The Atlanteans of Proxima b: Chapter 8
17th - 19th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732
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Captain's Log, 17th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732
1200 Hours
Korinna has remained silent, staring off into the distance since Akakios left. Her future, the future of all her people, rests in the hands of mine now, with Rex Haverham as their spokesman. God has a sense of humour.
1230 Hours
Korinna asked how Atlantis disappeared back on Gaia. I told her what I knew from the myths which is Atlantis fell because of hubris, losing the favour of the gods for attempting to invade Athens and being sunk beneath the waves for it. That is at least what Plato says and he is the only writer even remotely contemporaneous with Atlantis of Earth.
She scoffed at that tale with the phrase, “How Atlantean,” and continued her brooding.
I have no idea how true Plato's words are and given the city has never been found I can only assume whoever destroyed it did such a thorough job as to wipe them from history. I cannot imagine the anger such level of destruction would take. For all the tales of Rome salting the soil of Carthage we still know of Carthage, for Jericho's walls falling from an act of God we still know it existed. Atlantis's end is on a whole other level of deistic fury.
Rex should be back home now, I'm sure to great intrigue and concern as an Atlantean ship and soldiers go with him. I hope the soldiers have the wherewithal not to go with him into the colony.
Captain's Log, 18th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732
0800 Hours
Akakios has informed Korinna she is to stand trial for treason. Today. At noon in the Ecclesia, given my involvement I am being permitted entrance and to come with this device I use to make these logs. They want it as evidence but seeing as no-one here knows how it works, and only a couple understand the language, it appears I am at an advantage. I pray I can use it to save Korinna life, all she wanted was a future for her people.
Akakios is to remain with us until the appointed hour. I imagine that means we will be in silence for the morning.
1130 Hours
Attempts at conversation were made but none were nourished. Akakios looks like a man betrayed by his own brother, or sister in this case. Why he cannot see that this is the only way I do not know, hopefully the truth will be revealed at the hearing.
1145 Hours
Soldiers have arrived to escort us to the Ecclesia. Different to the usual ones my apartment has, dressed in black robes and carrying long pole arms, though the end clearly emit some form of projectile, alongside a ferocious looking spear tip.
For a moment I thought Akakios was going to relieve me of this device but he has thought better of it at the last second, he didn't say anything though so I am at a loss to what is going through his mind.
1200 Hours
Korinna and I stand in the centre of a vast circular theatre, the tiered benches encircling us in two half-moons. A domed ceiling with holes carved to look like sunflowers in full bloom fills the chamber with natural light. Men, all greying or bald to some degree and dressed in togas, occupy the seats, though many are vacant.
Akakios whispers with the toga wearer who visited me in the cell in the undertown. He is seated with two others on the front bench facing Korinna and I, our prosecutors I take it. Or Korinna's at least, it is not clear if I am inculcated in the crime. I presume I must be.
1215 Hours
More assemblymen have arrived, though not many more. The soldiers who escorted us have left and the doors have been closed. Akakios wants me to hand over this device, I do not see a reason to refuse. He cannot access it without my biometrics.
1330 Hours
Akakios returned the device to me in order that I may share evidence of our plot to reveal the Atlantean weakness to my colony, the “newcomers”. If I had gone back with the egg-thing and Rex Haverham had stayed they wouldn't have any evidence about anything other than anthropological observations Rex had made...
The whole proceeding is opaque to me and not just because of the language. Akakios has translated the relevant parts for me but I am still at a loss. Korinna is ashen faced, I take it is not going well.
1600 Hours
Akakios stood over me as I went through my logs, all the way back to when we were still in orbit aboard The Ark, as if an ancient enemy of the Atlantean's planned this all the way back on Earth. I am sure I am exaggerating. He demonstrated his reading ability, and translating on the fly, though Korinna took issue with some of the translations which roused the Ecclesia's leading men. Mostly around how the plan to steal the egg-thing occurred and why. It is striking that in all this time no one has called the thing by its name instead Korinna and Akakios referred to it as “the specimen”, at least that is what they are translating their word too. Of course there isn't a word in my language for it so perhaps they are unsure how to adapt their language to mine.
Anyway, I have been returned to the apartment until tomorrow when proceedings will continue. Korinna is in a cell in the undertown and is forbidden visitors, just as I was. The soldiers have all been changed to ones I assume are loyal to Akakios and the Ecclesia so there is no hope of sneaking out, not that I would try it now. I have to hope Rex has convinced our Council to investigate “the specimen” and that they are able to relay the information back quickly through whatever system the Atlanteans have.
Captain's Log, 19th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732
0900 Hours
A new day and the hearing continues. Already I am being escorted to the Ecclesia, there is no time to waste it seems.
0930 Hours
Korinna is already here. She stands in the centre of the room with her wrists and ankles shackled wearing a shapeless floor length black smock. Her eyes are ringed in purple, blood around her nails were she has bitten them down and pierced the skin.
Akakios is already on his feet, eager to start, but the assemblyman beside him instructs him to sit down by grabbing his sleeve and pointing at the bench.
1000 Hours
The chamber is almost full of assemblyman who have kept to the upper levels and citizens who have been permitted entry to witness the sentencing. There are no children, though given how rare they are for the Atlanteans I cannot tell if that is because children are forbidden entry or there are none to attend. Akakios's family is not present.
1030 Hours
The assemblyman beside Akakios is satisfied and has given him leave to begin. Only there is nothing to begin. Korinna is as white as snow and it is several minutes before Akakios translates for my benefit, I will transcribe below:
Judgement has been wrought on Korinna for her part in a treasonous plot against her own tribe. The theft and transfer of “the specimen” to the enemy as well as the revealing of our secrets and weakness to said enemy. All are unforgivable in the eyes of the Ecclesia. Korinna's sentence is death, three days hence, an auspicious day for justice.
I expected days more hearing but instead it is over as quickly as it began. Three days... three days. Great things can happen in three days, I must not give up hope even if Korinna has.
Akakios continues:
Tomorrow we will begin the hearing regarding the enemy spy sent here to destroy us.
Spy?! If the hearing is as short as Korinna's was then I'll be heading for the gallows sooner rather than later. I can only pray to God to save me and for Rex Haverham to hurry up. My life depends on it.
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Thanks for reading! I am still somewhat ill but no longer confined to my bed.