Entry log #4,236
First Mate Gilbert Norman
Star-Discovery Enterprises by J.P. Morgan
Vessel: Jalapeño
May 6th, 12.095,
It’s easy for me to say that the beginning of the century has proven both wondrously lucrative, and also undoubtedly perilous for the crew and myself.
With the situation at hand being another first for the crew and myself, things have gotten a bit confusing and tense once again. The crew isn’t used to many firsts anymore. So I’ve been doing some looking back, reflecting on how the crew has dealt with such uncertainty before, while also seeing how I personally have reacted. Hoping, ultimately, to recover any insights I may have once had on how best to deal with the matters at hand currently.
The other day I was going over entry 2,450. The entry I wrote when we arrived on Naccron, a direly arid planet plagued by a millennial of war. It was the the first hostile world the crew and I had visited, and I was quite curious as to how I reacted to to this novel experience.
The anticipation amongst the mates for greeting our next peoples was at an all time high. Our four previous encounters with undiscovered worlds were all pleasant; there were beautiful planets, such as Eden, which welcomed us like gods. Gorrflube, home to the Purrps, was gorgeous, and the people were not only warm and welcoming, but shared our capitalist ideals. They were happy to share their superior understanding of multi-functioning time-space engines with us, and provide beautiful 12.5 star hotel accommodations for the crew. Which included a midday meal as well as personal pleasure pals for each crew member. A truly memorable, and overtly pleasurable, experience.
However, Naccron was far different.
Naccron, as I mentioned was the first planet we visited which offered hostility. There I was exposed to planetary violence which I had only read about in history class prior to then. A world which was divided, a single dominant species we termed Homo-Dikillyss split into several tribe like nations which ruled over different regions across the planet. The nations were seemingly in constant tension with one another; hot and cold conflicts sprouting up all the time across the planet over resources, and of course influence. We had decided it be best to leave the planet alone after observing for a short time; the species didn't have anything to offer which the crew deemed worth the risk of bringing their conflict into the broader universe. Despite their emotional awareness being quite unique, if in contact we were to be ‘turned on’, and used for our vastly superior technology, the repercussions could have been untold horror.
I was at first optimistic that there was more to them. That perhaps their world was worth a visit after all despite the "ugly cover". The crew immediately thought otherwise, however. They believed the planet’s value would align with the analytical predictions our superiors had for hostile systems - that Naccron was a nothing but a worthless battle field, consumed by brute unintelligence.
Ultimately, they were right.
Concluding my revisiting of Naccron, I continued on with other memorable entries in hopes of learning more. I read of our time in Utopia, which turned out horribly sexual, and then on the time our crew met up with that from the Vessel: Zucchini for a re-fuel in the Corona Sector. We ended up putting on a four day poker tournament during our time together, without our supervisors finding out. During which I just so happened to win a thousand shillings, and with it bought myself a new servant bot to massage my feet. A purchase which proved to me, at least in some cases, that money can most certainly buy happiness.
Then there was Krude, a planet memorable for different reasons.
The large mountainous world was named by the dominating indigenous species, the Yikes, after the gift their home provided for them - Krude - a medicinal herb capable of healing any physical ailment.
Krude quickly became renowned throughout the many systems of the Republic. Their main resource became of great interest to those who saw that they could leverage the situation for capital gain, and soon companies began trading with the Yikes. These companies, after taking advantage of the demand from people of Earth 4 and Earth 6, who became obsessed quickly, turned Krude into the most highly convented product in the Republic. Now many people live for very very long all over the Republic, at least those who can afford the medication when they, like everyone else, eventually become sick.
Sickness has not come to an end across the Republic just yet. Everyone gets sick. Especially those at the bottom, those, without. Something I was fortunate enough to see first hand.
Pollution, chaos, and corruption consumes the Republic. Earth 1 and 3 are ravaged by it to this day; the many curious space-pioneers out there such as myself have made many discoveries in benefit of humanity, but we have done nothing to help them, those in the gutter. We’ve truly done nothing to change the core situation of disparity amongst the worlds. There are still people fighting to survive all over the Republic; in many places there’s hardly any money, in others an apparent lack of medicine from anytime in the last 3,000 years, and then the water - tainted by industry practically anywhere with a low GDP.
