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#IntoTheBlackPbP Story 1 Post 1

After spending almost 9 days aboard a passenger shuttle in economy class, it became very clear why everyone said to spring for a cabin. I'd been sleeping mostly upright propped against the bulkhead. It wasn't particularly comfortable but it was certainly better than being stuck in a middle seat. The last two days of the voyage were filled with grumbling and short tempers. The attendants' smiles barely hid the relief in knowing the trip the was almost over as they made their way through the compartment. When the captain announced the shuttle was on approach to Port Wells, the oppressive atmosphere dissipated and a ripple of excitement spread through everyone aboard in for no other reason than knowing they would soon be free of the 900 sq ft economy accommodations we each shared with the other 29 passengers.

Upon arrival I grabbed my carry-on, the only luggage I brought, and exited the shuttle as quickly as possible. The air was fresh and crisp; not at all as I had been expecting. Verne's air had been more like that of the shuttle, scrubbed and sterile. I then noticed the trees and plants lining the walkways. The moon colony had an arboretum, but nothing like this. Glowing arrows direct passengers to set of large doors at one end of the hanger. The brightly lit corridor beyond is filled with scanners and agents checking cargo, luggage, and travel documents much like any busy terminal. Passing beyond the final set of doors, Port Wells looms before travelers like any metropolis of Earth with the distinct difference of the translucent dome arching overhead. The soft, orange glow from the dome slowly gives way to the brighter lights and electronic billboards closer to street level giving the city the dusk-like shroud.

Given the number of vehicles, businesses, and apartment complexes within the urban sector, it's hard to imagine that beyond it lies tracts of farmland and forests that make up the majority of the 30-mile diameter complex. A large console outside the terminal displays an interactive map of the colony showing each of the carefully planned sectors: Urban, Industrial, Agricultural, and Recreation.

I've been couped up too long. Where to first?

#IntoTheBlack #IntoTheBlackPbp_Story1
#SciFi #ScienceFiction
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