Captain’s Log 1424.143

Medical assistance to Sector O successfully completed.

On our return we came across a civilisation known locally as Kiitavil. They are friendly traders. Their technology is far more advanced than ours. Their colony is near the old trading port of Eaon.

One piece we are interested in acquiring is a telescope capable of incredible detail, more advanced than anything we have in the Federation. With it we shall be able to learn more of our neighbouring civilisations, and topography and culture.

Captain’s Log 1424.142

The Frohgians are encroaching Federation Space once again. Although they are not aggressive in nature their slow spread across the known space is worrying. Little is known about this race. Contact has been made often but because of their introverted character we still have next to no knowledge of their psychology.

At regular intervals the entire universe seems to vibrate with their signal, followed by times of “murmurs”. It has been observed this phenomenon seems to occur during periods of slow solar activity. More observations needed.

Meanwhile, the crew are completing preparations for the medical assistance assignment to Sector O.

Captain’s Log 1419.141

The dreams are all too real. The stories can be played, paused, and stopped at will. And in some ways, more realistic than reality itself, or at least better than reality. So am I a butterfly dreaming of being Zhuangzi, or Zhuangzi dreaming of being a butterfly? I cannot tell anymore. And fear I am losing my mind.

Captain’s Log 1319.140

Unknown fungus-like lifeforms have hitched a ride on one of the shuttles and infected the docking bay during a routine hull check. While we believe we have contained the contamination to the bay and are now using the emergency docking bay for any physical transportation on and off the ship.

On our explorations of Sector 356 we have also encountered a previously unknown caterpillaris species. Two red stripes run along its entire spine enclosing morse-like dots and dashes. At present it covers the entire aft of the USS Signature. Though they do not seem to be damaging the hull we are continuing observations as a  precaution.

A replacement pipe has been found and astroculture production have restarted after routine maintenance was completed.

Chemtrails, Beck

hollow awe followed by
the complete decadence
of drums

the scene is set in cold
cold waters
what exactly is happening
only we can guess

to be sure
the throng of people
is imagined
like a painting by Bosch
only in my mind
in psychedelic blue

no conspiracies here
just airy travel trails
high, up in the stratosphere

wild guitars stop abruptly
only to fade in once more
the drummer boy
not wanting to end

the euphoria of music
must continue

heisei

for thirty-years
and a little bit more
you had become pacified

the past still haunts us
as long as there are
those who remember it

brightly but not luminous
you leave us
we are grateful, not sad

for not since
two centuries
has this happened

an orderly and peaceful
end to the gentle
quietude of your reign

by your side
the strength of your queen
so to speak

and now it shall continue –
the common good even
if it is with spiritual overtones

welcome
welcome
new era

The end of an era in Japan

2019.

We don’t think much about it but it is the start of the Post-Christ era. Like everything else we need to place things relative to each other. Time is no different.

In Japan the Gregorian calendar is used in conjunction with the Japanese “nengo” or era name. The present era is Heisei, the name chosen for the present Emperor’s reign which started in 1988. The two Chinese characters of the name means “becoming peaceful”. And it has been relatively peaceful. This year, 2019, is the 31st year of his reign. But this will end on May 1st when he abdicates.

Abdication is not the norm for the Japanese imperial family. Usually they reign until death. This is perhaps only the second time in history that an emperor had abdicated, and the first in modern Japanese history. So the citizens have no idea what to expect.

The country is also holding its breath as to the name of the new era which is being decided by the government at the moment. We will find out on April 1st.