20th of June, 1944.

The launch of the first man-made object into space.

It was amazing. Knowing that we finally breached the atmospheric wall and can venture into the dark and cold depths of another plane. We could find so much, new elements that can revolutionise our technology, near-limitless resources on giant planets that can sustain our society for eons, great ruins left by ancient civilisations.

But most importantly of all, we could find other sentient life.

27th of November, 2094.

The first settlement on another celestial body.

We did it. We could establish ourselves on an unforgiving new world, full of mysteries that we are bound to uncover.

A bright future seems to be ahead of us.

9th of January, 2307.

Our first venture into another star cluster.

Our native cluster was nearly fully explored, most corners fully mapped out and many secrets uncovered. Our largest stations rivalling the sizes of ancient nation-states from the home planet, full of the bustle of daily life.

But we did not find a single trace of life.

Maybe there is no one else? Are we alone in the universe?

No, that can’t be. Maybe our cluster was just too small, too unnoticeable. There must be life somewhere else.

18th of August, 3583.

First colony on another galaxy.

We couldn’t find a trace of life in our home galaxy. Perhaps there really is no other life in the universe? But that just can’t be right, the observable universe is so vast, there must be other life!

26th of May, 4810.

Our expansionism is too hard on us. Our desperation to find life in this blasted cold void is driving us to try and achieve feats that cannot and will never be done.

And that desperation will be our collapse.

19th of June, 4933.

The first signs of our collapse.

Multiple colonies and stations stopped communications. On an investigation, it was found that they tried to create life.

Their experiment failed, and cost them trillions of lives.

23rd of February, 4984.

The center of our grand civilisation has abruptly gone dark.

Chaos erupts.

Our once mighty colonies crack into thousands of warring states, using weapons that can wipe out entire systems without a second thought.

The end is nigh.

31st of December, 4999.

Here I lie.

In a decrepit old station, dying alone.

The station’s systems, operating poorly for years without maintenance, have finally given in. I don’t have much time left. I can only sit here and write about the once great civilisation and its downfall. Who knew our need for other lifeforms was so great, that we would kill ourselves before we found them?

Who would have thought that it’s so lonely in the deep unknown?