The thing is, despite the disparity, we aren’t so different after all, the crew and I, space-pioneers, and those shoveling Morebag-4 coal into plasma furnaces on Earth 1. We carry on despite the many unforeseen challenges of space travel because that’s how we survive. Every cent I make goes back home to my wife and daughters. It’s been ever so hard not being there to watch them grow up, to have been away from my wife, who’s entirely uninterested in me, apart from the checks I send each month but I care little. At times I wish I could have been there, I really do. But there’s a part of me that has accepted that I made a choice to do something there would be no returning from for a long time. That I would provide my family an opportunity to have something. Whether that be happiness, success, or whatever - I know my work has had a purpose bigger then me. Even if my wife has moved on, and my kids resent me, I’m just happy to know they’re doing alright back home, that’s what’s kept me going.
Being a pioneer has made many those in my crew blind to the reality they left behind. Unlike me, for them, life is just whatever comes next - the next planet, the next product to send back, the next paycheck. And I can’t blame them; we have the luxury of retirement to look forward to. Life will be kind to us when we have millions to live off of in another ten years, for now however all that matters is looking forward - at least for them.
Me, I’m different in this regard. I can’t help but see what’s happening in front of and all around me. Sure I might have a “retirement'“ one day, but in the time being I’m serving the interests of a money hungry corporation which has little to no interest in really helping anyone. If that were the case the people of Naccron would be at peace and the people of Krude would be compensated appropriately for their contributions to Republic well being. So then why? Why am I doing this?
“What’s my why?”
I have to remember those back home, those I’m providing for.
Even if I’ve provided more money then anyone could hope to spend, they need me to keep doing this.
One day I’ll return to Earth 7 and when I do, I want to be welcomed back home by those I care for. I have to remember that I signed a contract after all, a contract not only with J.P. Morgan but with myself. Despite my emotions, I have to carry on; just as in the past I cannot let my feelings on my work get in the way of it. I signed up for this, and did so for a reason, for purpose.
Perhaps this is the most valuable lesson I could learn from the past: keep moving forward.
Currently the crew is preparing for arrival to the planet Shambala. This latest journey for us is different then all our past however; the planet was originally discovered by Vessel: Cucumber, but the crew went MIA after a little over a week. The Captain’s first few entries indicate the planet is completely peace-going, and dominated by various species of advanced capabilities. Our probes have lead us to believe the same which has led to much confusion over the crews disappearance. However, in reading through more entries from Captain Spanks, I’ve formed an opinion which I am reluctant to share with anyone.
My Captain, Mr. John Layhee, is the only one I feel safe to confide in. He, like me, is intrigued by the abrupt nature in which the entries end. Upon arrival they speak of great technologies, gifts, and kindness, as each day goes by they grow closer and more familiar with the locals, trading knowledge, stories, and joy with one another. Then come day seven, it is written that Captain Spanks and her crew are offered a beverage containing, “what is necessary to understand why,” something it is said the natives feel is necessary for any newcomer desiring a real understanding their culture. On the morning of day eight Captain Spanks writes, “The crew and I have agreed to drink with the people. We are to gather at dawn just outside the Gate of Wills with a being they call The Beyonder. After drinking the beverage, we are to follow The Beyonder inside where we are are told the journey will unfold from there.” On the ninth day there is no entry from Captain spanks, a trend that has continued to this day.
Today we are to embark upon the planet for the first time in hopes of discovering the fate of the Vessel: Cucumber’s crew. Although there is no indication of a military presence on the planet, or even the existence of any means of violence, we have decided to arm ourselves with Republic issued phasers. There is a missing crew after all here.
To conclude I can’t be sure what has lead to the disappearance of the crew. From what I can make of this venture at hand, nothing is as it seems; something tells me there is something more to the people and planet of Shambala, something undeniable. Something they felt, perhaps, was worth sticking around for.
End of Entry log #4,236
To be continued…
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Hare Krishna.