I'm NOT dead. I've just been very busy for the past few weeks, and I'm afraid even this isn't really my finest work. However, I
am back to working on this, and I hope that my writing quality returns to its usual standards.
Chapter 6PLANET ALIA, LETO SYSTEM, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
13:43, DECEMBER 8TH, 2225, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
“So I’m focusing on Jake, and I’ve got him on the ropes, but I see that I’ve got someone attacking me. So I look back, and Rick’s got two cities set up on my island!”
“You’re joking.”
“No, seriously…”
Isabella Alvarez shook her head and concentrated on flying the shuttle. She must have annoyed the captain somehow, because he’d stuck her with these two idiots, chattering in the back about some game.
“Hey! Would you two quiet down?”
They ignored her. She rolled her eyes and tried to concentrate on flying the shuttle.
“…so I move in to finish him off and then… what the hell is that?”
There was no mistaking it. Spreading out below them were the orderly, checkered fields of farmland.
The indigenous population of Alia* * *
CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
8:02, 2225, TERRAN STANDARD TIME
Sergeant-Major Suzanne Dupree had come to the conclusion that eight o’clock in the morning was far too early for anyone to have to deal with Emily Kazol.
Guarding the Presidential Palace was usually an easy job. Wake up at seven – a welcome respite from the Corps’ five o’clock reveille – stand outside the President’s office for an hour, salute when he came in, then leave again at eleven. The Palace was an easy post, for new recruits and hardened veterans. Dupree was the latter, but even she had to admit that Director Kazol had a certain… presence.
“Listen, ma’am,” Dupree said, “the President gave me very specific orders not to let anyone disturb him.”
Kazol glared at her.
“I understand, but this is important, sergeant.”
Dupree gulped. She’d fought in the Lunar Revolution. She’d seen things that would’ve made a lesser woman keel over in despair. But she simply was not prepared for the sheer, raw psychological power of the Stare.
“Yes, ma’am,” she said quickly, “of course, ma’am.”
Dupree’s left hand dropped to the keypad behind her. She hastily keyed in the entrance code.
The Stare was turned away from her. Dupree sighed.
“Sergeant! What the hell do you think you’re… oh crap.”
The President stopped just short of the door as he saw who was waiting on the other side.
“Emily… what a… pleasant surprise…”
“Likewise, Mister President.”
Bradley pulled at his collar.
“Right. Yes. Come right in. Sergeant, if you please.”
Dupree closed the door behind her as the President and Director Kazol stepped into the office. She let out a sigh of relief. That woman was scary.
* * *
“Right, Emily,” Bradley said, wishing he had papers he could shuffle, “What brings you here?”
“Leto II,” Kazol said, “the aboriginal issue.”
“Right, yes, that,” Bradley nodded, “actually, I’ve already reached a decision.”
“Without consulting me?”
Bradley detected the telltale hints that Kazol was about to unleash the Stare, but he’d experienced it so many times back in high school, and then at the fledgling Terran Academy, to build up something of a resistance.
“Yes, Em. Without consulting you. But I’m willing to let you review the decision.”
He grabbed a pad from the burgeoning file of electronic reports.
“We’ve decided to move the indigenous population into a central area,” he said, “it’s good PR, and it frees up some of the land for industrialization.”
“Are you sure we really need the land more than they do?”
“Em, our budget is in the cropper right now. If we’re going to turn Earth into a force to be reckoned with in this galaxy, we’re going to need to money. And lots of it.”
“In other words,” Kazol said, “you want us to repeat the exact same mistake our civilization made the last time it encountered an aboriginal population. I’d hoped humanity would have matured somewhat in the past five-hundred years.”
“No, the last time we slaughtered them.”
Kazol shook her head.
“Well then, Mister President, if you reconsider your decision, tell me. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go open diplomatic relations with the Thalans.”
She rose from the desk and briskly strode out the door.
Bradley let out a long sigh of relief.
* * *
CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
19:54, FEBRUARY 31ST, 2225 TERRAN STANDARD TIME
The Directorate of Foreign Relations’ Hypernet Center was a marvel of modern engineering. An enormous holo tank, twenty-five meters in diameter, capable of rendering photorealistic images in three dimensions. Not only was it enormous, but it was also beautiful – the hand of the Guild could be seen in every crenelated projector column, every carved ledge along the ceiling. Were it not for the gunmetal gray shade of the walls, the Center would have seemed right at home amidst the ancient temples of Europe.
