Chapter Text
Preface:
The following is what is presumed to be the Shogun Takowasa’s own journal, royal decrees, and other various administrative and logistical items during the period in which Octolings, Octarians, and other such peoples were imprisoned underground. This journal has been translated, annotated, and presented thusly as an academic text to examine the workings of the underground society before their ascension to the surface.
Solace Nautilus, Professor of History at the University of Inkopolis
Journal of Shogun Takowasa, dated Takowasa 12, Winter 5 (11/12/1917)
I am a sick Octarian. I am a spiteful Octarian. I am an unpleasant Octarian. The war is over; we have lost. These underground domes shall be our new home… It is dark and unpleasant. My power is eroding, my people see me as a failure. Our prospects are not bright, but we are Octarians. We make do. I am the shogun, I am the leader of our people, and I must lead them to a better future ahead. We will see the surface again.
I have sent a splatoon to investigate the domes and report to me their findings. For now, there are not many Octarians left; from my pre-war census, it appears we have lost approximately 50-60% of our population from a cursory glance, and many more are injured. From what, I cannot say, whether it be the war or some other factor. Perhaps the sea levels rising are the cause. It does not yet appear that the populace have realized the losses, but I can tell my ministers have. They have come to me, dejected, telling me that death of our people would have been preferable to this humiliation. I reject that notion. For now, morale remains somewhat high, but it already seems to be decreasing; it seems that the Octarians believe that we will bide our time here and strike when the time is right.
Perhaps I will need to resort to drastic measures to keep the population from trying to incite a war too early; they hunger for blood and glory. I will have to come up with a way to keep morale high to prevent our extinction when this initial wave of anger subsides. There is little I can do without a proper survey of these domes. The military, for now, is still willing to listen and obey me. This is the only salvation I have yet.
Reconnaissance Report
Classification: Confidential
Date: Takowasa 12, Winter 6 (11/13/1917)
Reporting Unit: Alpha and Bravo Companies, Second Reconnaissance Splatoon
Mission Summary:
Conducted reconnaissance of sector Alpha (henceforth “the domes”) to assess enemy presence and the general environment.
Environment Description:
There appear to be many domes, connected with tunnels only accessible through gates. A few domes, especially in the Northwest, appear to have running water and arable land. Upon inspection of the soil, there appears to be enough nutrients to sustain agricultural productivity for a nearly indefinite amount of time. There is a major underground river that appears to have a non-natural structure attached to it. Upon inspection by our engineers, it appears to be a very old, currently non-functioning dam. Upon our initial investigation, it appears to be able to provide over 20,000 sparks of functional power.
There appear to be around 150-160 domes in total. They range in size, ordered from largest highest up to smallest lower down. The smallest domes appear to have some household items, such as furniture, and appear to be designed to be able to house many at once, with only a few housing only one or a family. The largest domes appear to have some industrial facilities. What appears to be factories, administrative buildings, hospitals, and other crucial infrastructure are weathered away but present. Several warehouses contain plentiful basic supplies, including raw ores, wood, and fabrics.
Weather and temperature remain constant at all domes at all levels, and temperature remains comfortable at all points.
Enemy Assessment:
No present enemies. Domes appear uninhabited without signs of current life, but signs of previous intelligent life remain constant and obvious.
Final Conclusion:
Our final decision is that the domes are capable of supporting our existence at our current population for a minimum of 500 years, and a maximum of indefinitely. Linear population growth will decrease the maximum to 1000 years, and exponential population growth will decrease the minimum to 100 years and a maximum of 200 years before resources are fully harvested or overcrowding becomes a major issue.
Recommendations:
The engineers of our companies have already identified that, although previous infrastructure is currently non-functional, they are easily repairable. Our best course of action is to re-establish power and begin working on repairing crucial infrastructure and establishing agricultural production.
Attached:
There are no remaining attachments, but they were likely to be rough schematics of the dam previously mentioned, a general map of the domes, and other various logistical reports.
Journal of Shogun Takowasa, dated Takowasa 12, Winter 6 (11/13/1917)
We were not the first here, but whoever was here before has long since abandoned it. I was fearful of losing yet more in the process of building our society again, but it appears that it will be a smoother transition than I had yet hoped. I have already dispatched engineers and other military assets to the dam previously mentioned, and to clear out the rubble and debris from the administrative buildings and hospitals. They have told me that the hospitals will be operative before the end of the day, and the dam fully functional before the end of the week.
It is difficult to tell how much time has passed without the sun. All we have are the military-issued watches. I have made a decree that we shall follow the time as with the surface.
I made a brief inventory of our supplies. We have military rations that will last us until the season is over and enough medical supplies to sustain ourselves for a few months. The domes are capable of supporting agriculture year-round. Food will likely not become an issue once our agricultural output is established. I have dispatched former farmers with half of the seeds in our stockpile to attempt to begin growing food. It should not take long for the returns to become obvious.
I must figure out what to do with my ministers. They are despairing and believe that we will certainly die here; that these domes will be our tombs.
