A.D. 2233, Gregorian Calendar

The operator is nervous.

This is the most stressful task it ever experienced in its life. It has experience operating warp drives, even on board a spaceship.

But this jump into warp is unprecedented. And there is no room for any error.

"All systems go," says the operator.

"All other station sreport ready to go," says another operator.

The controller is nervous. Over a century of planning, preparation, and hard labor led to this. And this is their last chance. They made an attempt about three years ago, which killed dozens, caused major damage, and nearly destroyed them all. And there is no guarantee that this attempt will work.

But the alternative to trying is to lose all.

The controller puts on a helmet, with a wire connected to a communications console.

It hears that everyone is ready.

"Engage warp," it commands.

It looks at a huge monitor. It can see the warp field forming. The room shakes, as is expected. No warp field this big had ever been attempted, probably not anywhere in the galaxy for at least tens of thousands of years.

"We have entered Warp Factor One," says a technician.

The shaking gets more intense. And yet, they can not abort. Then technicians calls out energy readings, their thoughts intense.

And then, the shaking stops.

"We have a stable warp field," says an operator, though the controller already knows that.

"For now," says the controller.