|Viraliv|[20-14]Sliue-Ececs|Ora’s Eye|Tepi|Tepi-3|

11,163,955,738cy

Terraformer Station ‘Favala’, Low Tepi-3 Orbit

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Usually someone in my position would have people write a speech for them, I would then rehearse it a few times or offer suggestions for changes to the script. I’ve always wanted to just speak, to say what’s on my mind. I never had the courage to do so though, so many things that could be interpreted incorrectly and dealing with everyone seeing me at fault for whatever situation occurred due to it. But, following the energy of what I have accomplished this time, I feel like I can deal with it. It also means that we don’t need to waste time and can just go ahead and do it. The people have waited long enough to hear about the fate of their loved ones.

Obviously the people will want to know the results of the battle, and the consequences that will have on their lives. Not much will change for them, maybe for a while security will be more strict but that’s all. Of course those who lost something or someone in the battle will be bearing a heavier load. Most of the consequences will happen on the military side though, loyalty tests will be common for a while and many of those captured will have to go through a military tribunal. The other part of the speech, and the majority of it, would cover the decisions surrounding the election and specifically the introduction of political parties.

#

The transport down to the colony was silent, but gave me a chance to see the world that the colonists live on. I don’t visit the colony very often, it’s very inefficient for most things that can simply be done on the net, so my view is only what I can see from the various windows on the station. First hand accounts, some books that a few of the colonists have made, have tried to describe their life in the colony so far. Something that those hundreds of years into the future might take snippets of to read in school. Anyway, they don’t paint the complete picture, I doubt it’s something easy to capture. Actual pictures would help but wouldn’t give one the feel of it either, of the heat and dryness of the area. The strong winds that threaten to blow the transport off course.

Most of the planet is yellowish-orange but the area where the access vault to the colony is has gray colored sand, mixed with lots of iron shavings I’m told. The iron shavings in this area have an exotic structure to them, visible under the microscope, they appear like sculptures. It appears even darker due to the tall slopes of sand surrounding the crater-like hole that leads to the vault, casting shadows downwards when the sun is anywhere but high. It gives a somewhat haunted but also majestic view, you can just barely see the sunlight cusping over the edges of the slopes, it makes one feel small. Lights show the way to the vault, there isn’t much infrastructure here other than the equipment that the explorers used to use. It’s been converted into a simple resupply facility for any outgoing missions, mostly it's used when transferring personnel between the colony and the station like now.

Roving up to the vault, a massive airlock built out of the same materials used in ship armour, we instead go through a smaller opening. The big door is only used when absolutely necessary otherwise we have smaller openings on the door itself that can be opened quicker. After that we transfer to a different vehicle, one more suited to traversing the inners of the colony. Although the colony is mainly built around public transport, there are some areas that require private transportation so routes do exist. One such route is the vault door to the loop system, that will take me to another transport that will get me to my final destination, the governance sector.

News of the upcoming interview had been announced hours ago and people can already be seen moshed up near the capitol building of the sector, a large and imposing craft connected to the various buildings that the government uses. Worry, anxiety, anger, and many other emotions can be seen clearly from the crowd, even from this distance. The goal of today will be to calm them by giving them an alternative thing to worry about, something much safer than revolting. Ultimately I’m not sure how that’s going to work and I can’t rely on the news reporters to play nice with me. They’re the type to see a weakness, like the battle on the station, and really drive a needle into it.

#

There’s still some time before the main event and I plan on using it to relax some, just breathe. This is, perhaps, the first time I’ve done something like this; doing something on my own. Nobody led me to this decision or advised me or anything like that, this was purely what I thought was best. And now I have to explain that choice to every one of the colonists here, some very mutinous colonists. Shanak’Ti would perhaps be happy about that. It seems like she’s made it onto the Favala by now, ready to resume her position. A service that I’ll likely need after this ordeal is over.

One of the government attendants waves to me, the meaning is clear, and I stand up to follow. Heart pounding in my chest, it gives off a similar feeling to war; although not quite the same but just as much at stake.

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#End Point of View

The crowd stirs at the sight of the procession of attendants that are fixing up the stage, setting things up for the captain’s speech. Many of the people are anxious, particularly a young woman with a child, recently made single. A trait shared by more than a few others in the crowd. Her child claws at the mother, wanting to be picked up out of the fear of the crowd of people stomping around it. The mother does so, more out of instinct, for her entire focus is set on the stage.

