing. He simply gazed silently at the enormous disk-shaped ships outside the window.
Each ship was at a different stage of construction.
The ones furthest along were already 80% complete.
Those lagging behind were little more than empty shells.
"Ah..."
Levi opened his breathing pores and sighed deeply. "Aquitas, you should go back."
At his words, Aquitas parted her lips slightly, wanting to say more.
But the words on the tip of her tongue turned into a soft sigh.
"All right, Father."
With that, she turned and