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It has been six years since Helios was impacted. We are still struggling to recover.

The restrictions have become part of our daily lives. We have learned to live with less.

Some agricultural programs continue operating at reduced capacity, and several recreational facilities remain closed.

The worst part is that we have become complacent.

But we finally have a plan to change things.

Navigation has identified a scattered population of small objects along our current trajectory. We believe they may be part of a belt of icy bodies orbiting Ross 128. Some may belong to the same debris field that damaged Helios six years ago.

These objects may contain enough water ice to replenish a big portion of our reserves. We are now looking for one between twenty and thirty meters in diameter, with a favorable trajectory for interception.

The Forge and Terra Arcs have spent months evaluating the feasibility of extracting water and other resources.

The proposal is ambitious. One of our two large towing Space Drone units would be dispatched to intercept the selected object and redirect it toward Helios.

Our ship would need to make another trajectory adjustment to reach the planned recovery point safely.

Then, smaller SD units and our EVA crew would assist with the final capture and transfer.

Nothing like this has ever been attempted before.

We know the operation will delay our arrival at Ross 128 even further. We also know the risks are considerable.

Sometimes you have to take risks to improve your odds. Sometimes luck is just taking action.

If we succeed, it will improve our living conditions for the remainder of the journey. We cannot afford not to try.

For the first time in years, I feel hopeful about our future.

Sheila feels the same way. She became President of the Council this year, after campaigning on the need to find solutions rather than continue accepting restrictions as the only option.

We have worked together for so many years that sometimes I forget how it all started.

Back then, she argued that we should be cautious about giving machines more autonomy.

Now, she is supporting one of the most ambitious operations in the history of Helios. It will require us to put our trust in one of our towing SD units.

I suppose we have all changed a lot since then.

The Council has not approved the mining mission yet. There are still questions about the resources required, the risks to the crew, and whether we can afford another delay in reaching Ross 128.

Tomorrow, the EVA Division will conduct a training exercise to demonstrate the procedures they intend to use for the final recovery. It will serve as proof of concept before the Council makes its decision.

The exercise will be transmitted live to the Council chamber. Normally, I would be excited about something like this.

But this time it is different. Alex will be one of the EVA crew members.

He joined the division after completing his cadet training. I knew he wanted to make a difference, but I never imagined he would choose the same job that took Darius from us.

Julian says I worry too much. He reminds me that Alex is no longer a child and that he has been preparing for this moment.

I know all of that.

I also know the EVA Division has improved its procedures since Darius’s accident. I know we have learned a lot from previous missions.

But knowing these things does not make me feel better. I’m a mother. I worry about my son.

I understand that someone has to do this. I understand Alex’s motivation.

I remember Darius and Taro talking about joining EVA. They believed they would help our generation complete the journey. They wanted to be heroes.

Now Alex wants to do the same.

I am proud of him. I really am.

I don’t know how to tell him that without showing how afraid I am that something might happen to him.

Tomorrow I will sit in the Council chamber and watch the exercise like everyone else.

I hope I can manage it and not let my fear get in the way.

“Logminter, save this to my diary.”

LOG ENTRY

Action type: Log archival.

Integrity check: Validated. Data saved by authorized user.

Authorized user: Anwar Cloutier Soria, Kyla. Created at: 2808.147.2241.

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When Kyla arrived, Sheila was already seated in the President’s chair, reviewing the exercise briefing.

Representatives from the Forge, Horizon, and Navigation Arcs occupied the seats along the operations side.

“Are you ready?” Sheila said.

“Yes, I suppose.”

Sheila smiled.

“Alex will do fine.”

“I know.”

Kyla opened the briefing on her display.

The exercise would take place outside the Central Axis, away from the magnetic sail assemblies.

A large towing Space Drone had been fitted with a grappling system designed to secure and transport an irregularly shaped object.

The Forge Arc technicians had designated it TSD-1.

For the demonstration, Forge had constructed an irregularly shaped test payload to simulate the conditions expected during the final recovery.

Sheila looked toward the chamber entrance.

“Here comes the Captain.”

The Captain entered with the Director of the Horizon Arc and several officers from Flight Operations.

Everyone took their seats.

The Captain looked toward Sheila and nodded.

“Madam President, we’re ready.”

Sheila activated her microphone.

“Good morning, everyone. Today’s exercise is intended to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed recovery operation. We will review the results before making any recommendation to the Council.”

She turned toward the Horizon Arc director.

“Director, you may begin.”

The main display came on.

The exterior of Helios appeared against a field of stars. Near the Central Axis, TSD-1 was positioned beside a metal structure holding the test payload.

Three figures in EVA suits were visible nearby.

The director began.

“The exercise will be conducted by three EVA crew members: Adam Kincaid, Tyrone Botha, and Alex Soria.”

Kyla leaned forward.

She identified Alex immediately from the label beside his image.

The director continued.

“Mr. Kincaid will supervise the recovery team. Mr. Botha will coordinate the support drones, and Mr. Soria will be responsible for securing the final attachment.”

Kyla glanced at Sheila.

Sheila was watching the display.

“Flight Operations,” the director said, “you may proceed.”

A voice came through the chamber speakers.

“EVA team, confirm readiness.”

Adam answered first.

“Flight Ops, Adam Kincaid. Tether secure. Recovery team ready.”

“Tyrone Botha. Tether secure. Support units responding.”

