Post by Itanecrio on Apr 23, 2010 20:06:55 GMT -5
The face in the screen is that of Bursor Mitheithal, first assistant to the Fleet Admiral of the Green Mother. One of the few crew never to have undergone cryo-stasis during the six year journey Green Mother underwent to reach the Polyphemus system the Bursor seems notably careworn. Always a thin figure of a man, there now shows under his eyes the ridge of the ocular cavity itself, his collar bones show beneath the practical weave of standard issue ship-side uniform. But his face is, as always, a map of genuine care and attempted efficiency.
"Professor Wolfe. I trust this message -and I apologise for not having the time to schedule a live feed with you-" The Bursar's eyes flick to the side, and he nods, presumably summoned to attend to the Fleet Admiral. "Our investors have quite openly received the word of the initiative to have some of the Pandora-born children screened as possible drivers; some of them are in their third and second generation of life on Pandora. We hope to appeal to the Na'vi in this light, that their home is now truly and utterly these children's home...
"But it brings things into a new light. It really does make a certain admission that the Green Mother mission is a diplomatic one, a certain plea for help implied, and a clear admission that the humans allowed to remain are granted a certain righteousness, even over us -who are very much on parole.
"I'm certain all of this has been perfectly clear to you as well.
"But people at the top have been speaking with the Heads of the Pandoran-human-Community -and even they are concerned. The question is, while we remain aloof from the Na'vi, we can but wonder how long will we be allowed to remain here before one of the Na'vi societies throws us out. We are strictly forbidden to resist them by any force of arms..." The bursar wipes his thin forehead with a handkerchief -every moment of the eleven years he has sustained his active duty showing on his face. "The ship has already carried out five of her potential for fifteen years, and we have made precious little in terms of advance. It remains likely our hopes will remain with a community being able to remain if we needs must return to Earth. A resupply ship is a possibility, but still only buys us so much more time.
"The likely Pandoran-born applicants are being sent from the diverse communities, such as they have been on Pandora before we arrived. We really don't know much about them Professor. All we know is that they've survived against some considerable odds, and with no help from Earth, or us, the long while.
"We're wondering, professor, if you'd agree to oversee the initiative. There are some big investors seeing the potential in this..." He leaves the suggestion of a significant pay-packet unspoken. "They would be most grateful indeed to hear word that a Na'vi leader has heard, and understood the significance, that there are humans who are now Pandoran... If needs be, please forward your response, or any concerns I may have overlooked."
"Professor Wolfe. I trust this message -and I apologise for not having the time to schedule a live feed with you-" The Bursar's eyes flick to the side, and he nods, presumably summoned to attend to the Fleet Admiral. "Our investors have quite openly received the word of the initiative to have some of the Pandora-born children screened as possible drivers; some of them are in their third and second generation of life on Pandora. We hope to appeal to the Na'vi in this light, that their home is now truly and utterly these children's home...
"But it brings things into a new light. It really does make a certain admission that the Green Mother mission is a diplomatic one, a certain plea for help implied, and a clear admission that the humans allowed to remain are granted a certain righteousness, even over us -who are very much on parole.
"I'm certain all of this has been perfectly clear to you as well.
"But people at the top have been speaking with the Heads of the Pandoran-human-Community -and even they are concerned. The question is, while we remain aloof from the Na'vi, we can but wonder how long will we be allowed to remain here before one of the Na'vi societies throws us out. We are strictly forbidden to resist them by any force of arms..." The bursar wipes his thin forehead with a handkerchief -every moment of the eleven years he has sustained his active duty showing on his face. "The ship has already carried out five of her potential for fifteen years, and we have made precious little in terms of advance. It remains likely our hopes will remain with a community being able to remain if we needs must return to Earth. A resupply ship is a possibility, but still only buys us so much more time.
"The likely Pandoran-born applicants are being sent from the diverse communities, such as they have been on Pandora before we arrived. We really don't know much about them Professor. All we know is that they've survived against some considerable odds, and with no help from Earth, or us, the long while.
"We're wondering, professor, if you'd agree to oversee the initiative. There are some big investors seeing the potential in this..." He leaves the suggestion of a significant pay-packet unspoken. "They would be most grateful indeed to hear word that a Na'vi leader has heard, and understood the significance, that there are humans who are now Pandoran... If needs be, please forward your response, or any concerns I may have overlooked."