Sol-Date 2218-01-25

We've been stationed on Rhodes now for three months. I've hardly had time to sleep, what with the amount of shit my CO has us doing. It's been crazy. Now that I've finally gotten the time to put up an entry, I'm not sure where to start. After going through some of my thoughts, I guess I should start with an update on the war.

The infected have not yet been quelled. I don't think they'll ever be eradicated. They have taken over several planets and began forming these odd, organic ships to traverse the black of space. Researchers have been unable to get sampels from the biomasses, so we have no idea if it is humans that were infected and turned, or another form of organic matter either spawned by the infected or turned from a planets ecosystem. I try not to think about it.

We fight them back well enough, now that we have learned what works effectively against them and what doesn't. The crafty bastards outwit us now and then, though, and we lose a ship or two. We haven't lost a planet in quite some time. The infected don't seem to need oxygen, so they've taken over some of the uninhabited planets - those that have been mined and exhausted of resources long ago. We don't consider these losses, because there is no strategic or economic value in them, but it is worrisome that we let them take it over without a fight. I can see it being quite detrimental for travelling through sectors. I've told the upper brass my concerns, but they've said it's not worth the risk. It is a risk, don't get me wrong.

Anyway. They took me off the front-lines with that reassignment to Rhodes. I'm guessing those that forced out Horus caught on to me taking over this blog. I don't mind that at all. Me and my men needed a break from the horrors of a war with a species that has no moral inhibitions.

Rhodes is a civilian planet. Mostly farmers on the planet, but there are cities, as all civilizations have. There are six bastions the military keeps on planet. Five of them are used for relieving soldiers on the front lines. The sixth is to monitor for threats to the planet, from both on and off planet. The sixth is where we were assigned to.

Twelve years ago, they were tasked with quelling an insurrection from a small group of terrorists that saught to overthrow the planet's government. I read up on it a bit, and it looked like they didn't have a real plan most of the way through. Just a bunch of people that were upset at how things were being ran and instead of voicing their opinions through the proper channels decided they were going to shoot some places up and burn some shit down.

The majority of my time here has been spent acclimating to the planet, settling into my new position, and getting acquanted with the officers and enlisted on base at the bastion. It doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me, it's definitely a time sink. Now that I've gotten through most of the paperwork and tours, getting to know my surroundings and the other officers, and finding a place to sleep that's not the barracks, I can safely say that I can start to get to work doing my new job.

Is this a promotion? No, not really. I was promoted to a Captain with the transfer, yeah, but it seems it was more informal than anything. Or maybe formality? I'm not sure. I don't really care, but I've gone from a Sergeant to a Captain in about 6 months, so I can't complain. It looks great on paper.

Most of the men under me were also given promotions and transferred out of the front lines. I requested that they specifically got off the line. I wasn't concerned about where they were stationed, they just needed a break from the fighting. Most are in R/R facilities like the five here on Rhodes. I'll be seeing if they want an assignment with me after their recouperation. If they're not too gone, that is. They'll all need psyche evals.

My CO, Colonel Matheson, said that I should be starting to get into the actual job next week. He already has something he wants me to look into. Supposed to be a beacon of sorts that popped up randomly and becan transmitting data that makes no sense. It is...intriguing to say the least.