Chapter 3. Finding the Truth.
Time is measured differently than it was when the Republic was first inhabited. 'Days' no longer existed, they were now known periods and each period was broken down into 4 equal parts of 5 sols (or hours). There was a work or educational time which was done when the lights were brightest, the family time was divided into two by 2 1/2-sol blocks on either side of the work period. Then there was a recreational time done in half-light gradually getting darker and finally a rest time in total darkness.
Initially it took 3 generations for old habits and the language to change, but as children were born and raised in the new system it became the normal way of living.
It was in the year of the Seventeenth Trutime Period. An old earth calendar, if you could find one and be able to read it would tell you the date was 5024, July 23rd.
One was found, some seven hundred earth years earlier in an ancient bombed-out underground bunker, the schoolie who was responsible for recording it did so diligently, not knowing what it was, the schoolie recorded it on their electronic keypad and listed as item 254-007-4398. A note was added to identify it as 'Paper with numbers -- printed' and it was stored and faithfully kept intact. It was never handed in as an important find as it was felt, at that time, it was of no importance or of any consequence. It's just a worthless bit of paper.
If the schoolies were ever allowed to develop their thought transmissions, the importance of it may have been found earlier. As it was it was just another report that was logged in, one of 4763 that work period.
It was left at one of the many store areas next to the exit station on ME where the elevators left for the inbound platforms. Just left with other unusable objects, cast aside as a worthless scrape of old paper, to be looked at when there was nothing else to do. It was put to one side and other objects put on top of it and then other artefacts were put on top of those. There it stayed for seven hundred earth years. The storerooms were sealed and airtight, it stayed there not falling to pieces just out of sight.
Eventually, when it came to be analyzed and catalogued it was handed around to many scholars who had no knowledge of it. Eventually, it was handed to a 3rd-grade assistant working for the Parliamentary Archaeology Section (PAS) and found its way into Doctor Laudian Truther's procession.
Doctor Laudian Teresa Truther was assigned to oversee the archaeology section on The Republic. Her role was to ensure that the history of Mother Earth was faithfully recorded according to the wishes of the Royal Family. For three thousand years, ever since the onepercenters built the station, her family had been in charge of recording the history of the old planet. She knew of the truth, along with two others, which made them the most dangerous people in and on the Republic.
They just didn't appreciate it.
Like all good Republicans, her records were immaculate, kept safe and secured. Every time she was asked to report to the Royal Family via her Parliamentary advisor, the reports were well received and accepted without query or descent. The records were all Electrofused and sent via thought patterns from one temporal lobe to another. Only the upper elite were permitted to use that process of transmitting information. Everything else had to be sent via electronic keypads. That system was slow, and many incoming notes banked up, even the highest priority messages were sometimes overlooked altogether.
The Electrofused graphics were all 3D holographic, and the image was that of the good Doctor, no matter who originated the first thought pattern or finalized the report. She did monitor all communications coming into or out of the PAS. She kept tighter control over her organisation than even the Royal Family or the RCMP ever imagined. She had good reason too.
Her good looks appeared every time a member of the Royal Family or a key Parliamentarian asked for an update on a particular project down on ME was requested. She was easily recognised by those in authority.