Deliberation and Decision

On the bridge, class Lupus deliberated on their next step. A tough decision was in front of them and Brigham held the final word on which of the two options were coming to fruition.

OPTION A: the ship sets a course for snow-covered NB011 where it restocks its food supply and uses planetoid's pumping station to refuel its propulsion and water. After NB011 it would land on planet Hrkar, investigate the crash site, and search for survivors of Ovis and Serpens. While at the crash site gets the security codes for the food boxes it acquired on NB011 and finally waits for 2 months in Hrkar's orbit until someone from Nova Occasio eventually comes to search for them.

The landing and lift-off provide a severe obstacle given their inexperience in piloting space ships, they could kill themselves with a wrong maneuver not to mention getting their ship destroyed by giant Kortonians indigenous to the surface. Not going with option A means certain death for the Ovis and Serpens survivors, but going with this option means a higher risk of death for Lupus. Not to mention if there are too many survivors on Hrkar, they will most likely starve to death while they wait for help given the food shortage.

OPTION B: The first phase on NB011 would be the same, gathering the food, and water and activating the pumping station. The next phase would be to ignore Hrkar altogether and go to the Yugoslav Space Station Lepoglava in the Kufiri nebula, a voyage of 10 days. At the station get the warp drive fixed and call home to inform them of their predicament. While a lot safer option for the crew and the smaller number of days they would spend in space would make it more comfortable for the mental state of Lupus and their limited supplies would last out without worry.

The downside is that it is an ultimately selfish course of action, they would be abandoning their comrades on Hrkar and leaving them to certain death. The school rules obligate them to help but the situation in which Lupus is in would mean possible suicide. Is help required to be given if it is at the potential cost of your own life? Should they prioritize themselves or their fellow schoolmates?

Emidio, Lei Mei, and Roy are in support of option A.

Ana, Hitomi, and Curro are in support of option B.

Ljubiša and Khalid: undecided.

Brigham took a look into his soul, he looked deeply into his mind and heart, weighing the two options. He debated within himself:

The optimist in me who has aspirations of becoming a hero is saying go to Hrkar. They are your schoolmates and fellow man, you owe it to them as a human being to save them from their doom. So what if it is dangerous and has little chance of success. The hero always figures it out in the end and I'm sure that I can solve the obstacle of the planet's gravity. You are destined to do great things, generations will be retelling your daring rescue effort. You may get streets and schools named after you like Curro's dad Celio. You will be killing any potential survivors if you don't go to Hrkar.

On the other hand, the realist in me is saying how unrealistic and wishful thinking that first option is. What are you talking about with these notions 'The hero always figures it out'. You are a 15-year-old boy with no space travel experience, and you are somehow able to pull off a trick that seasoned pilots have problems with high gravity. You are putting the lives of you and Lupus in danger with this idiotic self-righteous thinking. Remember how suddenly and quickly Mok lost his life, he seemed invincible to you and yet a veteran like him got killed by an explosion. Just like that, in a second, his life had vanished, even with all of the experience, he still died like any other mortal man. You are not special, all of you will die if you go to Hrkar.

Brigham took one deep breath and simply said:

"Option B, we are going to the Yugoslav Space Station." A mix of cheers, bewilderment, anger, and relief was felt from Lupus. Khalid and Ljubiša gave a thumbs up to support the captain's final decision.

Brigham continued, speaking firmly: "While I understand the moral responsibility of helping Ovis and Serpens, the journey to Hrkar is too great of a risk. It is true, what you said Roy, the school's code of conduct compels us to look after one another, the same goes for when we all enter the military one day, never leave a comrade behind. That doesn't mean at any cost! And that rule applies to your own unit or group. Right now I am your captain, all you Lupus. Not theirs. I am responsible for your lives and your safety. If we go to Hrkar I am jeopardizing all of your lives along the way. I can't do that."

Murmurs drowned out any audible conversation in the Bridge, everyone had an opinion on Brigham's decision. The debate was about to reopen but Brigham unrelenting spoke again raising his voice:

"No more discussion! My decision is final. I will not be changing my mind. Captain's orders. Everyone get back to your posts and let's set a course for NB011."

The crew came under his authority and everyone stopped arguing. Before they could truly go to their next destination some reshuffling was in order of responsibilities and there was the problem of the escape pods.

With the meals prepared and lack of any injuries, Hitomi and Lei Mei would join Khalid and Ljubiša as guards of the ship. The four of them would patrol the vessel together searching for new clues, they would also be checking the other officers if they were in their posts and provide bathroom escorts if needed.

Ana, Roy, Curro, and Emidio were going to retain their current positions of navigation, communication, main computer, and propulsion respectively. Brigham debated moving Emidio internally, but none of his classmates were suitable replacements. As the new captain he was obligated to name a deputy, in case something happened to the blue-haired student such that he wouldn't be able to continue to perform his duties. Like for example death. Unsurprisingly, Brigham appointed his best friend Curro to be his deputy and potential replacement.

The next problem was the escape pods. The escape pods were self-explanatory in their purpose, but they had an amazing feature, hibernation. In the event of a catastrophe on board like the one they faced, a crew member can use the escape pod to leave the ship, it would stay in place and send out short-range distress signals. How would one survive in a tiny escape pod in space without food or water, considering it could be months and years before they are found?

The escape pod freezes the user into a hibernation-like state, allowing the user to survive for up to 10 years frozen in the escape pod, they wouldn't even age in that 10-year period. Why didn't the crew just use the escape pods and hibernate for 2 months waiting for help? Because of a cost-saving measure by the Solatium corporation, only 3 escape pods were installed in their vessel. Escape pods are very rarely used so they were built as an afterthought on this ship. Especially since they would be seemingly unnecessary for their exam.

Brigham had realized what kind of temptation these escape pods were for the crewmembers. Many of them probably thought, namely Hitomi, why don't I just use one to save myself. Screw the rest, every man for himself. To stop a potential situation like this, Brigham ordered all 3 escape pods would be launched empty. A controversial decision, he justified it by saying:

"It's either all of us or none of us. No other way are we surviving this, we have to be together and united!"

With all of that out of the way, the kids went into their positions. The ship moved at full speed towards the snowy planetoid NB011, they would arrive in less than 2 hours. What perils and challenges wait for them there, the students couldn't even begin to imagine…