I'm hiding from... hmmmmm

[Atragon9 0]

Computer, open personal log, no stardate, Admiral Atragon-9, Commanding Officer, USS Manticore, NCC-5852, password *********

 

[whirr, click]

 

It's been 2½ years since we arrived in the future and progress is going well on the new warp core. I am quite impressed with the skill and workmanship of Chief Garnoopy and his teams. The Deuterium production is also going along as planned with the planet's needs for Deuterium finally reaching a plateau. The supply onboard is slowly and steadily increasing and we are able to safely operate most of the ship's system now. We still keep life support off on decks where habitation has not returned and there are other budgets on our energy usage, but the Deuterium supply is still on the increase even with our utilization.

 

I have been spending a large portion of the past few months onboard to supervise the ship's continued usage and the Warp Core project. Jami has spent most of her time on the surface and we have finally brought into the open our feelings about staying and returning. I know that she would rather stay here, if I would stay. She knows that I would rather return, if she would return with me. At the same time, I continue to struggle with my duty to the crew and to Starfleet. My first duty is to the fleet and the mission, and that compels me to return - or die trying. My duty, however, is also to my crew and their safety and I cannot deny that they are probably going to be kept the safest if we were to stay here - but I just don't know that for sure.

 

The surface "cities" have developed into two clear groups along the lines of returning or not. In fact, those looking to stay have already named their enclave "Croatoan." I am sure they mean it as a cruel joke on the original usage and they are all having a good laugh over it - but it gives me the shivers, considering how we found the Earth itself. There is also the original "town" where we set up our landing site and those living there are still undecided on what they want to do. I don't know if they are waiting for the new warp core or some other major event, but there WILL come a decision point soon.

 

Unfortunately, even THAT is unclear. If the Warp Core holds together and we develop a viable plan to return - people will have to decide to return or not... and I will have to decide if I force compliance from those who want to stay. If the Warp Core blows again, do we simply give up trying? If we decide to stay in this time, do we investigate the colonies in this solar system? Do we try and contact any other races to see if they are around? Or do we just cocoon here on Terra and start a "new" human race?

 

Questions - all I ever seem to come up with are the questions!!

 

::sigh:: Alright, I have to return to the surface now, I have to see just how bad the split has become. I can't keep hiding from... the truth.

 

Computer, EOM, EOT

 

[whirr, click]