Entry#: 139
Date: 5 - 03 - 819 AS @ 18:56 SUT
Title: Untitled.
There are currently four people privileged enough to share my bed with me. Those people are Misaka, Sakura, Sanya and when he's feeling manly, Gunther. Nearing the top of the "People I never thought I'd share a bed with" list are many, many people whom are there with just cause. However, one of the very highest members of this list betrayed their status as such this week.
"I never thought I'd share a bed with Fleet Admiral David Hale."
Well, alright. It was nothing more than two people lacking in energy with no chair to sit on handy but still. Admiral Hale was on _my_ bed with _me_ next to him.
Yes, that also means he knows all about the construction of Alsatia. I would like to think that he won't be bringing the Durango out here and pulling a creeper on me. He seems to like me enough that he won't do that.
I somehow managed to blindly run into David on a mission in his fighter in New York on the way back from Manhattan with a full load of supplies. Perhaps he had been following the ship, perhaps it was blind luck. Either way, he instantly recognised the ship upon seeing it and made use of the encrypted radio it boasts.
After some idle schmoozing, David decided to escort us for the duration of our convoy back to Kansas. I forget exactly where along the line I allowed it to happen but he eventually ended up in orbit over Wichita alongside the Silico. From there he was given a guided tour of the new Alsatia, the trip culminating in a visit to the master quarters embedded into the stone base of the moon.
Of course by that time we were both pretty wasted, having endured the arduous flight across _absolutely nothing_ that Kansas presents to people. One thing led to another and the poor guy ended up crapping out on the bed for a while before being forced to float off home by his duties. I do hope he made it back in one piece...
After getting the main facility air-tight and pressurised, priority turned to making the facility self-sufficient. For the duration of the project to date, food has been imported from a variety of sources, in various and occasionally dubious quantities and qualities. Short of buying myself an entire biodome, which is somewhat unlikely, I've decided to invest in a hydroponic setup to grow enough basic food to keep the bases' permanent staff supplied. As large as the current population is, it is comprised mainly of labourers who will dissipate once the bulk of the construction work is completed, leaving only a handful of people behind - basically me, my family and a small selection of the company's employees.
As for other matters. Little Sanya is growing up much faster than I remember babies doing so, already boasting a full head of blonde hair and an ever-increasing body weight. When I hold her in my arms I can tell she's going to become a white devil just like her mum - and I can't wait until she does so. She is, for the most part, a quiet and good natured baby - apparently in contrast to how I was. I am not holding out for the status quo to remain as it is, however - McDowell women are known for being... temperamental. I already know what she's like when she doesn't get her breakfast. She doesn't quite understand that she needs to share those things with other people.... greedy little tart.
One item of note is the apparent return of stability to the McDowell harem, a concept that had been sorely missed for some time. Misaka has become a loving, doting mother in her own right - despite her young age. She gets along wonderfully with our little demoness who despite sharing no biological link with, has adopted as her own daughter entirely.
Sanya's "big sister", Sakura, has continued to be a bastion of happiness in what has occasionally been a very stifling, stagnant environment. That little girl's smile is capable of dragging any and all of us out of the pits of depression and support us through our troubles no matter how grave they seem. She is also acutely aware of the fact her birthday is coming up, something the little angel enjoys imparting upon her elders in the family with regularity. So in about 3 weeks we'll be throwing her a huge party to celebrate.
Rachel, the newest member of the company, has taken on the role of babysitter and nanny to the girls when, for whatever reason, the two of us are unavailable. It is somewhat difficult to sneak away for some private time together when there are two children, a swathe of workers and an armada of other labourers dotted over the base all seeking your attention immediately.
Although I feel confident in leaving Rachel to nursing duties, I am hesitant to lend her to any other task. She is sweet, caring and loving but... her practical skills are sorely lacking. The poor kid can barely fly and after the last farce involving one of her blonde moments, I feel she's best suited to maternal tasks.
Most of Alsatia's framework is now in place and the majority of the heavy work has been done. Already a few people have been sent packing with their earned credits in tow, stripping the workforce down by almost a quarter. As more and more of the project is completed, fewer and fewer tasks will be outsourced - the heavy labour requirement being replaced with the need for technical skills. That is where we will step up our involvement.
If you'd told me a year ago I would be where I am now I'd've laughed at you and called you an idiot. Every now and then I take a step back from everything and look at it from an overview - and it really does amaze me just how much I have accomplished here.
I mean, just how many Junkers can lay claim to an underground moon base, after all?