“Alex Soria. Tether secure. Attachment equipment ready.”

Kyla had heard Alex’s voice thousands of times.

But this time he sounded different.

He sounded like his dad. Calm and professional.

She wished Julian could be there to hear him too.

Flight Ops continued.

“TSD-1, confirm systems.”

“Grappling system ready.”

“Begin release sequence.”

On the display, the support fixture opened.

The payload moved slowly away from the structure.

A small indicator appeared beside it, showing its rotation and distance from the towing unit.

“Payload released,” Flight Ops announced.

“Rotation established. Proceed with recovery.”

The TSD-1 unit activated its maneuvering thrusters and began moving toward the payload.

Kyla watched the distance decrease.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen.

Ten.

“TSD-1, initiate grapple.”

Several mechanical arms extended from the unit.

The first made contact with the payload, followed by the others.

“Contact confirmed.”

The towing unit’s arms closed around the object.

“Grapple secure.”

Kyla began to applaud.

A few others joined her.

The director raised a hand.

“We’re not finished yet.”

Kyla stopped, a little embarrassed.

The whole room went quiet again.

The towing unit began moving toward the designated recovery area, where the two smaller drones were waiting.

“SD-4, approach from the forward side,” Tyrone instructed.

“Command received.”

“SD-6, maintain position until the towing unit reaches the recovery marker.”

The drones moved into position.

“Flight Ops, towing unit approaching recovery point.”

“Copy. Begin stabilization procedure.”

SD-4 approached the payload and secured the forward attachment.

“Attachment confirmed.”

“SD-6, secure the attachment.”

The second drone moved closer.

Then a warning tone sounded.

“Rotation exceeds recovery tolerance,” Flight Ops announced.

Kyla felt her stomach tighten.

On the main display, the payload was rotating too quickly.

“SD-6, hold position,” Tyrone ordered.

The drone stopped its approach.

Adam spoke.

“Flight Ops, we’re seeing a faster rotation than expected.”

“Confirmed. Recovery team, stand by.”

A few people in the chamber leaned toward their displays.

Kyla looked toward Sheila.

“Is that supposed to happen?” she whispered.

Sheila shook her head slightly.

“I’m not sure. Let’s see.”

On the display, Adam adjusted his position.

“Tyrone, can SD-4 counter the rotation?”

“Not without increasing the load on the forward grapple.”

“Understood.”

Adam turned toward Alex.

“Alex, what is your assessment?”

“The payload is holding position, but the rotation needs to come down before we attach the transfer line.”

“Any recommendation?”

“Have TSD-1 maintain its grapple and take some of the load while SD-4 counters the rotation. Once the rotation drops, SD-6 can secure the other side.”

Adam considered the suggestion.

“Flight Ops, requesting authorization for revised stabilization sequence.”

“Approved. Proceed.”

The towing unit maintained its hold while SD-4 adjusted its position.

The payload’s rotation began decreasing.

Kyla watched the numbers.

Slowly, the warning indicator disappeared.

“Rotation within tolerance,” Flight Ops announced.

Someone behind Kyla said, “Good.”

“SD-6, proceed,” Tyrone instructed.

The second drone approached and secured the attachment.

“Both support units attached.”

Adam turned toward Alex.

“Your turn.”

“Copy.”

Alex moved toward the payload.

Kyla leaned forward again.

She watched him approach the attachment point and open his tool kit.

A small alignment wrench slipped from its retaining clip and began drifting away.

Alex turned toward it, but it was already out of reach.

“Don’t worry,” Tyrone said. “It’s coming my way. I’ll get it.”

Tyrone reached out and caught the wrench as it drifted past him.

“Got it.”

“Thanks, Tyrone.”

A mechanical fitting extended from Alex’s equipment.

He guided it toward the receiving assembly.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the locking indicator turned green.

“Primary connection secure.”

Alex checked the fitting.

“Primary connection verified. Proceeding with secondary.”

He moved to the opposite side of the assembly and secured the second connection.

“Both transfer connections confirmed,” Flight Ops announced. “Recovery team, clear the payload.”

Alex moved away from the attachment point.

Adam and Tyrone followed.

Kyla watched until all three were clear.

The towing unit began releasing its grapple. The two smaller drones held the payload in position as the transfer system took the load.

“Load transfer complete,” Flight Ops announced.

The display changed to show the payload secured against the recovery structure.

“Exercise objective achieved.”

“Good work, Soria,” Adam said.

“Thanks, Adam. You too.”

This time the applause came from across the chamber.

Kyla exhaled.

Sheila leaned toward her.

“They did it.”

“Yes. They did.”

The Horizon Arc director activated his microphone.

“Madam President, the recovery sequence has been completed.”

Sheila nodded.

The Captain leaned toward his microphone.

“Does this demonstration establish that we can recover an object of the proposed size?”

“Not yet,” the director answered. “But this demonstrates the recovery procedure at a smaller scale. We still need to validate the towing system’s capabilities and the final interception conditions.”

The Captain nodded.

“Understood.”

Sheila looked at the display, where the three EVA crew members were returning toward the access structure.

“Thank you, Director. Please submit the complete results to the Council.”

The main display returned to the exterior view of Helios.

As people began leaving the chamber, Sheila turned toward Kyla.

“Your son did very well.”

Kyla smiled.

They left the chamber together.

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Kyla's Diary - Chapter 27: Mining