Sextday, Guire 22nd 067.M42
Everyone got called in to a meeting today. Double shifts are officially in effect, the old cogitator banks are back online and rest days are recalled until further notice. We've received more reports on the depth and breadth of the antilium vein and, well… Everyone is getting excited about this. There was a data leak somewhere yesterday - not necessarily from our Office, but it's not confirmed that it wasn't us either. But the traders and merchant houses have found out, and applications for mining rights and refining contracts are starting to fly.
It's going to get messy. The last time a significant ore vein was uncovered, we're told that it led to open warfare between House Chrydis and the Hadrigan Cartel. And while we weren't told the outcome of that battle, I haven't seen House Chrydis listed on any of the work orders that I've done since I've been here, nor have I ever heard their name in any of the break period gossip.
I also heard a rumour that an astropathic transmission was intercepted, though the stories vary between it being caught before it was properly encrypted and sent, and it being partially successful at getting some data off-world. That's a big worry. If off-world concerns have heard of the potential, we may end up with other Traders and fleets coming down to try and get their stakes laid as well. Though this could also be a partial benefit - more buyers means the price might hopefully be driven up further, but as I said - it's going to get messy.
The increase in work has been a blessing and a curse both in more than one way. It's exhausting. I'm barely able to keep my eyes open over my slate right now. I think I'll be crawling into bed as soon as I'm finished here. And it's kept my mind and my hands busy, focussed on what we're doing and not on…
I can't make my mind up, it's confusing and infuriating and I wish I could just… figure it out. But I can't. Madalene is… She's my direct report. I can't be seen to be favouring her, that's just unconscionable and it's really, honestly against the rules. Fraternisation isn't expressly forbidden, but you are forbidden from showing personal favour or bias, and if it's suspected then you may be counselled and have your pay or breaks restricted and a mark put on your performance record. I don't want that. I'd like to move up, when Scribe-Master Warders moves on or is similarly ascended. And if there's any marks on my record, that may impede my progress. But she's… so nice. She's smart, she's funny… She can hold her liquor like a champion. She's great at the work we do, she's still hitting perfect benchmarks. And… she seems to like me. She asked me out again the other day, before we got the order to work the double shifts. I said I'd have to see when I could, but then we got the orders in and I wasn't able to answer her. I still don't know what to say.
Throne. Maybe I could do this. She's a great performer. I wouldn't have to manage her work that much… we could keep it quiet. Maybe… I don't know. Maybe I need to talk to her about it. Maybe I'm just assuming things and she's just a really nice person and wants to be nice to me for some reason.
Emperor, give me guidance please.
Thought for the Day: Trust is something to be strenuously earned, not given freely.
