The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

“Silence was death.” 

Ashby has lived his whole life in space where the constant hum of machinery means that one is being kept alive. Unlike on the ground, where noise might mean approaching danger, it’s the cessation of noise that means danger in space. This maxim also applies to the crew. If the crew is not socializing well, if there is silence, then the ship is in danger.

“Harmagians had money. Aeluons had firepower. Aandrisks had diplomacy. Humans had arguments.” 

Rosemary is reminiscing with Kizzy about The All Stories Festival, the 200th Remembrance Day celebration held on Mars. The Festival is meant to mark the beginning of a new era for humans, one in which the Exodan diaspora and Martians would work together, but nothing has come of it. Humanity is still too fractured to be a major presence within the GC. 

“The point of a family, he’d always thought, was to enjoy the experience of bringing something new into the universe, passing on your knowledge and seeing part of yourself live on. He had come to realize that his life in the sky filled that need.” 

Ashby uses his share from the Wayfarer’s profits to support his extended family. He has considered returning to the Exodan fleet to raise a family of his own. He has come to realize, however, that everything he could want from biological family is satisfied by the crew, his chosen family.