Founding

Having helped guide the decision to colonize their new world, Caitlin and Quinn have to unify the colonists to achieve their goals…

A couple of months after championing the cry to settle on this world, Caitlin began to wonder if she made a mistake. The typical plans quickly failed with trying to place every settler on the planet, and that created an irate and argumentative people. Every time Caitlin attempted to advance the common goals of some group with their own agenda would block her progress. As a result, the lofty goals that should’ve unified the fledgling world seemed just as unattainable as the day they lost Laria. Looking around the chamber, Caitlin shook her head in awe of the number of people who somehow managed to force themselves into the room, each trying to argue their point. She recognized so many faces and knew them all to be hard workers, but something changed in them. As she slumped in her chair, her mind sought an answer, but she kept circling back to the fact everything changed, which sparked a fear that spread like wildfire throughout Aurora.

Digging deeply, Caitlin hoped that tonight would be more productive. As the clamor grew, she leaned over to Quinn, covering her microphone and asked, “Is it too late to change our minds?”

Flashing a satisfied grin at her, Quinn covered his microphone before answering, “Yes, we made a decision, and now we have to see it through.”

With a groan, Caitlin began tapping her microphone, and the raucous crowd slowly began to still. When silence settled upon the hall, she addressed the latest batch of concerns, “We’re wasting our time trying to debate reforms of the Federation. While I agree in principle that things need to change, it’s not relevant at the moment. We need to shelve the idea of colonizing other worlds and reforming the Federation. We need to focus on things that will allow us to build up our new home then we can focus on our return to the stars.”

“But before we get there we have to decide how the worlds will work together!” Someone shouted, drawing rapid consent.

“But that cannot be our first priority, not with a world to create.” Caitlin replied smoothly before she added, “For the moment we need to focus on things like developing our new home. Once we have established our world, then we have to alter the platforms to work independently of Laria. And remember the Federation is gone, there is no shield protecting us. As my esteemed colleague,” Caitlin paused to gesture at Quinn before she continued. “Has pointed out, we’ll need ships to help protect this fledgling coalition.” Caitlin paused for a moment to gather all her shattered confidence, “These are the issues we need to discuss, not plans of a future that is years from fruition.”