Phoenix internal affairs: Ad astra per aspera

[Alvin]

Jonathan,

Let me be among the first to say that Desponia will once again rise to answer the call.

In fact, I welcome this change in direction, having seen scientific endeavours increasingly sidelined or redirected toward security-oriented projects in more recent times. I often remind my students and colleagues that, no matter the political distractions or conflicts thrown our way, we must never stop looking outward toward the stars.


As for the Desponia, this very vessel once served as one of our stellar cartography platforms during the Great Voyage not so long ago, helping to survey and chart paths for the core fleet as we pressed forward.

We will, of course, require time to prepare. Since returning to Sirius, the ship has been repurposed into a conference and accommodation vessel and is currently hosting a symposium near Heisenberg Station. Once the event concludes, we will make our return to the Omicrons at best speed.

I will instruct the Captain to initiate preparations and arrange for a full refit at Livadia. The ship will revert to its deep-space configuration, with the conference suite converted back into drone bays, excess accommodations into functional offices and drone control centres. The existing research labs will be re-equipped for survey operations, and the databanks cleared in anticipation of the upcoming mission.

While some of our surveyors and researchers have since moved on, a significant number remain onboard or within close reach, and they are eager to lend their expertise once more. Opportunities for potential true deep-space work are rare within House space, and this opportunity is not one they will pass up lightly.

I also intend to reach out to several philanthropists I’ve met through outreach efforts, individuals sympathetic to our cause and to the broader pursuit of exploration; with the aim of securing funding to cover the refit and operational expenses for the survey and preparations for deep space should we find it.