"Humanity won't survive for another millennium. The ship won't last for more than ten years. The oxygen will start to run out. We need to move now, or humankind will come to extinction."

Everyone inside the council room is directly looking to where the high chancellor is sitting, to the leader they call supremo. They are waiting for him to give his words that can change the entire fate of humanity.

While everyone is in panic, the supremo looks exceptionally calm. He is unbothered with the mess and panics his councils are declaring.

"People have eyes and ears. They see what the council is up to, and they hear words from the shadow society. Sooner or later, they will learn about the crisis to which we're trying so hard to hide," said Lady Prim.

All the council members are agitated. They grit their teeth and clench their fists as they witness how their supposed leader seems to care less.

They know that their time is running out. If they do not act immediately, no one will survive the massive destruction.

"Sapat ang ating mga kagamitang pandigma. Isang salita mo lang Hendrick, nakahandang sumugod ang ating mga mandirigma," lakas loob na sambit ng isang heneral.

"Hindi na natin kailangan pang hintayin ang kanilang tugon. Malinaw na ang kanilang sagot sa paanyaya mo, tinanggihan nila tayo." Mababakas ang kawalan ng pasensya ni Heneral Lucio sa binitiwan niyang mga pahayag.

Mas lalong nag-alab ang masidhing kagustuhan na makipagdigmaan ng lahat ng miyembro ng konseho matapos mapakinggan ang maanghang na salita ng pinakamataas na heneral.

"As people of the Earth, we don't take no for an answer. It's either they will acknowledge the friendship we're offering, or they will accept the fate of their race— death from our vile hands," dagdag pa nito.

Slowly, the supremo's eyes moved. His cold and atrocious stare directed at the general. "Are you all prepared to die?"

No one from the upset councils finds the courage to speak as their leader finally begins to utter his words.

Isang simpleng tanong na mula sa bibig ng supremo ang nakapagbigay ng katahimikan sa silid. Tila biglang napipi ang lahat ng miyembro ng samahan. Nabahag ang kanilang buntot nang maulinigan ang nagbabadyang galit ng kanilang pinuno.

Maging si Lady Prim na kilalang walang kinatatakutan ay tinakasan ng tapang. Hindi na nito magawang iangat ang kaniyang tingin sa takot na siya naman ang balingan ni Hendrick.

Hendrick Fernandez Martin is known to be the high chancellor who made the most significant efforts and sacrifices to save the last citizens of the Earth.

He is a soldier, a naturally born leader, an engineer, a scientist, and a pioneer of the gigantic spacecraft to which humanity descend for 15 years now.

He possesses intelligence that no one can outmatch. Every fiber of his brain seems to be working beyond normal. His expertise to pioneer noble discoveries makes him a great leader.

This is the first time he loses his voice in making decisions. The time when everyone is seeking a concrete answer from the person they are looking up.

"The problem with the councils, they talk and worry a lot. They blabber noises and expect the citizens not to hear them. Those people are not deaf nor stupid; they will surely notice the arising problem," Hendrick said distastefully as he shook his head.

"The councils want war with other kinds, but they are not willing to join the battlefield. They like to move and order our soldiers to die like a pawn." Hendrick did not blink as he eyed the members of his council, one by one.

"You want the soldiers to shed blood for you. And when humanity won the war, you are the first to raise your hand and claim success."

Tumayo si Hendrick sa kaniyang puwesto at naglakad patungo sa harap ng malaking bintana. Hindi kita ang reyalidad sa labas dahil sa teknolohiyang nagtatakip ng tunay na kalagayan ng paligid.

Kung titingnan gamit ang mga hubad na mata ng tao, para bang nasa isang mataas na gusali ang lahat. Ang tanawin ay palubog na araw sa silangan habang ang mga nagtatayugang mga gusali na katabi ng kanilang gusali ay puno rin ng abalang mga tao.

Isang simpleng araw kung saan ang mga mayayamang business leaders mula sa iba't ibang kilalang kumpanya ay nagtipon-tipon para sa isang pagpupulong. Iyon ang senaryo na tila ba nagaganap sa kasalukuyan. Isang senaryong malayo sa reyalidad.

"Ninth, detach the window filters and ease the 3D print in location A001," utos ni Hendrick.

Hindi lumipas ang isang minuto ay nangyari nga ang sinabi nito. Binalot ng dilim ang buong silid kasabay noon ang tila pagbaba ng temperatura. Nakatataas ng balahibo ang tanawin sa labas ng malaking bintana.

Napasinghap ang mga kababaihang parte ng konseho nang makita nila ang mga lumulutang na katawan ng mga tao sa labas ng kanilang sinasakyang spacecraft.

Sa malayong tanawin din ay makikita ang planetang matagal na pinaglagian ng sangkatauhan. Nagdidilim na ang kulay nito at mapapansin ang kawalan ng buhay.

