First Week in New Liberty

Day 1: Arrival and First Impressions

After months of preparation, I finally arrived on Terra Secundus. Stepping off the shuttle at New Liberty Spaceport, the first thing that caught my breath was the sky — twin suns hanging low over the horizon, painting the world in gold. It is beautiful and unlike anything on Earth. The air is crisp and faintly metallic, and the scale of it all feels otherworldly.

New Liberty, the capital city, is a fascinating mix of the familiar and the alien. Towering glass spires reach into the heavens, yet at street level, the place hums with markets, street food, and music. It feels alive. The city was designed as a model of unity, blending old Earth charm with the precision of advanced technology. My apartment in the Sapphire District offers a panoramic view of the southern skyline — a sea of light and motion built by visionaries who dreamed of a perfect world. Tomorrow, I plan to ride the city’s legendary transit system and start exploring this new life in earnest.

Day 2: First Ride on the Transit Loop

Today I took my first trip on the Mass Transit Loop, and it was incredible. The network of high-speed maglev trains glides across the city with silent precision, linking every district in minutes. Only now do I understand how vast New Liberty really is. From the Sapphire District, I traveled to Central Plaza, passing shimmering towers, verdant parks, and even a floating harbor where cargo ships from the Core drifted like islands in the air.

Central Plaza sits at the heart of the city, wide avenues filled with vendors and visitors from every corner of human space. The statue of the Founders stands proudly in the center, a monument to the first settlers who tamed this world. I tried a local delicacy called gyrofruit, sweet and spicy in the same bite. The people here are open, smiling, and endlessly curious. It feels like a city that never stops growing.

Day 3: The Museum of Terra Secundus History

I visited the Museum of Natural History and Science in the Victoria District today, a must-see for anyone who loves the past. The building itself feels like an echo of Earth — marble columns, domed halls, and light streaming through glass ceilings. The exhibits chronicled the early days of colonization: storms that tore apart settlements, supply shortages, and even the conflicts between early pioneers and dissenters who resisted unity.

What struck me most was the perseverance of those first colonists. They built all this from dust and determination. Standing in the holographic reconstruction of the first habitat dome, I could almost feel the cold of those early nights. On the ride back, I found myself watching the city slide past through the train windows — luminous and alive. Tomorrow, I’ll visit the famous Sky Dome everyone keeps talking about.

Day 4: The Sky Dome and Nightlife in the Quartz District

The Sky Dome is unlike anything I have ever seen. Suspended high above the Quartz District, it serves as both sports arena and cultural center. The transparent dome above reveals a full view of the stars, and as night falls, the twin moons rise in perfect synchronization — breathtaking beyond words. Inside, I caught part of a hover-ball match. Imagine soccer, but mid-air, with players using anti-gravity rigs to vault between floating platforms. The crowd’s energy was electric.

Later, I explored the nightlife. The Quartz District glows with color — neon signs, pulse music, and glass-floored terraces looking out over the city. I met a few locals and other newcomers, each with their own story of why they came here. Terra Secundus seems to draw a certain type of dreamer. I think I’m becoming one of them.

Day 5: Nature in the Sky Gardens

After several days of exploring, I needed calm. The Sky Gardens provided exactly that. Perched atop the tallest towers, the gardens form a network of aerial parks linked by transparent walkways. The air is fragrant with alien blossoms and the hum of pollinator drones. From here, you can see all of New Liberty laid out beneath the clouds.

Many of the plants were engineered to thrive in the thin upper atmosphere — their leaves shimmer with bioluminescent hues. I spent hours wandering through the canopy paths before finding a quiet bench to watch the suns sink below the horizon. In that moment, I realized how far from home I truly am — and how right it feels to be here.

Day 6: Shopping at Merchant’s Row

Merchant’s Row is a world of its own. The open-air market stretches for kilometers, filled with the scents of spices, the clang of tools, and the chatter of traders speaking a dozen languages. Every corner offered something new — handcrafted jewelry, imported fabrics, and the latest off-world tech. I bought a small bioluminescent plant native to Terra Secundus that glows faintly blue in the dark. It feels like bringing a piece of this world back to my apartment.

The highlight was discovering a vendor selling woven fabrics made from the fibers of a rare forest plant from New Avalon. The cloth shimmered between colors as it moved in the light. I couldn’t resist buying a scarf. If I am going to live on Terra Secundus, I might as well look like I belong.

Day 7: Reflection at the Grand Library

I ended my first week at the Grand Library of New Liberty — one of the largest knowledge repositories outside Earth. The building feels sacred, a cathedral to learning with vaulting glass ceilings and quiet study halls. I spent hours exploring the digital archives and then sat by the enormous windows watching the city pulse below.

In just one week, New Liberty has gone from alien to familiar. The rhythm of the city, the kindness of its people, and the seamless blend of cultures make it feel like a place built for everyone. The Transit Loop has become my companion, carrying me through this living organism of a city. I expected to feel lost here, but instead, I feel grounded — part of something vast, hopeful, and beautifully human.

— Journal of Lena Jacobs, New Liberty, Terra Secundus