Annual 2202: The Ruhr Visitation
New Hope was a place to hide. A place to learn how best to be human. To face all the horror of our history - and to face up to it. To look it in the eye and learn from it. To not say "Never Again" whilst a new genocide was taking place, but to look inside and say "I am guilty". This was not easy - it is not easy, and not all have the strength for it. Those that do not are blameless, for it is a difficult thing to realise what we are. So long as they take instruction from those of us who stand in the Shadow of Knowledge, and who accepted the burden, their lives and labours can be directed. Those of us who lead must also praise those who follow, for without them our Endeavour would cease to exist. But for those who do not follow, those who raise their hands against the Path, a more direct education may be required.
Governor Martinez, on the Reservations
18th August, 2202 AA
Local Space 1st January 2202
To start the new year the preliminary studies of the being in TS Borce were completed. They were given a name - Void Clouds. This was descriptive, and purposefully so, as many more poetic names were ascribed to them. The scientists of Refuge however had no time for more detailed study as yet.
In April the
Pathfinder completed its scanning of the TS Boldoon system. Of particular note was the third planet, which was perfect for a new settlement. With the slightly less hospitable planet in TS Mecura II we know had two potential targets for colonisation. Several studies were commissioned comparing the benefits and drawbacks of both candidates. It would take some time for them to report, but as we had not yet finished designing our first colony ship, let alone started to build it, there was time to give this matter proper consideration.
Co-Ordinator Kazakov had meanwhile been giving more thought to increasing our resources. We could not even begin thinking of succeeding in the Great Endeavour if we just restricted outselves to New Hope. Only two systems were close enough for us to use thus far: TS Brallix and TS Mecura. As the Co-Ordinator saw it there was only one choice - TS Brallix which had two enticing possibilities. However, it was not considered reasonable to continue to use a mere random computer designation for any system that we actually used. Thus a small group was assigned to come up with a new name, whilst the
Gallant was dispatched. When the
Gallant arrived in system the decision was made - and our hardworking constructors arrived at the newly rechristened Ruhr system.
However, before the
Gallant reached its first destination something new was detected on the edge of the system. Three seemingly impossible creatures, or were they ships? At that time we did not know, only that they were wonderful to behold. They did not seem to do very much, made no attempt to communicate. They seemed content to suspend themselves at a great distance from the star for a month or so, and then they were gone. All we could suppose was that these beings possessed some sort of faster than light travel, but as to what it might be, we did not know. Team Hooke began an initial study, further delaying their design of our first colony vessel.
In July the
Pathfinder started its survey of the TS Sadalbari system. Their sensors seemed to indicate a strange object orbiting close to the star, but it was so close and so fast that Team Sorbonne wisely declined to risk the ship to understand what was going on. Mysteries left to one side can always be picked up again. At the same time the
Vigilance completed its scans of teh TS Adar system. Later that month the
Gallant completed the first of two mining stations in the Ruhr system.
Back home on Refuge our new mines in Sector 9 were now operating at full capacity. A new group of workers and technicians were now being recruited and trained, and were provisionally assigned to Sector 11. Sector 11 was a place of mixed possibilities, and Governor Martinez had determined that the time had come to look to the reservations. There were three large-scale reservations in Refuge, in Sectors 10, 15 and 17. Each had, probably through accident, specialised. Sector 10 was more agricultural, no doubt a consequence of the temperate weather and good soils. Sector 15 was in a more rugged environment, yet fertile with much regular precipitation. The many highland lakes, rivers, and waterfalls made energy constant, and plentiful. Sector 17 was definitely the most hostile of the reservations, but it was not without its possibilites. In particular there were regions of bountiful metal ores, only lightly exploited by those who had turned away.
For those who read this in future times I should explain. The reservations were a mistake. The Co-Ordinator declared so after much consultation and discussion. We had turned from those who needed our help the most, and condemned them to isolation. It was a revelation that the Co-Ordinator had understood back in the days of her youth, as had many others, but established habits are hard to break. The Great Endeavour helped save us, but giving us the necessary impetus to look at what we had done. The final decision was made after the news of the new creatures that had visited Ruhr.
After much debate it was decided to begin with Sector 15. The people there maintained the highest level of technology and society. Its hydroelectric resources would also prove most useful to our growing state, and we could more effectively exploit them than the locals could. Resources were allocated to register the residents, and to re-educate as necessary. Most became followers, a few even showed the ability to join the ranks of the Awakened.
Shortly thereafter the
Pathfinder completed its survey of TS Sadalbari, and later in the year the
Gallant completed the second of the two mining stations in Ruhr. Our industrial base thus expanded considerably, in accordance with the Path of Preparation. The Registration process was completed in Sector 15, and the new cadre officially re-assigned to begin their work of prepared the Sector for more intensive use. The stage was set for us to enter into 2203 After Awakening.
