Evangeline Anastasia McDowell

[Bazza]

Entry#: 137
Date: 20 - 02 - 819 AS @ 10:10 SUT
Title: Untitled.

A couple of things.

First off, the deal with Mr. K dried up as quickly as it fell to my feet - which perfectly coincides with the recent armistice set out between Kusari and the Junker Congress. I kind of figured this out earlier but this Mr. K is probably someone from the Kusarian seat of power. That's about all I'm ever likely to learn. For all I know now I could have been talking with the Emperor or a Fleet Admiral...

Aside from that, my most recent captive has been dumped at Freeport 4 with "Undeliverable - Return to Sender" stamped to his forehead. Where Blake goes from there is not any of my business. Nor is the whereabouts of that stupid Incursus.

Whilst we were out there, I had my dear associate Xii in his gunship terrorise, pillage and plunder another of those unguarded mining transports I adore so much. After the captain's expected refusal to politely "spill his bay", Xii wasted not a moment in opening it for us. Thousands of tonnes of unprocessed gold ore fell into my possession and were furtively ushered away into the confines of the Silico.

That ore alone will pay the wages and supplies needed by my employees for over a month. Not bad for a single day's work if I may say so. We returned to Kansas with the ship full to the brim. Later on after the heat has died down we'll be setting a course for Liberty to launder it.

Upon returning to Alsatia we held a minor celebration regarding the pressurisation of what will become the bases' main warehouse facility. I haven't yet worked out exactly how big it is but it's pretty close to the same size of the cargo bay of the ship sharing it's moniker. The blast doors were locked shut and after running through a long list of checks and procedures I personally released the stopper on the tanks of compressed air we'd been storing inside.

The air recirculation system we borrowed from a merchant transport is working faultlessly, the completely electric device pumping air through ducting affixed to the roof by whatever means possible, including but not limited to a rope of cable ties strung together and wrapped around it.

I do have something resembling a plan laid out for the final shape of the facility, but for the moment things are simply being placed "wherever seems like a good idea". Currently standing are the primary airlocks at the entrance - two doors both sealed around and through to prevent air loss and the outer shielded with ablative armour plating to prevent unwanted guests. On the atmospheric side of the inner lock is a small landing cut out of the dense, rocky ground which houses things like space suits, emergency air supplies and so forth.

After that a 30-meter passageway deep into the cliff face opens up into a large open expanse filled with a plethora of cargo containers, scrap of all varieties and of course the men and women who are working tirelessly to finish this project. Strobe lighting haphazardly installed into the raw ceiling brightens the unfinished, jagged features of the walls. The floor features a thick layer of concrete over the otherwise equally rough rock bed below it, the final result proving unexpectedly level and true when the... "skills" of those tasked with laying it are considered.

For the moment the main priority now is expanding outwards from this central establishment. The barracks is top of the list for the next stage to be constructed. A small corridor is currently being worked on leading off the warehouse which will have another blast door installed at the entrance.

One thing that is forever crossing my mind is the fact that any breach of this network could cause complete loss of everything if not properly isolated. I have assembled blast doors, air locks, emergency air supplies, space suits and no-return valves amongst a selection of other safety measures to prevent what I believe to be the single worst fate imaginable.

Humans need three things to survive. Air, food and water.

One can live for three weeks without food.

Three days without water.

Three minutes without air.

Food is easy enough to produce and store. Water is the same. Put them in a box and you're fine.

Air is a completely different ball game. Supplies are easy enough, yes, but even a relatively small leak in this closed circuit could easily prove fatal. I have seen with my own eyes... what happens to someone who is evicted into a vacuum unprotected.

It is not something I would wish upon my worst enemy.

As the construction continues, I find my heart racing every time one of my people step outside Alsatia's protection. Each time the airlock opens, I lord over these people to ensure their safety.

Having this much life in my hands is not a new thing to me. But wanting to protect it rather than demolish it... is new. It's not something I've experienced before.

It's stressful at times, but, I think I enjoy it.

As for why I'm writing so early on a Sunday morning? A certain little demoness decides my waking hours now. The matter is no longer in my control.

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