Organisations

“The resources of the Underground are dwindling, and chief among those is space. We can’t ignore this issue right up until it consumes us. By then it’ll be far too late.”

“The type of expansion you’re suggesting is far too dangerous. To expand the Underground risks cave-ins, not to mention potentially risking exposure to the disaster still raging Overground. We’re not ignoring this issue—we’re telling you, efficiency and better storage can solve it, but you’re the ones recklessly pushing this plan ahead.”

“Your solution is barely a solution at all! We’re already pushed to our limits down here!”

“Now, now, if we could just take a moment and reconvene in five minutes…”

---

Lately, a new topic has gripped the weekly town meetings in Terminus; it is now a common sight to see the unofficial representatives of two factions having a polite debate over the issue of space in the Underground.

The first of the factions is the “expansionists”, who represent the view that the space of the Underground simply must be increased to accommodate the growing population. They champion pushing out towards the further stations, those currently deemed too dangerous to accommodate the population. The Underground is slowly losing knowledge, the teaching available insufficient – there’s not even a proper education centre, after all.

In opposition are the “adaptationists”. They are cautious of the plans to expand the Underground any further, and generally believe the danger associated with this is not worth the slim chance of a reward. They deride the expansionists for recklessly heading outward, when the issues of resource would be better solved by focusing on efficient allocation and care taken at home. They prize adapting to the Underground, rather than sticking doggedly to an afterimage of the Overground; the key is to live more sustainably.

A certain incident has been plaguing the debate. The details are fuzzy, and perhaps the story changed by the many retellings, but the facts are as such: a year ago, there was a landslide, a track made unusable, and several farms which had to be painstakingly relocated. The rumours of rogue expansionists taking matters into their own hands linger, however…

So far, neither faction has the endorsement of the Director’s office.

A role elected annually, mostly in charge of mediating the town meetings. The position is currently held by Leah Dove. Some suspect she is not quite as impartial as her job requires, but there is an election coming up…

This is the office of the Director. A title passed down on the basis of merit and skill, there is no one better equipped to calculate the logistics of the Underground and to act as the final word on the most complex of matters. However, the Director and those who work in zir office do not often meddle in the day-to-day of the Underground.

The current Director is Avgust Kovač. He's rather elusive, and few have seen him out and about since he took over as Director. Instead zir Secretary acts as the public-facing side of the Director's Office, and often attends the town meetings.

The work that goes on here is essential to ensuring the Underground survives… but only those who work there really know the details. Most people know that the archives and paperwork of the Underground is dealt with in the office.