06: † text

[salvagedsoul]

We should not return to Earth.

We should stay here.

I know that may be an unacceptable proposition to some of you, especially after the most recent difficulties with opening the agricultural wing.

But from the perspective of safety and advantage, this is better.

Even at its widest point, the English Channel is only 240 kilometers.

Comments

[salvagedsoul]

We're going to bring it back. And then, we need to consider whether it's responsible for us to live among innocents.

[oncearanger]

...because we'll only get them killed again.

[salvagedsoul]

Yes.

Nobody wants to stay here. I know that. But we should consider...

[oncearanger]

A lot of work would need to be done to improve conditions here. And after extensive experience living in an environment like this, I don't relish the thought of doing it again.

But...on the other hand, I'm not so sure the UE would leave the Exiles alone if we left permanently.

[salvagedsoul]

There is ultimately nothing we can do to remove all risk to them. They live in this world.

[oncearanger]

My main concern is that this is an artificial environment that needs extensive upkeep for most of us to survive in. If the oxygen's depleted, most of us die. If our food supply is cut off, again, most of us die. And the agricultural wing won't make us self sufficient, not for a while.

At least my prior stay in space came with occasional refueling stops at different planets.

For this to work, we need continuous access to the Transporter mechanism to replace consumed resources, and I'd also recommend building backup copies. We're now dependent on the Transporter's continuous functioning to survive and that scares me.

[salvagedsoul]

I didn't say this place was ideal.

All of those problems, we have control over.

[oncearanger]

But do we really?

We know precious little about the transport machine. How to fix it is still a mystery to me.

[salvagedsoul]

Ah, well... maybe not all. But this base can be repaired, and our efforts to keep supplies stocked can be continued.

...I just don't see the wisdom in returning to where we were before.

[oncearanger]

We're going to have to make some significant changes to history to prevent the same catastrophe from immediately repeating itself.

The situation could become more manageable than it was. Or maybe it won't, but we don't know how the dust will settle yet.

[salvagedsoul]

Most of us aren't interested in staying here for even another minute, though.

[oncearanger]

Unless they want to use the Transporter to warp to another time period and live out the remainder of their lives there, where would they go?

Or we could build a ship and launch into the far reaches of space, but it could be even worse out there.

[salvagedsoul]

There's nowhere to go.

I think there are many among us, especially those who have recently arrived, who are still hanging their hopes on just going home.

[oncearanger]

Yes, but we won't all be able to choose to leave until the war is won.

So...we need a base. If Exsilium is no good, we're stuck with this one. Or maybe a third option elsewhere on the planet.

[salvagedsoul]

...if there were a way for us to find some other, safe place to go on Earth, where we could continue our efforts to change time, that is less vulnerable than former London... that would be best.

[oncearanger]

There are remote areas of the world the UE hasn't taken. Most of them are toxic wastelands, but we don't know with certainty that they all are. It's a remote chance...

...but I'd do the research for it.

[salvagedsoul]

It may just be worth the effort.

I wonder if perhaps we could live in hiding as well, if required.

[oncearanger]

Wearing disguises? Or burrowing underground?

[salvagedsoul]

Haha. Either, actually, although maybe not literal disguises.

[oncearanger]

I'd hoped my moustache would be amusing.