1 Running Out
"We are running out of raw materials to maintain the fleets, it'll only be a matter of time before the populace notice and question our leadership. Afterwards, maybe even a mutiny is possible.", says Admiral Maxim Meknikov, admiral of Hearth Fleet. His calm yet fierce tone echos throughout the Atrium. Couldn't blame him, being in charge of Hearth Fleet means you're in charge of keeping the last thousand or so survivors of humanity alive, and content.
"We know Admiral Meknikov, our ships in Thorn Fleet have suffered the most from the lack of resources. Since the last consensus, the Admiralty has made it clear to prioritize Hearth Fleet for the allocation of remaining resources.", states Admiral Cyrus Amari, in charge of law enforcement and threat assesment both internal and external through the command of Thorn Fleet. Only half a dozen ships armed with simple mass driver turrets and a few missile pods.
"That is why we need to pool our resources! My team and I have been saying this for months.", and that was Admiral Yui Hatanaka, she's in command of HSS Explorer and its escort, the HSS Guidance, the ship I'm currently the captain of. The two most advanced ships in the Fleets, responsible for exploration, resource flagging, and other scientific endeavors. "--Scans show a planet in the green zone, perfect for human settlement. It's almost the size of Earth!"
Silence looms from the mention of the lost homeworld over the Atrium , the meeting place for the Admirals and Captains in the fleets, in the center of the biggest civilian ship, the HSS Foothold.
"You've told us a similarly before Admiral, and it was a waste of precious time and resources for all we found there was nothing but a toxic rock.", said Ad. Amari with a hint of annoyance.
"This time is different, we've recently retrofitted the Explorer's scanners with the latest gravitic sensors, checked it a dozen times. I'm one hundred percent positive about this. In addition, we don't have a choice, we can't just settle for some minerals in an asteroid belt. Its this, or the death of all of us in this damn void.", Admiral Yui accessed her console. "Here is all the data, sending now."
...
"Send the Guidance, let it do a planetary survey, then send the data back here--", suggested Admiral Meknikovbut was interrupted by..
"Time, time is against us. The fleets will all go together, no one is sent or left behind.", by Admiral Amari. "As Admiral of Thorn Fleet, a mere asteroid belt won't keep my fleet operational, we must find safe harbour immediately.", he said with determination.
"Everybody in favor of the current movement? Fleets Hearth, Thorn, and the Explorer and Guidance will all jump to the Ascens System, and orbit the planet Ascens III, ---", said Admiral Hatanaka as the Explorer's second in command, Ivory Weber, who sat next to me leaned in and spoke..
"It's true Oliver, all of it. I was there on the Explorer's bridge when the scanners picked it up. Didn't believe it at first but--"
"Yeah, I know Ivy, it all seems too natural. However, all of our lives are at stake. The Guidance's hull condition hasn't gone up 87% since then, I can only imagine what the hulls in Thorn must be like..", I said as we raised our hands in favor of the recent decision. "I hope we know what we're doing."
