They were flying reasonably low to give Aoba plenty to see anyways. Without the test run of the ship, Declan didn't want to enter the stratosphere just to slingshot for a shorter trip. Thirty minutes wasn't a hassle for him. Besides, it was obviously a good choice, based on how pleased Aoba was.

He spent the trip pointing out different landmarks and abandoned cities. All the old countries they zoomed over.

"We could fly over Japan if you wanted. Anywhere at all. Everywhere is empty anymore...but the marks humanity left behind are still there. I've visited a lot of places, just to see the historical sites. The world isn't a safe place, but it's not lost. Just abandoned."