Quartday, Sarnat 10th 067.M42

The Planetary Governor made an announcement today - the Mechanicus brotherhood of hive Achlys will be granted exclusive mining rights to the antilium vein under the deep ranges. This isn't a surprise, but it's good to hear that the mining rights aren't going to the offworld parties and that's much better for Asphodel in the long run.

The antilium will be mined and transferred to Achlys for refining, then from Achlys it'll be run on the rail lines under the shallow sea to Tartarus for dividing into what's remaining on-world and what's going off-world and what's going to the Tithe.

Sixty percent is remaining on-world for Asphodian concerns, including new construction. Twenty five percent is going to the Tithe - a full quarter! But in doing so, for as long as it manages to produce it will significantly reduce our manpower Tithe, which will satisfy some of those critical with such a high cost in human lives being spent - especially when this unknown illness in the lower hive seems to be continuing unabated. And then fifteen is going off-world for general trading. That's going to make some of the merchants unhappy, I'm sure but still. Fifteen percent is going to be a lot of profit.

I caught up with Malik off the floor in my break this afternoon too - Scribe-Master Warders had sourced some recaf for all of us, and he and I ran into each other in the line to get a cup. It was thin and weak, and there was no sugar or milk but it was the best thing I've drunk in my entire life, I swear on the Throne. Something warm to perk us all up really hit the spot, it really seemed to bring some tempers under control and make things feel a bit more bearable. Well, it could have been the recaf and it could have been the announcement, or a little bit of both.

He managed - just before the work order came down - to catch up with a few of his mates from other rows. He reckons we've got six confirmed, with maybe a seventh interested depending on when we eventually work out playing. Ideally we'd like another two more confirmed, but we could play with three a side and an umpire if we're just having friendly matches. I said once we're finally free from all of this that I'd see if I could find anybody down at the pub who'd be interested too. I might have a couple of friends or acquaintances who'd be up for a bit more of a regular game. I think it's something we all could use. I know I could do with the opportunity to blow some steam off.

We'll see. We made plans to catch up for a drink once we've been back on single shifts for a few days, and in the intervening time he'll talk to the other guys who might be interested. More than a few of us have balls lying around, and the pitch down in fifteenth might be a good place to look at setting up to play. I know it's open to public use when there's no schola matches on, and even with five a side, we'd probably only end up using less than a half. I might see if Goran wants to play too. I still owe him a drink for giving me Daisy's contact information, and he's always been a good player. Good-natured, doesn't take things personally.

He also asked if I'd be interested in joining a semi-regular Tarot game that he plays in a couple of times a month. Low stakes, a few scrip at a time, just with a few mates and some drinks. I've never really been that good with card games - I can handle the numbers fine, but I think I tend to be a bit too expressive to make a good card player. They can see if I've got a good hand or not by the expression on my traitorous face. I just get so excited when I've got a good hand, and I can't help but give it away when things aren't going my way. But he reckons it'll be fine, it's mostly just for fun and the money won goes into a pot that buys more drinks and food for the next game. It sounds like a bit of a laugh in all honesty.

But for now, it's time to collapse once more. The end isn't quite yet in sight, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel, so we just need to keep getting through a day at a time.

Thought for the Day: Survival is an uphill battle. We must always keep pushing or risk being crushed under the weight of our burden.