This one returns to exposition and introspection as Ryan reflects on how much has changed in the past hundred years or so. I don’t want to kill the pace so apologies to anyone who was hoping for something a little more exciting, but I needed to convey the enormity of what has been lost.
As always, this scene picks up immediately following last week’s six sentences, so if you want to catch up or need a recap then just follow this link.
Onto the story…
No matter how many times he’d done this, Ryan never failed to marvel at the sheer impressiveness of what these ships represented. Built at a time when humanity was capable of imagining something grander than mere survival; the colony ships were the pinnacle of human engineering, and the height of its audacity.
All nineteen ships were identical, each one fitted with multiple redundant systems. That way, parts from other ships could be used to repair any damage, or to restart failed systems. The one thing they weren’t equipped to deal with was a biological nightmare like this.
But now, with humanity on the precipice of extinction, these ships once more served as the last best hope for its salvation.
You can find more Six Sentence writers by clicking on the image below
.
Goran Zidar 
Keeping it at 6 is tricky but you should never apologise for great World Building, Goran. Your series is super cool. See you next week!
Thank you very much. I appreciate your continued support 🙂
I really love this set-up, the intensity of the snippet leading to that line about how these ships were not equipped to handle a biological nightmare. Yikes!! Good job!
Indeed. Mechanical failure they were prepared for. Biological failure… not so much.
Oh, I like that. Is that on your book cover somewhere? Should be!
Excellent job! I want to read more – it immediately drew me in. This is the first week I’ve visited, but I’ll be back next week!
Michelle 🙂
http://www.michelle-pickett.com/blog
I agree with Kylie Scott – you should never apologise for great world building!
Wow, you reveal so much in this six. Excellent! 🙂
Thank you so much.
I really like the set up here and the anticipation. Your description of mankind’s limitless imagination and development in that former era of shipbuilding is a really nice touch.
Ditto both Nicola and Kylie. Besides, pacing is still great, as is the world building.
This is a great explanation of the what and why of the ships. Great six, Goran. 🙂
Two minor typos (I’ve been editing my own MS the last couple of days). You switch tense a couple of times. “represent” should be “represented”, and “serve” should be “served” to keep the continuity and flow of your six. Loving this story. 🙂
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for the eagle eye. I’ve corrected them now 🙂
This is a necessary and wonderful break in the pace. Without it we’d have no context for his mission. I particularly liked this: Built at a time when humanity was capable of imagining something grander than mere survival…. That tells me so much about the past and present of Ryan’s world. Wonderful six, Goran!
This line is beautiful: the colony ships were the pinnacle of human engineering, and the height of its audacity.
I very much hope that you ditch the semi-colon and let this be its own sentence.
I’ll need to leave the semi-colon in or risk the wrath of the Six Sunday gods. But I will definitely make the change in the MS itself. Thank you.
No, exposition is good when it’s done like this. You give us enough info to be going along with and it also serves to put off the next little bit of action – we’re being informed as well as being kept on tenterhooks!