The colony was governed by a court of judges. Each judge was an expert in a select field of study crucial to the growth of the Novus colony. These were the following general fields of study that were represented by one judge each: Physics, astrophysics, botany, ecology, zoology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, meteorology, geology, oceanography, and astronomy. These twelve judges acted similar to a senate, but without a dedicated leader. If something needed attention relating to a specific field, the judge representing that field would come forward with their solution to another group of lesser judges. These lesser judges within the specified field would determine if the solution was indeed the right one. Once these lesser judges came to an agreement on what must be done, the greater judge of the specified field would bring their proposed course of action to the court of greater judges, the court of twelve. This meant the Novus Colony would become the first authentic Technocracy.
To some this court, or rather the sciences of this court, were lacking, and indeed those individuals who see this are not few. These sciences are all natural sciences, what about the social sciences? Wouldn’t a colony on another planet in another solar system be in great need of the social sciences? Yes, they would. While experts in the social sciences did reside within the colony, none were in positions of leadership. Their work was important, without their help many colonist minds would’ve been lost.
This is the philosophy of the entire endeavor. “As an intelligent species we must adhere to our psychological needs. We cannot deny our minds require special attention when faced with the troubling facets of interstellar travel. We may never again see earth, we may never again see those we left behind, we may never reach our destination, the list goes on. If we do reach our destination then we must learn how to survive there. We’ll need our human whit, our ingenuity, and the courage to push on in the face of adversity. This is why a heavy screening of the applicants to become colonists is being done. Every decision we make as a colony, will be done so without the social sciences. Why? We must acknowledge that the natural world does not care if we are too hot, or too cold. It does not care if we are hungry, or are over fed. It does not care if we miss our loved ones back on earth, it does not care how deeply we dream, and it does not care if we feel our world is fair. We must model ourselves after nature’s indifference. Not to become emotionless animals that prey upon one another for survival, but wise intelligent beings who can understand the sacrifices we must make in order to build a new civilization on Novus. A people who understands that what must be done, must be done. There is no mercy out there in the cosmos, there is only a dangerous universe full of challenges. If we are unable to thrive without someone being there to coddle us, then we don’t deserve to leave earth. Every action we take out there will be done because it is what we must do to survive. Our leadership will need to be heavily focused on the natural if they are to make the right decisions. However, it is as I said at the beginning. We cannot deny our minds require special attention. We will have specialists of the mind on this journey, an ample amount. They will help guide us when we begin to worry, or to fear. This is why we cannot leave the big decisions to our emotions, they can corrupt our ability to make the right decisions. So be encouraged, knowing that the success of this new colony has already been determined, because we already have overcome our worry and fear.”
- Judge Rassmus
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