World Building

Posted on 31 May 2016 @ 10:42pm by Lieutenant JG Natalya Kirilova

453 words; about a 2 minute read

We're just about to arrive in the Celes System and begin the initial colonization operations there. I'm looking forward to the opportunity, but I can't help but feel worried about what might happen. The system is so complex, so many variables... anything could go wrong. But at least we're here to help if something unexpected does happen.

I can't help but think of the colonists... what they must be feeling. My parents were first-wave colonists. Technically I was too, though I was too young to remember the first planetfall. Denali was a hard world to settle on, with its own set of challenges to overcome. Its atmosphere is mildly toxic, and with an orbital period of over a century, most humans would ever experience all of its seasons even after a full lifetime spent there. I only experienced autumn, part of it, and could count the number of days she'd spent outside on her fingers and toes. In another eight years or so winter will come, and I worry for my family and friends there. Even after forty-odd years of preparation, will they be ready?

Many of the colonists couldn't handle life on Denali, and left for greener, warmer places. Some even fell to madness before the next resupply ship could arrive. I had the benefit of being only a few months old when my family arrived, I couldn't remember any other life.

I guess the people of Celes III will adapt. Colonists always do. Either that or they pack up and leave. Learning to live on a new world has its own sense of adventure. A lot of people in Starfleet seem to think that nothing can compare to their own pace of discovery but I disagree.

Other than the mission, there is little to report. I've met another of the ship's holographic entities.... Raven, the ship's EBH. I'm convinced there is something not quite right with her programming, but whether she is malfunctioning or working precisely as intended I can't say. Still, like Shirley she has her own charm.

I'd be the first to admit that I've never had an affinity with holograms, but I find it painfully ironic that both of the ship's holograms are programmed to mimic attractive young women with slightly unhinged personalities... the kind of women I tend to be drawn too most.

*sigh*

Not that either of them could really distract me from the prettiest and most slightly unhinged of them all. My cheshire cat. I haven't gotten to spend much time with her since the mission started. I still haven't told her how I feel.

I need to tell her how I feel. Before I start falling for holograms. That certainly can't end well.

*headdesk*

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