CHAPTER 14

Wilson's Reflection and the Mission Continues

• Focus Characters: Wilson Kime, Anna
• Location(s): The Second Chance, the observation gallery
• Core Narrative: Wilson reflects on his feelings of isolation and fear as he gazes out at the barrier. Anna tries to comfort him, and they share a moment together. Wilson then returns to his duties, ordering the crew to prepare for a closer examination of the barrier. The crew uses the plasma rockets to accelerate the starship to 0.05 g, and then decelerates to a standstill, allowing the exhaust to spray against the surface of the barrier. The sensors on the satellites hovering above the barrier detect no reaction from the barrier, and the crew concludes that it is not a physical object. Wilson orders the crew to continue their mission, and they begin to explore the surrounding space. The crew discovers that the barrier is not a solid object, but rather a complex structure that blocks neutrinos, elementary particles, and most of the electromagnetic spectrum, but not gravity. They also detect a strange quantum fluctuation signature inside the barrier, which they are unable to explain.
• Broader Implications: This event marks a significant turning point in the narrative, as the crew discovers that the barrier is not a physical object, but rather a complex structure that is not fully understood.