PERSONAL LOG ENTRY
DATE: February 26, 2340
TIME: 19:47, Canterlot Standard Time
RECORDING BEGIN
[The sound of a bottle being uncorked]
Where I’m originally from, it’s supposed to be near the end of winter, with hopeful minds looking forward to the coming spring. Here, I’m told we are at the beginnings of Fall, and the so-called “Running of the Leaves” will take place, quickly followed by the autumn rains. Personally, I think these cloud pushers would have made a killing back on Earth and the colonies. To be able to make it rain in any given area is a farmer’s dream, and it’s all second nature to them here.
It’s going to be hard to associate February as being an autumn month now. I could just shift my entire calendar and make today September twenty-sixth, but there are larger issues to deal with right now than calendar shifting.
So, I think it’s safe to say that the situation down on the surface has gone from bad to slightly worse. Instead of just facing a group of potentially hostile Grayclaw Griffons, we now must resolve a much more delicate hostage crisis. Celestia has said that she is going to take diplomatic actions in order to secure her release, but when the Griffon ambassador left with the Grayclaw airships, I don’t see how that’s going to be possible. When representatives leave, history tells me that it’s the nail in the coffin in diplomacy.
The one called Shining Armor made it a point while we were in council to voice a plan that would attempt to extract the princess using tactical resources. Twilight had told me that he used to be a soldier; Captain of the Royal Guard, if I’m not mistaken. He was… displeased when Celestia shot his request down, but something about his demeanor, and the way he walked out… tells me he hasn’t accepted the answer. I shared my thoughts with Spitfire when I came back aboard, but she says Shining’s loyalty to the princess has no question. I pray that she is right. I can think of hundreds of people who would gladly throw their loyalty to the wind if it meant the safety of their loved ones.
Speaking of Spitfire, I’m told by Des that she commanded well. A bit timidly, at first, but well nonetheless. A crack commander she’d be. I’m curious as to what her answer will be about the XO position. Part of me wishes that she’ll just take the spot, while the other respects her concern of her current position. I’m sure she has spent her entire life getting to where she is now, and for someone like me to just come in and slide a second-in-command spot at her takes great consideration. I told her the list of candidates was short, which wasn’t a lie, since her name was the only one on the list.
[Sipping noises]
It’s been a while since I was able to enjoy a nice glass-- oh, who am I kidding -- a nice bottle of wine. A Pinot Noir, from 2327. It’s a shame I’m not sharing such a rare vintage with anyone. Maybe I'll give Sptifire a call. She looks the type that'd enjoy a glass or two.
I discovered the birthday present my brother gave me as I was moving my personal items to Commander Mandkea’s quarters, much to my protest. Even as I sit in here now, I still feel like I should be resting back at Pilot’s Row, not in the compartment that is at least three times the size of what I was used to. Not that I’m complaining. The space is nice, and I’ve got my own private washroom and kitchenette. I just get this feeling that I won’t live up to expectations.
Speaking of feelings, I was doing some research for Twilight about other instances of genocide in human history and if there was a possible solution that could be learned from them. Sadly, the only “solution” I was ever able to conclude from my readings was to declare full-scale war. I don’t intend to present this as a possibility to Twilight or the other princesses, but I digress from what I was trying to say.
I was reading about an old twentieth century war known as World War II, one of the worst, as I was told by my History of Warfare instructors. The attempted genocide of those of Hebrew descent is… appalling. But it wasn’t found out until the actual invasion of the continent of Europe in 1944 that this… extermination, was occurring. Certainly someone knew about this. What do you think would have happened had the Allies would have reacted faster, say, about 1938? How many lives could have been saved?
What would have happened had we reacted sooner? How many lives could I have saved? The story that Gilda told me on the way to Canterlot… We had the time, the resources to act, and we sat up here, thinking that our hands were bound. We sat and watched this happen, watched homes be destroyed, families torn apart, watching brother fight brother… and we did nothing.
But it’s too late now. A wise man once told me, “You can’t ‘what if’ history.” If anything, we saved a small clutch of Goldclaws, so they will remember and pass down the stories of this day to their children.
I’m making myself a promise. I have already seen one species go extinct before my own eyes. I will not see another.
If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go drown my sorrow.
RECORDING END