President Bradley, Director Kazol, General Kuperman, and Doctor Marshall stood at the center of the chamber, facing the holographic image in front of them. It was a giant insect, roughly six feet tall, with five legs on either side of its body. Its forelegs rose up above its head, ending in a pair of mantis-like scythes, and just below its head a pair of mandibles ended in three-pointed claws.
“Any advice, doctor?” Bradley whispered.
“Don’t try to kill it,” Marshall replied, “no matter how incredibly disgusting it is.”
“Thanks. That really helps.”
Bradley stepped forward.
“For the United Earth Alliance,” he said, “President Alan Bradley.”
The creature hissed, a series of clicks and recognizable, but incomprehensible, sounds emerging from the area around what Bradley assumed to be its mouth. As it spoke, he heard a pleasant human voice in his head, repeating the statements in English. Good. The universal translators did work.
“For the Thalan Empire, Queen Hithesius.”
With the formal introductions made, the administrative computer took control.
“The first meeting of the United Planets,” the computer announced, “is now in session.”
Another holographic image appeared between Bradley and the Queen. At first glance, it appeared to be a fairly ordinary star system – a red sun, with two planets in orbit, their surfaces dominated by heavy volcanic activity.
“This is the Ares System, near the Terran planet of Gabriel. Recently, Thalan orbital surveys detected a major climate change on Ares II. After years of volcanic activity and atmospheric change, the planet has blossomed into quite a suitable living environment.”
The image zoomed in on the planet’s surface, slowly rotating.
“In the interests of fairness, we have come together to collectively decide who should oversee the colonization of this ripe new planet.”
One of Hithesius’s scythes tore at the image.
“This world was discovered by the Thalan Empire,” she stated, “and I will not allow it to fall into the hands of the Warbringers.”
“Warbringers, Your Majesty?” Bradley asked.
“This “hyperdrive” was the creation of your people, President,” the Thalan spat, “the chaos is at your feet. The Thalan Empire claims this world, with all twenty-eight thousand votes allotted to us.”
“We can’t allow this world to fall into the hands of the bugs, sir,” Kuperman whispered, “it has a vital strategic location.”
“Relax, general. I have everything under control.”
Bradley turned to face the Queen.
“The United Earth Alliance claims the planet in the name of Earth, with all thirty-six thousand votes.”
First meeting of the United Planets, January 1st, 2226“The voting is complete,” the administrative computer announced, “the planet Ares II, now owes its loyalty to Earth and the Alliance.”
* * *
CHICAGO, EARTH, UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
24:57, DECEMBER 31ST, 2225 TERRAN STANDARD TIME
The Devereaux Promenade was almost empty. Most of the citizens of the capital were at the New Years celebrations. Fireworks exploded in the skies, in honor of the new year and of the triumphs of the Alliance.
Only two figures walked the stonework of the walkway. Alan Bradley, President of the Alliance, and Emily Kazol, Director of Foreign Relations.
“It went well,” Bradley said.
“Yes,” Kazol agreed, “the computer assigns votes based on a large combination of factors, but so far, it seems like Earth may well be in the running to become the most powerful nation in the galaxy.”
“We don’t even know where the Thalan Empire is,” Bradley pointed out.
“Oh, there’s a long way to go, of course,” Kazol replied, “but we’ve made it this far. We may not be out of the woods, but at least we have a few resources on our side. And Rebecca says some of her xenopsychologists have ideas on how to better facilitate trade negotiations. Hold up, this is where they’re launching the big one.”
The two stopped and looked over the edge of the railing. Below, they could hear someone counting down.
“Five… four… three… two… one…”
Five rockets shot out from the streets below, twisting around each other in a tight knot as they rose into the sky. Bradley and Kazol craned their heads upward, following the rocket trails until the fireworks exploded into a shimmering green, white and blue sphere, beneath two glittering silver words:
For Earth.
* * *
The United Earth Alliance, as of January 1st, 2226
