Sarah Macdonald Diary 4

Dear Diary,

As I sit here in my quarters on LV-426, I can’t help but reflect on the long journey that brought me to this alien world. It’s been quite the adventure, and sometimes I still can’t believe I made it.

The process started nearly two years ago when Weyland-Yutani announced they were recruiting for a new colony. The application process was grueling – physical exams, psychological evaluations, aptitude tests, you name it. Out of thousands of applicants, only a few hundred of us made the cut. I still remember the day I got that acceptance letter – I was over the moon!

Then came the training. Months and months of intensive preparation. We learned everything from basic survival skills to operating complex terraforming equipment. The company spared no expense in getting us ready. I think the hardest part was the isolation training – two weeks in a sealed habitat to simulate life on a distant planet. A few folks dropped out after that, but it only made me more determined.

The journey itself took almost a year. We were put into hypersleep for most of it – a strange experience that I’m still not entirely comfortable with. Falling asleep on Earth and waking up in a completely different star system is… disorienting, to say the least.

I had to say goodbye to my family, knowing it might be years before I see them again. That was tough. Mom cried, Dad tried to hide his tears, and my little brother made me promise to bring him back a “real alien rock.” I hope I can keep that promise someday.

There were moments of doubt, of course. Leaving everything behind for an uncertain future on a harsh, alien world isn’t an easy decision. But every time I looked at the stars, I knew this was what I wanted. To be part of something bigger, to help forge a new path for humanity.

Now that I’m here, all that preparation, all those sacrifices – they feel worth it. Yes, LV-426 is challenging. Yes, there are risks. But we’re making history here. Every day, we’re doing things no one has ever done before.

As I look out at the windswept plains of LV-426, I feel a sense of pride. We made it. Against all odds, across the vast emptiness of space, we’re here. And we’re going to make this work.

Tomorrow’s another busy day. Goodnight, diary. Here’s to the adventure of a lifetime!

• Sarah Macdonald, Hadley’s Hope Colony, LV-426