Two months. Two months on this world and I’m still helping people rebuild their shattered lives. Two months and Bridge Command still won’t let us know what is going on. I rummage through files in my display, desperately trying to find the latest construction reports. <How do they expect me to help these people if I can’t even leave the ship?> They’ve been blocking me at every turn. Took over a month before I got level 6 clearance, how many families might I have been able to save if I could have just opened their doors?
The people are scared, and I’m doing all I can to help. <Ahah!> Well, at least the new city construction is underway. Soon I’ll have houses I can move the survivors into. A hundred homes by the end of the week. Finally I’ve got some good news I can tell the forums.
Scrolling through I see the rants of a half million people scared of their government, the other half probably just as scared and staying quiet about it all while the last million remain in cryostasis. This wasn’t our mission. This isn’t the world we were meant to colonize. All this terraforming equipment and we crash on a planet with clean air, water, and fertile soil, but Bridge Command still won’t let more than a handful of people off the ship. Sounds too much like Obaa’s stories of the Asian Block before the first Colony Rush. We’re supposed to be better than that now.
Clearance Level 6: Job Update - Translators needed. Nao Nakamura (6/6).
The notice popped up in my eye. Translators? What do we need those for? Everyone aboard the Aeternia speaks English, and the computer is excellent at translating every language in the Commonwell. But honestly, much as I bitch, there’s not much left for me to do till the city is built. Might as well look.
“Clearance Level 6: Job Update - Translators needed. Nao Nakamura.
College Degree - Bachelors of Social Work.
Certified Translator - English, Esperanto, Japanese, Korean, Chinese 1 & 2.
Single or Open Contract - Single, positive review.
Stature: Short and thin - 143/76, 59w, 86h
Mission Critical Status: Negative
Security Clearance 7 - Attainable, positive review.
Further details classified level 7.
“Height? What kind of job qualification is that?” I look around as others in the sitting room stare scornfully at me for the sudden outburst. I find my hands on my hips, pondering if they are actually that wide. Mission Critical Status, yeah, thanks, always nice to be reminded that you’re expendable before signing up for an unknown mission. Level 7 would be nice though.
<Why not?> So I file the job request.
