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Source Melchizedek.0294

β Hyi, 3rd Planet

Ascension 00h 25m 45.07037s

Declination –77° 15′ 15.2860″

Distance 24.37ly

Equinox J2000.0 SOL

Year 3782, QEC adjusted

[Autotranslator enabled...]

Jerome Somerset Pasani, Warrant Master

:::

In the weeks since we made landfall on β Hyi 3, I've been

a gardener, a plumber, a line cook, a hair stylist (that didn't

end well), and an artist's model (that turned out better than

expected). In all that time I haven't for one moment been the

captain of a starship responsible for the lives of nearly fifty

people. I haven't had to discipline or motivate, and I certainly

haven't had to deal with the loneliness of command. For this

I have Prezzi to thank, and to some degree, Specialist Janssen.

The loss of my friend was something I thought I could wrap in

a blanket of professionalism. A captain must stand strong and see

the mission through, after all. But I'm not that kind of captain,

and honestly, who would want that kind of person in charge anyway.

A friend was lost and we have no answers. Something happened while

en route to β Hyi that none of us can explain. That's not

something you just acknowledge and soldier on. That's a damned

mystery worthy of exploring.

There's the pragmatic view, the one that Prezzi brought me: the

arabidopsis anomaly represents a potential threat to colonization.

There are threats from both the cause of the anomaly and the

resulting life forms that emerged. There's also the other view,

which Specialist Janssen, Stephanie, shared: someone killed our

doctor, my friend, and we're not going to let that stand.

I've spent these weeks coming to terms with Moussa's loss. I have

processed it and now I need answers. Kroups has finished her

immediate work on the seeding prep so we're heading back out.

We're going to backtrack along our route and see what's out there.

It's a longshot, but we're making it a priority. Our small-craft

isn't suited to grav-sheer, but with the crash couch we can rack

up some serious gees. Whether weeks or months, we'll find our

answers.

Thanks again to Prezzi and Stephanie. I lost a piece of myself

when the lab jettisoned.

And Stephanie, again, I'm so sorry about your hair.

.