Futility
03 Dec 2024Oxforth
Commander Oxforth - Tuesday, December 3, 3310 Location: V886 Centauri
Vessel: Imperial Cutter - [HRAESVELGIR]
Fleet Carrier: [Q2K-37G] GalVik - INNHERRED
Mission Overview: Sol System Evacuation
Commander's Log:
The message from the Pilots' Federation hit me pretty hard. There’s no sugar-coating it: we can’t save everyone. Twenty-two point eight billion souls in Sol, and we’re racing the clock to rescue as many as we can before Titan Cocijo casts its shadow over the cradle of humanity. Every trip out of Sol feels like a drop in an endless ocean. And yet, each drop matters.
Hraesvelgr is holding up admirably. The modifications have proven themselves, and she’s already ferried thousands to safety. But even with her size and speed, it feels like emptying a sinking ship with a bucket. I push her hard, cutting through interdictions and skimming past Thargoid patrols. Every successful jump feels like a small rebellion against the inevitability of the Titan’s arrival.
And yet, I can't ignore the storm gathering on the horizon. This isn't just an evacuation; it's a battle against time and an enemy that shows no mercy. The Pilots' Federation is right: the moment Cocijo arrives, everything changes. The evacuation missions, as dire and important as they are now, will have to take a backseat. The priority will shift from saving lives to holding the line. Cocijo’s arrival will mark a turning point—a time for AX pilots to rise and fight, myself included.
I’ve been avoiding the fight directly, focusing on the evacuation effort, but the truth is I’ve never shied away from a battle when humanity’s survival was on the line. The *Solar Valkyrie* and *Kraken* are ready for such a moment. If the call comes to swap passenger cabins for AX weaponry, I’ll answer it without hesitation. Until then, the Hraesvelgr and I will keep ferrying refugees to safety.
I won't let despair win. Every person I transport to Cornwallis is another voice added to humanity’s song, a voice that might otherwise be silenced forever. I see the gratitude in their eyes when they step onto the megaship. That’s enough to keep me going. For now.
But when Cocijo arrives, I’ll reassess. Duty demands it.
For humanity. For the cradle. For the future.
Oh-seven,
CMDR Oxforth
ADDENDUM: Reflections
The latest updates on GalNet paint a grim picture, but I can't help wondering what parts of the story we’re not being told. Cocijo’s imminent arrival has sent Sol into chaos, yet the specifics remain murky. Twenty-two billion lives are at stake, but how many can realistically be saved? Even with every ship, station, and megaship working at capacity, the scale of this evacuation feels impossible.
The reports of riots and attacks on medical facilities are horrifying, but also strangely predictable. Fear twists people. The idea that some citizens believe abductees "summoned" Cocijo sounds ludicrous, but is it entirely baseless? We know so little about Thargoid behavior or motives; could there be something to it that no one is willing to say out loud? Or is it just humanity clinging to superstition in the face of annihilation?
Then there’s Seo Jin-ae. GalNet portrays her as a scapegoat for the growing unrest, accused of exposing Earth to the Thargoids through her supposed hive-mind connection. It’s easy to dismiss the claims as the ramblings of terrified people grasping for someone to blame. But what if there's some truth buried in the noise? Did her actions, however unintended, place a beacon over Sol? Or is she another victim of humanity’s inability to accept the unknown?
The Federation’s efforts seem monumental on paper, but I can’t shake the feeling that the scale of this operation is beyond their control. They promise more rescue megaships, more coordination, and more hope. But will it be enough? And what happens if it isn’t? What happens when Cocijo arrives and we’re still trying to get people off Earth?
I also can’t help but wonder about the Empire and the Alliance. Will they see this moment as a call to unity, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Federation in defense of humanity's birthplace? Or will they see it as an opportunity? The Empire, with its deep disdain for Federal bureaucracy, might choose this moment to consolidate power, expanding its influence while the Federation burns in Thargoid fire. The Alliance, with its looser ties and ever-watchful eye on independence, could just as easily seize key systems or resources under the guise of protecting its citizens. I want to believe in humanity’s ability to unite in times of crisis, but history offers little assurance.
I also find myself wondering about the broader picture. Cocijo isn’t just another Titan; it’s the final one. Why target Sol, the heart of human civilization, and why now? The Thargoids’ motives have always been opaque, but this feels calculated—almost symbolic. Are they trying to send a message? Or is this simply the next logical step in their campaign of destruction?
For now, the best I can do is keep running my missions, ferrying as many as possible out of danger. But I know this evacuation is just the prelude. When Cocijo arrives, the calculus changes. Rescuing lives might give way to defending them in combat. The *Hraesvelgr* is built for speed, not battle, but there’s time yet to prepare for the worst.
Will the Federation, the Alliance, and the Empire unite against the common enemy, or will politics and pride drive us to ruin? The answer might determine whether Sol endures—or becomes the site of humanity’s greatest tragedy.
The more I think about it, the more questions I have. The truth feels elusive, and the weight of uncertainty is almost as heavy as the evacuation effort itself.
Oh-seven,
CMDR Oxforth