Earth was finished. Everybody knew it.

We scanned the heavens. We found another habitable planet. We called it Eden. We built an arkship. A city's worth of people, plus enough equipment to start a civilisation. Pointed it at Eden. Set it going.

Some thought it was humanity's only hope. Some thought it was an exercise in futility. Some offered millions or billions of dollars to be one of those on board. Anything to avoid being left behind.

The situation deteriorated. The arkship receded into the distance. Four decades into its journey, we lost track of it.

The situation deteriorated. Millions died. Tens of millions. Hundreds.

Then a man named Calrus discovered how to travel faster than light.

***

Eden was finished. Everybody knew it.

We scanned the heavens. We found another habitable planet. We called it Earth. We built an arkship. A city's worth of people, plus enough equipment to start a civilisation. Pointed it at Earth. Set it going.

Some thought it was humanity's only hope. But then, four decades into its journey, it passed something in space...