The words said here will change the fate of the colony but the mother cares not, she simply wants to hear news of the fight her partner died in. Her eyes may already be red and blurry but she retains a laser focus. Her child fighting for her attention is the only break in her attention. She hushes it silent, the only living reminder of her partner. When she looks back at the stage she sees the Captain is there. The majority of the crowd quiets down, not wanting to miss a beat of the speech to follow.

The Captain’s slow pace causes the tension to rise, heartbeats quicken and strengthen. The sensitive ears of a Tarmon might even allow them to hear the hearts of the ones closest to them in the cramped quarters. It only takes a second for the magic to dispel as the Captain grabs the voice projector and says the first few words of the speech.

“Testing, testing…”

The voice comes out awkwardly, more due to mechanical adjustments, and some out of the Captain’s own nervousness. The masses still sit in silence as the Captain coughs while the techs fix the equipment. Once more he tests the projector, it comes out more clearly this time, no more false starts now.

“It’s an understatement to say everyone has been confused about what transpired on the station, the general instability of the colony has certainly added to that creating a general state of uncertainty for the future of the colony. This speech today is meant to assure you that our current path is the correct one, however there will always be detractors. Those who wish to see the colony fall under despotism or to spread panic and fear to fuel their own psychopathic desires.”

The Captain quickly clears his throat.

“What happened aboard the station was only a show of their unrestrained desires. And all of the death that transpired due to it are the sacrifices they are willing to take in order to scrape their way into power. And yet our brave soldiers, the ones that know that democracy is the best path for their loved ones, laid down their lives and successfully defended that very democracy and your way of life, even from the ruthless hands of the enemy.”

Another silence, allowing the people to take in the words or allowing the Captain time to think of what to say next.

“Though the effects of that fight can surely be felt by some of you. I’m sure some of you have noticed those missing during these past days. Many of them were the defenders of peace and many were those who desired a new system. Regardless, they died fighting for what they believed in which is an admirable trait. However, I personally would rather avoid the needless bloodshed that occurred in the travesty onboard the Favala.”

The Captain takes a deep breath and then sweeps his gaze across the masses.

“Therefore, in the effort of honoring those who had fallen, regardless of the side they took, and to ensure that something like this never happens again me, and many others, have come together with a decision. A new law shall be passed, one that will grant the ability to form political parties, along with representative parties. No longer will voices need to be heard by the reinforcement of weapons, madness, and bloodshed. Instead, the democracy we dearly wish to impart onto the colony will allow them a safer, more legitimate, method of working for the people.”

The speech lasted a bit longer and after a long session of being interrogated by the various news reporters, the Captain ended it. In the end, what happened aboard the station was explained, the new system for politics was shared, and the Captain promised to build a monument to those fallen on board the Favala; regardless of the side they fought on. The monument was quickly built, mostly due to the amount of volunteers, likely those whose loved ones died or got injured. Built out of a harsh material, a dark black, gave it a solemn appearance. It was made into the centerpiece of the new wing of the government, a place meant for the parties and government to communicate, debate, and lobby for their goals. One could easily see the large, even somewhat towering, monument from the transport systems. Names are delicately chiseled into the monument with a material similar to gold filigree in color and beauty.

It seemed as if the normally disruptive colony had entered a state of peace which many of its inhabitants were grateful for. The comparisons between Idris and Simiffin had become more genial in nature and not as a way to attack the current Captain. Perhaps the happiest person of all was Simiffin himself. Busy watching the now bustling colony go about its business. Many of the factions that used to influence the colony in dangerous ways have stepped into the light and begun operating in a way that he can track. Furthermore, Simiffin was feeling like he was following in the steps of Idris and creating the kind of world that he had wanted this colony to be.

However, not all was right with Simiffin. Having acclimated to the constant frenzy of dealing with the factions and various other conflicts, that now weren’t a threat anymore, at least not to the Captaincy, there’s nothing to do. Just the constant busy work that he now finds dull. A stark contrast to the busyness of the foundling political parties trying to gain their foundations. Many of these parties secretly gave information of the members that refused to join them in the light, these members may still be siding with the extremist factions. At least that’s something that Simiffin might be able to work on.

As usual the day draws to a close as Simiffin closes the door behind him leading into Shanak’Ti’s office.