Red Planet, Pt. 1

The landing sequence has begun Anticipation fills the artificial air Twenty of us man the deck While hundreds more fill the bowels of the cruiser I can almost taste the red sand With how often I've dreamed of this day For nearly a year we've trained And for nearly another we've been in route Still, this moment seems to have caught me unprepared We travel on the third of eleven cruisers leaving the world behind Robotics and scout teams have prepared the planet for the arrival of thousands Indoor cities where sustainability and safety are elegantly balanced With dramatic views of the host world as a reminder of the dangers outside My breath draws tight with anxiety and fear As we hit the thin atmosphere The cruiser strains and vibrates as we head down to the surface Greetings, and welcome to the red planet The reverse thrusters fire while artificial gravity fades Feeling lighter and unsteady triggers my training It's time to put on my spacesuit The door hisses with escaping gas as the hatch retreats The red world comes slowly into view Unforgiving terrain, mountains in the distance Lights and snowglobe-like cities down here in the valley One foot leads another out of the ship The arrival tunnel passes our inspection We pass through the airlock as the first wave of passengers stream through Eyes wide with wonder Men, women, and children I allow myself to succumb to the enormity and wonder of this place for only a moment Then I fall in with the crowd I reach the door of my new home and raise my hand to the panel The door recedes and a familiar face turns my way A lone tear falls from her eye as we run to each other And embrace after nearly three years apart After an almost eternal moment, she slowly pulls away and takes my hand We cross the room and look out at the sun setting slowly over the red mountains One journey has ended, and another one begins