The information took less than 30 seconds to flow from the chip to my memory. During the upload I was frozen with pain and fear. It felt like a thousand suns had exploded in my mind. Luckily I did not thrash about like the others. After processing the information, I realized either way I voted would cause a disruption to our work routine.
One side wanted to do a mass evacuation to leave the planet. While the other side wanted to launch an attack on the invader. To do either would require more resources than we had. We would have to petition The Alliance. They were the council that banned travel to our planet.
Both the data gathered and the proposals were well conceived. An opportunity to present to The Alliance comes once a rotation around the star. My decision would dictate our societal norms. I did not feel ready to make such a big decision.
"Scholar Calypso, you are the next, by rank, to cast a vote. We have full confidence in your abilities to decide. You may choose one of three if you are having a difficulty."
One of three was rarely used nowadays. There were three alternatives you could pick if you could not decide during a vote. Someone could vote in your stead. You could pass your vote to the next in rank. Or you could hear each argument from a representative and then vote. Most times it was easier to decide without choosing one of three.
Emotions often hindered rational decision making. I thought of my family. Of our rank and our livelihood. What would they want?
"I propose a one of three. I would like to hear both sides." I was sitting at the table with my hands in my lap.
"Very well. Shall we begin?"
He entered the room, unannounced.
"Sir, this is very untoward."
"My name is..."
"Spe?"