The Vanguard shuttle broke through Earth's atmosphere with barely a tremor—a testament to technology far more advanced than the commercial transports Noah had experienced before. Through the viewing portal, the curvature of Earth gradually gave way to the star-speckled blackness of space. In the distance, Vanguard Station grew from a pinprick of light to a massive structure, its three interconnected rings rotating slowly around a central hub.
"Look at the size of that thing," Kelvin whispered, his nose practically pressed against the viewport. "The engineering alone must have taken years."
Sophie leaned in beside Noah. "It's beautiful, in a way."
Lucas merely nodded, his expression thoughtful as he studied the approaching station.
