Eden - Morning Star: Death In The Family

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OOC DISCUSSION THREAD

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Some quick notes about this thread: It takes place on the Morning Star which is one of the largest ships in the fleet. Over a quarter of a million terrans live onboard, conditions are cramped but there are communal locations such as bars, cafeterias, gyms etc.

Oracle Ji'ala Whitesone

"Just a few short hours ago we lost Gehn Falkenstein."

Ji'ala stared into the nothingness, her heart full of sadness. She stood upon a small podium, completely circular it emitted a blinding white light that engulfed her. The rest of the room was pitch black as the holographic projector displayed her image to every visual receptor in the fleet, her voice projecting through every audio channel.

"Gehn was an agricultural specialist on the 'Rising Sun', a ship widely known for its agricultural research and development. For the past few years the team Gehn was a member of has been developing a strain of Bavilian Wheat that will provide as much as twice the current nutritional value that it does today. Like all of us, he was considered a valued member of the fleet. At roughly 0400 hours this morning, the hydroponics bay on the Rising Sun suffered a severe radiation leak, at the time five members of the research team were at that location running tests."

She let the news hang for a moment, giving the fleet a moment to absorb the information, her demeanor calm but saddened.

"Gehn, who was the designated as the team leader during the session, sacrificed himself to save the lives of his four colleagues, who despite absorbing almost lethal doses of radiation, will make full recoveries thanks to his actions. Terrans are not immune to tragedy, we face it on an almost daily basis. But when it strikes, when we lose the ones we love, the people that make us who we are, it is always to an honorable death."

For a moment Ji'ala found herself thinking of Jhon, her husband who died himself over twenty years ago. He too had scarified himself to save others, he too had died honorably.

"We live that we may serve, and we die that others may live."

One of the deep rooted truths of their society, they were all taught to believe it, to achieve it. Only through true altruism could they achieve their mission, and through their mission create a new utopia.

"Gehn Falkenstein is a testament to the inherent goodness within us all. A way of living that we strive to live up to all the days of our lives. It is what separates us from all other civilizations in the galaxy, that each of us would willing sacrifice their life to save another. And so today we pay tribute to Gehn, to a hero that symbolizes everything we have achieved already, and everything we seek to achieve in the future. In reverence on his selflessness I ask that each of us now hold a minute's silence to reflect upon Gehn Falkenstein and his actions today. Thank you."

The Oracle stepped off the podium, vanishing into the darkness and six million souls fell into silent unison.

Oracle Ji'ala Whitestone


The door opened and for a moment Ji'ala found herself blinded by the light. Still, she stepped through into a wave of applause and adulation. Her sight filtered in displaying a packed atrium, every member of which had begun to clap. Without a word, she gave a nod of gratitude and begun to walk away, joined by her first successive, Rebecca Sward, as the applause slowly died down.

"Captain Kahn has extended you an invitation to inspect the new safety protocols put in place since this morning. It's also been elected to the council's agenda for peer review at the next meeting."

Rebecca Sward could be described as an enthusiastic young woman, only in her twenty-third year the first successive had quickly risen to the challenge of becoming a capable adviser. One day it would be her turn to guide the fleet and Ji'ala knew that Sward's enthusiasm would serve it well. The small red headed beauty stood to around five-foot-four weighing at about one-hundred and twenty pounds. She had a pout that Ji'ala often saw affect men around her. Even if Rebecca had not been chosen as a successive, she could have had any man in the fleet. And from what the Oracle had heard whispered, Rebecca was certainly trying to work her way through as many as she could.

"Dine with me this evening Rebecca, I'd like to discuss the teachings of Mara Ray with you. It's been too long since I've listened to the voice of the first Oracle."

"Only if you bring Shya."

"Come now, she's only three. I doubt she can offer an opinion on the Diqurian Equation."

Rebecca grinned nonchalantly,

"Yes, but she's so very cute. Her mother tells me she's learnt a new word, you will simply love it. She keeps repeating 'why'. Isn't it adorable?"

"You do so love children. Why don't you have some of your own?"

"Ah but Ji'ala, I am not you. I could not settle down as you did, I find men too...sensual."

"And yet you bore of them so easily."

Rebecca laughed as they entered the private quarters of the Oracle and first Successive. It was traditional for the second successive to live with their family until their succession to first.

"Very well I shall be there. I love listening to Mala, she has a sense of humor I've always admired. Plus I agree with her analysis on the equations differentials."

The two women kissed each other on the lips before parting ways. Rebecca had further duties waiting for her, whilst Ji'ala found herself needing to speak with one of the few people she could truly open up too.

Her son.

Doctor Kaleb Whitestone

It had been a long day, the fleet ran on a 60 hour day based on three cycles of the body's circadian rhythm. Kaleb was on his 42nd hour without sleep, unusual, even for him. Two of the radiation victims from the 'Rising Sun' had been brought to his clinic, their own ship simply didn't have the medical facilities to handle these kinds of incidents. It had been touch and go so far, but Kaleb found himself optimistic along with the rest of the clinic that both of them would make full recoveries.

He was finally beginning to doze off as he read his way through an article of ionizing radiation therapy when his terminal began to beep. He groaned slightly before sitting up to accept the incoming call.

"Mother."

"Hello Kaleb. How are you keeping?"

Her son shrugged nonchalently.

"Two of the Rising's crew were brought to this clinc. We've been trying to stablize their conditions, the genetic damage is extensive in one of the cases."

"Yes I received a report earlier, I wasn't aware your clinic had been facilitated."

"Mother, this isn't my clinic. I'm just another doctor here."

"Yes, well that may be, but I'm sure you gained a reputation for yourself there."

More like your reputation, he thought sullenly. It was true that everyone at the clinic treated him a little differently, his mother held such a sway over the fleet that to even be in the same room as her offspring supposedly constituted some sort of honour. All it did for Kaleb was isolate him further though.

"Did you need something?"

He knew he came across too curt the moment he said it, but he didn't care, he needed to sleep.

"I...I wanted to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to invite you to a meal, tomorrow."

"I'm not sure, the clinic is short staffed and these radiation victims will need constant monitoring for awhile yet."

His mother had never begged him for anything in his life. Never once had she caved to her own desperation, but he saw something like it in her eyes now and it put him on edge.

"Maybe I can get away for half an hour."

His mother smiled gratefully

"Thank you."


When the call cut out, Kaleb found himself wide awake and piqued by curiousity. He cursed himself for not feeling tired and returned to clinic's waiting room for a new patient.