After hearing both sides, arguments erupted. I felt unprepared and under qualified to make such a big decision. I had only been working here for two rotations around the star. While I have definitely advanced quickly, I still felt overwhelmed often.
When I started, the invader was a new commodity. Recently discovered and completely foreign to us. Now, through extensive research, we know some about its species.
I bang the table three times for silence. The noise slowly dies out. "I have made a decision."
They all look around to one another. Some express excitement, others worry, but only one stayed stoic. The head of our department, Noah. He proposed the idea of leaving our planet for another.
"I propose we allocate funds to both endeavors. We fight the invader while also preparing to disembark. If the fight works, we keep our planet. The shuttle can be used to pioneer and explore other solar systems. If our fight fails, we use it to find a new home."
The room rang out in agreement. We were dismissed. It was the wee hours of the morning. I sent a comm to my family to let them know I worked late and was staying at work.
In my lab there was a small cot that popped out of the wall for occasions like these. At first, I had spent many nights here. I liked the hum of the machinery and the silence. Over time, my family convinced me that I would be marrying age soon and should spend as much time with them as I could.
As I laid in the cot, I thought of the universe in its vast entirety. Thinking about pioneering to another planet, I smiled. I fell asleep picturing an endless sea of stars.