Nakalulungkot na isiping aabutin pa ng mahabang panahon bago tuluyang bumalik ang lahat sa dati.

"Look at the damaged bodies of our white soldiers. They are floating in the vastness of nowhere. They don't deserve to float like trash in this galaxy after all the sacrifices they contributed to save millions of lives in this spacecraft."

Lahat ng mata ng mga taong nasa loob ng silid ay nakatingin sa labas. Tinatanaw nila ang mga lumulutang na katawan ng kanilang mga kasama. Walang pagsidlan ang emosyong rumagasa ngayon sa kanila matapos masaksihan kung gaano kalungkot ang kinahantungan ng mga ito.

Makikita ang sabog na ulo at hiwa-hiwalay na parte ng katawan ng mga ito. Butas ang suot na spacesuit at ang mga walang lamang oxygen tank ay sumabog.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Lady Prim nang maramdaman niyang nagbabadyang tumulo ang kaniyang luha.

"The Earth still needs to buy more time to recuperate itself. We have failed as a steward of our planet. Now we have to carry the consequence," malungkot na wika ni Hendrick.

"We managed to withstand the apocalypse, supremo. We live in outer space for a decade and a half now, which is all thanks to you. Now that the engine is starting to fail and the reserved oxygen is insufficient to help hundreds of thousands to breathe, we need to find another place where we could settle and rebuild the entire human race," magalang na pahayag ni Dr. Bloom.

In 2120, the entire human race left the Earth to live in outer space. The then predictions about the apocalyptic events that would cause abolition to humanity turned into a reality.

All civilizations collapsed when extreme poverty, starvation, and various catastrophic disasters swamped in every city. Even the wealthiest country failed to stand still when the strongest earthquake and storms hit their land.

It took three years before the United Nations believe the theories created by Hendrick Martin about the natural way the Earth resets itself. It will take a hundred years before the planet becomes livable again. By that time, humans need to search for a place where they could form civilization and a home to stay.

"Stephen Hawking has been telling us what must be done before things got anticipated and out of control. We did nothing but laugh at his words. Now, we will not repeat our foolishness, supremo. Allow us to claim and colonize another planet so our race could survive," pagpapatuloy pa ng doktor.

Ang diskursong pagkamkam ng ibang planeta ang nakikitang paraan ng karamihan upang patuloy na mamuhay ang mga tao.

Ang matagal na panahong pag-aaral at paghahanap ng isang planetang may kakayahang magbigay buhay sa mga halaman, hayop, at tao ay natuldukan nang madiskubre ni Alexander Gardner ang planetang tinatawag na Proxima X, kalaunan ay tinawag an Octavia.

"We already tried to communicate politely with the species in Octavia. We asked for a formal meeting with their leaders, but they ignore our pleads. We offered friendship and showed them nothing but kindness. All we ask is a portion of their territory where we can build a civilization for Earthlings. We will not try to dominate their planet; we only need a home to settle in while ours is still healing!"

Life is a continuous battle for survival. There is no place for weakness. A single glimpse of fear today, you'll be dead by tomorrow.

"Do not force us to turn our backs on you, Hendrick. We respect you and sees you as our supremo, but it doesn't guarantee that just because you are the present high chancellor you'll be the only one fits for that position," may pagbabantang usal ng heneral.

"Are you threatening me, Lucio?"

Batid ni Hendrick na mayroong nabubuong alyansang politikal mula sa shadow society, isang organisasyong pinamumunuan ni Alexander Gardner.

Patuloy ang paglaki ng bilang ng mga naniniwala sa kabilang panig nang dahil sa mga naririnig na usap-usapan ukol sa kawalan ng tugon ng kasalukuyang supremo sa mga pampublikong isyu.

"No, supremo. What I am trying to say is that you will not like to strengthen the political alliance of Alexander. As soon as the public hears the crisis and your strong will not colonize Octavia, a revolt lead by the shadow society will surely ascend to impeach you as high chancellor."

"So, you finally decide to show your claw, general?" Hendrick said menacingly.

"I pledged my loyalty to the people of the Earth, supremo. I offer my alliance to the leader who fights for our survival. If you are no longer that kind of leader, then I think it is about time for me to seek someone competent enough to be my supremo."

No one from the council, except General Lucio, has the guts to speak ill from Hendrick. They highly support the leadership of their current high chancellor, but now that they see his inhibition to make another tough decision, the foundation of their faith is starting to weaken.

"As a leader, you will come to the point where you will end up with only two choices. Both have consequences you cannot outrun. Ignore the options, and your people will die." The brave general stood up from his seat. He took off his badge and placed it on the table.

"Tough decisions require choosing which bridge to burn and which bridge to cross. Whatever you choose, prepare yourself."