Imperial Decree #5102, of the 8th day of the Winter season, in the 12th year of the Takowasa era (11/15/1917) (First Government Restructuring Decree)
Under my authority as Shogun of the Octarians, I do hereby declare a state of emergency for the Octarian people; that the current status of the government poses a grave threat to the security and prosperity of this nation, and that immediate and proper action must be undertaken to secure the future for this nation.
Therefore, I do hereby declare the current cabinet level departments dissolved, and for all power of the government and the enactment of the will of the people and the laws thereby to be transferred to the Office of the Shogunate of the Octarians for one month.
Additionally, I do hereby declare that the Imperial Diet is henceforth dissolved, and that all legislative power rests solely on the office of the Shogunate of the Octarians. All previous legislation remains in effect.
Additionally, I hereby declare that the Office of the Shogunate of the Octarians take over all functions of the media and of the press, such that other media or press organizations are henceforth given 14 days until the 22nd day of the Winter season, in the 12th year of the Takowasa era to either disband or submit to the Office of the Shogunate of the Octarians.
It is so ordered.
His Majesty, Shogun Takowasa of the Octarians
If nothing else, it will be this Imperial Decree that will demonstrate the truly desperate state the Octarian nation was in at this time. Shogun Takowasa, before the war, was not a dictator and had publicly spoken about the role of checks and balances, and took more of a ceremonial role as head of state, and his prime minister serving as head of government. The state of the government postbellum was likely in no way capable of serving the needs of the Octarians at this time. We will see a slow restoration of the cabinet and the Imperial Diet in the Second Government Restructuring Decree and the Legislative Body Re-establishment Decree.
Medical Report of the First General Hospital, Takowasa 12, Winter 11 (11/18/1917)
Of the 200 patients arriving in the emergency department we have seen today, most have had injuries from the war. We have counted over 50 incidents of broken cartilage, 20 cases of minor infections, 10 cases of major infections, 1 case of sepsis leading to septic shock, 1 case of first-degree burns, and 1 case of acute appendicitis, and other various ailments. We report no fatalities and no issues in performing the regular medical procedures required.
We have seen around 50 patients for a simple primary care appointment, and 25 for a psychiatric appointment. The number of psychiatric visits have increased since the hospital has opened. It is recommended to send or train more psychiatric professionals to deal with the increased patient count.
Supplies are sufficient. Antiseptics such as tincture of iodine and octenidine dihydrochloride are being used quickly, but aren't yet an issue. Other medical supplies are sufficient. Requesting 100 units of more antiseptics, 50 units of more penicillin and streptomycin, and 20 more units of bandages and sutures for the inventory.
Chief of Medicine, Dr. Miyahara Kaede
Imperial Decree #5103, of the 12th day of the Winter season, in the 12th year of the Takowasa era (11/19/1917) (Education Decree)
Under my authority as Shogun of the Octarians, I do hereby declare a state of emergency for the Octarian people; that the current status of education, or the lack of it, poses a grave threat to the security and prosperity of this nation, and that immediate and proper action must be undertaken to secure the future for this nation.
Therefore, I do hereby declare the establishment of public schools for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and specialist education. The following domes are designated for primary and secondary schooling: 11, 23, 60, 102, 110, 143. The following domes are designated for post-secondary schooling: 35, 89, 132, 185. The following domes are designated for specialist education: 36 (for medical education), 42 (for military leadership and engineering education), and 55 (for pedagogy), and 72 (for various trades, including but limited to plumbing, electricity, and mechanics).
Additionally, I hereby declare that all former teachers, administrators, lecturers, and other vocations related to education are hereby honorably discharged from the Octarian Military and are to prepare the various types schooling for beginning in the 1st day of the Spring season, in the 14th year of the Takowasa era.
It is so ordered.
His Majesty, Shogun Takowasa of the Octarians
Journal of Shogun Takowasa, dated Takowasa 12, Winter 13 (11/20/1917)
The administrative buildings have been mostly restored. The ministers I have dismissed do not appear to protest the decision; most are far too despairing to put up any resistance to the new government. My new office required some organization, but it will do. From what I can assess, the factories will be functional very soon. The supplies in the warehouses will sustain industrial output for some time.
I fear that the populace will be more and more restless. The majority wanted to go back to the surface and resume the war, and the rest have lost hope. Every hospital is reporting increased numbers of psychiatric visits, increased reports of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Some military figures are reporting general distress amongst the military, leading to fears of a coup attempt.
I believe that I will have to adopt a stance that I do not wish to have; for I believe the only way to keep the military placated now is to take a hardline stance against the inklings. The military is becoming more and more nationalistic, and I have already lost much control. I worry that the nation will have to become a military state to keep the military calm.
I have tried multiple times to return to a bipedal form. I have not been able to. My personal physician predicts that I will never be able to again. It will be an adjustment. She predicts that injuries sustained during the siege are the reason why. So it will be Craig to blame for this.
Craig…
I’ll have to sort out my feelings about him later. I can’t distract myself with him anymore. I have a job to do.
The siege here refers to the Siege of Arowana Castle. It is thereby assumed that Craig in this journal entry is referring to Second Lieutenant Craig Cuttlefish of the Squidbeak Splatoon, the primary unit on the Inkling side during the Siege.